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There are no rules or limits when it comes to art and content creation 鈥 I鈥檒l try everything once.
Mei Pang
@meicrosoft
Mei Pang
1
Mei Pang
Age: 27
Active since: 2018
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Shrouded in symmetrical black tattoos 鈥 including a praying mantis above each temple and the word 鈥渉eartthrob鈥 near the crown of her closely shaved head 鈥 Mei Pang cuts a striking image. But it鈥檚 her bold approach to makeup artistry that's made her one of the world鈥檚 most exciting beauty creators. 鈥淚 go into it knowing that there are no boundaries," says Pang, 鈥渁nd I push as far as possible."
Pang studied art at OCAD, but wound up working a 鈥渟tandard 9 to 5鈥 job in the tech industry. Like many creators, she shifted gears during the pandemic. Drawing on her arts background, she used her own face as a canvas for experiments in impressionism, pointillism and even landscape art. 鈥淚鈥檝e been looking to the great painters for inspiration with colour schemes and technique,鈥 explains Pang. 鈥淚 also take inspiration from nature, graphic design from typography and the patterns within it."
Today, Pang 鈥 who has modelled for Rihanna鈥檚 lingerie line Savage x Fenty and appeared as a guest judge on 鈥91原创鈥檚 Drag Race鈥 鈥 has over 3.7 million followers on TikTok. She chalks her success up to creativity, but also her four years of sobriety. 鈥淚 was a completely different person,鈥 she says. 鈥淪obriety has given me my career. I do all of my work with a clear head and a calm conscience.
鈥
There are no rules or limits when it comes to art and content creation 鈥 I鈥檒l try everything once."
2
鈥
Indigenous content creators are not a monolith 鈥 we are 500 nations strong.鈥
Sarain Fox
Sarain Fox
2
Sarain Fox
Age: 36
Active since: 2014
Platform: Instagram
There are few corners left in Canadian creative circles where Sarain Fox has yet to make her mark. The Anishinaabe creator from Batchawana First Nation is an activist, model, filmmaker, television host, dancer, and an ambassador for major global brands, including 91原创 Goose and Sephora. Which begs the question: why social media? 鈥淎s Indigenous people, our voices have always been controlled by colonialism,鈥 Fox explains. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 incredible about social media is that it allows us to reclaim our stories, to have narrative sovereignty over them, and project our own lived experiences out into the world.鈥
Fox became active as a creator a decade ago, in an attempt to 鈥渂e seen and heard鈥 by her own people. As her following grew, so did the scope of her content: 鈥淚 realized that my power and reach could have an impact in the mainstream space.鈥 Today, Fox sees social media as a 鈥渞evolutionary tool,鈥 one she uses to not only showcase her life and her community, but also to advocate for Indigenous issues, from environmental justice to Truth and Reconciliation and the Land Back movement.
鈥淚'm a mom now, so I'm thinking about how I can change the world that my kids are going to live in,鈥 Fox says. 鈥淚 want to reach those who have a similar goal of pushing for a better future.鈥
鈥
Indigenous content creators are not a monolith 鈥 we are 500 nations strong.鈥
3
鈥
I'm grateful that people are able to see pieces of themselves in my work, and are inspired to go after the things that they want.鈥
Donté Colley
Donté Colley
3
Donté Colley
Age: 26
Active since: 2015
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram
鈥淭his is my life blood,鈥 SZA commented on an聽Instagram reel聽Dont茅 Colley shared in February 鈥 an engrossing video that shows the 91原创-based creator dancing in his backyard at sunset. It鈥檚 a sentiment shared by many of Colley鈥檚 followers 鈥 a loyal fan base that includes pop stars like Rihanna and Charli XCX 鈥 who are drawn to his exuberant approach to dance content. 鈥淚t's like therapy,鈥 Colley explains. 鈥淒ancing is how I learned how to feel and process and recognize emotion.鈥
Colley grew up in 91原创 and attended Scarborough鈥檚 Wexford College for the Arts. After studying digital media in university, he started posting videos to Instagram as a way to help with his mental health. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e moving your body in space and listening to music, it鈥檚 super-healing,鈥澛爃e told the Star in 2020.聽During the dark days of pandemic, Colley鈥檚 鈥渕otivational artwork鈥 鈥 short, humorous clips that combined dancing with positive affirmations 鈥 became a popular balm for followers seeking connection.聽
Today, with 1.3 million followers on TikTok, Colley鈥檚 content has evolved, with more emphasis on fashion and style. But at its core, the content remains dedicated to the simple goal of 鈥渞aising the vibration,鈥 he says. 鈥淚f I can make at least one person smile, that's all I can ever ask for.鈥
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I'm grateful that people are able to see pieces of themselves in my work, and are inspired to go after the things that they want.鈥
4
鈥
I want to show people that trans people are all different 鈥 and everyone deserves to be heard.鈥
Jamie Pandit
Jamie Pandit
4
Jamie Pandit
Age: 35
Active since: 2020
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram
At 35, Jamie Pandit has scaled the heights of the online beauty world. Blending makeup tutorials and fashion tips with marriage advice and more, she鈥檚 amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok while securing a long list of brand sponsorships, including M.A.C, Dove and Sephora.
