Instagram is known as a very popular social media platform for all types of niches due to its visual nature. From fitness to beauty to travel and hospitality, Instagram thrives. Not only that, Instagram has taken modeling to the next level, giving people a platform and a way to establish their brand and personality online.
Instagram also helped many up-and-coming models break into the business and get seen due to their perfect content creation, eye-catching videos, and engaging Instagram feeds. For models and those in the modeling industry (makeup artists, photographers, etc.), Instagram can hold a lot of power for expanding your career and monetizing the platform.
Many Instagram models have millions of followers. Not only can you get seen by more people in the industry, it’s a great opportunity to make money via Instagram and partner with brands and businesses for features and promotions.
If you’re an Instagram model yourself, a photographer, a content creator, a brand, business, or more, you may want to take a look at these incredibly popular Instagram model accounts for content ideas, networking, and aesthetic building.
We’ve compiled a list of the best Instagram models that hail from each state in the US; we’ve categorized them by region:
- Top Instagram Models from the Pacific States
- Top Instagram Models from Mountain States
- Top Instagram Models from Central States
- Top Instagram Models from Eastern States
This can help you navigate by region of the country if you’re interested in finding a particular area. The models are from those states; they may or may not remain there currently due to the ever-changing nature of their lives and careers.
Let’s check out the top Instagram models from every state in the US!
Instagram Models from the Pacific States
1. Alexis Ren (California)
Alexis Ren was born in Santa Monica, CA, in 1996 and began her modelling career at just 13 years old for the label Brandy Melville. She became even more popular just two years later via social media when her photos went viral on Tumblr. She was posing in a black string bikini by the pool and became an internet sensation from that point on. She’s now a high-profile swimsuit model that has graced the cover of Maxim in 2017 and was also named Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie of 2018. In 2019, she made the Maxim hottest 100 list.
Ren’s estimated net worth is $3 million dollars from her modelling and social media presence. She competed on the 27th season of Dancing With the Stars with pr Alan Bersten, where she came in 4th after reaching the finals and being eliminated. In 2019, she starred as Scarlet Jones in Ed Sheeran’s music video and also played a role in one for Kyogo.
Alexis Ren doesn’t rely simply on modeling or celeb appearances for her income; she has launched her own activewear brand called Ren Active, which you can find on its standalone Instagram @renactive sold exclusively on @LA_Collective.
With 14.4 million Instagram followers and 1.06 million on YouTube, Alexis Ren is here to stay.
2. Lauren York (Nevada)
Lauren York, former Miss Nevada US 2017, is a professional model in both print and runway, having shot for Guess and Monster Energy. With a striking presence and a strong, bubbly personality, she’s become popular on Instagram as well and built up quite the following.
Nor only does she work as a model, she’s also expanded her efforts as a lifestyle, beauty, and fashion blogger on Instagram. Now, she’s grown to 372k Instagram followers and posts a ton of different content. Most of her content is related to her photos and modeling work, but you can also find Instagram stories and IGTV videos about other topics.
More than just beauty and stunning photos, Lauren York is also a Victim Impact Speaker after having been hit by a drunk driver in the past. She’s a strong advocate for MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) and is passionate about raising awareness around driving under the influence and the consequences that it brings.
3. Esther (Washington)
An incredibly popular Instagram model with her own fitness collection, Esther is a fitness and fashion blogger from Seattle, Washington. She became completely dedicated to fitness in 2014 and has since become a source of inspiration for all of her fans.
She entered the world of fitness and fashion at the age of 18 and used her before and after images to inspire and motivate her social media followers. When she began to receive tons of messages about her diet and workout routine, she began to share more and more videos about her workouts, nutrition, and supplement advice.
She currently has a total of 332k Instagram followers and remains an active presence in the fitness world, sharing not only fitness content but also lifestyle photos and fashion tips. She has Russian roots and pays homage to them by including the Russian flag emoji alongside the US flag in her Instagram bio.
4. JoEllen Walters (Alaska)
JoEllen Walters has been doing pageants in Alaska for years, and in 2019 she took home the title of Miss Alaska USA. She comes from Eagle River, Alaska and has also placed as 2nd runner-up in 2014, 1st runner-up in 2015, and finalist in 2016.
She’s not simply working on pageants; JoEllen is a grad from the University of Alaska in early childhood education and uses her Instagram to not only showcase her life as Miss Alaska but also to share photos of her in nature, with her pets, and her fiance.
Walters remains in her hometown of Eagle River, Alaska and has discussed in her pageant platform her passion for preventing opioid abuse as well as promoting environmental safety and keeping the community safe. She wants to inspire women to be confident and passionate about their community as well as showcase the beauty of Alaska and the warm people that come from there.
