For the May issue of beauty mag Allure, Top Chef‘s resident hottie host Padma Lakshmi and Dreamgirls star Sharon Leal bare all! Here’s excerpts from their racy interviews:
PADMA LAKSHMI
ALLURE: What did you do to prepare for the shoot?
PADMA LAKSHMI: “I exercised a little bit extra, but I actually think I look better when I have a little bit of weight on—my breasts are fuller, and I’m curvier than when I’m at my thinnest.”
ALLURE: Are you confident about your body?
PL: “Yes; I like the way I look. I think I look better now than I did in my 20s, because I’m more confident about my body—and I don’t want to look like anyone but myself.”
ALLURE: Do you sleep naked?
PL: “I tend to sleep in the nude. I’m an innately tactile person and a very sensual-leaning woman. You have to use the word ‘leaning’ or it sounds like I’m boasting! When I’m in my own private space, I do spend time with very little on.”
SHARON LEAL
ALLURE: What did you do to prepare for the shoot?
SHARON LEAL: “At first, I was flattered to be asked, and then I thought, Wow, can I do it? I tried not to have my late-night French-fry fix, and I tried to mentally prepare and keep the fear at bay.”
ALLURE: What was the worst part of the shoot?
SL: “The ache in my hip from holding the pose.”
ALLURE: What happened when you dropped the robe?
SL: “I just breathed and said to myself, ‘I’m comfortable, I’m beautiful; I’m comfortable, I’m beautiful,’ until I didn’t have to say that anymore…. It’s liberating, but posing once may be enough.”
As part of their five dollar footlong sandwich promotion, Subway has transformed Abraham Lincoln into a diamond earring-wearing, slang-spewing spokesperson.
The Subway website features the taglines “that’s somethin’ to holla about,” the image of Lincoln saying “five dolla footlong….that’s some serious value son,” and prompts users to “give your friends a customized shoutout” by emailing or texting a holla’.
Jared’s sandwich shop of choice is clearly trying to reach a younger, hipper, and more ethnic demographic with its hip-hop influenced campaign. And while their five dollar revamp is not as offensive as the Obama bucks, it is being criticized by the black community for promoting stereotypes of urban and street culture.
Denny’s recently unleashed their Allnighter campaign to put some rock n’ roll in your late night special. Their latest commercial stars Lance-Chandler Russell, who was featured in a recent SPOTTED post by Blindie.
In the ad, the edgy cutie is rocking a mean fro’ and his signature “urban street meets fashion runway” style.
The all-American diner now features a rock star menu with selections made by hip bands like Plain White T’s, Taking Back Sunday, and The All-American Rejects.
In a new TV spot for Double Stuf Oreos, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams announce their decision to join the Double Stuf Racing League—”a fierce competition to see who’s fastest to twist, lick and dunk their Oreo cookie!”
In the commercial, NFL brothers Eli and Peyton Manning rival the Williams sisters in their press conference–convinced that they are copycats! Here’s the hilarious, cheeky transcript between the dueling sports siblings:
Venus: “My sister and I are proud to announce that we’ve decided to chase the dream and become two-sport athletes.”
Serena: “We’ve joined the Double Stuf Racing League!”
Peyton: “My brother and I like to announce that this is a great idea–when we thought of it, like a year ago.”
Serena: “Well my sister and I would like to announce that you guys are going down!”
Eli: “My brother and I like to announce that Oooohhhh, we’re scared!”
Venus: “My sister and I would like to announce that you should be!”
Peyton: “My brother and I like to announce that it’s on like Donkey Kong!”
By 2034, all African American women are expected to be overweight or obese, according to a health study published in the research journal, Obesity.
Currently, 78 percent of black women are presently overweight or obese. Mexican American men come in a close second, with 90 percent expected to be overweight in 2034.
By 2030, about 86 percent of all Americans are expected to be overweight. Dr. Lan Liang, one of the researchers on the study, points out that “genetically and physiologically, it should be impossible” for all U.S. adults to become overweight, but adds “that is the direction we’re going.”
The findings are based on government survey data collected between 1970 and 2004 and the current trends in diet.
Drinks America Holdings Ltd. announced it will release a cognac and vodka line with Dr. Dre.
The company behind Trump vodka and Willie Nelson’s Old Whiskey River Bourbon will debut a flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka and a cognac brand in liquor stores to coincide with the release of the rapper/producer’s new album, Detox.
Dr. Dre joins many hip-hop personalities who are filling the coffers of high-end alcohol distributors by peddling alcohol to the black community (Diddy endorses Ciroc Vodka; Jay-Z totes Armand de Brignac’s Ace of Spades Champagne; Busta Rhymes created a catchphrase out of passing the Courvoisier).
We have to interrupt our usual postings on fashion, politics and music with a monumental announcement that affects Blindies everywhere: Starbucks will be closing 600 stores across the U.S. by early next year.
At first the coffee mega-chain had no plans to disclose the locations of the closings, but after receiving complaints from customers and employees a list was made publicly available: New York City is losing 5 stores, while the hardest hit is Las Vegas with 13 and San Diego with 10. Approximately 12,000 workers will be affected.
We advise all Blindies to check the list to see if they will have to find a new place to work while jazz plays over the whir of industrial blenders as the aroma of burnt coffee wafts through the air.
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