New York City continues to be an epicenter of influence, with a creative pulse that beats louder than ever in 2025. The top NYC influencers are not just content creators - they're trend forecasters, brand collaborators, and cultural tastemakers amplifying wellness shifts, fashion evolutions, and culture-defining conversations across the boroughs and beyond.
Whether through viral TikToks on subway art or polished Instagram fashion diaries, these top NYC influencers are redefining the way brands and consumers engage.
From fashion and lifestyle to food and tech, these digital voices command audiences that brands are eager to reach. As influencer marketing in NYC reaches new heights, understanding which creators drive authentic engagement becomes crucial for marketing professionals and PR agencies. These influencers leverage the city's energy, diversity, and endless opportunities to create content that resonates far beyond Manhattan's borders, making them invaluable partners for brands seeking to connect with urban, trend-conscious consumers.
BondGives
Peter Bond has established himself as a powerful voice for community engagement and philanthropy in New York City, focusing on connecting people with meaningful volunteer opportunities and charitable causes. What makes this account distinctive is the commitment to highlighting local nonprofits, community events, and actionable ways for New Yorkers to give back to their neighborhoods. The content includes spotlights on grassroots organizations, volunteers, fundraising campaigns, and stories of everyday New Yorkers making a difference in their communities.
Self professed anti-hero on his social media profile, the importance of his account in the social impact space comes from his innate ability to make philanthropy accessible and engaging, particularly for younger audiences who want to contribute but may not know where to start. This authentic approach to community building for brands seeking to demonstrate genuine social responsibility.
Platforms: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
Focus Areas: Community organizing, nonprofit partnerships, volunteer coordination, social impact
MrNYCSubway
MrNYCSubway has carved out a unique niche documenting New York City's subway system and the fascinating culture that surrounds it. His account allows hisfollowers to find humor, community, and educational content in the daily commute experience that millions of New Yorkers share.
This New York city content revolves around subway etiquette observations, transit system updates, interesting passenger interactions, and historical subway facts. In the urban culture space, this type of social share provides authentic representation of the NYC commuter experience which has led to a community of followers who enjoy the uniqueness of the city's experiences. This distinctive perspective makes MrNYCSubway valuable for brands targeting urban commuters and city lifestyle audiences.
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter
Focus Areas: Subway culture, public transportation, NYC commuter life, urban community
RobDon567
RobDon567 has built a following as an insider voice in NYC's nightlife and entertainment scene, known for his access to exclusive events and his energetic personality. What makes him stand out is his authentic enthusiasm for the city's after-dark culture and his ability to showcase both high-end venues and neighborhood favorites.
His content features club events, restaurant openings, rooftop parties, cultural happenings, and behind-the-scenes access to NYC's entertainment industry. Rob’s content showcases his genuine connections within the industry and his ability to make exclusive experiences feel accessible to his diverse audience of NYC nightlife enthusiasts.
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat
Focus Areas: NYC nightlife, exclusive events, restaurant scene, entertainment culture
Cashay Proudfoot
Cashay Proudfoot, who gained recognition from Love Island USA, has established herself in the beauty and lifestyle space with her approach to self-expression and confidence. What makes her unique is her ability to combine glamour with genuine relatability, creating content that celebrates individuality and self-acceptance.
She creates makeup tutorials, beauty product reviews, lifestyle content, and motivational posts about confidence and personal growth. Her importance in the beauty niche stems from her authentic personality and her message of embracing one's true self, making her valuable for brands promoting inclusive beauty standards and self-empowerment.
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Focus Areas: Beauty tutorials, self-confidence, authentic lifestyle, personal empowerment
Kenzie Kay
Kenzie Kay has emerged as a relatable voice for young professionals navigating life in New York City, particularly resonating with Gen Z audiences seeking authentic NYC lifestyle content. What makes her special is her honest portrayal of the challenges and excitement of being a young adult in an expensive, fast-paced city.
Kenzie’s content is centered around apartment hunting, career development, social life in NYC, fashion on a budget, and the realities of trying to "make it" in New York. Her importance in the lifestyle space comes from her genuine representation of the Gen Z NYC experience and her ability to make the city feel accessible to young people considering the move to New York.
