Irina Shayk Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011 Cover Model!

Irina Shayk Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011 Cover Model!: "

Here she is: Miss Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Model 2011! Russian-born 25-year-old Irina Shayk learned at a taping of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman Mondy that she won the coveted spot as the 2011 Swimsuit Issue covergirl from a photoshoot in Hawaii several months ago.

She succeeds the 2010 cover model Brooklyn Decker.

Shayk, a native of the tiny village of Yemanzhelinsk, made her SI swimsuit debut in 2007 and has appeared in every swimsuit issue sincet then. She is the publication’s first Russian cover model, and her photo was taken by Bjorn Ioss, son of longtime Sports Illustrated photog Walter Iooss Jr. It’s his first shoot for the magazine!

SI — the most-read sports mag on the Planet — unveiled its 17 swimsuit models on Friday. The full list includes: Alyssa Miller, Anne V, Chrissy Teigen, Cintia Dicker, Damaris Lewis, Esti Ginzburg, Genevieve Morton, Hilary Rhoda, Irina Shayk, Izabel Goulart, Jessica Gomes, Jessica White, Julie Henderson, Kate Upton, Kenza Fourati, Shannan Click and of course the 2011 cover girl Brooklyn Decker.

Shayk will sit down for her first interview as a Sports Illustrated covergirl on Tuesday’s Letterman.

Irina has been dating her soccer superstar boyfriend, Cristiano Ronaldo (himself an Armani Jeans and Underwear model), since 2010.

"

LADY GAGA IMAGES - GOOGLE NEWS

Irina Shayk Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011 Cover Model!

Irina Shayk Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2011 Cover Model!: "

Here she is: Miss Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover Model 2011! Russian-born 25-year-old Irina Shayk learned at a taping of CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman Mondy that she won the coveted spot as the 2011 Swimsuit Issue covergirl from a photoshoot in Hawaii several months ago.

She succeeds the 2010 cover model Brooklyn Decker.

Shayk, a native of the tiny village of Yemanzhelinsk, made her SI swimsuit debut in 2007 and has appeared in every swimsuit issue sincet then. She is the publication’s first Russian cover model, and her photo was taken by Bjorn Ioss, son of longtime Sports Illustrated photog Walter Iooss Jr. It’s his first shoot for the magazine!

SI — the most-read sports mag on the Planet — unveiled its 17 swimsuit models on Friday. The full list includes: Alyssa Miller, Anne V, Chrissy Teigen, Cintia Dicker, Damaris Lewis, Esti Ginzburg, Genevieve Morton, Hilary Rhoda, Irina Shayk, Izabel Goulart, Jessica Gomes, Jessica White, Julie Henderson, Kate Upton, Kenza Fourati, Shannan Click and of course the 2011 cover girl Brooklyn Decker.

Shayk will sit down for her first interview as a Sports Illustrated covergirl on Tuesday’s Letterman.

Irina has been dating her soccer superstar boyfriend, Cristiano Ronaldo (himself an Armani Jeans and Underwear model), since 2010.

"

LADY GAGA IMAGES - GOOGLE NEWS

Lady Gaga Responds To Comparisons Between “Born This Way” & Madonna “Express Yourself”

Lady Gaga Responds To Comparisons Between “Born This Way” & Madonna “Express Yourself”: "

Despite basically cut-and-pasting a classic Madonna song when she wrote her latest single, Lady Gaga decided to thank a pop legend of a more cracked-out kind at Sunday night’s 2011 Grammy Awards. Now the pop diva of the hour is responding to allegations that “Born This Way” is just a modern-day retelling of Madge’s 1989 anthem “Express Yourself.”

The two songs have been seeped in plagiarism allegations since “Born This Way” went viral on Friday, but during an interview with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show Monday, Gaga insisted that The Material Girl has no issue with her song – therefore, neither should anybody else.

“There is really no one that is a more adoring and loving Madonna fan than me. I am the hugest fan personally and professionally,” Gaga told Jay. “Well, the good news is that I got an email from her people and her, sending me their love and complete support on behalf of the single and if the queen says it shall be, then it shall be.”

So, what do you think? Is “Born This Way” a rip off or an homage?

Taking the stage to accept her trophy for Best Pop Vocal Album, Gaga even looked like a pointy alien clone of Madonna in the ’80s. But nope, she owed her success to another controversial music icon: Whitney Houston.

“I need to say thankyou tonight to Whitney Houston,” she wobbled during her teary speech. “I wanted to thank Whitney, because when I wrote ‘Born this Way,’ I imagined she was singing it – because I wasn’t secure enough in myself to imagine I was a superstar. So, Whitney, I imagined you were singing ‘Born This Way’ when I wrote it.”

Hot on the heels of her Grammy win, the “Poker Face” singer topped Billboard’s 2011 Money Makers list, with earnings of more than $20 million in 2010.

“Lady Gaga was inescapable in 2010. The pop singer, only a few years removed from her original hair color and shows at small downtown New York venues, so thoroughly dominated the last year that it seemed almost a foregone conclusion that she would top the Money Makers list.”

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Paris Hilton Kim Kardashian Make Nice At Grammys Afterparty

Paris Hilton Kim Kardashian Make Nice At Grammys Afterparty: "

In an interview between the covers of the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Kim Kardashian pooh-poohed reports that she was on the outs with socialite Paris Hilton by explaining that she’d simply outgrown her friendship with her childhood pal — and her recent actions seem to support that claim. The former BFFs appeared anything but frenemies at Interscope’s Grammy Afterparty in Los Angeles Sunday night. Shortly before a performance from pop sensation Lady Gaga, Kardashian approached the heiress with a warm embrace that stunned loose-lipped Goss Watchers, one onlooker recalls.