But for most of her adult life, these dreams seemed unattainable. As a trans woman "living in stealth" since she was a teenager, Jamie spent years feeling lonely and undeserving of love. After finding work in the fashion industry as a retail manager and style influencer, she turned to social media as both a creative outlet and a place to build connections with other LGBTQ+ folks. Over time, this community empowered Jamie to publicly embrace her trans identity.
Four years later, Jamie believes that her being her authentic self is the key to her success. 鈥淚 love fashion and beauty,鈥 she says. "But I also want to educate people on trans experiences, and to normalize people like me 鈥 especially as a trans woman married to a cisgender man. That representation is important.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e scared of things that we don't know,鈥 she adds. 鈥淏ut if we take the time to listen, I believe we can be a kinder and more gentle society.鈥
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I want to show people that trans people are all different 鈥 and everyone deserves to be heard.鈥
5
鈥
My life has been a journey of acceptance, and how flawed and how beautiful it is at the same time.鈥
Sarah Nicole Landry
Sarah Nicole Landry
5
Sarah Nicole Landry
Age: 39
Active since: 2009
Platforms:Instagram
Sarah Nicole Landry has built an online brand around a simple, but radical concept: being 鈥 and loving 鈥 her authentic self.
Landry was a young mother of two living far from home when she launched The Birds Papaya, a 鈥減oorly put together鈥 blog that she coded herself on a half-broken laptop. 鈥淚 felt very isolated in my experience of life as a mom,鈥 she recalls. 鈥淏logging made me feel less alone 鈥 it made me feel like me.鈥 Following her divorce, remarriage and the birth of her fourth child, now a toddler, Landry grew her audience by sharing how she 鈥 and the world 鈥 responded to her changing body. 鈥淚鈥檓 very willing to go into the discomforts that I鈥檝e had around my body, and to speak openly about them,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檇 never seen stretch marks anywhere on social media until I shared my own.鈥
An early adopter of long-form captions on Instagram 鈥 where she has some 2.3 million followers 鈥 Landry has in recent years inspired countless others with her candid stories about difficult topics like divorce, childbirth and prenatal depression. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all on a journey of self-discovery,鈥 she says. 鈥淎nd we have so much more in common than we realize.鈥
鈥
My life has been a journey of acceptance, and how flawed and how beautiful it is at the same time.鈥
6
鈥
Lots of fans tell me they hated math in school, but they love drag. It helps them to repair their relationship with math.鈥
Kyne Santos
Kyne Santos
6
Kyne Santos
Age: 26
Active since: 2021
Platforms: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
What if math class slayed?
Kyne Santos, a drag queen and former 鈥91原创鈥檚 Drag Race鈥 contestant, was studying pure mathematics at the University of Waterloo on a scholarship when the pandemic hit. Stuck at home, he started filming himself talking about his math homework while dressed in drag. The videos were an instant hit. 鈥淚 never realized there was an intersection within the Venn Diagram of math people and drag fans,鈥 says Kyne, who became known as the 鈥淢ath Queen.鈥
Four years later, Kyne鈥檚 colourful and unorthodox approach has attracted over 1.5 million followers on TikTok and provided teachers with a valuable educational resource for students. 鈥淚 remember when I was a kid and the teacher would roll in the big TV, and press play on a Bill Nye the Science Guy VHS,鈥 he says. 鈥淭o think that now I'm the face that's showing up on the screen is surreal.鈥
In March, Kyne released 鈥淢ath in Drag,鈥 a book that explores practical and theoretical sides of math through personal anecdotes, queer history, and his experiences as a Filipino Canadian. 鈥淒rag queens are multi-faceted,鈥 he says. 鈥淲e can be singers, dancers, or in my case, a math teacher.鈥
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Lots of fans tell me they hated math in school, but they love drag. It helps them to repair their relationship with math.鈥
7
鈥
People enjoy watching pet content because it brings joy, entertainment and stress relief into our lives.鈥
Ginger, Pepper and Cinnamon
Ginger, Pepper and Cinnamon
7
Ginger, Pepper and Cinnamon
Age: 26
Active since: 2021
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube
There鈥檚 no shortage of cat content on the internet, but few creators bring the laughs as consistently as Thi Kim Ngan Le, a 91原创-based 鈥渃at mom鈥 to three rascally felines 鈥 a gentle orange kitty named Ginger, a talkative silver Bengal named Pepper and Cinnamon, a former stray that Le and her husband, Ilbron, adopted last year. 鈥淚t's all about having fun and sharing the silly things our cats do,鈥 Le says of her content approach.
Le was working in the beauty industry when the pandemic hit. Confined at home, she and Ilbron started 鈥渄abbling鈥 in content creation to pass the time. Le鈥檚 TikTok 鈥 which often features stylized skits showing the three cats conspiring to outsmart their owners in hilarious scenarios 鈥 quickly caught fire. Today, her TikTok has nearly two million followers. 鈥淭he joy and laughter our pets brought to others were unexpected but deeply rewarding,鈥 says Le.
