The internet has done it again. It’s rewritten the rules of fame, this time for good. The Hollywood Reporter’s 2025 “Most Powerful Influencers” list doesn’t read like a who’s who of red carpets and box offices anymore. Instead, it’s packed with creators who went from posting silly TikToks to signing brand deals that rival A-list actors.
They’ve conquered timelines, shaped trends, and are now flipping Hollywood’s hierarchy on its head. From the chaotic energy of Brittany Broski to the slick, self-aware comedy of Quenlin Blackwell, these influencers aren’t just online personalities, they’re moguls of a new global culture.
From Likes to Legacy: How Influencers Took Over Hollywood
Once upon a time, Hollywood made the stars. Now, the stars make Hollywood.
It started quietly, with digital creators pulling audiences away from traditional media. Fast forward to 2025, and streaming studios, fashion brands, and even political campaigns are chasing collabs with TikTokers. Addison Rae and Emma Chamberlain opened the door, and today creators like Alix Earle, Caleb Hearon, and Delaney Rowe are building entire media ecosystems out of ring lights and relatability.
Hollywood didn’t see it coming, but it’s adapting fast.
Power Players of the Year
THR’s 2025 list highlights 44 influencers who’ve reset the fame equation. Here are some standouts who’ve turned viral moments into empires:
1. Alix Earle – The Gen Z CEO
From “get ready with me” chaos to a brand-building empire, Alix Earle has mastered the art of being real. Her podcast sits among Spotify’s global top 10. Her collaborative makeup line sold out in under 24 hours. She’s not just influencing beauty trends, she’s rewriting marketing blueprints.
Share this with a friend who’s ever binged a GRWM video at 2 a.m.
2. Alex Consani – The Runway Rebel
A modeling powerhouse who brings TikTok’s raw charm to fashion week glam, Alex Consani proves humor and haute couture can coexist. She walked Balenciaga and cracked jokes backstage that went viral internationally. Her duality made her a breakout fashion personality of 2025.
3. Brittany Broski – Meme Queen to Media Maven
The “Kombucha girl” meme might’ve introduced her, but Brittany has now evolved into a high-profile interviewer and cultural voice. Her talk show clips hit millions of views overnight. What’s her secret sauce? Self-deprecating humor and radical honesty in a world curated for perfection.
4. Boman Martinez-Reid – The Reality TV Maestro
Known for his mockumentary-style skits and razor-sharp humor, Boman has perfected parody. His digital “reality show” storytelling has brands lining up for creative collaborations. 2025 is the year he moves behind the camera as a writer and executive producer for a major streaming comedy.
5. Quenlin Blackwell – Unfiltered, Unapologetic, Unstoppable
Her comedic monologues have the timing of a stand-up and the flair of a TV writer. Quenlin’s chaotic charm hides sharp instincts and perfect comedic rhythm. She’s the internet’s younger Tina Fey, and that’s no exaggeration.
6. Kareem Rahma – TikTok’s Documentary Genius
Kareem’s spontaneous street interviews have turned into pop-culture artifacts. Whether chatting with subway strangers or stars, he’s created digital anthropology, a show that feels part SNL sketch, part therapy, part chaos.
Can someone get this guy a late-night show already?
7. Brooke Averick & Connor Wood – The Pod Pair Everyone’s Talking About
Hosts of “Brooke and Connor Make a Podcast,” this dynamic duo capture modern friendship in its funniest form. Witty, expressive, occasionally awkward, they represent what real connection looks like in the digital age.
8. Amelia Dimoldenberg – The Interview Queen of Cool
Her show “Chicken Shop Date” has become a must-stop for celebrities from Drake to Dua Lipa. Amelia’s mix of awkward pauses and dry wit has made her one of entertainment’s most in-demand hosts. She’s proof that authenticity, sprinkled with sarcasm, sells.
9. Jay Shetty & Lilly Singh – Global Icons with Purpose
The list wouldn’t be global without them. Jay Shetty, known for his motivational videos and bestselling books, brings soulful stability to an otherwise frenetic internet. Lilly Singh continues to balance comedy, activism, and global advocacy while steering her digital studio to new heights.
And yes, India’s Prajakta Koli, famed for her YouTube channel MostlySane, is back, proof that South Asian creators are now crucial in shaping global internet culture.
The Creator Currency: How Much Power Do They Really Have?
In 2025, influencer marketing hit $21 billion globally. Creator-founded brands now outsell celebrity endorsements by 46%.
