WebProNews

Author: Val Powell

  • Downton Abbey Ends After 6 Seasons, Christmas Day Finale Tops UK Ratings

    British drama series Downton Abbey has ended after six seasons, with its finale airing in the UK on Christmas Day.

    The TV series topped the UK ratings on Christmas Day, which is the first time the show achieved the feat.

    In the swan song episode, Lady Edith and Bertie Pelham have a happy ending, Lady Mary found out she was having a child, and Anna and Mr. Bates welcome their newborn.

    The Downton Abbey Finale Hits US Audiences Soon

    There have been reports stating that the series ended due to the fact that the Downton Abbey bosses failed to secure Dame Maggie Smith for the seventh season.

    Gareth Neame, the show’s producer, said that Smith, who plays the Dowager Countess Lady Violet Crawley, did not confirm her appearance for another season.

    “We easily could have gone for a 7th season, but if I’d have said “We haven’t got Maggie” it would have been a shadow of itself,” Neame added.

    Nevertheless, the award-winning producer said that they still feel blessed. The management and the cast do not regret the ending because they were still ahead when they ended the show.

    “We had the ambition that we had a complete show,” he said.

    In the final scene filmed at the Ritz Hotel in London, Neame even found a way to “insert himself”, where he came in dressed like one of the Ritz’s staff.

    While Downton Abbey officially ended last week on Christmas Day, there may be possibilities of a cinematic spin-off of the story.

    “There is no script and no firm plan but it’s certainly something there is talk of. We’re not in denial about anything. We’ll know more next year,” Neame said.

    There were reports that Neame and writer Julian Fellowes “are keen” to make the project happen.

    Meanwhile, other top performers along with Downton Abbey on Christmas Day include the Strictly Christmas Special, Queen, Mrs. Brown’s Boys, and Doctor Who.

  • Miss Universe Host Steve Harvey Wishes Us A ‘Merry Easter’ After Pageant Blunder

    Comedian Steve Harvey knows how to make fun of himself despite the devastating mistake he made on the Miss Universe event last week. Following his Miss Universe blunder, Harvey took to social media to greet everyone a “Merry Easter” on Christmas Day.

    “Merry Easter, y’all,” Harvey wrote alongside a photo of him standing by a pool while smoking a cigar and holding up a peace sign, in an attempt to poke fun at his humiliating mixup at the pageant. The photo was posted on the comedian’s social media accounts on Friday.

    His holiday greeting got over 2.3 million likes and 93 comments as well as more than 200,000 retweets.

    Harvey made the mistake of crowning Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez as Miss Universe instead of Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach. The host came back on stage and immediately took responsibility for the mistake, and announced Miss Philippines as the real winner of the pageant. He then explained that he misread his cue card, much to the surprise of the cheering crowd.

    Not long after the Miss Universe coronation night, Harvey apologized on Twitter addressing “Miss Philippians and Miss Columbia” which he edited afterward.

    Meanwhile, Harvey reportedly signed a multi-year contract to host the prestigious beauty pageant in the coming years. According to several reports, the deal was signed just before Miss Universe aired. Harvey is said to have been offered to host the pageant for at least three more years.

    Many people believe the fiasco was a strategy to gain publicity and boost the dwindling TV ratings of the annual pageant. Others speculate that there was a conspiracy to make Miss Universe and Harvey newsworthy again.

    “I generally don’t buy into conspiracy theories, but this is the most attention the Miss Universe pageant has gotten since, well, ever,” newspaper sportswriter Les East stated, hinting the said gaffe could be a major publicity stunt.

  • Daisy Ridley Joins Roster Of Voice Talents For Studio Ghibli Classic ‘Only Yesterday’

    Daisy Ridley may be new in Hollywood, but she’s already giving people a glimpse of the type of projects in which she wants to be involved.

    After starring in the extremely successful seventh Star Wars installment, The Force Awakens, the 23-year-old British actress is already gearing up for her next gig. This time, though, she won’t be showing her lovely face onscreen – instead, she will be lending her vocal talents to the highly acclaimed Japanese film classic, Only Yesterday.

    The Japanese animated drama film, which was first released in 1991 by the famed Studio Ghibli animation studio, is coming to North American audiences next month. New York-based film distributor GKIDS acquired the rights to the English-language version of the film in anticipation of its 25th anniversary release.

    Daisy Ridley will be lending her voice to the lead character named Taeko Okajima, a single woman in her late twenties who takes a vacation to her rural hometown to get away from her busy life in Tokyo. She then begins to have flashbacks of her childhood and spends her time trying to figure out the reason behind her strange nostalgia.

