20 Historical Figures Who Would Thrive In Today's Social Media Era

Sometimes I wish that social media existed centuries ago.

There are some people in history that should've either had social media during their era or been alive during today's social media era.

Below are the 20 historical figures that I visualize as being key social media influencers, personalities, or consecutively trending social media figures.

1. Marie Antoinette

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Marie Antoinette was a grandiose queen, married to the French King Louis XVI until the time that were both beheaded in 1793. Prior to the horrid execution, Marie Antoinette was a high-maintenance, extremely indulgent monarch that would thrive as a social media influencer in this era. Antoinette's propensity to have extravagant parties, only wear clothes made with the finest material, and have luxurious wigs would make her the ultimate social media personality if she was from this time period. Had Marie Antoinette been born in 1985 instead of 1775, she would be just as influential on social media culture as Paris Hilton is. 

2. Leonardo da Vinci

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Leonarda da Vinci would totally fit in today's artsy social media community, and most likely be a major art social media influencer. Da Vinci would constantly go viral for his unique portraits. Couldn't you see da Vinci in this time period making a thank you TikTok expressing how "surprised" and "happy" he was to see his "Mona Lisa" painting go viral?

3. Ludwig van Beethoven

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Ludwig van Beethoven would have a booming SoundCloud, and his music would trend every week on TikTok if he was born in this era. There would be so many dance challenges created to his music had he existed in the 21st century, causing him to be a serious TikTok influencer. 

4. William Shakespeare

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William Shakespeare would be a famous YouTuber that produced a YouTube web series. Shakespeare's YouTube series would most likely gain attention and notoriety for eloquently conveying complex themes in a relatable manner, making him a mega-YouTube sensation.

5. Jane Austen

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Jane Austen would rule feminist TikTok. In this day and age, if Austen was around, she would go viral continuously for her hot takes on womanhood and relationships, proudly articulating her feministic perspective all over the Tok. If Ms. Austen was from this time period, she would actively combat all of these red pill-talking podcasters that are stuck in the manosphere so much on social media that she'd become a prominent TikToker and Twitter user. Don't think so? Well, take a look at the undertones of her novel Pride & Prejudice.

6. Mansa Musa

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The West African sovereign Mansa Musa is reported to be the richest man who ever lived, possessing reportedly a net worth of $400 billion. Instagram wouldn't be the same if this man was alive now.

7. Marilyn Monroe

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The blueprint Marilyn Monroe would have all of the girlies completely obsessed with her YouTube makeup tutorials. Monroe would be the ultimate beauty blogger, and a complete muse for any girl and nonbinary person that are beauty fanatics.

8. Adam & Eve

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Adam & Eve would be the YouTube couple vloggers that we'd all love to hate. Can't you picture them making an apology YouTube vid for eating the forbidden fruit? I sure can...

9. Elizabeth Taylor

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Elizabeth Taylor is one of Hollywood's first sex symbols, and most controversial figures. Good friends with fellow Hollywood starlet Debbie Reynolds, if Taylor been from this era she and Reynolds would be mega-YouTube influencers. Not only would Reynolds and Taylor be beauty bloggers in their own right, but they would also team up together to do YouTube story times — most likely centering around crazy things they'd experienced together and apart while in Hollywood. 

Taylor and Reynolds would be major social media celebrities had they lived in the digital media era, mostly because Taylor stealing her BFF Reynold's husband Eddie Fisher and marrying him would be such a viral story that it would become blogworthy.

10. Debbie Reynolds

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Ms. Debbie Reynolds would have definitely been a famous lifestyle blogger and couples' vlogger that would go viral on YouTube for doing a story time about her husband cheating on her with her BFF Elizabeth Taylor and then marrying her BFF, had she been around in the vlogging era. 

Before Elizabeth Stole Debbie Reynolds Husband

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Elizabeth Taylor Marries Debbie Reynolds ex-husband Eddie Fisher after breaking up their marriage.

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Elizabeth Taylor and Debbie Reynolds reconcile.

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11. Karl Marx

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Father of socialism and author of the polarizing political text The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx  would have Twitter in chains with the ultra-progressive ideology that he'd spew into his tweets.

12. Andy Warhol

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Andy Warhol would be an artsy hipster-ish Tumblr and Instagrammer who would have cryptic art designs and profound photos plastered throughout his Tumblr and Instagram page. In this era, he would be a major art influencer with a huge social media following that is super invested in trying to decode the vision behind his art. People would literally be doing YouTube think pieces on Warhol's art aesthetic had he been alive in this era. 

13. Andy Warhol's Art

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14. Queen Cleopatra

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Egyptian Queen Cleopatra is historically known mainly because of her elaborate beauty regimen and love affairs with Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and Roman general leader Mark Antony. Today Cleopatra would be a popular beauty YouTuber and TikToker with a loyal social media following. I could envision Cleopatra divulging viralworthy dating tips, relationship advice, and skincare advice on every social media platform. 

15. Queen Nefertiti

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Egyptian Queen Nefertiti is credited with being extremely symmetrical, rockin' black Kohl eyeliner, and epitomizing femininity. If this doesn't scream famous beauty influencer vibes, then I don't know what does. 

16. Madam C.J. Walker

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Madam C.J. Walker was Da Real BB Judy before Da Real BB Judy. Famed for cultivating haircare products specifically for Black women, Madam C.J. Walker would be a key Black hair influencer if she was around today. Not to mention her tea-spilling TikToks about her more problematic hair clients would stay trending.

17. Harry Houdini

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Magician Harry Houdini would have a super-subscribed-to YouTube channel where he would do nothing but prank videos in this time period. 

18. Muhammad Ali

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Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was a major smack talker and activist in his heyday. If Ali was in his prime in this era, his tweets and Instagram would be revolved around trolling his opponents, calling out inequalities, and clips of him K.O.'ing his rivals. Ali would stay trending on social media.

19. Crystal LaBeija

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Crystal LaBeija is a fierce, iconic visionary. The establishment of the house system in LGBTQ+ ball culture is attributed to the pioneering drag queen LaBeija. If Queen of the House of LaBeija was on Twitter and TikTok today, she would be reading all of the Karens of the world for filth while advocating for LBGT rights like every Muva should.

Crystal LaBeija gives us all a lesson in reading.

NYTimes/ youtube.com

20. Tupac Shakur

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Tupac was a live wire and lady-killer while he was alive. Those that are familiar with Tupac's personality know that he'd take social media by storm if he existed within the digital era, specifically Twitter. Tupac's tweets would be raw, authentic, and controversial, just like he was.