Koda Kumi and Fergie single That Aint cool

Jpop queen Koda Kumi has teamed up with Fergie for a new song released in early June called That Aint Cool. The video featurs Koda Kumi with new look short black hair. The song was not well received by many Koda Kumi fans as they disliked that Fergie seemed to dominate the song.

KODA KUMI

Name: Kouda / Koda Kumi
D.O.B: November 13th 1982
Place of birth: Kyoto
Ethnicity: Japanese
Blood type: A
Zodiac sign: Scorpion
Chinese sign: Dog
Career: Solo R&B singer
Fav color: Green and Purple
Fav traditional Japanese music artist: rice granary interest period
Fav singers: Christina Aguilera / NELLY / PINK / Pharrell Williams
Fav music: Rock, Hip Hop
Favorite word: Once in a lifetime
People she respects: Her parents
Future ambition: Self produce
Hobbies: Shopping
Turn Offs: Lies and Cheating
Debut date: December 6th 2000 with the single Take Back

Born on November 13th 1982, Koda was the eldest daughter in her family. At an early age of 3, Koda Kumi starting singing on stage. She started doing auditions at elementary school, and wrote that she wanted to become a singer in her elementary year book.

Kumi Koda (known as "Koda" in the U.S.) – Kumi Koda’s first single TAKE BACK charted 18th in Billboard Magazine’s Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles chart after its US release in March 2001. Her follow-up single, TRUST YOUR LOVE charted 39th in Billboard's Hot 100 single sales chart and No.1 in Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles chart.

She has collaborated with BoA on THE MEANING OF PEACE, a September 11 charity single CD produced by Tetsuya Komuro, one of Japan’s most prolific and successful producer. The release of her first album, AFFECTION was produced by Max Matsuura, and contains remixes by Hex Hector and Jonathan Peters.

With gaining popularity, Koda Kumi did a great job for Squaresoft singing the theme song (1000 no Kotoba) and opening song (real Emotion) for Final Fantasy X-2!

On September 21st, Kumi released a Best Of collection, entitled BEST ~first things~. Though the album was second to Mr. Children the first four days on the Oricon charts, it reached the top spot on the 25th. At the week's end, the album ranked #2 on the weekly charts and sold a highly impressive amount. Through the next week Kumi finally reached #1 on the weekly charts. To date, she has sold over 1.2 million copies and holds the best-selling female album of 2005, beating out many famous female artists, including Ayumi Hamasaki and BoA.

Most recently, Ku's single "you" placed #1 on the Oricon charts for it's first 3 days, keeping popular boyband TOKIO from the top position. The single's success continued throughout the week and reached #1 on the weekly charts selling over 72,000 copies, making it Kumi's first ever number one hit. "you" is the first single released by Kumi in a set of 12 singles in a 12 week period. The Following week the second single of the 12 set, "Birthday Eve", was released and grabbed the #6 position for the week (selling 44,294 copies of the limited pressing of 50,000 copies) while "you" took the 7th position. This marks the first time since Ai Otsuka's "Sakuranbo" and "Amanebo" singles in March of 2004 that a female singer has had two singles both in the top ten in the same week.

In addition to her singing career, Koda kumi also models for Christian Dior in Japan.

We highly recommend you get Koda Kumi's BEST - first things. Kumi gives fans her real Emotion plus more! Koda Kumi's dynamic BEST -first things release is packed with wonderful hits. Hits includes her first single "Take Back", "M.A.Z.E", "Butterfly", "Crazy 4 U", and much more! 2 CD with 22 of her best songs. Also include is a DVD of her music videos. The DVD contains 18 music videos that no Koda Kumi fans should miss. This compilation is great for people who is new to Kodo Kumi. This product is a collectible item of strictly limited stock. Get it now before it's too late!

Fergie ( Black Eyed Peas)

Fergie at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards

Stacy Ann Ferguson (born March 27, 1975), better known by her stage name Fergie, is an American pop/R&B singer-songwriter, rapper and actress. She is a former member of the kids' television series Kids Incorporated, and the girl group Wild Orchid. Ferguson was also a co-host of the television show Great Pretenders. She is currently a vocalist for the hip hop/pop group the Black Eyed Peas, as well as a solo artist, having released her debut album, The Dutchess, in 2006. The album has so far spawned three U.S. Billboard Hot 100 number one singles and five Top 5 hits, making The Dutchess the seventh album from a female artist to spawn five Top 5 hits.

