Paige Spiranac has long established herself as the queen of golf influencers, but Grace Charis could be coming for her crown.
Spiranac, 31, has faced many threats to her throne from the likes of Lilia Schneider, Karin Hart, Hailey Rae Ostrom and now 21-year-old Charis.
As one of the most polarizing figures in the sport, Spiranac has made her mark on golf, taking social media by storm with her skimpy, tight skirts and low-cut tops, and sparking controversy with nearly every post.
But, like her or hate her, it's undeniable that the former college golfer has blazed a trail in the sport, opening it up to a new generation of influencers.
And Charis is one of the last to follow in Spiranac's footsteps.
She may not be an LPGA or Ladies European Tour player. He's not even a professional golfer. However, Charis has quickly become one of the most popular players in the online game in recent years.
Grace Charis is the latest social media influencer to take the golf world by storm.
The 21-year-old follows in the footsteps of Paige Spiranac and her sensual photographs.
Charis has amassed 3.7 million followers on Instagram and another 3 million on TikTok. The numbers rival Spiranac's 4 million on Instagram and even exceed his 1.6 million on TikTok.
What's more, like Spiranac, his followers exceed Bryson DeChambeau's 2.2 million, Rory McIlroy's 2.7 million and even Tiger Woods' 3.5 million on Instagram.
However, while her sensual and revealing poses are reminiscent of Spiranac's racy photos, Charis's journey to social media stardom stands in stark contrast to that of the former pro.
Unlike Spiranac, who played Division 1 college golf at both the University of Arizona and San Diego State and even tried to enter the LPGA, Charis never intended to be a golfer.
In fact, she had been studying to be a newscaster when she stumbled upon this path amid Covid.
Charis had been a rower until the global pandemic arrived and paralyzed the sports world. But since golf was the first sport to emerge from lockdown and therefore the only one available to her, she opted for the driving range.
Charis went to pick up a stick. Pose with him in a revealing blue jumpsuit. And the rest was history.
“I like the nervousness of showing your butt and the shape of your body in the golf swing, but when I started doing it, I wasn't trying to be a golfer,” Charis said. Monthly Golf last year.
Like Spiranac, the California native posts photos and videos in revealing outfits.
Charis has amassed 3.7 million followers on Instagram and another 3 million on TikTok.
'It was more about trying to get views and being in the creator's space. “I let social media dictate what I wear: this outfit looks good or this outfit doesn't work as well.”
From there, his social media following skyrocketed. In addition to Instagram and TikTok, Charis is also active on X, formerly known as Twitter, where she has a million followers, although she only follows one account: Woods.
Charis also shows off her golf skills on her YouTube channel, where she shares a variety of content, including her signature slow-motion swing videos and 'Break 80' challenges, similar to DeChambeau's 'Break 50' on her own platform.
However, as always, there is a downside to his fame. Charis has acknowledged the online hate she receives and admits it affects her.
“I see the hateful comments, people block me and that makes me very sad,” he told Golf Monthly. 'It bothers me more when they talk about my golf. “She's just a pretty body, no one cares.”
'You can't really hate someone who is trying to improve. So I guess how I deal with hate is for the better, so I take out all my anger at the shooting range.'
However, despite all the social media furore, what started as a mere coincidence more than four years ago has turned into a true passion.
Golf has become truly important to Charis, who works with a swing coach and reportedly plays up to four or five times a week.
Golf has become a true passion for Charis, who works with a swing coach on his game.
Charis has attended some of golf's most prestigious events, including the Open at Royal Troon.
The amateur golfer pictured at the PGA Tour's ZOZO Championship in Japan
A California native who now lives in Texas, she reportedly joined Stonebridge Ranch Country Club in the Lone Star State and has reduced her handicap to an impressive five.
Charis has honored the game at some of its highest altars, attending golf's most prestigious tournaments such as the Open Championship at Royal Troon and the Ryder Cup in Rome in 2023.
Despite being branded as rivals, there is no real bad blood between Charis and Spiranac with neither having publicly said a bad word about the other.
But Charis has ventured into territory that has long been Spiranac's, and it is indisputable that he has joined the mega influencer in the golf social media spotlight.