PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A local breakout star of reality TV show “Love Island USA” has become the subject of a viral marketing trend, with brands offering her enormous gifts in exchange for one small act.
Melanie Moreno, 24, is a bikini store manager living in Los Angeles, but told viewers early on that she grew up in North Philadelphia.
Moreno is currently coupled up with another local, 25-year-old Sincere Rhea, hailing from Cape May, New Jersey. The two have been paired up for most of the season, but many fans have come to dislike Rhea for getting too friendly with other women on the show, calling for them to split up.
Now businesses are weighing in, offering Moreno anything from free legal services to food for life if she chooses to leave Rhea.
“It really just felt like the perfect Philly moment,” Jason Freedman, from City Cruises, said. “Melanie’s been proudly repping Philadelphia all season, and she mentioned earlier in the season that Penn’s Landing is the perfect date spot, so that got her on our radar.”
Freedman said they’ve offered her free cruises for life if she splits with her current partner. Hundreds of other brands have offered Moreno complementary services.
“When it comes to Philly, we’ve really seen that people are just really strong to kind of defend their hometown girl, and we feel similarly,” Freedman said. “So we hope Melanie can make it on the water, and we’d be happy to help her plan a great date night.”
Fan reactions to the couple have spurred a huge viral marketing trend
Fan reactions to the couple have spurred a huge viral marketing trend
