Celebrities as Role Models

At least during one point in our lives we've looked up to someone famous - viewed them as a role model. And many young people today do the same. But who are they looking up to? Is who they are looking up to worthy of being a role model? Are they not sending the right message?

While I think it is best to have role models in your life who you know personally, like parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles, friends, or teachers, etc. But sometimes people don't have those kinds of role models in their life. But even if they do, I think there is nothing wrong with looking up to a celebrity as long as they are sending out the right message.

I'm sure many of us can come up with a long list of celebrities who are not role model worthy (e.g. Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc. etc). But who are some celebrities that set good examples, that send a good message, and are role model worthy?

Bono

It is hard not to see him as a role model. He has co-founded the ONE Campaign and Product Red. The ONE Campaign is a non-profit organization that is to increase the US government funding for aid programs. Bono is the main public spokesperson for Product Red which is a brand that is licensed to certain companies such as GAP and American Express to help raise money to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. For all of his activism, he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times, granted knighthood in the United Kingdom, and he has also been named one of Time Magazine's Person of the Year. He has done a lot of humanitarian work over the years - being an activist for the fight against AIDS, poverty, and hungry, and debt relief in third world countries. All of his humanitarian work makes him a great role model for people of all ages.

Ellen DeGeneres

She is all about doing something good, and recognizing those who do good in the world. She supports numerous causes and encourages others to do the same. On her show doing Breast Cancer Awareness month she donated money to the cause and asked her audience members to donate something too, even if it was only 50 cents. During December she also donated to Toys for Tots and encouraged others to do the same. She is always doing good things - that is a good reason to look up to someone. Also, Ellen is not afraid to be herself. Since she came out of the closet over a decade ago, she has always been herself. That is also an important message to get out to people of all ages.

Hayden Panettiere

She recently went to Japan to help save dolphins. Dolphins are being slaughtered in an area of Japan and Hayden, along with many others went out into the bay full of blood and possibly many sharks, on surfboards, to help protect the dolphins, to keep them out of harms way. She has been award the "Compassion in Action Award" from PETA after her efforts to save dolphins in Japan. She is a good role model for trying to do good for the world, to save animals, to do something to try and make a change for something she really cares about. Also, she is a good role model because even though she is a young star, she is staying out of trouble; she isn't into drugs or drinking. She would rather go do something good than go out and party.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus

Both starring in Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, they are still very much down to earth. They have not let the fame get to them, even Billy Ray's fame before Hannah Montana, back in the days of Achy Breaky Heart. They are a very family oriented and realize the importance of family. Family values are very important to teach young kids, and if kids want to look up to a celebrity then Miley and Billy Ray are great for that because they are down to earth, family oriented people. They aren't all caught up in the Hollywood scene. Billy Ray and his wife also realize the importance of keeping Miley grounded in her new found fame.

J.K. Rowling

A single mother on welfare with a great idea, turned down time after time, but she kept on going and it paid off. Seven amazingly successful books later, and 5 movies, with 2 more on the way, she is now richer than the Queen. Sometimes it pays off to be persistent and keep on going when you have a great idea. She is definitely a great example of being able to do anything if you put your mind to it. She didn't give up. She is a great role model for people of all ages to never give up and to keep on trying.

Michael J. Fox

Living with Parkinson's disease, he has created his own foundation to help fund research to find a cure. He is a strong advocate of research for Parkinson's disease and stem cell research. He wants to find a cure. He doesn't just focus on himself getting better, he wants to help others too, who are in the same or a similar situation. He is out to find a cure and will use his celebrity in a good way to help himself and others. He is just one more person fighting for something he feels strongly about - something everyone should do. He is a role model because he is a strong person, and he is willing to support something he feels strongly about.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah is a role model in many, many ways. She has overcome adversity. She's come from a rough background, yet she has turned into an intelligent, powerful woman. She shows how you can work your way up the ladder to where you want to be. You don't have to come from a perfect background to be successful at what you want to do. Also, Oprah is a good role model in the way that she stands up for what she believes in, which is very important, it helps define who you are. One of my favorite quotes is from Ms. Winfrey; she said "Always take a stand for yourself, your values. You're defined by what you stand for." I think that is very true and very important. Also, Oprah is a great role model because she, too, is all about doing good things for others, for example, her school in Africa. She is trying to make a change in the world one step at a time. She is trying to make the world a better place, and that is one good reason to look to her as a role model.

Lance Armstrong

After overcoming all odds, he is still strong and still going. He is a 7 time winner of the Tour de France and started his own charity to help in the fight against cancer, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. It is a charity organization to support people who have been affected by cancer. Through this organization he has created LiveStrong Survivorship Notebooks, wristbands, and other merchandise, in which the proceeds go to support the foundation. According to the official website for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, they "unite people to fight cancer believing that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything." He is a role model as an athlete - if you work hard you can achieve it. He is also a role model as a fighter, not giving up, and also supporting others.

These celebrities all have good qualities about them that make them good role models. There are also many other celebrities who have great qualities about them and who are role model worthy. But there are also many celebrities that people should not be looking up to as role models. I also think it is important for parents or guardians of young children to know who their children look up too, to make sure they are looking up to good role models.