Meet UK's Moodiest Celebrities

They rant. They spit. They pout. They're troubled. They are UK's moodiest celebrities and their attitude almost always sends them to controversies and bad media exposure.


In a poll conducted by alternative remedy company Karma St. John's Wort, majority of the 1,500 people who were surveyed made a verdict of unwanted honor to ten of the most popular British celebrities today.

First on the list is Sir Paul McCartney's ex-wife and former model Heather Mills. According to a spokesperson for Karma, Heather Mils earned the title grumpiest celebrity in UK when she rant on British TV show GMTV about the media's treatment on her. “Heather’s rant on GMTV when she likened herself to Princess Diana earned her the place of the moodiest celebrity.”

Tailing her on the list is cellphone-throwing, police-spitting supermodel Naomi Campbell. With high-publicity reports of her troubles with personal assistants and police officers, nobody might object why she made it on the list. "...Naomi Campbell makes a worthy runner-up. She often looks down in the mouth and her diva-like behavior has set off a string of outbursts" says Karma.

Victoria Beckham, famous for her signature pout, ranked third while rocker Pete Doherty and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher came fourth and fifth in the survey. The sixth spot belonged to troubled Rehab singer Amy Winehouse.

The complete list of UK's Moodiest Celebrities are as follows:

1. Heather Mills
2. Naomi Campbell
3. Victoria Beckham
4. Pete Doherty
5. Noel Gallagher
6. Amy Winehouse
7. MJ John Prescott
8. Chris Martin
9. Jack Dee
10. Anne Robinson

Sister Ashlee Defends Jessica Simpson's Fuller Figure

Jessica Simpson recently performed at a concert in Florida wearing high-waisted jeans, obviously gaining pounds. As photos of her Radio 99.9 Kiss performance surfaced on the internet, the fashion critics were quick to blast her fuller figure. Little did they know, the sexy singer has a feisty sister who would be quick to defend her when it comes to weight issues – the equally successful pop rock singer Ashlee Simpson.


Ashlee Simpson wrote on her blog about how "embarrassing and belittling" were the comments for her fuller sister. Her journal reads,

“I am completely disgusted. Since when did a woman's weight become newsworthy? How can we expect teenage girls to love and respect themselves in an environment where we criticise a size two figure? A week after the inauguration of US President Barack Obama and with such a feeling of hope in the air for our country, I find it completely embarrassing and belittling to all women to read about a woman's weight or figure. All women come in different shapes, sizes, and forms and just because you're a celebrity, there shouldn't be a different standard."

Aside from sister Ashlee Simpson, there were also other people who came to defend Jessica over her weight gain. Her personal trainer Harley Pasternak stressed out that Jessica is not fat, she just has “curves where a woman needs to have curves. She's still sexy. She's still a beautiful woman. And I have no problem with the way she looks."

According to reports, Jessica Simpson's boyfriend Tony Romo also had no problem with Jessica's new body figure (which is really quiet far from her “Daisy Duke” days). “He thinks Jess is hot no matter what. He wants to date a girl who can have a few beers, ribs, fries and dessert," says a source.

Well, if there's one person who would welcome Jessica Simpson's new look, it's her family and loved ones. Of course, feisty little sister Ashlee Simpson-Wentz really did a good job.

Still, there's one person who can objectively comment on Jessica Simpson's figure – the reporter who interviewed her during the Florida show, DJ Scott Simon: "People are saying she put on a few pounds. But she looked fabulous. Confident, healthy and happy."

Needless to say, the reporter went on to dismiss claims that the sexy singer has lost her good looks – Jessica Simpson may have become fuller, but she's now feeling more confident and happy with her body. Thanks to her sister Ashlee Simpson and those who have stood beside her against the weight issue, Jessica Simpson's fuller figure will no longer be a source of wide criticism, for now.

Extravagance Amidst The Crisis: Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week

There's no economic crisis in Paris...


...I mean in Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. With flowing dramatic gowns, furs and tasseled suits, there's certainly no room for economic crisis.

