20-year-old crowned most beautiful transsexual

Sorrawee Nattee weeps tears of joy while being crowned Thailand's most beautiful transsexual at Miss Tiffany's Universe 2009 in the beach resort of Pattaya, Thailand, May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Sorrawee took the top prize at Miss Tiffany's Universe 2009 in the beach resort of Pattaya, beating off 29 other transsexuals and receiving a small Honda car, and 100,000 baht ($2,860) in cash on Friday night.

"I'm very excited," the 20-year-old from Thailand's southern Songkhla province said, touching the glimmering winner's crown with disbelieving fingers.

She appeared overwhelmed by hordes of photographers, camera crews and well-wishers, the scene played out before a live television audience of 15 million people.

In a nation obsessed with beauty pageants and famous for its sexual tolerance, this elaborate contest is taken every bit as seriously as the more traditional competitions.

The pageant had categories for Best Costume, Miss Photogenic and even Miss Unlimited Sexy Star. Dresses ranged from flowing white ensembles to shimmering red numbers and pink miniskirts. High heels were a must.

All contestants were born men, and organizers said they hoped to raise public awareness of transgendered issues.

When asked to name her hero, winner Sorrawee earned loud applause by naming her mother and father.

"She had smart answers and is very beautiful," Marut Sarowat, a television and stage director who was one of the judges, said of Sorrawee.

A contestant looks into the mirror as "she" prepares to get on stage at Miss Tiffany's Universe 2009 in the beach resort of Pattaya, Thailand, May 15, 2009. More than 30 "ladyboys" took part in the colourful competition.[Agencies]

Contestants, all were born men, are seen during Miss Tiffany's Universe 2009 in the beach resort of Pattaya, Thailand, May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Miss Tiffany 2009 winner Sorrawee Nattee is flanked by runners up Writtorn Narapaipimol (left) and Napatsawan Cholakorn in Pattaya, Thailand, May 15. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily


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Red carpet glamorous necklace

Cast members Sophie Marceau (L) and Monica Bellucci arrive on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Ne Te Retourne Pas" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 16, 2009. [Agencies]

On the red carpet at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, stars steal the show with their sterling silver, crystal and precious stones necklaces. What's your favorite necklace style on the red carpet?

Cast members Sophie Marceau arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Ne Te Retourne Pas" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 16, 2009. [Agencies]

Cast member Mariah Carey poses on the red carpet as she arrives for the screening of the film "Precious" by director Lee Daniels at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Uruguayan actress and model Barbara Mori arrives for the screening of the film "Bright Star" by director Jane Campion at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Uruguayan actress and model Barbara Mori arrives for the screening of the film "Bright Star" by director Jane Campion at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 15, 2009. [Agencies]

Italian actress and jury member Asia Argento arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Vengeance" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Italian actress and jury member Asia Argento arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Vengeance" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

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Model Hofit Golan arrives on the red carpet for the screening of film "Vengeance" at Cannes

Model Hofit Golan arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Vengeance" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2009. Twenty films compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or which will be awarded on May 24. [Agencies]

Model Hofit Golan arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Vengeance" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2009.Twenty films compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or which will be awarded on May 24. [Agencies]

Model Hofit Golan arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Vengeance" at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2009.Twenty films compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or which will be awarded on May 24. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily


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World's largest bikini parade

While Mayor of Las Vegas Oscar Goodman and former Playboy model Holly Madison are an unlikely pair, their two very different worlds came together May 13th, united by love for Las Vegas.

The politician and the former playboy plaything joined forces to usher in the city's summer swimsuit season at the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign.

This event coincided with the 50-year anniversary of city's most symbolic landmark.

Goodman declared "summer in paradise" a month before the season officially starts, while Madison hosted a swimwear retrospective fashion show featuring bathing suits from the fifties until today.

After the fashion show, Madison headed north on Las Vegas Boulevard to Fashion Show Mall, which served as a starting point for a bikini-filled parade. 300 women in bikinis led by Madison paraded down the Strip, setting the Guinness World Record for the “World’s Largest Bikini Parade”.

