Jennifer Aniston is one of my favorite celebrities to follow.  I do not do it often, but when I am at the gym I enjoy reading the magazines about celebs.  It is fascinating to know what they are up to, not all of them, but certain ones like Aniston.  I chose to follow her simply because of her interesting life.  She was the most popular character on, which arguably could be one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Friends and enjoyed several great seasons with a remarkable cast.  She was on top and the fame and glory came with it.  

All along though, she seemed so down to earth.  She was just Jen or "Rachel" to most people.  Then, she got hitched to Brad Pitt!  The dream couple!  Everyone loved them and they looked so good together!  The marriage lasted 7 years and was suddenly interrupted.  Her world seemed to be turned upside down as rumors spread about her husband and his playful, flirty behavior with Hollywood's bad girl, Angelina.  That must have been hard on Jen, but despite this, she never seemed quite rundown.  She must have endured severe pain, betrayal, and heart break, but I felt that it was never enough to destroy her.  She is a strong individual and it showed, no matter how the media portrayed her.  She never ended up at any of the Hollywood stars' "retreat" centers.  She was much to strong for that.  

As I have followed the media stories regarding Jen, I have learned a lot about her as well as media.  First of all, Jen keeps to herself and it is the paparazzi that go hunting for her.  They will come up with anything to put her in the paper.  She has been connected with multiple bachelors in Hollywood, all of which are rumors.  To me, it seems that the media wants Jen to find happiness and they think she needs to find it in a man.  They are constantly pushing for her to find a new guy.  Dozens of stories headline, Jen seen with some male celebrity.  I think that the public feels for Jennifer.  They know her marriage was ruined and because she is America's good girl, they identify with her.  The good girl always deserves to win out in the end.  I think the public and the media are waiting for that win.  They want to see Jen settle down with some handsome man and "be happy".  They get so involved in her personal life and try to make changes for her through their stories.  It is as if they are creating this life for her that they wish she would adopt.  Clearly, she will not because she is her own person and is an independent and strong-willed woman.  She wants to do what she wants to do and she wants to pursue her own dreams and visions.  

Although it is nice to read how she is doing, I do feel for her when the media accuses her of being with a new man every week.  It must get tiring after a while or she must have a wonderful support group who look after her and keep her level-headed.  Whatever it is, it works and I think she does a great job of keeping grounded while always in the limelight of Hollywood.  She is America's "good girl" and she plays it well.

Thoughts

So, after writing that post, it got me thinking about what makes Jen Aniston so great.  How can she balance being famous and being down-to-earth?  I wonder if it has something to do with the celebrity machine?  It obviously affects people differently.  I'm not positive because I am not present during the "make over" from ordinary to star quality, but I wonder if the amount of time spent in the "makeover" aspect of the machine has a serious impact?  Every star goes through the machine but some people seem to remain somewhat normal.  I look at Jen and her journey.  She did have that nose surgery years ago, the deviated septum, which changed her physical features.  I feel like that is the only type of pressure she endured or at least what the media begged me to believe.  Other than that, she seems to be able to lead a somewhat balanced life.  Even with her split from Brad Pitt, she still "survived".  Although tabloids dogged her for months, and they still do, we never heard that "Jen seeks treatment at..."  She never seemed to crack under the pressure like so many stars do (Owen Wilson, Britney Spears, just to name a few).  It made me question as to why this is?  What makes Jen so much stronger than these other stars?  She clearly suffered a mighty blow when she split with Brad.  They were Hollywood's Golden Couple.  They were the "perfect couple"; the duo everyone wanted to be.  The couple everyone loved and adored.  She definitely realized how much she meant to people and the relationship especially.  That is surely a pressure situation and it is remarkable that she has come this far.  I find Aniston to be a great role model and a person that people can definitely relate to.  It must be why she is dubbed America's "good girl".