While sales are falling and the luxury executives have cut costs and jobs, lavishness and exclusiveness are still the dynamic force of the fashion shows. And this extravagance comes with reasons:

“Haute Couture is unique. The skills that go into haute couture are disappearing and it's a privilege to buy these clothes," says a former public relations executive who come to see the Paris Haute Couture shows.

"Sometimes I get surprised, you hear there is a crisis but you still see people shopping... When you want something exclusive, you have to go to haute couture. My daughter is getting married and I want a dress specially made for her - and for myself, and sisters and family," shares an obviously wealthy Jordanian Dior client who attended the event.

"If you react to the crisis, you can't produce high fashion," Italian designer Giorgio Armani tells the media after the show. "High fashion is like watching a beautiful film, it belongs to a different world."

We don't want to argue that. Haute Couture shows exist for luxury, exclusiveness, and extravagance (where dresses can easily cost upward of 30,000 euros or $39,430!). If you do not belong the wealthy and the privileged, then that simply means haute couture shows are not made for you.

But is it true that haute couture shows are not affected by economic crisis?

Spectators have observed from the flamboyant Paris Haute Couture shows that there were fewer models than usual.

Come to think of it, luxurious gowns and dresses may not be affected by global downturn but fashion models are slowly feeling the chill.

From the job that the fashion world have bring them up, models may come falling down like this one below:

Amputated Mariana Bridi da Costa Dies

Feet and hands amputated to save her life from the drug-resistant bacteria, Mariana Bridi da Costa died last Saturday.


Despite efforts of Brazilian doctors to spare the already amputated body of the young model from the drug-resistant bacteria, Bridi's body no longer reacted to the potent drugs pumped into her to stop the spread of infection. The bacteria in her veins have spread from her head to her toes. By Saturday, she was already dead from the infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an extremely drug-resistant bacteria. While it is described to have “low antibiotic susceptibility,” it also easily mutates to develop resistance to new drugs. Just imagine how quickly the bacteria have spread into Bridi's body – she was misdiagnosed with kidney stones on late December but when she returned back to the hospital on January 3 for the seemingly ordinary urinary tract infection, she was already on “life-threatening low blood pressure.” The bacteria caused her to lose her feet and hands, and eventually her life.

What a pity! At 20, Mariana Bridi da Costa had a promising modeling career. She was one of the many Hispanic women who use their phenomenal beauty to alleviate their family from poverty. Born to a taxi driver father and a house cleaner mother, Bridi started modeling at the age of 14. When she turned 18, she earned the right of being a beauty queen as she became a finalist to the Brazilian Miss World pageant. She had also won international bikini competitions. Last year, she ranked fourth in the Face of the Universe competition in South Africa. She was to participate next month in the second stage of a modeling competition held in Sao Paulo by Brazilian model scout Dilson Stein, the one who discovered supermodel Gisele Bundchen.

Mariana Bridi da Costa's funeral was at the town of Marechal Floriano. With the early death of the model and beauty queen, the only consolation that her family had cling on to was the fact that she did not suffer long from her illness. “God is comforting our hearts because he wanted her to be with him now,” her father had said. Outside the hospital where she died, Bridi's aunt also told reporters “I believe that the serenity on her face came from this spiritual comfort.”

Infection Cuts Off Model's Hands And Feet!

Models beware! Urinary infection may cut off your dearest assets.


Mariana Bridi da Costa is a 20-year old Brazilian model and beauty queen who lose her hands and feet due to severe urinary infection.

The young beauty who made it twice to the Miss World-Brazil finals and had participated in the Miss Bikini International pageant in China was sedated in a Brazilian hospital and was on artificial respiration after being amputated.

According to reports, the model was diagnosed with an infection by the Pseudomonas aeroginosa bacterium. “Septicemia set in in her limbs, cutting off circulation and forcing doctors to amputate.”

Poor beauty! Her boyfriend had revealed that she fell ill on December 30, but was initially misdiagnosed with kidney stones. “The infection quickly spread, causing her to go back to hospital for tests that revealed her condition. Surgeons had to act to remove her damaged hands and feet.”

