Another employee accuses Naomi Campbell of assault

Naomi Campbell was sued Thursday by another former employee, this one a young Florida woman who claims the supermodel abused her verbally and physically on three continents.
Amanda Brack, 20, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., accused Campbell of assault, battery, false imprisonment and infliction of emotional distress in incidents that started a month after she began working for her in February 2005, court papers say.
Brack's lawsuit was filed while Campbell, 35, was in plea negotiations with Manhattan prosecutors about an assault charge. Campbell was accused of throwing a cell phone at one of her employees in January in a dispute over a missing pair of jeans.
Campbell has called that allegation "completely untrue." But the housekeeper, Ana Scolavino, was treated for an injury to the back of her head, and prosecutor Shanda Strain announced that she and the model's lawyer were in plea talks.
Brack's lawyer, Gerald McCarthy, said his client and the model met in Paris in a nightclub ladies' room where Campbell was upset about a "costume malfunction." He said Brack helped and impressed the model, who then asked Brack to work for her.
Brack's lawsuit says, "Shortly after being hired, defendant Campbell initiated a series of verbal and physical and emotional attacks against (Brack) such that plaintiff suffered both physical and emotional injuries."
McCarthy said Campbell assaulted his client in several incidents that occurred in 2005 in Brazil, Morocco and in Campbell's apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan.


McCarthy said his client stayed with Campbell as long as she did "because she was star struck." He said the model would take his client with her to meet and hang out with the rich and famous and Brack was impressed with the lifestyle.
McCarthy said a July 2005 incident was the last straw. He said Campbell said something that made Brack believe the model thought she was stealing from her and Brack quit a few days later.
Brack's lawsuit, filed in Manhattan's state Supreme Court, seeks unspecified damages for pain and suffering from Campbell and her North Carolina-incorporated company, OMI Ltd.
A spokeswoman for Campbell did not return a call and an e-mail requesting comment Thursday.
The volatile Campbell has a history of problems with her employees. In 2003, she was sued by a former administrative assistant who said Campbell had thrown a phone at her during a tantrum in Campbell's apartment two years earlier.
In August 2004, in the same apartment, Campbell and her maid battled it out, with the worker claiming the supermodel slapped her across the face. Campbell accused the maid, Millicent Burton, of instigating the fight.
Last month, another maid, Gaby Gibson, filed a lawsuit accusing Campbell of personal injuries, employment discrimination, civil assault and civil battery.

Jolie to play widow of reporter

For her first live-action role since giving birth, Angelina Jolie will star in "A Mighty Heart" as Mariane Pearl -- the widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was killed by terrorists.
In an intriguing twist, the movie is being co-produced by Jolie's boyfriend Brad Pitt and his Plan B production company. Pitt optioned the book back when he and Jennifer Aniston were still married and partners in Plan B. At that time, there was even talk Aniston was among the mix of actresses being considered for the Pearl role.
Filming is expected to begin within the next five weeks. The picture, which is based on Pearl's memoir, will focus on then-pregnant Pearl's search for her husband after he was abducted by Pakistani terrorists thought to be tied to al-Qaida through the time his mutilated body was discovered.

"I am delighted that Angelina Jolie will be playing my role in the adaptation of my book," Pearl told Daily Variety. "I deeply admire her work and what she is committed to."
The film will be directed by Michael Winterbottom, who previously made the Middle East-themed films, "The Road to Guantanamo" and "In This World."
"A Mighty Heart" is one of two films in the works related to the Pearl killing. Josh Lucas will star in "Who Killed Daniel Pearl," a fictionalized drama about a newsman (Lucas) who travels to Pakistan looking for the truth about the murder of a journalist friend. That film is expected to go before the cameras this fall and is based on the book written by Bernard-Henri Levy.
Earlier this week, Jolie announced she will voice a character in DreamWorks Animation's upcoming "Kung Fu Panda."

Supermodel, Christie Brinkley, Seperates from Fourth Husband

Christie Brinkley and her fourth husband, Peter Cook, have separated, her publicist said.
Cook and Brinkley married in 1996 and have a daughter.
The 52-year-old supermodel was previously married to Frenchman Jean-FranEcois Allaux, Billy Joel and developer Richard Taubman.
She and Joel have a daughter, and she and Taubman have a son.
"Her immediate concern is for her children, and she's hoping during this obviously difficult time that people will be kind enough to respect her privacy," publicist Elliot Mintz said in a statement Tuesday.
christie Bio:
Christie Brinkley (born Christie Lee Hudson on February 2, 1954) is an American supermodel. With her blond hair and noticeably cleancut and well-chiselled features, she epitomized the beauty ideals of the 1980s yuppie culture.
She has been married four times. Her first three marriages were to artist Jean-François Allaux (1973 – 1981), musician Billy Joel (1985 – 1994) and developer Richard Taubman (1994 – 1995). Her fourth husband was Peter Cook, an architect, whom she married in 1996. On July 11, 2006, Brinkley's publicist confirmed that they separated, and on July 12th, 2006 their divorce was confirmed.
She has three children: daughter Alexa Ray (b. December 29, 1985) with Joel, son Jack Paris (b. June 2, 1995) with Taubman, and daughter Sailor Lee (b. July 2, 1998) with Cook
Brinkley is a supporter of animal rights and long time PETA member. She spoke out against the Ringling Brothers Circus on behalf of PETA to raise awarenes of the cruelty to animals in circuses.

