On Brand with Jimmy Fallon's Bianca Fernandez never imagined herself on reality television until an Instagram message changed everything. The Gen Z marketer received a DM about NBC's new advertising competition, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, and initially questioned whether the opportunity was real. After confirming its legitimacy, she joined the show and eventually became its first Innovator of the Year, taking home $100,000 and a contract to produce her Therabody campaign. The series tested creative professionals through brand challenges, requiring them to develop campaigns under extreme time pressure. Contestants pitched ideas for major companies, including Sonic, Captain Morgan, Pillsbury, and Therabody. Fernandez frequently stepped into leadership roles throughout the season, driving concepts and adding creative twists to campaigns.Her final challenge involved creating and filming an entire commercial for Therabody with minimal time and resources. The experience pushed contestants beyond typical agency work, demanding quick decisions and personal storytelling alongside strategic thinking. Fernandez's background prepared her for the intensity; she'd built a following through a Tumblr blog about preppy fashion in high school, landing her first brand partnership with Vineyard Vines. That early taste of marketing led her through roles at TikTok and Tarte Cosmetics before becoming head of brand engagement at actor Lili Reinhart's beauty company, Personal Day.What did Bianca reveal about being on On Brand with Jimmy Fallon?On Brand with Jimmy Fallon's production timeline created constant stress. Fernandez described "pressure cooker moments" that never aired, including working with graphic designers for only minutes to transform ideas into full presentations, sometimes overnight. NBC ensured fairness by preventing behind-the-scenes creatives from influencing contestant strategies, even when ideas struggled. This meant competitors owned every success and failure. The finale amplified the challenge. Fernandez and fellow finalist Ryan Winn had to conceptualize and shoot complete Therabody commercials in what she called an "insanely short amount of time.""I remember in the bus on the way shot-listing [the ad] out on a piece of paper," Fernandez told ADWEEK.She sketched each frame individually to prepare for filming. Her Pillsbury ASMR activation presented unexpected obstacles. The original pitch featured sensory deprivation domes, but production required clear structures for cameras. The transparent domes overheated in the sun with electronics inside, creating an emergency cooling situation.Heavy editing condensed five-minute pitches into seconds of screen time. Fernandez defended fellow contestant BT Hale's alien-themed "Take Me to Your Dunkin'" concept, calling it genius despite requiring more explanation than television allowed.Her day job focuses on strategy and data, but the show demanded different skills. Contestants had to share personal stories and consider what would resonate with broad audiences while looking good on camera. Fernandez embraced the theatrical elements.When a CGI Pillsbury Doughboy appeared on set, she played along enthusiastically with other contestants, calling it "movie magic." She acknowledged some facial expressions she wishes hadn't made the final edit, but remains proud of her willingness to take risks.What’s next for Bianca? View this post on Instagram Instagram PostSince the On Brand with Jimmy Fallon finale aired on October 31, Fernandez has received numerous collaboration requests while maintaining her role at Personal Day. Her family group chat has exploded with reactions. She recently interviewed with Forbes for the 30 Under 30 List, a goal she declared during the show. Her immediate plans include expanding into commercial and branded production work."I'm excited to keep doing that work, keep getting better, and yeah, ride the wave," Fernandez said.On Brand with Jimmy Fallon is available to stream on Peacock.