Posts Tagged ‘caridee english’

A Dose of Reality, Literally…

April 23rd, 2009

I got a large serving of reality yesterday, power lunching at the Beverly Hilton Hotel enjoying a pre-prepared cold plate of salmon, chicken and beef over salad while listening to a panel of “The Hitmakers of Reality TV” at a newsmaker lunch series.

At the VIP reception prior to the luncheon I caught up with "Survivor" host Jeff Probst (yes, finally) who, I was happy to hear, said the name of his proposed new show granting wishes to people with terminally illnesses has been changed from “Live Like You Were Dying” to “Live in the Moment.” Props for making the title sound more positive. If Jeff were to spend a day living like it were his last, he told me he would “Wear Yankee pinstripes, play catch with Derek Jeter and A-Rod and try to hit one in Yankee Stadium.”

When I challenged the veteran reality show host to tell me how he thinks he’d fare on a host of reality shows including “Dancing with the Stars,” “Top Chef” “The Apprentice” and “Amazing Race,” he immediately and predictably answered he’d do best on “Amazing Race.” Taking the physical competition out of the mix he humbling said,  “I would suck” on DWTS and even admitted, “I’ve tried it. I’ve imagined while watching an episode if I could do that. I was in my living room and put on some salsa music and I just can’t do it. I would not do well.” But, he does think he’d do well with The Donald. He said, “I’d actually like to do The Apprentice, the idea of The Apprentice appeals to me, that you have a group of people, one of you is in charge and you have to get the other people. I think I could get into Donald’s sweet spot and get him to keep me around a while.” Do I forecast a future Celebrity Apprentice contestant? By the way, he also made clear that there will not be a Celebrity Survivor. Ever.

Other highlights of the afternoon included former “America’s Next Top Model” winner Caridee English sharing with me that Tyra Banks told her she recently lost a lot of weight by doing a Fit Challenge with her friends – and winning, of course, Tyra claiming, “I feel like I know what a young woman wants, I’m like Mel Gibson in a black woman’s body" and that "As a girl who used to walk a runway in a bra and panties, it’s an honor to be up her on this panel as a producer.” Cheers

Video: Kimora, Ronson Keep Secrets

February 12th, 2009

Kimora Lee Simmons and Djimon Hounsou are the true VIPs of the JC Penney Celebrates Spring Style fashion show held Tuesday at NYC’s Espace.

The rumored-to-be-expecting couple is protected by a bevy of bodyguards as they grin and nod to well-wishers in a private area. Then, Kimora is escorted backstage, and emerges to takes a bow and wave during after her Fabulosity collection debuts.

Making a scene is certainly what the mom of two, 33, does best, but she’s got stiff competition from Charlotte Ronson, who is also on hand to promote her affordable line I (Heart) Ronson. (Low-price designer lines from Allen B. Schwartz, Nicole Miller and Michele Bohbot are also on display.)

While Charlotte, 31, who is Samantha’s twin, remains mum about life with Lindsay Lohan, she admits she’s “super-close” with her sister.

How are they alike?

“We love each other – just kidding,” the blonde designer tells me with a smile. “We’re like each other’s other half. We’re super-duper close. We have a lot of differences, but we have a lot of the same mannerisms and things like that.”

Meanwhile, the economy is on everyone’s mind this evening as we lap up appetizers like filet mignon on garlic bread and shrimp cocktail before noshing on vanilla milkshakes and chocolate-chip brownies.

Minka Kelly shares a budget beauty tip. “I put Aquaphor on everything,” she tells me. “It’s a healing ointment you can get at any drugstore, and I use it as my chapstick, I use it on the cuticles, I use it on any sort of little knick I get. It’s the best.”

Ooh! Here come the Real Housewives of NYC. They’re always fun.

What is Countess LuAnn de Lesseps’ best memory of her salad days — life before she was so fortunate?

She tells me, “Being with my family, I suppose. Growing up with six brothers and sisters, we had our own team. You learn how to stroke people’s egos and get what you wanted, so it’s a very good thing to grow up in such a large family because it teaches you how to share and how to respect other people’s space. Now I spoil them with gifts on holidays and take them out to dinner. We’re just very close as friends, which is wonderful.” She adds, “You can pick your friends, but not your family.”

Jill Zarin
adds, “I’m wearing a beautiful Bisou Bisou top that I think is $38 or $32 and I’m all about the truth, so I don’t lie – I would buy this top and wear it. Normally I spend a lot more money on clothes, but if it fits, I wear it. It doesn’t matter what it costs.”

Model CariDee English always uses her CoverGirl tinted moisturizer before she heads out for the day.

She adds, “You don’t need to buy the highest-priced, nicest stuff. It’s what fits you good. I love going to little stores around NY or L.A. and finding cute little things to accessorize or buy something that you really like – I have a nice Dolce watch, but then I accessorize with cute little jewelry. Something nice, and then accessorize it with something that’s not that expensive.”

On the way out, we pick up a bouquet of flowers pinned with a brooch. Nice!

Spotted!

August 12th, 2008 / Author: OK! Staff

Paris Hilton swigging vitaminenergy at Lily Pond this previous weekend with a mystery blonde man.

America’s Next Top Model winner CariDee English taking shots of cranberry and Pink Elephant Vodka with her close friends at West Chelsea’s Pink Elephant. After discreetly entering late in the evening Will-i-am partied at a table nearby to enjoy hip/hop beats spun by DJ Reach.