“Kim approached Paris. Paris was with her mom, and sister, Nicky. Paris and Kim warmly embraced and genuinely seemed happy to see each other, which seemed to surprise fellow partygoers,” says the spywitness. “Kim wished Paris a happy birthday (Paris’ birthday is Feb 17th), and Kim complimented Paris on her outfit. Paris also complimented Kim and thanked her for the kind things she said about Paris in the Haper’s Bazaar interview.”

The onlooker adds: “Kim was extremely classy in approaching Paris. The so-called feud between Paris and Kim was mostly driven by the media. Paris and Kim were close for a very long time, they just drifted apart. It happens, there is no bad blood there at all. In fact, it’s just the opposite, the girls have a lot of love for each other.”

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Lea Michele For Broadway Revival Of “Funny Girl?”

Lea Michele For Broadway Revival Of “Funny Girl?”: "

We hear Glee’s Lea Michele is on tap to return to her Broadway roots after lobbying for an audition for the role of Fanny Brice in the upcoming Great White Way revival of the classic musical Funny Girl. Michele — who rose to fame showing off her stellar pipes in the popular theatrical production Spring Awakening — is said to be eager to follow in the footsteps of her showbiz idol Barbra Streisand, who originated the Fanny part in the 1964 original.

But while Barbra irked Gleekers when she snubbed the suggestion of guest starring on the show in a webchat with fans earlier this week, she does have praise for Lea, who plays New Directions vocalist Rachel Berry on the Emmy-winning hit.

“She’s pretty good,” Barbra said.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Playboy Mansion Blamed For Viral Outbreak

Playboy Mansion Blamed For Viral Outbreak: "

Outbreak at the Playboy Mansion! No….not that kind of outbreak! Police in Los Angeles are on the hunt for the 700 guests who attended a recent party at the Playboy Mansion after scores of the attendees fell ill shortly after.

The mansion is at the center of an investigation by officials at the Los Angeles County Health Department after it played host to a fundraiser as part of the Domainfest Conference earlier this month that left roughly 170 guests ill with fever, chills, and coughs. The Feb. 3 conference was attended by hundreds of Internet professionals from 30 countries. The weeklong conference was held at a hotel in Santa Monica, but nighttime events included a charity fundraiser at Hugh Hefner’s 21,987-square-foot Gothic-Tudor-style mansion in the Holmby Hills section of Los Angeles. Approximately 80 attendees were diagnosed with Legionellosis or Pontiac Fever – a milder strain of the pneumonia-type Legionnaires’ Disease, caused by bacteria – less than 48 hours after celebrating at the Playboy estate.

“There were events every night, and we are giving them a list of all the venues. We have no idea what this is or where it came from. The Mansion being to blame is at the moment, pure speculation,” says a Domainfest spokesperson.

A representative for publishing magnate Hefner, however, has shot down reports that a fog machine used at the party is to blame for the viral outbreak. If the mansion caused the outbreak, why aren’t more attendees present at the bash experiencing symptoms? the publicist asks

“There is no truth in the rumour that anyone caught anything at the Playboy Mansion. Nor is there any evidence. None of the Playboy staff became ill, the deejay was in the middle of the fog and she didn’t get ill. We have been contacted by the Health Department and the Playboy Mansion is cooperating fully with the investigation.”

On Friday, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health sent an e-mail to all conference attendees warning them that health officials had received a cluster of reports that people who attended the function and the conference had become ill.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Latest Rihanna Pictures at 2011 Grammy's

Latest Rihanna Pictures at 2011 Grammy's: " The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards.Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.February 13, 2011. (Bauer Griffin)more pics » Rihanna (Bauer Griffin) We see London, we see France, we see Rihanna's...well, you get it. Even in an almost see-through gown, Rihanna looks like a fashion queen at the 2011 Grammy's. Rihanna had a big night, including some big performances and

Rihanna, who was rumored to have bronchitis before the show, teamed up on stage with Drake for a sexed-up performance of their song together, "What's My Name?", which included a lap dance. She also performed for a much anticipated performance with Eminem and Dr. Dre, in which she wore a huge fire-inspired gown for a rendition of her song "Love the Way You Lie." This girl was busy last night!

See more Rihanna pictures:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Afternoon Links: Rihanna Agrees to Lift Chris Brown Restraining Order

Afternoon Links: Rihanna Agrees to Lift Chris Brown Restraining Order: "

Rihanna has altered the retraining order against ex-boyfriend Chris Brown

Gossip

Rihanna agrees to lift Chris Brown restraining order – [sheknows]

Naomi Campbell’s true colours – [ayyyy]

Marion Cotillard Joins Batman: The Dark Knight Rises – [celebritybeehive]

Happy Valentines, from Eli Roth and Brad Pitt! – [lolebrity]

2011 Grammy Awards winners – Lady Antenbellum & Lady GaGa top the list – [glamourvanity]

Rihanna’s Reb’l Fleur Fragrance Commercial Revealed – [ourvanity]

Neve Campbell Taking A Bikini Break In Barbados – [fitfabceleb]

The Truly Unspeakable – [raincoaster]

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Rihanna Accepts Restraining Order Deal: "

Rihanna Accepts Restraining Order Deal

by BecomeGorgeous.com
The scandals surrounding the controversial relationship of Riri and Chris Brown got to an end as Rihanna accepts restraining order deal. The pop diva is no longer terrified to be in the entourage of the molesting singer and she apparently came to terms with the past events. Find out more on the decision of Rihanna to accept the generous deal.

Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

In January Chris Brown asked his attorney to ask the court for the lift of the restraining order. However it seems that authorities were not as gentle as Riri, who decided to make the first step towards handling this delicate issue. As TMZ reports “ E! first reported Rihanna was interested in changing the restraining order. Her attorney, Donald Etra, tells TMZ, ‘Rihanna does not object’ to reducing the order to a ‘do not annoy’ — meaning the exes could have contact as long as Chris doesn’t harass or molest Rihanna.'