Rhian Ramos Scandal ???

Will this be an everyday occurrence for Philippine celebrities?! Yesterday, it was the Matt Evans scandal breaking the news and now, Rhian Ramos is embroiled in a very ugly scandal involving so many men. The Rhian Ramos scandal also has a title ( o di ba naman!) just like the Matt Evans scandal. The Rhian Ramos scandal is entilted “Tikiman Sa Singapore” with Rhian’s photos attached to the email sent out.

Rhian Ramos

Rhian Ramos in an interview with Pep clarified that the alleged scandal photos were not from Singapore at all but from her audition for Marimar. “I remember those photos na. Kuha ‘yan when I auditioned for Marimar last year. That happened in one of the studios in GMA-7. Hindi kuha ‘yan sa Singapore. Noong unang nasabi sa akin about these photos, hindi ko na

ma-remember kung kelan ako nag-pose nang sexy. Never pa naman ako nagpapakuha na naka-two piece bikini. Now, that I’ve seen the photos, alam ko na.”

Rhian Ramos

“When they asked me nga to audition, wala akong dalang ganyang ka-sexy na damit. E, kailangan pala kaya sila na nag-provide. Sa totoo lang, I was really nervous noong pinasuot nila sa akin ‘yan. Kaya noong nasa dressing room ako, just for fun na mawala ang kaba ko for the audition, nagpakuha ako sa camera phone ko. Kumbaga, I was just playing around. Kasama ko pa nga ang isang stylist na kumuha ng picture.”

“‘Tsaka kung ano ‘yang suot ko, pinasuot din nila ‘yan sa ibang nag-audition for Marimar. Well, eventually the role when to Marian Rivera. Kaya old na ang mga photos na ‘yan,”

Rhian Ramos

A Wordpress.com blog site ( now closed ) first broke the story and claimed that the photos were taken when Rhian Ramos was in Singapore with celebrity lensman Jay Tablante. It also said that Rhian Ramos had a “special” project that’s why she was in Singapore with several photographers. Meanwhile the email said Rhian was in Singapore because she was hoping to be casted in TV Commercials in Singapore and even posed ” boldly” just to get a project.

Rhian Ramos meanwhile said she had an idea why her personal photos leaked out. “Nawala kasi yung phone ko na laman ang mga pictures na ‘yan. “I don’t know if somebody stole my phone or na-misplace ko and somebody hacked into it kaya nakuha nila ang mga laman ng phone ko. Nakalimutan ko na nga ang mga photos na ‘yan, e. Plus, hindi lang naman mga pictures ang nakuha nila roon but a lot of text messages from friends na kabiruan ko. So yun ang reason why this it all happening again sa akin.”

Rhian Ramos also said she is not that affected of the issue.

“I don’t want to get affected anymore kasi alam ko na natutuwa sila kapag umiiyak ako sa TV or nagagalit ako. Para kasing napagbibigyan ko sila. I’m praying for them na lang. Bahala na ang Diyos sa mga ginagawa nila sa akin at sa ibang tao.

“Basta ako, I’m working and doing what I know is best. If that is not enough for them, it’s fine. As long as wala akong nasasaktan na mga tao, nothing can break my spirit,” Rhian Ramos said.

Rhian Ramos stars in GMA Film’s soon to be showing movie, I.T.A.L.Y. with Mark Herras, Rufa Mae Quinto, Dennis Trillo and Paolo Contis shot in wherelse but Italy (surprise!lol). She is also a alternate host of Pinoy Idol Extra with Karylle.

My take on the issue? Well, i think Rhian Ramos is telling the truth because these pictures of the so-called Rhian Ramos scandal is just the same as the Marimar audition video, watch it here.

Characters Of Kahaani Hamaray Mahabharaat Ki

So just what can you expect when Ekta Kapoor decides to make a serial out of the epic called The Mahabharata? Jump cuts, freeze frames, flowing sarees and what have you… it’s all there.

