Maine native Rachel Accurso has spent years entertaining children across the world.
This summer, the woman better known as Ms. Rachel was named third on Rolling Stone’s list of the 25 most influential creators across social media platforms.
The creator started her educational YouTube channel in 2019. In January, she began streaming a show on Netflix.
The list highlights creators who came to fame on the internet and use “their chosen platforms to push conversations forward,” according to the publication.
Rolling Stone noted that it chose her as one of the top influencers of 2025 because of her dedication to raising “awareness and money for child victims of systemic violence worldwide,” despite ongoing online backlash she has received.
Accurso, who has more than 16 million YouTube subscribers and millions more fans on Instagram and TikTok, has faced criticism for highlighting children harmed by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Before she became a superstar for toddlers, Accurso grew up in Sanford and went on to graduate from the University of Southern Maine. She earned a master’s degree in music from New York University.
The next season of “Ms. Rachel” will air on Netflix on Sept. 2, according to the streaming service.
