Amid the highs and lows of 2024, Jamaican content creators kept us glued to our screens. Their ability to find humour in life’s challenging moments gave us the laughter and escape we needed to push through the year. Their hilarious skits, memes and dynamic personalities were the gifts that kept giving and for that we can’t wrap up the year without acknowledging them.

Here are Observer Online’s top 10 social media personalities of 2024.

Evert ‘Evy Royal’ Johnson

Evy Royal has had a very successful year for his career and is therefore our top social media personality for 2024. Evy, who comes from humble beginnings in Manchester, has steadily grown his online following, with over 383,300 followers and 15.9 million likes on TikTok alone, in addition to more than 217,000 followers on Instagram. Known for his work as a comedian and actor, Evy was this year announced as one of the fresh faces for the new season of Pitchy Patchy, joining household names like Simone Clarke, Jodian Adria Pantry, and Yendi Phillipps. Evy has become a favourite for his nostalgic content which often captures the essence of rural Jamaican life and culture and takes Jamaicans back to the “good old days”. Additionally, Evy was a guest on Season 10 of Sim Soul Sessions, where he shared the inspiring story of his journey to success.

Jhaedee ‘Jaii Frais’ Richards

Vlogger Jaii Frais has remained consistent through his Let’s Be Honest and Toxic Talk podcasts this year as he continued to successfully grow his brand. Known for his brutally honest perspectives, the content creator had several viral moments for 2024 to include his interview with entertainer Shenseea, his interview with Reggae Boyz’ Leon Bailey, his falling out with co-host Walk and Talk, and his social media clash with the season 2 winner of Social House Tontravels. Jaii Frais, through his content, has mastered capturing the audience’s attention with trending topics, which has seen continued growth across his platforms. On his YouTube channel, Jaii Frais revealed the fruits of his labour in the form of a new 2024 GLE 53 COUPE, a new home valued at US $1 million and many luxury gifts for his girlfriend, Miss Universe Jamaica 2020 Miqueal-Simone Williams. The year has certainly been good to the content creator who has shown that the world of content creation can open the locks of many doors.

Christina ‘Dancing Rebel’ Nelson

Christina Nelson, popularly known as ‘Dancing Rebel’ or simply ‘Rebel’, was first known as a ‘Team Spice’ dancer but her popularity has since skyrocketed and she is now the resident choreographer on the video-based platform TikTok where she creates viral dance challenges, which has caused songs from various artistes to go viral on the platform. Rebel was a favourite as a contestant on season 2 of Social House and she is signed to Romeich Entertainment management. She keeps her Rebel Nation supporters entertained with her antics on social media including her apparent relationship with fellow content creator Swiss Lee, which has caused her popularity to grow even further. She was moved to tears during her birthday party — which was heavily attended — last month as she expressed gratitude for the support she has received over the years.

Swiss Lee

Swiss Lee began his social media career as a comedian doing skits that had viewers cackling with laughter. He was one of a number of comedians who were casted on the reality series 876roommates and, when it ended, he connected with fellow comedians Hauto and World Dawg where they completed TikTok dance challenges and collaborated on comedic skits often involving costumes. The trio has since parted ways and Swiss Lee is now known for hosting TikTok battles and keeping followers engaged with his lives on the platform. His popularity has grown and was put on display in October at his party as it was well attended by scores of people. His alleged relationship with Dancing Rebel has also increased his popularity on social media.

Monae (monae2_talented) Morgan

Monae is a talented actor and comedian known for her humorous skits, which she shares across social media platforms. She first gained attention through Barracks Entertainment’s hit YouTube series Balla, where she plays a character named Kelly, a wheelchair-bound student. Since then, Monae has built her own brand and made a name for herself in the industry. With over 449,000 followers on TikTok and more than 17.8 million likes on her content, Monae has become a social media sensation. It can be debated that she helped to boost the popularity of the song GodFada by dancehall artist Valiant, as a result of the viral dance she choreographed, dubbed “Monae’s Murda Bounce”. In addition to widespread participation from the general public, Monae’s dance challenge also saw the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to have high-profile officials, including the prime minister and the director of public prosecutions, among others, join in on the viral dance.

Jayden (jaydennn.85)

Jayden is a TikToker whose popularity skyrocketed in 2024. Known for consistently ranking as one of the top Jamaican creators on the platform, his following rapidly increased from 100,000 in June to over 329,100 by the end of the year. He has also amassed more than 7.3 million likes on his content. Despite mixed opinions about the use of the TikTok platform by local content creators, Jayden has successfully capitalised on its earning potential, using the slang “Team Beg” as part of his personal brand. In addition to this, he regularly shares humorous skits, often trolling his fellow TikTokers, which has further boosted his appeal.

Bad_Sekki/Active_Kyng

Like most TikTokers, Bad_Sekki/Active_Kyng found an escape providing entertainment to users of the video-based platform during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The TikToker has come a long way since his first post in October of that year which garnered 531 views, 28 likes and two comments. However his affinity with creating comedy based on his job as a security guard and making light of situations, and relevant topics as well as viral sounds and trends on TikTok, he is now one of the most talked about content creators on the platform where he has over 119,000 followers and over 17 million likes accumulated from his overall posts.

Thunda TV

“I’m in Jamaica, where are you,” is the now-familiar sound that thrust Jamaican TikToker Thunda (@ThundaTV) into the spotlight this year as she showed off her enviable mango trees. With consistent posting and a knack for poking Jamaicans’ funny bone, Thunda now sports over 52,000 followers and 2.2 million likes on the social media platform. The major increase happened within the space of a year, making 2024 a dream come true for the young woman. The personality says she is still processing the newfound stardom that landed her the number eight spot on this list.

Daindra Harrison 

It’s all smiles and laughs when it comes to this social media personality. Daindra Harrison has been making waves this year, from relatable and comedic skits on TikTok to first runner-up in Miss Festival Queen, she did it all. Harrison boasts 116,900 followers on TikTok and 61,300 on Instagram. This multi-potentialite secured the title of Miss Kingston and St Andrew Festival Queen and went on to secure second place in the 2024 Miss Festival Queen competition. She maintained her poise and took to the stage again for the new season of Pitchy Patchy where she gave a belly full of laughter. Harrison is also looking to make an impact with her initiative, ‘The Ideal Movement in Performing Arts For Change (IMPAC)’, for which she has collaborated with Teen Hub manager Rory Roberts to make come true. The initiative aims to confront social issues affecting teens today. Harrison’s goal is to use art to create meaningful change.

Cindy “BookOfCinz”

Serving up books and looks, this literature and travel influencer has 49,000 followers hooked onto her brightly coloured Instagram and the engagement to show for it. Cindy, who also appears on TikTok under the handle @bookofcinz, is an ‘OG’ bookstagrammer-turned-travel influencer and one of the first to introduce the #readcaribbean hashtag to the international community encouraging them to spend more money on Caribbean and Jamaican literature. After over six years of instagramming her travel content, backpacking through Europe and exploring Africa and South America catapulted her to new heights in her social media journey earning her the number 10 spot on the list.

Of course, no social media personality list is complete without our honourable mentions whose popularity has begun to grow, and those stalwarts who have remained influential such as Joan Kenzie, Ganjaclauze, Trisanze Trizzy and Rushane ‘Rushcam’ Campbell.