Isabel Lucas, Media Mates, Asos Fashion Cocktail Party, by Eva Rinaldi - 11th October 2011

Isabel Lucas

If you're looking to try to make a splash into the online fashion world, you might as well play the celebrity - model card, and throw a party.

That's exactly what ASOS, Isabel Lucas and Gracie Otto did tonight at Eveleigh's CarriageWorks.

The night may have been just a touch short of star power, but not on drinks, and no, media didn't drink or party either... just for the record.

The ASOS tagline is 'Discover Fashion Online', but we highly suspect the target audience already has. Obviously, ASOS will want as much of the online purchasing action as possible.

Blurb from the ASOS marketing team says of their online wares firm "ASOS is a global online fashion and beauty retailer and offers over 50,000 branded and own label product lines across womenswear, menswear, footwear, accessories, jewellery and beauty with approximately 1,500 new product lines being introduced each week.

Aimed at fashion forward 16-34 year olds globally, ASOS attracts over 13 million unique visitors a month and as at 30 June 2011 had 5.8 million registered users and 3.5 million active customers from 160 countries (defined as having shopped in the last 12 months)."

Apparently for some of the celebrities present one of the night's highlights was "friendly media".

A well known celebrity was overheard chatting to a photographer "You guys are so friendly tonight. It must be the friendly media night without those couple of other pap scoundrels. You look fab, but I must have a word to the powers at be at ASOS and get you a very special deal on some of the fashion items being promoted tonight".

So, there you go. Another fashion press night in 'Sin City' Sydney. It's going to be interesting to see how their next round of online sales go, and if it bears anything to tonight's turn up, it should be decent.

Gracie Otto

Gracie Otto

Websites

ASOS

http://www.asos.com/

CarriageWorks

http://www.carriageworks.com.au/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Mel B Of Spice Girls Fame Signs On With Jenny Craig, by Eva Rinaldi - 10th October 2011

Mel B aka Melanie Brown has just been signed up as the new face of Jenny Craig (Australia and New Zealand).

Today at 10.30am Mel B, the top brass at Jenny Craig, and over a dozen news media enjoyed a healthy and delicious breakfast (and a media gig) at the Centennial Parklands function centre.

In the extremely unlikely event that you didn't know, Mel B is an English pop singer-songwriter, actress, author and television presenter. She is best known around the world as Scary Spice, one of the members of the girl group Spice Girls.

It's well know that brands around the world are often interested in signing up suitable celebrities to promote their wares, and on the surface it looks to be a great match with Jenny Craig being a leader in the weight loss industry for over 30 years, and Mel B recently off pregnancy, enjoying motherhood and looking to loose weight.

The international star told our table "I just love the breakfast. Jenny Craig is just right for me being a busy mum".

Mel B said on her eating "I was eating literally eating morning, noon and night, and its didn't matter what time. I was just eating. I was a house. I love my humps and bumps, but when a newspaper described my shape as the 'bootylicious, curvylicious, post-baby body of Melanie, I knew I had to do something. I had to get the eating under control".

Jenny Craig boss Amy Smith released in a media statement: "Mel told us she doesn't like dieting at all. She loves eating healthy foods and she is thrilled with the health snack options and the amount of fruit and vegetables she gets to eat. Jenny Craig's team of nutritionists and doctors have created a program especially for women like Mel who have recently given birth, that takes into consideration the nutrient levels needed for breastfeeding women", says Ms Smith.

Mel B said: "Life gets a bit crazy when you've got four daughters but it's important for us mums to live healthy and to be in good shape. Mums really need to take time for themselves and get to a place where they are happy with their body again. We should not put it off because we deserve more than that. I healthy happy mum equals a healthy happy family."

After breakfast Mel did some on site TV interviews, believed to be for Channel Seven, followed by a relaxed photo shoot in the lush green parklands. Apparently word must have spread around Sydney press circles, as after just minutes after going outside for the shoot a number of uninvited paparazzi showed up and started snapping away. Mel and her media team probably expected it, so its a good thing that the word is well and truly out about her new campaign with Jenny Craig.

Mel B looks great, so just imagine how hot she will look a few months into the Jenny Craig program. She acknowledge that media, the other former Spice Girls and everyone else will be watching her progress closely, and judging by today it appears UK pop queen is on set to achieve her diet goals. Will you achieve your dieting goals as summer sneaks up on you? Needless to say, you now know who to call, which we strongly suspect for the ideal in the first place.

Thanks for the tasty J.C breakfast guys. Highly recommended.

Websites

Jenny Craig

http://www.jennycraig.com.au/

Melanie Brown official website

http://www.melaniebrown.com/

Centennial Parklands Dining

www.trippaswhitegroup.com.au/our-venues/Centennial-Parklands-Dining/4

Centennial Parklands

http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/

Hollywood Treatment

http://www.hollywoodtreatment.net/

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards: Winners And Chaos, by Eva Rinaldi - 7th October 2011

What a day and what a night. This was Australia's night of nights for kids and teenagers.