    Apart from Daisy Ridley, other big names involved in the film include fellow Brit Dev Patel, who voices Taeko’s love interest, Toshio. Orange Is the New Black’s Alison Fernandez voices young Taeko, while Star Wars Rebels’ Ashley Eckstein voices Taeko’s sister, Yaeko Okajima.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Daisy Ridley praised Studio Ghibli for creating relatable stories, which she called “fantastical.”

    “They are what so many people around the world can identify with,” said Daisy Ridley of Only Yesterday. “I think the reason probably this is such a loved film and will continue to be so is because it doesn’t feel foreign.”

    Daisy Ridley Voices the Lead Character in This Classic 1991 Studio Ghibli Film

    Daisy Ridley and Studio Ghibli fans around the world can watch Only Yesterday in cinemas starting February 26, 2016, but an exclusive screening will be held at the IFC Center in New York on January 1st.

  • Miss Universe: Fans Create Dolls In Beauty Queen’s Likeness

    Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach has inspired two of her avid Filipino fans to create dolls in her likeness.

    Ian Mendejar, a fan of the newly crowned Miss Universe, unveiled his Pia Wurtzbach doll on Instagram, complete with the blue gown similar to the one she wore during the finals.

    Mendejar, who has already made three Pia dolls so far, said this is how he shows his gratitude toward Wurtzbach who made every Filipinos’ Christmas very special. Philippines has not had a Miss Universe in 42 years.

    “@piawurtzbach gave me and all the Filipinos the best Christmas gift after winning the Miss Universe 2015 title and now it’s my time to give her a Christmas gift…” Mendejar wrote on his Instagram on Sunday, December 28.

    “Hello Universe! Please welcome MISS UNIVERSE DOLL, a doll version of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach wearing an @albertandrada creation (amazing creation) made by me. This is actually my 4th Pia Doll. I hope you like it. Merry Christmas #PiaDoll #MissUniverseDoll #missuniverse2015,” Mendejar added.

    His first Pia doll was inspired by the evening gown Wurtzbach wore at the Binibining Pilipinas pageant. He made “Pia Doll version 3.0,” which donned an outfit similar to Wurtzbach’s peach backless Star Magic Ball gown as well.

    Mendejar has also made dolls for Miss Universe 2012 first runner-up Janine Tugonon and Miss Globe 2015 Ann Loraine Colis.

    Oscar Antonio, another ardent fan of Wurtzbach’s, also created dolls as a tribute to the beauty queen. One of the dolls wore a red gown which resembles the evening dress Wurtzbach wore in the Miss Universe preliminaries. The other replica donned a blue gown, similar to the one she wore in Las Vegas, and wore the Miss Universe crown.

    PaulinaVega Miss Universe #elite #elegant #oscarantoniocreations #crowns #missuniverse #paulinavega

    A photo posted by Oscar Antonio (@oskyantonio) on

    Being a fan of beauty contests, Antonio also made dolls that look like Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega and Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori.

  • Joey And Rory Feek Make It To Christmas, Looking Forward To New Year Together

    This year has been tough for Joey and Rory Feek, but the duo had a wonderful Christmas together with other family members.

    Rory took to the couple’s official Facebook page to share the happiness he, Joey, and the rest of their family experienced during the holidays.

    ...celebrating Christmas with Joey, surrounded by family. The best gift of all. Thank you Lord. Posted by Joey and Rory on Friday, December 25, 2015
    “… celebrating Christmas with Joey, surrounded by family,” Rory captioned a photo of the family with Joey seated in the middle, surrounded by smiling faces . “The best gift of all. Thank you Lord.” Joey and Rory have been going strong ever since Joey Feek was diagnosed with Stage IV cervical cancer since 2014. She stopped all treatments in October and checked into a hospice care in November. Rory has been documenting their family life on his personal blog and on Facebook. In the blog, the country singer used The Gruffalo, a children’s book, as a metaphor to describe his family’s Christmas. The book tells the story of a mouse that bravely traveled the frightening dark woods by making up a tale about a creature called a “gruffalo.” “That’s a little like our holidays here [this] year,” he wrote. “In early November, Christmas seemed still so far away. And the prognosis was clear that there was a good chance Joey wasn’t going to be with us then and that this Christmas was going to be a difficult one to get through.” He added that like the mouse, they made up their own “gruffalos.” They believe their Christmas would be wonderful despite his wife’s illness. In November, Rory shared that Joey was hoping to celebrate the holidays with them or see their daughter’s second birthday in February. “Christmas had come and Joey was not only here with us, but she was doing well and we all had an amazing day together,” Rory wrote as he shared his gratitude for having this little Christmas miracle. Joey and Rory are positive that the new year will be good and that “something even better and more beautiful than our minds can even imagine” is waiting for them.

