How this 'Bachelor' star leveraged reality TV fame to build a small influencer fortune.

• A former contestant from ABC's "The Bachelor" franchise, Mari Pepin, discusses the financial aspects of being a reality TV celebrity.
• Often, dating show contestants can become influencers by building a fan base, regardless of whether or not they find a happy ending.
• According to a 2023 NeoReach survey, influencers can earn between $2,500 and $5,000 per month.

In theory, participants on ABC's "The Bachelor" seek love, but frequently discover commercial prospects.

Mari Pepin, 28, got both.

Pepin, a contestant on "The Bachelor" season 25 and "Bachelor in Paradise" season 7, received Kenny Braasch's final rose and now has an Instagram following of over 300,000, up from 50,000 before her reality TV appearances.

That's when the money started to come in.

Following the airing of "Bachelor in Paradise," her following increased, leading to numerous influencer opportunities. "Immediately, we were inundated with massive deals," she stated.

The "underconsumption core" is gaining popularity, and it couldn't come at a better time. The recession is hitting hard, and music is playing a crucial role in economic trends. I'm searching for a man in finance.

She tries Pepin products at her home in Chicago and posts about them on social media, earning a fee for hitting the company's suggested talking points.

Pepin has collaborated with Loreal, Factor meal delivery, Ruffino wine, and Mermaid hair products, among other brands. On certain promotions, Pepin teams up with Braasch, who also has partnerships with Apothic wine and BetUS. This partnership with CNBC was facilitated by Braasch's connections.

A report from Influencer Marketing Hub reveals that a common marketing strategy is for brands to give products to celebrities and influencers in exchange for promotions on their social media feeds.

A survey of over 3,000 marketing agencies, brands, and professionals found that businesses will sign deals with influencers to promote their product in their posts for a fee or a share of affiliate revenue, with the posts alone driving sales.

According to the report, the approach that has proven effective for building a brand for companies.

Influencers 'can make bank'

Numerous reality TV celebrities have turned to influencing as a lucrative side job with minimal effort.

According to a 2023 NeoReach survey of over 2,000 full- and part-time content creators, they can earn between $2,500 and $5,000 per month.

Despite earning over $50,000 through influencing and making up to $12,500 per post, the number of prospects and payout can fluctuate significantly, as shown by CNBC's review of records.

"That inconsistency is really scary for me," she said.

""The more they juice the affiliate, the more money they can make," said Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert and founder of trend newsletter After School."

According to NeoReach's survey, most full- and part-time creators earn an annual income of $15,000 or less.

A 2023 report from Morning Consult found that 57% of Gen Zers would like to become an influencer if given the opportunity, based on a poll of over 2,200 adults and a separate survey of 1,000 Gen Zers aged 13-26 who use various social media platforms.

"Many individuals aim to become influencers in order to achieve self-employment, recognition for their style, and a sense of identity," Lewis stated.

She acknowledged that monetizing one's life in that manner can be exhausting.

Nearly half of young adults have a side gig

A side hustle can be a valuable source of income to help manage the increased cost of living.

In 2024, 36% of U.S. adults have a second job and earn an average of $891 per month in extra cash, up from $810 in 2023, according to a June report by Bankrate, which surveyed over 2,300 U.S. adults. Among Gen Zers and millennials, the percentage of adults with a side gig is nearly 50%.

Pepin's primary job is as a social media marketing manager, and she considers her influencer work to be an additional, less dependable activity.

Pepin is utilizing her reality TV notoriety as one half of a prosperous "Bachelor" pair.

Pepin advised, "It's crucial to strike when the opportunity presents itself."