 just completed a 22-day challenge to visit every state in the U.S. From the comfort of a spacious RV, they set out from Texas to explore new places, have a little fun, and document the entire journey.

But this wasn't your typical road trip. The twins were traveling (and vlogging) to raise money for people who can't afford menstrual supplies — an issue known as 

 and set a goal to raise $100,000, which equals a donation of 1 million period products.

 of this before Bailey's next period — the traveling, the fundraising, and the YouTubing. It added a fun twist to the challenge, which they aptly named "1 Period. 1 Million Period Supplies."

Here's what Brooklyn and Bailey accomplished during the challenge:

Visited 48/50 states (no Hawaii or Alaska)

And here's how the challenge grew their channel:

Brooklyn and Bailey started posting on YouTube at age nine. Over the years, their content evolved to show teen fashion, beauty, and day-in-the-life content across several platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and of course, YouTube.

Today, Brooklyn and Bailey have 6.9 million subscribers and 1.4 billion views on YouTube.

Brooklyn and Bailey's Period Challenge: Why it's a Hit on YouTube

Many creators do challenges, but few gain millions of views. What made this series from Brooklyn and Bailey so appealing? How did they grow their channel and raise so much money simultaneously?

The challenge is for a worthy and (trending) cause.

Have you seen the news? Due to supply chain issues, 

 this year, and the phrase "tampon shortage" was a popular Google search in July.

That means Brooklyn and Bailey built a YouTube challenge around a 

. It allowed them to get more views and subscribers and help women and girls get menstrual supplies at the same time.

In fact, many women are thanking Brooklyn and Bailey for bringing awareness to an issue that directly affects them. Hundreds of sweet comments are below their videos, proving the challenge was meaningful and worthwhile.

Period poverty is a serious issue, but raising awareness doesn't have to be dull or tedious. This is YouTube, after all. Viewers want entertainment more than anything, and Brooklyn and Bailey supplied just that.

During their light-hearted road trip, the twins went to Disneyland, tried axe-throwing, and even played laser tag. Viewers witnessed their life on the road and saw the inside of their beautiful RV. There were twists and turns like any road trip, and no one knew what to expect as the days ticked by.

It's inspired by Ryan Trahan's YouTube challenge.

Brooklyn and Bailey's period challenge was inspired by 

. If you missed it, here's the gist: Ryan crossed North America in 30 days to deliver a penny to another creator named 

. He started with just $0.01 (for spending) and found creative ways to double or triple his money to pay for flights, lodging, and food. He even partnered with Feeding America to raise $1.4 million for hungry citizens.

Brooklyn and Bailey's challenge works because it channels some of Ryan's trending magic.

If we've learned anything from Brooklyn and Bailey's challenge, it's that trendy content does more than grow your channel. It's a portal to influence, which you can use (quite literally) to save the world. Want to feed millions of people? Raise money for critical supplies? The choice is yours, and you can make it happen with the right video series.

Of course, you should know what's trending if you want to make a sizable impact with your content.

Here are six ways to find trending topics for YouTube videos (in unexpected places).

Join two women on a mission to visit all 50 states, end period poverty, and take their YouTube channel to the next level.

Brooklyn and Bailey Get 11M Views During Challenge to End Period Poverty

We’re sure you’ve heard the news by now: There’s a devastating crisis unfolding in Ukraine, one that’s been brewing since 2014 and causing widespread suffering for millions of people – especially children.

 have become refugees already, according to the United Nations Children's Fund. Every day, another 

. Let’s unite to support Ukraine with a global movement called 

#CreatorsForPeace is partnering with creators worldwide to raise money and awareness for Ukrainian children.

Creators on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms will spark the movement by talking about what’s happening in Ukraine.

who may be traumatized, in danger, or separated from their families.

This video explains more about the #CreatorsForPeace mission and how you can help beyond donating.

Here’s how you’ll support Ukraine through #CreatorsForPeace:

 about the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and ask your followers to donate to UNICEF.

 on your social media using the #CreatorsForPeace hashtag.

Ukrainians are our friends and a significant portion of the vidIQ team. It saddens us to see them suffer as tensions escalate in Europe. They deserve better.

We’re doing everything we can to support our Ukrainian colleagues from afar. With your help, we hope to support even more people through #CreatorsForPeace. That includes Ukrainians, refugees of all backgrounds, and anyone displaced by the war.

Collectively, many of you have platforms that reach millions of people. Let’s mobilize those followers, subscribers, and viewers to 

As a creator, you have the power to help millions of people in Ukraine by mobilizing your audience. It's time to create, advocate, and raise funds for world peace.

