Celebrities Then And Now

People may become celebrities in a wide range of ways: from their professions, following appearances in the mass media, or even by complete accident or infamy. The term "instant celebrity" describes someone who becomes a celebrity in a very short period of time. Someone who achieves a small amount of transient fame (through, say, hype or mass media) may become labeled a "B-grade celebrity". Often, the generalization extends to someone who falls short of mainstream or persistent fame but who seeks to extend or exploit it. In the 20th century, public fascination with celebrities and demand for celebrity gossip gave rise to the gossip columnist, tabloids, paparazzi photographs and celebrity blogging.
The rise of international celebrities in acting and popular music originates in large part in the scope and scale of the media industries, enabling celebrities to be viewed more often and in more places. Growth in the number of media channels in the late 20th century led to increased exposure for celebrities.