From a complete shift in character to a shocking fashion alteration, celebrities rebrand themselves in revolutionary ways that often skyrocket their fame.

     The term “rebranding” for celebrities consists of changing their aesthetic, fashion, and/or persona, catching fans’ attention. In a society where trends are ever-changing, rebranding allows celebrities to stay relevant and remain a trend or become more famous than they had ever been. 

     Rebranding can be risky, but shifting to a more mainstream genre can boost popularity. This strategic pivot not only expanded her audience but also solidified her position as a global music icon. This strategic pivot not only expanded her audience but also solidified her position as a global music icon. Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift starkly switched her music genre from country to pop. 

     Sophomore Margo Armstrong said, “I think [Swift becoming a pop singer] ended up skyrocketing her to a point where she wouldn’t have gone to if she had just stayed country.”

     The key to successful rebranding is consistency and keeping up with the current trends. Regarding Swift’s consistent rebrandings, Armstrong said, “Each rebrand is so different, so stark, and it’s new each time. But I think that also adds to the fact that she’s not aging, or she’s not becoming something old in people’s minds. She’s always being a shiny new thing.”

     Not only does a celebrity rebranding their music style impact their fame, a celebrity’s fashion style can play a part in their success as well. Pop singer Harry Styles, formerly a member of the heart-throbbing boy band One Direction, rebranded himself after the band split.

     While the other band members failed to skyrocket in popularity after the band’s separation, Styles increased in success due to the shift in his fashion style. 

     Styles went from being the masculine music artist that his fans knew him for to showing a more feminine side of himself and breaking gender norms. One monumental moment in Styles’s shift in fashion was his photoshoot for Vogue, in which he wore a dress, bending gender stereotypes and debuting his feminine side. 

     “When [Styles] wore a dress for Vogue, because he was the first one, it was very controversial,” senior Alanys Requena said.

     Since then, Styles has continued to display his fashion style by dressing in sparkles, crop tops, and dresses. This drastic change led to a major increase in fame, as people began finding comfort in his confidence and paying more attention to his work.

     Another notable rebranding of a celebrity is pop singer Sabrina Carpenter. Formerly a Disney Channel star, Carpenter recently became prominent in the music industry, creating a newfound popularity with a brand-new audience. 

     Carpenter has evolved her music by starting to express herself in a way that inspires her fans. Li said, “Her rebranding makes her stand out because I don’t think, before, she really stood out from the thousands of other female artists out there who write about the same things.”

     From Carpenter’s empowering song lyrics to her sparkly concert outfits, fans have fallen in love with her. “I think her style stands out to a lot of people because it’s really different. It’s really girl, and I think that pulls everyone into her music as well,” junior Betty Li said.