{{Short description|Polish travel blogger, vlogger and TV host (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox youtuber | name = Eva zu Beck | image = | birth_name = Ewa Bianka Zubek | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|4|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Poland | occupation = {{hlist|Travel blogger|vlogger|television host}} | alma_mater = University of Oxford<ref name=Oxford>{{cite news |title=TRT World will broadcast first episode of "A Place Called Pakistan" on August 15 |url=https://dnd.com.pk/trt-world-will-broadcast-first-episode-of-a-place-called-pakistan-on-august-15/195394?amp |access-date=8 June 2021 |work=Dispatch News Desk |date=11 August 2020 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608030458/https://dnd.com.pk/trt-world-will-broadcast-first-episode-of-a-place-called-pakistan-on-august-15/195394?amp |url-status=live}}</ref> | website = {{URL|evazubeck.com}} | youtube_handle = @evazubeck | youtube_display_name = Eva zu Beck | youtube_genre = Travel vlogs | youtube_subscribers = 1.9 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE without updating month/year of stats_update immediately BELOW --> | youtube_views = 188 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE without updating month/year of stats_update immediately BELOW --> | stats_update = February 2026 }}
'''Eva zu Beck''' (born '''Ewa Bianka Zubek''' on 26 April 1991) is a Polish travel and adventure blogger, vlogger and presenter.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ali|first1=Kalbe|date=19 August 2018|title=Polish blogger announces travel show for Pakistan |work=Dawn |location=Islamabad|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1427808|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608023641/https://www.dawn.com/news/1427808 |url-status=live}}</ref> She has travelled to 60 countries including Mongolia,<ref name=Tedx>{{Cite web |publisher=Tedx Talks |title=How embracing your fears can change your life {{!}} Eva Zu Beck {{!}} TEDxIslamabadWomen |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n30jjxU0UMM |access-date=2023-11-28 |language=en}}</ref> Pakistan, where she lived for over a year,<ref name="Shackle 2020">{{cite news |last1=Shackle |first1=Samira |title=How western travel influencers got tangled up in Pakistan's politics |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/nov/12/western-travel-influencers-social-media-pakistan-politics |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711180039/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2020/nov/12/western-travel-influencers-social-media-pakistan-politics |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bari 2021">{{cite news |last1=Bari |first1=Mavra |title=COVID offers Pakistan chance to focus on ecotourism |url=https://www.dw.com/en/covid-pakistan-tourism-ecology/a-56717727 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=DW |date=26 February 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183514/https://www.dw.com/en/covid-pakistan-tourism-ecology/a-56717727 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1568196/pakistan|title=Pakistan can be world's top tourism destination — Eva Zu Beck tells Forbes|work=Arab News Pakistan|date=13 October 2019|accessdate=19 September 2021 |first=Sabah Bano |last=Malik|archive-date=19 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919034213/https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1568196/pakistan|url-status=live}}</ref> Afghanistan, Yemen<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoeller |first1=Sophie-Claire |title=A YouTube star decided to stay on a remote island off the coast of Yemen after borders closed, but says she doesn't regret a thing |url=https://www.insider.com/eva-zu-beck-spent-lockdown-on-socotra-island-yemen-2020-6 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=Insider |date=2 June 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704184411/https://www.insider.com/eva-zu-beck-spent-lockdown-on-socotra-island-yemen-2020-6 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Jain 2020">{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Sanya |title="Parallel Universe," Says Blogger Isolating On One Of World's Most Remote Islands |url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/parallel-universe-says-blogger-isolating-on-one-of-worlds-most-remote-islands-2231514 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=NDTV |date=19 May 2020 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183611/https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/parallel-universe-says-blogger-isolating-on-one-of-worlds-most-remote-islands-2231514 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |author=Jessica