What Paige DeSorbo ‘Made Up’ Before Joining Summer House

Paige DeSorbo is best known for her sharp style, sharper wit, and memorable one-liners on Summer House. She joined the show in Season 3 and quickly became a standout with her fashion commentary and signature dry humor.

After seven seasons, Paige recently announced she’s stepping away from the show. Now she’s opening up about the fake career she crafted to get there.

Summer House alum Paige DeSorbo admits making up a career before debuting on the show

At the Create & Cultivate Festival in Los Angeles on July 20, Paige spoke on the Business of Being You panel. She reflected on her early days in reality TV and how she built her brand from the ground up.

“I think I was in a little bit of a different position than other influencers and creators because I started on a reality show,” she said. “So I knew the date of when it was going to air.” That gave her a unique advantage and a reason to plan ahead.

“I could be a little bit more strategic of when you came to my Instagram, ‘What is her thing?’” she admitted. “And I didn’t have a thing. I just made it up that I was a fashion influencer and I had like 2,000 followers.”

Paige, who now boasts 1.6 million Instagram followers, added, “So I give a lot of credit to the creators and influencers who either go viral overnight or have been working at this.”

Since then, Paige has built a legit influencer career. She landed brand deals, grew a massive following, and even recently guest-hosted Love Island USA (albeit very briefly).

In June, Paige confirmed she won’t be returning to Summer House. “The friendships, the drama, the giggles, all unforgettable,” she wrote on Instagram. “But like all good things (and some bad decisions), it’s time for this chapter to close.”

One of those “bad decisions” may have been her headline-making relationship with Southern Charm’s pillow prince, Craig Conover. The two recently split after years of long-distance dating. Fans speculate the breakup played a role in her decision to leave the show.

Still, Paige isn’t disappearing. Between the Giggly Squad podcast with her bestie and fellow Summer House alum Hannah Berner, her new sleepwear line, and a strong online presence, she’s made it clear she isn’t going anywhere.

Honestly, her next gig should be teaching a master class in manifesting.

Summer House streams on Peacock and Hayu in the U.K. and Ireland.