• Through product placements, some reality TV stars have built a small fortune. But in recent months the practice no longer pays as much.
  • Between the various scandals that have affected the world of influence and the new law to regulate the sector examined since Tuesday in the Senate, these influencers are looking for new sources of income.
  • Return of "bookings" in nightclubs, opening YouTube channels or creating Only Fans and Mym accounts, these stars of the small screen try to earn their money differently.

Villas in Dubai, XXL birthdays, luxury bags, sports cars... This is the setting that reality TV influencers have accustomed us to. Maëva Ghennam, Julien and Manon Tanti, Jessica Thivenin, Jazz Correira, Nikolas Lozina... In just a few years, these stars of the small screen have built real fortunes, especially thanks to product placements on social networks. But for the past year, controversies over the sector have been linked: scams, advertising for dubious training, promotion of dangerous products or false financial expertise. The situation was already not good, but that was without counting the bill to regulate the sector of influence, examined since Tuesday in the Senate.

As a result, between recent scandals and changing consumption patterns, product placements no longer yield as much. "This is the end of this model as we know it. By feeding people advertisements and promo codes, selling anything and everything, influencers have lost the trust of their community and tarnished their image, "says Nisrine Boussarhane, influence consultant for the OTTA agency. "If they had sold quality products, we wouldn't be here. Buy a product 15 euros if it is worth 15 euros, yes, but buy a product 15 euros if it is worth 40 cents, no. People don't want that anymore," adds Jeff Lang 2 VIP, a YouTuber and reality TV blogger.

Low-end "Bookings"

And the golden era of product placement is well and truly over, according to him: "A few years ago, a product placement was worth about 2,000 euros. Today, we are more on 200, it has been divided by ten. As a result of the operation, influencers are "forced to turn to other sources of income, to diversify," says Nisrine Boussarhane. While some innovate, others recycle old practices. In recent weeks, some influencers have returned to "bookings", these appearances in nightclubs or at events, such as private parties or the opening of a business, for a fee.

This is the case of Jazz Correira, the matriarch of the JLC Family. "Whether it's for a private birthday, whether it's for a bar mitzvah, whether it's for a hair salon, a restaurant, a library, whatever, if you want to book me, you can directly contact the number that was on the flyer," she proposed in story on her Instagram account in early March. The couple Julien and Manon Tanti, historical figures of the "Marseillais" with 10 million subscribers between them, have also begun to offer their services. "If you are a restaurant, you want us to come, a beauty salon, bowling, karting, whatever, do not hesitate, contact us," said the young woman on her social network. "It's a step backwards clearly," according to Jeff Lang 2 VIP, who believes that the candidates do not do it "for fun". Because if they were "paid to go clubbing at 20, motivating themselves at 35-40 years old to do the show at 2 o'clock in the morning, it's not the same thing".

Regardless, it's "easy money for them," says Nisrine Boussarhane. According to the specialized blogger Vaarruecos, the Tanti spouses would ask for example 2,500 euros for their "bookings", in "cash". Nikolas Lozina would require 1,000 euros, as well as a hotel room, to move. And this return of "booking" has given rise to some unpublished images. Like those of Greg Yega, invited to the opening of a Donut store in Echirolles near Grenoble, or Nikola Lozina and Simon Castaldi, dressed in Mascot costume, for a children's party.

It's not their library stories. 😄 pic.twitter.com/JRxQViPdaR

— Solife Gossip (@SolifeGossip_) March 13, 2023

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And all means are good to make money. In addition to "bookings", Julien Tanti, now offers "autographed" videos on the Vidoleo website. The cost? 60 euros if you are an individual and from 1,000 euros if you are a company. "In the end, it's nothing more than a booking, but without moving," says Jeff Lang of Vip.

Up to 100,000 euros on Mym

Others have found refuge on YouTube. If some like Hilona, Bastos, Victoria Mehaut, or Giussepa have already switched to the platform for several months, others have just signed their arrival. This is the case of Maëva Ghennam. The one who was previously one of the highest-paid reality TV influencers - up to 400,000 euros per month, according to industry specialists - launched her YouTube channel at the end of March, which already has 22,000 subscribers. On the program, videos "in the skin of" where the starlet tests different professions. "They're getting more and more into it because they can win a lot," admits Jeff Lang 2 VIP. But not everyone is Squeezie or Mc Fly & Carlito. "It can work if they are creative, if they have something to offer. Laura Lempika dedicated her channel to her life as a mother, to Hilona's, we follow her business and her daily life, and Bastos was a youtuber before arriving on reality TV. It's not just fun, it's a real job," he continues.

Other former reality TV contestants offer more intimate content on Mym or Only Fans platforms. For a subscription, they offer private, often erotic and sometimes pornographic content. If Adrien Laurent, Illan Castranovo, Nathalie Andréani and Gabano have been registered for a few years, other candidates, such as Julien Bert, Mélanie Dedigama or Amandine Pellissard, the former participant of the show "Large Families", have decided to lend themselves to the game.

🔞 It's Mélanie Dedigama's turn to join the MYM platform. Does it shock you? pic.twitter.com/j7CxhQAYN7

— Solife Gossip (@SolifeGossip_) February 9, 2023

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And if candidates choose this path, it is because it can pay off big. Prices vary from ten to several hundred euros for a photo or video, depending on the "service". Like Nathalie Andréani, who said on the set of "Touche pas à mon poste" earn nearly 100,000 euros per month with this content. Amandine Pellissard admitted to having accumulated more than 26,000 euros in earnings in less than two months. "It pays more than product placements," she explained to Jeremstar. "In terms of revenue, it can go very high. But you should not start just for the gain, because once you are on these platforms, it is an image that sticks to the skin and it is almost impossible to get rid of it, "warns Nisrine Boussarhane.

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