“The concern is over her life,” says the model's father in a newspaper interview.

Between this life and death situation, Mariana Bridi da Costa's family had to make a tough decision. They chose to have the model's hands and feet amputated than letting her die with the infection.



Read how a 26-year old model without left arm rose to become a top model, HERE.

Busty Virgin Mary Models!

OMG! Dressing up busty models like that of Virgin Mary will definitely cause outrage, especially in the religious country of Chile.


Ricardo Oyarzun, a prominent Chilean fashion designer, experimented with his craft when he tried to organize a fashion show where busty models, some exposing their near-naked breast, would ramp the catwalk dressed like the most-loved woman of the church.

The Catholic church condemned the plan of the fashion designer, arguing that the designer's artistic concept was offensive: “Beneath an arguable presentation of artistic expression is an ambiguous understanding of the freedom of expression, a lack of respect for the reverence millions of Chileans have for the virgin. It is a threat against the basic human right with respect to religion, protected by the state.”

The designer, however, believed there was nothing offensive of the fashion show. "There is no pornography here, there's no sex, there are no virgins menstruating or feeling each other up.” He argued that his artistic designs which include religious icons were inspired by the Virgin Mary but not intended to represent her.

On the side of the fashion designer and his supporters, they were offended by the censorship of the church. Oyarzun had even received telephone threats and had excrement smeared on his doorstep which he believed to have come from people who were against the show.

On the side of the church, the prohibition of the event was a way of protecting the rights of people who were deeply offended by the concept of the fashion show. A statement from Chile's Episcopal Conference had announced "We look on with special pain and deplore those acts which seek to tarnish manifestations of sincere love toward the Virgin Mary, which end up striking at the dignity of womankind by presenting her as an object of consumption.”

But as the court favored the controversial fashion show and a conservative group failed to block the event, the catwalk show with busty Virgin Mary models is expected to be held later today at a Santiago nightclub. With the many negative critics coming from majority of the Chilean people, however, we wonder how the show will take effect.

Barack's Inauguration Welcomes Change

“Change has come to America!” says the banner of the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Hussein Obama. As the first black president of America, he promises new changes in governance that spark hope among the American people amidst problems of war and economic crisis.


It's the expected changes in American politics then that have caused Barack's inauguration last Tuesday to be star-studded. Aside from the millions of people who braved the frigid Washington temperature to witness the inauguration ceremony, there were also many celebrities who attended the event. For one, the new president's inauguration ceremony was serenaded by top music performers like Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Faith Hill, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Lopez, and Marc Anthony. Hollywood actors Leonardo De Caprio, Lucy Liu, Denzel Washington, Hayden Panettiere, and supermodel Tyra Banks were also present during the event.

Even the frock of the first lady, Michelle Obama, did not miss the eyes of the fashion critics. Her simple but elegant white gown by young designer Jason Wu was well-praised. The gown seemed to perfectly suit the said “changes” in governance for it simply discourages over-spending.

Indeed, President Barack Obama's call to joint efforts has unquestionably solicited supportive responses from many Americans, ordinary and privileged citizens alike. But while the support to the new president is outstanding, Barack Obama has also to meet this great expectation that have been placed on him. Its only after meeting this soaring expectations from his million supporters that he can honestly say, “Change has come to America!”

Fashion War: Anne Hathaway Vs Kate Hudson

If you think Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson are just battling in their new film, Bride Wars, think again.


The two adorable Hollywood actresses are not just quarreling for the perfect wedding in the romantic comedy Bride Wars, they're also into some kind of fashion war as they battle it out during the Bride Wars photo calls.

First on the press trail for their film, Kate Hudson came in Temperley leather pencil skirt and Anne Hathaway wore the nice-fitting jeans and a mumsy wrap cardi. The press was quick to assume there's a styling competition going on.

