Big Year For Alessandra Ambrosio

This year looks set to one of the biggest for Brazilian belle, here's a quick update on what she's been up to:

• She is the face of Valentine's Day for Victorias Secret and will be doing PR events around this on her own in NYC. Dates to follow.
• Alessandra has been chosen again to be the sole face of the new VS Very Sexy TV commercial and print campaign to be shot for the USA.
• Alessandra will be the face once again of Armani A/X for fall/winter 2007 The campaign will be shot in the next few weeks. This is a welcome return for Alessandra and Armani after their 3 season collaboration a couple of years ago.
• Alessandra has shot for the 2008 Wurth calendar in Jamaica within the last few days.
• She has just shot her next Hering (Brasil) campaign.

AskMen Top 99 List Revealed

Today the 7th annual AskMen Top 99 list was revealed. AskMen.com readers cast a record number of online votes this year – more than 8.5 million – to name the women who best embody the qualities of a “fantasy girlfriend.” Many of the industries top models were included on the list this year, many beating A-List actresses and singers. The ranked models are:

#4 Adriana Lima
#6 Alessandra Ambrosio
#12 Marisa Miller

#13 Heidi Klum

#14 Gisele Bundchen
#26 Tyra Banks

#27 Petra Nemcova

#37 Elsa Benitez

#38 Molly Sims

#44 Josie Maran

The New Face Of XOXO

....is Ana Beatriz Barros! The blonde, brazilian bombshell will be the face of the Spring 2007 XOXO 'Hugs And Kisses' campaign. She has featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition for 5 consecutive years and frequently models for Victoria's Secret and Intimissi. Last years campaign was fronted by Ana's best friend, and fellow Brazilian, Alessandra Ambrosio.

Another Bundchen/Brady Update

That's right folks....the pair have actually been spotted together for the first time! As reported by US Weekly, the pair were spotted together walking in New York. They were also spotted leaving Gisele's appartment the following morning within minutes of each other, Gisele to walk her 3 dogs under the guise of large sunglasses and Tom to presumably go home, although wearing the same clothes as the day before....draw your own conclusions!

More On Bundchen & Brady

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady won't be getting another Super Bowl ring this year, but he does have Gisele Bundchen to cheer him up. Brady, 29, whose Patriots were knocked out of the NFL playoffs this weekend, and Bundchen, 26, "started dating just before Christmas," a source confirms to PEOPLE.

Asked about the relationship by a Boston radio show, Brady said he didn't "have much of a response." Bundchen's rep had no comment. The couple-watch kicked into gear after the Boston Herald reported that the Victoria's Secret model was seen waiting for Brady outside the Patriots locker room on Jan. 14, after the team's win against the San Diego Chargers.

A Chargers rep tells PEOPLE that Bundchen "was in the stands. I'm 100 percent sure. (A Charger employee) saw her walking in concourse area."

www.people.com

Tyra Speaks Out About Her Weight

On her hit show America's Next Top Model, Tyra Banks has always stressed the importance of body confidence – but it still hurt when tabloids ran an unflattering photo of her in a bathing suit under headlines that screamed, "America's Next Top Waddle" and "Tyra Porkchop."

Now, for the first time in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Banks, 33, is publicly discussing her much-buzzed-about weight gain. "I get so much mail from young girls who say, 'I look up to you, you're not as skinny as everyone else, I think you're beautiful,' " she says. "So when they say that my body is 'ugly' and 'disgusting,' what does that make those girls feel like?"

As for how Banks feels about her own 5'10" body – which she says is at 161 lbs. these days, about 30 lbs. heavier than when she landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue in 1997 – she says: "I still feel hot, but every day is different. It's when I put on the jeans that used to fit a year ago and don't fit now and give me the muffin top, that's when I say, 'Damn!' "

In other words, yes: She has put on weight, though not nearly as much as those recent tabloid stories suggested. (Banks believes the pix were snapped at an unflattering angle.) "She has a very womanly, gorgeous body that goes up and down," says her good friend Heidi Klum.

In fact, Banks says that since she retired from modeling in 2005, the number on the scale has fluctuated from 148 lbs. to 162 lbs., depending on how well she is taking care of herself. "I feel more comfortable when I'm lighter – I sleep better, I snore less, I have more endurance when I work out, my arms look better," she admits.

Still, she isn't freaking out about wearing size 32-waist jeans or about "the fat roll" she claims to have on her back. (Her biggest source of figure angst is her size-DD breasts, which she says make it hard to find clothes that fit: "I would love for them to be a size and a half smaller.")