Well, the ‘K’ Queen’s new epic daily Kahaani Hamaaray Mahabharat Ki (Monday-Thursday 9 pm on 9X) finally took off. Quite unlike BR Chopra’s version, this one starts off from the draupadi vastraharan episode, which many say was the root cause of the epic bloodbath.

Draupadi screaming, protesting, cursing, Yudishtir looking every bit a broken man after losing everything in the game of dice, Bheem clutching his mace, Arjun his bow and arrow, Bheeshma clenching his fists and the blind emperor Dhritarashtra clenching his fists in agony. This is pretty much how we are introduced to the epic characters.

Also as a marked departure from tradition, in the place of the Hastinapur courtroom where the action is said to have taken place, Ekta gets her actors out in the open with wild winds blowing away the flowing robes and locks.

Image Gallery:

The actors

A new actor plays Yuddhishtir, the eldest of the Pandavas. It probably would be too early to comment on the actor’s acting capabilities since he had no dialogues in the episode.

Aryan Vaid plays Duryodhan, the eldest of the Kauravas (and first cousin to the Pandavas) and quite looks the part he plays. And even though he doesn’t talk much, his brother (and sidekick) Dusashan does all the yelling for his brother. Nonetheless he does have a convincing screen presence.

Now for the most important character - Draupadi who is introduced in signature Ekta style. Her free flowing red saree reminds us of Prerna’s flowing red dupatta in Kasautii Zindagi Kay. Anita Hasanandani as Draupadi is good with her histrionics but fails to strike the right chord with her shrill voice. The incessant screeching, the glycerine eyes are tad too much to handle.
Shakuni, maternal uncle of the Kauravas, looks funny rather than the shrewd and cunning man he is meant to be.

Last but not the least, Makrand Deshpande replaces Harish Bhimani’s voice of Samay (Time) from the original. Mak plays Ved Vyas the sage who has written the epic and is shown visualising the whole Mahabharata

Special Effects

There’s little scope for sfx in kitchen politics. But Mahabharata offers a lot and Ekta makes the most of it. In the first episode itself we see Krishna’s chakra appearing from nowhere as if in a computer simulated game and saves the day for Draupadi.

And yes of course, there are flashes of thunder, a staple of the K-soaps, used generously to accentuate the painful pauses and shock and awe.

So that is pretty much what happens in the first 30-minute epic remake as the episode wraps up with a glimpse of the next where small screen’s dear old Om and Parvati (of Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii) as seen playing Ganga and Shantanu respectively.

Verdict

Overall, a fairly good beginning as Ekta has managed to hook the audience with one of the most pivotal and dramatic sequences from the epic. And she has managed to retain some curiosity as well. As for the future of the show, it may pick up after the well-known faces pop up in this epic saga. Till then keep watching!

Miss Universe 2008 - The most beautiful women in the universe

The most beautiful women on the universe will vie for the much coveted crown as Ms. Universe 2008. This Monday, July 14th, 80 of the loveliest ladies from all over the globe will gather for one spectacular pageant.

The prestigious event will be broadcasted live on ABS-CBN straight from Khanh Hoa, Vietnam and will be hosted by Jerry Springer, host of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and Melanie Brown, known as Mel B of the Spice Girls.

The Philippines will be represented in the Miss Universe 2008 by reigning Binibining Pilipinas-Universe Jennifer Barrientos. This 22 year old, 5’8" tall lady is a perfect beauty and brains embodiment and is an active youth leader in their church ministry. Jennifer is a former welcome ambassador for the Star World Hotel in Macau and is now a part-time model.

The winner of Miss Universe 2008 will follow in the footsteps of Riyo Mori, the crowned Miss Universe 2007. After winning the title, this beauty queen from Japan has traveled the globe as an advocate for HIV/AIDS education, research, and legislation.

Aside from the live telecast, ABS-CBN will also air a special pageant primer on Boy & Kris at 8:30 AM. Find out who among the 80 pretty ladies has the strong chance of bagging the crown. Miss Universe 2008 will also have special telecast on Studio 23 and on Velvet.

