Drawing the Line in Pop Culture: Fascination or Unhealthy Idolization?
In this celebrity-crazed culture, we all know what it’s like to go all “heart eyes” over our favorite celebrities like melting at the sight of Channing Tatum’s perfect bone structure or envying Kate Hudson’s body. Unhealthy behavior has been on the rise in pop culture by blurring the lines of celebrity fascination and harmful idolization, especially in terms of personal body perception and modification.
An issue that has become increasingly common in our generation is being so awe-filled by celebrities that we allow it to warp our own behavior and lifestyle. This is especially true when it comes to body image. We always want to look like our favorite celebrities on the cover of every magazine, but many fans have taken this body envy to the extreme with permanent physical changes.
A prime example of this unhealthy behavior is Kylie Jenner. Over the past few years, Jenner has become a well-known socialite and social media star. She has become known for many of her physical attributes, but especially her thick lips. Lip augmentation has become a sought after procedure for many women due to idolization of Jenner. This also resulted in the “Kylie Jenner challenge,” where people plump their lips by sucking the air out of a glass. This resulted in many dangerous consequences, including popped blood vessels.
Other people that have modified themselves to look like stars include Toby Sheldon, who got plastic surgery to look like Justin Bieber, and Jack Johnson, a 19-year-old who spent close to $30,000 to look like David Beckham.
This all boils down to the constant desire to look like society’s definition of “perfect,” and low self-esteem due to impossible physical goals. Instead of being happy with who we are, both inside and out, we change to look and act like the celebrities that everyone loves. We think, “Well they are loved for their looks, so I should just look like them.” It’s so unsettling that people focus all of their efforts on people that they never even met, instead of becoming comfortable with who they are.
The key is to figuring out how to be a fan of a celebrity, without allowing their image to physically and mentally change who you are as an individual. Instead of changing your body to look just like Scarlett Johansson, figure out how you can be healthy and confident like her while still being like you. Instead of getting plastic surgery to look like Demi Lovato, you can work on how to be strong and optimistic like she is an example of. Look at them as personal inspirations for the characteristics they portray, not a body to copy.
Idolization can be extremely dangerous in many different ways, but it’s especially strong in the world of pop culture. It becomes an issue when young girls care more about who Taylor Swift is dating than their own grades. People are becoming so obsessed with the lives on reality television that it takes over their own lives.
A prime reason that leads to unhealthy celebrity idolization is the fact that social media and interviews allow us to feel like we know them personally. Like we know their deepest secrets and thoughts. It allows us to feel like their best friends.
On the video platform of YouTube, there are people known as “YouTubers” or “vloggers,” which stands for daily video blogging, where viewers can follow them along in their day-to-day experiences and adventures. This breaks down the third between a “celebrity” and their fans.
This has resulted in fierce communities of YouTube fans that will not only defend the social media personalities, but look up to them as role models. This all leads back to aspiring so greatly to be like our favorite stars, that we allow it to change how we think, act, and look.
Alexa Carrollo, 21, has been an avid YouTube subscriber since she was 15, especially of the beauty vlogger known as Zoella.
“She is an inspiration to me. Not only does she give incredible beauty and fashion tips, she speaks about deeper issues such as her anxiety,” Carrollo said.
Carrollo is very adamant about remaining true to herself and not allowing her fan appreciation for Zoella turn into a dangerous idolization.
“It’s possible to be a fan of a person without wanting to be exactly like them,” Carrollo said. “I can appreciate the beauty of a model or YouTuber without thinking ‘I need to look just like her.’ “
Crossing the line from celebrity appreciation to unhealthy obsession stems from deep insecurity. Celebrities are people just like us with feelings and flaws. Just because they can sing high notes or captivate a movie theater audience doesn’t mean that we are any less of a person for not being just like them.
Body modification inspired by celebrities is both unhealthy and sad to witness. We need to learn how to love ourselves without a comparison to a star. We need to put more focus on ourselves and our loved ones more than those of the rich and famous.