Meet the influencers: How these local content creators help shape and share the Triangle
With a swipe, click or like, it’s never been easier to explore your own backyard with the help of social media.
Fueled by a love for all things local, the Triangle has become home to several influencers in recent years. Between TikTok stars to reigning Instagram royalty, there are dozens of accounts that can show you the best places to eat, shop, travel and explore in North Carolina.
For many of them, they’re aware of the influence they really do have on scores of businesses big and small that can benefit from a social media spotlight.
“I like to use the blog and my social media to help promote local, small business people to help get the word out there,” said John Huisman, known online as Triangle Explorer. “I like to share because I realize not everyone has a big PR budget to get their news out there. I like to keep an eye out for things.”
That was the impetus for some of the influencers on this list who launched their accounts in the pandemic to help struggling businesses. For some, sharing photos and videos of their favorite places can move from side hustle to full-time career, and a lucrative one at that, thanks to paid partnerships and promotions.
Marche Robinson, who left a legal career to be a full-time content creator, said a new year can be a good time to launch a digital presence.
“Just do it. It’s a new year, a fresh start for everyone,” she said. “It’s never a perfect time to start creating content or a side hustle. … You can learn on the way.”
The News & Observer spoke with several Triangle influencers about why they do what they do, and what they’re looking forward to in 2023.
Linda Eats World
The person behind the posts: Linda Nguyen
Where you can find her: @lindaeatsworld on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok
Followers: 15.9K on Instagram, 4.5K on TikTok, 1,840 on Twitter
What she posts: Food, restaurant guides and local businesses
Linda Nguyen is a Triangle transplant with a love for food. Since 2014, she’s been documenting her favorite meals on Instagram and her blog, Girl Eats World. She’s a self-proclaimed “late-bloomer” who found her careers in photography and content creation after a stint working in clinical medical research.
Now, she spends her days taking pictures and writing about locally owned restaurants for her nearly 22,240 followers across several platforms. She juggles her role as a content creator with a job as a part-time portrait photographer.
Whether you’re looking for gas station sushi, the best dim sum spot in town or a plate of mouth-watering Mexican comfort food, Nguyen is happy to guide you through the Triangle with the bubbly kindness of your favorite older cousin.
“When you help a small business owner, you actually touch their lives,” Nguyen said.
While she focuses on her home in the Triangle, you might find posts from her travels around the country, including Texas, where she moved from. There’s often a common theme to where she visits.
“Celebrate the places that aren’t very shiny,” she said.
Outlook for 2023: Nguyen hopes to travel internationally and plans to continue supporting local businesses owned by people of color.
Raleigh Food Trap
The people behind the posts: Briana and Roger Kornegay
Where you can find them: @raleighfoodtrap on Instagram and TikTok
Followers: 76.1K on Instagram, 105.8K on TikTok
What they post: Family-oriented dining, small businesses
Briana and Roger Kornegay, the dynamic married duo behind Raleigh FoodTrap, have made a name for themselves with mouth-watering, crave-worthy photos and videos of food on their social media accounts.
With lively followings on Instagram and TikTok, Raleigh FoodTrap showcases the Triangle’s most appetizing and visually appealing foods, often arranged exquisitely for photos.
Raleigh FoodTrap was born at the start of the pandemic. Roger, laid off in 2020 from his job as a Yelp social media manager, set out to create a platform with his wife to support local businesses.
“We were trying to ‘thirst trap’ people with food,” said Roger, referring to the term for flirty social media photos.
“What we decided to do differently from all the other food bloggers in the area was that I wanted to show a lot of food in the pictures and the videos … so we weren’t showing one hamburger,” he said. “I wanted to show three hamburgers stacked on top of each other. You know, we had to melt cheese between each patty. We would go to the restaurant and start really playing with the food and having fun with it.”
Briana is the “face of the brand” and Roger is the “creative” behind the camera.
