Why Some Celebrity Brands Flop While Others Break the Internet

From skincare to alcohol, it feels like every celebrity has a brand and your feed is probably full of them. But why do some explode while others quietly crash and burn? Today, Sammi breaks down what really separates the hits from the hype. Is it all about star power—or does authenticity actually matter? Sammi dives into the blueprint behind successful celebrity brands like Hailey Bieber’s Rhode and Kim Kardashian’s Skims, and why others, like Blake Lively’s new beauty line and Katy Perry’s non-alcoholic beverage line, might be missing the mark. This isn’t just about celebs—it’s about how trust, timing, and problem-solving products win in a saturated market. Follow Sammi on Instagram here Subscribe to the Social Currency newsletter here Here’s what Sammi covers today: 00:00 The Celebrity Brand Boom 00:38 Fame vs. Business Savvy 01:13 The Risks of Building on a Personal Brand 01:45 What Happened to Ivy Park? 04:44 Skims: A Case Study in Smart Branding 06:20 Rhode and the Rise of Skinfluencers 07:30 Beauty Industry Hits and Misses 10:07 What Actually Makes a Brand “Authentic”? 12:04 Takeaways and Predictions 12:25 How to Show Social Currency Some Love All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC. *APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change. See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices