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mma Hernan, a long‑time Selling Sunset cast member since season 4, joined the Oppenheim Group in 2018. Season 9, now streaming, ranks among the platform’s top ten worldwide. While the series thrives on drama, Hernan reminds viewers that the real estate side is the real work—negotiations, inspections, mold reports—far from the glamorous clips of million‑dollar homes.
Beyond the show, Hernan is a self‑made millionaire, angel investor, and founder of vegan brand Emma Leigh & Co. She launched her empanada line at Mel’s Drive‑In in Los Angeles, staging a Marilyn Monroe‑inspired look for episode three. The partnership, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lana Del Rey, showcases her knack for blending food, fashion, and media. Her Instagram and website promotion led to restaurant collaborations, but she chose Mel’s for its iconic status.
Fashion is a recurring theme for Hernan. In season 9 she appears in pink suits, latex red dresses, and 1950s diner attire, emphasizing that style can uplift a show’s tone. She believes houses are fashion statements, and that a realtor’s aesthetic can influence buyers. Her approach to real estate is client‑first: she avoids pushy tactics, advises friends against hasty offers, and builds trust through kindness—an ethos inherited from her grandfather, Gerry McAdams, founder of Yankee Trader Seafood in 1994.
Hernan’s entrepreneurial journey extends to manufacturing. She owns a co‑packer facility in Hingham, Massachusetts, providing production and packaging for other brands. By positioning herself as a co‑packer, she creates a secondary revenue stream and plans to acquire additional facilities.
Goal setting is integral to her routine. She carries notebooks on every flight, writing daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly objectives, and checks them off for satisfaction. Her real estate expertise includes handling difficult clients with calmness and empathy, a skill she attributes to her relaxed demeanor.
Despite her media presence, Hernan was never drawn to reality TV. She dislikes drama, loves fashion, and values authenticity. She joined Selling Sunset to inspire women, sharing her story of self‑education in stocks, savings, and investment. She encourages aspiring realtors to start immediately—take quizzes, attend open houses, and overcome procrastination. “Start today,” she says, “and even if you fail, you’ll learn and move forward.”
Key events in 2024–2025 highlight her multifaceted career: the Emma’s Empanada Launch Party at Mel’s Drive‑In on December 3, 2024; a visit to ChaCha Matcha on November 8, 2024; a dinner at Chez Mia on February 25, 2025; the Selling Sunset Season 9 premiere party hosted by Bre Tiesi on October 29, 2025; and her appearance on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet on May 21, 2025.
Through fashion, food, real estate, and family legacy, Emma Hernan exemplifies a modern entrepreneur who balances glamour with substance, always encouraging others to pursue their goals with confidence and kindness.
