Books

*Biggest Loser* family secrets revealed

Biggest Loser family secrets revealed

The 2011 Biggest Loser contestants share their family secrets with Woman’s Day.

Leigh: Living with mum is driving me crazy

If you think living with your parents is bad, trying adding your partner to the equation – and then subtracting all the walls. This is the intense form of open-plan living Leigh Westren has been forced to endure since joining The Biggest Loser this season, and he admits living in such close quarters with his family has been harder than shifting those unwanted kilos so far.

“It’s been horrible,” he laughs during an exclusive interview with Woman’s Day.

“Just imagine you’ve moved out of home but then, for some reason, you’re forced to move back and you think, ‘Oh no, I have to live with my parents for a couple of months – this is so frustrating!’ Well image that, but having to move into a room with them with no walls!”

Sarah: My family are strangers to me

As a child Sarah Moon always felt abandoned by her drug-addicted father, who spent long stretches of time leaving Sarah and her brother to fend for themselves. But now The Biggest Loser contestant reveals it wasn’t just her father who was absent, but her extended relatives who also distanced themselves from her side of the family.

“It’s a spin-out of a story,” says Sarah, 29, who shares The Biggest Loser house with cousins Kellie, 33, Jodie, 42, and Rebecca, 34. “Kellie and Jodie really are like strangers to me,” she surprisingly admits.

Read more about Sarah and Leigh’s story, plus find out why contestant Nathaniel will never speak to his fellow contestant and uncle Joe again, in this week’s Woman’s Day.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Elle Macpherson’s tears for her dad

Elle Macpherson's tears for her dad

The stunning supermodel kept up a brave smile until she came off the catwalk.

Elle looked every bit the supermodel strutting down the catwalk. The famous blonde locks were perfectly styled, the smile dazzling and those legendary legs seemed impossibly long – even for Elle. With trademark cheekiness, she seemed to be in her element modelling a new pilot’s uniform for Virgin Blue.

But beneath the perfect façade, Elle, 47, was in terrible pain, still coming to terms with the heartache of seeing her dad, former president of Cronulla Sharks Rugby League Club Peter Gow, in the fight of his life after being diagnosed with cancer.

“It’s wonderful to be home, I miss my family… actually I’m going to get a bit emotional,” a teary Elle admits after losing her composure off the catwalk. “I’m really happy to be back and to see them, particularly my dad.”

With tears in her eyes, this was an Elle the world has rarely seen, the distraught daughter raw with pain and clearly shocked after seeing her “strong” father struggling to recover from a terrifying diagnosis of prostate cancer. Elle and her youngest son, Cy, secretly flew into Sydney from London 10 days ago to spend time with Peter, who underwent an operation at St Vincent’s Hospital on January 28 – before she hit the catwalk.

“I’m sorry [Elle] was upset,” Peter told the media. “We love each other very much and I draw incredible strength from my children. “[It] is a bit of a worry but thankfully, with a lot of help from a skilled surgeon and staff at St Vincent’s Cancer Clinic, I’m on the way to recovery. “They are confident they got it all. It’s been a bit of a shock, actually.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Steve Jacobs: I’m going to be a dad!

Steve Jacobs: I'm going to be a dad!

As the weather man faced the recent flood and storm disasters, he had only his gorgeous wife Rose and their unborn child on his mind.

You might say it’s been a hectic few months for weather presenter Steve Jacobs. The floods that devastated Brisbane, the sodden “inland sea” of rain-soaked Victoria, the devastation of Cyclone Yasi – this weary-eyed weather presenter has seen it all.

The 44-year-old found himself slap-bang in the middle of the developing disasters as he covered the events for Today. He witnessed scenes better suited to a horror film than a day at work delivering bubbly weather forecasts, but while the destruction was devastating, he says the experience was also uplifting.

“It’s certainly been a huge few weeks,” Steve says on a rare morning at home in Sydney’s east. “Cyclone Yasi was just frightening. We were in Innisfail on the Wednesday morning, before the cyclone hit in the afternoon. And the whole time, the main thing I kept thinking was, ‘We’ve just got to get out of here; we’ve got to get north’.”

This desire to seek higher ground saw Steve and his small crew – including a cameraman and a producer – up-stumps to Cairns, where they weathered the worst of the cyclone from a local hotel.

His reason for retreat was obvious. Steve knew that while the weather raged around him, back home he had two very special people waiting for his safe return – his pregnant wife Rose Kelly and their unborn baby. “The whole time I kept thinking, ‘I’ve got a baby I want to get home to’,” he recalls.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Hugh Jackman tells: Why I will always love Deb

Hugh Jackman tells: Why I will always love Deb

As the nation celebrates Deborra-lee Furness on This Is Your life, proud husband Hugh Jackman tells of his love for the woman he fell for at first sight.

