Zoe Sugg, Kayla Itsines, And Grace Bonney Named ‘Top Influencers’ By Forbes

Forbes has named the top 10 beauty creators in the world as part of a new influencer ranking initiative. Over the next four quarters, Forbes says, it will name the 10 Top Influencers across three different content categories.

Forbes kicked off the initiative by revealing its rankings in the beauty, fitness, and home verticals. In beauty, for instance, 27-year-old Zoe ‘Zoella’ Sugg was named the top creator on the planet, with roughly 12 million subscribers, acclaimed books, and a lifestyle brand in U.K. drugstore chain Superdrug. Winners in the fitness and home categories were Kayla Itsines — whose Sweat With Kayla app reportedly generated $17 million last year — and blogger Grace Bonney, respectively.

Forbes partnered with influencer analytics firms Traackr and Captiv8 to determine its rankings, measuring reach, propensity for virality, engagement, and potential earnings per post. Offline earnings were also reviewed, according to the company.

“It’s time to recognize the influencer economy as a legitimate entrepreneurial pursuit,” said Christina Vuleta

, VP of Forbes Women’s Digital Network. Forbes says its 30 initial honorees have a combined social following of roughly 250 million people and can earn up to $300,000 per most. “These social innovators are creating markets around their lives, and passions — and fulfilling a need for millions of people who want to hear from them versus a traditional brand sponsor.”

In beauty, Sugg was followed by Michelle Phan, Huda Kattan, Nikkie de Jager, Shannon Harris, Jeffree Star, Kandee Johnson, Manny Gutierrez, Christen Dominique, and Wayne Goss. Next quarter, Forbes — which has also ranked the wealthiest YouTube stars in the world for two years now — will release its Top Influencers lists for comedy, travel, and gaming. Subsequent categories will include fashion, entertainment, parenting, food, tech and business, and sports.