Today’s shoppers want more than just things to buy from their favorite brands. They want to support companies that stand up for important causes and truly mean what they say about making the world better. This means every brand needs to ask itself an important question: What do we truly believe in and care about?
The Black Lives Matter movement and protests in recent years led many companies to take real action in supporting racial justice and giving Black voices a bigger platform. This opened doors for a new wave of social media activists who share these same goals. When these activists team up with brands, it goes beyond typical marketing deals – they work together to create more opportunities and fairness for groups that haven’t always had a fair chance.
Let’s take a look at 10 black influencers and black social media influencers you should be following in 2025 in this blog.
8 Top Black Influencers to Follow in 2025
Here are the leading black Instagram influencers and content creators for brands making an impact:
- Serena Williams – @serenawilliams – 17.2M Followers
- Yara Shahidi – @yarashahidi – 8.8M Followers
- Marques Brownlee – @mkbhd – 4.9M Followers
- Shayla – @makeupshayla – 3.3M Followers
- Ava DuVernay – @ava – 2.2M Followers
- Raye Boyce – @itsmyrayeraye – 1.5M Followers
- Allyson Felix – @allysonfelix – 1.1M Followers
- Ellarie Noel – @ellarie – 1M Followers
1. Serena Williams
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With 17.2 million Instagram followers and 10.3 million Twitter followers, Serena Williams is more than just a tennis star – she’s one of the most powerful black influencers today. Her 23 Grand Slam wins show she’s one of the best athletes ever, but on social media, she shows a different side of herself. She shares posts about being a mom and running her businesses, while also working with brands she believes in. By sharing both her professional achievements and everyday life moments, she’s become one of the most relatable yet inspiring black Instagram influencers in sports.
2. Yara Shahidi
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Yara Shahidi became famous for acting in two popular TV shows: Black-ish and its sister show Grown-ish. She won a special award from the NAACP in 2014, and in 2016, she started modeling to help show more women of color in different kinds of roles. In 2020, Disney picked her to play Tinkerbell in their new Peter Pan movie, making her the first Black actress to play this famous fairy character.
3. Marques Brownlee
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As a leading content creator for brands in tech, Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) has grown incredibly popular with 19.4 million YouTube subscribers and 4.9 million Instagram followers. He’s the person many people trust when they want to learn about new technology. The best thing about Marques is that he makes tech easy to understand – whether you know a lot about technology or are just looking to buy your first smartphone. When he reviews phones, cameras, headphones, and other gadgets, he’s always honest about what’s good and what’s not. This has made him one of the most trusted black social media influencers in tech. People like him because he takes time to test everything thoroughly and isn’t afraid to point out problems with products.
His videos look professional and are easy to follow. He’s usually one of the first people to review new technology, which helps his viewers decide whether to buy something before spending their money. As one of the top black influencers in tech, he also makes fun series like “Dope Tech,” where he shows off cool new gadgets, and “Retro Tech,” where he looks at old technology. Big tech companies often invite him to their product launches because they know people trust what he has to say.
4. Shayla
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Shayla has become one of the top black influencers in beauty with 3.3 million Instagram followers and 744K YouTube subscribers. She’s famous for her makeup tutorials and even made her own makeup with Colourpop Cosmetics. As a content creator for brands, she tells it like it is. When she shows how to use makeup, she’s honest about what’s good and what’s not. Her tutorials are easy to follow, and she makes sure to help people of all skin tones find the right products.
She’s one of the most respected black social media influencers because she’s helped change how beauty companies think about makeup for everyone. She shares personal stories too, which makes her followers feel like they know her. Whether she’s talking about new makeup or showing her daily routine, Shayla always keeps it real.
5. Ava DuVernay
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Ava DuVernay is a film director who’s broken many records and opened doors for Black women in movies. She’s made several important films, including “I Will Follow,” “Middle of Nowhere,” and “Selma.” She made history twice: first as the only Black woman to win the top directing prize at the Sundance Film Festival, and then as the first Black woman to have her film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. In 2017, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 most important people in the world. Through her movies, she tells powerful stories that help change how people think and make Hollywood more inclusive for everyone.
6. Raye Boyce
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With 1.89 million YouTube subscribers and 1.5 million Instagram followers, Raye Boyce has become a major black Instagram influencer in the beauty world. People love her beauty and skincare tips on YouTube, and she’s really good at helping brands connect with their customers. While she shares real moments from her life as a mom, she’s also a trusted content creator for brands in makeup, skincare, and hair care. She’s become one of the most influential black influencers because she’s honest about the products she reviews and really knows her stuff about beauty.
7. Allyson Felix
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Allyson Felix shares her journey with 736K Twitter followers and 1.1 million Instagram followers. She’s a champion runner with Olympic medals, and she’s become an important black social media influencer in sports. People love seeing both her training and her everyday life. As a content creator for brands in sports and fitness, she only partners with companies she truly believes in. She shares her workouts, gives training tips, and shows what life is really like as an athlete. She’s also not afraid to speak up about making things better for athlete moms.
As one of the most respected black influencers in sports, she even started her own shoe company, Saysh. She shares both her wins on the track and her work to make sports better for everyone, especially women. People look up to her because she shows you can be both a great athlete and a mom.
8. Ellarie Noel
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Ellarie Noel has 1 million Instagram followers and 684K YouTube subscribers because she’s both a mom and a beauty expert. As one of today’s favorite black Instagram influencers, she shows how to look good while dealing with real life. She shares moments with her daughter while being a successful content creator for brands in beauty. What makes her special among other black influencers is how she connects with both parents and beauty fans. She shows that busy moms can still take time for themselves and look good. Her makeup tips are perfect for people who don’t have lots of time to get ready.
She’s honest about which beauty products really work for busy people. When she likes something, her followers know it’s because it really works, not just because a brand paid her. She helps people see that you can be a great parent and still care about looking your best.
Conclusion
These amazing black influencers are doing much more than posting on social media – they’re making real changes in the world. Through their different talents – whether it’s making movies, taking photos, writing, or speaking up for others – each of these content creators for brands helps tell important stories and inspire others.
Looking to work with these or other powerful black social media influencers? Glewee makes it simple to find and team up with voices that match what your brand stands for. As a trusted influencer platform for brands, Glewee helps you find and work with top black influencers who can share your message with their dedicated followers. Check out Glewee today to start working with influencers who can help your brand make a real difference.
