diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creator-list-no-results-search.integration.test.ts b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-no-results-search.integration.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..580e85a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-no-results-search.integration.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,142 @@
+// Integration test: search no-results state
+//
+// When a search query returns zero creators, the response meta includes the
+// search term so the frontend can show a contextual no-results message instead
+// of the generic empty state used for an unfiltered empty list.
+//
+// Acceptance criteria:
+//  - No-results message visible when search returns zero results
+//  - Message references or acknowledges the search term
+//  - No-results state distinct from the unfiltered empty state
+//  - Clearing search input removes the no-results state
+//
+// Uses Jest mocks (isolated empty fixture) — no database connection required.
+
+import { httpListCreators } from './creators.controllers';
+import * as creatorsUtils from './creators.utils';
+
+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();
+}
+
+describe('GET /api/v1/creators — search no-results state', () => {
+   beforeEach(() => {
+      jest.spyOn(creatorsUtils, 'fetchCreatorList').mockResolvedValue([[], 0]);
+   });
+
+   afterEach(() => {
+      jest.restoreAllMocks();
+   });
+
+   // ── No-results state with search ──────────────────────────────────────────
+
+   it('includes search term in response meta when search returns zero results', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.success).toBe(true);
+      expect(body.data.items).toEqual([]);
+      expect(body.data.meta).toHaveProperty('search', 'zzznomatch');
+   });
+
+   it('returns HTTP 200 for search with no results', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      expect(res.status).toHaveBeenCalledWith(200);
+   });
+
+   // ── Distinct from unfiltered empty state ──────────────────────────────────
+
+   it('does not include search in meta for unfiltered empty list', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq();
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.items).toEqual([]);
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('search');
+   });
+
+   it('no-results response with search differs from unfiltered empty response', async () => {
+      const noSearchReq = makeReq({});
+      const noSearchRes = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(noSearchReq, noSearchRes, makeNext());
+      const noSearchBody = noSearchRes.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+
+      const searchReq = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const searchRes = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(searchReq, searchRes, makeNext());
+      const searchBody = searchRes.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+
+      // Both have empty items
+      expect(noSearchBody.data.items).toEqual([]);
+      expect(searchBody.data.items).toEqual([]);
+
+      // But search response includes the search term in meta
+      expect(noSearchBody.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('search');
+      expect(searchBody.data.meta).toHaveProperty('search', 'zzznomatch');
+   });
+
+   // ── Clearing search removes no-results state ──────────────────────────────
+
+   it('omits search from meta when search param is empty string', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: '' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.items).toEqual([]);
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('search');
+   });
+
+   it('omits search from meta when search param is whitespace only', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: '   ' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.items).toEqual([]);
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('search');
+   });
+
+   // ── Additional assertions ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+   it('preserves all standard pagination meta fields alongside search', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const meta = res.json.mock.calls[0][0].data.meta;
+      expect(meta).toHaveProperty('limit');
+      expect(meta).toHaveProperty('offset');
+      expect(meta).toHaveProperty('total', 0);
+      expect(meta).toHaveProperty('hasMore', false);
+      expect(meta).toHaveProperty('search', 'zzznomatch');
+   });
+
+   it('does not call next() error handler on search no-results', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      const next = makeNext();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, next);
+
+      expect(next).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+   });
+});
diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts b/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
index 31a40f7..d769281 100644
--- a/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
@@ -76,7 +76,8 @@ export const httpListCreators: AsyncController = async (req, res, next) => {
             limit: validatedQuery.limit,
             offset: validatedQuery.offset,
             total,
-         })
+         }),
+         validatedQuery.search
       );
 
       attachTimestampHeader(res);
diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts b/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
index e24419e..3345ab1 100644
--- a/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
@@ -149,27 +149,45 @@ export function serializeCreatorListCursorMeta(
  * Serializes offset pagination metadata for creator list responses.
  *
  * Ensures consistency of metadata shape across offset-paginated endpoints.
+ * Includes the `search` term when one was provided, so clients can show a
+ * contextual no-results message instead of a generic empty state.
  *
  * @param meta - Raw offset pagination metadata
+ * @param search - Optional search term from the request query
  * @returns Offset pagination metadata normalized for public list responses
  */
 export function serializeCreatorListOffsetMeta(
-   meta: OffsetPaginationMeta
-): OffsetPaginationMeta {
-   return {
+   meta: OffsetPaginationMeta,
+   search?: string
+): CreatorListMeta {
+   const result: CreatorListMeta = {
       limit: meta.limit,
       offset: meta.offset,
       total: meta.total,
       hasMore: meta.hasMore,
    };
+   if (search !== undefined && search !== '') {
+      result.search = search;
+   }
+   return result;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Meta for the creator list response, extending offset pagination with an
+ * optional `search` field so clients can distinguish between an unfiltered
+ * empty database and a search that returned no results.
+ */
+export type CreatorListMeta = OffsetPaginationMeta & {
+   /** The search term that was queried, if any. */
+   search?: string;
+};
+
 /**
  * Paginated creator list response body (offset pagination metadata).
  */
 export type CreatorListResponse = PublicCreatorListEnvelope<
    CreatorListItem,
-   OffsetPaginationMeta
+   CreatorListMeta
 >;
 
 /**
@@ -185,14 +203,21 @@ export type CreatorCursorListResponse = PublicCreatorListEnvelope<
  *
  * This centralizes the wrapping of creators and metadata to ensure
  * a consistent public response shape (envelope).
+ * When a `search` term is provided, it is included in the response meta
+ * so clients can display a contextual no-results message.
+ *
+ * @param profiles - Array of creator profiles
+ * @param meta - Raw offset pagination metadata
+ * @param search - Optional search term from the request
  */
 export function serializeCreatorListResponse(
    profiles: CreatorProfile[],
-   meta: OffsetPaginationMeta
+   meta: OffsetPaginationMeta,
+   search?: string
 ): CreatorListResponse {
    return wrapPublicCreatorListResponse(
       serializeCreatorList(profiles),
-      serializeCreatorListOffsetMeta(meta)
+      serializeCreatorListOffsetMeta(meta, search)
    );
 }
 
diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creators.utils.ts b/src/modules/creators/creators.utils.ts
index 29b5d0e..fd88c4f 100644
--- a/src/modules/creators/creators.utils.ts
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creators.utils.ts
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ export function createEmptyCreatorListResponse(
          limit: query.limit,
          offset: query.offset,
          total: 0,
-      })
+      }),
+      query.search
    );
 }