dapperQ/Hi Femme 2nd Annual “InstaGrammys”

dapperQ published our very first article in 2009, a full year before the 2010 launch of Instagram. Back then, and even for a few years after the initial launch of Instagram, the term “Instagram influencer,” was not even a thought in our minds, and we certainly did not anticipate Instagram would become such a powerful image (and now video) platform that would play a significant role in the democratization of beauty/fashion, creating communities of common values, and empowering individuals to become the creative directors of their own style.

This year, we celebrate our second annual “InstaGrammys” as part of our ongoing effort to archive the contributions of queer style to art, activism, and social media. Of course, as a volunteer collective (many of us with full-time jobs outside of dapperQ), it is virtually impossible for us to be fully aware of ALL the queer style influencers across the entire Instagram platform. (So, feel free to leave suggestions of other influencers in the comments section below.) But, we did want to give a year’s end tip of our hats to the influencers that have inspired the dapperQ team and our readers. Note, we did not include other digital magazines (such as Qwear, which is an important platform to our community), but decided to focus on individual influencers out there changing the landscape of fashion through personal style, stylish travel, and life+style Instagrams that are beautifully and thoughtfully curated. Here are dapperQ’s 2019 queer style Instagrams of distinction.

1. INSTA STYLE INFLUENCERS OF THE YEAR

Sara Nata (Portugal) – @sara_nata

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A post shared by Sara Nata | Fashion•Lifestyle (@sara_nata) on Nov 12, 2019 at 1:03pm PST

Alithea Castillo (New York City) – @alitheacastillo

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A post shared by alithea (@alitheacastillo) on Apr 2, 2019 at 7:16am PDT

2. INSTA FASHION INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Jazzmyne Jay (Los Angeles) – @jazzmynejay

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GIVE AWAY💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 I wanted to thank you for supporting me and my “For You” shoe I co-created with @wearecultivator 💕 no matter if you bought them or liked or commented on my photos I am thankful for you all!!!! OKAY I AM GOING TO BE GIVING AWAY TWO PAIRS OF MY “FOR YOU” SHOES TO TWO WINNERS! To enter the contest you must: 1) follow me and my @asos_jazzmyne Instagram 2) comment on this post: your shoe size and answer this- what is something you are thankful for about yourself? Contest ends Wednesday 11:59pm PST! Thank you all for your supporting and good luck!!!!!!!!💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕 Photo: @locallyunknwn

A post shared by Jazzmyne (@jazzmynejay) on Nov 18, 2019 at 12:31pm PST

3. BEST INSTA PERSONAL STYLE

E Lai Sterns (San Francisco) – @elaisterns

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A post shared by E LAI STERNS (@elaisterns) on Apr 9, 2019 at 1:51pm PDT

Iris Lena Triska (Oakland) – @triskit

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A post shared by IRIS LÉNA TRISKA (@triskit) on Jan 1, 2018 at 5:36pm PST

4. COUPLES THAT INSTA-SLAY TOGETHER

Hannah and Ariana (Los Angeles) – @theangelinos_

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A post shared by Ariana & Hannah (@theangelinos_) on Apr 12, 2019 at 6:33pm PDT

Ronnie and Drea (Philadelphia) – @drea.ronnie

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A post shared by Ronnie Rose 🏳‍🌈⃤ (@ronnierosebloom) on Mar 27, 2019 at 8:05am PDT

5. STYLISH INSTA TRAVELERS

Lindsay Cale (Catching Flights) – @lindscale

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A post shared by Lindsay Cale (@lindscale) on Nov 25, 2019 at 7:24am PST

Kim Geronimo (New York City/Catching Flights) – @thestreetsensei

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A post shared by Kim Geronimo (@thestreetsensei) on Mar 30, 2019 at 6:13pm PDT

6. BEST IN INSTA SUITING

Marcia Alvarado (Tampa) – @thealvaradoexp

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A post shared by Marcía Alvarado (she/her) (@thealvaradoexp) on Oct 15, 2018 at 9:18am PDT

7. BEST GENDER-FLUID MAKEUP INSTAS

Devin-Norelle (New York City) – @steroidbeyonce

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“I’ve never truly allowed myself a chance to dabble in makeup until I started working at Teen Vogue. I was seated next to the Allure team and both brands were steamrolled with makeup daily. Makeup has been crucial in exploring my masculinity. I love matching a good glitter beard with my favorite suits. Something subtle, like a cute eye shadow, goes a long way. I look forward to photoshoots because I can explore more playful looks than I’m not capable of creating myself. Through makeup, possibilities are boundless.” . . . Interview via @milk Makeup @shidehkafei. 📸 @sorayatzaman. Interview link in profile!

A post shared by Devin-Norelle not Devin (@steroidbeyonce) on Nov 19, 2019 at 2:56pm PST

Devyn (New York City) – @devdoee

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“Bad attitude, but I’m cute so he call me back” 💋 @tatcha silk canvas @colourpopcosmetics no filter concealer (deep golden) @fentybeauty profiltr foundation in 380, concealer in 360, setting powder (banana) @morphebrushes x @jamescharles palette @urbandecaycosmetics elements palette (brow bone, inner corner, and lips) @fluidebeauty glitter (aura) @blackradiancebeauty contour palette (deep) @anastasiabeverlyhills dip brow in ebony @kkwbeauty lipstick in pink 5 @morphebrushes x @bretmanrock babe in paradise Inspired by @naomismalls ——- #ColourPopMe #meganthestallion #FENTYBEAUTY #brbeauty #anastasiabrows #blackbeautymatters #beautyboy #MorpheBabe #mnyitlook #melaninmagic #blackbeauty #anastasiabeverlyhills #undiscoveredmuas #makeupjourney #wlyg #oneofthem #muaofcolor #menthatblend #melaninbeauty #bretmansvanity #menthatblend #breakthebinary #androgyny #genderfluid #fluid #nonbinary #genderbender

A post shared by Devyn (@devdoee) on Mar 5, 2019 at 12:02pm PST