Bee Pirate Hooker - Bebo-famous alt model spills the beans
Interview by Rachel Phipps
Alternative? Aged between 14 and 20? You are? Then loathe us not for our generalisation, but you're probably on Myspace / Bebo / Buzznet and you probably have at least one famous internet .alt model in your 'friends' list. Audrey Kitching, Hanna Beth, Zui Suicide, Raquel Reed, Brandon Hilton, Jamesson Beane... These alternative gals have all made their fame off the back of the internet, spawning countless admirers and .alt model hopefuls. But what's it like to be a net celebrity? We ask Bebo famestress Bee Pirate Hooker to spill the beans...
"Back in July 2007 I uploaded a couple of recent pictures to Bebo and started getting a few requests to use my pictures for Bebo groups. I think that's just where it took off..."
Seventeen year old Bee, a normal girl from Lemmington Spa, has over 13,500 "friends" on Bebo alone.
So Bee, what are you famous for?
Mostly my pictures on social network sites like Bebo and Myspace, but I model for a clothing company called Pirate Kisses and have appeared in clothing ads in Bliss magazine.
As an internet celebrity, why do you get haters as well as love?
I'm not really sure. Most people tell me it's jealousy, but I don't believe that all these people are just jealous of me. I think they just don't like the way I present myself on my profile, and they think I'm stuck up, when they never take the chance to talk with me and know the real me.
How do you feel about being an 'internet celebrity', then?
I really like it. I'm not an attention whore, but I love meeting and talking to new people, and it definitely helps a lot with my modeling and photography work.
What's the nicest message you've ever received from a fan?
Most are pretty genuinely nice. Some people have written poems and others have just honestly told me how they admire me for not caring what haters think, and that's the best.
What's the nastiest thing someone has ever messaged you?
I don't really get offended by hate comments unless they're from people I know or am friends with. Someone who was a friend of mine slagged me off for volunteering in a charity shop; that was pretty out of order.
Did you reply?
I did, but I think in the end we both blocked each other.
Do you remember your first fan?
I don't think so, but I do remember the first online beauty group invite I got. I printscreened it and asked my friends "what the hell is this?"!
Is it weird, being so well known?
It is in a way, because so many people do random things to and for you that you wouldn't expect from someone you don't even know.
Do you get recognized on the street?
Alas not, I don't think Bebo or Myspace is that big where I live!
What's your relationship like with other 'internet celebrities'?
All the "bebo-famous" people I'm friends with. I've never really had a problem with any of them, they're pretty legit and friendly. As for other internet celebrities like Audrey, Hannabeth and Kiki, well, I've tried to talk to them, but like everyone else I'm just another "fan" in their eyes.
Are you flattered or pissed off when people make fake 'Bee' profiles?
A bit of both, really. But honestly, I just find it stupid! Most people know who I am, so when they see my pictures, they'll realize it's not me and spam them. No one ever fakes me anymore.
What is your life like offline?
I'm a bit of a party animal. I love to do the normal teenage thing of going to gigs, hanging out with friends, eating a tonne of pizza and chocolate, drinking and clubbing, and doing a bit of photography in my spare time. I think it's good that I have an average life, because people can relate to me more.
What do your 'real life' friends think of you being internet famous?
I don't think any of them really understand what it is. They just think I have a lot of friends, but they don't really know why. They joke around with it sometimes, because one of my other friends is famous on MySpace, so we all have a giggle about it.
Have you lost any friends because of internet fame?
My ex-boyfriend got really upset by it all. In the end, one of our reasons for breaking up was because he thought the internet had changed me. I think that was just an excuse!
Would you encourage others to try to become internet celebrities?
I've had a few people ask me how to get e-famous. I tell them it's not worth the hassle sometimes, and that you'll need to have a strong backbone because you'll get more haters then you know what to do with...
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