Sarah and Kim Kardashian
I thought my collection of pictures of myself with celebrities was sizable. That is, until I read about a California teenager who goes by the nickname “Stalker Sarah” this weekend. Over the past four years, the 16-year-old has posed with over 4,600 stars, easily trumping my modest four profile-picture-worthy snapshots (Bill Murray, Henry Winkler, Adam Carolla and The Killers’ Brandon Flowers for those keeping score at home).
Sarah has recently smiled alongside A-listers like Miley Cyrus, Emile Hirsch and Adam Lambert. Worldwide icons like Brad Pitt, Oprah Winfrey (apparently on O’s off-day) and Kim Kardashian are also on her resume.
It would make most people happy for a month if they ran into one of their favorite stars on the street and immortalized the moment with a picture, but according to my math, Sarah’s average day involves posing with three celebrities. Sure, she lives near Hollywood, but it’s hard to fathom a lifetime’s work for me is a slightly above-average 24 hours for some teenage girl. No, I’m not jealous at all.
Sarah and Emile Hirsch
That’s when she’s trying. Sarah doesn’t ask for a picture every time she runs into a star, yet has somehow amassed nearly 5,000 pictures for her digital collection. “I’ve been in a lot of really private situations with people where I don’t even ask for a picture,” she explained during a recent Good Morning America appearance.
It all began after a chance meeting with Airplane! star Robert Hays. “I knew him as the dad from Homeward Bound,” Sarah recalled. “My dad liked Airplane! and he happened to have a camera in the car so I took a picture with him.”
Once the preteen Sarah had stars in her eyes, her father made a deal with her that as long as she got straight A’s in school, he would take her to as many celebrity-filled events as possible.
Sarah’s advice to aspiring paparazzi members? “Just go up and ask. Don’t run up them. It’s not going to work.”
Her dad’s word to the wise? “Never make a deal with a teenage girl,” I’m sure.
