It’s tough to stand out online, but that’s precisely what the four remarkable women who’ve won 2023’s InfluenceHer Collective Awards have done. The InfluenceHer Collective, or IHC, helps Gen Z and millennial women influencers to connect with brands while creating innovative content.
The IHC awards, for which the winners were announced on May 11 on Instagram, celebrate four young women in the collective who are pushing boundaries in style, beauty, lifestyle, and food. The voting process has been ongoing since March 15. Fans nominated their favorite creators in the program to be judged on Impact & Influence (50%), Originality & Creativity (40%), and Category (10%). From there, a panel of HCM team members and former IHC Award honorees selected the finalists who will be honored at Her Conference in Brooklyn, NY, on June 24. Now let’s meet these amazing ladies and get to know their content!
- Beauty Influencer of the Year: Lauryn Nicole
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It may be summer break, but school is still in session for the 48k Instagram and 110k TikTok followers of Beauty Influencer of the Year Lauryn Nicole’s “CURL University.” Nicole’s brand partnerships through the IHC program focus on educating her followers on caring for their natural curls with tutorials and product recommendations.
Her current “holy grail” product? “Camille Rose Honey Hydrate Leave-in Conditioner,” she tells Her Campus. “I use this product when my hair needs some major TLC; a bonus is that it looks and smells like honey!”
Nicole wants her content to inspire confidence in her fans with curly hair like her, a mission we can all stand behind. For her, hair and makeup aren’t for covering up your flaws but rather a tool to embrace what makes you, you.
“As someone known as a ‘Beauty Influencer,’ I want everyone to understand that beauty and being ‘beautiful’ extends beyond external appearances,” she says. “It also encompasses how we treat others. True beauty originates from within.”
- Food & Beverage Influencer of the Year: Makena Yee
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Makena Yee has made it her mission to eat through Seattle “one bite at a time,” according to her bio, and based on the pics, I’m already drooling. Yee has over 30k followers on Instagram and 20.7k on TikTok, is passionate about promoting local business, and encourages her followers to discover exciting new tastes. On occasion, she even shares her own recipes! Her favorite?
“Japanese Chicken Karaage because everyone who tries it loves it!” she says. “It’s crispy, tender, flavorful, and puts a smile on everyone’s face.”
- Lifestyle Influencer of the Year: Patricia Monroy
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The Lifestyle Influencer of the Year award goes to someone who connects with their audience personally by sharing their daily routines. This is exactly what this year’s winner, Patricia Monroy, has done by sharing her life in sunny California with her 165.9k TikTok and 96k Instagram followers. On her page, she shares self-care and wellness tips while also celebrating her Filipino heritage. Monroy, who got her first brand partnership through the IHC program, and is also part of the Ulta beauty creator class of 2023, tells Her Campus that the best lifestyle advice she’s ever gotten is to focus on the little things.
“Slow down and really cherish every moment,” she says. “As a content creator, there are always so many exciting things happening all at once, and it can go by quickly, so I try to appreciate each experience (even the ups and downs).”
According to her Instagram bio, her next travel destination is New York (where Her Conference is being held, of course).
- Style Influencer of the Year: Karla Polanco
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2023’S IHC Style Influencer of the Year, Karla Polanco, describes her style as “feminine, sultry, and timeless.” Polanco’s 4.6k followers on Instagram and 68.8k on TikTok are obsessed with the New Jersey native’s mission to create great looks on a budget. From tropical vacations to autumn aesthetics, Polanco’s day-to-day inspo comes from super affordable brands and are all linked directly in her “cool girl outfits” shop.
There’s at least one item in her closet she’ll never get rid of: her shrugs and boleros. “I’ve found them to be a very useful piece in my wardrobe,” she says. “They add the perfect touch to any outfit, whether casual or dressy, and can be worn throughout the seasons!” Polanco is also an avid thrifter — we love a sustainable queen!