What are Instagram rings? Here are the winners of the creators' “Oscars”
Just ten years ago, the work of an influencer didn’t have clear boundaries. In fact, it wasn’t even considered a real job. Associations like Assoinfluencer, for example, were only added to the MIMIT (Ministry of Enterprises) register starting from 2017/2021, helping to define professional standards and represent the category, giving it legitimacy. The most significant step toward formal recognition of the activity as a “profession” was the introduction of a specific classification code. Until recently, influencers had to use generic ATECO codes (the ISTAT classification of economic activities for tax purposes), such as “Marketing campaign management” or “Advertising campaign design” (e.g., 73.11.02). This year, the new ATECO Code 73.11.03 was introduced, created specifically for “Digital Influencers and Creators” (or the “Creator Economy”). Today, this role is considered on par with that of a film actor — and influencers can now receive official recognition. In recent years, we’ve seen creators being awarded by platforms such as the TikTok Awards or by private initiatives like the Webboh Awards. These are annual rankings compiled with audience participation to crown the best creators in each category, for instance, cooking or lifestyle. Even Instagram decided to create its own version of the “Oscars,” called the Instagram Rings.
How did the Instagram Oscars unfold?
Rings wasn’t created to celebrate one specific type of content, but rather a way of being: a lifestyle. The main focus is the courage to put oneself out there, to share one’s vision with the world, ignoring self-doubt and potential negative feedback. This award is dedicated to “creators who don’t just contribute to culture, but transform it, overcoming any obstacle in the pursuit of their ambitions: because every act of creativity, no matter how big or small, can give life to something wonderful.” To select the winners, a panel of experts was assembled, featuring well-known creatives from around the world. “Fans were able to nominate their favorite creators and vote for those they believed deserved a spot on the final list.” But here’s the exciting part: the winners received both a physical and a digital ring on their Instagram profiles.
The design of the golden ring
Instagram revealed that it collaborated with Grace Wales Bonner - one of the most influential voices in fashion and culture - to design the ring awarded to each winner. It’s a chunky ring featuring a square-cut, mocha-hazelnut-colored stone, with an intricately detailed band. “When we thought about how to bring this idea to life, we wanted the winners to be celebrated in a way that felt uniquely Instagram. We know that a creator’s profile is a meaningful space, a place to show who they are and what they do. That’s why, when the winners post a Story, a special golden ring will appear around their profile picture instead of the usual Story ring,” explained the Instagram team, revealing the additional digital prize.
The list of winners
On October 16, in New York City, the famous award dinner took place in a luxurious venue, as shown in reels uploaded by the @creators account. The event was attended by the 25 winners and the Rings jury. Among those selected were: Futura, Gabriel Moses, Aki and Koichi, Mohammed and Humaid Hadban, Mimi Choi, Golloria, Thalita and Gabriela Zukeram, Dolly Singh, Elyse Myers, Zarna Garg, Katie Krejci, Tyshawn Jones, Nigel Sylvester,Chris Brickley, Ashley Gordon, Laufey, Ari Miller,Sebastian Jern, Cole Bennett, Brian Lindo, Linda Lomelino, lifeonfilm (an account run by Grant Weintrob, Christian Baiocco and Griffin Katz) A Olivia and Deandrian Per. Covering a wide range of niches and categories, the winners include DJs, food bloggers, photographers, athletes, and many other storytellers. In the beauty category, Golloria stands out for her honest reviews dedicated to her followers.