PinkNews Awards 2020: Nominees revealed for Influencer of the Year
The PinkNews Awards 2020 took place December 2-4 in association with Amazon.
The nominees for the Influencer of the Year award at the PinkNews Awards 2020 have been revealed, and each one made a meaningful contribution to LGBT+ visibility in their work.
Influencers have never had their own dedicated category at the PinkNews Awards before, but their role has never been as important, as many help shape public opinion about queer lifestyles.
They are responsible for educating so many people across the world on what it means to be LGBT+ while also showing that queer people are people deserving of respect and empathy.
The winner will be revealed at the PinkNews Awards, which will take place virtually from December 2-4. The nominees are listed below. The public vote is now closed.
Matt Benfield and Omar Ahmed.
Omar Ahmed and Matt Benfield
Matt Benfield, from North Carolina, and Omar Ahmed, from Manchester, first met in Berlin before they decided to settle down in Toronto.
The happy couple run their own successful YouTube channel where they discuss their sexuality and relationship, as well as other topics such as veganism and skincare.
Matt and Omar also run their own Instagram accounts, where they have amassed 125,000 followers between them.
They have also shared calls supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, proving that their activism and influence is intersectional at its core.
Sebastian Wood and Monty Keates.
Sebastian Wood and his boyfriend Monty Keates
Gay couple Sebastian Wood and Monty Keates are among the UK’s biggest TikTok stars – and it’s not hard to see why.
Their content is both endearing and hilarious, and both Wood and Keates have proven themselves to be positive and empowering role models for queer youth.
Between them, they have more than 3.5 million followers on TikTok, making them some of the platform’s most recognisable queer stars.
Make-up by Jack.
Make-up by Jack
Jack was catapulted to internet fame aged 10 when a video showcasing his make-up skill went viral in 2017.
In the clip, Jack showed off his incredible skill with make-up brushes, foundation and highlighter. That video was viewed more than 40 million times.
Since then, he has become an internet sensation, racking up more than 400,000 followers on Instagram.
Speaking to PinkNews in May, Jack said he became interested in make-up after watching his mum, a beauty therapist, doing her make-up.
Florence Given.
Florence Given
Queer illustrator and activist Florence Given has fought tirelessly for equality for LGBT+ people and women through her social media platforms.
With more than 500,000 followers on Instagram alone, Given has a huge public platform – and she is not afraid to use it to promote messages of acceptance and inclusion.
Given has also fought against the oppressive forces of misogyny and patriarchy, and has been praised by LGBT+ fans for including trans and non-binary people in her activism.
Team2Moms.
Team2Moms
Lesbian mothers Ebony and Denise met on MySpace – and now, they’re married mothers to three children.
Speaking to PinkNews in 2019, the mothers said: “Having loving parents – whether it’s a single parent, same-sex parenting or mother/dad parenting – it doesn’t matter, as long as children are raised with love.”
Ebony and Denise show this empowering attitude every day in their YouTube videos and on Instagram.
They have won praise from many LGBT+ people for giving greater visibility to same-sex parents while showing that children just need love to thrive.
The winner will be announced at the PinkNews Awards 2020, taking place virtually December 2-4. The public vote is now closed.
