Celebrity Role Models
By Ana Lyn, SDM Staff Writer
"I have made a proactive decision to take care of my personal health. I appreciate your well-wishes and ask that you please respect my privacy at this time." (Lindsay Lohan)
2006 could certainly be considered "The Year of the Party Girl". Which prompts the question, is 2007 "The Year the Party Girls Go to Rehab"? This year seems to have started off that way, with Lindsay Lohan and Miss USA Tara Conner each doing a stint in rehab to get straightened out. Sweet Designs Magazine applauds their efforts, and wishes them the best, as they battle their alcohol and drug addictions.
Even so, we must ask whether celebs like these, Nicole Richie, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton are worthy of the covers of Seventeen and Teen Vogue, and for that matter our own MySpace pages, or are they just spoiled rich party girls on drugs? They smoke in public, make tasteless videos, party till dawn, cause auto accidents, get arrested for DUI or leaving the scene of the accidents they cause, can't seem to keep their private parts private, dress like total skanks, and act like they're above the law and above the rest of us. Are they worthy of our respect, or should we be making a statement that we want better teen role models to wallpaper our bedrooms and Myspace pages with?
Sweet Designs recently ran a poll asking who were last year's worst celebrity role models. You our viewers highlighted four in particular, perhaps because many SD readers are teenage girls. With satirical humor that we did not intend to be mean spirited, we composed Valentines to Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton. A few of you said we were indeed mean spirited, but others said it was straight on and needed to be said.
About our Valentines and the celebs featured in them, Michelle, age 15, wrote, "I think it's the truth. Just the plain truth. That's all it really is. It is mean, it is degrading. But it's true. They probably won't end up seeing these, but I'm pretty sure part of the world will. All these celebrities are pretty much doing things that they shouldn't, or couldn't do. Some can't sing, but they're really good actors, yet they insist on having a singing career. Some are really good singers, but want to act, yet they suck at acting. They all do drugs, smoke, and do stupid things. So I don't get it. Why do we all look up to them?"
Anyway, it's my position that maybe it's time for a changing of the guard. Am I the only one who's sick and tired of Britney, Paris, etc., and their bad behavior on Extra every night of the week? It seems Mary-Kate and Ashley are spending a lot more of their time smoking and drinking than entertaining, and Nicole has been arrested for driving under the influence AGAIN this past week. As for Britney, besides going nutty with the clippers, she entered then immediately exited rehab. twice.
Note to Britney: I think you misunderstood. The doctors said the program lasted 30 days, not 30 minutes. It's rehab, not the drive through at Hardee's. 28 Days - Blockbuster - rent it.
Anyway, I've had it with this bunch of losers. If you want to see the effects of this kind of lifestyle, I have two words for you - Anna Nicole.
Truth is, Britney has become an excellent role model - in a roundabout way. After watching this train wreck, I know I made the right decision not to do drugs.
I noticed Mandy Moore is on the cover of this month's Seventeen. I don't know that Mandy Moore isn't a big time party girl just two weeks away from crashing and burning like Miss USA, but at least so far she has projected a more positive image than Britney, Paris, Lindsay, or Nicole. The worst things she seems to do, at least in public, are date celebrities and change her hair color. Maybe 2007 will be her turn in the center spotlight, and also an opportunity for others with better values to shine. Who knows? Maybe Rachel McAdams of Mean Girls was really the sweet one. I mean, Britney Spears isn't the only one in the world who can sing and dance, right? And what exactly does Paris Hilton do again?
What do YOU think? Do you want another year of these people, or are you ready for a change? And more important, WHO IS a good role model for today's teens, anyway? Tell SD what you think. It's a free country. Express your views!