Then in a photo call in Paris, both ladies came in killer heels. Anne Hathaway matched her “devilish” red shoes with a beige dress with teeny corset waist. Kate Hudson, on the other hand, posed for the camera in a belted Louis Vuitton dress with jewels on the hem.


There's definitely a fashion catfight going on! Who do you think will win in the raging fashion war, Anne Hathaway or Kate Hudson?

A Censorship Investigation For Golden Globe Winners?

Looks like the 2009 Golden Globe Awards will be a lot controversial than the previous years. This time, it's not because of some stars who came to the Hilton Hotel in their fabulous or awful frocks – it's the vulgar speeches of some respected people in Hollywood, which have sparked a censorship investigation.


After the NBC telecast of the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards last Sunday night, 18 complaints have been received by the Federal Communications Commission. This has prompted FCC to launch a censorship investigation against the offensive remarks and gestures being witnessed on the awarding ceremony.

Reports also had it that top actors Colin Farrell, Seth Rogen, and film director Darren Aronofsky were among the stars who sparked the censorship investigation. Colin Farell and Seth Rogen made jokes about cocaine while Darren Aronofsky gave the dirty-finger gesture to actor Mickey Rourke.

According to The Los Angeles Times, the FCC "is reviewing the program for possible violations of indecency rules... after receiving multiple complaints."

Impromptu speeches of Hollywood stars during awarding nights are always admirable. Unmasked from the many characters they portray on screen, the wit they show on stage (or on their seats) simply manifest their raw talent to entertain. Worthy of censorship investigation or not, one thing's for sure: without the jokes and/or “indecencies” during awarding nights, it would surely be boring.

Theatrical Katie Holmes For Miu Miu

Katie Holmes a.k.a. Mrs. Tom Cruise is the new face of Prada's clothing line Miu Miu.


This time for Miu Miu, the 30-year old actress who was made famous by portraying Joey Potter in the 90s hit teen drama series Dawson's Creek is far from her Capeside jeans and fleeces. A dressed Katie Holmes looks dramatic in Fellini-inspired photos done by Mert Alas and Marcus Pigot.

Judging from the photos, especially the one above in which Katie Homes not just posed but also demonstrated her dramatic abilities as she placed her hand into a burning flame, Vogue is clever to conclude that Katie Holmes is being portrayed by Miu Miu as a "luminous icon radiating a sense of mystery and theatricality."






Check out the casting page for many theatre auditions!

Rebel Heart-Throb Leonardo DiCaprio Now Believes In Marriage

A “grown-up” Leonardo DiCaprio reveals how he rebelled against being a heart-throb but also admits his belief in marriage.


Few years ago, he was the magnificent actor Leonardo DiCaprio, made famous by portraying Jack Dawson from the 1997 blockbuster film Titanic, which have received 11 Oscar awards. It was in this highest grossing film of all time that he became a superstar. He posed for many magazine covers, did succeeding international box office films, and became the most searched personality on the internet. He was an instant household name worldwide , a sex symbol, a heart-throb.

But would you believe that Leonardo DiCaprio was not enjoying the “Leo-Mania” after all?

In one of his recent interviews, still magnificent Leonardo DiCaprio, now 34 years old and engaged to his supermodel girlfriend Bar Rafaeli, says he did not like being the number one poster boy.

“Titanic was a period of rebellion for me. I was portrayed as the world’s number one poster boy, a heart-throb. It wasn’t what I wanted to be at 24. It was never the recognition I wanted. The whole experience was so shallow and empty. That’s why I took a break. I was conscious that I needed to do something different.”

And while the young Leonardo DiCaprio rebelled against being a hearth-throb, he also repelled marriage – something that's already an open book to millions of his fans.

So, this will come as great news to the fans of the famous Hollywood bachelor then:

“I absolutely believe in marriage. In saying that I realize I am contradicting everything I’ve said before. Yes, I want to get married and have children... It sounds like the ignorance of youth to me. When did I say those things? Three or Four years ago? Hey, we grow up real fast,” Leonardo now admits.

Surprise, surprise!