Le, who uses her increasing visibility to support and raise awareness about local animal rescue centres, says she鈥檚 proud of the impact she鈥檚 been able to make on her community. 鈥淚t鈥檚 incredibly humbling to receive messages from viewers who share how our content has positively affected their lives, whether it's providing comfort during challenging times, inspiring change, or helping them learn something new.鈥
鈥
People enjoy watching pet content because it brings joy, entertainment and stress relief into our lives.鈥
8
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Laughing is the best part of being alive. It鈥檚 fun to goof around and act like a friggin鈥 nutcase."
Kurtis Conner
Kurtis Conner
8
Kurtis Conner
Age: 29
Active since: 2017
Platform: YouTube
With close to five million subscribers, Kurtis Conner is one of the most popular young comedians on YouTube, known around the world for his observational and self-deprecating style of comedy, which he delivers in an endearingly hilarious deadpan. But he claims there鈥檚 no particular secret to his success: 鈥淚 just try to make funny stuff 鈥 stuff that I鈥檓 proud of and that I would laugh at, too.鈥
In 2014, Conner was working at Starbucks when one of his regulars encouraged him to test the waters at a local open mic. 鈥淚 sucked,鈥 he recalls. 鈥淎nd I still suck, but I鈥檝e tricked people into thinking I鈥檓 good.鈥 Craving more stage time, Conner started posting funny videos on Vine, and eventually migrated to YouTube, where he developed an audience with his wry, but always authentic commentary on internet culture, bad movies and viral trends.
Today, Conner sees his content as an alternative to the kind of comedy that takes itself too seriously. He never punches down, nor does he descend into the culture war trenches. 鈥淚 try to be as genuine as I can,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 given me a great fan base of people who are respectful, inclusive and down to have a goofy time.鈥
鈥
Laughing is the best part of being alive. It鈥檚 fun to goof around and act like a friggin鈥 nutcase."
9
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I'm comfortable enough in my station in life to not need to make a loud statement when I enter a room.鈥
Neelam Ahooja
Neelam Ahooja
9
Neelam Ahooja
Age: 53
Active since: 2020
Platforms: Instagram
Within the rapidly changing fashion world, Neelam Ahooja seems to float above the fray, set apart by her elegance, penchant for minimalist design and the fact that she started her career as a creator in her 50s. She considers her late start an advantage: 鈥淧osting is the equivalent of walking on stage. People can be judgmental and sometimes even cruel. With experience comes a thicker skin and a level of confidence.鈥
Before she became a creator, Ahooja was a chartered accountant at a tech company. Though she always wanted to share her passion for fashion, she didn鈥檛 take the leap until 2020. 鈥淲hen COVID hit, I found myself with extra time. My kids had grown up, so I was ready to make space for myself and release what was inside of me,鈥 she says. She quickly found her stride as a collector and ambassador for The Row, a 鈥渕inimal luxury鈥 fashion line. It鈥檚 an esthetic she鈥檚 drawn to, she says, because of its ease, comfort and effortlessness: 鈥淎s I鈥檝e aged, this is what I look for and what I need.鈥
Four years later, Ahooja, now 53, has amassed nearly 200K followers on Instagram. 鈥淚t grew much faster than I had ever anticipated,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 have my audience's confidence and that means a lot.鈥
鈥
I'm comfortable enough in my station in life to not need to make a loud statement when I enter a room.鈥
10
鈥
It brings me great joy to show off the food in 91原创. I think it's one of the best food scenes in the world.鈥
Mukbang Maxwell
Mukbang Maxwell
10
Mukbang Maxwell
Age: 33
Active since: 2021
Platform: TikTok
The Korean word 鈥渕ukbang鈥 鈥 which loosely translates to 鈥渆ating show鈥 鈥 refers to a segment of creators who consume large quantities of food on camera. It might not be for everyone, and yet there鈥檚 an undeniable pleasure in watching someone slurp back a bowl of spicy ramen noodles or sink their teeth into a perfectly fried chicken wing. But for Mukbang Maxwell 鈥 the聽nom de guerre聽of the jovial creator Maxwell Lebeuf 鈥 mukbang is a vehicle for celebrating 91原创's sprawling food scene.聽
A theatre actor by trade, Lebeuf started experimenting with mukbang during the pandemic. 鈥淚t was weird 鈥 but weird is fun,鈥 he says. In the beginning, his content focused on snack foods, but he quickly pivoted to restaurants and exploring the city鈥檚 endless array of flavours and styles. 鈥淭here's an element of learning together in my videos,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he thing that's fascinating about food is that you can't know everything.鈥
Lebeuf now has over 1.4 million followers on TikTok 鈥 an audience made up of foodies, chefs and others who find a deeper meaning in his content: "Someone (told me) that they show my videos to cancer patients who are struggling to eat, and to help them be hungry," he says. "I get messages from people with eating disorders, who say it helps with their relationship with food. My (content) means a lot to people 鈥 that motivates me."
