Chester See

{{short description|American YouTube personality, singer and actor (born 1983)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Chester See

| image = Chester See, by Gage Skidmore.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = See at Vidcon 2014

| birth_name = Chester Lionel Watch

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1983|04|20}}

| birth_place =

| education = BA in Economics and Theater Arts

| alma_mater = UCLA

| occupation = Actor, musician, vlogger

| years_active = 2006–present

| known_for = YouTube personality, singer, songwriter

| parents =

| callsign =

| awards = 2014 Streamy for Best Original Song

| website = {{URL|http://chestersee.com/info/}}

}}

Chester See (born Chester Lionel Watch April 20, 1983) is an American YouTuber, singer and actor. He is best known for his YouTube videos, which have garnered over 207 million views, as of September 2017. He appeared as Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages on Broadway from October 2014 through January 2015.

Career

In 2006 See hosted Disney 365, an entertainment news program on the Disney Channel, which ran until 2009.{{Cite web |title=YouTube Star Chester See to Make Broadway Debut in Rock of Ages |publisher=Broadway World |date=2014-10-14 |accessdate=2014-11-06 |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/YouTube-Star-Chester-See-to-Make-Broadway-Debut-in-ROCK-OF-AGES-20141014}}{{Cite web |title=YouTube Sensation Makes Broadway Debut in Rock of Ages Tonight |first=Andrew |last=Gans |work=Playbill |date=2014-10-26 |accessdate=2014-11-06 |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/youtube-sensation-makes-broadway-debut-in-rock-of-ages-tonight-333975}}

See started his ChesterSee YouTube channel in 2007 after having some success writing lyrics for Warner/Chappell. The channel primarily consists of comedy sketches, short films and cover songs.{{Cite web |title=Don't Stop Believin'! YouTube Star Chester See (aka Mughees) Will Make His Broadway Debut in Rock of Ages |first=Imogen Lloyd |last=Webber |work=Broadway.com |date=2014-10-14 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/177918/dont-stop-believin-youtube-star-chester-see-will-make-his-broadway-debut-in-rock-of-ages}}{{Cite web |title=Meet latest YouTube sensations |last=Ramli |first=Bibi Nurshuhada |work=New Straits Times |date=2013-03-02 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://www2.nst.com.my/nation/general/meet-latest-youtube-sensations-1.227149 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215032312/http://www2.nst.com.my/nation/general/meet-latest-youtube-sensations-1.227149 |archivedate=2014-12-15 }} He is part of the Maker Studios multi-channel network.{{Cite web |title=YouTube Star Chester See Cast in 'Rock of Ages' on Broadway |last=Lee |first=Ashley |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2014-10-14 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/youtube-star-chester-see-cast-740731}} In 2011, See, alongside YouTubers Nigahiga and Kevin Wu uploaded a music video titled Nice Guys. In 2012, See, alongside YouTubers Nigahiga and Kevin Wu, also film director Justin Lin, started the YOMYOMF YouTube channel.{{Cite web |title=5 Reasons YOMYOMF Will Be A Successful Premium Channel |first=Matthew |last=Manarino |work=NewMediaRockstars |date=2012-06-12 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/06/5-reasons-yomyomf-will-be-a-successful-premium-channel}}{{Cite news |title=Isle Influence Contributes to Asian-American Videos |last=Chun |first=Gary Cw |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |date=2012-10-07 }}{{Cite web |title=Chester See: YouTube's Multi-Platform Champion |first=Michael |last=Varrati |work=VideoInk |date=2014-02-19 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://www.thevideoink.com/features/chester-see-youtubes-multi-platform-champion/}} The channel released an internet-only reality TV talent show called Internet Icon later that year; See hosted the first season.{{Cite web |title='Internet Icon' aims for virality |first=Jeff |last=Sneider |work=Variety |date=2012-03-28 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://variety.com/2012/digital/news/internet-icon-aims-for-virality-1118052020/}}{{Cite web |title=Ryan Higa On Internet Icon Season Two and Being YouTube's #3 Most Subscribed |first=Carly |last=Lanning |work=NewMediaRockstars |date=2013-02-12 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2013/02/ryan-higa-talks-internet-icon-season-two-and-being-3-most-subscribed-on-youtube-interview}} Later in the year, See was a contestant on season 2 of D-trix's Dance Showdown.{{Cite web |title=DanceOn's 'Dance Showdown' Second Season on YouTube Set to Premier |first=Ed |last=Carrasco |work=NewMediaRockstars |date=2012-09-27 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://newmediarockstars.com/2012/09/danceons-dance-showdown-second-season-on-youtube-set-to-premier}}

