Whatever he’s doing with his tongue, Jodie doesn’t look like she’s enjoying it much!! It’s hard to tell, but my guess is she’s too too busy wondering where his right hand is!
And will whoever is pulling the bloke’s tie please stop or he’ll have more pressing concerns than Jodie’s ear wax.
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Parties & Events | Tagged: Jodie Marsh, Tongue | Leave a Comment »
Johnny Ikon’s Launch Party, Volstead, London – L to R – Stephen Nicholas, Tony Burge, Barbie, Helen Grant, Sarah Ewing.
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Parties & Events | Tagged: Helen Grant, London, Launch Party, Sarah Burge, UK Flow, Stephen Nicholas, Sarah Ewing, Barbie, Johnny Ikon, Tony Burge, Volstead | Leave a Comment »
A new study has revealed that most men find women more attractive when they smile than when they wear make-up.
The research, carried out by Orbit Complete for National Smile Month, tested photographs of women on over 500 men.
Each woman was photographed twice, once wearing make-up and not smiling, and again without make-up and smiling.
66% of guys surveyed believe a smile makes a woman look younger and more attractive than make-up, and a glum face or pout makes them look moody and unapproachable.
Louise Redknapp, face of Orbit Complete, says: “I count my smile as my best asset and it has definitely had an influence on my career.
“Flashing a friendly smile costs nothing but can have a big impact on the way people perceive you.”
Filed under: Beauty and Style, Celebrities and Fame, Health | Tagged: Beauty Secret, Louise Redknapp, Smile | 2 Comments »
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Music, Travel | Tagged: Music Festival, Rockness, Rockness Photos, Scotland | Leave a Comment »
My name is Iris Duffle and I stalk celebrities.
Well, the lead singer and drummer of Brit band Decker, but the gossips will have you believe I’m stalking the guitarist, the backing dancers and the band’s groupies. There are dangers to telling lies. I should know.
The truth is I study the Decker twins, Mari and Donald, not in a scary way, but from a distance – and I dress and act like them.
“Does that count as stalking?” I say to Connie. It is Saturday and we are hanging out at the airport with her brother Roger, drinking cocktails.
“You copy their mannerisms and habits. You use the same phrases. You eat at the same restaurants and hang out at airports, hoping to bump into them. Yes, that’s stalking,” Connie says through her teeth.
I cast my mind back. “I wasn’t always so star struck. When I was 18, marriage and babies were the norm. Everyone wanted to be pregnant.
“I wanted that too but David wouldn’t commit. We’ll marry when we’re 30, he said. So I waited, but it never happened. I struggled with being an unmarried mum. And then …”
Roger frowns. “I can’t imagine that of David. Not the way he is with Jill and the children.”
Connie shakes her head mutely.
I search for an excuse. “Some people are better suited,” I say.
She fiddles with her watch. “I was 18 going on 30 too, but I had bigger plans. I was desperate to move away, get a career, and become famous.”
“What happened?” I laugh.
“My crazy mother – bless her heart. She coped with Roger moving 10 miles for college, but she’d have been dead in her grave if I’d moved to London or New York.”
“But you had a rare talent,” I sigh. “My ambition was to be a cleaner. My cousins laughed at me for idolising Deirdre Barlow.”
“Never judge a person until you’ve walked a year in their shoes,” Roger smiles.
“That’s what Mari says …” Connie speaks quietly, “In this month’s Vogue.”
I pluck a copy from my bag and open it to page 22. “There!” I say gleefully, slapping it on the table, and pointing to Mari’s pretty face.
In three page glory are the Decker twins, dressed in fake fur with quirky white sunglasses and swimwear, next to a smaller picture of Mari in a clinch with a married celebrity.
Confident I won’t offend, I tell Connie I am against infidelity, and she blushes pink.
“It’s hardly a shock,” she says. “Everyone knew they were together, except you.”
I look to Roger for reassurance. “The way he dumped his wife is disgusting. He might be a celebrity, but a text message? What do you think Roger?”
Roger inhales deeply and coughs. “You’ll get used to it. In time you may even get to like him.”
“You don’t like men much do you?” Connie says coldly.
“I’m never going to like Peter Cooper, if that’s what you mean. He reminds me too much of David.”
Roger shifts uncomfortably. “I love the bit where the writer compares Donald Decker to a younger version of John Lennon.”
“Yes!” I grab Roger’s hand with genuine pride. “Wait until they crack America, they’ll love it! The photo shoots, the interviews, the flashing cameras, they’re going to need a private secretary.”
Roger smiles. “I’m not sure about that, but this one’s going to be their biggest hit by far. They’ve topped themselves. The fans will be screaming to get backstage this summer.”
Connie looks me in the eye. “I believe you mean well Iris, but underneath the greasepaint there’s a craving for normality. No-one takes the trouble to dig beneath the showbiz.”
“Greasepaint? But Mari and Donald wear the most extraordinary things!”
“Yes, but they’re not James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.”
“Look …” I point to the last image of Mari wearing a vintage shawl wound tightly around her pale neck; Donald is wearing skinny black jeans pasted on to his bandy legs, a little bit of rock n roll with his dark glasses. Not black but blood red to match the stain on his sister’s lips, and the distressed skinny black leather jackets a la Burberry.
“I don’t know how they do it, but their influence is why I have no fear about what I wear today,” I beam. “Everything Mari wears is an extension of her personality and an extension of the band’s brand. The spike heeled Dior boots, dapper pin striped waistcoat and the starched cotton shirt …”
“Stiff and Persil white …” Roger laughs.
I kiss the twin’s photograph. They have been famous for as long as I can remember. I’ve read their autobiography and they had star quality before they were born, with matching curly hair and two teeth.
The following Sunday, Connie calls with an invite to a rock festival. “Come as our guest. There’s someone we’d like you to meet,” she says.