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It brings me great joy to show off the food in 91原创. I think it's one of the best food scenes in the world.鈥
11
鈥
What we wear directly relates to how we feel. If you鈥檙e going to wear it, why not have fun with it?鈥
Lexson Millington
Lexson Millington
11
Lexson Millington
Age: 26
Active since: 2020
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram
Whether he鈥檚 strolling through the city, lounging in a park or getting ready in his studio, Lexson Millington makes the art of getting dressed look both effortless and fun. Inspired by 鈥70s western wear and Caribbean fashion, his style is exuberant but refined, with colourful fits that feel both considered and playful. 鈥淚 want to push this narrative that you can really feel comfortable in finding your style and expressing yourself through fashion,鈥 he says.
Millington started his fashion career as a stylist in 91原创鈥檚 underground art scene in 2016, when he and friend Liam Wilkings joined an arts collective called Blank Canvas. Within a couple years, Millington branched off on his own and established a unique esthetic that strikes a balance between the luxury streetwear sensibility of high fashion brands like Spencer Badu and Aim茅 Leon Dore and the curated look of a seasoned thrifter. 鈥淧eople in 91原创 are attached to what鈥檚 trending,鈥 he says, 鈥渂ut I think people need to look a little deeper to find what makes them happy.鈥
In 2022, Millionton and Wilkings founded Studio Homme, a shape-shifting community hub that young creatives use for photo shoots, pop-up shops and more: 鈥淚t鈥檚 very much a full circle moment for us, in terms of giving back to the community where we came up.鈥
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What we wear directly relates to how we feel. If you鈥檙e going to wear it, why not have fun with it?鈥
12
鈥
It's important to try to be understanding of somebody else's lived experience.鈥
Taylor Lindsay-Noel
Taylor Lindsay-Noel
12
Taylor Lindsay-Noel
Age: 30
Active since: 2022
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram
Taylor Lindsay-Noel is not only making 91原创 a more accessible place 鈥 she鈥檚 reshaping how her audience views the world.
In 2008, Linsday-Noel was an elite athlete on the Canadian Olympic gymnastic team when she suffered an accident during training, which paralyzed her from the neck down. But she refused to be defined by tragedy 鈥 following her accident, Lindsay-Noel forged a new path. She launched Cup of T茅, a loose leaf tea company that landed on Oprah鈥檚 Favorite Things list in 2020.
Today, Lindsay-Noel is best known for her TikTok account, which shares reviews of restaurants, hotels and other public spaces from the perspective of a wheelchair user. Though it started as a resource for people with disabilities, many of her videos have gone viral, sparking tangible changes and inspiring others to understand that accessibility doesn鈥檛 begin and end with a ramp or an elevator.
鈥淢y audience is predominantly not disabled,鈥 she says. 鈥淭here are people who are friends with someone with a disability, or a parent or a caregiver, or those who are just genuinely curious. They gravitate toward my content because they don鈥檛 know where else to find this information.鈥
Linsday-Noel says that while 91原创 still has a long way to go, it鈥檚 headed in the right direction: 鈥淚 can see the change happening in real time.鈥
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It's important to try to be understanding of somebody else's lived experience.鈥
13
鈥
Storytelling is how we change hearts and minds 鈥 and empower people to take action in their own communities.鈥
Nia and Justice Faith
Nia and Justice Faith
13
Nia and Justice Faith
Age: 22, 26
Active since: 2019
Platform: Instagram
Nia and Justice Faith aren鈥檛 waiting around for the world to change. As the co-founders of聽聽鈥 a youth-led movement and digital platform for global changemakers 鈥 the two sisters have dedicated their lives to harnessing the power of social media to tackle the most pressing issues of the day, from racial justice to environmentalism. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all about amplifying youth voices and focusing on the causes that Gen Z and Gen Alpha care about,鈥 explains Nia.