But, she adds, "I've made millions of dollars with the body I have, so where's the pain in that? If I was in pain, I would have dieted. The pain is not there – the pain is someone printing a picture of me and saying those (horrible) things."

In fact, it appears that by adding a little padding, Banks the businesswoman has earned a bit of credibility: Her talk show is now entering its second season, and the most recent season of Top Model delivered its strongest ratings ever. "(TV execs) think it's better when I'm at 155 lbs. – at 145, they feel I'm not as relatable," she explains.

Besides, Banks is having a lot more fun these days eating the pancakes off a friend's plate at IHOP than trying to fit into designer sample sizes. Of course, if someone would come up with a miracle cure for cellulite, she's not above admitting she'd be first in line. "I think every woman," she says, "would want to do something about their cellulite!"

www.people.com

Bianca Expecting First Child

It is reported that italian beauty Bianca Balti is currently pregnant with her first child which is believed to be due in May 2007. It is suspected to be a baby girl however this hasn't been confirmed. She has been married to Christian Lucidi, an Italian photographer, since June 2005. We wish them all the best!

Alessandra Back On The Runway?

Brazilian belle Alessandra Ambrosio has been somewhat absent from runway shows in the last few years, especially in her home county of Brazil, however Sao Paulo fashion week could see her return and walk the famous runway with other brazilian stunners such as Izabel Goulart and Raquel Zimmerman. She is believed to be doing the Cori show which she produced an advertising campaign for earlier this year, however this has not yet been confirmed.

Adriana Enjoying Vacation

While the Fashion season was rolling in Rio, top brazilian model Adriana Lima was tanning in her hometown of Bahia, Salvador. She was seen at the concert of Timbalada this Sunday.

The In's and Out's of Karolina....

It's been a slow news day so I bring to you a cute interview with Karolina Kurkova!

What's the best meal you've eaten in New York?

Pure Food & Wine’s Raw Tiramisu — it’s the most amazing I’ve ever had.

In one sentence, what do you actually do all day in your job?

Create fantasy.

Where do you get your coffee?

I’m sorry … I don’t drink coffee, but I do love having my green juice in the morning.

What's the last thing you saw on Broadway?

The last thing I saw on Broadway was my agent David Bonnouvrier walking into the office on Broadway.

Do you give money to panhandlers?

I do if they strike me as truly being in need.

What's your drink?

Virgin piña colada.

How often do you prepare your own meals?

Four times a week.

What's your favorite medication?

I don’t take medication, but I have a thirteenth-century Buddha in my apartment and I use essential oils. Both give me a feeling of peace and well-being.

What's hanging above your sofa?

Nothing.

How much is too much to spend on a haircut?

I haven’t had my hair cut in years, but if I wanted a new haircut, I would ask a friend to cut it and pay them by taking them to a great dinner.

When's bedtime?

Midnight.

Brunch: pro or con?

Nothing’s better than a great brunch after a night out shaking my booty in my Louboutins!

What's your thread count?

I love my Pratesi and organic sheets from Coco-Mat. They are so great I don’t even think about the thread count!

What do you hate most about living in New York?

The dirt, but I wouldn’t change New York for anything.

What's your brand of jeans?

Earnest Sewn.

When's the last time you drove a car?

I haven’t driven one — I’m still waiting to get my driver’s license!

Who should be the next president?

Angelina Jolie.

Times, Post, or Daily News?

All three, of course!

Yankees or Mets?

I don’t follow baseball, but my favorite hockey team is the Rangers!

What makes someone a New Yorker?

It’s all about the attitude

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2007/01/model_karolina_kurkova_really.html#more

Gisele Says Families Are To Blame For Anorexia

Supermodel Gisele Bundchen says weak families are to blame for anorexia -- not the fashion industry that has been widely criticized for promoting waifish silhouettes.

"I never suffered from this problem (anorexia) because I had a very strong family base. Parents are responsible, not the fashion industry," she said in the Friday edition of O Globo newspaper.

Gisele, 26, was visiting her native Brazil this week for Fashion Rio, which has banned models who are under the age of 16 and has required proof of their good health after the death of a Brazilian model from complications due to starvation last year.In September, Spain barred models below a certain weight from Madrid fashion shows, while the Italian government and its fashion chiefs signed a pact to keep sickly thin girls off the catwalk.