Join #CreatorsForPeace to Support Humanitarian Efforts In Ukraine

Expanding on its promise to uplift Black creators, YouTube has developed a special 

 grant program. Over several years, the platform will invest the money into more than 500 creators to help them develop content and grow their channels.

This year, 132 creators across the world will receive funding. Of that number, YouTube is announcing its list of 36 U.S. creators first, which includes comedian 

. All 132 creators are being recognized as the #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2021.

For a brief introduction to the U.S. grantees, watch the video below:

The #YouTubeBlack Voices grant program is made possible by the larger 

. Announced in 2020, the $100M, multiyear initiative was created to amplify Black voices and perspectives on YouTube. Some of the original programs that have been funded so far, such as the “

 emphasized the urgent need for racial justice. It was a timely response to police violence against people of color, especially after the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black citizens in America.

YouTube Has an Ongoing Mission to Center Black Creatives

These initiatives may seem new, but YouTube has been developing them for years. In 2016, the platform hosted its first #YouTubeBlack Summit, where influential Black creators held insightful discussions with one another. In subsequent years, YouTube kept the momentum going with a slew of events. There were workshops, more summits, and exciting festivals, such as the 

Going forward, YouTube will not only fund individual Black creators but help create/pick up YouTube Originals that highlight racial justice and Black experiences. The #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund will help these projects come to fruition, and we’re excited to see what happens.

From all of us at vidIQ, congratulations to the #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2021! Whether you’re a YouTube creator or passionate viewer, drop by these creators’ channels to support their content:

*The list above includes 35 creators. According to YouTube, not all 36 creators choose to participate in the formal list.

Following a year of anti-racism protests, YouTube is making good on its promise to both fund and celebrate Black creators.

YouTube Rolls Out Grant Program for Black Creators

It’s been an incredibly disruptive and turbulent past few months, what with the 

, and the coronavirus pandemic. But at last, we have some great news: Firing someone for being gay or transgender is now officially illegal in the U.S.

On June 15th 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that the 

 totally protects workers against this type of discrimination. It’s a decision that couldn’t have come at a better time because right now, it’s 

. And to commemorate that fact, millions of people are celebrating the decision, with LGBTQ communities across the country are attending (often virtual) parties, parades, workshops, concerts, and more.

But while there are celebrations to be had, Pride Month has its own deeper historical significance. One of which is to memorialize the 

, which set a firecracker under the gay liberation movement.

On YouTube, the result of these triumphs is clear. Every day, more creators feel empowered to celebrate their sexual/gender identity before millions of viewers. It’s an incredible thing to witness because hands down, there’s no greater joy than living an authentic life.

To celebrate those who do that extremely well, we’re here to uplift some amazing YouTubers. Coming right up, here are three creators who make the LGBTQIA community proud, day in, and day out.

 is a transgender activist, as well as a talented illustrator. On her YouTube channel, she boldly uploads videos about race, sex positivity, gender, art, and more.

Never one to shy away from tough conversations, she makes videos most people wouldn’t have the nerve to share on the internet, such as “

” and “Am I Too Sex Positive” (see below).

It’s fearless content like this that makes Kat Blaque a gift to the LGBTQ community. One of her best contributions is her ability to champion transgender women while refusing to succumb to one, constricting identity.

For example, Kat is a Black trans woman, but as you’ll discover when watching her videos, she doesn’t feel the need to choose one identity over the other. And while the world may want that, Kat is not giving in to societal pressure. In the intro of her video, “Do I Even Belong In The Black Community?”, she states:

“I think sometimes when you’re LGBTQIA+ and you’re Black, you feel like you have to choose between being Black or LGBTQIA. You feel that way because a lot of Black people’s attitudes toward it is, ‘Oh, we don’t do that.”

. Judging by her content, she seems to be secure in her Pride - and the LGBTQ community needs people like her to look up to.

vlog channel with over 9.3M subscribers and 2B views

, long-time YouTube creator Joey Graceffa runs a 

 with 2.65M subscribers. Almost daily, he uploads fun streams from popular titles such as Minecraft, Roblox, and The Sims.

Joey, who identifies as gay and who came out publically in May 2015, uploads insanely fun gameplay.

One thing that stands out about Joey and his videos is that you don’t have to be a hardcore gamer to enjoy them. He mostly plays Minecraft, and seasoned gamers as well as newcomers will appreciate the light-hearted commentary in his streams.