Unable to contain my excitement, I drive to the shops on Friday and use the last of my wages to buy a green dress with a red abstract pattern. I’ve had my eye on it for ages because it reminds me of something Mari would wear. I tell the assistant it will go perfect with my brown boots, and make a mental note to ask Kath next door to curl my hair.
On Saturday, a car arrives. It has blacked out windows and a personalised number plate. The chauffer takes my bag and pours me a glass of champagne. He refuses to start the car until I am strapped in, so I belt up, and smile at him coyly in the rear view mirror.
“Your friends look amazing tonight,” he says, “All eyes are on them.”
“What are they wearing?” I ask.
The driver winks, “With their charm they breathe new life into anything.”
As it happens, Connie is wearing skinny jeans and pearl earrings, the same milky white as her skin. A plastic red belt clinched in, spike heeled Dior boots, and a starched cotton shirt, Persil white. And Roger’s skinny black jeans are pasted on to his bandy legs, a little bit of rock n roll with his dark glasses.
I spot the rock on Connie’s finger and wonder who put it there, just as I used to wonder what I would do if I ever passed the twins on the street, or if David proposed to me instead of Jill.
Not in this rain-washed rural non-entity, but somewhere in New York, Paris or Milan. Where the boutiques never sleep, and elegant women sip house coffee from white paper cups, watching the world float by, undetected through oversized glasses and floppy cashmere hats.
That dream comes to me often, and always so real – the colours pure and undiluted, crystal sharp, every detail as loud as if it is a memory.
Later, when I return to the hospital, the terror starts again.
“Where are the twins?” I gasp at the smiling nurse who hands me my tablets. She runs me a bath. “Here’s your towel Iris,” she says, “don’t be long or the water will get cold.”
Tears roll down my face. “For the good sleep and happy memories,” she says, pushing the pills into my hand.
Fleeting moments today are the happiest times, when I speak to my children aloud as if that dreadful night never happened.
You see, the brain has little niches. Each niche has thoughts and memories, and if you think the same thing repeatedly the thoughts become real.
That’s how Roger and Connie became Mari and Donald, and how next week they will be living in Hollywood. Maybe in time they won’t be dead at all. My fingerprints won’t be on the pillow, and their father will love me after all.
Filed under: Fiction | Tagged: Fiction, Iris Duffle, Novel, Short Story, To Hollwood By Thought | Leave a Comment »
Denise Van Outen has been announced as the face of Bionsen deodorants.
The former Big Breakfast star, who married singer Lee Mead in the Seychelles in April, stripped off to plug the deodorant, which contains no aluminium and parabens, the chemicals linked to breast cancer.
Denise, 35, is currently preparing for her show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. She says:
“When I was asked to be the face of Bionsen I didn’t even have to think about it as it stands for an issue close to my heart.
“The entire Bionsen range is free from harmful chemicals, aluminium and parabens, which have been linked to breast cancer.
“Having lost my grandmother to breast cancer, it’s important to me to raise awareness of the issue and if I can use my celebrity status to do that, then that’s great.
“As the face of the brand, I want to get women thinking about the issue and encourage them to make informed choices.”
Filed under: Beauty and Style, Celebrities and Fame, Health | Tagged: Aluminium, Big Breakfast, Bionsen Deodorant, Breast Cancer, Denise Van Outen, Lee Mead, Paraben Cancer, Parabens, Seychelles | 2 Comments »
Bruce Willis and new wife Emma Heming have taken part in a provocative photo shoot for the July issue of W magazine, on sale June 23.
The actor, who was previously married to Demi Moore, says his life has been much happier since he started hanging around Emma on a daily basis.
“Love is truly the answer,” he says, ”I spent the last 10 years single and, for the most part, unhappy. In a dark place. I never thought that being with someone else was the answer. I would say, ‘I’m alone, but I’m not lonely.’ But I was just kidding myself.”
The Die Hard star, who has three daughters with Moore, is also thrilled that he gets along famously with his ex-wife and her new husband Ashton Kutcher.
“We’ve become like a tribe. It’s generated a lot of interest because everyone can understand resentment and envy in the breakup of a marriage, but they don’t understand how I can get along with my ex like that.
“Demi and I made a choice to put the kids first, and we’re really lucky that it turns out we all have fun together. I still love her, and I have a lot of respect for how she lives her life.”
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame | Tagged: Ashton Kuchter, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Emma Heming, W Magazine | Leave a Comment »
Our hairstyles often say more about what is happening in our life than any diary. Helen Grant looks back over her hair highlights.
All the rage – really!
This is me, with my sister Lynsey and my pineapple cut, when I was 16. I’d pile my hair on top of my head as high as it would go, then mousse it to make it as curly as possible.
My friends had their hair the same. We were obsessed with Bros, and I was crazy about Matt and Luke Goss. All the best Bros groupies had their hair like this.
The Meg Ryan
When I was 22, I went for choppy layers in a bid to copy Meg’s style.
I suffered from postnatal depression after having Louise, and when I began to feel better, I decided I needed a new start. So I went to the salon, bought new clothes, and changed my hairstyle. It boosted my confidence.
Independent Me
When I was 25 and Louise was five, we left Plymouth and moved to Bath, where I studied journalism, art and media at University. Louise and I had our hair cut short, but I went scissor happy with her fringe – and she wasn’t amused. I was enjoying being independent for the first time.
The Black Cleopatra
This was taken when we were living in Bath and I did a cover up job when a mahogony rinse went wrong. That’s me on the left with my friend Kay.
I wore a cap for two days to cover my shocking pink hair until I got round to dying it black. Not sure what was going on with the fringe but at least it wasn’t as bad as the DIY horror job I inflicted on guests at Carol’s wedding. See below.
The White Cleopatra
My creative juices must have been flowing when I produced this number. That’s me second from left showing off my white Cleopatra bob for the first time.