Indeed the shadows of the past still haunt both of the performers. Chris Brown had to suffer a lot due to his inappropriate behavior and thousands of fans turned their back on him thanks to his shocking deed.



However as Rihanna managed to cope with her past and Chris Brown decided also to serve the community for his sins, there are hardly any obstacles in the way of lifting the restraining order. The good news related to the fact that Rihanna Accepts Restraining Order Deal will please the fans of both performers as they'll have the chance to see the celeb exes on the same shows without any difficulties or restraining limits.



The news of the domestic dispute shocked the world and also the fans, and some might be reluctant to come to terms with the decision of Rihanna as Chris Brown deserves punishment for his deed. The domestic violence courses as well as the other projects Chris Brown completed can be still named as the chief evidence of his ambition to accept a punishment for his acts.



The lawyers of Rihanna told E!News that the restraining order can be reduced to different measures and they have chosen the one less strict. This means that Chris can't approach Rihanna or have any contact with her. Additionally it turns out that Rihanna was more warm-hearted and decided to allow the contact with Chris Brown as long as there is no molestation and annoyance.



Those who were waiting for the big day to see Rihanna and Chris Brown in the same place will have to wait a bit more as Chris was absent from the Grammy Awards this year.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Tags: rihanna, celebrity gossip, rihanna news, rihanna gossip

" USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

The Biggest Mistake Women Make With Alimony

The Biggest Mistake Women Make With Alimony: "It kind of boggles the mind that Camille Grammer, the soon to be ex-wife of Kelsey Grammer--the prolific and talented actor in such hits as Cheers and Frasier--can wave her manicured hand dismissively at a reported $40 million payout and say she wants more for the 14 years she was married to him.



How many other divorcing women wish they could be in that position?



For many women who sacrificed careers to take care of the children, or as I call it, be the President of Domestic Affairs, alimony--a.k.a. spousal support (the terms are used interchangeably)--is rarely allotted in such abundance. In fact, unlike in other eras where laws were established to keep marriages together by penalizing spouses for leaving with a lifetime maintenance obligation, alimony has been trending as a temporary payment to help the non-working spouse create or rebuild a career.



"In general, now spouses are getting approximately one year of maintenance for every two years of marriage," says Marguerite Royer, a noted divorce lawyer at Moses & Singer in New York City.



The maintenance is determined by the lifestyle the couple led prior to the divorce.This is why we hear of padded monthly costs that include thousands for pet grooming, gifts and bikini waxes as the lower-earning spouse tries to justify why he or she should be given financial support. For women like Camille Grammer, that can be a large payment and since Kelsey wants to remarry, she may get as much as $50 million.



I joked to a girlfriend that while I feel bad for Camille that Kelsey left her for another woman and how painful it must be to see him and his younger, newer girlfriend coo about their pending marriage, $50 million certainly can cushion the blow. It is enough to rebuild careers, start a business and if necessary go back to school for a professional degree.



Yet several famous ex-wives lately have gone through fortunes that few ever receive.



Nicole Murphy, ex-wife of Eddie Murphy, spent her $15 million alimony package in just four years, and also landed herself in debt with five tax liens totaling $846,630.



Patricia Kluge--a former belly dancer who married billionaire John Kluge, a guy 35 years older than she--is now belly-up in debt despite a reported billion dollar settlement.



And then there's Diandra Douglas, who received a whopping $45 million after her divorce in 2000 from Michael Douglas, and then went after the cancer-stricken actor for profits from Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, claiming it was a spin-off vs. a sequel, and she is therefore entitled to profits. As New York divorce attorney Raoul Felder said, she's an 'example of greed gone wild and irrational.'



What happened? How can you squander that much money? What were they thinking? Many divorce attorneys I spoke to say that many ex-spouses fall into the trap of thinking that their lifestyle will not permanently change--should not change--after a divorce.



The problem, says Royer, is that many of these spouses--especially women--fail to handle finances well: 'They are so used to having others pay their bills and take care of their lives that they think some new person will swoop in and resume where the ex-husband left off,' she says. 'They never paid attention to what everything costs.'



'It really comes down to entitlement,' adds Royer. 'They don't plan for the future and realize that this sum must last forever. They have to live on a percentage of what used to be an annual salary.'



Entitlement is really a word worth contemplating.



I can't tell you how many women I counsel in my capacity as a divorce coach use alimony as a paycheck instead of an investment into their future. They often act like gamblers at a casino wheel collecting winnings while the roulette wheel is still spinning for another twenty years. Instead of rolling the dice on meeting someone else, which is what many are betting on, better to take a course on managing finances and learn about interest rates, bank loans and jobs that potentially pay well.



Other times, some divorcing spouses insist on keeping the house along with the housekeepers and gardeners, even though the upkeep of these grand homes sucks finances like a giant vacuum cleaner. Better to sell the houses and downsize to another town so you can build a nest egg and develop your own job skills for the future.



I'm not sure if I feel sympathy or revulsion that these naive women went through these vast sums of money when so many ex-wives-are struggling with meager amounts to live on following a divorce and have to choose to eat rice instead of roast beef while they are raising children without the help of a parade of nannies.



Of course, men now get alimony too, though I have yet to hear of Jennifer Lopez' ex Chris Judd running through his millions or Tom Arnold squandering the $50 million he got from Roseanne Barr. Even Britney Spears' ex, K-Fed isn't crying poverty. Maybe they know how lucky they are to have been given such a windfall to rebuild their lives.



There is no doubt that there have been abuses with alimony. Why should someone pay alimony if his or her ex is living for years with someone else? Or if both divorcing spouses are making around the same money, because the woman has residential custody, should she get more?



As the Wall Street Journal reported, lawmakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Oklahoma are pushing to correct abuses by putting time limits on alimony payments. The Wall Street Journal's Jennifer Levitz also reported that lobbyists and activists are pressing for similar rules in Ohio, Florida, Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina.



