A reporter from Taiwan's Apple Daily found details of their marriage registration on a Clark County, Nevada, public information website. It showed that Andy Lau and Carol Chu married on June 23, 2008 under the names Lau Tak Wah Andy and Choo Lay Keng.
HONG KONG superstar Andy Lau and former Malaysian beauty queen Carol Choo actually tied the knot in Las Vegas last year, major Chinese dailies reported.
The official website of Clark County in Nevada which provides online search on marriage records, showed that Lau Tak Wah, Andy and Choo Lay Keng had registered their marriage on June 23, 2008.
After their secret marriage was exposed by the Taiwan and Hong Kong media, Lau, 47, finally admitted in his official website on Saturday that he and Choo, 43, were married.
He apologised to his fans for keeping his marriage a secret.
Lau said he and Choo had decided to get married because they wanted to have children.
Carol Zhu Liqian with Andy
Carol Zhu Liqian
Carol Zhu Liqian
He said he had kept it a secret to avoid his wife from being “chased after” by the media, adding that he had planned to announce the marriage when Choo becomes pregnant.
Lau and Choo were spotted holding hands in the Kuala Lumpur airport before flying back to Hong Kong last Tuesday, having attended the memorial ceremony for Choo's father in Malaysia earlier that week.
The couple who had been dating for over two decades made their first public appearance when Lau came to Malaysia to attend the funeral of Choo’s father recently.
Another Hong Kong superstar who had his marriage exposed in the same manner was Leon Lai Ming, who married his model girlfriend Lai Gia in March last year.
Singer Miriam Yeung Chin Wah also married his boyfriend Gary Ting Ho Lam secretly in the city of sin on Aug 11.
FLASHBACK
Andy with Taiwanese actress, Yu Ke Shing
Andy dated Taiwanese actress, Yu Ke Shing for a few years
Taiwanese actress Yu Ke-Shing revealed that Andy Lau signed a (pre-marital agreement) with her in Dec 31, 1985, witnessed by her mother.
Andy dated Taiwanese actress, Yu Ke Shing for a few years, the only relationship that Andy openly admitted. However, they broke up in 1986 because of work commitments. She says:"I initiated the break-up, but I know that's what he wants too. He was just waiting for me to say goodbye." He says:" It was the first time that I cried over a relationship." Andy said that he would not openly admit his relationship anymore due to the mass pressure from the media.
There's even rumours that Andy is a gay! Andy said "I remebered that it's either in 1986 or 1987, the media said I'm gay. I was angry and swear that if I'm gay, I'll die of Aids in 7 years." For years, the bachelor had also told the press that he hoped to get married one day, and had denied he was gay.
Female stars like Cherie Chung, Rosamund Kwan, Michelle Reis and Anita Mui were linked with Andy, rumours have been around that he has had someone else for a long time.
Carol Zhu Liqian
Malaysian Carol Zhu Liqian had been linked with Lau since 1985. It's a 24-years love marathon, in 1985 Carol Zhu Liqian was a runner-up in Malaysia's Miss Modern before flying to Hongkong for beauty lessons and was introduce to Andy by a mutal friend and fall in love at first sight. In 1992, allegations of Andy and Carol had register for marriage in Vancouver, Canada and bought an apartment at Kadoorie for their love nest. In 1995, reports of them building a love nest at Penang, Malaysia and state that Carol works in Andy's invested company, TeamWork Production. In 1998, allegations that Andy and Carol had a 2-years-old daughter. In 1999, Sudden Weekly had photgraphs of Carol entering and leaving Andy's apartment at Kadoorie. When asked about their relationship, Andy express: "It's not a scandal, it's family matters...." In April 2000, Malaysian reports that both were having holiday at Phuket and Tioman Island. In May 2000,reports of Andy buying 2 blue Estima G for HK$1000,000 to be their lovers car. In 2001, Sudden Weekly spotted Carol and a little girl of approximately 5-years-old to watch a movie at Causeway Bay.
MORE UPDATE: 4 SEPT 2009
It was also revealed that Lau secretly married Taiwanese actress Yu Ke-Shing 24 years ago. Swarmed by journalists at Beijing Airport on Tuesday, he admitted the marriage to Yu and apologized.
Yu's mother told Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper that the two signed a marriage certificate after a small wedding in December 1985. The couple decided to keep the marriage secret because they were in the early stages of their careers and feared it would adversely affect their popularity, she said.
If this is true, the Apple Daily reported, Lau may have violated a Hong Kong law banning dual marriage, which can carry a penalty of up to seven years in prison. Lau said he has never had a child with any woman.
Lau and Chu have two children, says HK magazine
A little boy and girl captured the media’s attention at the funeral of the father of actor Andy Lau’s Malaysian girlfriend, Carol Zhu
HONG Kong actor-singer Andy Lau is said to have two children with former Malaysian beauty queen Carol Zhu even though he has denied it openly, Chinese newspapers reported.
Quoting a Hong Kong weekly magazine, they said the couple have an 11-year-old daughter and a son who is currently staying in Singapore with Lau’s sister.
Lau denied that he had children with Zhu and explained on arrival in Hong Kong from China on Tuesday that the children who had been photographed were those of his relatives or friends.
The magazine reported that the son was born at the height of his career and was brought up by Lau’s father.
“To prevent the exposure of his son, Lau sent him to Singapore to stay with his sister,” it reported.
Lau’s daughter is said to have been born in Canada and was being cared for by another sister.
Lau was caught lying about his marriage to Carol Zhu and had apologised publicly.
UPDATE: Andy Lau and Carol Zhu planning a marriage ceremony?
HONG KONG superstar Andy Lau and his wife Carol Chu were spotted arriving at the KL International Airport (KLIA) on the special day of Sept 9 (09-09-09), reported China Press.
