Women are continuing to rule the world . . . now through business. We are creating new lanes, new trends, and starting profitable empires. Nowadays news and celebrities are the second source to go to for media coverage; bloggers and online media influencers have become the go-to resource. With a stream of endless subjects documented through blogs and online diaries, it’s easy to find people who are not only knowledgeable and open to sharing information, but are accessible in terms of firsthand advice.
In a saturating Instagram wave where everyone is doing something and showcasing it, your list of “who to follow” is probably due for a revamp. That’s why we’ve created a list of 15 women to watch in 2016. These aren’t just bloggers but women who are doing big things in their respective industry.
Fashion, beauty, writing, hairstyling . . . These women do it all and rocked out 2015 with a bang. Forget #beingboss, they were #girlboss rock stars. From balancing motherhood to entrepreneurship to being women on a mission, they succeeded and show no signs of slowing down.
Here are our top 15 women to watch in 2016.
1. Mary B. Morrison | Author
New York Times bestselling author Mary B. Morrison is not only busy writing these days, but has also expanded her empire to hosting vaginal aerobic awareness classes for several couples in the Atlanta area. Aside from being a writer and educator Morrison has partnered with The Red Pump Project to bring community awareness on how to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
2. Kweighbaye Kotee | Founder of Bushwick Film Festival
I love keeping up with Kweighbaye Kotee. She always has her hands in something exciting and creative. Outside of running the annual Bushwick Film Festival in Brooklyn, NY, Kotee is doing a documentary titled The Bushwick Diaries, which was successful funded on Kickstarter.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
3. Moyin Oloruntoba | Fashion Entrepreneur and Founder of Moze
Moyin Oloruntoba is a Nigerian-born, Cape Town–based fashion entrepreneur and radio presenter. She created Moze in 2014 as a way to showcase African fashion. Oloruntoba enjoys sharing the creative style and culture of African designers with her fans so much that she expanded the Moze brand by launching #ShopMoze in 2015.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
4. Rhonesha Byng | Founder of Her Agenda
Her Agenda, founded by Rhonesha Byng, should be bookmarked on your Google Chrome. Her Agenda is just what it sounds like. Visit this site to keep your agenda completely jam packed with motivational, creative, and educational workshops and events that will help you succeed and connect you with the right people. Her Agenda has a Power Directory of women’s organizations all across the country.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
5. Courtney Quinn | Fashion Blogger
We all need a bit of color in our lives. I’m the all-black type of person—whether it’s furniture or clothes or other things. Black is my go-to color choice. Courtney Quinn is the complete opposite. Just by scrolling through a couple of her Instagram pictures you can tell Quinn isn’t afraid of color. Quinn is a quirky, out-of-the-box fashionista from Arizona living in New York City ready to tackle her next adventure.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
6. Gabi Fresh | Plus-Size Fashion Blogger
She screams confidence and we all love her curves. Gabi Fresh is a beautiful plus-size model currently living the dream with her just-as-awesome boyfriend in LA. Fresh has taken branding to a new level. Starting out as a blogger, Fresh partners with your favorite household brands, is fashion contributor to a number of magazines, and, to top it off, was just chosen as one of Ebony’s Power 100. She is living proof you can get paid to do what you love.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
7. Nigeria Lockley, Author | Speaker | Educator
Smart, talented, funny and can write. Nigeria Lockley is an amazing author and soon-to-be publisher who is on a mission. Lockley is laying down a foundation for urban Christian books and is letting nothing stand in her way. Lockley won the Phillis Wheatley Book Award in 2015 for her first novel, Born at Dawn.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
8. Zakia Blain, Personal Trainer | Weight-Loss Coach | Entrepreneur
Get up and move it and look fashionable while you’re doing it. Zakia Blain, founder of FBF Fitness (Fuck Being Fat Fitness), has created a lane of her own in the fitness industry. Blain is not only motivating people to move it by offering weight-loss challenges where you win $$$, but she has expanded her brand to include a shop full of colorful, stylish gym attire. I am a personal advocate of Blain because I love how she keeps her goals short and simple; eight weeks or less can change your life. She is having fun, staying healthy and fit, and loving what she’s doing, and of course getting paid to do what she loves.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
9. Tatiana Ward, Makeup Artist | Educator
She can beat that face honey . . . Tatiana Ward, better known as Beat Face Honey, is another woman on a mission. She is a makeup artist and educator teaching women how to bring their beauty into the world. Ward began filming her YouTube videos in her bedroom. Becoming an instant sensation, she built quite the following on YouTube that carried over to Instagram, attracting celebrity clients, including one Nicki Minaj, and having her work featured on network shows such as The View. Ward is constantly traveling to meet her fans and selling out makeup classes all over the country.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
10. Mell B., Blogger | Weight-Loss Educator
Mell B., founder of Fluffy Aint For Me, is a passionate blogger who promotes clean eating and active lifestyles. She shares her story of how she transformed herself and lost more than forty pounds without surgery, going to the gym, or weight-loss products. Mell B. shares her recipes and her never-ending weight-loss journey to inspire women to “fight the fluff.”
Connect with her on Instagram
11. Ashley M. Coleman | WriteLaughDream.com
I’m in love with writelaughdream.com. If you ever need a five-minute getaway from the stress of your life visit this site, created by Ashley M. Coleman. Coleman shares her real-life struggles through her emotions and creativity. She is the friend who can say “me too” for whatever obstacle you are facing. Coleman is also a novelist and hosts writing workshops to help other writers expand their creativity.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
12. Siobhan Sudberry | Empowering Women
Be free. “I help women create the life they desire and ultimately be free.” – Siobhan Sudberry of Be Free Project. Sudberry does just this. Being a busy mom, entrepreneur, and wearing many other hats, it can become hard to focus and stay on track. If you feel unfilled or stuck on your journey Sudberry is the perfect person to help get you on the path to fulfilling your purpose and beginning to live free. You will not only feel great about your career, but about yourself.
Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
13. Miko Branch | Empire Boss
Miko Branch is the Chief Executive Officer of Miss Jessie’s hair empire that revolutionized the industry. Branch recently penned Miss Jessie’s, a family memoir that shares a wealth of business advice on creating a successful business from “scratch-naturally”. Miss Jessie’s shares the journey of how Branch and her late sister #TitiBranch became major players in the hair industry. The Branch sisters went from making hair concoctions in the kitchen with their grandmother to industry leaders. Women businesses are not only launching at record rate, but are succeeding. Not everyone has a huge bank account to back their ideas and Miss Jessie’s shares the startup journey of building a business with little means. Miss Jessie’s is empowering and inspirational! A must read for aspiring entrepreneurs who are turning passion into profit. It can be done!
Connect with her on Instagram and Twitter
14. Celia Ayala | Master Hairstylist and Colorist
With more than ten years under her belt, Celia Ayala, Lady Shears 5th Avenue, has extensive knowledge as a master hairstylist and color expert. She is building a loyal community of clients at her Midtown salon working directly with celebrities. Ayala turns hair into art through different colors, cuts, and styles.
Connect with her on Instagram
15. Kyemah McEntyre | Artist and Fashion Designer
An eighteen-year-old fashion genius who designed her own prom dress and #BroketheInternet. Kyemah McEntyre took the world by storm with one Instagram post of her prom dress. After her dress went viral the doors of a lifetime opened before her. She has appeared on Tyra Banks’s Fab Life twice and now creates red carpet gowns for celebrities such as former member of 3LW and Power actress Naturi Naughton. This girl is one to keep an eye on as she heads to Parsons School of Design in the fall.
Connect with her on Instagram