A celebrity is a person who has gained significant fame or renown from their status as the object of widespread media attention. Celebrities can be people who act in movies or television, singers or rap artists, and athletes. People who make large contributions to humanity are also often considered celebrities. The term celebrity is distinct from that of celebrity culture, which refers to the way in which celebrities are portrayed in the media. Celebrities are considered cultural icons who model desirable traits or lifestyles that influence social norms. Celebrities are no longer limited to entertainment; they are marketed as brands and commodified in ways that blur the distinction between their public and private personae.
Many people become celebrities through popular media such as reality TV and social media. Other people become celebrities through business (celebrities like the Kardashians and MrBeast) or politics (politicians like Donald Trump and Sylvester Stallone). People who make significant contributions to society are also known as celebrity scientists, which has led to the rise of the “scientific star” that carries greater prestige than other types of researchers.
The commodification of fame has also led to the rise of celebrity as product endorsement. Celebrities are used to promote products by sharing photos of them using these products on their social media accounts and in advertisements. Some people call these types of celebrities “famous for being famous” or “famous just for the money”. This phenomenon has raised ethical concerns about the role of advertising and exploitation of celebrities.