Nathália Rodrigues
She’s arguably one of the greatest Brazilian social media influencers around. Only 22 years old, this Black woman has already earned a place on Fortune magazine’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders list. Her YouTube channel Nath Finanças has amassed over 290,000 followers since its launch in 2019, and her audience hangs on her every word about investments and financial education. Her videos aim to empower more low-income earners to improve their economic status.
Fisayo Fosudo
This 25-year-old Nigerian YouTuber has over 260,000 followers and is one of the most easily recognizable content creators from Africa. An economics graduate with a background in graphic design, Fosudo both reviews gadgets and offers tips on fiscal discipline and investments for millennials and Gen Zers through several series, like Finance Fridays.
Tori Dunclap
Her mission: To help more women around the world beat the economic patriarchy by accomplishing what she did by age 25 — earning a six-figure income. Still only 27, Dunlap calls her philosophy “financial feminism.” She shares her finance tips on TikTok, where her platform Her First $100K has gained 2.1 million followers. Need more evidence that her strategy’s working? Last year, Dunlap earned half a million dollars from running the business.
I get compliments everywhere I go…
That’s what Amber from Hanover said about her new pair of Cariuma sneakers – along with loving the sustainable and eco-conscious business that’s behind them. It’s also why they come highly recommended by more and more trend-setters. Toss in worldwide shipping and extended 60-day returns, and you can see why these sell out quick… but folks in the OZY community can still get $15 off. Just use the code OZY2022.
HOW POET-TECH
Han Shimei
The 49-year-old factory cook was sold to her husband by her struggling family. Today, she’s emerging as China’s unlikely new poetry sensation. Each morning, she wakes up in her village in central Henan province to a flood of comments on her latest poetic musings, which she posts on Kuaishou, the popular, TikTok-like app. For Han, the poems are an outlet from a mundane life between the factory and the shoes she crochets in her free time. Her poetry has resonated with many other Chinese people as the country recovers from a recession and the pandemic.
Yrsa Daley-Ward
The daughter of a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father, the British writer has earned success spanning the worlds of Instagram and formal publishing. But wearing multiple hats comes naturally to Daley-Ward, who spent her early 20s in London as a struggling model for brands such as Apple and Nike, battling racism before moving to Cape Town, where it was easier to find work as a Black model. She has since found her true calling in poetry and prose, and an Instagram platform that brought fame and success.
Rupi Kaur
Arguably the queen of social media poetry, the Indian-Canadian artiste has 4.5 million followers on Instagram, and now does live readings. But she’s had critics too, including one who designed an artificial intelligence-based program that churned out poems remarkably similar to Kaur’s. But it’s precisely the simple language and relatable themes, such as identity and womanhood, that Kaur believes make her Insta-poems accessible. If poetry is about the masses and not just the elite, then her voice is more powerful than any critic.
WATCH
COUNTESS LUANN DE LESSEPS
on The Carlos Watson Show, season 4!
TIKTOK POLITICIANS
Gavin Newsom
California’s 40th governor has over 170,000 TikTok followers. And @gavinnewsom makes sure he uses the platform as an effective communication tool, whether on the state’s vaccination program or policy changes like a new state-funded guaranteed income plan. With TikTok emerging as an important medium to target young voters, it makes sense for politicians to use the platform. Newsom’s leading the way.
Mahathir Mohamad
But TikTok’s not just a young person’s game. This 96-year old former prime minister of Malaysia has drawn more than 390,000 followers on the platform since joining in August 2020. He goes by the handle @chedetofficial and insists he’s “still young.” His TikTok content ranges from taking on trending challenges to posting book recommendations and promoting Malaysian airports. His posts also feature a mix of English and Malay. Is he young enough to make one more political comeback — this time via TikTok?
Matt Little
A former mayor of Lakeville, Minnesota and ex Minnesota state senator, Little was one of the first and most-followed politicians on TikTok. Going by the handle @attorneymattlittle, he joined the app in January 2020 and boasts a following of over 155,000. He lost his bid for reelection in November 2020 but continues to post humorous content with political themes. To boost engagement, Little uses trending sounds when posting political videos — all while making jokes at his own expense.
