“Aggressive elegance” from Valentin Yudashkin

By Karina Ivashko: Famous Russian fashion designer has become the chief editor of the first fashion TV channel which was launched in Russia last week. The channel’s goal is to help young fashion designers find their target audience, he says. Valentin Yudashkin rests high hopes on the new TV channel as a site for promotion of new designers. Tags: fashion, Valentin Yudashkin , Commentary, Culture, Russia, Читать далее, Source: Voice of Russia. 

Read More........ → October 16, 2013

Spice Girls Enjoy Holiday Get-Together

The Spice Girls proved they are still best pals almost 20 years after they met by enjoying Christmas dinner together. The five-piece hooked up in 1994 when they were auditioning for a place in the band, and they later had a lengthy hiatus before reuniting in 2007. They re-grouped again this year to perform at the London Olympics Closing Ceremony, and the singers - Emma Bunton, Victoria Beckham, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell, and Melanie Chisholm - got together earlier this month for a day of festive fun at Beckham's house in England, with all their children in tow. Bunton tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "Every year, Victoria does a traditional festive dinner just before Christmas and we get to hang out and catch up properly. The kids love it too and get on so well together, which is wonderful for us. (My son) Tate is similar in age to (Beckham's daughter) Harper, so it will be fun watching those two together. She's totally yummy." The Spice Girls aren't the only British pop group enjoying Christmas together - Girls Aloud descended on Cheryl Cole's home for a seasonal dinner. Nadine Coyle says, "It's gonna be a whole new experience," and Cole adds, "I got nominated (to cook) by all the girls." Photo Credits: Capitol Music Group, Source: Starpulse

Read More........ → February 09, 2013

Miss USA Olivia Culpo Wins Miss Universe 2012

The 2012 Miss Universe pageant night happened December 19 (December 20, MLA time) at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada and Olivia Culpo from USA was crowned Miss Universe. Leila Lopes of Angola crowned her successor at the end of the event. Olivia Culpo bested 88 gorgeous ladies from different countries and territories around the globe. The Philippines completed the 3-peat in the Miss Universe with Janine's placement in the Top 5 and ending up as first runner up, a higher place finish than her predecessors, Venus Raj and Shamcey Supsup. Here is the list of winners of the Miss Universe 2012 pageant: Miss Universe 2012: USA, Olivia Culpo, 1st runner-up: Philippines, Janine Tugonon, 2nd runner-up: Venezuela, Irene Esser, 3rd runner-up: Australia, Renae Ayris, 4th runner-up: Brazil, Gabriela Markus. Special Awards: Miss Photogenic: Kosovo, Diana Avdiu, Miss Congeniality: Guatemala, Laura Godoy, Best in National Costume: China, Ji Dan Xu. Miss Universe 2012 Top 10: Russia, Elizabeth Golovanova, France, Marie Payet, Hungary, Agnes Konkoly, South Africa, Melinda Bam, Mexico, Karina González. Miss Universe 2012 Top 16: Turkey, Çağıl Özge Özkul, Peru, Nicole Faverón, Poland, Marcelina Zawadzka, Croatia, Elizabeta Burg, Kosovo, Diana Avdiu, India, Shilpa Singh, Watch the crowning moment of Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo in the video below: The

year 2012 has been a very good year for the Philippines when it comes to pageants. Our bets in Miss World and Miss International placed in the semifinals. Elaine Kay Moll grabbed a 3rd runner-up finish in Miss Supranational. Stephany Stefanowitz and Andrew Wolff were both 1st runner up in Miss Earth and Mister World, respectively while the country won the title of Miss International Queen 2012 (Kevin Balot) and Manhunt International 2012 (June Macasaet). This year, three grand slam pageants crowned the queens of the host country. Miss World which crowned Miss China was held in Inner Mongolia, China. Miss International held in Japan crowned Miss Japan while Miss Universe which was held in Las Vegas, USA crowned Miss USA.  Source: Bida Kapamilya

Read More........ → December 21, 2012

She has spent £10,000 on surgery and outfits to look like her beloved dolls

Brizzleleo: Promotions girl Charlotte, 24, went under the knife to get a perfect nose like Barbie's and had her lips plumped. She also dyed her hair blonde, and spent all her spare cash on girlie outfits to complete the look. Charlotte said: "I told the clinic I loved Barbie and I'd love to have that look. It was really painful. "My face was bruised afterwards and it took a few weeks for the swelling to go down. "But when I took the bandages off it was well worth it. Then I dyed my hair blonde. It's completely changed my appearance and I think it looks pretty good. "What girl doesn't want to be like Barbie? I've got a few Sindys as well, but Barbie is much better looking." Charlotte has collected hundreds of dolls, which she keeps in a special room at her Manchester home. She said: "I must have spent thousands on Barbies and all their clothes. Some people may think it's a little weird, but I think it's great. "There are so many. I've got gym Barbie, tropical Barbie, Cinderella Barbie, Chinese New Year Barbie. There's a Barbie for every occasion, and I'd love to have them all" Charlotte got hooked after getting her first one aged three. She said: "Me and my sister would have massive Barbie weddings. I guess I've just never changed." Single Charlotte hopes to find a Ken of her own after splitting with her last boyfriend over her fixation. She admitted: "Boys don't like it that I love Barbie so much. But I don't mind. If the right man comes along he'll love me and my Barbies." Source: Brizzleleo, Daily-Protein

