Mari Pepin and Kenny Braasch got engaged on season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise” and married in 2023.
Photo: Dolce Amor Co.
Theoretically, contestants on ABC’s “The Bachelor” are looking for loveWhat they often find are business opportunities.
Mari Pepin, 28, got both.
Pepin competed on season 25 of “The Bachelor,” which aired in 2021, and then returned for season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise” later that year. She went home with Kenny Braasch’s final rose (they’ve now been married for over a year) and an Instagram following of more than 300,000, up from 50,000 before her reality TV appearances.
That’s when the money started coming in.
After “Bachelor in Paradise” aired, her audience skyrocketed, influencer opportunities arose. “We got huge deals right away,” she said.
More information on personal finance:
The “core of underconsumption” is in fashion, and not a moment too soon
Recession Pop: How Music Influences Economic Trends
“I’m looking for a man in finance”
In most cases, companies send Pepin products, which she then tries out at home in Chicago. If she likes an item, she publishes it, responding to the company’s pitches and earning a commission, she said.
Pepin has worked with Loreal, Factor food delivery, Ruffino wine and Mermaid hair products, among others. Pepin and Braasch team up on some account promotions. Braasch has also partnered with Apothic wine and BetUS gambling site, which connected Pepin with CNBC.
Mariela Pepin, nicknamed Mari, was a candidate on season 25 of “The Bachelor” and then on season 7 of “Bachelor in Paradise”.
Photo: Dolce Amor Co.
Brands giving away products to celebrities and influencers in exchange for promotions on their social media feeds is a common marketing strategy, a study finds. a new report from the Influencer Marketing Hub.
Businesses can also sign deals with influencers to promote the product in their posts for a fee or a share of affiliate revenue, similar to a commission on each sale. The posts alone help drive sales, according to the survey of more than 3,000 marketing agencies, brands and professionals.
For businesses, it is an approach that has proven effective in terms of build a brandaccording to the report.
Influencers ‘can make money’
For many reality TV stars, influencing has become a popular side hustle with a low barrier to entry.
Depending on the platform and number of subscribers, as well as other factors, content creators can earn between $2,500 and $5,000 per month, according to a 2023 report NeoReach A survey of more than 2,000 full-time and part-time creators found.
Although Pepin earned more than $50,000 last year from his influence and made as much as $12,500 for a single post, according to documents reviewed by CNBC, the number of leads and payments can vary widely.
“This inconsistency really scares me,” she said.
“The more subscribers they have, the more money they can make,” said Casey Lewis, a social media trends expert and founder of the trends newsletter After School. “If they really leverage affiliate marketing, they can make a ton of money.”
In some cases, this may be enough to provide a supplemental income, but few people earn a decent wage. Most full-time or part-time designers earn an annual income of $15,000 or lessaccording to NeoReach’s survey.
Yet 57% of Gen Z said they would like to become influencers if given the opportunity, according to one study. 2023 Report According to Morning Consult. The report is based on a survey of more than 2,200 adults and a separate survey of 1,000 Gen Zers ages 13 to 26 who use various social media platforms.
“A lot of people aspire to be influencers because they want to be independent, to be recognized for their tastes and to be somebody,” Lewis said.
But “you realize it’s not that simple,” she adds. “Monetizing your life this way is exhausting.”
Nearly half of young adults have a secondary activity
These days, having a side hustle, whatever it may be, can provide much-needed extra income to help cope with a higher cost of living.
By 2024, 36% of U.S. adults will have a second job and earn an average of $891 per month in extra cash from that role, up from $810 in 2023, according to a June report from Bank rate The study surveyed more than 2,300 American adults. Among Generation Z and Millennials, the share of adults with a side hustle climbs to nearly 50%.
Pepin works full time as a social media marketer. “Influencer work is just a little bit on top of things. It’s not really reliable,” she said.
For now, Pepin is making the most of his reality TV fame as one half of a hit “Bachelor” couple.
“I think you have to strike while the iron is hot,” Pepin said.