Vincent |title=Isolating on a desert island: Polish YouTube star skips lockdown |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/socotra-yemen-eva-zu-beck-youtube/index.html |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=CNN |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608025312/https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/socotra-yemen-eva-zu-beck-youtube/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=A |first1=Muniza |title=Eva Zu Beck Says Pakistan Can Be Number One Tourist Destination |url=https://www.parhlo.com/Eva-zu-beck-considers-pakistan-top-tourist-country |website=Parhlo |access-date=6 July 2021 |date=14 October 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184422/https://www.parhlo.com/Eva-zu-beck-considers-pakistan-top-tourist-country/ |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Breanna Wilson of ''Field Mag'', "A major part of the Polish traveler's appeal is that she manages to make living in the remotest parts of Pakistan or exploring the streets of Afghanistan appealing, even as a solo female traveler.<ref>Wilson, Breanna. [https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/youtuber-eva-zu-beck-interview-overlanding-americas "Q&A: Eva zu Beck on Solo Travel, How to Plan for Big Adventures & More"], ''Field Mag'', January 12, 2023</ref>
==Early life and career== Zu Beck was born on 26 April 1991 in Poland, the oldest of three children raised by a single mother.<ref name=Reddy>Reddy, Naveen. [https://youthmotivator4life.com/eva-zu-beck-biography "Eva zu Beck"], ''Youth Motivator'', March 7, 2023</ref> She moved with her family to England around the age of 12.<ref name=OJ>Brady, Scott. [https://overlandjournal.com/pages/eva-zu-beck-on-inspiring-ourselves-and-others-to-travel-the-world "Eva Zu Beck on Inspiring Ourselves and Others to Travel the World"], ''Overland Journal'', Podcast #122 (2022). Retrieved November 9, 2025</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Khan |first1=Maliha |title=11 Interesting Things We Found Out About Eva Zu Beck After Her Recent Exclusive Interview |url=https://www.mangobaaz.com/11-interesting-things-we-found-out-about-eva-zu-beck-after-her-recent-exclusive-interview |website=MangoBaaz |access-date=6 July 2021 |date=2 January 2019 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185912/https://www.mangobaaz.com/11-interesting-things-we-found-out-about-eva-zu-beck-after-her-recent-exclusive-interview |url-status=live}}</ref> She was educated at The Henley College (2007–2009) and then studied German and French languages at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2013.<ref name=Oxford/><ref name=Reddy/> She worked at the European Parliament in Brussels and in several other jobs,<ref name=Reddy/> and for four years in London for Culture Trip, a travel media start-up, but she became unhappy with her conventional life; she left to travel in Nepal in late 2017, decided to try travel vlogging and soon moved to Pakistan, which she had read was among the most dangerous countries in the world.<ref name=OJ/><ref name=Tedx/>
She gained wide attention in 2018 after posting a "Kiki Challenge" video on YouTube to celebrate Pakistan's independence day, dancing draped in the country's flag, which also drew accusations of disrespecting the flag.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 August 2018|title=NAB orders probe into PIA dance video made by Polish tourist|work=Dawn |location=Islamabad |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1426870|access-date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608024346/https://www.dawn.com/news/1426870|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Viral IT girl uses her talents to boost Pakistan's tourism |url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/viral-it-girl-uses-her-talents-to-boost-pakistan-1812 |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=www.thefirstnews.comn |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183331/https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/viral-it-girl-uses-her-talents-to-boost-pakistan-1812 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='The Heart of the Caucasus' - Vlogger Eva zu Beck releases video about Armenia |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/992810.html |access-date=6 July 2021 |work=armenpress.am |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183158/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/992810.html |url-status=live}}</ref> She travelled by horseback in Mongolia in 2019.