Nia originally founded 搁茅惫辞濒耻迟颈辞苍苍补颈谤别 as an inclusive dance apparel store in 2019, in response to her experience as a Black ballerina in a predominantly white arts space. (She had to dye her own leotards and tights because there were no options that matched her skin tone.) Two years later, during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, Nia and Justice expanded the scope of their platform, shifting its focus to activism and social justice. 鈥淗ow do we make this conversation sustainable?鈥 Justice recalls thinking. 鈥淗ow do we move beyond conversation into lasting action?鈥
Today, Nia and Justice have built a global network of content creators and they partner with major brands like Roots and Rogers to expand the impact of their work. 鈥淵outh are experts in our own experiences, and we should be at the forefront of this work,鈥 Nia says. 鈥淎t the end of the day, it's going to affect our futures.鈥
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Storytelling is how we change hearts and minds 鈥 and empower people to take action in their own communities.鈥
14
鈥
I want to show people that living a healthy lifestyle is accessible to everybody. I want people to see themselves in me.鈥
Zehra Allibhai
Zehra Allibhai
14
Zehra Allibhai
Age: 42
Active since: 2017
Platforms: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
Fitness content can be intimidating. Who has the time to go to the gym every day, and who can afford all that expensive equipment? Zehra Allibhai 鈥 a kinesiologist, personal trainer and founder of the online health and wellness platform known as 鈥淭he FitNest鈥 鈥 offers a refreshingly simple alternative. 鈥淏eing active doesn鈥檛 have to be this separate thing,鈥 she explains. 鈥淚t can intertwine with your daily life.鈥
A mother of two, Allibhai initially started 鈥淭he FitNest鈥 out of her basement, running in-person boot camp classes after her kids went to bed. In 2017, she took the platform online. Today, Allibhai鈥檚 content 鈥 which often features her husband, her children or her parents 鈥 has grown to include workout tutorials, daily stretching routines and healthy recipes. 鈥淚 like to think I鈥檓 creating a ripple effect,鈥 she says. 鈥淧eople always tell me they are comfortable enough with my advice that they actually go out and try it.鈥
As a hijab-wearing Muslim, Allibhai says she might not look like the 鈥渢ypical鈥 fitness influencer, but in a multicultural city like 91原创, her authenticity is exactly what makes her relatable. 鈥淚鈥檓 a mom, I鈥檓 fully covered, and I have this busy family life 鈥 but I try to fit in activities in ways that I can.鈥澛
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I want to show people that living a healthy lifestyle is accessible to everybody. I want people to see themselves in me.鈥
15
鈥
I鈥檓 sort of like the Jim Carrey of gaming comedy. I try to bring that quirkiness and over-the-top reaction to my content.鈥
Corey Tonge
Corey Tonge
15
Corey Tonge
Age: 33
Active since: 2021
Platforms: YouTube and TikTok
Corey Tonge boasts some 12.7 million subscribers 鈥 not for his gaming skills, but for his unique brand of quirky, over-the-top comedy sketches that are tailor-made for video game enthusiasts. 鈥淚magine 鈥楽aturday Night Live,鈥 but in Minecraft,鈥 he says with a laugh.
Tonge was working as a marketer for sports supplements when he became interested in the world of content creation. 鈥淪eeing (the creators鈥) freedom, it made me want to try making videos, too,鈥 he explains. Tonge started out in 2021 with a few hundred subscribers to his YouTube channel, then became increasingly ambitious: he transformed his home into a large studio, complete with greenscreens, sophisticated video and lighting equipment and more than 120 outlandish costumes.聽
Tonge 鈥 who in 2023 was named YouTube鈥檚 Canadian breakout creator of the year 鈥 says there鈥檚 no secret to his success: he stays up to date with the latest viral video games and makes sure his content is family-friendly, all while keeping one eye focused on the future. 鈥淚 see (my content) as having fun with friends and inspiring the next generation of creators.鈥
鈥
I鈥檓 sort of like the Jim Carrey of gaming comedy. I try to bring that quirkiness and over-the-top reaction to my content.鈥
16
鈥
We aren鈥檛 experts 鈥 we鈥檙e more like study buddies taking our audience along with us.鈥
Answer in Progress
Answer in Progress
16
Answer in Progress
Age: 25, 25
Active since: 2020
Platform: YouTube
How many different pasta shapes are there? Why does listening to lo-fi hip hop help me study? Why am I always tired? Forget Google 鈥 the premier source for all your burning questions is Answer in Progress, a YouTube channel dedicated to rediscovering the joy of learning.
Answer in Progress is the brainchild of three friends 鈥 Sabrina Cruz (left), Melissa Fernandes and Taha Khan (26, not pictured) 鈥 who, as university students, realized that the arid, exam-centric school system had crushed their sense of curiosity. 鈥淲e knew that if we could find a way to start healing the wonder and will (that鈥檚) necessary to be curious, people would notice,鈥 says Cruz. Combining video and animation, the trio鈥檚 content is informative, funny and highly engaging 鈥 making even the most complex subjects easy to digest.
Today, Answer in Progress has evolved into a YouTube juggernaut, with close to 1.5 million subscribers. 鈥淚t took years of long hours and hundreds of mistakes, but we鈥檙e proud to have figured out how to run a sustainable creative business that doesn鈥檛 need to sacrifice craftsmanship to pay the bills,鈥 Fernandes says.
鈥
We aren鈥檛 experts 鈥 we鈥檙e more like study buddies taking our audience along with us.鈥
17
鈥
It鈥檚 more than just the clothes 鈥 I want people who come to my channel to walk away feeling motivated and inspired.鈥
With Wendy
With Wendy
17
With Wendy
Age: 33
Active since: 2015
Platforms: YouTube, Instagram
In a world of fast fashion and exorbitant luxury clothing, Wendy Liu鈥檚 popular YouTube channel, 鈥淲ith Wendy,鈥 feels like a refuge. For more than a decade, the content creator and DIY guru has inspired her followers to try sewing thanks to her accessible and highly motivational tutorials. 鈥(Sewing) is a bit of a dying art, but it's actually really empowering to make your own clothes and to take control of your own wardrobe,鈥 says Liu.