The good news is, if you fancy a cut and colour like this, it’s easier than it looks. Just grab a ruler, hold it against your forehead and cut in a straight line. Then buy a cheap bottle of peroxide, shampoo in and leave overnight.
The Poodle Perm
Again, I’m not sure what possessed me but I loved it at the time. I used a diffuser to make my curls even curlier, blow drying upside down and scrunching with Charles Worthington’s Big Hair Lift Off Spray. If you fancy trying this at home, you can buy the spray on Ebay.
A version of this article was published in the January 2009 issue of Essentials.
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Entrepreneur James Brett is on a mission to rid the world of heroin - using pomegranates.
The former drug addict hopes to persuade farmers in Afghanistan – which produces 93 per cent of the world’s opiates – to stop growing poppies and grow pomegranates instead.
By cultivating pomegranate fields, he insists their profits will more than double.
So far his mission is working. On a recent trip to Afghanistan, Brett achieved a historic milestone. Poppy cultivation in the province of Nangarhar will cease from 2009, making it poppy-free for the first time in 100 years.
In the meantime, Brett’s company will help subsidise the farmers for the three years it takes for the region’s first pomegranate trees to mature.
According to UN and Afghan government figures, a typical poppy farmer makes approximately $2,000 per acre.
Brett insists that pomegranate farmers will more than double that at around $5,000 per acre – a big incentive with a huge payoff – helping to rid the world of a drug that approximately 11 million people worldwide are addicted to.
Britain’s largest drug charity – Addaction - is supporting the scheme, which will help establish an export market, offices and factories in the region, along with education and support for farmers who agree to stop growing poppies.
Life for James has been tough. An ex-drug dealer and addict, he was sexually abused by his grandfather from the age of 10.
When he was 15, he plucked up the courage to tell his mum and she committed suicide. Grief stricken, he turned to drink, drugs and petty crime, shoplifting and selling cannabis.
After several spells in prison, he eventually turned his life around to become the founder of the UK’s first pomegranate juice Pomegreat which is sold in supermarkets across the country.
And the good news doesn’t stop there. This year Brett launched the UK’s first pomegranate wine. Anari is the only wine on the market that won’t give you a hangover.
For more info about Brett’s pomegranate mission, see www.pom354.com.
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Travel | Tagged: Afghanistan, Anari Wine, James Brett, Pomegranate Juice, Pomegreat, Poppy Farmers | Leave a Comment »
Sarah Burge, 49, was so determined not to grow old she transformed herself into a plastic doll.
Lying on the operating table, I smiled as I looked at the surgeon’s knife. “How do you feel, Sarah?” his assistant asked. “Try to relax.”
No problem there. I took a deep breath, and seconds later, the blade cut into my flesh. Encouraged by previous surgery, I was having a tummy tuck, buttock realignment, liposuction and fat transfer as a Christmas treat.
My right bum cheek had been wonky since an implant dislodged itself at a water park in Spain. One cheek was huge and the other small. The surgeon took one look and insisted I have both redone.
“Oh well,” I said, “Might as well have another tummy tuck, and while you’re at it, can you transfer some fat from my thighs to my hands? It is Christmas after all.”
The surgeon agreed, and it didn’t stop there. Determined to maintain my size 8 figure, I had a needle inserted into my stomach to drain excess fat. I had love handles I couldn’t shift, no matter how much I dieted or exercised. They had to go.
I’ve been addicted to plastic for 20 years, stopped being nervous a long time ago. My obsession began after I had my eldest daughter Charlotte, 24. I was only 26, fit and healthy, but it didn’t matter – after all, I had a good excuse to go under the knife. If I was going to be famous, growing old was out of the question.
Until then, age wasn’t an issue. It wasn’t until I became a mum that I became determined to hold on to my looks. I was addicted to the attention being sexy attracted, loved getting compliments at the club where I worked. The thought of getting old made me sick.
You know those women who always look perfect? Who never miss a haircut or eyebrow wax? Flawless skin and sexy clothes – that was me 20 years ago. I’d been through a rough time with men, but with friends, I was the life and soul, bubbly and energetic.
I’ve always been attracted to fame and glamour. When I was little, my ambition was to be a celebrity. I loved dressing up. I’d play fight with the boys wearing high heels and ringlets, climb trees in pretty dresses. I even liked the same things as Barbie – dancing, acting and horse riding.
When I was 17, I landed a job as a bunny girl at the Playboy club in London’s Park Lane. I had to memorise hundreds of cocktails and got Hugh Hefner’s name wrong a few times, but I was spoilt rotten – lavished with fur coats and diamonds.
Finally, it felt like my dream was coming true, but when I reached my mid twenties, I wanted more. “I want to be an actress or a TV presenter,” I told my best friend Karen, “plastic surgery isn’t for everybody, but looks are important in showbiz.”
Other than my family and Karen, there was only one other opinion I cared about – Tony, my childhood sweetheart and real life Ken. We met when we were teenagers, have been on and off for 30 years.
“Sarah, I fancy you the way you are but if it makes you happy,” he said, back then.
“I want to make the best of what I’ve got,” I told him. “It’s not that I’m unhappy with the way I look, but I want to stop the ageing process.”
Tony wasn’t bothered. Men don’t care what you do to look pretty, as long as they like the look of what’s in front of them. My family was worried, but I’d always coped by slapping on a bright smile and my confidence reassured them.
As a qualified beautician, I’d worked in clinics and accompanied surgeons into the operating theatre. The amazing improvements I witnessed when women went under the knife were more exciting than any fur coat or diamonds.
Still, I did a lot of research and saw a handful of doctors. Then I made an appointment with the one I liked best. When I got the price, I gagged.
“There’s no way I should be doing this,” I thought, balking at the cost. But then I was offered the opportunity to pay in instalments, and I was earning decent money at the club, so there was no excuse.
