What it looks like to be an influencer continues to evolve along with social media. Prior to the platforms’ inception and takeover, Coltrane Curtis, the founder of Team Epiphany, was already ahead of the curve on how lucrative influence could be.

The power of Black social media isn’t one to be underestimated. In comparison to their white counterparts, Black women are disproportionately covered in mainstream media when tragedy arises. However, it wasn’t the case for Shanquella Robinson. According to NBC News, Salamondra Robinson, mother of Shanquella, credited Black social media users for spreading the word about her daughter’s passing .