By Ann Pride


Life's a beach: Queen Latifah was spotted enjoying the sun and surf on Friday during a holiday in Barbados

She was once a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, but from the looks of things, Queen Latifah may have fallen off of the weight loss wagon.

The Grammy award winner and Oscar-nominated actress was spotted enjoying the sun and surf yesterday on a beach in Barbados.

With her hair pulled back into a ponytail, the rapper-turned-actress proudly strutted around the sand in a plunging blue one piece.


However, the ill-fitting swimsuit struggled to contain the buxom beauty's ample curves.

Still, the 41-year-old appeared to be having a wonderful time, as she smiled and frolicked in the water.

In 2008, Latifah was enlisted as a spokeswoman for the weight loss program Jenny Craig.

The statuesque star has made it clear that her intention was never to be stick thin, but to improve her health.


Careful: Latifah's amble assets appear to be spilling out of the sides of her one piece

While promoting the weight loss program she said: 'I don’t want to be skinny.

'I had read that if you lost five percent of your body weight, you could cut your chances of things like heart disease in half. Jenny Craig mentioned the same statistic to me, so we connected on a health level.'

In January 2009, Jenny Craig released a statement praising Latifah for 'successfully losing 20 pounds and dropping 20 cholesterol points.'

The statement went on to say: 'Queen Latifah embodies the healthy lifestyle principles and character that Jenny Craig stands for and we look forward to another great year.'

In addition to her music and acting careers, the New Jersey native is a spokesperson for CoverGirl cosmetics and has her own line of cosmetics for women of colour called the CoverGirl Queen Collection.

She is also a spokesman for Curvation ladies underwear and she co-owns a film production company called Flavor Unit Entertainment.

The company has produced a string of comedies including Beauty Shop, The Cookout, The Perfect Holiday and Just Wright.


All glammed up: The star cut a fashionable figure in January at the Golden Globe Awards



source:dailymail

By Emily Sheridan


Who's your friend? Mark Wright cosies up to a mystery blonde on holiday in Miami

In his last series of The Only Way Is Essex and his appearance on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, we've been seeing a more sensitive side of Mark Wright.

But given his holiday snaps following a mini-break in Miami this week, it looks like the reality star is back to his old ladykilling ways.

Having been single since November after he was dumped by TOWIE lover Sam Faiers, Wright is enjoying his freedom.


After arriving home in Essex on Friday, Mark uploaded a Twitter photo of his ripped, toned abs to show off his tan and another image of him cosying up to a mystery blonde companion.

Although he didn't give away any clues to her identity, he said: 'That's just a taster of the talent in Miami. Hahahaha.'

He also showed off a rather revealing image of him in his Versace underwear at his hotel.

Oily: The reality TV star shows off his buff body in a pair of Versace underwear

Also during his trip, he bumped into X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos, who has been recording her debut solo album in the sunshine state.

Upon his return to the UK, he was also sending flirty messages to a Twitter friend called Sarita Borge, declaring: 'Miss u 2 wanna come back. I bet #Miami ain't the same without me xx.'

After his four day break in Miami with good friend James Kenzie, Mark headed straight out to his regular haunt Faces in Gants Hill on Friday night.

And on Saturday, he was back in the bosom of his family, watching his younger brother Josh play for Millwall Football Club.


Miami nights: Mark was on holiday with his close friend James Kenzie



source:dailymail

By Alanah Eriksen


Living the life: Mark Wright tweeted this shirtless pic of himself by the pool in Miami


He moaned that he's put on two stone after leaving the jungle on I'm A Celebrity.

But Mark Wright has clearly back to his buff self.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star showed off his washboard abs while holidaying in Miami with friends.


Walking by a pool at his hotel, wearing just a pair of blue swimming trunks and dark sunglasses, the 25-year-old looked fit and tanned.

Posting the photo on Twitter, he wrote casually: 'Just chilling round the pool'.

The new Take Me Out - The Gossip host also parted with Tulisa Contostavlos, sharing a picture of himself with the X Factor judge.

