Keyword – parasocial intimacy

Flóra Dóra, Csatári:

Celebrity and Authenticity

In the age of social media, when athletes can cultivate their self-brand through continuous online presence, publishing a book-length autobiography may seem like a surprising choice. This study argues, however, that sports autobiography offers a unique opportunity to build a personal brand, control public narratives, and shape enduring forms of celebrity. The analysis is structured around three key dimensions: first, it examines the transformation of the public sphere and media space through the lens of parasocial intimacy. Second, it explores how a narrative that is often edited and mediated can still be perceived as authentic. Finally, it argues that publishing a sports autobiography as a communicative act carries both prestige and permanence, serving as a monument to an athletic career in contrast to the immediacy of social media, while preserving the mystique of stardom.

Keywords: autobiography, celebrity studies, parasocial intimacy, personal brand, sports media