Julie Franke is an American social media star and singer best known as the fourth child of Kevin Franke and Ruby Franke, the founders of the popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers. She was born on January 11, 2009, in Utah and has five siblings: Shari, Chad, Abby, Russell, and Eve. She is also known by her nicknames Ju-Ju and Kicker.
Early Life, Age & Education
Julie Franke (Age: 14 years old; as of 2023) grew up in a large and close-knit family in Springville, Utah. She attended a public elementary school until 2019 when her parents decided to homeschool her and her siblings. She enjoys reading, writing, drawing, singing, and playing the piano. She also loves animals and has a pet dog.
YouTube Career
Julie Franke made her YouTube debut in January 2015, when her mother Ruby launched the family channel 8 Passengers. The channel featured daily vlogs of the Franke family’s life, including their travels, celebrations, challenges, and parenting tips. Julie was often seen as a cheerful and energetic girl who liked to have fun with her siblings and friends. She also showcased her musical talents by singing and playing the piano in some of the videos.
The channel quickly gained popularity and reached over 2.4 million subscribers at its peak. The family also won several awards and nominations for their content, such as the Shorty Awards for Best YouTube Family in 2018 and the Streamy Awards for Best Family Channel in 2019.
However, things took a turn in 2020 after a series of controversies and criticisms emerged around the family. Some viewers accused the parents of abusing and neglecting their children, based on some of the videos they posted or deleted. For instance, one video showed that their son Chad had been forced to sleep on the floor for seven months as a punishment for pulling a prank on his younger brother. Another video showed that their daughter Eve had been locked out of the house for not wearing her shoes.
The family also faced a CPS investigation and a lawsuit from a former nanny who claimed that she was mistreated by the parents. As a result of the backlash, the family stopped vlogging and deleted their YouTube channel in August 2023.
Parents & Siblings
Julie Franke is the fourth child of Kevin and Ruby Franke, who are social media stars and the creators of the former YouTube channel 8 Passengers. She has five siblings: Shari, Chad, Abby, Russell, and Eve. They are all featured on the family vlog that documented their daily lives, challenges, and adventures. Julie was born on January 11, 2009, in Utah, United States. She is 14 years old as of 2023. She is also a singer and a gymnast. Here is a table that summarizes some information about Julie Franke and her parents and siblings:
Family Tree
| Name | Relation | Date of Birth | Age (as of 2023) | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Franke | Father | June 27, 1977 | 46 | Social Media Star, Engineer, University Professor |
| Ruby Franke | Mother | January 18, 1982 | 41 | Social Media Star |
| Shari Franke | Older Sister | April 3, 2003 | 20 | Social Media Star, Student |
| Chad Franke | Older Brother | February 2, 2005 | 18 | Social Media Star, Student |
| Abby Franke | Older Sister | April 14, 2006 | 17 | Social Media Star, Student |
| Julie Franke | Self | January 11, 2009 | 14 | Social Media Star, Student |
| Russell Franke | Younger Brother | May 13, 2011 | 12 | Social Media Star, Student |
| Eve Franke | Younger Sister | December 22, 2012 | 10 | Social Media Star, Student |
Boyfriend & Relationships
Julie Franke is currently 14 years old (as of 2023) and lives with her parents and siblings in Utah. She is not dating anyone at the moment and is focused on her education and hobbies. She has an Instagram account with over 300k followers, where she posts pictures of herself, her family and her dog. She also has an IMDb page where she is credited for appearing in two episodes of Studio C, a comedy sketch show.
Net Worth
Julie Franke’s net worth is estimated to be around $100k as of 2021. She earns most of her income from her social media platforms and her share of the family’s YouTube earnings. However, her net worth may change depending on the outcome of the legal issues that her parents are facing.
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Controversy
Julie Franke is the daughter of Ruby Franke, a former YouTube star who was arrested on August 30, 2023, on charges of aggravated child abuse. Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, were accused of starving and injuring two of their children, who were found at the home of Hildebrandt. The children were taken into protective custody and the parents were denied bail. Julie Franke and her other siblings are living with their father, Kevin Franke, who is fighting for their custody.
The arrest of Ruby Franke came after years of controversy and criticism over her parenting style and her YouTube channel, 8 Passengers, which documented the daily lives of her family. The channel had nearly 2.5 million subscribers before it was removed from YouTube earlier this year. It had been accused of showing signs of child abuse and neglect, such as withholding food, locking children in rooms, forcing them to sleep on beanbags, and making homophobic and racist comments.
Ruby Franke also co-founded a parenting advice and counseling service called ConneXions, which was labeled as a “cult” by some online. Two days before her arrest, she and Hildebrandt posted a video on their ConneXions YouTube channel, where they talked about having a “dirty little secret” and the consequences of dishonesty.
Julie Franke was devastated and confused by her mother’s arrest. She posted a video on her Instagram story on August 31, 2023, where she cried and said she loved her mother and did not understand what was going on. She also asked for prayers and support from her fans.
BIO/WIKI
| Name | Julie Franke |
| Nickname | Ju-Ju, Kicker |
| Date of Birth | January 11, 2009 |
| Age | 14 years old (as of 2023) |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Birth Place | Utah, United States |
| Residence | Springville, Utah, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Mormon |
| Education | Homeschooled |
| Occupation | Social Media Star, Singer |
| Height | 4 ft 11 in or 150 cm |
| Weight | 45 kg or 99 lbs |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Parents | Kevin Franke (Father) Ruby Franke (Mother) |
| Siblings | Shari Franke (Older Sister) Chad Franke (Older Brother) Abby Franke (Older Sister) Russell Franke (Younger Brother) Eve Franke (Younger Sister) |
| 8passengers_julie | |
| IMDb | nm15213664 |
Facts/Trivia
- Julie was named after her aunt Julie Deru, who is also a YouTube star.
- Franke has a birthmark on her left cheek that she likes to cover with makeup.
- She loves to eat sushi, pizza, and ice cream.
- Julie can play several songs on the piano by ear.
- Franke has a fear of spiders and heights.
- She likes to collect rocks, shells, and stickers.
- Franke has a talent for drawing and painting.
- Julie has a sweet tooth and often sneaks candy from her parents’ stash.
- Franke is allergic to cats and strawberries.
- She is very close to her older sister Abby and considers her as her best friend.
- Franke has traveled to many places with her family, such as Hawaii, Alaska, New York, London, and Paris.
- Julie hopes to become a singer or a veterinarian when she grows up.
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