Archive for June, 2006
Supermodel Kate Moss has withdrawn from a $2mn planned autobiography that would have detailed the supermodel’s problems with drugs and her troubled relationship with the singer Pete Doherty. Moss’s agency, Storm, said last week there were no immediate plans to go ahead with the book, which was arranged by Sir Richard Branson with his company Virgin Books. Moss, 32, learnt last Thursday that she would not be charged with any drugs offence despite the publication of pictures last autumn that apparently showed her taking cocaine.
Initially Moss’s career seemed to be badly damaged by the pictures and she lost several key contracts, including those with H&M, Burberry and Chanel.
Branson took pity as he had done 20 years earlier when he helped the singer Boy George fight his drug problems. The billionaire took Moss to his holiday island last December after she had spent about a month in a rehabilitation clinic in Arizona.
By spring of this year it was becoming clear that Moss’s career was, if anything, doing better than before the drugs reports. She signed a deal last November with Branson’s Virgin Mobile for $5mn, the most lucrative of her new contracts. She has since clinched deals with Nikon, Calvin Klein and Bulgari. Her contracts, worth just under $7mn before the drugs storm broke, are now estimated to total $20mn.
“The book deal was a wise move at the time, but it’s a wiser move now to pull out as she has got her career back on track,” said Mark Borkowski, a public relations expert. “She is perceived to have cleaned up her act. So she can save the memoirs for a rainy day when she needs to re-invent herself.”
Virgin Books confirmed: “We don’t have a publication date for the Kate Moss book.” In January, it said the book should appear by September.
Although the Moss book will not appear for the foreseeable future, the story of Doherty will be told by his mother Jacqueline, who signed a publishing deal last month.
Doherty’s troubles with drugs continued yesterday when he was fined by Swedish authorities after cocaine was found in his bloodstream.
June 18th, 2006
Danish supermodel Helena Christensen is ‘getting to know’ actress Anjelica Huston’s 23-year-old nephew, Jack, according to a published report.
Helena, 37, was seen hand-in-hand with Jack as they cuddled up next to each other at the New York premiere of ‘Allegro’.
The New York Post reports that the couple appeared to be very friendly with each other all night, and couldn’t stop admiring each other.
Meanwhile, the movie ‘Allegro’ is based on the story of a famous pianist Zetterstrom who, on his way back to his hometown of Denmark for a performance, finds out that his life choices has affected his love life tremendously.
June 17th, 2006
Heidi Klum decided an ice cream would be the perfect way to combat the heat when she stepped out with her mum Erna and her children in New York this week. At one point as they ambled along the New York street most of the party were tucking into a cone.
Only Henry, who is nine-months-old, missed out on the treat. While the model mum ate hers, two-year-old Leni - Heidi’s daughter by Formula One boss Flavio Briatore - appeared to be having problems getting to grips with exactly how it’s done. The toddler decided to forgo licking the ice in favour of attacking the cone from the other end.
Her brother - who goes by the full moniker of Henry Gunther Ademola Dashtu Samuel - is fast growing into a healthy, bouncing baby. As Heidi revealed on her show Germany’s Next Top Model, the child is named after his musician dad Seal, whose birth name is Henry. Meanwhile Gunther and Ademola honour the couple’s dads.
Dash Two is naval slang for the second plane in a two-aircraft formation. Its job is to act as protector or “wingman” for the main jet, as the little boy is supposed to watch over his sister.
June 17th, 2006
Supermodel Kate Moss and her fashion designer friends Sadie Frost and Stella McCartney are rumoured to be investing in a Caribbean hideaway. The three friends are hoping to purchase shares in a Jamaican resort that was once owned by James Bond creator, Ian Flemming.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell already owns a villa in the resort that will be highly developed over the next couple of years. A source told the Star: “The resort is owned by music mogul Chris Blackwell and his Island outpost resort corporations. “And he’s developing it over the next two years into a massive resort village taking up most pf Jamaica’s north shore. “So Kate, Sadie and Stella want to buy a large chunk of it and turn it into a party paradise for their pals.
They can then vet who comes to the resort so they can let their hair down safely without any paparazzi or hacks watching.” It is believed the resort will comprise of 30 ocean front rental apartments named after Bond girls…classy.
June 16th, 2006
Michelle Leslie’s one-time confidant breaks her silence on the model’s Bali arrest. Mark Forbes reports. Michelle Leslie’s campaign to resuscitate her image and modelling career in the wake of her Bali drug arrest has had a devastating impact on her closest friend and confidant, Norah Cullen, who has finally agreed to share her version of the story behind the controversial case.
Evidence obtained by The Age also contradicts Leslie’s claims of being set up by Indonesian police with ecstasy tablets, as aired on 60 Minutes this month.
Documents show how Leslie’s boyfriend made a series of payments to the Indonesian dealer who supplied the tablets to Leslie and her friends, part of attempts to bribe her way out of custody in the days following her arrest. Leslie’s lawyer, Ross Hill, has confirmed the payments.
A dismayed Mrs Cullen, who gave Leslie a home in Sydney for three years, has decided to speak out about the controversy.
Distraught, depressed, hospitalised and bankrupt after her efforts to help Leslie, Mrs Cullen confirmed that Leslie’s claims that she wore a burqa because she had converted to Islam were fabricated, that she received thousands of dollars for interviews and paid several bribes to eventually secure her release. It was Mrs Cullen who dashed to Leslie’s aid after her arrest.The two spent every day together as Mrs Cullen shepherded Leslie through her first month behind bars and co-ordinated efforts to win her release.
The publicity surrounding her arrest — enhanced by images of Leslie modelling clothes and lingerie, then accelerated by pictures of her in the burqa — and release after three months in jail, made Leslie a celebrity victim. It also contributed to public antagonism towards Indonesia in the wake of the Schapelle Corby case.
As with Corby, glaring holes in Leslie’s claims are now apparent. In a plea for public sympathy, 60 Minutes told viewers to “be the judge, this time with all the evidence”. Leslie said she was an innocent victim; “in life I have made many mistakes, you know? But this isn’t one of them.”
She was whisked away from a band of friends outside the gates of a dance party last August after a search uncovered two ecstasy tablets in her handbag. Leslie was then locked inside Bali’s police headquarters.
Mrs Cullen became her link to the outside world. Initially Leslie appreciated her friend’s efforts, as excerpts from her prison journal show.
“How good, amazing, fabulous is she!” Leslie wrote. “It’s always the best part of my day when I see her. We just chat like normal … not so many tears now.”As well as providing comfort to Leslie in jail, Mrs Cullen was asked to help buy her freedom. At first tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, of dollars were contributed through Leslie’s boyfriend, Scott Sutton, whose father owns a $220 million car dealership empire. Leslie’s family also mortgaged their home to help. On 60 Minutes, Leslie said police had demanded $US25,000 ($A34,000) to release her, but claimed she could not pay the bribe. But sources in Bali have provided The Age with documents detailing five $5000 wire transfers from Mr Sutton to Bali the day after Leslie’s arrest.
The money went to the dealer who provided ecstasy and other drugs to Leslie and her friends — a group of young models and children of the Jakarta elite. The man has confirmed receiving the money but said it was nothing to do with Leslie. Mrs Cullen confirmed that Leslie had asked Mr Sutton to wire the money, believing the man would be able to pay off local police. After four days, Leslie remained in custody and Mrs Cullen was sent to recover the money.
“He was reluctant, but I told him the federal police knew that I was there.” Several thousand dollars went missing, she said. Mr Hill confirmed Mr Sutton had wired the money to Bali but said it was sent to a man who “had some association” with an Indonesian lawyer that the model’s legal team was using.
The money, “as far as we were concerned, was to pay a lawyer”, Mr Hill said. There were subsequent rumours the man was involved in drugs, “but I heard nothing direct”. Speaking publicly for the first time, Scott Sutton last night told The Age he knew little about the man he wired the $25,000 to, “apart from that he was trying to help Michelle organise a lawyer.”
Mr Sutton praised Mrs Cullen for going to Leslie’s aid, with all the right intentions. “But relationships break down,” he said. Sean Mulcahy, who was the public relations man on Leslie’s team, told The Age that $25,000 was sent to bribe police, “but the money never made it in time”. When it was recovered, the price of Leslie’s freedom had risen, he said.
He said Mrs Cullen and a local lawyer had handled cash payments in Bali. Mrs Cullen said the money was then used in an escalating series of bribes. “There was money given to different departments in the legal process,” Mrs Cullen said. “I followed the instructions of the Indonesian lawyer. I would give him the money. I think the lab was one, prosecutors, different people.” Then Mr Sutton’s father sent a senior manager to Indonesia with more than $80,000 to be distributed in Bali, Mrs Cullen said. The Age believes another $100,000 was sent to well-connected lawyers in Jakarta. After those initial weeks, Mrs Cullen fell out with the team of lawyers and fixers hired with the Sutton family’s money.
Although Leslie told 60 Minutes she had never sold her story, Mrs Cullen said Mr Mulcahy was negotiating for media payments. “He was always saying, ‘We are going to make a lot of money out of this’,” she said. “And the first story she did when I was in Bali, New Idea paid something like $70,000.”
The Age has confirmed that New Idea paid at least $50,000 for Leslie’s first interview and photo shoot while she was in custody. A second interview last month was unpaid, but sources said Leslie was offered future fashion shoots with New Idea. Australian Federal Police are investigating whether Leslie profited from her conviction. Arguments over Mrs Cullen’s own interviews began to sour relations with Mr Mulcahy.
She said a dispute over Leslie’s decision to wear a burqa also worsened. Leslie told 60 Minutes she wore the burqa to protect herself from rape in prison, and maintained she was a Muslim. Back in Bali, when Islamic groups protested at the decision, Mrs Cullen, who is a Muslim, was told to say she had witnessed Leslie’s conversion. “That all came from Sean Mulcahy. He fabricated that. I tried to convince them not to say that and tell the truth.” But Mr Mulcahy said it was Mrs Cullen’s idea for Leslie to say she was a Muslim, a plan concocted before he arrived in Bali. Mrs Cullen said the burqa was worn to protect Leslie’s face from the media scrum that accompanied her appearances. She refused to speak about Leslie’s continued claims that the drugs were planted on her. “I would never repeat what she told me,” she said. “I know the truth and she knows the truth, but I won’t betray that.” However, Mrs Cullen said she could not understand why Leslie continued to claim she was the victim of a conspiracy. “All I know is, maybe one day, from Michelle herself, the truth will come out.” Others there when Leslie was arrested have told The Age that she had taken ecstasy and was carrying more tablets for friends. Since returning to Australia, Mrs Cullen said she had had abusive phone calls from Leslie and Mr Mulcahy, “telling me to shut up and not talk to the media, while there was just one lie after the other”. “The thing that hurts me the most is my children, myself, my friends, my family, everyone that knew Michelle while she was in our lives, we were hurt. It’s like the ultimate betrayal.”Mr Mulcahy denied defaming or intimidating Mrs Cullen. But he said they had not got on and he was pleased when she left Bali. “She more or less had a nervous breakdown over there and everyone wanted her home,” he said. “She was running around and talking to the press and I couldn’t have that.”
In the wake of the falling out, Mrs Cullen’s health food business has collapsed. Leslie’s parents are suing to recover $40,000 they invested in it. “My business went under terribly the day she got arrested because she worked in my shop, she had a percentage of my business,” she said.
“People knew who she was and people stopped coming into my shop.” Mrs Cullen said she had suffered from depression since she returned from Bali. “I have gone through hell and back. I have lost my business,” she said. “The Michelle Leslie, the beautiful girl that lived with me and my family, was not the same girl when she came back from Bali. “I hope in my heart that the Michelle I know and love will come back one day.” Then Mr Sutton’s father sent a senior manager to Indonesia with more than $80,000 to be distributed in Bali, Mrs Cullen said. The Age believes another $100,000 was sent to well-connected lawyers in Jakarta. After those initial weeks, Mrs Cullen fell out with the team of lawyers and fixers hired with the Sutton family’s money. Although Leslie told 60 Minutes she had never sold her story, Mrs Cullen said Mr Mulcahy was negotiating for media payments. “He was always saying, ‘We are going to make a lot of money out of this’,” she said. “And the first story she did when I was in Bali, New Idea paid something like $70,000.” The Age has confirmed that New Idea paid at least $50,000 for Leslie’s first interview and photo shoot while she was in custody.
A second interview last month was unpaid, but sources said Leslie was offered future fashion shoots with New Idea. Australian Federal Police are investigating whether Leslie profited from her conviction. Arguments over Mrs Cullen’s own interviews began to sour relations with Mr Mulcahy.
She said a dispute over Leslie’s decision to wear a burqa also worsened. Leslie told 60 Minutes she wore the burqa to protect herself from rape in prison, and maintained she was a Muslim. Back in Bali, when Islamic groups protested at the decision, Mrs Cullen, who is a Muslim, was told to say she had witnessed Leslie’s conversion. “That all came from Sean Mulcahy.
He fabricated that. I tried to convince them not to say that and tell the truth.” But Mr Mulcahy said it was Mrs Cullen’s idea for Leslie to say she was a Muslim, a plan concocted before he arrived in Bali. Mrs Cullen said the burqa was worn to protect Leslie’s face from the media scrum that accompanied her appearances.
