No More A-List Celebrities
Image Courtesy: TAYLOR HILL/GETTY IMAGES; MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY IMAGES; GILBERT FLORES/GETTY IMAGES
In 2009, a journalist by the name James Ulmer, ranked about 1,400 actors based on their ability to make money. This ranking later adapted into the grade tier that we know today to rank actors, musicians, and other public figures.
For decades the A-list celebrities were clearly differentiated and well-known. The 80s had Madonna and Whitney Houston. The 90s had Leonardo Dicaprio and Mariah Carey. The 2000s had Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. The 2010s had Rihanna and Adele. There were so many other celebrities that emerged from these past decades, but what figures can we say emerged from the 2020s?
To attain a-list status means that your name and work has reached international stardom and has cultural influence. Think of Rihanna, who is constantly being photographed around the world from the Americans, to Europe, to Dubai and to India. Throughout her music career songs like “We Found Love” and "Only Girl” have reached global charts. In 2017, she released Fenty Beauty which changed the cosmetic world with the release of 50 foundation shades. Fenty is shipped around the world. Rihanna still has the world at her attention with her iconic styling and adorable family.
Another quality that makes a person an A-list celebrity is that their names become cross-generational and a household name like Micheal Jackson. Despite his passing over 17 years ago, children from the gen-alpha generation know his name and dance to his songs.
Fast-forward to today, a lot of the celebrities are nowhere near the status of the a-list celebrities, unless they have started to gain attraction in the 2010s. It's safe to say that there probably will never be stars that come from this decade to reach such status, because social media has caused an influx of niche celebrities. We no longer live in a time where everyone watched the same tv networks instead we now all have algorithms that push what we interact with. So someone with millions of followers is only famous to a select few, rather than the whole world.
I think it's time that we revisit the list. Most influencers and reality tv stars are at best D-list celebrities or flops. They are too niche and only shown to a slim picking of people, but that doesn't mean they can't move up along the tier. What celebs do you think could become A-list?
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.
