“Public figure” is a category label, and you choose it yourself. Any professional account (Creator or Business) can pick it, either while switching from a personal account or later in Edit profile. We found no requirement for it, such as a follower count, and it isn’t verification: the blue badge comes from a separate request or from Meta Verified.
Switch to a professional account and pick Public figure
- Go to your profile and tap the menu (three lines).
- Tap Settings and activity, then Account type and tools, then Switch to professional account (Instagram for Business, Leadsie). Instagram’s own page calls the first menu “Settings and privacy”, so the name may differ in your app.
- Search the category list for Public figure and select it.
- Choose Creator or Business and follow the prompts (Sociality).
The steps are the same on iPhone and Android. Creator accounts keep access to Instagram’s full licensed music library, which is one reason to pick Creator if you post as yourself (CreatorFlow).
Already have a professional account?
- Tap Edit profile.
- Tap Category and choose Public figure (Leadsie).
To switch between Creator and Business, go to Settings and activity > Account type and tools > Switch account type (CreatorFlow).
Show or hide the label
In Edit profile > Profile display, turn Display category label on or off (ROI Hacks). Hiding it keeps the category on the account, so nothing else changes.
Public figure is not verification
Anyone with a professional account can choose the label, and Instagram doesn’t check it. The verified badge comes from one of two places:
- A verification request. The account has to be authentic, unique, complete and notable. There is no minimum follower count (Hootsuite).
- Meta Verified, a paid subscription. You need to be 18 or older, have some posting history and show a government ID that matches your profile name and photo (Meta). In the US it costs $11.99 a month on the web and $14.99 in the app (Hootsuite).
What a professional account gives you
The tools come with the account type, whatever category you pick. Instagram says a professional account gives you “powerful insights” and eligibility for earning features such as Bonuses and Subscriptions (Instagram for Creators). Insights, for example, need a Creator or Business account (Inro). Up to five links in your bio are open to every account, personal ones included (TechCrunch).
For the audience itself, our guide to growing your Instagram following covers what Instagram rewards.
FAQ
How many followers do I need to be a public figure on Instagram?
None. It’s a category you choose on a professional account, and we found no requirement for it.
Does Public figure give me a blue check?
No. The badge comes from a verification request or from Meta Verified.
Can a public figure account be private?
Creator accounts can’t be private (Gauging Gadgets). To make the account private, switch back to a personal account.
How do I remove Public figure from my profile?
Turn off Display category label in Edit profile > Profile display, or pick a different category.