Society always craves role models.  Young, impressionable kids always want to look up to stars.  Have a dream to aspire to.  But who do young girls look up to today? According to educators and researchers, girls need strong female role models to succeed at school and in life. However, in the frenzied wake of national spectacles like a Katie Price, Britney Spears or a Lindsay Lohan, a scarcity of intelligent and strong female role models appear in books, TV shows and music, which is causing increasing concern for parents and teachers alike. 

This week, Katie Price, was called a role model for kids.  Much is made of Katie Price aka Jordan.  Tabloid darling.  Opinions divide on mention of her name.  But is she a role model for society for being a strong woman, who speaks her own mind, does her own thing and is a successful entrepreneur?  Or is she a waster on society, with no innate talent, known only for her large buxom breasts, (fake), who is no role model, but the opposite, a slut, not to be revered or looked up to?

Many reading this will have their own opinion but none can disagree that she is a very shrewd woman who knows the PR machine inside out.  She knows how to keep her name in the headlines, on a consistent basis, which few of her ilk can manage.  Topless models, turning into media stars are few and far between, especially those who can stay at the top for many years.  Sam Fox, Linda Lusardi, Melinda Messenger, Lucy Pinder, Michelle Marsh, Keeley Hazell, all successful at one time in their career but never in the papers as consistently as Katie Price.

Interestingly, any study of a brand, shows that Katie Price has created two completely different brands.  One, Katie Price, the nice girl, the mum, the horse rider, the charity girl.  Then to the other side, Jordan, the wild party girl, drinker, hell raiser, knicker flasher, man devourer.  When Katie goes off the rails, we see Jordan appear.  Breasts out in a bar in Ibiza.  Really is Jeckyl & Hyde stuff that the tabloid media love….and it sells papers.  Circulation peaks show ‘trashy headlines’ sell and Jordan sells…..more than amply.

In this day and age, kids and many in society aspire and need role models.  Who should that be?  Young girls nowadays love figures like Miley Cyrus, (Hannah Montana), and Vanessa Huggins, (High School Musical).  Miley is like the young Britney.  Controlled at a young age by her dad into being a huge megastar but wanting freedom to be ‘normal’.  Read Miley’s Twitter feed and you feel sorry for her…..very sorry.  Just as Britney headed for a breakdown, so the potential is there for Miley.  And heaven forbid, Michael Jackson, never allowed his childhood, is the ultimate example of why kids should be allowed to grow up.  Interestingly, Vanessa Huggins has her own wild side as videos show on the web this past few weeks.  So which females should the young aspire to be?

Who else?  Kate Moss.  Again, her picture adorns many millions of young teenagers bedrooms.  Young girls love her beauty and fashion sense.  Young men love her for other reasons…..!!!  Again a women who is star material.  A multi millionaire whose brand has help ship millions of more girls into Top Shop and made it a cool brand again.  But Moss again self explodes.  As we have seen many times before……hardly role model material….!

So is Katie Price a role model?   Again, to earn the money she has done, with little or no obvious skill, is a talent in itself.  Knowing how to manipulate the media is an art she has mastered.  Strong….yes.  Single minded….yes?  Shows women can be strong in society….yes.  Shows that women can exploit the men, rather than vice versa….yes.  But role model…..many would say no.  Would Harriet Harman call her a role model?  Certainly not.

Her split from Pete is classic self detonation.  A deep insecurity and never admitting she could be wrong, is showing her vanity suppressing her media better judgement.  Hitting out at Pete and hurting him by wild partying and clinching cage fighters is alienating her following….and she should get to grips with he terminal decline.  So role model……no. 

But if young teenagers need a role model in society, someone to look up to, to aspire to be…there is only one woman who fits the bill…..

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