Liu鈥檚 鈥渓ifelong sewing adventure鈥 began as a child, when her mother taught her to make outfits for her dolls. In 2015, after finishing an engineering and business degree and spending two years working in an office, Liu decided to launch a YouTube channel. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been to fashion school,鈥 says Liu, 鈥渨hich is a testimony to the skills you can gain by pursuing your hobbies constantly.鈥
As Liu鈥檚 life evolved 鈥 she and her husband just welcomed their second child 鈥 so did her channel, which has expanded its focus to include content on thrifting, home improvement, travel and self-care. Her audience, which spans from university students to grandmothers, includes nearly 1.5 million subscribers on YouTube: 鈥淭hese are people I鈥檝e basically grown up with.鈥
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It鈥檚 more than just the clothes 鈥 I want people who come to my channel to walk away feeling motivated and inspired.鈥
18
鈥
I had this fear that if one day my mother passes away before I do, then I will lose all these recipes. I wanted to keep them alive.鈥
Golden Gully
Golden Gully
18
Golden Gully
Age: 30
Active since: 2020
Platforms: YouTube, TikTok
For Bilal Bhatti, there鈥檚 nothing like home cooking.聽
An immigration lawyer in search of a creative outlet, Bhatti began recording daily cooking tutorials based on his mother鈥檚 traditional Pakistani recipes in the summer of 2020. The simple, but highly engaging videos 鈥 including recipes for classic Pakistani dishes like biryani, haleem and kulfi 鈥 quickly gained traction with curious foodies around the world.
Eventually, Bhatti branched out beyond recipes to include travel content, food reviews and unscripted vlogging 鈥 all the things that make up what he calls his 鈥渇ood journey.鈥 With the introduction of YouTube Shorts in 2022, Bhatti鈥檚 Golden Gully channel exploded in popularity 鈥 today, he has over five million subscribers. 鈥淥ther food creators just focus on the food,鈥 he says, 鈥渂ut you don鈥檛 get to know the person behind the food, or people actually cooking. I focus on sharing my food journey, beyond just recipes.鈥
In February, Bhatti released his first cookbook, 鈥淏eyond Measure,鈥 which encourages readers to throw away their measuring tools and 鈥渞ely on their senses.鈥 Immortalized in print, the book ensures his mother鈥檚 recipes will live forever.
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I had this fear that if one day my mother passes away before I do, then I will lose all these recipes. I wanted to keep them alive.鈥
19
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I never realized how much joy you can bring people through your own creativity.鈥
Infinite Drift
Infinite Drift
19
Infinite Drift
Age: 33
Active since: 2020
Platform: YouTube
To an outsider, the world of modern gaming can seem overwhelming: a hypercompetitive, chaotic whirl of (often violent) images and sounds. Infinite Drift 鈥 the pseudonym of 鈥淢inecraft鈥 content creator Sarah Novak 鈥 has a different approach. 鈥淚 like to create a chill, cozy environment with my content,鈥 she says. 鈥淢y videos offer a space for people to wind down, relax and forget their worries of the world.鈥
For the uninitiated, 鈥淢inecraft鈥 is an immensely popular 鈥渟andbox鈥 video game in which players interact and build their own worlds within a fully modifiable three-dimensional environment.聽
Novak studied photography, and she was working in retail when the pandemic hit. She started playing 鈥淢inecraft鈥 after work, building structures and villages to 鈥渢ake her mind off things.鈥 Though she wasn鈥檛 the most advanced player, once she began posting her content on YouTube, she quickly attracted an audience. 鈥淢y audience wants to see mistakes and imperfections,鈥 she says.聽鈥淲hat makes 鈥楳inecraft鈥 so special is that it can be whatever you want it to be. It鈥檚 both a stage and a vehicle for creation.鈥
Novak鈥檚 YouTube channel, though niche 鈥 鈥淚 Spent 100 Days Building the Ultimate Cozy Farm鈥 is the title of a recent video 鈥 now has over 200K subscribers. Says Novak, 鈥淚 get so many sweet comments from people telling me that my videos have impacted them in a positive way, or helped them through a tough time.鈥
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I never realized how much joy you can bring people through your own creativity.鈥
20
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Everyone should be proud of what they read 鈥 from romance to historical fiction.鈥
Morgann Book
Morgann Book
20
Morgann Book
Age: 20
Active since: 2022
Platform: TikTok
Morgann Book 鈥 yep, that鈥檚 her real name 鈥 is one of the most popular Canadian creators on #BookTok, a highly influential community of TikTok literature enthusiasts and book reviewers. But the 20-year-old from Hamilton is the first to admit that her journey was unexpected: 鈥淚 fell into it by accident.鈥
Book first went viral on TikTok as a high school student after posting a clip of herself making an ice cream cake while working at her parent鈥檚 Dairy Queen in Ancaster, Ontario. 鈥淚 gained 40,000 followers overnight,鈥 she recalls. Book eventually tired of making content about DQ and, in 2022, as a political science student at McMaster University, she pivoted to her real passion: romance and fantasy novels. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 the easiest transition going from ice cream to books,鈥 she admits, 鈥渂ut I always loved to read and to escape from the real world.鈥
Book now has 2.7 million followers on TikTok, where she shares book reviews and videos of her travels to bookstores around the world. Though she鈥檚 still a full-time student, she reads about 100 books a year, including advance copies of novels sent to her directly from authors. 鈥淏ookTok is a very influential and powerful place 鈥 I鈥檝e seen authors have their debut novel gain traction with a couple of BookTokkers who love it, and they鈥檒l sell millions of copies. It鈥檚 insane.鈥
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Everyone should be proud of what they read 鈥 from romance to historical fiction.鈥
21
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I have a parasocial relationship with viewers 鈥 Whatever you get in a real-life relationship, you get with me.鈥
Prayag Mishra
Prayag Mishra
21
Prayag Mishra
Age: 26
Active since: 2021
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram
鈥淓ssentially, I date the internet,鈥 says Prayag Mishra. The charming content creator鈥檚 videos 鈥 which emulate the intimacy of a FaceTime call 鈥 combine playful personal storytelling with self-love affirmations, all delivered via 鈥渇lirty, romantic banter鈥 directed at Mishra鈥檚 followers (who he calls 鈥減ookie bears鈥).
