27 Black Canadians You Should Be Following On Social Media

A little #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy to up your social media game.

Black History Month is almost over, but there's no question that we should be celebrating Black Canadian Excellence year-round! Here's a list of some of the Black Canadians that you should be following on social media.

Variety / Via Giphy

1. Catriona Smart

Instagram: @cocoandcowe

Coco has a lifestyle blog called Coco + Cowe, a podcast called Conversations With Coco + Friends a PR Firm called Halo + Co.

She’s out here teaching people about #BLM, educating women about money and wealth building, and is always showing us what’s trendy and hype. She's also a world-class creative, who has planned events for some of the biggest names in the industry *ahem, Drake*.

2. Vanessa Bowen

Instagram: @mintworthyco

If money talk isn't your strong suit, Vanessa will make it feel less scary. Vanessa provides practical money tips to help elevate your money mindset, connect to your dollars, and shift your financial abundance.

3. Nineteen85

Instagram: @nineteen85_

Paul “Nineteen85” Jefferies is a famed producer of some of our favourite tracks, including "One Dance," "Hotline Bling," and "Truffle Butter." He’s also one half of my second most listened to artists on my Spotify 2020 roundup — DVSN.

4. DJ Lissa Monet

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Lissa Monet is a pioneer and one of the first women on the DJ scene in Canada. She’s DJ’d for BEYONCE GISELLE KNOWLES-CARTER, our lord and saviour.

She founded That Slow Jam Party and co-owns Luxelife Sound, one of Canada’s first corporate all-female DJ booking agencies.

5. Ro Joaquim

Instagram: @rrojoaquim

Ro Joaquim owns PHNX Fithouse and is one of only a handful of Black-owned group training fitness studios in Toronto. His gym has managed to survive the dumpster fire of 2020 — *CLAPS FOR BLACK MEN WINNING.* He's also an artist with a fire EP "Water Fights" on Spotify.

6. Shannae Ingleton-Smith

Instagram: @torontoshay

Shannae is an influencer turned founder of Kensington Grey, a boutique influencer rooted in diversity. She also has a wealth of knowledge if you want to know anything at all about being an influencer, how much to charge, how to negotiate, and everything in between.

7. Shan Boodram

Instagram: @shanboody

Shan is basically a dating guru — what she says goes. She's a certified sex educator, dating coach and relationship expert, and bestselling author with a YouTube channel. Her book, Game of Desire is a game changer for anyone looking to learn how to date with intention.

8. Tyrone Edwards

Instagram: @mr1loveto

Tyrone is E-Talk's newest co-anchor and partner of the wildly popular (and delicious I might add) restaurant Miss Likklemores. Tyrone went viral earlier this year with “My Trauma is Not Your Trend” when he spoke out about how the death of George Floyd impacted him and why he can no longer remain silent about racism.

Shoutout to Tyrone for standing up, showing his vulnerability and using his voice to empower others.

9. Kayla Grey

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Kayla Grey is one of the realest people out there and another beautiful melanated queen who always uses her voice to advocate not only for herself, but for everyone else. She’s an anchor at Sportscentre and the first Black woman to ever host a flagship sports and highlight show in Canada.

10. Grace Mahary

Instagram: @gracemahary

Grace is a supermodel turned wine sommelier turned philanthropist from Edmonton. She founded a not-for-profit called Project Tsehigh that provides sustainable, renewable energy solutions for communities around the world with limited access to clean energy. She is doing amazing things for the world!

11. Kathleen Newman-Bremang

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Kathleen is one of those writers who just speaks directly to your soul. She is incredibly fierce and unapologetic in her content and she says the things so many of us (i.e., Black folk) maybe can’t say in the workplace or in public forums.

12. The Canadian Black Standard

Instagram: @canadianblackstandard

I recognize that this account isn't a "person" per se, but hear me out. The Canadian Black Standard was founded by 14 Black women, and they're an advocacy platform focused on removing systemic barriers faced by Black Canadian Womxn in marketing.