In 2013 See was the executive producer for online-only NBC and AwesomenessTV produced musical comedy series Side Effects; he also starred as Keith in eight episodes over two seasons.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2013 |title=Three Ways YouTube Plans to Dominate the Music Industry |last=Robins |first=J. Max |work=Forbes |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maxrobins/2013/10/30/three-ways-youtube-plans-to-dominate-the-music-industry}}{{Cite web |title=Side Effects might be the new Glee, and it's only on YouTube |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |work=The Guardian |date=2013-10-30 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/oct/30/side-effects-youtube-awesomenesstv-glee}} The following year See was cast as Jeff Sanford in the comedy film Camp Takota, in a supporting role alongside Grace Helbig, Mamrie Hart and Hannah Hart. See starred as Stacee Jaxx in a Broadway production of Rock of Ages from October 27, 2014 through January 4, 2015.{{Cite web |title=Chester See leaps from YouTube to Broadway for Rock of Ages |first=Mark |last=Kennedy |work=The Globe and Mail |date=2014-10-15 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/chester-see-leaps-from-youtube-to-broadway-for-rock-of-ages/article21112722}} See appeared in the 2015 Relativity Digital and FilmOn feature film, Bob Thunder: Internet Assassin.{{Cite web |title=YouTube Stars Get the Hollywood Treatment |first=Todd |last=Spangler |work=Variety |date=2014-07-15 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://variety.com/2014/digital/news/youtube-stars-get-the-hollywood-treatment-1201262848}}{{Cite web |title=YouTube Stars Shane Dawson, Olga Kay to Appear in Movie About an Internet Assassin |first=Lucas |last=Shaw |work=TheWrap |date=2014-07-15 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://www.thewrap.com/youtube-stars-shane-dawson-olga-kay-to-star-in-movie-about-an-internet-assassin-exclusive}} In 2018, he made a guest appearance on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where he was given a drag makeover by contestant Miz Cracker. He and Cracker won the challenge and was given a Klein, Epstein, and Parker $2,000 gift card as a prize.

{{As of|2020|January|df=}}, See has produced over 400 YouTube videos and has over 1.9 million subscribers to his YouTube channel ChesterSee and over 275 million video views.{{Cite web |title=chestersee YouTube Channel Stats, Subscriber Statistics, Ranking |work=vidstatsx |accessdate=2015-09-28 |url=http://vidstatsx.com/chestersee/youtube-channel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930074432/http://vidstatsx.com/chestersee/youtube-channel |archive-date=2015-09-30 |url-status=usurped }} As of August 2014, he has sold over 500,000 songs on iTunes. See is influential through social media, with over 200,000 followers on both Twitter and Instagram {{As of|lc=yes|2020|January|df=}}.{{Cite web |title=YouTube stars hit MIPTV |first=Melanie |last=Goodfellow |work=Screen Daily |date=2014-04-11 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/youtube-stars-hit-miptv/5070653.article}}

=Awards and nominations=

See was nominated for two Streamy awards in 2013 at the 3rd Streamy Awards, under the "Best Online Musician" and "Audience Choice Finalists for Personality of the Year" categories.{{Cite web|title=3rd Annual Nominees & Winners |work=The Streamy Awards |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=http://www.streamys.org/nominees-winners/3rd-annual-nominees}} He received a further four nominations in 2014, winning the "Original Song" category for his song "Whistle While I Work It" in collaboration with Toby Turner and Wayne Brady.{{Cite web |title=Streamy Awards Name LGBT Activist Tyler Oakley Entertainer of the Year |first=David |last=Bloom |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=2014-08-07 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/streamy-awards-winners-list-tyler-oakley-enchufetv-joan-rivers-mamrie-hart-830994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908155309/http://deadline.com/2014/09/streamy-awards-winners-list-tyler-oakley-enchufetv-joan-rivers-mamrie-hart-830994/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 8, 2014}} He was also nominated in the "Best Collaboration" (for his cover of "No Diggity" by Blackstreet with Flula Borg), "Best Cover Song" (for his cover of "Roar" by Katy Perry with Andy Lange, Andrew Garcia and Josh Golden) and "Best Musical Artist" categories.{{Cite web |title=Stream On: 2014 Streamy Nominees Announced With Freddie Wong Schooling The Field |last=Bloom |first=David |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=2014-08-18 |accessdate=2014-11-07 |url=https://deadline.com/2014/08/streamy-award-nominees-announced-820866|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820175439/http://deadline.com/2014/08/streamy-award-nominees-announced-820866/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 20, 2014}}

In 2014, See's YouTube Channel was listed on New Media Rockstars Top 100 Channels, ranked at #44.{{cite web|title=The NMR Top 100 YouTube Channels: 50-26!|url= http://newmediarockstars.com/2014/12/the-nmr-top-100-youtube-channels-50-26/|website=New Media Rockstars|accessdate=6 January 2015}}