Eva zu Beck

Early Life and Background

Eva zu Beck, born Ewa Bianka Zubek on April 26, 1991, in Poland, grew up in a close-knit family raised by her single mother and grandparents. She has two younger brothers, Thomas (Tomek) and Michal. At a young age, she moved to England, where she learned English, and later studied French, German, and Italian in school. Eva excelled academically, earning an International Baccalaureate Diploma at The Henley College (2007–2009) and a BA in French and German from the University of Oxford (2009–2013). Her love for travel began early, inspired by her father’s travel journals from his adventures in a then-communist Poland. A curious kid, she dreamed of exploring beyond her small world, which later fueled her career.

Rise to Fame

Eva started her YouTube channel, “Eva zu Beck,” on February 24, 2013, but began posting regularly in 2018 with “Tour of WROCLAW’s most beautiful places with a LOCAL.” Her 2018 “Kiki Challenge” video with Pakistan International Airlines went viral, landing her on Pakistan’s news channels and boosting her channel. Quitting her corporate job in London in 2017, she bought a second-hand camera and booked a one-way ticket to Nepal, teaching herself filmmaking through YouTube tutorials. Her raw vlogs from places like Pakistan, Yemen, and Afghanistan, like “Why Pakistan Can Become the #1 Travel Destination,” drew millions for their bold storytelling. Her Instagram (@evazubeck) and TikTok grew with cultural snippets, making her a leading travel influencer.... Show More

Early Life and Background

Eva zu Beck, born Ewa Bianka Zubek on April 26, 1991, in Poland, grew up in a close-knit family raised by her single mother and grandparents. She has two younger brothers, Thomas (Tomek) and Michal. At a young age, she moved to England, where she learned English, and later studied French, German, and Italian in school. Eva excelled academically, earning an International Baccalaureate Diploma at The Henley College (2007–2009) and a BA in French and German from the University of Oxford (2009–2013). Her love for travel began early, inspired by her father’s travel journals from his adventures in a then-communist Poland. A curious kid, she dreamed of exploring beyond her small world, which later fueled her career.

Rise to Fame

Eva started her YouTube channel, “Eva zu Beck,” on February 24, 2013, but began posting regularly in 2018 with “Tour of WROCLAW’s most beautiful places with a LOCAL.” Her 2018 “Kiki Challenge” video with Pakistan International Airlines went viral, landing her on Pakistan’s news channels and boosting her channel. Quitting her corporate job in London in 2017, she bought a second-hand camera and booked a one-way ticket to Nepal, teaching herself filmmaking through YouTube tutorials. Her raw vlogs from places like Pakistan, Yemen, and Afghanistan, like “Why Pakistan Can Become the #1 Travel Destination,” drew millions for their bold storytelling. Her Instagram (@evazubeck) and TikTok grew with cultural snippets, making her a leading travel influencer.

Streaming Career and Content Style

Eva is a YouTuber, TV host, and travel vlogger known for cultural vlogs and short documentaries about offbeat destinations. Her YouTube channel features adventures like running Socotra’s first marathon in Yemen, living with Mongolian nomads, or driving a Land Rover Defender named Odyssey across the Americas. Her Instagram showcases vibrant travel photos, while TikTok offers quick adventure clips. Eva hosts Superskilled on National Geographic’s YouTube and has presented for BBC’s The Travel Show and TRT World’s A Place Called Pakistan. Her style is fearless and empathetic, focusing on human stories, like tea with Pakistani locals, and inspiring viewers to embrace adventure. She sells travel guides and merch through her website.

Achievements and Recognition

Eva’s YouTube channel earned a Gold Play Button, with videos like her Pakistan series hitting millions of views. She won the 2019 International Baccalaureate Education Award and was featured in Condé Nast Traveler and The Huffington Post for her travel storytelling. Her work with Euronews (Rerouted: The Balkans) and National Geographic (Superskilled) has solidified her as a TV presenter. In 2022, she climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica, and her 197-country journey was celebrated in Forbes as a milestone for young travelers. Her 2024 Lapland Arctic Ultra attempt with her German Shepherd, Vilk, showed her grit, despite dropping out due to Vilk’s injury.

Personal Life

Eva splits her time between traveling and a base in Poland, often living out of her converted Land Rover Defender, Odyssey. She was married briefly but divorced, realizing she wasn’t ready for lifelong commitment, and has been single since, focusing on her career. Her dog, Vilk, a German Shepherd adopted in 2022, is her travel buddy, joining her on adventures like swimming in the Arctic Ocean. Eva stands at 5 feet 6 inches, weighs about 54 kg, with brown hair and eyes. She loves vegetarian food, influenced by her stance against animal suffering, and enjoys wine, with Greece and the Philippines as favorite spots. Close with her family, she cherishes her late father’s travel chronicles.

Impact and Future

Eva zu Beck has inspired fans to explore the world’s hidden corners, from war-torn Iraq to remote Socotra, with stories that humanize misunderstood places. Her videos, like sharing meals with Afghan locals, break cultural barriers, earning praise for their authenticity. She’s championed female travelers, spotlighting Pakistani influencers like Anita Jalil Baloch, and promotes courage through her motto, “spreading adventure, freedom, and friendship.”. Her tough moments, like a scary U.S. border detention in 2022, show her resilience. Looking ahead, Eva plans to keep vlogging, possibly revisiting Pakistan or exploring new regions, and expand Superskilled. With Vilk and her community, she’s set to remain a bold voice in travel, pushing viewers to chase their own adventures.