- maria00973
- Aug 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 24
Welcome to our Newsletter!
A behind-the-scenes look at Terranam Wellness & self-care tips for taking better care of yourself.
BY MARIA GARRIDO - 4 MINUTE READ
A Perspective on Fame, Fandom, and Self-Worth
SHOOTING STARS
Every August, the Earth crosses the wake of the comet Swift-Tuttle, generating one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year. If you're lucky enough to be at Terranam during August, you can lay upon our mystical rock formations in the cool 2 AM air to watch the spectacle shoot across the night sky. It's a glorious and magical display of the universe's power—a chance to see the stars in action.
So for this month's blog, in honor of this starlight spectacle, I thought I'd offer you some light reading and a bit of gossip about the other kinds of stars that inhabit our world: celebrities! Here's hoping you're lying in a hammock or on a beach somewhere, and this tickles your fancy. 🤩
FAMOUS VS. FABULOUS
We live in a culture obsessed with celebrity. Thanks to social media, everyone seems to be chasing their 15 minutes of fame—or at least that insatiable high of validation and dopamine from perfect strangers. Having worked in Media and Entertainment for over a decade, I've had occasional encounters with influencers. Being a bit old school, my first expectation was that these modern-day celebrities would shine so bright with charisma that I'd be blinded by their aura. 😎
In fact, the opposite has been true. The few influencers who have crossed my path have left me frankly underwhelmed. I guess it doesn't take the same kind of talent to speak to a camera as it does to speak to a real audience and make genuine eye contact with real people.
So, today's blog is about the good old-fashioned, larger-than-life celebrities. Over the years, I've had the privilege of encountering stars whose names are etched into the Hollywood Walk of Fame or whose voices fill your favorite playlists. These experiences have taught me something about the nature of fame, human connection, and our own self-worth.
By day, I'm a Chief Marketing Officer for a tech company in the entertainment space; by night, I moonlight as the Founder of Terranam Wellness. I never set out to mingle with the stars—this was never part of my career plan—but somehow, I've found myself walking the red carpet at the Emmys (and photo-bombing Jodie Foster in a moment of mischievous fun!😏), crossing paths with Meryl Streep in the ladies' room, interviewing Halle Berry at Cannes, and collaborating with Nile Rodgers. I'm fully aware of how fortunate I've been to experience this "glamorous" life, so I thought it might be fun to share a few stories from the world of entertainment.
OFF-CAMERA CONFESSIONS
The Mom Moments In the green room right before I moderated a panel of Women in Entertainment, Halle Berry- while her people coiffed and prepped her- and I talked about how my kids were trilingual and she was trying to do the same with her children. Just regular mom talk, really. Ellie Goulding was sweet and nervous about speaking in public, so we went over how she planned to answer my questions on stage to make sure it sounded right. I guess singing your heart out at Glastonbury isn't the same as a speaking gig.
The Sweetest Soul I spent time working with Nile Rodgers on a project (you can watch it here 🤩). He was the loveliest person I've ever had the pleasure of encountering on this fame-splashed path. Humble, friendly, and incredibly approachable.
Shortly thereafter, I saw him sitting at a table not far from me at the Brit Awards, surrounded by the likes of Sam Smith and other famous singers. I didn't have the courage to go up and say hi. A few months later, when we collaborated on a new project, I told him I'd seen him from afar at the event. His response? "You should've come over and said hi. We would have loved for you to join us at the after-party—I can tell you it was much more fun than the one you attended!" Sweetness all around.
Birthday Magic On my 51st birthday, I attended the dress rehearsal of one of the iconic voices of my university years, Lenny Kravitz. Yes, I can confirm the man oozed sex appeal!😁 He was cool exemplified, tossing his microphone to some of the awestruck fans in our small, privileged group, asking them to sing along. When we were prepping for a group photo, I told him it was my birthday. He asked how old, and when I proudly declared 51 tender years, he said, "Girl, you don't look a day over 35!" Charmer indeed and proud queenager moment there for me!
My Emily in Paris Journey As some of you know, I've been an active member of an amateur theatre troupe for most of my life. A few years ago, some fellow thespians and I saw a casting call on Facebook for extras for Emily in Paris. For fun, we showed up, and I was chosen to spend a day on set, sitting around as a 'fake' Parisian in cafés and walking through Paris's idyllic parks.
