Professional skateboarder Tyshawn Jones just added another win to his list.
On October 16, Instagram dropped the first-ever Rings Awards, shining light on 25 creators who flipped the script and built something real on the platform.
It is Instagram’s way of showing respect to the people who make the app worth scrolling every day.
The winners get a gold animated ring around their profile photo and a custom background colour. You will know when you see it. It is Instagram’s new way of saying you are one of the ones.
The lineup of judges was heavy. Spike Lee, Marc Jacobs, Grace Wales Bonner, KAWS, Pat McGrath, MKBHD, Yara Shahidi, Cédric Grolet, Ilona Maher, Tainy, Murad Osmann, Eva Chen, and Adam Mosseri all had a hand in picking this year’s group. It feels like a mix of art, music, style, and real creative hustle.
Tyshawn dropped his own post showing love after being named one of the 25.
“Thanks @instagram for allowing me to be 1 of 25 to be honored with winning a ring @creators #instagrampartner”
Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, said the goal with Rings is to celebrate creators who bring something special both online and off.
"With Rings, we want to recognize extraordinary creativity from all over the world. The 25 winners have all done big things, on and off Instagram, and they deserve to be celebrated.
A huge thank you to the panel of judges and congratulations to this year’s winners."
Tyshawn’s name fits right in. From skating through New York traffic to landing magazine covers and building his own business, he has been setting the pace for a while.
Seeing him get this kind of recognition from one of the biggest platforms out there just confirms what most people already know.
The rest of the Rings winners show how wide the creative world really is. There are musicians, photographers, filmmakers, comedians, and even a few grandmas with more drip than half the timeline. Each one does their thing in a way that connects with people.
This first Rings Awards drop from Instagram shows how far creativity can go when it comes from a real place. Tyshawn’s win is not just about content. It is about someone who built his name from the ground up, stayed true to his roots, and still found a way to shine on every platform.