A passenger on the same 8.50am CX723 flight with Lau and Chu was quoted as saying that Chu and two of her female relatives were spotted checking in at the express lane counter at Hong Kong International Airport.
“They were checking in for business class seats with many pieces of luggage.
“Chu did not wear make-up and was wearing a grey T-shirt, jeans and flat shoes,” the daily quoted the passenger as saying.
Lau was wearing a white T-shirt, blue shirt and white sports shoes.
Upon arrival at the KLIA, the duo were spotted wearing face masks, with Lau nodding his head at some passengers and staff who recognised him.
The couple was later escorted out by airport security personnel through the VIP lane.
According to the daily, the couple is believed to be planning a marriage ceremony within 100 days of Chu’s father’s death in Malaysia.
More Update: Nov 2009 Lau sought psychiatrist’s help after death of fan’s dad
Yang Qinji from China's northwestern city Lanzhou, is rushed to hospital after he drowned himself in the sea following his declined request by Hong Kong singer Andy Lau of a personal engagement with his daughter Yang Lijuan, a fanatical fan of Andy, in Hong Kong, March 28, 2007.
HONG KONG superstar Andy Lau went to see a psychiatrist after he came to know that the father of a fan had committed suicide, China Press reported.
Lau had disclosed this during an interview with a daily newspaper in Tianjin City recently.
Lau said he felt regretful over the incident in 2007, when his fan’s 63-year-old father, a retired middle school teacher, committed suicide.
Yang Lijuan, from Shenzen, has been fanatical about Andy Lau for 13 years
Lau’s fan, Yang Lijuan, from Shenzen, has been fanatical about him for 13 years and yearned very much to see him in person.
The father even sold their house to raise money for his daughter to attend Lau’s concerts in Hong Kong.
One day, after the father managed to help his 29-year-old daughter finally meet Lau, he jumped into the Salisbury sea in Hong Kong.
According to a report in chinadaily.com.cn, the father even left behind a letter pleading for Lau to meet his daughter for a second time.
Lau said the scariest thing after the incident was when he was flooded with a few hundred calls and over 3,000 SMSes every day from unknown callers threatening: “You don’t see me, I want to die.”
Lau said he sought help from a psychiatrist after two weeks as he became terrified when his phone rang and he had trouble sleeping.
When asked if he feared losing his fans if he talked about his marriage, Lau denied the suggestion and said he had other reasons.
However, he said now was not the time to reveal the reasons.
UPDATE: 26 Nov 2009 Andy Lau to start family in new bungalow
HONG KONG superstar Andy Lau is planning to move out from the house he now shares with his parents, reported Sin Chew Daily.
It added that Lau bought a RM46mil new bungalow near his current residence at Kadoorie Hill in Kowloon to have more privacy with his Malaysian wife Carol Chu with whom he is planning to start a family.
The main reason for moving, it said, was to protect themselves from the paparazzi.
It is learnt that Lau’s new house is a two-storey bungalow with high concrete fencing, unlike his current residence where he has to share a carpark with other residents.
The daily said the new bungalow had caught Lau’s attention as it was just a street away from his current place and would allow him to take care of his parents and visit them regularly.
UPDATE: April 2011
Andy Lau buy bungalow for pregnant wife Carol Choo in Ampang
ANDY Lau has bought a luxury bungalow in Ampang for the comfort of his Malaysian wife Carol Choo during her pregnancy, reported China Press.
The daily quoted a Hong Kong magazine as saying that the 48-year-old Hong Kong superstar had earlier bought Choo a house in Kuala Lumpur but she seldom stayed there as the media knew where it was.
It reported that the 44-year-old former beauty queen was expected to stay in Malaysia prior to her delivery. Lau has never admitted nor denied his wife's pregnancy.
Lau and Choo returned to Malaysia last week for the Qing Ming festival, but they did not visit Choo's parent's burial ground in Kuala Lumpur.
The couple apparently skipped the rituals, not because they wanted to avoid the paparrazi, but because the pregnant Choo was not allowed to participate in the rituals.
UPDATE: 28 Nov 2011
Andy at the 48 Golden Horse Film Festival
Andy admits his wife is pregnant
A few weeks ago, local entertainment gossip Andy wife is three months pregnant. Sources said even Hong Kong actor hired 20 groups of monks from Taiwan to Hong Kong to chant prayers for the family.
A girl snatched on her way to school was hidden for nearly two decades behind a series of fences, sheds and tents, even giving birth to her suspected abductor's children in the suburban backyard compound less than 200 miles from her childhood home.
Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was 11 when she was abducted from a South Lake Tahoe street in 1991, was taken directly to the house and sheltered from the world in a secret, leafy backyard, investigators said Thursday.
Her abductor, investigators said, raped her and fathered two children with her, the first when Jaycee was about
14. Those girls, now 11 and 15, also were kept hidden away in the backyard compound behind the Antioch home.
"None of the children have ever been to school, they've never been to a doctor," El Dorado County Undersheriff
Fred Kollar said. "They were kept in complete isolation in this compound."
Even a parole agent who visited 58-year-old Phillip Garrido's home didn't have an inkling about the hidden compound, Kollar said. Garrido is a registered sex offender on federal parole for rape and kidnapping convictions.
"The way the house is set up, the way the backyard is set up, you could walk through the backyard, walk through the house, and never know," Kollar said.
"He's had her for 18 years. Now, it's our turn. I have no compassion for this guy," he said Friday morning on ABC's "Good Morning America."
But neighbors said there were clues even before a parole agent on Wednesday noticed Dugard, now 29, who accompanied Garrido, his wife and the children to a parole office.