5. Chelsea Yamase (Hawaii)
Under the name @chelseakauai, Chelsea Yamase shares her stunning Instagram travel content to her 1.1 million Instagram followers. She promotes adventure travel and has some truly breathtaking photos from destinations all around the world from South Africa to California to Mexico and more.
She began to rise to fame at just 18 years old and now categorizes herself as an Artist on her Instagram profile, and her photos definitely show it. She has truly shown the world what it’s like to shoot incredible adventure travel photos with pictures of her free diving in the ocean, canyoneering up waterfalls, walking hundreds of feet in the air, and even swimming in underwater caves with no oxygen tank.
She’s recently featured stunning photos of African wildlife and even a trip up to Table Mountain. She’s an incredible visual storyteller and also her own model that she features in pretty much every photo. Some of her Instagram posts indicate that they are sponsored content, showing that she’s been able to partner with relevant brands to monetize her Instagram.
If you’re interested in finding out more about Yamase and her adventures, check out her blog under her Instagram name, Chelsea Kauai. If you want to liven up your photos to look like hers, you can also check out her filters on Lightroom and find out more @chelseakauaipresets.
6. Summer Mckeen (Oregon)
Summer Mckeen comes from Oregon and has a widely popular YouTube channel and Instagram account with over 2.24 million subscribers on YouTube and an Instagram with just under 2 million followers at 1.8m.
She’s known for sharing beauty tutorials and tips, product reviews, makeup tricks, and personal stories and travels. She’s also the founder of @keenon, which is a “community for music creators and lovers.”
Summer is only 22 years old and has amassed a large and engaged following on social media through her video creations. She’s very candid, straightforward, and bold in her videos. Her current net worth is estimated at around $600k.
Like most other YouTube stars, Mckeen came under fire in 2019 for posting what were said to be racist and mocking of others; she’d posted an apology video that was reportedly taken down, which caused even more backlash.
Regardless of this alleged situation, Mckeen is still thriving and has a huge audience that continues to grow on Instagram with her stunning selfies and body shots, as well as on YouTube with her fun video creations.
Instagram Models from Mountain States
7. Margaret Qualley (Montana)
Margaret Qualley comes from a famous family with her parents being actress Andie MacDowell and model Paul Qualley. Margaret was always around this lifestyle and she began training as a ballerina at the ABT. She also began modeling at NYFW when she was just 16. She did Paris Fashion Week runway shows for both Valentino and Chanel.
She’s posed for a variety of magazines including Vanity Fair, Nylon, Vogue, and more. With a huge range of successful modeling and acting work, she’s currently got 676k Instagram followers and is still a rising star in both industries.
8. Sommer Ray (Colorado)
Sommer Ray has a massive Instagram following of 26.6 million followers. She’s an American social media celebrity and YouTuber that also has an active presence on Twitter. Originally from Larkspur, Colorado, she’s already taken the modeling world by storm at just 24 years old.
Ray began to look to Instagram as a serious foundation for her modeling career and in 2015 she started solidifying her presence, amassing 40k followers and multiple brand partnerships. In 2016, she was named “Lovely Lady of the Day” by Sports Illustrated. Not only does she share her modeling content, but she also has a passion for fitness and has competed in and won bodybuilding competitions in the past.
She still posts some content related to fitness, but now focuses more on modeling and lifestyle. You can find all of her different social media channels in her link-in-bio, including Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Ray also sells fitness wear and booty bands, which can also be found in her link-in-bio, as well as a link to her IMARAIS Beauty and an 8-week booty challenge for those looking to up their fitness game. She’s thriving in all of her endeavors with an estimated net worth of roughly $8 million.
9. Elise Sterck (Wyoming)
Elise Sterck is known for her astounding travel and adventure photos on Instagram. She comes from Wyoming and holds degrees in Geography and Environment and Natural Sciences from the University of Wyoming, only furthering her authority as an Instagram photographer and model.
She’s taken some truly incredible photos and is featured in some amazing adventures skiing, appreciating nature, kayaking, and more. 260k Instagram followers enjoy her posts. She also offers a photo workshop in the North Cascades, focusing on backpacking through the backcountry and learning different photography techniques for capturing the beauty abound.
Documenting the real, visceral connection between humans and the natural world, Sterck shines on her Instagram and uses her social presence to not only teach others but also to share branded content and partnerships that she works with.
10. Karla Lu (Arizona)
A retired civil engineer originally from Lima, Peru, Karla Lu is currently based in Phoenix, Arizona and taking it by storm with her 361k Instagram followers. She has her own nursery decor business and focuses on healthy living, experiences, and more. She’s also amassed 480k+ followers on TikTok, bringing her presence cross-platform.
Karla uses her Instagram to document her family life and takes some very bubbly photos modeling with different product placements to take advantage of her multiple brand partnerships. She’s done paid partnerships with SoFabFood, GSK, Del Taco, and others. She offers a positive presence on Instagram and uses her good looks and beautiful family to monetize the platform and share relevant promos with her followers.
