"There's So Much More Than What You See"

THE THIRST FOR FAME
There once was a time when fame was just a benefit, an incentive so to speak that came along with being truly talented, extremely innovative or out of this world intelligent. Clearly in today's society the shift has progressed to becoming something that people strive for a lone. Fame...the ultimate goal; Not to become an amazing actress and win one of those shiny trophy Oscar men to sit on the mantle in your living room, not to become a prolific music icon that travels the world and collects 100 Grammys, but just "Famous for 100 Alex!" I remember watching an interview by model, Melissa Ford a few months back and she made a comment on how there are so many people that have and will sign over their soul with their name in blood on a contract just to become famous, and that truly disturbed me. But when I thought about it, and considered some of the teens that I have worked with, I realized that this is what we are teaching the younger generation as being acceptable in today's society. To pass over self respect, self worth and anything else by any  means necessary to get a glimpse of the glamour life. I had a discussion a few years back before starting I AM not the MEdia with some teen girls and we were discussing female entertainers and the brand that they have built and the brand they portray. The "IT" girl at that time was Ms. Paris Hilton. We then began discussing how besides being born into a rich family, her claim to fame was making a sex tape, her drug usage and extensive wild partying that was plastered all over the media. Some of the girls then began speaking in reference about some of their peers, and how some of them feel that they need to and are more than willing to sleep with men to become "popular" or famous in the high school world. And looking at "Hollywood" it's nothing more than "High School" but with way more funding and drug access. I mean think about it! The media is nothing more than that gossip girl that spreads rumors and knows every body's business. Then you have the popular kids that are not athletic or talented, just gorgeous and popular for no reason. (Who everyone dreams to be like) You have the successful over achievers that work hard and deserve their exposure, you have cliques and your stereotyped groups...the junkies, the partyers and so on. But my question is why are so many adults still in an adolescent mind set? Trying to find their identity and trying on someone else's, dreaming to be like the popular kid, and will do whatever it takes to get in to the "popular circle." But back to to my previous thought before the High School and Hollywood comparison... After having the conversation with the teen girls, I then thought about some females that I knew and went to school with that have went off to pursue modeling careers, starred in videos and even reality shows. Some of them automatically assume that they have to take their clothes off to gain immediate attention and exposure, have to be willing to spread their legs in a music video scene or on camera and show all of their skin to catch the eye of the world. And I must admit it does work. Look how famous some individuals have become over the last decade, not due to talent but just from making a sex tape, having sexual relations with a rock star or by pinning a pregnancy on a famous guy. Look at these reality shows with women with no significant talent or even life story to tell besides who they have slept with. When young girls bring up the stats that show the success rate with those females it's hard to argue with, all I can say is you're right...they did become famous, but look at the cost...and did their fame last is the ultimate question? Paris Hilton is not the "IT" girl anymore and the Video Vixen's story and book signings have ended...And what were the girls' names on Flavor of Love Season 1, 2, or 3? I could probably remember but you will have to give me a second. Now look at women like Madonna, Brittney Spears, Beyonce', Halle Berry, or even your Elizabeth Taylors, Marilyn Monroes and Audrey Hepburn's who's portraits still sale in stores, who's names still carry on because they were truly iconic talented women. Women with the vision of becoming succesful in their music or acting career, who's goals were to win one of those shiny trophy Oscar men to sit on their mantle in their home or become a music icon that travels the world and collects 100 Grammys. Fame is just a benefit or incentive so to speak that came a long with the territory. And fame is something they still have till this day. Their cost... hard work, passion and sharing their true talent with the world.
Written by: Jimmeka L Anderson