Bizarre “Spokespeople” And “Role Models”

When it comes to celebrities who are spokespeople for our generation, my mind goes directly to the Kardashian family. While they are tremendously famous, there really is no point to their constant presence in the media. Kim’s relationship with Kanye West would have been the perfect vehicle for her to become a public figure. Sure, I’ve watched the show, but in no way do I believe that they have an actual purpose to be women that younger girls look up to. To me, it seemed as though the accessory members of the show were the ones that I kept watching for. Khloe, Kim, and Kourtney really have done nothing important in their lives to reach the level of “role model” or “spokesperson” for what a woman in the 21st century should be like.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum from the “poised” Kardashians would be Snooki from “Jersey Shore.” The gang of Seaside Heights took the MTV viewing audience by storm, and soon enough there were teenagers across the country living by the GTL motto and fist pumping their way through the party scene. The effect of these guidos and guidettes was tremendous, but not in the best way. Once again we see a group of regular people who become wildly popular for taking part in crazy antics on a nightly basis throughout a summer. Not only were boys and girls throughout the country watching each week, they were also copying certain aspects of the show. I remember many girls from my high school styling their hair with the trademark “Snooki bump,” which not only looked ridiculous but it was borderline embarrassing that they would style themselves after such a person. After the show ended, Snooki moved on to settle down and have a child with her boyfriend. It seemed as though people were taking her more seriously as a person, but why should we highlight her as mother when there are women across the country giving birth after their crazy college years and we aren’t giving them the publicity she gets. Before the show, Snooki was living at home with her parents, she wasn’t anything out of the ordinary compared to most of us during our early twenties, so why does she need this much fame and recognition for going out and making a fool of herself at the bars? What makes her so special?

The final, yet probably the most disturbing, form of a “role model” that is very present today is the Teen Moms: Yet another television show exposing the world of teenage pregnancy. As if the process of growing up and having a baby at the same time wasn’t hard, throw in some cameras and you’re asking for a world of drama. MTV once again brings together young girls around the ages of 16 to 18 to show the world the struggles of their pregnancies, which could include abusive relationships, drug habits, or problems with their parents. Most of these girls go on after the show to live their lives, but for Farrah Abraham, the world was her oyster. She had multiple plastic surgeries and was seeking any form of attention she could get. Her most recent attempt at making a name for herself included an attempt to get her name on the list for an Oscars after-party. When I first read that story, I sat back and got very frustrated. Why in the world does this spoiled brat think she needs to put herself on the same level as stars who have been in the business for years? These “reality stars” believe that with their five minutes of fame, they are the professionals and role models that young people should have present in their lives. I completely disagree with this statement. There are men and women out there doing much more impressive things with their lives that could be admired for their hard work and efforts, but without that notoriety, they sometimes go unnoticed.

On a more irritating side note: I get really agitated by the misuse of celebrities in commercials or advertisements. Recently, Adam Levine became the new face of Proactiv. I’m sorry but I refuse to believe that this man struggles with insecurities due to acne. He was just voted Sexiest Man Alive, and I just feel like this sort of endorsement only causes a bit of distance between the audience and what they are looking to relate to in these commercials and situations. Also let’s throw back to when Kim Kardashian was a spokesperson for Shape-Ups. It was so comical that she of all people would be wearing Sketchers, because let’s be honest, the woman more than likely never in her life has owned a pair of those shoes.

From the overall impact on society, to the thirty second commercial between your nightly television show, it seems as though celebrities are making more of a presence than necessary. Prior to signing on to reality shows, these people are living normal lives, and then turn into the face of our generation, which is an overwhelming amount of disappointing. Hopefully now that we are recognizing how unintelligent it would sound to base our standards off of these people, we can steer the next generation in the right direction and incorporate more normality into their lives before it becomes too late and they, too, turn to the dark side of their Kims, Snookis, and Farrahs.

 Photo Credit: Buzznet