Dominique Dawes may forever be identified as one of the “Magnificent Seven” from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but her impact on and off the mat extends far beyond that gold medal moment.

Dawes started in gymnastics at age six and was competing by age 10. She managed to score a place on the 1992 U.S. team bound for Barcelona, becoming the first African-American gymnast to qualify for the Olympics. Dawes ended up winning the bronze medal alongside her teammates. At the 1994 Nationals, she swept the board by winning the all-around title as well as securing gold medals in all four individual events. In addition to contributing to her team’s epic gold-medal victory, Dawes became the first African-American gymnast to win an individual medal at the Atlanta Games (a bronze for floor exercise). Dawes even managed to qualify for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

This three-time Olympian has kept busy since retiring from gymnastics. She’s worked as a multimedia correspondent for Yahoo! Sports during the Beijing Olympics and has covered both national as well as international gymnastics competitions for the likes of TNT, CBS Sports and Comcast Sports Net. Dawes also has made moves outside the broadcasting booth by appearing in the Broadway musical Grease as well as music videos for Prince and Missy Elliott.

Dawes is now making a name for herself as a motivational speaker. Sharing her personal and professional philosophy known as D-3 (Determination, Dedication, Desire). Dawes spreads her message of establishing self-esteem through positive body image coupled with a strong work ethic to youth and women’s groups. She also offers gymnastics clinics at facilities across the country, passing her love of the sport on to athletes of all ages. She earned her degree from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2002 and served as president for the Women’s Sports Foundation from 2005 to 2006. She’s even been a spokesperson for empowering crusades like the Girl Scouts of America’s Uniquely Me campaign.

With her accomplishments in the gym and her dedication to inspiring others, Dawes proves why she is affectionately known as “Awesome Dawesome.”

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“When I was a little girl, my family had a nickname for me,” Eva Longoria-Parker smiles nostalgically and a short Spanish phrase rolls off her tongue. “Loosely translated, it means ‘the small brown one,’” she explains with a nonchalant shrug.

It’s hard to believe the ex-pageant queen, cover girl, spokes model, and most glamorous of the Desperate Housewives ever had to overcome being deemed the “ugly duckling.” As the only one in her family to have dark hair, eyes, and skin, Longoria-Parker was the odd one out. Though she acknowledges that it wasn’t easy as a child to overcome the name-calling, now she admits she much preferred the days when her on-screen alter ego, Gabrielle Solis, wore frumpy sweat suits. “I absolutely hate hair and make-up!” she admits. “I’m still just a [Texas] tomboy at heart.”

At first glance, one may assume Longoria-Parker is just playing modest, but the more she talks, the clearer it is that she really is that humble. “I was a late bloomer,” Longoria-Parker speaks of both her looks but also her success within the industry. “But it’s probably better that things didn’t come to me easily because it made me appreciate every step that got me to where I finally am.”

At the Paley Fest panel back in April, Longoria-Parker showed up in casual jeans and a white-button down shirt. She waved eagerly at fans as she took her seat on stage and even helped co-star Teri Hatcher put on her microphone. Perhaps also a testament to her Southern upbringing, Longoria-Parker is genuinely helpful– and fiercely loyal– to her co-workers and friends.

In fact, Longoria-Parker is quick to credit the series creator, Marc Cherry, in addition to her large ensemble cast mates, for the success and fandom of the show. “No one knows [my character] Gabrielle better than Marc,” she gushes. “I don’t even know Gabrielle better than Marc [does]! I trust him completely; if he said he wanted to see her…run off and join the circus in some trapeze act, I’d say okay.” She is one actor who clearly understands that in this business, it really is all about teamwork—and there is no “I” in “team!”

Longoria-Parker knows what it’s like to come from meager means, and she is adamant about doing what she can to enrich lives now that she has been so blessed. Aside from founding Eva’s Heroes, which helps disabled children, Longoria-Parker also does a lot of work with PADRES Contra El Cancer. She even recently hosted a Rally for Kids With Cancer scavenger hunt in Los Angeles.

A few years ago, the women of Desperate Housewives were featured on the cover of Vanity Fair, and the press headlines were about the “tension” and “demanding behavior” on the set of the photo shoot. But if Longoria-Parker’s down-to-Earth demeanor is any indication of the rest of the women, then it is clear that the term “diva” might just get thrown around a bit too liberally in describing Hollywood actresses nowadays.

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I never intended to keep my own last name — taking my husband’s moniker was one of the few marriage traditions I never thought to contest. Recently though, I started to feel a little sad about replacing my name, which has always defined me.

Unlike my blue eyes and light brown hair, my last name reveals my Italian heritage. Generations of Platinos still gather Sunday afternoon to the house my father was raised in for a relaxing day of homemade sauce, meatballs and watching the youngsters play tee ball in the front yard. We still prepare eleven fish dishes for Christmas Eve and love nothing more than family and food — which we are loud, emotional and passionate about.

Soon I will be Laura Shields. It sounds pretty great, and I am honored to be a Shields. Ben’s family is amazing and beautiful. It isn’t about taking his name as much as it is about losing mine. I will mourn the loss because without it, and without big brown eyes, dark hair or any classic Italian features, my cultural authenticity is not evident. I like people knowing I am Italian because it is something I am proud of, and truly cherish.

My sister assured me the panic would pass, but she can’t exactly relate with her big beautiful brown eyes, dark thick hair and a name change from Platino to Polvino.

So I started coming up with alternatives. What if Ben took my name? What if I hyphenated? I could keep my own name and Ben would hold onto his. The last option seemed the most acceptable so I began making a case for keeping my name. After all, wouldn’t it complicate my writing career if I change my name? Would I have to submit stories or my screenplay under a new name?

A week of mulling it over ended when I was going through a box of pictures I pulled out of my closet. I held up one taken a few years ago at the Shields’ annual 4th of July family gathering. I remember them making me put on a matching T-shirt one of the cousins had made for everyone to celebrate that year and then pulling me into the frame. They were my family even back then, before the thought of marriage had crossed our minds. I realized, sitting in my room surrounded by pictures of my family and his, that I wasn’t losing anything. The pasta, the kisses on both cheeks, the eleven-course Christmas dinners and everything else that comes along with my Italian family wouldn’t suddenly disappear. My last name would still exist even if my checks or library card said differently.

Now I’m looking forward to the traditions, quirks and adventures of being a Shields. I still want to pay tribute to my maiden name though, so I’m having Ben tattoo “Platino” in tiny letters on my wrist.

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When I was in fifth grade and my family traveled to Pakistan, my friends didn’t know where it was. Ten years later, they still aren’t familiar with the real country.

The Pakistan in the news is nuclear-armed with the Taliban maintaining a stronghold in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). There are nearly 2 million internally displaced people. And according to the BBC, “The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has declared the subsequent exodus the biggest in the world for 15 years.”

This is not the Pakistan I have known since my first visit at age two, nor is it the country most Pakistanis experience — the reality is hiding somewhere between the over-hyped frenzy and the optimism of its citizens.

My mother always gets really protective whenever we go to Pakistan. We can’t go out late and we definitely keep the English-speaking to a minimum. Her security rules probably won’t change when we go back in a month because, in addition to thieves, beggars and kidnappers, we have to avoid becoming involved in civil and political unrest.

The Taliban has an influential presence in the NWFP and FATA with many areas entirely under their control. On June 16, the Pakistani military confirmed it is going after Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan, an area in FATA where al-Qaida and Taliban leaders have become entrenched.

An association with Pakistan and the Taliban has formed in people’s minds thanks to the media leaving people thinking it’s as hard-lined as Iraq. Pakistan is trying to fight off the Taliban and so far they have pushed the organization nearly 60 miles away from the capital.

On June 17, tribesman killed six Taliban in the northwest hoping to avenge a deadly mosque bombing. The government has reported that 3,000 villagers took up arms in early June and have helped the military significantly.

As the military continues to fight in the north however, people in the south are still dealing with tension.

“It’s unpredictable,” explained Shahzaib Hussain, 17, a resident of Karachi, a city in the south. “Anything can happen at any time. What the people of Pakistan say is that only God can save Pakistan because the politicians and everybody are corrupt. Every time we go out, there’s always a scare. We can’t enjoy life the way we used to, but we’re still hoping things will get better.”

Depending on how well the country fends off terrorism, I might not be able to return in the future. One of the main reasons my family and I are going back now is because we fear it might not get better. Even though it is a struggling, developing country with a former criminal as its president, some things have not changed and having family will keep me going back. Most of the Pakistani family friends we have feel the same way.

For now, I’ll say a little prayer and continue to make plans to visit the country my family calls home.

photo by michael foley photography

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Sipping wine, sampling high-caliber munchies and mingling with a cavalcade of entertaining characters — not to mention rubbing elbows with the luminous Rosario Dawson. Sounds like your typical happy hour, right? (Well perhaps minus hanging out with Rosario Dawson.)

