{{Short description|American social media personality and executive producer}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2025}}

{{Infobox person | name = Arlette Amuli | image = | caption = | birth_date = July 15, 1995 | birth_place = Phoenix, Arizona | occupation = {{flatlist| *Content creator *social media personality *executive producer }} | spouse = {{Marriage|Bolia Matundu|2021}} | children = 1 | module = {{Infobox social media personality | child = yes | youtube_handle = PopTheBalloon | youtube_display_name = Arlette Amuli | youtube_years_active = 2011–present | youtube_genre = | youtube_subscribers = 1.3M million | youtube_views = 253 million | stats_update = October 25, 2025 }} }}

'''Arlette Amuli''' (born July 15, 1995) is an American content creator, social media personality, and producer.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=August 28, 2024 |title=CAA Signs Arlette Amuli & Bolia Matundu, Couple Behind Viral Online Dating Show 'Pop The Balloon Or Find Love' |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/pop-the-balloon-or-find-love-creators-arlette-amuli-bolia-matundu-sign-caa-1236071959/ |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Schweitzer |first=Ally |last2=Martínez |first2=A. |date=April 11, 2025 |title=A live version of 'Pop the Balloon' is now on Netflix. We spoke to its creators |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/04/09/nx-s1-5326038/pop-the-balloon-netflix-live |access-date=October 25, 2025 |work=Npr.org |publisher=NPR |language=en}}</ref> She is best known as the host of the YouTube dating show ''Pop the Balloon or Find Love'' and as an executive producer of its Netflix live adaptation, ''Pop The Balloon Live''. Amuli is married to musician Bolia Matundu (BM).<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Dorisca |first=Samantha |date=March 27, 2025 |title='Pop The Balloon' Dating Series Lands On Netflix With Host Arlette Amuli As Executive Producer After Amassing Over 100 Million Views On YouTube Alone |url=https://afrotech.com/pop-the-balloon-live-netflix |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=AfroTech |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Amanda |last2=Hudspeth |first2=Chris |date=April 11, 2025 |title=Viral Dating Show Pop the Balloon Streams Live on Netflix Every Thursday |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/pop-the-balloon-live-2025-release-date-trailer-host-news |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=Netflix.com |publisher=Netflix |publication-place=Los Gatos, California, United States}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=A |first=Aron |date=March 29, 2025 |title="Pop The Balloon Or Find Love" Goes Live On Netflix: Controversies, Viral Fame &amp; What To Expect |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/900217-pop-the-balloon-netflix-dating-show-guide-streaming-news |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and career == Arlette Amuli was born on July 15, 1995 in Phoenix, Arizona, to middle-class Congolese parents. Her public career began after she met Congolese-born British artist Bolia Matundu (known professionally as BM) during one of his U.S. tours in late 2018.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Taylor |date=August 16, 2024 |title=We met in the strangest way and now we're engaged — and it all started with a balloon |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/met-strangest-way-now-engaged-134116795.html |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=New York Post |language=en-US |publication-place=New York, New York, United States}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Boone |first=Keyaira |date=April 9, 2025 |title=Arlette Amuli, BM Of 'Pop The Balloon Or Find Love' Say Netflix Will Bring Show 'The Global Recognition It Deserves' |url=https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/pop-the-balloon-netflix/ |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=Essence |language=en-US |publication-place=New York, New York, United States}}</ref><ref name=":6">''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnMtxgqIjg Arlette Amuli & BM Talk Tips On Improving Dating, Couple Engaged On The Show + Their Love Story!]'' (Video). August 20, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2025 – via YouTube. <q>Questions about her Congolese background and love story with BM begin at 6:15 and continue until 8:49</q></ref> The meeting took place in Phoenix through mutual acquaintances, and the two connected over their shared Congolese roots.<ref name=":6" /> Soon after, Amuli appeared in BM's music video for the remix of "Rosalina", featuring Awilo Longomba, which marked her first public venture into entertainment. After two years of a long-distance relationship, they married in 2021.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StVmtUGo7Lg |title=BM ft Awilo Longomba - Rosalina Remix (Official Video) |date=December 25, 2018 |last=BM Official |access-date=October 25, 2025 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

=== Rise to prominence: ''Pop the Balloon or Find Love'' === During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media experienced a boom in homemade dating content. Inspired by viral "''pop the balloon''" challenges, BM developed a more structured version of the concept aimed at a mature, working-class audience, and proposed that Amuli take on the hosting role. Though new to hosting, she accepted the offer.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":0" /> BM invested $1,500 in camera equipment, and they launched the YouTube series ''Pop the Balloon or Find Love''.<ref name=":4" /> The first episode aired on December 7, 2023, with Amuli as host and BM as director and co-executive producer.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USOQid7YJ2s |title=Ep 1: Pop The Balloon Or Find Love {{!}} With Arlette Amuli |date=December 7, 2023 |last=Arlette Amuli |access-date=October 25, 2025 |via=YouTube}}</ref> The show's concept centered around brief, high-stakes speed-dating rounds in which participants held red balloons that could be popped to indicate rejection.<ref name=":2" /> BM told ''Essense'' that "the first two episodes were difficult" since he had to personally recruit participants, but afterward, "it was automatic", as the format's simplicity and emotional immediacy quickly resonated with audiences.<ref name=":2" /> As reported by ''HotNewHipHop'' writer A. Aron, the show's viral appeal came from its "rawness", with the sound of a balloon popping making rejections more immediate and dramatic.<ref name=":2" />

Clips from the show spread rapidly across YouTube and TikTok, getting people talking online about dating culture and modern relationships. Within weeks, the series became one of the most-watched programs on Amuli's channel.<ref name=":2" /> Building on the success, Amuli and BM expanded the franchise by launching ''the Catch Up'' podcast, where they checked back in with couples who had met through the show and shared updates on their relationships.<ref name=":2" /> By mid-2024, ''Pop the Balloon or Find Love'' had turned into a major viral trend across social media. Prominent internet personalities, including FaZe Clan members and streamer Kai Cenat created their own versions of the format in July 2024.<ref name=":2" /> Later that year, in December 2024, the British collective Sidemen also released a similar special, which boosted the format reach even more international viewers. The blend of emotional tension, humor, and striking visuals made the format a standout example of modern online dating entertainment.<ref name=":2" /> Earlier, in August 2024, Amuli and BM signed with the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) to expand the franchise into television, podcasting, and commercial collaborations.<ref name=":5" />{{Multiple image | total_width = 170 | image1 = | caption1 = Amuli with BM | caption_align = center }}

=== ''Pop The Balloon Live'' on Netflix === {{Main|Pop the Balloon or Find Love}} Building on the digital success, Netflix commissioned a live adaptation titled ''Pop The Balloon Live'', which premiered in April 2025. The series is hosted by Nigerian-American actress Yvonne Orji and produced by Amuli and BM alongside Bonnie Biggs, Dan Adler, Ellen Rocamora, and Matt Sharp.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Personal life == Amuli has been married to BM since 2021, and the couple has one child.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Living people Category:1995 births