The Brown & White

We see them act in our favorite movies, watch them dominate their field of sport and hear them sing our favorite songs. I'm talking about superstars: glorified individuals that are placed on the highest pedestals because they have mastered their craft. They have the power to make fans faint, burst into tears and profess their undying love.

If you have ever tuned into the MTV show "Cribs," you have witnessed firsthand the lavish lifestyles these individuals live. Superstars can live nine lives and still be financially secure and sport the best of the best. From laced-up cars, to enormous mansions scattered around the globe, to a bank account that has more zeros than a box of Cheerios, these individuals have it all.

Their lifestyles are so captivating that sometimes, we wish we were them. I will be the first to admit sometimes, just sometimes, I wish I could be Lebron James or Jay-Z, so I could have all that money, power and respect. Besides, I wouldn't mind spooning with Beyoncé every now and then.

Fascination with celebrity culture is extremely prevalent and is something many sociologists devote their lives to studying. Much of the public has a skewed interpretation of celebrities and how they live their lives. Many think celebrities live the ideal life - they're rich, they're famous and they're usually beautiful.

But even with all the good fortunes that superstars are blessed with, their lives lack two important components: freedom and privacy.

These individuals can't make it two blocks before they are mobbed by fans who relentlessly ask for autographs and pictures. Unlike "normal" people, they do not have the liberty to get up and go to the mall or the grocery store. Instead, they must wear a disguise or surround themselves with bodyguards before leaving their homes.

Their private lives are anything but private, and that is all thanks to a superstar's sworn enemy, the paparazzi. These photographers hunt out celebrities, hoping their cameras will capture the next big image to hit the press. The paparazzi often risk their lives and sometimes the lives of celebrities on the other side of the lens to get the perfect shot. Most of the time these images are related to negative headlines that are embarrassing, scandalous and sometimes, career-threatening.

I can't help but notice the constant weight updates of Nicole Richie over the past year, or the frequent breakups of couples such as Shaquille O'Neal and his wife of five years, all on the cover of People magazine. Headlines even reported when Linda Bollea, the wife of the great Hulk Hogan, called it quits after 24 long years, allegedly because Hulk slept with his 19-year-old daughter's friend.

Although freedom and privacy are notably missing factors from these individuals' lives, they also have to deal with the countless challenges that come with the territory of being a superstar. As one of the best to ever do it, Biggie Smalls, once said, "mo' money, mo' problems." And since these superstars keep getting more and more money, they eventually inherit the problems.

With all that is said, some of us still wish we were superstars, despite the challenges that come along with it. Celebrities aren't treated like people, they're treated like products, because that's essentially what they are. Their story and their look are molded so the public will accept them and their movies, CDs or game tickets will sell. If they make too many mistakes, they're dropped from their record label or traded to another team - all to make room for someone who will bring in more profits.

Truth be told, although we may wish we were one of them, they may not have it as great as we think. What we have, no superstar will ever have - the opportunity to enjoy a "normal" life. The ability to walk down the street and go to stores in peace, and to not worry about being publicized every time we make mistakes or having people purposely try to sue us for a quick payday.

There is no escaping it: once a superstar, always a superstar, despite retirement or long hiatuses. So next time you catch yourself wanting to be a celebrity, remember they are probably wanting to be just like you.