This outfit would be something base
for more of a young corporate professional person.
Getting ready to go to your business meeting
or anything business, corporate, you would put this on.
Work the whole crowd, OK?
How young is this corporate professional?
Probably, like, three to four years old is our smallest.
Isabella Barrett is 15 and a self-made millionaire.
Money!
Actually, she’s been one since she was six,
after achieving international fame through the pageant world
featuring on the popular show
Do you like being the new it girl?
-I love being the new it girl. -How come?
I like winning. I like winning money.
She did, however, leave the show
after some cheeky shit-talking about her rival.
My mother doesn’t dress me up
as a hooker.
This was followed by a brief foray into music.
..You on my Facebook checking me out...
Now, at the tender age of 15,
she owns several fashion brands
and hopes to inspire a new generation of tiny business people.
-Didn’t you do the suits? -No!
She has her outfit right there.
It has her freaking name on it!
But could a childhood filled with fame and corporate responsibility
be a step too far?
[THE TEEN MILLIONAIRE]
[CREAM]
So I’ve just arrived at Isabella’s school,
and I’m about to pick her up and meet her for the first time.
Hi!
I feel like her mum picking her up.
-You look well! -Go for a hug.
Bella and I have something in common
in that we both beg money and attention on social media
from time to time.
Only thing is, when I was her age,
my main dilemma was choosing which park to get pissed in.
Ready to head to my house?
-Yeah, no, perfect. -OK.
Are there many other teenage millionaires in your class?
I'm the only one.
How do people react to that?
I’m like a normal teenager. I’m very relatable.
So people just kind of click with me like they do with their friends.
Do they ever ask to borrow money?
No.
Welcome to my house!
Amazing!
Not a lot of people actually get to see this side of me.
So let’s go to my pageant room.
This room is where time stood still.
Oh wow!
This is my New England Princess title.
Living Doll Ambassador.
This is Third Runner-Up Princess.
Spirit of America.
Dream Big.
I have so many titles. This is just a few of them.
How did you become a millionaire?
So I started in pageants.
And then from pageants, I started my first company, called Glitzy Girl.
So that's how I made my first million.
And then from there, I created a clothing line,
and now I have three successful companies.
Have you ever had any jealousy in school?
I would say no because, you know,
I live kind of like a Hannah Montana life.
When I go to New York and I do all my modeling and stuff,
I’m a different person.
But when I come home, I love to be a teenager and have fun.
So I kind of be as relatable as possible and just be me.
One of Bella’s “relatable” teenage activities
is earning substantial pocket money through influencing.
Yes! So this is where I film all of my content.
Mom, would you like to come in and help us?
I hear her coming.
So does she help normally?
Yes.
I’m happy to help.
My assistant, you could say.
As soon as Bella’s mum, Susanna, arrives,
I find myself roped in to help advertise a children's perfume.
The first thing about camera is girls make themselves look good.
During Bella's childhood,
her mother definitely seemed to be your quintessential momager.
These are some of our things that we’ve won,
well, you’ve won.
So are you her manager?
Well, she has a team. Are you kidding?
I have a whole team of people that, you know, help me do everything.
It’s-- 15 years old,
I'm not even legal to do most of the things yet.
You got to help her, Bella.
I’ll get rid of the coat.
Sit closer!
There you go, girls!
Three, two, one.
Hey, guys, it’s Bella. Welcome back to another video,
and we are on air.
I’m reviewing the men’s fragrance.
And I’m reviewing the women’s fragrance.
Yeah, so mine fades from dark blue to clear.
Susanna holds the keys to Bella’s main fortune.
But thousands a month gained through influencing
go straight to Bella’s own pocket.
Smells amazing!
I would love my man to smell like this.
I would love my woman to smell like this.
Bella’s years of media training have paid off,
and she's got her sales technique down to a science.
I, on the other hand, clearly have not.
So buy it.
Yes.
Yeah, I think I’m going to have to work on that.
Definitely try to spice up your vocabulary a little bit.
The more words, the better.
The more descriptive, the better.
I’m going to get an on-set photo.
So, like, obviously the idea of show mums,
has anyone ever accused you of being like that?
