An Introductory Guide to the World of Celebrity Fandoms
And how far their fans will go to defend their beloved stars from Internet criticism and scrutiny.
In the age of having the world right at your fingertips, celebrities, and their dedicated fanbases, are popping up left, right and centre.
There are so many of them out there and these terms can cause confusion for folks who can’t keep up with the ever-evolving lingo of my generation’s pop culture. Never fear, Gaurav Jain, Adelina Vasile, and Sally Prag, I got you!
As someone who is constantly on social media and part of some of these fandoms myself, here is the lowdown on some of the fan communities you’ll encounter on the Internet.
Swifties: Fans of Taylor Swift
What’s not to love about America’s sweetheart? While she has breathtaking blue eyes and a gorgeous smile, a notable aspect of Taylor Swift’s fanbase is their ability to solve any puzzles she puts in front of them.
Before the re-release of her 2012 album Red, she put out her bonus track list in the form of a word scramble for her fans to solve.
I am a certified Swiftie — the woman has a way with words, okay? I grew up with her music. And when I find someone else who loves my girl Tay, like Anjali Joshi, it’s a love story and baby we just say yes. ❤️
BTS ARMY
Look, K-pop fever has gone global. And honestly, the members of the South Korean boy band BTS are genuinely talented and sweet.
But their fans scare the crap out of me. Their screams can reach unholy levels of fervour. See video below for evidence.
ARMY is the appropriate name for them — you could probably make a new military unit if they swarmed the premises in droves.
Beyhive: The Worshippers of Queen Beyoncé
The Beyhive is buzzing — Beyoncé’s fans do not come out to play. They go in hard for their queen and don’t take any criticism of her lightly.
And the loyalty is warranted — her music is iconic and the influence she has on pop music is undeniable.
She’s known for being a fierce and passionate performer, and her fans match her strong diva persona. Don’t come for Beyoncé unless you want to get stung by the Beyhive.
Little Monsters: Fans of Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga’s deluxe version of her first album was titled, The Fame Monster, and the moniker was quickly embraced by her fanbase.
Earlier in her career, Lady Gaga was known for being shocking and outrageous, and I love how this fandom name reflects how she always stands out as a performer.
Sheerios: Fans of Ed Sheeran
This one was just hilarious. I mean, the meme potential has me rolling. 😂 (Love you and your music though, Ed!)
Stan: A Fan of a Celebrity
Some celebrities don’t have a dedicated fandom name, so you can say you’re a “stan” of them instead. While the term is interchangeable with the word, “fan”, someone who stans a celebrity is particularly passionate about their love and admiration for them. So yes, I am a Taylor Swift stan.
There are so many more fanbases out there: Justin Bieber fans are Beliebers, Ariana Grande fans are Arianators, Demi Lovato fans are Lovatics. Here is a detailed list of celebrity fandoms if you want to dive into this even further.
Several of these communities will probably pop up for the next generation of stars.
You’ll just have to stay glued to the Internet to have any hope of keeping up.
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