Photographer Petra Collins Explores Dark Side of Fame and Fandom

Her new book 'STAR' presents a fictional pop star's story through a lurid lens

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:53pm

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An extreme close-up of shattered glass reflecting dramatic studio lighting, conceptually representing the fragility of celebrity culture.The shattered remains of celebrity glamour expose the precarious nature of fame in Collins' new book.Los Angeles Today

Photographer Petra Collins has released a new book called 'STAR' that explores the dark realities of fame and fandom through the story of a fictional pop star. The book uses a 'Rashomon'-style approach with unreliable narrators to present a lurid take on the pressures and perils of celebrity culture, especially for young women.

Why it matters

Collins' work has long captured the complex experiences of girlhood, and 'STAR' represents her latest effort to shine a light on the unblinking eye trained on young women in the entertainment industry and beyond. The book taps into growing concerns about the mental health impacts of social media and online harassment on young people.

The details

Each chapter of 'STAR' is named after a pop song from the 1990s or 2000s and follows the story of Ashley, a quiet student who is catapulted into solo stardom alongside a girl group she tours with until mysteriously vanishing. The narrative is told through the perspectives of an obsessed fan and Ashley's closest friend, Yuyu, who tries to correct the record years later on online forums.

  • Collins began working on the original concept for 'STAR' in 2015.
  • 'STAR' will be published by Rizzoli on April 12, 2026.

The players

Petra Collins

A 33-year-old photographer and artist known for her work capturing the experiences of girlhood and young women. She has directed music videos for artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Cardi B.

Ashley

The fictional pop star at the center of Collins' new book 'STAR', who becomes entangled with an Asian pop group and disappears mysteriously.

Yuyu

Ashley's closest friend, who surfaces in online forums years after the singer's disappearance to try and correct the record about what happened.

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What they’re saying

“Obviously a lot of my work was about girlhood, but it's such a difficult dark thing, and I can't explain it to anyone in a 100 percent positive light. My book is about femininity, and it is dark. That's how I see it. And that is how it is.”

— Petra Collins, Photographer

“I've never been hit on as much as I was when I was 12 or 13. I remember the first time it happened. I was walking to get the subway to school and two men were like, 'Beautiful legs. What do you do? Are you a model?' I remember the feeling, you know, guilt and shame. And it's worse now. I'm so sick of it”

— Petra Collins, Photographer

What’s next

Collins has begun working on her first feature film, though details about the project are currently under wraps.

The takeaway

Through 'STAR', Collins continues her long-standing exploration of the complex experiences of young women, using a fictional narrative to shine a light on the dark realities of fame, fandom, and the unrelenting male gaze that so many girls and women face.