Mishra鈥檚 鈥渟urreal鈥 journey to internet fame聽began in 2021, when he was laid off from his corporate sales job. He started sharing videos, often filmed in his car, as a way to express himself and share sentimental tidbits from his life. 鈥淢y viewers responded almost as if they were in a relationship with me," he explains, "and I kind of went along with it.鈥 Mishra鈥檚 commitment to the bit paid off in the fall of 2023, when a聽聽he shared went ultra-viral, garnering tens of millions of views and sparking the聽聽an online trend in which men embraced Mishra鈥檚 singular brand of flamboyant self-expression.
Today, his mostly-female, mostly Gen-Z audience 鈥 dubbed 鈥淧ookie Nation" 鈥 has reached nearly 5 million on TikTok alone. 鈥淛ust like myself, my audience is positively delusional,鈥 Mishra jokes. 鈥淲e鈥檙e romantics, but not hopeless romantics. We believe in love, we believe in childlike wonder 鈥 and expressing yourself to the fullest extent that you can.鈥
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I have a parasocial relationship with viewers 鈥 Whatever you get in a real-life relationship, you get with me.鈥
22
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I want to create an accessible path for people to start their own sewing journey.鈥
Glory Allan
Glory Allan
22
Glory Allan
Age: 29
Active since: 2020
Platform: YouTube
The origin story of Glory Allan 鈥 the pseudonym for Dre Chin鈥檚 popular DIY fashion channel on YouTube 鈥 is a conspicuously analog one. In 2016, Chin was staying with his grandmother between semesters at Ivey Business School in London, Ont., when he stumbled upon a new hobby. 鈥(My grandma) didn鈥檛 have Wi-Fi, so I had to keep myself busy,鈥 recalls Chin. She did have a sewing machine. 鈥淚 asked her to teach me how to sew 鈥 that鈥檚 what kicked things off.鈥
Chin launched the Glory Allan YouTube channel in 2020. Named after his grandparents, his content has evolved from a place to showcase his stylish streetwear designs to its current iteration as a go-to hub for approachable and entertaining sewing tutorials. 鈥淚f anyone ever wants to start sewing, this is your starting point,鈥 he says. 鈥淔rom what machine to buy, what tools to get, understanding fabric 鈥 when I started this information was all very scattered, and you had to figure it out on your own.鈥
Today, Chin has nearly 300K subscribers on YouTube 鈥 quite a feat for a hobby that is often thought of as old-fashioned. His audience is mostly men, and mostly people 35 and under 鈥 鈥渢he opposite of your stereotypical sewist,鈥 he points out. 鈥淚'm all about trying to share the craft and making it more accessible for everyone.鈥
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I want to create an accessible path for people to start their own sewing journey.鈥
23
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Our ultimate goal is to make money simple, and to educate as many people as possible when it comes to anything money-related.鈥
Steph and Den
Steph and Den
23
Steph and Den
Age: 27, 28
Active since: 2021
Platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram
In 2017, Steph Gordon and Den Mathu were summer interns in their final year of business school at the University of Ottawa when they bonded over a candid discussion about how much money they made. That conversation sparked both the start of their romantic relationship and a business idea: to create a personal finance channel dedicated to dragging difficult money conversations out into the open.
