Princess Diana and Britney Spears

You may ask, what do Princess Diana and Britney Spears have in common? Actually a handful of things: high profile, beautiful, blond, two sons . . . but the one thing that stands out most in my mind is the “power of the press.”

Princess Diana was photographed constantly (like Britney Spears). She, however, chose to use her visibility to help people and to bring visibility to causes that might otherwise never be covered by the press. Credited in helping to breakdown the prejudices associated with HIV, she said, “HIV does not make people dangerous to know, so you can shake their hands, and give them a hug. What’s more you can share their homes, their workplaces and their playgrounds and toys.” Lady Harlech noted, “She was the first important person in Britain to show you can touch an AIDS victim and not catch it. One cannot overestimate the importance of what Princess Diana did that day.”

Princess Diana reached out to landmine victims, alcohol and drug addicts, the homeless, those with leprosy and many more. She was photographed talking, touching and hugging the untouchables, the social outcasts and those who needed it most.

Princess Diana is quoted as saying, “Helping people in need is a good and essential part of my life, a kind of destiny. Everybody needs to be valued. Everyone has the potential to give something back.”

Britney Spears has had a tough year. She is twenty-six years old; ten years younger than Princess Diana when she died. While many have criticized her recent choices, it is not over. Her face on the cover of a magazine generates more sales than 99% of the celebrities out there. She, like Princess Diana, has the power of the press. Just imagine what she could do if she chose Princess Diana as a role model and used her power for good.

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” Japanese Proverb

I’m rooting for her!

Diana image abc.net.au, Britney image sonybmg

Happiness is having a good role model . . .