Reality Stars Are Finally Real Stars

Growing up as a millennial, “celebrity” followed a clear hierarchy. Fame was reserved for Oscar winners, Emmy darlings, Olympic medalists, or literal royalty. Think Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Serena Williams, or Princess Diana. While those icons are still very much A-listers, their resumes are no longer the only qualifiers for legitimate fame.

Reality stars have shifted the pendulum. They’ve been around for decades—Tiffany Pollard, Lauren Conrad, Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi—but today, they’re being validated in ways we haven’t seen before. I think back to Kim Kardashian’s early days, when she was told she’d never land certain magazine covers or receive invitations to runway shows. There was a clear legitimacy struggle—a fine line between being a reality star and being a real star. That line was so real that only a few reality stars ever crossed it—Kim K and Cardi B being the most obvious examples.

Now, it’s not just possible—it’s becoming the norm. The “proving yourself” timeline is shorter, and the access is broader. Think Paige DeSorbo, Alix Earle, and especially Olandria Carthen. She moved quickly from reality television into widespread industry visibility, without the same prolonged proving period. The same could be said for fellow Love Island stars Serena Page, Leah Kateb, and JaNa Craig.

That contrast says less about any one person and more about the moment we’re in. In a cultural landscape that feels increasingly fluid, it makes sense that celebrity would evolve, too. Ahead, I spoke with two experts to unpack why reality stars are no longer peripheral figures, but legitimate forces shaping culture, consumer behavior, and industry power.

TV Is the Blueprint 

The small screen has always led to exposure—it doesn’t matter whether it’s a sitcom or a dating competition. Being in people’s living rooms, week after week, creates widespread visibility regardless of the format. We sometimes forget that some of the biggest names working today began on television in ways that didn’t appear “prestigious” at the time, as Cronin points out.

“I think a definite shift happened with Kim Kardashian and the entire Kardashian/Jenner family,” Cronin says. “But so many credible actors and singers got their start on reality TV. For example, Laverne Cox was on this TLC show called TRANSform Me, where three trans women gave people makeovers.”

He adds that Jamie Chung appeared on The Real World: San Diego, and Cardi B rose to fame on Love & Hip Hop. “We wouldn’t even dare call Jamie Chung a reality star today,” Cronin says. “She’s an actress. A fashion girl. TV has always been the avenue—it’s just that only certain people go on to become mega stars.”

Bennett argues that, in many ways, there hasn’t been a major shift at all. “I grew up in the The Hills era,” he says. “Alix Earle was Lauren Conrad. She was on the fashion scene, doing the damn thing. We were enamored with her world because the show was about her—we wanted to be her.”

Bennett notes that Conrad was also unusually early to launch brand deals, books, and fashion lines, including her long-running partnership with Kohl’s. The real difference, Bennett explains, isn’t exposure—it’s intention. “Lauren was so hell-bent on making fashion work because she knew TV wouldn’t last forever,” he says. “Today’s reality stars understand that TV is the opportunity.”

The Defining Moments That Make a Star

When we think about the reality stars who’ve truly broken through, there’s usually a defining moment involved. A scandal. A buildup. Kim Kardashian’s leaked tape, Ariana Madix discovering Tom Sandoval’s affair, Olandria Carthen’s slow burn with Nic. America likes to feel part of something playing out in real time. “America loves someone who tries hard, who puts themselves out there, someone who isn’t afraid of relentless criticism,” says Cronin. “The Kardashians are a really good example of that. No matter how much they were beaten down, they kept showing up. They wanted fame—it was clear—but that candidness and honesty made it real and really likable.”

Cronin notes that this kind of visible ambition has long been a thing. He references Lady Gaga’s early appearance on MTV’s Boiling Points. “She just wanted to be famous. She wanted to be on camera,” he says. “America respects that type of hustle for fame—and that’s kind of why we’re where we are.”

With Olandria, Cronin says the response felt immediate because there was a sort of Jennifer Aniston “impact” going on. Public sympathy crystallized around her. “When we watched her relationship with Taylor unfold, people felt for her,” he says. “America loves a story like that—especially when it centers on someone undeserving and absolutely beautiful.”

He adds that Olandria also stood out in ways viewers don’t often get to see. “There weren’t a lot of dark-skinned women centered on TV for the right reasons,” Cronin says. “So many people saw themselves in her. She was genuine, true to herself.”

