Vort Star Esther Kanuchan Snags Jerusalem Shopping Center Gig

Who says reality TV is just for finding love? For 20-year-old Esther Kanuchan from the hit Haredi dating show "Vort" on Channel 13, it's apparently the fast track to becoming a shopping center sensation. Esther's stepping in as the new face of Jerusalem's Ramot Mall for the next year.

In "Vort's" second season, the show shook things up by featuring a younger crowd from the ultra-Orthodox community, ditching the more mature vibe of season one. Enter Esther and her on-screen match, 21-year-old Ariel, the show's youngest duo who sparked online buzz, not just for their whirlwind romance, but for Ariel's army exemption and side hustle as a party DJ.

Fans and skeptics alike scratched their heads: Why rush into a televised shidduch at such a young age? Well, mystery solved! According to the celeb-spotting Instagram account "Dos Celebs," Esther's snagged this plum presenter role, turning her screen time into shopping spree stardom. It's like she auditioned for love but walked away with a marketing contract.

But this isn't your bubbe's matchmaking. Much like the secular crowd on sister show "New Love," where twentysomethings chase Insta-fame over forever-after, "Vort" seems to be breeding a new wave of Haredi influencers.

Esther and Ariel's social media accounts have exploded with followers, turning their TV tango into tangible gains. As one commenter quipped, "From 'I do?' to 'I endorse!'

Of course, not everyone's applauding. Critics point out the blurring lines between genuine quests for companionship and savvy self-promotion, whether in Haredi or secular circles. But hey, in the cutthroat world of reality TV, if you're not gaining followers (or free mall perks), are you even playing?

For now, Esther and Ariel are cashing in on their "Wart" whirlwind, leaving us all wondering: What's next, a signature line of modest mall fashion?