Miss Venezuela favorite to win Miss Universe 2008

Only a few days away from the 2008 Miss Universe crowning and one clear favorite emerges - Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza. Full name Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada, the 22-year-old Venezuela beauty currently holds the best odds to win the 57th edition of the prestigious beauty pageant Miss Universe. At the online sportsbook Bookmaker, Miss Venezuela is currently listed with odds +650 to win the pageant on Monday.

Dayana Mendoza beat out 27 other candidates to win Miss Venezuela 2007 in September last year and became the second woman from the Amazonas state to win the country's beauty pageant. Dayana Mendoza is currently working as a model with the famous Elite Model Management, which signs the winners of the popular TV show America's Next Top Model. An interesting fact about Miss Venezuela Dayana Mendoza is that she was once kidnapped in her country, but fortunately survived the awful experience. She will face 79 other contenders for the Miss Universe 2008 crown, her odds again are +650 at Bookmaker.

"Dyesebel" almost surpassed its highest rating

TV Ratings (July 4-6): "Dyesebel" almost surpassed its highest rating


Dyesebel almost equaled its rating (44.9 percent) on its pilot episode—which was also its highest rating so far—when it posted a rating of 44.3 percent last Friday, July 4, to once again take the overall lead in the primetime race.

Joaquin Bordado, which will end this week, also got a very high rating of 39.7 percent to come in second; followed by 24 Oras with 37.1 percent, Ako Si Kim Samsoon with 35.5 percent, and The Singing Bee with 25.5 percent to complete the Top 5. Ako Si Kim Samsoon also posted its highest rating so far but it fell down to No. 4 due to the higher rating of 24 Oras.

The rest of the Top 10 were occupied by Lobo, which will also end this week; Dalja's Spring; TV Patrol World; My Girl; and surprise entry Gobingo. Pinoy Dream Academy dropped to 11th place.

The daytime race belonged to Daisy Siete with a high 24.2 percent; closely followed by Magdusa Ka (23.5 percent) and Eat Bulaga! (23.2 percent). Completing the Top 5 are Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan and the last episode of Coffee Prince Rewind.

Bitoy's Funniest Videos was the No. 1 primetime show last Saturday, July 5, by virtue of its 31.5 percent rating. Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho was a close second with 31.3 percent.

Taking the third to fifth spots are Imbestigador (28.3 percent), Pinoy Idol (23 percent), and Pinoy Dream Academy (22.6 percent).

Long-running noontime show Eat Bulaga! topped the daytime race with 22.8 percent; followed by Wowowee (17.4 percent), Wish Ko Lang (16.3 percent), StarTalk (14.8 percent), and Pinoy Records (14.5 percent).

Sunday (July 6) primetime viewing was ruled by Mel & Joey with 24.9 percent. Coming in second was the results night of Pinoy Idol with 22.9 percent. Occupying the rest of the Top 5 are All Star K, Pinoy Dream Academy, and Goin' Bulilit.

Ful Haus came in sixth place while the exclusive interview of Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo in Sharon took the seventh spot.

Kap's Amazing Stories and Rated K tied at No. 8, the GMA-7 documentary Kalam came in ninth, and TV Patrol World took the tenth spot.

Finally, SOP ruled the daytime viewing with 17.6 percent; followed by Takeshi's Castle (15 percent), ASAP '08 (14.3 percent), Your Song (13.4 percent), and Pinoy Idol Extra (10.4 percent).

In the battle of showbiz talk shows, The Buzz got the upper hand against Showbiz Central.

