Meta Launches Inaugural ‘Creators of Tomorrow’ Class In Effort to Support top creators
Written by Lucy Ivey
Photos by Carly Sharp
Last month, Instagram launched their “Creators of Tomorrow” initiative featuring 25 creators from all kinds of industries and backgrounds that are standing out on the app. These 25 creators were chosen based on these 5 categories: Redefining Community, #NoFilter Empowerment, Creative Excellence, On The Rise, and Future Ready. These individuals are defining the next generation of content creators that are shaping our generation's future. We had the opportunity to chat with two of the creators featured.
24 year-old food content creator, Owen Han only began his journey on Instagram back in 2021. After posting a video of him making a sandwich in his college dorm, the creator had grown a following pretty fast but his passion stemmed from long before that. “I was born in Italy and practically grew up in my Nonna's kitchen where my passion for food will forever be rooted.” He tells me. “My other grandma (on my father's side) passed down a handwritten Chinese recipe cookbook which is also where I draw a lot of inspiration for my content from as well.” Han’s videos have amassed millions of views over the past year and he has been able to make this into a full time job. “I never thought I would make a career out of creating food content so this is truly a dream job for me.” Since Owens success on Instagram he has the opportunity to work with loads of companies like Sweetgreen, be interviewed by Eater, Mashed and do so much more.
On the other side of the app lies influencer and model, Sydney Bell. Bell uses her platform to spread positivity surrounding body image and self love. The creator has spent the last few months touring with Lizzo after competing for a spot on her backup dance team. Bell posts various forms of content, our personal favorite being her “Main Character Monday” videos where she does fun dances in effort to get her followers to “write their own script.” to their lives. Sydney wants her content to empower the younger generation. “I personally would describe my work as life changing to some, empowering to women of all backgrounds, and Healing towards myself. With the content and messages that I put out into the world, I realize that it is a subject that very few people want to talk about, but that is something that needs to be amplified in order to allow the next generation of women to grow up and see themselves not only represented in media and highlighted as the main characters, but to also look in the mirror and see themselves as beautiful and worthy both inside and out.”
In one of her recent videos, she dedicated it to a young girl who DMd her about her struggles with kids in her high school. Sydney talked about her experiences dealing with similar things. “On a daily basis, I see and receive more and more messages from young women telling me that they finally put on that bikini, or that they decided to try out for their cheerleading squad which is not only life changing for them, but is life changing for me as well knowing that I could assist in reversing the damage caused by societies false ideals of beauty.” She tells me. “As I continue to spread positivity surrounding body empowerment, my goal is to make sure that the content that I share is inspiring and impactful to not only to the women and individuals who need to see it, and the generations to come but also through my well known clap backs responding with a challenging kindness that opens an awareness so that their negative views can be shifted.”
Both Owen Hall and Sydney Bell are prime examples of creators actively connecting with their communities. So many talented individuals across the app are influencing culture day by day. The Creators of tomorrow class of 2022 is empowering young people to get out there and start posting their own content. Instagrams effort to support creators in their endeavors is nonetheless inspiring and we cannot wait to see what they continue to do.
