Lauren Conrad Book, Sugar and Spice. (2010).[Photograph].Retrieved from http://www.laurenconrad.com/connect/news/october-book-tour.html In Lauren’s case, Turner would examine her manufactured celebrity as arbitrary (Turner, 2004). This means that Lauren is merely an object of desire due to luck and has no real skill or reason to be famous. This exemplifies that Lauren Conrad’s fame is merely constructed around good looks and the ability to make people want to see what she is doing on a daily basis through having a personality people want to engage with or be like. As Turner also explains, the only way celebrity is reached is through a good balance between the commercial industry and public will (Turner, 2004). This means that ‘no amount of publicity can generate public interest, and that the public can reveal a mind of its own’ (Turner, 2004). It can then be said that the public leads the commercial industry to who they should be promoting, and the commercial industry sparks people’s interest in hopes that they like what is being promoted. Therefore, public will has the strongest influence on what or who becomes a successful and prominent commodity. In Lauren Conrad’s case, the public liked her enough to continue watching another show she was on, and continue to follow her daily life.
Lauren Conrad is arguably one of the few celebrities that has taken their fame and used it in a positive manner. Having access to, and being such a part of the publishing and media world gave her the tools to further her career not in the film industry, but to enhance her own learning and skills. Rather than using her fame to sell herself as a commodity (ahmm.. Heidi Montag), Lauren took all of the experience and exposure she had to create a real life for herself through creating a fashion line. This job puts her into the limelight but now it is for a skill, rather than for an arbitrary reason that her initial fame was based on. Turner describes this as ‘deserved’ fame; someone who has a skill that not everyone can have, and is therefore admired (Turner, 2004).
Lauren Conrad Book, Style. (2010). [Photograph]. Retrieved from http://www.laurenconrad.com/connect/news/october-book-tour.html
The outcome of the celebrity of someone like Lauren Conrad can be related to both the celebrity world and society itself. Lauren Conrad becoming a successful business women impacts celebrity by breaking the stereotype of being famous. Many believe that a reality star is only capable of producing things in the world directly related to the show they came from. Lauren left the reality TV life to have a real job that is not linked to Laguna Beach, or The Hills. Although reality TV gave her what she needed to form the job she has, she is no longer related to the people or personality that she once had. Stepping away from the typical celebrity lifestyle contradicts Turner’s belief about reality TV stars and their dependency on the show they came from. As Turner explains ‘they are especially dependent upon the programme that made them visible in the first place, they have no other valid platform from which to address their audience’ (Turner, 2004). Lauren becomes a role model for other celebrities by showing that it is possible to break away from what gave you your initial fame and still stay successful and in the public eye. Finding the ability to not get caught up in the fantasy of fame that lasts a short amount of time will allow a celebrity to examine what other parts of the media industry they could be a part of and have a longer lasting career.
Lauren Conrad also has the ability to impact society in an inspirational way. The profession of being an author or a designer seems to be at times, an impossible dream to those in the field. It is highly competitive and only the best of the best succeed. Being such an average girl, Lauren proves that anyone can do what they want if they just put their minds to it. She shows how important it is to get to know the right people and to never give up. Her success in the fields are also a good example of a celebrity using their fame for good, rather than just trying to soak up the limelight or make profit off of a name. Lauren no longer treats herself as a commodity due to her looks or personality, she now sells work that she produces and has skills that can truly be admired. Another way that she may inspire society is by proving to everyone that you can be successful at such a young age. Being only 24 years old, Lauren Conrad has achieved so much through being on TV, writing books, and being a successful fashion designer. This may act as a good motivation for younger people to aspire to achieve as much as they can.
Works Cited
Official Lauren Conrad Site. (2010). About Lauren. Retrieved January 24th from http://www.laurenconrad.com/about.html
People. (2011). Lauren Conrad Biography. Retrieved January 24th from http://www.people.com/people/lauren_conrad/biography
Turner, G. (2004). Understanding Celebrity. London: Sage.
Student Number: 0948184