Here are the comparative TV ratings of ABS-CBN and GMA-7 shows from July 4 to 6 based on the overnight ratings conducted by AGB Nielsen Philippines among Mega Manila households:

July 4 (Friday)

Non-Primetime:

SiS (GMA-7) 15.3%; Boy & Kris (ABS-CBN) 7.8%; Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) 12.3%

Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 23.2%; Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 17.5%

Daisy Siete (GMA-7) 24.2%; Magdusa Ka (GMA-7) 23.5%; Ligaw Na Bulaklak (ABS-CBN) 13.3%

Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan (GMA-7) 20.3%; El Cuerpo del Deseo (ABS-CBN) 16.1%

Coffee Prince Rewind (GMA-7) 19.2%; Naruto (ABS-CBN) 11.2%


Primetime:

Gobingo (GMA-7) 18.1%; Wheel of Fortune (ABS-CBN) 15.4%

24 Oras (GMA-7) 37.1%; TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 21.8%

Joaquin Bordado (GMA-7) 39.7%; The Singing Bee (ABS-CBN) 25.5%

Dyesebel (GMA-7) 44.3%; Lobo (ABS-CBN) 24%

Ako Si Kim Samsoon (GMA-7) 35.5%; My Girl (ABS-CBN) 20.3%

Dalja's Spring (GMA-7) 22.4%; Pinoy Dream Academy (ABS-CBN) 17.9%

Pinoy Idol Extra (GMA-7) 15%; Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS-CBN) 12.3%

Bubble Gang (GMA-7) 15.4%; Bandila (ABS-CBN) 5.3%


July 5 (Saturday)

Non-Primetime:

Pilipinas, Game KNB? (ABS-CBN) 11.6%; Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) 13.4%

Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 22.8%; Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 17.4%

StarTalk (GMA-7) 14.8%; Entertainment Live (ABS-CBN) 11.2%

Wish Ko Lang (GMA-7) 16.3%; Cinema FPJ (ABS-CBN) 13.9%

Pinoy Records (GMA-7) 14.5%; That's My Doc (ABS-CBN) 11.5%


Primetime:

Pinoy Idol (GMA-7) 23%; Kapitan Boom (ABS-CBN) 16.1%

Bitoy's Funniest Videos (GMA-7) 31.5%; Pinoy Dream Academy (ABS-CBN) 22.6%

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (GMA-7) 31.1%; TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 19.3%

Imbestigador (GMA-7) 28.3%; XXX (ABS-CBN) 15.2%

Songbird (GMA-7) 13.8%; Sports Unlimited (ABS-CBN) 7.1%


July 6 (Sunday)

Non-Primetime:

Takeshi's Castle (GMA-7) 15%; SOP (GMA-7) 17.6%; ASAP ‘08 (ABS-CBN) 14.3%

Pinoy Idol Extra (GMA-7) 10.4%; Tasya Fantasya (gma-7) 7.6%; Your Song (ABS-CBN) 13.4%

Showbiz Central (GMA-7) 8.9%; The Buzz (ABS-CBN) 10%


Primetime:

Kap's Amazing Stories (GMA-7) 14.1%; Rated K (ABS-CBN) 14.1%

Pinoy Idol (GMA-7) 22.9%; Goin' Bulilit (ABS-CBN) 18.2%

Mel & Joey (GMA-7) 24.9%; Pinoy Dream Academy (ABS-CBN) 19.2%

All Star K (GMA-7) 20.5%; Sharon (ABS-CBN) 16.2%

Ful Haus (GMA-7) 16.4%; TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 11.1%

Kalam (GMA-7) 12.1%; Sunday's Best: High School Musical 2 (ABS-CBN) 6%

Shilpa Shetty meets the British PM ???

Shetty with Gordon Brown Shilpa Shetty received the prestigious Global Cultural Diversity Award in the UK. Shetty, of course, considers it to be a privilege for the honour bestowed on her. “Jackie Chan was honoured with The Global Cultural Diversity Award last year and I have been chosen this year and I feel truly admired and respected,” she says. And what’s more, she even visited Downing Street after that to meet the British PM no less! “Yes, as a part of this ceremony, I met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his residence. It was such a privilege meeting him,” she says.

Shilpa Shetty’s debut production would be an action comedy

This is the latest in the chain of news to Shilpa Shetty turning producer with S2 Global Productions. Her debut production would be an action comedy to be directed by Manish Jha. Shilpa had searched for the script for as long as six months to giver her final nod.

The script is an original one, without any influence from Hollywood script and has girls in central action roles. Shilpa is playing one of the lead roles and the grapevine has it that Bipasha Basu has also been finalized for a parallel role.

