The Evolution of Celebrities: how has the definition of a ‘celebrity’ evolved?

The concept of ‘celebrities’ has been around forever, from well-known poets and playwrights in the 19th century to famous actors and singers in the 2000s. The definition of a celebrity is ever-changing with different people taking the spotlight from year-to-year, as popularity may rise and fall throughout their career. For most, a celebrity is somebody who is well-known, whether that be a singer known for their unique voice or the natural talent of an athlete, but how has the idea of fame evolved over the years?

Before the rise of social media, celebrities were given their popularity through different media outlets. For a lot of older generations, celebrities were plastered on the front pages of tabloids and gossip magazines, gaining attention through paparazzi photos, new movies and album releases. However, recently these lines have been blurred through the rise in social media and the new popularity of influencers.

A lot of influencers have found a way to turn content creation into a full-time job, with many of their viewers seeing them as role models and celebrity figures. People such as GK Barry began her career on TikTok and has just been announced in the lineup for this year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, a show which is literally labelling her as a celebrity despite her starting out as an influencer. Some would say that the Kardashian family were the first to start the trend of ‘influencing’, which has gained them high celebrity status, showing how the lines have blurred in the past 20 years with the rise in social media platforms. There are so many people nowadays who have made a career through YouTube, Instagram or TikTok, gaining celebrity status through becoming well-known to people who consume their content.

But is there a difference between award-winning actors and Youtubers who gain millions of views each week? Are some people more worthy of celebrity status than others, and how is that determined? I think it all comes down to society’s obsession with other people’s lives and using public figures as a source of entertainment, whether that be on Spotify, at the cinema or on your phone. Celebrities have evolved in a way that fame has become a fight for attention in a world full of content and entertainment.

Edited by: Eleanor Robinson