I don’t know if you’ve watched
but those moms are in it to win it.
I mean, you know, I wasn’t wearing t-shirts and--
Yes, you were! We have a t-shirt with my face on it.
Only at one national competition, but--
It said “Team Isabella” on it.
But what I’m saying is, is that of course I’m going to be there.
Like, of course I’m going to be on top of my child.
She’s a child, and I’m going to be there any step of the way.
So if you ask me if I’m a pushy mom—
no.
If you ask me if I’m going to show up to everything—
absolutely.
So my personal trainer just texted me,
and it’s time to head to the gym.
How often do you have a PT?
Three times a week.
-Three times a week?! -Yeah.
Are you not really young to have a personal trainer?
Yeah, but, you know, you got to stay fit somehow.
Mom, why don’t you put on
You got to listen to the lyrics because she wrote them.
..Got a mom Got a mom that really loves me
She’s teaching me there’s more to life than just money...
Contrary to these lyrics,
Susanna does seem to be business-focused.
I think the great thing about Bella is she understands
that everything is a business.
So it’s got to be, like, what’s in it for me?
Is there anything that ever stops being a business?
You know, your whole life can’t be a business, can it?
Well, most of her life isn’t a business.
But I think being able to do nice things is a privilege.
And you don’t have to be rich to do nice things.
You just have to work.
Bella's working life began with public controversy.
Her rather adult comments,
likening her competitor to a hooker on
definitely had a fallout.
Why did you say those things to the camera about Paisley?
My mom told me to say them.
She’s also endured another public controversy
after her club performance of LMFAO’s hit single
..I’m sexy and I know it...
It’s hard to imagine this level of scrutiny at such a young age
not having an effect.
I was six years old.
Honestly, if I’m going to be honest,
I don’t really quite remember anything...
except for the part that was filmed.
That’s mad!
So you don’t remember anything unless it’s on telly.
Yep. If it wasn’t filmed,
I probably wouldn’t even know I did pageants
if there wasn’t stuff in my room.
So does that mean you have no positive memories?
I have a lot of positive memories because I was, you know,
laughing, having fun with my family.
And those things eventually became traditions,
but, like, TV stuff, the negative-ness, talking on camera,
that was all a blur for me.
So you’ve already made loads of money,
and you’re already doing what you want to do,
so do you think school’s a bit pointless?
I don’t think school’s a bit pointless because
I would love to study a medical pathway.
I would love to be, like, a nurse or a doctor,
and everyone’s like, “Wow, really? So you would quit entrepreneurship?”
I mean, it doesn’t mean I can’t do both.
I could do both.
Next up, a trip to New York with her teen business associate
and ex-arch nemesis.
-Nice to meet you. I’m Sydney. Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Mya.
-Are we ready? -I think so.
OK, let’s do this.
So, Mya, what do you do?
I’ve been competing in pageants since I was 11.
So how did you guys meet?
Mya and I first met at a runway show.
And let’s just say....
Yeah, we did not like each other at all.
I’m not going to lie. I walked by Bella,
and I was like, “Um, no, thanks.”
Yeah. Eventually, we were casted to be on a show together,
and now we’re like soul sisters.
Why do you think you didn’t like each other?
Well, we judged a book by its cover.
I thought she was, like, just a complete mean person.
And I just looked at Bella, and I was like,
“Hmm, she’s looking at me funny. No thanks!”
So why are we going to New York today?
I have a meeting. I have a photoshoot.
I have-- We have a lot of things to do.
Rhode Island to New York by car is four hours for us regular folk,
but Bella has different plans.
OK, Mya is mic’d. Just check the mic on Mya.
The average price of hiring a helicopter to New York is 3K.
But the value of being seen traveling by helicopter is priceless.
Sadly, I'm not invited.
We drove four hours to New York,
ready to join them in the big city the next day.
I bet they were having the nicest time in that helicopter.
So I’ve just arrived in New York,
and I’m about to meet Mya, Bella, and Susanna.
We’re going to find some accessories for her shoot today.
So right now, we’re getting ready to film another scene.