He wrote: 'Look who I just bumped in 2 in #miami @officialtulisa. Wild night !! #uktakeover.'


A slimmer figure: The former TOWIE star, seen after appearing on Daybreak in December, said he's gained two stone after leaving I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here


Celebrity friends: Mark partied with Tulisa Contostavlos in the U.S.

Mark revealed last month that he was on a mission to get back in shape, confessing that he'd put on a whopping two stone in less than three weeks.

'I've just eaten so much,' he admitted.

'I just can't stop eating cakes, chocolate, crisps, and every Monday I say "right I'm going to stop now, and I just don't.'

He was quick to defend himself however, adding: 'I wouldn't say I'm porky, I'm just half a stone heavier than I was when I started. I lost a stone and a half in the jungle.'


source:dailymail

By Georgina Littlejohn


Moonlit moment: Sir Richard Branson poses with wife Joan and his newly-wed daughter Holly and her new husband Freddie Andrewes after their wedding on Necker Island in December


It was the wedding that could almost never have happened after a fire ravaged through the idyllic Caribbean island that was playing host to their nuptials.

But some smouldering ashes and some burnt-out ruins wasn't going to stop the Branson family celebrating Holly's wedding to ship broker Freddie Andrewes.

And Sir Richard himself decided to open up the family album today and share some intimate snaps of the family and their friends and other loved-ones enjoying themselves as they toasted the new married couple.


Holly and Freddie, both 30, were married on Necker Island just before Christmas and just few months after it was ravaged by a huge fire that destroyed the Great House on the Virgin Island.

But that certainly didn't dampen the newlyweds' spirits or their guests, who made it a wedding to remember, if the pictures are anything to go by.

Sir Richard, 61, the proud dad, took to his blog on the Virgin website to share snaps from the event including ones of the big day itself and the parties that took place either side.


Me and my little girl: Sir Richard gets ready to accompany Holly down the aisle


Proud: Sir Richard, his wife Joan and their son Sam, Holly's brother, watch the ceremony from their front row seats

I now pronounce you husband and wife: Holly and Freddie share a kiss much to the delight of their guests

In one, he is seen looking emotional as he accompanies his stunning daughter down the aisle and then is seen sitting sitting proudly with his hand on wife Joan's knee, who in turn has her hand on their 26-year-old son Sam's knee as they watch the ceremony from the front row.

In another, Holly and Freddie share their first kiss as a married couple in front of the jubilant guests and a stunning black and white image shows them laughing out loud as guests through streamers and glitter onto the happy couple.


Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom: Holly and Freddie laugh out loud as they are showered with glitter and streamers by their guests

Pretty: Holly and Freddie go to cut the wedding cake as Sir Richard stands by their side

There are lovely photos of Holly and Freddie with Sir Richard and Joan as well as two famous guests who flew to the island, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, who are good friends with Holly and her brother Sam.

And Holly is also seen posing with her new husband and her parents before she takes to the dance floor with her entrepreneur father for a boogie.


Dance with me, Daddy: Holly takes her father's hand as he leads her to the dance floor

A stolen moment: Holly and Freddie share a kiss on the beach

A huge group shot also features in the collection as well as Sir Richard waving his napkin in the air at his table.

Some were also taken on the morning of the wedding and show Holly and her bridal party getting ready as they open up Tiffany & Co boxes, no doubt containing some bejeweled delight inside.


By Royal Appointment: The newlyweds and Sir Richard pose for a photo with guest Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice


It's party time! Holly and Fred and their friends and family posed for a group shot after the ceremony

Waves your napkins in the air: Sir Richard looked like he was having a great time at the dinner

Sir Richard also wrote a few words to accompany the photos and said: 'We thought it might be nice to share Holly and Freddie’s wedding photos. It really was a wonderful occasion.

'As one of our wedding guests put it: “I can't think of anyone else who would go to the lengths of burning their house down to provide the perfect wedding location for their daughter!”