The former girlfriend ofLeonardo DiCaprio, who was ranked 16 on Forbes list of the 20 richest women in entertainment this week, said being a model is a question of genetics."Everybody knows that the norm in fashion is thin. But excuse me, there are people born with the right genes for this profession," she said.Gisele said that as a child her peers teased her for being skinny with names like Olive Oil, the character from the Popeye cartoon."In fashion I felt accepted ... I never felt lonely because I always relied on my family."

Fragrant Future For Izabel

After the announcement that model Raquel Zimmerman didn't show at the Animale fashion show, on the official programming of Fashion Rio, the brand exclusively contracted the supermodel Izabel Goulart. In agreement, with the director of Ten Model agency, Laura Vieira, Goulart is also going to launch a perfume with her name for the American lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret called 'Pout'. The campaign is going to be shot by Ellen Von Unwerth, a recognized fashion photographer, who has works published in magazines as Vogue, Vanity Fair, The Face, Photo, Arena and I-D.

Bundchen Loves Brady?

Tom Brady traded up? Word from San Diego is that supermodel Gisele Bundchen - who once professed her admiration for the New England Patriots QB/QT - was outside the Pats’ locker room after Tom & Co. shocked the Chargers on Sunday.

“She was standing outside the locker room, just kind of leaning against the wall,” said our spy in the bowels of QualComm Stadium. “No one noticed her, she was dressed like a high-school kid, just in jeans and a T-shirt. But she is gorgeous.”

Adding fuel to this possible Gisele-Brady hook-up is the fact that the Victoria’s Secret’s sweetheart was in the company of Tom’s go-to guy Will McDonough, (no relation to the late columnist). “He’s Tom’s Do-Boy,” said our spy. “If she was with him, she was headed for Tom.” Of course she was. Because, as we all know, Tom is single now. And so is Gisele, who has been linked to Josh Hartnett and surfer dude Kelly Slater since splitting with her longtime love Leonardo DiCaprio.

And if, in fact, there is a love connection, we are going to have to take some match-making credit. Because as you may recall, Gisele came to Gillette Stadium last season to hawk her frilly underthings and she sat down for an interview with the Track.

What do you think of Tom Brady, we asked. “Tom Brady, definitely not too shabby,” the 26-year-old Brazilian beauty said. “He’s pretty cute. All-American, that’s a good way to describe him.” But Gisele was also aware that, at the time, Brady was dating “Six Degrees” star Bridget Moynahan. “He’s cute,” she said. “But if he has a girlfriend, he’s gay to me. There are too many men in the world to go after a man who has a woman. Life is too short.”

Of course, Tom no longer has a woman. He and B. broke up a couple of months back. BTW, when he was advised of Gisele’s gay comment, Tom was chagrined. “Oh, jeez, that’s a little harsh,” No. 12 told WEEI’s John Dennis and Gerry Callahan at the time. Brady later confessed that it was a tad hard to concentrate on the game when Gisele’s image came up on the the Gillette Stadium scoreboard. Hmmm. Sounds like the Mutual Admiration Society to us!

Anyway, we can tell you that the beauteous Bundchen was, in fact, a guest of the Kraft Family at the Pats/Chargers game and that the Krafts also hosted Aaron Lewis of the Springfield-based rock group Staind and Arlington comic Dane Cook. And Tom did seem in a raaaather big hurry to wrap up his press conference after putting the hurt on the Chargers, trying at one point to cut the Q&A session short. “Guys, I’m going to go see my family,” said Brady as he attempted to move toward the door after fielding a round of questions.

But No. 12 was stopped in his tracks by WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton who asked him about post-game comments made by Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson to the NFL Network about the taunting and showboating Pats. “I’ve got no comment,” said Brady, rushing toward the door. “Bye, guys, thank you.” And he was off like a prom dress . . . . But, for what it’s worth, we do know that Tom was onboard the team plane when it headed back to Boston late Sunday night. Discuss.

Naomi Pleads Guilty To Assault

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has pleaded guilty to reckless assault in a plea bargain with prosecutors in New York. The London-born model has been ordered to attend a two-day anger management course. She was also sentenced to five days' community service and ordered to pay medical bills of US$363.33 (£185.32) to her housekeeper.

Campbell injured Ana Scolavino by throwing a jewel-encrusted mobile phone at the back of her head. The pair had been rowing over a pair of missing jeans.

The 35-year-old told Manhattan Criminal Court: "I threw a cell phone in the apartment.
"The cell phone hit Ana. This was an accident because I did not intend to hit her. I am advised that Ana was hurt and I am deeply sorry about that."

