HOW LGBTQIA+ STARS ROCK ON SOCIAL MEDIA

India's LGBTQIA+ community has created its own set of influencers. They are popular not just within the community but have become stars surpassing social boundaries. Some of them have featured in media campaigns launched by brands, while others have been recognised as authors, actors and advisors. Let us meet top LGBTQIA+ icons and learn how they influence people

- NAINA GAUTAM

SUSHANT DIVGIKR

Instagram 3 Million

With a whopping following of three million on, Sushant Divgikr/Rani KoHEnur is famous for his Instagram handle @ sushantdivgikr. Divgikr won the Mr Gay India 2014 title and has participated in international singing competitions for drag performers, such as the Queen of the Universe. Divgikr is a trans singer, actor, psychologist and drag superstar and goes by the pronouns he/she/they.

Through his social media account, he has successfully captured the attention of audiences. Divgikr has also been featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Asia, 2020, and Forbes Top 100 Indian Digital Creators Power List 2022. Divgikr has a hand and a heart for the community, with social media posts stating, “any homegrown, female-owned, LGBTQIA+ owned small to medium businesses that need free shoutouts”. He also routinely discusses issues related to health and sanitation.  

ALOK VAID MENON

Instagram 1.3 Million

Alok Vaid Menon has a following of 1.3 million on Instagram and uses the they/them pronoun. Instagram handle is @alokvmenon. They are an actor, speaker, poet and comedian. Vaid Menon’s social media posts revolve around gender, fashion, trans history, the sex binary and cross-dressing. Many fashion brands have also engaged with Vaid Menon. They have appeared on HBO, MTV, BBC, CNN and featured in The New York Times. Vaid Menon has an audience in over 40 countries on over 500 occasions and is one of the leading voices in the realm of ungendered fashion. They use a combination of art, fashion design, comedy, sound art, runway shows and social media to express views on gender, sexuality and the evolution of gender norms.