Celebrity 2.0

            Once upon a time, a person had to go through the ringer to become a celebrity. He or she had to develop a craft, hire a talent coach, and work birthday parties pro bono until some fast-talking agent serendipitously discovered them. Some attended performing arts academies. Some pieced together audition tapes with their JVC Compact VHS camcorders to send to Star Search with hope that Ed McMahon would give them four stars. Others surreptitiously rode their parent’s coattails to the top. Those were the days.

            Today’s celebutantes have it way too easy. Now, all it takes is a camera phone for a person to go viral. Web 2.0 celebrities, like YouTube all stars Dom Mazzetti and the incredibly talented music duo Karmin, measure their legacies through likes and views rather than Emmys and Grammys. Overnight sensation Jenna Mourey epitomizes what it means to be a star in today’s Web 2.0 environment. She is the next generation of superstar; she is celebrity 2.0.

            Mourey is a 23-year-old native of Rochester, NY. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Suffolk University and a Master’s of Science in Sports Psychology and Counseling from Boston University. Like many other aspiring professionals with ambition and an education, Mourey earned her living by working for a local sports bar, Barstool Sports, and go-go dancing on weekends.

            In July 2010, Mourey posted a video, “How to trick people into thinking you’re good-looking,” on YouTube. The video documented her transformation from an ordinary nine-to-five worker to a beautiful weekend temptress. Viewers found it easy to relate and appreciated its honesty and lighthearted humor. Within its first week, the video accrued more than five million views. The instant notoriety led to the birth of her YouTube alter ego, Jenna Marbles.

            Jenna Marbles earns her living by producing funny, somewhat crude videos every Wednesday for her millions of followers. She also maintains a video blog on a separate YouTube channel which updates followers about her day-to-day endeavors. Her celebrity 2.0 status landed her a temporary position with fellow celebrity 2.0 blogger Perez Hilton, but the blog was shut down due to lack of traffic. Her viral stardom also earned her the perks of a traditional celebrity; in early 2011, Jenna Marbles and other notable YouTubers were flown out to Los Angeles for an advanced screening of the summer blockbuster, the Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

            What message does Mourey’s success send to the next generation of dreamers? To make something of your life, you should work hard, do well in school, and then record yourself as you cry over your degree and hope someone finds it funny. Get your minds and your cameras ready!