Go Amy Go!

I stayed up last night to watch the Grammy Awards just to be able to watch Amy Winehouse's live performance. As she was not granted an US Visa in a timely fashion she resorted to a via-satellite performance from London - and was all worth the wait because she rocked! She grabbed five of the six awards she was running for including record of the year, song of the year and best new artist. She looked very surprised with all her awards as she fumbled words thanking her family and dedicating it "To my Blake, incarcerated!" - as her hubby is serving a jail sentence for a pub brawl. Amy looked fab in her black mini-dress and trade-mark beehive and gave out a full bodied soulful voice that would impress even the Winehouse skeptics. She sang "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab", songs that couldn't be more right-on in regards to her troubled past months. I think she is a fantastic singer and I was all smiles watching her sing and accept her golden gramophones.

Fergie performed next to John Legend and proved she can hold a tune like the best of then. I didn't love her outfit as that long neck scarf looked too "old lady" for her.

Fabulous Rihanna also rocked the house performing with The Times in one of the opening numbers. She is just so gorgeous and talented that she can do no wrong in my eyes and she glowed on stage last night. She didn't go home empty handed though as she won for best Rap/Song Collaboration with Jay-Z for "Umbrella" .

Tina Turner and Beyonce also had an outstanding Grammy performance in their "Proud Mary" duet - one of my favorites. Tina is still as hot and energetic as in her "Private Dancer" days and exhuded her "legend-status diva" even when rocking next to one of today's hottest talents.

Kanye West gave one of those cocky acceptance speechs that made me want to throw up. I get that people should have positive images of themselves but why do some rap/hip hop artists need to be so stuck up? Thumbs down!

I was shocked to see how HUGE Aretha Franklyn has become! I know she's an older lady and all but she looked like a small planet in that horrible one-shoulder lime green dress when performing during that b-o-r-i-n-g gospel number. She is way too fat to be exposing her arms, specially on live TV. The spaghetti straps on her gown were stuck deep in the creases of her shoulder fat and that was not a pretty sight. At least she had the clue to cover up her arms at the post-Grammy party, seen above with Brandy. Aretha is a legend and deserves all r-e-s-p-e-c-t but she needs a new stylist really bad!

Juno - The Movie

Finally I got the chance to go watch "Juno" last night. Though the movie has been out for many weeks it was not on my top list of movies to watch just because... As I said before I feel that I never get to catch as many movies as I would like, for several reasons and excuses. I had seen the commercials and previews for "Juno" and it looked cute as in a "I'll get to watch that someday" but no hurry. Then I kept reading the rave reviews, awards galore and the "Oscar buzz" talk in the media, so my Sunday matinee was dedicated to see what the hoopla is all about.

Juno MacGuff is a 16 year-old high school junior who is mature beyond her years. She is also a savvy, sassy, too-cool-for-school independent free spirited little sprite. As we find out early on in the movie Juno gets pregnant after a one time encounter with her geeky/cute high school crush/friend/band mate Paulie Bleeker. Now she is faced with the decision of how to handle this unexpected news: terminate it? adoption? tell her parents? the boyfriend? high school?

The cast could not have been more perfectly chosen in my opinion. Ellen Page gives an amazing performance as the title character, an unbreakable small giant. Her boyfriend Bleeker, played by Michael Cera, is cute-as-a-button in his shorty yellow running shorts and matching headband. Paige and Cera are a match made in heaven and it shows in their great screen chemistry. Juno's very supporting parents, played by J.K. Simmons and the great Allison Janney, are so warm and understanding from the get-go that you wish they were your mom and dad. Jennifer Garner as the hopeful adoptive mother is so sincere in her emotions that my eyes teared up several times. You may call me a softy but "Juno" made me cry during many scenes, not out of sadness, but out of touchingly beautiful moments. But don't forget that "Juno" is a comedy and made me laugh out loud during her many one-liners. I must point out that her gorgeous cheerleading best friend Leah, played by Olivia Thirlby, is a great comedic actress too.

I became surprisingly inamorated with this film, more than I thought I would and I strongly recommend it. Thumbs up!

Lisa Perry For Campbell Soup

Campbell is teaming up with six-time Grammy-award winner Toni Braxton - a heart disease survival herself - and designer Lisa Perry to support the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement. Perry created three exclusive Campbell's red dress designs, and America is invited to vote (I did) on its favorite by visiting GoRedWithCampbells.com from December 20, 2007 – January 30, 2008 .
For each vote cast, Campbell will donate US$1.00 to the American Heart Association (up to $100,000). The winning design will be unveiled by Braxton at the Woman's Day Red Dress Awards to kick off American Heart Month, this February.
“I grew up loving Campbell's soup and I have a strong connection to the 1960's iconic pop-art soup can image,” she said. “It is truly an honor to donate my time and talents to help Campbell raise awareness of heart disease.”

No Golden Globes? AVN Awards Will Be!