Almost three years after starting as a small food blog, Raleigh FoodTrap partners with several restaurants and businesses and enjoys a loyal following of “TrapStars” who are often asked to enter online giveaways from local Triangle eateries.
Outlook for 2023: The Kornegays plan to debut new content for Triangle parents with small children — like themselves — on where to eat, travel, play and more.
Marche Robinson
The person behind the posts: Marche Robinson
Where you can find her: @marcherobinson on Instagram and TikTok or therobinsonstyle.com
Followers: 140K on Instagram, 86.4K on TikTok
What she posts: Fashion, beauty, travel and interior design
Marche Robinson’s venture into digital content creation began with a blog — and a job as a corporate attorney.
Robinson, a Greensboro native, has always loved all things fashion and beauty. In the mid-2000s, when fashion bloggers and vloggers were just gaining popularity, friends and family encouraged her to start her own outlet to share things she liked.
“When I was a kid, if you’d think about jobs in fashion, you’d think about a model or a fashion designer,” said Robinson, 37. “I think the great thing about digital content creation and social media and the internet is that you can create your own lane within an industry you like.”
In 2011, Robinson launched her blog, now known as The Robinson Style, with images from fashion shows or designs she liked. A year later, she got a digital camera, and her younger brother photographed her wearing outfits she wanted to share.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Robinson made the switch from a legal career working with a clinical research organization to a full-time digital content creator.
It was a leap of faith for Robinson. But by that time, online users were seeking new content. And with a father who had started his own business venture, Robinson felt she had the skills, and calling, to be an entrepreneur.
“I see myself doing so many different things,” she said. “I never would have thought in 2011 starting a Blogspot blog would become what it has, and it’s completely changed my life.”
Outlook for 2023: Last year, Robinson launched a vegan and cruelty-free hair care line, Isaline Beauty, and transformed a childhood home with her husband, Michael, into a wedding venue. The Newell House in Pleasant Garden, a town in Guilford County, is now taking bookings. She plans to build those businesses and her video content this year.
Magnolia Megan
The people behind the posts: Megan and Matt Pintell
Where you can find her: @magnoliamegan on Instagram and TikTok
Followers: 73.3K on Instagram, 45.5K on TikTok
What she posts: Fashion, style, food, restaurants, real estate, lifestyle
Magnolia Megan is an account by Triangle newcomers for other transplants. Megan Pintell, known as Magnolia Megan online, has called the Triangle home for just over a year. Her accounts are brimming with magazine-worthy photo shoots, delicious foods and beautifully designed restaurants. Although Pintell is the face of the account, her husband, Matt Pintell, recently left his job to be Megan’s full-time cameraman, content editor and business partner.
“The area felt like it really fit for both of us,” Megan said.
Talking with the Pintells is like chatting with the young, charming couple in your apartment building who is always hosting a dinner party. Together, they create online content and navigate life as newlyweds in their new home in North Carolina. In conjunction with their online presence, their company Magnolia Media hosts in-person events that seek to bring natives and newcomers together under the roofs of local businesses.
Outlook for 2023: The Pintells have a goal of increasing their following on Instagram to 100,000. They are also planning more ticketed, in-person events, partnerships with apartment complexes and in-state travel opportunities.
“We really enjoy just bringing people together,” Matt said.
Triangle Explorer
The person behind the posts: John Huisman
Where you can find him: @triangleexplorer on Instagram and Twitter; triangleexplorer.com
Followers: 24.3K on Instagram, 21.1K on Twitter
What he posts: Things to do in the Triangle, restaurants, entertainment and arts
John Huisman, 48, known as Triangle Explorer, and his wife moved to Raleigh 17 years ago to start a job with the state Department of Environmental Quality. Huisman (pronounced Heisman) began his blog 10 years ago as a creative outlet for his love of photography, writing and traveling.
“I just had a digital camera that I carried around and I would just like to take photos of interesting places that I came across or interesting restaurants,” he said.
