Instagram is a powerful social media platform that offers users the opportunity to showcase their content in a visually exciting way.
Following on from our ranking of the most followed South Africans on YouTube and Twitter, we decided to rank the most followed South African magazines on Instagram.
We chose magazines instead of individuals, because we found that the same individuals who top the rankings on Twitter are generally the same as those on Instagram. Thus we shifted our focus to magazines.
Note: We only looked at consumer magazines that are Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC) accredited. Also these are for the official accounts of the South African version of magazines. Many of them have an international counterpart with a lot more followers, but we were only interested in the South African accounts.
A dominant category
The majority of magazines towards the top of the list all come from the same ABC sector, the woman’s general category. They all connect with their followers with content that not only ties in with their magazine editorial, but which also benefits their followers.
An interesting thing to note was that the title that came top was the runaway winner, with over 20000 more followers than the one in second place.
Here are the top 39:
39: Prestige
Handle: prestigemag_sa
Followers: 6 835
Posts: 354
Following: 535
Description: In the lap of luxury.
38: Bicycling
Handle: bicycling_sa
Followers: 9 750
Posts: 1 291
Following: 271
Description: We like to ride bikes and write about it. A ride should always end in a coffee shop.
37: rooi rose
Handle: rooirose
Followers: 11 127
Posts: 1 912
Following: 512
Description: The official account for rooi rose magazine. South Africa’s first glossy woman’s magazine. Sinvol, Stylvol, Propvol.
36: FAIRLADY
Handle: fairlady_magazine
Followers: 11 600
Posts: 2 279
Following: 819
Description: The Smart Read For Smart Women.
35: YOU
Handle: youmagazinesa
Followers: 12 655
Posts: 507
Following: 381
Description: YOU is the biggest-selling English magazine in South Africa. Follow us for yummy recipes, juicy celeb news and behind-the-scenes fun.
34: SA Home Owner
Handle: sahomeowner
Followers: 13 742
Posts: 673
Following: 65
Description: SA Home Owner is a monthly magazine packed with luxury houses across South Africa, as well as offering décor, trend-watching and lifestyle features.
33: Runner’s World
Handle: runnersworldza
Followers: 13 902
Posts: 1 277
Following: 242
Description: If you own a pair of running shoes, you’re at the right place.
32: Getaway
Handle: getawaymagazine
Followers: 15 223
Posts: 293
Following: 333
Description: South African travel magazine providing travel advice and insight on Southern African destinations and beyond since 1989. Travel like an insider.
31: Zigzag
Handle: zigzagsurf
Followers: 15 718
Posts: 879
Following: 282
Description: Core SA surfing since 1976.
30: Ideas/Idees
Handle: ideasmagazine
Followers: 15 890
Posts: 643
Following: 105
Description: MAKE your world beautiful.
29: Conde Nast House & Garden
Handle: houseandgardensa
Followers: 16 865
Posts: 1 028
Following: 800
Description: South Africa’s finest décor magazine.
28: SA Garden and Home
Handle: sagardenandhome
Followers: 17 008
Posts: 1 166
Following: 3 886
Description: One of SA’s favourite décor and gardening mags featuring stylish homes and gardens, the latest lifestyle trends, food, entertaining, travel and more.
27: Destiny Man
Handle: destiny.man
Followers: 17341
Posts: 969
Following: 407
Description: The DESTINY MAN brand’s all about celebrating excellence & sharing powerful business, current affairs, sports & lifestyle content & experiences.
26: Hype
Handle: hypemag_sa
Followers: 17 381
Posts: 1 204
Following: 749
Description: Africa’s Biggest Hip Hop Magazine.
25: Food and Home Entertaining
Handle: foodandhomesa
Followers: 17 530
Posts: 838
Following: 559
Description: The official Instagram feed of SA’s favourite food magazine!
24: Men’s Health
Handle: menshealthza
Followers: 19 637
Posts: 1 076
Following: 1 560
Description: We make better men.
23: Forbes Woman Africa
Handle: forbeswomanafrica
Followers: 19 929
Posts: 324
Following: 82
Description: The African continent’s first-ever women’s interest magazine from the FORBES stable.
22: Move!
Handle: movemagazine
Followers: 25 734
Posts: 2 081
Following: 409
Description: Move! is South Africa’s biggest selling women’s weekly magazine. We strive to educate and empower women while entertaining them at the same time.
