American Influencer Awards: Winners include Koya Webb, Brad Mondo, Leslie Quezada
You follow them for style and beauty advice, fitness tips and simply to make you smile.
They are your workout partners, stylists and friends. Influencers have been around for more than a decade, but now we often follow their advice ahead of celebrities. Their relatability and transparency draw us closer to them
"This is the new entertainment," says LaToya Shambo, founder of influencer marketing agency Black Girl Digital. "TV is still there, but the phone is closer."
"You follow people who are either these larger-than-life, ‘wow, that’s aspirational’ types or the people that you feel like they’re right there next to you going through the same stuff at the same time," says New York-based influencer Katy Bellotte, 27, who aims to be the latter. "I don’t want people to ever feel like I’m better than them."
More than 3 million of you voted for your favorite social media personalities in beauty, fashion, lifestyle and fitness categories for Paste BN's American Influencer Awards.
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Here are the winners:
Beauty
Emerging Makeup Influencer
Tenisha Billington, TikTok: @flawlessbytenisha
Emerging Hair Influencer
Noelia Mejia, Instagram: @curlelia
Barber Influencer
TikTok: @vicblends
Creative Hair Colorist Influencer
Taylor Rae, Instagram: @taylorrae_hair
Hair Colorist Influencer
Jessica Scott-Santo, Instagram: @jessicscotthair
Influencer Beauty Brand
Henry M. Vasquez, HankandHenry, Instagram: @hankandhenrybeauty
Textured Hair Influencer
Leysa Carrillo, Instagram: @leysahairandmakeup
Tutorialist Influencer
Jose Jimenez, Instagram: @laviedunprince
Hair Influencer
Brad Mondo, TikTok: @bradmondonyc
Makeup Influencer
Angelica Torres, TikTok: @candylover89official
Emerging Fashion Influencer
Nicole Weisman, Instagram: @curvestocontour
Body Positivity Influencer
Chastity Garner, Instagram: @garnerstyle
Creative Fashion Influencer
Chelsea Chelsea, TikTok: @chelseaasoflate
Fashion Trend Influencer
TikTok: @therealmustbecindy
Fashion Design Influencer
Juliette Porter, Instagram: @julietteporter
Drag Influencer
Trixie Mattel, Instagram: @trixiemattel
Fashion Influencer
De'arra Taylor, Instagram: @dearra
Emerging Fitness
Instagram: @Iamhennessyfitness
Alternative Fitness
Cassey Ho, TikTok: @blogilates
Competition Influencer
Yarishna Ayala, Instagram: @Yarishna
More: Fitness influencers say mental health as important as physical health
Fitness Trainer
Maria Leguizamon, Instagram: @columbianmafiafit
Wellness Influencer
Koya Webb, Instagram: @koyawebb
Female Wellness Influencer
TikTok: @massyarias
Male Wellness Influencer
Darryl Williams, Youtube: @bullyjuice
Emerging Lifestyle Influencer
Lupita Espinoza, Youtube: @makeupbypita
Couple Influencer
Charles Davis and Alyssa Hyde, Instagram: @charlesandalyssa
Parenting Influencer
Crystal Pettit, Instagram: @crazypieces
Foodie Influencer
TikTok: @cookingwithlynja
Hacks and Tips Influencer
TikTok: @nataliesoutlet
Home Design Influencer
Barbara Lewis, Instagram: @theshabbytree
LGBTQIA+ Influencer
Ria Demiri, Instagram: @ria_d3miri
Pet Influencer
Tucker Budzyn, Instagram: @tuckerbudzyn
More: Pets on TikTok, Instagram get millions of followers. Why we love these furry influencers.
Product Review Influencer
Rosy McMichael, Youtube: @rosymcmichael
Sustainability Influencer
Armen Adamjan, TikTok: @creative_explained
Travel Influencer
Garrett Gee, Instagram: @thebucketlistfamily
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Lifestyle Influencer
Cassidy Montalvo, @TikTok: @justclassicallycassidy
Podcaster of the Year
Zane Hijazi and Heath Hussar for Zane and Heath: Unfiltered, Youtube: @zaneandheath
Content Creator of the Year
Leslie Quezada, TikTok: @Lesdomakeup1