It seems every Hollywood celebrity these days is endorsing something either for a good cause or just for the obvious....profit. I cannot walk past a retail store without seeing some sort of garment with some star's name plastered all over it. A recent example is the Miley Cyrus craze that has hit America and now chain stores such as Target and Walmart hawk products with her face plastered on cups, hair accessories, lunch boxes and if Hollywood had their way maybe toilet paper in the near future. My younger sisters idolize the likes of Miley Cyrus and all other teen stars out there. These girls are however not leading by example and we are left to pick up the pieces. Should there be such a glorification of young stars in the media today?

When Britney Spears started out, she was young, naive, impressionable....she was destined for success. Success she did achieve, but at what cost? Her life has been under a microscope since she first burst into the whole Hollywood glamour scene. She was someone with potential, until the world of pr invaded every fabric of her life. Her name was used to endorse products such as lotions, perfumes, dolls and other things. Endorsement deals were thrown at her like a pack of wolves approaching a dead body. She had no chance...the damage had been done. Many would say her mother should have probably been a little less accommodating to the needs of agents and the likes when it came to making Britney a household name. However, doesn't every mother just want the best for her child...I would like to believe that she wanted the best for Britney and still does, despite her tell-all book now in stores nationwide.

Christina Aguilera seems to be the most grounded. Having had a slower start than Britney, but ultimately rose to the occasion and surpassed even Britneys' success. Her venture into brand merchandising of products with her name, particularly her new perfume Inspire, couldn't have come at a better time. She has a family, immense success and from the outside things look rosy and peachy for sweet Christina. Therefore, there are no distractions to make her lose sight of what's important...family, good friends and her career.

I would hope that Miley and other up and coming teeny boppers can and will look at Christina as the perfect example of role model in the entertainment industry. Christina has come a long way from her "genie in a bottle" days...but her mark has been made. She has reinvented herself throughout the years with her music.

Celebrity branding is a necessary evil, famous names sale period. However there should be people in place to ensure that young celebrities are protected from the glare of Hollywood and its money making antics.