Woman Crush Wednesday: Angelina Jolie

          She is Angelina Jolie Voight, also known as Angelina Jolie. She is  an American actress and filmmaker. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood’s highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009, 2011, and 2013. Jolie promotes humanitarian causes, and is noted for her work with refugees as a Special Envoy and former Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been cited as the world’s “most beautiful” woman by various media outlets, a title for which she has received substantial public

            Jolie made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin’ to Get Out (1982). Her film career began in earnest a decade later with the low-budget production Cyborg 2 (1993). Her first leading role in a major film was in the cyber-thriller, Hackers (1995). She starred in the critically acclaimed biographical television films George Wallace (1997) and Gia (1998), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the drama Girl, Interrupted (1999).

            Jolie achieved wide fame after her portrayal of the video game heroine Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001). She was ranked among the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood with the sequel The Cradle of Life (2003). She continued her action-star career with Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), Wanted (2008), Salt (2010) and The Tourist (2010). Her biggest commercial success was the fantasy film Maleficent (2014). She received critical acclaim for her performances in the dramas A Mighty Heart (2007) and Changeling (2008), which earned her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Jolie made her directorial debut with the 2007 documentary, A Place in Time, followed by the wartime drama, In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011).

            Divorced from actors Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton, Jolie is now married to actor Brad Pitt. They have six children, three of whom are adopted. Jolie and Pitt‘s relationship has attracted protracted media attention.

            What I love about Angelina Jolie is that she has the sexiest lips ever. I would spend money to get those lips and she is extremely beautiful inside and out. I love her being a philanthropist. Unlike other actress, she is the only actress I know that never used drugs and never ruined her own career.

To know more about Angelina Jolie, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelina_Jolie

Throwback Thursday: Emma Watson

             She is Emma Charlotte Duerre Watson, also known as Emma Watson. She is an English actress and model. She rose to prominence playing Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series; she was cast as Hermione at the age of nine, having previously acted only in school plays. She starred in all eight Harry Potter films, alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint. Watson‘s work on the Harry Potter series has earned her several awards and more than £10 million. She made her modelling debut for Burberry‘s autumn/winter campaign in 2009. In October 2013, she was voted Sexiest Female Movie Star in a worldwide poll conducted by Empire magazine. In May 2014, BuzzFeed dubbed her the “most flawless woman of the decade“.

           In 2007, Watson announced her involvement in The Tale of Despereaux and the television adaptation of the novel Ballet Shoes, which was broadcast on 26 December 2007 to an audience of 5.2 million. The Tale of Despereaux, based on the novel by Kate DiCamillo, was released in 2008 and grossed more than US$86 million in worldwide sales. In 2012, she starred in Stephen Chbosky‘s film adaptation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and in 2014, she played Ila in Darren Aronofsky‘s biblical epic Noah.

          Watson was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in 2014. She helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to advocate for “gender equality“.

            After leaving school, Watson took a gap year to film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows beginning in February 2009, but said she “definitely want[ed] to go to university”. The Providence Journal reported that Watson had confirmed that she had chosen Brown University, located in Providence, Rhode Island. In March 2011, after 18 months at the university, Watson announced that she was deferring her course for “a semester or two.” Watson was a “visiting student” at Worcester College, Oxford, for the 2011–12 academic year. Watson told Ellen DeGeneres in March 2014 that she was “about to graduate” from Brown in May. She noted that it took five years to graduate instead of four because, due to her acting work, she “ended up taking two full semesters off”. On 25 May 2014, Watson graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and released a cap-and-gown photo on her Twitter account.

          In 2013, Watson became certified to teach yoga and meditation. She told Elle Australia that an uncertain future meant finding “a way to always feel safe and at home within myself. Because I can never rely on a physical place.”

          In January 2014, Watson began dating Oxford rugby player Matt Janney. Photographs published in September showed Watson moving items out of her London home with Janney‘s help.

           Watson joined Judi Dench, Robert Downey Jr., Mike Leigh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Mark Ruffalo as recipients of the 2014 Britannia Awards, presented on 30 October in Los Angeles. Watson won for British Artist of the Year and dedicated her award to Millie, her pet hamster who died as Watson filmed Philosopher’s Stone.

