Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum

• How I Built Hailey Bieber’s Favourite Beauty Brand In My 30’s (They Thought I Was Just Pretty!)

  Mari Fonseca breaks down what it really takes to build a brand with no formal business education or understanding of finance – and why she walked away from a long, successful career as a model. Mari Fonseca is a former international model and the founder of Gente, a body care company focused on lymphatic drainage and wellness rituals - now Hailey Bieber’s favorite brand in this space. In this conversation, she shares why she dropped out of college at 16, how she became an entrepreneur, and the practical steps, mindset shifts, and challenges she faced turning her idea into a real business. Mari also opens up about her relationship with Drew from The Chainsmokers, and why building a business felt like the only path that truly aligned with her ambitions - rather than stepping into a more traditional role. ⸻ [00:00] Intro [2:19] Growing Up in Brazil & Leaving Home At 16 To Model [5:32] Reliving Your Childhood as an Adult [6:33] The Harsh Reality of the Modeling Industry [9:57] Breaking the “Pretty, Not Smart” Stereotype As A Model [11:27] From Cash to Equity: Rethinking How to Build Wealth [13:51] Why I Feel More Confident In My 30s Than I Did In My 20s [15:40] The Hardest Part About Leaving Modeling for Business [17:48] Why I Don’t Enjoy Modeling Anymore [18:17] How People Treat Me Differently as a Business Owner [19:38] Fundraising as a Female Founder: What I Learned [23:15] Why Big Followings Don’t Always Drive Sales [24:37] Hailey Bieber Favorite Brand: The Halo Effect [26:20] How Long It Takes to See Gente Lymphatic Results [27:30] My Lymphatic Drainage Routine & Glow Tips [29:08] Turning Gente Into a Self-Care Ritual [30:42] The Most Effective Way to Glow Up [31:49] How I Manifested My Beauty Brand Into Nordstrom [33:10] The Lows of Starting My Business [35:01] The Boundaries Every Business Owner Needs [38:47] Rapid Fire: From “I Didn’t Want a Wedding” to Latest Purchase [45:29] Gente Discount Code & Where to Follow Mari HSR Angels get 20% off at Gente with code HSR20 at gentebeauty.com ⸻ Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZI nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellersreum/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellersreum LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/ Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellers ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellers Amazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers  ⸻ Follow Mari Fonseca & Gente Beauty: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariannefonseca Gente Website: https://gentebeauty.com/ Gente Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gentebeauty ⸻ Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  50:30

  --------

  50:30
• Gossiping about Alix Earle’s Empire and 5 AI Trends You Need To Know About Now

  Have you ever wondered what Alix Earle, AI, and Gen Z’s ‘Absurd Era’ Reveal About the Future of Business, Entertainment & Influence? Black Friday flopped. Booking.com became sexy. Dancing With the Stars is now a full-blown creator pipeline. And the average influencer? Officially over. In this week’s episode, Maggie and Katie break down the cultural chaos shaping 2026, from unhinged micro-trends to the new class system emerging from AI… and why the myth of overnight success is the most dangerous lie online. They explain: Why Black Friday felt flat even as it broke records How tweens and micro trends reshaped consumer behavior Why cultural relevancy beat traditional product launches The travel planning study every woman is sending her partner How Booking dot com became the most unexpected breakout brand The creator to reality TV to entrepreneur pipeline Why business shows struggle on video while Shark Tank still wins The new rules for storytelling in business and education The top AI predictions for 2026 and the HSR point of view Why Gen Z will become entrepreneurs by necessity How micro companies and tastemakers will shape culture Why human imperfection will become a trust marker Why analog living is emerging as a new luxury Chapters: 01:00 Black Friday was underwhelming but record breaking 03:00 Why cultural relevancy beat product drops 05:00 Tweens and absurd micro trends 06:00 The travel planning attractiveness study 08:00 Why Booking.dot com finally became cool 10:00 Dancing With the Stars and the new creator pipeline 11:00 Alex Earl, Brooke Nader, and the reality TV effect 13:00 Why business shows fail on video 15:00 Shark Tank works because it is emotional, not logical 17:00 What brands get wrong about content 19:00 The new rules of education and entertainment 20:00 Breaking down the top AI predictions of 2026 21:00 Gen Z forced entrepreneurship 23:00 Micro companies and the rise of taste makers 24:00 Personalised education and the end of the classroom 26:00 Human assisted services becoming luxury 27:00 The death of the average influencer 28:00 Trust premiums and human proof labels 29:00 Analog living becoming aspirational 31:00 Using AI to evolve your business 33:00 The myth of overnight success 34:00 Mashki’s decade long rise 35:00 Build to sell or build to keep 36:00 How founders should think about public building 38:00 Privilege, backlash, and the messy middle 40:00 Vulnerability as a competitive advantage 42:00 Why creators struggle to pull back 44:00 Sharing outcomes versus sharing in real time Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel:  https://shorturl.at/xzLPm Buy the Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset here: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Buy Hot Smart Rich merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  45:00