11. Dree Hemingway (Idaho)
American model and actress Dree Hemingway is the great-grandaughter of another famous American name, Ernest Hemingway. She has always wanted to be a fashion model and decided to drop out of high school to pursue this dream.
She first debuted at the Fall/Winter catwalk show for Givenchy in Paris in 2009, followed by the Calvin Klein resort show that took place in New York. She was then global, booking other high fashion gigs and even opening the TopShop Spring/Summer 2010 show in London.
She’s consistently working on high-profile fashion campaigns with brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Givenchy, Giles, Shiatzy Chen, Chanel, Coach, and Calvin Klein. She has 187K followers on Instagram and documents her fashion lifestyle and campaigns via Instagram.
Aside from this, she’s entered the realm of acting, starring in an independent film titled Starlet in 2012. She’s also been in others like Nous Yourk and Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You. She’s estimated to have a current net worth of $800,000.
12. Lucky Blue Smith (Utah)
An American actor, musician, and fashion model, Lucky Blue Smith has made quite a name for himself on social media as well with roughly 2.7m Instagram followers. He’s managed by Simon Fuller XIX Entertainment and also has a separate account for his photography, @capturedbylucky.
Not only has he had success both in front of the camera and behind, he’s part of the Ralph Lauren Fragrance club campaign that provided a virtual experience with new fragrances in the online campaign. You can find the link in his Instagram bio.
Lucky Blue Smith was called the “Male Model of the Moment” by Teen Vogue and was scouted at just 10 years old and then signed with Next Models LA at just 12. His signature look really launched his career to the next level, touting platinum blonde hair.
Between 2014 to 2015, he walked in a whopping 12 fashion shows for big names such as Fendi, Tom Ford, and Jeremy Scott. He has been featured in even more ads with more big names such as H&M, Big C, Calvin Klein, Moncler, Philipp Plein, Gap, Levi’s, Tom Ford, Tommy Hilfiger, Mavi, and more.
As far as editorials go, he’s appeared in Vogue, Elle, LOVE, W Magazine, Marie Claire, V, and more. Runway credits include brands like Chanel, Fendi, Moschino, Emporio Armandi, Salvatore Ferragamo, Marc Jacobs, Michael Kors, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Ralph Lauren, and more. He’s had quite the career at just 23 years old.
His estimated net worth is $1 million.
13. Vella Lovell (New Mexico)
Vella Lovell is an actress that was born in New Mexico and is now most famously known for her role as Heather Davis in the series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. She was praised highly for her role, offering fans comic relief in contrast to the title character played by Rachel Bloom.
Aside from her stint on CEG, she also played the role of Khadija in The Big Sick. She has classical training for acting from the prestigious Juilliard and then moved on to the Interlochen Arts Academy, finally gaining her undergraduate degree from NYU.
She currently has 63k followers on Instagram and is estimated to have a net worth between $1-5 million.
Models From Central States
14. January Jones (South Dakota)
January Jones has become somewhat of a household name due to her role as Betty Draper on the hit TV series Mad Men. She was nominated for an Emmy due to her performance on the show. January Jones started out as a model for Ambercrombie when she was 18 years old and has also graced the cover of many different magazines.
She’s got 1.1m Instagram followers and uses Instagram to share different types of content from photos of her in beautiful outfits, to her working out, and even some of her on the set shooting.
Aside from her acting and modeling work, January Jones has been working with Oceana as the spokesperson for their campaign to save sharks. She started working with them in 2009 and even traveled to the Bahamas to help participate in shark research and generate interest in the efforts for shark conservation.
15. Liza Koshy (Texas)
Liza Koshy is another Instagram superstar with almost 20 million followers on the platform. She’s an Instagram celebrity, YouTube star, and an American actress. She’s got almost the same number of subscribers on her YouTube, with 17.6m subscribers going strong.
She’s known to be incredibly humble and share relatable content that brings laughter and joy to her followers and subscribers. She started in 2013 on the Vine platform, sharing short comedic videos that gained her 7 million followers when the platform shut down.
Not ready to give up, she moved over to YouTube in 2016 and has been going strong ever since. One of her most famous videos is her interview of then-candidate President Barack Obama in anticipation of the 2016 election in hopes of encouraging young people to come out and vote.
Koshy is dedicated to high-quality content and her camera skills and video editing work shows it. Not only that, she’s completely committed to providing hilarious content for her followers, and she was even listed in Time magazine’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2019. Her estimated net worth currently sits at roughly $6 million.
16. Gabrielle Union-Wade (Nebraska)
Gabrielle Union, now Gabrielle Union-Wade, is a well-known American actress, voice artist, activist, and author. She’s most famous for her roles in She’s All That, Bring it On, and 10 Things I Hate About You, although she started working on TV sitcoms in the 90s.