Neighbor Diane Doty said she could see the tents and often heard children playing in the backyard, the corner of
which abuts her own backyard. She said she even suspected the children lived in the tents, but her husband said she should leave the family alone.
"I asked my husband, 'Why is he living in tents?'" she said. "And he said, 'Maybe that is how they like to live.'"
Dugard's stepfather, who witnessed her abduction and was a longtime suspect in the case, said he was overwhelmed by the news after doing everything he could to help find her.
"It broke my marriage up. I've gone through hell, I mean I'm a suspect up until yesterday," a tearful Carl Probyn, 60, told The Associated Press at his home in Orange, Calif.
Carl Probyn told CBS' "Early Show" Friday morning that he spoke to his wife late Thursday after she reunited with Dugard and everyone was "doing great."
"I think they're pretty happy," he said, noting six people were together at the reunion - Jaycee Dugard, her two daughters, her sister, mother and another relative.
In interviews on NBC, ABC and CBS Friday morning, Probyn said the most surprising thing to his wife was that
Jaycee looks very young, almost like she did when she taken.
Probyn also said Dugard felt terribly guilty for bonding with her captor, and her family felt troubled by learning the facts of how she was forced to live for 18 years.
Garrido, 58, is being held for investigation of various kidnapping and sex charges. Authorities said his 54-year-old wife, Nancy Garrido, was with him during the kidnapping in South Lake Tahoe and she also has been arrested.
The case broke after Garrido was spotted Tuesday with two children as he tried to enter the University of California, Berkeley, campus to hand out religious literature. Officers said he was acting suspiciously toward the children. They questioned him and did a background check, determined that he was a parolee and informed his parole officer.
Garrido was ordered to appear for a parole meeting and arrived Wednesday with Dugard, who identified herself as "Allissa," his wife, and two children. During questioning, corrections officials said he admitted to kidnapping Dugard.
Investigators said he did not yet have an attorney.
Dugard was reunited Thursday with her mother as her family learned that their blue-eyed, blonde ponytailed little girl had spent most of her life in captivity. Police said they had no evidence that she had ever reached out to anyone beyond the compound walls.
"She was in good health, but living in a backyard for the past 18 years does take its toll," Kollar said.
The backyard compound had electricity from extension cords and a rudimentary outhouse and shower, "as if you were camping," Kollar said.
Authorities said they do not know if Garrido also abused his daughters, but they are investigating.
Garrido's compound was located in Antioch, a city of 100,000 about 170 miles from the Dugard family home in South Lake Tahoe.
People who knew Garrido said he became increasingly fanatic about his religious beliefs in recent years, sometimes breaking out into song and claiming that God spoke to him through a box.
"In the last couple years he started getting into this strange religious stuff. We kind of felt sorry for him," said Tim Allen, president of East County Glass and Window Inc. in Pittsburg, Calif., who bought business cards and letterhead from Garrido's printing business for the last decade.
Three times in recent years, Garrido arrived at Allen's showroom with two "cute little blond girls" in tow, he said.
In April 2008, Garrido registered a corporation called Gods Desire at his home address, according to the California Secretary of State. During recent visits to the showroom, Garrido would talk about quitting the printing business to preach full time and gave the impression he was setting up a church, Allen said.
"He rambled. It made no sense," he said.
In a blog that appears to have been maintained by Garrido, he wrote that he had hired a private investigator to verify his ability to speak to people using only his mind. In an "affadavit" posted there, he said he had the ability to "control sound with my mind and have developed a device for others to witness this phenomena." Garrido gave a rambling, sometimes incoherent phone interview to KCRA-TV from the El Dorado County jail
Thursday in which he said he had not admitted to a kidnapping and that he had turned his life around since the birth of his first daughter 15 years ago.
"I tell you here's the story of what took place at this house, and you're going to be absolutely impressed. It's a disgusting thing that took place from the end to the beginning. But I turned my life completely around," he said.
In addition to kidnapping allegations, court records showed both Garridos were being held for investigation of rape by force, lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and kidnapping someone under 14 with intent to rape. Phillip Garrido also faces allegations of sexual penetration.
UPDATE: 2 SEPT 2009
Jaycee Lee Dugard's daughters Starlite and Angel 'thought she was their big sister and know nothing of the outside world'
Starlite and Angel had their picture taken at a party just a week before Garrido was arrested for the alleged kidnap of Jaycee
The two daughters of kidnapped Jaycee Lee Dugard have no knowledge of the world beyond the house they were brought up in, it was revealed today.
Starlite, 15, and 11-year-old Angel have never watched TV and have no concept of maths, geography or history after being 'starved of information' by Phillip Garrido.
With their mother, the girls are now undergoing treatment by psychologists to break the 'brainwashing' spell Garrido had over them. He added: 'They have never watched TV and have no concept of maths, geography or anything outside their town of Antioch. They have never heard of the President of the USA or anything about the wider world.'
It had been previously claimed the girls had spent a lot of time watching Disney shows such as Hannah Montana.
The family have been moved to a safe house in San Francisco with Jaycee's mother Terry Probyn and their aunt Tina Dugard. Experts are attempting to maintain their daily lives as much it was in the compound, with the same food.
The police source said: 'They are being given TV microwave dinners and their favourite meat-loaf meals.
'They have never had fizzy drinks so they get cooled water, which is what they are used to. As they have never seen TV before, the TV in the house has been removed.
'With every day Angel becomes more lively, but Starlite is quiet and appears very shy.'
The two girls are coming to terms with the news that Garrido was not the 'perfect father'.
Jaycee is revealing 'bit by bit' to the girls how he snatched her at a bus stop while she was on her way to school aged 11 and kept her prisoner for 18 years.
