Usually, when pronouncing the word “celebrity” or “star” we imply a person who succeeded in a certain area such as cinematography, sports, singing, etc. However, sometimes, everyone seems to know a person but no one can say what this person is famous for. This phenomenon even has a special term — famous for being famous. It is slightly dismissive since it is used in relation to stars who have gained popularity not because of their talent but simply because of their frequent appearance in the media.

We at Bright Side were curious to figure out the reasons for the appearance of this phenomenon and we came to the conclusion that it originated in the 19th century.

What it all started with and who was the first celebrity.

What are the reasons for this phenomenon and what is happening with it today?

Experts outline 2 versions explaining the appearance of celebrities. According to the first one, celebrity is a universal concept that has existed and will exist in any society and at any time. The other version says that the celebrity phenomenon is connected with the growth of popular culture when video and audio media started to dominate in society. That is, there have always been famous people, but their popularity was due to real talent, while today’s stars are famous because their lives are actively covered by the media. At the same time, society clearly shows its interest in it — look at the number of followers on the social networks of stars. This happens for several reasons.

According to a psychologist, “Perhaps some people who don’t feel good about themselves and are not able to get what they want out of a real relationship because of a fear of rejection can feel a connection with a celebrity and get something positive out of that.” In other words, it’s a way to cope with the difficulties of everyday life.

Also, there is an opinion, according to which, society has a wish to worship all idols. We obsessively follow the daily life of celebrities, we are interested in everything: from love dramas to everyday things like what kind of coffee they drink. Personal aspects of life become more important than professional achievements. In this sense, the line between a star and ordinary person is blurred, because today we also voluntarily flaunt our lives on social networks. And one can think, “She is like me and has had a lot of success in life. Perhaps, I will also be able to do that.”

It is not surprising that under these conditions, the celebrity phenomenon has greatly expanded its boundaries over the past 20 years. With the spread of the internet, social media, and YouTube, the number of people “famous for being famous” is growing and will continue to grow. Today everyone has the right to their own moment of fame — all you need to do is to start your own blog.

We can say that the turning point in the understanding of fame in the 21st century was the cover of Time magazine in 2006, where a monitor with a mirrored surface with the word ’You’ written on it was depicted, instead of a photo of the “person of the year.” This is how journalists identified those who create content every day on various internet platforms.

In your opinion, what is the reason for the appearance of celebrities who hardly possess any talents but are known to everyone?

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Please note: This article was updated in May 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.