Nicole Richie, along with Jessica Simpson and John Varvatos, mentors aspiring designers on NBC’s latest interactive reality show Fashion Star, where designers showcase their fashion creations to buyers from H&M, Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue. NewsGal Danielle Corcione got two questions with Nicole Richie about what it’s like to be a part of the stylish series.

Did you learn anything new about fashion, business or the industry, or even a new clothing combination you hadn’t thought of before?

This is the first time that I’ve spent so much time with the buyers. It was really interesting to hear their detailed feedback. As a creative director and as a designer, sometimes when meeting with buyers you meet with them once a season — they’ve got back-to-back appointments — and you do run into a situation where they’re kind of giving you minimal feedback. To spend time with all three of these buyers and to really understand their brain and kind of pick their brain to know where they’re coming from is something that was very informative for me.

What has been your best experience out of working with the show?

I am just honored to be able to help these very incredible designers’ dreams come true.

Fashion Star airs every Tuesday at 10 p.m. on NBC.

Follow NewsGal Danielle Corcione on Twitter @ciaodanielle, and Nicole Richie, @nicolerichie.

photo credit: NBC

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MTV also mentioned that a local New Jersey jeweler helped Jionni customize the ring for his famous fiancé a couple of months ago. When he presented Snooki with the 3.02-carot “princess-cut” diamond band, she was in total shock, but also completely thrilled.

Will Snooki’s wedding plans intervene with Jersey Shore and her spin-off show with her best friend J-Woww? The cast has allegedly supported her personal decision to pursue serious romantic commitments as Mrs. LaValle-to-be, but what will the producers of the Jersey Shore do when the Chilean star isn’t waking up hung-over anymore?

No word yet on whether MTV will abandon the spin-off and instead concentrate on Snooki’s new life as wife and mother-to-be. It would make for the most interesting married couple on the network since split couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, who also have babies on the way.

photo credit: MTV

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As one of the original reality platforms featuring established and up-and-coming performers, especially those of color, Soul Train was the orient of black music during the seventies. After the show’s first broadcast in 1970 out of Chicago, Cornelius, who hosted the program, soon became a star of soul, funk and R&B. It was a new age for the Motown generation, and brought to life many memorable musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson.

As of Thursday, news circulated that the gunshot was a self-inflicted and suicidal injury, according to The Washington Post. The shooting occurred at approximately 4 in the morning. However, there was not a suicide to be found around the star’s household.

Cornelius, who hosted the show until 2006, is being remembered by his friends and family. R&B Diva Aretha Franklin has stated, “He created a solid and broad foundation for young people and adults alike to socialize, dance and have good clean fun. He united the young adult community single-handedly and globally.”

VH1 will pay homage to the man and the music he loved with the documentary Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America. Originally aired in 201o for the show’s 40th anniversary, the network will re-air it tonight, Friday, Feb. 3 at 10 p.m.

photo credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

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TMZ also reported that any drug references would be censored from any release of the 911-call recording tape, as suggested by her attorney. ABC News also reports that Moore’s representatives explain her hospitalization was because of exhaustion, and that the actress has been photographed lately “noticeably thinner.”

After her recent divorce from Ashton Kutcher, her ex-husband has nothing left to say. His Twitter account does not mention anything about the reported incident, despite its frequent updates, but he has no problem continuing to party in Brazil (especially dancing to Florence + The Machine).

However, an inside source told People magazine otherwise. “Ashton is deeply concerned for Demi,” the source claims. “He still cares about her and wants the best for her. But their marriage is ending and they are both moving on with their lives.”

According to MTV News, friends of Demi also claim the actress has had to seek help regarding severe insomnia and possible problems with prescription drug use.

In an interview in February 2012 issue of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, Demi shares her concerns of being rejected, a cryptic message that could be reference back to her divorce. She reveals her profound insecurity for body image and being perceived as too thin, as well as her fears that she “will not be lovable” by the end of her life. Could this have been the actress’ public cry for help?

photo credit: Mandalay Films

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Ever since the failure of Kim Kardashian and Nets power forward Kris Humphries‘ 72 day marriage back in October, sales and overall approval ratings of the family – and its entire enterprise – have dramatically plummeted.

The reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians is suffering from a 14 percent drop in ratings, from 3.4 million views to 3 million, according to the New York Post. The Post also claimed that US Weekly, In Touch, Life & Style, and OK! Weekly dropped 18 percent in sales profits when glossy covers of the sisters were in circulation. Even the Sketchers enterprise dropped Kim as a spokesmodel, allegedly because of drops in sales. Supposedly, her face was replaced with a French bulldog.

Kim and her sisters were once paid to show up at popular events. The Post reports Kim alledgedly paid $600,000 dollars to attend the 2012 New Year’s Bash at Tao Las Vegas. However, the tables have turned. The trio is not being paid to not show up at these events. “I’d pay her $600,000 personally to not show up at the Reed Egg,” Travis Bass, co-owner of a Chinatown hot spot, tells Post reporter Brian Niemetz. Manhattan publicist, R. Couri Hay, who also paid the sisters to attend clubs in 2008 and 2010, also says, “I’m bored with them.”