A light rain was falling on Hugh Jackman as he hurried through the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne, trying desperately to control his nerves. The normally suave star knew everything was riding on the next few precious minutes.

Rounding a corner with his actress girlfriend Deborra-lee Furness, Hugh watched her face as she spotted a lone table covered with a white tablecloth, impeccably set with a breakfast Hugh had prepared for two.

What Deb didn’t know was that the surprise banquet was just the beginning of what Hugh had planned – hidden in his pocket was an engagement ring. And while Hugh had intended to pace himself and propose to Deb midway through the meal, suddenly excitement got the better of him.

“My plan was to propose half way through breakfast and I thought, ‘Forget that! So I have to do it now! I need to do it now!’” the superstar remembers. “It had been raining, and finally the sun came out, and I didn’t have a line! I was thinking, ‘Come on, come on, come on, you’ve got to come up with something, this is a once-in-a-lifetime, you’ve got to come up with a line’. And I said, ‘Baby, look the sun’s come out – it’s almost perfect!’ and she says, ‘What do you mean? It is perfect!’ And I said , ‘Well… it will be if you marry me!’ “And I pulled out the ring.”

These days the couple are more in love than ever, and it’s hard to believe it’s been15 years since that magical moment when Hugh proposed. And that moment set the stage for one of the most star-studded weddings Australia has ever seen. A whirlwind seven months after Hugh’s proposal, Deborra-lee donned a white dress for what she still jokes is “the best wedding I ever went to”.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Princess Mary’s post baby body

Crown Princess Mary is back in the public eye, flaunting a stunning post-baby body only

a month after leaving hospital with her newborn twins as our exclusive pictures show.

Making the most of the Danish winter sun, Mary and her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, enjoyed a day out in Copenhagen with their two eldest children, Prince Christian, 5, and Princess Isabella, 3.

However, all eyes were on the newly svelte Mary, who looked every inch the yummy mummy in chic skinny jeans and boots.

Flick through the pictures of celebrities who have had an amazing baby body bounce back here!.

The family took a stroll near their new home in the historic Amalienborg Palace complex.

Super model Heidi Klum was back on the catwalk just 5 weeks after her pregnancy.

Nicole Kidman had her skinny figure back in no time after welcoming Sunday Rose.

Angelina Jolie stepped out looking stunning four months after giving birth to twins.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Oprah’s secret lover revealed

Oprah's secret lover revealed

Before Stedman Graham won her heart, Oprah Winfrey was head over heels – and even talking marriage – with handsome model and filmmaker Reginald Chevalier.

It’s been a year full of surprises for Oprah Winfrey, with the talk-show queen being shaken to her core by the discovery of her secret half-sister, Patricia, as well as a niece and a nephew.

And now the television legend’s world is being rocked again by another not-so-pleasant shock – the revelation of her first great love, Haitian filmmaker Reginald Chevalier. Speaking for the first time about his hush-hush affair with Oprah back in 1985, Reginald, now 51, says the star made his life a living hell. “She was cold as ice,” he claims.

Sparks first flew between the pair when Reginald appeared on a segment about celebrity look-alikes on Oprah’s show. At the time, he was a dead ringer for actor Billy Dee Williams, who played Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars trilogy – and Oprah, now 57, thought he was hot! “She later confided that she instructed her producers to keep me backstage after the show,” says Reginald, in an interview with the Gawker.com website. “She threatened to fire them if I got away.”

Then 32 and suddenly famous after her eponymous show shot to the top of the ratings, Oprah took her 25-year-old boy toy on a cosy lunch date at Chicago’s Water Tower restaurant, where she ordered stuffed mashed potatoes for both of them.

Soon they were spending every night together, attending Chicago Bears football games, and rubbing shoulders with stars such as basketball legend Michael Jordan and actor Danny Glover. “She loved taking candlelit baths before going to bed,” Reginald confides. “We took lots of them together.”

Related stories


Fashion

The Weekly’s favourite Oscars frocks

It’s Hollywood’s night of nights and while much time is spent debating the merit of the nominees, most people are far more interested in the fashion.

Here is The Weekly‘s list of the best-dressed women of 2011.

