(upbeat music)
- Hey world, I'm Nyla Simone and today we're talking
about a few of the most trending influencers,
some of the biggest, brightest
and funniest folks making noise
on social media so far in 2021.
These are the people who created the videos, the memes,
and the moments that has laughing, dancing and thinking.
Our shares and our reposts got these folks viral
and they're the ones who broke the internet
with their creativity, comedy, and genius.
And who knows, one day they might be front row
at the BET awards, so let's get into it.
Starting with fashion icon, Zerina Akers.
You know that saying, a picture's worth a thousand words?
Well, it looks this influencer creates her pictures,
for some of the biggest stars in the world,
bumped that 1000 up to millions of likes.
Zerina Akers is a costume designer
and stylist making rules.
Over the year, she set the fashion world
on fire styling Chloe and Halle, DC Ned and Queen B.
She's the one to watch in the world of fashion
and recently launched a dope e-commerce site,
www.blackownedeverything.co, showcasing black creators.
With doors opening wider for black designers and stylists,
it's amazing to see Zerina make history
across fashion and culture.
Uh, Zerina, let's talk cause I'm gonna need to get fluffy
the next BAT Awards, okay sis?
Next, we got an influencer all about sharing knowledge
and cultural awareness with smooth delivery.
Lyneezy's IG is full of powerful insight in facts
on current events and black history.
Her parking lot pimping videos do an amazing job
keeping her followers informed.
You can't help, but learn something
every time you check out her page.
Plus this stays fly sneaker game on a 100
and the HBCU gear on deck is fire.
We see you, Lyneezy.
- Yeah, whassup, it's Friday, so I'm gonna keep it black.
But I won't keep it brief.(chuckles)
That phrase came out of nowhere.
I was a black history teacher and so the pointing hit,
and I had nothing else to do with my time.
And on the heels of the summer 2020, this proliferation,
this resurgence of black lives matter,
after the tragic death of George Floyd,
I saw that the world was in desire of the information
that I had to give in the way that I had to give it.
Now is the time people want to hear this information.
They're receptive to this information
and the way that I'm doing it can connect
with people on a really great ways.
So the concept for parking lot pimping
came from me having a desire to make sure
my content was as unique as possible.
I set up in this little room where I decided
I was gonna give what I had to offer to the world.
And I was like, this is cute and all,
but a lot of people do videos by their bedside
and do videos in front of their desk.
So what am I going to do that's gonna make people
when they're scrolling, stop and ask,
"What is she doing in her parking lot?" (chuckles)
And so that's what I did.
I just went and set up my chair outside
and started talking to the camera.
I had a video go viral once, I wanna believe
in August, that was about queer black erasure.
And I am quite tired of the ideas that suggest
that all black people should focus
on the black problem first.
As if there are not gay and trans issues, women's issues,
classes issues, ablest issues, that are also black issues.
But that video people started posting directly
to their pages, so it could be in people's feeds
and profiles, and with BET reposted it
and the NAACP reposted it and it really just surprised me
how small this world is that so many people could have
access to my content and admire it enough
to share it with their followers.
You have to show people how they can imagine you.
Otherwise, you will be limited to their imagination.
And I knew someone like me who's already creating
my own lane and so many different things,
is really gonna have to show people how I can be fit
into what they've already got going on
and ask for this new element.
But I am different, I am unique enough
and I've displayed ways in which I can fit
into different puzzle pieces and bring new elements
for anyone that wants to work with me.
So I'm gonna keep it black, but I won't keep it brief.
- With over 1.3 million followers on Tik Tok,
Jazmyn W is making most all across social media.
Adding her comedic spin on topics,
including dating, friendships, coworkers,
and microaggressions, she's gaining followers
and folks are sharing her hilarious content.
- I didn't want to say nothing, but I lost my job.
I can't pay my rent, I don't even have money for brunch.
Oh my God, Terry, I had no idea.
Babe, come on, let me pay for your brunch.
That's why I don't go nowhere with you.
Give me your bill.
Give me your bill, I'll pay it.
Give me your bill.
She's going to be on mine.