Thousands of fans, mainly teenage girls, swamped outside the Sydney Entertainment Centre, some from as early as 5am, waiting for their favorite entertainment industry stars.

By around 2pm, the line ups behind barricades were 30 people deep, and much of the press pack turned animal. Some teenage girls had home-made signs listing their mobile phone numbers, which I thought was not appropriate, and potential dangerous for the young ladies who advertised them. I don't know if I was fortunate or not to be taking photographs alongside the fans on this big outing. The million dollar question at big red carpet events like this is "Who is worse: The media, the fans, the kids or parents?"

Finally, at 6pm, the indoor part of the Nick awards kicked off and the audience went banana.

Ok, you want event results we hear...

Bindi and Bob Irwin have scored top bragging rights at the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice awards, taking home the Hall of Slime Award for 2011 (the slime is green in case you wondered, and CM Punk won't forget it in a hurry).

Bindi and Bob beat Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Guy Sebastian and LA - USA planted Rove McManus, were spurted with green slime as popular Daniel MacPherson announced them as the first ever winners of the award.

"It is such an honour just to be nominated. It's a wonderful award," Bindi told the media.

"We're carrying on in our dad's footsteps. He originally got the Burp Award here at Nickelodeon," she said.

Hosted by iCarly mega stars Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress, the evening showcased bowls of maggots, an orange carpet, big and small envelopes and 5 tonnes of slime at the Sydney Entertainment Centre to mark the 16th annual Australian Kids' Choice Awards.

Australia's own teen idol Cody Simpson kicked booty, snatching up all three of his nominated categories - Super Fresh Award, Awesome Aussie and Fave Aussie Musos.

"I might not live in Australia at the moment, but Australia always lives in me," he told the crowd as he accepted his third award for the night, Awesome Aussie. The pop star performed a medley of some of his numbers 'Just For You' and 'On My Mind' for the thousands of screaming fans (80% girls), entering the grand stage with his guitar before ripping it up with dancers, and he even picked a one in a million young lady fan from the sold out crowd to sing to.

A record breaking 1.6 million kids' votes were counted to determine the winners.

Ten's Masterchef judge Matt Preston, who also took out the award for Awesome Oldie, dipped his arm into a big tank of green slime to rip out the word Julia, announcing Julia Gillard as the Slime Minister.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard (look-a-like) accepted the award. The real one wasn't there. The very same one who also didn't watch the ABC tele sexy tribute to her since she "had better things to do".

"Tonight, I'm proud to go green because you voted me Slime Minister," Julia Gillard's look-a-like announced to the audience.

"I'd like to ban budgie smugglers", she added before dancing with Australia's Got Talent winners, Justice Crew and being covered in slime along with "Mr Masterchef" Matt Preston.

Kyle Sandilands beat WWE superstar CM Punk ('The Best In The World'... in case you didn't hear) to win Baddest Baddie, accepting the award electronically from Los Angeles, US of A).

A bush tucker bag of pre-recorded video messages were heard from international superstar Justin Bieber who snatched the Hottest Guy Hottie Award, LMFAO who won Fave Song for Party Rock Anthem, Katy Perry who nicked home Fave International Artist and Victoria Justice who grabbed Hottest Girl Hottie.

Jennette McCurdy proved that she was a fab choice to co-host the night, besting Camp Oranges Luke and Wyatt, Hamish and Andy and Josh Thomas to take out the LOL Award.

Cody Simpson returned to the grand stage to wrap up the night, performing his hit number All Day before being covered in green slime from head to toe.

Insiders tip it was one of the better Nick Australia Kid's Choice Awards from a paid audience perspective, but also one of the most chaotic in history from a red carpet planted fan perspective.

What a crazy day. We hope no one got hurt - big ego's or otherwise. Ok, get nicked.

Replays of the event can be found on Foxtel's Nickelodeon channel this Saturday (Noon) and Sunday at 10.30pm.

Websites

Nickelodeon (Australia)

www.nickelodeon.com.au

Nick.com

www.nick.com

Foxtel

www.foxtel.com.au

Sydney Entertainment Centre

www.sydentcent.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Australian Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards - 7th October 2011

The 2011 Australian Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards! are almost upon us.

Everyone is getting ready to hit the orange carpet at the mega event.  It all takes place at the Sydney Entertainment Centre tonight. We've found out from our spies about a ton of great performers confirmed to take to the stage!

Joining Gold Coast teen idol and triple-nominee Cody Simpson will be ‘Aussie Idol’s’ Stan Walker, ‘X-Factor’ judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte, ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ winner Jack Vidgen, hip hop dance group Justice Crew and shuffle superstar Timomatic!

