Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
What a shot to attract even more female tweens: a photo of the incredibly photogenic Freddie Prinze Jr. sitting on rose petals with the accompanying quote, “Girls don’t have to be thin to be hot.” The February issue of Seventeen magazine is a definite eye grabber.
“Girls in L.A. don’t eat anything,” he says in the cover story.
It was the summer of 1942, and Don Klemp–then 14–was mad at the world. An orphan who was shuttled from one foster home to another, he always had his guard up.
The health club industry is a $10.6 billion business in the United States. There are 15,125 clubs today, more than double the numbers from 1982. Almost 30 million people have memberships. Illinois alone has about 600 fitness facilities. Despite the increase in health clubs, Americans continue to grow fatter each year. The percentage of obese Americans has increased from 12 percent in 1991 to 17.9 percent in 1998, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These statistics mirror Illinois’ figures. And a study by Men’s Fitness magazine ranked Chicago the sixth-fattest city in the nation.
Accompanied by stark, black-and-white photos of girls so young that their bodies are not yet developed, the Marie Claire article carries the optimistic title “Children Rescued from Prostitution.” After finishing the piece, the reader wonders whether these kids are ever rescued from their horrific lives.
This Thanksgiving, Ryan Ebens and Oana Agape celebrated the anniversary of their first date by vacationing in Aspen, Colo. He woke her up one morning and insisted that they get an early start skiing.
Lifetime Television has gone one step further in rounding out its female-friendly programming. The cable channel, which bills itself as “television for women,” has launched a national campaign to have women’s voices heard during this presidential election year. “We have a long history of advocacy for women,” says Meredith Wagner, Lifetime’s senior vice president of public affairs. “Our viewers have a unique connection to Lifetime and a great trust in us. And they obviously like the idea of having their voices heard. We want to serve as a voice for our viewers.”
Courtney Thorne-Smith looks her usual perky, gorgeous self in the February issue of Shape. But the interview may as well not exist. In a pithy question and answer session with the “Ally McBeal” star, Celeste Fremon conducts a less-than-satisfactory interview. We learn that Thorne-Smith “spent years debating whether to get a boob reduction,” wishes that her arms were thinner and wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to run for an hour every day. And this would be interesting because . . . ?
Claudia Skylar and James Mastro never went out on your typical date. Colleagues at the same architecture firm about 20 years ago, they would take their sandwiches to the lunch room and discuss order and chaos in the universe.
The February issue of More contains a hilarious account of one woman’s revenge against a younger man who dumped her. “Romantic rejection is a staggering blow,” writes Benita Gold. “It rattles the self-esteem and can drive one to do strange and otherwise unthinkable things. Perhaps this explains why I pretended to my ex-boyfriend that I was dating Peter Jennings.”
Back in 1977, Pat Ranallo was psyched. He was 23 and about to take a cruise to the West Indies. He and his friend thought they would bask in the sun, meet some women and enjoy their vacation.
The winter issue of National Geographic Adventure includes a fascinating article written by Phil Caputo, who recounts what it was like returning to the battlefields of Vietnam to make peace with the ghost of the 23-year-old platoon leader he once was_and with the past that haunts him still.
It’s one thing watching a guy play bass on stage. It’s another thing seeing him walk toward you in a club. So when Caroline Ansani saw Ted – the man who would become her husband – venturing toward her, she busted a move.
You never know what you’re getting with TLC. In the January issue of Sister 2 Sister, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes is quoted as saying, “I’m the creative force behind TLC.” That’s not even the best part. In the 12-page cover story, Lopes rebuts quotes her bandmates gave to another magazine, saying that she “doesn’t stick with us.”
Just one look was all it took.
Elynne Chaplik Aleskow was dancing at a club when she noticed a man shyly peering at her. Richard Aleskow, who had caught sight of her on his way out, couldn’t stop staring.
These days – after 31 years of marriage – Jean and Doris Banchet communicate to each other in English. But when they met in England in the early 1960s, there was a considerable language barrier.
Let’s face it. Most of us don’t have the genetic makeup (or the trainers and stylists) to look as good as Courteney Cox, Heather Locklear or Jennifer Love Hewitt do on their TV shows. But thanks to a couple of savvy West Coast designers, we can accessorize like the stars with some fabulously affordable and hot jewelry.
Amy and Stephen Hess fell for each other . . . from an airplane.
Jean and Charles Halevi met in 1981. She was a local reporter working on a story. He was the public relations representative helping her get the information she needed for her piece.
The November issue of Mode features “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” co-star Caroline Rhea on its cover. The congenial, transplanted Canadian speaks about her friendship with “The Practice” star Camryn Manheim, her upcoming marriage next year and, of course, fashion.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Keir and Marya Graff. Raised in Missoula, Mont., Keir was ready to move away from home.