She’s continued to thrive in the film industry and has used her Instagram platform to share lifestyle photos, feature friends, family, and other artists, especially with her #WCW content where she gives a shoutout to prominent African-American women in the community.
Union-Wade has a powerful presence and a strong personality that speaks up for what she believes in. She’s got 18.3 million followers on Instagram, and is present on other social networks such as Snapchat and TikTok.
In her link-in-bio, you can find workouts and recipes, her line of beauty products Flawless at Sally Beauty, a link to her book You Got Anything Stronger? As well as a registration form to stay notified about her Proudly Company launch.
17. Hannah Godwin (Alabama)
Hannah Godwin began her modeling career in 2013, working with design companies and swimwear brands. She endorses a variety of brands and clothing lines on her Instagram account which has led to her acquisition of 1.5m followers.
She is known as a reality star, Instagram celebrity, YouTube vlogger, model, and TikTok personality. She has been featured in music videos as well, including ‘Leave Right Now’ by Thomas Rhett.
In 2019, she took to the screen and was a contestant on the 23rd edition of the hit ABC series The Bachelor. Hannah didn’t find love, but she also went back for season 6 of a spinoff series, Bachelor in Paradise.
Godwin has also established herself in the pageant world, winning the title of Miss Oak Mountain. She’s also participated in three different Miss Alabama USA pageants, taking home 3rd place in both 2015 and 2016.
She currently features lifestyle and fashion content on her Instagram account and frequently poses for photos with her beau.
18. Hannah Ann Sluss (Tennessee)
Originally from Tennessee, Hannah Ann Sluss currently resides in Los Angeles and shares a lot of her journey to her Instagram followers. She is another model that made an appearance on The Bachelor and quickly became the most trending contestant of her season in 2020. She instantly gained fame as a TV celebrity, actress, model, and pageant contestant.
She also starred in the country music video I Don’t Know About You by singer Chris Lane. Her current net worth is roughly $1 million and she’s currently sharing content to her 1.2 million INstagram followers. She shares fashion and lifestyle content as well as videos featuring flower arrangement and natural wildflowers, as she’s a lover of flowers.
19. Lindsey Pelas (Louisiana)
Originally from Louisiana but currently in Hollywood, Lindsey Pelas is a model, actress, and self-proclaimed “smartass” per her Instagram bio. She also has a podcast titled Eyes Up Here, which aims to end social stereotyping through discussion of a variety of topics.
Even though she is incredibly beautiful, busty, and blonde, she has been misunderstood throughout her life and wants to give some new perspective on why we should look further than just what we see on the outside.
Her Instagram content is still nothing short of provocative and she certainly knows how to smize into the camera. She often features herself in a bikini on beaches and offers exclusive content via link-in-bio, including links to her Snapchat, Facebook, Cameo, and Twitter, a link to buy her 2021 calendar, her podcast link, as well as exclusive content.
20. Colton Haynes (Kansas)
Colton Haynes is a model and actor that comes from Kansas. He’s developed a strong following on Instagram with over 6.5 million Instagram followers and growing. He’s continued to build a strong net worth as well, with estimates coming in at $4 million.
He’s been a model since his early teens, gaining national attention through an Abercrombie and Fitch ad campaign. He’s since worked on campaigns for J.C. Penney, Ralph Lauren, and Kira Plastinina.
His acting work boasts credits in titles such as Transformers, CSI: Miami, Privileged, Melrose Place, and Pushing Daisies. He has other credits for acting including The Gates, Teen Wolf, and Look: The Series.
21. Lana Rhoades (Illinois)
Lana Rhoades has shot to fame on Instagram as an adult film actress and currently has 16.1 million followers with her numbers consistently growing. She’s a stunning beauty that offers her followers fun, bubbly, and provocative content.
Most recently, she’s started a Yandy lingerie collection called Lana x Yandy, which you can find via the Yandy website.
Lana’s real name is Amara Maple and she decided to become an adult film actress at the age of 16. Her claim to fame happened in 2017 when she did a photo shoot with Playboy, establishing herself in the industry. She’s won several awards and nominations for her work.
Some of the awards she’s won include Adult Video News Award in 2018, XBIZ Award for Best New Starlet, and a nomination for Female Performer of the Year. She’s estimated to have a net worth of about $1 million.
22. Audra Mari (North Dakota)
A popular figure in pageants, Audra Mari won Miss Teen USA in 2011 and proceeded to compete in pageants, winning the Miss North Dakota USA title. She competed and won 1st runner-up in Miss USA 2014, which is the highest placement held by a contestant from North Dakota.
Mari didn’t stop there— she continued as a major beauty queen and represented the US at the 2016 Miss World Pageant, winning the title of Miss World Americas 2016. She’s since used her platform to address many pertinent issues and has expanded those messages to her 36k+ Instagram followers.