  • Rocco Ritchie Rejects Mom Madonna, Refuses To Spend Time With Her For The Holidays

    Rocco Ritchie, the 15-year-old son of pop queen Madonna and British director Guy Ritchie, reportedly refused to return home to New York, and stayed with his dad’s family in London instead.

    An insider told TMZ that Guy, 47, and Madonna, 57, have had a “volatile” relationship in the last several years, and most of it was caused by their son Rocco.

    The Material Girl is said to be too strict a disciplinarian to Rocco, and it does not sit well with the teenager.

    In addition, the “Like A Virgin” singer often shares “humiliating” photos of her son, and one even showed Rocco wearing pigtails.

    Blonde Ambition! ?. ❤️#rebelhearttour

    A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on

    So during Rocco’s visit with his father, Guy Ritchie may have “stoked the coals”, which worked in his favor.

    As a result, Rocco Ritchie now refuses to return to his mom and siblings for the holidays.

    The pop diva, who was in the middle of a world tour, then headed over to the Manhattan Supreme Court in order to demand Guy to send Rocco Ritchie back to New York City.

    “I’m directing the child to be returned to New York,” Madonna said.

    Meanwhile, an attorney representing Ritchie told reporters that Rocco “expressed very clearly” that he does not want to return home with his mom.

    However, Justice Lewis Kaplan ruled that Rocco Ritchie should first see his mother before deciding on which parent he wishes to be with.

    Despite his son’s decision to spend the holidays away from her, Madonna still sent her son a sweet Instagram post: “Merry X-mas to the Sun-shine of my Life!”

    Merry X-mas to the Sun-shine of my Life! ⭕️❌⭕️⭕️❌⭕️❌⭕️❤️❤️

    A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on

    ❤️#rebelhearttour says farewell to The U.S.

    A photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on

    Madonna and Guy Ritchie were married in 2000, but were divorced eight years later. Rocco Ritchie is the only child Guy and Madonna share together. The Snatch director is currently married to 34-year-old English model Jacqui Ainsley, while Madonna is unattached and busy with her Rebel Heart World Tour.

  • ‘Concussion’ Movie Starring Will Smith Sheds Light On Injuries Suffered By NFL Players

    The movie Concussion premiered in theaters on Christmas Day, and tells the story of a medical specialist who discovers a degenerative brain disease that is linked to contact sports such as football.

    In the Concussion movie, Will Smith plays a pathologist named Dr. Bennet Omalu who discovers a disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, which affects athletes who have engaged in contact sports.

    As the issue builds on how football leagues such as the NFL would take care of its athletes and prevent them from suffering from this disease, some former players have also weighed in on the discussion.

    Former Oiler Warren Moon said in an interview that he suffered six concussions during his career, and he is now worried about their long-term effects on his health.

    “Your brain gets rattled around in your skull, so it bruises your brain,” Moon said.

    Moon, 59, remembered the different concussions he suffered, and recalled that some of them were very bad that he would occasionally lose awareness of where he was.

    He was worried that due to the concussions, something bad would happen one day.

    Hall of Famer Warren Moon Discusses the Consequences of Football-Related Concussions

    While Moon still hasn’t experienced the adverse effects of the sport, other former players are not as fortunate. Some have reportedly suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, while others eventually died from their injuries.

    One of the former NFL players who is currently suffering the consequences of his numerous concussions is Hall of Famer Harry Carson.

    Carson, who played as linebacker for the New York Giants in the 1970s and ‘80s, said that parents should be well-informed regarding what their kids will go through if they play football.

    The Concussion Movie Delves into Brain-Related Injuries in the NFL

    The Concussion movie which also stars Alec Baldwin and Albert Brooks, was supposed to spread awareness on this danger. However, a report pointed out that the film seemed to have softened some of the crucial plots, and script somehow focused its tone on other related issues, reportedly to avoid earning the ire of NFL executives.

  • Bran Stark Makes A Comeback In Season 6 Of ‘Game Of Thrones’

    It’s that time of the year again to swoon over adultery, murder, and nudity. The new season of Game of Thrones is upon us and Season 5 absentee Bran Stark is making his much-anticipated comeback.

    After taking a long hiatus since the Season 4 finale of Game of Thrones, the youngest remaining member of the House Stark has been confirmed to appear in the upcoming sixth season. Viewers last saw Bran Stark on the show meeting the three-eyed raven in the giant weirwood tree.