But this Thursday night get-together was far from standard. On June 4, Corkbar hosted a fundraiser for the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Guests provided a donation to the Girls Club for the opportunity to attend the social event. The happy-hour-with-a-cause featured periodic updates on the Lakers game unfolding nearby at the Staples Center, and a raffle where a variety of luxury items were up for grabs. Prizes included a one-month Pilates gift certificate and a Clinique basket chock full of must-have skin care essentials. Dawson played emcee and even expertly modeled the stellar pair of Jimmy Choo shades being raffled off as she read the winning number.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club was created back in 1996 to provide services targeted toward the female set, since girls were left out of the local “boys” club. The nonprofit offers programs designed to develop environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership in this lesser-served region of New York City. Girls have the opportunity to delve into digital filmmaking (check out their impressive girl-produced videos at Girlsclubvideo.blip.tv/), a community radio station and even nutrition workshops.

The entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in their three social venture businesses; The Art+Community Gallery, La Tiendita Fair Trade and Girl Made Gift Shop at the Essex Market and the Sweet Things Bake Shop. The funds being raised by events like the one in L.A. will go towards the construction of New York City’s first and only Girls Club facility that will house the organization’s current endeavors (along with several new ventures) all under one convenient and eco-friendly roof. The new green center is scheduled to open in 2011.

For more information on this positive demonstration of real girl power, head over to Girlsclub.org.

photo courtesy of wag staff worldwide

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It’s time to hit the beach, head camping or even get married. Unfortunately, it’s also prime season for mosquitoes. Nothing’s more irritating than red, itchy, scabby insect bites all over your limbs, but applying repellents — most which contain the chemical DEET — has become less fashionable as society’s concern for toxins in products continues to grow.

The United States Army concocted the substance in reaction to buggy jungle experiences during World War II that proved nasty and harmful to soldiers. After it was tested as a pesticide on farms and then used in Vietnam, DEET became available for consumer use in 1957.

Despite the Environmental Protection Agency’s insistence that DEET is safe for skin, many natural health circles and supporters of an organic lifestyle have turned to alternative protection against pesky bugs. If absorbing a pesticide into your skin scares you or if DEET actually does irritate your skin, give these mosquito-fighting tactics a try:

White and Thick. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing and seemingly shady foliage, so wear white or light-colored shirts and pants (try to avoid camouflage). Many mosquitoes will bite through thin, tight-fighting clothing, so throw on a big sweatshirt or a pair of jeans.

Essential Oils. Eucalyptus, cedarwood, tea tree and geranium essential oils naturally repel mosquitoes and other insects. To make an effective diluted spray, experiment with the percentages and ratios of all these oils mixed with a carrier oil (olive, sunflower, jojoba or grape seed).

Garden Girl. Mosquitoes hate the smell of marigolds and also stay clear of rosemary. Brighten up your backyard and your spice rack while you keep pests away.

Don’t Sweat It. Chemicals in perspiration and the simple increase in humidity around your body when you sweat will make you a target for mosquitoes. Don’t sit around after a hot run and rinse off every now and then at the beach. Working out also releases lactic acid from our bodies, which mosquitoes love. (Eating salty foods emits the same chemical.)

The Drier the Better. Offering a chance for reproduction and breeding, even small amounts of water will appeal to blood-suckers. Stay clear of ponds, puddles and moist plants that are havens for mosquitoes.

Breathe Easy. One way mosquitoes navigate the air to find prey is by tracking carbon dioxide as well as other gases humans and animals exhale. Since ceasing to breathe isn’t really an option, try loosely tying a bandana around your mouth.

Mosquitoes have some pretty sensitive and advanced methods for hunting their prey and are quite relentless once they find you. In addition to being extremely annoying, many breeds of mosquitoes are carriers for diseases such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, and malaria. In tropical climates and sub-Saharan Africa, malaria kills millions of people each year. Whether in your backyard or traveling in Argentina, if you can avoid being bitten, you will definitely lessen your chances for contracting mosquito-borne illness — and those irritating red marks.

photo by zaser’s photography

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What does sun have to do with it? It’s not a food or drink (not that I’d recommend anyone try downing an 11,000 degree treat) and most stories involving matters of health and sunshine also contain the word cancer – causing, not prevention. But there actually are mega-benefits to sunshine, beyond the happy, colorful glow it sheds on the universe and daunting harmful side effects that yes, we should be aware of and avoid.

For now, let’s focus on the positive. Sunshine promotes the creation of Vitamin D in our bodies. We need Vitamin D in order to absorb calcium, which promotes positive bone health and prevents osteoporosis. It’s also been associated with reduced risk for multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure and certain forms of (oops, I have to mention it) the C-word…cancer. Five to thirty minutes of sunshine is needed to attain your daily does of Vitamin D.

