It’s hard to remember a time before every influencer had a multi-part docuseries on a streaming platform. Today, we’re drowning in them. But back in 2017, when the YouTube landscape was shifting from "broadcast yourself" to high-production media empires, one film set a standard that few have actually managed to clear since. This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous wasn’t just a vanity project. It was a raw, sometimes uncomfortable, and deeply necessary look at a transition that happened in the public eye.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle the film is as good as it is. Directed by Barbara Kopple—a two-time Oscar winner—it bypassed the usual "I'm so blessed" fluff that usually defines creator content. Instead, it gave us Gigi Lazzarato. Or rather, it gave us Gregory, then Gigi, then the woman who became a global icon for the LGBTQ+ community.
The YouTube Origin Story Nobody Saw Coming
You’ve probably seen the old clips. A young, somewhat shy kid named Gregory Lazzarato sitting in a bedroom in Canada, talking to a webcam about makeup. It feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, "Beauty YouTube" was barely a thing. Gregory was a competitive diver, a high-energy personality, and someone clearly searching for a voice.
The documentary does this incredible thing where it weaves that archival footage with the present day. It doesn't just show the glamour; it shows the pixelated, 480p struggle of a teenager trying to figure out why they don't feel "right" in their own skin. Most people forget that Gigi’s channel originally started as a space for Gregory. When the transition began, it wasn't a calculated PR move. It was a terrifying, public leap of faith.
Barbara Kopple captured the sheer velocity of that change. One minute you're watching a kid talk about eyeliner, and the next, you're in a surgical recovery room. It’s visceral. The film doesn't look away from the bandages or the pain. That’s why This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous resonates even now—it treats the transition with the weight it deserves rather than treating it like a "reveal" in a reality show.
Family Dynamics: David Lazzarato is the MVP
If you watch the film and don't walk away with a massive amount of respect for Gigi’s father, David, you probably weren't paying attention. The relationship between Gigi and David is the emotional spine of the entire project.
It’s not perfect. It’s messy.
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David is a corporate executive, a "traditional" dad who lost his wife (Gigi’s mother, Judith) to cancer. The family was already grieving when Gigi began her transition. The documentary shows David’s evolution from confusion to unwavering support. He asks the "dumb" questions. He worries about her safety. He struggles with the pronouns at first. It’s real. It’s not a scripted "I always knew" moment. It’s a study in how a parent’s love can—and should—evolve when the person they love changes.
Why This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous Was a Turning Point for YouTube
Before this film hit Sundance, YouTube was still viewed by the "Old Guard" of Hollywood as a toy. A place for cat videos. When YouTube Red (remember that name?) commissioned this, they were trying to prove they could compete with HBO and Netflix.
They succeeded because they chose a subject who was already living her life in the open. This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous effectively bridged the gap between digital stardom and cinematic storytelling. It proved that "influencers" had stories that were deep enough to sustain a 90-minute feature film.
- It was the first YouTube Original to premiere at Sundance.
- It tackled the legalities of name changes and passport issues long before these topics were mainstream news cycles.
- It documented the physical toll of facial feminization surgery (FFS) with startling honesty.
Gigi wasn't just "content." She was a pioneer.
The Scariest Moment: The Dubai Incident
If you want to talk about the tension in this film, you have to talk about Dubai. In 2016, Gigi was detained at the Dubai airport because she is a trans woman. Her passport had been updated, but the authorities there reportedly didn't care.
The documentary captures the sheer terror of that moment. You see the frantic texts. You feel the isolation. It was a stark reminder that while Gigi lived a life of luxury in Los Angeles, the world at large is often a dangerous place for trans people. This segment of the film serves as a necessary reality check. It breaks the "bubble" of celebrity and shows the vulnerability that comes with being a public figure in a marginalized community. It wasn't just about "fame" anymore; it was about survival.
Beyond the Transition
The film ends, but Gigi’s story obviously didn't. Since the documentary's release, she’s become a New York Times bestselling author with He Said, She Said. She got married to Nats Getty. She became a mother.
But the documentary remains the definitive "time capsule." It caught that lightning-in-a-bottle moment where a person is becoming who they are meant to be while the world is watching.
Sometimes, people criticize the film for being "too polished." Sure, it’s a high-budget production. But the emotions aren't polished. The grief over her mother’s death is raw. The fear of surgery is real. The awkwardness of early vlogs is preserved in all its cringey glory.
What We Get Wrong About Gigi's Journey
A common misconception is that Gigi’s path was "easy" because she had money or a following. The documentary works hard to debunk that. Money can buy the best surgeons, but it can’t buy the courage to tell your father you're not his son. It can’t buy the resilience needed to face millions of comments—many of them hateful—every single day.
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Gigi’s story is often framed as a "success story," and it is. But the film shows the cost of that success. It shows the loneliness that comes with being "the first" to do something on such a massive scale.
- You see the physical pain of recovery.
- You see the emotional weight of being a spokesperson for a community when you're still figuring yourself out.
- You see the impact of losing a parent while going through the most significant change of your life.
Actionable Insights for Content Creators and Allies
If you’re watching or re-watching This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous, there are actual lessons to pull from it that go beyond just entertainment.
- Authenticity Is a Double-Edged Sword. Gigi’s career was built on being an open book. If you're a creator, understand that this level of transparency requires a thick skin and a support system like the one she has with her brothers and father.
- Support Systems Matter. If you're an ally, look at David Lazzarato. You don't have to have all the answers immediately. You just have to stay in the room. You have to keep showing up.
- Document Your Own History. Even if you aren't a famous YouTuber, there is power in looking back at where you started. Gigi’s ability to look at her "Gregory" videos with grace and love is a lesson in self-acceptance.
- Visibility Is Not the Same as Safety. As the Dubai incident proved, being "famous" doesn't protect you from systemic issues. Awareness is the first step, but advocacy is the work that follows.
This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous is more than just a biography. It’s a blueprint for the modern "prestige" influencer documentary. It didn't just tell a story; it changed how we perceive the people behind the screens. Whether you're a fan of hers or just someone interested in the evolution of digital culture, it’s a mandatory watch. It reminds us that behind every "perfect" Instagram feed or high-fashion photoshoot, there’s usually a person who had to fight incredibly hard just to exist as themselves.
If you want to understand the current state of celebrity, you have to look at the people who broke the mold first. Gigi didn't just break it; she shattered it and built something much more interesting in its place.
The next step is simple. Go back and watch the film with fresh eyes. Don't look at it as a "YouTube movie." Look at it as a family drama. Look at it as a survival story. Because at its core, that’s exactly what it is.