6 Celebrity Endorsement Examples to Inspire Your Next Campaign

We can't help it — others' decisions influence our own. Before we decide what to buy, we look for validation that we're putting our money in the right place.

That's why, done right, celebrity endorsements can be monumental for your business. Consumers are 15% more likely to buy a product endorsed by a celebrity they trust.

But not all celebrity endorsements are created equal. Frankly, plenty are poorly executed and come off as disingenuous.

That's why, despite the fact that 50% of consumers are more likely to buy a product a celebrity endorses, only 22% say they trust celebrities as "reliable sources of information" and 75% of marketers think endorsements aren't worth the investment.

We're here to tell you they are worth it. You just need one that's aligned with your brand's message and works with your target audience.

Here's a look at 6 of our favorite celebrity endorsement examples, the "why" behind their success, and a lesson you can take from each one.

6 celebrity endorsements we can all learn from

1. Billie Eilish x Nike

Nike has a reputation for letting celebs with iconic styles take the reins on design collabs and endorsements. And this one is no different.

In April 2022, Billie Eilish collaborated with Nike to release a sustainable and stylish collection that included her take on the classic Nike Air Force 1 silhouette, which launched on the SNKRS app and her website.

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The highlight was the "Mushroom" Air Force 1 High, featuring a tonal tan color, multiple straps, and materials made from 18% post-consumer recycled content, aligning with Eilish's commitment to sustainability.

And she was sure to mention her emphasis on the use of sustainable materials — in a statement to Nike, she mentions it was "important for [her] to mix in environmentally preferred materials" when designing the shoe.

The lesson: When the cause you're supporting is a major selling point for your product, choose a celebrity whose values and audience align with that cause.

2. Rihanna x Louis Vuitton

In June 2023, Rihanna starred in a high-profile campaign for Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2024 menswear collection, which marked Pharrell Williams' debut as the brand's men's creative director.

Rihanna, who was visibly pregnant, showcased her baby bump while modeling key pieces from the collection, including a striking oversized denim outfit and the luxurious "Millionaire Speedy" bag.

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The campaign makes a powerful statement about embracing individuality and challenging the status quo. She challenged traditional maternity fashion norms by modeling such bold and stylish looks. And adding to that is the fact that a woman was the face of Pharrell Williams' first men's line.

But from a marketing standpoint, the real reason it was successful is because Rihanna was already  going viral online, with millions talking about her pregnancy (which she revealed at the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show).

With everyone already talking about that, her Louis Vuitton endorsement instantly became iconic.

The lesson: To maximize your campaign's visibility, choose a celebrity who's already going viral and find a way to piggyback off of their buzz.

3. Portillo's x Cameo

When the beloved Chicago restaurant chain released its new spicy chicken sandwich, they knew they had to do something big. The sandwich's defining trait was its special giardiniera sauce — a word that's quite the mouthful (be honest...can you even pronounce it?).

So, what better way to promote it than to have a bunch of familiar faces try to say it?

Portillo's used the Cameo for Business platform to connect with 20 celebrities at once. Faces included Snooki, Brian Baumgartner (Kevin from "The Office"), and comedian Cedric the Entertainer.

The results were astounding:

• 200% higher organic views compared to typical social media posts

• 300% higher social media engagement on videos

• 25% exceeded initial expected sales

The lesson: Humanize your brand through humor, and use a platform like Cameo to create unique, shareable celebrity content that feels natural.

4. Ryan Reynolds x Mint Mobile

Mint Mobile, a discount wireless carrier, faced a major challenge: They were the new kid on the block in an industry dominated by major players like AT&T and Verizon.

So, how do you stand out and gain credibility as a new player in an established market? Partner with a well-known celebrity who can bring some humor to the table.

What makes Mint Mobile's partnership with him so powerful is that he's not just there to promote products — he also had an ownership stake in the company. As a part of the team, his unique and unconventional marketing strategies differentiated Mint Mobile from its competitors.

His strategic approach paid off in March 2023, when T-Mobile acquired Mint Mobile in a deal valued at $1.35 billion. Despite the acquisition, Reynolds retains a creative role and continues to influence the brand's direction.

The lesson: Don't just choose a famous face. Pick a celebrity who can become an integral part of your brand and genuinely advocate for your product.

5. Travis Scott x McDonalds

During the first year of the pandemic, Travis Scott and McDonald's partnered to release the Travis Scott Meal:

• A quarter pounder with cheese, bacon, and lettuce

• Medium fries with BBQ sauce for dipping

• A Sprite

The campaign also featured exclusive Cactus Jack merchandise and a catchphrase "Tell them Cactus Jack sent you."

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The partnership was an instant hit. It boosted McDonald's U.S. sales and generated $20 million in revenue for Scott through merchandise and meal sales. In fact, it was so popular that it led to ingredient shortages at many McDonald's locations across the country.

Why?

It's a combination of cultural alignment and innovative marketing. The mean was his actual McDonald's order, so it was a real, authentic endorsement. Scott promoted it like crazy on his accounts. And the catchy slogan and merch motivated customers to share their experience on social media platforms.

The lesson: Choose a celebrity with a loud voice and active following, and watch your brand awareness and sales skyrocket.

