TikTok Spotlights Most Influential Creators Of 2021 In First Annual ‘Discover List’

With a commemorative glance back at 2021, TikTok has turned a spotlight on 50 of its most influential creators, with its first annual Discover List.

The list recognizes 10 TikTok stars in each of five categories: ‘Icons’, ‘Innovators’, ‘Foodies’, ‘Changemakers’, and ‘Originators’. The Discover List also places an emphasis on recognizing the original creators of viral trends and showcase diverse voices, TikTok said.

To compile the list, TikTok told The Hollywood Reporter that its community team, helmed by Kudzi Chikumbu, nominated various creators and then ranked honorees according to engagement, views, video creations, account growth, likes, interactions with followers, and off-app social cache.

Icons are “known up and down ‘For You’ feeds and outside of TikTok,” according to the company, whereas Innovators “put a new twist on what it means to be a content creator” and Changemakers are enacting social change. Foodies, of course, are putting their own unique spin on cooking content, while Originators create hashtags, viral dances, sounds, and aesthetics.

You can check out the honorees on TikTok’s inaugural Discover List right here:

Icons

Bella Poarch, @bellapoarch
Boman Martinez-Reid, @Bomanizer
Brittany Broski, @Brittany_Broski
Challan Trishann, @challxn
Christopher Olsen & Ian Paget, @chris & @Ianpaget_
Jay, @flossybaby
Leo Gonzalez, @LeoGonzall
Mark Gaetano, @snarkymarky
Tabitha Brown, @iamtabithabrown
Christina Najjar, @tinx

Innovators

Billy Yue, @8illy
Devon Rodriguez, @devonrodriguezart
Jasmine Chiswell, @jasminechiswell
Science Akbar, @king.science
Maddi Winter, @maddiwinter
Mikayla Nogueira, @mikaylanogueira
Kyne Santos, @onlinekyne
Parker Locke, @parkerlocke
Piff Marti, @PiffMarti
Wisdom Kaye, @Wisdm8

Foodies

Jonathan Kung, @Chefjonkung
Gabrielle Williams, @gabby.jaye
Hajar Larbah, @moribyan
Newton Nguyen, @newt
Ana Regalado, @saltycocina
Jessica Woo, @sulheejessica
Ahmad Alzahabi, @Thegoldenbalance
Joanne Molinaro, @thekoreanvegan
Robert Lucas, @thesweetimpact
Violet Witchel, @Violet.cooks

Changemakers

Alexis Nelson, @alexisnikole
Shirley Raines, @Beauty2thestreetz
Joel Bervell, @joelbervell
Jesús Morales, @juixxe
James Jones, @notoriouscree
Remi Bader, @remibader
Scarlet May, @Scarlet_may.1
Taylor Jones, @taylorcassidyj
Ebony & Denise Nunez, @Team2Moms
Zachary & Patrick Valentine, @valentinebrothers

Originators

Antoni Bumba, @antonibumba
Antonio Neville, @HeyTonyTV
Jalaiah Harmon, @jalaiahharmon
Katherine Florence, @katieflorence
Keara Wilson, @keke.janajah
Makayla Did, @makayladid
Wayne Mears, @natures_food
Ronald Michel, @Rony_boyy
Vano 3000, @supvano
Tracy Joseph, @Tracy.oj