Celebrity MLM schemes are getting harder to ignore, with a growing number of stars using their social media platforms to sell the dream by promoting new ‘business opportunities’ to their fans.
MLM stands for multi-level marketing, and is a business model where independent distributors sell products directly to consumers and then recruit others to do the same.
Love Island’s Yasmin Hadlow recently received backlash over her ‘travel’ job after she bragged about being one of the ‘top income earners’ in her rank.
With the promise of being your own boss, flexible hours, extra income and luxurious lifestyles, these schemes do look appealing.
The industry is worth an estimated £1.3 trillion a year and is particularly popular with women, many of whom are stay-at-home mothers.
The Direct Selling Association (DSA) estimates roughly 400,000 people in the UK are currently involved in direct selling in some way.
The rise of celeb MLM schemes: Love Island’s Yasmin Hadlow recently received backlash over her ‘travel’ job after she bragged about being one of the ‘top income earners’ in her rank – so are they all they’re cracked up to be?
MLMS are not illegal, although some have been likened to ‘pyramid schemes’.
The firms have a complex structure in which existing sales reps are encouraged, not just to sell the company’s product, but to recruit more people under them.
For every rung of the ladder people climb, they get paid a higher percentage of sales profits. The person who recruits you is called your ‘upline’; your recruit is your ‘downline’.
But what seems like a lucrative side-hustle often turns out to be a devastating recipe for losing money.
Research shows that roughly 99 percent of participants in MLMs make little to no profit or end up in a net financial loss.
‘People down the end are simply ripped off; it’s a bad taste capitalism,’ CEO of Consumer Action Law Centre, Gerard Brody, said.
So why are so many celebrities getting involved?
Instead of selling products door-to-door, stars are paid standard, massive corporate marketing fees to be the ‘public face’ of an MLM brand.
Companies dish out huge endorsement or partnership fees because a single post from a major star can instantly spike brand awareness and product trial
This can land a star a hefty paycheck of anything from a few thousand pounds to upwards of one million pounds.
Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the stars promoting MLM schemes.
Vicky Pattison
Celebrity MLM schemes are getting harder to ignore, with a growing number of stars using their social media platforms to promote new ‘business opportunities’ to their fans (pictured Vicky Pattinson)
Vicky Pattinson is involved with travel booking companies InteleTravel and PlanNet Marketing.
With endless posts of luxe hotels and sundowners by the pool, the former Geordie Shore star is the perfect poster girl for InteleTravel.
She promises tempting holiday discounts and encourages fans to ‘turn your passion for travel into an income’, adding: ‘You too can join our Jet set team of girls & start earning extra.’
And thanks to her huge social media following, Vicky has reportedly reached ‘Two Star Director’ status – meaning potential earnings of £317,000 a year.
The independent travel agent recruits a staggering 19,000 women a year, largely from social media.
InteleTravel charges an upfront sign-up fee of £142 followed by a monthly membership fee of £32.
However, income Disclosure data indicates that a vast majority of participants make little to no profit or lose money after paying monthly fees.
Charlotte Dawson
Charlotte Dawson is also part of Inteletravel and has her own The Glow Collective affiliate model
Charlotte Dawson is also part of Inteletravel and has her own The Glow Collective affiliate model.
Last year, she joined the travel agency and claimed you can ‘earn from your sunlounger’.
She quickly climbed the ranks to become a ‘One-Star Director’ within the organisation, meaning she could earn anything from £1,000 to £12,000 a year.
Charlotte often posts on social media celebrating achievements and team growth alongside other members in the programme.
She wrote in a social media post last year: ‘I am so proud to say me and my fabulous team have officially helped over 100 people generate an income from our fabulous Travel Business.
‘Every single person is in learning and/ earning in the Travel industry at their own time amd their own pace-deciding which avenue they want to earn from and giving themselves up to eight extra pay days a month!✈️
‘This wasn’t just me… this was a joint effort between myself, my business partner and my fabulous ladies… together we are helping people supplement their income into the household, Traveling better, building a passive income that they can leave to their children and making friends for life!!!
‘This business has so much to offer and I just love the fact that there’s no ties or contracts here, so everyone who’s in this business is here because they want to be!!!
‘I can’t believe I’ve built an income that I can leave to my three babies when I’m no longer here… an income I have created because I’ve helped others income for themselves and their families.