She discusses issues such as bullying and tolerance, sharing personal experiences on the topic. She’s been a model since the age of 20 and was signed with Vision LA. Her modeling credits include campaigns for H&M and the Ocean Dive swimsuit issue.
She was famously dating heartthrob actor Josh Duhamel, but the two split in early 2021. Her estimated net worth is said to be between $1 million and $5 million.
23. Katya Elise Henry (Minnesota)
Instagram model and fitness guru Katya Elise Henry has a solid presence on Instagram with over 8 million followers on the platform. She works as a fitness trainer with her company @WBKFit and also has her own line of activewear called @kissmypeach.
Katya is a professional fitness trainer and fitness model, so she shares mostly content related to these two topics on her Instagram. She’s currently pregnant, so she also shares a lot of information about her fitness journey and what products she recommends as she’s pregnant.
Her favorite product to promote is EHPLabs Blessed Protein, which is also partnered with her WBKFit business. Once she launched her WBKFit website, her net worth rose to over $5 million.
As part of her Workouts by Katya program, her clients get access to her workout programs, supplements, meal plans, apparel, and accessories shown on her site.
24. Alanna Arrington (Iowa)
Alanna Arrington is a Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show model and has been on the runway for 3 years. She was discovered at age 14 by Jeff and Mary of Mother Model Management in Missouri, and then signed to Next Management in Los Angeles.
She’s had huge success over her career and has gained an Instagram following of 264k where she shares her fashion and modeling-related content. She has appeared in editorials for big-name magazines like Elle, Maxim, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar, and Vogue.
Some of her campaigns include Stella McCartney, Ralph Lauren, H&M, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Aldo, and more.
25. Celia Ammerman (Kentucky)
Celia Ammerman was a contestant on the 12th cycle of America’s Next Top Model. Although she didn’t win the cycle, Ammerman has gained traction in the modeling industry and has appeared in top magazines like Seventeen, Allure, and Vogue Italia; she’s also been featured in the New York Post style section.
She currently has 23k Instagram followers and while it’s not as many as some others on this list, her followers are super engaged with her content.
Ammerman’s runway credits include NY, Aveda Hair Show, Beaux Arts Runway, Belvedere Vodka, and Ohio. She’d wanted to be a model since she was 14 and has now made her dream a reality, with an estimated net worth of roughly $1-5 million.
26. Tyler Oakley (Missouri)
Tyler Oakley gained fame through his work on YouTube; he started his YouTube channel in 2007 as an 18-year-old college student and has since come a long way.
He appeared and trained for the celebrity season of The Amazing Race and now boasts a strong 5.7 million followers on INstagram. He began to get a lot of questions regarding his workouts and gym routines, so he decided to post more of this type of content.
Oakley remains active on his YouTube channel, posting weekly fitness YouTube videos, different interviews, challenges, collaborations, and more. He has 7 million subscribers on YouTube.
His current net worth is estimated at $8 million.
27. Tess Holliday (Mississippi)
Originally from Mississippi, Tess Holliday is a plus-size model, published author, makeup artist, and beauty blogger. She’s been an influencer player in the community of body positivity and created the hashtag #EffYourBeautyStandards after she was bullied on her own Instagram account.
She currently boasts 2.2 million Instagram followers and is currently based in Los Angeles. She rose to fame after being featured on a variety of major magazine covers and continues to fortify her platform on Instagram and beyond.
Holliday became a professional model while working at a Los Angeles dental office as a receptionist in 2011. A&E featured her as the face of their documentary Heavy after discovering her online. She’s still consistently featured in fashion blogs, accessory modeling campaigns, as well as plus size clothing lines.
Her estimated net worth is roughly $5 million.
28. Danika Tramburg (Wisconsin)
Danika Tramburg grew up playing sports all throughout her life and was even a basketball player in college. She has a degree from Concordia University Wisconsin— a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Business. She was crowned Miss Wisconsin USA 2019.
Her goal is to become a sideline reporter but is also passionate about supporting others and being a positive role model. Her lifestyle blog Perfect Your Purpose is the platform she uses to inspire others and help them find their purpose in life. She has a total of 6,319 Instagram followers and focuses on travel, fashion, and lifestyle content.
29. Angela Lindvall (Oklahoma)
A very influential figure, Angela Lindvall has had a successful career as an actress, model, and fashion consultant. She currently works on an ethical jewelry collection for Article 22 that features geometric designs and landmine shrapnel. She’s currently based in California and in 2019 she launched her Peace Begins in Me workshops where she shares her knowledge of yogic science, wellness, and healthful practices.