The big winners at the 83rd annual Academy Awards:

Best Picture: The King’s Speech

Best Actress: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Best Actor: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Best Director: Tom Hooper, The King’s Speech

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Cate Blanchett attracted praise and criticism in this Givenchy haute couture gown

Best Actress winner Natalie Portman shrouded her growing baby bump in Rodarte

Helen Mirren covered up her famous assets in a grey silk Vivienne Westwood frock

A year after her hubby was exposed as a cheat, Sandra Bullock was stunning in Vera Wang

Halle Berry proved she just keeps getting better with age in Marchesa

Gwyneth Paltrow showed off her svelte physique in silvery Calvin Klein

Nicole Kidman towered over Keith Urban in a Christian Dior gown and red heels

This Valentino creation was the first of several outfits worn by host Anne Hathaway

Scarlett Johansson set pulses racing in this lacy Dolce & Gabbana dress

Scarlett Johansson set pulses racing in this lacy Dolce & Gabbana dress

Jacki Weaver missed out on an Oscar, but looked great in this Collette Dinnigan gown

Celine Dion accentuated her slim figure in Armani Prive

Reese Witherspoon went for simple chic in this Armani Prive design

Amy Adams squeezed her petite frame into a sparking gown by L’Wren Scott

Related stories


Fashion

2011 Oscars red carpet

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway in Valentino.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Milla Kunis

Milla Kunis in Elle Saab.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Scarlette Johannason

Scarlett Johansson in Dolce & Gabbana.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Hillary Swank

Hillary Swank in Gucci.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Jackie Weaver

Jackie Weaver in Collette Dinnigan.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams in Chanel.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman in Dior.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman in Rodarte.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

Halle Berry

Halle Berry in Marchesa.

Love it or hate it? Rate this look below.

Play our Oscars frocks face-off!

WATCH: See more Oscars fashion hits and misses here!

Related stories


Royals

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s dorm reunion

Prince William and Kate Middleton to visit Australia before royal wedding

It’s the place where they first fell in love, but when Prince William and Kate Middleton returned to the University of St Andrews in Scotland, there was no time to reminisce about their romance.

He revealed the prince didn’t settle into college life straight away because he was “very nervous” when he first arrived.

“What was striking was within two or three weeks he was a changed person — much more relaxed,” he added.

Kate also reminisced with Professor Cassidy about her college years.

“She was telling me she has kept her essays,” Professor Cassidy said. “I said, ‘I kept mine too, to show to my children’.”

Kate seemed to like that idea. “I’ll probably do the same,” she said.

During their visit the pair also spoke to their former cleaning lady 67-year-old Mary Mathers who used to clean for them when they were living at St Salvator’s Hall and when the pair lived in a house on the outskirts of the town.

Kate greeted Mary with “pleased to meet you again,” while Prince William spoke to her about the visits to the local fish and chip shop in her hometown of Anstruther, Scotland, which she had recommended.

“I put him onto it,” Mary told reporters during the visit.

She also said William was a tidy student during his stay at the residence hall.

Related stories


Celebrity News

Jane Russell: The last Hollywood bombshell

She shared the screen with Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Frank Sinatra and outlived all of them, but the incredible life of Jane Russell came to an end on Monday.

Jane burst onto the Hollywood scene in 1940 and quickly became one of the era’s most famous sex symbols. Her curvaceous figure was so remarkable radio host Bob Hope took to introducing her as the “two and only Jane Russell”.

Jane starred opposite Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953 but retired from showbiz at the end of the 1950s and dedicated the rest of her life to her family.

An undated early studio photo of Jane

Jane poses for a poster for the 1941 film *The Outlaw*, which made her a star

Jane poses for a poster for the 1941 film The Outlaw, which made her a star

The actress poses as the sultry Julie Benson in 1952 hit *The Macao*

The actress poses as the sultry Julie Benson in 1952 hit The Macao

Jane stars as an oil heiress in 1954 comedy *The French Line*

Jane stars as an oil heiress in 1954 comedy The French Line

Actor Dan Dailey helps Jane with her earring at an event in 1953.

Jane on the set of an unknown film in 1954

Jane as Wild West gunslinger Calamity Jane in *The Paleface*

Jane as Wild West gunslinger Calamity Jane in The Paleface

A studio photo from 1950

Jane enjoys a bubble bath in 1954 comedy *The French Line*

Jane enjoys a bubble bath in 1954 comedy The French Line

Jane in a promotional picture for 1952 film *The Las Vegas Story*

Jane in a promotional picture for 1952 film The Las Vegas Story

A studio shot from 1955

Jane poses with Marilyn Monroe to promote *Gentlemen Prefer Blondes* in 1953

Jane poses with Marilyn Monroe to promote Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953

Related stories