Of course I was anxious, worried that the surgeon would make me look like Frankenstein. But as scared as I was, I was determined to do it. Besides, I’ve always been a spontaneous person.
“What’s wrong with wanting to look good?” I said to the consultant at our first meeting. “I never want to feel old and miserable. I want to look as gorgeous when I’m 80 as I did when I was 20.”
The process was easier than I thought. It was done under anaesthetic so I didn’t feel a thing. I woke up sore and swollen, but after a few days the swelling subsided and I felt well enough to go shopping for new outfits. I had to use special cream on the scars, but the results were worth it. I got a huge buzz when people commented that I looked fantastic. It wasn’t long before I wanted more.
Since then, I’ve had more than £565,000 worth of surgery and treatments. Beauty maintenance alone costs me £26,000 a year. Fortunately, as an international ambassador for cosmetic and plastic surgery, I get generous discounts, which has enabled me to pursue my quest for perfection.
I’ve had Botox in my armpits and cheeks, fat sucked out and put back in, three face lifts, two nose jobs, implants in all the right places, and my nipples taken off and stitched back on. Not forgetting all the skin peels, chemical dermabrasion, teeth bleaching, and hair extensions. The only thing left untouched is my ear lobes and brain.
There have been occasions when the surgery has gone wrong. I’ve had three face lifts because the first two made me look lopsided and two nose jobs because the first one looked hideous.
Then there was the incident in Spain when my bum implant dislodged itself. That was painful as it caused a build up fluid to my buttock. Of course, there are going to be problems. I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t get upset, but corrective surgery quickly sorts it. My surgeons are great.
I’m married to Tony now, and have two more children – Hannah, 14, and Penelope, four. My family are proud of the celebrity status the surgery has given me. I’ve fulfilled my ambition of being a star, not just in the UK, but in the US and Japan.
Next year, I’m having a big Barbie themed party in London for my 50th Birthday. I’ll be arriving in a pink Cadillac with Tony. I’m also writing a book about my life.
What’s more, I’ve set up my own beauty practice, with dermabrasion and face lift equipment. Most people are surprised to learn that I’m a qualified practitioner and that, despite my Barbie looks, I’m an intelligent woman.
In total, I’ve had over 120 hours of surgery and more than 100 operations. I’ve been lifted, buffed and remodelled to perfection, but I haven’t ruled out more surgery in the future. I’d have no qualms about going under the knife again.
My aim is to look better with each passport picture so that I can live life to the full.
THE COST OF BEING BARBIE
Face lasered to remove layers – £32,000
Gortex filler to remove frown lines – £10,000
Dermabrasion to face – £55,000
Facelift x 3 – £34,000
Brow lift – £12,000
Fat transfer to hands, cheeks, lips, chin, eyes – £6,000
Silicone implant to cheeks and mouth – £13,500
Liposuction to chin, neck, stomach, hips, buttocks, thighs and jaw – £49,500
Laser treatment to teeth – £18,000
Upper eye lift – £5,500
Lower eye laser – £8,000
Nose job – £5,000
Corrective Surgery to nose – £8,500
Ears pinned back – £7,000
Breast reduction, two uplifts and injectable implants – £33,000
Tummy Tuck – £7,500
Buttock and calf implants – £22,000
Skin peels, dermabrading, injectable fillers, Botox, cosmetic tattooing, teeth bleaching, hair extensions – £26,000 a year for last 10 years = £260,000
Total Cost: £565,500
Sarah has launched an online magazine to help others follow their dreams. Visit www.humanhi.com for more information.
This article was written for Woman magazine.
Filed under: Beauty and Style, Celebrities and Fame, Health | Tagged: Barbie, Botox, Cosmetic Surgery, Sarah Burge | Leave a Comment »
Did marriage make your relationship stronger? A women’s glossy magazine is offering a professional photoshoot (hair, make-up and styling) and £150 in return for an interview with a woman aged 23 to 38 who feels that marriage boosted and improved her relationship with her husband.
They are keen to point out that marriage can cement your bond, heal past insecurities and put any problems in the relationship behind you. But be quick! The deadline is tomorrow – 15th June. Email annahart55@gmail.com.
Filed under: Media Requests, Opportunities | Tagged: Marriage, Relationship | Leave a Comment »
The literary works of John Prescott, Cherie Blair and Russell Brand are the books most people leave behind in UK hotel rooms, according to a report by Travelodge.
In a recent review, it was revealed that of the 337 Travelodges in the UK, Southend on Sea was the only hotel to have 12 copies of The Cell by Stephen King left behind, along with a copy of The Best 50 Love Making Positions For The Over 50s.
The staff at Peterborough Travelodge found 10 copies of the Karma Sutra, and in Southampton, one customer left behind two books called How To Be A Gentleman In Seven Days and The Karma Sutra for Dummies.
Glasgow and London are the mostly popular lodges for money saving books, guests in Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham like their autobiographies, and it seems Belfast and Cornwall tourists are secret chick lit fans. All books are returned to customers or donated to charity shops.
Travelodge Operations Director Paul Anstey said: “Every year 7,000 books are left behind in Travelodge hotels. The most popular are autobiographies, chick lit and thriller books. This summer we found a number of money saving books, which shows how much the credit crunch is taking hold!”
The Travelodge Top 10
Filed under: Books | Leave a Comment »
Despite her recent upset, Clare is a big believer in love. It heals everything!
She has been saying I love you to everyone lately. I counted nine times in one day and it made my tail wag so hard when the same reply came back - I love you too. Love is the focus and the solution.
To solve any problem, ask yourself three questions:
What can I do? What can I read? and who can I ask?
