Is Your Daughter Starry-Eyed Over Celebrities?
Although Paris Hilton is a model, singer, actress, author and a reality TV star, she seems to be better known for her personal life than her accomplishments.
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Some of these people are famous, and we don't even know why," said Chris Blair, the chair of the communication arts program at Union University.
"Naked Paris Hilton was famous before she was on television. She was famous for just being a pretty, thin millionaire. That was her claim to fame."
But her star status hasn't kept her out of trouble. In September, she failed a sobriety test. Later, police caught her driving on a suspended license twice. The second violation resulted in a 45-day jail sentence. Paris Hilton was scheduled for early release from a Los Angeles prison today.
While some teenagers think Hilton is "cool" because of her style, beauty and personality, some parents say her lifestyle of partying sets a bad example.
"Not everyone we see on TV is living the right life," said Janet Hayes of Milan.
Hilton, a hotel heiress, may be wealthy and beautiful, but that doesn't make her a good role model, she said.
Hayes and her 15-year-old daughter, Tiffanie, sometimes discuss the images they see in the media of young celebrities such as Hilton, singer Britney Spears and actress Lindsay Lohan.
It is important for parents to talk about the images that promote wild behavior, Janet said.
She remembers when Lohan, 20, starred in Disney's remake of "The Parent Trap" when she was 11.
"She was so pretty and everything," Janet said. "Now look at her."
Lohan entered rehab May 28 after crashing her car into a curb and was arrested for driving under the influence, according to the Associated Press.
Tiffanie said Lohan, Hilton and Spears are too wild.
"They need to calm down," she said.
Spears completed a monthlong stay at a rehabilitation treatment facility in March after attracting media attention for wild behavior that included partying with Hilton and shaving her own head, according to AP.
Last year, Hilton said she is a good role model, according to a statement she made in an interview on NBC's "Today" show. She also said that "A lot of mothers come up to me and they're really happy ..."
Kelly Sheffield of Jackson can't imagine why a mother would think Hilton is a good influence on their daughter.
"Her lifestyle goes against everything the Bible teaches on how to live for God," she said.
"She's definitely not a good role model for girls."
Sheffield's daughter, Taylor, is 17 years old.
"I don't agree with her decisions," Taylor said. Her mom is her role model, she said.
"But I know people who do like Paris and think she's cool," she added.
Lizanne Taylor, 16, of Jackson thinks Hilton is cool.
"She's Paris Hilton. She's cute. She's fun. But I don't think what she did is right."
Her friend, Ashley Smith, 16, of Jackson thinks Hilton's sentence is too short.
"She's a normal person," she said. "She's just rich, but she shouldn't get special attention because she's Paris Hilton."
Smith isn't impressed with Hilton. She said her role model is Oprah Winfrey.
"The thing I like about her is that she is rich, but she doesn't just keep it all to herself."
Mallory Yancey, 16, of Jackson thinks the media has unfairly portrayed celebrity Nicole Richie. She is Hilton's co-star from the reality TV show, "The Simple Life" and the adopted daughter of singer Lionel Richie.
"... It makes me mad when all the tabloids say she's anorexic. She just gets stressed out."
Blair said there are issues with role models and the perception of body image.
"It is sending a message that girls have to be ultra thin to be pretty and successful.
"I don't think the media is being overly critical. This is one of those situations where the media is accurately assessing that there is an image problem out there."
The Internet has exaggerated the fame of some young celebrities, Blair said.
"There was a point when Britney Spears was the top person being searched on the Internet," he said. "With all the things that are going on, that's a sad statement for our society at this point."
Find a better role model
Hilton, Spears, Lohan, and Richie can't really be considered a positive role model, Blair said, but they are role models whether they like it or not.
"They are definitely negative role models between their public exposure of themselves, the law breaking and trying to avoid their punishment," he said. "They do not represent the best that our society has to offer."
Society has thousands of young positive role models to choose from whether they're movie stars, athletes, musicians or everyday high school and college students who are making a difference in their community, Blair said.
"Unfortunately, they don't get the same level of press that a Paris Hilton or Britney Spears receives," he said.
Barbara May of Jackson said teenagers shouldn't depend on these young celebrities for guidance. She is a mother and grandmother.
People who work in churches are more ideal role models, she said.
"Parents can be a good role model, too," she said.
Sheffield said as long as parents are representing a good lifestyle, they can be a positive influence for their children.
"That's why we're parents, for our children to look up to," she said. "So we can guide them. That's our job as intended by God."
Blair said that not everyone will look up to their mom or dad as their number one role model.
"We do need to find role models who are facing reality, people who are facing the same challenges we are, and facing them with grace and dignity."
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