Shelf-life ofthe socialite

Fame is fickle, with its lifespan largely depending on how one’s showbiz strategy is set up. Anyone keen on visibility will affirm that we have seen many come and go.

Every day, new talent comes up showcasing a brand that attracts the masses and before you know it, there is a new kid on the block who comes braced to take your spotlight.

It has always been said that back then we had real celebrities, the kind that lived and breathed their career.

Those whose talent translated into hits and glamorous awards and their art impacted the industry.

Kenyan socialites on the other hand, are the kind who stay famous for their enviable assets, party lifestyle and seemingly, “living the life”. Often, they seem to know the “cool cliques” and garner more traction and controversy wherever they go. People often wonder how worthwhile the socialite business is, but perhaps a look into their career life span may clear that.

Socialite requirements

Anyone can be a socialite! The best part is that no “education background” or ‘experience’ is required for this status. It all starts with self-consciousness, and the realisation that one has ‘assets’ that can leave people staring and talking for days. Alternatively, if assets aren’t a forte, one should be able to stir up controversy, (the kind that leaves a sane person with a head-ache because they just can’t be part of such hogwash!) and keep it brewing for days.

Social media platforms

Social media pages like Facebook and Twitter offer a great launching pad and a boost of life to such aspirations because they are the kind of platforms where masses will notice their efforts, share, like and comment on a first hand basis. Attending parties and getting a cool influencer to push their agenda is an added advantage as it swiftly increases audience ratings.

It is during this time that socialites start getting followers and fans in masses. Most fans ardently cheer their socialite of choice on, lest he/she forgets how vocal they were when he/she becomes famous.

Others will blast and attack anyone who tries to talk smack about their new found socialite. In extreme cases followers will form teams like #TeamSocialite and help push the rachetness agenda.

Nude modelling careers

With an ardent following in check, upcoming socialites then associate with fun careers. In most cases, modelling is the number one option because all one needs to do is pose, emphasise their assets and look good.

Nude modelling is the number one option because fully-clothed photos are too mainstream. After all, anyone can do that, and once the photos are out, the next card is to share them all over social media. If the photos are too explicit, many will allege that they were “accidentally leaked” because it draws more attention.

Publicity and hype

Most blogs will spot such photos and capitalise on them by writing random stories from truths to fallacies, earning a socialite larger following, both fans and critics. At this point however, the socialite pressure may seem too much, forcing the weak-hearted to drop out and take a break from the showbiz scene so they can go back to real life, after all you can’t fake it for life.

Past this ‘mainstream publicity’ point, socialites will do anything to stay atop their game and keep their fans glued and liking the photos on a constant. With a ‘modelling career’ on the rise, such will start getting offers from the crème de la crème of society some of whom may want video vixens and entourage girls in their clique.

Business goals

Those too busy to be turning up in cliques often turn down the demands and start their own businesses. Fashion lines are often the easiest because fans always seem to like their outfits, purses and shoes. Weave importation is next as their fans always seem to want weaves like theirs. We are yet to see one who engages in real estate, or law.

Sadly most of these businesses crash faster than they started with some not even actualising; perhaps one of the reasons is that the online crowd is not loyal in real life.

Retreating to real life

Resilient socialites will try at least five business ventures before getting real money out of them. Even then, it will take a well-developed plan and strategy to keep the business afloat. But if it doesn’t work out, the socialite will keep struggling and capitalising on the ‘false hype’ or quit and retreat to become a ‘family person’. After all we live in Africa where family values still hold water.

New socialites on the block

Meanwhile, new socialites will swiftly come up, learning all they can from their predecessors and trying to redefine the rules, and then the ‘short lived’ cycle will start all over again, complete with all the drama and struggles.