by Google
For the first time in history, Instagram has rewarded creators who are changing the culture of the platform not only with numbers, but also with courage, originality and an authentic approach. The Instagram Rings 2025 award represents a new era of recognition for creatives who are not afraid to go against trends and create in their own way.
From thousands of nominations from around the world, a jury selected 25 creators whose content pushes the boundaries of creativity. Each of them received a physical gold ring designed by designer Grace Wales Bonner and a digital "golden circle" around their profile.
In the following lines, we will introduce you to the individual winners, their work and the reasons why they became the first holders of the Instagram Rings.
Mika Ninagawa
Mika Ninagawa is a Japanese visual artist, photographer and filmmaker, known for her iconic style full of color, psychedelia and visual grandeur. Her Instagram will draw you into a kaleidoscopic world of exhibitions, film sets and spatial installations, where reality and fantasy merge. Her works have made Japan famous all over the world and have brought her awards and recognition for her ability to capture beauty and emotion in extreme color.
Futura
Leonard Hilton McGurr, known as Futura 2000, is one of the original visionaries of graffiti and an icon of the New York street scene of the 1970s. He gradually made his way from the subway tunnels to the walls of world galleries, where he exhibited alongside legends such as Basquiat and Haring. He became famous for breaking away from traditional "lettering" and transforming graffiti into pure abstraction full of movement, color and cosmic energy.
Gabriel Moses
Gabriel Moses is a British-Nigerian photographer and filmmaker who redefines visual storytelling by combining fashion, music and memories. His works have a cinematic poetics – they are full of emotions, symbols and colours that reflect his cultural roots and contemporary London. On Instagram, he acts as a visual storyteller, transforming each frame into a cinematic story about identity, memory and community.
Aki and Koichi Kim
Aki and Koichi Kim are a married couple who have proven that style has no age or boundaries. They originally started their Instagram to share everyday outfits, but it has gradually grown into an inspirational space where they collaborate with the world's biggest fashion brands. Their combination of elegance, courage and playfulness breaks down stereotypes about fashion in older age and shows that authenticity is the biggest trend.
Mohammed and Humaid Hadban
Mohammed and Humaid Hadban, known as the Twins Hadban, are Dubai twins who have broken into the fashion world with their perfectly coordinated aesthetic and courage to represent Arab culture on the global stage. They have become famous on Instagram for their elegant, synchronous outfits and collaborations with luxury brands such as Gucci and Dior. Their style combines tradition with the present and inspires the young generation in the Arab world to dream big, embrace creativity, and not be afraid to show who they really are.
Mimi Choi
Mimi Choi, on Instagram as @mimles, is a Canadian makeup artist originally from Macau, China, who has transformed makeup into a fascinating form art. She is famous for her surreal, optically illusory makeup, in which her face appears as a living canvas that is divided, multiplied or transformed into optical illusions. From a former teacher, she became an internationally recognized artist who pushes the boundaries of beauty and imagination.
Golloria
Golloria George is a beauty creator and activist who is changing the rules of the cosmetics industry. In her videos, she speaks openly about the need for greater skin tone diversity, honesty in reviews and fair representation. Her viral series in which she tests the darkest shades of makeup have forced global brands to expand their palettes and improve their approach to inclusivity. Golloria proves that the influence of an influencer can also be social and value-based
Thalita and Gabriela Zukeram
Thalita and Gabriela Zukeram are Brazilian sisters who combine fashion, art, culture and social issues into a unique visual aesthetic with a retro touch of the VHS era. As the duo behind the Two Lost Kids project, they have gained the attention of global brands with their bold, experimental and visually imaginative approach. Their work resonates with the theme of femininity, corporeality, and Asian representation, which they bring to a space where it is often missing.
Dolly Singh
Dolly Singh is an Indian actress, screenwriter, and digital creator who became famous for the series Best Worst Date and became a pioneer of microdramas on Instagram. Her talent combines acting, directing, and writing into authentic stories that portray modern Indian life with both humor and emotion. Her fearless voice and boundless creativity have transformed the way digital storytelling is told in India.
Elyse Myers
Elyse Myers is an American comedian, writer, and digital creator known for her unfiltered humor and honesty, which has earned her the nickname "The Internet's Best Friend." She rose to fame thanks to a viral video about a disastrous first date, which launched her career full of humor, authenticity, and human vulnerability. Elyse speaks openly about mental health, self-esteem, and motherhood, and her stories help people feel understood and less alone.
Zarna Garg
Zarna Garg is an Indian-American comedian, screenwriter, and creator who, with her sharp humor and authentic perspective on family and culture, breaks stereotypes about what "female" comedy can be. She draws themes from her life as an immigrant, mother, and partner, which she transforms into funny yet profound stories about identity and everyday life. Her uncompromising humor and fearless voice have made her one of the most distinctive personalities in the current stand-up scene.
Katie Krejci
Katie Krejci is a registered dietitian and creator who inspires thousands of people to a healthier and more self-sufficient lifestyle through her life on a farm in northern Minnesota. On Instagram as @thehomesteadingrd, she shows that joy can be found in simplicity, such as cooking with her own crops, harvesting wild plants, raising animals, and making homemade food. Her authentic approach to living in harmony with nature combines health, sustainability, and freedom.
