It seems that everyone wants to be a celebrity nowadays. It is hardly surprising when people like Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian have made a fortune from doing nothing. There has also been a proliferation of shows that offer ordinary people the opportunity to become famous, with American Idol and America’s Next Top Model amongst them. Celebrity culture has impinged upon every aspect of society, influencing the media and shaping people’s aspirations. Everybody wants something for nothing and becoming a celebrity seems like the best way to achieve this.

Clearly, it is not a positive thing that so many teenagers are growing up with the belief that all they need to do is appear on American Idol so that they can have their 15 minutes of fame. Instead of youngsters aspiring to become doctors and inventors, they want to become pop stars, even if they are unable to sing or dance. Television, magazines and the Internet all give the impression that the celebrity life is a glamorous one that doesn’t involve very much hard work and is actually quite fun.

It is impossible to escape the power of celebrity because even serious news programs feature celebrity stories. It is understandable that celebrity magazines are going to delve into the private lives of celebrities, but you don’t turn on the news expecting it to be dominated by the fact that Michael Jackson has died or that Paris Hilton is in jail. Yet, it happens. Celebrities obviously hold some appeal, because people can’t seem to get enough of all the celebrity scandals that feature in the tabloids, but it can’t be healthy for ordinary people to pay so much attention to celebrities and celebrity lifestyles.

People are interested in what celebrities are wearing, who they are dating, whether they have had plastic surgery or not and, at the end of the day, celebrities are there to sell products. It may be a film or a song they are trying to sell; although, the chances are they’re trying to sell their own clothing, perfume or exercise DVD. People can buy their own little bit of celebrity. Of course, celebrities don’t make these products themselves, but they represent a lifestyle that ordinary people would like to have.

There may be celebrities who have a modicum of talent, but all too often celebrities are those who are in the right place at the right time and are prepared to say and do outrageous things. It is virtually impossible to escape the influence that celebrities have on society, which is something that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.