Fame Is Getting More Relatable 

For a long time, celebrity was built on mystery. There was something intriguing about how unattainable stars felt—like they existed on a completely different planet. Shows like MTV Cribs and The Fabulous Life of… offered tiny peeks into that world, but never full access. Celebrities were aspirational because they were distant. Over time, that equation flipped. Popularity is now measured less by mystique and more by relatability. You see it constantly on TikTok: an influencer gains a massive following for doing everyday things, only for the comments to turn once their life starts to look too polished. “I just can’t relate to her anymore” has become a form of critique in its own right. Fame today is fragile—and deeply tied to how accessible someone feels.

That sentiment is especially pronounced among younger audiences. “Traditional celebrities are sometimes a little boring to Gen Z,” says Bennett. “They’re so used to everyone sharing everything that it’s hard for them to see the intrigue.” That’s why figures like Emma Chamberlain resonate so strongly. “There’s no big scandal or drama,” Bennett explains. “It’s the rawness. The carefreeness. She feels like a friend.”

That same logic helps explain why someone like Morgan Stewart McGraw connects, too. “She’s rich as f— but still incredibly relatable,” Bennett says. “She’s the epitome of a cool girl, and that translates.”

It’s also why reality stars continue to thrive. “The Love Island girls, the Housewives—they give it to us,” Bennett says. “They don’t have anything to lose.” He points to Nene Leakes as an early example: “A divorce, then a reconciliation—it all played out. That kind of openness is what people respond to.”

Olandria is a perfect example of that kind of openness. When she finally voiced her frustration about Taylor’s lack of rereciprocity—“He didn’t do s–t for me,” she said, her Alabama accent thick—viewers watched someone release the “strong Black woman” armor and tell the truth. It wasn’t strategic, it was human. And for many Black women watching, it felt especially resonant. That authenticity didn’t derail her post-villa success—it fueled it.

That exact pattern shows up across today’s reality landscape. On The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, Taylor Frankie Paul’s very public unraveling—arrest and messy relationships included—didn’t stall her relevance; it expanded it. Former Summer House star Paige DeSorbo, meanwhile, has built a career that feels less like a reality star and more like a modern It girl: former fashion writer turned podcaster, entrepreneur, and founder of the ready-to-lounge line Daphne.

TikTok Keeps the Story Going 

Social media is the biggest difference between today’s reality stars and those of the past. Cronin says TikTok gives reality stars “another avenue to get in front of our faces—because that’s really the name of the game with celebrity, right?” Reality stars know this, too. It’s why you’ll sometimes hear Love Island contestants say things like “your DMs will be lit” or that your follower count will be “crazy” once you leave the island. There’s an immediate place for them to land, somewhere to connect with fans ASAP.

That kind of immediacy didn’t exist in the early 2000s, which is why some names inevitably faded. “With celebrities, you have to see a lot—it’s like marketing,” Cronin says. “You see it three times before you buy it.”

Social media changed that cadence. “Reality stars and celebrities in general are given autonomy to show themselves. The power is in their hands now.” Bennett agrees, pointing to Kim Kardashian’s recent TikTok vlogs. “Everyone is like, ‘This is better than the show,'” he says. “That’s because there’s something so unfiltered and fun about it. That’s the nature of TikTok—it works, and it only strengthens their influence.”

Cronin adds that brands eventually had to fall in line. “Being at Us Weekly for so long and going to so many Fashion Week events, it became obvious that the fashion industry took longer to adapt,” he says. “Reality stars weren’t sitting front row at heritage brand shows—but that had to change.”

Today, those barriers look different. “You see it with Cardi B always sitting near Anna Wintour,” Cronin says. “Beauty brands caught on faster, but social media helped bridge the gap—and those partnerships helped legitimize reality stars even further.”

The Path Forward 

While not every reality star will become a household name, there are a few clear ways to maximize visibility once the cameras stop rolling. “Market yourself right away,” says Cronin. “If you’re on Love Island and you’re a singer, you should always be singing. If you want to model, make sure you’re in the tiniest bikini and always wearing heels—give people what you want to be known for, because it sticks. We remember Olandria’s romance with Nic, but we’ll never forget her ethereal presence, so her getting modeling gigs makes complete sense.”

Farai puts it simply: have a goal, and say it out loud. “Make sure you have a career in mind—something you actually want to do,” he says. “If I wanted to be the next Ryan Seacrest and I was on TV, I’d keep saying that. In the reality world, words are powerful.”

In today’s media landscape, that power extends far beyond the screen—evident in massive social reach, brand deals, and crossover opportunities across fashion, beauty, music, and hosting. And with new seasons of series like Love Is Blind, Love Island, and Star Search on tap for this year, we’re sure a fresh batch of breakout icons is on the way.