MANILA, Philippines — Seven of the most popular names in the country’s entertainment industry were included in this year’s Forbes 100 list of Asia-Pacific’s most influential celebrities on social media.
Forbes Asia on Tuesday released its 100 Digital Stars list which features singers, bands, film, and TV stars with huge social media influence. Forbes Asia also noted that the list included celebrities who “have also used their influence to support worthy causes, especially those with a Covid-19 focus.”
Among the notable stars mentioned in the list were Angel Locsin, Marian Rivera-Dantes, Kim Chiu, Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Kathryn Bernardo, and Sarah Geronimo.
One of the most familiar faces in the list was Locsin, who also landed in Forbes Asia‘s “Heroes of Philanthropy” list last year. In a statement, Forbes cited Locsin’s COVID-19 initiative which raised a total of P11.3 million and aided 135 hospitals.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old actress and mother Marian Rivera-Dantes was acknowledged by Forbes for her large social media following. She was described as the Philippines’ most popular celebrity on Facebook, with a total of 23 million followers.
Actress Kim Chiu grabbed a spot on the list after she turned her viral “Bawal Lumabas” gaffe into a new single. The Classroom Song became an instant hit and has over nine million Youtube views. Chiu also used the opportunity to raise money for pandemic relief.
Popstar royalty Sarah Geronimo, like Locsin and Chiu, also raised roughly $5 million during a COVID-19 benefit concert.
Dubbed by Forbes as “Philippines’ most popular Instagram celebrity,” Anne Curtis joined her fellow celebrities in the list. Curtis currently has almost 16 million followers online and endorsement deals with popular brands such as Jollibee, Louis Vuitton, and Pantene.
Actress Kathryn Bernardo and comedian and TV show host Vice Ganda were also listed for their notable achievements in the industry.
“The inaugural Forbes Asia’s 100 Digital Stars list couldn’t have come at a more relevant time. Artists rely on social media platforms to connect and communicate with fans, especially in the absence of live entertainment due to Covid-19 restrictions around the region,” Forbes Asia’s editor Rana Wehbe Watson said in a statement.
“The 100 celebrities highlighted on the list range in age from 20 to 78, proving that social media influence is a cross-generational phenomenon,” Watson added.