Katherine Heigl was followed by paparazzi at the Sephora at Glendale Galleria as she purchased only Stila products including Smoky Eye Palette, Convertible Eye Color, Brow Polish, several Lip Glazes and Convertible Color.

Khloe Kardashian, getting her hair done at the Jim Wayne Salon in Beverly Hills. Khloe was wearing a blue v-neck top, Missoni scarf belt and denim flares. Lots of gold jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings). She had her long hair pinned back into a wavy, tossled summer look.

Edge of Darkness star Mel Gibson heading to the Ladder District hotspot, MANTRA, in Boston for some celebrating with he fellow cast and crew. Mel ordered a Diet Coke, a beer and 4 shots for his staff immediately upon arrival before mingling with fellow partygoers and skipped down the road back to his hotel at the end of the night with a newspaper in hand!

Dina Lohan Gives Back

June 5th, 2008

Dina Lohan is the star of Flip Flop Casual’s Cocktail Party benefiting Project Cuddle, which keeps infants from being abandoned. Tweens and teens are giddy La Lohan is attending the soiree held at Village Club of Sands Point in Port Washington, N.Y., and swarm her when she arrives with brother Paul. But Dina can’t get enough of a  rescued infant who attends the festivities with his new mom. Aww!

As The O.C. Beach Band – which includes former members of The Beach Boys – play songs such as Help Me Rhonda, I Saw Her Standing There and Surfer Girl, partygoers bid in the silent auction. Highlights include a set visit to E.R. and lunch with John Stamos!

 

Foodwise, each room has a different theme. There’s a sushi bar in one suite, a pizza station in another, and salad, burgers, rigatoni and fettucine alfredo in yet another. It’s a mild evening, so many relax on the back porch and in the airy music space.

Oh, look, here’s America’s Next Top Model winner CariDee English. “Do I know you?” she says. Actually, we met at an OK! food shoot in Miami during Super Bowl 2007, I remember. She’s good pals with OK! blogger Jennifer Birn and OK!’s Alisandra Puliti. CariDee mentions lot of her friends are adopted so the Cuddle cause is close to her heart.

It’s a big day for her. She tells me she just got her own show on Fuse! Hip, hip, hooray. It’s a Singled Out-type deal. Is she dating anyone? “Lots,” she laughs.

What’s the key to juggling lots of guys at the same time? “Just be honest that you’re not looking for a relationship,” CariDee tells me. “And don’t let them find out about each other!”

Now Dina’s ready for her closeup. “Have we met before? You look familiar,” she says. Hm, no, but I saw her once at a Z100 event in 2005. “Be nice,” she cautions, as I interview her with two pals and a publicist at her side. Can I just tell you she totally won me over? She’s super-glam yet vulnerable, and even gives me a hug at the end of our chat. Honestly, she’s just trying to be a good mom and raise her four kids to live out their dreams. And she has a huge heart. In fact, when she was growing up, her family took in those in need through Catholic Charities. She’s a born giver. And, she’s totally genuine.

Hooray! The silent auction brings in $150,000 for this worthy cause.

 

Time to go. Car service is waiting outside for our ride back to NYC.

More than 600 babies have been rescued in the U.S. and Canada through Project Cuddle, which offers a safe and legal alternative to baby abandonment. Call 1-888-628-3353 for more information.

For more on the Lohans, pick up the OK! on newsstands now. “Charlie’s Dream Wedding” is the cover line.

Caridee English is…

October 25th, 2007

Ever since “Gossip Girls” started filming in NYC the cast of rising stars have been hitting up trendy hotspots off-screen as much as on camera. If there’s a party, chances are at least one of them is on the guest list. Last night, as my colleagues were talking to “Gossip Girl” hotties Chace Crawford and Ed Westwick at a Reebok party at Hotel Gansevoort I was across the street at a the one-year anniversary party of trendy restaurant STK where Blake Lively was supposed to be joining us for dinner. Unfortunately we were told she got caught filming late so after a glass of champagne I snuck out – and went home to watch “Gossip Girls,” tivo’d a couple of hours earlier.

I love the show. It’s like a cross between “Sex in the City” and “The OC” but more SATC and only OC at all because the cast is in high school. Last night my friend Caridee English guest-starred. Caridee won “America’s Top Model” a couple of seasons ago and her role was (drum roll) playing a wealthy man’s arm candy and being referred to as ‘A 25-year-old mannequin.’

Caridee is in Italy today so after the show I sent her an email full of questions. I asked her if she minded being type-cast as a model and a gracious always glass half full kinda girl she said, “I do get type cast as a model a lot, huh? Well, I guess it’s better than being cast as a Rosie O’Donnell look alike! Ha ha. I don’t mind modeling is my first job… For now.”

She said, “The experience with “Gossip Girl” has been euphoric. They called requesting me, which was a great feeling and being on set was amazing! It was the same set where “Sex and the City” films. I had my own dressing room right next to Blake Lively and everyone was so friendly.”

When not modeling or playing a model on TV, Caridee’s been traveling around the world – from Rome to Argentina to Canada in the last few weeks - as a spokesmodel for psorisis. Proving we’re all not quite as perfect as we look or act, Caridee actually has psorisis herself! She told me, “Being a spokesmodel for a disease that affects over 125 million people worldwide is hard, sad, but overall gratifying. When girls come up to me and say ‘ Caridee, I wanted to die because I have psorisis, and I never thought I could do anything, until I saw you,’ it makes me know I have this disease for a reason. To have that kind of impact is amazing and something I could never explain to anyone.”

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