    Bran Stark Meets the Three-Eyed Raven on Season 4 of Game of Thrones

    While a lot has definitely taken place in Westeros during Bran Stark’s absence, fans can expect a huge difference in the young Stark as well.

    Bran Stark, who is played by English actor Isaac Hempstead-Wright, has outgrown his long, disheveled hair for a shorter and cleaner look. Entertainment Weekly released the first peek of Bran’s new look on December 28th and showed the now-teenaged Stark looking upward towards the sky with a familiar direwolf sitting nearby.

    The death of his alleged brother Jon Snow in the previous season’s finale was certainly the most talked-about event in the series since the massacre of most of the Stark family during the Red wedding. There has been so much speculation as to the fate of Jon Snow, with some people believing that magic will bring him back to life.

    With most of the Game of Thrones characters believing that Bran Stark has long been dead, fans of House Stark are now hoping that his return will somehow avenge the dismal fate of his family. Ever since he became a warg, viewers are looking forward to witnessing how Bran Stark will use his powers.

    Season 6 of Game of Thrones Will Include Bran Stark

    As one will remember, Bran Stark lost his ability to walk when both his legs were broken from a long fall. He had inadvertently witnessed the incestuous affair between siblings Cersei and Jaime Lannister, which caused Jaime to push him down from the tower in an attempt to kill him.

    Season 6 of Game of Thrones is set to return in April of 2016.

  • Tornadoes In Texas Leave A 40-Mile Trail Of Devastation [Photos]

    The violent tornadoes which pounded the Texas area on Sunday left many people homeless and killed at least 11 people.

    According to reports, the National Weather Service confirmed on Sunday night that nine tornadoes had ripped through the Lone Star State and moved through Rowlett, Garland and Sunnyvale. Eleven people were reportedly killed in Dallas and Collin counties.

    A tornado that pummeled Garland, Sunnyvale, and Rowlett on Saturday evening and claimed eight lives, was classified as an EF4, the second strongest grading on the scale used to gauge the strength of a tornado, with winds ranging from 166 and 200 mph. The tornado that attacked Copeville and took the lives of two people, was classified as an EF2, with winds up to 125 mph.

    The deadly tornadoes in Texas started from Hillsboro in the south and moved northward to Blue Ridge, and eventually covered the northeastern region of Sulphur Springs over the holidays.

    The trail of devastation in the Texas areas was reported to be 40 miles long, causing hundreds of people to lose their homes and evacuate to emergency shelters. By Sunday evening, weather forecasters warned the public to expect more rain and snow. Power was also cut off in Rowlett and other devastated counties.

    Watch Raw Footage of the Damage Caused by the Tornadoes in Texas

    “This is catastrophic,” Brian Funderburk, Rowlett city manager, stated. “We are going to have many people displaced for months.”

    According to The Washington Post, the tornadoes that rocked Texas is the deadliest since the 1950s.

    Initial reports claimed an estimated 1,000 homes and buildings were reduced to debris throughout Dallas, Ellis, and Collin.

    Gov. Greg Abbott addressed the aftermath of the calamity on Sunday afternoon by urging Texas residents to be safe and to pay attention to instructions given by authorities.

    Texas Governor Greg Abbott Talks About Recent Tornadoes in Texas

    “I want to emphasize the compassion, support, and prayers that I and the first lady off to those … who have lost a family member,” said Abbott of the deadly tornadoes in Texas.

  • ‘Downton Abbey’ Star Maggie Smith Plans To Binge-Watch Her Own TV Show

    Unlike most people her age, Dame Maggie Smith has hardly any time to plant herself on a couch and watch TV all day. Even it means watching her own TV drama series, Downton Abbey.

    The 81-year old British actress, who is definitely one of the most esteemed thespians of our time, recently sat down with CBS’ Sunday Morning to talk about her illustrious acting career as well as her plans after Downton Abbey comes to a close.

    Dame Maggie Smith Talks About the End of ‘Downton Abbey’

    A little over a year ago, Smith revealed that she hadn’t seen a single episode of Downton Abbey and during this recent interview, she admitted that she still hasn’t found the time to enjoy the show.

    However, the producers of Downton Abbey may have done something to remedy the situation. Smith implied that she is ready to binge-watch the series now that she has a lot more time on her hands.

    “They gave me the boxed set. And I’m going to do all sorts of things now, ‘cause I’m free!” Smith enthusiastically mentioned in the interview.

    The British period drama just wrapped up its sixth and final season after first airing in 2010. While British viewers were able to enjoy the finale on Christmas day, American audiences will have to wait a little longer to see how the show ends.

