Remember back around 2012 when Rihanna started rocking her signature cherry red hair, and gradually it became a popular trend? This is a spectacular example as to how great an influence celebrities have on their fans and other people that are not nearly as popular. During the 50th annual Super Bowl halftime show on February 7, 2016, the artists who performed took their influence on the rest of the country to an entirely new level and used it in a way that many other celebrities may never even have imagined doing.

Coldplay boldly began one of the most influential Super Bowl halftime shows as lead singer, Chris Martin, ran onto stage singing "Viva La Vida," surrounded by a very prominent rainbow theme throughout the entire stadium. Even the violins being played by the students that emerge on stage and the very microphone that Chris Martin holds in his hands throughout the duration of the performance are covered with vibrant colors. He shouts to the crowd "Whoever you are, wherever you are, we are in this together," and goes on to sing "Paradise," and "Adventure of a Lifetime.: There can be no failure in understanding that this theme was chosen in order to empower the LGBTQ community. Coldplay took their widespread popularity and used it in order to benefit this particular minority of people who have been struggling for acceptance for far too long.

Bruno Mars cuts in and starts singing "Uptown Funk," after Coldplay finishes their last song. It doesn't seem like Bruno really catches on to the idea of celebrities using their power to empower others, but the theme most definitely does not end here!

Beyoncé steps in immediately after Bruno Mars finishes singing his song and steals the attention of the crowd. Behind her are an army of women dressed in the signature Black Panther uniform. As Beyoncé takes control she stands up for the Black Lives Matter movement that has been rapidly sweeping across the country. She sings her new song "Formation,"whilst very intentionally empowering the minority of African Americans. To give an even greater idea of the strength behind Beyoncé's performance, I want to acknowledge how she simultaneously empowers women. Words cannot describe the energy emanating from Beyoncé's prepossessing performance to those presently fighting for their civil rights.

If I had the same capability as these popular celebrities to empower others, I can only dream of the difference that I could make. It is my hope that after this performance more celebrities will take advantage of their power in order to empower those who give them the power in the first place.