First there was Dove’s ‘real women’ campaign, then there was Beth Ditto, but to date it seems that larger women have failed to become anything more than a novelty in fashion.

After all, Sophie Dahl, the original plus-size model, eventually lost the weight that made her so famous, Kate Moss continues to live by the mantra: ‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’, and only last year Ralph Lauren famously airbrushed a model to look so thin that her head was wider than her waist.

But could 2010 be the year that curves finally come of age?

V Magazine certainly believes that is the case, so much so that it has dedicated an entire issue to women of different shapes and sizes.

‘The Size Issue’, which hits news stands on January 14, features a high-fashion photo shoot starring no less than five curvaceous bombshells. The images, by Norwegian fashion photographer Solve Sundsbo, see the models wearing everything from figure-hugging Agent Provocateur bodysuits to cut-out Gucci swimsuits.

One wears Dolce & Gabbana lingerie, while another dramatically poses in nothing but a slick of red lipstick.

The girls unashamedly flaunt full thighs, stomach rolls and love handles — things that would normally be airbrushed out on a high fashion magazine. Sundsbo said: ‘I loved the opportunity to show that you can be beautiful and sexy outside the narrow interpretations that normally define us.’

— Daily Mail

‘It’s true, I AM engaged to Katy Perry’

Russell Brand has confirmed that he and Katy Perry became engaged during a romantic holiday.

The 34-year-old comedian reportedly proposed during a spiritual ceremony in India on New Year’s Eve, and the relationship was blessed by a ‘love guru’.

And The Sun newspaper said it had received confirmation of the engagement from Brand, who texted: ‘It’s true. Much love.’

Brand and the I Kissed A Girl singer, 25, were said to be celebrating their happy news in Thailand.

— Daily Mail

‘I find all the roles I’ve been offered offensive’

Natalie Portman says she is finally ready to take on a comic role. But film directors wanting to take her on will certainly have their work cut out for them trying to find a part that is ‘exciting’ enough for her.

The 28-year-old actress revealed that she generally finds romantic comedies ‘offensive’ and not challenging enough. She told Elle magazine: “It wasn’t that I didn’t want to do comedy. It’s just that I would only get offered girlfriend parts in guy comedies, which aren’t exciting to me, or those offensive roles in romantic comedies where the woman has to have a job in fashion so that she can have nice clothes, and her goal is always marriage. I’m more interested in finding characters that make me laugh.”

Portman recently tackled her first overtly Jewish role, that of a Hasidic bride in New York, I Love You.

— Daily Mail

MC is embraced by the Hollywood elite

She may only have had a limited amount of acting experience, but Mariah Carey managed to steal the limelight at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The singer was the centre of attention as she made her way into the event, gliding along the red carpet to a rapturous welcome.

Mariah, 34, wore a shimmering, tight black dress that showed off her womanly curves, coupled with a pair of black platform heels. And it wasn’t just her entrance that made the diva the centre of attention.

Carey’s acting skills were acknowledged at the event’s opening gala night where she picked up the award for Breakthrough Performance for her role in the big screen drama Precious.

— Daily Mail