BlogHer VOTY 100: Meet Our Creator Honorees

Explore the entire BlogHer VOTY 100 digital issue.

Voices of the Year (VOTY) is BlogHer’s annual celebration of women doing culture-shifting work for the greater good. This year, we’ve expanded this initiative into the VOTY 100, a list of changemakers across 10 categories: Wellness Champions, Small Business Owners, Creators, Eco Impact Warriors, Next Gen Creatives, Biz Experts, Innovators, Social Impact Leaders, Storytellers, and Community Builders. 

These women have elevated content creation to an art form with dynamic writing, genius social media content, and, beautiful websites.

Danielle Young, Journalist, Producer, Host & Content Queen

What is your proudest moment of the past year? 

In the past year, I’ve been able to pivot from losing my job and a pandemic simultaneously to building my own media empire. I’ve been able to create an interview series as well as a variety show while working for myself.

When you’re in a rut, how do you get inspired?

I mostly look to God for inspiration. God is my everything and it’s the force that keeps me moving forward.

What is something you wish you knew at the start of your career?

I wish I knew that it would all be okay. I had a lot of hiccups from bosses who thought I was everything and then quickly changed their tunes when the light shone on me. I thought that meant something was wrong with me or that I wasn’t good enough. Now I know that I am always enough and that if I am giving my best, it’s good enough.

Courtney Quinn, Founder of Color Me Courtney

Though Courtney Quinn started her brand as a simple resume booster while pursuing her career in the corporate fashion world, Color Me Courtney soon became her full-time pursuit. As her brand grew, including partnerships with brands such as Disney, Target, Nike, Dunkin Donuts, and Maybelline, Quinn began developing her own product lines. She used her creative talents to become one of the first influencers to use stop motion as a medium for fashion and color.

 

Monica Stevens, Owner of MoKnowsHair LLC

What is your proudest moment of the past year? 

This past year has been rough for us all, but I am proud that I was able to persevere and continue to grow my business.

When you’re in a rut, how do you get inspired?

I like to turn on my Gospel playlist, sing, dance, and praise God for everything!

What is something you wish you knew at the start of your career?

I feel like I had everything I needed for the moment. The best part about my career is learning along the way and being able to reflect and pass along what I’ve learned to others.

 

Phoebe Robinson, Comedian & Author

Phoebe Robinson is a multitalented stand-up comedian, author, former BlogHer speaker, and head of the new imprint, Tiny Reparations Books. She is best known as the co-creator and costar of the hit podcast-turned-TV-show 2 Dope Queens, as well as her critically acclaimed show Sooo Many White Guys, and her New York Times bestseller You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain, a collection of essays about race, gender, and pop culture. Phoebe’s salient voice and vibrant sense of humor are an invaluable source of hope to her listeners and fans.

 

LA Dunn, Owner of Black Girls Eat

What is your proudest moment of the past year? 

2020 was insane for many reasons so I appreciate that there were moments that made me feel good about what I’m doing in the food space. I would have to say that participating in the Google Women in Publishing Summit was high on the list.

I really enjoyed meeting all of the women involved and I appreciated the opportunity to speak honestly about what Black publishers are experiencing when it comes to brands and sponsorship opportunities. My pom-poms are always in the air for other women. I love inspiring others to go after their goals so anytime I get to step up to the mic…I’m proud to represent for the culture.

When you’re in a rut, how do you get inspired?

I have a crew of Warrior Women that I can call on. Each one has a talent and I’m always inspired by how they move on the planet. No matter how yucky or unmotivated I’m feeling, they all have the ability to shake me out of it with a simple “Girl, bye…You got this!” I’m nothing without my girls.

What is something you wish you knew at the start of your career?

When I first started blogging, I didn’t see it as a business. I enjoyed writing and I wasn’t thinking about becoming an influencer. One afternoon, I met a woman who told me that she loved Black Girls Eat and that she would trademark the name in the morning because I hadn’t done so. That was a huge wake-up call. As a result, I bought the URL, created the LLC, and secured the trademark for Black Girls Eat without hesitation. Phew!

Julie Sariñana, Founder of Sincerely Jules

In 2009, Julie Sariñana launched her fashion blog, Sincerely Jules, while also interning, going to school, assisting celebrity stylists, and working a 9-5. After 12 years, and the addition of 5.7 million dedicated followers and multiple brand partnerships, Sariñana is still a top influencer and continues to nurture the blog that she credits with changing her life.

 

Imani Barbarin, Digital Disability Advocate & Communications Director

What is your proudest moment of the past year? 

It’s somewhat difficult to talk about the last year and pride in the same sentence. Fraught with so much death and grief, I have felt mainly frozen with fear since the pandemic began. Prior to that, I was incredibly proud to have taken part in the Vote For Access series on disability in voting. Now, I am proud to be starting a new chapter in taking greater steps to create the representation and media that I could have desperately used as a teen and young adult.

When you’re in a rut, how do you get inspired?

I look to my community for joy and empowerment. In the disability community, the word “inspiration” can be considered a loaded term, but I will say that they have been a constant source of solidarity in extremely trying times.

What is something you wish you knew at the start of your career?

I think that the term “self-care” has been stretched beyond its original meaning, but I wish I had learned to not only set boundaries with others but with myself as well. I think there are times when I’ve overextended myself, so caught up in what I was doing that I did not take stock of my health and mental well-being. I wish I had known slowing down and living would be the hardest part.

Necole Kane, Entrepreneur & Founder of XONecole

After years of dominating the blogosphere with her site Necole Bitchie, Kane said goodbye to the gossip life and hello to XONecole, a women’s lifestyle platform where people share inspiring stories and relatable advice around relationships, style, work-life, and more. In her spare time, the Editor-in-Chief delivers first-hand advice to aspiring creators and entrepreneurs via panel discussions and other speaking engagements.

 

Liza Koshy, Actress & Influencer

From the early days of Vine to her current YouTube stardom, Liza Koshy has more than proven her natural understanding of what makes for compelling content. Liza has more than 17 million subscribers, over 3 billion views across both of her YouTube channels, and has won four Streamy Awards, four Teen Choice Awards, a Kids’ Choice Award, and was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment list in 2019.

 

Tia Mowry, Actress & Business Owner

Is there anything Tia Mowry can’t do?! In addition to her impressive acting resume, Tia is also the star of a thriving YouTube series, Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix, a published cookbook author, and co-founder of Anser, a wellness supplements line you can find at Target.

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