Why Do Celebrities Smoke?

Published on February 6, 2008 1:58 PM

We all are impressed by images of Hollywood A-list celebrities, models, stars smoking. What is more interesting than knowing why celebrities choose to smoke?

Celebrities have an influence on us. Fame demands a certain amount of responsibility. Hollywood stardom is a world based completely on image and looks. So, it is really amazing to see so many celebrities smoking. Of course, everybody knows how cigarette smoke affects our skin.

Even if, celebrities have armies of image consultants and advisors to keep them on track, there is certainly a person who tells them how smoking destroys vitamin C, accelerates wrinkling, dehydrates the skin and damages collagen. It is hard to believe that reasonably intelligent, highly paid and well-informed people can disregard these facts.

They always have to keep in mind that smoking will damage their looks and cause premature aging.

Stars themselves have been impacted by the glamour that was associated with cigarettes in the past. Pobably, if you work long enough in the fictional world of movies you begin to believe the celluloid image and lose touch with reality. Just like Gloria Swanson in “Sunset Boulevard”.

Cigarette smoking was sophisticated and glamorous. Remember the iconic image of Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany's” as Holly Golightly sitting elegantly with her upswept chignon, little black dress and long cigarette holder.

But Audrey Hepburn didn't get rid of the smoking habit. She ignored her mother's advice to: "keep it to six cigarettes a day", and smoked two or three packs. For most of her life she suffered from asthma and died of cancer at 63.

Gwyneth Paltrow said: “I smoke and I'm not going to stop!” Paltrow – famous for managing a pack of Camel Lights a day in her teens and twenties – has quit smoking very recently .

It is well known that smoking was the main reason of quarrels between Jennifer Anniston and Brad Pitt during their marriage.

Top model Kate Moss is always photographed with a mobile phone, a lighter and a cigarette as her only fashion accessories. Maybe, like many in her circles, she associates smoking with thinness.

For instance, Catherine Zeta-Jones quit smoking: “I don't want my children to start asking questions”

No one can make celebrities quit smoking but they should remember that their fickle public will be the first to notice the effect on their looks.