A celebrity is someone who has a lot of fame. They are famous in areas of entertainment such as movies, music or writing and also in sports. People who are well known in government such as high-ranking politicians and people who tell people the news are celebrities too. Famous singers and actors, high profile athletes and even people who go into outer space are celebrities.
Some people become a celebrity because of a big event that happened to them such as a major movie, television show or a sport competition they participated in. People who win a lot of awards may also become a celebrity.
Other people are a celebrity because of how they act and the way they look. Celebrities that have a very attractive appearance and good singing skills may be popular. People who are extremely fit and healthy can also become a celebrity. Celebrities who have a very interesting or strange personal life may become famous too.
The first person to become a celebrity was actress Sarah Bernhardt in the early 19th century. Bernhardt was one of the first stars and is considered to be the godmother of modern celebrity because she benefited from several new inventions. She appeared in plays that were widely distributed thanks to steamship and railway travel. Photographic technology made it possible to take pictures of celebrities and publish them in newspapers so more people would know about them. Penny press and other cheap mass-circulation newspaper gave celebrities huge exposure. These factors helped her become famous very quickly.
Throughout history, many different types of celebrities have been born. Some celebrities have died in the limelight and others are still alive and active today. Today, the internet has created a whole new type of celebrity. These are people who have an enormous amount of followers on social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or YouTube. They usually have a theme that connects them to their audience and they post about their theme frequently. Some of these celebrities also have their own websites where they share information and updates with their fans.
Some people think that celebrities do not work as hard as non-celebrities and they may have lower moral values than other normal people. There are other people however who see celebrities as role models and idols and want to be like them. Some celebrities use their wealth and status to help others. Examples of this are Angelina Jolie who is a UNICEF ambassador and works to fight poverty. Other examples include Ashton Kutcher who helps children in need and has started a foundation to help children around the world and Marisol Nichols who has worked for prison and criminal justice reform.
The positive effect of a celebrity is that they can inspire and influence people to be good, work hard and follow their dreams. The negative effect of a celebrity is that they can be idolized and that it may cause some to seek fame too much which can lead to unhealthy and dangerous behaviors such as drugs or stalking.
