Annals of Improbable Research, Vol. 19, No. 6 by Marc Abrahams

Redmond and Holmes are both media studies academics who, in 2006, published a review of recent debates about celebrity. The journal was started by Sean Redmond ( University of Victoria) and Su Holmes ( University of East Anglia) in 2010 and is published by Routledge. Due to the recent proliferation of research on celebrity across academic disciplines, a scholarly consensus has emerged about its importance. The field of 'celebrity studies' emerged in academia in the 2000s coinciding with a wave of celebrity in popular culture. The journal's current editors-in-chief include Erin Meyers ( Oakland University) and Alice Leppert ( Ursinus College). Prior conferences took place at universities in Melbourne, London, Amsterdam, and Rome. The journal also sponsors an international biennial conference. Special issues of the journal have been devoted to singers David Bowie and Michael Jackson, actor Keanu Reeves, and reality television series RuPaul's Drag Race. Notable studies published in the journal include analyses on Pippa Middleton's buttocks, the history and influence of ' climate contrarians', and Meghan Markle's relationship with feminism. The Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) shortlisted Celebrity Studies for the Best New Journal award in 2011. The journal has since helped legitimize the study of celebrity and is regarded as the preeminent journal in its field. Upon its announcement, the journal was met with negative media and academic reception.

The debut of the journal reflects a growing scholarly interest in the field following the proliferation of research on celebrity since the 2000s. Founded in 2010 by media studies academics Sean Redmond ( University of Victoria) and Su Holmes ( University of East Anglia), Celebrity Studies is the first scholarly journal dedicated to the study of celebrity. Celebrity Studies is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal published by Routledge which focuses on the 'critical exploration of celebrity, stardom and fame'.

Annals of Improbable Research, Vol. 19, No. 6 by Marc Abrahams