Shilpa has reportedly roped in Hollywood stunt director Tom Delmar to choreograph the action scenes and train the actors. The movie will be co-produced by UTV Motion Pictures.

Miss Universe 2008 - Three Vietnamese to join Miss Universe jury

Rosalina Tran Lydster, a Jury member

VietNamNet Bridge – By July 6, the names of seven members of the jury for the preliminary night (July 8) had been announced, including three Vietnamese or overseas Vietnamese.

They are Nguyen Cong Khe, Editor-in-chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Vietnamese-American Rosalina Tran Lydster, the co-designer of the crown for Miss Universe 2008, and Thuy Tran, a Vietnamese-American fashion and art expert.

The five other jury members include hair designer Adel Chabbi, Vice Chairman of NBC channel Dean McFliker, designer Fred Howard, and PR expert Dave Tomberlin.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori will host the preliminary night with a Vietnamese host, Nguyen Khac Nguyen.

The event on July 8 is very significant because the jury will choose the top 15 beauties of the Miss Universe pageant. However, the list will not be announced until the final round on July 14.

The preliminary round will be held at 8pm (local time) at the Crown Convention Centre in Diamond Bay Resort, Nha Trang city with two major parts: swimwear and night gown.

In the final round, the jury will select the top ten girls, who will participate in swimwear, night gown and interview competitions to compete for the pageant’s prizes. The top ten beauties will receive $500 and a Rogaska crystal trophy.

According to the organising board of Miss Universe 2008 competition, the jury of the final round on July 14 will see Miss Universe 2004 Jennifer Hawkins, famous actress of NBC Nadine Velazquez, Donald Trump Jr, billionaire Donald Trump’s son, well-known Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli and hair designer Louis Licari.

Miss Universe 2008 contestants

The jury will number 12 so perhaps some Vietnamese can join the jury. The final round will be aired live in 170 countries and territories.

The Crown Convention Centre in Nha Trang will be equipped with an international light and sound system and LED screen of 125sq.m to serve the final round, the most important event of Miss Universe pageant.

At 4pm on July 9 (Vietnam time), the poll for Best in Traditional Costume of NBC TV channel will be kicked off at http://www.nbc.com/Miss_Universe_2008/. The winner will receive $1,000 and a trophy. The Best in Traditional Costume and Miss Friendly titles will be announced during the final round on July 14. Miss Friendly will be selected based on a poll of the 80 contestants. The prize for Miss Friendly will also be $1,000 and a trophy.

Shah Rukh Khan is too old for Kismet ???

Shah Rukh Khan

Aziz Mirza's Kismet Konnection does not star Shah Rukh Khan, the leading man of his previous films, because the director feels he is now too old to play young roles.

"Shah Rukh is too old for the role in Kismet Konnection . The role is about the life of a 26-year-old and Shah Rukh is 40 plus. It doesn't suit him," Mirza said.

But Mirza has his other blue-eyed actor Juhi Chawla in a supporting role. "Juhi does a little cameo role in the film. She has done it exceptionally well and I am very happy with her," he said.

Shahid Kapur, known for his chocolate boy looks, was Mirza's choice to play the protagonist opposite Vidya Balan. But this pairing has come under much criticism.

However, the seasoned director insists they make a good pair. "If they would not have paired well, why would I have cast them together?

"Shahid and Vidya look very nice in the film and that is the reason why I've cast them. I come from a socio-political background and I have made the film keeping my sensibilities in mind.

There were media reports about Vidya looking too "mature" for Shahid, but Mirza rubbishes them all.
"I don't think she looks old. It's the media image that has been created after her role in Parineeta and probably that's stuck on to her," he said.

Kismet Konnection, which releases on July 18, is the story of an architect running out of luck and how he meets a girl who becomes his lucky charm.

Mirza, who has earlier made movies like Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman, Yes Boss, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and Chalte Chalte, took a hiatus from the film industry after his wife's death but returned last year to announce this venture.

"I have been out for a long time. It is my children who asked me to come back. I was working on some other scripts, but when my daughter shared the script of this film. I asked her to work on it," Mirza said.
The director thinks the film is truly unusual and says it was made almost effortlessly.

