“Napoleon would be turning in his grave”
France’s honours system was branded a laughing stock this week after Mexican-born sex symbol Salma Hayek was made a knight. It led to one former minister refusing the same award, with others suggesting the 45-year-old’s new status would see Napoleon Bonaparte ‘turning in his grave’. Hayek is currently promoting Puss in Boots, a film in which she provides the voice for a character called Kitty Softpaws. Just before Christmas she boasted about her very large breasts, saying she had prayed as a young girl to be given ‘some boobs’. Yet President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that she will become a Chevalier — or Knight — of the Legion of Honour for her services to the French Republic. It is not yet clear what those services are.
Crucially, Hayek is married to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, who happens to be a close personal friend of Sarkozy. They have a four-year-old daughter Valentina. When Hayek receives her medal from Sarkozy at the Elysée Palace in a few weeks’ time, it will be a family affair. Her father-in-law, another tycoon called Francois Pinault, has been made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour in the same list. Referring to Sarkozy possibly losing a presidential election in the spring, political magazine Marianne ran the headline: “Last distribution of the gongs before leaving!” Knight of the Legion of Honour was created by the former Emperor in 1802 “to reward the men and women who have devoted themselves, sometimes to the death, to the nation”, said an Express reader. Hollywood stars have in fact received Legion of Honour gongs in the past in France, but they have tended to be global superstars including Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford and Robert De Niro.
— Daily Mail
Where’s the rest of her?
She is one of the biggest names in the modelling world right now. But there was barely a curve to behold on Rosie Huntington-Whiteley this week, as she paraded her shrinking figure around a hotel pool in Miami. The Victoria’s Secret model and Transformers star appeared alarmingly slender as she slipped into a minuscule blue and white striped bandeau bikini. Despite the British-born beauty being naturally slender, she appears to have slim down more in recent months. A make-up free Rosie was spilling out of her tiny outfit, with both her strapless top and very slight briefs revealing extra flesh. Only the frou frou detail of her ensemble prevented her from flashing her entire derrière as she relaxed in the sunshine with her partner Jason Statham and mutual acquaintances. The Transformers 3 actress and her actor beau Jason, 44, are currently on vacation together on a break from their hectic schedules. Statham had been spending time in Florida re-shooting love scenes with Jennifer Lopez for their forthcoming film Parker, and Rosie was back at their Beverly Hills home after working in London. Rosie recently splashed out on a New York pad to share with her beau.
— Daily Mail
‘I like having a bit of meat on my bones’
The public voted her as having the best bikini body of 2011, ranking her above the likes of Pippa Middleton and Jennifer Lopez. And since her teens, Kelly Brook has turned heads with her 34-24-34 hourglass figure. The 32-year-old admits that she might not look like a stereotypical size zero model, but proudly says that a “bit of meat on my bones” makes her feel sexier. And to feel confident about her body, 5ft 8in Kelly tells Women’s Fitness magazine that she maintains a balanced diet, leads an active lifestyle and gets top advice from skincare expert, Nichola Joss, whose clients include Keira Knightley, Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett. While many will turn to crash diets in the new year, Kelly says that she never diets because she’s not disciplined enough and enjoys regularly snacking on biscuits. Instead, the star says she steers away from restrictive regimes, insisting it is all about sensible slimming. “I have porridge or boiled eggs for breakfast. I love tea and coffee and could drink them all day and snack on biscuits, but I eat fruit if I’m trying to be healthy. I also eat a lot of fish, for lunch and dinner. I love sushi or I’ll have a tuna Niçoise salad or salmon steak. I like to make lots of healthy soups in winter, too.” Kelly, who is currently holidaying in Capri, Italy, with boyfriend and former rugby player Thom Evans is looking forward to a busy 2012. She is set to star in Leigh Francis’s comedy film, Keith Lemon The Movie.
— Daily Mail
