What becomes of a famous influencer when followers suddenly drop her by the hundreds of thousands, sponsors start running for the exits and the reputation underpinning all that influence is suddenly derailed?
That question was on a lot of minds during men’s fashion week in Milan, where even excited chatter about a surprise front-row appearance by Jeff Bezos and his girlfriend, Lauren Sánchez, at the Dolce & Gabbana show was quickly overtaken by whispered updates on the weird case of Chiara Ferragni.
As many are aware, Ms. Ferragni is a digital entrepreneur with her own production agency, her own Prime Video series, 29 million Instagram followers and more problems at the moment than the best glow-up can conceal.
By far Italy’s most glamorous and celebrated influencer, Ms. Ferragni, 36, pioneered the business of self-branding and paid posts in Milan, starting as a fashion blogger before shifting her storytelling from documenting designer get-ups and handbags and her tastes in nail art, makeup palettes and drip coffee to tracking every dimension of her personal life.
