Where does the production of celebrity end and its consumption begin? Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and reality TV allow us a previously unimagined engagement with the manufactured 'persona' of celebrity. Understanding Celebrity has become the go-to text for understanding the connection between the production and consumption of this 'persona'. The long-awaited second edition assesses the changing nature of this pivotal relationship in celebrity studies. The book: - Explains how social media is key in establishing an online presence for celebrities - Critically analyses the changing nature of fan culture within the online environment - Delves into a richer and more detailed account of the history of celebrity - Examines in greater depth the increased role of reality TV - Incorporates recent contributions from feminist scholars to the field. Enriched with new examples drawn from popular culture, this is a contemporary and incisive look at celebrity studies. Understanding Celebrity is not only an essential text, but a stimulating read for students of media and cultural studies, and sociology.