I’m so excited. We have a--
-We’re doing-- -Oh, look who it is!
-Hello! -Hello, how you doing?
So today, we are here in the Garment District.
Let’s see what mess we could get into now.
You know what? You’re going to love it.
Wow!
This is amazing!
I’m going to faint.
Did you see this diamond piano?
I don’t know many teenagers who can walk into a diamond store and say,
“Yep, I want this, this and this,” and not ask for the price.
I don't think I was able to do that when I was 15.
I'll take it.
Whilst this crystal shop isn’t exactly Tiffany’s,
it’s all about visual excess.
And the merch would feature in a photoshoot
for Bella’s clothing line aimed at young entrepreneurs.
Here we are, Bella!
Oh my god, this place is--
Although definitely outside of the age bracket,
Bella was kind enough to feature me in today’s shoot.
Try her in this one.
And then we’ll do red on you today, Bella, if you want instead.
Or we can do... and then we can do pink.
Whatever you think.
So I’m going to have you try that on.
Thank you.
All right? And I’ll do the red!
It fits!
It fits?
But I can’t do the zip up.
-Sorry, did I zip you? -No, I’m just breathing in.
So, yeah, this outfit would be something base
for more of a young corporate professional.
When you’re getting ready to go to your business meeting
or anything business, corporate, you would put this on.
So how young is your market?
Three to four years old is our smallest... yeah.
I'm going to put this hat on you.
I feel like Jackie Kennedy.
Just take one step back.
Normally, when we're on set,
Bella will go look at the camera and do it.
But because we have no time...
Dressing children in the style of tiny business people
is definitely alien to me.
But it’s the world Bella comes from.
Work the whole crowd, OK?
Yeah, I think it’s super freaking adorable.
OK, how super ready, models? Are you all mostly here?
Child beauty pageants
are all about making children look like little adults.
Bella, or perhaps Susanna,
are now taking this corporate child look mainstream
with the mission of creating a future army of little Bellas
dressed in House of Barretti.
As if running three businesses isn’t enough,
Bella is also now planning on writing a self-help book.
The working title is
and we’re headed to a meeting with her literary agent.
I’m telling you, this book is really going to take off.
Because every teen wants to know
-how did Bella-- -Make a million dollars.
-Make a million dollars. -Yeah, exactly!
We do the book. We do a book tour.
I’m talking about a TED Talk for Bella.
Yeah, a TED Talk!
Now we should talk about what’s going in the book.
So maybe chapter one could be “Why did I create this book?”
Like, why?
She is sharing these gold nuggets so that she can inspire other teens.
But do teens need to be doing anything?
Well, I think I think teens are the future of our--
I did absolutely nothing.
Well, that’s the problem!
Did you grow up in a home with both your parents?
Er, no.
I’m going to tell you, this world is not easy.
Someone at an early age needs to tell you,
in order to have all the nice things that you want to do,
whatever they are,
you have to also work.
People look at Bella and are like,
“Oh, her mommy probably had money and handed it to her.”
You know, I see that on the ’gram all the time.
No.
Bella is self-made.
And the word is used, “self-made,”
because we took her 15 minutes of fame,
and we make it into a Super Bowl commercial.
It wasn’t me working. It was Bella.
So writing a book, is that quite lucrative?
Oh, of course, you know. But I’m not doing it to make money.
I’m doing it because I like to see people happy,
and I'm trying to help them.
I'm doing it less for the money and more for the enjoyment.
Our goal is to make money, OK?
I love that Bella’s about the emotional part of it.
And then Dee and I can handle the financial aspect.
If Bella sat here right now at 15 and said she was all about the money,
that wouldn’t be good.
So her answer is actually a perfect answer for a 15-year-old.
What kind of businesses can you make from starting around six?
Like, what are you inspiring people to create?
At six years old, you can make anything.
Six years old is the prime time.
That’s when they sell girl scout cookies, yeah!
Listen, they groom you at six years old,
“You got to sell the cookies.”
Did you have that?
I didn’t get groomed.
I feel like I’ve just witnessed
Susanna’s purified life philosophy with Bella.
