Elizabeth Hurley criticised for her bikini wax ad

TV viewers have lashed out at Elizabeth Hurley for mocking environmental issues in a new commercial. The glamorous British actress appears in a multi-million pound ad campaign for US discount firm Groupon, in which she compares the loss of rainforests to a cut-price Brazilian bikini wax. In a tongue-in-cheek ad, which aired in the US during Sunday’s Super Bowl game, the ‘Austin Powers’ star called Brazil’s rainforest ‘one of nature’s most lush ecosystems’. She then added ‘not all deforestation is bad!’ and revealed she saved 50 percent on her Brazilian wax because of a group discount. Angry viewers claimed Hurley’s clip makes light of serious environmental matters.

“I look forward to a Groupon campaign for roadside assistance using Egypt. That’d be droll! These ads are reprehensible,” said a TV critic.

Online viewers lashed out on Twitter for this commercial.

Kate Middleton deemed top fashion buzzword

Prince William’s bride-to-be, Kate Middleton, has de-throned Lady Gaga as the top fashion buzzword for the fashion season that starts in New York on Feb 10. According to a survey, 29 year old, Middleton, who will marry the British prince on April 29 in London, soared as a fashion icon in November after the blue dress by designer Daniella Issa Helayel that she wore for the official engagement announcement sold out of stores within 24 hours. Speculation is now rife in the fashion world over who will design Middleton’s wedding dress, and what it will look like. A survey by the Texas-based Global Language Monitor of fashion buzz words and phrases in print, on the Internet, and in social media, ranked Middleton the No.1. word for the upcoming season.

Singer Lady Gaga, known as much for her striking outfits as her hit records, was pushed into second place in the annual survey.

"Sheer" - the trend for translucent fabrics - came in third place, followed by "shirt dresses," and "sustainable style," reflecting a growing trend of clothing made of recycled fabrics.

New York fashion week starts on Feb 10, kicking off an international calendar of shows that includes London, Milan and Paris.

The words in the Global Language Monitor survey were chosen from the world fashion media, nominated by key fashionistas from around the world and tracked for their frequency and usage in English-speaking media outlets around the world.

Pablo Picasso’s mistress painting fetches 40.7 million dollars

A Pablo Picasso painting of his mistress and model Marie-Therese Walter titled "La Lecture" fetched 25.2 million pounds (40.7 million dollars) at a Sotheby’s auction, above pre-sale estimates. The painting, which had been expected to fetch between 12 and 18 million pounds at the London sale, helped lift the modern and impressionist art auction total to 68.8 million pounds, including the buyers’ premium. Excluding the premium Sotheby’s was hoping to raise between 55.6-79.3 million pounds, meaning the total is likely to be seen as a solid start to a busy month of London sales that will put recent soaring prices for fine art to the test. According to Sotheby’s, up to seven bidders tried to buy La Lecture, which dates from 1932. After six minutes of bidding in the saleroom and on the telephone, the work went to an anonymous telephone bidder.

The Picasso was by far the biggest lot of an auction which failed to match the excitement of the equivalent sale last year, when a Giacometti statue set a new world auction record of $104.3 million.

Months later, Sotheby’s main rival Christie’s sold Picasso’s "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust" for $106.5 million in New York.

Christie’s, the world’s largest auction house, holds its first sale of the London series when it expects to raise 55-81 million pounds.

That includes a still life by Paul Gauguin in tribute to Vincent Van Gogh estimated to fetch 7-10 million pounds.

Michelle Obama says Barack quit smoking

US President Barack Obama has finally kicked his smoking habit, first lady Michelle Obama said. It has been "almost a year" since the president had a cigarette, his wife said at a White House luncheon to mark the first anniversary of her "Let’s Move" childhood health initiative. "It’s been a while and I’m very proud of him," she was quoted as saying by The Washington Post. "I haven’t poked and prodded. When somebody is doing the right thing, you don’t mess with them."

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in December that Obama appeared to be making progress in his struggle to give up cigarettes and was chewing nicotine gum as a replacement. He said then he had not seen or witnessed any evidence of Obama smoking in probably nine months.

Kate Middleton to wear a modest wedding dress

Bruce Oldfield has predicted that royal bride-to-be Kate Middleton will wear a modest dress on her wedding day. On the US breakfast show Good Morning America, Oldfield, who is believed to have won the coveted commission to create Middleton’s bridal gown, said Prince William’s fiancée’s outfit will have sleeves but will still provoke a strong reaction from the watching world. In keeping with the tradition of past royal weddings, most famously Diana, Princess of Wales’s wedding. She will also wear a veil. But for the evening dinner and dance, hosted by her future father-in-law the Prince of Wales, Middleton will change into another dress, he said. When asked if there would be two dresses on the wedding day, Oldfield replied ‘yes’ but remained tight-lipped about his sources and whether he had been commissioned to create the wedding gown. He predicted that the marriage outfit, despite being demure, would still cause a strong reaction when William’s fiancée arrives at Westminster Abbey for the ceremony on April 29th.

The designer said, ‘‘whatever happens, there’s going to be a sharp intake of breath, "Shhh - oh my God, what is she wearing" or, "Oh, doesn’t she look fabulous?"

“I’m sure the dress is going to be modest in terms of coverage - it has to be. It will have sleeves, it has to have sleeves.

“You can’t walk down Westminster Abbey in a strapless dress. It just wouldn’t happen. It has to suit the grandeur of that aisle, it’s enormous. I can predict she will wear a veil,” he added.