<ref>Zu Beck, Eva. [https://www.thetimes.com/video/lifestyle/article/my-solo-ride-across-mongolia-to-mend-a-broken-heart-53sqzq968 "My solo ride across Mongolia to mend a broken heart"], ''The Sunday Times'', September 24, 2025</ref> In 2020, she hosted TRT World's show, ''A Place Called Pakistan'',<ref>{{cite news|last=Zu Beck|first=Eva|date=20 August 2020 |title=A Place Called Pakistan|work=TRT World |url=https://www.trtworld.com/perspectives/a-place-called-pakistan-39061 |access-date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608024346/https://www.trtworld.com/perspectives/a-place-called-pakistan-39061 |url-status=live}}</ref> and presented a Euronews YouTube miniseries called ''Rerouted: The Balkans''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thurlow|first1=Max|date=29 April 2021|title=Welcome to the family vineyard that survived two world wars|work=Euronews|url=https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/04/29/welcome-to-the-family-vineyard-that-survived-two-world-wars|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=8 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608023642/https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/04/29/welcome-to-the-family-vineyard-that-survived-two-world-wars|url-status=live}}</ref> She joined BBC's ''The Travel Show'' as a presenter, reporting on the clean-up of the Mexican wetlands from the canals of Xochimilco<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018zn1 |title=Mexican Green Wave |publisher=BBC World News |work=The Travel Show |access-date=3 July 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703133924/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0018zn1 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a 450 dog-sled race in Yukon, Canada, marking the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001l7rt |title=The Four Legged Mail Trail |publisher=BBC World News |work=The Travel Show |access-date=28 April 2023 |archive-date=28 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428075524/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001l7rt |url-status=live}}</ref>
==North America and later== In early 2022 she began a road trip of the Americas while living in a converted Land Rover Defender that she named Odyssey, which she had shipped from Germany to Mexico. Her goal was to drive to the northern tip of Alaska and then to the southern tip of South America.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=31 July 2021 |last1=Zu Beck |first1=Eva| title=I Moved Into My 4x4 Truck Full-time |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rsiSZoAzME |publisher=Eva zu Beck (@evazubeck) |via=YouTube}}</ref> While her truck was en route to Mexico, zu Beck flew to Antarctica in early February 2022 where she was among a group that climbed to the summit of Mount Vinson, the Antarctic's tallest peak with a height of 4,892 m (16,050 ft).<ref>{{cite AV media |date=11 February 2022 |last1=Zu Beck |first1=Eva| title=Expedition to Antarctica's Highest Mountain (Rare Footage) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVAEsI6rMGM&ab_chFannel=EvazuBeck |publisher=Eva zu Beck (@evazubeck) |via=YouTube}}</ref> After driving from Mexico into the U.S., she bought a German Shepherd puppy, Wilk, and continued north, vlogging through the U.S. and Canada. In the fall of 2022, she reached the northern tip of Alaska<ref>{{cite AV media |date=22 October 2022 |last1=Zu Beck |first1=Eva| title=I Drove to the Far North of Alaska (End of the Road) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7xmhuCgMO0&ab_channel=EvazuBeck |publisher=Eva zu Beck (@evazubeck) |via=YouTube}}</ref> and briefly swam in the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean. She then drove south through the US and Canada again and re-entered Mexico. While still in Mexico, in March 2023, she abandoned her goal of driving through central and South America and took a break from vlogging.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=26 February 2023 |last1=Zu Beck |first1=Eva| title=Goodbye for Now |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-uttgVGOr0&ab_channel=EvazuBeck |publisher=Eva zu Beck (@evazubeck) |via=YouTube}}</ref>
