14 DAY TRIAL // Taylor Momsen, the 16-year-old peroxide blonde starring in the successful television series “Gossip Girl,” is a far cry from other celebrities her age. Not only does she smoke in public but she also wears heavy makeup that makes her almost unrecognizable and dresses in outfits resembling those Courtney Love used to put on back in her Hole days. She’s different and, because of this, not many like her – but that will not stop her from trying to make it in the industry without compromising.
Speaking with Parade magazine earlier this week, the unconventional star refused to take any responsibility for how she may be perceived by the public, following intense criticism that she might be setting the wrong example by being photographed smoking in public or wearing very short skirts. She is not Paris Hilton and she is not interested in being a celebrity like the world’s most famous socialite, she says in the interview. Taylor wants to be an actress and to make it on her own, but without compromising when it comes to who she really is.
“I don’t read that [expletive] that describes me as having an attitude, but I don’t know why that’s a bad thing. Attitude is in the eye of the beholder. I didn’t get into this to be a role model for 7-year-olds. I have no interest in doing that, you know? If parents don’t like some of the stuff I do then they shouldn’t let their kids watch me. […] I smoke, so what? Why do people give a [expletive] what a 16-year-old girl who they’ve never met does? It's not like I’m sitting there going, ‘Kids, you should go buy a pack of cigarettes.’ When I walk outside with a cigarette and someone takes a picture of it and puts it on the Internet, it’s not my problem. I’m just living my life and I’m not gonna live my life for other people,” Momsen says.
As for how she feels about the celebrity culture, it has got to be the dumbest thing ever, what with paparazzi constantly following her around and people thinking she would ever be someone else for their sake. “I’m not Paris Hilton. I don’t really care about being a celebrity. It comes along with the territory so you can’t totally avoid it. But there’s a difference between doing the red carpet and having people invade my personal life taking pictures of me. And that’s why celebrity is so stupid. You don’t want to become something that a few million people watching your show want you to be. I want to be who I am because, if I lose that, then what am I doing this for? It’s not about fitting in. If you don’t fit in as yourself, then you don’t fit in,” she adds.
Fans will know that Momsen has also been criticized for saying, in more or less words, she was too good for high school and that she would never date boys her age. Her fashion choices have also made her a target, with many a media outlet believing she was not dressing appropriately for her young age. As far as she’s concerned, the world can say whatever they want: Taylor Momsen has the full support of her parents and she’s happy to just live her life and make the most of the wonderful opportunities that come her way.