Mari Pepin, a 28-year-old former contestant on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, has successfully transformed her reality TV fame into a profitable influencer career. While The Bachelor may promise love, Pepin discovered business opportunities as well, walking away from the show not only with Kenny Braasch’s final rose but also an Instagram following that skyrocketed from 50,000 to over 300,000. This surge in followers opened the door to lucrative influencer deals, generating a new revenue stream for the newly married couple.
Soon after her appearance on Bachelor in Paradise, Pepin started receiving substantial offers from major brands, including Loreal, Factor meal delivery, Ruffino wine, and Mermaid hair products. She promotes products by testing them out and then posting about her experiences on social media. Her husband, Kenny Braasch, also collaborates with her on promotions and has his own partnerships with companies like Apothic wine and BetUS, further boosting their combined income.
According to a report from Influencer Marketing Hub, brands increasingly rely on influencers for product promotion, either offering them free products or paying a fee for promotional posts. For influencers like Pepin, who earn fees or commissions through affiliate sales, this strategy has proven to be an effective way to build a brand.
For many reality TV stars, becoming an influencer is a popular side hustle, with low entry barriers. A 2023 NeoReach survey of content creators found that influencers can make between $2,500 and $5,000 per month, depending on their follower count and platform. Pepin has made as much as $12,500 for a single post and earned more than $50,000 last year alone. However, she notes that influencer income can fluctuate dramatically, creating financial uncertainty.
Social media expert Casey Lewis points out that larger followings can lead to significant earnings, but many influencers only make supplemental income, with most earning less than $15,000 annually. Despite this, influencing remains a highly desirable career path for younger generations, with 57% of Gen Zers expressing interest in becoming influencers.
Pepin acknowledges the fleeting nature of reality TV fame and stresses the importance of capitalizing on opportunities while they last. Though she has a full-time job as a social media marketing manager, her influencer work has become a profitable side gig. “The influencer stuff is just kind of extra,” Pepin says, recognizing that while it may not be consistent, it offers exciting prospects for additional income.