Dylan Mulvaney, a transgender influencer and LGBTQ activist, who rocketed to fame during a failed Bud Light ad campaign is in the headlines again. This time, she has made it onto Forbes Magazine’s “30 Under 30 Social Media” list.
This list celebrates young social media stars who are making significant impacts in the creator economy, an industry valued at a whopping $250 billion and growing rapidly.
Forbes’ selection process involves public nominations and input from technology journalists and various judges, focusing on those revolutionizing the online world.
Mulvaney has become well-known for her “Days of Girlhood” series on TikTok, which chronicles her gender transition from male to female. This series has been a big hit, drawing in more than 1 billion views. Of course the national publicity of the Bud Light debacle surely helped the numbers.
RELATED: ‘You Cannot Make This Up’: Dylan Mulvaney Named ‘Woman of the Year’
This is not the first time Forbes has recognized Mulvaney. The influencer was an invited speaker earlier this year at the 2023 Forbes CMO Summit in Miami.
Forbes describes her as a creator, actress, and LGBTQ+ activist who has managed to turn her personal journey into a source of inspiration for many. Mulvaney hopes her videos will inspire others, saying, “Whether somebody’s trans or not, I just hope they can watch my videos and feel inspired to unlock a new part of themselves.”
Forbes’ list is diverse, featuring a range of influencers like comedians Alan Chikin Chow and Steven He, fashion influencer Alix Earle, and Molly Burke, a creator who offers content based on her experience as a blind person. This mix reflects the broad nature of today’s social media influencers.
Mulvaney’s path to recognition hasn’t been smooth sailing. She faced immense backlash after becoming a spokesperson for Bud Light. Bud Light consumers not only rejected the ads but embarked on a long-term boycott of the brand costing the corporation it’s top position in the US beer market and the loss of upwards of $400 million in sales.
Addressing this at the 2023 Forbes CMO Summit, Mulvaney urged companies to genuinely embrace diversity, not just for show. She pointed out the negative reaction she received from Bud Light consumers and criticized the company for not supporting her enough during that time.
Mulvaney was blunt in her criticism, saying, “For a company to hire a trans person and then not publicly stand by them is worse in my opinion than not hiring a trans person at all because it gives customers permission to be as transphobic and hateful as they want.”
Forbes did not comment on a request from Fox News Digital.