While the parade may very well have broken the record for largest bikini parade, it didn’t set any records for being the longest: The total parade route was about a third of a mile from start to finish.

taken from : China Daily


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Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck watch the Boston Celtics play the Orlando Magic of NBA

Actors Jennifer Garner (L) and Ben Affleck watch the Boston Celtics play the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

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Actors Jennifer Garner (R) and Ben Affleck leave the court at halftime in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Actress Jennifer Garner leaves the court at half-time in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Actors Jennifer Garner (R) and Ben Affleck leave the court at halftime in Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Actress Jennifer Garner watches the Boston Celtics play the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

Actor Ben Affleck watches the Boston Celtics play the Orlando Magic in Game 7 of their NBA Eastern Conference basketball playoff series in Boston, Massachusetts May 17, 2009. [Agencies]

taken from : China Daily

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Sunny side up

Williamson, whose celebrity clients include Madonna, Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kylie Minogue, is the latest fashion talent to join forces with the Swedish high street fashion brand H&M.

Although Williamson is not as well known in China as H&M's previous collaborators, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Madonna, his clothes are becoming the rage here. When his first women's collection recently hit 200 H&M stores worldwide, shoppers raced to get their piece of chic.

Hordes of women in Shanghai cleared the shelves within 10 minutes. Beijing was the same. H&M opened its first store in the capital to coincide with the launching of the label's spring line and hundreds of shoppers lined up in pouring rain outside the flagship store in Qianmen Street to be first through the doors at 11am.

Competition was so intense some girls even wrote blogs to swap tips on how to grab the best items. Those who missed out first time around had another chance in Shanghai and Beijing yesterday as H&M launched his summer line in 1,600 stores worldwide.

Wen got lucky - she managed to nab the pink vest top without even having to fight for it. "It's good to be able to wear something designed by the man himself when I interview him," said Wen, one of a select group of journalists invited to Manhattan to interview the man and preview his summer collection.

Williamson's new line features women's wear, swimwear and a 20-piece "companion" collection, his debut design on menswear. The summer pieces look really very island-chic. The loose silhouette, floating fabrics and hot bursts of color let you know summer has arrived and would be wonderful inclusions in your luggage for your tropical paradise trip.

The summer collection offers an intriguing glimpse into Williamson's imagination, just as his spring line did. Most of the items are iconic pieces that have been revived from his archive. The men's collection is inspired by Williamson's own wardrobe, mixing a dapper young gentleman's style with hot colors and attractive ethnic influences.

The designer himself says: "This summer collection embraces the vacation lifestyle. The women's wear is British female goes to Ibiza and raids Jade Jagger's wardrobe while for the men's, imagine a British boy who has traveled the world and incorporated the inspiration he found into his personal style."

Acclaimed as a color connoisseur and famous for using vibrant and bold prints, the 37-year-old designer did not wear too many colors himself that morning when he talked with journalists from around the world on the 11th floor of the fancy, newly open Standard Hotel facing the Hudson River in New York.

He cut a good-looking figure in a cream striped suit and washed blue jeans, with his neatly trimmed beard, tanned skin and marble green eyes. He traced his love for vibrant colors from his upbringing in gloomy Manchester. By the age of 10, he was already dreaming of owning a shop with a pink sign. "I remember being fascinated by fashion as a boy," he recalled. "Manchester is a gray city so I wanted to use colors."

He burst on to the fashion scene in 1997 with a colorful collection dubbed Electric Angels, modeled by Kate Moss, Helena Christensen and Jade Jagger. His label has since become a celebrities' favorite and brought the party lifestyle of the global traveler to the catwalk, culminating in 2004, when he was named Elle's Designer of the Year.

You would have to conclude that his H&M collection, from a Maxi dress for $349 to a bikini top for $16.9, is a steal for those who don't have Madonna's budget. "The idea is that every girl who walks into an H&M can go 'I can buy this'," he said.

His inspiration comes from exotic cultures. "I travel every year to get inspiration," he said. "In this summer collection, you can feel the vibe sported by pretty young things in Ibiza, Mykonos, the Hamptons and beyond - but the prints and the patterns, such as the birds and butterflies, look very Chinese. I have always been fascinated by Eastern cultures."

In fact the Middle Kingdom is likely to see him soon. "My favorite fabric is silk and I have heard that China has perfect silk and embroidery, so I am really looking forward to visiting China where my H&M collection has enjoyed great popularity," he said.

taken from : China Daily


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Anna Wintour does rare interview with `60 Minutes'

Vogue magazine editor Anna Wintour poses as she arrives for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, "The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion" in New York, May 4, 2009. [Agencies]

NEW YORK – What's behind those shades, Anna?

