Real”e” Influencers: Celebrities Who Leave a Lasting Impression
Written by Sophia Weiner
The Kardashians are the blueprint, the D’Amelios tried, and now the Earles are taking a crack at it. Celebrity empires are few and far between, but when successful, they take the world by storm. Kris Jenner did it with her master momager powers and five captivating daughters. In 2020, Charli D’Amelio took over TikTok, and while her family attempted to capitalize, The D’Amelio Show left as quickly as it came. Now Alix Earle: blonde, beautiful, and business-savvy, has taken over the World Wide Web. But what differentiates failure and fame?
As a sophomore at the University of Miami, Alix Earle was driven, posting “get ready with me” Tik Toks, and in 2022, she blew up on social media, quickly gaining millions of followers. Since then, Alix has used her platform to cement her status as the “it” girl. Not only did Alix establish a following for herself, her sister Ashtin Earle, and close friend Sally Carden have both gained platforms with well over half a million fans. Today, Alix has used her marketing genius to start a skincare line Reale Actives, and debut her family's TV show, Earle Meets World.
Typically, successful empires are built through sudden media explosions, leaving people wanting more. Why do they stay? My theory: the likeability factor. While Kim Kardashian has maintained her fame as the most “famous” Kardashian, Kylie is arguably the most “popular.” To the contrary, in the case of the D’Amelio family, while both daughters reached incredible numbers, they were never truly loved by a sustainable fan base. Alix and Ashtin, on the other hand, have earned major respect and appreciation from their followers.
Similar to Hailey and Justin Bieber, an example of a celebrity couple who cover various realms of interest, Alix and Ashtin have grabbed a wide target audience. While Alix relates more to the typical party girl, Ashtin relates to the moody younger sister. They have built the Earle brand to be diverse and reach various groups, drawing attention and keeping it across large scale audiences.
The celebrity empire is a keystone of our modern zeitgeist. There is perhaps no better example of this than Rihanna. Starting with her astronomically popular music and expanding into Fenty Beauty, she has mastered the breadth of pop culture. While down-to-earth enough to relate to her fans, she is ethereal enough to be put on a pedestal.
Rising phenomena, such as the Earle family, are worth keeping an eye on. They set the tone for their followers, and their friends' followers, ultimately shaping the media we consume.
Jake Shane, a close friend of the Earles and the host of the wildly successful podcast, Therapuss, is a principal example of this. He and Alix sponsored Poppi, and what are we drinking now? He became the creative director of Katjes candy, and it’s no coincidence that it's sold out at Target stores everywhere.
When we allow creators to build empires by engaging with their every move, they help shape the trends, choices, and culture we experience every day. Being intentional about who we support means recognizing how much influence they truly carry. After all, while these creators inspire brands and ideas we appreciate, they also play a major role in steering the conversation and defining what comes next.
Edited by Claudia Rothberg
