The Power of Celebrity Image

We live in a society nowadays where people like the image and idea of glamour and fame. Both which are represented through a celebrity. They are famous, successful, and rich. Who wouldn't want that kind of life? This is why advertising in all forms of media nowadays contain images of a celebrity or someone famous.

In British culture, they have one of the widest range of celebrities known worldwide. For example, David Beckham, Simon Cowell, Paul McCartney, Emma Watson, these are only a few of many. These celebrities gained fame and fortune through singing, acting, playing football, or even being a judge. Once fame and fortune has been gained, advertising companies then use these celebrities image to sell a brand or a product to their fans and targeted audiences. Fans of celebrity can be aged from as young as 5 to as old as 80 depending on who the celebrity is. Everyone looks up to a celebrity be it for their looks, fame, voice, style, accomplishments or achievements. And when we see someone famous that we know in an advertisement, we are tend to be drawn to the product subconsciously. This is because in our minds, we are drawn to the idea of how the celebrity looks in the advertisement. Their hair is fabulous, their smile is charming and their eyes are shining. In our minds, we want that, we want to look as good as that.

Emma Watson, famous British actress, in an advertisement for Burberry.

David Beckham, famous English football player, in an advertisement for H&M.

Kate Moss, famous English model, in an advertisement for Dior.

As you can see, celebrities are widely used to sell most products that we use nowadays. Clothes, accessories, food, drinks, perfume, make up, hair products, and many more brands use the image of a celebrity to persuade the audience that their product will give you or make you look like the celebrity if you buy their product. 

Using an unknown celebrity or rather a new face to sell a product would be less effective. This is evident as people who see the advertisement do not recognise who that person is, they do not know their social status. As we are bombarded with advertisements everyday, we always recognise the face of that celebrity in the advertisement. But when we are first introduced to someone unknown, it takes times before we get used to them. 

By Bryan