Nicolette Alayon

Nicolette’s research on comprehending the power celebrities and social media influencers hold in shaping political attitudes and policy outcomes.

Nicolette's research centers on the intersection of celebrity influence and political discourse, particularly how celebrities and influencers mobilize disenfranchised and minority communities. She is especially interested in the power of parasocial relationships that audiences develop with these figures, and how these connections can drive political engagement and social change.

Nicolette is a Ph.D. candidate at Northwestern University and currently serves as a Provost Doctoral Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication. Her work employs mixed methods, including survey experiments and machine learning, to explore the role of influencers on platforms like TikTok and their potential to shape public opinion.