Lauren Riihimaki, widely known online as LaurDIY, is a Canadian YouTube creator and DIY specialist who built a major following through fashion, crafting, and lifestyle content. Her channel has grown to more than 8 million subscribers, while her work has expanded into television, music, podcasting, and other creative projects. She has hosted shows such as Craftopia, competed on The Reality House, and co-hosts the podcast Wild ‘Til 9 with her husband.
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Lauren Riihimaki comes from Japanese, Finnish, and Ukrainian heritage. Before becoming a full-time online creator, she focused on her education and developed an interest in creative and visual communication.
She attended Ryerson University, now known as Toronto Metropolitan University. In 2015, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in technology after studying graphic communications management.
Starting Her YouTube Journey
Riihimaki began uploading videos to YouTube in the spring of 2012 while she was still in college. Her content centered heavily on do-it-yourself projects, fashion ideas, and creative advice.
The channel eventually became known as LaurDIY and developed into a major online brand. Alongside YouTube, she also operates a blog using the same name, giving her audience another place to find her creative content.
Expanding Beyond YouTube
Her career has grown well beyond DIY tutorials. In September 2017, she released a song titled “DIY QUEEN,” adding music to her growing list of creative projects.
That same year, she made her film debut in Tyler Perry’s Boo 2! A Madea Halloween. She had also been featured in Seventeen magazine on multiple occasions.
In 2019, Riihimaki joined the first season of YouTube’s The Reality House, giving her audience a different look at her personality outside her usual content.
Craftopia and Television Work
One of Riihimaki’s major television opportunities came with Craftopia. She hosted the show’s first season in 2020, bringing her DIY expertise to a competition-based format.
She returned to host the following season in 2021. The show allowed her to combine her long-standing interest in crafting with her experience as an online entertainer.
Wild ‘Til 9 Podcast
Riihimaki has also developed a presence in podcasting. She hosts Wild ‘Til 9 with her husband, Jeremy Lewis.
The podcast has become another part of her media career and provides a platform separate from her traditional DIY and fashion content.
Relationship and Marriage
Riihimaki’s personal life has also received attention from her online audience. Her former boyfriend Baz appeared in some of her challenge and tag videos.
In 2015, she began dating Alex Burriss, also known as Alex Wassabi. Their relationship lasted until September 2018.
She later began dating entrepreneur Jeremy Lewis in 2019. The couple announced their engagement in December 2022 and married in April 2024.
Magazine Appearance and Creative Connections
In spring 2023, Riihimaki appeared on the cover of The Knot for its “The Inspiration Issue.” The feature added another notable achievement to her career as a creator and public personality.
She is also friends with fellow online creators Remi Cruz and Mia Sayoko, reflecting her long-standing connections within the digital creator community.
Final Thoughts
Lauren Riihimaki’s career shows how a simple YouTube channel can develop into a broad creative career. Starting with DIY videos while studying at university, she eventually built the LaurDIY brand into a platform with more than 8 million subscribers. Her work has since expanded into television, film, music, podcasting, and magazine features, making her a well-established figure in the online creator space.