Post-fame

What happens to celebrities?

Celebrities are human beings, which means they have their breaking points, too. Often these points are amplified due to how public a fall from grace is in the modern age. Many things contribute to a celebrity's fall from grace outside of a fandom's choice to euthanize them, such as ageism, typecasting, coming out, and being a misdirected child star.

Ageism is problematic but seldom acknowledged or discussed. When an entertainer reaches a certain age, especially women, it is detrimental to their career. Many celebrities will try to uphold their marketability by undergoing body modification surgeries to keep up with the demanding criterion for youth and beauty in the industry. According to Inês Amaral, PhD.'s research in digital inclusion, "the pressure to remain youthful by the industry creates psychological distress. Sustaining a place in the spotlight, and continuing to work as an artist, appears to be demanding emotionally, cognitively, and physically" (Amaral 2015).

The decline of a child star is a dominant, published occurrence in Hollywood. "Those that enjoyed childhood fame were vulnerable to problems like suicide, underage sex, and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Given such a strange role reversal with their parents whereby they 'parented' their own parents, both financially and emotionally, it is hardly surprising that the lives of child actors are a unique psychological case study in themselves" (Evans and Wilson 1999). Growing up in Hollywood can warp a child's understanding and expectations of an adult world. These factors can impede the developmental process of the young artist. Are child stars able to develop a sense of self? Healthy coping strategies?

Now, more than ever, former child stars have been coming forward and revealing the challenge of being thrust into the industry at such a young age. Those who survive the psychological trauma inevitably encountered in child stardom do so by getting the help of those they trust and medical professionals. It is hard work, but the healthy, joyful life on the other side of recovery is worth it.