    Aside from the grueling shoots, Dame Maggie also admitted that she is relieved that she will no longer be wearing those uncomfortable and restrictive corsets that her character Dowager Countess Violet Crawley donned on the show.

    She confessed, however, that she used her acclaimed acting skills to evade the use of corsets.

    Watch Dame Maggie Smith’s Best Moments on ‘Downton Abbey’

    “In actual fact, I have to say that I did cheat a bit,” Smith said. “Because I promised that if I sat up, bolt upright, I made it look as though I were wearing corsets. Don’t tell anybody… I don’t want it to be put around. I was tortured every day.”

    Maggie Smith Stars in ‘Lady in the Van’

    Dame Maggie Smith is moving on from her aristocratic role on Downton Abbey by portraying a lady who has spent more than a decade stalking a famous playwright in Lady in the Van.

  • Miss Puerto Rico Posts Scathing Criticism Of Muslims On Social Media

    Miss Puerto Rico Destiny Velez, 20, was suspended indefinitely by the Miss America Organization for her seemingly hateful rants against Muslims on Twitter.

    Velez launched series of aggressive tweets aimed at filmmaker and activist Michael Moore on Thursday in which the beauty queen wrote all Muslims have done is “provided oil & terrorize this country and many others!!!!!!”

    Moore protested in front of Trump Tower in New York last week wherein he held up a sign which read: “We are all Muslim” and shared it on social media with hashtag #WeAreAllMuslim.

    Her fiery tweets and official Twitter account has since been taken down. Some of the controversial tweets that led to her suspension included: “There’s NO comparison between Jews, Christians & Muslims. Jews nor Christians have terrorizing agendas in their sacred books” and “If we are all the same then Muslims need to take off their napkins off of their heads cuz I feel offended by it.”

    Miss Puerto Rico, who competed in Miss America 2016 in September, faced outrage from many Twitter users for her comments. The hashtags #verguenzaajena (embarrassment) and #nonosrepresentas (you don’t represent us) have been trending in Puerto Rico.

    In a statement released on Saturday, the Miss Puerto Rico Organization announced its decision to suspend the 20-year-old beauty queen for her misconduct. “Miss Velez’s actions were in contradiction to the organization and therefore as a consequence of her actions, she has been suspended indefinitely.”

    Miss_Puerto_Rico_pic

    “The Miss Puerto Rico Organization will not tolerate any actions or behavior contrary to the Miss Puerto Rico Organization,” the statement continued.

    The Organization also included an apology allegedly written by Velez, who reportedly disabled her Instagram and Tumblr accounts. Miss Puerto Rico wrote an apoligy to those she has offended with her words. She reiterated that she is an #UpStander and is against bullying.

    [Image via Facebook]

  • Miss Universe 2015 Coronation Blunder, Criticized By Colombians On Social Media

    This year’s Miss Universe 2015 pageant may very well be the most unforgettable beauty pageant in recent years.

    During the coronation night held in Las Vegas on Sunday, host Steve Harvey made the ultimate mistake – announcing the wrong name in the crowning of Miss Universe 2015.

    Harvey, 58, misread the card and proclaimed Miss Colombia’s Ariadna Gutierrez as the winner, when it was actually Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach of the Philippines who won Miss Universe 2015.

    Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega then took away the crown from Gutierrez and placed it on Wurtzbach’s head.

    Steve Harvey Reads the Wrong Name During Miss Universe 2015 Coronation Night

    “I’d like to apologize wholeheartedly to Miss Colombia & Miss Philippines for my huge mistake. I feel terrible,” Harvey posted on Twitter.

    As expected, the tragic ending sparked anger among some Colombian pageant fans. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was preparing his celebratory tweet for winning back-to-back Miss Universe titles, but then the decision was corrected.

    “I was watching Miss Universe with my family. We started a huge celebration when they said Colombia had won the Miss Universe title for the second straight year,” the Colombian president said in a radio interview on Monday.

    A lot of Colombians expressed their disappointment and anger on Twitter, putting the blame on Harvey, the new owners, the entire Miss Universe organization, and even Donald Trump, who sold the pageant several months ago.

    Some people blamed it on the mafia, while others pointed out that because Colombia won Miss Universe twice in a row, it is now considered a powerhouse, and so it was stripped of the crown.

    There are also some conspiracy theorists who claim that the entire act may have been staged in order to boost the pageant’s publicity and ratings around the world.

    As for Miss Colombia, she said in an interview backstage that everything happens for a reason and that she is happy with what she did.

    On the other hand, the new Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach was still at a loss for words, saying it was a “non-traditional crowning moment.”

  • Khloe Kardashian On Lamar Odom: ‘Sometimes We Lose Our Soulmates’

    Khloe Kardashian talked about her struggles in her relationship with NBA star Lamar Odom in the drama-filled December 20 episode of the Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

    In the first half of the two-part episode, Kardashian learned that her estranged husband gave an interview with InTouch magazine, saying that they will “never part” and referred to her as “his soulmate.”

    A confused Kardashian admitted she still loves the NBA star but she thinks Odom did not try to salvage their marriage. “Everything Lamar is saying is true, I do love Lamar,” Kardashian began. “That’s never been a question if we love each other. But Lamar is all talk and no action. For two years I have wanted Lamar to try. For two years I have wanted Lamar to show me some effort but nothing ever changes.” Moving on, Kardashian admits that she has already accepted the fact that some relationships do not work. “It definitely makes me sad because I still believe he is my soulmate but sometimes we lose our soulmates and that’s okay. Right now I have to do what’s best for me.”

    Odom’s spoke to InTouch in August after his run-in with Kardashian outside of SoulCycle. Odom reportedly poured his heart out in the interview saying Kardashian is his wife “Without the ring on my finger. (Even) with her picture being taken with another man, that woman is my wife.”

    Momager Kris Jenner also aired her side on the issue involving her daughter and her son-in-law. She apparently gave Khloe Kardashian’s new number to Odom, much to the dismay of Kim Kardashian-West. Jenner said she knows her daughter is hurting inside even though she puts up a brave façade.

    “I can now see Kim’s point of view a little bit about giving Lamar Khloé’s number because it does open up all those wounds,” Jenner said.

  • Paulina Vega Passes Her Crown To New Miss Universe, Shares Word of Advice

    Miss Universe 2014 Paulina Vega of Colombia relinquished her crown to the new Miss Universe on Sunday night in Las Vegas.

    However, before taking her final walk as the most beautiful woman on the planet, she gave a short message to all the candidates in this year’s competition.

    “These ladies need to know that they’re already winners,” Vega, 22, said.

    In addition, Miss Colombia 2014 said that she is proud and honored to represent her country.

    Vega was the first Colombian beauty queen to win Miss Universe in over 55 years.

    Aside from sharing a short message to all the delegates, Paulina also gave some word of advice to the new Miss Universe.

    Vega said that winning the title isn’t the most important part of becoming Miss Universe. She should also have a plan for what she will accomplish in her year as the title-holder.

    The former beauty queen also said that being Miss Universe is a ‘24/7’ job.

    “She has to be aware that she’s going to have such a huge platform around the world and she can really do whatever she wants, so I hope that she takes advantage of the opportunity and will do something good for society,” she said.

    During her stint as Miss U, Vega helped in spreading awareness on HIV and AIDS. In fact, she said that she plans to continue her work even after her time as Miss Universe.

    On Sunday night’s show, which aired on Fox, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach won the title, but with some added drama and controversy.

    Host Steve Harvey initially announced the winner to be Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez Arevalo, but later on admitted to his mistake. Vega needed to take away the crown from Arevalo and rightfully place it on the head of Wurtzbach.

  • Jeb Bush Is An ‘Embarrassment To His Family,’ Says Donald Trump

    Republican presidential candidate and former Florida governor Jeb Bush has received scathing remarks from the GOP leading contender, Donald Trump, calling him an embarrassment to the Bush clan.

    Trump dropped the bomb in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press after Bush stated that the real estate tycoon is a “jerk” before his crowd of supporters during a campaign rally.

    Jeb Bush Calls Donald Trump A Jerk During A Campaign Rally

    The business magnate and current number one Republican presidential hopeful attacked his rival with an insulting comeback: “He’s an embarrassment to the Bush family, and in fact he doesn’t even want to use the Bush name, which is interesting.”

    “Jeb is an embarrassment to himself and his family, and the Republican Party has essentially — they’re not even listening to Jeb,” Trump added.

    Donald Trump Criticizes Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton on ‘Meet The Press’

    With the elections drawing near, the presidential candidates are using every single opportunity to expose each other’s flaws. Calling Bush “weak and ineffective,” Trump said the former governor will leave the primary elections soon.

    Bush, on the other hand, was quick to point out that the leading candidate is ignorant when it comes to important national issues. The business mogul failed to answer important questions on the nuclear triad during last week’s debate. Amid their heated verbal exchange, Bush admitted he feels “much better” now that he is not the frontrunner. He added he is comfortable with his current poll results unlike before when he felt pressured just because he thought people have high expectations of him.