Today, the couple鈥檚 immensely popular content blends Canadian-focused personal finance tips 鈥 how to open an TFSA, how to negotiate a salary, how to build a budget 鈥 with their own personal money stories. Its success allowed them to quit their 鈥淏ig Four鈥 finance jobs and focus on content creation full-time. 鈥淲e try to share our real lives,鈥 says Gordon. 鈥淭here are a lot of white guys doing this, but there is far less representation for women or Black people 鈥 let alone doing it together.鈥
In the last year, Gordon and Mathu鈥檚 content creation work brought them to Ottawa, where they covered federal budget day, and to Kenya, where Mathu was born. 鈥淪ometimes I think about where my family would be if they had the knowledge that we try to share today," says Mathu. "They would be so much farther ahead.鈥
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Our ultimate goal is to make money simple, and to educate as many people as possible when it comes to anything money-related.鈥
24
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We want to create a space in a community where people feel like they're not judged. No matter who you are, you belong with us.鈥
Cat and Nat
Cat and Nat
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Cat and Nat
Age: 41, 40
Active since: 2014
Platforms: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
Parenting isn鈥檛 easy, but that doesn鈥檛 mean it can鈥檛 be fun. Over the past decade, Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer 鈥 better known as Cat and Nat 鈥 have built a massive following with their refreshingly honest, often hilarious and occasionally raunchy perspectives on life as a mother. 鈥淟iterally, there鈥檚 no filter,鈥 says Nat. 鈥淲e say what鈥檚 on our mind.鈥澛
鈥淲e try to bring a lightness to motherhood 鈥 a sense of fun and joy, rather than doom and gloom,鈥 adds Cat.聽
Cat and Nat first met in high school in 91原创 and have been best friends ever since. As young mothers, they launched a video series called 鈥淢om Truths,鈥 in which they sought to shed light on the often unspoken struggles of parenting. The series was picked up by the 鈥淭oday鈥 show, and became a viral sensation. 鈥淲e didn't set out to be influencers, we just had a message, we had a voice and we were craving a community,鈥 says Nat. 鈥淭here wasn't really anything like it at the time.鈥
Today, the Cat and Nat phenomenon continues unabated. The duo 鈥 who now have seven children between them 鈥 have published multiple books, performed hundreds live shows across North America and launched a podcast with millions of listeners. Says Nat, 鈥淧eople are really craving that feeling of community and connection 鈥 a sense of belonging.鈥
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We want to create a space in a community where people feel like they're not judged. No matter who you are, you belong with us.鈥
24 of 2024: We asked the influencers a very pressing question
Fashion credits
Mei Pang: U3 top, Mejuri earrings, Chrome Hearts rings, Frederick Grove rings.
Sarain Fox: Lesley Hampton dress, Elias Not Afraid earrings, Lag Zuni bracelets, Russell Sam ring.
Donté Colley: Reporter vest (at VSP Consignment), Rhude pants (at Holt Renfrew), Loewe loafers (at Holt Renfrew), Up and Armed necklace.
Jamie Pandit: Cult Gia top and pants, Olaeda earrings, Vitaly cuff, Mejuri rings.
Sarah Nicole Landry: Narces blazer dress, Jimmy Choo shoes (at Holt Renfrew), Mejuri earrings, Jenny Bird ring.
Kyne: Sequin Showstoppers dress and scarf, Pleasers shoes, Fab Unlimited earrings.
Sara (Ginger and Pepper): Dion Lee top (at VSP Consignment).
Kurtis: COS聽shirt, Dickies Enfants Riches D茅prim茅s pants (at VSP Consignment).
Neelam: The Row trench coat, Julie Josephine T-shirt, Chanel earrings, Gucci necklace, Celine cuff (all at VSP Consignment).
Max: Purple sweatshirt (at Harry Rosen).
Zehra: Splits59 sweatshirt, APL shoes (both at Permission).
Nia and Justice Faith: On both: Greta Constantine dress (at Holt Renfrew), Biko jewelry, L鈥橧ntervalle shoes.
Wendy: Naya Rea dress (at 100% Silk Shop), PH5 turtleneck (at Holt Renfrew), J. Crew shoes, Biko earrings, Vitaly necklace.
Corey Tonge: Rhude shirt (at Holt Renfrew), Bottega Veneta jeans (at Holt Renfrew).
Lex: COS jacket, button-up and pants, Prada shirt (at VSP Consignment), Jenny Bird necklace.
Answers in Progress: On Sabrina: Kotn shirt. On Melissa: COS shirt.
叠补濒颈濒听: Marni top (at Holt Renfrew), COS pants, Veja shoes (at Holt Renfrew).
Dre Chin: Gucci jacket (at VSP Consignment), Glory Allan top and pants.
Steph and Den: On Steph: Kotn sweatshirt and pants, Mejuri earrings. On Den: Uniqlo sweatshirt and pants.
Nat and Cat: On Nat: Horses jumpsuit, Jimmy Choo shoes (at Holt Renfrew), Jenny Bird jewelry, Mejuri ring. On Cat: Horses jumpsuit, Max Mara shoes (at VSP Consignment), Jenny Bird jewelry.
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Project credits
Words: Richie Assaly
Photography: Steve Russell
Design and web development: McKenna Hart
Additional web development: Nathan Pilla
Styling: Carla Candela
Hair: Taylor Chousky, Plutino Group
Makeup: Lateisha Grant, Plutino Group
Creative direction: Elena Viltovskaia
Graphics editor: Cameron Tulk
Video: Kelsey Wilson and Angelyn Francis
Editor: Laura deCarufel
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