Spanish-language rap artist Bad Bunny will perform the halftime show at the Super Bowl in 2026, inspiring brands to weave cultural resonance and representation into their campaigns—as seen in the telenovela-infused e.l.f. Cosmetics' Big Game campaign starring Melissa McCarthy. Actor and TV doctor Nicholas Gonzalez, telenovela villain Itatí Cantoral, and e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil are also an integral part of the story of love and betrayal, which introduces that McCarthy's character has just one day to learn Spanish before the biggest reggaeton concert in America. Ultimately, lip oil is the unlikely hero, providing the power to help Rs to roll off the tongue.
With Duolingo, the affordable beauty brand is offering a complimentary Super Duolingo subscription to all e.l.f. Beauty Squad loyalty members so they can learn Spanish without the ads.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Culturally-inspired Marketing Campaigns
- Brands are increasingly creating campaigns that resonate with specific cultural narratives, opening opportunities for culturally-aligned product offerings.
- Celebrity-led Product Storytelling
- Collaborating with popular artists and actors, companies are integrating celebrity influence into storytelling to deepen brand engagement and customer loyalty.
- Language Learning Partnerships
- Partnerships between beauty brands and language learning platforms present an innovative way to extend brand experiences beyond traditional product offerings.
Where This Applies
- Beauty and Cosmetics
- The beauty industry leverages cultural storytelling and celebrity partnerships to create engaging and narrative-driven marketing strategies.
- Media and Entertainment
- This industry bridges television and digital platforms, incorporating beloved genres like telenovelas into creative advertising campaigns.
- Edtech and Language Learning
- Language learning is experiencing growth through strategic collaborations with consumer brands to provide educational benefits in unexpected contexts.