Even WWE’s outspoken CM Punk will taking to the stage, having caught a plane just for Australian fans (and viewers we suspect).

We also heard something about magician Cosentino to hit the stage.

Joining the impressive list of previously announced presenters - including Matt Preston, Guy Sebastian, Shannon Noll, Luke Jacobz, Bindi and Robert Irwin, Samantha Harris, Erin McNaught, Nathan Jolliffe and Tyler Atkins, Daniel MacPherson, Commando, Josh Thomas and Ellyse Perry - will be ‘Home And Away’ stars Samara Weaving, Rebecca Breeds, David Jones Roberts and Luke Mitchell. 

Hosted by 'iCarly' stars Jennette McCurdy and Nathan Kress, Australia’s biggest slime fest is also in the works.

Expect fun, and also expect the unexpected. Stay tuned for news you won't find anywhere else!

Nick Marketing Blur Reads...

The road to slime has begun and the 2011 Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards will once again be the biggest party for kids on the planet! Featuring celebrity presenters, hot music acts, surprise reveals and gallons of gooey slime, this is the hottest family entertainment ticket in town!

New award categories will this year see KCA celeb veterans Rove McManus, Guy Sebastian, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Bindi and Robert Irwin compete to be inducted into the HALL OF SLIME, while breakthrough Aussie stars Cody Simpson and Samara Weaving battle it out against American npminees Willow Smith and Victoria Justice for the SUPER FRESH award.

In a new and highly contentious hot topic category, will it be PM Julia Gillard or Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that gets voted by kids as the 'most green' to take out the SLIME MINISTER? And, will they be brave enough to accept the nation's dare to prove how green they really are - literally - and be SLIMED live on the KCA stage?

Websites

Nickelodeon (Australia)

http://www.nickelodeon.com.au/

Nick.com

http://www.nick.com/

Foxtel

http://www.foxtel.com.au/

Sydney Entertainment Centre

www.sydentcent.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

What's Your Number' sex comedy with Anna Faris wows, by Eva Rinaldi - 7th October 2011

What a year of raunch. Enter No Strings Attached (Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher) and then Friends with Benefits (Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis), now What's Your Number, another sexy and fun Hollywood comedy centered on a platonic relationship between two 20 year olds.

Anna Faris stars opposite Chris Evans, last seen on the big screen as Captain America. The two good lookers nurture their friendship, hang out in their underwear lots, and talks a great deal about the opposite sex.

Audiences soon will ponder how many sexual partners Faris' character Ally has enjoyed.

Faris, now 34, has become quite the go-to girl in Hollywood for roles requiring sexy and on the edge laughs.

The talented young lady told news media "It's important for me to appeal to the girls. Women want to see all kinds of women on screen, not just the really ambitious types we see a lot of, who are always trying to manage everything. We also need to see lost women, too. That's why I liked this role of Ally. She seemed real to me. She's messy, sarcastic, and she drinks a lot."

Faris loved the main message of the story. "This is a woman who's changing herself for everyone around her. She's trying to figure out who she is in terms of how people see her. Hopefully, the movie is about finding yourself."

Faris is married to actor Chris Pratt (from sitcom Parks and Recreation), who also features in What's Your Number as one of her boyfriends. "I loved working with my husband although it was pressure in that I was really nervous to act in front of him because I respect him so much. I suppose I don't mind strangers judging me, but it's tough when it's your partner," she says. "Actually, I was hoping he'd be a little jealous of Chris Evans, but that didn't happen. I thought, 'Finally, I'll have two men fighting over me'."

What's Your Number? opens next Thursday in Australia.

Stay tuned to see photos of Anna Faris on the red carpet..

Actor - Role

Anna Faris - Ally Darling

Chris Evans - Colin Shea

Ari Graynor - Daisy Darling

Blythe Danner - Ava Darling

Ed Begley Jr. - Mr. Darling

Oliver Jackson-Cohen - Eddie Vogel

Heather Burns - Eileen

Eliza Coupe - Sheila

Kate Simses - Katie

Tika Sumpter - Jamie

Joel McHale - Roger the Boss

Jacquelyn Doucette - Sheila's Mom

Chris Pratt - Disgusting Donald

Denise Vasi - Cara

Sondra James - Plant Lady

Director: Mark Mylod

Writers: Gabrielle Allan (screenplay), Jennifer Crittenden

Websites

What's Your Number

www.whatsyournumbermovie.com

20th Century Fox Movies

www.foxmovies.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Australian Football Awards; Brett Holman Int Player Of The Year, by Eva Rinaldi - 4th October 2011

The Australian football family enjoyed their night of nights at Sheraton on the Park this evening.