‘This is just the beginning for me and dream team- we will be helping on so many more get out of this whatever they want or need this year!!
‘This is so much more than just booking online – it’s created the most amazing community and I’ve loved nothing more than going to events with my fabulous ladies and I’ll be continuing to do so once my baby girl is here.
‘We really can do anything we set our mind to.
‘If it’s something you’re interested in ladies, don’t hang about for four years like I did – I really wish I did start sooner. There’s nothing I love more than getting messages from my ladies saying how they made a couple hundred pounds, or a couple of thousand pounds around their jobs, families, kids and everything else they have going on! Let’s go guys!!!!’
Jack Fincham
In 2024, Jack Fincham joined the travel MLM scheme but appears to have left since 2026
In 2024, Jack Fincham joined the travel MLM scheme.
He created another Instagram page, where he told fans: ‘Earn a residual income through the most lucrative industry in the world… TRAVEL.’
The Love Island star faced criticism for promoting the scheme, as a vast majority of lower-tier participants lose money while those at the top benefit from recruiting fees.
By 2026, Jack was no longer associated with the network marketing due to severe personal and financial difficulties.
He revealed he had ‘lost everything’ and squandered millions due to heavy gambling, alcohol, and drug addictions, at one point stating he had just £20 left to his name.
Danielle Lloyd
Danielle Lloyd is another star promoting the multi-level home-working travel business The Travel Smart Group
Danielle Lloyd is another star promoting the multi-level home-working travel business The Travel Smart Group.
At the time of her joining, Inteletravel said it was ‘delighted’ that Danielle had chosen to join the scheme and ‘use her influence to drive sales’.
She created a separate social media page for the scheme called @travelsmarterwithmissdlloyd, and it boasts nearly ten thousand followers.
Over on the page, she has posted pictures of Ibiza, in Spain; Ko Tao in Thailand; and Dubai, UAE.
She told her followers: ‘Whether it’s a new career you’re looking for, a second income or just to benefit for yourself or your family’s travels… this business lets you earn around your other commitments, your family, with no targets, no contracts and in something we all do… TRAVEL!!!!’
Danielle is a ‘2 star director’ which means she has over 300 people in her downline.
Jess Wright
Jess Wright promotes a travel (MLM) scheme linked to InteleTravel and recruitment partner PlanNet Marketing
Jess Wright promotes a travel (MLM) scheme linked to InteleTravel and recruitment partner PlanNet Marketing.
She also created a new Instagram account called @jesswrightlifestyle, boasting 15,000 followers.
In just the first month of joining the programme, she managed to sign up 26 people, who paid £156 to join the scheme.
That’s £4,056 made for Planet Marketing and £1,000 for Jess.
Now, it is said she could be earning over £200,000 as fans sign up to the scheme.
Over on her Instagram, she pinned a post that said: ‘So many people think you need years of Travel experience, a huge social media following, or thousands in the bank to start in this space, but the truth is, most of my Jet Set team started with none of that.
‘Our Jet Set travel team & platform is proof that with the right system, team mentorship & consistency, you can build something incredible alongside your 9–5 job, around your busy mum life, university, or even just in your spare time.
‘This business is about freedom, community & creating choices, not chasing myths. DM me ‘Travel’ to request an information pack. Jess Xx.’
Yasmin Hadlow
Love Island’s Yasmin works for a company called Let’s Grow, which apparently ‘helps ordinary people live extraordinary lives’
During the latest season of Love Island, islander Yasmin bragged about how much money she makes.
She works as an independent travel agent, helping women earn money while they travel.
She calls herself an ‘online business coach’ and works for a company called Let’s Grow, which apparently ‘helps ordinary people live extraordinary lives’.
Despite backlash about MLM schemes, the company Yasmin works for is dedicated to saying it works.
‘Every time you book travel online, you’re unknowingly paying a commission to the platform you’re using. That commission is already built into the prices you see – it’s always been there. But what if you could keep that commission for yourself? With your own travel platform, you can do exactly that,’ it states.
‘When you join the travel business, you’ll become a fully qualified, ABTA and ATOL-protected Travel Agent. You’ll have your very own booking system, a personalised website, and access to over 100 trusted suppliers.
‘Take charge of your bookings, turn your passion for travel into profit, and build a business that works for you!’
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