Reality television is often dismissed as mindless entertainment, but its influence on pop culture and societal norms is undeniable. Over the past few decades, reality TV has shaped fashion trends, language, career aspirations, social behaviors, and even political conversations. From the way people talk to the way they dress, reality TV has embedded itself deeply into everyday life.
With shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Bachelor, Survivor, and RuPaul’s Drag Race dominating pop culture, reality TV has transformed from guilty pleasure viewing to a driving force behind modern trends. But how exactly has it reshaped society?
1. The Reality TV Effect on Fashion and Beauty Trends
Reality television has had a huge impact on fashion, influencing everything from clothing styles to beauty standards and cosmetic procedures.
Notable Fashion Trends Inspired by Reality TV:
- The Kardashian Effect – Keeping Up with the Kardashians revolutionized beauty standards, popularizing contouring makeup, bodycon dresses, nude lipstick shades, and designer streetwear. The family’s influence even extended to cosmetic surgery trends, with lip fillers and BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts) becoming mainstream.
- Project Runway & The Fashion Industry – This reality competition introduced audiences to high fashion, behind-the-scenes garment making, and designer terminology, making fashion more accessible to the general public.
- Love Island’s Fast Fashion Boom – The UK dating show has single-handedly boosted sales for brands like PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo, as contestants’ outfits become must-have styles overnight.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race and Gender-Fluid Fashion – The show has played a major role in mainstreaming drag culture, bold makeup, and gender-fluid fashion, influencing celebrities and everyday style alike.
Reality TV has created instant trendsetters, where what contestants wear one night on TV is sold out the next day in stores.
2. How Reality TV Has Changed the Way We Speak
Reality television has also shaped language and slang, introducing phrases that become everyday vocabulary.
Famous Reality TV Catchphrases and Slang:
- “That’s hot” (The Simple Life – Paris Hilton)
- “Bye, Felicia” (RuPaul’s Drag Race – although originally from Friday, the phrase went viral after being used on the show)
- “Spill the tea” (Drag culture and RuPaul’s Drag Race)
- “You’re fired!” (The Apprentice – Donald Trump)
- “I didn’t come here to make friends” (Every competition reality show ever!)
From sassy one-liners to viral memes, reality TV has influenced the way people communicate, often turning contestants’ most dramatic moments into internet slang and GIFs that live on for years.
3. Social Media and Reality TV: A Two-Way Influence
Social media has amplified the impact of reality TV, allowing contestants to become influencers, viewers to shape narratives, and shows to become digital phenomena.
Ways Social Media Has Boosted Reality TV’s Cultural Influence:
- Fan Engagement in Real Time – Viewers live-tweet episodes, discuss eliminations, and even campaign for or against contestants, making reality TV more interactive than ever.
- Contestants Becoming Social Media Stars – Many reality stars turn their fame into full-time influencer careers, launching fashion lines, beauty brands, and fitness programs.
- Memes Keeping Reality TV Alive – Viral clips from The Real Housewives, Love Island, and RuPaul’s Drag Race continue circulating online long after the season ends, keeping the show relevant.
Social media has blurred the lines between viewer and participant, allowing fans to shape reality TV culture just as much as the networks and producers do.
4. The Rise of Reality TV Careers and Aspirations
Reality TV has changed career aspirations, with many young people now seeing it as a legitimate path to fame, wealth, and success.
Career Paths Launched by Reality TV:
- Influencer & Brand Ambassador Roles – Many reality stars parlay their TV fame into social media careers, earning money through sponsorships.
- Business & Entrepreneurship – Stars like Kylie Jenner (KUWTK), Bethenny Frankel (RHONY), and Molly-Mae Hague (Love Island UK) have used reality TV as a springboard for multimillion-dollar brands.
- Music & Entertainment Careers – Shows like American Idol, The X Factor, and The Voice have helped launch global music stars like Kelly Clarkson, One Direction, and Carrie Underwood.
- Reality Stars Entering Politics – Former reality stars, like Donald Trump (The Apprentice) and Dr. Mehmet Oz (The Dr. Oz Show), have leveraged their TV fame into political careers, highlighting the power of reality TV influence.
While some see reality TV as a shortcut to fame, others argue that it provides real opportunities for success, depending on how contestants use their platform.
5. Reality TV’s Role in Shaping Public Perceptions
Beyond fashion, language, and career aspirations, reality TV has played a role in shaping social conversations, cultural attitudes, and even political discourse.
Ways Reality TV Has Shifted Public Perception:
- Breaking Stigmas Around LGBTQ+ Representation – Shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Queer Eye, and The Real World have helped increase visibility for LGBTQ+ communities in mainstream media.
- Redefining Beauty Standards – America’s Next Top Model challenged (and sometimes reinforced) traditional beauty standards, sparking conversations about size inclusivity and diversity in modeling.
- Impacting Political Conversations – Reality TV figures like Donald Trump and Caitlyn Jenner transitioned into politics, showing how reality stars can shape political discourse and public opinion.
Whether intentionally or not, reality TV often reflects and reinforces societal values, influencing how audiences think about important issues.