Summer's Here, What Now???
I’ll be blunt about it: The energy summer brings is unmatched in helping spark a fresh wave of creativity amongst the influencer marketing industry’s top content creators — especially those within the food and lifestyle sectors. We’ve already seen it at play with the rise of warm-weather viral food trends (read: the Jennifer Aniston salad, “cowboy caviar,” balsamic vinegar cola soda, the Hailey Bieber smoothie), DIY backyard projects, new fitness routines, kid-friendly activities, etc.
This season, talent at Digital Brand Architects continue to lead these conversations online with their popular how-to’s and hack videos — as well as offline with their own merchandise, technology and of course, partnerships with today’s leading brands. DBA’s June newsletter narrows in on this, while also highlighting Pride 2022 and our commitment to helping create a more equitable learning environment for all.
Nya-Gabriella Parchment
Vice President, Brand Partnerships & Marketing
Who's On Content?! Produced by Digital Brand Architects
DBA’s first original podcast, Who’s On Content?!, discusses the insanely addictive and behavior-altering power of today’s content with help from the powers and players influencing it. For episode eight, lifestyle guru and talent Marianna Hewitt shared the origins of her successful beauty brand Summer Fridays and why remaining “true to you” is key when building community. Business mogul Chriselle Lim joined for episode nine to chat about the power of storytelling and why storytelling is important. Click here to take a listen!
What's The Deal? Produced By Digital Brand Architects
Cynthia Andrew joined DBA’s social series What’s The Deal? for round two of the conversation centered around finding management, setting rates and negotiating brand deals. Click here to watch the full recap!
New Signs
Featured Content: Easy Summer Entertaining
Olivia Rink is known for her classic, yet modern approach to interior design and her love of entertaining. Whether it be sharing how to style a picnic table or offering up patio gardening advice, her social feeds are full of new ways to liven up any space.
No one does a summer soiree like Jenny Cipoletti. From cooking themed meals alongside her husband, Freddie, to putting together intricately thought out tablescapes, no small detail is left unnoticed. Through her blog and Pinterest, she outlines helpful do’s and don’ts around entertaining guests all while including the essentials needed to leave a lasting impression.
Carissa Stanton is all for helping to make preparing a summer feast as easy as possible, which to her means firing up the grill! An avid believer in the opinion that everything tastes better with a little char on it, she’s known to offer a variety of simple, tasty recipes to suit everyone’s palette.
Adrianna Adarme of A Cozy Kitchen kicked off summer with her newest content series centered around everyone’s favorite summertime meal: sandwiches. Across IG and TikTok, Adrianna’s sandwich recipes have garnered 7.2M+ views with the engagement rate averaging 9.45% per video.
Caitlin Covington is based in Winston Salem, NC and loves to refresh her outdoor space for the spring and summer seasons. A big fan of an adorable hosting moment, Caitlin’s festive cocktail recipe blog posts continue to perform well – driving TBDx traffic per TBDtimeframe.
Featured LGBTQIA+ Talent
Digital Brand Architects is honored to represent a diverse talent roster with over 200+ individuals, many of whom leverage their platforms to bring greater awareness and visibility for marginalized groups. In celebration of Pride, the following clients have partnered with top brands who've championed the use of their voices in joint support of the LGBTQIA+ community. Click here to view our full roster of LGBTQIA+ talent.
Joey Zauzig partnered with Queer Eye Home Collection to highlight its newest line sold at Walmart and shed light on the brand’s support of The Ali Forney Center, which protects LGBTQIA+ youth from homelessness. Through the end of June, Queer Eye has pledged $10,000 from sales and thousands in furniture donations to aid the non-profit’s goal of creating safe, comfortable, inclusive spaces.
Nicolette Mason joined forces with NARS as the lead consultant for the brand’s #NARSSeesYou campaign, helping with everything from creative direction to casting to philanthropic giving. This year, she’s excited to return as a key talent who’ll share her unique perspective in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.
As an investor and ambassador with Nudestix, Olivia Ponton kicked off Pride by consulting the brand on ways to advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community — which included a $10,000 donation to GLAAD in support of its mission of accelerating acceptance and sparking cultural change.
PJ and Thomas of The Property Lovers teamed up with Yankee Candle to celebrate Pride with the brand’s new “Love is Love” collection of three-wick candles. Together, they’re raising awareness for the global nonprofit Rainbow Railroad that works to provide the LGBTQIA+ community with safety from state-enabled persecution within their respective countries.
Brand Partnerships & Launches
Amazon The Drop
Rachel Martino is excited to announce her first-ever fashion collection with Amazon The Drop. The nine-piece, limited-edition line promises to deliver Rachel’s signature style through a mix of bold colors and prints available in sizing XXS to 5X. Having proved her powerful conversion capability, Courtney Kerr launched her second collection with the brand in early June — selling out partially within the first day.