Alimony, I believe, is still an important part of the law since many parents make sacrifices in the marriage for the greater good of their families and should be rewarded, and more importantly, protected. But as educators on divorce, those in my profession need to remind divorcing couples that alimony should be used as an investment. No matter what your standard of living once was, it will change unless you are the financial rainmaker.



So what do you think? Will Camille Grammer save her fortune and use it well or will we be shaking our heads a few years from now wondering how she could have lost all that money when so few ever get those opportunities?

" USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Dating Advice: The Top 5 Ways to Go from 'Dateable' to 'Mateable'

Dating Advice: The Top 5 Ways to Go from 'Dateable' to 'Mateable': "In the United States today, the adult single population is at an all-time high. Statistics show that approximately half of all marriages end in divorce, with figures increasing with second and third marriages. Somehow, as a society, we are clearly not mindful going into our first marriages, and seemingly not learning enough from our divorces.



But I believe that for those of you awaiting your beloved, you can experience the dating phase leading to the mating phase in a way that is reflective of your heart's deepest desires.



Here are a few tips I've learned, informed by both my personal and professional experience, about how to ensure that you set yourself up for success on and off the dating field. Here we go!



1) 'Know Thyself'



This aphorism has been traced back to the wisdom of at least six ancient Greek sages, the most noted being Socrates. The collective emphasis provides more evidence as to its eternal significance. To truly see, celebrate, and remain 'in love' with someone, we must first be able to recognize the divine in ourselves. Do you know who you are? Do you know what is unique and special about you? What are your gifts and character traits you are clear about and proud of?



2) What Do You Want?



This is perhaps the most fundamental question and warrants serious thought and consideration. To 'Know Thyself' means knowing not only who you are but also what you want. For the purpose of discovering and keeping the love you find, laser focus on the qualities that you seek in a life partner. What are your negotiables and what are your non-negotiables? This deserves your time to go inward and contemplate. You will get what you expect.



3) 'To Thine Own Self Be True'



This is the famous line from William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' No truer words have been written or uttered, as they hold universal relevance. After gaining clarity around what your heart desires... it is time to trust it completely and follow it fully. The truth does set us free, and is the only path to living a truly authentic and fulfilling life. On the journey to finding your lasting love, hear, trust, express and embrace the voice of your heart. From this place, you become self-directed versus other-directed, following your our own compass, which will illuminate and navigate your path.



4) Secure Your Launch Pad



Life is full of curious and mysterious twists and turns. Even when we have done all of this personal development prep, it is so easy to temporarily forget, neglect and disconnect from ourselves. It's important to check in -- consistently -- to make sure you are on sturdy and steady ground. Here are some tips:



Make sure your 'baggage' is 'carry on.'





The romantic field elicits our deepest longings for love. It can and will bring up any unfinished business we have with attachment and loss, from our family of origin and/or previous relationships.



Make sure your thoughts, feelings and actions are in alignment with what you say you want.



There is a vibrational quality to every thought and feeling you possess and express, which does impact what you do or not receive. Your thoughts must support the belief that love is possible and that you are deserving. Your feelings need to convey an open heart, in order to invite intimacy into your life. Finally, be proactive, making yourself receptive and available to seek and pursue opportunities for connection.



Let go.



Declare your dreams, full out and in technicolor... while letting go of the outcome completely. This does not mean abandoning your desire. It's about having faith that your life will be extraordinary with or without a husband, wife and children. It's about releasing the dependency on any external circumstances or persons to determine your sense of worth, overall joy or well-being.



Your foundational launch pad is now secure and ready. You know who you are, what you want, are fully present and in joy. The dating field awaits you!



5) Look, Listen, Feel and Tune In



In order to determine if the person you are dating has partnership potential, you listen carefully and tune in to how you feel. The data is there. Here are some guidelines for what to look and listen for:



Are you attracted? This is what separates friends from lovers.



Be who you are... fully and completely. Express your truth and let the rest unfold and reveal itself.



What does this person across the table from you say about what he/she wants?



Is that in harmony with your vision? No matter how hot the chemistry might be, your goals and desires must be compatible 'enough' to go the distance.



Does he/she possess all that is on your non-negotiable list? When we are flattered by attention and comfy with connection, it's easy to betray ourselves and let a few things slide. Stay strong and remain committed to you.



Does his/her behavior match his/her words? Verbal expression is important, but actions really do speak louder.



How does he/she treat others: Family, friends, co-workers and the waitress? We are talking character here.



I recommend dating for at least a year before making long-term commitments. This offers more time to inform a clear and right decision for you.



If you feel yourself riding on hope, and a leap of faith, remember, sometimes potential is only potential. You'll know when and if it turns into 'reality' or when to move on. If it's the latter, know that you possess the courage to face the unknown and reach higher ground. Just listen carefully with your ears, hear with your intuitive heart, and leap in the direction of your dreams.



And when you do feel those butterflies, that deep sense of well-being, and that intuitive hit that says 'this is the one'... celebrate and cherish it now, and forevermore.

" USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

What Makes a Man Attractive?

What Makes a Man Attractive?: "A recent New York Times article, 'Man or Male?' described the efforts in academia to create Men's Studies programs that would parallel the ones that already exist for women. The argument goes that courses currently offered to explore male gender (largely borne out of Women's Studies) do not present men's unique psychological, anthropological and literary point of view. Separating the guys from the gals, so to speak, would provide support for college-aged men, who many believe are floundering and yearning for an identity of their own.



