An image of Sarah Palin's 7-year-old daughter, Piper, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag popped up on Huffington Post. You can tell because the LV logo is hitting the seam on the bottom of the bag instead of being centered on that panel where a symbol is. Though from a financial standpoint the bag's more Joe Six-Pack than a new Escada blazer, counterfeit rings employ child labor and fund drug trafficking. So that purse could be worse for her image than her $150K clothing bill. 
"I have been blessed to be in the music industry for over 10 years, and my past endeavors have been great learning experiences. Now I have the opportunity to step out on faith and use the knowledge and experience that I have gained to take my career to the next level".
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ Jennifer Hudson's mother was one of two victims shot and killed in Chicago earlier today.
A neighbor tells TMZ the other victim was Jennifer's brother Jason. A cousin who lived nearby discovered the bodies.
We're told the two bodies were found dead on the scene at 2:44 PM. When the fire department arrived and discovered the bodies, police were brought in and the home was declared a crime scene.
A call to Hudson's rep was not immediately returned.
UPDATE 6:40 PM: An all points bulletin has been issued for a boy, believed to be Hudson's 7-year-old nephew (pictured below), who may have been taken from the scene. Police are looking for 1994 white Suburban with the license plate X584859.
Head House Mother Grace Jones was recently photographed by photographer Chris Cunningham for Britain's Dazed & Confused. Grace is known for her outlandish pictures and persona but, it's something about these pictures that are so damn interesting. Maybe it's the fact Grace doesn't give a fuck what anybody thinks. Philosophy much? I think so. Get into Grace!!
"I'm a lot more conservative in my personal life. But even when I'm dressed down, I wear a nice shirt, nice jeans and stilettos. Even when I go on vacation, where no one's going to see me, I enjoy picking out new clothes, bathing suits and accessories. I do it for myself because I enjoy fashion. It makes me feel like me."
"Charlize Theron is always beautiful and feminine. I love her couture looks and dramatic silhouette. Halle Berry is elegant and sophisticated. I love that in the seventies Cher and Diana Ross looked like superstars and never played it safe. When they were onstage, they gave you drama—and I love drama."
"Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier are two designers I love right now. Their clothes are feminine, sexy and modern. I just went to the Giuseppe Zanotti showroom, and he had the most spectacular shoes. It was like being in a candy store—I was obsessed with every shoe! Right now, I love anything with a high platform."
"I'm not dressed unless I have earrings on, like big hoops. I've always worn big earrings. Off the red carpet, I don't really feel comfortable with many rings and bracelets on. I love earrings though."
Mary-Kate says their fashion industry icons have taught them the importance of balance and hard work. "Also having a vision and sticking with your vision and staying true to what makes you happy," Ashley says. "Because that always ends up producing the best result."
The twins say they found Diane von Furstenberg especially inspiring. "She said a couple of things, but she said, 'You have to be your best friend first,' and I absolutely agree," Ashley says. "You have to feel comfortable with yourself before you go off and do anything in order to make the right choices for you."
Another remark that really resonated with them was when Diane told the girls they didn't need to have everything figured out just yet. "[She said] she didn't always know what she wanted to do, but she always knew the woman that she wanted to be," Mary-Kate says.
Beyoncé couldn't be present at her album listening party on Wednesday — she was abroad, doing international press from 10 a.m. to midnight, according to her father, Mathew Knowles — so she recorded a video message to explain the split between I Am… and Sasha Fierce. Here’s what she had to say for herself:
“I’m in a very good place right now. I’m very happy. I’m growing up, and I’m really comfortable with myself. I’m getting wiser and smarter. Hopefully my fans have grown with me, because some of the things that I loved, I don’t love so much anymore, and I love new things. That’s a part of life. I know that people see celebrities, and they seem like they’re so perfect — they seem like their life is so great, and they have money and fame. But I’m a human being. I cry. I’m very passionate and sensitive. My feelings get hurt. I get scared and nervous like everyone else. And I wanted to show that about myself. It’s about love. That’s what this album is all about. It’s about love.
“You know, I’m a woman, I’m married, and this portion of my life is all in the album. It’s a lot more personal. I’m very private and I don’t talk about a lot of things, but there are certain songs that are on the album that are very personal. It’s my diary. It’s my story.
“Young women listen to my album when they need encouragement, and when they are going through tough times, or when they need to forget about what their tough times are, and they just want to have fun and put on their sexy dresses and go dance with their friends, or when they need the strength to be out of a bad relationship, they listen to my album in the car. So I still have my album of fun songs.”
Mathew Knowles said that a Spanish version of the album will be out in February along with a video anthology. Beyoncé will then launch a world tour in the last week of March. After starting with Canada, she’ll hit Europe, the U.S., Mexico, South America, Las Vegas for one week, Japan, Asia and then Australia, with the tour slated to end next November.
ESSENCE.COM: Diddy is a beast when it comes to whipping his groups into shape and his truth hurts. He already let Aubrey go and then D. Woods was a no-show last night. Have you spoken or plan to speak to any of the ladies?
RICHARD: No, I haven’t. Honestly, we really don’t talk that much, but I wish them the best of luck. I showed up, and as one person, I can only do so much. If they want to get in touch with me, they will because I totally support them and always will. All of this stuff affects us because these are our lives. Diddy tells us to try to save our group and some of us don’t show up? We’re making a serious statement to him about the future of this group by doing so.
ESSENCE.COM: There’s been much hearsay about Diddy’s intentions of making you the lead of Danity Kane as well as offering you a solo record deal. Is that true?
RICHARD: It’s so interesting how the media chooses to interpret or report things. I have never said that I was pursuing a solo deal. I told someone that I have waited so long for my dream, and singing is my dream and has been for so long. I have done nothing on the side as far as solo projects; I’m not sidestepping. I have totally been supportive of the group—that’s my priority. We had shows where Aubrey didn’t show up and we had her back and no one wrote about it or said anything. Some of the other girls have pursued their interests and I have sat back and supported them in their individual pursuits. It truly hurts my feelings because I work so hard and I’ve been so honest from the beginning. I can’t control it if someone says, `I respect your artistry and I’d like to work with you.’ What’s wrong with that? Instead of getting support there is nothing but negativity. Again, my priority has always been Danity Kane. I’ve never missed a show or meeting so it’s just interesting how people perceive things. I can only put it in God’s hands.
ESSENCE.COM: But has Diddy ever approached you personally about a deal?
RICHARD: Everyone should ask Puff if that’s what he has in line for me. If he does, then I’m honored and I will work hard as I’ve always done. What I know for certain is that he would never break up Danity Kane. I’ve always been on that same train, too. At the end of the day, I’m going to rock with the first priority, which is Danity Kane. Who knows what can happen, because Puff changes his mind every five seconds. I’m going to work hard. I’m going to be the same person I was in the beginning. What’s honest and true is that I respect people. I respect and love the group. I wish it could still be five of us. I didn’t make Aubrey leave. I didn’t make D. Woods not show up. People choose their paths and you do what’s best for your situation. This is your job and you do the best you can do. All we’re trying to do is survive.
"I can remember being 16 or 17 when they asked us to be on the show, and it was our big moment," she told host Damien Fahey. Although she looks back on the memory fondly, she admits that seeing a teen version of herself was weird. "It's not cool to document your moments at 17," she joked.
While "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" acts sonically as a sequel to "Get Me Bodied," "If I Were a Boy" is unlike anything Beyoncé has done before. "It's broad," she told Essence. "But I had to try it, because I remember Aretha Franklin said a great singer can sing anything and make it her own."
Roxy Cottontail is the kind of girl books are written about. She came to New York with dreams, drive and a tube of lip-gloss ready to work her little Cottontail off and make people come together, dance and have a good time. From Baltimore to Philadelphia, she has been around the musical block picking up friends, acts and experience along the way. She helped establish Diplo and Low Budget, of the legendary Hollertronix party, as well as Spankrock¹s rap career and even booked one of Chromeo¹s first NYC shows. Her skills, talent and varied tastes have helped her rise to the top of the promoting, DJing, hip-hop and fashion worlds. Her signature style is part of everything she touches and has deep roots in punk, electro, dance, house, hip-hop, reggae and rock.
"More than HOT I be BOILING. .pour the VODKA lets go all night. .Im dancin. . you PEEPIN..you can watch but no SQUEEZIN. .if you VIOLATE. . Im reachin in my purse for that THING!"
Flat shoes are not Mr. Manolo Blahnik's favorite. "It's much more difficult to be beautiful and walk femininely in flats," he said. While he thinks Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn pulled them off gracefully (and, might we add, Carla Bruni), he thinks "you can walk like a beach bum in them — then they don't look so good." But is that worse than wearing heels that make you fall down? [British Vogue]
We’re not sure how all the Danity Kane breakup rumors got started, but we know one thing: we’re not ready to write them off just yet. (And FYI, by “them” we’re referring to both the MTB 4 girl group AND the whispers of their impending demise.)
So what’s really going down? Well, judging by appearances, DK’s still intact. All five members have continued performing together since filming wrapped — they headlined the Declare Yourself gala just last week — and Aubrey O’Day (who’s always singled out as the resident pot-stirrer) has publicly reaffirmed her dedication to the group.
That said, Diddy can be tricksy, and we’re uneasy about those scenes from next week’s finale (when he’s all “I’m unsure about the future of the group.”) So we’ve decided to give you TWO looks at next week’s Diddy vs. DK showdown and let you guys decide whether Danity Kane is headed for splitsville. One question, though: If Aubrey’s NOT the girl leaving the group — who is?
