Despite the fact that there seems to be a common conception that those in the spotlight don’t have an influence over their fans, we at Scriptoeris beg to differ. Fans are dedicated to the artists, actors and what’s considered celebrity that they admire and these are a few that we think need to be given more credit for the positive light they bring forth.
Little Mix, a girl group from the UK, makes me feel personally empowered with each song they release. Their music is uplifting and encourages their young listeners, especially women, to embrace themselves. They fully embody the image of girl power and seeing them live a year ago gave me the full experience of the presence of powerhouse women. They are forces of nature that express the idea that women are more than just “pretty things.” They emphasize strength in their anthems like Salute and Wings and encourage self-love in their single Little Me.
Sophia Bush, well known for her role on CW’s hit series One Tree Hill as Brooke Davis, is an actor that uses her influence to bring awareness to important organizations. As an activist she is a passionate advocate for several including the organization I AM THAT GIRL. Its mission is to remind women of their beauty and to encourage them to support and uplift each other. I AM THAT GIRL promotes the act of self-love and using one’s voice to change the world around them. Bush encourages the idea that “Beauty…has to do with what’s in your heart.”
Taylor Swift is country turned pop singer who, for the past few years, has been criticized by the media and society and made into a joke at various events due to her infamous reputation for dating. Swift uses her life experience to inspire her songwriting and as a result has been subjected to ridicule including insults such as “Watch out she’ll write a song about you!” With the release of her latest album 1989, Swift has taken the opportunity to let her fans know that they don’t have to be in a relationship to be happy. She wants her fans to understand that they can be themselves because no matter where they are in life, there are always going to be “mean” people. Over the last year, up until now, she’s reached out to fans via social media to remind them that they’re not alone in their struggles.
Nicki Minaj is an example of an artist who rose herself from the bottom up. She knows what it’s like to be at the bottom. As a result she takes every opportunity possible to encourage her fans and young people to get educated if it’s available to them. It was not something she herself could do so she thinks highly of it and constantly reminds young people to ‘stay in school.’ Minaj embraces who she is despite what her critics think saying “No one will ever accept what you do.” She’s a feminist and points out that “When [she’s] assertive [she’s] a bitch, when a guy’s assertive he’s a boss.” She recognizes the double standards place upon women and speaks out against them.
These are the women in pop culture that we need to be paying attention to. These women are using the connections and resources they have in their positions to make a difference in people’s lives. They fully understand the power of their influence and their ability to help people realize their worth. These women deserve more recognition for their genuine desire to make a positive impact in the lives of many.