diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creator-list-filter-total-count.integration.test.ts b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-filter-total-count.integration.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4343e0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-filter-total-count.integration.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+// Integration test: creator list total count accuracy after filter
+//
+// Verifies that when a category filter is applied, the total count field
+// in the pagination metadata correctly reflects the number of matching creators,
+// rather than the total unfiltered count.
+// Uses Jest mocks to keep the tests deterministic without requiring database connection.
+
+import { httpListCreators } from './creators.controllers';
+import * as creatorsUtils from './creators.utils';
+import { CreatorProfile } from '../../types/profile.types';
+
+// ── Lightweight request/response mocks ────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function makeReq(query: Record<string, string> = {}): any {
+   return { query };
+}
+
+function makeRes(): any {
+   const res: any = {};
+   res.status = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.json = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.setHeader = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.set = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   return res;
+}
+
+function makeNext(): jest.Mock {
+   return jest.fn((err) => {
+      if (err) {
+         console.error('NEXT CALLED WITH ERROR:', err);
+      }
+   });
+}
+
+// ── Mock Fixture Data with known split ────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const mockMatchingCreators = [
+   { id: '1', displayName: 'Gamer One', handle: 'gamer1', category: 'gaming', avatarUrl: 'http://avatar1.png', isVerified: true, createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() },
+   { id: '2', displayName: 'Gamer Two', handle: 'gamer2', category: 'gaming', avatarUrl: 'http://avatar2.png', isVerified: true, createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() },
+   { id: '3', displayName: 'Gamer Three', handle: 'gamer3', category: 'gaming', avatarUrl: 'http://avatar3.png', isVerified: true, createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() },
+] as unknown as CreatorProfile[];
+
+const mockNonMatchingCreators = [
+   { id: '4', displayName: 'Artist One', handle: 'artist1', category: 'art', avatarUrl: 'http://avatar4.png', isVerified: false, createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() },
+   { id: '5', displayName: 'Musician One', handle: 'musician1', category: 'music', avatarUrl: 'http://avatar5.png', isVerified: false, createdAt: new Date(), updatedAt: new Date() },
+] as unknown as CreatorProfile[];
+
+const mockAllCreators = [...mockMatchingCreators, ...mockNonMatchingCreators];
+
+// ── Tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+describe('GET /api/v1/creators — total count accuracy after filter', () => {
+   beforeEach(() => {
+      // Mock fetchCreatorList implementation to return different totals depending on filter
+      jest.spyOn(creatorsUtils, 'fetchCreatorList').mockImplementation(async (query: any) => {
+         if (query.category === 'gaming') {
+            return [mockMatchingCreators, mockMatchingCreators.length]; // 3 creators
+         }
+         return [mockAllCreators, mockAllCreators.length]; // 5 creators
+      });
+   });
+
+   afterEach(() => {
+      jest.restoreAllMocks();
+   });
+
+   it('returns filtered items and asserts the total count equals the number of matching creators', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ category: 'gaming' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      expect(res.status).toHaveBeenCalledWith(200);
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(body.data.items).toHaveLength(3);
+
+      // Assert the total count equals the number of creators matching the filter
+      const totalCount = body.data.meta.total;
+      expect(totalCount).toBe(3);
+
+      // Assert the total count differs from the unfiltered total
+      expect(totalCount).not.toBe(5);
+   });
+
+   it('returns all items and asserts the total count equals the unfiltered total when no filter is applied', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq();
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      expect(res.status).toHaveBeenCalledWith(200);
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(body.data.items).toHaveLength(5);
+
+      // Assert the total count equals the unfiltered total
+      expect(body.data.meta.total).toBe(5);
+   });
+
+   it('fails if the total count returns the unfiltered value when filtered', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ category: 'gaming' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      
+      // Explicit assertion: the test will fail if body.data.meta.total is the unfiltered count (5)
+      // because we expect it to be exactly 3.
+      expect(body.data.meta.total).toBe(3);
+   });
+});