Second and equally important are the emotional perks of sunshine. People who experience warmth and step outdoors to enjoy sunshine and fresh air each day tend to maintain positive attitudes, as well as improved physical health. The more contented we feel, the more likely we are to take care of our bodies by nurturing them with healthy vittles than to eat too little or too many foods that don’t offer much nutritional value.

If you live in climate that offers few sunny rays, a Vitamin D supplement or UV lamp may prove beneficial. If you work indoors and seldom seek fresh air, make it a point to take walks around the neighborhood. Enjoy your lunch breaks at area parks or take hiking or beach trips over weekends and holidays.

If you aren’t sure if you’re getting enough Vitamin D or sunshine, ask a healthcare professional. In the meantime a solid, basic multi-vitamin is a great idea. Even when we eat healthy foods and soak in the sun appropriately, we may have gaps. Multi-vitamins are great insurance policies that can fill them.

Vitamin D is currently the top vitamin deficiency in America, so take this seriously if you feel you may be at risk. A friend of mine was recently prescribed Vitamin D supplements and is now experiencing a “happiness she can’t explain.” Our bodies are complex and sometimes we don’t even know we are lacking in something.

Enjoy the summer, wear sun block, take your vitamins and find fun, healthy summer foods to dine on. You’ll be happier and likely healthier as a result!

Sunshine Waldorf Salad Recipe

Ingredients:
2 – 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks
2 cups sliced celery
1 cup sliced green grapes
½ cup chopped walnut
Light mayonnaise, as desired
juice of one lemon
dash of salt, to taste
Lettuce leaves

Directions: Combine pineapple chunks, celery, grapes and walnuts in a large bowl and toss with lemon juice. Stir in mayonnaise, 1 Tablespoon at a time until the mixture is lightly coated. Serve atop shredded greens or wrapped in large leaves. Enjoy!

photo by Lin Pernille ♥ Photography

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Last weekend I was lucky enough to be invited to attend one of the highlights of the UK fashion calendar, Brighton Fashion weekend. This extravaganza of style saw Brighton’s finest designers showcasing their work both in the dramatic theatrical fashion show and a range of events throughout the city.

Friday night I saw a VIP event that could rival those of London, Milan or Paris. Upon arrival at the famous Hilton Metropole on the sea front in Brighton, the dedicated VIP staff were ready and waiting to whisk my ever faithful photographer, Liza, and I up to the VIP lounge. Awaiting us were the elite of Brighton’s fashion circles, with the likes of Suzie Turner, Paola Galelli, Joanne Fleming and Verity Lamb in attendance, amongst the throngs of press and entourage all looking for the next big thing. We mingled and sipped our complementary drinks, soaking up the atmosphere and enjoying the acoustic music provided by local emerging musicians.

Heading into the sumptuous surroundings of the Oxford Suite, the room was thick with anticipation. We took our seats, lucky enough to be in prime position in the front row; we prepared ourselves for a show to remember. And we weren’t disappointed.

The catwalk show took us on a journey of inspiration, beauty and ingenuity. Whilst some designers captivated us with over the top couture designs that wowed the senses and stimulated the imagination, others caressed our heart strings and left us breathless with desire. Jessy.Lou, a young independent label showcased their sexy and spectacular combination of fearless and eclectic pieces and bold prints inspired by light fittings was a joy to behold, whilst Lipoplondon’s innovative and delicious men’s knits paired with leggings and tailored macs were nothing short of delightful.

One of the highlights of the show was watching the journey of the models used in the show. Each and every one was chosen through a series of auditions held locally in the lead up to the show. This process allowed the audience to bear witness to some previously unknown modelling talent, some of which were nothing short of extraordinary.

The after show party allowed the models, designers and organisers to let their hair down and celebrate what was an unbridled success. Of course, your ever faithful reporter was there to congratulate them all in the elite Lo Lounge tucked underneath the Hilton. The wine flowed and the conversation surged, with designers and models merging to dance and mingle… it was clear to see some muses were emerging and some designers have really begun to stamp their mark on the fashion world.

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A nine year old walked into my office and declared, “I think I am going to join the ‘clique’ at school. They do get in more trouble, but they always look like they are having fun, and get lots of attention.” When I questioned her more about joining this group of girls, she said that they made fun of other girls, pushed them off the swings, and weren’t very nice. She abruptly changed her mind when I told her that others might view her as being “mean” too if she became part of this group. She would be “mean” by association.

