Colton Dixon finished 7th on Idol and released the fragrance Desert Rain

Melanie Martinez and Colton Dixon released fragrances with partners

Melanie Martinez auditioned for season 3 of The Voice in 2012 and was eliminated in the Top 6. In October 2016 she released a commercial for her fragrance, Cry Baby Perfume Milk, and her record label, Atlantic, distributed the perfume. In November 2023 she launched the fragrance line Portals Parfums, four fragrances made in partnership with Flower Shop Perfumes. The line later grew to include candles, body sprays and perfume pendants.

Colton Dixon, eliminated in seventh place on season 11 of American Idol, released the fragrance Desert Rain with the perfume maker Day Three Fragrances, inspired by his song "Build a Boat".

• Melanie Martinez: career and music
• Colton Dixon: career and music

Katharine McPhee released jewelry and Kimberly Caldwell made handbags

Katharine McPhee finished as runner-up on season 5 of American Idol and released a jewelry line, KMF Jewelry, in November 2022.

Kimberly Caldwell was eliminated in seventh place on season 2 of American Idol. She designed and made leather handbags for her Stage Presents line and wrote the "Hairdo’s and Don’ts" column for Sophisticate’s Hairstyle Guide.

• Katharine McPhee: career and music
• Kimberly Caldwell: career and music

Karen Waldrup created a cowboy boot and Nutsa designed clothing

Karen Waldrup finished in fifth place on season 25 of The Voice. She worked with Wet Kiss Boots to create the Waldrup Blue Cowboy Boot, and in May 2025 she released the song "Blue Cowboy Boots".

Nutsa, eliminated in 11th to 12th place on season 21 of American Idol, created the Nutsa X Kikala Youth clothing collection with Atelier Kikala.

CeCe Frey finished in sixth place on season 2 of The X Factor. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as a fashion and art designer and as a concept artist on the TV show The Masked Singer. Brooke White, eliminated in fifth place on season 7 of American Idol, co-created The Girls with Glasses with Summer Bellessa, a media business focused on design, fashion and video production.

• Karen Waldrup: career and music
• Nutsa: career and music
• CeCe Frey: career and music
• Brooke White: career and music

Meghan Linsey developed a beauty brand and Nadège founded a hair oil

Meghan Linsey finished as runner-up on season 8 of The Voice. She began a style column for The Boot in June 2011. After the Believer EP, she developed the beauty brand Believer by Meghan Linsey with Previse and Modern Minerals.

Nadège was eliminated in the Top 12 on season 25 of The Voice. In 2023 she founded Glory in a Bottle, a hair-treatment oil.

• Meghan Linsey: career and music
• Nadège: career and music

Jasmine Murray and Deanna Johnson reached Miss America and Miss USA

Before competing on season 8 of American Idol, where she was eliminated in 12th to 13th place, Jasmine Murray won the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen title in 2007 and placed in the top 10 at the national Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant. In July 2014 she was crowned Miss Mississippi 2014, and in September 2014 she represented Mississippi at the Miss America 2015 pageant in Atlantic City, placing in the top 10.

Deanna Johnson was eliminated in the Top 10 on season 8 of The Voice. In November 2016 she was crowned Miss Georgia USA and represented Georgia at Miss USA 2017 in Las Vegas.

• Jasmine Murray: career and music
• Deanna Johnson: career and music