I could never have imagined that two years later, I'd be having coffee with Darren Star (of Melrose Place, Sex & the City, and Emily in Paris fame) on the morning of the fourth season's launch, then walking the red carpet for the premiere surrounded by the series' stars. Of course, I never told him I'd been an extra, but I did mention that I was Emily of sorts—a girl from Chicago who'd worked in advertising in Paris. Though to be fair, no client had ever bought me lingerie! 🤣
WHEN THE SPARKLE FINALLY GOT ME
I've never really been star-struck. Maybe the frequent encounters have worn away the novelty, or perhaps it's because I've always seen people—famous or not—as just people. Fame doesn't make someone's thoughts sharper or their kindness deeper, though it can sometimes make them a little more brusque, which is understandable given the pressure of maintaining a public persona.
At my core, I respect talent and hard work, but I don't confuse public recognition with personal worth. After enough time around well-known faces, you start to see that the shine is mostly surface-level; once the cameras are off, they're just living their lives like anyone else.
But there was one exception, my one moment of being completely awestruck. It happened at the after-party for the premiere of the Motown documentary, where I'd been invited by Capitol Records. The room was filled with music royalty—Barry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records; Smokey Robinson (seriously, the best pores I've ever seen!). Legends were everywhere, but I froze when Stevie Wonder appeared beside me at the bar.
I don't know why. I wanted to take a picture—yes, even knowing he wouldn't see it!—but I couldn't move. I just stood there, utterly paralyzed. In a decade of encounters, that was my one true moment of being starstruck.
THE PERSON BEHIND THE PERSONA
Once, while sitting in the Hollywood office of one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry, he said to me, "You should come work for us; artists would listen to you." To this day, I know that was a huge compliment, but I spent the entire flight back to Europe wondering why I received that feedback.
I think it's because it was clear to my colleagues that I could see past the veneer. Fame is like a sheet of glass—it creates a barrier between who someone appears to be and who they actually are. The public persona, no matter how authentic it seems, is still a performance, a carefully crafted image designed for mass consumption.
What happens when the cameras are off is the truly authentic moment, because behind that screen is simply another person navigating life with the same fundamental needs for connection, understanding, and acceptance that we all have.
HUMANIZING OUR HEROES
The pedestals we place celebrities on are constructions of our own making (with help from their publicity teams, of course!). We project our aspirations, dreams, and sometimes our need for heroes onto these individuals, forgetting that they're dealing with the same human experiences we are—doubt, fear, joy, and the constant work and pressure of becoming who they want to be.
There's nothing wrong with admiring someone's work, talent, or positive impact on the world. Healthy fandom can be inspiring and bring people together around shared interests and values. Plus, if you're ever fortunate enough to snap a selfie with a celebrity, it sure makes for great dinner party conversation!😉
When we idolize someone to the point of forgetting their humanity, we do both them and ourselves a disservice. We rob them of the space to be imperfect humans, and we diminish our own sense of worth by comparing ourselves to an impossible standard.
After years of various celebrity encounters, I've learned that the healthiest approach to fandom involves:
Separating the work from the person: You can love an actor's performances while acknowledging you don't actually know them as a person. Their public image is not their complete reality.
Maintaining your own identity: This is especially important for the younger, more impressionable people among us. When admiration becomes imitation to the point where you lose sight of your own unique qualities and path, it's time to step back and reconnect with yourself.
On that note, I believe that doom-scrolling is a path to nowhere. Our consumption of celebrity gossip should be limited—or better yet, nonexistent. Falling into this cesspool promotes comparison and unrealistic standards. I especially worry about the impact of the endless pursuit of followers and the unhealthy body image idealization on our teenagers.
If we're going to be on social media, we should curate content that genuinely inspires or entertains us without triggering feelings of inadequacy, removing anything that chips away at our self-confidence.
SELF CARE TIP
FINDING THE REAL STARS
While celebrities often have platforms that amplify their voices, profound wisdom and inspiration can come from anyone—your neighbor, a teacher, a friend navigating a difficult time with grace. Sometimes, the real stars are right in your own backyard.
It's natural to admire others' talents and achievements, but when you find yourself comparing your life to theirs—whether they're celebrities, influencers, or people in your immediate circle—pause and return to a few grounding truths:
Your worth isn't defined by external recognition or accomplishments, but by the authenticity with which you live and the positive impact you have on those around you. Appreciating others doesn't mean diminishing yourself. The goal is to maintain a steady sense of your own inherent value—one that doesn't rise and fall in the shadow of comparison.
After all, we're all just people under the stars—some might shine a little brighter in the public eye, but we're all part of the same magnificent universe, each with our own light to offer the world.
As you lie under this month's meteor shower at Terranam Manor or wherever you might be stargazing, remember that the most important star is the one that shines from within you.💚
COME JOIN US
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