  --------

  45:00
• The Queer Eye Star Behind "The Biggest Celebrity Brand Failure of All Time!" Jonathan Van Ness

  What happens when your celebrity brand collapses overnight? Jonathan Van Ness reveals the brutal truth behind fame, failure, and a $2B fallout.Jonathan Van Ness is the Emmy-winning host of Queer Eye, bestselling author of Over the Top and Love That Story, stand-up comedian, and founder of JVN Hair, one of the fastest-growing celebrity beauty brands—until it wasn’t. He explains: - Why JVN Hair became the fastest-growing brand… and then went bankrupt - How losing millions overnight changed his entire approach to money - What it feels like to carry the weight of a team and brand in crisis - The shocking health scare that left him at his lowest point- Why he fired his business team and finally took control - How the Windsong Global deal gave him equity and a second chance - The reality of building a celebrity brand without a safety net- His reflections on Queer Eye and fame - The role of therapy, resilience, and self-acceptance in rebuilding - Why his mission is still joy, curiosity, and making people feel beautifulChapters:00:00 Intro01:00 The Elephant in the Room03:00 JVN’s Spending Habits06:00 Turning Down a Seven Figure Deal08:00 Building JVN Hair From Scratch10:00 Early Red Flags at the Parent Company12:00 Finding Out About the Bankruptcy14:00 The Health Crisis That Broke Him16:00 How It Almost All Fell Apart18:00 Talking to Other Founders in the Same Situation20:00 What Really Happened With Equity22:00 The Moment He Realized the Brand Might Die24:00 Transitioning to Windsong Global26:00 How the Bankruptcy Impacted Sales28:00 Rebuilding His Personal Money Mindset30:00 Firing His Business Team32:00 The New Deal Structure and Getting Equity34:00 Saving the Team and the Products36:00 The Hard Reality of the Transition Year38:00 Filming Queer Eye During a Crisis40:00 Public Backlash and Political Pressure42:00 Picking Himself Back Up44:00 Entering Ulta and Facing Controversy46:00 Growing Up Queer in a Conservative Town48:00 The Transformations That Changed Him50:00 Winning the Emmy and What’s Next52:00 Mission, Purpose and the Future of JVN HairHot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel: https://shorturl.at/xzLPm Buy the Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset here: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Buy Hot Smart Rich merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrichMaggie Sellers Reum:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellers/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@maggiesellers_LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sellersmaggie/Locker: https://www.wantlocker.com/users/maggiesellersShopMy: https://shopmy.us/maggiesellersAmazon Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/maggiesellers Jonathan Van Ness:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvn/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jvn_official?lang=enPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-better-with-jonathan-van-ness/id1068563276Website: hhttps://jonathanvanness.com/ Sponsors:Recharge - get 90 days free - https://getrecharge.com/lp3/hot-smart-rich/Hot Smart Rich is your place to hear unfiltered conversations with the people shaping the future of culture, creators, startups and community. Hosted by Maggie Sellers Reum, investor and media powerhouse, and guests breaking the mold, you’ll get the real deal as it relates to navigating the startup fast lane, leveling up your life or becoming your hottest, smartest, richest self. New episodes weekly on Wednesdays. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  1:15:31

  --------

  1:15:31
• #1 Celeb Skin Expert: The Truth They Don't Want to Hear About Aging, Aesthetics, & Building a Business to Last

