The BET 100 Entertainers & Innovators of the Year | Social Media Influencers

See who superseded our expectations.

Jodie Patterson - This mother, activist, author and entrepreneur's desire to use her social media platform to amplify trans voices grew from an experience with one of her own children who is transgender. Jodie Patterson sits on the board of a number of gender/family/human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign, and is a highly sought-after public speaker addressing a wide range of audiences about the intersection of identity, gender and race. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
Denzel Dion and Rickey Thompson - Popular social media comedians Denzel Dion and Rickey Thompson launched their We Said What We Said podcast this year to rave reviews, especially from the Gen Z set. The duo, who collectively have nearly 8 million followers on Instagram, are unapologetic about their desire to get real and raw with fans on topics ranging from music to relationships to fashion. “Thirty minutes of audio works better than 30 minutes of video and audio. You can listen to a podcast while working out, cleaning, cooking,” Dion explained to Paper magazine. Thompson added,“We want to make a space where you laugh, you cry, you just get all that negativity out and don't think about what's going on in the world right now." (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Shorty Awards)
Mariah Moore - Mariah Moore is the founder and co-director of The House of TULIP (Trans United Leading Intersectional Progress) and the Organizing Program Associate for Transgender Law Center both in New Orleans. Her work in these roles includes fighting to ensure equity, equality and safety for the transgender community, especially for Black transgender women. She also serves on the LGBTQ Task Force created by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Moore was named one of the 2020 Root 100 and even participated in an IG Live interview in September with veteran journalist Katie Couric. (Photo courtesy of Transgender Law Center)
Khadeen and Devale Ellis - The hilarious married duo and parents of three, who collectively have an IG following of close to 2 million fans, celebrated 10 years of marriage this year with a feature in The New York Times and an exclusive interview with President-elect Joe Biden. Their podcast "Dead A**" also won a coveted Webby Award for Diversity & Inclusion earlier this year. Husband Devale Ellis is a cast member of the BET hit show Sistas, and together with wife Khadeen Ellis, the college sweethearts use their platforms to open up dialogue surrounding tough topics from sex to personal finance. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)Darnella Frazier - Darnella Frazier caught what is perhaps the most arresting amateur video recorded and shared on social media in 2020. Earlier this year, the courageous teen filmed the now infamous murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, which sparked countless social activism campaigns and other important racially driven initiatives. A brave act for anyone, much less a minor, Frazier appropriately received a prestigious PEN Award for her video documentation that the world will not soon forget. (Photo courtesy of Pen America)

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Denzel Dion and Rickey Thompson - Popular social media comedians Denzel Dion and Rickey Thompson launched their We Said What We Said podcast this year to rave reviews, especially from the Gen Z set. The duo, who collectively have nearly 8 million followers on Instagram, are unapologetic about their desire to get real and raw with fans on topics ranging from music to relationships to fashion. “Thirty minutes of audio works better than 30 minutes of video and audio. You can listen to a podcast while working out, cleaning, cooking,” Dion explained to Paper magazine. Thompson added,“We want to make a space where you laugh, you cry, you just get all that negativity out and don't think about what's going on in the world right now." (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Shorty Awards)

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