In this new age when anyone can be a pop star, anyone, apparently, can also start a contest to find America’s next star.

Canon U.S.A., the digital camera/scanner/printer company, just announced its version: the “So you want to be a pop star?” contest.

Let’s start with the prizes. Three finalists will get a trip to New York City, a pair of tickets to a local radio station’s holiday concert, a Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS Digital Elph camera, makeovers, singing and dancing lessons and a meet and greet with “international pop star” Leona Lewis (Leona who? Oh.) The ultimate winner will also get $5,000.

But to even get a chance to be a finalist, you’ll have to invest some time and money into creating a 30-second video showing why you should be selected as a finalist. Submit it to powershot.com. The contest will accept entries until Nov. 30.  Three finalists will be selected and each will get to create a more professional 60- to 90-second video. Then it really becomes a popularity contest where the public votes on a favorite. The winner will be announced Jan. 5.

Now, whether those folks will actually become pop stars, that’s a whole other contest called reality sinks in.

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