This week, another stroll through the terrifying graveyard of unloved press releases:
Benni Cinkle from Rebecca Black's "Friday" Video Walking in Huntington Beach to Benefit Cystic Fibrosis on May 21, 2011
Perhaps you remember Rebecca Black's "Friday," the YouTube sensation that catapulted an unknown teen to the loftiest heights of momentary punchline stardom. Rebecca wasn't the only talent in the clip — we also glimpsed a certain Benni Cinkle. While the Friday chums rode a convertible down a windless green-screen highway, Benni was the pink-clad girl at Rebecca's side, dancing awkwardly and looking so nonplussed about the proceedings that the word "gunpoint" came to mind.
"That Girl in Pink," as she's branded herself, is reacting to the attention in a surprising way: instead of letting her 15 minutes of fame naturally peter out, as you'd expect any fleetingly recognizable teenager to do, she's using it to score beaucoup social media cred. She's got a Web site (thatgirlinpink.com), a Twitter, a Tumblr, a Facebook fan page, and, allegedly, the 25th most-subscribed-to channel on YouTube. And she's even got her own publicity machine:
She shot to Internet fame almost overnight as "That Girl in Pink" from the Rebecca Black "Friday" video, but this 14 year old from Anaheim Hills is not resting there. "At first, I was getting attention for my dancing in the video," explained Benni Cinkle. "I don't have any formal dance training, and I guess people picked up on that," she added in her signature quick-wit.
[Cinkle] has decided to use her time in the spotlight for good. To date, she orchestrated a flash mob to raise money for Japan, released an e-book to help kids deal with cyber-bullying (free online at thatgirlinpink.com). . . . On May 21, 2011, Cinkle will be at it again, walking with Great Strides, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fundraising event.
All my lighthearted ribbing aside, it's cool to see a teenager spin her dubious fame (and signature quick wit) into supporting great causes, like curing disease and educating kids about cyberbullying. Or maybe I think making PR fame-grabs off a chance brush with notoriety is mad lame, but I don't want to say it because I'd be cyberbullying a 14-year-old. You decide.
Music Sensation Nick Jonas, of the Platinum-Selling, Grammy-Nominated Jonas Brothers, Teams Up With Quaker Chewy in Search of the Next Young Superstar
This bodes ill for Nick and his kin:
Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, the superstar of snacks, is teaming up with music producer and recording artist Nick Jonas to launch a new nationwide singing competition to find the next young superstar. This competition, known as the Quaker Chewy Superstar Search, was created to give parents of young people with big voices a platform to showcase their child's vocal talents.
The JoBros' bottom line has already suffered since Justin Bieber claimed the tween twinkthrob crown, and now their traitorous youngest is trying to find another child sensation to steal all the panty-throwing pubescents away! I guess Nick saw dollar signs when the superstar of snacks came calling, but hopping in bed with Big Oats can only hurt him in the long run. The bros may have enjoyed a quick ascent to fame, but just imagine what they could have done with all the weight of the fucking superstar of snacks in their corner — whoever wins this contest will bury the Jonas boys.
