6 ways celebs can extend their fame into the New Year

<img alt="Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images" title="Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images" src="http://a323.yahoofs.com/phugc/DdYge_pJzWhO/photos/d27ca75edfeb2328f4b224a0b4fa2b48/mr_ace167646eff0e.jpg?ug_____DvRcjeJbR" align="left" height="363" width="400">One minute you&#39;re landing magazine covers and the next minute you can&#39;t get anyone to pick up your reality show. The lifespan of celebrity is a fickle one, but the right career moves or publicity stunts can extend even the flimsiest of careers of talentless stars. Below, six ways to prolong fame: <strong><br><br>1. Get married, even if it’s not real</strong><br>Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt may be the most annoying people on earth, but us talking about how much we hate them means we are all STILL talking about them! Their impromptu wedding in Mexico wasn’t even legal here in the States, but the couple still landed the cover of US Weekly. Sadly, we have to give them credit for their little stunt. These two schemers regularly stage paparazzi photo shoots and know exactly what they’re doing. <br><br><strong>2. Wear an engagement ring</strong><br>Want the publicity even if there’s no wedding in your future? Get yourself a piece of jewelry (real or fake—it doesn’t matter), make sure you wear on the red carpet or when being followed by paparazzi, and you’re guaranteed to be in tomorrow’s news. Over the holidays Rihanna was spotted with a huge diamond on her left ring finger, promoting rumors on every gossip blog about her possible engagement to singer Chris Brown.&nbsp; In truth: she’s only 20 and they won’t even admit their relationship, but speculation is always fair game and appreciated. <br><br><strong>3. Have a baby </strong><br>How many times can we read about a star before she has a kid? People apparently never tire of following the “bump watch” or reading about how someone “still hasn’t popped” or what their strange food cravings are. Name your celeb baby something crazy (Bronx Mowgli, anyone?) or sell baby photos to a tabloid for major bonus coverage. Everyone from Brangelina, to Clay Aiken has cashed in.&nbsp; <br><br><strong>4. Endorse products </strong><br> These days pretty much every celebrity has a fragrance or clothing line. But maybe you’re on the D-list or not looking to attach your name to a product for all eternity. Have your publicist call the brand of your favorite soft drink/sneaker/acne product and BOOM! You’re in the money, on commercials or infomercials, have a lifetime supply of Proactiv and now actually are pimple free. Laugh all the way to the bank.<br><br><strong>5. Die young</strong><br> Not to be morbid, but it’s no secret that stars often become more famous after their untimely demise. Heath Ledger had landed attention grabbing, and even Oscar nominated roles before, but not until his overdose in 2007 was his epic performance as the Joker dubbed epic and life changing. There was award buzz before the film was even screened and he’s making headlines a year after his death. Plus you’ll be ranked amongst good company:&nbsp; Elvis, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, River Phoenix, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean to name a few.<br><strong><br> 6. Make a sex tape that will inevitably get leaked</strong><br> When Paris Hilton’s sex tape leaked she was shocked and disgusted that Rick Soloman was trying to ruin her reputation. Soon after though, she sold the rights of the footage to a website, claiming people were going to see it anyways, and ended up profiting from the video. But the heiress was merely taking a cue from sex tape hall-of-famers Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee.&nbsp; Gene Simmons, Dustin Diamond, Verne Troyer and Kim Kardashian have all been, um, exposed, and despite not making money off the films, they did get their name back in the gossip columns and TV shows, which could have been a difficult feat any other way.<br>