Supermodels making more money than ever

Most of the increase went to the big three of the modeling world, (from left) Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, who have moulded themselves into moguls in their own right, or morphed into pop icons, or both. -- PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS, AP

SHOWBIZ : NEW YORK - US UNEMPLOYMENT might still be hovering near 10 per cent, but don't worry about the supermodels.

The world's 10 top-earning models pulled in a collective US$112 million (S$138 million) during the past year, a 30 per cent increase from the previous year, thanks in part to consumers spending again on the luxury sector, according to Forbes.com.

But most of the increase went to the big three of the modeling world, Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, who have moulded themselves into moguls in their own right, or morphed into pop icons, or both.

Bundchen, who raked in US$45 million or nearly double the previous year, is 'in a class by herself,' Edward Razek, Limited Brands' chief marketing officer who worked with her during her Victoria's Secret career, told Forbes.

'She's an international icon who can also move products from shampoo to couture,' Razek said.

The Brazilian supermodel was even cited during last month's third-quarter earnings call from Procter & Gamble, owing to a 40 per cent spike in Latin American sales of its Pantene shampoo once Bundchen starting hawking it, according to Forbes.com. -- REUTERS

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ACTRESS Sienna Miller accepts 100k pounds phone-hack damages

Sienna Miller was set on Friday to accept 100,000 pounds (S$201,293) in damages from Britain's News of the World after the newspaper admitted hacking into her mobile phone messages. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON - ACTRESS Sienna Miller was set on Friday to accept 100,000 pounds (S$201,293) in damages from Britain's News of the World after the newspaper admitted hacking into her mobile phone messages.

Lawyers for Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, which publishes the popular tabloid, admitted this week at London's High Court unconditional liability for the wrongs alleged by the star and agreed to compensate her.

On Friday, her lawyer Hugh Tomlinson said that the actress would apply for 100,000 pounds of damages and that a proposed settlement would include a disclosure of the extent of the paper's wrongdoing.

The court is expected to formalise the agreement in the coming week. A spokesman for News International, News Group's parent company, said: 'We are pleased that we have managed to bring this case to a satisfactory conclusion.

'Several weeks ago we admitted liability in certain cases and offered a genuine and unreserved apology. We hope to resolve other cases swiftly.'

The paper printed an apology over the phone-hacking scandal last month and has set up a fund to pay compensation, reportedly worth around 20 million pounds, to pay victims. Miller is just one of a long list of British celebrities to accuse the country's biggest-selling Sunday paper of hacking into mobile phone voice-mail messages in the hunt for information to write stories. -- AFP

Cheryl Cole gets US X Factor job

Cole, 27, a member of the British pop group Girls Aloud, and a judge on the UK version of the show, is a household name in Britain, but virtually unknown in the United States. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LOS ANGELES - BRITISH singer Cheryl Cole will join Simon Cowell as a judge on the US version of his upcoming The X Factor talent show, broadcaster Fox television said on Thursday, leaving one more space to be filled on the panel.

Cole, 27, a member of the British pop group Girls Aloud, and a judge on the UK version of the show, is a household name in Britain, but virtually unknown in the United States.

But Cowell has long championed Cole for his US project, which is due to start airing in September. Cole will join record executive Antonio 'LA' Reid as an X Factor judge.

'I'm thrilled for Cheryl. She is massively excited about this show, and has been fantastic to work with ... Most importantly, this girl can spot talent,' Cowell said on Thursday.

Fox said a fourth judge is still to be announced. The acid-tongued Cowell has said he would like his former American Idol sparring partner Paula Abdul to join him, in the search for the new singer or group that will win a US$5 million (S$6.2 million) prize and a recording contract.

Abdul also knows a thing or two about the pop world, having notched up 6 number singles in the late '80s. -- REUTERS

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Aishwarya Rai at 2011 Cannes Film Festival

Miss World 1994 Aishwarya Rai attended the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. These are the photos when Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attended a press conference to promote ‘Heroine’ on the Majestic Pier during the 64th Cannes Film Festival, dated May 14.

Pop diva Jennifer Lopez sizzles in skin-tight catsuit

Pop diva Jennifer Lopez (above) performed at the Wango Tango concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Saturday night.

POP diva Jennifer Lopez performed at the Wango Tango concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on Saturday night.

The 41-year-old singer took to her part in full force, looking stunningly-seductive in a skin-tight, glittering silver catsuit.

Showing off the talented and seasoned artist she is, Lopez flawlessly eased through her set in the midst of a major technical glitch that cut off all sound during her On the Floor performance.

After a second, successful and crowd-pleasing try at the song, Lopez took to her Twitter to laugh off the situation, writing, 'Really?! The whole sound system goes down? But..... No one holds Momma down! Haha! Live show, speakers out, fun times!'

Kardashians' Hot Bikini

The brunette hottie wasn't always so confident showing off her bikini body. "I looked at my aunt and cousins and saw these Armenian women with big butts and boobs, and I didn't really realize how attractive it actually was then," Kim tells.

How did Kourtney slim down after giving birth to Mason in December? "Definitely breastfeeding helps," she said

Kim Kardashian reveals $2m engagement ring

Reality television star Kim Kardashian has revealed her US$2 million engagement ring after announcing plans to marry her NBA star boyfriend.

Kardashian, 30, told People magazine Kris Humphries popped the question at her Beverly Hills home on May 18.

She walked into her bedroom to find Humphries down on one knee with rose petals spelling out "Will you marry me?".

Kardashian told People she was "shocked" at the proposal

"I didn't expect this at all," she said.

"I never thought that it would happen at home, and I never thought now."

Humphries, a 26-year-old power forward with the New Jersey Nets, offered Kardashian a custom 20.5 carat diamond ring that he helped design with jeweller Lorraine Schwartz.

Sources have told TMZ the ring was worth nearly US$2 million (A$1.9 million).

Kardashian's family were quick to take to their favoured form of communication, social networking site Twitter, to tell the world about her engagement.

"My sister is engaged!!! I'm squealing with excitement! The princess has found her prince. I am so happy because @KimKardashian is happy," older sister Kourtney tweeted.

Younger sister Khloe, herself married to NBA star Lamar Odom, used her blog to spread the news.

"You have no idea how happy it makes me to say this… KIM IS ENGAGED!!! OMG! It feels so good to finally let the secret out," Khloe wrote.

But it does not seem every family member was privy to the news.

"My sister is engaged? Haha I had no idea!!.. Crazy being such a big family… Congrats @KimKardashian love you. Let's celebrate soon," step-brother and fellow reality TV star Brody Jenner tweeted.