Robbie was love of my life - Rachel

Kiwi supermodel Rachel Hunter confessed pop star Robbie Williams was "a very big love of my life" in an interview screened on British television this morning (NZ time).
Appearing on the Monday night BBC TV show You Can't Fire Me - I'm Famous, Rachel told interviewer Piers Morgan that her relationship with Williams was one of her most meaningful.
"Rob and I were involved for quite a bit ... I'm very protective of that relationship. He was a very big love of my life."
She would not give more details when pressed by Morgan.
Hunter began dating Williams - a notorious womaniser - in 2002 following her split from Rod Stewart. The relationship lasted about a year.

Hunter also spoke about her relationship with Stewart and his fiancee, Penny Lancaster, saying she is still protective of her former husband.
"It's like being an Italian mother ... you are really protective. It's none of my business but you are protective."
Hunter replaced Lancaster as the face of Scottish lingerie house Ultimo in 2004, sparking rumours the pair were feuding. Hunter was replaced by Helena Christensen in 2005.
The latest Woman's Day magazine features photos of Rachel Hunter with her new boyfriend, Canadian ice hockey star Jarret Stoll, sunbathing on a beach in Barbados.

Elle joins board of surf-wear brand Hot Tuna

She is nicknamed "The Body", but Elle Macpherson has already proved there is more to her than her model looks by launching her own highly lucrative line of lingerie.
Now, the original supermodel and 43-year-old mother of two, has broadened her business brief by being appointed an executive director of one of the world's longest established surf-wear brands.
Macpherson joins a growing band of famous names sitting on the boards of companies, including newsreader Anna Ford and musician Bob Geldof.
She has joined the board of Hot Tuna, one of the smallest companies listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM), as an executive director.
Founded in Macpherson's native Australia in 1969, Hot Tuna went on to become one of the most famous surfing brands in the world, with its distinctive red piranha logo.
The business went dormant, but eight years ago was revived by a group of Australian investors, who turned it into an international company with headquarters in London and offices in Los Angeles and Sydney.
After floating on the AIM last September, the company is currently valued at £19.4m ($58.7m). With the help of Macpherson's fashion expertise and international network of contacts, Hot Tuna hopes to regain its crown as a leading youth fashion brand.
Sales of Elle Macpherson Intimates, the lingerie and swimwear brand launched in 1990, are estimated at £40m in Britain alone. The supermodel also recently launched her own skincare range, The Body.
Under her deal with Hot Tuna, Macpherson will received two million shares, worth £800,000 plus a further two million in share options worth between £1m and £1.5m.

It is Macpherson's first company directorship. Fittingly, 17 years ago, she was the face of Hot Tuna's women's swimwear line.
Chairman Ranjit Murugason, said: "Elle Macpherson is inspired by Hot Tuna, because she grew up in Australia at a time when it was the brand to buy.
"She's the most financially astute supermodel of our times. She has turned her image into one of the most successful brand management stories.
"She has a terrific eye for style and trends. We're a small company, so we all sit round a table in her kitchen or living room and hammer it out together."
But Mr Murugason insisted that he did not hire Macpherson for her celebrity status. "I asked Elle Macpherson to come onto the board of this company not because she's a celebrity, but because she's very astute in business and brands. She epitomises the lifestyle of Hot Tuna."
Throughout her modelling career, Macpherson, who studied law before working in fashion, has produced her own calendars as well as licensing and marketing products.

'Project Runway' has intriguing third-season lineup

Heidi Klum is excited about the third season of “Project Runway” (premiering Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Bravo). She just won’t say much about it.
To make sure viewers are surprised, the supermodel refused to dish about the celebrity guest judges, the new challenges for the 15 designers or how Macy’s corporate sponsorship will change the show. Her lips are sewn tighter than, well, a Santino Rice design.
Klum did say this season brings “more sophisticated and more professional designers to the competition. They see how big ‘Project Runway’ has become, and that it is real and we’re not just some goofballs doing stupid stuff,” Klum said during a recent telephone conference call.
“I think America has great designers to offer and great talent out there. I think that’s what our show is about. I think that’s why reality TV has become so successful because you see lives of so many different people in this country, and they want to have a shot in life. Our show is not about grinding up worms and eating them or seeing how long they can last doing some crazy stunt.”
The expectant mother, who also hosts the German version of “Next Top Model,” promises that even though the competitors have had the benefit of watching the previous seasons, she and lovable mentor Tim Gunn still manage to challenge them.


“They all think they know everything by now,” she said. “But, you know, I still shock them a lot.”
She has sympathy for the contestants when they exhibit catty, bratty behavior.
“I think that it’s just normal. They’re under a lot of pressure. We give them hard challenges and they want to win. A lot of people stopped their business for a long period of time to come to New York and do this experience with us. So they really want to make it work. They don’t want to be the one who gets kicked off. We see them once a week and think, ‘How bad can it be?’ But you turn the TV off and live your normal life again and they’re still there. It’s very hard to be around the same people. You can’t watch TV. You can’t call people. You can’t speak to your friends and bitch about the other people.”
Klum doesn’t believe winning the show guarantees success in the competitive design field.
“Just because you are the winner of ‘Project Runway’ doesn’t mean you are the winner out there,” she said. “Because then you are on your own, and it’s really up to you what you make out of this.”