Every time you click on a twitter page of Coco Rocha, or say Priyanka Chopra (the Queen of Social Media, here in India), the voyeur inside you gets pandered by the frequent updates, chronicling the daily pursuits of the models and celebrities. All you need to do is ‘follow’ to be a part of their clique, though virtually.
The popularity of social media for a while now is turning the table in terms of celebrity culture where people end up emulating the best in the business following the recommendations and circadian affairs of the ones standing on higher social echelons. Contrariwise, it proves to be an effective tool of personal branding for the latter.
In a recent interview to an international publication famous model, Doutzen Kroes with over 1.5 million followers on Twitter said, “When I started, models were booked only for their cheekbones. Now I think I get bookings because people will say they respect me, or we stand for the same things, or they think what I have to say is interesting. It’s better to hear that than just, ‘You have gorgeous cheekbone.’”
Hearing about models’ everyday lives is what intrigues the viewers to follow them. Their expertise on fashion, beauty, fitness, nutrition and food is reliably trusted upon. Moreover, models who keep travelling to the exotic locales and glamorous podiums across the world give enough entertainment fodder to the masses.
Model-turned-actor Bharat Kundra thinks that social media plays an important part in a model’s life since one can stay in touch with concerned people from all over the world with a click of a button. He utters, “I personally have been contacted many times through my facebook profile for work from all over India and abroad. I think a facebook profile represents your personality to the world so every update or picture you upload makes a difference in how industry professionals look at you since everyone is on it now.”
Miss Universe India 2010 Ushoshi Sengupta says, "Ok I have to accept that I am twitter addict but I feel facebook is more user friendly and I get a lot of work queries on them, though some are genuine but some are not. Moreover, a lot of people who love me and my work connect to me through these site. It’s like a small social network family out there."
Ushoshi with a considerable influence on twitter thinks that social media is a great way of self PR as you can update your work or anything on just a click. She furthers, "Specifically, what I love about twitter is that there are no limitations…you can follow as many people as you want to and vice versa. So guys be ‘twittersmart’ and follow me @ ushoshi."
Bharat concludes, “I used social networking to make public opinion on crucial matters like Lokpal bill and spread awareness and also to call support for charity. Moreover, as I travel a lot it gives me a platform to share my experiences and offer advises and help others if needed.”
