Friday, July 11, 2008

Celebrity Gossip

Most days, I think there just can't be enough celebrity gossip in this world. Other days, no.

This gorgeous creature, Dorian Leigh recently passed away aged 91 (good innings, sweetie!). Obviously, she didn't look like that when she died. According to another model of her time, Dorian had bucketloads of oestrogen - the way some men have too much testosterone (I believe we call them bastards). And in perfect testament to all that woman - she needed 5 husbands to satisfy her. Mmm... delightful!

Like all gorgeous NY girls-about-town of that era, Dorian was friends with Truman Capote, and there are suggestions that she was more than just a little like Holly Golightly - our favourite prostitute from Breakfast At Tiffany's. But Ms Leigh was not just a gorgeous face, intoxicating sensuality and a body to covet - she was super smart too, studying calculus at New York University and going on to use her maths skills as an aircraft wing designer. As an engineer, she earned 65c per hour. As a model, she earned $1 per hour. I'm no calculus student, but I know which I would prefer.

Clearly seeing those dividends, Dorian worked her tuckass off: she apparently graced seven Vogue covers in 1946 (more than two thirds of the year's Vogues! - I wonder if readers got bored with that?), and in the next six years appeared on at least 50 more magazine covers. Dorian started modelling at the ripe old age of 27 - although she did manage to convince Harpers Bazaar that she was just 19 (and these are the days before botox).

After modeling, Dorian opened one of the first modeling agencies in Paris, ran gourmet restaurants in France and had successful catering operations in the United States, among other endeavors. She wrote several books about food, including one about pancakes and another featuring fritters. Wow. She was one busy lady. No wonder it took her so long to think about issues of mortality.

In other celebrity news - quote of the day: 'I can sing better than she can. If Madonna gets it [the lead role in 'Evita'] I'll rip her throat out!" said Meryl Streep back in 1996.

1 comment:

Phuong said...

she's so beautiful... did dita von teese steal her look? looks exactly like her....