diff --git a/alembic/versions/009_add_creator_hidden_flag.py b/alembic/versions/009_add_creator_hidden_flag.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f2a3702
--- /dev/null
+++ b/alembic/versions/009_add_creator_hidden_flag.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+"""Add hidden boolean flag to creators table.
+
+Marks test/internal creators as hidden so they are filtered from
+public API responses.
+
+Revision ID: 009_add_creator_hidden_flag
+Revises: 008_rename_processing_status
+"""
+from alembic import op
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+
+revision = "009_add_creator_hidden_flag"
+down_revision = "008_rename_processing_status"
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade() -> None:
+    op.add_column(
+        "creators",
+        sa.Column("hidden", sa.Boolean(), server_default="false", nullable=False),
+    )
+    # Mark known test creator as hidden
+    op.execute("UPDATE creators SET hidden = true WHERE slug = 'testcreator'")
+
+
+def downgrade() -> None:
+    op.drop_column("creators", "hidden")
diff --git a/backend/models.py b/backend/models.py
index e7b21cc..ea505f0 100644
--- a/backend/models.py
+++ b/backend/models.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class Creator(Base):
     genres: Mapped[list[str] | None] = mapped_column(ARRAY(String), nullable=True)
     folder_name: Mapped[str] = mapped_column(String(255), nullable=False)
     view_count: Mapped[int] = mapped_column(Integer, default=0, server_default="0")
+    hidden: Mapped[bool] = mapped_column(default=False, server_default="false")
     created_at: Mapped[datetime] = mapped_column(
         default=_now, server_default=func.now()
     )
diff --git a/backend/routers/creators.py b/backend/routers/creators.py
index 33617b6..1b277b8 100644
--- a/backend/routers/creators.py
+++ b/backend/routers/creators.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ async def list_creators(
         Creator,
         technique_count_sq.label("technique_count"),
         video_count_sq.label("video_count"),
-    )
+    ).where(Creator.hidden != True)  # noqa: E712
 
     # Genre filter
     if genre:
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ async def list_creators(
         )
 
     # Get total count (without offset/limit)
-    count_stmt = select(func.count()).select_from(Creator)
+    count_stmt = select(func.count()).select_from(Creator).where(Creator.hidden != True)  # noqa: E712
     if genre:
         count_stmt = count_stmt.where(Creator.genres.any(genre))
     total = (await db.execute(count_stmt)).scalar() or 0