Quick, name a famous , someone who has really broken out of the whole internet label to become known in the mainstream. What influencers come to mind? Is it Charli D’Amelio or her sister Dixie? Addison Rae? Tinx or Alix Earle? Or maybe a YouTuber like Emma Chamberlain, Nikkie Tutorials, Jackie Aina, James Charles, or Mr. Beast? An Instagram fashion girlie like Aimee Song or workout queen Kayla Itsines? No matter who you think of, they likely have this in common: They didn’t blow up in the last year.
Or even the year before that. We are in a drought of famous influencers, and it may be here to stay. People just aren’t breaking through online the way they used to, becoming household names and garnering real, mainstream fame.
It used to go like this: An influencer or content creator would spend anywhere from a very short to a respectably decent amount of time building up their content and fan base. Maybe they were family vloggers, or prank YouTubers like the Paul brothers, or makeup artists or fashionistas. Then, there’d be a tipping point.
Suddenly, these people were being written about in mainstream media like and landing roles in movies and television shows, and attending high-class events. Remember in 2021, when influencers like Chamberlain and Rae attended the Met Gala and everyone freaked out? This year, Chamberlain (she’s actually become somewhat of a fixture and works the red carpet for Vogue), but the rest of them have dried up. And even if Anna Wintour wanted.