Just some thoughts

So, there hasn't been too much about Jen in the news lately.  She keeps a pretty low profile until her movies are released.  She is one of those actresses who, while still an A-lister, can keep attention to a minimum.  With her status, she could be galavanting around Hollywood.  I wonder what makes her different?  It is interesting to note how some famous stars can keep themselves grounded while in the limelight.  It is quite impressive and I think its a great quality to have.  So many stars nowadays, oh wait, they're not really stars (Paris Hilton, Kardashian girl); they just have tons of money and can afford getting the good looks.  They prance about not really doing much and just asking for constant attention.  It's annoying and silly.  I like actresses like Aniston and even Jennifer Garner, who actually have talent and make it to stardom.  They are able to remove themselves from the chaotic life of Hollywood.  They don't seem to get wrapped up in all the jazz.  I like that about them.  Despite the paparazzi attacks, they still remain level-headed and make appearances, but know how to do it and they do it well.  This is why I feel so many people respect Aniston and care about her.  She has that relatable quality that many people find comforting.  She doesn't act like she is above everyone; she is just trying to make it in the world like everyone else.  

A Baby for Aniston?

Over the weekend, it was reported that Aniston dropped $300,000 on a nursery!  A baby looks promising for the future, a baby boy in fact.  She's even decided on a name, Alexander, after her half brother, Alex.  She's excited to adopt the baby boy from an LA based adoption agency and finally, "settle down".  She loves LA and thinks it will be a great place for the baby to grow up.  This is a big step for Aniston and the press is sure to continue.  It will be interesting to see how it all pans out. 

Source:http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=92300

Time to Visit Greece

Jen is traveling to Greece to check out her roots!  Her father was born on the island of Crete and Jen has expressed her passion for learning about her cultural heritage.  Apparently her passion is real and intense....she has recently bought a DVD teaching her the Greek language.  She hopes to master this language or at least speak most of it, in 30 days.  I hope she does it!  That would be really cool and impressive.  Aniston is proud of her roots, insisting that it keeps her grounded.  Although she expressed that earlier in her career she struggled with these genes. It posed as a difficulty when trying to  conform to Hollywood's expectations.  

According to Gamson, this is a common issue that many individuals experience when they enter the "celebrity machine".  They are "raw materials" that need serious work.  They re-vamp their entire lives, from fashion sense to personality to overall look.  Everything about them seems to change and they are asked to become new people.  They are asked to let their old identity go, which includes their family lifestyles at times, their heritage, etc.  This seems apparent in every new star but once they make a name for themselves and become famous, they are able to rekindle those lost "identities".  I'm sure Jen had to suppress her Greek genes, why I don't really know or understand why, but it happened.  Now that she's a big deal in the celebrity world, she can bring her Greek pride back.  She can express her willingness to show her love for her heritage and culture.  It's a shame she had to drop it in the first place.  Individual identity is what makes you, you but as we have learned, the celebrity machine exists to manufacture what the public desires...

Source: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/hollywood/top-stories/scoop/2008/aniston-visiting-greek-roots-010408.html

Jen and celebrities...

After reading several stories regarding Jennifer Aniston, you really become aware of how hard it is to be in the celebrity business.  I know it's difficult hours and the work is stressful, but the outcomes are usually worth the work.  It's just fascinating though, to read these articles that record every little thing a celebrity does.  We hear about Jen laying in the sun. Jen's getting a haircut.   Jen went grocery shopping today!  Look, Jen has a new man (everyday)!  It's so crazy!  No wonder many celebrities seek help in remote retreats.  They media eye is always focused on them and it never tires.  You must constantly be on your game as a celebrity because you never know who's watching.  That's extremely stressful and I am sympathetic towards these individuals.  Unfortunately, they chose a profession that requires attention all day, everyday.  I wonder if when they start out with big dreams, they realize just how crazy it will be if they do make it big.  

Jen Puts an End to the Rumors!

It appears that Jennifer Aniston is getting sick and tired of her supposed "relationships" with every single man she encounters.  In a recent article, Aniston denied the newest rumor regarding her relationship with Orlando Bloom.  "Orlando is just a friend."  

This is all part of the celebrity machine.  Once you become labeled as "who you are", it sticks.  Unfortunately for Jen, her split with former husband, Brad Pitt, was her defining moment.  Every story following that heartbreak is somehow related back to her former marriage.  Although she is a successful actress, most known for her role as Rachel on Friends, Jen's former marriage is a big part of what defines her.  Celebrities are constantly tested by the public and the industry itself; they are immersed in a culture that constantly highlights the events surrounding their lives.  

Source:http://entertainment.oneindia.in/hollywood/top-stories/scoop/2008/aniston-denies-dating-bloom-110408.html