She is telling how she pretended to be Garrido's wife and brought them up as his daughters to ensure they all survived. "This is going to take years of therapy," said Jaycee's stepfather.
Today it was claimed that Phillip Garrido's wife misses the children her husband fathered with his Jaycee.
A lawyer for Nancy Garrido told CBS's 'The Early Show' that her client said she saw them all as a family.
UPDATE: 14 OCT 2009 Kidnap Survivor Jaycee Dugard Emerges from the Shadows
In her first interview, Jaycee Dugard said she's grateful she is out of captivity and glad to be reunited with her family.
"I am so happy to be back with my family, nothing is more important than the unconditional love and support I have from them," she told People magazine, which published the first photos of Dugard since she was rescued.
Phillip Garrido is charged with kidnapping Dugard outside her South Lake Tahoe home in 1991, when she was 11.
She resurfaced this summer along with two daughters allegedly fathered by Garrido.
Until now, Dugard has remained in seclusion, reconnecting with family.
"She has such a deep appreciation for this new life that she's embarking on," Dugard family spokesman Erika Price Schulte told ABC News this morning.
People reports that Dugard "rides horses, cooks meals and is thinking of collaborating on a book."
UPDATE: 2 JUL 2010
Kidnap Victim Jaycee Lee Dugard to receive $20 million from State of California
California lawmakers approved a $20 million settlement yesterday, which Gov. Schwarzenegger says he will sign, for the family of Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped as a girl and held captive in a secret backyard for 18 years by a paroled sex offender. The Dugard family members claimed psychological, physical and emotional damages, as they filed claims in February saying state officials with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation failed to do their jobs. Parole officers began supervising Garrido in 1999, but 5 of them through the years failed to discover he was harboring Dugard. Dugard, now 30, resurfaced last August with two daughters (who are now 15 and 12) she bore with Garrido while imprisoned in his backyard. The money will be used to buy the family a home, ensure privacy, pay for education and what is likely to be years of therapy. Garrido and his wife, Nancy, have pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping, rape, and imprisonment.
UPDATE: 4 JUNE 2011
Jaycee Dugard Kidnapper Sentenced To 143 Years In Prison
Nearly 20 years after abducting an 11-year-old girl from her street in South Lake Tahoe, Phillip and Nancy Garrido were sentenced for their crimes.
Jaycee Lee Dugard was kidnapped in 1991, and held captive for 18 years before she was discovered. The couple pleaded guilty in April.
Dugard’s aunt and mother read impact statements during Thursday’s sentencing hearing. Jaycee’s statement explained why she herself did not attend, “I chose not to be here because I don’t want to waste another second in your presence”.
Nancy’s attorney, Stephen Tapson said Jaycee’s mom and aunt read a statement from Jaycee and her sister, who was only a young child when Jaycee was kidnapped. In the statement Dugard’s family called the Garrido’s some “awful things”.
According to Tapson, Nancy’s statement to the court and Dugard was remorseful, “Every time I look in the mirror I don’t like what I see … I can give you an explanation but they will sound like an excuse, and there is no excuse … “ for what she did. Tapson repeated Nancy’s position during the captivity as a mother-figure to Dugard; delivering her children and caring for them. Nancy was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison.
Phillip was sentenced to 431 years to life. He was eligible for around 590 years, but the judge decided to stay within the plea deal and sentenced Phillip to 431. During the nearly hour-long proceeding, the judge said Garrido was the “poster child for sexual predator” and he “redefined the word ‘slavery’”.
His lawyer, Susan Gellman said Phillip never, ever wanted to go to trial, “he did what he did today for her (Dugard),you know, he entered this plea for her so she wouldn’t have to go through a trial.” Gellman went on to say “He (Phillip) acknowledged his guilt, he admitted what he did was wrong, of course there is remorse.”
Phillip had a competency hearing earlier in the proceedings. Gellman said “Phillip never ever, ever wanted to go to trial. The only confusion he had, he had confusion about who witnesses would be and what the trial would be about, and that’s what the competency hearing was about. But he never wanted to go to trial.”
Katie Callaway Hall, who was raped Phillip Garrido in Reno in the 1970’s, attended Thursday’s sentencing. She did not attend the sentencing for her own case, where Phillip got sentenced to life. He only served 11 years of that sentence.
Hall was hoping to make a victim impact statement at the sentencing on the Dugard charges, but the El Dorado County Judge recently decided not to let her make a statement. She told the media outside the courtroom she hopes Phillip “rots in hell”.
Attorneys for Phillip and Nancy arrived at the El Dorado County courthouse in Placerville Thursday morning. Susan Gellman, who represents Phillip Garrido, shouted at the waiting media as she passed by, “My fifteen minutes are over people”; a reference to the intense media coverage this case has gotten.
Phillip Garrido was arrested for an unrelated crime in August 2009 in Berkeley. After more digging by detectives, Jaycee told officers who she was and that she had been kidnapped.
An investigation uncovered deplorable living conditions at the Garrido’s Antioch home, and a tent-room in the backyard where Jaycee and her two daughters were living. Investigators say the two daughters were fathered by Garrido.
Dugard was reunited with her family, and plans to release a biography of her experience later this summer called “A Stolen Life”on July 12.
Actress Jessica Biel has overtaken Brad Pitt as the most dangerous celebrity to search in cyberspace, according to Internet security company McAfee Inc. For the third consecutive year, McAfee surveyed which A-list celebrity was the riskiest to track on the Internet after Pitt topped the list last year and Paris Hilton came in first in 2007.
Biel, 27, who shot to fame in the TV show 7th Heaven and most recently starred in Easy Virtue, was deemed the most dangerous, with fans having a one-in-five chance of landing at a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, and viruses.