    “I totally get it … because I have a brother that was president and a father that was president. And that higher expectation was important to realize. And so, being the frontrunner made me feel like the other guys [were] just dancing right through this,” Bush said, adding he is prepared to accept his fate.

  • Daisy Ridley Gives Fans Insight On ‘Star Wars VIII,’ Predicts Another Hit

    Star Wars Episode VII has just hit the cinemas recently but fans are already excited for Episode VIII. The eighth installment to the sci-fi franchise will not be out until 2017 but Star Wars – loving geeks are already hungry for more.

    Newcomer Daisy Ridley, who plays the heroine Rey, teased the fans by revealing that she read the completed script and that it was “very good.” Ridley already knows what will happen to her character as she will be reprising her role in the upcoming episode but refused to share important details on the film.

    “Let’s see VII first and then we’ll talk about VIII,” Daisy Ridley teased.

    Director Rian Johnson, the director of the dark and head-spinning time-travel movie Looper, is the writer and director of Episode VIII. Reports also claimed that he is writing Star Wars Episode IX.

    While waiting for Episode VIII, the spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a prequel to A New Hope will be released next year. Geeks, rejoice!

    The upcoming episode will be released on May 26, 2017 and according to reports, filming will start next year, although Johnson has shot some scenes on Skellig Michael in Ireland.

    The plot has not yet been revealed, but fans can expect some big reveals regarding the characters. It looks like Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker, will also be reprising his role alongside John Boyega as Finn, Gwendolyne Christie as Captain Phasma, and Daisy Ridley as Rey.

    Episode VIII might bring answers to questions surrounding the life of the Force Awakens characters. Who ditched Ridley a.k.a Rey, on Jakku? Who are her parents? Is she related to Ren?

    Another villain will be introduced into the film as Benicio del Toro has been confirmed to join the cast of Episode VIII. However, details about his character are still unclear and fans will have to trust Daisy Ridley that it will indeed be another hit.

  • Lamar Odom’s Health Condition Gets Better — He’s Walking Again

    NBA star Lamar Odom is showing improvement in his health and reports claim that he can now walk without relying on his walker.

    Odom has reportedly been able to take three steps without any assistance. A source told Us Weekly that the basketball player’s health is slowly improving.

    “He gets better a little bit every day,” announced the source. “He took a few steps without the walker. It’s very slow and he’s supposed to go to the rehab any day now.” The basketball player’s brain function has also improved. Lamar Odom suffered brain damage due to multiple strokes following a 4-day bender and could not recognize his own family as a result. Now, however, the athlete is able to recognize a member of the hospital staff.

    In November, Odom’s estranged wife Khloe Kardashian, opened up to Ellen DeGeneres about her ex-husband’s condition. She said that the hoopster had no idea why he was being hospitalized.

    “We tell him that he had a brain injury, but we can’t tell him how that brain injury was caused, because that will set him back,” Kardashian told DeGeneres of Odom. “He never asks why he’s here. He doesn’t ask. He’s really confused a lot — sometimes he knows who the president is and his birthday, and sometimes he thinks he’s 26, and I say, ‘I bet you wish you were 26, so do I!’” she said.

    Khloe Kardashian Talks About Lamar Odom And His Recovery on ‘Ellen’

    His limbic movements were limited because of the stroke but recently, Lamar Odom was able to lift his arms above his head and pull up the hood of his jacket, which was great news to his friends, family, and fans.

    With his health condition improving little by little every day, Lamar Odom will be moved to a rehabilitation facility son.

    Lamar Odom was found unconscious, but breathing, in a brothel in Nevada in October. Test results revealed traces of cocaine and sexual performance enhancing drugs in his system which led to his collapse.

  • Khloe Kardashian Poses For ‘Impromptu’ Nude Photoshoot In St. Barths

    Khloe Kardashian has been showing more skin ever since she started actively working out and losing weight.

    On Friday, the 31-year-old reality TV star treated her fans and followers to several racy pictures of herself, which she posted on her website KhloeWithAK.com as well as her official Instagram account.

    The photos feature Khloe Kardashian in all her naked glory, which she showcased through various poses by the pool. According to the KUWTK star, the photoshoot was completely unplanned and that the idea came about when she and kid sister Kendall Jenner got “bored” during their vacation in St. Barths a couple of months ago.

    She says that Kendall started taking photos of her but was later “assisted” by celebrity makeup artist Joyce Bonelli, hairstylist Jen Atkin, and Atkin’s husband, professional photographer Mike Rosenthal.

