Two Cincinnati natives have topped Rolling Stone's Most Influential Creators of 2026 list.
The list, published Aug. 27, highlighted 25 content creators – such as YouTubers, podcast hosts, fashion creatives and TikTokers. If you're on social media, you've likely come across a few of the people named in Forbes' list, especially the Cincinnati creators.
Here's where the two local internet celebrities ranked in Rolling Stone's Most Influential Creators of 2026 list.
No. 2: Darren Watkins Jr., aka IShowSpeed
Streamer IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Jason Watkins Jr., ranked No. 2 overall, above Hassan Piker, Ms. Rachel and Kai Cenat and below Druski.
"When Darren Jason Watkins Jr. took the stage at the 2026 World Cup closing ceremonies, it seemed like a pinnacle of his meteoric career:
soccer, hip-hop, and being loud and unapologetically himself, all in one place," Rolling Stone wrote.
IShowSpeed, who has an eye-popping 55.4 million Instagram followers and 61 million YouTube subscribers, is best known for his worldwide streaming tours. The camera stays rolling while he meets sports stars, films music videos or is hounded by massive crowds.
Although IShowSpeed got his start by going live while playing Fortnite and NBA2K, the magazine writes that it was his "crash-outs" that led to his social media success.
"When he took his IRL stream on the road — hanging out with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo in Greece, getting lit on fire on a boat in Finland — crowds gathered wherever he was, hoping to get a glimpse. Now 21, the question is where he goes from here," Rolling Stone continued.
No. 7: Mark Fischbach, aka Markiplier
YouTuber and filmmaker Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Fischbach, ranked No. 7 overall, above Quenlin Blackwell, Alix Earle and Jake Shane. He has 12.5 million followers on Instagram and 38.9 million subscribers on YouTube.
According to the magazine, Markiplier got his start making video-game playthroughs on YouTube in 2012. Over a decade later, he released his self-financed film, "Iron Lung," which he wrote and starred in himself. Since its Jan. 30 debut, the film has grossed more than $50 million.
“I’ve already made a dozen dream videos,” he told Rolling Stone. “My selfish thing is that I expect to make more.”
The Enquirer's Kaycee Sloan contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 2 Cincinnatians hit Rolling Stone's 'most influential creators' top 10