When Clare had a problem recently, she asked and the support came in droves. When your heart is a little battered, never forget to look up and realise that the Jacaranda trees are still the same beautiful shade of purple, the sky is still eggshell blue, the hummingbirds in the garden are still humming, the smell of the lawn is still heavenly, that your friends still love you, that a cuddle still feels good, and a good night’s sleep suddenly feels like sweet relief.
And remember most of all that life goes on – and it gets deeper, richer and sweeter.
Paul (McKenna) is still in London. He extended his trip ( I think he met a nice girl) so instead of three musketeers we’re down to one – Alex. But we’re being very productive and going to a lot of movies.
We saw The Hangover at the weekend and it was hysterical. I laughed so much I nearly had an accident. We really should have waited until Paul got back but we were too eager to see it. Funny films are the best fun in the world. Nothing feels better than a movie that makes you laugh so hard it hurts.
This week has been all about writing. Clare has been working on a few different projects and the second one is nearly ready to pitch, which is exciting.
One of the hardest things about writing without deadlines is the act of sitting your bottom down at the computer.
So this week we enlisted the help of the gorgeous actor Simon Kassianidis. He was the evil nemesis of James Bond in Quantum of Solace, but he also writes and has been coming up to the house to work on his script while Clare writes her stuff.
Somehow it’s easier when two people are working. You don’t get so lonely or bored. It’s a brilliant solution. We’re all about living in the solution rather than the problem in this house.
Always remember – the important thing about a problem is not its solution, but the strength you gain in finding the solution.
Clare Staples is the author of the book Everything I Know About Men I Learnt From My Dog. You can read more about her here. She is also Paul McKenna’s manager. Clare and Paul are enjoying success in the US with Paul’s reality TV show I Can Make You Thin.
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Love & Sex, Self-Development | Tagged: Writing, Mr Big, Clare Staples, Paul McKenna, Bentley, James Bond, Quantum Of Solace, Simon Kassianidis, Love Is The Solution | Leave a Comment »
When you look at your partner do you feel lucky to have him or her? Is he or she too good to be true or are they lucky to have YOU and would never in a million years meet anyone like you again?
If it’s the latter, you’re dating down. A healthy partnership consists of mutual respect, with both partners feeling lucky to have each other.
If you think you’re too good for your partner, do him or her a favour and leave the bed warm for someone who will admire him, and your heart open for someone you look up to.
If you have a dating down (or dating up!) story you’d like to share please email it to hmedia@live.co.uk.
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Michelle Obama has helped celebrate the London Cancer Centre’s first birthday.
The US First Lady teamed up with Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown – who is a patron for the centre – and former nurse Laura Lee, chief executive of the charity Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres.
The charity run centres offer a comfortable environment for anyone suffering with cancer. Relatives and patients can get information, practical advice and emotional support.
Ms Obama chatted with patients and joined a make-up session for women with cancer.
Ms Lee used to be an NHS nurse, but after caring for co-founder Maggie Keswick Jencks, she left the health service to run the charity.
She says: ‘We were delighted to host Michelle Obama here at Maggie’s London on the first year anniversary of the Centre. The warmth and patience she showed and the time she took to engage with everyone was greatly appreciated. I am grateful to our patron Sarah Brown for her continued commitment to Maggie’s over many years. We are thrilled she brought Michelle Obama to Maggie’s for this special visit.’
Ms Obama says: ‘I was delighted to be invited by Sarah Brown to help wish Maggie’s a happy first birthday in London, community jewels like this centre should always be celebrated. I was impressed with the Centre’s warm and caring environment and enjoyed meeting the people who work and get services here.’
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Health | Tagged: Barack Obama, London Cancer Centre, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, Michelle Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Sarah Brown | Leave a Comment »
Filed under: Travel | Tagged: Beach, Callum Grant, Helen Grant | Leave a Comment »
Gladiators presenter Caroline Flack, 28, left everything to chance and discovered luxury-for-less while backpacking in India.
The choice was a tough one. But my friend Jade and I couldn’t agree. She fancied Thailand, but I preferred Kerala, India.
In the end we threw our choices into a hat and just one month later, we were on a £300 return flight to India. I didn’t go backpacking after college but I’m making up for it now!
Whenever I go on holiday, rather than hiding in a luxury hotel, I want to really experience the country I’m in and this trip was no exception. But this means there are always lots of last-minute decisions.
We didn’t know where we were going to stay until we arrived in Kerala and heard about Varkala, a picture-postcard palm-lined beach town nearby.
We booked into a beautiful thatched beach hut on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. For just £14 per night it was very basic – two beds, a mosquito net, fan and shower – but it was absolute paradise to the two of us.
Between each palm tree along the beach there were restaurant shacks serving fresh fish, which had been caught that day and curried. One night we ate lobster for just £2 each – it was budget luxury.
We even had our own mini spa – the sea in Varkala is so rich in minerals a dip in it is said to rid the body of impurities. Lots of people did yoga on the shore at the golden hour – between 5-6pm when the sun set and turned the sky gold. It was idyllic.
Our days were very chilled out – lots of reading, lazing on the beach, getting to know the area and the locals, before a few cocktails at night.
There was only one downfall – the spiders. One night we woke up with a massive one crawling up the wall of our hut. But it was a small price to pay for experiencing the real India.
Caroline appears on Gladiators, Sundays, 6pm, Sky1. Flights to Kochi cost from £341 return with Qatar Airways – www.qatarairways.com/uk.
This article was published in News Of The World’s Fabulous magazine.
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame, Travel | Tagged: Caroline Flack, Celebrity Holiday, Gladiators, Showbiz Journalist, VIP Vacation | Leave a Comment »
There’s something indefinably sexy about French women. The epitome of style, elegance and sophistication, they have a certain something that defies definition – is it the voluminous hair, sultry eyes or flushed cheeks?
How can they look so incredibly chic when their faces are devoid of make-up and their hair is more wind-swept than groomed? French women radiate self-assurance and glamour wherever they are – strutting along smart Parisian avenues, relaxing on the Riviera or reading a book in their own back gardens. And their secret weapons have mystified style-conscious women around the world for centuries.
