Table of Contents
I’m so happy to say that there is more LGBTQ+ representation on social media than ever before! This milestone can partly be accredited to our generation’s willingness to embrace each other’s differences and our openness to sexuality and gender. The top LGBTQ influencers use social media as an outlet to share their niche interests with followers, speak out about their experiences, and act as a symbol of hope for those who need it the most.
What makes LGBTQ influencers special is their ability to foster a community of love, acceptance, and diversity on their social media platforms. With that being said, I have put together a list of the top LGBTQ+ influencers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube that almost everyone knows. Altogether, their content ranges from beauty, fashion, travel, lifestyle, and education.
Looking for more top influencers in every industry? Check out more of our top lists here.
1. Chris Olsen
- 6.1M+ followers on TikTok
- 467.3M+ likes
- Joined TikTok in April 2020
- 22 years old
@chris NOT HIS RESPONSE AT THE END ☠️
Chris Olsen and his boyfriend, Ian Paget, make long-distance relationships look so easy! Chris frequently travels from Los Angeles to visit Ian in New York, but only lets his boyfriend in on the surprise with a cryptic text message telling him he’s going to get coffee. This is one of their many video series that have gone viral on TikTok.
Chris started his TikTok account during quarantine in 2020. He started out by posting cute videos of him and Ian doing various activities around the house, like working out, cooking, and doing silly dance trends. He could have never imagined how many heartstrings he’d tug on by sharing his relationship with the world.
Chris and Ian aren’t afraid to be their goofy selves, and that’s one of the reasons their followers admire them so much. Being an influencer isn’t just about encouraging your followers to buy the products you promote but about building a community around something you love and actively engaging with your fans. The couple truly encapsulates what it means to be top LGBTQ influencers, and they demonstrate this by spreading positivity and showing people what a healthy relationship looks like.
2. Bretman Rock
- 13.4M+ followers on TikTok
- 288.1M+ likes
- Joined YouTube in September 2012
- 23 years old
@bretmanrock 👯
Bretman Rock is a social media icon, model, and beauty influencer who was born and raised in Hawaii. He began posting storytime videos, Q&As, and makeup tutorials on YouTube in 2012, and it was not long until he started to gain a loyal following. He also had a presence on Vine, where his humor and positive outlook on life attracted many users to his page.
Bretman has stayed in the social media spotlight for over 9 years, and new doors continue to open for his career. Just last month, Bretman was the first gay male to be featured on the cover of Playboy magazine. He continues to break barriers for the LGBTQ community and does it so graciously. His fans admire him for his vulnerability, willingness to advocate for the LGBTQ community, and his confidence.
3. Gigi Gorgeous
- 2.1M+ followers on Instagram
- 2.79M+ subscribers on YouTube
- Joined YouTube in July 2008
- 29 years old
View this post on Instagram
Gigi Gorgeous is a beauty influencer, actress, and model from Montreal, Canada. She rose to fame as a content creator in 2008 when she began posting makeup tutorials and beauty and skincare tips.
Gigi came out as a transgender woman in 2013 and made the announcement via YouTube. Since then, she has made it a point to document her experiences, hardships, and the feelings that come with being a transgender woman in the spotlight. She makes it known that she is an ally to her fans, which is why so many people find comfort in the content that she creates. That, along with her bubbly and humorous personality, is what makes her an amazing person and social media influencer.
This list is by no means complete. For more amazing LGBTQ+ influencers to follow and partner with, check out this blog.
4. Jessica Kellgren-Fozard
- 242.3K+ subscribers on YouTube
- 3.8M+ likes
- Joined YouTube in April 2011
- 32 years old
@jessicaoutofthecloset What would your pirate name be…? 🏴☠️ #queerhistory #queertiktok #lgbtq #lgbtq🌈
Jessica Kellgren-Fozard is a British content creator whose main social media platforms are TikTok and YouTube. She is most known for her videos on disability awareness, LGBTQ+ history, and vintage fashion. Although the topics she discusses can be heavy, Jessica does her best to ensure that her content is fun, uplifting, and educational.
Jessica only began posting to TikTok in 2020, but she has had a strong presence on YouTube for about 10 years. Her content started out with sign language tutorials and storytimes, but slowly started to shift into the content we now know and love. I recommend everyone to check out her TikTok page, as she offers a lot of great knowledge that is rarely talked about on social media. You are bound to learn something new!
