If you want to talk about the dizzy heights of motherhood, then immediately switch to the very depths of utter sadness, this story will do that.
I am still reeling from it: my beautiful friend Sally Obermeder has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Sally is the national fashion and lifestyle reporter for 'Today Tonight' and had her first baby - much-loved and wanted after seven years of trying for a bub and one round of IVF - a few weeks ago.
What nobody knew until now was that in the midst of receiving well wishes for the birth of her beautiful baby girl Annabelle she was already days into getting the worst news of her life.
She was in stage three of breast cancer, and starting the fight of her life.
Another Australian model has just joined the list of lovelies to grace the very special catwalk that is the Victoria's Secret annual runway.
Shanina Shaik may be a name you've never heard of, but that will change. Overnight.
In mere hours the highly anticipated, most beautifully styled and orchestrated fashion parade in the world is staged, and Shanina herself has just announced via Twitter (how on earth do I have more Twitter followers than she does? Within 24 hours, this will not be the case - you can follow her on @ShaninaMShaik) that she will be strutting that Victoria's Secret catwalk:
The 20 year old, Melbourne-born glamour gal - who has a mixed heritage of a Lithuanian mother and a father with Pakistani and Saudi Arabian roots - follows in the stiletto-ed footsteps of Abbey Lee Kershaw, Jess Hart, Elyse Taylor, and of course Miranda Kerr - who will be wearing the 'Treasury Bra' - always the highlight of the show - and this year it will be a 142-carat (yes!) diamond bra worth $2.5 million.
Shaik has been dating uber model Tyson Beckford for over a year and first came to the public's attention when she was placed second in the Channel 7 reality TV show 'Make Me A Supermodel'. Before that... she competed in the Girlfriend magazine 'Model Search.' Miranda Kerr won the Dolly magazine model of the year competition way back, so modelling comps are giving models a great platform for bigger things.
This year's show will feature performances by Kanye West and Maroon 5. Shaik is also the face of lingerie brand Intissimi and is a global catwalk regular.
Here is the video from the recent Victoria's Secret casting:
And this one is a fave, from the the 2010 show:
While this one is an all-time fave of mine from 2008 - yep, I am a huge fan of the whole production:
The global icon that is Madonna is to launch her first fragrance, called Truth or Dare by Madonna.
In news just in, Coty Prestige, a division of Coty Inc., announced today that it signed an agreement with MG Icon LLC - a joint venture between Madonna, Guy Oseary, and Iconix Brand Group, Inc. - to launch the celebrated star's first fragrance.
There have been whispers for years about a scent from Madonna but nothing has ever materialised.
And now, it's finally happening.
The fragrance will debut exclusively at Macy’s in April 2012 in the United States, with global distribution beginning in May. The fragrance is set to launch in Australia in the first quarter 2012.
The agreement with Coty marks the first time Madonna, the top selling female recording artist of all time, with more than 300 million records sold worldwide, will launch a fragrance.
It kinda seems like Madonna should have had a fragrance by now; indeed, it has been something on her mind for years.
Madonna said to Women’s Wear Daily, "I have always been obsessed by fragrance and for years wanted to create something personal that was an expression of me but that other people could relate to as well. Something honest, and yet daring, hence the name Truth or Dare.”
“Madonna is the marquis addition to Coty’s unrivaled brand portfolio and further establishes us as cutting edge leaders in the global beauty industry,” Bernd Beetz, CEO, Coty Inc said. “We are thrilled to embark on this new venture with Madonna, a global icon with unprecedented star power and cultural relevance.”
Madonna will be featured in a global print, television, and online marketing campaign produced in collaboration with Fabien Baron of Baron & Baron, who she has worked with on many projects including “Sex,” her renowned 1992 pictorial essay on sexuality. Remember that one, people? Oh... well here's a reminder (see clip below).
“Madonna is an artistic phenomenon whose vision has helped define the cultural zeitgeist for nearly three decades. Her fans around the world have an unparalleled devotion and will be eager to experience a unique, and more personal, materialization of her talent,” Michele Scannavini, President, Coty Prestige said.