So no Golden Globes this year. No red carpet, no celebrities, no gowns... Because of the on-going writer's strike Hollywood might suffer another big loss soon: the much anticipated Academy Awards - or The Oscars - might not take place this year.

But don't be sad just because you didn't get to see Kiera Knightley in Chanel or Charlize Theron in Dior! The AVN - Adult Video News - Awards just supplied enough "stars-in-gowns" to sate your fashion addiction until this damn strike is finally over. OK, they are not really "stars" of the same caliber of Angelina, Halle or Renee but they are stars in the (dirty) mind of many fans too. Sure they do porn and their scripts do not require a lot of memorizing. Actually they don't even need to go to acting school as they immediately graduate to porn-star, not requiring to pay their dues as a porn-actress first. The fashion choices range from demure to slutty to super-slutty and somehow I could see some of the more sparkly gowns on the Daytime Emmy's or the Country Music Awards too.

My favorite brunet beauty is Tera Patrick (top 2 pictures) in her satin lace-up front dress, just a gorgeous girl. Jenna Jameson is looking scarier every time she shows up in the press lately. She is just loosing too much weight, looking haggard and definitely not too pretty. I actually like her leopard-print dress but I would have nixed the train she's dragging behind her. Mary Carey is one kooky-kook girl and I love her for that. Her black dress is a so-so choice but it's her personality that makes her so fun to watch and FYI, I never watched any of her other "work". She's currently on American TV in VH1's "Celebrity Rehab", that - you guessed - is about C-list celebs facing their addiction problems. In the first episode she tried to smuggle dildos and porn tapes into the facility! Her fellow rehab pals include Brigitte Nielsen, Joanie Laurer (ex-wrestler Chyna), a Baldwin brother and American Idol finalist Jessica Sierra, among others. Needless to say I had to watch the second episode last night too, that was not about giggles this the time as reality can also be very sad to watch.

Via Egostatic

Dita Von Teese @ British Fashion Awards

Love-of-my-life Goddess Dita Von Teese arriving at London's British Fashion Awards earlier this month. Always a picture of perfection, Ms Von Teese does not disappoint with her flawless sense of style and elegance. I never get tired of posting pictures of this gorgeous creature as her beauty and grace should be celebrated and emulated. Click images to enlarge!

Via Celebrity Snap

Madonna To Be Inducted @ Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame

Goddess Madonna Louise Ciccone has been selected, in her first year of eligibility, as one of the five artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I had talked about it here before way back in September and was rooting for one of my favorite artists and icons. The Material Girl will comprise the Hall of Fame Class of '08 along with populist rocker John Mellencamp, Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, surf instrumental combo the Ventures and British Invasion group the Dave Clark Five.The 2008 induction ceremony will be held on March 10, at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. To be eligible for the Rock Hall, artists must have issued their first single or album 25 years before nomination. Other acts nominated this year included the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer, Afrika Bambaataa and Chic, but unfortunately did not get voted in. Congrats Madge!

Via Spinner

Sexiest Man Alive??

Say what?? Who voted on this poll? Was Adan Sandler busy or something?
Maybe in 1997 Matt Damon could have been a contender but in 2007?? No way!

Dita Von Teese @ Macy's in Santa Monica

Porcelain Goddess Dita Von Teese was present at the Macy's Passport Charity Event at Barkers Hangar in Santa Monica, California on September 27, celebrating $25 million raised for HIV/AIDS agencies in 25 years. She was representing M.A.C. as it's Viva Glam lipstick spokesperson. Dita also performed her burlesque routine at the event.

"I'm performing tonight because I love keeping the art of burlesque alive. I'm overwhelmed about meeting Elizabeth Taylor. I admire her. I'm nervous. She's a living legend!"

Click images to enlarge

Via Celebrity Snap & OK! Magazine

Kid's Beauty Pageant Images - Cute or Creepy?

These creepy-cute images from a kid's beauty pageant can make you go from ohhh to yuk in a matter of seconds. They look like mini-adults, precociously "sexualized", fit to a tee to a pervert's wet dream. Little prosti-tot Barbies. They do look happy to be there but we all know that their overweight stage moms are the ones behind it all. Haven't parents learned anything after Jon Bennet? These days, even in Brazil you can hear about kid's pageants, specially in the South, as I saw recently on a variety TV show. The kids were always crushed when they were not picked, though most weren't even sure why they had to win. When you're 5 the concept of a beauty pageant can be a bit blurry. What most little girls wanted was just to get a sash because that's what made their mom's happy.

Via Curious & Funny Photos

Ms Olympia 2007

The Ms Olympia contest was held in Las Vegas this past weekend crowning Iris Kyle as the 2007 winner. Say what you may say, the 15 contestants must be commended on their dedication and perseverance to achieve such unimaginable physics. I can't even commit to a 5-time-per-week gym schedule or low-carb regimen, so anyone that devotes that much effort and time to any physical activity gets my kudos. But they still look freaky...

Via Iron Man Magazine