How did Carlos Pena from being a reality TV loser to become big time career winner thanks to BTR?

We know that some zei that if u are eliminated very early in the competition your career is dead but not for Carlos of BTR when he competed in a reality toon he was eliminated very early in the competition but 3 years later the winners of the zei reality toon disbanded/unsuccessful in their career while him became a member of successful boyband Big Time Rush/