Truth or Dare by Madonna will be a signature floral fragrance. It will be a unique blend of 'narcotic' florals, balanced with addictive woods and vanilla, creating a scent that is timeless, yet contemporary, simultaneously dark and light. Of course - it has to be a mixture of contradictions... that personifies Madonna, yes?
The bottle plays up this duality – a classic and sophisticated shape, with modern and edgy detailing.
The scent will be available in a 75ml EDP, 50ml EDP, 30ml EDP, Body Lotion, and Shower Gel.
“Madonna is a globally recognized music and style pioneer. The debut of her first fragrance is a dynamic platform to launch her lifestyle brand, Truth or Dare by Madonna," commented Neil Cole, CEO, Iconix Brand Group. "Coty is a respected leader in the prestige fragrance industry. Their expertise coupled with Madonna's iconic status is a powerful partnership.”
Can't wait to see the associated hoopla and huge press garnered by the first launch in the US, and the launch in Australia.
And here is a clip from an interview with the late Richard Carlton from the Australian 60 Minutes:
Hollywood’s biggest and most loved players return tonight for the last season in a series which has spawned not only various unique phrases ("Boom!", "Lloyd!", "Let's hug it out, bitch"), it has introduced us to the characters of Ari Gold, Johnny Drama, E aka Eric, Turtle, and of course Vince, played by the handsomeness that is Adrian Grenier.
Screening tonight - Tuesday, November 8 at 9.30pm, exclusive to Arena on Foxtel and Austar - it resumes with what happens after an attempted intervention on Vince to tackle his excessive boozing and drug use.
With Vince now sober again after a stint in rehab he is ready to take on his next big movie project.
The inimitable Ari Gold (played by Jeremy Piven and hands-down my fave) and his long-suffering wife have recently separated.
Adding fuel to his ire is the news that Mrs Gold is now dating celebrity chef, Bobby Flay - and Ari hooks up with an old flame as revenge. You can imagine the fireworks.
Eric and on-off girlfriend Sloane (girl crush alert on Emmanuelle Chriqui) have called off their wedding and Eric is running his own management company.
Johnny Drama is finally working, with an animated TV series Johnny’s Bananas and Turtle has invested in the Avion tequila line and is starting a new business venture.
With series regulars Rex Lee as Lloyd (Ari’s former assistant, who is now an agent), Perrey Reeves as Mrs Gold, and Rhys Coiro as the erratic film director Billy Walsh, and Adrian, Jeremy, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara (how cute is he post weight-loss?),the final series also features guest spots from celeb chef Bobby Flay playing himself, uber-stylist Rachel Zoe ("shut the front door!"), baseball player Alex Rodriguez, actor Christian Slater and funnyman David Spade every ep will be unmissable.
Premiering in 2004, Entourage became an instant hit and has gone on to receive nominations for 25 Primetime Emmy Awards, 14 Golden Globe Awards and six Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Tempted yet?
Watch this season 8 preview:
And watch this [not suitable for kiddies] clip from season 6 featuring Bob Saget (yep, from TV's 'Full House'), E, and one of the absolute stars of the show, Scott (son of James) Caan.
The monthly magazine created by online shopping haven http://www.asos.com/ is something else.
Go online, Google asos magazine, and you're there.
Download it on an iPad - and it's a whole other realm.
Interactive, special iPad-only features make the whole experience that much more enjoyable. Scroll down, zoom, enjoy the extra bonuses... oh yeah, and buy it on the spot if you want to. Makes online shopping scarily easy.
Log on, and try and resist its charms. Speaking of, check out these tough trinkets, from a spread called 'This Is Hardcore.'
Oh, Saturday Night Live... you always deliver when it comes to churning out your (super quick) take on the latest global story... the more outlandish, the better.
Check out their 'dramatisation' of the recent mad events of the past week...
Yes, it's a Kardashian send-up, and it's a beauty...
