SCV: Why are we as a culture so fascinated by celebrity?
Tia: People like escapism. They love the idea of being famous, rich, to live vicariously through others.
SCV: But in places like Europe there nearly isn’t the same fascination.
Tia: Well I think it’s the idea that you can come from nothing and make something of yourself. That’s always been the American identity.
SCV: Until now, where one is holding on for dear life.
Tia: Well, you have to realize a lot of the celebrities we are seeing now are actually second generation celebrities. The original celebrities were ordinary people who came from nowhere, looked average whom just happened to get these tremendous breaks.
SCV: This implies becoming a celebrity today isn’t as easy as it used to be?
Tia: On the contrary, with new media, the internet, twitter anyone can become a celebrity. Granted they can become famous for nothing exceptional, but their name is still out there.
If one looks at NY for instance one can see the overwhelming abundance of socialites.
SCV: As opposed to celebrities?
Tia: Well, it’s funny, a lot of celebrities don’t actually live or exist in NY, well not for 9 months out of the year. They’re all in L.A. Where interestingly enough you have no socialites. You’re either a star or not there. NY, on the other hand you’re more often coming up against socialites.
SCV: Who’ve become the new celebrity?
Tia: Well, take Paris Hilton for example. She comes from society but chooses not to behave the way someone from society does.
SCV: Meaning?
Tia: Well instead of settling for a husband, she makes porn tapes, instead of getting involved with a charity committee she’s in some nightclub, cutting records, launching handbags, promoting perfumes. She’s acting the way a celebrity would. So now of course the lines have become blurred.
SCV: Are more socialites behaving like celebrities?
Tia: Not necessarily, but they are certainly given as much attention as traditional celebrities. They’re the next barometer to a lifestyle that people want to read about.
SCV: So who then are socialites?
Tia: Well they used to be people who came from well to do families, where one of the parents had excelled at something. Interestingly enough, a lot of the socialites in NY are not originally from NY.
SCV: Where then?
Tia: Germaine Jones is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Luigi Tadini from Brazil, the Hearst family is originally from San Francisco, Tinsley Mortimer from Virginia, Zani Gugelman from Connecticut.
SCV: So how does one become a socialite? By coming from wealth and acclaim?
Tia: Well it used to be about money, but not anymore, no one really cares. You can become a socialite simply by going out all the time now, turning up on red carpets and certain blogs.
SCV: Like Guest of guest.
Tia: Yes, absolutely.