“Cybercriminals are star watchers too - they latch onto popular celebrities to encourage the download of malicious software in disguise,” McAfee’s Jeff Green said in a statement.
“Consumers’ obsession with celebrity news and culture is harmless in theory, but one bad download can cause a lot of damage to a computer.”
“Every day, cybercriminals use celebrities’ names and images, like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, to lure surfers searching for the latest stories, screen savers and ringtones to sites offering free downloads laden with malware,” the statement added.
Coming second in the list for the second year running was pop star Beyonce, with McAfee finding that putting “Beyonce ringtones” into a search engine yielded a dangerous website linking to a distributor of adware and spyware.
Actress Jennifer Aniston was third, with more than 40 per cent of the Google search results for “Jennifer Aniston screensavers” containing nasty viruses.
Young Hollywood stars Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale and Lindsay Lohan all edged out Heidi Montag and Jessica Alba who appeared on last year’s list.
They also ranked higher than other young personalities including Twilight stars Robert Pattinson who came 30th and Kristen Stewart who was 20th, the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Lauren Conrad, Vanessa Hudgens and Zac Efron.
Megan Fox and Angelina Jolie tied as the eighth most dangerous celebrities on the Web while newlyweds Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen came in fourth and sixth respectively.
However, U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, who have featured on most celebrities list this year, were not at the top of risky public figures to search.
The Obamas ranked in the bottom-third of this year’s results, at No. 34 and No. 39 respectively. Brad Pitt came 10th in the list this year.
Beyonce is to be named Woman Of The Year by Billboard magazine. The Halo singer will be honoured by the industry publication at its annual Women In Music event, which will be held in New York on October 2.
Beyonce, who is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z, will join a list of celebs including Ciara and Reba McEntire, who have previously won the award.
It has been a big year for the singer and actress. She had a smash hit with Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), which topped the charts in America, performed at US President Barack Obama's inauguration and had a No 1 movie with Obsessed.
Miss Namita transformation began more than 20 years ago after she decided that in a past life she had lived as Queen Nefertiti. During that time Nileen Namita has spent £200,000 on her face in order to turn herself into a living sculpture of the ancient Egyptian. The mother of three has had 51 cosmetic surgery operations - including eight nose jobs, three chin implants, one eyebrow lift, three facelifts, six mini facelifts, two lip surgeries, five eye surgeries and 20 minor tweaks - in her efforts to recreate herself in the image of the 'Beauty of the Nile'.
51 plastic surgeries turn British woman Miss Namita into Queen Nefertiti
Miss Namita, a 49-year-old artist from Brighton, says her quest for perfection isn't over yet and plans further surgery, describing her face as a 'work in progress'. She began her transformation in 1987 after deciding that in a past life she had lived as Nefertiti. She said: 'Throughout my childhood and teen years I had constant vivid dreams of this ancient queen.
A bust of Queen Nefertiti of Egypt who is considered one of history's most stunning women. Namita as Queen Nefertiti. She began her transformation in 1987 after deciding she was the Egyptian beauty in a past life.
'They were visions of incredible intensity - I could see where she lived, her servants, her rooms, even the food she ate - and although at first I found the dreams frightening, I began to research what they meant. 'Aged 23 I underwent psychoanalysis with a counsellor. Slowly I began to realise that I was having these dreams because I am a reincarnation of Nefertiti.
A few weeks later I saw a picture of Nefertiti for the first time and I was struck by how familiar it was.
'I know some people will find it hard to understand why I have put myself through so much surgery, but by then the visions had become even more powerful, I decided to remodel my face so I looked like a modern version of Nefertiti.
It was a way of allowing that part of my personality to show itself.'
Miss Namita, who single but has been married and divorced twice, began by remodelling her nose.
Since then she says she has spent all her spare money on her face.
She said: 'I am fortunate in that I have good genes. I don't have any cellulite and have never had to diet but because I didn't want to look unnatural with an older body and a younger face, I do eat very healthily.
Miss Namita Spends £200,000 on 51 Surgeries to Look Like Nefertiti
'No one believes I am almost 50 years old and have had three children because my body and face look as through I am only 25.
'Now when I go out, I gain attention from men much younger than me - often they are in their twenties - because I look so youthful.
'I am sure some people will disapprove of me having so many operations but I believe my look is ageless and timeless. Seeing myself looking so much younger makes me feel young and energetic.'
Miss Namita, who has yet to visit Egypt but is writing a book about her life as a modern Nefertiti, says her three children aged 30, 25 and 15 approve of her appearance.
'My youngest daughter, who still lives with me, is very proud to have such a youthful looking mother,' she said.
Miss Namita is now planning her next operations.
'I would like my lips to be made a little finer and plan to have some more surgery on my nose to even out my nostrils,' she said.
No matter how much you bicker after marriage, but walking down the aisle is actually good for health, especially for men, say scientists.
In the University of Arizona study, boffins reviewed blood samples from 1,715 volunteers aged 57 to 85 to measure the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), which is produced by the liver in response to inflammation.
CRP has been linked in previous studies to heart disease, depression and even stroke.
From the analyses, the research team found that a long marriage lowers a man's chance of developing serious health problems. In fact, the union is more effective than giving up smoking when guarding against potentially fatal diseases, the researchers said.
The study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine journal, found that married men had the lowest CRP levels of any group: an average of 1.16 milligrams per litre of blood compared to 2.72 for unmarried men, reports The Daily Mail.
Professor Tony Cassidy, of Ulster University, said: 'This shows how strong the effect of being married and having strong social bonds can be.
'Men don't necessarily get the same kind of support from their friendships - that's why marriage is so important.'