Are the Kardashians really Hollywood’s new black plague? Forbes says “no,” contradictory to the Post’s conclusions. Forbes reporter Meghan Casserly writes that the kickoff of Season 4 of Kourtney and Kim Take New York drew in booming ratings of over 3 million, a 43 percent increase from the previous season. The Sunday, Jan. 8 episode broke the record for the show, when 3.3 million fans tuned in for a new episode.

Casserly also contacted Red Egg co-owner Travis Bass, and concluded he has never paid a celebrity to show up at his downtown Manhattan nightclub. Nonetheless, Bass has never hosted a celebrity-promoted event. Kim was also paid more than once for her appearances at Tao Las Vegas. In fact, “It’s a tradition,” insists Kim.

To further her counterarguments of the Post’s story, the Forbes writer touches up on tabloid sales. “All four magazines–US, ITW, L&S and OK!—still delivered average or slightly below average sales that week. That is a normal fluctuation when one cover model graces the cover of four magazines in the same week,” reports Casserly. Also, the expiration of the Sketchers marketing endorsement does not correlate with sales, claims Suzy Weiss-Fischman, vice president of O.P.I. nail polish, which also endorses Kim as a business strategy.

On Friday, Jan. 13, Kim blogged about both articles. She praised Forbes for correcting the Post’s inaccuracies. Khole also rebutted the Post’s accusations on her personal blog, and celebrated Forbes’ research on the family industry.

Of course, what really matters is what you think? Do you think its time for the Kardashian empire to crumble? Let us know your thoughts below.

photo credit: Think PR

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TMZ has reported that Halle and boyfriend Oliver Martinez are not engaged, but serious plans about a proposal could come in the near future. The actress’s diamond emerald-green ring is seen as a “commitment ring,” not an engagement ring, most likely received as a holiday gift, sources are sharing.

However, rumors still linger. Martinez’s ex-girlfriend Kylie Minogue announced the wedding on Twitter with, “Congrats to Oliver Martinez and Halle Berry!! #wedding” Is this the truth, or a taste of revenge?

In other engagement news, Selena Gomez was spotted wearing a bauble on her ring finger last year. Rumors about the Disney star and Justin Bieber’s engagement also rose in December. Selena’s rep has denied the couple are engaged.

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During a recent appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Snooki claimed fitness was now a part of her life, complete with Zumba classes and a personal trainer. She cut down on liquor to achieve her goal. People magazine also quoted that her diet consisted of egg whites for breakfast and “chicken and salad.”

Ironically enough, Snooki’s sudden desire to be super lean may have been brought on by the latest season of Jersey Shore that’s currently airing. In the Season 5 premier, which ran last Thursday, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino took a joke too far when Snooki asked for a roll of bread. “You already have enough,” was the line that sent the pint-sized reality star sobbing to the bathroom.

In the ladies’ room, she confessed about her battle with an eating disorder in high school. “I would eat a cracker and say I was full,” she said. It was an insult that drove her back into her teenage years. Perhaps, her weight-loss was not only a trick of a twice-a-day diet pill and personalized work-outs.

Snooki is signed up for another tattoo appointment, and reportedly wants to get a boob job, but that isn’t all. While on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Show which aired Jan. 3, Snooki discussed her serious boyfriend Jionni LaVelle (pictured with her above) and teased about a $500,000 engagement ring. Snooki wants to settle down and start a family with a deadline of two years. She even supposed she would be the one to propose first!

To keep up on Snooki and her goal to maintain her new sexy frame, follow her on Twitter @snooki and watch the new season of Jersey Shore every Thursday at 10 p.m, on MTV.

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As of today, Nick is still in the hospital, but should be discharged “within two days,” according to his wife via Twitter on Saturday. She has thanked all their fans for their wishes and prayers  and tweeted out pictures of the couple (above) on her Twitter page. Nick spoke of his time on the “operating table” via Twitter and then added, “recovering … about to be stronger than ever,” on Saturday.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Nick’s doctors believed the sudden failure could be from “dehydration, diabetes, infection, trauma, and/or kidney stones.” Dr.Madeleine Pahl at UC Irvine Medical Center says these problems could prevent Nick’s organs from properly digesting toxins from his body.

Overall, the cause of this New Year’s disaster is still unclear. The DivaGals send our warmest wishes for his speedy recovery.

For more updates, follow Mariah Carey and Nick Canon on Twitter: @mariahcarey,
@nickcannon.

photo credit: Mariah Carey Twitter

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Jay-Z and the new mother reserved a private wing (the entire fourth floor!) at Lennox Hill Hospital on Manhattan’s Upper East Side for the C-section, according to E! News. The New York Daily News reported the birth cost an estimated $1.3 million dollars.

Security was also a major component of the baby’s delivery. Beyoncé checked in under the name “Ingrid Jackson” on Friday night. Hospital management further catered to her request for confidentiality by having the entire staff turn in all smart phones and covering security cameras with tape, all in effort to prevent any information leaks or photograph leaks of the baby unofficially. Guards were even spotted off of Park Avenue.

Since the baby’s birth, security has been increased at the hospital, reportedly causing other expecting couples to experience some hardships over their own deliveries. Hopefully, all will be cleared up soon. Congrats!

photo credit: MTV

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