How To Make Money As A Fitness Influencer

Pride

Getty Images / Xavier Lorenzo

June is Pride Month—a time to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community, including those in the fitness space.

Gyms, which are often hyper-masculine, haven't always been welcoming to those who identify as LGBTQ+, but influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok are working to make positive changes.

We rounded up 10 LGBTQ+ influencers to follow for fitness training and inspiration.

Holly Rilinger

Holly Rilinger, who's based in New York, develops and leads workout programs for the Nike Training Club. She's also a spinning instructor and was featured on Bravo's "Work Out: New York."

Rilinger shares lots of easy-to-follow fitness videos on her Instagram account, such as 20-minute
arms, abs/core, and butt workouts. In one recent video clip, she explained that squats are the foundation of any workout and demonstrated her technique. Then she showed viewers how to pair squats with overhead push presses, followed by bench presses, box jumps, and sit-ups.

Rilinger is the creator of LIFTED, a studio that offers on-demand and live HIIT, yoga, cycling, and Pilates classes. She also wrote a book titled "Lifted" that includes equipment-free strength and cardio workouts, as well as nourishing recipes.

Anthony Cushion

Anthony Cushion, a British personal trainer, specializes in inspirational fitness content. His posts are paired with fitness tips, uplifting stories, and personal anecdotes. "What if every day could be your day?" he mused in one recent post, encouraging his followers to crush their week.

Cushion's workout videos tend to focus on weightlifting. In one video, he explains how to master supersets and shares tips on increasing intensity and making gains. He also includes interesting research findings about optimal repetition range and other ways to boost workouts.

Cushion is the founder of FITAF, an online platform that offers fitness coaching and resources designed to be accessible to everyone.

Ilya Parker of Decolonizing Fitness

Ilya Parker, a physical therapist assistant who has more than a decade's experience with rehabilitative and functional training experience, is a Black, non-binary, trans masculine person.

They started Decolonizing Fitness as a resource for anyone "interested in unlearning toxic fitness culture." The platform provides support to those who have not felt welcome in fitness spaces,
such as people with disabilities and chronic pain, and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

On Decolonizing Fitness' Instagram page, Parker shares workout videos, including an intermediate upper body circuit that focuses on the chest. They also share tips on dismantling, "the cis white
male-dominated fitness industry," as well as advice on how to create safe spaces.

Shawn Stinson

Shawn Stinson, who's based in Atlanta, is a transgender personal trainer and competitive bodybuilder. His Instagram page features an extensive catalogue of strength-training videos, paired with in-depth instruction.

In one video, he demonstrates how to build and strengthen the lower traps using a lat pulldown machine. In another, he shows his followers how to safely do a lying incline barbell curl. "This is an awesome exercise for building the biceps and working the brachialis and forearm muscles," he writes.

Stinson, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years, won first place in the world's first female-to-male transgender bodybuilding competition in 2014.

Lizzy Bristow

Lizzy Bristow, who has worked in the fitness industry for more than 10 years, aims to help queer people improve their lives via exercise.

She offers lots of paid programs that help people achieve their body goals, whether that means slimming down or bulking up. Her TikTok page offers a fun taste of what her classes are like. One
explains two ways to use more muscles at the gym, and another instructs viewers on how to know which exercise to do first.

Bristow is charismatic and engaging, and her videos are LGBTQ-proud.

Rachel Robinson

As a Miami-based fitness instructor, Rachel Robinson focuses on changing the way her clients feel on the inside—not just how they look on the outside.

That ethos is apparent on her online platforms, where she shares energetic workouts set to lively
music. Her video tutorials instruct on technique and form. Most are around 35 to 40 minutes long and focus on specific areas, like the arms, legs, abs, or back. Some videos explain how to use resistance bands; others instruct viewers on how to work out using a chair.

Lacey Stone

Lacey Stone, a bi-coastal fitness professional and celebrity trainer, has worked with companies such as Nike, Fitbit, Reebok, and Nintendo Wii. She offers live and on-demand Zoom classes, as
well as virtual training.

Stone is a big fan of resistance bands—you can use them anywhere, she points out—so she created a five-move circuit that works you from head to toe. Another video focuses on improving
balance: "Sometimes it's smart to slow your roll," she says in the caption.

Stone's style is motivating and approachable, and her works are tough but fun. Her girlfriend, fitness trainer Jess Lizama, makes frequent appearances in her videos.

Keoni Hudoba

During the pandemic, Keoni Hudoba created a daily #COREntine workout series that featured core exercises. Watching the archive on his Instagram page provides a massive supply of easy-to-follow workouts, delivered in a motivating style.

Hudoba, who's based in New York, is originally from Hawaii. He's big on self-care and shares posts
full of encouragement for his followers, like "If you choose your path, then you'll always find your way."

Hudoba is proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community. "Gay pride is every single day! 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year," he captioned a recent post.

Kenta Seki

Kenta Seki, a fitness trainer in Los Angeles, debuted a 30-day full-body course called
"Total Shred" on June 7, 2021 exclusively on FitOn. He shares highlights on his Instagram page—exercises such as "squat jacks" and "Spiderman pushups."

Another recent video demonstrates four core exercises to do on a stability ball. And another yet
shares a low-impact cardio workout that can get your heart rate up, no jumping required.

Seki is upbeat and encouraging, and his workout videos are challenging and rewarding. "One of the most important keys to accomplishing a goal is being consistent," he captioned a recent post. "Set a plan that is realistic, try it out, and adjust it as needed. Don't overwhelm yourself!"

Camilo Cereijo

As a Los Angeles-based fitness instructor, Camilo Cereijo helps "LGBTQ career-driven professionals get built to increase energy, impact and influence," he says on his Instagram page.

His workouts are intense: One recent video included reverse hammer strength shoulder presses; dumbbell lateral raises; a reverse fly; plate raises; and a seated hammer strength shrug. Another centered on back and rear delts. Cereijo recommends saving the videos, and he includes training notes that advise viewers on repetition and other tips for success.

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