New-age role models

I am influenced by Hannah Montana, Gossip Girls and Beverly Hills 90210 and have to watch these shows without fail. The girls wear fancy clothes and look amazing on screen. We like them because they do things which we love like dressing up, partying and hanging out with friends.” This is not just what student Pratiksha S, 14, thinks but it is the voice of a generation of youngsters whose ‘role-models’ are old enough to be their classmates.

Sex, drugs, all-night partying, hospitalisations and drunken driving are what tweens and young adults are emulating. What they don’t understand is that these celebs have achieved fame through hard work and dedication. “I lost my father when I was a teenager. I had a lot of responsibilities and took to modeling to earn money,” explains Sandalwood actress Anusha. “Being a part of the glamour world is not easy as there is a lot of competition. Getting fame early can change your life. Under pressure, young celebs sometimes do things which they regret. Youngsters should learn from these celebs on how to be independent,” she adds.