"Somehow I feel that the film was destined to be made. From the time we got ourselves involved in it to the release, it is happening all on its own," he said.

Miss Philippines says she is going home as Miss Universe

Miss Philippines Jennifer Barrientos is confident she will go home to the Philippines crowned as the 57th Miss Universe. Jennifer Barrientos is a 22-year-old Tourism graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), she hails from San Mateo, Rizal. She stands at 5′ 8″ and had previously worked as a Welcome Ambassador for the Star World Hotel in Macau after earning her BS Tourism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.

But the bookmakers has the odds in favor of Miss Venezuela to win the Miss Universe crown. Rounding out the Top 20 predicted odds to win Miss Universe are Miss Mexico, Miss India, MissPanama, Miss Puerto Rico, Miss United States, Miss Czech Republic, Miss Colombia, Miss South Africa, Miss Vietnam, Miss Belgium, Miss China, Miss Dominican Republic, Miss Korea, Miss Kosovo, Miss Greece, Miss Albania, Miss Ireland, Miss Brazil, and Miss Croatia.

The Philippines as you can see is nowhere near the odds. Note that other Asian beauties figured prominently in the online bet. Anyhow, i hope Jennifer go up against the odds and really win the title.

Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 2008 Jennifer Barrientos will be vying for the Miss Universe crown, along with 79 other women from different countries, in the 57th Miss Universe Beauty Pageant to be held at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008. It will be shown in the Philippines live on ABS-CBNat 8 AM, it will also be shown live on The Hallmark Channel also at the same time.

In the send-off party held in her honor at the Mandarin Oriental Suites in Gateway Mall, Araneta, Quezon City, on June 12, Jennifer expressed her confidence that she’ll bring home the crown and make the Philippines proud.

“I don’t have doubts in myself and, of course I have great p

eople who helped me and I believe in them. I know deep in my heart, really, mananalo ako this year,” she said in a TV interview.

Jennifer Barrientos said she is driven by the desire to achieve her goals. She attributes her confidence in her being an active youth leader in their church ministry and from the lessons in faith from her experience as a beauty queen.

“Joining Binibining Pilipinas taught me lessons in faith as well—faith in myself, in the things I can do for others, how I can make a difference,” she enthuses with a charming smile.

Jennifer also claims that she values her Binibining Pilipinas experience as it teaches her different values by the day, as she goes about performing her various duties as a reigning queen.

“Most importantly, I have learned a great deal about being independent, how to effectively do things on my own,” she adds.

The eldest child of Nestor and Elena Barrientos, Jennifer is always eager to meet new people and hone her talents. She unwinds by engaging in water sports and playing volleyball.

“I intend to pursue the ongoing campaign for awareness on HIV and AIDS,” Jennifer answers when asked about her plans for advocacy.

She also adds that she intends to focus on the rights of women and children as well as the development of the arts, particularly music.

“I would want to pursue advocacies close to my heart as I believe I will be more productive promoting these causes,” Jennifer said in her quest to become the most beautiful woman in the world.

Filipinos in PETA Sexiest Vegetarians of 2008

Filipino celebrities Alicia Mayer, Chin-Chin Gutierrez, Geneva Cruz, Isabel Roces, Yasmien Kurdi and Raymond Bagatsing made it in this year’s list of PETA’s Worldwide online poll of the Sexiest Vegetarians of 2008.

Faye Wong was crowned as Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian woman for 2008, while securing the title as Asia’s Sexiest Vegetarian man was Indian actor-director Amitabh Bachchan. PETA, which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, has been very active in pushing vegetarianism and animal care, at the same time tapping popular celebrities to gain attention for their advocacy.

British pop star Leona Lewis and Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis were named the Sexiest Vegetarians of 2008 by tens of thousands of votes on PETA.org. Hollywood stars Kristen Bell, Emily Deschanel, Milo Ventimiglia, Casey Affleck, Abbie Cornish, Hayden Panettiere and Jason Schwartzman, among others also made it on the list

Previous winners of PETA’s World’s Sexiest Vegetarians contest include Carrie Underwood, Prince, Kevin Eubanks, Natalie Portman, Shania Twain, Chris Martin, Andre 3000, Tobey Maguire, Josh Hartnett, Alicia Silverstone and Lauren Bush.