            Watson has promoted education for girls, visiting Bangladesh and Zambia to do so. In July 2014, she was appointed as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. In September that year, she delivered an address to a standing ovation at UN Headquarters in New York City, helping launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, which calls for men to advocate for gender equality. In that speech she said she knew she was a feminist at age eight when she was called “bossy” (a trait she has attributed to her being a “perfectionist”) whilst boys were not, and at 14 when she was “sexualised by certain elements of the press”. Watson‘s speech also called feminism “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities” and declared that the perception of “man-hating” is something that “has to stop”. Also in September Watson made her first country visit as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador to Uruguay, where she gave a speech that highlighted the need for women’s political participation.

To know more about Emma Watson, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Watson

Woman Crush Wednesday: Amanda Bynes

            She is Amanda Laura Bynes, already known as Amanda Bynes. She is an American actress and fashion designer. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s on the Nickelodeon series All That and The Amanda Show. From 2002 to 2006, she starred in the sitcom What I Like About You on The WB. She has also starred in several films, including What a Girl Wants (2003), She’s the Man (2006), Hairspray (2007), Sydney White (2007), and Easy A (2010).

            In 2007, Bynes described herself as Jewish, and also stated: “As far as religion, I was raised both. I learned about both Judaism and Catholicism. My parents said it was up to me to decide [which faith to adhere to] when I grew up. I’m sort of a spiritual person anyway. I haven’t decided yet on a religion. I don’t know yet exactly what I believe.”

             Bynes is interested in illustration and fashion design. Bynes has previously had her own fashion line sold nationwide and moved from Los Angeles to New York in order to facilitate her fashion career.

              In 2008, Bynes briefly dated Seth MacFarlane after voicing a character in an episode of MacFarlane‘s show Family Guy.

            In March 2012, Bynes was stopped and ticketed by police for talking on a cell phone while driving. A month later, she was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after side-swiping a police car in West Hollywood. On September 4, 2012, Bynes was charged for two alleged hit and run incidents, one occurring in April and the other in August. The hit and run charges were dismissed in December 2012 following a financial settlement between Bynes and the victims. On February 24, 2014, the DUI charge was dropped and Bynes was sentenced to three years of probation for reckless driving as part of a plea deal.

             Bynes‘ driver’s license was suspended some time before September 6, 2012, by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. On September 16, Bynes was cited for driving with a suspended license, and her car was impounded. In May 2013, Bynes pleaded no contest to the charge, and was sentenced to three years probation. Her license was restored in April 2014.

            On May 23, 2013, Bynes was arrested at her home in Manhattan for criminal possession of marijuana, attempted tampering with evidence, and reckless endangerment. According to a prosecutor at Bynes‘ arraignment, police observed Bynes throwing a bong from the window of her 36th floor apartment. Bynes claimed that the alleged bong was actually a vase. Following her arrest, Bynes underwent a psychiatric evaluation at a hospital before she was processed at the police station. On May 25, Bynes said on Twitter that she had been sexually harassed by the arresting officer: “[He] slapped my vagina. Sexual harassment. Big deal.” The police department has denied the accusation. The case against Bynes was dismissed in June 2014.

            On July 22, 2013, Ventura County sheriff’s deputies detained Bynes in front of a stranger’s house in Thousand Oaks, California, where she had allegedly started a small fire in the driveway, and had her hospitalized under a 72-hour 5150 mental health evaluation hold. Bynes‘ parents filed for conservatorship of their daughter shortly after her hospitalization began. On August 9, Bynes‘ mother was granted a temporary conservatorship over Bynes‘ affairs, including her medical care, as well as control over her finances, after the judge agreed that Bynes had a “lack of capacity to give informed consent to medical care.” On September 24, Bynes‘ lawyer asked for a “1368 Penal Code” hearing to determine Bynes‘ mental competency. Six days later, Bynes‘ parents said that upon doctors’ recommendation, Bynes was transferred from UCLA Medical Center to receive “specialized treatment in a private facility outside of Los Angeles.”

            In December 2013, Bynes was released from treatment to her parents. She also agreed to seek counseling for the New York marijuana incident. Bynes was arrested on September 28, 2014 for her second DUI.

