The vastness of the Internet makes it challenging for individuals to stand out. However, many are leveraging their online fame to translate it into real-world success.
Tila Tequila, also known as Tila Nguyen, is one of the notable figures from the social networking site MySpace. Gaining attention for her somewhat “outrageous” attitude, provocative outfits, and stunning beauty, Tequila revitalized her rock band and modeling career. She even had a dedicated fan club on MySpace. Tequila is an expert in self-promotion, and her fame on MySpace led to numerous appearances on magazine covers and at concerts.
While Tequila has thrived in the virtual world, many have suffered from being too well-known. A few years ago, a video surfaced online featuring a boy running around, shouting, and wielding a long stick as a makeshift lightsaber. After being uploaded, Ghyslian Raza, from Quebec, Canada, was instantly dubbed the “Star Wars Kid,” and the video was edited into numerous versions, complete with music and special effects. Raza felt overwhelmed, had to drop out of school, and sought help from a psychologist.
In recent years, personal blogs have become increasingly popular, and celebrities have seized the opportunity to promote their names.
Entertainment and real estate mogul Donald Trump launched his own website to discuss business and market insights, while the blog of renowned singer Barbra Streisand primarily focuses on music and her career. Readers can also easily find political commentary on the online journal of documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, while Deepak Chopra specializes in discussions about the world and spiritual life.
Political commentator Arianna Huffington has taken it a step further. Last year, she launched HuffingtonPost.com to aggregate news and later share her own perspectives on her blog. The site attracts many other prominent bloggers, including comedian Bill Maher.
Many have found fame through the Internet, but “success online is just a favorable starting point, and you cannot rely on it throughout your entire career,” Huffington asserts.
T.N.