Vegetarianism has steadily grown in popularity and public awareness over the past couple of years. Advocates acknowledge the significance of having vegetarian celebrities as ambassadors to promote the cause on a worldwide scale. Here in the Philippines, the call to consume only vegetables and fruits instead of meat has drawn support from some popular personalities.

Former Miss Universe Sushmita is Back in “Do Knot Disturb”

Former 1994 Miss Universe and Bollywood actress Sushmita Sen is set to break her 1 year-long absence from the silver screen with David Dhawan’s comedy Do Knot Disturb. She plays an “unusual” role in Do Knot Disturb.

“I am playing a very unusual character and people will love it,” says Sushmita, whose co-stars in the film are Riteish Deshmukh, Rajpal Yadav, Ranbir Shorey and Sohail Khan. This is also for the very first time she will be working with another beauty queen — Lara Dutta in a film.

Lightly goes it, Sush?

Sushmita Sen (TOI Photo)

A prolonged absence from the big screen, weighty issues, legal trouble and a pet project that’s been in the works for ages now – a mere actress, you’d imagine, would chew off all her manicured nails if she had all this to contend with.

But then, no one ever said that the sen-suous Sushmita Sen was ever just an actress. Sush was, more than ever, strongly evocative of the ‘diva’ tag that’s been applied to her when she came to the city recently.

Dressed in a LBD, shooting a sultry number with Govinda for the David Dhawan-directed Do Knot Disturb , Sush is, as she put it, “too happy”. “I don’t know how to react to half of the things people say,” she says nonchalantly, when asked about her weight. “I’m very comfortable in my own skin. Fat, thin, beautiful or ugly – I’m happy being who I am. And what my weight is or how big I look is not anyone’s business, only mine, and I’m just too happy with it!”



And what about her production, Rani Laxmi Bai ... hasn’t it been rolling for quite some time now? “Yes, it has been rolling for a while now and we are taking our own sweet time to ensure that everything is where we want it. The prep work has started and the script is ready. The shooting will start sometime next year,” she says. Now that she’s admitted that they’ve been taking their ‘own sweet time’, would she also say why exactly has the film been delayed?

“To begin with, my research took a year-and-a-half and the film has been talked about since then. But when you make a film on a character like Rani Laxmi Bai , you don’t want to take chances. The first draft of the script was ready six months later and we have the fourth draft today. I’m sort of happy with it. But I’ll take as long as it takes to make this film because it is not about just churning out a film. It is about making history,” she says.

Courtesy : BCCL Photo

For Do Knot Disturb, however, Sush has more straightforward plans – just entertainment. “This is a quintessential David Dhawan film. The character I play is an extremely unusual one,” she says. Path-breaking acting coming up? “Not path-breaking acting – it is a David Dhawan film – but yes, path-breaking entertainment,” she says.

What is also entertaining is her answer when you ask her if she’s single. “Hmm, let’s see. Okay, maybe I’m seeing someone,” she laughs. Is that a yes or a no? “A yes or no will be too definite an answer. Maybe is a lot more exciting. But I never said yes and I never said no, I said maybe,” she smiles again. Is it a man from the industry, is he interesting – something? “If I’m in love, the man has to be interesting,” she laughs.

But she definitely is a single mom, and loves the role. “Renee (her daughter) is doing wonderfully,” she says. Does she think it’s fair that single men have much more trouble adopting children than single women? “It was difficult to adopt for a single woman too, about a decade ago. It’s easy today because there is more information and a precedent that people can follow. But when men adopt, especially a girl child, the authorities have to be run a background check and take them through a lot of things. And I sort of agree with that. Making life difficult for them in general is unfair, though,” she says.

What’s been making life difficult for Sush, however, is the case pertaining to her Land Cruiser. There was a case against her for evading octroi on the car, which she was supposed to have imported. Sush clarifies, “The matter is still in court. We had gone to the High Court with a submission that we felt wronged, as we never imported the car. The effort was then to find out who imported it. It’s coming to an end now.”