           On October 10, 2014, Bynes was hospitalized in Pasadena, California and placed on a temporary psyche hold following Bynes‘ new accusations, via Twitter, that her father sexually abused her repeatedly as a child. Shortly after these new allegations were made, Bynes tweeted “My dad never did any of those things. The microchip in my brain made me say those things but he’s the one that ordered them to microchip me”. Bynes‘ mother issued a statement to E! News through her attorney, Tamar Arminak, denying the claims. On October 13, 2014, the 72-hour psychiatric hold was extended to 14 days, and later extended again 30 more days. On October 22, Bynes‘ mother received conservatorship of her daughter once again.

To know more about Amanda Bynes, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Bynes

Woman Crush Wednesday: Cameron Diaz

           She is Cameron Michelle Diaz, also known as Cameron Diaz. She is an American actress and former model. She rose to stardom with roles in The Mask, My Best Friend’s Wedding and There’s Something About Mary. Other high-profile credits include the two Charlie’s Angels films, voicing the character Princess Fiona in the Shrek series, Any Given Sunday, Knight and Day, The Holiday, The Green Hornet, Bad Teacher and Sex Tape.

          Diaz has received four Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances in the movies, Being John Malkovich, Vanilla Sky,Gangs of New York, and There’s Something About Mary for which she also won the New York Film Critics Best Lead Actress Award. She is also a BAFTA Nominee. In 2013, Diaz was named the highest paid actress over 40 in Hollywood.

          Diaz has had long-term relationships with video producer Carlos de la Torre, actor Matt Dillon, actor/singer Jared Leto, singer/actor Justin Timberlake, and New York Yankees baseball star Alex Rodriguez. Diaz is unmarried and has no children. On why she has never married, Diaz told Esquire magazine in October 2012, “It just wasn’t the thing I was drawn to.” As of 2014, she is dating guitarist Benji Madden.

           Diaz received substantial defamation damages from suing American Media Incorporated, after The National Enquirer had claimed she was cheating on Justin Timberlake. She endorsed Al Gore publicly during 2000. Diaz wore a T-shirt that read “I won’t vote for a son of a Bush!” while making publicity visits for Charlie’s Angels. Diaz has also been involved with the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the first and largest nonprofit organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has spoken as an advocate for military families. Although she was quoted by a 1997 Time magazine article as saying she was germophobic, Diaz specifically denied this on the June 26, 2009, edition of Real Time with Bill Maher, saying that a small comment she made twelve years earlier regarding public bathroom doorknobs was distorted out of proportion.

           On April 15, 2008, Diaz‘s father, Emilio Diaz, died at the age of 58 from pneumonia.

           Cameron Diaz is passionate about the environment and is well known for her green activism. Vogue magazine has even brought attention to her commitment to sustainability. Diaz is an early adopter of the Prius in efforts to take part in reducing carbon emissions. Diaz has also worked with Al Gore on helping to promote his ‘Live Earth‘ campaign, raising awareness of climate change. In an interview with the Huffington Post, she explains the three-year plan to give everybody the information they need to start making a difference not only as individuals, but as a community, and why these changes need to take place.

To know more about Cameron Diaz, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Diaz

Throwback Thursday: Selena Gomez

            She is Selena Marie Gomez, also known as Selena Gomez. She  is an American actress and singer. Gomez first made her debut appearing as Gianna in Barney & Friends, lasting from 2002 to 2004. Following this, Gomez had cameo roles in films such as Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) and Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire (2005). In 2006, Gomez appeared as a guest star on an episode of the Disney Channel series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, as well as Hannah Montana. Following this, Gomez starred in the Disney Channel television series Wizards of Waverly Place. The series was a critical and commercial success, earning Gomez numerous awards and nominations. Gomez later appeared in numerous Disney Channel series and films including Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream (2008) and Disney Channel Games (2008). In 2009, Gomez appeared in the films Princess Protection Program and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie before releasing her first studio album as Selena Gomez & the Scene, titled Kiss & Tell. The album was a commercial success, peaking inside the Top 10 of the Billboard 200.

