Beijing hired American influencers, including a 'Real Housewives' star, to promote the Winter Olympics

• China hired a US-based media firm to help promote the Beijing Winter Olympics, as previously reported.

• Vippi Media signed a $300,000 deal to employ influencers to create content across TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch.

American influencers, including a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and a Paralympic swimmer, were hired by China to help promote the Beijing Winter Olympics, according to Justice Department documents disclosed on Monday.

It was previously reported that Vippi Media, a New Jersey-based firm, had signed a $300,000 contract with the Chinese consulate general in New York to organize a social media campaign that promoted positive messaging about China and the Beijing Games on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitch.

Now, the identities of the 11 social media influencers have been revealed.

One of them is reality TV star Crystal Kung Minkoff, a cast member of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." On February 16, she shared photos of her family's previous trips to Beijing on her Instagram account, which has 334,000 followers.

"Beijing has a very special place in our family's hearts. We have hosted many friends at our home there and couldn't be more excited to be watching the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics!" she wrote in the post while also sharing the dates for the Games.

TikTok star Anna Sitar, who has 11.6 million followers on the platform, was also named in the documents. On February 11, she shared a TikTok video in which she and her friends participated in a series of made-up "Olympic games," which included donut-eating and ring tossing.

"We know I woulda taken home gold if I was there. Go Team USA!" she wrote in the caption. In the video, she also shared a "fun fact" about how Beijing is the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Another influencer hired by Beijing was Paralympic swimmer Jessica Long, who has close to 100,000 followers on Instagram. In a January 28 post, the 30-year-old shared pictures of herself at the 2008 Beijing Games.

She wrote: "I can't wait to watch and cheer for Team USA, I wish them the best of luck! Have fun making lasting memories at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, China."

Meanwhile, TikToker Ryan Dubs, who has more than half a million followers, shared a three-minute interview with Huang Ping, China's Consul General in New York. In the video posted on March 14, Dubs encouraged entrepreneurs in the US to conduct business with China and decried US tariffs against Chinese imports.

Minkoff, Sitar, Long, and Dubs did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Vippi Media's campaign was targeted at US social media users and reached roughly four million users in January, February, and March, according to the Associated Press.

China has been pursuing media messaging efforts overseas for over a decade, spending nearly $60 million in the US in 2020 and $23 million in 2021, according to Open Secrets, a DC-based organization that tracks money in American politics.