From the beauty mavericks fighting for diversity to the fashion influencers who don't just dress like everyone else, welcome to Marie Claire's first ever influencer power list - thank you 51.5* million followers
Influence: the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something.** In a rapidly changing and increasingly uncertain world, sharing thoughts, ideas and inspiration with like-minded women has never been more important. This month, we bring you our inaugural #MarieClaireVerified power list in partnership with Freixenet, a carefully curated network of game-changers from the worlds of fashion, beauty, lifestyle and health.
From micro-influencers with the efficacy to engage and start conversations, to Instagram icons who are changing the face of fashion and beauty for a new generation, over the coming months, we’ll be collaborating with these 30 women. Why? Because their voices are shaping the way we think, behave, and actually live, and their passions and values chime with our own. Prepare to be inspired.
*Number of followers based on combined figures across Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook
**Oxford Dictionaries definition.
Shini Park
Follow: @parkncube
The fashion game-changers inspiring style and individuality... Shini says: ‘I want to encourage more women to create rather than just consume. It’s easy to scroll Instagram passively, but better to use your experiences to tell your own story.’ 258k followers
Follow: @parkncube
Laura Fantacci
Follow: @witblog
The stylist built up a huge following by documenting her fashion finds and styling tips on her website Wearing It Today. She is also the co-founder of digital magazine and shopping destination Wardrobe ICONS. 51.8k followers
Follow: @witblog
Hayley Hasselhoff
Follow: @hhasselhoff
The model and actress recently launched her plus-size clothing range with Elvi (and is also our very own brilliant Marie Claire #Curve columnist). 56.8k followers
Follow: @hhasselhoff
Xenia Tchoumi
Follow: @xenia
She speaks six languages and turned down a job at JP Morgan to become a style influencer. Passionate about gender equality, Tchoumi recently spoke at the UN about the power of digital women. 7.1m followers
Follow: @xenia
Callie Thorpe
Follow: @calliethorpe
She’s passionate about showing that confidence comes from acceptance, and that size is no barrier to style. What started as a diet diary has now morphed into a ‘body-shame free’ corner of the internet. 159.9k followers
Follow: @calliethorpe
Patricia Bright
Follow: @thepatriciabright
This stylish star began uploading fashion and beauty tutorials to YouTube while studying accountancy and finance at university, and soon built up an online empire. 1.7m followers
Follow: @thepatriciabright
Freddie Harrel
Follow: @freddieharrel
Freddie says: ‘My platform allows me to express myself and exchange ideas with like-minded people. It’s not a one-way conversation, it’s a collaboration.’ 130.7K followers
Follow: @freddieharrel
Erica Davies
Follow: @erica_davies
At the age of 24, Davies was Fleet Street’s youngest-ever fashion editor. She’s since become a mother, stylist, fashion journalist and brand consultant, who shares insights and inspiration on her blog The Edited. 61.8k followers
Follow: @erica_davies
Alex Stedman
Follow: @thefrugality
Stedman is author of The Frugality blog – luxury living for the cash-strapped millennial. Think tips for scouting the best high-street buys, while still funding the occasional Gucci bag. 138.9k followers
Follow: @thefrugality
Lindsey Holland
Follow: @ropesofholland
Holland’s love of Scandi-cool found the perfect outlet through her fashion blog, which she juggles with her day job as a physiotherapist. 30.3k followers
Follow: @ropesofholland
Laura Lejeune
Follow: @lauralejeune
The mental-health hero kick-starting the important conversations... She turned to YouTube for help with her own mental-health issues after feeling let down by professional therapy, and soon began uploading candid videos talking about her struggles. Lejeune now has an online community of 100,000 subscribers. 178k followers
Follow: @lauralejeune
Hannah Witton
Follow: @hannahwitton
The no-BS sex educator for no-filter advice... Witton’s no-holds-barred, brutally honest sex vlogs give young people the sex education that’s lacking in schools. 565k followers
Follow: @hannahwitton
Lisa Dawson
Follow: @_lisa_dawson_
The lifestyle gurus giving us daily inspiration... After moving nine times in 14 years, the former fashion-retail worker began documenting her love of interior design on Instagram. Her thrift-shop finds attracted so much attention that she began blogging full-time. 53.7k followers
