Fresh from his Upcoming Icon Award at LFW, the North East disruptor proves community, not clout, is the future of influence.
A Rolls Royce Cullinan pulls up to the heart of London Fashion Week. Out steps Chris Henderson, sequins catching the flashbulbs, a familiar face on the North East creative scene but now commanding the capital’s attention. By the end of the week, he’ll be holding the Upcoming Icon Award at the Recognised Icon Awards — London Fashion Week’s only official award ceremony — his name firmly added to a list of trailblazers disrupting the industry.
But this isn’t just about the glitz, the parties, or the trophy. For Chris, Managing Director of UK Top Influencer Ltd, it’s about something deeper: building a community where influencers, creators, and visionaries feel truly seen.
Changing the Narrative
Influencers are often painted as selfie-obsessed or fame-hungry, but Chris has always known the truth. Behind the perfect grid posts and trending TikToks lies an exhausting cycle of planning, editing, strategising, and engaging — work that is rarely acknowledged and too often done in isolation.
Chris wanted to flip the script. Through the UK Top Influencer Awards, his work with students and young people, and a growing ecosystem of initiatives, he’s proving that influencers are not just content machines — they’re small businesses, hustlers, and people with stories worth celebrating.
“In this industry, creators give so much and yet they’re often overlooked,” Chris says. “I wanted to build spaces where they can come together, share ideas, talk honestly about the hard times, and be recognised for their work. That’s why UK Top Influencer exists.”
London Fashion Week: A Statement Moment
Chris’s London Fashion Week was a whirlwind: hosting the Blacklist Party in collaboration with Imi Studios to kick things off, being papped outside Harrods, rubbing shoulders with Jasmine Orr and Junior Andre at the Justin Cassin Fashion Show, and finally, stepping up to collect his award under the bright lights.
Each moment was a statement — not of personal vanity, but of what’s possible when you mix ambition with authenticity. Sequins and spotlight aside, Chris is laser-focused on his mission: to anchor the influencer world in credibility, collaboration, and community.
Putting the North East on the Map
At its core, this recognition is about more than one person. It’s about putting the North East on the global stage. Too often the influencer industry is London-centric, leaving regions like Teesside and Newcastle out of the conversation. Chris is determined to change that.
“The award is a reminder that you don’t have to be based in Mayfair or Soho to make an impact,” he says. “You can come from the North East, build something with heart, and still take it all the way to London Fashion Week.”
What Comes Next
With UK Top Influencer growing in every direction — from award ceremonies to youth academies and the soon-to-launch Assist app — Chris is only getting started. The Upcoming Icon Award is recognition, yes, but it’s also momentum.
Because for Chris Henderson, disruption isn’t about noise. It’s about creating change.
And the message is clear: in this industry, everyone deserves to feel seen.