  From surviving a life changing accident to becoming one of Miami’s most trusted names in aesthetics, Amy Peterson has rewritten what it means to build beauty from the inside out. At 18, she was hit by a drunk driver and told she might never walk again. Today, she is the founder of one of Miami’s most successful clinics, Skincare by Amy Peterson, and the creator of Lenox and 16th, a million dollar skincare brand that shows what it really looks like to put care at the center of business. Amy’s story is about grit, reinvention, and service driven entrepreneurship. She built a beauty empire with no investors, no shortcuts, and no business degree. She did it through relentless work ethic, empathy, and purpose. In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, she shares: How a near death accident gave her the drive to build her dream business The mindset that separates good service from iconic unforgettable service What it takes to scale a people first company in a saturated industry How she turned trauma into purpose The moment she walked away from comfort to start her own clinic• Why caring more can actually make you more profitable How she self funded a million dollar skincare brand without investors Why she believes good people do win when they lead with integrity The truth about aging confidence and longevity in beauty What having it all actually means when you build it yourself This is not just an episode about beauty or business. It is a masterclass in integrity, service, and self belief. Lenox & Sixteenth Discount Code: HSR20 for 20% off Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:00 What Makes Amy’s Clinic Different 03:00 From Assistant to Founder and Building a 4.9 Star Business 07:00 The Accident That Changed Everything and Turning Trauma Into Purpose 11:00 The Confidence Skin Connection and Building a Brand on Care 16:00 Leaving Comfort to Start Her Practice and How to Scale Smart 21:00 The Million Dollar Lesson of Caring More and Becoming a Self Taught CEO 25:00 The Confidence Code and The Bet She Made on Herself 29:00 The Launch of Lenox & Sixteenth and Turning Clients Into Advocates 33:00 Why Slow and Steady Wins and The Instagram Face Era 37:00 The Undetectable Injectable and Skincare for Kids 42:00 The Comparison Trap and Authentic Leadership 47:00 Love Partnership and Confidence Consistency 52:00 Rapid Fire Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel:  https://shorturl.at/xzLPm Buy the Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset here: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Buy Hot Smart Rich merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggieseller... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  56:27

  --------

  56:27
• How Paris Hilton Pioneered the $250B Creator Industry and Who She Really is When The Cameras Go Down (A Side She’s Never Shared Before)

  In this rare, candid conversation with her new sister-in-law, Paris Hilton opens up about what it’s really like as a wife, the woman she is behind the character, how she turned pain into purpose, and why she wants her legacy to be impact over glamour. Misunderstood as a “party heiress” for decades, she talks about quietly building the blueprint for the $250B creator economy, turning her name into a $4B global brand, and building what she calls the next Disney, all while being a wife and mother to the cutesie crew.  In this episode, we get into: What family life is like for Paris Hilton and how she balances it all  Why she created the “Paris Hilton” character as both a shield and a launchpad How she transformed being underestimated into her superpower The exact moment she realized fame could become a business What it takes to balance being a mogul and a mom — and why she believes you can have it all Her blueprint for turning $3B in fragrance sales into true ownership with her skincare line, Parívie The behind-the-scenes creative process that drives her products, businesses, and upcoming documentary How she’s using her platform to pass legislation, protect children, and redefine what it means to be iconic Why she’s building the next Disney — an ecosystem of content, commerce, and community The legacy she wants to leave: kindness, impact, and sparkle This is Paris Hilton like you’ve never seen her before and I’m so excited to call her family! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:00 Paris Hilton Mode vs. Real Life Paris 3:00 Going Undercover & The Aura That Follows Her 5:00 Meeting Maggie’s Family & Advice on Marriage 7:00 Power Couple Energy: How Paris & Carter Support Each Other 09:00 Motherhood, Balance & Why She Believes You Can Have It All 11:00 Living Her Childhood Again Through Her Kids1 3:00 The Moment Paris Realized Fame Could Be a Business 15:00 Building a $4B Brand & Proving People Wrong 17:00 Turning Trauma Into Purpose: Advocacy & Impact Work 19:00 Passing Laws, Speaking on Capitol Hill & Healing Through Activism 21:00 Parívie: From Licensing Deals to True Ownership 24:00 Creative Process: Mood Boards, AI, and Designing Every Detail 27:00 Knowing What You Want (Even When Others Don’t See It Yet) 29:00 Stepping Behind the Camera: New Projects & Producing Women’s Stories 31:00 Infinite Icon: Paris’s Upcoming Music Documentary 33:00 Family, Traverse City, and Life Without FOMO 34:00 Building the Next Disney: Content, Commerce & Community 35:00 Legacy: What Paris Wants to Be Remembered For 36:00 Rapid Fire Hot Smart Rich: Join 250,000+ angels and subscribe to the Hot Smart Rich newsletter: https://hotsmartrich.com/subscribe Become an HSR Angel in the ⁠Global HSR WhatsApp channel:  https://shorturl.at/xzLPm Buy the Hot Smart Rich Money Mindset here: https://shorturl.at/pJWLc Buy Hot Smart Rich merch: https://hotsmartrich.shop/ YouTube: https://shorturl.at/IXXFZ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotsmartrich/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotsmartrich Maggie Sellers Reum: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiesellers/ Tiktok: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  37:12

  --------

  37:12

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Hot Smart Rich with Maggie Sellers Reum