Think about it. When Alix Earle wears a lipstick shade, it sells out in hours. When Boman posts a parody sketch about Hollywood diversity, it trends on X and TikTok simultaneously. These creators command an audience loyalty that even blockbuster franchises envy.
Hollywood is no longer asking, “Can influencers act?”
Now it asks, “Can actors influence?”
The Netflix of Creators
Studios aren’t just hiring influencers, they’re building around them. After Party Studios’ 2025 MIPCOM debut saw influencers running panels, not just promoting them. YouTube, TikTok, and former networks like MTV are restructuring content lanes to cater to creator-led entertainment.
We’re watching the birth of a hybrid era: The Creator-Producer.
Creators now own storytelling from start to screen. Their content pipelines are faster, cheaper, and often more emotionally resonant than traditional shows. A single Instagram reel can trigger a show deal. That’s the speed of fame, 2025 edition.
The Surprise Names People Can’t Stop Debating
Every year, there’s drama. Reddit lit up after THR’s list dropped. Some fans questioned why smaller creators made the cut, while mega-following celebrities were absent.
That’s exactly the point. Influence isn’t just about numbers anymore. It’s about how deeply you shape culture, humor, or community. A creator with 500K loyal fans can be more “powerful” than one with 50 million passive ones.
And if you’re not convinced, ask the Redditors arguing over Gabby and Taylor’s inclusion. They went viral not just for their content, but for sparking conversations about authenticity in influencer aesthetics.
That’s 2025 for you. A world where relatability equals relevance.
Not Just Viral, Vital
Influencers aren’t just entertaining people anymore. They’re impacting industries:
- Fashion: Where Alex Consani turns runway chaos into meme gold.
- Comedy: Where Quenlin and Kareem redefine sketch formats for a scrolling generation.
- Music: Where creators are the new A&R scouts.
- Mental health: Where Jay Shetty and Mel Robbins are shifting global conversations.
These creators are generating moments that double as movements. When they cry on camera, share unfiltered anxiety, or laugh mid-meltdown, they show audiences what humanity looks like in an algorithmic age.
The Future Is Multi-Hyphenated
No one’s just an influencer anymore. They’re model–comedian–podcaster–fashion collaborator–brand founder. The multi-hyphenated hustle is the new norm.
Hollywood’s old metric, talent plus exposure, has been replaced with authenticity plus virality. It’s not who you know, but who you can engage.
And for 2025’s top creators, that magic lies in being both consistent and unpredictable. They can make you laugh, promote a product, start a trend, and land on a magazine cover, all in a week.
The Global Wave
THR’s list feels refreshingly global this year. Influencers from India, Canada, the UK, and Mexico made the cut, showing how influence has escaped geographical boundaries.
Creators like Prajakta Koli, Lilly Singh, and Dhruv Rathee are representing digital India on the world stage. Meanwhile, Latin American voices like Domelipa are rocketing to the top of brand charts.
The takeaway? The internet’s not divided by borders. It’s united by vibes.
Influencers vs. Institutions
Can influencers really replace traditional celebrity culture? Maybe they already have.
The Forbes Top Creators report estimated the top 50 online stars earned over $850 million last year. That’s more than the box office of most Hollywood comedies.
Studios are chasing that engagement gold. The Hollywood Reporter’s spotlight only confirms that the future of entertainment will be influencer-led, creator-funded, and community-owned.
A Few Wild Predictions for 2026
- Expect Netflix to cast entire shows based on influencer personality data.
- Expect more influencer-brand joint ventures instead of one-off collabs.
- Expect AI-generated influencer avatars to start co-hosting real podcasts.
- Expect you, or someone you know, to turn their side hustle into a personal brand before the next list drops.
Yes, really.
Culture Isn’t Being Influenced, It Is the Influence
This list doesn’t just highlight creators. It immortalizes a cultural turning point.
Every viral dance, candid confession, clickbait headline, and podcast punchline feeds a new kind of Hollywood, one that thrives on speed, spontaneity, and shared emotion.
Creators aren’t breaking into Hollywood anymore. They’re building it around themselves.
And that’s the real power move.
Before You Go, Let’s Make This Go Viral
Loved this roundup? Send it to that friend who won’t stop scrolling Reels.
Tag someone who dreams of going viral.
Or better, start creating, because The Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 list could have your name on it.
The future of fame isn’t coming. It’s already here, and it’s following you back.