The desire for a male voice and a perspective of their own has come up in the work I do on aging in contemporary culture. While giving talks about my book, 'Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change,' I find that males in the audience have surprisingly strong reactions. 'Hey, what about us guys?' they say. Or, 'Don't you think we care about how we look, too?' One time, a fellow named Lenny called in to a radio show I was on and asked, 'Do you have any idea what it's like watching middle-aged men in the movies make it with those gorgeous nymphets?' That on-air interchange led me to write a piece for The Huffington Post called 'Men Need a Lift Too,' describing the possible connection between the increased use of erectile dysfunction medicine to the steep rise in women's use of plastic surgery. When Lenny said, 'You know, we guys don't talk about it, but stuff like that makes us feel bad,' I told him I thought I understood, since women have been feeling that way for years. Yes, both sexes are facing anti-aging pressures at midlife.



Which brings me to the origins of the piece I am posting today. Over the past few months, I have written a couple of articles about the perception of beauty in contemporary culture. The first one -- about women, and written with a female audience in mind -- described the results from a beauty survey that asked a series of questions of 35 to 65-year-old women. One of the questions (and the title of the article) was, 'What Really Makes Women Feel Attractive?' The comments following that piece came from a much wider age range and, surprisingly, from both sexes. It stimulated a second article, 'Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder or Beholdee?' that summarized the responses I received. I sorted them into categories based on their different perspectives and described the trends I found related to gender and age. I also offered possible explanations for the similarities and differences among them.



Now, I am following up on a suggestion made by bloggers who expressed interest in continuing the dialogue. They asked to focus on one perspective that was not covered in previous posts: male attractiveness. One man wrote, 'It was great to read the commonalities women wrote in about beauty, but I'm curious to know what they find appealing in men?' Another blogger, a female, said, 'Wouldn't it be interesting to hear what men thought about their own attractiveness? We're so used to listening to how they see us, but what about how they see themselves?' So, I am turning to you, bloggers, to help me compile more data about the perception and experience of beauty. I'd like to find out what men and women say in response to the question, 'What makes a man look and feel attractive?'



We can start off with what one woman wrote on The Huffington Post a couple of weeks ago. After responding first to the question, 'What makes a woman attractive?' she then initiated her thoughts about men:



I can tell you what I find attractive, Dr. Diller! Physically -- shoulder-length, curly, dark hair; neat mustache; slim build; beautiful smile (or wicked grin); readiness to laugh and willingness to be laughed at; serious and frolicsome, by turns; loving; empathetic; gentle; protective and enjoying being protected as well. Very specific, I know -- because it's my husband, and truly, nobody else -- even the Depps and Clooneys of the world -- are more than aesthetically pleasing pictures by comparison. I have total tunnel vision!



It will be interesting to see if other comments here illustrate how similarly men and women think, expressing one side of the argument described in the Times -- 'that masculinity is essentially a cultural construct and that gender differences in general are fluid and variable.' Or, perhaps the comments will raise a unique male perspective about attractiveness, in support of those who believe that '[m]en think and act differently from how women think and act because that's how evolution shaped them... they are basically still Neanderthals.' My own research leads me to expect that men will assume that the 'tall, dark and handsome' or 'rich, strong and powerful' types are perceived as attractive, while women will look beyond the surface to less model-like men, seeing them, perhaps, as even more appealing.



So, please take a moment and respond with anything that comes to mind, in any way you choose -- one word, an experience you have had, hard data or just an opinion -- about what makes a man attractive. I'll examine the comments as they come in and view them from a psychological and cultural point of view to see if I can come up with some trends and conclusions. We've learned from previous posts that questions about people's appearance can be interpreted in a variety of ways: physical attractiveness, beauty that emanates from within, and so on. Let's keep an open mind, with the goal of adding greater depth and understanding to this whole topic.



One Men's Studies professor asked his class of 30 students (25 of whom were male), 'Why are you taking this course?' The answer? 'The boys didn't say anything. The girls all said, 'We want to understand the guys better.'' Clearly, the issues about men interest women, and vice versa. What is it about any male -- from Obama to Clooney, from your contractor to your husband -- that makes them appealing to you? We've joined together in previous posts to share what it really means for women to look and feel attractive. Now we can add new perspectives about men from real people like you.



The goal? To help men and women understand themselves and to get further underneath the surface of what it really means to look and feel attractive to one another. I hope to hear from both men and women about this issue.



Continue the conversation by becoming a fan of me here and following me on Facebook.



***



Vivian Diller, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice in New York City. She has written articles on beauty, aging, media, models and dancers. She serves as a consultant to companies promoting health, beauty and cosmetic products. 'Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change' (2010), written with Jill Muir-Sukenick, Ph.D. and edited by Michele Willens, is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances. For more information, please visit www.VivianDiller.com

" USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About Angelina Jolie To Perez Hilton

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About Angelina Jolie To Perez Hilton: "Jennifer Aniston recently talked about her chance encounter with Perez Hilton in a parking garage, during which she confronted him about his meanness.



Now Perez tells his side of the story. In an interview with Life & Style, he says Jen opened up to him about Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Perez also claims Jen said she is dating and happy - a sentiment she conveys in a new interview with People.



Life & Style's press release follows; read the whole interview in the new issue.



For the first time, Jen Aniston opens up about her feelings toward Angelina Jolie-- to famous gossip blogger Perez Hilton! Jen recently told Ellen DeGeneres about her August run in with Perez in an LA parking garage and now, he's finally revealing the details of their conversation including what she now thinks of Angelina Jolie --exclusively to Life & Style.







When Perez asked Jen point-blank if she hates Angelina, "Jen said, 'Look, that was so long ago, and we've moved on and we're all adults,'" Perez tells Life & Style. And Perez believes Jen. "I believe what she has to say. I think she really has moved on."







Jen is even in touch with ex Brad Pitt. In his conversation with Jen, Perez tells Life & Style, she reaffirmed, "I still talk to Brad and everything's fine." But it seems Jen is more than just fine. In fact, when he asked her about dating, she revealed that people who assume she's lonely have it wrong. "She told me that she dates a lot," Perez tells the new issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now. "And just makes sure not to go anywhere public."

" USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Online Dating: The Power of Romantic Uncertainty in a Facebook World

Online Dating: The Power of Romantic Uncertainty in a Facebook World: "You've just been on a first date with a woman you find attractive and intelligent, and things went well -- at least from your point of view. The conversation was comfortable, and you have the same taste in books and politics. You're still savoring the pleasure of the experience when you run into a mutual friend, who reports some good news: Your date really had a good time, too, and is looking forward to seeing you again soon.



But what if, instead, your mutual friend hems and haws and finally shares that the woman liked you 'well enough,' which anyone can translate as 'bored to tears'? Or what if (yet another scenario) your mutual friend leaves you dangling? Your friend has indeed talked to the woman since your date but is uncertain of her feelings. She didn't really say how she felt about the evening -- or you.



Which of these hypothetical women do you find most attractive? Classical psychological theory says that you will be most drawn to the woman who finds you attractive. Being liked is rewarding, and social rewards create positive emotions -- including feelings of comfort and safety. This social phenomenon is so well documented that scientists even have a jargony name for it: the reciprocity principle.



But what ever happened to 'playing hard to get'? Aren't we most drawn to what we can't have? Or at least to what we have to win? Aren't courtship and romance and love more complex than simple reciprocation? A team of psychological scientists decided to explore these questions in the laboratory, and -- since this is the 21st century -- they adapted the three scenarios for Facebook.



Erin Whitchurch and Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia and Daniel Gilbert of Harvard recruited a group of women, all students at UVA, who agreed to supply their Facebook profiles. They thought they were taking part in a study of online dating and were told that male students from other universities had looked at their profiles -- along with those of 15 to 20 other women -- and had rated each woman according to how well they thought they would get along with her.



This was just a fiction; there were no men involved in the study at all. Even so, the women subsequently viewed Facebook profiles of four men -- all likeable, attractive college students. Some heard that these were the men who liked them the most, while others believed these men had given them a so-so rating. Still others were told that these four men's feelings about them were unknown -- they might have been very attracted, or they might have been indifferent.



The scientists asked the women to rate the four men on various measures of attraction: how much they liked the men; how much they'd like to collaborate on a project; how much they'd like the men as friends, casual acquaintances or as potential boyfriends. These ratings were all combined into a single attraction index.



The idea was to see if indeed women reciprocate when men find them attractive -- or when they find them unattractive. The scientists also wanted to see if uncertainty is attractive. That is, would the woman be disenchanted or intrigued by men whose feelings were unclear?



The results were clear, and a bit surprising. As described in the online version of the journal Psychological Science, the women were more attracted to the men who liked them a lot -- much more attracted than they were to men who were lukewarm in their feelings. This isn't all that surprising, and it lends support to the reciprocity principle. But -- and it's a big 'but' -- the women were most attracted to the men whose feelings remained unknown. They found these mystery men even more attractive than men who openly declared their attraction.



The scientists call this the 'pleasure of uncertainty,' and they also uncovered a hint as to why this dynamic works. The researchers asked the women how often they thought about the different men -- how frequently they 'popped into their head' -- during the time before they made their ratings. The women spent more time musing about the uncertain men than the others, suggesting that having a man in one's thoughts can increase attractiveness. These women -- the ones contemplating a mystery man -- were also in a better mood than the women who had been flattered or deflated.



The women in this study had no information about the men's choosiness in general. That is, they didn't know if the men were uniformly 'hard to get' or 'easy to get.' So this may be a new version of the 'playing hard to get' scenario -- creating uncertainty to pique interest. And it may be a version especially suited to the 21st century, simulating the kind of information people often get when they meet online. At the very start of the e-dating process, mystery may have some benefits.

" LADY GAGA IMAGES - GOOGLE NEWS

Justin Bieber Movie Reviews: Mostly Positive!

Justin Bieber Movie Reviews: Mostly Positive!: "

Hey, did you hear that Justin Bieber is starring in a 3D biopic about his life? The singer hasn't been engaged in much publicity about the film, but it's true.

While it's likely that every teenager under the age of 18 has already pre-ordered tickets for the release of 'Never Say Never,' it should be encouraging to read that movie critics have given the flick mostly positive reviews. A handful of examples follow...

Though anyone who needs convincing won't touch this one with a 10-foot pole, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never makes a persuasive case for its titular star as a far more talented-than-usual teen idol. - Variety

Justin Bieber: Never Say Never may be the concert film as glorified promotional product, but it captures a genuine youthquake. - Entertainment Weekly

The surprising thing about the new behind-the-scenes documentary Justin Bieber: Never Say Never is that it should have appeal well beyond the star's young, adoring female fan base. - Box Office Magazine

An undeniably engaging musical portrait that delivers major bangs for the buck. - Hollywood Reporter

There's no scrimping on the Bieber here, but he's a curiously vague presence, obscured in the shadow of this monument to his brand. - Village Voice

"

LADY GAGA IMAGES - GOOGLE NEWS

Did Charlie Sheen Get Pornstar Pregnant?!

Did Charlie Sheen Get Pornstar Pregnant?!: "

Paging Maury! Just when you thought Charlie Sheen’s life couldn’t get any seedier comes the news that one of his pornstar pals is reportedly pregnant!

TMZ.com has gotten its Hot Little Hands on what it claims is a screengrab from Kacey Jordan’s iPhone – Kacey of course is one of Charlie’s playmates of choice and was on the scene when the Two and a Half Men actor was hospitalized after a drug binge late last month.

In the text, Kacey tells Charlie she’s with child – but luckily for him, she doesn’t think the tot is his.

“I don’t believe it’s yours, but I’m going to Oregon to take care of the situation,” she wrote.

TMZ report Kacey is planning to have an abortion “in the next few days” and never heard back from Charlie after sending the text. Oh dear.

"

LADY GAGA IMAGES - GOOGLE NEWS

Did Lady Gaga Rip Off Madonna’s “Express Yourself?”