Vogue Editor Anna Wintour is rarely seen without dark glasses at fashion shows. In an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes," airing Sunday, the elusive magazine legend explains why she likes to hide her eyes.

According to Wintour, her signature shades act as "armor." She says if she's enjoying a runway show — or bored out of her mind — nobody will notice.

Indeed, a hush might fall over the crowd should Wintour show emotion. Since becoming Vogue editor more than 20 years ago, Wintour has forged a role as one of the most powerful players in fashion.

At 59, Wintour, who inspired the best-seller "The Devil Wears Prada," plans to hold on to her post.

taken from : China Daily


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Madonna to marry Jesus Singer Madonna, wearing a design by Louis Vuitton, poses at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala "The Model

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor arrives for the premiere of "Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian," at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington May 14, 2009. [Agencies]

Ben Stiller and arrives for the premier of "Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian," at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington May 14, 2009. [Agencies]

Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor arrives for the premiere of "Night at the Museum, Battle of the Smithsonian," at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington May 14, 2009. [Agencies]

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Eva Longoria Parker the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in NY

Actress Eva Longoria Parker arrives at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Actress Eva Longoria Parker arrives at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Mexican actor Christopher von Uckermann arrives at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Baseball star Sammy Sosa arrives with his wife Sonia Sosa at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Miss Universe 2008, Dayana Mendoza, arrives at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

Television personality Lili Estefan arrives at the People En Espanol's "50 Most Beautiful" event in New York May 13, 2009. [Agencies]

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Lindsay Lohan and sister Ali at LAX airport

Lindsay Lohan and her younger sister Ali were photographed departing from Los Angeles International Airport on Monday .[CFP]

Lindsay Lohan and her younger sister Ali were photographed departing from Los Angeles International Airport on Monday .[CFP]

Lindsay Lohan and her younger sister Ali were photographed departing from Los Angeles International Airport on Monday [CFP]

Lindsay Lohan and her younger sister Ali were photographed departing from Los Angeles International Airport on Monday .[CFP]

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Vit C and Blood Pressure Linked

Did you know that your blood pressure is linked to the amount of vitamin C you consume? A study published in the Nutrition Journal found that young women who take in the most vitamin C have the healthiest blood pressure stats.

The study followed 242 women between 18 and 21years old for a ten year period. At the conclusion of the study, researchers found that the blood pressure of women with the highest levels of vitamin C was an average of four points lower than women with the least amount of vitamin C.

Study co-author Gladys Block, PH.D., said that the vitamin C reduces inflammation in the body by decreasing the amount of C-reactive protein in the blood. The authors concluded that “vitamin C may be an important factor in BP regulation even among healthy young adults, and that further study is warranted.”

Remember that you can get vitamin C from a variety of fruits and vegetables. You’re not limited to oranges and citrus fruits…though they are wonderful! Some other excellent vitamin C sources are bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, kiwi, kale, cantaloupes, and papaya.

taken from : China Daily


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Losing weight, a sure bet

John Hamaski tried a lot of things to lose weight but nothing really worked. The 38-year-old lawyer from San Francisco began several diets and enlisted in a gym. "It didn't work, I just stayed fat." Hamaski, who is about 1.56m tall and weighed 84kg, suffered from obesity.

What saved Hamaski just in time was Fatbet.net. In February he and five friends bet on losing 9.9kg in eight weeks. "I became very competitive, it was a matter of honor," the Californian says. Every day Hamaski and his friends had to register their weight on the website. They also invited their families and other friends to follow the collective slimming online.

"There was a lot of pressure, I didn't want to be a loser." Thanks to the bet, Hamaski forced himself to eat a balanced diet and to exercise six times a week. In the end, he actually won the bet. "In April I was down to 74kg."

Hamaski's story is not an isolated case in the United States. Thousands of Americans use websites like Fatbet.net as another option to traditional diet programs, such as Weight Watchers, Atkins and Slim Fast.

"These bets are working wonders. People don't want to lose and they really succeed in reducing their weight," believes Fatbet founder Adam Orkand, 40. Since launching the website in January 2008, about 6,000 users have signed up on Fatbet.net. Most of them are successful: 80 percent win their bets by losing a few pounds.

But if someone tries to lose 50 pounds (23kg) at once it certainly won't work. On average every Fatbet user loses 14 pounds (6kg) - without paying any fees because the website is financed through ads.