When Huisman joined Facebook in 2009, he would flood his timeline with all the pictures he took. Soon, he decided to move the photos to a blog where people could opt-in to see the content instead of inundating everyone, he said.
“It really started out as a way to share pictures of things as I was traveling around,” he said. “Part of it was with my work. Back then I played music with a band in Durham and we would go to lots of different cool venues and restaurants. I was more of a blogger of opportunity.”
Now, with over 45,400 followers on Instagram and Twitter, Huisman is one of the go-to people in the Triangle for those looking for things to do, food to eat or places to visit. His niche is visiting local coffee shops, trails, food trucks and breweries in the area, and he’s a supporter of Raleigh’s annual sunflower fields at Dix Park.
New local businesses also get highlighted, which helps attract more customers. Huisman has a small business background; his family owns a wedding reception hall in New Jersey.
“I think part of this, you’re constantly keeping yourself in check and making sure what you’re sharing aligns with what you value,” he said. “It’s always about getting back to what interests me and what I feel good about sharing.”
Outlook for 2023: Huisman is always looking for ways to improve his content. He plans to revisit some of his favorite spots around the Triangle this year to see how they’re doing or what’s new, since so much has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
That Vegetarian Couple
The people behind the posts: Sree Pattabiraman and Sriram Sridhar
Where you can find them: @thatvegetariancouple on Instagram or thatvegetariancouple.com
Followers: 6.2K on Instagram
What they post: Vegetarian and vegan food, Asian restaurants
If you’re on the fence about trying to eat less meat, this aptly-named food blog and Instagram might convince you to do so.
As lifelong vegetarians, Sree Pattabiraman and her husband, Sriram Sridhar, of Apex focus on finding the best vegetarian and vegan food the Triangle has to offer.
“We have a lot of friends who are also vegetarian or vegan who would always ask us for recommendations, and ask ‘Where do we go and get good vegetarian food?’” Sridhar said.
In the roughly six years of running That Vegetarian Couple, they’ve seen vegetarianism and veganism grow locally, especially in local restaurants’ menu options, helping them diversify palates and plates alike.
Their passion for exploring different vegetarian cuisines has taken them to the Fearrington House Inn in Pittsboro and Herons, the restaurant of Cary’s Umstead Hotel and Spa.
They also highlight tasty vegetarian options at beloved local spots like Poole’side Pies in Raleigh and the best foods from their native India that can be found in Morrisville.
Vegetarian options for romantic date nights, brunches or fine dining are limitless in North Carolina, they say.
“Even our friends who eat meat who want to try vegetarian food, they also benefit from the information that we share,” said Pattabiraman.
Outlook for 2023: As they ring in the new year with a newborn baby, the couple hopes to highlight vegetarian options at home and at restaurants that are kid-friendly and viable for raising children with more veggie-based options.
Joy Eats World
The person behind the posts: Joy Caracciolo
Where you can find her: @joyeatsworld22 on Instagram, @joyeatsworld on TikTok
Followers: 21.4K on Instagram, 30.8K on TikTok
What she posts: Local Black-owned restaurants, indulgent foods and desserts
Joy Eats World is a food blog run by one of the Triangle’s most formidable foodies, and it’s a one-woman show.
Passionate about local restaurants and boasting two degrees as a public relations professional, Joy Caracciolo launched Joy Eats World to chronicle the tales of a woman on a self-described “Eat, Slay, Love” journey.
Caracciolo began posting about her visits to local restaurants in 2020 to shine a spotlight on local businesses trying to stay afloat during the start of the pandemic.
Many of the tasty treats featured on Caracciolo’s food blog emphasize local Black and Latino-owned businesses, including a round-up of local Black woman-owned businesses during Women’s History Month.
“My main focus is local, and particularly minority-owned businesses,” Caracciolo said. “That’s the restaurants that I really want to put an emphasis on.”
The work has paid off, with restaurant owners telling her that her TikToks or Instagram reels brought them new customers, she said.
Scroll too long on her Instagram and your mouth might water seeing the indulgent dishes and desserts.
