Sahil Suvarna describes himself as a spiritual person. Every morning, the Toronto-based student wakes up and sets his daily manifestations. On some days, the person at the centre of those manifestations is rapper and singer Nicki Minaj.
"I am a Barb 24/7," he tells The Star. "Right now, I'm a Barb. At work, I'm a Barb. At school, I'm a Barb."
"Barbz" are to Nicki Minaj what the "Swifties" are to Taylor Swift and the "Beyhive" are to Beyoncé a nicknamed collective of loyal fans who have been known to mobilize online and offline in the name of their idols.
It's a role that 22-year-old Suvarna takes seriously.
"Being a Barb is not for the weak." Since 2017, Suvarna has been running a fan account where thousands of followers engage with posts celebrating Minaj's accomplishments, promoting her latest chart placements, and communicating with the artist directly.
"I've had over 200 interactions with Nicki," Survana says proudly.
You'll find a running tally of these exchanges in the superfan's social media bio: 94 Likes, 9 retweets, 1 reply.
"I keep a count because every interaction is a blessing for me."
Fandom is not a new concept. Survana's devotion will be familiar to anyone who remembers the crowds of girls waiting outside the gates of Elvis' Graceland estate, hoping to get a drive-by wave from the King. Or for those who have seen the images of security guards bent over at 90-degree angles trying to hold swarms of screaming fans behind the barricades at peak Beatlemania.
Where modern fandom tells a different story is in the role of the admirer. Fans have historically been cast as passive, though enthusiastic, consumers: impatiently anticipating their idol's next release, turning magazine pages hoping to find another candid interview, crossing their fingers for a tour stop in their city.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 10, 2024 من Toronto Star.
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 10, 2024 من Toronto Star.
اشترك في Magzter GOLD للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Disgraceful behaviour on Parliament Hill
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Leader says he will oppose Tory motion to bring down Trudeau government. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, said he does not have confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority government, but believes he can use the situation to push for his party's priorities.
Dutcher wins second Polaris award
Singer donating prize to school in New Brunswick
