I grew up in an advertising family, which some may think raised me to be impervious to the influence of marketing. But au contraire, mes amies. I am highly susceptible to the sway of infomercials, commercials, print advertisements and billboards alike, but glitter of celebrity holds a special power over me.

Sometimes the results are an improvement, like when I ask myself "What Would Carolyn Bessette Kennedy Wear?"

Sometimes, not so much:


Drew Barrymore: When Drew Barrymore was on the cover of Seventeen magazine with her Sharpie'd on eyebrows and red hair, I bought my first bottle of hair dye at Walgreens. It was surprisingly unflattering, given that I fully expected a complete transformation to come out of that smelly bottle.


Britney Spears: Who else but the princess of pop could inspire my friends and I that our belly buttons would not be complete until they were pierced and filled with gaudy gems, transforming us into a league of "sexy" teenage Treasure Trolls? Nobody! It had to be Britney!


Christina Aguilera: It was my high school sweethearts dance when I was inspired to appeal to (read: desperately fit into) my boyfriend's love of Christina Aguilera with a trip to the MAC counter and a blank check. The result: teenage tranny.


Little House on the Prairie: SOUND THE COOL ALARM NOW! I didn't watch a LOT of TV as a kid, but I loved Little House on the Prairie. For my first communion, I asked my sister to curl my hair just like Nellie's. Because of course you should model yourself after the biggest little b*tch on family television on the same day you are entering into one of the seven sacraments.


Scarlett Johanssen: We can't totally blame Scarlett for this one, but any time she smokes in a movie, I have to fight the impulse to buy a pack of cigarettes. Usually, I wasn't much for fighting. Now, no matter how good she looks, I fight that impulse like a drunk frat boy fights a stranger who looked at him funny at bar close.

Who are your (regrettable) celebrity influencers?