Brittney Spears
Brittney Spears is a current popular culture icon, and celebrity. Her quest for stardom began in her early years. She was born December 2, 1981 in Mississippi and reared in Kentwood, Louisiana. She was a talented gymnast, sang in her church choir and participated in local dance revues (Wikipedia, 2010). At eight years of age she entered the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City and studied for three summers. As a child, she appeared on shows such as The New Mickey Mouse Club, Star Search, and was an understudy for the Broadway musical Ruthless!. In 1997, she joined the all-girl band Innosense, but it was a short-lived event (Wikipedia, 2010). In October of 1998 she released her debut hit single Baby One More Time which was certified as platinum fourteen times. This jump-started her career and she began her starlet ascent. Brittney’s trademark of being scantily clad in push-up bras and barely visible clothing, the revealing photos mixed teenage innocence with adult sexuality and raised many eyebrows and bordered on teenage porn (Wikipedia, 2010).
Due to her instant success and wild lifestyle, Brittany has had her share of problems including a failed marriage to Kevin Federline intertwined with the birth of her two children, a nasty fight for custody with accusations that she was an unfit parent, obvious mental health issues, alcohol addiction, and drug abuse. In the much publicized custody battle, she was ordered to attend substance abuse rehabilitation and parenting classes. Federline was given sole custody with Brittany only having visitation rights.
The media covered every aspect of her troubled life, no matter how horrible the subject. Sadly, looking voyeuristically into celebrity lives makes television ratings and gossip magazine sales soar. The media feasted on the celebrity’s misfortune and bad behavior like hungry sharks, and our American culture which idolizes celebrities fed the frenzy.
Thankfully, Brittney got the help she was crying out for after she shaved her head and started showing signs of heightened erratic behavior and mental breakdown. Her father fired her personal business manager and secured her assets. Her psychiatrist ordered her admitted to the U.C.L A. Medical center under involuntary hold. She was allowing the narcissistic, self centered life of her celebity to tear her apart from the inside out.
Thankfully, she emerged after the break down presumably more stable. Soon after, she guest starred on the CBS sit-com How I Met Your Mother. Like her or hate her, she is what our society has made her. I may not be a fan, but I wish her the best.
References
Wikipedia, (April 24, 2010). Brittney Spears. Retrieved April 24, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britney_Spears
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