She was discovered as a model in 1993 at the age of 15 years old by an IMG scout at a Kansas City fashion show. She’s since continued her career as one of the most prestigious models, working with magazines like Vogue, Elle, Maxim, W Magazine, Marie Claire, and many more. She walked in the Victoria’s Secret fashion shows from 2000 to 2008 and was featured in the 2004 40th anniversary Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
She’s worked with a laundry list of top designers, including Gucci, Valentino, Tommy Hilfiger, Gab, DKNY, Chanel, Prada, Karl Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Versace, Missoni, and many more. She’s estimated to have a net worth of roughly $8 million and shares her content to 80.7k Instagram followers.
30. Savannah Skidmore (Arkansas)
Savannah Skidmore is a recognized pageant participant from Arkansas and made it to the top 5 in the Miss USA Competition in May 2019. She’s not just a model but also a role model for girls, creating her own student organization that focuses on suicide prevention and awareness called Speak Up Now.
She’s spoken to thousands of students and adults to raise awareness all across Arkansas, and has recently submitted to Sports Illustrated Swim Search 2021 in order to inspire young women to believe in themselves.
More than just beauty, she’s also pursuing a law degree from the Arkansas School of Law that she will complete in 2022. She’s currently represented by Sculp Agency and Voices and Models with 9,675 followers as an Instagram model.
Models from Eastern States
31. Emily Ratajkowski (New York)
Emily Ratajkowski is recognized as one of the most popular Instagram models with a total of 27.8 million Instagram followers. She has released a book called My Body, which she describes as a “profoundly personal exploration of feminism, sexuality, and power, of men’s treatment of women, and women’s rationalizations for accepting that treatment.”
Her modeling career started in March 2012 where she appeared on the cover of the eroit magazine Treats! And she soon appeared in the ‘Blurred Lines’ music video for Robin Thicke and ‘Love Somebody’ for Maroon 5.
Her professional modeling debut came at NYFW 2015 for Marc Jacobs, and she’s since graced the runway for big fashion moguls such as Bottega Venet, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, and Miu Miu.
Emily has become the spokesperson for brands such as Paco Rabanne, The Frye Company, Kerastase, DKN, and DL1961. She’s also a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood and advocates for women’s health.
Aside from modeling, Emily has also appeared as an actress in a variety of projects including iCarly, Entourage, Gone Girl, Welcome Home, and more. She’s currently estimated with a net worth of $8 million.
32. Marissa Meade (Connecticut)
Marissa is a very stylace Instagram model that has over 166k followers on the platform. She’s the founder of her own lifestyle and fashion site, Style Cusp, and she’s currently able to travel to different international destinations and boast impressive brand collaborations.
She features many different types of content on her Instagram, including shopping finds, healthy living, travel, family life, and more. She started her blog in 2010 to share her hobbies and interests and expanded Style Cusp after 6 years, making it her full-time job.
Her Instagram aesthetic is very calming and neutral and features many photos of her showing off fashionable outfits or enjoying time at the beach. She’s still based in CT and has an estimated net worth of $2 million.
33. Andrea Russett (Indiana)
In 2009 Andrea Russett went viral for the first time with a music video she created for a chance to meet Justin Bieber. She became an internet sensation and her YouTube channel has almost 3 million followers— 2.93m to be exact.
She shares a variety of different types of YouTube content, featuring her doing different activities while under the influence of marijuana, writing music, cooking, and more.
On Instagram, she has 4.8 million followers and is recently promoting her single, Freezing, as she is venturing into music. On her Instagram, she has a combination of fashion features, videos, music, and other content that maintains her status as a social media celeb.
She was also in the 2014 film Expelled and is known for being a nighttime radio DJ in Fort Wayne, Indiana, making her the youngest nationally-syndicated radio host in the US. Her net worth is currently estimated at $2 million.
34. Iesha Marie (Florida)
Iesha Marie is a Puerto Rican Instagram star that gained fame on Instagram as a cover and bikini model, raking in 506k Instagram followers. Before she became famed for her modeling work, she was a bartender in Miami, Florida.
She was also popular in the urban and hip-hop scene, becoming known for her lead role in the music video ‘Let’s Talk’ by Omarion. She’s also been featured on Mixed magazine and in the HBO series Ballers.
Iesha is only 25 years old and continues to build her modeling career and expand her prospects to OnlyFans. She has a current net worth of roughly $1 million to $5 million.
35. Jailyn Savage (Georgia)
Jailyn classifies her Instagram profile as Entrepreneur and has 412k Instagram followers to share her content to. She’s currently managed by Onyx Agency PR and also has her own hair collection available on her website Shop Jai Savage where she and others model different hairpieces and weaves.
She’s branded her followers as the Jai Mafia and appreciates them for their support. She first became notable on social media in 2015 when she created her YouTube channel that december. She’s been sharing lifestyle and modeling photos via Instagram since 2017. She’s currently 20 years old, based in Atlanta, and has an estimated net worth of $1m to 5m.
