Influencers I Like :)
Friendly reminder that I'm rooting for everybody Black!!
We live in an age where everyone has at least one creator they gravitate to. The internet is too vast, connecting one another through shared interests, storytimes, make-up tutorials, etc. Being a part of the generation that was born into the heavy development of social media means I pretty much stay glued to my phone. If TikTok isn’t open, it’s YouTube, then Twitter is next. All that to say, I’ve naturally become fond of a couple of influencers;
Meech, Bubba, and Swave
My video blog on Demetrius “Meech” Harmon came after a long time watching him! As I explained in the video, I had discovered him when I came across Vine compilations in my late middle school/early high school years. He has the type of humor that seems effortless, getting a laugh out of me with every single TikTok video that comes across my feed.
Speaking of TikTok, a joke-filled football rivalry between Eagles and Lions fans gave us the absolutely hysterical trio of Meech, Bubba, and Swave. Bubba and Swave are Philadelphia natives who were on the Eagles’ side of the feud. Bubba, in particular, is loud and proud about his allegiance to the birds, making him the unofficial face of the fandom. A funny video of Meech responding to Bubba’s fans started the rivalry, and it quickly turned into a real-life friendship.
We see the trio together for the first time on Meech’s YouTube series, Eats With Meech, in which they made catfish bites, candied yams, and mac and cheese. As you might have guessed, it was absolutely hilarious. The three have since appeared on each other’s pages numerous times. Swave and Bubba are hard advocates for Meech’s clothing brand You Matter, and we recently learned from their latest link-up that they’re pretty good freestylers (plus, apparently, Meech keeps Lamb Chops in his freezer???). They have a pure friendship that translates beautifully on screen.
Deb Smikle
Lovingly referred to as “Grandma Deb” by her supporters, this Canadian influencer caught my eye some years ago after watching her rate TikTok thirst traps. I love finding people who can make me laugh, and she did just that. It felt like I was watching my homegirl on screen (I’m actually watching her as I type this out).
I really like it when a creator is consistent, and she’s had the same sense of humor, the same editing style, the same random British accent outburst I heard when I first discovered her in High School. On Instagram, she posts gorgeous pictures with outfits thatI’m 100% going to steal. All in all, she’s the perfect creator to want a breath of fresh air.
VellTheHuman
Gaming channels piqued my interest sometime last year, and since then, I have done my best to find Black creators to watch play video games. We’re all aware of the staples: Berleezy and CoryxKenshin (who I take the time to watch as well), but I found myself going back to watch Vell daily.
The thing I like most about him regarding his content is how expressive he is. It reminds me of me a little bit, and I like finding myself in the people I watch. I also really love his intro; I can’t help but say it with him every time. He’ll usually play horror games but will sometimes branch out, notably with his Sims series (which I think is his best series).
On a more personal note, before I posted my video blog, I was scared to do so, as it meant actually putting myself out there. People would see me; I was no longer faceless. So, I was contemplating not doing it, then his video entitled “Take That Risk” came up on my feed. That was honestly the push I needed to be okay with branching out more in terms of my career.
He’s one of those creators who’s authentic, someone I can watch without getting sick of their content, plus! His locs are giving me the confidence to go ahead and loc my hair.
Growwithjo and Austin The Trainer
These two people both post fitness and wellness content, though their videos are wildly different.
Jo makes me feel light; she reminds me that falling off with my fitness journey doesn’t mean I’m a failure. She encourages consistency, mental alignment, and the ability to forgive oneself. Because her content is very light, forgiving, and freeing, I do think that I start to be okay with taking too many cheat days or skipping too many workouts, and that’s where Austin comes into play.
His content is definitely not as nice as Jo’s. While she preaches consistency, he preaches discipline. A skipped workout doesn’t sit well with him. He pushes his clients, showing little to no mercy, constantly reminding them that temporary pain makes way for satisfactory results. When I feel myself wanting to slack, a video from Austin is quick to get me right back in gear.
Honorable Mentions
Ava Tocloo - Much like Deb, I feel like I’m watching a homegirl
Moji and Isaiah - Couple page that’s both funny and faith-based
Kellie with an *IE* - Her storytimes are so funny, and her laugh is funnier
Dev The Menace - He literally gives cool big cousin vibes
Jennelle Eliana - She made me seriously consider vanlife. She lives so freely
Keith Lee - The way he supports businesses, gives glory to God, and shows love to his family is admirable.
I’ll probably think about more creators I missed after this gets posted, though these are the ones I watch on a semi-daily basis.