From Zoella to Kayla Itsines: Forbes has released the top list of ‘influencers’ for 2017

Liz Connor
Updated
Top influencer: Zoella: Instagram/@zoella
Top influencer: Zoella: Instagram/@zoella

Forget the 30 Under 30, because Forbes has just launched a new power list that Centennials are sure to be setting their sights on.

The magazine has just released its first-ever ‘Top Influencers’ list, honouring the vloggers and Instagrammers in the beauty, fitness and home categories that have made a fortune from social media platforms.

British beauty vlogger Zoe Sugg took the top spot in the beauty category, boasting over 11 million YouTube subscribers, a bestselling line of beauty products and a series of hit novels.

Other top beauty influencers included Michelle Phan, Huda Kattan and Nikkie de Jager who vlogs under the alias @nikkietutorials.

In the fitness category, it was Kayla Itsines who came out on top, with a fandom of over six million Instagram followers.

"The 25-year-old Australian is the Internet’s undisputed workout queen," says Forbes. Last year she made £13million on her Sweat With Kayla app alone, according to analytics firm App Annie.

Itsines also recently sold out a stadium tour in a matter of hours.

My uncle just walked into my gym and goes "nice training shoes .... NAHTTT" hahahaha 😂 BRUTAL! ....I LOVE MY COMFORTABLE TRAINING SHOES 😍😍I had the best session today! I still did my 28 minute #bbg workout... but I broke it up into 7 mins of arms, abs, legs and full body !! 👌✅ Next session I'll try and record an example and upload it!! 😘www.kaylaitsines.com/app

A post shared by Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) on Apr 9, 2017 at 10:14pm PDT

‘The Body Coach’ Joe Wicks, New Yorker Jennifer Selter and selfie queen Emily Skye also appeared in the top five fitness influencers.

Thanks to everyone who got my new fitness DVD. We have now sold 100k copies in the UK 🔥💪🏽😀🎉 I love knowing people are doing my workouts and getting fitter and healthier 🙌🏽 Keep making progress 😅

A post shared by Joe Wicks #Leanin15 (@thebodycoach) on Mar 13, 2017 at 4:49am PDT

The influencers list will be published quarterly and will cover fashion (coming in September), travel (coming in June), food (coming in December), and more.

According to a report from Forbes, which was created with social insight platform Captiv8 and influencer analytics firm Traackr, being an influencer can prove a lucrative career path.

I've talked about this mascara A LOT in my videos, but the Maybelline Lash Sensational is by far my favourite high street mascara & I recommend it to everyone! I'm going to go stock up! 🙌 #ad

A post shared by Zoella (@zoella) on Apr 10, 2017 at 8:01am PDT

YouTubers with a following of more than seven million subscribers could make up to £240,000 per post for a video partnership.

Social media stars could also make £150,000 per Facebook post, and £120,000 per Instagram post.

Even those who have just 100,000 followers could bank up to £4,000 per branded Instagram post.

Then, of course, there’s the added income from book deals, beauty lines, fashion partnerships, apps and branding opportunities.

Thinking of a career change? Check out the top five beauty and fitness social stars in order below, and for more, read the full Forbes lists here.

Beauty

1. Zoe "Zoella" Sugg (@zoella)

2. Michelle Phan (@michellephan)

3. Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty)

4. Nikkie de Jager (@nikkietutorials)

5. Shannon Harris (@shaaanxo)

Fitness

1. Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines)

2. Jen Selter (@jenselter)

3. Emily Skye (@emilyskyefit)

4. Michelle Lewin (@michelle_lewin)

5. Joe Wicks (@thebodycoach)