Former celebrity role models turn into bad eggs

They grace every page of every magazine, newspaper, and all other publications on newsstands and in drug stores. They are of course America's celebrities and role models to many… or are they? Lately it seems that the negativity surrounded by today's stars is inescapable. There is hardly any positive news or good examples being set through these so called "role models". Going back to the late 90's and earlier in the millennium celebrities such as the Backstreet Boys, N'SYNC, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera portrayed a wholesome image for preteens and teens that looked up to them. These days it seems that kids of America do not have the same role models. Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears may not be cutting it like they used to.

With all of the short marriages, eating disorders, and partying habits displayed by young stars, it is to wonder what teenagers of the post-boy band generation have to lead as examples. Ex-Disney stars Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff's wafer-thin frames are something that preteens and teens will notice and try to replicate. These are people that kids have been following and looking up to for years with the Disney Channel and grew up watching. This is not unlike Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen who have been around since they were 9 months old on the ever so popular Full House. Mary Kate's admittance to an eating disorder was just another addition to the skinny obsession that has taken over our culture. Of course I am not denying that Mary Kate's coming out could be looked at as a positive thing for telling people and seeking and receiving help. Ashley's dating guys approximately ten years older than she is, on the other hand, is in no way a good example. This is not the same innocent and wholesome image portrayed by the teen idols just a few years back.

Let's not forget Jessica Simpson. She has the honor of being in both the boy band and post-boy band generations. I must say that I am a big fan of Jessica Simpson but even her marriage of only three years ended to the "boy bander" himself, Nick Lachey. Short marriages have become a theme and joke of Hollywood. Even though nobody takes it seriously, this still send out a bad message to the teenagers of today. Relationships are portrayed in a sarcastic and light-hearted way by society and celebrities. Shows like Flavor of Love and My Fair Brady expose relationships as something that is not all too positive. Flavor of Love has women exploiting themselves for the heart of Flavor Flav. The show is indisputably entertaining, but it sheds a negative light to teens. My Fair Brady does the same thing. Adrianne Curry is only 22 years old while Christopher Knight, more commonly known as Peter Brady, is in his mid 40's. Exploitation of relationships on TV for money is a contribution to bad examples for today's youth.

I am in no way saying that I do not enjoy these shows or not read the magazines, because of course I do. It is just interesting to see the change in Hollywood's young stars. Ten years ago there were so many stars whose job it was to lead the life of a role model. That seems to have unfortunately disappeared for this post-boy band generation.