            Following this, Gomez appeared in the film Ramona and Beezus, one of her first roles outside of Disney. Gomez & the Scene released their second studio album, A Year Without Rain, later that year. The album entered the Top 5 of the Billboard 200, and spawned two Top 40 hits. Gomez began appearing in more films such as Monte Carlo (2011) and The Muppets (2011). Gomez, along with her band, later released their third and final studio album, When the Sun Goes Down, in 2011. The album spawned the hit single “Love You Like a Love Song“, which was certified 4× Platinum by the RIAA. Following the release of the album, Gomez confirmed she would be taking a musical hiatus to focus on her acting career. She then went on to appear in the films Hotel Transylvania (2012) and Spring Breakers (2013), the latter of which saw Gomez portraying a more adult role.

           Despite her early comments of a musical hiatus, Gomez confirmed in October 2012 that she was working on her solo debut album. The lead single, “Come & Get It“, was released in April 2013. It became her first Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was certified double platinum by the RIAA. The album’s second single, “Slow Down“, was released in June. Gomez has since announced plans of a second musical hiatus following the release of Stars Dance in July, later denied. She signed a record contract in mid-2014 with Interscope for future musical releases after breaking with her all-time label Hollywood Records. Gomez is set to release a Greatest Hits album in December featuring two new songs as her final record with Hollywood. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, Gomez is involved in philanthropic activities through charity work and various social and environmental causes.

           In October 2008, Gomez was named UNICEF‘s spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, which encouraged children to raise money on Halloween to help children around the world. She said that she was “extremely excited” to “encourage other kids to make a difference in the world.” In August 2009, a 17-year-old Gomez became the youngest UNICEF ambassador ever, passing fellow songstress Hayley Westenra, who was 18 when she was chosen. In her first official field mission, Gomez traveled to Ghana on September 4, 2009 for a week to witness first-hand the stark conditions of vulnerable children that lack vital necessities including clean water, nourishment, education and healthcare. Gomez explained during an interview with Associated Press that she wanted to use her star power to bring awareness to Ghana: “That’s why I feel very honored to have a voice that kids listen to and take into consideration. I had people on my tour asking me where IS Ghana, and they Googled it and because I went there, they now know where Ghana is. So it’s pretty incredible.” Gomez said of her role as ambassador that: “Every day 25,000 children die from preventable causes. I stand with UNICEF in the belief that we can change that number from 25,000 to zero. I know we can achieve this because every moment, UNICEF is on the ground providing children with the lifesaving assistance needed to ensure zero becomes a reality.”

            Gomez was named spokesperson for UNICEF‘s 2009 Trick-or-Treat campaign, for the second year in a row. Gomez, who raised over $700,000 for the charity in 2008, stated that she hopes to be able to raise 1 million dollars in 2009. Gomez participated in a celebrity auction and hosted a live web cast series on Facebook in support of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. Gomez returned as the UNICEF spokesperson for the 60th anniversary of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in 2010. In celebration of the 60th anniversary, Gomez and her band, The Scene, held a benefit concert donating all proceeds to the campaign. In February 2011, Gomez traveled to Chile to witness and meet with the families of UNICEF‘s supported program, “Programa Puente” which helps families better understand and develops skills to deal effectively with early childhood education, development and other issues related to raising children. From her field trip experience, Gomez said “UNICEF is helping Chilean families get out of poverty, prevent violence within the home and promote education. To witness first hand these families’ struggles, and also their hope and perseverance, was truly inspiring.” In March 2011, Gomez participated in the UNICEF Tap Project‘s “Celebrity Tap Pack” limited-edition, custom-made water bottles featuring tap water from the homes of each celebrity advocate, in order to raise funds and increase profile for the clean water and sanitation programs. She is also featured in videos promoting the campaign.

To know more about Selena Gomez, just go here: http://selenagomez.com/

Throwback Thursday: Miley Cyrus

           She is Miley Ray Cyrus born as Destiny Hope Cyrus, also known as Miley Cyrus. She is an American singer, actress, and songwriter. Her father is country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She held minor roles in the television series Doc and the film Big Fish in her childhood. In 2006, Cyrus rose to prominence as a teen idol after being cast in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana, in which she portrayed the starring character Miley Stewart. After signing a recording contract with Hollywood Records in 2007, Cyrus released her debut studio album Meet Miley Cyrus. It was certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for exceeding four million shipments, and produced the hit single “See You Again“.

