In a world dominated by sports and social media influencers, there continues to be an undeniable crossover between the two. NFL player, Braxton Berrios, and TikTok star, Alix Earle, are another example of this ongoing trend.
According to The Martin Group, popular influencers on a variety of social media platforms are shifting more audience attention to the sports industry. Alix Earle got her start in 2021 as a University of Miami student creating content, which caused her following to soar to just over 7 million in 2024. Her “famous GRWM (get ready with me) videos have gained traction that is nearly unmatched,” noted Madeline Rickett and Marley Gleason.
As the girlfriend of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios, nicknamed “NFL man,” her sizeable following and fan base are making their way over to the Dolphins’ organization and beyond. Connecting with her devoted group of followers through her high-energy “GRWM gameday” videos and “dressing head to toe in teal and orange” on TikTok presents a vast amount of attention to the Dolphins, the NFL, and the world of sports in itself.
Because of Alix Earle’s popularity amongst a more dominated female demographic and Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce, the NFL is seeing new levels of viewership from this group than ever before. Typically, the NFL consists of a mostly male audience, but with Earle and other media influencers becoming a part of the picture, the league continues to see a large increase in female viewers. The Martin Group states that “Her viewership is nearly 60% women, most between the ages of 18-29.” A simple video related to football targeting her followers continues to expand the NFL’s unique set of demographics.
From College Insider, influencers and those who make their name known on social media provide an opportunity for a greater conversation about sports, specifically in the NFL. Social media platforms allow influencers to increase their reach, and if the topic of football is mentioned in their creative content, the reach of a new fanbase in sports is discovered. “The reason this is huge for the league is that it gives them the opportunity to draw in those who whilst they may not be fans of the sport, they are fans of the influencers/celebrities” notes College Insider. This presents the valuable crossover of two different fanbases, increasing popularity for both the social media influencer and the league itself.
The love connection between Alix Earle and Braxton Berrios influences the coming together of two separate fan bases finding common ground in both social media and sports. The ongoing buzz surrounding their relationship continues to demonstrate the expansion of viewership across both influencer-based platforms and the NFL. With more influencer-player relationships coming into the forefront of the media realm, more opportunities for growth and interconnection of fan bases across the globe are prominent.