Five social media influencers giving the deaf community a platform

Following World Hearing Day, meet the deaf social media influencers highlighting disability rights and giving the deaf community a platform to stand on

Ms. Deaf Queen

Ms. Deaf Queen loves creating skits for her followers. Image credit: Ms. Deaf Queen

“The expectation of a positive outcome is what keeps you going,” says Ms. Deaf Queen, an American comedian. Through humorous captioned skits on her Instagram, she breaks down the stigma of being deaf, encouraging her followers to be seen, not ignored.

Jazzy

Jazzy Whipps wants to normalise life for deaf teenagers. Image credit: Jazzy Whipps

UK YouTuber Jazzy started her channel to show her deaf audience they aren’t alone. Through BSL videos on getting employed as a young deaf person and raising deaf children, she normalises the daily life of a deaf young woman.

Eloise Garland

Eloise Garland teaching a deaf class to play the violin. Image credit: Eloise Garland’s website

Deaf awareness campaigner Eloise Garland coordinates music lessons for deaf children in UK schools. She hopes to create a platform for young deaf musicians to popularise their music in mainstream culture.

Scarlet Watters

Scarlet Watters in a bold outfit. Image credit: @scarlet_may.1

TikToker Scarlet Watters uses trending sounds to showcase what it’s like to be deaf. Her silent video “Deaf Ears in a Hearing World” broke the internet in November 2020, with comments like: “This silence was LOUD.”

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard and her partner are expecting. Image credit: @jessicaoutofthecloset

Jessica Kellgren-Fozard is a deaf and LGBTQ+ advocate. Boasting 837,000 followers, her YouTube educates people on ableism, among other social prejudices. She recently described the way society accepts her being gay, but overlooks her disability.