Joy Eats World also features food true to her Caribbean roots, such as Jamaican food from Levy’s Jerkstand in Knightdale and Golden Krust in Garner.
Outlook for 2023: Caracciolo plans to post more about the Black Farmers Market, held twice a month, and its vendors. Future YouTube videos also aren’t out of the question.
Everyday Food & Fun
The people behind the posts: Reko and Nyema Daye
Where you can find him: @everydayfoodandfun on TikTok and Instagram
Followers: 5K on TikTok, 580 on Instagram
What they post: Date night ideas, entertainment, local food, just for fun
The title is self-explanatory. Keeping it simple and pragmatic for a wide range of audiences, Wendell-based Reko Daye and his wife, Nyema, will show you around the Triangle.
Reko Daye, a photographer and videographer, uses his skills and know-how to produce an array of expertly edited videos of the places he and Nyema like to visit for date night, chill vibes or good eating in the Triangle’s smaller towns.
Everyday Food & Fun began just for fun in the summer of 2021. Daye said it continues to be that way so it’s “not too daunting.”
The majority of their small but faithful social media following is on TikTok, where Daye’s tips on the “smooth movie spots” near Raleigh got considerable attention.
“We’re just making sure that we’re able to share with (audiences) clearly… to make it as simple as possible for people to see stuff, know what to do, so they can go out and enjoy the same way we do,” Daye said.
Whether it’s the eastern Wake County towns of Knightdale and Wendell to his hometown of Durham, Everyday Food & Fun is an accessible resource for finding good times, without having to go very far.
Outlook for 2023: As the Dayes welcome a new child in the new year, Everyday Food & Fun plans to make more family-friendly content with recommendations for families with children.
Who else are we following?
When it comes to food bloggers, YouTubers, TikTokers and social media stars — all of which can fall under the “influencer” umbrella — North Carolina has got it all.
While many end up with a national platform, several enjoy sharing everything local — the things they love about the place they call home.
RaleighWhatsUp
Where to find her: @raleighwhatsup on social media or raleighwhatsup.com
Want to know what’s up in Raleigh for the weekend? RaleighWhatsUp is dedicated to helping people in and around the City of Oaks find out where they can shop, eat and drink locally. Chana Lynn, who moved to Raleigh over 20 years ago, runs RaleighWhatsUp and profiles small businesses, events, restaurants, hotels and more. Lynn posts on her blog, but mainly shares Instagram photos of sights and vignettes across the Triangle.
RaleighWhatsUp also offers a guide to Raleigh with information on local podcasts, exhibits at the North Carolina Museum of Art and a curated gift guide with suggestions for items that can be bought at local shops.
One Street City
Where to find him: @onestreetcity on Instagram and Twitter or onestreetcity.com
Photographer Ben Harris decided to document the underappreciated Oak City thoroughfare of Capital Boulevard as part of a two-year project. The result is One Street City, an Instagram account that shows the grittier side of Raleigh, in all of its aging, imperfect glory. Harris chronicles working class communities, picturesque aging structures, immigrant-owned businesses and low-cost motels, showing that everyday beauty shouldn’t be taken for granted.
NC Rabbit Hole
Where to find him: @deftlyinane on Twitter or @jmarkovich on Instagram
Jeremy Markovich, an award-winning journalist, runs a Substack newsletter titled NC Rabbit Hole, whose subscribers are invited to “get lost in the strange minutiae of the best state in the country.” And readers can certainly get lost as Markovich takes readers on journeys through the bizarre and wonderful stories of North Carolina.
The newsletter, along with his accompanying social media accounts, delves into oddities and quirky stories. Learn why Steven Spielberg wore a North Carolina State Highway Patrol hat while he directed an Indiana Jones movie.
Of interest to the Triangle, Markovich interviewed so-called “Drunktown Guy,” the man who unknowingly became part of an infamous full-page ad attacking a city council proposal on liquor laws.