5. Tyler Oakley
- 5.7M+ followers on Instagram
- 6.95M+ subscribers on YouTube
- Joined September 2007
- 32 years old
View this post on Instagram
Tyler Oakley is a YouTuber, actor, activist, and author who began making YouTube videos in 2007. Since the beginning of his social media career, Tyler Oakley has been dedicated to LGBTQ youth, LGBTQ rights, and social issues related to health care and education. He is not afraid to be outspoken about his beliefs and stand up for what’s right, which is what makes him one of the top LGBTQ influencers.
6. Jeffree Star
- 16.2M+ subscribers on YouTube
- 2.5B+ views
- Joined Feb 2006
- 36 years old
We all know Jeffree Star as one of the OG beauty influencers of YouTube, but many people don’t know about his MySpace days. In the early 2000s, Jeffree was the most followed person on MySpace, treating his profile as a blog by posting about his personal life and his fashion and beauty interests, all while trying to kick-start his music career.
Fast forward to now, Jeffree’s makeup company, Jeffree Star Cosmetics is estimated to be worth $1.5B. Although his music career didn’t work out, the empire he has created from his passion for makeup is enormous.
7. Nomadic Boys
- Stefan Aresti and Sebastien Chaneac
- 155K+ followers on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Stefan and Sebastien are travel bloggers who share their experiences traveling to different areas of the world as a gay couple. In many countries, being openly gay can be very dangerous and get you into a lot of trouble. Stefan and Sebastien use their platform to show the LGBTQ community that traveling doesn’t have to be as scary as it seems and that there are so many more places in the world that they can visit than they ever thought possible.
The Nomadic Boys have been traveling the world since 2014 after they both quit their jobs, and they haven’t looked back ever since! The LGBTQ community needs people like Stefan and Sebastien, and this is what makes them some of the top LGBTQ+ influencers.
8. Nikkie Tutorials
- 13.8M+ subscribers on YouTube
- 1.5B+ views
- Joined in June 2008
- 27 years old
Nikkie Tutorials is a Dutch makeup artist and social media star who rose to fame on YouTube in 2015 after several of her videos went viral. Last year, Nikkie posted a powerful YouTube video reclaiming her power by coming out as a transgender woman. She allowed herself to be vulnerable with her fans, which many people still admire her for.
She is most known for participating in silly beauty trends, her makeup tutorials, and collaborating on videos with celebrities like Jessie J and Selena Gomez.
9. Abbie Ensign
- 2.2M+ followers on TikTok
- 69M+ likes
- 25 years old
@abbie.ensign my girl @julia.ensign 💍❤️☀️ #wlw #wlwcouple #wlwtiktok
Abbie Ensign is an LGBTQ content creator who absolutely adores her wife and their baby! She originally rose to fame on YouTube, where she and her wife Julia shared a channel. They posted lifestyle videos that revolved around traveling and LGBTQ+ issues and advice. She is most known for her sharing her beautiful family and relationship on TikTok. She truly encapsulates what it means to be a top LGBTQ influencer.
10. Nikita Dragun
- 9M+ followers on Instagram
- 3.62M+ subscribers on YouTube
- Joined in February 2013
- 25 years old
View this post on Instagram
Nikita is a makeup artist and social media influencer who got her start on YouTube in 2013. In 2015, while she was living in Los Angeles, Nikita came out as a transgender woman on her YouTube channel. She documented the ins and outs of her transition on her YouTube channel, including personal experiences, storytimes, and surgeries.
Nikita is very outspoken about being a transgender woman, and she owns that title. She is unapologetically herself and doesn’t let anyone rain on her parade. Even her Instagram caption is iconic: “yeah I was born a dude”.
11. James Charles
- 24.5M+ subscribers on YouTube
- 3.5B+ views
- Joined in December 2015
- 22 years old
James Charles is a beauty YouTuber who rose to fame on the platform in 2015. What enormously boosted this fame was his achievement of being the first male CoverGirl. Breaking down this barrier landed him much support and recognition from the LGBTQ+ community and earned him a spot as one of the top LGBTQ influencers.
James is a skilled makeup artist, entertainer, and musician. James Charles is most notable for calling his fans, “sisters”, no matter what their gender. James is popular on TikTok and has achieved 35.9M+ followers on the app!
12. Patrick Starrr
- 4.33M+ subscribers on YouTube
- 361M+ views
- Joined in February 2013
- 27 years old
Patrick Starrr is a very talented professional makeup artist whose main platforms are YouTube and Instagram. He is most commonly known for the full-glam makeup looks he posts on YouTube, as well as collaborating with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry.
Patrick Starrr rose to fame in 2013 when he first started to post makeup tutorials and beauty tips. Throughout his growing success, Patrick remained humble and turned his YouTube empire into a business. He now owns a beauty brand called ONE/SIZE, which reflects his belief in inclusivity and acceptance for all.