           In 2008, Cyrus released her second album Breakout, which featured the successful track “7 Things“, and launched her film career as the voice actress in the animated film Bolt. In 2009, Cyrus starred in the feature film Hannah Montana: The Movie; its soundtrack produced the hit single “The Climb“. Cyrus developed a maturing image with the EP The Time of Our Lives (2009), which featured the successful track “Party in the U.S.A.“. The transition continued with her third album Can’t Be Tamed (2010); however, it made little commercial impact and became the lowest-selling record of her career. Later that year, Cyrus starred in the coming-of-age film The Last Song. During its production, she was involved in an on-again, off-again relationship with her co-star Liam Hemsworth; the couple ultimately separated after ending their year-long engagement in 2013.

          Cyrus focused on her acting career with several television and film appearances throughout 2011 and 2012. Cyrus later signed a recording contract with RCA Records, and generated controversy by cultivating a sexually explicit public image while promoting her fourth studio album Bangerz (2013). Its singles “We Can’t Stop” and “Wrecking Ball” were promoted with controversial music videos; the latter became her first number-one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

           Cyrus has had five non-consecutive number-one albums on the U.S. Billboard 200, two of which are soundtracks credited to her titular character Hannah Montana, and has earned numerous awards and nominations. In 2010, Cyrus ranked number thirteen on Forbes‘ Celebrity 100, and was named the “Most Charted Teenager” in the 2011 Guinness World Records with twenty-nine Billboard Hot 100 entries as of November 2009. In 2013, she was declared “Artist of the Year” by MTV.

To know more about Miley Cyrus, just go here: http://www.mileycyrus.com/

Throwback Thursday: Lindsay Lohan

           She is Lindsay Dee Lohan, also known as Lindsay Lohan. She  is an American actress, model and recording artist. She began her career as a child fashion model when she was three, and was later featured on the soap opera Another World for a year when she was 10. At age 11, Lohan made her motion picture debut in Disney’s remake of The Parent Trap (1998), a critical and commercial hit. Her next major motion picture, Disney‘s remake of Freaky Friday (2003), was also a success at the box office and with critics. With the release of Mean Girls (2004), another critical and commercial success, Lohan became a household name and a frequent focus of paparazzi and tabloids. The two films earned her several MTV Movie Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

          Lohan‘s debut studio album, Speak (2004), was certified platinum. Her second album, A Little More Personal (Raw) (2005), was certified gold. In 2005, Lohan starred in Disney’s Herbie: Fully Loaded, another box office success. In 2006, she received positive comments on her work in independent films, including Robert Altman‘s A Prairie Home Companion and Emilio Estevez‘s Bobby. In 2007, two driving under the influence incidents led to Lohan being put on probation, and together with three visits to rehabilitation facilities caused the loss of several movie deals.

            In 2008 and 2009, Lohan worked as a fashion model and launched the clothing line 6126. She resumed her acting career with TV work in 2008, and starred in the TV film Labor Pains in 2009. She appeared in Robert Rodriguez‘s feature film Machete (2010). Between 2010 and 2013, Lohan went into rehabilitation three times, and spent much of her time entangled in legal problems stemming from misdemeanors and probation violations. In 2012 and 2013, she did further television work, including starring as Elizabeth Taylor in the biographical TV film Liz & Dick (2012). In 2013, she starred in Paul Schrader‘s independent film The Canyons. In 2014 the docu-series Lindsay aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

          I first saw Lindsay Lohan in a movie where she played a twin, I just don’t know what movie was that. When she was young, I mean a child, I always mistaken her as one of the Olsen sisters. Then, the last movie that I saw her was at Herbie, where she’s playing a car racer. And I didn’t know that she’s one of the cast of Mean Girls.

To know more about Lindsay Lohan, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Lohan

Throwback Thursday: Mary- Kate and Ashley Olsen

          Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986), also known as the Olsen Twins collectively, are American actresses and fashion designers. The sororal twins made their acting debut as infants playing Michelle Tanner on the television series Full House. At the age of six, they began starring together in TV, film, and video projects, which continued to their teenage years. Through their company Dualstar, the Olsens joined the ranks of the wealthiest women in the entertainment industry at a young age.

          In 1987, at the age of six months, the twins were cast in the role of Michelle Tanner on the ABC sitcom Full House. They began filming at nine months old. In order to comply with child labor laws that set strict limits on how long a child actor may work, the sisters took turns playing the role. The Olsens continued to portray Michelle throughout the show’s run, which concluded in 1995.