Tyshawn Jones
Tyshawn Jones is a New York professional skateboarder who pushes the boundaries of street culture with his unmistakable style and energy. He is a two-time Thrasher magazine Skater of the Year and one of the most prominent figures in the modern skate scene. Tyshawn combines the rawness of the streets with fashion and art, collaborating with brands such as Adidas, Supreme, and Louis Vuitton, while also mentoring young talents. His work inspires not only skaters, but also people around the world who are not afraid to go their own way.
Nigel Sylvester
Nigel Sylvester is an American professional BMX rider from New York City who has changed the way the world perceives extreme sports. Instead of competing, he has made his mark through his creativity through visually striking videos and the GO series, in which he rides in cities around the world. Nigel combines sports, art and fashion, collaborating with brands such as Nike, Fendi and Moncler, and inspiring the younger generation to ride with passion and style.
Chris Brickley
Chris Brickley is an American basketball coach who has changed the way the world perceives training. On Instagram, he has transformed the sport into a culture where basketball, fashion and music meet. He trains stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler, and his off-season workouts have become a legend not only in the NBA, but also on social media. Thanks to his charisma, authenticity and ability to connect sport with the art of life, Chris has become one of the most influential figures in contemporary sports.
Ashley Gordon
Ashley Gordon, known as DJ AG, is a London DJ who has transformed the city's streets into a stage full of music, energy and community. In 2023, he left the corporate world and decided to bring music directly to the people, playing in front of subway stations, where he creates spontaneous concerts captured on Instagram. His work combines music, urban life and humanity, using beats as a bridge between different communities and giving space to unheard voices.
Laufey
Laufey is an Icelandic-Chinese singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who brings jazz to a new generation with subtlety, nostalgia, and a modern twist. On Instagram, she shares practice snippets, retro visuals, and candid musical moments that capture the emotional depth of her world. Her work combines classical and modern elements, making her a voice that awakens a love of jazz in young listeners around the world. Laufey proves that music can be both intimate and timeless.
Ari Miller
Ari Miller is a musician who brought his studio right to the streets of New York. With his mobile set, he creates spontaneous jam sessions with random passersby, transforming the city's hustle and bustle into a living musical organism. His work captures authentic moments, raw emotions and the magic of chance encounters - precisely what makes music a universal language. Ari combines music, community and urban energy into an experience that is as unpredictable as the city itself. You can find him on Instagram as @ariatinsta.
Sebastian Jern
Sebastian Jern is a Swedish visual artist and creative director who creates fascinating miniature worlds that look like small-scale movie scenes. He has gained a huge following on Instagram for his meticulous detail, cinematic atmosphere, and ability to combine art with technology. His miniatures transform ordinary objects into cinematic experiences, proving that even small scenes can convey big emotions.
Cole Bennett
Cole Bennett is an American director, entrepreneur, and founder of the iconic brand Lyrical Lemonade, which changed the way we perceive music videos. What started as a student blog has grown into a multimedia empire connecting music, visuals, and community. With his distinctive style full of color, animation, and creative freedom, Cole redefined the visual side of rap and hip-hop and helped to highlight a whole new generation of artists.
Brian Lindo
Brian Lindo, known as @briancantstopeating, is a New York-based food and lifestyle creator who connects cultures, communities, and people's stories through food. His passion for culinary discovery grew out of his Jamaican family roots, and today he translates it into the 50 States 50 Foods series, in which he travels across the US and discovers authentic local flavors. Brian believes that food is the best way to understand the world, and it is this honesty, curiosity, and ability to tell stories that taste as good as they look that has made him one of the winners of the Instagram Rings 2025.
Linda Lomelino
Linda Lomelino is a Swedish photographer, food stylist, baker, and author who has changed the perception of food photography. Her style is dark, romantic, and full of emotion, transforming desserts into small works of art that look like they came from a dream world. On Instagram and her blog Call Me Cupcake, she creates visual poetry that combines light, shadow, and taste into one experience. Thanks to her unique aesthetic signature and precision, she has the ability to transform ordinary baking into art.
Life on Film (Grant Weintrob, Christian Baiocco, and Griffin Katz)
Life on Film is a creative trio from Los Angeles that captures life like a film through the lens of a disposable camera. They give random people a glimpse into the world through their own eyes, transforming their raw footage into short poetic films. The project combines the nostalgia of analog photography with modern storytelling, delivering intimate, authentic stories that show the beauty of ordinary moments. Life on Film redefines visual storytelling on Instagram.
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean is a British singer-songwriter who blends soul, pop and jazz into a warm and heartfelt musical statement about love in all its forms. Her album The Art of Loving and single “Man I Need” both reached number one in the UK charts, cementing her status as one of the most distinctive young artists of our time. Olivia is known for her naturalness, pure voice and ability to transform personal stories into universal emotions.
Adrian Per
Adrian Per is a self-taught director, photographer and creator known as @omgadrian, who has become an unofficial mentor to a new generation of filmmakers. On Instagram, he teaches filmmakers how to master everything from shot planning to post-production to burnout prevention. His content is an open guide to the world of audiovisual creation and helps hundreds of thousands of people understand not only the technique, but also the creative mindset. Adrian proves that sharing knowledge is an art form in itself.
The Instagram Rings 2025 award showed that true impact is not measured by numbers alone, but by how creators change the way we perceive the world. Each of the winners brings to the digital space the courage to be different, the ability to tell authentic stories and the desire to push the boundaries of creativity. For the first time, Instagram has recognized not only the influencer, but also art, courage and humanity, and opened a new chapter in what it means to be a creator in 2025.
Source: Dazed
