Elle came across a post today on NYMag about Australian “Search for a Supermodel” winner, Gemma Ward, retiring from modeling. This is a big deal for a girl who nearly ran New York Fashion Week last year, and held some pretty prestigious campaigns like Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent and Prada.

The last the public really heard about Gemma was her movie, The Strangers,  and her romantic link to late actor, Heath Ledger. She hasn’t offered commentary on why she’s decided to end her modeling career, but there has been much speculation regarding her current weight gain. Photos were posted of her looking a few sizes larger, to be sure.

Naturally, comments poured in about her “fat” body, her career in plus size modeling (which we find interesting considering, well, she’s quitting, right? The main article? Hm.), and many other highly invasive information. We got a little speculative, ourselves.

[Begin Conversation]

Elle:
Where do you stand on the idea that famous people offer up their lives for us to dig through – simply because they’re famous?

Jennifer Nicole:
I think that the question is a huge one, and my answer is complicated, haha. Or maybe not. Let’s find out:

I disagree with the constant following of celebrities, and with the willfull removal of their privacy by tabloids.  I don’t disagree with speculation, per se, if the celebrity isn’t giving commentary on a high-profile decision or situation - but I would also speculate as to your motives, as someone I know (and a friend) if you refused to comment on a big decision. I think that not speculating, in general, is impossible, especially considering we look up to these people as role models.

I don’t necessarily love it, but I do think that it’s unlikely to stop, and that a sense of familiarity is necessary for celebrity to even occur. I try not to do it myself, but I do understand that without a certain amount of transparancy, it just….is.

What about you? What do you think?

Elle:
I think I agree with you – it makes a lot of sense. I hate that people look up to celebrities. I hate that it’s glorified like it’s the “best thing you could POSSIBLY do”. But yet, I still do it! It’s shoved down our throats. It’s nearly unavoidable. But when celebs don’t offer commentary, I kind of take that as “I don’t want you to know”, and I try to remember that we’re both – you know, same ol’ same ol’ [Elle-ism] – human, and I try as hard as I can to respect that. Though my initial reaction IS still to find out, because I’ve been conditioned to.

Jennifer Nicole:
If we didn’t care so much – if we could look to some other thing to make our personal enigma – all those gossip rag celebs (you know, the ones that become famous despite talent at anything) would fall away. People would appreciate the art (modelling, acting, singing, stage presence, performance, etc.) instead of the tabloid fodder.

What do you think?  Should we avoid speculating about celebrities’ motives and decisions, or do they give up that privacy when they become famous?