- Yo, she could definitely host the next BET awards
with me, we could light that place up,
come on BET, let's make that happen.
All right, now Chef Danie is next in our countdown
and she's not only got beauty and brains,
but she cooks for some of the biggest names
in entertainment.
I mean the food, the food looks good, I'm not gonna lie.
Chef Danie knows how to create a delicious meal
and not only taste good, but photograph amazingly.
Just carving out a space for women of color to be seen
in the culinary world and BET,
I think we found our next big chef to cater the award show,
cause y'all be feeding people, right?
The world of influence isn't limited to social media.
This woman made a huge moment
in the sports world by choosing herself.
At only 23 years old, Naomi Osaka not only has showcased
her amazing talents in the tennis world and social justice,
Naomi brought attention to the importance
of caring for our mental health.
Deciding to take time away from the game of tennis
and candidly sharing her dealing
with anxiety and depression.
Naomi is helping to normalize the conversation
of mental health.
We thank you, Naomi, for bringing the discussion
to the national stage.
After spending a whole year locked up together,
lots of couples got inspired
to create content highlighting black love.
Hope and Kadero AKA every day with HK,
use their social media to inspire people
with hilarious videos, focused
on inspiring healthy relationships with love and laughter.
That's their bio line y'all, when it comes
to their marriage, it's clear love
and laughter is a priority.
- Well, how long it take?
It depends on the, it depends on the, on the choreography.
- Choreography yeah, it does depend,
like the more complex may take us probably
about a good 30 minutes.
- [K] 30-45 minutes.
- But there has been some dances that we just be like,
we can't figure this out, we're not (laughing)
we're not even gonna try.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
- But you know now, Tik Tok dances,
they're all kind of the same.
- The same. - You gotta, doing this.
- Oh, yeah.
(both laughing)
And all this stuff.
- I'm just like, all right, we can do that-
- And I think with some of our videos,
like the imperfections is what people love.
Like, it's real people attempting these dances and they see
our failures, hey see our mess up, they see everything,
but it's just, it's relatable.
The amount of people that you know,
have started following us since then,
and we're grateful for it because it has shined a light
on us where it's like, people are now getting
to experience things other than to see our video,
like our relationship and like our marriage quotes.
So like how we live our lives.
And I committed when I married
to him, the good, the bad, the ugly.
So it's like being patient with
that person and allowing them to grow.
- I always want to learn from she,
because she's not the same woman I married 12 years ago.
- No, we evolve.
- So we evolve and grow the same so we continue to learn,
- And we always say our marriage is first.
- Our marriage is first.
- We were married before we were "insta famous".
- These Tik Tok influencers have showcased brand building
on this ever-growing platform as a surefire way
to reach a wide reaching audience.
Jake, AKA Flossybaby had a Tik Tok following
of 3.5 million and her most viral videos
often reach over 6 billion.
Her relatable commentary and humor had left an impression.
- My favorite thing is when in the middle of a conversation,
someone cuts in to say, "I know this is
off topic, but you're really pretty."
My love, there is never a wrong time to compliment me.
I don't care if we're at a funeral.
If you think I look good, please let me know.
- She's the next big star, she'll be cleaning up
at the BAT award soon, collecting every award.
Chloe Bailey damn near broke the internet earlier this year
when she showed up on Tik Tok
and Instagram with her own accounts.
She's now up to over 3 million followers on Instagram
and nearly 850K followers on Tik Tok.
Although we know her as an actress on Grown-ish
and half of Chloe and Halle, her posts give us
a better look at who she is as an individual.
And those locks are fire.
Now Chloe is just getting started
and we can't wait to see where she goes.
Most influencers don't set out with the goal of going viral.
You make your content and it's about sharing what's funny,
important, and relevant to you.
So I got to give props to every person we highlighted,
because they did that and more.
Now I'm your girl Nyla Simone.
Make sure you guys keep up with me
on Instagram @Nylasimoneee and make sure
you guys watch the 2021 BET awards on Sunday, June 27th,
and use the hashtag BET awards to share
your favorite moments all across social media platforms.
Till next time guys, we out.
(upbeat music)