Why would a role model make a activity more popular?

Answer 1

If people who look up to that role model see them doing an activity, either good or bad, those people will want to do that activity. In doing that, they may feel a connection to their role model, thinking, "If I do this thing, just like them, I am more like them." It's the same with celebrities. If they're wearing something we would normally consider ugly, everyone wouldn't think it was ugly, since someone famous is wearing it. The ugly thing would instantly become a popular trend.