In the high-pressure finale of On Brand with Jimmy Fallon, marketing pro Bianca Fernandez was crowned the show’s first-ever winner, earning the title of Innovator of the Year and a $100,000 prize. The 28-year-old New Yorker outperformed three other finalists in a final challenge to create a campaign for the wellness brand Therabody, securing a long-term creative partnership with the company.
The Final Showdown
The season finale, which aired on October 31, featured the last four contestants: Bianca Fernandez, Pyper Bleu, Mahiri Takai, and Ryan Winn. Their task was to develop a complete ad campaign and a comedic commercial for a new Therabody massage gun. The judges included host Jimmy Fallon, On Brand’s chief marketing officer Bozoma Saint John, Therabody founder Dr. Jason Wersland, and Therabody CMO John Solomon.
In a dramatic twist, the judges eliminated two contestants after the initial pitch presentations, leaving only Fernandez and Winn to advance and produce their full commercials. Winn’s concept took an edgier approach, focusing on the sounds users make when finding the right pressure point. Fernandez’s pitch, however, showed a person juggling work chaos before finding calm through the massage gun, focusing on mental relief rather than just physical pain.
The Winning Pitch
For the final round, Fernandez and Winn filmed their commercials featuring Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. While both campaigns received positive feedback, the judges were particularly impressed with the strategic depth of Fernandez’s idea.
During the final pitch, Fernandez pointed out that her competitor’s ad did not clearly identify the target audience, which could limit its appeal. This detail proved crucial. Therabody founder Dr. Jason Wersland agreed that her emphasis on stress relief matched the company’s mission better than a focus solely on physical pain.
“Dr. Jason loved her focus on stress and tension instead of just pain,” reported one insider.
Bozoma Saint John praised Fernandez’s communication skills, and Jimmy Fallon noted her campaign struck the perfect balance between serious and approachable.
Behind the Scenes of a Win
In interviews after her victory, Fernandez described the intense creative process, which was even more demanding than it appeared on television. She revealed that being a creative lead meant being constantly “on” throughout the competition, dealing with mounting pressure, lack of sleep, and the challenge of last-minute changes.
During her final pitch, Fernandez briefly froze after second-guessing part of her presentation and making last-minute adjustments.
“I got up to the pitch. And then, because I changed so many things, I kind of froze and was like, ‘What am I going to say next?’” Fernandez told NBC Insider. “I was trying to find my words. But then eventually I did. You have to pick it up and keep rolling.”
She shared that had that moment cost her the win, it would have been difficult to forget. She was thrilled that Therabody connected with her idea and that it came to life as she had envisioned.
Life After the Victory
With her win, Fernandez’s career is accelerating. She is joining Therabody as a creative in residence, a role that will see her collaborating with the company on campaigns throughout the year. She is also set to participate in KitchenAid’s Color of the Year campaign and will attend the Super Bowl with her team.
As for the $100,000 prize, Fernandez has practical and heartfelt plans. She wants to treat her supportive family to a vacation and put the rest into a “rainy day fund,” which she humorously referred to as the “Bianca Creative Chaos Fund.”
A Friendly Competition
Despite the intense rivalry shown on screen, especially between Fernandez and runner-up Ryan Winn, the cast formed a strong bond. Fernandez emphasized that the competitors were friends throughout the process and have stayed in close contact since filming ended.
“The cast, we’re all in communication, so we kind of became a family by the end of it,” she said.
She expressed a wish that more of this collaborative, friendly spirit had made it into the final show, revealing that the contestants even held watch parties for new episodes after filming wrapped.
Also Read: On Brand with Jimmy Fallon Episode 7 Recap: Jennifer Garner Joins as Four Contestants Are Eliminated
