To think that not everyone who goes on to love island (etc.) can make a career out of being famous

[Spagbol88]

I guess just something that's been on my mind for a while. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much part of the problem in the sense that I watch love island (and secretly enjoy it). Every year love island and other reality style shows churn out new faces (usually beautiful ones) and then they become famous. They're on Instagram flogging the latest fashions, diet drinks, toothpaste etc. And every year another 20 or so get added to the mix, and the majority do the same.
Lots of the young people going in already have good jobs and careers (solicitors, scientists etc.) and seemingly walk away from this to instead get quick money. I can't say I blame them as it must be near impossible for them to feel like they can turn down thousands of pounds for an Instagram post (for example).
I guess I just worry that this is a sort of crisis for these young people in the future. Once they aren't flavour of the month and love island 2025 has churned out another load of new celebrities, the love island stars of 2019 will find their money and fame drying up quickly.
We've had the deaths of 2 love island stars already due to mental health problems, and the industry is so so fickle.
Don't get me wrong, it's not keeping me up at night, but as a 31year old teacher of teenagers it concerns me also that young adults see this as a career goal too.
Maybe I'm old fashioned in my thinking and that being an Instagram, YouTube etc star is a new career goal?
Would be interesting to get thoughts on this!

Absolutely not unreasonable.

Look at the X Factor etc, those who do well on that are genuinely talented and still sometimes sink without trace.

It's not a career. Like, how many Big Brother contestants are still famous?

The one I really admire, actually, is Craig who won the first series of Big Brother. He was a builder and that's still what he does. He's been on 60 Minute Makeover and similar TV shows, doing the work, and he's set up a training centre for people in trades. He's used the opportunity to really build a career based one what he's good at, rather than being famous for being famous.

It's just sad really. I think a lot of these young people are going to face really serious mental health issues. There's only so far aftercare will go. Ultimately they will be comparing themselves with one another and wondering why others have more followers etc. Than them. It's dangerous and damaging.
There's so much more to live than money and fame :(

Bridget I totally agree. I have a lot of admiration for people who use their new platform to make a truly sustainable life for themselves.
So many are selling clothes, watches etc via instagram. It can't do their self esteem much good surely?

I used to date one of the boys currently in the main villa with the girls. He's a lovely lovely boy and all I see on twitter is him getting abuse because his "accent doesn't match his looks"

He may have changed in the 3 Years since we last seen each other but comments like that used to get to him big time and I'm worried how he will cope when he is out

Ah scarjo that's really tough. Most people have insecurities and now these young people are under the microscope. Sad that some people see them as "fair game" to criticise.
Like I said, I enjoy love island (I love anything that means I can switch off for a bit) but it's so damaging really isn't it?

They will probably be a minor celebrity in their area and it may get them some extra boyfriends/girlfriends and kudos when they go clubbing. Perhaps that'll have made it worth it, who can say if it's not something you'd go on yourself.

@Spagbol88 it really puts it into perspective when it's someone you've actually known. Makes them real people and not just characters on a telly. I hope they all do well I'm sure we would jump for that kind of money!

I love love island (not ashamed) im really worried about shaughna

Cinammoncake yep probably so. I think it's more the long term I'd worry about. I know plenty of them could go back to their normal jobs and careers etc. Too.
I just worry there's a bit of a crisis looming with some of the more vulnerable ones.

They want 5 minutes of fame and £££, which they get. Even if it doesn’t last it’s fun for a while 🤷🏻‍♀️

Instagram and social media is now the way of the world, you don’t have to like it but that’s the world we live in and it’s only going to advance even more and it does make some youngsters a lot of money.

Why must we assume because they are young they are stupid, don’t know what they are doing and will suffer with bad mental health later in
life?

I think it could apply to pretty much anything though spagbol88 where you get some kind of 'fame' while young - being in a boyband, being a model, being a pro but didn't get to the very top footballer, etc.

I never said they were stupid and even said I understood to an extent (as they make so much). Many won't suffer and will be happy etc. But it's undeniable that some will struggle surely? It's common sense isn't it that being thrust in to fame and fortune and then for it not to be sustainable will be tough. In 5 years time how many ex love. Islanders, x factor etc. People will there be? Many will be fine, and good luck to them, but many probably won't.

if you go on one of these programmes you deserve all you get. Entrants are SOLELY judged on looks and sexual performance and they must know that if they've got the brains to sign up for it. If you want to be thought of as talented/clever etc, do something that needs talent or brains not just a fake tan, a ton of makeup and a taste for exhibitionism.

I remember Craig, the first Big Brother winner - back when reality tv was something new. The day is long past.

Yeh I agree cinammoncake, I'm just thinking love island at the moment as its the onky reality show I watch.
Could apply to anything. But as pinkloveheartlovescake pointed out, its the world we live in now and its going to get bigger.

We have enough vacuous nobodies masquerading as celebrities already without adding to them.

Mencken, but they are really young and although to an extent probably think they know what they're letting themselves in for are probably blind sighted by fame and money. Sophie (ex love island) who died said she had sold her soul to reality TV, it obviously haunted her.

Silvery surfer, the whole idea of celebrity is just weird anyway I think.

I think a fair few of them going in have some mental health issues that need to be looked at, and I also think the production companies fail in a duty of care because of this. You can see it a mile off in some of this seasons Love Island.

Yeh I'm inclined to agree. Not sure about you, but I don't know anyone who would be strong enough to cope with it mentally. Maybe it's just my friends but most have low level anxiety, self esteem issues or depression of some sort.

I don't think you can possibly know what you are signing up for.
First of all you don't know how you will be edited, manipulated by the production team and thought of by the public.
Then you probably make a fair bit of money in a short amount of time (if you are one of the popular ones) but as you say, with a fresher more popular batch being churned out every year, it is likely to be short lived.
Sudden money and fame also bring on an awful lot of hangers on and parasites who will tell you what you want to hear to get whatever they can out of you.
So a couple of years down the line, the money has dried up, the mates you thought you had disappear and you either face going back into obscurity or become increasingly desperate to regain the limelight and become a laughing stock/caricature (Staging pap pictures, etc...).
A very few might get a career like presenting or radio DJ but those a few and far between.

Qazxc yep exactly that!!

I don't have much sympathy tbh. If somebody's idea of a career plan is to become famous by going on some awful, vacuous tv show because they think they're atteactive, then they must be pretty dim (and vain). Especially if they have ditched a perfectly good career in order to do so. Becoming a footballer or a (proper) actor is different. Those are actual jobs and require talent.
I can't fathom the idea of wanting to be famous, especially famous for doing nothing remotely admirable. I'm a teacher and I find it depressing to see how many kids' lives seem to be dominated by vapid celebrities who do little but act as human billboards.

YANBU, they’ll be forgotten about by next year and will be switching on Christmas lights

The ones who come out best are those who understand that it won’t last forever, make their money while they can and invest it for the future. Unfortunately I suspect they’re not the majority. I feel a bit like Katie Price is the canary in the mine where reality TV stars are concerned. In years to come we’re going to see more ageing, mentally unwell people with looks ruined by too much surgery declaring bankruptcy.

I don't think you can possibly know what you are signing up for.

How on earth can you not?! Simply looking at a list of people who have been on the reality shows and seeing what has become of them would be enough to give you a pretty big clue.