           In 1992, Mary-Kate and Ashley shared the role of Michelle Tanner when they guest-starred on the Full House crossover episode of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. While starring on Full House, the Olsens also began appearing (as separate characters) in films for video and television. The first such film, To Grandmother’s House We Go, debuted in 1992 and featured cameos from several other Full House actors. In 1993, the Olsens established the company Dualstar, which would produce the twins’ subsequent films and videos, including that year’s Double, Double, Toil and Trouble and 1994’s How the West Was Fun. A series of musical mystery videos called The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley premiered in 1994 and continued through 1997.

          In 1995, following the end of Full House, the Olsens made their feature film debut in It Takes Two, co-starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirstie Alley. In the same year, they introduced a second video series, You’re Invited to Mary-Kate & Ashley’s…, which continued to release new entries until 2000.

        The following year, the Olsens appeared in an episode of All My Children. Also in 1998, the twins returned to series television with another ABC sitcom, Two of a Kind, co-starring Christopher Sieber as their characters’ widowed father. The series lasted only one season, but aired in reruns on cable for several years afterward. 1998 also saw the release of Billboard Dad, the first of a new string of direct-to-video films starring the Olsens. The final such film, When in Rome, debuted in 2002.

          In 2000, the Olsens appeared in an episode of 7th Heaven as bad-girls Sue and Carol Murphy. The following year, the sisters starred in two new series: So Little Time, a live-action sitcom on Fox Family (later ABC Family); and Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action!, an animated series airing Saturday mornings on ABC. Both shows were cancelled after one season, although Mary-Kate received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her performance on So Little Time.

         In early 2004, Mary-Kate and Ashley had a cameo voice role in an episode of The Simpsons as the readers of Marge’s book-on-tape, The Harpooned Heart. Also in 2004, the twins starred in a second feature film, New York Minute. It would be their last film together, as well as Ashley‘s last acting role. Mary-Kate has continued to appear in film and television.

          Mary-Kate and Ashley had a fan club until 2000, “Mary-Kate & Ashley’s Fun Club“, where fans would pay to receive Mary-Kate and Ashley collectibles and photos. Each subscription included an issue of Our Funzine, Mary-Kate and Ashley‘s fan club magazine, exclusively available through the club, and a collectibles catalog, where one could purchase T-shirts, posters, baseball caps, key rings, school folders, postcards, and various other items. Subscribers would also receive “surprise gifts” (usually key rings, book excerpts, or back-issues of the Funzine), lyric sheets to Mary-Kate and Ashley‘s songs, a school folder, a membership card, a full-sized poster, two black and white photos (one of each girl), and a color photo with reprint autographs. The club was advertised at the beginning of Mary-Kate and Ashley movies until 1998.

           Mary-Kate and Ashley were popular figures in the preteen market during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their names and likenesses extended, not only to movies and videos, but to clothes, shoes, purses, hats, books, CDs and cassette tapes, fragrances and makeup, magazines, video and board games, dolls, posters, calendars, and even telephones and CD players—with a market share made up mostly of the tween demographic. Mattel produced various sets of Mary-Kate and Ashley fashion dolls from 2000 to 2005, along with separate outfits and accessory packs.

           The sisters became co-presidents of Dualstar on their 18th birthday in 2004. Upon taking control of the company, Mary-Kate and Ashley made moves to secure the future of the company by releasing products that appealed to the teen market, including home decoration and fragrances. The Dualstar brand has been sold in more than 3,000 stores in the United States and over 5,300 stores worldwide. The Olsens have appeared on the Forbes “Celebrity 100” list since 2002; in 2007, Forbes ranked them (collectively) as the eleventh-richest women in entertainment, with an estimated net worth of US $100 million.

           As the sisters have matured, they expressed greater interest in their fashion choices, with The New York Times declaring Mary-Kate a fashion icon for pioneering her signature (and now popular among celebrities and fans alike) “homeless” look. The style, sometimes referred to by fashion journalists as “ashcan” or “bohemian-bourgeois”, is similar to the boho-chic style popularized in Britain by Kate Moss and Sienna Miller. The look consists of oversized sunglasses, boots, loose sweaters, and flowing skirts, with an aesthetic of mixing high-end and low-end pieces. The twins were tapped as the faces of upscale fashion line Badgley Mischka in 2006.

