IntroductionLiving in the twenty-first century we are exposed to the media, be it television, films, magazines or tabloids. Celebrities play a huge role in people's lives by serving as role models for those seeking guidance or advice. The characteristics of celebrities and how we view them have a significant impact on the choices we make, especially health decisions. Sometimes you don't realize that a celebrity actually influenced a choice you made. Although scholars have argued that celebrities have influenced perceptions of body image, they have neglected to fully appreciate the impact celebrities have on issues such as drug use, eating habits, and appearance. Therefore, scholars need to focus on all related health issues and not simply physical fitness for the general public to realize how much power celebrities really have. Celebrity Involvement One of the main predictors of celebrity influence is involvement with the celebrity. In the June 2010 issue of the Journal of Health Communication, WJ Brown states that “engagement is a concept that communication scholars have used to describe how members of the public relate to individuals represented in and through mass media ” (361). For example, recent research on television affect indicates that viewers become highly engaged with both television characters and television stars through repeated media exposure. There are several theories of involvement that are useful in the study of famous athletes; basking in reflective glory, parasocial interaction and identification. W.J. Brown states, “Theorists have proposed that fans of athletes and sports teams view “their” team as an extension of themselves (Sigelman, 1986)” (Brown 361). Or… middle of the paper… tip of the iceberg. Works CitedBrown, William J. and Marcela Alejandra Chavan de Matviuk. "Sports celebrities and public health: Diego Maradona's influence on drug use prevention." Journal of Health Communication 15.4 (2010): 358-373. Academic research completed. Network. November 28, 2011.Kelman, H. (1958). Conformity, identification and internalization: three processes of attitude change. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2, 51–60.Shorter, L., Brown, SL, Quinton, S.J., and Hinton, L. (2008), Relationships between body shape discrepancies with favorite celebrities and disordered eating in young women. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 38: 1364–1377.Tiggemann, M., & McGill, B. (2004). The role of social comparison in the effect of magazine advertising on women's mood and body dissatisfaction. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 23, 23–44.