Leonardo Flores: From Super Bowl Spectator to Gaga Superfan

When Lady Gaga dramatically descended from the rooftop into Houston’s NRG Stadium during her 2017 Super Bowl halftime show, it wasn’t just a performance—it was a life-altering event for young Leonardo Flores. The 21-year-old student from San Diego, California, who was then only 14, found himself captivated by Gaga’s polished and campy spectacle, marking the beginning of his ardent dedication to the singer.

Flores recalls, “I’d never seen something like that before. It shocked me. I wanted to learn more about her.” This fascination led him to identify as a Little Monster, the affectionate term for Lady Gaga’s fanbase. Today, Flores runs an Instagram account devoted to the pop icon, amassing a community of 310,000 followers who share his enthusiasm.

Despite his deep connection to Lady Gaga, Flores was unfamiliar with the term “parasocial relationship” when Global News approached him. A parasocial relationship is a one-sided, intimate connection someone feels with a person, usually a celebrity, who remains unaware of their existence. Flores admitted, “Since I’m a big fan and I share all of these updates on social media, I tend to know a lot about her. But it’s true. She doesn’t know me, yet.”

In the age of social media, where celebrities, sports figures, and even politicians appear just a click away, parasocial relationships have become more prevalent. However, the phenomenon itself isn’t new. Raymond Mar, a psychology professor at York University in Toronto, explains that parasocial relationships date back to the 1940s. The term was originally coined to describe the connections viewers felt with their nightly TV newscasters.

“This sort of continuous engagement with this person, one that spoke to you with authority on a daily basis, really led to this feeling of closeness like you knew them,” Mar says. “You felt a reciprocal relationship, even though there’s no interactivity.”

While today’s digital age amplifies these connections, parasocial relationships have existed as long as celebrities have. Mar notes that people have always been obsessed with public figures, citing how even French writer Voltaire had devoted fans in his time. Media like Eminem’s 2000 single “Stan” further highlighted the intensity of these relationships by narrating the story of a fan’s obsessive fixation.

For many, parasocial relationships are not about being chronically online or isolated. Instead, they are about finding a sense of community and connection through shared admiration for a public figure. Flores’ engagement with Lady Gaga and his extensive social media presence is a testament to this. Through his Instagram account, he not only shares his passion but also builds a network with others who feel the same.

The influence of celebrities like Lady Gaga extends beyond entertainment, affecting the personal lives of fans. Gaga’s bold performances and persona inspire many to explore their identities and passions, much like Flores did. The phenomenon underscores how deeply intertwined modern media consumption is with personal identity and social interaction.

Parasocial relationships, while seemingly modern, are deeply rooted in human nature’s tendency to seek connections. From the nightly newscasters of the 1940s to today’s pop icons like Lady Gaga, these relationships offer a sense of familiarity and closeness in an increasingly interconnected world. For fans like Leonardo Flores, the connection, though one-sided, fosters a community and provides inspiration, highlighting the enduring impact of celebrity influence.