Did Lady Gaga Rip Off Madonna’s “Express Yourself?”: "

Lady Gaga’s new anthem, “Born This Way,” hit the airwaves on Friday and if you thought you were actually listening to a classic Madonna tune instead, it turns out your ears weren’t playing tricks on you. The Gaga is hogging the top spot on music charts all over the world, but reviews reckon the freaky pop tart ought to be donating her royalties to Madonna. The web is ablaze with allegations that the song sounds suspiciously like Madge’s ’80s classic “Express Yourself.”

Here’s what the reviewers are saying:

Ryan Tedder (producer behind Beyonce’s “Halo” and Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Heart”) tells The Hollywood Reporter: “If I wrote ‘Express Yourself’ and I heard that song, I would be calling my manager five minutes later… If Madonna’s not getting credit on it, then I would just say, be careful.”

Britain’s The Guardian: “What does it sound like? Well, a lot like Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself’, so much so that those two words are currently trending on Twitter. There’s also some spoken-word bits a la the Material Girl (as no one calls her any more), but it doesn’t sound copycat, more a knowing nod and a cute wink.”

Rolling Stone (which awarded the tune 4/5 stars) writes: “Despite the obvious tip of the cap to Madonna’s ‘Express Yourself’ (which was just Madge’s knock-off of The Staple Singers’ ‘Respect Yourself’), it’s steeped in decades of gay disco tradition — it sounds a lot like Patrick Hernandez’s 1978 classic ‘Born To Be Alive.’”

Madonna’s estranged brother Chris Ciccone expressed his outrage to RadarOnline.com: “All I can say is ‘What the fuck! It sounds just like ‘Express Yourself’ – I can’t believe it to tell you the truth.”

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Bieber Fever Gets High Schoolers Suspended

Bieber Fever Gets High Schoolers Suspended: "

Think your Bieber obsession has gotten you into serious trouble before? A group of high school students in The Empire State claim they were nearly suspended for wearing homemade Justin Bieber tees to school.

The girls attend Roosevelt High School in quiet Yonkers, New York. Scandal ensued last week after the shirts in question were deemed offensive and gang-related because they had “Bieber Krew” scrawled on them. We can’t really imagine a gang-affiliated thug loving a bit of “Baby” on their iPod, can you? But that’s exactly the reception the girls got after showing up at school with an Ode to Lord Biebs emblazoned across their backs.

TMZ.com reports: “The girls say school security ordered them to remove the shirts or cover them up because they were ‘gang-related.’ The students say they were also threatened with suspension.”

Take this as a lesson, ‘Crunchers. Think about your next homemade Taylor Swift tee before flaunting it. It may just get you arrested.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Justin Bieber Fans Attack Esperanza Spalding After Grammy Upset

Justin Bieber Fans Attack Esperanza Spalding After Grammy Upset: "

Well — you knew this was coming! After Justin Bieber lost the Best New Artist prize to jazz vocalist Esperanza Spalding at Sunday’s 2011 Grammy Awards, a legion of his furious fans attacked Spalding’s online biography.

The little-known bassist and singer was the surprise winner of the accolade, beating more established competitors Bieber, Drake, Florence and the Machine, and Mumford and Sons to walk away with the title. The Grammy upset sparked outrage among the teenage pop sensation’s devoted Beliebers, many of whom sought revenge on Spalding’s Wikipedia.com profile.

“JUSTIN BIEBER DESERVED IT GO DIE IN A HOLE. WHO THE HECK ARE YOU ANYWAY?” one furious fan wrote.

“SHE IS F**KING RETARD (sic) THAT NO ONE HAS HEARD OF SO B**CH PLEASE DIE!” another Bieber fanatic posted.

Wikipedia officials later removed the comments, but news of the vandalism had already spread across the internet.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Paris Hilton Bodybuilding

Paris Hilton Bodybuilding: "

Yep, you read right. Formerly waify socialite Paris Hilton been sporting a fuller figure in recent weeks – even showing off a more muscular frame in a Brazilian fashion show earlier this month — and now we know why. As it turns out, Paris has been bitten by the bodybuilding bug thanks to her fitness fanatic boyfriend Cy Waits.

“Paris has always preferred to stick to dieting all the time to maintain her figure, but since she’s been dating Cy, she’s got the bug. It’s a massive turnaround and now she’s working out so much that she’s often been seen on the treadmill drinking a milkshake,” a friend of the couple told Britain’s Daily Star last week.

Apparently Paris’ new daily routine includes weightlifting, bench presses and beach runs – plus she’s allowed to indulge in some fast food afterwards. The socialite is now on a strict muscle-building diet to keep her energy levels up.

“Paris has always loved junk food, but before she started working out to this extent, she had to deny her cravings. Now she feels she can indulge once in a while, as she’s burning so many calories,” added the source. “She wants to change her image and get properly healthy. At first she was unsure and it took some getting used to, but now Paris loves her new body. And Cy loves it too – he’s always talking about how hot and gorgeous she is.”

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Alina for Australian Vogue

Alina for Australian Vogue: "Alina Baikova was photographed by Nicole Bentley in beautiful San Miguel Allende, Mexico for the cover of Australian Vogue's March 2011 issue. Can't wait to see more images!

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Kim Kardashian Loves 'W Magazine' Nude Photos

Kim Kardashian Loves 'W Magazine' Nude Photos: "Forget the tears -- Kim Kardashian now loves her nude W Magazine photos.



Kardashian, whose W Magazine nude photos hit newsstands in October, reacted with an onslaught of tears when she first got her hands on the magazine, a scene depicted in the most recent episode of 'Kourtney and Kim Take New York.' Now, she says skin is in.



'Looking back, I love the photos,' she told Us Magazine on Thursday. 'W Magazine is iconic so I'm really happy that I did it and that those are the photos.'



That wasn't quite how she reacted on the show.



