10 Reality Show Runner Ups Who Went On To Be Super Successful

The last thing every loser wants to hear is, “It’s the taking part that counts”. However, some of the biggest TV personalities on our screens today didn’t win the big show, but still achieved major success.

People enter reality TV competitions for a variety of reasons – whether it’s to showcase their talent, to find love or just a gateway to fame. 

From tone deaf auditions to fully-fledged fame, data researchers at SlotsUp have revealed the stars with the golden touch in their brand new study.

https://www.slotsup.com/blog/reality-riches-most-successful-reality-star

Here are the top 10 celebs who have proved that actually, the winner doesn’t take it all…

1. 
   Molly-Mae & Tommy Fury – Love Island UK (2019)

Source: ITV2

Blonde bombshell, Molly-Mae Hague and Manchester boxing enthusiast, Tommy Fury still hold the title for the most adorable entrance back from Casa Amor in series 5 of Love Island, with Tommy clutching Molly-Mae’s stuffed toy, Ellie Belly – making her knees crumble with relief! Despite coming in second place, the loved-up couple has had great success since leaving the villa. 

Shortly after the show ended, Molly was offered a lucrative collaboration with PrettyLittleThing worth £500,000 and is now creative director for the brand. She has since launched her own fake tanning label, ‘Filter by Molly-Mae™’, alongside partnering with big brands such as Starbucks and Beauty Works. 

Tommy has also progressed in his professional boxing career, as well as securing several brand collaborations. Reports also show that a joint appearance from Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury can earn them up to £10,000 per event.

1. Susan Boyle – Britain’s Got Talent (2009)

Source: Ken McKay, Shutterstock

Susan’s iconic Britain’s Got Talent audition, which saw crowds on their feet following her rendition of Les Miserables’ “I Dreamed A Dream” has reached a whopping 680M combined video views and counting, on YouTube. Despite keeping out of the limelight since appearing on BGT back in 2009, she still has a net worth of over £30 million and is the fourth most successful reality TV star in the UK – thanks to her stunning vocals and Scottish charm. 

Since her BGT days, Susan now boasts 25 million albums sold globally, over 120 platinum & gold albums in 38 countries, two Grammy nominations and three Guinness World Records.

1. One Direction – The X Factor (2010)

Source: REX FEATURES

One Direction, before they went in five different directions, took the world by storm following their X Factor days where they placed second in the competition behind winner, Matt Cardle. 

Despite being runners up, the five heartthrobs went on to have an extremely successful career as a band, releasing five albums and winning nearly 200 awards – including seven Brit Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards and six Billboard Music Awards. They are now embarking on extremely successful solo careers – fingers crossed for a reunion tour!

1. Alison Hammond – Big Brother (2002)

Source: Press Association

After being the second housemate to be (unjustly) evicted from the Big Brother house back in 2002, Alison Hammond has since become one of the biggest British icons on our televisions. From her addictive laugh to her hilariously inappropriate one-liners, Alison is now considered a national treasure and has a net worth of £1 million.

Since her Big Brother days, she is now better known for presenting on ITV’s This Morning (2003-present). She has also appeared on TV shows including I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! In 2010, Celebrity Coach Trip in 2012 and Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.

If you can’t find her making ultra-dry brownies on This Morning or dancing in a crowd of half-naked Magic Mike dancers, then you’ll probably find her going viral on TikTok.

1. Alex & Olivia Bowen – Love Island UK (2016)

Source: ITV

Essex girl, Olivia Bowen, and Brummy babe, Alex Bowen, found love on series 2 of Love Island. After over five years together, the tatted pair have been inseparable since they first met and are now expecting their first baby, sharing a series of adorable polaroids announcing their pregnancy.

Since leaving the villa, Olivia has released clothing ranges with the likes of Miss Pap and In The Style, as well as dabbled in a bit of TV presenting on ITV’s This Morning. Alex Bowen has founded womenswear and menswear clothing brand, Exempt Society, as well as his online workout platform, ABX Performance.

1. Stacey Solomon – The X Factor (2009)

Source: ITV

Stacey Solomon first appeared on our screens in the 2009 series of The X-Factor. The quirky 19-year old from Dagenham captured the nation’s hearts with her beautiful rendition of “What a Wonderful World”. After finishing in a commendable third place, Stacey went on to win the title of ‘Queen of the Jungle’ in the 2010 series of I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! 

Since then, Stacey now boasts an impressive net worth of £3,755,875 and is the second most successful reality TV star in the UK, according to a new study. The lovable celeb and mother of four has secured herself a full-time role on ITV daytime show Loose Women and is also known for her honest, open and family-orientated social media presence.

1. Bimini Bon Boulash – RuPaul’s UK Drag Race Season 2 (2021) 

Source: Ray Burmiston/BBC Three

She may have not won Drag Race, but Bimini Bon Boulash certainly won over our hearts in Season 2 of the UK show. From being in the bottom two of the first episode to pulling off some jaw-dropping looks towards the end of the season, this star definitely knows how to pull off a killer comeback. 

Despite being a runner up, Bimini left Drag Race to become a highly successful author and model as well as a drag queen. Boasting a net worth of $7 million and having secured a stunning contract with Next Models, big things have happened to this star, and the future most certainly looks bright for her.

1. JLS – The X Factor (2008)

Source: Ken McKay

JLS found fame on the 2008 series of The X Factor, where they came runner-up to winner, Alexandra Burke. 

Still, interest in them remained long after the show as they embarked on an impressive career as a boyband – obtaining five number-one singles including their debut ‘Beat Again’. 

Despite their questionable range of condoms and, of course, that shocking “Merry Christmas” wish from JB, JLS’s hit songs still fill the dancefloors to this day and the band have since reunited to release more music back in 2021 with their album, “JLS 2.0”.

1. Rylan Clark-Neal – The X Factor

Source: ITV

Rylan is the definition of “it’s the taking part that counts”, after finishing in fifth place in the 2012 series of The X Factor. After his iconic reaction to getting through to judges houses, viewers knew this wouldn’t be the last of Rylan on our screens. 

Fast-forward to 2011, Rylan redeemed himself and went on to win the 2011 series of Celebrity Big Brother. Since then, he has become a well-known TV personality. Not only is he known for his modelling, narrating and radio presenting, he has also presented TV shows such as Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, This Morning and The Xtra Factor. He is the host of the revived editions of Supermarket Sweep and Ready Steady Cook, as well as the BBC’s You Are What You Wear. 

1. Olly Murs – The X Factor (2009)

Source: ITV

After finding fame on series six of The X Factor with his cheeky smile and charming dance moves, Olly Murs is still making our hearts skip a beat, despite only coming in second place.

In fact, Olly Murs has gone on to become one of the most successful X Factor contestants of all time since his time on the show – after hosting The Xtra Factor and even briefly co-hosting The X Factor, alongside Caroline Flack in 2012.

Since his X Factor days, Olly has had an extremely successful music career, with six studio albums, eighteen singles and twenty-one music videos. He has now gone full circle as a judge on The Voice UK.