The news that most people want to know is that Brett Holman is named International Player of the Year at the annual Black Tie Australian Football Awards.

Of course big names and WAG's (wives and girlfriends) were there. FFA Chairman Frank Lowy was "happy just to be here" and highly respected journalist and mad soccer fan, George Negas, was always going to be a lock.

The Aussie forward, who currently performs in the Netherlands' Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar, bested fellow nominees Matt McKay, Carl Valeri, Luke Wilkshire and Mile Jedinak to snatch the award.

Holman got the nod by Australia's Football Media Association for his consistency throughout the Socceroos 15 matches in the 2010-2011 voting window.

Matt McKay got named the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Footballer of the Year.

"Brett Holman was the run away favourite of members of the FMA for this year's award," FMA President Steve Dettre announced.

"Brett showed his value as an international player at last year’s World Cup, responding to some of his critics in the best way possible - by doing the business on the pitch," Dettre stressed.

"His form continued throughout 2010-2011, starting with the first game in the voting year when the Socceroos met Slovenia in Ljubljana last August."

"The view of FMA members is that, in 2010-2011, Holman has been instrumental in bringing a more fluent style of play to the national team and Australia looks more threatening in attack when he is in full flight," Dettre said.

The prestigous Harry Kewell Medal, awarded to Australia's best Under-23 player, was snatched by Robbie Kruse of Fortuna Düsseldorf.

And ladies (and some gents we suspect) will be interested to learn that Elise Kellonnd-Knight nabbed the PFA's Women's Footballer of the Year award.

The Socceroos all looked sharp in their suits, and most enjoyed a beverage or three before the red carpet, and during the ballroom presentation... wouldn't you! The ladies of the game also  scrubbed up beautifully.

A special thank you to George Negus for your words of wisdom to our media team regarding Australian youth who play the great game of soccer. I'll be passing along your sound advise to my 14 year old son who plays the game at elite school level. You looked great on the red carpet too.

Australian Football is all the better from their big night, and we promise to keep and eye and ear open for more on and off field action from the usually media shy Socceroos and friends.

Score: Socceroos 1, naysayers of Australian Football - Nil. Game over.

Websites

Football Federation Australia

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/

Australian Football Awards

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/footballawards/

Sheraton on the Park

www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=140

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Aussie Adventures Cas and Jonesy Snapped At Sydney Airport, by Eva Rinaldi - 3rd October 2011

James Castrission and Justin Jones

Australian Adventures Cas and Joney have been snapped at Sydney Airport as they departed and take on a world-first Antarctic expedition attempt.

The twosome have impressive credentials, sporting a successful world-first kayak from Australia to New Zealand in 2008.

Cas and Jonesy will walk 2,200km from the edge of the Antarctic to the South Pole and back again to raise money for the Sony Foundation's 'You Can' campaign, in support of Australian youths with cancer.

James Castrission (Cas, 29) and Justin Jones (Jonesy, 28) have been planning the trek for over a year and are confident that they will succeed on their quest.

Their preparation included months of gruelling 10-hour training sessions.

Cas and Jonesy will each transport everything they need to survive for the three-month trek in two 160kg sleds, which they will drag over 2,200 kms through one of the Earth's harshest environments. The expedition will coincide with the 100-year centenary of Scott and Amundsen's race to the South Pole and the ever-present risk of yawning crevasses, piercing cold, hypothermia and frostbite are challenges the team will need to deal with on a daily basis.

The expedition endeavours to raise funds for Sony Foundation's charitable campaign You Can', which supports young people in Australia with cancer. Young Australians with cancer do not receive specialist treatment and are placed in either paediatric or adult wards. Supporters of Cas and Jonesy can 'Sponsor a Step' of their Antarctic adventure with all funds raised going towards the creation of specialist 'You Can' youth cancer centres.

Cas said "We're been training for this for a long time. This is what we do. Jonsey and I just love adventure". Our minds and bodies are ready for this. We're so excited".

Jonsey was just as positive and enthusiastic and added "On the Tasman the idea actually popped backed into our heads. When we settled back on dry land we mapped it out. After that (Tasman) expedition they realised that we would be doing this is a safe and responsible manner. I think mum would prefer us to be doing a normal job. We first started off in bushwalking school. It's quite complex trying to work out all of the logistics on something like this. We want to hit the south pole in first or second week in December and come back to the start point in mid January. That would be great".

The journey can be followed via their official website, where supporters can also Sponsor a Step for 'You Can'.

Stay tuned to the duo's website and blogs for updates on the latest on their historic expedition.

Websites

Cas And Jonesy official website

www.casandjonesy.com.au

Sony Foundation

www.sonyfoundation.org.au

You Can

www.youcan.org.au

Sydney Airport

www.sydneyairport.com.au

Hausmann Communications

www.hausmann.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Eva Rinaldi Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography