Archive for July, 2006
Anger management never looked so good. A Miami prosecutor agreed Tuesday to drop all charges against May Andersen–the former Sports Illustrated swimsuit model who was arrested in April after she allegedly took a swing at a flight attendant during a transatlantic trip–if the beauteous 24-year-old completes a six-hour anger management course.
Andersen was facing misdemeanor counts of assault, nonviolently resisting arrest and disorderly intoxication, charges she pleaded not guilty to in May. According to police, the Danish model was loud and disruptive during a Martinair flight from Amsterdam to Miami and, when authorities tried to arrest her, she continued to act “unruly.” Andersen then spent the night in a women’s detention center and was released on $3,000 bail the following day, after which she was escorted into federal immigration custody and put on the next flight back to the Netherlands.
“She has flown all around the world since she was discovered when she was 13 and has never been in trouble before,” Andersen’s lawyer, Robert Rosenblatt, told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “She has a slightly different version as to what happened than the airport people, but things are different since 9-11.”
During the arraignment in May, Rosenblatt said that his client was sleeping on the plane when the flight attendant in question jerked Andersen’s seat forward to prepare for landing.
“It startled her, and her hand flew up,” Rosenblatt said. “She went back to sleep. Next thing she knows, the police are on the plane, taking her away.”
Assistant State Attorney Carolyn Zegeer said that Andersen could undergo her anger management counseling either in New York, where she keeps an apartment, or in Copenhagen, where she has been living lately. Rosenblatt, however, told the Miami Herald that Andersen could complete the course in the city of her choice.
Well, Andersen is currently in Paris for a fashion show, so maybe she’ll be learning how to calmly count to 10 in French.
July 26th, 2006
A young woman who died in a fiery car crash on the New Jersey Turnpike earlier this month has been identified as Heather Bratton, a fashion model from Florida that many predicted was on the cusp of fame.
New Jersey State Police confirmed yesterday that 19-year-old Bratton was the passenger who died at the scene of a pre-dawn three-car collision on July 22. A statement on the Web site of her booking agency, Women Management, said she was en route to a flight at Newark International Airport.
Bratton, of Wesley Chapel, Fla., was photographed by noted fashion photographer Steven Meisel for a recent Italian Vogue cover. A dark-eyed brunette whose prominent cheekbones drew comparisons to supermodel Kate Moss, Bratton was poised for greater success, several industry observers had theorized in recent months.
“Heather was a sweet, gentle and thoughtful girl who achieved a remarkable level of success during her first year modeling, which is a credit to her distinct beauty and spirit,’’ according to a Women Management statement. “We were fortunate to work with her.’’
A phone call to her family’s home yesterday was not immediately returned. Her stepfather, Tim Kerrigan, told The New York Post for Sunday’s editions that Bratton had flown to New York for a July 20 magazine photo shoot.
Stormy weather prevented her return flight the following night. She was en route to the airport in a car-service sedan Saturday morning when the vehicle broke down in the center lane of the turnpike, and was rear-ended by a sport utility vehicle.
State Police last week said the Crown Victoria, in which Bratton was a passenger, was struck by a Toyota RAV4 at southbound Exit 14. It plowed into a Toyota Sienna stopped in front of it that authorities believe had stopped to render aid. The RAV4 and the sedan both caught on fire. Bratton was trapped inside and pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the Crown Victoria, 30-year-old Selim Koskar, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was hospitalized with multiple burns on his entire body. He was still in intensive care Sunday at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.
Ramon Sanchez, 23, of Jersey City, suffered broken bones while Bronx, N.Y.-resident Yoa Murry, 44, the Sienna’s drive, suffered burns to his leg. The accident remains under investigation.
Bratton was born in Virginia and raised near Tampa, Fla., relatives said. This summer she appeared on catwalks in Milan and Paris, modeling for Prada, Gucci, Burberry and Chanel.
She was to be buried in South Carolina, the Post reported.
July 24th, 2006
Kate Moss‘ earnings have soared since her cocaine scandal last year. The shamed supermodel was worried her career was finished after pictures of her snorting the class A drug were published last September.
The British beauty was immediately dropped by a number of top fashion houses including H&M and Roberto Cavalli. But now the 32-year-old mum-of-one is back in favour with the fashion industry and has signed new deals with, among others, Burberry, Calvin, Klein and Virgin Mobile - contracts that are set to earn her a staggering ?10 million by the end of the year.
The astonishing figure is over five times Kate’s earnings back in 2005 when profits for her company, Skate Enterprises, were just ?1.3 million.
Meanwhile, her ex boyfriend, Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty, has opened his heart to British TV chat show host Jonathan Ross about his love for the catwalk queen.
During the candid interview, due to air tomorrow the troubled singer reveals the supermodel has “had enough” of his addiction to heroin.
He said: “Our relationship is right and wrong, up and down. She’s had enough, I think. But I love her bones, I always will.”
July 18th, 2006
Being sister to a superstar model made Jemma realise she would be happier working out of the spotlight Like her sister Jodie, Jemma Kidd entered the fashion world as a model. But while her younger sister became a worldwide superstar almost overnight, Jemma was never comfortable posing for the camera.
She’d be forgiven for being envious of her sibling’s overnight success, but it convinced Jemma that modelling wasn’t for her. In fact, she goes as far as to say it was a relief when Jodie hit the big time, convincing her that her future lay elsewhere. But being keen to remain in the fashion industry, she tried her hand recommend from her range to help girls look and feel good in the months ahead?
