A celebrity is someone who is famous because of something that they do. Usually, celebrities become famous for being in movies or television, singing and/or rapping songs, playing sports and/or being a high-ranking politician. People who are in the news, such as journalists or TV show hosts are also considered to be celebrities. Other celebrities are known for their philanthropic work such as Mother Teresa or they are famous for being saints. Some celebrities are known for their money such as Paris Hilton or they are famous because of who their family is such as the Kardashian sisters. This is called being famous “for being famous”.
Sometimes, a person can become a celebrity just by being on TV for a long time. This is often the case with actors who have recurring roles on television shows such as Sofia Vergara or Millie Bobby Brown. People who appear on talk shows and other programs can also become known as celebrities if they are experts in a certain field or if they add comedic commentary to the program.
Many celebrities are also well known for their endorsements where they put their name on products to advertise them. This has become a big business and some people think that celebrities are being over-exposed by this practice. This is also sometimes referred to as the “celebrity-industrial complex”. Some critics have claimed that the celebrity phenomenon promotes superficial recognition over substantive achievement. This has led to criticism of the modern media system for creating stars that stand in for social status that is not derived from birth or traditional achievement.