Celebrity Crushes

Celebrity crushes are a rite of passage for all teenagers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you, dearest reader, have one yourself. (You’re probably thinking of your celeb-beau right about now!)

No need to deny, and there is definitely no need to be embarrassed, I myself have one too! So it was kind of a no-brainer to begin writing an article on this prompt. Consider this a passion project of mine, passed on to you. 

While writing this article, it dawned on me that it makes no sense for one, especially a teenager, to have crushes on people they have never met. So then, why is it that we have them, and how is it acceptable to fixate so much time and passion over our celebrity “partners” to a point of, well, obsession? 

Well, according to the ‘Integrative Psyche’ website, celebrity crushes serve as an escapism, providing a means to cope with stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction with our everyday lives. It can also be based on admiration for their talent, looks, or personality as portrayed in the media. Looks and aesthetics, in particular, play a large role in why we fall for these celebrities in the first place. 

Out of curiosity, I asked my fellow classmates which celebrities they were most fond of, and these were the most common responses (trigger warning - intense thirst trap photos from Pinterest): 

The male celebrities: 

Leo DiCaprio (young)

Tom Cruise (young)

Timothee Chalamet

Cilian Murphy (young and current)

Chad Michael Murray (young)

The female celebrities:

Madison Beer

Megan Fox 

Margot Robbie

Angelina Jolie

Jenna Ortega

These are the actual human celebrity crushes that some of our students have fallen head over heels for. During my research and questionnaires, I came across a significant amount of cartoon characters:

Cartoons:

1. George Pig

2. Daddy Pig

3. Chicken Jockey

Of course, we’re not going to list the rest of the “hear-me-outs” we’ve received during our quest for knowledge of KGV’s celebrity crushes, that’s an article for another time (but believe me when I say, it’s something you won’t want to miss out on).

When doing the research for this article, I noticed that a significant amount of our students share the same celebrity crushes as…our parents. Which does bring me to wonder, what is so special about these 90s heartthrobs? And what about them makes our generation feel so drawn to them? 

Someone asked a similar question on Quora Digest, and the responses suggest that it’s a bit of a change in everything. One user mentioned it’s the change in style and hair, which just didn’t sit well with us. Trends come and go, though, I think our generation is still finding the right “look” that defines our teenage years. 

Another mentioned the changes in political correctness and the idea of switching gender stereotypes. This user discussed how “Today’s male is supposed to act feminine in order to be likeable and perceived as sexy”, by which the media and upcoming influencers and celebrities put on display so we can change our views on ‘toxic masculinity’. At the same time, female celebrities, actresses in particular, have adapted more empowering roles in films and media, highlighting their skills and talents rather than their looks. The user writes how the personality, charisma, and overall swagger of celebrities today, just don’t seem as attractive anymore. Furthermore, while the body positivity movement has also encouraged people to love their bodies and accept their differences, some users argue that it has also influenced celebrities to encourage and, almost indulge, an unhealthy lifestyle on their followers. 

Or maybe, the celebrities of our parents’ generation were just way, way too attractive to put aside! 

Did we miss out on your celebrity crush? Write their names down in the comment section!