'Oh my God, I'm more naked that I was in Playboy,' Kim told her sisters on the show. 'I'm so mad right now. [The magazine] promised I would be covered with artwork -- you can see the nipples!'



The tears, she told Us, came because even though she wasn't wearing any clothing when the cameras took the photos, she wasn't expecting nude shots.



'Looking back, that was my initial reaction when I saw the pictures and I was just really upset. I do think the pictures are beautiful.'



For their part, W Magazine never had any problem with the photos, calling them 'a work of art.'



For more, click over to Us Magazine.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Joah Spearman: Why Style Is More Miles Davis Than Justin Bieber

Joah Spearman: Why Style Is More Miles Davis Than Justin Bieber: "

This March, South by Southwest will introduce Style X (pronounced 'By'), an event aimed at showcasing emerging designers from around the country. Over the last few years, SXSW participants have gotten accustomed to fashion brands having a presence in Austin during that eventful week in March. American Apparel is known for its flea market setup in Downtown Austin with bargain basement pricing not available in its retail stores. And other notable brands such as Dickie's, Levi's and Ray Ban have sponsored performances by the likes of Kanye West, The xx and Broken Bells.

Fashion designers and labels catering to musicians is nothing new. For decades, bands have been styled for magazine covers and TV performances. In recent years, hip hop, pop and rock artists such as Jay-Z, Beyonce and Travis Barker have started clothing lines and opened retail locations around the country. One could argue that musicians have just as big a profile when it comes to fashion as models these days. Sure, there are the Victoria's Secrets models that are hard to replace down a runway, but more and more brands are tapping musicians as the faces of their collections.

Needless to say, it's pretty obvious that there lies a strong connection between music and style. Considering Austin has long been regarded as one of the best cities in the world for music, especially live music when you can actually see what the musician is wearing, it seems fitting that SXSW is dipping its toe into style as well.

True, there will only be one New York Fashion Week... one U.S. event that catches the world's attention for fashion purposes. But style, unlike fashion, has never really been about mass media, red carpets and one-in-a-million beauties that walk the beaches in Brazil before walking the runway in Paris.

Style, like the best music, often starts with the individual... the lone creative. At its most basic form, style starts with a mood rather than a magazine. It's how you feel in the morning when you wake up and how your clothes speak to that mood. Style is the indie favorite while fashion is the pop hit. Style doesn't need an arena tour or an army of publicists. Style is more about creative construction than mass production. Style is much more Miles Davis than Justin Bieber.

The brands participating in the inaugural Style X aren't at arena status yet. They're playing the small local venue that your cousin's garage band played before opening for Mumford & Sons back in '07 before they made it big. Or something like that.

They're coming to Austin during SXSW to showcase their potential and talent, just like the thousands of bands that have come to Austin over the years. Tortoise and Blonde, an eyewear company based outside New York City, and Cavortress, a women's line designed by a woman out of Charleston, S.C., are just like those aforementioned big-name brands in that SXSW is a perfect opportunity to rub elbows with musicians and, possibly, get some fans out of them.

Of course, even the hidden gem gets discovered eventually and SXSW doesn't plan to hold Style X back from the more recognizable brands looking to affiliate with the 10,000 musicians in Austin during that week in March. Keds, the iconic brand that invented the first sneaker, is ahead of the fashion pack and paving the way for global labels to participate in Style X by showcasing its 'Design Your Own' shoe features.

The truth is that fashion brands having a prominent presence in Austin, the 'Live Music Capital of the World,' during SXSW is a near no-brainer. The fact that more of them aren't already there is probably just because Austin isn't a coastal city where most fashion seems to originate.

But no one is walking down Austin's South Congress Avenue or Sixth Street wondering what season that dress is from or how much you paid for those boots. All they know is that it looks damn good... almost as good the stuff being worn by the lead singer of that band on stage. What stage? Well, during SXSW it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're there to see the intersection between music and style with your own eyes.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Top Black Models Pose For Vogue Italia's 'Black Allure' Spread (PHOTOS)

Top Black Models Pose For Vogue Italia's 'Black Allure' Spread (PHOTOS): "

Vogue Italia cast a bevy of black models in its 'Black Allure' spread, which hits newsstands in the glossy's February issue. Ajak Deng, Chanel Iman, Arlenis Sosa Pena, Jourdan Dunn, Melodie Monrose, Lais Ribeiro, Rose Cordero, Mia Aminata Niaria, Sessilee Lopez, Joan Smalls and Georgie Baddiel all strike a pose in the latest Versace, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, Lanvin and Dior.

Editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani blogged on the topic of diversity in modeling last week, writing:

There isn't a problem and it's not a problem in fashion either. There is no discrimination. I've explained many times this argument in my posts, in December for example when the Washington Post mentioned Vogue and Vogue.it as a publication that cares for black girls, and comparing the great success of Eastern models to the lack of black models in the industry. Prejudice? Absolutely not.

Iman, Naomi, Liya Kebede, Alec Wek and many others are a proof. Lazyness in the research or scouting? This yes. No other reason.

We continue to give it more space in the magazine and website. The truth is that real beauty doesn't care for skin color or nationality.

Take a look at images from the editorial by Emma Summerton and for the rest, head over to Vogue.it.

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY

Victoria's Secret's Latest Photoshop Fail

Victoria's Secret's Latest Photoshop Fail: "

Ah, Victoria's Secret -- our absolute favorite place to find Photoshop fails. It amazes us what the lingerie brand's retouchers manage to do to some of the hottest babes ever.

Today's case: Marisa Miller modeling 'The Sexiest Polo.' So sexy that she apparently lost her left arm in the sexy-sexiness of the cotton pique/spandex blend with puff sleeves.

Take a look and tell us what you think. And for more airbrushing madness, head over here.

(Via Jezebel)

"

USA FASHION & MUSIC NEWS - DOWNLOAD MUSIC VIDEO LEGALLY