From Red Carpet To Real Life: The Psychological And Social Impact Of Celebrity Engagements

Celebrity romances play a major role in pop culture, and picture-perfect engagements reliably drive public interest and social media engagement. Still, some may wonder why celebrity engagements are so captivating and what effect they might have on society as a whole. Below, explore the psychological and social effects of celebrity romance and examine how public relations strategists leverage public interest in celebrity culture for commercial purposes. 

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Understanding celebrity culture

In 1960, over 300 million viewers worldwide tuned in to watch Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones wed during the first televised royal wedding, setting the stage for the media frenzy and global fascination that would later surround the marriage of Princess Diana and the future king, Prince Charles. In the 21st century, social media has redefined the relationship between celebrities and the public, creating a direct, constant connection that blurs the lines between a celebrity’s personal life and curated persona. 

Understanding the allure of celebrity engagements

Understanding the allure of celebrity relationships may help to understand the psychological mechanisms underpinning the relationship between celebrities and the public. Historically, religious figures and royalty have often served as objects of admiration, providing role models for virtues and a sense of connection to something greater than themselves.

Mass media has expanded the scope of public admiration to include celebrities whose attractiveness, charisma, and talent serve as ideals to which audiences can aspire. Just as their individual personas often captivate the public, so do their relationships. Several psychological concepts can be used to understand the allure of celebrity romance, including the following. 

Social comparison theory

Social comparison theory suggests that people evaluate their own opinions, abilities, and experiences by comparing themselves to others. This theory helps explain why humans are drawn to high-profile relationships, as they provide benchmarks for relationship success: a joint Instagram post announcing featuring a diamond engagement ring, a meticulously planned wedding, or a cute couple's selfie can give people aspirational moments to emulate.

Self-suppression 

Celebrity romances can be a way to suppress troublesome thoughts or emotions, providing an escape from everyday life. Suppression, also known as escapism, is the term psychologists use to describe this phenomenon. While people’s lives may sometimes seem mundane or exhausting, high-profile love stories can allow them to step out of their own lives and vicariously experience the highs and lows of romance. 

Self-expansion theory

Self-expansion theory suggests that people have a fundamental motivation to enhance their sense of self by incorporating new experiences, resources, or perspectives into their worldview. This theory may explain why people are often drawn to celebrity love stories. By emotionally investing in their relationships, fans can broaden their perspectives and potentially learn new ways to approach their own experiences with love.

Storytelling and narratives 

Since ancient times, humans have used storytelling to share experiences, convey values, and make sense of the world around them. In the same way people are drawn to the fictional stories found in books, television, and movies, celebrity love stories keep people entertained and cater to their desires for a strong narrative. 

Validation of social norms

Celebrity relationships often reinforce societal ideals about love, setting visible examples of what relationships “should” look like: grand proposals, beautiful weddings, and family milestones. Similarly, when celebrity couples break away from tradition — such as by embracing co-parenting after a divorce or championing non-traditional family structures — they challenge society to broaden its understanding of what love and family can look like.

Parasocial relationships: What they are and why they matter

A parasocial relationship is a one-sided emotional bond that an individual forms with a public figure, such as a celebrity, influencer, or fictional character. Unlike typical social relationships, these connections are not reciprocal; the celebrity is often unaware of the individual’s existence. Despite this factor, parasocial relationships can seem profoundly personal and meaningful to the fan. 

Research indicates that parasocial relationships can affect an individual positively and negatively. On the positive side, they can foster a sense of connection, reduce stigma, and promote personal growth or coping mechanisms. However, these connections may also lead to negative self-comparisons, unrealistic expectations, and thoughts of inadequacy — particularly on social media.

This dynamic typically forms after repeated exposure to a public future through media, such as their work, social media presence, or coverage in news stories. Because parasocial relationships generate engagement — and therefore revenue — it is often advantageous for the celebrity to cultivate these connections by sharing personal moments, interacting with fans, and crafting a relatable persona that deepens the sense of intimacy and loyalty. To do this, they typically rely on public relations (PR) firms to help them manage their public image.

Understanding celebrity public relations

While a celebrity’s engagement news can seem like an innocent glimpse into their personal life, understanding the role of celebrity public relations teams within the entertainment industry can be helpful for fans. Public relations professionals carefully manage how these milestones are shared, crafting narratives that align with the celebrity’s public image.

Positive stories that generate public interest are crucial for celebrities, who rely on media coverage to maintain relevance and secure future job opportunities. Similarly, these stories benefit media outlets by driving traffic, increasing viewership, and attracting advertisers. The film and music industries also capitalize on this attention, using it to promote upcoming projects and boost ticket sales. 

Thus, it may be advisable for audiences to approach celebrity news with a critical perspective, recognizing that these stories are often carefully crafted for commercial purposes: While your favorite reality star may indeed be thrilled to share that she’s engaged, her happy news may be part of a larger branding effort.

Instagram, red carpet, and reality: How comparison impacts self-perception

Research shows that social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok significantly shape self-perception, often harming self-esteem and well-being. Comparing oneself to seemingly perfect images—whether red carpet celebrities, influencers, or acquaintances—creates distorted standards of success, beauty, and happiness.

This effect, called upward social comparison, describes people’s tendencies to evaluate themselves against those perceived as more accomplished or attractive. Constant exposure to social media content could also incite the availability heuristic, where someone relies heavily on readily available information — in this case, countless idealized depictions of love — to evaluate a concept or make a decision. 

For instance, when thinking about love, celebrity culture may bring to mind an actress’s engagement announcement featuring a dazzling diamond ring and a flawless couple rather than the everyday realities of relationships. People may not only compare their own lives or relationships to the actress's but also overestimate how attainable a picture-perfect life is for them. Together, these comparisons and distorted perceptions could contribute to dissatisfaction or thoughts of inadequacy. 

Mental health support for healthy relationships

If you are experiencing dissatisfaction in your life or relationship, consider contacting a mental health professional for help. They can help you pinpoint what may be contributing to your feelings, whether it’s unrealistic expectations, unresolved trauma, or patterns in a relationship that may be unhealthy or toxic. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns, is well-supported by research in treating a wide variety of mental health complaints and can be used for personal growth and improvement even when mental health may not be a primary concern. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

If you face barriers to in-person support, you can also find help from home through an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. This option allows you to attend weekly sessions with a licensed therapist by phone, video call, or live chat, plus benefit from a suite of tools and features designed to enhance your experience in therapy. Online therapy is known to be as effective as in-person therapy and may be preferable for those seeking a convenient and low-cost alternative.