13. Lex Niko

Instagram: @lexniko

If you love you some celebrity gossip, Lex Niko is your girl. She also has a slightly unhealthy obsession with the ever sexy Christopher "Jamal" Evans, which she trolls herself about near daily. It is very entertaining.

14. Sasha Exeter

Instagram: @sashaexeter

Sasha Exeter is an athlete, influencer and mom who runs a thriving lifestyle blog. Exeter often shares her personal experience as a Black woman and single mother candidly and without any pretence.

15. Avery Francis

Instagram: @averyfrancis

You need to follow Avery Francis on Twitter. When #BLM continued to blow up, she started releasing content that focuses on helping people unlearn the oppressive systemic racism practices that have been embedded into their existence. She delivers this content in such a way that incites conversation and creates space for dialogue.

16. DJ Big Jacks

Instagram: @djbigjacks

I listen to DJ Big Jacks mixes on MixCloud at minimum 4x a week. He also spends his time on Twitter advocating for womxn in the DJ world, a space dominated by men.

17. O'shane Howard

Instagram: @oshane.howard

O'shane Hoawrd is a young creator who has found his incredible photography work inside the covers of Vogue Italia for a series called “Praise and Worship.” The series explores different mediums of praising and worshipping Jesus Christ through dance and music.

18. Vanessa Craft

Instagram: @vanessacraft

Vanessa is the former editor-in-chief of Elle Canada and now the director of partnerships at TikTok. She is an OG in the Canadian media scene and has been smashing glass ceilings and breaking down walls for the last two decades.

19. Ashley McKenzie Barnes

Instagram: @ashleymckenziebarnes

Ashley is a creative director and curator with an incredible eye for art and design. So much of what she curates is centred on and celebrates Blackness.

20. Adeela Carter and Amoye Henry

Instagram: @pitchbetter

I LIVE for women who help other women. Adeela and Amoye are those women. They cofounded a company called Pitch Better, and they work to help female-led startups acquire funding and capital through grants and investments. They’ve helped more than 240 women-led businesses, so if you’re in the market, get at them.

21. Ayesha Curry

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You may not have known that Ayesha is in fact, Canadian — but now you do. Ayesha has two dope-ass cookbooks out that will nourish your soul! I recommend the Red Pea Soup and the Spicy Serrano Margarita from her latest cookbook The Full Plate.

22. Kayla A. Greaves

Instagram: @kaylaagreaves

Kayla is your go-to for beauty tips for melanated skin and pretty much anything to do with #BlackGirlMagic. She’s a senior beauty editor at InStyle magazine and the things she writes about will bring a smile to your face — promise.

23. Osob Mohamud

Instagram: @osob.mohamud

Osob Mohamud is a Muslim beauty influencer/YouTuber who speaks about life as a mom, a Muslim woman, a Black woman and everything in between.

24. Donte Colley

Instagram: @donte.colley

Donte Colley's content brings so much joy to the world -- it's light, bright and uses dance, humour and sometimes a good booty shake to bring smiles.

25. Shaun Boothe

Instagram: @shaunboothe

Shaun is a former recording artist, turned motivational speaker who marries music and storytelling. He started a dope series called The Unauthorized Biography Series, where he tells the stories of Black icons using different types of multimedia.

26. Amanda Parris

Instagram: @amanda_parris

Amanda has a litany of incredible titles: She's the host of CBC Arts: Exhibitionists, The Filmmakers and From the Vaults on CBC Television and Marvin’s Room on CBC Radio, AND she writes a weekly column for CBC Arts. This is just the tip of the iceberg. She pretty much does it all!

27. Cleo Ellis

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Last but not least, you should be following me (*shameless plug*). I cohost a podcast called Conversations With Coco + Friends, I work with dope people, I know everything there is to know about curly hair, and once I had a viral entanglement situation on Twitter.

This list of people has in some way or another brought knowledge, laughter, or joy to my social media experiences over the last few years and hopefully they will do the same for you.

Share the love and let me know in the comments who your fave Black Canadians on social media are and why!