Insta-Stardom: Discover the stories that propelled RI's influencers to fame
Here's a fun fact: Two of the influencers on this list have more followers on Instagram than Rhode Island has residents.
At 1.2 million and 1.1 million, Ashley Iaconetti Haibon's and Kiel James Patrick's follower counts just surpass the 1.096 million residents Rhode Island recorded in the last census. So while everyone in the state might not have heard of them, they've certainly become ambassadors of how people literally view the Ocean State.
As Instagram becomes a powerful tool in shaping perceptions, The Providence Journal took a look at some of the biggest accounts run by Rhode Islanders.
Ashley Iaconetti Haibon and Jared Haibon
Accounts: @Ashley_Iaconetti and @JaredHaibon
Followers: 1.2 million and 693,000, respectively
These stars of "The Bachelor" and "Bachelor in Paradise" are now living out their happy ending in Rhode Island. The pair met during the second season of "Bachelor in Paradise" in 2015 but didn’t get together then, even though Iaconetti made it clear she was interested. It wasn’t until 2018 that they announced they were dating, and he proposed while filming a cameo appearance on season 5 of "Bachelor in Paradise."
They were married in Rhode Island in 2019 and live in the Ocean State. They own the "Bachelor"-themed Audrey’s Coffee Lounge in South Kingstown.
Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Patrick
Followers: 1.1 million, and 603,000, respectively
If you tried to define New England style, Kiel and Sarah Patrick’s social media accounts would do the trick. The Rhode Islanders have created a brand rooted in New England style — the dreamiest snowy ice skating rink, giant pumpkins and the most brilliant of fall colors, summers filled with hydrangeas and boating, and the rush of things coming back into bloom in spring. And then there’s their adorable child and two golden retrievers. (The dogs have their own account: @BennieandMaple, with 207,000 followers.)
While they also feature photos of Vermont, the duo have created a visual wonderland of Rhode Island images that anyone would want to be a part of. They also have a clothing and accessories line for people looking to capture a bit of the look.
Kim Nguyen
Account: @kimmyn_
Follower count: 70,400
Whether she's wandering the Point neighborhood in Newport or the streets of Providence, Kim Nguyen’s photographs portray a soft, cozy version of the Ocean State. Scrolling through her feed feels like finding all of the best secret corners of Rhode Island cities, and makes you want to go out and find a bit of that spirit for yourself.
On TV: How WPRI anchor Kim Kalunian effortlessly moves from the kitchen to the nightly news desk
Carli Alves
Account: @MadebyCarli
Followers: 68,300
Now working on her second fixer-upper home in Rhode Island, Carli Alves is a fixture on the DIY influencer scene. For a little more than two years, she has been renovating her 1945 colonial home, affectionately dubbed the Hosta House. With impeccable taste and the nerve to go for it, she’s been teaching people how to make DIY improvements, one room at a time.
3 Degree of RI: Beyoncé is playing at Gillette Stadium this summer, but does she have any connections to RI?
Laura Afonso, of Buns and Bites
Account: @Bunsandbites
Followers: 55,100
Buns and Bites is like having a wicked cool friend on Instagram giving you advice on what restaurant to try next. Playful and definitely cheeky, Laura Afonso has been pointing people in the direction of good food since 2017. Her goal was to create a space “where all body types are celebrated, all foods are adored, and all around good fun happens,” according to her website.
Kayla Mandeville
Account: @k__elizabeth
Followers: 19,000
A Rhode Island and South Coast, Massachusetts, photographer who describes herself in her bio as “an awkward millennial MacGyvering her way through life and photography,” Kayla Mandeville isn’t all that awkward on Instagram. As someone who has been capturing the best of Rhode Island for a long time now, she knows the most beautiful spots in the state and lets other people see it through that lens.
The best places in RI to propose: We asked wedding photographers.
Jess Ann Kirby
Account: @jessannkirby
Followers: 135,000
Here’s the deal: Jess Ann Kirby is now Vermont-based, but she was Rhode Island-based for years and still makes regular appearances in the state. She’s a fashion influencer with a lot of other lifestyle content mixed in, including her guide to Newport. She’s done several clothing collabs with ABLE that scream “wear me around Newport,” and the discerning eye can spot Newport locations in the background of some of the promotional photos.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island Influencers: These are the Instagrammers representing RI