In one such video (above), fed up with the state of his Minecraft farm, Joey chops down a massive sugarcane field. As a viewer, seeing the giant stalks come down is immensely satisfying, but not as much as Joey’s reaction to it all.

 that's generated over 2.4M subscribers, and 333M views, Hannah Hart has a powerful platform to discuss, promote, and celebrate LGBTQ topics.

Much of her content videos speak directly to the LGBTQ+ community, including a Playlist titled 

 which, to date, houses 37 of those videos. Between topics like “

,” and "Perks of Dating a Girl," (below), the list of videos in this Playlist is pretty comprehensive.

That alone makes Hannah Hart an inspiring queer creator. She’s loud and proud about who she is (an engaged lesbian), and her content aims to either inform or entertain members of the LGBTQ community.

As Pride month continues, give the YouTube channels of these creators a visit, as well as any others that inspire you. These three are pretty awesome themselves, but there are plenty more to celebrate all year long.

 then make sure to download vidIQ. Over 1 million creators use vidIQ to help with keyword and competitor research, channel audits, and so much more. 

If you’re serious about growing your YouTube views and subscribers, sign up for exclusive access to the 

. Learn how to launch a successful YouTube Channel in just 30 days.

Pride Month is a celebration of LGBTG+ voices and communities across the U.S. Let's take a look at some of the top LGBTG creators on YouTube.

3 LGBTQ+ YouTubers to Watch & Celebrate in Pride Month

The killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many other Black people at the hands of the police and others, have sparked protests and riots across the world.

But outside of their families, and local communities, the names of those who have died still might not be as widely known by the public without video evidence. But when racial injustice goes viral, it amplifies conversations about inequality in ways that the justice system does not and can not.

Following the death of George Floyd, social movements were initiated, fundraisers were organized, and new laws were penned to create change. It’s almost too magnificent to believe, but that’s 

YouTube seems to understand this more than any brand. As a pioneer of online video, the company is using its platform to support anti-racism - both independently and with the help of talented creators.

To help spread the word, we’re highlighting important conversations from creators, plus what YouTube is doing to help. Keep scrolling to hear their perspectives, then do everything you can to support the 

 is highlighting racial justice issues. These featured videos, which you can view as playlists on YouTube’s own channel, share perspectives from Black creators, educational resources, and historical viewpoints on race.

Here are the 10 Playlists YouTube is promoting:

How to Talk to Kids About Racial Injustice

The videos within these playlists, namely “

”, discuss what it’s like to be Black in America. These featured creators talk about why Black people are angry and tired, what Black Lives Matter protests are really about, how to stay positive during dark times, and more.

Marques Brownlee on Tokenism and Racial Profiling

In terms of YouTubers creating conversations around racism and inequality, top tech expert 

 explains the loneliness of being the only Black person in white spaces. In a video published on June 4th, he taps into his youth, expressing his love for golf, ultimate frisbee, and making tech videos.

Although these things were great in the beginning, Marques confirms that as you climb the ranks, there’s much less diversity.

As a result, he began to question everything. Did he make the professional ultimate frisbee team because he was good enough? Or were decision-makers using his skin color to satisfy diversity quotas?

Being a competitor was almost enough to distract him from those worries, Brownlee says. Almost. He’d snap back to reality while driving away from practices, hyperaware of how he could be stopped by police for next to nothing.

To Brownlee, this painful duality—being tokenized but also hunted by authorities isn’t something we should try to disprove. He states:

“Not only is racism obviously unacceptable, but we also have to actively work against it. There’s always, somehow, people twisting that, making it political, making it a two-sided thing. I don’t understand how being anti-racist can possibly be controversial.”

Uninterrupted on the De-humanization of Black Athletes

, a sports network co-founded by Lebron James is also front and center of the conversation. The publisher uploaded a video on June 12th imploring sports fans to view professional athletes as more than just their jobs.

The video addresses the paradox of rooting for Black athletes on fields, courts, and arenas but nowhere else. It states:

“You ask us to move the chains, apply pressure, go for the jugular. You scream our names and wear our names and protect our names because we’re supposed to be family. But what about out here? Are you willing to scream for these names out here?”

Under that quote from the video, four names quickly flash across the screen: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, and Trayvon Martin. Uninterrupted doesn’t hold back in its message. The moving rhetoric of the narrator gives undeniable truth to every scene on the screen.

Important Conversations: Allyship and Black Trans Lives Matter

YouTube’s Spotlight playlists are only one way to join the conversation. TV personalities Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert are addressing racism on their own channels too.

By publishing videos about what it means to be anti-racist and 

, they are supporting Black lives and anti-racism.