Essentially what this little girl is going through is stuff we thought we would grow out of after high school or at least college.  But that isn’t the case. Many people I have worked with (friends, and even myself) have fallen for the “clique” when it comes to social circles. Do you give in or get out with your dignity?

I found myself at a table amongst some pretty “popular” people recently, listening to their conversations about who’s getting divorced, cheated on, or going to rehab, all while making fun of innocent bystanders. I sat back and realized other people may be viewing me as the “mean girl.” How did I, a smart, college-educated, woman, who works in the “helping profession,” fall into this?

Was it the exciting invites to exclusive parties? Or the fact that I was never bored due to the incessant drama? Perhaps, but all this seems meaningless now. My work suffered, my older friendships diminished, and I put everything important to me on the back burner.

Some of these girls were my good friends, but their conversations were tiresome and demeaning to other women. I found myself being pulled in two—I wanted to keep these friends but at the same time I began neglecting my dignity. So I had to figure out how to get out alive, without my reputation being ruined (which unlike high school can ruin your career).

How can you get out alive?

• Weigh your options. Will the opening of yet another “hot spot” be as important as spending time with an old friend or family member?  Probably not.
• Prioritize. If you find that you’re putting off important things (work, school, your health, family, or friends) for this lifestyle, it may be time to rearrange.
• Realize. When your family and friends say you’re not around, take note.  That gut feeling you get is guilt.
• Remember who you are. If you find yourself being caddy or involved in meaningless conversations, I would suggest excusing yourself, and reexamining what you are really gaining from this friendship.

I started to focus more on things that mattered to me; work, school, nurturing old friendships, and not jumping at the chance to hit up the latest hot spot or get in on the latest drama.  And guess what, life got suddenly a lot easier, happier, and much less dramatic.

photo by udo herzog

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Steven Soderbergh’s new work The Girlfriend Experience chronicles the life of Chelsea, a high-end Manhattan escort who offers not just sex but companionship. Although the film has received mixed reviews, much attention has been aimed at its 21-year-old star, adult film actress Sasha Grey.

While a porn star crossing over is hardly breaking news, Grey’s attitude toward her transition is. She rolls her eyes when interviewers ask whether she’s going mainstream, clarifying that this role is simply another avenue for her creative will. She isn’t leaving the XXX world for Hollywood’s spotlight; rather, her box-office debut is just another step in pushing open female sexuality.

Since the age of 18, Grey has made a name for herself as the pornography’s go-to gal for extreme, hardcore scenes. She revels in the dirtiest of the dirty and claims to have entered the adult industry to revolutionize it. In a 2006 interview with Los Angeles Magazine, Grey simply declares, “It’s porn. Make it ridiculous, make it disgusting, make it loud and filthy – that’s what I want to do on film. That’s why I’m in the business.”

As shocking as that statement is, it’s this self-awareness that makes Grey’s foray into what many consider to be abhorrent so perplexing. The question that we ask Grey’s Girlfriend character – whether a woman in such an exploitative business can really have control over her life – is the same that we ask Grey herself. And because of her age and chosen profession, recent media coverage has bypassed the film and instead has asked young Grey, “How could you?”

While I aim to avoid this moralistic clucking, I wonder how much control Grey truly has in an industry that promotes such degradation of women. Though I praised Kelli McCarty’s self-assurance in my article discussing her crossover into porn, Grey is different because of her intention. Whereas McCarty appears to be guided by her simple enjoyment of sex (of which there’s nothing wrong), Grey’s pornographic motives are political and maybe even philosophical.

“It all goes back to existentialism,” she tells TheDailyBeast.com. “It’s about taking control of your own life, and your own past – not letting anybody do that for you.” And according to an interview with Adbusters.org, that control is over female sexuality.

She tells writer Doug Haddow that it’s “bizarre” when “the word vagina is a disgusting, vile word.” She explains that actual pornography is “pure junk for the mind” and that “more than half of the news we see on television today is pornographic because it’s not real news.” Lamenting the lack of real sexual dialogue in America, Grey genuinely believes that her explicit filmography promotes a positive understanding of sexual health.

Grey’s cause is an important one, and our society sorely lacks the discussion that will disentangle female sexuality from paternalistic chains and sickening exploitation. However, Grey’s choice of medium simply undercuts her message. Her foray into pornography’s underbelly may be a sincere exploration of the edges of human sexuality, but her vision isn’t transmitted when she offends more than she educates. Grey’s message is too imperative to get lost in XXX muck. Though she may venture into the dark all she wants for her own career, she needs to bring her voice into the light for real change to happen.

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