Read More........ → October 31, 2012

Meet the teenage girl who has transformed herself into a living cartoon character

Living cartoon: Anastasiya Shpagina, 19, takes inspiration from Japanese anime

By KERRY MCDERMOTT :With her enormous, glassy eyes, purple hair and coquettish pose, this girl could have stepped from the scene of a Japanese anime film. Anime fan Anastasiya Shpagina has transformed herself into a living cartoon character, complete with miniature waist, vividly-coloured hair, and a defined pout.Originally from the Ukraine, the 19-year-old takes style inspiration from the cartoons andcomputer animations that have a huge following in Japan, and has even adopted a Japanese name - Fukkacumi. Anime characters often feature huge eyes and heads that are disproportionately large in comparison to their  body. Shpagina, who is just 5ft2ins tall, is already reported to have 

Doll-like proportions: The diminutive teenager's 'flower fairy' make-up tutorial has been watched more than 150,000 times on YouTube

slimmed down to just over six stone in her attempts to resemble a living anime character, and is said to spend 30 minutes painstakingly applying her dramatic make-up to each one of her eyes. It is thoughtAnime-inspired: Shpagina is said to spent 30 minutes applying make-up to each of her eyes in her efforts to perfect her anime-inspired look

Shpagina may go even further in her efforts to achieve her desired look, with some reports claiming she intends to undergo surgery on her eyes to make her resemble her anime idols even more closely.

Fans: The teenager has more than 10,000 fans on Facebook

'Flower fairy': Shpagina sports a pair of fairy wings as she poses with a more natural-looking girl

The teenager, who has over 10,000 fans on Facebook, also posts videos on YouTubedemonstrating how she applies her make-up. One clip, in which Shpagina reveals to fans how she achieves her 'flower fairy' look, has been watched more than 150,000 times. Shpagina is not the first   young girl to take style 

Inspiration: Many anime characters are drawn with enormous eyes and tiny waists

inspiration from the world of fantasy. AmericanDakota Rose - or Kota Koti - has been dubbed the 'real-life Barbie' thanks to her doe-eyed stare and dainty proportions. The teenager has amassed a global audience

Internet sensation: Dakota Rose - also known as Kota Koti - has been hailed as a real-life Barbie 

by posting fashion and beauty tutorials on YouTube. Shpagina is not the first young girl to take style inspiration from the world of fantasy. AmericanDakota Rose - or Kota Koti - has been dubbed the 'real-life Barbie' thanks to her doe-eyed stare and dainty proportions. The teenager has amassed a global audience by posting fashion and beauty tutorials on YouTube. Source: Travelfwd+

Read More........ → September 30, 2012

Gwyneth Paltrow named World's Best Dressed Woman

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named the World's Best Dressed Woman, ahead of fashion forward celebs like the Duchess of Cambridge and Rihanna. Paltrow, who will be 40 in a couple of weeks, grabbed the top spot in the list by People magazine and her stylist said the actress owes it to her secret - less is more, Daily Mail reported. The Duchess, 30, was just behind Paltrow on the list, and was hailed for her "flawlessly elegant attire". Hollywood actresses Emma Stone, 23, Jessica Alba, 31, the Kardashian sisters and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, 29, were also included in the list. Rihanna scooped the Best Risk-Taking Style Award and Kerr won the Best Street Style Award. Among men, honours went to actors Andrew Garfield, Brad Pitt, Colin Firth, Robert Pattinson, Chris and Liam Hemsworth and singer Jay-Z.  Source: Screen India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → September 13, 2012

Miss Teen USA 2012 crowned

PHOTO BY DARREN DECKER, MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION

Logan West (center), 17, of Connecticut was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012 Saturday night at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, in the Bahamas. Her court includes (L-R): 4th runner-up Kendall Fein (Ohio), 2nd runner-up Courtney Pizzimenti (Michigan), 1st runner-up Elizabeth Sabatino (West Virginia), and 3rd runner-up Jessica Morgan (Oklahoma). Completing the top 16 were the delegates from Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Wyoming. Vermont's Karsen Woods was chosen Miss Congeniality by her peers. A group of professional photographers selected Morgan as Miss Photogenic. The show was streamed live and was hosted byColin Hornett and Miss Teen USA 2005 Allie LaForce. West's victory marks the third time that Connecticut has placed in the pageant. Cynthia Schneck and Ashley Bickford were semifinalists in 1993 and 2002 respectively. It is also the first time that the state has won a national title since Marian Bergeron was crowned Miss America in 1933.

