Celebrities are well-known to the general public and receive attention from the media for their work in a variety of fields. They also enjoy a level of privilege and power that most people can only dream of. However, celebrities are really just people and they experience real struggles in their lives. These struggles can be anything from mental illness to battling drug addiction. When a celebrity shares their story, it can send an important message to teens about the importance of seeking professional help for issues like depression, anxiety or eating disorders. It can also serve as a reminder that no one is immune to the effects of drugs and alcohol.
The term “celebrity” came into use in English around C15 and has been captured as meaning either fame or ceremonial pomp and ceremony (the French related word is célébrité). The modern sense of celebrity is more likely to refer to someone who has achieved notoriety through some kind of accomplishment or recognition, such as winning a Nobel Prize, writing an important book, or being an excellent sportsman.
While many people want to be celebrities, a person’s status as such is not always based on merit or achievement. According to Hermione Lee, the popularity of celebrities often stems from a quasi-religious longing for latter-day saints and heroes that is not based on traditional markers of greatness, such as birth or traditional achievement. This tendency exists alongside a more pronounced taste for debunking culturally fetishized extraordinariness, reflected in a growing celebration of ordinariness and a more general debunking of sanctimoniousness.
As a result of this phenomenon, the celebrity system is different in every culture and region of the world, with people from less economically developed countries such as Nicaragua being less likely to be recognized as a celebrity than people from richer nations like the Czech Republic or the United States. Moreover, the definition of who is considered to be a celebrity is continually changing with new technology. A Twitch streamer, for example, may be considered a celebrity if they have an intense following that is invested in their personality and image.
Although some stars might be reclusive, it is not uncommon for them to show up at movie premieres, charity events or industry conventions on a regular basis. This is because they know that the press will be there and that the public loves to see them and hear their stories.
In this context, the celebrity’s status as a role model for youth is often emphasized. In fact, the deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and television host Anthony Bourdain in 2018 brought renewed focus to the issue of teen suicide and mental illness among young people. For this reason, parents can encourage teens to learn from the ways that celebrities overcome their challenges and continue to strive for success in their careers. This can be an empowering way to inspire a healthy lifestyle. It can also provide a positive alternative to negative messages from the media or from friends and peers who might have negative opinions about celebrities.