YouTube stars Brooklyn and Bailey 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 period poverty. They partnered with The Alliance for Period Supplies and set a goal to raise $100,000, which equals a donation of 1 million period products.
The catch? The twins had to do all 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:
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.
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?
Let's dive into a few reasons why.
Have you seen the news? Due to supply chain issues, period products are in short supply. Tampons are 9.8% more expensive 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 trending topic. 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.
Brooklyn and Bailey's period challenge was inspired by Ryan Trahan's penny challenge. If you missed it, here's the gist: Ryan crossed North America in 30 days to deliver a penny to another creator named MrBeast. 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).
Lydia Sweatt is a writer who loves balancing her article/blog time indoors with a healthy dose of nature. She bikes, hikes, and identifies edible plants along the way.
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