With travel being the main inspiration for many of the state’s Instagram crowd, the last 12 months has been a rocky year for all of them as borders closed and they could only explore their own backyard.

The Mercury has ranked our biggest influencers and what some of them have been up to during the pandemic this year.

11. Stephanie Dalton

Insta handle: stepheats_

Followers: 20.9k

Stephanie Dalton, known to the Instagram world as Stepheats, has an online following of more than 20,000 people, having built a profile posting food pictures.

She said her part-time career as a social media influencer “happened by accident”.

“I was living in Melbourne at the time while at university. I was posting a lot of photos of my lunches and other plates and people seemed to like them,” the 27-year-old said.

“One day I was contacted by a Melbourne restaurant and was asked if I’d like to come in for lunch and then post about it.

“I didn’t realise it was something people did, or could make money doing.”

Ms Dalton said she had earned up to $220 per Instagram feed post or $80 for a story post.

She said a key to attracting a strong following was follower engagement.

“The main points I’ve found work really well are to be passionate about what you’re taking photos of,” she said.

“It’s important that your passion shines through your work, that way your audiences can relate.

“Posting consistently is also important, as is engaging with people who comment and others that have an interest similar to yours.”

10. Judy Watkins

Insta handle: gangstagrandma35

Followers: 37.3k

86-year-old Hobart grandmother Judy Watkins goes by the name of gangstagrandma35 on Instagram, posting adorable updates about her life including catching up with the grandkids or antics in the garden.

9. Meg Jerrard

Insta handle: mappingmegan

Followers: 42.5k

Boasting 42,500 followers, the Southern Tasmania woman has built a fan base around travel photos posted in pristine locations.

“Every time I close my eyes my mind takes me back to Portal Point, Antarctica. It was a truly spectacular spot on the Antarctic Peninsula, and the panoramic views were so pristine it brought me close to tears,” she posted.

“It was our first continental landing on our cruise in 2017.”

8. Bonnie Paine

Insta handle: bon.paine

Followers: 50.3k

The Hobart mum and wife of Australian Test captain, Bonnie has a healthy Instagram following of more than 50,000 users.

Her pictures show a glimpse of her family life, with photos showing less product placement than many other Instagram users with a similar follower base.

7. PAUL FLEMING

Insta handle: lovethywalrus

Followers: 53.8k

Paul is a Tasmanian photographer and writer, who has written a book called ‘PAUSE: A collection of Tasmanian moments’.

6. Jessica Webb

Insta handle: jessiwebb

Followers: 78.2k

The Tasmanian chef has gained a following from thousands of social media users for her food, lifestyle and nature shots.

Her stunning snaps subtly spruik some of her favourite jewellery, food and fashion.

5. CONOR CANNING + MARY VITURINO

Insta handles: conorjcanning and maryviturino18

Followers: Combined 85.5k (Conor 28.8k, Mary 56.7k)

Hobart’s newest power couple, real estate agent Conor entered this year’s Bachelor in Paradise series as a ‘cleanskin’ (someone who had never appeared on a previous Bachelor/Bachelorette series before).

It wasn’t long before he fell for contestant Mary, and Australia soon fell in love with the couple — one of only two couples who still remain together after the show wrapped.

They use Instagram to share updates on their love story, including Mary’s move to Hobart and the news they’re expecting their first child together.

The pair are also sponsored by Hobart Jeep, documenting their travels around Tasmania on their accounts.

4. The Life of Claire

Insta handle: thelifeofclaire_

Followers: 117k

It’s hard not to feel a few twangs of jealousy looking at the beautiful photos on the Insta feed of ‘The Life of Claire’.

“This page is a little piece of me,” Claire writes, with her page all about home styling, fashion, food, exercise, wellness and kindness.

The Tasmanian influencer has a brand partnership with Kmart, often posting images of various Kmart furniture pieces and home decor.

3. Jasmine Maree

Insta handle: jasminemaree

Followers: 145k

The Tasmanian mum’s lifestyle photos shared to Instagram have struck a chord with online users, with 145,000 people following her page.

Posts to her page include photos spruiking the benefits she has found using skin care and swimwear products.

2. Jessie Wynter

Insta handle: jessiereneewynter

Followers: 247k

The 23-year-old Hobart woman who recently moved to Sydney, gained a national following after appearing on reality TV show Love Island in 2019.

She reportedly worked as part of the NSW COVID response unit during the pandemic.

Her booming 245,000 followers puts her as one of the most followed Tasmanian on Instagram.

1. BROOKE SAWARD

Insta handle: worldwanderlust

Followers: 553k

Launceston’s Instagram influencer Brooke Saward was stuck in South Africa during the COVID lockdown, after having moved there last year before the pandemic hit.

In an Instagram post in September, Brooke said she chose to stay in South Africa when borders began closing because she had just met “a South African boy” and they wanted to be together.

“I chose to stay here despite the uncertainty because if I left, I didn’t know when we would see each other again,” she posted.

“Since then, I’ve been questioning my decision. It’s never easy when your life is in two places, let alone your heart. In recent months I’ve been trying to book flights (that have been cancelled) because my visa has expired, I’ve given notice on my lease (ends in 4 weeks) and sold almost all the furniture in our house. Suddenly my life doesn’t feel like it is in two places, instead it feels nowhere. I can’t get back to Australia and I can’t stay in South Africa legally.”