The bridal party: Holly and her bridesmaids were seen opening boxes from Tiffany & Co as they got ready for the ceremony

'Special thanks to Alexia Hargrave for doing such amazing jobs organising the wedding. We couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you also to the brilliant Miles Peckham, who has helped us with launches and events around the world - the quirkier the better!

The pictures also suggest that a couple of parties were thrown during the few days of celebrating, with one looking like it had a pirate theme.


On the high seas: Holly and Freddie are hoisted into the air during what looked like a pirate themed party

Arrr, me hearties! Sir Richard got into the spirit of the evening with his fancy dress costume

In one shot, Holly and Freddie, dressed in pirate fancy dress, are hoisted up to on their friends' shoulders - who are also in pirate attire - and in another, Sir Richard himself dons a huge feathered hat and gives a cheeky smile to the camera.

There were also some time in the sun for the wedding party with one photo showing Sir Richard and the groom and his friends posing on a cliff with their arms in the air


Here come the boys: Sir Richard and the groom Freddie pose with his friends on a cliff in the glorious sunshine

I love you sis, Sam Branson gives Holly a big hug during one of the many festivities that took place for the wedding

Shortly after the wedding, Sir Richard said the fire was not going to ruin Holly and Fred's day and said: 'Its ruins couldn't have been a more perfect setting to hold such a beautiful wedding. We definitely turned a negative into a positive.'

And today, he added: 'So proud of my beautiful daughter and delighted to welcome Freddie into the family. Hope you enjoy the photos.'


Lots of love in the air: Holly and Freddie stand in the middle of their friends who had created a sign for the couple that read, 'H loves F' by using themselves sitting down



source:dailymail

By Maysa Rawi


The Queen enters Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, followed by granddaughter-in-law Kate and daughter-in law the Duchess of Cornwall

Three of the Royal Family's leading ladies paid a visit to one of London's most luxurious department stores today.

The Queen, who fittingly wore the shop's colours, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall went to Fortnum & Mason, where they will be given a tour of its famous food hall.

Sporting two daffodils on her lapel in honour of St Davids day, Kate wore a blue coat by Italian label Missoni and shoes by Rupert Sanderson.


Sporting two daffodils on her lapel in honour of St Davids day, Kate wore a blue coat by Italian label Missoni and shoes by Rupert Sanderson

Kate shares a joke with Mayor of London Boris Johnson, right


The Duchess of Cornwall opted for navy blue and white stripes but the Queen was the only one to wear a hat.

The royal guests will meet military personnel involved in the Gifts For Troops scheme, which sends packages to soldiers serving in Afghanistan, and saw a display of tea and biscuits similar to those which will be sent to troops deployed overseas on operations during the Diamond Jubilee weekend.

The Queen will also recipients of grants from the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (Qest) - the charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association.


The Queen makes her grand entrance at the department store....

....followed by Camilla, then Kate and it looks as though she opted for the same blue Zara dress she wore the day after her wedding

Qest makes awards ranging up to £15,000 to craftsmen and women of all ages to help them further their careers.

It was established in 1990 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Association and the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and since 1991 has awarded £1.5 million to 242 craftspeople aged between 17 and 50-plus for study, training and work experience.

The Queen, wearing the same mint green as the store front, gives a wave before greeting staff

Later, the Queen will be joined by Kate and Camilla at a tea party at the store for around 150 staff, suppliers and former employees, including some who worked there at the time of the Queen's Coronation.

The royal visitors will then inspect a cake to commemorate the renaming of the restaurant to The Diamond Jubilee Tea Station before the Queen unveils a plaque to commemorate the regeneration of the local Piccadilly area.


A small demonstration against the sale of foie gras at Fortnum and Mason takes place as the Royals arrive


The visit to the department store is to commemorate the regeneration of the local Piccadilly area



source:dailymail

By Nadia Mendoza


Some ladies waste a lifetime waiting for Prince Charming to propose with rose petals and diamonds.

But Lisa Maxwell has bitten the bullet by popping the question to her partner Paul Jessup.

The Bill star, who played DI Samantha Nixon in the ITV1 drama between 2002 and 2009, honoured the leap year tradition when every fours years the female is meant to get down on one knee.

