Beyonce
Business, music, fashion & activism
Singer, entrepreneur, and activist known for Grammy-winning music, fashion brand Ivy Park, and bold visual storytelling. She champions Black pride and women's empowerment globally.
The Rock
Actor/entrepreneur
Actor and entrepreneur who rose from WWE fame to global stardom. Known for blockbuster films, Teremana Tequila, and motivational leadership.
Serena Williams
Tennis legend & lifestyle voice
Founded Serena Ventures to support underrepresented founders, launched WYN Beauty, jewelry brands philanthropist, supports youth education.
Yara Shahidi
Producer, Actress, Activist
American actress and producer (b. 2000), originally renowned for Black‑ish and lead star of Grown-ish. Harvard graduate balancing acting with activism via her production company, seeking to uplift diverse youth voices.
Marques Brownlee
Premier tech reviewer
Tech YouTuber (b. 1993) famed for high-quality gadget reviews since 2009. Hosts the MKBHD Podcast, with 19 M+ subscribers and interviews featuring tech leaders like Bill Gates.
Tabitha Brown
Vegan lifestyle & cooking creator
Actor turned vegan lifestyle influencer (b. 1979), known as “America’s Mom.” Emmy‑winning host and New York Times bestselling author, blending plant-based cooking with motivational content.
Keke Palmer
Actress & Social Justice Voice
Actress, singer, and host (b. 1993) with Emmy awards and roles from Akeelah and the Bee to Nope and One of Them Days. Founder of KeyTV and author of Master of Me, also an outspoken advocate on mental health and diversity.
Jackie Aina
Influential Beauty Creator & Advocate
Nigerian-American beauty influencer (b. 1987) with ~3.5 M YouTube subscribers. Co-created product lines with major brands and launched FORVR Mood, challenging the industry on color inclusivity.
Ava DuVernay
Filmmaker & Activist
Academy Award‑nominated director (b. 1972) of Selma, 13th, A Wrinkle in Time, and When They See Us. First Black woman to win Sundance Best Director and founded ARRAY to amplify Black filmmakers.
Winnie Harlow
Model & vitiligo awareness advocate
Canadian model and vitiligo advocate (b. 1994), rose to fame on America’s Next Top Model. Founded Cay Skin and became a role model for representation; unveiled a Madame Tussauds wax figure in 2025.
Raye Boyce
Amazonian beauty & lifestyle influencer
Beauty/lifestyle vlogger (b. 1990), known for relatable tutorials since 2012. Grew following across Tumblr, YouTube, and Instagram with a friendly, community‑focused style.
Allyson Felix
Olympic Athlete, Fitness, Empowerment
Most decorated female track athlete (b. 1985), 11 Olympic medals and 20 World medals. Entrepreneur with footwear brand Saysh, advocate for maternity rights, and co-founder of Always Alpha sports firm (data from earlier).
Lupita Nyongo
Actress & literary influencer
Oscar-winning actress (b. 1983) for 12 Years a Slave, whose children’s book Sulwe champions color confidence. Dual Kenyan-Mexican citizen, activist for heritage and representation.
Stoney Tha Great
Comedy & lifestyle creator
Atlanta-based TikTok reviewer (b. 1991) known for casual, viral pop culture breakdowns. Over 750K followers, praised for authenticity with brand partnerships to his name.
James Henry
TikTok Comedic Dancer
TikTok comedic dancer (b. 1994), rose from Vine to 4.2M followers and 62M likes. Forbes-featured entrepreneur turning viral sketches into broader entertainment business.
Khaby Lame
Silent Comedic Superstar
Senegalese-born Italian TikToker (b. 2000) who became the platform’s most followed creator. Famous for wordless reaction videos, UNICEF ambassador, judge on Italia’s Got Talent, and brand collaborator.
Jalaiah Harmon
Creator of “Viral Renegade Dance"
Choreographer (b. 2005) who created TikTok’s “Renegade,” sparking viral dance culture. Gained mainstream credit, signed with UTA, and earned over $1 M from endorsements.
Terrell Grice
YouTuber & Content Producer
YouTuber-producer (b. 1993), host of The Terrell Show with 1.3 M subs. NAACP Image nominee (twice), CAA-repped, musician, and pioneer in inclusive digital talk formats.
Brittany Packnett Cunningham
Activist & speaker racial justice
Educator-activist (b. 1984) co-founder of Campaign Zero and former TFA exec. Host of Undistracted, VP at BET, and influential speaker on racial justice and civic leadership.
Ve’ondre Mitchell
Black internet Celebrity & Activist
Trans TikTok star (b. 2004) with ~6.7 M followers, activist since age seven. 2021 HRC ambassador, Grammy-nominated musician with award-winning advocacy for Black trans youth
Massive Reach & Engagement: Many have millions of followers and high engagement rates.
Diverse Niches: They span music, comedy, activism, fashion, tech, beauty, wellness, sports, and more.
Cultural Impact: Their voices shape major trends and conversations—from Black culture and identity to technological innovation.
Industry Recognition: Most appear on Forbes “Top Creators,” and Forbes/PEOPLE lists, or have NAACP and Emmy nominations.
Authentic Messaging: They engage with audiences through empowerment, representation, activism, self-care, and creative expression.