Follow: @_lisa_dawson_
Jackson & Levine
Follow: @jacksonandlevine
These two friends with a mutual obsession with food joined forces to share their love of cooking and entertaining. They also have a cookbook and homeware range and are our food columnists. 258.5k followers
Follow: @jacksonandlevine
Melissa Hemsley
Follow: @melissa.hemsley
After bursting on to the food scene alongside her sister Jasmine, Hemsley became an author, cook, presenter and blogger. She continues to promote health and nutrition through her feel-good recipes, including for the fundraising initiative #CookForSyria. 20.4k followers
Follow: @melissa.hemsley
Dina Tokio
Follow: @dinatokio
The beauty mavericks encouraging diversity... Dina says: ‘People assume young Muslim women should be a certain way. I started [my blog] because I couldn’t relate to other beauty blogs, and it turns out that lots of women felt the same.’ 2.2m followers
Follow: @dinatokio
Louise Pentland
Follow: @louisepentland
Also known as Sprinkle of Glitter, Pentland began blogging about beauty and moved on to document the highs and lows of motherhood. She soon launched on YouTube where her vlogging career went stellar. She’s now a change ambassador for the UN, fighting for gender equality. 9.1m followers
Follow: @louisepentland
Estee Lalonde
Follow: @esteelalonde
This Canadian-born vlogger documents beauty, travel, fashion, food and the life of her adorable pooch Reggie. She is also the author of inspirational lifestyle book Bloom. 2.2m followers
Follow: @esteelalonde
Victoria Magrath
Follow: @inthefrow
With a PhD in fashion and a hair ambassadorship with L’Oréal Paris, Magrath is the brains behind award-winning fashion blog In The Frow. 1.5m followers
Follow: @inthefrow
Really Ree
Follow: @reallyree
Passionate about keeping it ‘real’, Ree writes about real beauty in a hyper-accessible way. 78.9k followers
Follow: @reallyree
Em Ford
Follow: @mypaleskinblog
Her make-up tutorials on YouTube detailing how to cover up acne have changed lives and gone viral. Ford has since worked with Kylie Jenner. 2m followers
Follow: @mypaleskinblog
Lily Pebbles
Follow: @lilypebbles
Her chic blog showcases her passion for lifestyle, travel and fashion, although she admits that beauty is her true love. 1.1m followers
Follow: @lilypebbles
Anna Whitehouse
Follow: @mother_pukka
The parenting bloggers telling it how it is... A blog for ‘people who happen to be parents’, Whitehouse is the ultimate example of how the fun doesn’t end when you have kids – in fact, it’s just the beginning. Her favourite hashtag? #Parentingtheshitoutoflife. 113.1k followers
Follow: @mother_pukka
Giovanna Fletcher
Follow: @mrsgifletcher
Giovanna says: ‘It’s important to follow people who empower you. There are so many good corners of the internet – we should celebrate that.’ 1.7m followers
Follow: @mrsgifletcher
AJ Odudu
Follow: @ajodudu
The health pros championing body positivity... AJ says: ‘There was a time when I had to define my career as one thing, but now I can embrace all my passions – writing, presenting and fitness.’ 71.2k followers
Follow: @ajodudu
Kayla Itsines
Follow: @kayla_itsines
Co-creator of the ebooks Bikini Body Guides, Itsines’ 28-minute workouts are tailored to women’s fitness needs, focusing on minimal equipment with maximum effect. 19.9m followers
Follow: @kayla_itsines
Zanna van Dijk
Follow: @zannavandijk
Fitness fiend Van Dijk is the first female UK Adidas global ambassador and co-founder of the #girlgains movement, empowering and educating women worldwide. 237.5k followers
Follow: @zannavandijk
Jody Shield
Follow: @jodyshield
Shield quit her corporate job in advertising to travel around South America after having a ‘full-on meltdown’. She’s now a motivational speaker, author of LifeTonic and meditation ambassador for Lululemon. 17.1k followers
Follow: @jodyshield
Bella Younger
Follow: @deliciouslystella
The badass women reminding us not to take life too seriously... Younger is the antidote to ‘clean eating’ we didn’t know we needed. Regularly uploading pics of her, erm, ‘healthy’ recipes with a twist, she serves up a side of humour with every post. 148.2k followers
Follow: @deliciouslystella
Emily Hartridge
Follow: @emilyhartridge
If there’s a funnier woman on YouTube, we challenge you to find her. Creator of her own comedy gold ‘10 reasons why’ series, we can’t get enough of her. 359.9k followers
Follow: @emilyhartridge