Brave! Lisa Maxwell proposed to Paul Jessup last night, revealing she popped the question in her 'jimjmas'

The television presenter, 48, has never married and so it will be her first time down the aisle.

However, it's about time she says 'I do', with Lisa and sculptor Paul having been together since 1997.

The couple have one child together, their daughter Beau, 12, who was born in October 1999.

A nervous looking Lisa was egged on by co-hosts Andrea McLean, Carol McGiffin and Jane McDonald as she punched the air in victory after revealing the news in front of the ITV1 cameras.

Lisa actually proposed last night in the privacy of their own home, while still wearing her pyjamas.

Relocating to the Cotswolds: Lisa and Paul have just moved into a new house

She said: 'It's something we've talked about, but we haven't really had a proposal. And I thought I'd say to him, once and for all, 'Will you marry me?' And he said, 'Of course I will Nobby!'"

The petite blonde continued: 'Unfortunately I wanted to try and get a picture of the moment I proposed, but I was in my jimjams and we were in bed. Well I wasn't even in my jimjams!'

Lisa gushed: 'I love him, I want to spend the rest of my life with him. If you're watching sweetheart - you mean the world to me and I'm so happy. I didn't realise I would be, but there you go.'

Explaining the build up to her proposal, Lisa said: 'For the last couple of weeks I've been joking with Paul (about February 29)... And he was like, "Yeah, very funny. Haha," and just ignored it.

Long term partners: Lisa and Paul have been together for 15 years, having daughter Beau in October 1999

'I've been sniffing around him for a couple of weeks, as you do. So yesterday, and he knew I was thinking of maybe doing something, and maybe not doing something, because things are fantastic in our relationship. Fifteen years in June, we've been there, seen it, done it.

'We've got a beautiful daughter. There are no surprises. We've just moved to the Cotswolds and we've bought a house and we've done it up, and it will be the last house we ever live in.

'So we kind of know where our lives are going and there seemed very little reason to change that.

'But the fact that we knew where our lives were going, I was thinking "Well, what's the big surprise? The only thing that we don't have is marriage." So yesterday, I proposed to Paul.

'We were in bed at the time and I'd spent all day trying to get it right and all day trying to be a really lovely girlfriend because you don't want to have a row the day you're going to ask that big question.'


Egging her on: Lisa was surrounded by co-hosts Andrea McLean, Carol McGiffin and Jane McDonald



source:dailymail

Natalia Goleniowski almost died when she was born and had to have open heart surgery when she was two years old


By Alison Smith-squire


With a smile to melt the hardest heart, it’s not surprising little Natalia Goleniowski is taking the modelling world by storm.

But what is amazing is Natalia, 5 – who goes by the name of Natty – has Downs Syndrome.

When she was born she almost died. Her parents feared she might never learn to walk or talk properly. And aged two she battled with pneumonia and heart surgery.

Adorable model: Natalia Goleniowski, 5, was spotted by a photographer when on holiday in Jamaica

Yet she has now been signed up to model the clothes for two prestigious children’s clothes companies.

And as well as wowing the modelling world – other companies are also queuing up to feature Natalia in their campaigns - she has started school and is learning to read.

'When Natty was born we didn’t know if she would live, let alone if she would walk or talk properly. So this is a dream come true,' said proud mum Hayley Goleniowski 42, last night. 'But everywhere we go people stop me to say what a gorgeous little girl Natty is. And she just adores being in front of the camera.'

Babywear company JoJo Maman Bebe agrees. 'When we saw Natalia’s photos we were bowled over by how pretty she was,' said spokeswoman Alice Treharne, 'and we think she will be perfect to model clothes for our 2012 Autumn catalogue.'

It’s a world away from the day Natalia – nicknamed Natty - was born.

Full-time mum Hayley and her music company boss husband, Bob, 57, from Padstow, Cornwall, who also have another daughter, Mia, 7, did not expect their second child would be born anything but healthy.