Yoke Paramita Djati Walujo from Bali of Indonesia won the Miss Bikini contest of the final of Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 in Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, on Aug. 17, 2009. The champion Yoke Paramita Djati Walujo from Bali of Indonesia (C), runner-up from Russia (R) and the second runner-up from Ukraine attend the awarding ceremony during the Miss Bikini contest of the final of Miss Tourism Queen International 2009 in Xinyang, central China's Henan Province, on Aug. 17, 2009. A total of 120 contestants from all over the world participated in the final.
The growing popularity of cosmetic surgery is proving to be a huge headache for immigration officials. And the challenge of processing people who look nothing like their passport photos reached new heights on Sunday when 23 Chinese women returned to Shanghai together after visiting South Korea, looking completely different from the way they looked when they left Hongqiao Airport. The travelers had bigger eyes, higher noses and slimmer chins than the women in the photographs.
The woman known as China's answer to Michael Jackson for her love of plastic surgery believes she's been under the knife 40 or 50 times since 1985.
"After they took off their huge hats and big sunglasses following our request, we saw them looking differently, with bandages and stitches here and there," said Chen Tao, an airport officer. "We had to compare their uncorrected parts with their photos very carefully with our eyes and machines," he said. While it normally takes about 45 seconds to clear a single passenger, the process on Sunday took several minutes per person, he said.
"They told the officers that they are friends and that they had gone to South Korea together to have cosmetic surgery," he said.
Some of the women had previously been to South Korea to check out clinics before they flew to Seoul together on July 28, Chen said.
A woman surnamed Huang said that she had an operation on Friday to improve her nose and was pleased with the results, leaving with plans to return for more work.
"We have seen travelers like that once in a while but never in such a large group," said Chen, who added that most of the people returning to China after having facelifts overseas were women.
Yang Xiajia, who is a customs officer at Pudong International Airport, said: "It is becoming more common to see such travelers."
Most are Chinese, returning from South Korea, a country well known for its cosmetic surgery.
In Gongbei, a port in Guangzhou, customs officers encountered more than 150 travelers last year who did not look like their passport photos.
The 23 women who passed through Hongqiao airport were aged between 36 and 54 and were from south Jiangsu province.
Chen Tao said one woman in the group joked that going under the knife was the best way to ensure her husband was not tempted into having an affair.
"After they passed the identification, we asked them all to renew their passports immediately," Chen said.
Liu Chunlong, general manager of Shanghai Art Cosmetic and Esthetic Surgery, said his clinic had seen a rapid growth in the number of customers.
"Some of them have the surgery because of employment pressure and some because of marriage pressure," Liu said. "Many of them come more than once."
He added: "People are more tolerant of cosmetic surgery."
Because of the growing interest in appearance in China, cosmetic surgery is becoming more and more common and many cosmetic surgeons, from countries including South Korea, have relocated to China to make the most of the demand.
These ladies may look like they are on holiday, but they are actually hard at work trying to be crowned Miss Universe 2009.
Miss Universe 2009 , the 58th Beauty Universe Pageant, will be held at the Atlantis Paradise Island, in Nassau, Bahamas on August 23, 2009. Dayana Mendoza , from Venezuela, winner of Miss Universe 2008 , will crown her successor in the event. Joannabelle Ng, Miss Malaysia, models a creation designed by Basheva Eve of La Maison de Besh. The outfits shown were created and tailored for each Miss Universe contestant featuring Bahamian fabrics.
The 2009 beauty queen JoannaBelle who hails from Kota Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah. She is of Chinese-Indian ancestry and will compete in 2009 Miss Universe Pageant.
MISS MALAYSIA UNIVERSE 2009 INTERVIEW
FLASHBACK
JoanneBelle Ng (C), winner of Miss Malaysia 2009, second placed Cassandra Patrick (L) and third placed Claudia Tania Sibert pose for photos, in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, May 30, 2009. Twenty-one-year old JoanneBelle Ng will represent Malaysia at the upcoming Miss Universe 2009 pageant to be held in the Bahamas on August 23.
Miss Malaysia Universe 2009 : JoannaBelle Ng Li Vun
AFTER winning Sabah's Top Model Search, JoannaBelle Ng Li Vun, 21, has since appeared in numerous fashion shows, print advertisement and television commercials. She was one of Seventeen magazine's Cover Girl Search finalists in September 2005 and also made FHM magazine's Girl Next Door Top 10 list.
Now she is pursuing one of her childhood dreams of becoming Miss Malaysia Universe."I'm glad that I have made it to the top 18 finalists, with a shot at achieving my dreams," she told Malay Mail a day before the finals. "Joining the Miss Malaysia Universe contest was definitely a good learning experience. It will surely help in my career as a model."
She started of as a parttime model at 16 and it is now her fulltime career. Hailing from Kota Kinabalu, she has a distinct Chinese-Indian look, which helped her emerge first runnerup in the Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2008 competition.
"That competition gave me a lot of experience and I learned a lot about beauty pageants. It also gave me the confidence to join other beauty pageants."
During her free time, this sassy lass likes to surf the Web. "I would spend hours at a time researching, making friends and playing cyber games. One of my favourite games is Warcraft.You can consider me as a cyber freak," she said with a laugh.
MORE UPDATE 24 Aug 2009
Miss Venezuelan wins 2009 Miss Universe contest
Miss Venezuela was crowned the 2009 Miss Universe in Sunday night's pageant held in Bahamas, according to reports.
Stefania Fernandez, 18-year-old, became the 58th winner of the title in the show broadcast live around the world from the Atlantis, Paradise Island resort in the Bahamas.
Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, was the runner up.
Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality and Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic.
