We’re living in a technology obsessed world, and with that comes the rise of influencers. Influencers may be the buzzword we have been seeing over the last five years or so, but there have been public figures doing their jobs for many decades. Influencers are trendsetters, tastemakers, and ones who can turn a measly beverage into the next big thing – but what exactly are they? Long gone are the days when sitting on your phone all day would be considered “pointless” as today people are making a living from their mobile phones. Whether it be through fashion, business, or any industry under the sun, we’re now seeing a colossal growth in influencers who are making big bucks online.
But where did they come from?
We may believe that this “influencer career” is very much a new thing (just look at Fit Kitty taking the world by storm), but influential figures have been knocking around for centuries – just without Instagram filters, memes, or hashtags. Just think, even if we look back to Ancient times, there are figures and people whose opinions mattered, and people followed their lead. From powerful rulers who dictated the way we dress, to philosophers whose words shaped entire societies – the essence of the influencer has been around the human narrative for some time.
Fast forward to today, and it’s pretty much the same, although a whole lot more jazzier. There’s money involved, status, and a social following that packs a punch – these influencers of today have such a say on our generation, that they’ve turned it into fully fledged careers from their bedrooms. We’re going to be looking at the influencer timeline, and where they came from to become such prominent parts of our society. From beauty fanatics to meme creators or models in the adult industry – here’s all you need to know about influencers past and present.
Influencers of the past
If you Google it, you’ll see that the age of the influencer has been around for the last few years – but in reality, it goes back much further than that. They may seem like a modern phenomenon, but their roots run deep through the histories of many industries. Long before TikTok, Instagram, or trusty Snapchat, there were still people who would sway public opinion, and that’s exactly what an influencer is. They set trends and became celebrities of their time – just without the help of the internet to push their reach further.
But who was there first?
Ancient rulers are undeniably huge parts of our history, so you can bet your bottom dollar that these people were big in their day as well. History is full of figures whose influence was felt far and wide – take Cleopatra for example. She was a political powerhouse, but also a huge part of fashion and beauty history – therefore cementing herself as one of the OG influencers. She had people falling at her feet and shaped the cultural landscape of her ear, meaning she really was the trailblazer of her time. Alix Earle, who?
Jump through the decades and you’ll cross the 20th century when the newfound movie influencer was born. This covered icons like Marilyn Monroe or adult film stars like Tori Welles. These ladies weren’t just actors and stars in their generation, they’ve shaped female empowerment as we know it in today’s society. Take the likes of Tori Welles herself, she went through monumental controversy during her adult film career and came out the other end as a superstar who overcame it all. And today, people look back and see that her impact extended beyond the movie screen, influencing fashion, attitudes, and the perception of adult entertainment.
It’s clear that these (and many more) prominent figures of history have shaped the careers of influencers everywhere. They laid the groundwork, so the digital influencers we see today could see the power of influencing.
So, who’s currently taking over in the 21st-century influencing space?
They may have always been amongst us, but the influencers of today have a different kind of skill. They utilize new technologies to monetize their brand. From beauty to fashion, these people have catapulted themselves into a phenomenon:
- Alix Earle
Known for her reliability factor and shockingly good looks, Alix Earle is the TikTok era’s Cleopatra. She balances the idea of a “perfect life” with silly mistakes and relatable 20-something problems and captivates her audience perfectly. She’s on the cover of swimsuit magazines, and fashion magazines, and is the face that every fashion and beauty brand wants to work with.
2. Jake Paul
Whether you love him or hate him – Jake Paul has turned himself into a multimillionaire through monetizing himself. What started off as a YouTube career has opened up so many revenue streams, he’s now a self-proclaimed boxer and more. From creating a drinks brand to sports channels, Jake Paul is an influencer and businessman who took the influencing world and made it work.
3. James Charles
Last but by no means least is James Charles. Starting in his childhood bedroom, this influencer is now a makeup mogul that everybody wants in on. He’s created a makeup line off the bat of his makeup videos and has amassed millions of followers by doing what he loves.
The millennials of today follow these influencers’ lives closely, through their relationships, their fashion choices and more. See the video below to see just how much us as a society love following the latest influencer/celebrity drama of the year.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCrvZ9vRt5M/
If there’s anything you can learn about influencers past and present, it’s that by doing what you love and by doing it well – you can truly make a name for yourself. Just be authentic, and the art of influencing comes second nature.