Red Gisele Bundchen For Elle Magazine

A fiery all-red Gisele Bundchen will appear in Elle Magazine, this time to promote the (RED) Products.

In an effort to support the international brand funding medicine for AIDS victims, the world's richest supermodel generously lends her charm as she poses on Elle Magazine appareled in (RED) products from Emporio Armani, Converse, and GAP and holding a (RED) iPod Nano. Her blooming red photos will appear in Elle France on January 17 and in the February and March issues of 30 other international editions. The magazine is expected to reach 20 million readers worldwide.

Gisele has been a supporter of (RED) since 2006, when it was founded by Bono of U2 along with American philanthropist Bobby Shriver.

Gisele's appearance for (RED) is just one of the many humanitarian efforts of the 27-year Brazilian supermodel. “I grew up in a country strongly affected by poverty. The face of suffering isn’t an abstract thing for me and I’ve always said to myself that, if I could do something to help, I would,” she admits.

Aside from the supermodel (who will soon to be Mrs. Tom Brady), Elle Magazine's (RED) issue will also feature the exclusive interview of Hollywood bombshell Scarlett Johansson about her last year's trip to (RED) projects in Rwanda, as well as a letter from Bono about the problem of AIDS in Africa.

66th Annual Golden Globe Awards 2009

Thanks to the glamorous stars (as well as Hollywood worst dressers), the 66th Golden Globe Awards, handed out annually by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) successfully commanded wide public attention for motion pictures and television like it did in the past.

Winners for the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards 2009 received their awards last January 11, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Here's this year's list of Golden Globe Awards winners:

MOTION PICTURES:

Picture, Drama: "Slumdog Millionaire."

Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Vicky Christina Barcelona."

Actor, Drama: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

Actress, Drama: Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road."

Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Colin Farrell, "In Bruges."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky."

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."

Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, "The Reader."

Foreign Language Film: "Waltz With Bashir."

Animated Film: "Wall-E."

Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Original Score: A.R. Rahman, "Slumdog Millionaire."

Original Song: "The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen), "The Wrestler."


TELEVISION:

Series, Drama: "Mad Men."

Actor, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment."

Actress, Drama: Anna Paquin, "True Blood."

Series, Musical or Comedy: "30 Rock."

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock."

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Tina Fey, "30 Rock."

Miniseries or Movie: "John Adams."

Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Linney, "John Adams."

Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Paul Giammatti, "John Adams."

Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Laura Dern, "Recount."

Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams."

Also check out advice for actors from Golden Globes and Oscar-Winning Actress Hilary Swank, HERE.

The End Of The Hourglass Woman

Women's stressful careers today might just put an end to the classic hourglass figure.


Made popular by voluptuous Marilyn Monroe, the hourglass figure is the woman's curvy shape of tiny waist, wide hips, and big boobs. According to studies, women who possess the classic hourglass figure (usually those with a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7, where the waist circumference is 70 percent of the hips or lower) have higher fertility rates and less chance of chronic disease.

However, experts suggest that the hourglass figure among women are dying out, and this they blamed to career-oriented women with demanding and stressful jobs. “Women who work release more hormones that help them become physically stronger, so they can deal with the stress of high-powered jobs,” says researcher Elizabeth Cashdan. As a result, women develop fewer curves, small boobs, and no hips – more like the slim figure of Madonna.

But how do women see the end of the hourglass figure? According to researchers, the demanding nature of the jobs carried out by today's high-powered women has, in fact, influence them to prefer a leaner physique, “with weight around the middle rather than the hips.”

To prove the study right, Elizabeth Cashdan and her fellow researchers traveled to 37 countries to measure the waist-to-hip ratio.

The conclusion:
"Waist-to-hip ratio may be a useful signal to men... but whether men prefer it should depend on the degree to which they want their mates to be strong, tough, economically successful and politically competitive."

"And from a woman's perspective, men's preferences are not the only thing that matters. This is about trade-offs. The human body is a compromise," she added.