It was the second consecutive year that a Miss Venezuela won the title. Venezuela have won the title five times.
More Update: Donald Trump personally picks 6 of top 15 Miss Universe pageant finalists
New York, September 5 : Business magnate Donald Trump personally helps shortlist six of the 15 finalists in the Miss Universe pageant every year, it has been claimed. The pageant owner’s involvement as a judge was revealed by the contest’s choreographer Michael Schwandt.
"At all the shows, [Trump] pops up the day before the telecast and we line up all the girls in alphabetical order," the New York Post quoted Schwandt as telling Guanabee.com.
"[Trump] basically walks by and has an assistant who takes notes on all the girls.
“And it''s just kind of common knowledge that he picks six of the top 15 single-handedly," Schwandt added.
As swine flu continues to spread, experts from the Centers for Disease Control to the World Health Organization to neighborhood doctors are echoing the call for everyone to practice smart flu prevention techniques. Here are 10 ways to keep your body boosted and your immune system ready to fight infection.
Wash Your Hands
And wash them often, in hot soapy water, and for the amount of time it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice (15-20 seconds).
Get Enough Sleep
This means slightly different things to different people, but try to get 8 hours of good rest each night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.
Keep Hydrated
Drink 8-10 8-oz. glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
Eat Immune-Boosting Foods
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. Fatty foods can slow your metabolism, make you feel sluggish, and compromise your immune system. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
Avoid Alcohol
In addition to being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. For women, alcohol suppresses estrogen production, which further impairs the immune system. So avoid alcoholic beverages to keep your immune system strong.
Keep Physically Active
Mild to moderate exercise—for example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week—supports the immune system by increasing circulation, oxygenating the body, purging toxins through sweat, and releasing tension and stress. So get moving!
Be Vigilant of Surfaces
This is as much a mindfulness exercise as anything else. Be aware of what public surfaces you touch, when you've shaken hands with someone, or when you're using something like a pen that others have recently used--and don't touch your face until you've had a chance to wash your hands.
Avoid Contact with Sick People
A more blunt way to put this is, don’t get spit on. Flu virus is spread when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you’re coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth (and then wash your hands), and if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and avoid physical contact.
Know When to Get Help
Swine flu can look like regular flu, so don't feel like you necessarily are infected if you're exhibiting flu-like symptoms. But do go to your doctor if you live in an area where there are documented cases, or if your symptoms are severe.
Swine Flu Home Remedies
1. Take Vitamin D which improves immunity to H1N1 flu by increasing production of antimicrobial agents in the body. These antimicrobials can fight swine flu and other types of influenza. It’s no coincidence that flu season coincides with the lowest annual levels of Vitamin D. To ramp up your immune system, take 2000-5000 mg a day of Vitamin D. The best form of Vitamin D to use is D3.
2. Take Vitamin C as it not only boosts levels of infection fighting white blood cells, but it also increases the number of interferon antibodies which work to keep the swine flu from even entering cells. Aim for 200 mg ingested over the course of day either in food or supplements.
3. Take Vitamin E which fosters production of natural killer cells that seek out and destroy swine flu germs. It’s hard to eat enough food to reach therapeutic levels of Vitamin E, so consider a supplemental dose between 100-400 mg.
4. Eat foods rich in Vitamin A to boost immune response, however, because high levels can be toxic, avoid supplements and eat your carrots. Be especially careful of Vitamin A intake if you are pregnant as high levels can hurt a fetus.
5. Eat foods rich in bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids fill up cell receptor sites so H1N1 flu germs can’t get into your cells and cause infection. Bioflavonoids are found in white and green teas, wine, dark chocolate, peppers, garlic, blueberries, and citrus fruits. For best results, combine with foods rich in vitamin C and calcium.
6. Take a zinc supplement. Zinc doesn’t just increase immune response, it makes it fight the swine flu more aggressively. Supplement with 15 to 25 mg a day and don’t go over 75 mg as that can actually weaken your immune system. For Reference: Garlic (allicin) – Very effective antiviral. Best if fresh (raw) and crushed. Must be consumed within 1 hour of crushing. Dosage is initially 2 to 3 cloves per day but later reduce until no body odour occurs. No toxic effects noted. (Pubmed PMID 9049657)
Vitamin C – Boosts the immune system and is an antiviral by blocking the enzyme neuraminadase. Viruses need neuraminadase to reproduce. There are anecdotal stories of people taking large amounts of Vitamin C (children ½) surviving the Spanish Flu. Research shows that it may reduce the production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. A study on 470 people involved giving the test group 1000 mg hourly for 6 hours and then 1000 mg 3 times daily after reporting flu symptoms. Symptoms decreased by 85%. (Pubmed PMID 10543583, 634178, 16169205, 12876306)
Green Tea (possible Tamiflu/Relenza alternative)- Very effective antiviral. Also decreases the production of the cytokine (catechins) TNF-a. Inhibits neuraminidase. May have antiviral activity that is equal to other antivirals such as Tamiflu. (Pubmed PMID 16137775)
St Johns Wort (Hypericum) – Very effective antiviral. Also decreases the production of the cytokine IL-6. Hypericum is an extract from St John’s Wort. There have been some very successful field trials in commercial flocks infected with H5N1 in Vietnam. (Pubmed PMID 7857513, 11518071, 11362353, 7857513, 11518071)
Vitamin E – Immune booster. Also decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. (Pubmed PMID 155882360, 10929076) Experiments involved using mice. Very suitable for immune compromised people, especially the elderly. Effects enhanced when taken with Vitamin C.