She participated together with Wilk in the 2024 Lapland Arctic Ultra, but dropped out after 100 km due to an unexpected paw injury suffered by Wilk. In July 2024, she finished in third position among women – and tenth overall – in the Gobi March 250 km ultramarathon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gobi March 250 km ultramarathon 2024 Results |url=https://statistik.d-u-v.org/getresultevent.php?event=99397 |website=Deutsche Ultramarathon Vereinigung |access-date=20 July 2024}}</ref> In March 2025, she successfully completed the Lapland Arctic Ultra, 500 km distance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results 2025 – Bright Equipment Lapland Arctic Ultra |url=https://lapland.arcticultra.de/results-2025/ |website=lapland.arcticultra.de |access-date=2025-04-21}}</ref> Zu Beck starred in the miniseries ''Superskilled with Eva zu Beck'' (2024–2025), an exploration and adventure series on National Geographic's YouTube channel<ref name=Superskilled>[https://www.youtube.com/show/VLPLivjPDlt6ApSAcYzTGCkq5CFFDP3NbrnV?sbp=KgtoTElFN1hWTGh0d0AB "''Superskilled with Eva zu Beck''"], ''National Geographic'', via YouTube. Retrieved November 8, 2025</ref> and later Disney+,<ref>[https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/show/dcc4d30d-209d-405d-8b92-eddea1a6f70f "''Superskilled with Eva zu Beck''"], ''National Geographic'' on Disney+. Retrieved November 8, 2025</ref> and ABC.com,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20251212115949/https://abc.com/episode/61b4eb38-f4fc-4727-85c1-c2b4ed5fcd3e "''Superskilled with Eva zu Beck''"], ABC, October 2025</ref> which was a nominee for a Shorty Award.<ref>[https://shortyawards.com/17th/superskilled-with-eva-zu-beck "''Superskilled with Eva zu Beck''"], 17th Annual Shorty Awards (2025)</ref> In 2024 she purchased a remote property in Poland and, in 2025, moved onto the land, where she lives in a tent for much of the year,<ref>Zu Beck, Eva. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp0xIVbXsJ4 "From Oxford Grad to Living in a Tent (I Wrote a Book)"], October 28, 2025 via YouTube.</ref> and a small shepherd's hut in the winter.<ref>Zu Beck, Eva. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42UCpbf1Wec "I’m Moving Into an Old Shepherd’s Hut (Big Reveal!)"], November 20, 2025 via YouTube.</ref> In 2025, she won Outdoor Media Summit's award for "YouTube Channel of the Year".<ref>[https://www.outdoorsportswire.com/outdoor-media-summit-announces-2025-outdoor-media-award-winners-recognizing-excellence-in-outdoor-journalism-and-marketing "Outdoor Media Summit Announces 2025 Outdoor Media Award Winners, Recognizing Excellence in Outdoor Journalism and Marketing"], Outdoor Sportswire, November 3, 2025</ref> Her second season starring in ''Superskilled'' began in November 2025.<ref name=Superskilled/>
Zu Beck's memoir of her travels, ''The Wilder Way'', was published by Penguin Books's Century imprint in 2026.<ref>[https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/474536/the-wilder-way-by-beck-eva-zu/9781529965902 "''The Wilder Way''"], Penguin Books. Retrieved 28 October 2025.</ref><ref>Spanoudi, Melinda. [https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/century-snaps-up-eva-zu-becks-the-wilder-way "Century snaps up Eva zu Beck's ''The Wilder Way''"], ''The Bookseller'', November 6, 2025</ref> She was interviewed on ''This Morning''<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZwx8rXruRM "I Left My Marriage To Be A Travel Vlogger"], via YouTube, 5 May 2026</ref> and featured in ''The Sunday Times''<ref name=ST2026>Zu Beck, Eva, and Claire Cohen. [https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/i-left-husband-job-to-live-alone-in-hut-dqkkdngh8 "I left my husband to live alone in a hut without running water"], ''The Sunday Times'', 1 May 2026</ref> and other media.<ref>Smiley, Donna. [https://www.thesun.ie/fabulous/16937760/quit-marriage-live-tent "I quit my marriage to live in a tent"], ''The Irish Sun'', 10 May 2026</ref>
== Personal life == Zu Beck was married in 2016 and lived in Brussels with her Belgian husband, separating in 2017<ref name=ST2026/> and ending the marriage in 2018 before launching her travel career.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bhattarai |first1=Ujwal |title=YouTuber Eva Zu Beck Divorce with Her Husband In 2018 – Who Is She Dating Now? |url=https://showbizcorner.com/eva-zu-beck-divorce |publisher=Showbizcorner.com |access-date=12 November 2023| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231112111540/https://showbizcorner.com/eva-zu-beck-divorce | archive-date= 2023-11-12}}; {{Cite Instagram |first=Ewa | last= Zubek | user=evazubeck |postid= CIx3gMNHyCX |title=I Used to Be Married |date=2020-12-14 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20240613221825/https://www.instagram.com/p/CIx3gMNHyCX/?img_index=1 | archive-date=2024-06-13 |url-status=live}} and {{Cite Instagram |first=Ewa | last= Zubek | user=evazubeck |postid= CI0elU1HsoW |title=Lost… |date=2020-12-15}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Zu Beck, Eva}} Category:1991 births Category:21st-century Polish women writers Category:Living people Category:Polish bloggers Category:Polish women bloggers Category:Polish women television presenters Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford Category:YouTube travel vloggers