If you’ve spent more than five minutes on the internet since 2020, you’ve probably seen the side-by-side photos. One side features James Charles, the face-taped, ultra-contoured beauty mogul who basically built the modern YouTube makeup scene. The other side? Dua Lipa, the reigning queen of disco-pop whose "Houdini" and "Training Season" are currently living rent-free in everyone's heads in 2026.
The resemblance is weird. Honestly, it’s borderline spooky.
But here is the thing: the connection between these two isn’t just about a shared jawline or similar bone structure. It’s about how two of the biggest forces in entertainment have navigated a landscape where beauty and music are no longer separate lanes. People keep asking if they are actually the same person. They aren't. Obviously. But the way their careers have overlapped—and the way James literally tried to become her—tells us a lot about how celebrity works today.
The Viral Moment That Started It All
It actually peaked a few years back when James uploaded a video titled Transforming myself into Dua Lipa! He didn't just put on a wig. He went full method. He used face tape to pull his temples back, mimicking Dua’s signature "snatched" brow look. He swapped his usual heavy, "to the heavens" nose contour for her more natural, softer bridge.
The internet lost its collective mind.
At first glance, even the die-hard fans couldn't tell them apart. It sparked a wave of memes that never really died. You've seen the tweets. "Have we ever seen them in the same room?" No. Well, maybe at a random fashion week party, but never together in a way that silenced the "twin" rumors.
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But looking deeper, there's a reason James Charles and Dua Lipa became such a linked pair in the public consciousness. It isn’t just the face. It’s the aesthetic. Dua’s "Future Nostalgia" era was defined by bold, graphic liners and 90s-inspired beauty. James, meanwhile, was the one teaching an entire generation how to actually paint those looks. They were feeding the same beast from different ends.
Why the Resemblance Still Matters in 2026
Fast forward to right now. Dua Lipa just launched her own skincare line, DUA, in late 2025. She teamed up with Augustinus Bader—which is a huge flex, by the way—to create a line focused on the TFC5 technology. It’s a move that firmly plants her in the "beauty mogul" category that James has inhabited for a decade.
James, on the other hand, is still grinding with his brand, Painted.
He’s moved away from the Morphe drama of the past and is focusing on high-pigment artistry. While Dua is selling "effortless" skin health for $80 a serum, James is selling the tools to create a literal masterpiece on your face.
It’s an interesting contrast. Dua represents the "cool girl" who wakes up looking like a million dollars (even if it takes a three-step routine to get there). James represents the "artistry" of construction. One is about the glow; the other is about the paint.
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The Business of Being a "Twin"
Let's get real for a second. Being compared to a global pop star is the best PR James Charles ever got. For Dua, it’s a bit of a running gag that keeps her name in the influencer ecosystem without her having to do any of the "influencer" labor.
- Dua's Strategy: She maintains a certain distance. She doesn't really comment on the memes. She stays "high fashion," wearing Gucci La Famiglia and Atelier Versace.
- James's Strategy: He leans in. He knows that a video about Dua will get millions of views because of the search volume. He’s the expert at "riding the wave."
There were rumors back in 2025 that James might do a "Painted" collaboration with a major artist. Everyone guessed Dua. It didn't happen. Honestly, it probably won't. Dua's brand is very curated, very "silent luxury" with a pop twist. James is... loud. His brand is built on "Sisters" and high-energy tutorials. The vibes don't quite match, even if the faces do.
What People Get Wrong About the Comparison
The biggest misconception? That James is just "copying" her.
If you look at his career, James was doing that specific, arched-brow, heavy-liner look long before Dua Lipa became a household name in the US. If anything, the "look" of the late 2010s and early 2020s was a feedback loop. Influencers created a style; pop stars adopted it; influencers then "transformed" into those pop stars using the style they helped popularize.
It's a snake eating its own tail.
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Where They Stand Now
As of January 2026, Dua Lipa is preparing for more tour dates. She’s at the peak of her musical powers. Her skincare line is sold out in most Sephoras. She is essentially untouchable.
James Charles is in a different spot. He’s still a massive YouTuber—24 million subscribers is nothing to sneeze at—but his influence has shifted. He’s no longer the "gatekeeper" of beauty. He’s more of a legacy creator. He’s the guy you go to when you want to see if a product actually works, or if you want to see a crazy transformation.
They are two sides of the same celebrity coin. One is the icon; the other is the technician who explains how the icon was built.
Final Thoughts on the Duo
If you're looking for a collaboration, don't hold your breath. But if you want to achieve that "Dua look," James's old tutorials are actually still the best roadmap. He understands her face better than anyone because, well, he basically has it.
To stay ahead of the curve, focus on the "preventative" beauty trend Dua is pushing with her TFC5-based line. The era of heavy, mask-like makeup is fading. 2026 is all about the "Supercharged Glow." Use James's techniques for placement—where to put the light and shadow—but use the lighter, skin-first products that Dua is championing.
Next Steps for Your Beauty Routine:
Start by auditing your kit. If you’re still using the heavy "Stage" contour from 2019, it’s time to swap it for a serum-based bronze. Look for products containing prebiotics to support your skin microbiome, as highlighted in the recent DUA launch. You can still use the "face tape" trick for photos, but for daily wear, focus on brow lamination and a "marine bio-retinol" to get that snatched look without the literal adhesive. By blending James’s technical precision with Dua’s "clean" aesthetic, you’ll hit the 2026 sweet spot of looking like a pop star without looking like you’re wearing a mask.