& Popsugar
Palak Patel of The Chutney Life worked with one of her favorite brands, Pepperidge Farms, through a branded content series with Popsugar. As a busy, soon-to-be mom of two, she showed viewers how to make a quick and easy five-minute meal featuring her infamous grilled portobello and pesto sandwich recipe.
Julia Berolzheimer launched an exclusive collection with Pottery Barn inspired by indoor-outdoor living. Designed with both the garden and home in mind, the collaboration takes its cues from nature and celebrates the Jula’s passion for pattern, color and impeccable style.
Jenny Cipoletti launched a limited collection of hair accessories and jewelry with Jennifer Behr. Inspired by their shared love of travel, each handmade piece was designed with a dreamy summer destination in mind to compliment any vacation wardrobe — no matter where you’re headed!
After years of sharing workout routines online, Cara Loren is proud to debut her new fitness app, Burn by Cara Loren. Available on all smart devices, it’s designed with intentionality to “ignite your fitness flame” and help you achieve your goals by consolidating results-proven exercise programs all in one place.
& TV Awards
Tayshia Adams hosted the biggest night to be a fan, the MTV Movie & TV Awards: Unscripted. Having aired on June 5, the show took place live in Los Angeles at the Barker Hangar and was broadcasted back-to-back and simulcast across BET, BET Her, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV2, Nick at Nite, Paramount Network, Pop, TV Land and VH1.
Mothercould In Your Pocket
Mothercould launched her new sensory e-course, Mothercould In Your Pocket. As a consolidated and accessible digital resource for parents, educators and caregivers, this user-friendly resource is filled with many of her favorite viral hacks and play strategies.
Jacey Duprie’s first book entitled, “Liking Myself Back” was released in early June. Chronicling her journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance, the candid memoir showcases how embracing your imperfect, authentic self is not only possible — but is the true key to happiness.
Riley Hubatka joined forces with clothing brand Peppermayo to release a 49-item summer collection featuring dresses, cute sets, leisurewear, shoes, swimwear and accessories.
Caitlin Covington partnered with Pink Lily to drop her third collection: an adorable mommy-and-me line of matching swimwear and dresses perfect for summer!
Industry News
Salt Hank appeared on Access Hollywood for the ultimate sandwich showdown, battling it out with his delicious chicken pesto recipe that was a real crowd pleaser.
Fabrizio Villalpando of Thee Moody Foody was featured in an article on CNN about the dishes that made famous chefs fall in love with cooking. In sharing his appreciation for grilled octopus, Fabrizio also discussed how creating food content has been an opportunity for him to re-explore his Mexican heritage and connect with the community.
Tenicka Boyd was interviewed for a profile on WWD that included how she built her following through bold colors and a passion for social justice.
Modern Luxury & Gotham Magazine
Aimee Song and Brittany Xavier were featured on Modern Luxury’s Top 100 Creators list, which shares the social media influencers trending and informing our cultural zeitgeist IRL.
Mom of four Amber Fillerup Clark graced the cover of Mini Magazine’s latest issue! The publication also featured Katherine Schwarzenegger, who gets serious about safe medicine, as well as Bethany Ciotola who invites readers into her stunning 1870’s Georgian home to talk parenting and personal style.
James Beard Foundation
Hawa Hassan took home her first James Beard Foundation Media Award for her book, “In Bibi’s Kitchen,” which uses food to teach readers about families, war, loss, migration, refuge and sanctuary — all within the purview of grandmothers from eight eastern African countries whose recipes and stories fill its pages. Centered around the recipes and traditions that keep cultures intact, it’s Hawa’s hope that the book reveals to readers a more accurate and intimate Africa that they can see themselves reflected in through each subject.
Dear Media:
New Shows & Highlights
If you’re looking for the strategies and encouragement to pursue a life of purpose, this is the podcast for you! Week after week Nicole Walters will have you laughing hysterically while frantically taking notes as she shares her own personal stories and answers your DMs about life, business, and everything in between.
From Q&A’s and break up tips to simply navigating every stage of life, influencer-turned-entrepreneur Payton Sartain brings you the sisterly advice you didn’t know you needed and honest conversations you’ve always wanted.
Ariana’s new podcast, Earth to Ariana is designed to form meaningful connections between Ariana, her friends and her fans. Dressed in their comfiest clothes and creating a safe space for sharing, each week, Ariana and a celebrity guest will break boundaries and the fourth wall by tackling topics like destigmatizing mental health, prioritizing self-care and sharing the weird truths they usually keep to themselves.
with Kristin & Stephen x Variety
Variety shared the news of the Dear Media’s new Laguna Beach Rewatch Podcast, “Back to the Beach with Kristin & Stephen.” Hosting by Kristfin Cavallari and Stephen Colletti, the show focuses on the first two drama-filled seasons of the TV show and includes guest appearances by “Laguna” castmates, celebrities and MTV insiders.