“It’s hard to wrap your mind around it when you grow up on such a small island,” he says, recalling the contradiction of his digital life and IRL reality. When I asked how it felt to be thrust into the spotlight so quickly, Bretman concedes that he didn’t notice the fame. Maisie Wilen top, The M Jewelers necklace and ring. Because the truth is, as Bretman says, “I always knew I was going to be a star.” And while influencers and internet celebrities are now a dime a dozen, Bretman’s ever-widening influence is no mere blessing from the algorithm gods. Yet chalking his success up to mere manifestation belies Bretman’s indefatigable work ethic and shrewd understanding of the mechanics of the internet.
In between his budding television career, he’s been collecting brand collaborations and lucrative sponsorship deals and growing his fan base-which, based on our last tally, stands at 17 million followers on Instagram, 11.9 million on TikTok, and 8.6 million on YouTube. Before that, he was named People’s Choice Awards Beauty Influencer of the Year and one of Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens. “I really don’t think there’s anything in my life right now or any accomplishments that I have that I didn’t manifest.”īeyond his reality show, this year it was announced he is a face of Nike’s Pride-themed Be True campaign, he was named MTV’s 2021 Breakthrough Social Star, and another reality show ( 30 Days With: Bretman Rock) debuted.