She refused to speak about Leslie’s continued claims that the drugs were planted on her. “I would never repeat what she told me,” she said. “I know the truth and she knows the truth, but I won’t betray that.” However, Mrs Cullen said she could not understand why Leslie continued to claim she was the victim of a conspiracy. “All I know is, maybe one day, from Michelle herself, the truth will come out.” Others there when Leslie was arrested have told The Age that she had taken ecstasy and was carrying more tablets for friends. Since returning to Australia, Mrs Cullen said she had had abusive phone calls from Leslie and Mr Mulcahy, “telling me to shut up and not talk to the media, while there was just one lie after the other”. “The thing that hurts me the most is my children, myself, my friends, my family, everyone that knew Michelle while she was in our lives, we were hurt. It’s like the ultimate betrayal.”Mr Mulcahy denied defaming or intimidating Mrs Cullen. But he said they had not got on and he was pleased when she left Bali. “She more or less had a nervous breakdown over there and everyone wanted her home,” he said. “She was running around and talking to the press and I couldn’t have that.” In the wake of the falling out, Mrs Cullen’s health food business has collapsed. Leslie’s parents are suing to recover $40,000 they invested in it.
“My business went under terribly the day she got arrested because she worked in my shop, she had a percentage of my business,” she said. “People knew who she was and people stopped coming into my shop.” Mrs Cullen said she had suffered from depression since she returned from Bali. “I have gone through hell and back. I have lost my business,” she said. “The Michelle Leslie, the beautiful girl that lived with me and my family, was not the same girl when she came back from Bali. “I hope in my heart that the Michelle I know and love will come back one day.”
June 16th, 2006
Natalie, an Internet Fraud Security Officer from New Westminster, British Columbia became the third girl eliminated on Citytv’s “Canada’s Next Top Model”, reducing the pool from eight girls to seven.
In the third episode, Judge Stacey McKenzie shows the girls how to really walk a runway….at a bowling alley! She’s unimpressed with Tenika, even though she has the most confidence and Andrea, whose walk is extremely awkward. Sisi impresses Stacey and she comments that she is closest to becoming Canada’s Next Top Model. Stacey puts the girls to work in front of a real audience, a university rugby team!! Low and behold, Brandi has a “wardrobe malfunction” in front of the rugby team, before winning the challenge.
The next day, the photo shoot involves A LOT of diamonds and an emotional storyline. Guest Judge, Hollywood Stylist Phillip Bloch directs the girls to give him a range of movement and emotion. Alanna doesn’t really know how to move, Heather can take direction but seems incapable of emoting, Natalie looks lost and even Sisi is not on her game. Tenika has great movement, but the camera can’t capture a frame that has any impact. Both Brandi and Ylenia blow Phillip away with great performances.
During the third elimination ceremony, the girls are asked to display their runway walk for the judges. All the girls do fairly well. Tenika is the most confident. In the end, Natalie is eliminated. Although Paul didn’t want to see her go, the others felt she just wasn’t Top Model material. Coming up in Episode Four next Wednesday, spirit will be broken when the girls have to show some strength…and some skin.
Canada’s Next Top Model will walk away with a $100,000 beauty contract from Procter & Gamble. The winner will receive a modeling contract with top agency, Sutherland Models and be featured in an editorial spread in FASHION Magazine.
Episode Four of “Canada’s Next Top Model” airs Wednesday, June 21st at 8:00pm (7:00pm CT) on Canada’s Citytv.
June 15th, 2006
Kate Moss will not face cocaine charges despite an eight-month police probe costing $370,000, Scotland Yard confirmed today.
The investigation was launched after the 32-year-old Croydon-born supermodel was secretly filmed chopping up lines of white powder at a west London recording studio. However it ended in farce because legally photographs of drug abuse do not constitute evidence of possession.
Now Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have informed the Met that there is “insufficient evidence” to bring charges against multi-millionairess Moss.
Police also confirmed that the self-styled “literary agent” of Kate’s on-off rock star boyfriend Pete Doherty was charged with possession of Class A drugs after being arrested as part of the lengthy probe.
Paul Roundhill, 51, was given a 12-month conditional discharge when he pleaded guilty to the offence last month.A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed today: “The CPS has advised us of their decision that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute in relation to the Met police investigation into allegations of possible drug abuse by a 32-year-old woman, as reported in newspaper reports in September 2005.
“Despite all reasonable inquiries being pursued by the investigation, which included forensic examination of the scene of the alleged drug taking and investigation into the suspected supply network, we have been unable to
provide sufficient proof of the identity of the substance depicted in the media photographs.
“It should be noted that this investigation was never solely into the actions of one individual but mainly focused on tracing the wider drug supply.
“During the course of the investigation two men were arrested on March 10 for possession of class A drugs. On April 20 one of the men, Paul Roundhill, 51, of Whitechapel, was charged with possession of Class A drugs.
