Freshen up your feed with these fun and talented locals

Looking for accounts to freshen up your feed? Look no further than our list of locals who offer something fun and a bit different from the otherworld of the ’gram.

It’s time to step away from the glossy feed of South Australia’s Instagram mainstays, and discover the quirky, weird and wonderful influencers whose social media presence is not yet as ubiquitous.

Not everyone sees influencers in a positive light, with reporter and columnist Nathan Davies arguing the rise of the travelling influencer is wrecking SA’s best holiday spots.

But each of these SA locals uses their platforms to create, inspire, and spread joy to their audiences and have gained quite a bit of attention for it.

Here’s a selection of who to follow next.

Rhea Ripley

Handle: @rhearipley_wwe

Followers: 1.3m

WWE RAW Superstar, Rhea Ripley (real name Demi Bennett), hails from SA and has made it big in the wrestling world. The 25 year old is best known for her goth wrestling persona as well as being the first female Australian champion in WWE history. From all that, we can certainly say that Rhea is one tough cookie to follow.

Squid the Griff

Handle:@squidthegriff

Followers: 388k

Who would have thought – a dog called Squid. Squid, a brussels griffon, no doubt gained his following from his unique face and hilarious, hearty beard. Squid and his brother, Pretzel, will add some sassy side eyes and costume antics to any Instagram feed.

Holly Geyer

Handle: @holly_geyer_artist

Followers: 3.5k

Holly Geyer sees the world as a giant colouring-in book according to her bio. The mural artist, most recent project @toilet_door_mission, transforms blank toilet blocks across the state into works of art. So far some of her unique canvases have included SA primary school loos.

Mermaid Wife

Handle: @mermaidwife

Followers: 17.1k

Amy-Lee is the Little Mermaid in real life. The Mermaid Wife’s aesthetically pleasing and colourful posts lead us to believe Ariel herself may be behind the account. The ’grammer brightens up SA with her fun, bubbly pics and shows off the best the state has to offer.

I am Mr Luke

Handle: @iam.mrluke

Followers: 98.1k

He describes himself as a teacher and a plant lover but with more than 98k followers on Instagram and a whopping 800k on TikTok, Mr Luke knows his way around more than just a classroom and a Bunnings store. The Adelaide educator shares snippets of all the wholesome things his tiny humans say.

Mrs Sunshine Loves

Handle: @mrssunshineloves

Followers: 4.8k

Insta star Amy is sunshine embodied into a person and has a gorgeous store to match. Mrs Sunshine Loves has been dubbed “the world’s cutest store” and it certainly lives up to the title. Located at 16 Rosa St in Goodwood, the small store is jam packed with gift ideas, accessories, fun crockery and more. Even better, Amy is accompanied at the store by her two beautiful bassett hounds Pippi and Nellie.

Sarah K Tattoo

Handle: @sarahktattoo

Followers: 81.5k

Let your Disney dreams come alive with this artist’s intricate and colourful tattoos. With a huge following, Sarah is beloved within the Adelaide tattoo community. Specialising in pop art, pop culture, retro and Disney themed ink, there’s no doubt that a visit to her studio will ignite your inner child.

When in Stout

Handle: @whenin_stout

Followers: 2.3k

An English-born, South Aussie-based gal who taste tests craft beer and then posts about it. Hannah is obsessed with stouts and IPAs, and we welcome her beverage suggestions any day of the week. It looks like she’s tried every concoction brewers have brewed up – from Easter egg to jam doughnut beer.

Matt Collins

Handle: @mattyctattoo

Followers: 12.7k

Another South Australian ink master. Specialising in Japanese tattooing, Matty Collins’ work is intricate, colourful … and usually huge! Be warned his pieces are not for the faint hearted but even those who can’t handle in the needle can appreciate his Insta feed.

Ear Candy

Handle: @earcandyyx

Followers: 9.6k

Ear Candy sells sweet and colourful clay accessories made right here in SA. Nikkita, the artist behind the brand, pairs her creations with colour-co-ordinated outfits, making getting ready a breeze. Her earring designs are cute and playful, there’s anything from strawberries to T-rex on a skateboard.

Taryn Brumfitt

Handle: @bodyimagemovement

Followers: 112k

Reading Taryn Brumfitt’s bio makes you think: “is there anything this woman can’t do?” The director of Netflix body-positive documentary ‘Embrace’, is also three time best selling author, and a keynote speaker. She’s all for learning to love yourself and your body one step at a time.

Mali Isabel

Handle: @maliisabelart

Followers: 15.5k

Indigenous artist Mali Isabel has a clear love of rainbows. Her dot paintings are a burst of colour and have been featured in the Adelaide Fringe and on Pirate Life Brewing beer packaging. If checking out her work on the ’gram isn’t enough you can see it in person at her exhibition at Tandanya until June 18.

James Smith

Handel: @thewalkingcreative

Followers: 3.2k

James Smith is a mural artist and displays his colourful works across Adelaide. His works have an 80s/90s vibe and are a vision of summer and fun. Recently he’s been experimenting working with different surfaces of all shapes and sizes, coming up with eccentric pieces with more than just one pop of colour.

Storytellers Workshop

Handle: @storytellersworkshop

Followers: 9.5k

Hannah and Branko are vintage and colour lovers. Through their account Storytellers Workshop they are documenting the renovation of their 1970s home, and it is a delight to witness. Showing off their retro pastel sitting room, their perfectly tiled laundry and their cosy fireplace, they offer a tonne of inspiration for those creating their dream home.

Chris and Emily Shipway

Headline: @atlenswoodpickyourown

Followers: 1.7k

ICU nurses Chris and Emily Shipway are two who ditched the scrubs for picking apples. Now farmers, the duo have turned their orchard into a “Pick Your Own” tourist spot in Lenswood.

Bob + Frank

Handle: @bobnfrank

Followers: 14.1k

Looking for a hobby? Look no further than Bob + Frank! Businesswoman Marie offers online courses teaching how to create resin art masterpieces as well as DIY resin kits. She’ll show you how to make whatever you’d like – earrings, bangles, ring holders.

Phi Theodoros

Handle: @ukuleledreamgirladl

Followers: 1.1k

Phi Theodoros shares her stories through her colourful collection of ukuleles. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Phi created the Self Isolation Songbook, a cabaret production that brought light to the darkness of lockdowns. Phi holds ukulele workshops and makes music to share stories and shift stigmas.

New Style Chapters

Handle: @newstylechapters

Followers: 21.2k

Jacqui is a dream of colour, fun and positivity. She describes herself as a curvy advocate as well as a wife, mother, Oma, and stylist. We love her bright outfits as well as her can-do attitude. Jacqui is a big fan of SA small businesses and often features them in her posts. If you need a pop of colour in your ‘fit, Jacqui is the gal to see!