“Well, for summer, keep skin light,” she said. “Light-diffusing particles help give skin a natural, luminous finish so the cr?me can be used to highlight cheek, brow, collar bones or shoulders.
“It also contains sun filters and added moisturising jojoba that protects and moisturises skin. For evenings, if you need more coverage, touch up with a creamy concealer.”
“Bronzers are a summer must. My bronzer has added moisturisers to give a smooth, velvety finish and can be used on the face and the body.
“Bronzer can look lovely on bare skin or with just my dewy glow all-over radiance cr?me.”
July 15th, 2006
You have to be either very brave or very foolish to take on the fiery supermodel Naomi Campbell. Step forward the anonymous shop assistant who refused to believe Naomi Campbell was who she said she was.
The Streatham-born supermodel apparently fled an upmarket department store in tears yesterday afternoon when the store assistant queried whether she really was the person whose name was on the credit card.
The bust-up happened when Naomi, 36, went into Peter Jones in London’s Chelsea to pick out some luggage and canvas bags. The multi-millionairess went to the till and handed over her credit card - only to be told: “I don’t think you’re Naomi Campbell”. Our spy tells us: “At first Naomi thought the lady was joking and that she was on some show like MTV’s Punk’d.
“After all, she’s pretty distinctive and has always been recognised before. But it soon became apparent that the shop assistant was deadly serious.
“There’s been a spate of card cloning and fraud in the area so all staff are taught to be vigilant. But in this case the assistant got it wrong”.
Naomi protested - and other staff vouched that the statuesque customer was indeed the very famous Ms Campbell.
We’re told: “The shop assistant thought that the card didn’t look quite right and was adamant that they couldn’t accept it.
A spokesman for Naomi said she felt she had been treated badly: “There were a lot of people in the store and the situation was humiliating. Naomi was shaking with anger.”
Given the model’s previous - she’s presently awaiting trial for an alleged assault on former assistant Ana Scolavino - we have to say this shop worker is braver than us…
The source goes on: “To be fair, it’s not surprising Naomi got riled - she was virtually accused of being an impostor. Some heated words were exchanged and it all looked like it was going to kick off.
“But before management could intervene Naomi stormed out of the shop vowing to never come back.”
July 11th, 2006
Supermodel tsunami survivor Petra Nemcova has confirmed reports that she is dating British singer James Blunt for the first time.
According to hollywood.com, Nemcova, who spoke candidly about her relationship with Blunt in an interview, said that she is hoping to introduce Blunt to her family and friends when the singer performs in Prague later this summer.
Nemcova, who lost British boyfriend Simon Atlee in the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in December 2004, has been secretive about her romance for months.
July 10th, 2006
Former supermodel Elle Macpherson has agreed to join the board of surfwear fashion brand Hot Tuna as an executive director. The London-listed Australian company will grant Macpherson shares worth almost ?1 million ($2.47m) and further share options worth up to ?1.5 million. Elle - who has been known as “The Body” since the 1980s and used to model swimwear for Hot Tuna - will advise the company on product development, the brand and sales. Hot Tuna is also said to be hopeful she will give the company an insight into surf and youth fashion.
July 9th, 2006
The blonde beauty thinks the veteran actor is the best looking male celebrity - despite the fact he is 81. Gisele Bundchen, who previously dated Hollywood heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio, insists despite his age Newman is still far more handsome than most of the current crop of stars.
She said: “I love Paul Newman, he’s my favorite. He’s like 70 or 80 and still looking good. I think he’s hot.” The Brazilian star also has a crush on brooding British actor Clive Owen, famous for his roles in “Sin City” and “Derailed”. She said: “If had to pick someone who is not so old I’d choose Clive Owen.”
July 8th, 2006
For most people, the camera adds 10 pounds. For Ylenia Aurucci, the latest girl booted from Canada’s Next Top Model, it adds 10 years.
“The comment (from the judges) of me looking old — I could totally see that in my picture. So, after I saw how the photo turned out, I had a feeling I was going home,” says Aurucci, a Vancouver actor who was just 23 when the reality series was filmed.
“It’s strange. Even myself, I thought I appeared older on TV and in the pictures, but in person, people are usually right on with my age.”
While Aurucci has always dreamed of becoming a model, her life circumstances have made it difficult for her to pursue.
As a teenager, her parents moved the family to Africa where, she says, it was next to impossible to break into the industry.
“When I saw the commercial (for Canada’s Next Top Model), I just thought this was a great chance to try it out,” she says, adding the experience was different than she anticipated.
“Just having the cameras following you around everywhere and sharing the house with nine girls and the pressure of the competition, it was very hard.”
Aurucci says she plans on pursuing a career in modelling and acting when she moves to Toronto next month. Her elimination means four girls are now left in the running to become Canada’s Next Top Model.
The show airs next Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Canada’s Citytv.
July 7th, 2006
British supermodel Erin O’Connor is writing her autobiography - but she is determined to avoid talking about the glitzy fashion industry. The leggy brunette has bowed to pressure after being urged to write a book, although she has only agreed on the condition she can concentrate on her humble beginnings in Staffordshire, England. She says, “I’ve been asked lots of times to write about the fashion industry but I felt I wanted to write about where I come from.”
July 7th, 2006
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