LOGAN WEST / Photo by Miss Universe Organization

Randy Sanders is the president of Pageant Associates that directs the state pageants for Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia and Indiana. In the photo above, Randy is flanked by the Teen candidates from those states. Congratulations to Randy and his group for a job well done! Source: Critical Beauty

Read More........ → July 30, 2012

Preity Zinta’s search for a young girl with dimpled cheek just like her

GaramGossips, By Gahoi Ad Online Media: Actress Preity Zinta is on a hunt for a young girl with a dimpled right cheek to play junior Preity in her debut production "Ishqk In Paris". "My casting agents are looking for a four to seven-year-old girl who has one dimple on her right cheek and can play a younger me for my film. So difficult to find a little girl who looks like me thanx to the dimple on my right cheek! Uff! Going crazy with that casting! Grrrrrrr," posted the actress. She has asked her Twitter followers to help her team with the task. "If anyone genuinely knows of any little girls that can play mini me (my younger role), please send photos to ishqinparis.casting@gmail.com. Thanks," she further added. Source: GaramGossips

Read More........ → June 25, 2012

Working for tribal welfare is her mission

Srikripa Raghunathan, a social work postgraduate from TISS is on a mission to find out what is causing acute anemia among the tribes of Gond, Oreon and Pandu of Jagannathpur, a remote area in Chhattisgarh. She spoke to Varsha Torgalkar about her quest to finding a solution. A Hyderabadi girl Srikripa Ragunathan has been trying to understand food consumption patterns of tribal people in the village Jagannathpur in Chhattisgarh who are suffering from malnutrition. She wants to come up with the solution to the health problems of these tribal folk.  What does your work involve? I had roamed around villages in Chhattisgarh for the first six months of this year. I have been staying in this village called Jagannathpur and have been trying to understand food consumption patterns of households here. Three major tribes- Gond, Oreon and Pandu inhabit this area. Most of the women here are anemic. I mingle and talk with them try to understand their daily food consumption pattern and timing is, choice of food – ingredients and method of cooking. Found any solutions yet?  I have been here for only six months. I am still an outsider so I am trying to build a rapport with them. I cannot simply put my ideas before them. First there is the need to understand their culture, thinking and habits. Next, I have to win their trust. Then only there can be a better interaction and we will be able to know the difficulties they are undergoing and bring out solution that are agreeable to them. We have to necessarily bring out solutions that are in line with their with their traditions or be good at convincing them to give up certain old ways of thinking and adopt new methods to get over their problems. Why did you choose this place? I have done my MA in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. I have got a two-year fellowship. As a part of the programme, I am working on this project. I was always keen to work in health sector in remote areas which is neglected in our country. I want to understand community health and the prominent and prevalent issues in this sector. I am keen on setting up a youth centre here. I am also making efforts to bring about government health service programmes to this area. Source: The Hans India

Read More........ → June 19, 2012

Just beat it

Human Beat Boxer, 16-year-old Raj Verma can produce sounds like that of drums, rhythm or electronic music using his lips, tongue and throat  When you hear the music it is indeed hard to make out that a human is producing various sounds from mouth and without using any musical instruments. That is human beat boxing. It is an art of producing sounds like that of drums, rhythm or electronic music using mouth, lips, tongue and voice. The collective process of beat boxing is sound imitation, singing and more. Beat boxing is related to hip hop genre and it first started in the 1980’s and has evolved since. A trained beat boxer can produce sounds like kick drums, reverse kick drums, snare drums, inward snare drums, Hi-hats, cymbals, rolls, scratching and bass Sounds. Hyderabad’s prodigal kid Raj Verma, who is just 16 years old, has already made a name for himself in the art of beat boxing and is creating ripples in the world of music here. He recently shared the stage with Shrikanth Sriram populary known as Shri and Bollywood fame Indian classical singer Gayatri Iyer-Ganjawala for an eclectic performance. The audience was awe struck with his performance in electro funky beat boxing style. “The collaboration with Shri was fantastic and he is a brilliant musician anybody would love to collaborate with,” Raj says. Raj has just completed his Inter first year from St.Mary’s Junior College (Yusufguda). He also participated in a human beat boxing competition conducted by the British Council in collaboration with Sony music in January this year. Participants came from all over India. There he met with other beat boxers and they formed a band—Voctronica. The band has eight members, five of them are beat boxers and three are vocalists. Raj is the only Hyderabadi in the band, while six are from Mumbai and one hails from Bengaluru. The band meets in Mumbai for gigs and is looking forward to make more music in future. “It is a very unique band in its own way. Other bands have instruments to create music but we create music by beat boxing. After joining the band I have learnt a lot and the experience is really great,”  He started learning beat boxing two years back after watching a video on the Internet about it and he gave it a shot. To date he has given over 80 performances. “I learnt beat boxing online from Youtube and various other websites. I practice nearly for two hours everyday,” he says. Raj says that anyone can learn beat boxing just they have to work on the vocals and enhance it. There are many websites about beat boxing; new learners can train themselves with the help of these websites. His future plan is to complete education and after studies he wants to be a professional musician.--Navin Pivhal  Source: The Hans India

Read More........ → June 09, 2012