It would seem fame is no longer constituted by what you can do, but is increasingly determined by who you know.  It’s becoming commonplace for partners of famous stars to work their way, wittingly or not, into the realm of the media glare. 

Sienna Miller was a little known struggling actress before her relationship with Jude Law catapulted her into stardom, as was Liz Hurley, former girlfriend of Hugh Grant.  More recently, we have seen Kate Middleton – girlfriend of Prince William – shrouded by police for protection on a night out, such is the intensity of the media’s interest in her.  In echoes of William’s mother Diana’s own experiences, Kate has become a favourite subject for Britain’s paparazzi, all vying for a shot of our potential future queen. 

However, it’s not only the other halves of royalty and Hollywood stars who are subject to press scrutiny.  Our current obsession for WAG’s (wives and girlfriends) means that our top footballers often find themselves sidelined as their glamorous partners lap up the limelight.  England and Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney has witnessed his girlfriend Coleen McLoughlin become a fashion icon with her own article in Closer magazine, her own fitness dvd and a £3 million deal modelling clothes for supermarket chain Asda. In May 2006, McLoughlin became the face of the LG Chocolate Slider phone in the UK.  The same month, she signed a £1 million deal with Harpercollins to produce a fashion and lifestyle book.  Coleen's autobiography, Welcome to my World, is due to be released this year and she is belived to have earned in total an estimated £6.5 million – all thanks to Wayne’s fame.

Another WAG who is making the most of her time in the spotlight is Alex Curran, fiancee of Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard.  Alex, like Coleen, has her own article.  Every Wednesday in the Daily Mirror, Alex imaprts her views on fashion to readers all over the country and is a regular in OK! Magazine.

It would appear that many ladies are not shy when it comes to capitalising on the status of their loved ones, as tv presenter John Leslie’s ex Abi Titmuss demonstrated.  Former nurse Abi, became known for all the wrong reasons when a sex tape of her and Leslie was leaked to the press.  The couple weren’t to last, but as Leslie’s star waned, Abi’s rocketed.  She became a favourite in men’s magazines and appeared on ITV’s Celebrity Love Island.  She also took up presenting on Televison X, released a book of erotic stories and has also appeared on Hell’s Kitchen and The Friday Night Project.  She made her acting debut last year in a play by Arthur Miller and also bagged a small role in film Goal! 2, which also stars David Beckham.  Not bad for a nurse from Lincoln.

So as the old saying goes, it’s not what you know – it’s who you know.