18 Black Content Creators + Influencers You NEED To Follow on Instagram ASAP

Photo c/o Courtney Quinn of @colormecourtney

In the fashion industry, Black bloggers, content creators, and influencers have long been leading voices in promoting racial justice, diversity, and body-positivity. Now, more than ever, their voices need to be lifted, and their feeds spotlighted.

In addition to donating, protesting, learning, and circulating resources about police brutality and racism in America, amplifying Black voices is instrumental to change. And it's long overdue.

Photo c/o Cynthia Andrew of @simplycyn

Join me in following a few people I absolutely adore — some are close friends, others I’ve been fangirling over for years and several I just recently discovered. Whether they bring joy, knowledge or inspiring content—their posts never fail to make me stop my scroll.

18 Black Content Creators + Influencers You NEED To Follow on Instagram ASAP

Tyla Lauren

Tyla-Lauren Gilmore @tylauren
I met Tyla-Lauren when I first moved to NYC at a beauty event and was captivated by her magnetic energy. Tyla-Lauren Gilmore has style from head to toe. The New York native has incredible taste in beauty + fashion, but also a steadfast point of view and passion for promoting authenticity. Tyla really connected with her audience when she let them into her relationship with her natural hair, but as the years have progressed she has made it a point to educate her community on the power that comes when embracing both individuality and influence in any endeavor. Her graphic tee, jewelery and blazer game is also 100.

Cynthia Andrew

Cynthia Andrew is one of my absolute favorite people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting—ever. She is an absolute ray of sunshine, effortlessly authentic and incredibly smart. Cynthia grew up in West Africa, headed to college at the age of 16, and practiced law. That’s right she’s a practicing attorney. She has an incredibly unique worldview and takes us all along the journey with her as she documents everything beautifully. Not only is her story of balance an inspiration example to many, but this New York-based influencer’s bright aesthetic and gorgeous travel content sets her apart in the industry. Cynthia is currently pregnant with twins (YAY!) and renovating a Brownstone in Brooklyn, which means the content ahead is gonna be reallllllly good.

Donté Colley

I am obsessed with Donté Colley. The guy is like an anti-depressant or CBD in video form. Donté Colley started posting videos of himself dancing in 2018 and wanted to tap into something heartening that went beyond his moves: inspirational, accompanying graphics and special effects intended to make you smile. It didn’t take long for the self-taught Toronto-based dancer to go viral on Instagram (@donte.colley). He provides an unabashed silliness mixed with genuine kindness for his followers.. Colley has been featured in Ariana Grande videos, Glossier campaigns, and Good Morning America. He was dubbed “the hope we need on Instagram” by The New York Times, heralded as a little beacon of light amidst the doom and gloom hanging over the world. If you like happiness, you’ll like Donté.

Ayana Gabrielle Lage

Ayana Gabrielle Lage is probably my most favorite recent follow. The Tampa-based lifestyle blogger is a digital marketer by day, former journalist & occasional freelancer who went viral after sharing some incredible content during the most recent Black Lives Matter uprising. She is incredibly inspirational, a gracious leader and delivers truth with kindness. Her positivity is contagious and her aesthetic is a viiiibe. Ayana’s blog features posts about Tampa, marriage, fashion, lifestyle and she’s currently expecting a baby girl.

Chrissy Rutherford

Chrissy Rutherford @chrissyford
Chrissy Rutherford, an Elle and Harper’s Bazaar’s contributor, just does something to me. Her fashion sense is incredibly badass, timeless, edgy and chic all at once. She’s got an incredible eye for fashion and will leave you inspired to level up your style STAT. BUT, she’s so more than a fashion icon. Chrissy is a mental health advocate who puts forth beautiful, peaceful Pisces vibes into the internet. Starting her career as a fashion intern at Harper’s Bazaar (with a brief stint as the digital editorial assistant at InStyle) Rutherford worked her way up the ranks to a director role growing the brand’s Instagram account to 4.1 million followers and cementing it’s ranking as one of the top five magazine brands on the platform. Now the self-professed high achiever is switching lanes and getting used to feeling comfortable in the uncomfortable. I’m an open person and always have been. I want girls to know that you can have a multitude of interests—you can love fashion and spirituality, or politics and music, and it’s okay to share all these different sides of us. It’s so fun to be interested in many different things—these interests feed our soul. Also, taking care of our minds is just as important as taking care of our bodies.

Joél Leon

Joel Leon is a performer, author and storyteller, born and raised in the Bronx, who writes and tells stories for Black people. Joel and I actually hit it off on Twitter a few years ago and have stayed in close contact since. He is a bright light who makes the Internet a more honest, inspired, woke and edifying place. I honestly have to hold back not retweeting every dang thing he says every single day because he’s just always speaking to my soul about the things that are important. He has a way with words that has gotten him featured in the Columbia Journal, BBC News, Sirius XM, Forbes, Insider, Medium, Philadelphia Printworks, Blavity and the Huffington Post. He has spoken and performed at the Apollo Theater, Joe's Pub, Rockwood Music Hall, Columbia University, NYU and Webster Hall. He lives in the Bronx and is the father to Lilah and West.

