4 Canadian Creators You Should Follow

With websites, book deals, community clubs and custom merchandise, these next-generation content creators are transcending their pages and feeds to build mass-media empires. They’re redefining the entertainment industry, and they’re doing it on their own terms.

@itslemonwater: Michelle Siman leveraged her loyal Instagram following to launch her first podcast: Lemon Water. Each episode is a collection of conversations with women in the wellness community, acting as what Siman calls “your auditory journal of inspiration.”

@yolanda_gampp: Yolanda Gampp is the Beyoncé of cakes. Gampp works with content creators Connie Contardi and Jocelyn Mercer to collectively run one of the most successful food channels on YouTube—because who doesn’t love watching someone create a toddler-size fidget-spinner cake?

@latoyaforever: LaToya Ali started sharing thoughts and stories with her video camera in 2009. Less than 10 years later, the Toronto native has amassed over 100 million views on her quirky, candid vlogs and published a memoir titled LaToya’s Life: Uncut Mishaps of a YouTube Star.

@laurdiy: Lauren Riihimaki is like any other pink-and brunch-obsessed Toronto millennial—except she has 7.3 million subscribers tuning in to watch her DIY videos. True to her handle, she can craft it all: Starbucks lattes, rose gold appliances, pet costumes and everything else you didn’t think of making yourself.