    “We started drinking a little and somehow this impromptu photo shoot turned into a fully nude photo shoot,” said Khloe Kardashian about the unexpected project.

    The most risqué shot was definitely one where Khloe Kardashian sat by the side of the pool with a full view of her derriere facing the camera.

    Khloe thanked Kendall and her talented friends for helping her capture her newfound body confidence and for making it a fun and comfortable experience for her.

    When Khloe Kardashian isn’t busy posting risqué photos and starring in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, she is also writing bestselling books and promoting her fitness regimen. Her book Strong Looks Better Naked talks about her journey to a healthier and more fit lifestyle and shares her gym routines and diet program with readers.

    This isn’t the first time that Khloe Kardashian has bared it all for the camera. Earlier this year, she also stripped for her cover photo on Complex magazine, and prior to that in 2008 she also appeared nude for an ad for PETA.

    It has also been confirmed that Khloe Kardashian will be hosting her own talk show called Revenge Body, in which she will mentor newly-single people through full-body makeovers and feature the results on the show.

  • Affluenza Teen On The Run With Mom, May Have Fled The U.S.

    Ethan Couch, the affluenza teen who killed four people and injured several people while driving drunk, is on the run and is being tracked down by authorities after violating his ten-year probation.

    U.S. Marshalls released a “wanted” poster on Friday and offered a reward of $5,000 to anyone who can give information on his whereabouts.

    “Every person who carries a badge in the United States of America is aware he’s a fugitive,” Terry Grisham of the Tarrant County sheriff’s office, said. The teen’s mom, Tanya Couch, was also put on missing person’s list and was believed to have fled the country with her son, said the spokesperson at the Tarrant County, Texas, District Attorney’s Office.

    Couch was 16 at the time of the incident, and his trial included a testimony from a psychologist who argued the teenager was suffering from an affliction called “affluenza.” Couch was charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter back in 2013, but Tarrant County Juvenile Court Judge Jean Boyd gave him 10 years’ probation and ordered him to undergo treatment.

    Couch crashed into a broken-down SUV parked on the side of the road, which took the lives of four people were fixing the disabled vehicle on the evening of June 2013. A blood alcohol level three times the normal limit plus traces of narcotics were found in his system.

    The now 18-year-old affluenza teen did not face any serious punishment nor was he sentenced to any prison term, much to the outrage of the families of the victims.

    The teen failed to show up at a December 11 hearing after a video showing him playing beer pong surfaced. An arrest warrant was reportedly issued the same day but there was no trace of the affluenza teen at the house he shared with his mother.

    Affluenza Teen’s Disappearance Does Not Surprise Victim’s Dad

    “We’re not going to give up. We’re going to come after you. We’re going to find you, wherever you are,” warned Tarrant County sheriff Grisham.

  • Joey & Rory Feek Get An Early Christmas Surprise With Their Daughter

    Joey and Rory Feek are definitely feeling the spirit of Christmas early this year.

    The country and bluegrass duo was spending some quality time together with their one-year-old daughter Indiana on December 18 when Santa Claus suddenly popped by to visit their home.

    Rory Feek, who chronicles special family moments on a blog called This Life I Live, shared the wonderful news on the day of the visit.

    He said that the surprise visit from Santa was courtesy of a couple of their closest friends who had told them that they were sending “a box filled with goodies delivered in a special way.”

    He added that the Santa Claus that showed up was “the real deal” because he had a full white beard, the familiar paunch, and “the kindest smile and heart for special babies and mama’s with no hair.”

    Joey and Rory have been trying their best to stay positive and relish their time together ever since she was diagnosed with Stage IV cervical cancer in 2014, not long after the birth of their daughter. As the cancer spread to other internal organs, the family decided to stop all treatment and admit Joey to in-house hospice care at her childhood home in Alexandria, Indiana.

    Rory posted a photo of their daughter crying at the sight of Santa Claus but eventually warming up to him after some time. As Santa took his place next to Joey, he confessed about being a fan of Joey and Rory’s music. He also revealed that he is a retired police officer who decided to play the role of Santa Claus every Christmas to spread love and cheer to families.

    We had a 1940's themed New Years Eve last year in our barn. I dusted off my old uniform and my bride and I cut a rug to some big band music. Hoping for a long sweet slow dance this year. Posted by Joey and Rory on Saturday, December 19, 2015
    Rory posted another sweet memory on the Joey and Rory official Facebook page on December 19, but this time, it’s a video of the couple dancing during a 1940s-themed party held on New Year’s Eve last year. It shows Rory Feek wearing his old USMC uniform, leading Joey who looked lovely and youthful in her dress and retro hairstyle.