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
Focus Areas: Gen Z NYC life, young professional experiences, budget-friendly lifestyle, career development
Danielle Bernstein
Danielle Bernstein transformed her college fashion blog into a multi-million dollar business empire, becoming one of NYC's most successful fashion influencers and entrepreneurs. What makes her stand out is her ability to seamlessly blend personal style with business acumen, having launched multiple fashion lines including swimwear, ready-to-wear, and accessories.
She creates content spanning outfit inspiration, behind-the-scenes business insights, fashion week coverage, and lifestyle moments from her NYC penthouse. Her importance in the fashion niche stems from her proven track record of building sustainable businesses from social media influence, with partnerships including major brands like Nordstrom, Macy's, and her own successful fashion lines that generate millions in revenue annually.
Platforms: Instagram (2.8M followers), TikTok, YouTube, Blog
Focus Areas: Fashion entrepreneurship, street style, business building, luxury lifestyle
Sai De Silva
Sai De Silva has established herself as NYC's premier lifestyle curator, known for her sophisticated taste and insider knowledge of the city's best experiences. A former fashion editor, she brings editorial expertise to her content creation, focusing on elevated dining, cultural events, and luxury lifestyle experiences throughout Manhattan and beyond.
She photographs content featuring restaurant recommendations, seasonal activities, fashion finds, and cultural events that appeal to affluent New Yorkers and visitors. Sai has authentic connections within NYC's fashion and hospitality industries, making her recommendations highly trusted among her sophisticated audience of professionals and tastemakers.
Platforms: Instagram, Blog, Newsletter
Focus Areas: Fine dining, cultural events, luxury lifestyle, NYC insider experiences
Leandra Medine Cohen
Leandra Medine Cohen, founder of the influential fashion platform Man Repeller, has evolved into one of NYC's most thoughtful voices on fashion, culture, and modern womanhood. What distinguishes her is her intellectual approach to style and her willingness to tackle complex topics around identity, motherhood, and consumer culture.
She produces essay-style content, cultural commentary, personal reflections on fashion and life, and thought-provoking discussions about the intersection of style and society. Leandra has the knack for elevating fashion discourse beyond surface-level trends, making her valuable for brands seeking sophisticated, meaningful partnerships that resonate with educated, culturally aware audiences.
Platforms: Instagram (600K followers), Newsletter, Podcast
Focus Areas: Fashion philosophy, cultural commentary, motherhood, intellectual discourse
Courtney Quinn
Courtney Quinn has built her brand around bringing color and joy to fashion, becoming NYC's most vibrant style influencer with her rainbow-bright aesthetic and positive messaging. What makes her unique is her fearless use of color in both fashion and life, inspiring her audience to embrace boldness and self-expression through her personal style choices.
Colourful outfit content, styling tips, behind-the-scenes fashion week coverage, and collaborations with brands that align with her vibrant aesthetic. In the fashion space Courtney’s distinctive visual brand and her ability to stand out in NYC's often black-clad fashion scene, makes her a great fit for brands looking to add energy, creativity, and positivity to their campaigns.
Platforms: Instagram (400K followers), TikTok, YouTube
Focus Areas: Colorful fashion, positive messaging, creative styling, self-expression
Liz Eswein
Liz Eswein manages one of Instagram's most iconic NYC accounts, serving as the city's unofficial visual historian through her stunning photography and curation. Her photographer's eye combined with her deep love for NYC, sets her apart as she shares content that captures both famous landmarks and hidden neighborhood gems.
Liz offers her followers daily NYC photography, seasonal city content, architectural highlights, cultural event coverage, and collaborations with NYC-based brands and tourism organizations. In her role as a trusted source for authentic NYC content, Liz’s account serves as inspiration for both locals and the millions of visitors who come to the city each year.
Platforms: Instagram, Website
Focus Areas: NYC photography, urban exploration, architectural beauty, city culture.
The Future of NYC Influence
New York City's influencer landscape continues to mature, with these established creators demonstrating the evolution from simple content creation to sophisticated business building, industry leadership, and authentic community engagement.
As the influence economy grows, these NYC voices represent the future of social influence, combining genuine city expertise with proven track records that deliver measurable results for brand partners seeking authentic connections with urban, trend-conscious audiences.