'Apart from some morning sickness, the pregnancy was totally normal,' recalls Hayley, who has had five miscarriages, 'a scan at three months did pick up an unusual thickness in Natty’s neck and we were told this could be a sign of Down’s.

But the chance of Natty being Downs was given as 300 to one, which wasn’t enough to go for further tests such as an amnioscentesis.

Jumping for joy: Little Natty's enthusiasm is infectious and has turned her into a sought-after child model

'And as everything else was fine, we didn’t give it any further thoughts.'

The couple even chose a home birth.

'It was beautifully calm. I was in the bath and the midwives only arrived shortly before,' says Mrs Goleniowski.

But as soon as 6Ib Natalia was born, alarm bells rang.

'Natty was blue and not breathing. It was terrifying. We knew something was terribly wrong when the midwife went into full emergency mode and gave Natty the kiss of life.'

An ambulance was called and the pair were rushed to Truro’s Trelisk hospital.

There, as her mother lay in shock in a side room, medical staff desperately fought to save Natalia’s life.

It was four hours later before a consultant came in and gave the couple the news their daughter was not only critically ill – but had Downs Syndrome.

Hayley Goleniowski said: 'When Natty was born we didn¿t know if she would live, let alone if she would walk or talk properly. So this is a dream come true'

'His actual words were a blur,' says Mrs Goleniowski, 'I was so stunned. Bob was fantastic – he immediately said, "well, she’s our baby and we’ll love her anyway," and Mia adored her from the start. But I was numb.

'It sounds awful now. But I didn’t even want to see her. It was such a nightmare - I just wanted to go home and forget I’d had a baby.'

Things didn’t improve when she got to see Natalia.

'I just looked at her in an incubator and thought, "you’re not pretty. You don’t even look like my baby". I felt as if I’d produced an alien.'

Doctors warned them Natalia had two holes in her heart and the next few days would be critical.

Says Mrs Goleniowski: 'We even had Natty christened in hospital.'

Brave little girl: Natty tries out swimming with dolphins

That night the couple went home. But it was when they returned the next morning that mum and daughter began to bond.

'By then I wanted her to live. I suddenly looked at her, lying there amongst bleeping tubes and felt a rush of love. I longed for her to live.'

Thankfully after three weeks the couple were able to bring Natalia home.

'But no-one could tell us whether she would walk or even talk properly,' says her mother, 'and she was constantly ill. We were in and out of hospital with pneumonia and she was constantly on antibiotics.

Gradually, however – and with intense physiotherapy to help strengthen her limbs – Natalia grew stronger.

'I’ll never forget the day she first sat up by herself. She was ten months and that felt an amazing achievement.'

Sleeping beauty: The five-year-old takes a well-deserved nap after playing on the beach

At a year Natalia stunned everyone when she spoke her first word – Teddy. And at twenty months she took her first wobbly steps.

Age two she underwent heart surgery to seal the holes in her heart. And from then on she came on leaps and bounds.

'She had so much energy and developed such a little personality.'

Then when Natalia was four and the family were on holiday in Jamaica, they were approached by a photographer.

'She was also on holiday and she asked if she could take some photos of Natty. She was amazed at how photogenic Natty was. Meanwhile, we couldn’t believe how much Natty adored posing for the camera. She loved it.'

In September Natalia reached another milestone the family never thought possible – she started mainstream school.


Welcome home! Natty's mother, Hayley, initially struggled to bond with her daughter, but big sister Mia (pictured) was always a fan

At the same time Hayley read about a boy with Down's Syndrome in the US who is now a sought after model.

'I decided to write to a couple of clothing companies with a snap of Natty. I never thought anything would come of it. But incredibly both of them immediately emailed back inviting Natty to an audition.'

Kurt Jewson co-founder of children’s organic clothing company Frugi says: 'We immediately felt Natty had model potential and are now looking forward to featuring her in our next catalogue and online.'

Since then her proud mum has received interest from several other organisations – including holiday companies – requesting to see Natalia for modelling work.

She says: 'We are all so proud of Natty. She does shine and it’s wonderful that others see what we do in her.'


source:dailymail