Amelia was thrust in to the spotlight after her first flight, her portrayal in the newspapers, and her use of the media greatly enhanced her fame.  Not only were her flights captivating the world media as front page news, she also began to do product endorsements, advertising, and even created her own product lines.  In between her flights she held a rigorous schedule of public speaking engagements to also help raise money.

In 1929 Amelia did this Lucky Strike cigarette ad to help raise money for Byrd's second Antarctic expedition.  Even in a day when the dangers of smoking were not known and it was socially accepted, this ad was highly controversial.  The editor of McCalls had offered her a job, and resended the position when he saw the ad.  Amelia also discovered the negative side of fame in one of the many letters she received.  "Cigarette smoking is to be expected from any woman who cuts her hair like a man's and who wears trousers in public." (Morrissy, 102).  Despite the ad, Amelia didn't smoke, and later accepted a position as an associate editor for Cosmopolitan, who didn't mind the ad.

Amelia placed her seal on many personally designed items like her line of designer clothes for active women.  The line was carried by thirty department stores across the country.  Earhart also had a line of luggage, and almost her own hat.  GP had signed a contract to have a replica of one of Amelia's flying caps reproduced for children.  He presented her with one when she returned home, and she hated the cheap imitations and ordered him to cancel the contract even though they were already in production and sure to make money.

The height of Earhart's coverage in the media was in June and July of 1937 when she came close to traveling around the world only to vanish in the Pacific.  This coverage helped seal her lasting fame, as everyone stayed hopeful as the search continued.