These are great videos to watch because they normalize what allyship is supposed to be - using your platform, money, or time to dismantle racism as a non-person of color.

Nevertheless, the world has a long way to go in supporting all Black people. Often times, cisgender people carry the bulk of the conversation while members of the LGBTQ community are left out - especially Black transgender people.

Creators are addressing this too. YouTubers like Chauncey Jadore (below) and 

 are sharing their frustrations about the 

 because there are simply too many names: Riah Milton, Dominique Fells, Muhlaysia Booker, Kiki Fantroy, and Bee Love Slater, among others.

And what’s more, Black trans males are a part of that number, including the recent shooting of Tony McDade.

YouTube’s Initiative to Support Black Creators

In response to the global outcry for equality, YouTube is taking action. In a 

, she confirmed that YouTube will “amplify and develop the voices of Black creators” with a multiyear, $100M fund.

The money is already being put to use, and one of the first events was a live-streamed fundraiser called “Bear Witness, Take Action” on June 13th. It included artists and public figures such as Roxanne Gay and John Legend, as well as YouTubers 

For nearly two hours, “Bear Witness, Take Action” shared roundtable discussions, panels, and musical tributes to raise awareness for racial injustice. As of today's date, the live stream has generated over $1M.

The message from Black creators is clear: systemic racism, inequality, lack of visibility, police brutality, and other issues directly impacting Black lives need to be addressed on a global scale. Now.

YouTube is boldly amplifying that message and so should every other person, company, and brand.

As a pioneer in online video, YouTube is supporting #BlackLivesMatter both as a brand, and as a platform for Black creators.

Black Lives Matter: How the YouTube Community is Amplifying Black Voices

With over 2 Billion users, YouTube is in a unique position to guide the conversation around the current health crisis the world is facing. And the platform is encouraging creators to spread the word about social distancing and self-isolation to help flatten the curve of growth of 

With more countries under lockdown every day, the need to stay at home (unless you are a key worker, or need essential food or health supplies) is truly the only way we can contain the spread of this pandemic.

YouTube has been incredibly responsive to the advice given by Governments around the world and are now actively encouraging creators and influencers to '

'. It is asking YouTubers to consider publishing positive videos urging their audience to #StayHome, and creating content that viewers will find entertaining and informative under the #WithMe banner.

The platform has also rolled out resources that offer educational support for children, families and adults over the next few months.

YouTube wants creators to publish content that not only encourages viewers to stay home right now, but offers a way of entertaining and including them in a wide range of activities. Creators who have built an engaged following have the opportunity to support that community with videos that inform, teach, and inspire.

The new initiative, which promotes the #StayHome #WithMe message, is encouraging a sense of community and inclusion among both creators and viewers. YouTube is 

 to ensure your coronavirus videos are advertiser-friendly, factual, and hit the right tone.

, YouTube is curating a range of topics including the following:

The playlists feature a huge range of creators, including late-night talk show hosts like Jimmy Fallon, who have moved their broadcasts to YouTube:

YouTubers who plan to broadcast Premier or live-stream content around the #StayHome #WithMe campaign are also being offered a range of emojis to use for promotion:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you for sharing the message to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayHome</a> through your <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WithMe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WithMe</a> creativity! Let your viewers know about these emojis they can use in chat while you live stream and Premiere. Check out the full list in the reply below. <a href="https://t.co/5rK4GtImzz">pic.twitter.com/5rK4GtImzz</a></p>&mdash; YouTube Creators #StayHome (@ytcreators) <a href="https://twitter.com/ytcreators/status/1241130556055793667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote>

 that features informative and educational channels that create content around math, history, the arts, science and many more subjects.

The content is organized by age group with categories for pre school children, kids aged 5 and over, and teenagers. The Learning hub will also provide extra resources around education, such as schedules and relevant playlists.

YouTube is encouraging creators to 'spread the word to stop the spread' of coronavirus. Here are some ways YouTubers can play their part in the campaign to #StayHome #WithMe

Creator Causes

Brooklyn and Bailey Get 11M Views During Challenge to End Period Poverty

Lydia Sweatt

Join #CreatorsForPeace to Support Humanitarian Efforts In Ukraine

Lydia Sweatt

YouTube Rolls Out Grant Program for Black Creators

Lydia Sweatt

3 LGBTQ+ YouTubers to Watch & Celebrate in Pride Month

Lydia Sweatt

Black Lives Matter: How the YouTube Community is Amplifying Black Voices

Lydia Sweatt

YouTube to Creators: Spread the Word about Coronavirus

Carla Marshall