“French women have something special,” says Susan Sommers, fashion editor, journalist and author of French Chic: How to Dress Like a French Woman (www.amazon.co.uk, £30.24). “They’re feminine, sure of themselves, and seem to delight in breaking the fashion rules, yet making it all work.”
Also the editor of a fashion shopping and advice site for larger women (www.alight.com), Susan believes that the key to French sex appeal is a confidence and self-respect passed down from mother to daughter.
From an early age, girls are taught to appreciate and emphasise their most striking natural assets. They’re taught to feel good in their own skin. It’s this confidence with their body that gives them the power to look chic and lovely no matter what their physical features are.
Susan says, “By believing in themselves, they radiate poise and beauty. French girls learn from a young age to be at ease with their bodies, both dressed and undressed, for beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Continental women don’t have to be classic beauties; and instead of pining to be something they’re not, they live life to the full, following their own agenda and cultivating a personal sense of style. Mixing brains with beauty, their appeal has more to do with social grace than physical attractiveness. Peel back the layers of the average French woman and you’ll find a confidence honed by centuries of culture, influencing how she carries herself, the clothes she wears and the people she associates with.
Edith Kunz, author of Fatale: How French Women Do It (www.amazon.co.uk, £8.35) agrees with Susan that confidence is the key to charm. She says, “French women are confident in themselves, confident with their age, their body and their power. They’re sensuous even at work,” she says. “Instead of following the latest fashion trend, this inner confidence enables them to adopt their own style. From their hair down to their shoes, they know what suits them and dress accordingly. Elegance is found in simplicity and classic designs rather than the latest fashion fad.”
Intrigued? Well, before you go spending a fortune on Parisian labels and expensive jewellery, read on to discover the essential secrets of French glamour …
Chic Vs Cheap
Think quality, not quantity, and pay attention to detail and accessories. Loose buttons, laddered tights and frayed hems are a big no-no – can you imagine Brigitte Bardot or Catherine Deneuve squeezing into a size 12 if their thighs were screaming for a 14? Can you imagine Coco Chanel walking into an important meeting with a creased jacket and scuffed shoes?
Perish the thought. French women choose clothes to fit, garments that are streamlined and kept close to the body without compromising on comfort. Instead of wasting money on the latest trend, spend a bit extra on quality.
The French don’t mind splashing out on one item of clothing if it fits well and will last for several years. One pair of made-to-measure, beautifully crafted leather shoes is better than ten pairs from the high street. The little black dress continues to reign supreme in the realms of French versatility but check the details and it’s always well cut. The same goes for the classic white shirt, the tailored suit, jeans, leather handbag and winter coat – all timeless items chosen for their versatility rather than their price tag or trend value.
Accessories are the finishing touch to an outfit, the glue that holds it together – but only in moderation. Dress the look up or down with a scarf, hat, ornate brooch or string of beads, but keep things matching – French women have scarves that match their gloves, that match their umbrellas, that match their handbags – but don’t overdo it. A striking pair of earrings and matching necklace will add sparkle to a plain dress but throw in a sequinned bag and patterned tights and you’ll look more drag queen than enigmatic princess.
The staple colours of any French wardrobe are neutral. Grey, brown, navy, beige, khaki, ivory, black and white are favourites due to their practicality. Outfits are coordinated around one or two dominant colours, made up of several pieces but always in different shades of the base colours. Popular combinations include navy and white, beige and white, grey and pink, pink and navy and – the French favourite – black and white. Maintain feminine allure by opting for stretch fabrics – they’re non-restrictive, comfortable and will show your curves off to their best advantage.
Glowing Skin
Skin care in France is a priority not a luxury, with the emphasis being on a clean, moisturised face rather than one caked in foundation and powder. The results speak for themselves – healthy complexions, bursting with reality and few wrinkles. To achieve such radiance, the usual common-sense rules apply – never wash your face with too hot or cold water as the temperature can cause broken capillaries, never go to bed with your make-up on or you risk clogging your pores and avoid exposing skin to harsh sunlight. French women often wear sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around their eyes.
As for cleansing, most women need only clean their faces at night. Use a good three-step cleansing programme that includes a toner and moisturiser. Make an effort to discover your skin type then get professional advice on suitable products. Most department store beauty counters offer this service for free.
According to Rona Berg in her book Beauty: The New Basics (Workman Publishing, £19.95), a splash of lukewarm water is all you need in the morning. “A French cosmetics executive once told me that soap should only ever touch your skin from the neck down,” she says. “Unless you’ve used a moisturiser the night before, a splash of water is sufficient.”
Skin care might be higher in the pecking order than cosmetics but that doesn’t mean make-up is taboo. As far as cosmetics are concerned, it’s about emphasising your best features to the max. Two things the French can’t get enough of are lips and eyes. If you’ve got fantastic lips, apply liner just outside your lip-line and fill in with a natural shade for a bee-stung look. If your eyes are your asset, recreate the Bambi look with lashes of black mascara and liner. Keep brows well groomed and nails clean and short. If you’re using the correct skin care products, you shouldn’t need foundation and blusher – your natural radiance will do both jobs – but if you really can’t go without, use a tinted moisturiser and rose-coloured blush.
Tousled Tresses
Like Skin, French hair is kept in tip-top condition. It can be short or long but always what nature intended. That means, if you’re a natural blonde, don’t try to be a brunette and vice versa. Instead, aim to have the best blonde hair – shiny, healthy and full of life. The money saved on colouring can be spent on regular trims, quality shampoos and deep conditioning treatments.
To avoid stripping hair of natural oils, steer clear of products with alcohol and limit shampooing to no more than twice a week. Use conditioner after every shampoo and re-moisturise with a deep conditioner once a month. If you suffer from tangles, use a wide-toothed comb in the shower, working your way from tips to roots.
