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It’s no surprise to most that WAGS and sportspeople (former and current), ex reality TV contestants, the children of celebrities (or nepo babies) and fitness, beauty and fashion industry types are raking in the coin by sharing the minutiae of their lives and spruiking all manner of products, services and events — but more and more Australians from all walks of life are getting in on the influencer act and seizing a slice of the pie.
From poets to pet owners, equestrians to farmers, young children and families, to the very elderly – these social media movers and shakers are proving anyone can become an ‘influencer’ – at any age and from any background – in the free-for-all age of Insta.
And happily, most aren’t doing it for the money.
So watch out Nadia Bartel and Bek Judd, naked farmers, poets and pooches may be coming for your influencer crowns.
INSTA STAR FARMERS
The Naked Farmer, Ben Brooksby.
Fifth-generation sheep and crop farmer, Ben Brooksby from Western Victoria founded The Naked Farmer in mid-2017. After struggling with his mental health, farmer Ben started a social media career “after a light bulb moment” while sowing lentils. He created the Instagram account, which has now been moved to Facebook, and called it The Naked Farmer, posting a near naked photo of himself, for a bit of fun. The post went viral and it became the framework for his business, highlighting agriculture through photos of naked farmers with strategically placed props. The page promotes Australian food and fibre, as well as advocating for improved mental health in the farming sector. Ben develops and sells calendars each year using images from The Naked Farmer social media and has also written...