The word of the day is cynosure:

< French cynosure (16th cent.), < Latin cynosūra, < Greek κυνόσουρα dog's tail, Ursa Minor.... 

1. The northern constellation Ursa Minor, which contains in its tail the Pole-star; also applied to the Pole-star itself.   

2. fig.

a. Something that serves for guidance or direction; a ‘guiding star’.   

b. Something that attracts attention by its brilliancy or beauty; a centre of attraction, interest, or admiration.

"As for Micky, he is the cynosure of his mother's eye.  'All we ever wanted for you was to be world champion,' she tells him."

 - Anthony Lane, "Punch Lines: 'The Fighter' and 'I Love You Phillip Morris'", 13 December 2010 The New Yorker