21: People Magazine SA
Handle: people_sa
Followers: 28 439
Posts: 4 170
Following: 1 298
Description: #celebrities #Hollywood #fashion #beauty #behindthescenes #SAfashion #glamour #reallifeSA #events
20: Good Housekeeping
Handle: goodhousekeepingsa
Followers: 28 911
Posts: 4 832
Following: 4 561
Description: Smart solutions and inspiration for busy women who are passionate about their homes and family. ZA Lees dit in Afrikaans!
19: Visi
Handle: visi_mag
Followers: 29 090
Posts: 619
Following: 238
Description: South Africa’s premium décor, design and architecture magazine.
18: Fitness Magazine
Handle: fitnessmagsa
Followers: 29 692
Posts: 1 486
Following: 1 449
Description: Africa’s only dedicated female fitness magazine. Get strong, fit and lean with our expert training and nutrition advice.
17: Grazia [no longer published]
Handle: graziasamag
Followers: 29 869
Posts: 3 370
Following: 637
Description: Official Grazia SA Page. Speed with style. News with shoes. SA’s first fashion and news weekly. On streets now!
16: SA Rugby
Handle: sarugbymagazine
Followers: 30 197
Posts: 1 297
Following: 417
Description: The magazine and website the Springboks read.
15: Sarie
Handle: sarietydskrif
Followers: 30,673
Posts: 2,423
Following: 574
Description: #SARIEvoorbladgesig, elke Maandag om 17:30 op kykNET (DStv kanaal 144)
14: Bona
Handle: bona_mag
Followers: 32 828
Posts: 2 482
Following: 542
Description: Be who you want to be!
13: House & Leisure
Handle: houseandleisure
Followers: 34 925
Posts: 2 263
Following: 1 167
Description: The pleasure of living here now.
12: Forbes Africa
Handle: forbesafrica
Followers: 35 480
Posts: 165
Following: 17
Description: Africa’s Most Influential Business Magazine.
11: Women’s Health
Handle: womenshealthmagsa
Followers: 38 907
Posts: 2 382
Following: 753
Description: Your ultimate guide in health, fitness, sex, beauty, and more. It’s good to be you!
10: Elle Decoration
Handle: elle_deco
Followers: 43 345
Posts: 1 407
Following: 1 550
Description: The World’s Best-Selling Homes Magazine. The Organic issue is on-shelf now.
9: GQ
Handle: gqsouthafrica
Followers: 44 945
Posts: 675
Following: 926
Description: Look Sharp. Live Smart.
8: Marie Clare
Handle: marieclaresa
Followers: 45 224
Posts: 3 726
Following: 1 407
Description: If you’re into adult toys in the bedroom, our latest #MCTalks ‘I Like It Like That’ podcast episode is for you: apple.co/2elz3Ev.
7: Eat Out
Handle: eatoutguide
Followers: 45 772
Posts: 1 009
Following: 786
Description: SA’s best guide to SA’s best food. News, great eateries, ridiculous food & hottest new spots. #EatOutBest.
6: Glamour
Handle: glamour_sa
Followers: 51 466
Posts: 2 592
Following: 629
Description: GLAMOUR South Africa’s official Instagram account. Find @GLAMOUR_sa on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
5: Drum
Handle: drum_magazine
Followers: 56 098
Posts: 1 072
Following: 516
Description: Feel The Beat.
4: Kick Off
Handle: kickoffmagazine
Followers: 68 319
Posts: 987
Following: 359
Description: The official page of Kick Off Magazine South Africa 23 Years of Soccer At It’s Best #KickOff
3: Elle
Handle: ellesouthafrica
Followers: 74 730
Posts: 2 955
Following: 569
Description: Sexy, Stylish and Spirited.
2: Cosmopolitan
Handle: cosmopolitansa
Followers: 82 201
Posts: 7 232
Following: 897
Description: #DoYou: Learning to accept that it’s okay to not be okay.
Website
1: Speed and Sound
Handle: speedandsoundmagazine
Followers: 104 365
Posts: 1 323
Following: 470
Description: 011 465 8223 to advertise in our world.
All data was sourced directly from Instagram and was correct as of writing.
If there is an account that is not on this list, which you feel was overlooked, please email michael@wagthedog.co.za.
Follow Michael Bratt on Twitter @MichaelBratt8
