YouTuber who became famous for being 'ugly' returns with incredible life update

Looks have become one of life’s most powerful currencies, with the phrase “pretty privilege” coined as a result of the preferential treatment those deemed to have more aesthetic appeal receive - something YouTuber David Martinsson says he never benefited from.

Viral vulnerability to a tale of love in the digital age

Back in 2018, Swedish creator Martinsson posted a deeply personal video about the bullying and mistreatment he was exposed to because of his “ugly” appearance.

At a time of social media filters, BBLs, and the ever-increasing emphasis placed on superficial traits, his raw honesty struck a chord. He originally said he only hoped to help a handful of people, but the video went on to rack up more than 26 million views.

A love story born in the comments section

Part of the reason it resonated so widely was not just his vulnerability, but what happened next. A woman named Juli Romina commented on the video, calling him cute.

That simple message sparked a relationship that catapulted Martinsson into marriage just a year later. Her original comment remains pinned to the video, which David has since transformed into a platform focused on encouragement and positivity rather than despair.

Recently, Juli shared a touching glimpse into their life together in Sweden. The couple have now welcomed a baby and were seen enjoying a snowy family walk.

Posting a video on TikTok, Juli joked in the caption: “POV: Flirted too hard and now I’m carrying a stroller in the middle of the Swedish winter,” adding that she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

It was the first time followers had seen David on her account since 2024, and fans were thrilled to see him looking content. Many flooded the comments with excitement, calling him a “legend” and celebrating the couple’s growing family, with some saying it’s still one of the best love stories to come from the internet.

However, their journey hasn’t been without challenges. Ahead of their child’s birth, David launched a GoFundMe after Juli was unable to secure an EU card during her pregnancy. He explained that the situation, which he attributed to misinformation, left them facing serious financial strain and even the possibility of poverty. Their plans to relocate to Argentina were also delayed.

Today, David has built a YouTube following of more than 400,000 subscribers, where he continues to document their life together. With his growing platform, he hopes to create stability and provide for his young family as they move forward.

Featured image credit: Never Give Up