Ripa grew up dazzled by the lights of New York City. Kelly and her sister began taking ballet and piano lessons at an early age. They visited Manhattan frequently to see live shows and explore the culture of the big city. The young girl dreamed of the day when she would live in — and make her mark on — the Big Apple.

While Ripa successfully navigated her career, marriage and motherhood, she couldn’t have been prepared for the changes that would occur in the new millennium.

“There’s no such thing as an uber-mom. I think children are like pancakes. You sort of ruin the first one, and you get better at it the second time around.”

Kelly gets paid $36,000 an episode for “Live with Regis and Kelly“, which she co-hosts with legend Regis Philbin.  Ripa is under a five year contract, ending in 2009.

When asked about her ankle tattoo, Kelly replied, “It signals to them that I may be freaky deaky.”

Kelly Ripa loves to watch reality television, including The Bachelor, The Apprentice, Wife Swap, and Survivor.

Leeann Tweeden’s career was launched when she won the Venus International Model Search contest in October, 1992.

Leeann Tweeden appeared in the August 1996 issue of Playboy magazine and in a couple of Hooters calendars, plus Leeann Tweeden also modeled lingerie for both Playboy and Frederick’s of Hollywood.

Sexy French fashion model Laetitia Casta was born in Port-Audemere in Normandy, France on May 11, 1978.

Laetitia Casta is a beautiful 5’7″ model and was discovered at the age of 15 years old when Casta was building sandcastles with her sister at a beach in Corsica.

Young beautiful Laetitia Casta was encouraged by a photographer to visit Paris for some test model shots.  In just a few short  weeks later,  Laetitia Casta was walking down the fashion runway for Jean-Paul Gaultier.

In addition to modeling, Laetitia  Casta has appeared in various French films. Back in 2001, Casta she gave birth to her daughter Sahteene, and Laetitia currently splits her time between two homes – one in London and the other in New York.

Sarah Jessica Parker transitioned effortlessly into to a hectic and wide-ranging acting career. She has worked non-stop and shown her range and talent on stage, the big screen and television. She returns on the big screen, starring once again as Carrie Bradshaw in the hit movie “Sex and The City”.

Sarah Jessica Parker made the transition to feature films beginning in 1979, when she appeared in “Rich Kids”, followed by “Footloose” and “Firstborn”. Cast mostly as brainy or intense characters, Parker saw praise for her cleverly comic role opposite Steve Martin in “L.A. Story” in 1991.

Parker then returned to Broadway to co-star with future husband Matthew Broderick in the musical revival “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

In 1998, Sarah Jessica Parker returned to series television in the trendy comedy “Sex and the City,” winning awards for her role as the steadfastly independent but psychologically needy Carrie.

Parker would take home the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2001, and win Golden Globes for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Thanks to her stylish character’s fashion savvy, Parker also become one of Hollywood’s hottest sexy celebrities of the late 1990s and early 2000s, known for her exceptional taste, new age accessories and always magnificent footwear.

Parker then returned to comedy starring alongside Matthew McConaughey in “Failure to Launch” (2006) about a thirty something slacker who suspects his parents of setting him up with his dream girl so he’ll finally vacate their home.

Photograph: Vincent Peters

Angelia Jolie is an amazing woman.  Not only is she knock-out dead gorgeous, but a role model humanitarian.

Jolie is a human rights advocate and, in summer action flick ”Wanted,” a remorseless killer. In a frank “Entertainment Weekly” interview, the star with the disarming and dangerous persona talks about sex, tattoos, motherhood, war, and peace

”Brad is the hardest person to shop for,” she says of her partner, Brad Pitt, while checking out a window display of Corum watches at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat in the south of France. ”He has impeccable design taste. And whenever he sees something he likes, he buys it for himself.” Pitt’s most recent gift to Jolie — the gun-charm necklace she wore to her EW photo shoot — is also a tough act to follow.

The 33-year-old Academy Award winner has always cultivated dual identities: On the one hand, she’s been the Mistress of the Dark (as in her fascinations with tattoos, knives, and blood); on the other, she’s the Minister of Light (her work promoting international peace).

Her next starring film roles keep that dichotomy alive: On June 27 she appears as Fox, a morally driven assassin who mentors a shlubby office worker (Atonement‘s James McAvoy) in the graphically violent Wanted, directed by Timur Bekmambetov (Night Watch).  Full article

Ivanka Trump is the daughter of former fashion model and athlete Ivana Trump and multibillionaire business mogul-cum-pop culture celebrity Donald Trump.  Ivanka was born in 1981.

She inherited both the traffic-stopping glamour of her mother and the staggering fiscal wealth of both parents — reason enough for her to be selected as one of the chief participants in the 2002 documentary Born Rich, a glimpse into the lives of some of the wealthiest young heirs and heiresses in the world — helmed by Jamie Johnson, prince of the Johnson & Johnson empire.

Trump landed on the cover of Seventeen Magazine at the age of 16, which marked the beginning of a glossy and prestigious career as a fashion model. She then attended Georgetown University and Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in economics.

As a young adult, Trump became a frequent guest star on talk programs, news magazines, and reality series such as Late Night with David Letterman, Entertainment Tonight, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and Project Runway (appearing as a guest host in 2006). She also hosted the 15th Annual Miss Teen USA Pageant in 1997.

In 2005, Ivanka joined her father’s business organization, working in real estate development.

Starting in 2006, Ivanka began to appear on her father’s popular reality show The Apprentice, becoming a regular boardroom judge the following year, replacing Carolyn Kepcher starting with the sixth season of the series.

Kim Kardashian (full name Kimberly Noel Kardashian) was born on October 21, 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is the daughter of Robert Kardashian, famous attorney and she is also a socialite.

One of her best friends is Paris Hilton. Just like Paris, Kim was involved in a sex tape scandal after an unknown source sold a tape in which she and her boyfriend, Ray J, were making love. She said she will sue them.

“There is no amount of money that could ever convince me to release any tape, even if I had one. I don’t need the money.”

“I’m not poor; I’m not desperate, I would never attempt to sell a tape,” she says. “It would humiliate me and ruin my family. I don’t need the money. It’s humiliating; it’s embarrassing. It’s something I feel very betrayed by, but I’m not pointing any fingers.”

Kim Kardashian stars in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, now in its second season.

People seem to want to see how this former sex tape star and ex-best friend of Paris Hilton behaves in real life. The truth really is, that despite bringing nothing but some big breasts and a large buttocks to the table, Kardashian isn’t as annoying as most talentless celebrities.

These days, Kim Kardashian is dating NFL star Reggie Bush. She says they hope to get married one day soon.

Many times in Hollywood or the overall entertainment business, good looks means few brain cells. In the case of supermodel Tyra Banks, that is certainly not the case. Underneath that glamourous exterior lies a fiercely determined businesswoman. Tyra has two hit shows: ”America’s Next Top Model” and ”The Tyra Banks Show”.

But Tyra Banks is not satisfied and has lofty goals. She has designs on building a multimedia empire.  Tyra says, “”Oprah Winfrey is a mogul. Martha Stewart is a mogul. I’m probably a mogul in the making. I’m almost there”

After her unbelievable modeling career wound down, her second life was just starting. The May 2003 debut of her creation America’s Next Top Model, which has grown into a worldwide hit and is embarking upon its 10th cycle (premiering Feb. 20 on The CW) began modestly. The most recent edition was the network’s top-rated series, averaging 5.2 million viewers weekly.

And The Tyra Banks Show — a broad mix of women’s issues and frothy fare — is now a talk-show force to be reckoned with: 4.3 million adult female viewers tuned in weekly this past November sweeps, and, with a median age of 40.