Eva Longoria dating Eduardo Cruz

Eva Longoria has moved on from her divorce and is now reportedly dating good friend, actress Penelope Cruz’s younger brother Eduardo Cruz. Just over a week after her divorce from basketball star Tony Parker was finalised, the actress enjoyed a romantic weekend with the 25-year-old Spanish crooner. The pair was spotted aboard a luxury cruiser in Miami over the weekend, where a Super Bowl viewing party was hosted by her friend, cosmetics mogul Loren Ridinger. The 35-year-old-actress first sparked rumours of a new young lover when she was spotted with Eduardo at her Los Angeles restaurant Beso in October. Eduardo was seen leaving Longoria’s home on Christmas Eve, and then they were seen enjoying a flamenco dance troupe in January.

Her publicist played down rumours of a romance at the time, saying that they are "just friends" and that "Eva does not have a boyfriend".

Longoria split from Parker in November amid allegations that the ‘San Antonio Spurs’ basketballer had cheated on her with his team mate’s wife.

Priyanka Chopra considers herself as the No.1 Actress

Ace filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has given an altogether new dimension to Priyanka Chopra’s film career. Her latest and much awaited film ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’ has transformed PC’s career so beautifully that she has been receiving complements for her performance even before the release of the film. With so many compliments coming her way, Priyanka seems to have done away with humility as she proudly says that she is the numero uno actress. Priyanka does not believe in being voted as the best actress. She does not even appreciate the concept of surveys and polls. Discussing her journey so far in the film industry, Priyanka said, "From my first film to ‘Saat Khoon Maaf’, I consider myself the No. 1 actress. I don’t believe in poll results and surveys. For me, I am the No. 1." People from Bollywood have been going gaga over her matchless performance in the film only by seeing the trailers. And the SKM star does love all the appreciation that people have been endlessly showering on her.

Expressing how good she feels when being applauded for her work, Priyanka said “Yes of course they do. You feel good when someone says something good about you, your work. But at the same time, I know what I am. I know my work and I know where I stand.”

And PC cannot stop taking pride for being a part of a film like SKM. She said, “I can’t be objective about my films. For me, it is the film! It is perfect.”

Kelly Brook wears the same perfume as Madonna

Kelly Brook says that she is a huge fan of popstar Madonna and wears the same perfume as her idol. The model started wearing the perfume Fracas by Robert Piguet, after she came to know that the ‘Vogue’ hitmaker wore the same. "I first smelt this perfume on Madonna and asked her what it was. I decided there and then that I always wanted to smell like her. Who wouldn’t want to smell like Madonna?," said the 31-year-old. "It’s a lovely jasmine-based scent which you can get from Harrods. Once somebody came up to me and said, ‘Madonna wears that fragrance too.’ And I replied, ‘Yeah I know’," she said. The ‘Piranha 3-D’ star said that she takes inspiration from actress Brigitte Bardot and loves to look like the French beauty.

"I do love that 60s sex kitten vibe. One of my favourite films is ‘Manina’, which was one of Bridget Bardot’s first movies and she looks so beautiful and young and pretty. She spends the whole film in a bikini. I don’t know why I’m drawn to that," she added.

Emma Bunton expecting a baby boy

Emma Bunton has revealed that she is expecting a baby boy with fiance Jade Jones. The 35-year-old former Spice Girl, who is pregnant with her second child with Jones, had recently annouced that she is engaged to her partner of 11 years and that they will tie the knot soon.

The singer revealed about her unborn baby boy on her Heart 106.2 London Saturday radio show.

Courtney Love sued for $4000 flower bill

Rocker Courtney Love has been hit with a lawsuit for allegedly failing to settle a bill for flowers. According to a report, the bosses at My Secret Garden in Los Angeles claim Love owes more than $4,000 for arrangements she ordered in 2009.

The shop’s owner have filed papers Thursday demanding the cash.

Jennifer Lopez is Global Ambassador for Gilette

Singer Jennifer Lopez has added another feather to her cap – she has been named as the first ever Global Ambassador for shaving brand Gilette. Lopez and her famously fabulous legs will star in the new campaign for Venus Goddess, dedicated to encouraging women to feel their most confident, powerful and beautiful - inside and out. "The Venus brand empowers women and speaks to the ‘goddess’ in every one of us," she said. The newly established Venus Goddess Fund for Education will enable global educational opportunities for women through partnership with organisations such as CARE International, the Step Up Women’s Network and Lopez’s own Maribel Foundation. Lopez has also recorded a remake of the classic ‘Venus’ song as part of the campaign.

"Music is one of my great passions, so being able to record and perform a remake of the iconic Venus song was a really special part of this campaign. I love that I could express my own passion and creativity, and hopefully inspire other women to do the same...whatever it is they love doing," she said.

"Every woman is a goddess in her own right when we let our best feminine self shine through. Venus keeps my legs looking beautiful, giving me the confidence to feel just like a goddess," she added.

Padma Lakshmi to buy $10 mn loft in New York

Indian origin model Padma Lakshmi is looking for a new home and has set her heart on a USD 10 million loft. The 40-year-old ‘Top Chef’ host who is currently embroiled in a bitter custody with ex-boyfriend Adam Dell over their 11-month-old daughter Krishna, is keen on the place situated in the trendy neighbourhood of Greenwich Village. Lakshmi, who is currently dating 70-year-old IMG boss Ted Forstmann, has been checking out downtown residences in the city. However, she is said to be interested in the apartment which was built in 1904 and was originally a department store. The 12-story apartment building includes a doorman, concierge, and basement storage.

The model, who was earlier married to author Salman Rushdie, already owns a USD 1.6 million loft in the city’s East Village, but is clearly looking to upgrade.