Do you remember that yellow bracelet that everyone wanted to have? Were you one of those who had a livestrong bracelet? But do you remember why they were used? What was its purpose? And most importantly, what happened to all that movement? Today we are going to review history and answer all those questions.

What is the livestrong bracelet?

Before we start we need to remember and explain what livestrong bracelets were. It all started in the year 1996, when the cyclist Lance Armstrong was diagnosed with testicular cancer, so his dreams of being the best cyclist of all time were cut short. Armstrong founded Livestrong in 1997, an NGO that supports cancer cure research and cancer sufferers.

After battling this disease for two years, the now retired cyclist defeated cancer and was able to return to his life as a high-performance athlete. In that same year he began what was one of the most impressive sports careers in history by winning 7 consecutive Tours de France.

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It is at the end of 2003 after the five years of rigor that must be waited for the cancer not to return that the American through his foundation "Lance Armstrong Foundation" launches the "Livestrong" bracelet in a project called "Wear Yellow Live Strong " which sought to raise money for research into cancer cures.

The bracelet was part of the educational program "Wear Yellow Live Strong" whose purpose was to collect money for cancer research, as well as its prevention and support for all people who suffer from it.

Only one dollar cost that bracelet, money that went entirely to the foundation. The bracelet went viral thanks to the fact that great athletes and Hollywood stars wore it both in their daily lives and in important events. More than 50 million bracelets were sold when it was at its peak.

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Popularity in Mexico of the livestrong bracelet

In Mexico the popularity of this bracelet grew like foam, largely thanks to the number of celebrities who wore this yellow bracelet. Fashion and the desire not to be left behind reached such a point that up to 300 pesos were paid for one of them. Although the meaning of what we were wearing was really unknown.

The purpose of wearing a yellow bracelet was not only to raise money for the foundation, but also to give visibility to the cause. If a lot of people wear the cancer bracelet, the cancer theme will more easily become a trend and, therefore, more people would be willing to collaborate financially with it.

Such was the furore of the livestrong bracelet that the foundation raised more than 500 million dollars in favor of the cancer community in the United States. Unfortunately, everything was forgotten because in 2012, Armstrong was accused of systematic doping by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency), finding himself guilty of the charges.

Lance Armstrong doping

Lance Armstrong confessed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that he used prohibited substances to advance his cycling career. Due to this, the former cyclist decided to break all ties with the foundation so as not to harm it due to his negative acts.

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With the notoriety stemming from the actions of the Livestrong founder, brands like Nike disassociated themselves from Livestrong entirely. This marked the definitive end of the fashion for yellow bracelets, leaving the foundation in a bad light.

What has become of the Livestrong Foundation and Lance Armstrong?

Despite the doping scandal, Lance Armstrong has remained active in the business world as he has invested in different technology companies such as Uber and Docusign, which have generated million-dollar profits. In addition, the former cyclist created an investment fund, Next Ventures, together with former Canadian athlete Lionel Conacher, which in 2019 had already raised 23 million from its associates to invest in sports brands and in the wellness and nutrition sector.

For its part, the Livestrong Foundation continues to support cancer patients, but completely distanced from what its founder and main promoter was at the beginning of the new millennium. Currently you can donate through the page www.livestrong.org and support all those people who live this terrible disease.

Did you use the livestrong bracelet? What do you think of Lance Armstrong and his fraud as an athlete?

Throughout history there have always been cases in which great artists are backed by fame or money from their families. The upper classes and aristocrats, in ancient times, were the ones who financed a large part of the cultural treasures that we can appreciate today in large museums or that exist in private collections.

This has carried over to the world of film and television, in which the careers of young artists are driven by fame and/or money from their families, and in some cases despite not having great talent.

What is nepotism?

A practical and simple way to explain the meaning of nepotism is when a person obtains a job thanks to having relatives or friends in positions of power, without taking into account the skills or aptitudes of that person.

What are nepo babies?

Hollywood nepo babies are a group of young talents who have grown up in the public eye due to their influential families in the entertainment industry. Oftentimes, the children of successful actors, directors, producers, and other professionals in Hollywood have an advantage compared to other aspiring actors or artists who don't have those same connections. However, there are also many examples of talented nepobabies who have achieved legitimate success in the industry due to their own talent and hard work.

In many cases, these young people have been exposed to the entertainment industry from an early age, surrounded by successful family members, and surrounded by unique resources and opportunities. In addition, the influence of their families often gives them access to opportunities to develop their talents and build their careers, either through industry connections or through financial and emotional support.

However, this advantage can also be a disadvantage for some nepobabies, as there is also a strong expectation for them to meet the expectations of their families and achieve the same level of success. Also, they are often accused of not having to work as hard as others to achieve their goals.

How did the nepo baby controversy arise?

The problem arises since these artists receive opportunities simply because of the family name, so equal opportunities do not exist and those who build their career through years of effort are not as recognized as these so-called nepo babies.

This trend has always existed in Hollywood, but an article from New York Magazine refers to the new generation of artists driven by family fame and how thanks to this they are appearing in many movies and series, and at the same time thanks to this maybe they took an opportunity from a talented unknown.

To give another dimension to this problem, a study by the British newspaper The Guardian points out that the presence of the lower classes within the creative professions within the United Kingdom reaches only 7.9% of the total, that is, out of 100 people in professions such as plastic artists. , poets, painters, playwrights only 8 come from a low social stratum.

Who are the most famous nepo babies?

Here is a list of the children of artists who are taking the Hollywood scene by storm and are called nepo babies.

Tom Holland

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He is the son of photographer Nicola Frost and British comedian and screenwriter Dominic Holland.

Kaia Gerber

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She is the daughter of Cindy Crawford.

Zöe Kravitz

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She is the daughter of Lenny Kravitz.

Maya Hawke

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She is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke.

Lili-Rose Depp

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She is the daughter of Johnny Depp.

Brooklyn Beckham

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Son of David Beckham and Victoria Beckham

Jaden Smith and Willow Smith

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Children of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett

Jack Quaid

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Son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan

Maude Apatow

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She is the daughter of Judd Apatow, the writer and producer of Girls, and Leslie Mann, an actress who has a producer.

Timothée Chalamet

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He is the son of Marc Chalamet, UNICEF editor and New York correspondent for Le Parisien; In addition, the protagonist of Call me by your name is the nephew of the filmmakers and producers Rodman Flender and Amy Lippman and his grandfather was the screenwriter Harold Flender.

Margaret Qualley

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She is the daughter of actress Andie MacDowell.

What do you think about the new artists who have a family legacy in the history of important cinema or have millionaire families? Do you think it's fair that they reach stardom? Do they all have talent?

Tell us what you think about this topic in the comments.​