Grace Helbig Inducted into VidCon Hall of Fame

Humble Beginnings At Vidcon

Grace Helbig is set to be inducted into VidCon’s Hall of Fame tomorrow, she announced in a heartfelt Instagram post. The American comedian and internet personality looked back on the early days of YouTube conventions—a nostalgia so strong she likened it to a familiar perfume or even, humorously, “a familiar fart.” In her caption, Helbig shared a handful of photos from the first VidCon she attended in 2011, the last year the event was held in Los Angeles before moving to Anaheim.

The first meetup was a leap of faith. Helbig and fellow creator Michelle Akin flew in from New York with passes in hand. On a shoestring budget, they booked a hotel “on the opposite side of town” and had no Uber service to bridge the gap. Their solution? Drive the rental car to the VidCon hotel and camp out in the lobby. Daytime was spent shyly greeting passing creators. Evenings moved to the hotel bar for casual drinks and “Grace-facing”—her playful term for gawking at fellow YouTubers without the confidence to start a conversation.

“I never had a sense of community growing up and YouTube was one of the first places I felt like I belonged,” Helbig wrote. That sentiment marked the start of a deep bond with the platform’s fan-driven festivities.

An Eight-year Run As Featured Creator

Over the next eight years, Helbig returned to VidCon as a featured creator, trading in lobby waits for panel stages. By then, the event had grown into a full-blown celebration of digital culture—part Spring Break, part work retreat, laced with colorful vodka and endless panels. Fans lined up to hear her stories; creators networked, collaborated, and fueled one another’s growth.

From 2013’s fan meet-and-greets to 2018’s red-carpet interviews, Helbig watched VidCon evolve alongside her career. She launched her YouTube channel “DailyGrace,” released films like Camp Takota, and hosted Netflix’s The Grace Helbig Show. Through it all, she returned to Anaheim to reconnect with fans who felt like family.

“VidCon has seen me at my best and at my worst,” she admitted. But those epic weekend hangovers were always softened by the energy of a community that radiated passion and inclusivity.

Full Circle Induction

Tomorrow’s induction into VidCon’s Hall of Fame is both “silly and stunning,” Helbig reflected. At 36, she still feels like that nervous newcomer in the LA lobby, waiting for a chance to say hello. Yet now she’ll stand on stage as an honouree, leaving a little piece of herself in a place that helped launch her career.

Founded in 2010 by YouTube pioneers Hank and John Green, VidCon celebrates online video and its creators. This year’s Hall of Fame class includes a mix of veteran talents and rising stars. Helbig’s inclusion highlights her role in shaping the early landscape of digital comedy and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for fellow creators.

“Cue the sentimental reflection!” she teased, closing her caption with gratitude. As part of her post, Helbig shared a slideshow of early moments—from crowded lobbies to backstage laughs—captured on grainy disposable cameras.

Outside of VidCon, Helbig continues to tour her live comedy shows, host podcasts like “Not Too Deep,” and produce digital series. Her journey from shy lobby lurker to celebrated creator underscores the transformative power of online communities.

Fans have flooded social feeds with congratulations, praising her warmth and authenticity. One follower wrote, “You’ve always been the heart of VidCon,” while another recalled meeting her at a crowded 2014 meetup. The outpouring mirrors the very community Helbig cherishes.

Next up, she heads to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer, confirming dates in London and Chicago through her Instagram. But tomorrow’s Hall of Fame ceremony will be a landmark moment—proof that those first awkward introductions in an LA hotel lobby were the beginning of something much bigger.

As the convention returns to Anaheim, Helbig will take the stage one more time—not as a fan, but as a legacy maker. And for her, that’s the ultimate geeky dream come true.

She still feels like the girl in the lobby, but soon the lobby will be cheering her name.

Trivia

Grace Helbig began her YouTube career in 2008, creating the channel 'DailyGrace,' which featured comedic videos and vlogs.

Reporter

Reshmi Das

 

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a content writer, covering parenting and films. She writes for Hollywoodjunction and Momjunction. Her interest in journaling and writing made this biotechnology postgraduate to take up content as her full-time profession.

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