6. Alix Earle x Airbnb

Alix Earle's claim to fame is her unabashedly honest and authentic approach to her content. While most people put up a front on social media, her "Get Ready With Me" (GRWM) series gives her followers a raw and genuine look at her life, even the most unglamorous parts.

Her openness and relatability have made her a successful celebrity, sure. But they've also made her one of TikTok's most trustworthy voices. She absolutely refuses to endorse anything she doesn't believe in.

So when she and her friends took a trip to Italy and their accommodations fell through, Airbnb rose to the challenge. They reached out to the group and put them in a new villa — a villa from which they screamed "THANK YOU AIRBNB" and filmed tons of content over the next several days.

The estimated earned media value from the campaign? $100,000.

The lesson: When you see a unique opportunity for your business to form an organic partnership, jump on it.

How to choose the right celebrity for your brand

Whether it's for a commercial, social media ad, or a full-blown partnership, the success of your campaign ultimately boils down to whether you choose the right celebrity to endorse your product.

Successful campaigns take place on the Cameo platform every single day. Here's what we've gathered from them:

Know your target audience inside and out.

When you work with someone famous, the ultimate goal is to leverage their fan base to gain exposure and credibility. As such, you need to understand who your audience is and what they're interested in.

• Conduct market research

• Identify your target demographic

• Understand their interests, values, and lifestyle

• Consider what makes them buy, and how they feel when they purchase your products

From there, look at celebrities who embody those characteristics. Otherwise, the endorsement won’t resonate with their followers (or worse, they'll think it's just a big old money grab).

Match the celebrity's background to your product.

For example, Steph Curry's collection with Under Armour makes complete sense because Steph Curry is an NBA star. The brand already has entire product lines dedicated to basketball, and several other partnerships with pro basketball players. 

Steph's shoes and clothes have a unique angle. They're focused on city-friendly, off-court attire to bridge the gap between sports and casual wear.

If you were to have Amy Schumer promote a company like Budweiser or McLaren, it would probably flop. She's funny and famous, sure. But she's far more popular among women than men.

Consider how others will interpret your campaign.

When you're working with a top celebrity, it's definitely going to get tons of exposure. With millions of people watching, you have to consider...

• How likable is this celebrity?

• Will their association with your brand offend any of your customers?

• What's the perception of their past endorsements?

• Could the messaging be misconstrued?

Take Kendall Jenner's 2017 Pepsi commercial as an example. In the ad, she hands a can of soda to a police officer during a protest and seemingly solves the conflict.

People found it tone deaf and insulting to the Black Lives Matter movement. Pepsi pulled the ad less than 24 hours after its release, but the damage had already been done.

Look at who's already promoting your product.

There are plenty of instances where a celebrity endorses a product or brand on their own. If you see this happening, consider reaching out to them for an official partnership.

For example:

• The Nelk Boys naturally became close friends with Dana White and the UFC after attending UFC events several times in their vlogs.

• Amy Schumer became the face of Tampax after some of the jokes she made in her comedy routines.

• Kim Kardashian leveraged her social media presence and collaborations with other influencers to make SKIMS a billion-dollar brand.

Celebrity endorsements vs. influencer marketing

While celebrities and influencers play a similar role when it comes to endorsements, there are key differences between the two that can help you decide when to use one over the other.

Reach and engagement

Influencer marketing relies on that influencer's network engaging with your content. Depending on the influencer's following and engagement rate, this can vary in terms of reach and impact.

Engagement is statistically far higher at the micro-influencer level. But your reach will be limited.

Celebrity endorsements generally have a larger reach due to their widespread fame, but their engagement rates might be lower because they have a more diverse audience.

If you prioritize reach, partner with celebrities. If you want to target and engage a specific niche, find influencers.

Content distribution

With influencer marketing, the creator is responsible for creating and publishing the content. So you're dependent on their network to engage with your campaign.

Celebrity endorsements work completely different:

1. The celebrity creates content for your brand or you create it alongside them.

2. You distribute it using your own marketing channels.

3. The celebrity can share or repost the content on their social media platforms as well.

This gives you a lot more control over the narrative, but it also means you'll have to put in more work to create and distribute the content.

When you're controlling the whole campaign, have celebrities endorse your product. For quick fixes and fast distribution, work with influencers.

Budget

Of course, influencer marketing costs vary wildly. But celebrities are generally far more expensive to work with because they have such massive followings and global recognition.

On our platform, there are hundreds of celebrities that charge a straightforward price for a complete video endorsement to reach millions. At the micro level, depending on the influencer, you might be able to get a whole campaign for less than you’d expect.

If you have the money a well-known celebrity will get you the most exposure. Celebrity influencers are more accessible to smaller brands while still grabbing attention.

Work with the world's most familiar faces, today.

Traditionally, you'd have to go through an agent. That takes months. And pricing is almost always ambiguous.

With Cameo, you'll:

• Browse celebrities and filter by audience demographic

• Connect with them in a few clicks

• Pay a flat, predetermined rate

• Receive a finished product in about 7 days (or less)

• Distribute it on multiple platforms with flexible licensing

When you need star power for your brand image, there's no better place to do it. Start browsing celebrities for your next campaign.