Apple Juice – Antiviral. Fresh apple juice including the pulp and skin has greater antiviral activity than heated commercial apple juice. More research is needed. Effectiveness on H5N1 is unknown. (Pubmed PMID 32832, 12452634)
Resveratrol – Antiviral. In addition to inhibiting neuraminidase, Resveratrol also sends a message to cells to stop manufacturing viruses. This is a proven antiviral found naturally in red wine, peanuts, mulberries, Japanese Knotwood root (richest source), raisins and red grapes. Resveratrol supplements are relatively inexpensive, are more stable than wine and is available in liquid form for absorption in the mouth. No toxic effects noted. (Pubmed PMID 1583880, 12817628, 15985724)
Scuttellaria (Skullcap) – Antiviral. A herb used as a tea. It has no side effects and is also a mild tranquilliser. Research suggests neuraminidase, which is a substance needed by the H5N1 virus to reproduce, may be inhibited.
Cranberry Juice – Early research shows that it may be an antiviral, making viruses less able to invade or multiply. Effectiveness on H5N1 is unknown. (Pubmed PMID15781126)
Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa) – Decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. Also boosts immune system. The number of white blood cells was significantly increased during treatment. No toxicity was noted. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?CMD=search&DB=pubmed) Active constituents can be found in the leaves, bark, vine, and roots. Water extraction from bark used. Children and pregnant women are to avoid. Has a potentially damaging effect on the DNA of proliferating cells. (cancers, foetuses, growing children)
Curcumin (Tumeric Spice) – Decreases the production of the cytokine TNF-a. This is the yellow compound in turmeric spice. Research shows that this may be very good for preventing a cytokine storm although this is not proven. Must be taken with food or gastritis or peptic ulcers may occur. Pregnant women and feeding mothers should avoid this. The medicinal properties of curcurnin cannot be utilised when used alone due to rapid metabolism in the liver and intestinal wall. When combined with Piperine found in black pepper the absorption is increased with no adverse effects. Obtainable from health stores in tablets, liquid, capsules already combined with piperine. Dosage is 500mg to 4000mg daily.
Tea tree Steam Inhalation – Reduces the cytokine TNF-a. Add 2 drops of tea tree oil in a bowl of steaming water. Cover head with a towel and inhale for 5 to 10 minutes. Relieves congestion and fights infection. Its effectiveness is unknown. (Pubmed PMID 11131302)
The following substances may be best to avoid during a H5N1 pandemic
Elderberry juice (Sambucal) – AVOID – Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. This substance is very effective against the common flu but may not be desirable for the H5N1 virus. Increases in these cytokines may trigger a lethal cytokine storm. (Isr Med Journal2002 Nov;4:944-6)
Micro Algae (Chlorella and Spirulina) – AVOID – Increases production of cytokine TNF-a. (Pubmed PMID 11731916)
Honey – AVOID – Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID12824009)
Chocolate – AVOID – Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID 12885154, PMID 10917928)
Echinacea – AVOID – Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. Although it is often used for normal flu, research shows that it may increase the chance of cytokine storms for H5N1. (Pubmed PMID 15556647, 9568541)
Kimchi – AVOID – Increases production of cytokines TNF-a and IL-6. (Pubmed PMID15630182)
Dr Palaniappan recommends coconut water Prevention of Influenza A (H1N1). Former associate professor of ecology at Universiti Malaya has authored several books on complementary therapy called, ' Ecological Healing System ' .
Dr Palaniappan said his 33 years of research had shown that high acidity in the body resulted in loss of immunity, thus making people more susceptible to viral diseases likeDr Palaniappan recommends coconut water
Hence, to prevent acidity, it was essential to consume alkaline food and drinks that could neutralise excess acid in the body.
Dr Palaniappan recommends coconut water, which is alkaline, and therefore could be used as a herbal medicine for the prevention of Influenza A (H1N1).
For example, he said, those who felt feverish and developed a burning sensation while attending to a call of nature because of extreme acidity, could neutralise it by drinking coconut water, twice a day, for three days.
He also recommended orange, lemon and pomelo which, despite containing citric acid, were very rich in potassium and therefore, would not disturb the body ' s immunity.
According to Dr Palaniappan, excessive physical activity like running a marathon should be avoided as it produced acid due to excessive metabolic activity.
Similarly, he said, keeping late nights without adequate sleep and working without proper rest could also increase the body ' s acidity which in turn, lowered immunity and made the body vulnerable to viral attacks.
Dr Palaniappan ' s blog: http://ecohealingsystem.blogspot.com/ discusses the therapy in more detail.
The Cambodian government has banned a controversial Miss Landmine beauty pageant, claiming it is insulting to disabled people. An exhibition of photographs of the contests was due to open on Friday, with the top prize of an artificial leg for the winner of an internet vote. But over the weekend the government ordered the organisers "to stop activity immediately in order to keep the honour and dignity of handicapped Cambodians, especially women".
Carol Zhu Liqian with Andy
Carol Zhu Liqian
Carol Zhu Liqian
Lau and Choo were spotted holding hands in the Kuala Lumpur airport before flying back to Hong Kong last Tuesday, having attended the memorial ceremony for Choo's father in Malaysia earlier that week.
Andy with Taiwanese actress, Yu Ke Shing
Andy dated Taiwanese actress, Yu Ke Shing for a few years
Carol Zhu Liqian
A little boy and girl captured the media’s attention at the funeral of the father of actor Andy Lau’s Malaysian girlfriend, Carol Zhu
Yang Qinji from China's northwestern city Lanzhou, is rushed to hospital after he drowned himself in the sea following his declined request by Hong Kong singer Andy Lau of a personal engagement with his daughter Yang Lijuan, a fanatical fan of Andy, in Hong Kong, March 28, 2007. 
Yang Lijuan, from Shenzen, has been fanatical about Andy Lau for 13 years
