Is the Era of Male Fitness Influencers Over?

Has the era of male dominance in the fitness influencer industry come to an unexpected end?

In a traditionally perceived male-centric realm, are women taking the lead and reshaping the fitness narrative?

The latest research by NF Supplements delves into these intriguing questions, uncovering shifts that might redefine the future of fitness influencing.

In November 2023, an in-depth analysis, examining the social media influence and global search interest of fitness influencers across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube was carried out with the goal of uncovering the evolving dynamics of the fitness influencer landscape, with a particular focus on gender-related trends.

Key Findings: The comprehensive analysis, conducted in November 2023, explored the social media impact and global search interest of fitness influencers on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

The results are in, and the dynamics are evolving, with a particular focus on gender-related trends.

World’s 50 Most Popular Fitness Influencers across Instagram, YouTube, and Tiktok

1. Female Fitness Influencers Take the Lead:

Out of the top 10 fitness influencers, an impressive 7 are women, with an even more remarkable 26 out of the top 50, commanding a collective following of 410.4 million (58%). The global search volume for these influential women stands at an impressive 2.26 million.

2. Male Fitness Influencers Lagging Behind:

Contrastingly, male fitness influencers claim only 3 spots in the top 10, amassing a combined following of 297.6 million, representing 42% of the total audience for the top 50 fitness influencers.

Overall Trend:

The digital landscape of fitness influencing is undergoing a noteworthy shift, with female influencers taking the lead and challenging the historical dominance of their male counterparts.

World’s 10 Most Popular Male Fitness Influencers, 2024

While female fitness influencers are rising to prominence, male influencers continue to hold their ground in 2024.

The top 10 males boast a combined following of 297.6 million, signalling their continued influence amid changing industry dynamics.

1. Thibaud Delapart (Tibo InShape)

With 27.9M followers, Thibaud is a TikTok star in France known for his bodybuilding expertise and a blend of fitness and humour across platforms.

• Instagram: @tiboinshape (5.7M)
• YouTube: Tibo InShape (12.1M)
• TikTok: @tiboinshape (10.1M)

2. Chris Bumstead (Cbum)

Chris boasts 27.1M followers and offers diverse workouts, leading to the highest global search volume among male fitness influencers.

• Instagram: @cbum (19M)
• YouTube: Chris Bumstead (3.5M)
• TikTok: @cbum (4.6M)

3. David Michigan

With 19.3M followers, David uniquely combines training with hypnosis to help achieve fitness goals.

• Instagram: @davidmichigan (18.4M)
• YouTube: David Michigan (107K)
• TikTok: @davidmichigan (505.9K)

4. Sahil Khan

An Indian bodybuilder and entrepreneur, Sahil commands 17.7M followers, extending his influence beyond personal fitness to gym ownership.

• Instagram: @sahilkhan (11M)
• YouTube: Sahil Khan (3.1M)
• TikTok: @sahilkhan (3.2M)

5. Noel Deyzel

A South African fitness enthusiast with 16M followers, Noel is known for his inspirational content, particularly on TikTok.

• Instagram: @noeldeyzel (5M)
• YouTube: Noel Deyzel (4.5M)
• TikTok: @noeldeyzel (6.8M)

6. Jeff Cavalier (ATHLEAN-X™)

A professional therapist and coach, Jeff’s ATHLEAN-X™ program is popular among his 15.9M followers.

• Instagram: @athleanx (2.3M)
• YouTube: ATHLEAN-X™ (13.5M)
• TikTok: @athleanx (59.5K)

7. Ulissesworld Maddy

A personal coach with 12.3M followers, he focuses on customized fitness plans.

• Instagram: @ulissesworld (8.7M)
• YouTube: Ulissesworld (608K)
• TikTok: @ulissesworld (3M)

8. Chuck Kirkendall (Kali Muscle)

With 12M followers, Chuck emphasises muscle building and fitness commitment.

• Instagram: @kalimuscle (1.2M)
• YouTube: Kali Muscle (3.6M)
• TikTok: @kalimuscle (7.2M)

9. Adnaan Shaikh

Starting as an underweight individual, Adnaan now inspires 12M followers and owns a gym.

• Instagram: @adnaan_07dz (11.4M)
• YouTube: Adnaan Shaikh (458K)
• TikTok: @adnaan07dz (0K)

10. Thoren Bradley

A fitness trainer with a Master’s degree in exercise physiology, Thoren has 11.2M followers and offers evidence-based health advice.

• Instagram: @thorenbradley (1.6M)
• YouTube: Thoren Bradley (580K)
• TikTok: @thorenbradley (9.6M)

Industry Evolution: Each of these influencers contributes a unique perspective to fitness, playing a vital role in shaping the industry’s evolution.

These insights delved into the broader societal shifts reflected in the fitness influencer world, potentially indicating changing global trends.

For a detailed exploration of our findings and to access the full report, we invite you to visit the full report here.