Full article

We’ve all done it at some point in our lives. The rolling of the eyes, the shaking of the head, or just outright laughter as another celebrity hits rock bottom. Whether it’s a DUI, drug conviction, stint in rehab, cheating spouse and subsequent high profile divorce, there’s something that brings us joy in watching a famous celebrity self destruct and meltdown before our eyes.

“There can be no joy in either being smug over the trials of the rich-and-famous or laughing at their addictions,” said Dr. Patricia A. Farrell, a well-known psychologist and author. “What have we become that we eagerly seek out joy in destruction? Is this just the modern version of ‘bread and circus?’ The frenzy that accompanies the current coverage of celebrities like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, female rappers and TV actors is spiraling upward. My concern is that it will result in serious physical and mental harm to these individuals as well as innocent bystanders.”

Journalistic archives or “morgues” are full of the stories of the final moments of the famous. “Many of the stories tell about stars committing suicide and provide graphic detail or how they’ve spiraled into addiction. As I’ve said before, who wouldn’t want to escape from the constant pursuit? Do you think a fox in a fox hunt actually ‘enjoys’ the chase? And what happens at the end of the hunt, just before they go to those elaborate buffets? Does the fox come along and laugh about all the near-misses or stumbles of the horses?

These people hunt for what they believe is ‘sport’ of a type and they’ve recklessly rode over people’s property without consideration of the owner’s rights. They believe they have the right to ‘hunt’ and that no one can deny them that pleasure.

“Now, we have a hunt of a different type and the fox often lives to see another day, but in no better shape, mentally. The hunt also has a tradition where the first hunt for a rider is celebrated by smearing blood on the collar of this rider’s jacket. So, the whole intent is blood sport, not riding. I wonder how the papps celebrate their first ‘kill.’ Entertainment is a part of life that all of us need to help us maintain a healthy lifestyle.

“Perhaps it is the war or the present sorry state of the economy,” Dr. Farrell concluded, “but one thing is for sure and that is that things are getting worse, more reckless and the people in the stands watching this chase seem to be giving that ‘thumbs down’ gesture. They don’t seem to want to see a happy ending and that’s not just sad, that’s disturbing.”

Dr. Farrell is the author of “How to Be Your Own Therapist” (Barnes & Noble, 2007, ISBN: 0-7607-9184-8), a licensed psychologist and medical disability consultant. She has appeared on major TV shows such as The Today Show, The View, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360 and is quoted in national newspapers, magazines and news services.

The beautiful Alicia Keys has released her third album, titled “As I Am.” The talented singer-songwriter is interviewed by Entertainment Weekly, and discloses her personal battles and hitting rock bottom.

Alicia has always been a shy, private person. “Ever since I was little, I always felt like if people knew about me, they’d be able to use it against me.”

Her talent is incredible and success has followed closely behind. Keys has 9 Grammys and sold 11.5 CD’s and collaborated with countless industry giants such as Usher, Eve, Bono and Ray Charles. Even with her success, she was depressed, “‘I discovered a lot about myself I didn’t like,” she says. ”I would look in the mirror and I didn’t know who that person was. I didn’t like my eyes; I didn’t like what they said. I couldn’t sleep. I was uncomfortable all the time, and irritated and frustrated.” Full article

She’s made a dynamic leap from European actress to Hollywood superstar – but for Penelope Cruz the sudden rise to fame and fortune hasn’t come without a price.

“The most difficult thing in the world is to start a career known only for your looks, and then to try to become a serious actress. No one will take you seriously once you are known as the pretty woman.”

The exquisitely beautiful Spanish star was romantically involved with Tom Cruise, but was accused of breaking up his marriage with Nicole Kidman. Their relationship ended after nearly four years.

“I am amazed about how everyone wants to know about my love life. They whisper to me, ‘Tell me the truth? Is it true?’ Who cares? Because we have this job, we are to say to everybody what we do, or with whom we sleep? It’s a bit absurd, but that’s why everybody.”

“I have stepped off the relationship scene to come to terms with myself. I have spent most of my adult life being ‘someone’s girlfriend’, and now I am happy being single.”