How Gen Z Views Fame and Celebrity Culture

How Gen Z Views Fame and Celebrity Culture

For Gen Z, fame isn’t about red carpets or paparazzi. It’s about relevance, relatability, and realness. In 2025, the concept of celebrity has evolved—and Gen Z is the one rewriting the rules. Traditional fame is being replaced by micro-influence, memeability, and moral alignment. Being “known” is no longer enough. Being trusted and understood? That’s the currency that counts.

What Gen Z Thinks Fame Is (and Isn’t)

• It’s not about follower count: Anyone can have a million followers. That doesn’t mean you matter.
• It’s not about being untouchable: Gen Z prefers creators who act like peers, not icons.
• It’s not about perfection: Messy is relatable. Curated-to-death feels fake.

The New Celebrity Types Gen Z Embraces

• The accidental icon: Viral for a moment that turned into a platform (e.g., TikTok chefs, meme queens, protest organizers)
• The niche leader: Known only in a subculture but deeply respected (e.g., plantfluencers, crypto educators, ASMR creators)
• The authentic creative: Artists, musicians, and actors who maintain control of their narrative

Fame with Purpose Over Fame for Fame’s Sake

Gen Z expects public figures to stand for something. Silence on social issues? That’s a statement, too—and not a good one. Celebs are evaluated not just on talent, but on:

• Values alignment
• Platform use (who are you uplifting?)
• Transparency (where’s your money going?)

What Turns Gen Z Off

• Over-polished influencer vibes: If it feels like an ad, they’ll scroll
• Performative allyship: Gen Z has receipts, and they’ll use them
• Celebrity detachment: If you’re out of touch, you’re irrelevant

How Brands Can Work with Gen Z-Aligned Talent

• Choose relevance over reach: A creator with 20K loyal fans may outperform a celeb with 20M
• Focus on long-term collabs: Not just “paid partnership” but shared narrative
• Let the talent lead: Gen Z responds to creators being themselves, not parroting scripts

PR + Messaging Do’s and Don’ts

Do:

• Highlight real moments, behind-the-scenes, and unscripted personality
• Use creator-led content over branded graphics
• Center impact over image—what’s the celeb doing for the world?

Don’t:

• Lean on celebrity just for headlines
• Ignore internet culture or subcultural roots
• Assume fame = influence (Gen Z separates the two)

Final Thought

Gen Z doesn’t reject celebrity—they redefine it. They follow people who feel real, say something meaningful, and don’t pretend to be perfect. If your brand is using talent to connect with this generation, make sure the fit is about more than fame. Make sure it’s about alignment, action, and authenticity.

Because in 2025, Gen Z isn’t following for fun. They’re following with intention.