LEAD 301 Social Media Communication and Leadership: Deaf Social Media Influencers

Phelan Conheady is a student at the University of Rochester, New York. As a gay, deaf creator with Asian heritage, he represents three underrepresented groups—all visible influences in his content. With impeccable charm and humor, Phelan brings awareness to issues faced by deaf students and service workers. His work is sensitive, socially aware, and emotionally honest. He maintains an active Twitter presence as @signingmango but the bulk of his work is for his almost 250,000 TikTok followers at @signnwolf.

A Black creator whose videos are mostly produced in his red and blue lit bedroom, Otis Jones brings a distinctly “in da club” vibe to his content. His content is ASL music interpretations and ASL lessons

Christine Sun Kim is an American sound artist based in Berlin. Working predominantly in drawing, performance, and video, Kim's practice considers how sound operates in society. Musical notation, written language, American Sign Language, and the use of the body are all recurring elements in her work.

She grew up in York, Pa in a Black Deaf family and is an American comedienne, content creator, and actress. She uses her comedy as activism. Lyles came into the public eye in a 6th episode of the TV ONE true crime story television program, For My Woman, as a Daphne Wright, convicted of murder. She became the first black deaf comedienne who makes her sketches for the deaf community and has inspired many others. She released some short videos called “Black Poppins. A satire of Mary Poppins.”.

Deaf Mexican American who discusses travels.

Content creator on TikTok who is recognized for sharing lip sync performances and skits featuring American sign language. She created a viral series of TikToks called the Deaf Kardashians series. She recreates her everyday deaf experiences and adds her own ASL element to TikTok dances

She is a deaf American actress known for her roles in the TV series The Walking Dead and the film Eternals. Her breakthrough role was in 2018 with her lead performance in the Broadway play Children of a Lesser God, for which she was nominated for several awards, including a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She was subsequently cast in The Walking Dead as Connie in its ninth season that aired in late 2018. In Eternals, released in 2021, she played the deaf superhero Makkari. Ridloff played a small role as a superpowered agent in the 2017 film Sign Gene: The First Deaf Superheroes.[She also joined the production of the 2017 film Wonderstruck as a consultant and was ultimately cast in a small role.She also appeared in the lyric video for the song "Love Me Now" by John Legend.Her father is Mexican-American, and her mother is African-American.

Comes from a 4 generation black family and has raised awareness of Black ASL (BASL). Her TikTok videos shows the differences between ASL and BASL.

All communities have hidden narratives, and Chicana Melissa Elmira Yingst is all about finding and bringing awareness to them, especially when they celebrate women and muxeristas. She also is the co-founder of Alma de Muxeristas, an organization for muxeristas who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Deaf Disabled, Late-Deafened, or Hard of Hearing..This organization advocates for social justice for Latinx women.

Asphyxia is a Deaf Australian artist, writer, activist, and public speaker. She is , the author of Future Girl (Australian title) / The Words in My Hands (North American title), and winner of the Readings YA Book Award 2021

A Polish actress and dancer who lives in Norway.

Luke Christian is CEO of the fashion brand Deaf Identity, designed to raise awareness of deafness. He is a male stylist and lifestyle v/blogger based in the UK. Through his fashion brand he raised deaf awareness during the pandemic with pin badges to remind the public to be aware, patient and kind. Luke, who is born deaf and from Yorkshire, launched the brand in September 2019 with the mission to create a diverse range of clothing that includes Deaf Identity branding, slogans and BSL. Since the launch of his brand, Luke has received an overwhelmingly positive response from customers for his dedication in designing inclusive clothes for the deaf community.

essica is from Brighton, England. Jessica creates content about her life with disabilities and chronic illness, education, LGBTQ+ awareness, and vintage fashion. This beautiful British lady is a TV presenter and producer in the UK and via her personal channel on YouTube she shares "her sunny outlook on life, a love of Old Hollywood, general gayness and makes moves with BSL to cheesy songs- because you don't need to hear to know something it's amazing!"

Fashion bloggers and twin sisters who mysteriously went deaf at age 7. They grew up in Eritrea, but their family later moved to the UK

Casar Jacobson is a deaf Norwegian-Canadian UN disability rights campaigner,from Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a disability, equality, and gender rights activist, and United Nations Women Youth Champion. She has also been a successful pageant contestant, winning multiple titles, including Miss Canada Globe.Jacobson gradually became deaf in her twenties. Jacobson is credited for appearing in ABC's The Good Doctor, Talk to the Hands, and The Murders.In 2012 she was selected as audience favourite in Miss Universe Canada. In 2013 she won the title Miss British Columbia Globe 2012/2013. After that, she became Miss Canada Globe 2013. She traveled to Albania to compete in the Miss Globe pageant, in which she was awarded the title of "Miss Peace". Casar also was the first deaf person to graduate from Canada’s Health Care Assistant program—and she aspires to become a doctor one day.

She posts engaging and relatable content for her followers covering topics such as deaf issues, learning BSL, beauty, travel and lifestyle.

She is an Italian model.

Model and activist from Spain, focusing on fashion, lifestyle, travel and sign language advocacy.

Liam O'Dell is a deaf freelance blogger and journalist specialising in deafness, disability and social media. He is from Bedfordshire in the UK. He is a regular contributor to the deaf news blog The Limping Chicken and his work has also been featured in Metro UK, The i and Independent. On YouTube, he makes videos about theatre, lifestyle, music, current affairs and life as a deaf young person.

Works as a model and was a Miss France beauty pageant contestant.