Ad Campaigns Unite Hottest Supermodels

Looks like the trend for advertising campaigns these days is to get hot supermodels work together for ad campaigns' photo shoots.


For DSquared's latest spring/summer '09 campaign, here's the wonderful photo of Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista in an artistic portrayal of girl fighting. The photo was shot by Steven Meisel.

Many were curious about what were they fighting. Was it over who's the hottest supermodel or who scored the better campaigns for 2008? Nah. For me, it's more like a symbolic depiction of black models effort to share the same recognition for white models in the world of modeling.

On another ad campaign, it's the showdown of superstars Kate Moss and Gisele Bundchen, the greatest iconic fashion models to date. Versace unite their supermodel charms for its Spring 2009 Ad Campaign. The campaign was shot by Mario Testino and the images were featured in a new issue of Vanity Fair.


By the way, judging from the photo above, it seemed like Kate Moss made some lovely curves and Gisele Bundchen was the waif one.

Model Liskula Cohen Sues Google

Calling a 36-year old model a “skank” and “an old hag” is definitely not a good idea, especially if it gets published on blog.

Liskula Cohen, 5'10” Canadian model, filed a lawsuit against Google after roughly criticized in one blog entry published on its Google's subsidiary, Blogger.com.

The blog reportedly referred Liskula Cohen as a the No. 1 skanky superstar and “desperate '40-something' who may have been hot 10 years ago. Desperation seeps from her soul, if she even has one.”

According to the model's lawyer, Liskula discovered the blog from modeling clients who were “concerned about Cohen’s image and its relationship to the client’s products.” Distressed, she sued Google for defamation and sought a court order that compelled the giant American Internet-advertising company to identify the blogger.

Liskula Cohen was famous for being a Vogue model, aside from doing ad campaigns for Georgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre Jeans, Versace, Holt Renfrew, Husky, and Montana.

Distressing indeed was the comment against Liskula Cohen that many would sympathized with the model for filing a lawsuit against Google. But when her distress falls down, she might as well enjoy the publicity. After all, except for the Google issue, there aren't much modeling news about her these days.

Top 10 Earning Supermodels From 2008

The world of fashion was predicted to fall down this year because of said global economic crisis. So while it would appear hard for top fashion models to earn much this 2009, here's the list of the top supermodel earners from 2008 – modeling out how they made their incomes:


1. Gisele Bundchen - $35 million
The world's highest paid supermodel and the richest supermodel to date, 27-year old Gisele Bundchen bagged contracts from giant companies Pantene, Nivea, Disney, Vogue eyewear, Aquascutum, and Ipanema, among many other projects. She also earned the love of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady – add that to her wealth.

2. Heidi Klum - $14 Million
34-year old German Supermodel Heidi Klum renewed her contracts with Victoria’s Secret, not to mention her deals with Volkswagen, McDonald, Diet Coke, Fontanis water, and the new skin care line In An Instant. She was also one of the major player behind top-earning reality shows Project Runway and Germany's Next Top Model. She had lines of Mouawad jewelry and Jordache jeans.

3. Kate Moss - $7.5 Million
Topshop, of course. Then there were campaigns with Versace, Burberry, Dior, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Rimmel, Agent Provocateur, Roberto Cavalli, Longchamp, and Yves Saint Laurent. Surely, the 34-year old waif model who became popular since the 90s made her fortune from being the fashion designers' favorite.

4. Adriana Lima - $7 Million
For 27-year old Brazilian Supermodel Adriana Lima, there's Victoria’s Secret, Maybelline, Liverpool, and her numerous photo shoots with magazines like GQ. She was also one of the most searched supermodel on the web.

5. Doutzen Kroes - $6 Million
Calvin Klein, L’Oréal, Victoria’s Secret, and De Beers – a huge fortune indeed for the 23-year old supermodel from Holland.

6. Karolina Kurkova - $5 Million
23-year old Czech beauty Karolina Kurkova was also one of the highest-paid models of Victoria's Secret. Aside from appearing on famous magazines, she also made campaigns for Dell and Liverpool.