MealsSheEats
Where to find them: @mealssheeats on Instagram or @rachsullivan__ on TikTok
With over 2.6 million followers across their social media accounts, Raleigh-based Rachael and Tom Sullivan, who run @MealsSheEats, have gained popularity with their focus on healthy eating. The account started as a way for Tom Sullivan to share recipes with others dealing with fertility challenges, showing the meals he cooked for Rachael, who sought to use diet to treat a syndrome that affects fertility.
Their online following grew as Tom shared videos of the healthy dishes he made for Rachael and the meals they made for local college students. The couple welcomed a baby girl last year.
Sideshow Panda
Where to find it: @sideshowpanda on Instagram
Take a tour around the Triangle and the state with a panda about town. Since 2017, Sideshow Panda has developed an Instagram following from a carefully curated collection of portraits of a person in a panda costume, well, just standing there. Sideshow Panda stands for pictures all around the state, showcasing Wilmington’s beaches, Greensboro’s street art, the extravagantly scary decorations in Raleigh’s historic Oakwood neighborhood each Halloween and more.
Saxsquatch
Where to find him: @saxsquatch on social media or saxsquatch.com
If you’re not wise to the mythical saxophone-playing sensation that has taken the internet by storm, perhaps you could ask someone who has seen Saxquatch performing on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill. The soulful ape-man (as described by The News & Observer) has 1.7 million TikTok followers, thousands more on YouTube and Instagram, and has performed on Jimmy Fallon’s “That’s My Jam” show.
Sensei Seth
Where to find him: @SenseiSeth on YouTube, @sensei_seth on Instagram or senseiseth.com
Seth Adams is a Triangle-based third-degree black belt karate instructor who teaches at 36 Chambers, a martial arts academy in Holly Springs. He’s also one of the top martial arts YouTubers in the country.
Known to his 282,000 YouTube subscribers and 68,000 Instagram followers as Sensei Seth, he teaches martial arts styles from around the world in an accessible and friendly way. Sensei Seth offers a range of influencer-esque videos on diverse types of martial arts in which he himself is the student learning alongside his viewers. He ranks different fighting styles by trying them himself, explores questions of self-defense and shows you how to train like Jean Claude Van Damme or Bruce Lee.
Get to know the Triangle and NC
The following influencers and social media accounts offer a sense of place. Together, they showcase the state’s diversity on and offline, with North Carolina being their unifying common factor.
▪ NC Tripping, @nctripping on social media or nctripping.com: Triangle couple Carl Hedinger and Chrstina Riley have lived in North Carolina for six years, criss-crossing the state dozens of times. Go to their website or social media for travel guides on everything from ski resorts to “ridiculously unique” rentals to the best places to hike, eat and visit. Not sure where to start? Check out their NC Bucket List of over 100 unique things to do in North Carolina.
▪ This is Raleigh, @thisisraleigh on social media or thisisraleigh.com: Caroline and Craig Makepeace, originally from Australia, have traveled the world and offer gobs of travel resources at their website, ytravelblog.com. But they loved visiting Raleigh and decided to make it home in 2004. In 2020, they launched a blog and social media accounts to share their family adventures, neighborhood guides and best-of lists to pretty much everything you’d want to do in the Triangle.
▪ Jess & Skyler, @jessandskyler on TikTok: Jess and Skyler McVee share their daily adventures with their toddler and product recommendations on their family TikTok and individual social media accounts. They’ve accumulated a following, thanks to their down-to-earth personalities and discussions of mental health and parenting, not to mention videos of their adorable kid.
▪ Xavier Sims, @thexaviersims on TikTok: This Gen-Z TikToker and East Carolina University student is North Carolina’s unofficial and unorthodox historian and tour guide. He’s generated a loyal following with TikToks tailored specifically to North Carolina residents, including well-researched oral histories of Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh and the “unwritten rules” of the state’s biggest cities.
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Meet the influencers: How these local content creators help shape and share the Triangle."