“On May 9 he pleaded guilty to the offence at Thames Magistrates Court and was given a 12 month conditional discharge. The second man, aged 22, accepted a caution for possession of a Class A substance.
“A further four people, three men and one woman, voluntary attended police buildings to be interviewed. No further action has been taken against them.”
The spokesman added: “The decision to begin this investigation was made after images and allegations of illegal drug taking were featured in the media.
“There are always inherent difficulties in getting criminal proof in an investigation instigated in response to images of alleged drug taking.
“Nevertheless we have a responsibility to investigate allegations of drug use, but this should be seen in the context of the major and dedicated work that occurs on a daily basis into disrupting criminal networks involved in major drug supply.”
During the investigation experts gave statements testifying the substance was cocaine — and Kate and others present appeared to be under its influence.
An officer from the Met’s Specialist Crime Operations Team jetted to America to interview a witness and speak to specialists.
Mum-of-one Kate booked into an Arizona rehab clinic after being exposed.
The huge investigation was launched with the blessing of the Met’s under-fire commissioner Sir Ian Blair last September.The grainy black and white images came from the studio in Chiswick, West London, where Kate’s then-boyfriend Doherty was recording with his band Babyshambles
June 15th, 2006
Naomi Campbell has seemingly met the love of her life. The supermodel - who has dated a host of famous men, including actor Robert De Niro, Usher and Formula 1 boss Flavio Briatore - says she couldn’t be happier with her new lover, but is refusing to reveal who he is. The catwalk queen confessed the mystery man could be ‘The One’.
She is quoted in Britain’s Daily Express newspaper as saying: “I think I’ve met someone now who likes me for who I am, not what I do.
“We grow. You learn about each other and take it one day at a time. When I’m in love, I really try to be there for that person. I don’t want to go out too much.”
The 36-year-old beauty - famed for her fiery temper - also revealed her new beau can handle her infamous tantrums.
She said: “I’m known for losing my temper. I’m a bit of a character. I’m working on who to trust.”
June 15th, 2006
Kate Moss has swapped The Ivy for a greasy spoon. The supermodel - sporting a black trilby, sexy beige shorts and lace-up boots - grabbed lunch at Troy’s cafe in London’s Kentish Town yesterday. The international fashion icon ordered a large white roll with tuna, mayonnaise and sweetcorn and a full-fat Coke. Owner Conert Dunya admitted he didn’t have a clue who she was and when told she was one of the world’s top models, said: “She’s far too skinny for me.” A few more calorific lunches like that and she’ll be more to Conert’s taste.
Apart from that Kate is considering hiring a bodyguard, after having her mobile phone stolen and her car raided by a gang.
According to the Mail on Sunday, the 32 year-old beauty wants to keep herself and her daughter, Lila, out of harm’s way. The car raid happened when Lila’s nanny, Jade Davis, took her to a ballet class. After the class, Davis stopped the car on a rural road so that Lila could go to the toilet, but while the two were out of the car, a gang of youths stole the nanny’s handbag and a large sum of money.
A source said, “Kate has realised she is heavily followed, people know where she lives and she knows she needs to up her security. She’s become very paranoid and wants to step up her security arrangements immediately.”
Meanwhile teen queen and budding fashionata, Lindsay Lohan, has said she loves Kate Moss’ style. The young actress and the 31 year old supermodel have become new best friends recently. It is believed that Moss is helping Lohan cope with the pressure of being constantly under the spotlight. The pair have also bonded over their love of fashion . The 20 year old told the Daily Record: “I admire her fashion sense. We’ve swapped fashion ideas. We actually played dress up once and just did girl stuff. I asked her a lot of things, mostly about comfort things.”
June 15th, 2006
Supermodel Linda Evangelista is pregnant with her first child. The 41-year-old is dating an unnamed New York City architect and was unable to hide her growing baby bump at a party in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday. The Canadian tells German magazine Gala, “I’m overjoyed. My baby gives my life a meaning.”
Linda suffered a tragic stillbirth in 1999 when she was married to her ex-husband, Gerald Marie. Raised by a working class Italian family, the 5′9″ Evangelista knew she wanted to be a model when she was just 12 years old. When she was 15, a modeling scout noticed her in the Miss Teen Niagara Contest. She later signed up with the Elite Model Agency in New York City before moving to Paris to develop her career.
Linda has appeared in advertisements for companies such as American Express, Anne Klein, Bloomingdale’s, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, and Gianni Versace. Magazine covers include Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Allure, and Harper’s Bazaar.
June 14th, 2006
Next Posts
Previous Posts