Fanni started to model at the age of 14 and is currently one of the most famous and valued models of Hungary, being photographed for numerous magazines. She is a great advocate of Sign Language.

Currently Executive Director (maternity cover) for Deafinitely Theatre

Stacy Abrams started the #whyIsign social media campaign as a way to connect with parents of deaf children and support others in the deaf community.Using the hashtag, she is vocal about the lack of resources and support offered to families with deaf or hard of hearing children, and aims to ensure they no longer feel alone in their signing journey.

Self-described “talkative nonverbal,” Anderson Pleasants is a 21-year old political science student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is a Deaf advocate who calls attention to those with facial differences. He challenges misconceptions about facial differences and seeks connection with others on the basis of commonalities. In 2017, he was featured in a TedXyouth talk where he tells his story. Andy is a must-follow for great vibes and powerful messages about identity and complexity.

She is an American former professional motocross racer and current stunt actor. She competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 2008 to 2012. Fiolek, who is culturally deaf and who communicates via American Sign Language, is notable for being a four-time AMA women's motocross national champion. In June 2012, Fiolek appeared on Conan, the first deaf person to be featured on the show. In September 2012, she appeared in an episode of Switched at Birth as Robin Swiller, a motocross racer who develops an interest in the main character Emmett Bledsoe. In 2013, she played herself in No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie. In July 2014, she began work as a motorcycle stunt performer for a touring Marvel Universe Live show.

• ASL Educator/Curriculum Developer/Videographer. Proud Deaf mother of 2 Deaf college kids. Language rights activist for Deaf children. Dog lover. Alpine skier.

Chella Man is an internationally acclaimed artist who identifies as Deaf, trans-masculine, Jewish, and Chinese. Expanding into painting, film, sculpture, and performance art, Man explores the continuum of identity and deconstructs binaries surrounding disability, gender, race, and morality. He is a curator and artist of Pure Joy: showing at 1969 Gallery (2022), author of Continuum (2021 ), the director, producer, and editor of the award-winning film The Beauty of Being Deaf (2021 ), executive producer of Trans in Trumpland (2021 ), designer of Opening Ceremony (2019), cast as Jericho in DC Universe's Titans (2019), and former columnist for Them of Conde Naste (2018). The man continues to educate and give talks internationally on the intersections of art, disability, queerness, race, and healing.

Los Angeles-based Chrissy Marshall is a Deaf filmmaker and advocate. Her TikTok channel, @ChrissyCantHearYou, has over a million followers. Chrissy has a cochlear implant but is fluent in sign language. Using pop music, TikTok trends, and samples from movies, she teaches signs, illustrates struggles, and advocates for people with disabilities—all in a humorous, upbeat style. One of the most valuable offerings on Chrissy’s channel is lessons on deaf awareness. She delivers information in a catchy, approachable way that is relatable and fun.Chrissy is best known for her ASL interpretations of trendy songs on TikTok. A lot of her content also focuses on sharing the everyday struggles of being Deaf in a hearing world.

He is a student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Despite having two cochlear implants and wearing hearing aids, he uses ASL to communicate and uses his platform to promote inclusivity. With his blonde mane and surfer-boy looks, much of his content involves Dallin in the outdoors doing sporty activities—he offers a mix of ASL tips, education about cochlear implants, and honest takes on the social challenges faced by the hard-of-hearing

Jacelyn brings visibility to two marginalized communities: deaf and bisexual. The creator is known for funny, relevant content that is reflective of her life experiences. Jacelyn does it all, including answering fan questions, ASL lessons, funny pick-up line tips, and of course, trendy dance videos.

She is an American actress as well as a producer well known for her leading roles in TV Series: Veronica Mars, Fashion House, and The Big Bang Theory. She was cast in the television show Switched at Birth, starring Daphne Vasquez in the year 2011. Katie Leclerc discovered her passion for acting in seventh grade when she got the lead role in a production of Annie. She then moved to San Diego, to pursue theatre at Valley Center High School. She took part in commercials for Pepsi, Cingular, Comcast, and GE. In 2006, she was in the Rascal Flatts video “What Hurts the Most” as a student in the classroom. She has Ménière’s disease, with fluctuating hearing loss.

Marlin received worldwide acclaim for her motion picture debut in Paramount Pictures’ “Children of a Lesser God,” a performance the film community chose to recognize in with its highest honor — the Academy Award for Best Actress. At age 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and one of only four actresses to receive that honor for a film debut.

A deaf actor and Executive Producer starring in own TV series, two @Netflix docuseries: DEAF U and AUDIBLE •and a feature film DEAF PRESIDENT NOW

Patrick McMullin & Big Ben are a Deaf comedy duo out of Detroit. While their content consists mostly of pranks and skits, it also educates. The friends take questions from fans and answer them in hilarious and irreverent ways.

She was born Deaf, and comes from the third generation of a Deaf family. Her family primarily uses American Sign Language to communicate. She is a performer, an advocate, and a part-time anchor on DailyMoth.

Rikki Poynter is a deaf YouTuber and activist. She began as a beauty vlogger and is now a lifestyle vlogger with a focus on Deaf awareness, accessibility, and the importance of closed captioning.

Certified ADA Coordinator working for the Board of Elections in the City of New York; runs http://SILAN.co; passionate in ensuring communication being most effective

Shoshannah Stern is a well known deaf actress who is best known for her roles as Bonnie Richmond in Jericho, Holly Brodeen in Threat Matrix, and Megan Graves on Weeds.She is from a 4th generation deaf family.

Community Engagement Strategist: @ThisisCSD. Assistant Director: @SHXGallaudet.