The Potential Comeback of Olivia Jade [EDITORIAL]

Social media influencer Olivia Jade is experiencing setbacks and resentment towards her parents in light of the recent college admission scandal involving her mother, actress Lori Loughlin. There is speculation as to whether her influencer career will cease to continue at all. 

While losing lucrative sponsorships and brand deals may seem harsh and detrimental, the loss of these deals is fair and will not be the end of her career as a social media influencer. Olivia is still young and has the potential to rebuild her career in an honest and respectable manner. 

After rightfully losing sponsorships with major companies such as HP and Sephora, Entertainment Tonightreported that Olivia is “really angry at her parents because she told them she did not want to go to college and she was pushed.” The reportwent on to say that Olivia is “devastated because everything that she built imploded before her eyes.” Although Olivia feel she is being unrightfully punished, it’s fair that she’s experiencing repercussions.

Companies, such as HP, sought Olivia out due to her status as a college student. It’s completely understandable that these brands don’t want serious scholars to associate the brand with this scandal. In fact, it’s a surprise Amazon hasn’t publicly tried to distance themselves from Olivia, after partnering with her to market dorm room décor. 

It’s also understandable why beauty companies such as Sephora and TRESemme to disassociated themselves from Olivia. It makes brands look to be more ethical and trustworthy when they separate themselves from a case involving deception and privilege, especially when they are trying to reach a broader market that contains students. With that being said, Olivia still has the potential to be a style and beauty icon and can still have mutually lucrative partnerships with fashion and beauty brands away from the college demographic. 

While Olivia still has potential to be a successful influencer, her involvement in the scandal is still unfair to the students who worked hard to attend college and for the fans that looked up to her. According to People Magazine, just a few days prior to the scandal going public, Olivia was giving advice to high school aged fans who were looking to her for input on how to apply and get accepted into college.

Impressionable fans who looked to Olivia Jade for advice have every right to feel deceived and mislead, for people generally choose to gain influence of those they aspire to be.  Olivia may have to build a new fan base of people choosing to look up to her for her luxurious lifestyle, fashion, and beauty choices, as she may not be a valid source of influence for education purposes. 

In considering the stance that Olivia Jade shouldn’t be punished for something she didn’t know she was involved in, she should still have rewards unjustly given to her revoked. Olivia should definitely be withdrawn from her placement at USC, but should be allowed to reapply and go through the process just like any other student. All students involved but not found guilty in this scandal should be allowed a chance to go through the process fairly, but also shouldn’t be allowed to reap benefits of a fraudulent situation.

While Olivia’s pursuit of education and success within her career are not over, being an influencer holds a lot of responsibility. Only respectable and trustworthy individuals with valid knowledge in the area they are choosing to touch on should be influencers, and that is something Olivia should consider when reconstructing her career. 

This editorial was based on a discussion by a JAMS 504 editorial board.