36. Tammy Rivera Malphurs (Virginia)
The well-known fiance of Waka Flocka Flame, she was a former cast member of the VH1 reality TV show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta. She has over 7 million Instagram followers and has her own video features with Waka on @wetv called Waka&TammyWTF.
Her Instagram features many photos of her modeling different clothes as well as prompting her music ventures. She has released a variety of hit singles and released her EP in 2018. Currently, she is still releasing music and is also known as a fashion designer and a businesswoman with her swimwear line called T-Rivera.
37. Blac Chyna (Maryland)
Blac Chyna, also known as Angela Renée White, has become a huge social media celebrity, American model, music video artist, socialite, and entrepreneur. She currently holds 16.1 million followers on Instagram and is still going strong. She first became famous when she was 18 after being a dancer.
Drake mentioned her name in his 2010 song Miss Me, and she began to gain traction. She boosted her follower count that same year into the millions and landed the stunt double role of Nicki Minaj for the music video Monster, featuring Rick Ross and Jay-Z.
She has posed for magazines like Dime-Piece Magazine, XXL Magazine, Urban Ink, and more. She starred in the film DGK and was also named in a song by Nicki Minaj called 2 Chainz.
Blac Chyna has ventured into her own businesses and now has her own makeup brand, Lashed by Blac Chyna, has modeled many pieces for the famed FashionNova brand, and also opened a beauty salon in Encino, Los Angeles. She’s currently worth an estimated $4 million.
38. Loren Gray (Pennsylvania)
An internet personality and American singer, Loren Gray has a huge following on Instagram with 21.8 million followers. SHe is not simply a model but also a music creator. Her Instagram features many different shots of her with fashionable looks.
She’s even more popular on TikTok with about 40 million followers. She is only 19 years old. She was bullied in school for the attention that she was gaining on social media, but she didn’t stop and continued to build her followers across all networks.
Loren is also popular on YouTube, with 3.83 million subscribers, as well as Twitter, with 1.3 million. She’s a signed singer with Virgin Records and Capital records, also appearing in the 2020 Taylor Swift music video The Man.
Her estimated net worth is currently at $3 million.
39. Katie Guevarra (Delaware)
Katie Guevarra is a social media and marketing professional, model, and the owner of KG Beauty. She was crowned Miss Delaware USA 2020 and continues to share her beauty-related content on her Instagram account to 4,051 followers.
Katie travels to share different content as well and promote evening wear brands, Jovani Fashions and JVN by Jovani, as well as her own beauty products on Instagram. Katie used to have a blog where she shared her opinions about topics and products she loved related to beauty, but she’s since closed that and focused her efforts more on her beauty brand.
40. Robert Scott Wilson (Massachusetts)
An American model and actor best known for his role on Days of Our Lives, Robert Scott wilson has a net worth of a solid $3 million and has about 110k followers On Instagram. He typically posts fashion shots, glamor shots, and shares some of his acting work on the platform.
He’s known as the first male model on the famed game show The Price is Right in 2012. He’s also appeared in other TV series such as Entourage, Melissa and Joey, Suite Life on Deck, Make it or Break it, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and more. He’s also been in a handful of music videos and appeared in films like Bride Wars, Friends with Benefits, and the Social Network.
41. Maggie Keating (Maine)
A professional fashion model and photographer, Maggie Keating is currently based in NYC and LA but comes from Maine. She currently has 112k Instagram followers and shares her photos on a second Instagram account @photosbymagz_ as well as photos of her dog at @everydaywithollie.
Her content is mainly focused on lifestyle and fashion posts with a neutral aesthetic. She gained notoriety in the community after she appeared on America’s Next Top Model on VH1 during cycle 24. She’s currently worth between $1 million to $5 million.
42. Sandra Shehab (New Jersey)
Sandra Shehab also appeared on America’s Next Top Model cycle 24 and has since become a popular Instagram star. The striking beauty of the US-Egyptian model definitely sets her apart from the crowd.
She’s inspired many women in the Arab community since her appearance on ANTM due to her stellar representation of the community on the show. She continues to serve up fierce looks to her 379k Instagram followers as well as fashion, beauty, and skincare tips via her website. Her net worth is said to be between $1 million to $5 million.
43. Rickey Thompson (North Carolina)
Rickey Thompson is an Instagram model and YouTube star with over 1 million subscribers. His Instagram fan base is roughly 5.5 million followers strong. He is an actor, model, and YouTuber that likes to make people laugh and is always creating engaging content as well as fashionable model shots.
He became even more popular after starring in the Awesomeness TV web series called Foursome in 2016. He’s without a doubt one of the wealthiest YouTube stars in North Carolina and is estimated to have a net worth ranging from $1 million to $5 million.
44. Olivia Culpo (Rhode Island)
Olivia Culpo holds a previous Miss Universe title and also owns a restaurant in addition to playing the cello. She was recognized on the Maxim hot 100 list in 2019 and has 4.9 million Instagram followers.