Courtney Quinn

So, full disclosure: I am a long-time Color Me Courtney fan girl (she calls us “Cuties” and I’m here for it) and have been blessed that our paths have crossed IRL. I feel incredibly lucky to call her a friend. She is just as colorful, deep and magnetic offline as she is online. Courtney Quinn is a quirky New Yorker with an out of the box sense of style obsessed with all things colorful! After growing up in Arizona and earning her MBA in San Francisco, she moved to NYC to pursue a career in fashion, starting Color Me Courtney as a resume booster & creative outlet along the way. After years of working in the corporate world for brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Jonathan Adler, Kate Spade and Coach, Courtney left her role developing handbags to pursue Color Me Courtney full time. When she’s not creating candy colored content here, you’ll find Courtney front row at the latest Broadway show, eating her way through New York or binge-watching bad TV with her fiancé Paris and french bulldog, Waffles.

Jesse Williams

Ok, before you try to tell me Jesse Williams isn’t an influencer — I’d like to remind you that Influencers are anyone who has influence…and let’s be real, Jesse Williams has A LOT of that. While he’s known to many as Dr. Jackson Avery on the medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” where his piercing blue eyes make, Jesse’s smokin’ (ok, I might have a huuuuge crush on him) good looks aren’t the only thing that go viral. Jesse gave an impassioned speech on police brutality and institutionalized racism at the BET Awards in 2016 that instantly went viral and dominated social media well into the following week. The then 34-year-old, who was accepting the Humanitarian Award, has been a consistent presence in the Black Lives Matter movement since its beginning. Williams doesn’t just share his sharp opinions on Twitter and Tumblr. He has what people on social media might call “receipts” — proof of his credibility. He sits on the board of directors for the Advancement Project, a non­profit founded by civil-rights attorneys, dedicated to racial justice issues. In May, he appeared in “Stay Woke: The Black Lives Matter Movement,” a documentary he executive-produced. And after the police shooting of an unarmed Michael Brown, Williams headed to Ferguson, as protests heightened in October 2014. I am so inspired by the way Williams uses his influence to fight for social justice. He truly turns moments into movements and fights for change. Johnetta Elzie, a prominent Black Lives Matter activist, has said “He’s been there, and I can’t say that for many other celebrities who claim to be involved in the movement.” The guy practices everything he preaches and continues to go beyond the call of duty. That’s why he is a MUST follow on social media (he also posts pretty freakin’ hilarious memes).

Oneika Raymond

Oneika Raymond, a journalist, media personality, and Travel Channel host who has journeyed to over 100 countries on 6 continents. The Toronto-born but New York City-based travel blogger also happens to be one of my good friends. The woman is an absolute joy, truth teller, breath of fresh air, open book, globetrotting new mama who has a smile so contagious you can’t even try to holding back from giving her gorgeous photos a double tap. Oneika is obsessed with experiencing everything the planet has to offer and does an incredible job of documenting all the places she goes to help others create their own memories + adventures. Always resourceful, Oneika has created some really powerful content around racism abroad, traveling as a black woman and fighting racism in the tourism industry.

Jari Jones

Jari Jones is a black transgender model, actress, and activist based in New York, New York. We met last summer in the Hamptons on a weekend long retreat—I was immediately drawn to her energy, incredible fashion sense and bright smile. She is a light and I love that she leads conversation and action surrounding the protection and representation of trans and queer people of color in both fashion and theatre. In 2019, Jari was the first black trans producer to be recognized at Cannes Film Festival for Port Authority. Jari has also been featured in Nylon, The New York Times, Essence, Teen Vogue, PAPER, and Vogue. Most recently, Jari was featured in a Calvin Klein campaign that shows off her inner and outer beauty in a moving way. When asked about what role fashion plays in her life, Jari says “Clothing is an expression that surpasses even some of my most profound verbal activism. It allows me to set a tone in a room before I even open my mouth. Sometimes it’s welcoming and warm. Sometimes it’s serious and rigid. And sometimes it’s intimidating and cold. And that’s okay; it’s on purpose. I want the world around to see me clearly because when I do open my mouth—when I do lead forward with an action—the experience of me is that much more invigorating, that much more bold.”

Paris Sims

Sai De Silva

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Aysha Harun

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Rickey Thompson

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Chrissy Ford

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Kellie Brown

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Jovel Roystan

Jovel Roystan is a Brooklyn-based menswear and lifestyle influencer set on inspiring others to chase dreams bigger than just nine-to-five's and Netflix. He lives by three basic tenets: look good, live well and hustle hard. He’s best known for his trademark twist on athleisure and contemporary style. I met Jovel a few years ago when we were signed to the same talent agency and he immediately stood out to me. He’s kind, approachable, down-to-earth and has an incredible sense of style. I am constantly inspired by the way he pulls together looks—just watch one of his style or try-on videos and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Denise vasi

’m the founder and editor in chief of MAED. In a certain sense, my path to MAED began at the age of 12, when I signed with Ford Models and began appearing in magazines, like Elle and Marie Claire, and campaigns for global fashion and beauty brands. After transitioning to acting, I relocated from my native Brooklyn to Los Angeles, where I worked in film and television, including starring as Raquel in VH1’s “Single Ladies.” Two seasons into the series, I became pregnant. My daughter was born in February of 2015. The experience completely flipped the script.

As a model and actress, I had always paid attention to eating well and working out but now the stakes were higher. Motherhood is a 24/7 gig. There are no reshoots or stand-ins. Big life changes were triggered. I didn’t know that being a mother was so hard. I didn’t know that you could love anyone the way you love your child. I also didn’t know that I would take so much pride in my responsibilities as a mother. I was committed to raising my daughter as intentionally and naturally as possible. I began documenting my journey and our alternative choices via social media — from preparing plant-based clean meals and detoxing my home to hanging with my little one and making time for self-care. My followers’ DMs, tweets and comments soon made it clear: They wanted a permanent place to go for more info. So I created MAED.

kelly augustine

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