When it comes to styling, whatever their hair texture – curly or straight – most French women favour the tousled ‘I’ve just rolled out of bed’ look. With a little imagination, and creative fingers, this can be achieved with any hair type. If your locks are naturally curly, ditch the straighteners and boost those curls with specialised products. After conditioning, don’t rinse completely. Apply mousse or serum to damp hair; twist sections around your fingers then leave to dry naturally, blasting with a diffuser attachment when it’s almost dry. On the other hand, if nature gave you poker straight hair – lucky you – your hair will probably have fantastic natural shine because it’s flat cuticles are highly light reflective.
Everyone knows that a healthy lifestyle leads to better-looking hair. Excessive stress, smoking, lack of exercise and poor diet will wreak havoc on your locks. Likewise, bad hair tactics can lead to breakages, split ends and premature hair loss. So take a good look at your lifestyle and make changes, if necessary. Aim to get enough sleep, eat well and drink plenty of fluids.
To avoid stripping hair of natural oils, steer clear of products with alcohol and limit shampooing to no more than twice a week. Use conditioner after every shampoo and re-moisturise with a deep conditioner once a month. If you suffer from tangles, use a wide-toothed comb in the shower, working your way from tips to roots.
Whatever your hair type, find a style that suits and stick to it, emphasising colour and sheen with quality products. Between products, for true continental glamour you can’t go wrong with an updo. Try twisting a section of hair around the base of a ponytail or use pins to create a bun, letting a few fugitive strands tumble seductively onto your shoulders. For a really casual look, use your fingers instead of a brush.
Mysterious Girl
According to the French, sexiness has little to do with dressing provocatively or talking dirty. It’s the naughty sparkle in your eye, the sensuous, husky tone of your voice and really listening when someone speaks that determine how others see you. Think sensual, sexy thoughts and you’ll turn heads wherever you go.
Continental women never miss an opportunity for glamour and sensuality. Instead of saving decent clothes for best, wear them every day. The same goes for pretty lingerie. Choose a signature scent and splash it on morning, noon and night. Going to the supermarket? Don’t forget to touch up your lippy!
Learn to enjoy the mundane details of everyday life. Make time for family and friends, learning new skills or relaxing with a good book. Introduce yourself to new neighbours. If you must gossip, go ahead but be discreet! Speak slowly and confidently, maintaining eye contact and listening to what the other person has to say. Eventually, like all new skills, your new-found charm will become second nature.
Celebrate your body with perfume and oils. Make every effort to look and smell divine. High-heeled shoes? The higher the better. Never worn a garter belt? There’s always a firs time. Treat your body like a temple – drape it in luxurious fabrics such as chiffon, satin, suede and velvet. Bear in mind though, that true sex appeal has more to do with attitude than style and chic. What makes our European neighbours so alluring is a lethal combination of steely determination, feminity, self-confidence and inner strength.
As Sanche de Gramont wrote in The French, Portrait Of A People (www.amazon.co.uk, £14), “French women are ants disguised as butterflies. In a nutshell, they speak softly but carry big sticks. They have style and chic but they also have grit. That chic, charming Parisian is really a steel magnolia, a woman of iron and velvet.”
Armed with your fresh, radiant skin, your shiny but natural hair, timeless couture, high heels and heady confidence, you’ll be turning heads and feeling good in your own skin in no time.
Filed under: Beauty and Style | Tagged: Do You Have That Je Ne Sais Quio?, French Chic | Leave a Comment »
What does a makeover mean to you? A new hairdo, or maybe a new dress? I’m addicted to black kohl and Bourjois lipsticks, as they’re a good price and the colours are intense. But that’s nothing compared to what celebrities will do to transform themselves.
Determined to get her pre-kids body back, Kerry Katona is living life on the edge with a boob reduction and liposuction. Britney Spears splashed out £12,000 on a botox, peel and wax makeover, and all 12 X Factor contestants were whisked off to a clinic in Primrose Hill for skin peels and teeth bleaching.
If you’re the kind of girl, or boy, who prefers VO5 illuminating hairspray to breast implants, steer your attention to the hotties that’ve made it big without resorting to the knife.
With their voluminous hair and flushed cheeks, it’s hard to take your eyes off the wholesome gorgeousness of stars like Cheryl Cole, Angelina Jolie and Kelly Brook. Ouch, those girls are sharp! How do they do it and, more importantly, how can you do it?
For starters, it’s a rare celebrity who loves looking pale. Jennifer Lopez might have ditched her famous J-Lo glow for the natural look, but unless you’re Dita Von Teese, you’ll want to banish your pale skin in favour of a sexy tan.
Emmerdale actress Sammy Winward uses St Tropez Everyday Face (£9.99) but the hottest fake bake of the moment is Xen-Tan (£17.99), an easy to use fake tan that is streakless and smells delicious. Drew Barrymore, Gok Wan, Holly Willoughby, Roxanne McKee and Sugababe Heidi Range are among a list of celebrities that have given the miracle bake their seal of approval.
Claire Danes is living proof that good skin is the secret weapon to a stunning look. If you want a radiant, healthy glow like hers, investing in a good moisturiser is essential. To keep her skin in tip-top condition, Martine McCutcheon swears by a miracle wrinkle-busting cream called Tri-Aktiline. Other celebrity favourites include Estée Lauder Multi-Level Moisture Cream (£27.50) and Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF20 (£32).
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream (£20) is the stuff of legends. Originally created to make racehorse legs look glossy, it gives skin a velvety feeling and dewy look. Hardly surprising that everyone from Kate Moss to Penelope Cruz is a fan. Male celebs are using Clinique Age Defense Hydrator SPF15 (£15) and the French use brands like Caudalie religiously.