"The most important thing is the wager," explains Orkand. "It has to be something that you definitely don't want to lose." There are no limits, wagers can be anything: Losers have to let their beards grow, sing embarrassing songs in karaoke bars or run naked through a city center. But often it is all about honor - or cash.

It is scientifically well-founded that the expectation of winning money helps someone to lose pounds. Kevin Volpp, professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, found that slimming is easier for people if they earn $600.

Volpp's survey inspired makemoneylosingweight.com. This website has existed since the beginning of 2008 and promotes the slogan "You can never be too rich or too thin". When starting a bet the users have to pay an optional amount of money into a pool. At the end losers go away empty-handed, but the winner takes it all: the money and his weight loss.

StickK.com is similar in concept to makemoneylosingweight.com. One third of the wagers on this website are also monetary. But users can decide if they want to donate the money to a charity - or an "anti-charity", an organization they really hate. It is because of the latter option that the George W. Bush library and the National Rifle Organization (NRA) receive unexpected donations.

But StickK.com is not just about slimming, it is also about getting rid of other vices. Twenty percent of the 33,000 users bet to exercise regularly, 5 percent want to quit smoking. Unlike on Fatbet.net or Makemoneylosingweight.com, the StickK-users have to agree to a contract which can be terminated only in exceptional cases.

"People need an incentive to stick with it and to achieve their goal," says StickK founder Jordan Goldberg, 25, in explaining the strict rules.

However, Elisa Zied from the American Dietetic Association (ADA) regards these "bet your fat away" websites very skeptically. "They are a helper for those who like to compete with themselves," the expert says, "but for those who think of it as a quick fix I would say, forget about it."

taken from : China Daily


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Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore

Models skip down the runway wearing creations from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

A model displays a creation from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

A model displays a creation from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

A model sticks her tongue out at photographers as she displays a creation from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

Models air kiss each other on the runway wearing creations from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

Models pose at the end of the runway wearing creations from the Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection during the Audi Fashion Festival in Singapore May 10, 2009.[Agencies]

taken from : China Daily


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Experts: Don't try 'pox party' for swine flu

A worker wearing a bio-hazard protection suit as a precaution against swine flu sprays disinfectant along a hallway at the National Pedagogical University in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.[Agencies]

NEW YORK – It seems logical: Why not try to get sick with swine flu now, and get some immunity in case it comes roaring back this fall in a deadlier form? Sort of like those "pox parties" to get your kids exposed to a childhood disease.

Bad idea, flu experts say. It's too risky.

It's true that once your body has encountered a particular virus strain, it is generally better able to fight it off later on. Vaccines work by masquerading as germs, priming the immune system to attack particular bugs.

The current swine flu appears no deadlier than ordinary flu, but scientists worry that it could return in a more lethal form during the regular flu season in fall and winter. That's what happened in the deadly pandemic of 1918, and there's evidence that people who got sick earlier that year had protection when the lethal wave came.

So wouldn't it be a good idea to get sick now?

"I understand the logic (but it) leads you astray," said Dr. William Schaffner, a flu expert at Vanderbilt University.

He said there's no way to predict how bad a case of flu will be in a particular person. Given the risk of life-threatening complications, "this is not something where you want to do a biological experiment," he said.

"You can't control the infection that you're going to get, and you may be the one, or your child may be the one, that gets a severe infection."

What's more, a person who decides to get sick can accidentally pass it along to other, more vulnerable people, even before any symptoms show up, he said.

Dr. Robert Atmar, a flu researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, agreed. He said he would "strongly recommend against" purposely trying to catch the new flu.

For one thing, it's not yet clear that swine flu will return in deadlier form this fall. "Why roll the dice when you may not need to?" he asked.

He also said flu medicines should be available to ease symptoms of patients during the winter flu season, and that scientists hope a vaccine will be ready by then.

taken from : China Daily


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Nicole Richie attends launch of House of Harlow 1960 Jewelry Collection

Nicole Richie attends the launch of House of Harlow 1960 Jewelry Collection at Ida and Harry at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on May 6, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. [CFP]

Nicole Richie attends the launch of House of Harlow 1960 Jewelry Collection at Ida and Harry at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on May 6, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. [CFP]

taken from : China Daily


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Agyness Deyn seen New York City's East Village

Agyness Deyn was seen wearing a bright orange jacket on Thursday afternoon in New York City's East Village. [CFP]

Agyness Deyn was seen wearing a bright orange jacket on Thursday afternoon in New York City's East Village. [CFP]

taken from : China Daily


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