Creator and influencer trends brand marketers need to know about right now

In its latest influencer‑marketing trends roundup, Ad Age highlights Olandria Carthen’s role in McDonald’s “First Job Confessional” campaign as a notable example of how brands are tapping reality‑TV personalities to drive participatory, social‑first initiatives. Carthen, who shares her own early work story as part of the campaign’s launch, is featured alongside other industry stories — including debates around brand naming and other creator collaborations — illustrating how marketers increasingly lean on influential figures like her to connect with younger, digital native audiences and generate authentic engagement across platforms.