Every time she steps on the red carpet, Angelina Jolie’s face looks flawless. She’s as skinny as a rake despite being pregnant for the last century. The actress attributes her weight loss to breastfeeding, but my guess is she has good genes and a stockpile of her favourite Laura Mercier Foundation Primer (£27).
Jolie is one of the lucky few. With a million and one formulations to choose from, most beauty devotees spend a quarter of their life looking for the right foundation. Yet the creamy stuff is paramount to a flawless look.
One of the few brands that count a multitude of stars as devotees is Chanel. Salma Hayek, Thandie Newton, Anne Hathaway, and a host of make-up artists and models, swear by the age-defying properties of Chanel Vitalumière Satin Smoothing Makeup SPF15 (£28). “It glides on to skin smoothly and leaves it looking radiant and young,” says make-up artist Kay Montano.
Sarah Jessica Parker adores Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer (£25). “It covers, blends and doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything,” she says. The actress is also a fan of Benefit’s Bad Gal eye pencil, which leads us on to make-up. For hiding dark circles under the eyes, celebrity favourite MAC Select Moisture Cover Concealer (£12) hides a multitude of sins.
One of the hottest trends right now is colour. Clothes, hair, make-up, the industry is awash with rainbow shades. I love the new Buxom Big and Healthy Lip Polishes and purple mascara.
So do celebs, but if you don’t want to look like an eighties disco diva, khaki, plum and navy mascaras are a flattering way to achieve the rock chick look, or lengthen your lashes with black and dot the tips with colour. If you prefer bare lids, coloured mascara will make your eyes pop. Beyonce wears three coats to finish her look.
The signature colour of Dita Von Teese and Lulu Guinness, a red mouth is the epitome of glamour. Make your lips pop with burgundy, ruby, cranberry and scarlet lippy. Finding a red that works is hard, but you won’t go wrong with Mac Ruby Woo Lipstick (£11), a deep red that works on most colourings.
If you’re not brave enough to go red, drench your lips in Chanel Lipgloss in Candy Glow (£16). Kelly Brook is a Pout fan. That’s Pout the make-up brand not the paparazzi pout. She adores Pout lipstick. So do Lucy Lui and Charlize Theron.
Sexy yet sophisticated, Daisy’s Lowe’s Bambi look is achieved with kohl, fat mascara and pinky blush. Try celebrity favourites L’Oréal Superliner in Black (£6.99), Mac Beauty Powder Blush in Stark Naked (£14) and Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara (£10.99).
For star inspired hair, instead of being a neat freak, it’s time to embrace messy tendrils. Big hair is hot at the moment. Whatever your hair length; bulk out yours with a texturiser like Liquid Fabric Mineral Texture Spray (£18), blow dry outwards and brush dry.
Owner of the world’s most enviable tresses, Elle Macpherson, credits Frédéric Fekkai Overnight Hair Repair for keeping her locks in tip-top condition. ‘I apply it to my hair before bed then wash it out in the morning,” she says. At £135 a throw, Elle’s miracle repair doesn’t come cheap, so you might want to try catwalk favourite Big Sexy Hair Big Volume Conditioner instead (£6.99).
For an injection of colour, if you’re brave enough to risk a DIY job, Kelly Osbourne’s favourite Fudge Paintbox (£7.99) comes in a range of 14 semi-permanent vegetable colours that are inspired by rock stars. Rumour has it Tom Cruise is a fan!
Filed under: Beauty and Style, Celebrities and Fame | Tagged: Celebrity Beauty Secrets | Leave a Comment »
Pele was yesterday hailed the greatest footballer of all time.
Infamous for his astonishing speed and ball control, the world cup veteran beat George Best to the title with an incredible 1283 goals and 92 international caps.
Best claimed second place, followed by global icon David Beckham, and in fourth place was Bobby Moore.
Maradonna - famous for his hand of God goal which won Argentina the world cup against England in 1986 – came fifth.
Nick McBoyle, managing director of www.sportingfix.com - the online fixtures service which polled 3,000 football fans for the survey – says: ”All the top 10 are deserving names but it was a surprise to see Beckham rated above Maradonna, Moore and Charlton“
The same names topped the poll for greatest goal with Beckham’s effort during England v Greece in 2001 scoring first.
Second place goes to George Best for his 1971 goal during the Manchester United v Tottenham game.
Michael Owen scooped three top goals, despite ranking only 18 in the greatest footballers of all time.
McBoyle adds: ”It’s amazing to see Michael Owen appearing three times in the poll of top goals yet so low down in the list of greatest footballers. I wonder whether we will see any more from him in an England shirt?”
Top 20 Footballers Of All Time
1. Pele
2. George Best
3. David Beckham
4. Bobby Moore
5. Maradona
6. Christiano Ronaldo
7. Zinedine Zidane
8. Bobby Charlton
9. Ronaldo (Brazil)
10. Wayne Rooney
11. Johan Cruyff
12. Paul Gascoigne
13. Alan Shearer
14. Ronaldinho
15. Kenny Dalglish
16. Gary Lineker
17. Kaka
18. Michael Owen
19. Ryan Giggs
20. Alfredo di Stefano
Top 10 Goals Of All Time
1. David Beckham – England v Greece (2001)
2. George Best – Manchester United v Tottenham (1971)
3. Michael Owen – England v Argentina (1998)
4. Pele – Brazil v Sweden (1958)
5. Bobby Charlton – England v Mexico (1966)
6. Diego Maradona – Argentina v England (1986)
7. Zinedine Zidane – Real Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen (2002)
8. Michael Owen – Argentina v England (1998)
9. Michael Owen – England v Germany(1998)
10. Paul Gascoigne – England v Scotland (1986)
Filed under: Celebrities and Fame | Tagged: Maradonna, Hand Of God, Bobby Moore, George Best, Pele, Greatest Footballers, Greatest Goals | 5 Comments »
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