Mysteriously Famous
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The price of fame is quite hefty. The paparazzi capturing the worst photos of you, losing privacy, blogs waiting for celebs to fall into some sort of controversy, all of this, but yet fame and notoriety is still being chased. Even people who are already famous continue to pursue higher levels of it. Cough cough Taylor Swift.
There are, of course, benefits to being famous that keep people searching for opportunities to be in the spotlight. This could be anything such as money, status, attending fashion shows, getting exclusive access to luxury, having people cater to your needs. One of my favorite songs from Addison Rae is titled “Fame is a Gun” which is about how alluring fame can be.
Lots of people want the benefits of fame but don’t want to face it’s inevitable hardships. It’s an ongoing question asked by millions over the years: can you be famous and still live a regular life that the public has no access to?
A few celebrities have mastered it, but not all.
Alexa Demie, got her breakout role as Maddy Perez on the hit HBO show, Euphoria. For years people speculated about her real age, why she rarely posts on her instagram, what her next project would be and who she was dating. No one knows what she is going to do next which is all a part of her appeal. She has cultivated a loyal fan base and support of millions of people, but chooses to remain private.
Why does this mysterious archetype work so well for celebrities like Alexa Demie? People love a good mystery in all forms of media and entertainment. Mystery triggers various parts of the brain. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for problem-solving, and not knowing what comes next causes dopamine, a chemical released when we experience pleasure or reward, levels to rise.
Even in the influencer world, people chase this mysterious fame. There is a trend going around on TikTok where people edit themselves as a “niche” influencer. The “niche influencer” persona seems to have the dream lifestyle– balance between fame and privacy. Being able to sit in fashion shows and also go to the park without being noticed. Can you blame them? I, too, wouldn't mind being mysteriously famous.
Strike Out,
Johann Jonassaint
Boca Raton
Johann Jonassaint is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. A true Venusian who can never get enough of being wrapped in cozy sheets, listening to video essays or daydreaming. When she finally leaves her sheets, you can catch her writing at the library, the only place she can actually get work done. Feel free to contact her at jjonassaint2023@gmail.com or @jojoeva_ on Instagram.
