Influencers in NYC

The Shift From Celebrities to Influencers in NYC The Shift From Celebrities to Influencers in NYC

who runs nyc? tik tok influencers.

by CAROLINE STEVENSON graphics by SAMANTHA FUSS

Victoria Paris, Remi Bader, Josie Jabs — even if you don’t follow them on social media, you’ve probably heard one of these names. These ladies are just a few of the many New York City influencers who have dominated our Tik Tok For You pages and Instagram feeds. Yet, how exactly did simple 15 to 60-second videos lead to these ladies walking the same red carpets as Kylie Jenner and Megan Fox? It’s simple: these influencers emphasize REAL living and can’t hide behind Photoshop. Instead, they choose to embrace the candid reality of their lives. Whether it’s showing off their outfits or running around New York City, we can relate to them. While it’s fun to look at pictures of Hollywood stars making everyday life look glamorous — seriously, we didn’t even know it was possible to make grocery shopping look good — or photos of celebrities going to upscale events while traveling the world, honestly, we just can’t relate. Over the years, the disparity between Hollywood icons and ordinary life has only heightened. Not only have we become obsessed with watching the day-to-day lives of our favorite celebrities on social media, but we have also watched ridiculous amounts of editing become the norm for Instagram posts. Seeing picture after picture of slim waists, smooth skin, and perfect butts have become a typical experience while scrolling through social media, making many girls look in the mirror and hate what they see. While social media quickly became interchangeable with words like “toxic” and “destructive,” a wave of relatable influencers brought a much-needed dose of reality to our screens. Our feeds were flooded with Victoria Paris’s 20+ vlogs a day that documented her very real life in New York, from fit checks to morning coffee, and even wheeling her dirty laundry down the block. Or how about Remi Bader’s famous #remisrealistichauls, where she shows her first reactions to trying on clothes purchased online as a plus-size woman. Even Brianna Chicken Fry, living as a college dropout in NYC known for her painful, relatable hangovers and party-girl lifestyle. Each of these accounts provides an engaging experience and shared feeling for their audience, making them feel understood and like they’re part of a community. You can replicate an outfit similar to the ones seen on an influencer’s feed, eat at the same affordable restaurants during a city trip, and relate to the emotions that come with being a young woman in a new environment, whether that be college or post-grad life.

At the same time, you can also expect to see these women as the faces of many popular brands, such as Remi Bader’s work for Revolve or Victoria Paris’s collaboration with Garage. Having women like Bader and Paris represent popular brands while living somewhat of a normal life brings back this connection that has been lost between Hollywood’s elite and the public. While you can empathize with these women in the similarities of your lifestyles, you can also look up to them and admire their work, having made a name for themselves through their vulnerability on social media.

While we will always admire the Hollywood celebrities we grew up with, the new wave of true girl boss-NYC influencers shows us the highs and lows that come with popularity while allowing us to see a little bit of ourselves in them.