Is monetizing children really at the heart of the American dream,
or just Susanna’s?
I’ll see you guys.
Bella and Susanna’s relentless work ethic seems exhausting.
However, I’m relieved to discover that
Bella does sometimes get to switch off
and hang out with her mates.
Hi, Bella!
Before I get off the Bella Barrett roller coaster,
I'm meeting her friends at a fancy restaurant.
-So you’re Bella’s friends? -Yes.
How old are you both?
-I’m 13. -I’m 15.
Mainly, I’m a DJ.
I, like, do brand deals, and I’m an influencer on Instagram
and TikTok.
Here’s some new friends.
Hi.
-And everyone’s an influencer. -Yes.
OK. Perfect.
Right now, we’re eating at a very famous place.
Oh, let’s go in!
Let’s get a picture in front, girls.
OK, in the center, Bella.
It seems that, rather than some downtime,
this is actually another photoshoot
crewed by another team of child influencers.
We are at Serendipity. I have a few of my friends here.
I have Mya, of course. We have Adriana.
-And how old are you? -I’m 17.
Seventeen? And when did you start all the modeling?
Before I was one years old, as a baby,
I started modeling and commercials.
Yeah, I was in it since I can remember.
It’s not like an abnormality.
It’s more like this is what we do.
When it comes to pageants and modeling,
I have no regrets with that at all.
For me, I see what pageantry really is,
and it brings out such a good part of you, I feel like.
There’s more to life than just phones and being pretty.
Like, it’s not just that. It’s so much deeper.
With her content in the bag,
I take the opportunity to chat to the star of the show
for one last time.
So you’re hanging out with your mates,
but then you’ve also got, you know, it’s a constant photoshoot,
and you’ve got your mum there as well.
It’s like you’re always working.
Yeah, well, it’s not even just a photoshoot.
You know, it didn’t happen if it wasn’t on camera.
If I’m walking down the street and someone snaps a picture,
I can’t say no because I’m a public figure.
And when that camera comes on, you know, you got to smile.
You’ve been working now since you were six, if not younger.
Do you ever just want a break?
When I want a break, I can get a break.
But I enjoy it,
so it’s never something I really want to take a break from.
And even when I do take a break,
I still feel like I should be working on it.
-Really? -Yeah.
God, that’s draining.
If I could change my life right now, I probably wouldn't.
But if I would, I’d definitely go the medical career pathway,
maybe even a doctor.
Isabella!
Isabella, he wants a photo.
Thank you so much. It was a great time.
Darius wants a photo. Come quick!
OK.
Bella’s famous
from
So I’m having to take a bit of a sit down.
It’s been quite an intense experience just witnessing Isabella’s life.
We’ve just had the dinner with all her celebrity friends,
and you see the paparazzi mothers, you know, taking all the Instagrams,
like, surrounding them.
You can’t help but feel like they are pushing them into this.
Bella’s over there!
Follow her on Instagram!
So, Bella’s saying she wants to be a nurse.
How would you feel about that
if she just kind of got rid of all of this, everything she’s built?
I mean, well, she can’t.
You can’t now.
Unless she decides to go spend $1 million
or to donate it to charity, she can’t.
But I mean, I honestly think, like, no matter what she does,
she's going to be great at it.
You know, Bella was named one of the youngest self-made millionaires,
but now that’s not the goal anymore.
Now it’s Kylie Jenner.
You’ve got to be a billionaire, right?
If that ever happened, great.
But at the end of the day, just...
Bella is such a good kid.
I hope that everybody can kind of just fall in love with her.
She's a much better person than me.
Bella’s influencer success
has come at the price of having her whole life on show
since she was a toddler.
Her relentless work ethic is impressive.
But a childhood filled with business meetings
and brand activation might not be for everyone.
Maybe Bella will be the next self-made billionaire.
Or maybe she’ll be Rhode Island’s greatest doctor.
Either way,
I’m sure Susanna will be there every step of the way.
You didn’t show me your runway walk! Do you have one?
-No, I-- -No?!
Us old farts, we can do it. Ready?
Serious face.
And there’s your ending shot!
All right, thank you, guys.