Her Instagram is full of fashion shots and features of her in beautiful locations. She’s worked with notable brands such as Cartier and L’Oreal. She’s frequently photographed at high-profile events such as fashion shows and the MET Gala. Culpo’s net worth is currently $7 million.
45. Anok Yai (New Hampshire)
Anok Yai is a social media superstar and a top Instagram model with 540k Instagram followers. She’s an American-Sudanese model and well known for being the second black model and first Sudanese model to open a Prada show, the first black model opener being Naomi Campbell.
She’s currently ranked as one of the top 50 models by models.com. She began her career with some simple photos a professional photographer asked to take of her at Howard University in October 2017.
He posted the photo on social media and it got a whopping 20k likes. Modeling agencies took notice and she was contacted by many, including IMG Models. She ultimately signed with Next Model Management.
It wasn’t long before Anok became one of the most desired Instagram top models. She’s appeared in a variety of high=profile campaigns, including Prada SS 2018 campaign and the Nike campaign designed by Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy. She’s also become the spokesmodel for Estee Lauder. She’s estimated to be worth roughly $2-$3 MILLION.
46. Madison Headrick (South Carolina)
A fashion model with representation in NY, LA, Paris, and London, Madison is a proud native of South Carolina and has grown her Instagram following to 535k as one of the top Instagram models to date.
GQ described her Instagram feed as “one long summer party” due to its fun nature and positive energy. She began modeling at age 16 with a banging debut as a Prada executive in addition to a campaign shoot by Steven Meisel.
She’s since appeared in ads for big brands like Vera Wang, Rag & Bone, Hugo Boss, Max Mara, Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, and more. Other high-profile appearances include editorials like Vogue Mexico, Vogue Spain, Vogue Paris, Playboy, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her net worth is estimated at $1 million to $5 million.
47. Halle Berry (Ohio)
Halle Berry is one of the best-known names in show business and was the first black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress, which she did for Monster’s Ball. She started her career as a pageant girl in 1986 but ultimately got into acting in the 90s. She’s been in very high-profile films and is recognized as one of the most beautiful and graceful stars and models.
Berry created her own fragrance called Halle in 2009 and later launched her own lingerie line in 2014, which she called Scandale Paris and sold in Target Stores. She has 7 million followers on Instagram and is estimated to be worth between $70 million to $80 million.
48. Haley Holloway (West Virginia)
Haley Holloway is not just a top Instagram model but is also the owner of an athletics brand as well as a photography company. She’s also represented by EWH Management. Holloway comes from a background of pageants as well, winning Miss West Virginia Teen USA in 2013, Winning Miss West Virginia USA 2019, and gaining 2nd-runner-up of Miss Teen USA 2013.
She gained followers on Instagram for her prestigious time in pageants as well as her HSA aesthetics line, which she launched with her sisters in 2019. Haley has 4,502 Instagram followers and is currently based in Baltimore but goes between Philly and NYC as well.
49. Riley Montana (Michigan)
Born in Detroit, Riley Montana holds a nursing degree and worked at a variety of common places such as Sprint, Popeye’s, Claire’s and RadioShack. She then decided to visit L.A. models and train for 6 months to find a different path in life. She moved to New York and was then signed by NY Model Management. That sealed the deal.
Montana was cast by Creative Designer Riccardo Tisci in Givenchy’s spring campaign and pre-fall lookbook. He was invested in her and her story. She’s gone on to work with editorials like Vogue Paris, Harper’s Bazaar U.K., CR Fashion Book, and more. She currently has 226k followers on Instagram and an estimated net worth of $1 million to $5 million as one of the top Instagram models.
50. Rain Dove (Vermont)
A popular androgynous model, activist, and actor, Dove has become a top Instagram model for his work posting as male and female in photoshoots, runway shows, and productions. Dove was challenged by a friend to pose in a Calvin Klein casting for male underwear. It was after this show that execs began to seek Dove for modeling work and has since walked at NYFW in both men’s and women’s runway shows.
Dove has a strong Instagram presence of 438k followers and is a Milan Fashion Week Ambassador with an estimated net worth of $3 million.
Final Thoughts: Who’s Your Favorite Instagram Model?
If you’ll notice, all of the top Instagram models are very diverse and have worked on many different types of projects. They also give back to their community in the way of raising awareness or working with campaigns to help social and environmental issues.
All 50 models mentioned on this list are unique and offer their Instagram followers and community something valuable. While they’re not the only models of note on Instagram, you can check out their profiles and find something inspiring for you.
Whether or not you’re a model yourself, looking closely at these top-performing accounts can give you some insight on how to include fashion and other content styles for optimal follower growth and engagement levels!
Which top Instagram was your favorite? Why? Let us know in the comments!