Monday, June 15, 2009

The Phenomenon of the Celeb Intern

I'm sure many of you have seen the recent headlines of Tallulah Belle Willis "shadowing" in the fashion department of Harper's Bazaar.  Gist if you haven't heard is: Demi Moore and Bruce Willis's daughter (who would like to officially change her name to Lula thankyouverymuch), at the ripe age of 15 is an intern at the prestigious fashion mag. 

This boils my blood for a few reasons. 

1) "Shadow" is just another word for "intern". 

Seriously, stop calling it "shadowing". It's pissing me off. I get that they probably have to do this for legal reasons (because she's only 15 and really shouldn't be working without a permit), but let's call this what it is kids. It's an internship. Hell, she gets to sit in on meetings! She's more than an intern. 

2) She's spawn of celebs (not one, but two). 

And I hate this recent foray of celebs into internships at magazines. When did being an intern at a magazine become a celeb-like thing to do. In recent months, hockey player Sean Avery, football player Stewart Bradley, musician Ryan Adams, celebutante Lydia Hearst, and now "Lula" Willis.

What I find really humorous about this whole situation is how not only do these magazines have quasi-famous interns, but then they write stories about how these supermodels and musicians are out there making copies, and getting coffee, and delivering packages just like real interns. Um, hey, I was a real intern at a magazine. And guess what? They never wrote about how I was forced to pretend to need a waitressing job in order to sneak my way into a soon-to-open resto in the East Village and was then sent on a mission to my boss's dentist to get her insurance papers signed (true story). 

Do you know why they didn't write articles about me? Because no one cares about real intern! Sorry all you interns out there, it's true. 

3) She's 15. 

At fifteen, no girl (even one who is half Demi Moore), should be allowed to intern at Harper's Bazaar. It's just insanity. You're gonna peak at 15 and have nowhere to go at 16. Pace yourself kid.

If you want to learn about fashion, "Lula", I suggest starting where the rest of us did...in retail. Or if you're like me and aspired to be a writer at the age of 15, hit up the public library. I'm sure they could use a hand. 

4) Sorry, but it's just plain unfair. 

I think this also falls under the category of jealous. Who me? Never. (Ugh, ok, definitely jealous). 

So in my opinion, Tallulah Belle Willis should not be a "shadow" at Harper's Bazaar because she's spawn of celebs, 15-years-young, and for the sheer fact that it's not fair. 

Done, done, and done.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

This post just made me laugh out loud, and then depressed me, in the same breath.

Internships are ridiculously hard, especially the older you get, when you have a Master's degree, already work 40 hours a week in a restaurant, and still have to intern (read: be someone's bitch) in order to break into your true passion.

Awesome blog. Will keep reading.

Anonymous said...

I agree with you completely. This post made me a little disgusted with the way celebrities and wealthy kids can basically do whatever they want while the rest of us have to EARN our way up the food chain. Plus, SHE IS 15! Seriously, get a job for petes sake. And you know she's not really making coffee or copies. hahaha. Oh Life.

KR said...

right on.

Bayjb said...

This would chap my ass too. Seriously. Celeb kids, they are SO NOT like us.

Chocolate & Chants said...

Lol, I love it!

Everything is handed to them on a silver platter...and then watch those celeb interns complain about how hard they work 'just like every one else'. Ha yeah right.

mk said...

Amen!

I will also add that Lauren Conrad should not have a three book deal... Fake YA books about her fake life. There are plenty of talented writers who don't get published.

Lara said...

Where I come from we don't have the word intern, but we go on "work experience". And we use "shadow" like "I spent a week shadowing the marketing director", meaning you're acting like his shadow and following him around for a week. But it's not strictly used for work experience. I'm all for the phrase... sorry.

Funny how phrases can mean different things in different places.

Abby said...

Agreed! I'm 28 and am hesitant to change my career because I'd have to intern first, which pays zilch! And yet, there are 15-year-olds who, let's be honest, don't really need any "interning" experience to obtain the job of their dreams for the simple fact that they are spawns of celebs! Disgusting.

Anonymous said...

They probably get everything handed to them on a silver platter, but they don't know the satisfaction you get when you work hard and accomplish something!!!

I know how hard it must be to be a REAL intern! And you got a pretty awesome REAL job after too. Without the whole world waiting for you to go into rehab? Poor "Lula" doens't know what she's missing out on :P

Anonymous said...

Though I agree with High Heel Gal, she really doesn't NEED intern experience, might as well save the spot for us hardworking not-so-famous folk.

Bridget KD said...

Amen!

E said...

Ok I agree completely!!! Loved the post; I needed a good laugh for the day!! :)

Amy said...

Anyone remember when Pamela Anderson got to write a nonsensical column for Jane Magazine?? That really pissed me off too...

Teach.Workout.Love said...

ugh thats just depressing to me... that means, i will never ever ever ever get a job there because a 15 yr old celebrity child will be taking it over me! UGH!

Mandy Kay said...

SO NOT FAIR! uggggh. some of us have to WORK our way into meetings!!!

Lisa said...

I agree that the whole notion of celebrity interns is ridiculous and it does seem unfair that she gets this fantastic opportunity at the age of 15 because of her parents' connections. However, I do see a distinction between shadowing and interning. Shadowing means you do a bit of light work but you're mostly just tagging along and observing. Interning means you work. Hard.

Erienne said...

ARRRRGGGG!!! This drives me insane. I worked my ass off just to get my damn internship and then worked twelve million times harder as an actual intern. And I'm damn sure no one is writing my story! I mean, who wants to read about "real people" running around to get documents signed so their boss doesn't have to pay for an apartment anymore? Or hand shredding documents in relation to an apartment building owned by their boss that has NOTHING to do with the actual company said intern is working for?!!! And I am 22!!!! And a college grad! And I'm doing this crap....so annoying.

I truly hope she is peaking at 15 and has no where else to go but to rehab ; ) {which is unfortunate since I do actually like her parents haha}

jeannie said...

I've been an intern. Also worked two jobs on the side to keep afloat.

It's so not fair.... normal high schoolers don't get such opportunities!

Drew said...

Agreed, Agreed, and Agreed.

Totally unfair.

I'm still stuck in retail... sigh

Britt said...

I will agree that they get a lot handed to them, and that if her rents weren't famous she wouldn't be there right now, but at the same time, when she fails to make it we are going to watch it on National TV, papers, and tabs. Personally I would reather bust my a$$ to get what I want, but if I had the connections, I may take the hook up as well. Have to admit, more of me is just jealous my parents couldn't call a buddy and get me on where ever it was I wanted to go.

Jessi said...

I agree!! It irks me that there are so many hardworking, unknown people who bust their asses and truly deserve an opporunity like that, but will most likely never get it because they're not the spawn of some celebs or money tycoons... *sigh*...

Audrey (the Hepburn House) said...

so true! not fair at all. Same with Run DMC's daughters getting to "intern" at fabulous places. (Although I think the show is hilarious and love watching them!)

Jesa03 said...

I agree with you! Not only does the working girl have to compete with the reality stars who want to be somebody, now we have to compete with the elite who have a better advantage than us because of who their parents are. Add to that the girls who are famous for no reason like Paris and Kim and now WTF! Does the 'Real Working Girl' I mean the one who doesn't sell her soul have an actual chance at anything? Do we really?