If Campbell had been convicted of the original charge of second-degree felony assault she would have faced a sentence of between two and seven years behind bars.

The model has a history of problems with her employees dating back to 2000.
Several of them have filed lawsuits accusing her of assault.

Aishwarya Rai Getting Married

Bollywood beauty and L'Oreal cosmetics model Aishwarya Rai has announced her engagement to fellow actor Abhishek Bachchan. The former Miss World and leading Bollywood actress exchanged engagement rings with Abhishek at a small, intimate ceremony on Sunday evening.

Her manager Hari Singh confirmed to the Associated Press: "Yes, it is true. Abhishek and Aishwarya are engaged..."The wedding will definitely take place this year."

Abhishek is the son of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan. Aishwarya, 33, and Abhishek, 31, have worked together in several Bollywood movies. News of the engagement ends months of speculation about the couple's relationship in India, where they are huge stars. Rumours about the couple ignited when the pair visited a Hindu temple together back in November 2006.

Joop! For Gisele

Leading brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen has just been named the face of German brand Joop....for the third year in a row! The campaign was shot by Craig McDean and Gisele is estimated to have recieved a massive $2 million for her continuation with the company. The ads with Gisele obviously paid off for them....I wonder why? (Just check out that picture!)

Dream Of Brazil....

Today marks the start of Rio Fashion Week!! During the next few days keep a look out for new runway pictures from top brazilian models Raquel Zimmermann, Izabel Goulart, Fabiana Semprebom, Flávia Oliveira, Ana Beatriz Barros and Marcelle Bittar. Other fashion weeks are coming up shortly, we will keep you posted as to when they begin.

Alessandra Ambrosio To Get Vogue RG Cover

You heard it here first! Brazilian bombshell Alessandra Ambrosio has recently shot an editorial and cover for Vogue RG (Brasil). This will only be the 25 year old's second Vogue Cover, and the first for her home country, despite having worldwide success and being one of the coveted Victoria's Secret Angels. There is no information yet as to the publishing date.

Heidi Talks About New Baby

How can one woman be so lucky? Not only does Heidi Klum have great looks, a hit show and a hot husband, but even the birth of her third child was, she says, "easy."

On the morning of Nov. 22, Klum, 33, felt her first contraction. She and Seal, 43, headed for a Los Angeles hospital, and by that afternoon she'd had her baby. Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel arrived weighing 8 lbs., 11 oz. – and bringing delight to brother Henry, 1, and sister Leni, 2. "Everyone had the biggest smiles on their faces once Johan arrived,".

And the big siblings are "so helpful," Klum says. "Leni helps us sing lullabies when Johan has trouble falling asleep." Having three kids younger than 3 keeps Klum and Seal, who wed in Mexico in 2005, on their toes. "It's never boring or quiet in our home," she says, "but we are truly blessed to have three healthy children." She adds: "We love that they will grow up close in age," she adds. "This is what Seal and I have always wanted: a home filled with children's laughter."

Kate Moss Marries Pete Doherty? Apparently Not!

Kate Moss has denied that she married pop singer Pete Doherty while on holiday in Thailand.
The supermodel and pop star are reported to have made a formal commitment to each other in a private beach ceremony during an exotic New Year break.

But her spokesman insisted that the model was simply on holiday on the southern island of Phuket.
He said: "Contrary to various entirely false media reports, there has not been any kind of marriage ceremony in Thailand. She is on holiday."

The couple were photographed celebrating with champagne at a villa overlooking a beach on the island.
Moss was pictured barefoot in a silver dress, while Doherty wore a black suit and his trademark trilby hat.
It was reported that they had undertaken a 30-minute ceremony to formalise their relationship.

Wedding services including Buddhist prayers, the pouring of blessed water and entwining of flower garlands are popular among visitors to the romantic Thai island. But such ceremonies are not legally binding and British participants must still undertake a civil service in the UK.

Moss, 32, and Doherty, 27, are tipped to tie the knot on January 18, and have asked friends to keep the date free, The Sun reported.

Gisele To Write A Book?

Rumour has it that top of the tops Gisele Bundchen is already writing a book about her life. The Brazilian queen has signed with PowerHouse Books in New York, to write about 10 years of her career, long before she is even thirty.The book will be out in 2007 and it promises to appeal the public with photos never published before, some of which on the hot side.

Supermodels writing doesn't usually warrant literary genius, but I think the hot photos just sold it to people who can't even read. I know i'll be reading (staring at) it.