Surprisingly, many consumers are. If you've been following the presidential election, Hillary Clinton has gotten the backing of high wattage celebrities including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Lebron James. And you've likely lost count of the many advertisements you've come across -- whether on TV or in magazines -- where a celebrity promotes a brand of lipstick, shampoo, or jeans as if it were the best thing since sliced bread. But are such endorsements effective? That, of course, depends on the person. If you're a hardcore Paty Perry fan, for example, you'd probably be more likely to buy a product she endorses or vote for Hillary Clinton. Since I'm not a big fan of any of the high-profile celebrities endorsing Clinton, it didn't make me any more inclined to vote for her. Celebrities don't hold much sway over my purchasing decisions unless they're people I genuinely admire and respect. For inst...

Can you believe it's Election Day? It still feels like it was yesterday that Donald Trump announced his candidacy, sending near-shockwaves through the intersecting worlds of politics and entertainment. Polls have tightened in recent weeks, and although Hillary Clinton has maintained a slim lead, who will come out on top is anyone's guess. Let's face it: No one thought Donald Trump would make it this far. But his fiery brand of anti-establishment populism has resonated with a great swath of the American public. In what started as a crowded field of 17 Republican candidates --- distinguished politicians and accomplished businesspeople among them --- real estate tycoon Donald Trump is the last person standing. As for Hillary Clinton, everyone and their brother knew she had the nomination in the bag, even though the upstart Bernie Sanders gave her a run for her money in the primaries. This election has largely been a contrast between keeping the status quo (Clinton)...

Have you ever stopped and asked: What if someone -- whether a world-renowned singer or acclaimed dancer -- weren't famous? Would they still leave the same legacy? In a blog post two days ago, I wrote about Jose Fernandez, a promising baseball star who died in a boating accident in Miami Beach on Sunday morning. Two other men on the boat -- both friends of his -- were also killed. The outpouring of grief across South Florida since the accident is unlike anything I've ever seen in baseball -- and in the community as a whole. Jose became something of a celebrity in his hometown and all around baseball, not only for his amazing talent but because of the energy he radiated on and off the field. You'd be hard-pressed not to find him smiling at, hugging, or laughing with someone. The two other men who died in the accident were not ballplayers or anyone famous -- they were just two regular young men whose lives were tragically cut short. Not surprisingly, Jose's frien...

Who do you think tops the list of highest-earning musicians in the world? Katy Perry? Beyonce? Rihanna? Think again. It's Taylor Swift. The "Shake It Off" singer has raked in an astounding $317 million this year, thanks to her best-selling album "1989," world tour, and several endorsement deals with mega-brands like Diet Coke and Sony. To put her earnings in perspective, she makes $1 million per day! Earlier this year, she and her DJ boyfriend Calvin Harris were named the world's highest-paid celebrity couple of 2015. And the country-turned-pop star shows no signs of slowing down. She received six American Music Award nominations, including Artist of the Year. The awards show is scheduled for November. Swift is undoubtedly dominating the music industry right now -- and she's only 25 years old. I can only imagine how much money she has left to make and awards to win in her lifetime. Though, I wonder if it's a good thing that she...

I know this is largely subjective, but judging from all the media attention these women get, I'd say they are the cream of the crop right now: 1. Kim Kardashian 2. Taylor Swift 3. Beyonce 4. Rihanna 5. Iggy Azalea If I had asked this question a year ago, perhaps Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj would be on the list, but they don't seem to be in the headlines as much in 2015. The same goes for Lorde, whose ubiquitous song "Royals" was one of 2013's biggest hits. I think we can all agree that Kim Kardashian is the undisputed winner, seeing as how she's in virtually every news story that outlets like E! and Cosmopolitan put out. Taylor Swift, for her part, has earned the 2 spot. Her decision to break from country music and go into pop to appeal to a wider audience has paid huge dividends -- her popularity has soared to new heights, as has her net worth. Beyonce and Rihanna are always making the rounds for one reason or another -- whether it's a new so...

Everytime we turn the TV on, surf the web, or thumb through the pages of a magazine, we get bombarded with stories and pictures about: Kim Kardashian's ass Beyonce walking around in a revealing dress Jennifer Lopez sporting a 20-something's body Don't get me wrong: They're each incredibly attractive, and I can definitely appreciate a woman with some curves.  But is this really all there is to report on these women? Hollywood knows that sex sells. But I think far too much time is focused on beauty and not enough attention is given to brains .  These women are all intelligent in their own right. They're not only actors and/or singers, but entrepreneurs who have started clothing lines, perfumes, etc. I assume they put serious time and effort into such ventures, but unfortunately, the media chooses to gloss these potentially illuminating accounts over for stories about Kim's sex tapes and how J-Lo shakes her booty at concerts. You hardly hear...