14 DAY TRIAL // In what has got to be a first in the last four years or so, 2008 means Britney Spears has been brought down as the most Googled celebrity, having been replaced by beautiful socialite Kim Kardashian, several media reports are saying. The results just released show that Kim, despite not having much to show for her fame – or, at least, less than the Princess of Pop – was the queen of the searches on the Internet for the year that is about to end.
Throughout 2008, Kim (related searches) ruled the web, that much is clear. However, competition for the first three positions was tight, as Lindsay Lohan followed closely, as also did late actor Heath Ledger, who is also the only male presence in the top ten. Lindsay scored the number two spot, again, not because of her acting performances as it would have been normal, but rather because of her living her life in the flashes of the paparazzi cameras, as well as due to a rumored romance with girl pal DJ Samantha Ronson.
The top ten was rounded up by Britney Spears, Arianna Huffington, Angelina Jolie, Jessica Alba, Tila Tequila, Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus. While some of these women actually do things to deserve the kind of exposure they get, most have entered in the first ten positions solely because of their personal lives and of the hounding paparazzi – Britney Spears, new mom Jessica Alba, and somewhat controversial wonder kid Miley being just three illustrative instances in this sense.
Returning to the “leader of the pack,” it’s worthy of mention that Kim Kardashian first broke on the scene as a temporary best new friend of socialite/singer/actress Paris Hilton. Given that Kim was also the daughter of the infamous late attorney who got OJ Simpson off the hook in the murder trial that captivated the public attention like no other scandal before, it was relatively easy for her to make herself noticed.
Later on, Kim was involved in a home-made, leaked tape scandal, posed in various postures and degrees of undress for several magazines, starred in a reality show, and basically kept herself in the spotlight. “Other than that, [this woman] has made no noticeable contribution to the world of entertainment.” Barry Koltnow writes for the BradentonHerald, lamenting the state the industry of entertainment has reached.