          The Olsens had a clothing line for girls ages 4–14 in Wal-Mart stores across North America, as well as a beauty line called “Mary-Kate and Ashley: Real fashion for real girls”. In 2004, they made news by signing a pledge to allow full maternity leave to all the workers that sew their line of clothing in Bangladesh. The National Labor Committee, which organized the pledge, praised the twins for their commitment to worker rights.

          The Olsens have also launched their own couture fashion label, “The Row“, named after Savile Row in London. In 2007, they launched Elizabeth & James, a contemporary collection inspired by many of their unique vintage finds and pieces in their personal wardrobes. They have also released a women’s clothing line for J.C. Penney, called Olsenboye, and a t-shirt line called “StyleMint“. In 2008, the sisters published the book Influence, a compilation of interviews with many of the most prominent people in the field of fashion. In August 2013, the twins launched a new fashion line in Oslo, Norway.

To know more about Mary- Kate and Ashley Olsen, just go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary-Kate_and_Ashley_Olsen

Woman Crush Wednesday: Ariana Grande

           She is Ariana Grande- Butera, also known as Ariana Grande. She is an American singer and actress. She began her career singing on a cruise ship, at sporting events and with various orchestras in South Florida. She appeared in the Broadway musical 13, before landing the role of Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon television series Victorious in 2009. After the show ended, Grande rose to prominence as a teen idol on her own spinoff, Sam & Cat, along with iCarly actress Jennette McCurdy.

          As she kept herself busy with television, Grande began to pursue a musical career appearing on the soundtrack, Music from Victorious (2011), and subsequently signed a recording contract with Republic Records. She launched a music career after the release of her debut studio album, Yours Truly (2013), which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, “The Way“, became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with critics comparing her wide vocal range to Mariah Carey.

         Grande developed a maturing image while promoting her second studio album, My Everything (2014), which became her second consecutive number-one album in the United States. The album produced the successful tracks “Problem” and “Break Free“. Some of her achievements include New Artist Of The Year at the 2013 American Music Awards, Favorite Breakout Artist at the 40th People’s Choice Awards and Breakthrough Artist of the Year by the Music Business Association.

         She was in a relationship with Jai Brooks, a member of the Australian YouTube group The Janoskians, from August 2012 to July 2013. On May 1, 2014, Grande was photographed kissing Brooks and confirmed that they were back together. On August 5, 2014, Grande was reported to have split with Brooks for the second time. And now, he is now dating Big Sean.

          Grande is a vegan and has adopted four dogs. She was raised a Roman Catholic but abandoned Christianity after Pope Benedict reportedly labeled homosexuality and working women as sins. Grande stated, “I lost faith when the Pope decided to tell me that everything I loved and believed in was wrong. I needed something else to believe in.” She has since started following Kabbalah‘s teachings, believing “the basis lies in the idea that if you’re kind to others, good things will happen to you.”

          On July 5, 2014, Grande halted her plans when she heard that her grandfather was dying and went to be by his side. Her grandfather died twenty days later, and she received supportive messages on her Twitter page from her manager Scooter Braun, Jennette McCurdy, and other fans.

To know more about Ariana Grande, just go here: http://www.arianagrande.com/

Flashback Friday: Whitney Houston

         She is Whitney Elizabeth Houston, also known as Whitney Houston. She was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009,Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time. Houston was one of the world’s best-selling music artists, having sold over 200 million records worldwide. She released six studio albums, one holiday album and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston‘s crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for “How Will I Know“, influenced several African American women artists who follow in her footsteps.

           Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only woman to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly “Top Pop Albums”) on the Billboard magazine year-end charts. Houston’s 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a woman in history. Rolling Stone named it the best album of 1986, and ranked it at number 254 on the magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a woman to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart.

           Houston‘s first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film’s original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single “I Will Always Love You“, became the best-selling single by a woman in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period under Nielsen SoundScan system. The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher’s Wife (1996). The Preacher’s Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history.

           On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in her guest room at The Beverly Hilton, in Beverly Hills, California. The official coroner’s report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. News of her death coincided with the 2012 Grammy Awards and featured prominently in American and international media.

Whitney Houston’s Signature

To know more about Whitney Houston, just go here: http://live.whitneyhouston.com/