7. Natalia Vodianova - $4.8 Million
Aside from being muse of Calvin Klein, the 26-year old Russian supermodel made deals with Versace, Chanel, Diane Von Furstenberg, Guerlain, and David Yurman jewelry.

8. Carolyn Murphy - $4.5 Million
32-year old Carolyn Murphy is the main face of cosmetics powerhouse Estée Lauder, aside from making ad campaigns for Tiffany & Co., Anne Klein, Jantzen swimwear, and Lord and Taylor.

9. Daria Werbowy - $3.8 Million
Daria Werbowy, 24-year old Canadian brunette, campaigned for Lancome, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Roberto Cavalli, H&M, Missoni, and Valentino. She also made a deal with David Yurman jewelry.

10. Miranda Kerr - $3.5 Million
Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr is also Victoria's Secret darling at 23. She is the current face of Australian department store David Jones. Above all, she's engage with hot actor Orlando Bloom.

Poor Teenage Girl Rises To Become A Top Model

This time Cinderella is a fashion model.


A poor teenage girl who grew up sifting through garbage bins and selling cardboard on the dirty streets of Buenos Aires rises to become a top model for the world's biggest modeling agency, Elite.

The lovely but poverty-stricken Daniela Cott, 16, was spotted two years ago by necklace designer Marina Gonzalez sifting bins in the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

With the typical model height of 5 feet 10 inches tall, and a pair of emerald green eyes, the designer noticed the youngster's natural beauty through her rags and tangled hair and told her, “You should be a model.”

Alas! It was the magic word that started the glamorous transformation of the young Daniela. Her pictures was sent to an Elite agent who eventually called her in for an interview. She then joined the Argentina4s Elite Model Look competition and win the crown from 1,000 other models. It was the same competition that have launched the careers of Cindy Crawford and Gisele Bundchen.

The competition officially signed her up for Elite. And when she received her first pay cheque from a modeling job in 2006, she treated the nine members of her family to an “eat you can” restaurant buffet.

Who would have thought that the dirty teenage girl who merely lived with her family among 10,000 “cartoneros” in Buenos Aires to sift through bins and households for cardboard and used cans and bottles would become a fashion model? Not even Daniela herself.

“I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would one day become a model. I started working as a cartonera when I was 13 because my family had no other choice. I worked every day after school from 6pm to 10pm. Between me and all my family we earned around 50 pounds a week. The work was very tough, and I did it every day for 18 months. We went through people's rubbish looking for cardboard, newspapers or glass bottles to sell to the recycling plant for a few pence. It was a dirty job, and I didn't like it, but I did it to help my family. After working at night, every morning I had to get up for school. One day when I was working I met a woman called Marina, who told me 'You're so beautiful, you should be a model.' She persuaded me to pose for some photographs, and sent them off to an agent. Everything took off from there.”

But modeling did not also come naturally for the Latina beauty. When she was entered into the modeling competition, she could not walk on high heels and had to spend six months mastering the catwalk ramp. Her rough hands also had to undergo lengthy treatment to remove the calluses, cuts, and scars.

Looking back, Daniela proudly shared, “When they entered me into the Elite competition I thought there was no way I could win it. I burst into tears when I won. It was the greatest moment of my life. Now my career is starting to take off. I love posing for photographs and being on the catwalk. I have traveled to Europe, working in Paris, Milan and Madrid, something I never, ever dreamed would be possible.”

Like any triumphant Cinderellas, the lovely Daniela now has her humanitarian aspirations: “Now I want to use my career to highlight the problems of the cartoneros living in Buenos Aires. Working as a cartonera helped me, because it gave me a strong character and a determination, and taught me never to be afraid of anything.”


And as to the challenges of modeling, the once poor teenage girl who rises to the top of the modeling world and now lives the glamorous life of fashion modeling has this realization:

“I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. The modeling work hasn't been easy. I used to say that modeling on a catwalk or posing for photographs couldn't be very difficult. Now I realize it is difficult, but not as hard as collecting rubbish.”