Celibate celebrities, such as the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and Jordin Sparks, have coined a whole new meaning to the phrase “sex appeal.”Their delaying of their deflowering until marriage is becoming more and more appealing to the public.But this promise to stay pure until marriage is not a new phenomenon to hit the celebrity circuit.Stars from pop sensation Britney Spears to former NBA player A.C. Green to “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow have publicly proclaimed the preservation of their V-cards. Some stars, such as Sparks and the Jonas Brothers, wear purity rings to symbolize their promise to God, which act as a magnet for the media.These stars certainly got the media’s attention at MTV’s Video Music Awards last week.Sparks’ retort to host Russell Brand’s rant on the Jonas Brothers’ purity rings sparked my attention.Her ad-lib comment was the highlight of the night (after Brand’s bashing of the Republican Party, of course).”It’s not bad to wear a     promise ring because not everybody, guy or girl, wants to be a slut,” she said. Sure, I suppose Sparks is right to a certain extent, but I found her comment, shall I say, pretentious?Promise rings remind me of those “Honk if you love Jesus” bumper stickers.Every time I am stuck behind a car with one of those stickers I cringe and curse. Not because I am the least bit religious, but because it’s as if those people think they are better than me.If you flaunt Jesus stickers or Jesus rings, you are subconsciously craving attention.And it definitely works.I also think these stars’ motives are slightly muddled.These celibate celebrities rack up profits because of their virtue rather than their talent.Now, I’m not saying these stars are faux Christians.And I’m not saying they are completely without talent.I’m saying they are milking their morals for all they’re worth.And I’m not alone here. “[Stars who pledge their virginity] help win over parents who see their kids getting bombarded with sexual imagery and lyrics,” US Weekly senior writer Joey Bartolomeo told ABC News. “Virginity certainly helps them get a bigger following.”Playing on a young star’s purity to raise profits is a commonly practiced ploy in the celebrity world.”Whenever you have a star who is under 18, you usually sell their virtue — Britney did this, the Olsen twins did this and so did Hillary Duff,” InTouch Weekly senior editor S. Tia Brown told ABC News. “It’s to help sell their brand — parents are making the decision about what’s being purchased and want to see it’s a young girl or guy that can be a role model for their children.”And so far, this technique has been pretty successful.Let’s weigh the differences between some of our generation’s bubble-gum princesses.For years Lindsay Lohan and Hilary Duff were neck and neck in the teeny bopper business. But Lohan lost that race when scandalous pictures of her surfaced and she consequentially admitted herself into a rehabilitation center in early 2007, forever soiling her squeaky clean image.And look at Jessica Simpson, whose career was pretty much fueled by her chastity.Sure, I guess her Barbie Doll physique and “Chicken of the Sea” comment contributed to her fame. But let’s face it, if it weren’t for her stringent Christian values, Simpson would just have become another one-hit wonder.And as Simpson’s supposed happily ever after marriage to ‘90s hottie Nick Lachey met its demise three years into their union, so did her good, gospel girl image.And back to the Jonas Brothers.Would they be half as famous if they were not proud wearers of purity rings?I think not.Nearly every article I have read about them has mentioned their abstinence.And now Sparks and her sparkly promise ring will be more popular than ever.Like I said: marketing ploy.But don’t get me wrong. I think it’s quite commendable for anyone to put away their chastity belt key.Especially young stars like the Jonas Brothers, whose female fans fawn over them as if their Hansonesque music and Frida Kahlo brows are God’s gift to pre-pubescent girls.My last point is something I think all readers will agree with on some level: These celibate celebs are untouchable.They’re unreachable.I feel as if these stars are practically mocking us, and     rubbing it in our faces that only one person will ever have a chance with them.And with Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima, who has publicly announced her chastity, I do feel sorry for those pining men out there who fantasize about her frolicking around in her silky, sheer teddy.Even my heterosexual self thinks it is a shame someone as stunning and sexy as her refuses to share her hotness with the world.Now that’s just downright rude.But, I have to admit, if I looked even remotely like her, I would milk it for all it was worth.Just to watch men fawn over me and shower me with expensive gifts and exotic trips, knowing they will never get anything in return, would definitely be “worth the wait.”- – – – Contact Drew Belle Zerby at [email protected]