One is a woman who once lived in the White House — Hillary Rodham Clinton. And the other is a woman suspected of harboring ambitions of living there someday — Sarah Palin.  A Democrat and a Republican. A former senator and a former governor. Two polarizing politicians, both moms, both bestselling authors, both lost their bids for one of the nation’s top elected offices last year.

Are American voters dropping a hint here?

According to a new survey released by USA Today and the Gallup Poll, Clinton, 62, barely beat out Palin, 45, as the most admired female — 16% to 15% in a poll of 1,025 American adults. However, because the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points, it’s statistically a draw. The survey was open-ended, meaning male and female respondents had to provide the names.
Not that public admiration necessarily translates to votes. But the results have to set off any political spectator’s eager imagination about a future presidential ballot match-up between the two, who, though politically polar opposites, are both outspoken, both often underestimated and both beloved by their respective bases.

Clinton’s 17 straight years as the most or second-most admired woman is unprecedented since Gallup began asking the question in 1948 (when presidential daughter Margaret Truman and then-princess, now Queen Elizabeth II were in the top 10).

Clinton first headed the list in 1993 as the new first lady in the White House.

And she remained highly admired as first lady throughout the public and private turmoils of her husband’s two terms, then as a senator from New York and now as the nation’s 67th secretary of State, only the third woman to hold the post.
All this despite — or actually perhaps because of — her brutal, toe-to-toe, sometimes bitter Democratic presidential primary contests against Barack Obama in 2008.
Palin, on the other hand, burst onto the national political scene — and this year’s list — thanks to Sen. John McCain plucking her from the political obscurity of the Alaskan permafrost as his 2008 running mate and the first woman on a presidential ticket of the party of Lincoln.
The latest new first lady, Michelle Obama, trailed on this year’s most-admired-women list. She ended up at No. 4.

(In a separate Rasmussen Reports poll, Michelle Obama is also mirroring her husband’s plunge in approval ratings. From November to December, her approval numbers dropped 7 percentage points, down to 55%, still higher than the president’s. The national telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.)

Just ahead of Mrs. O for third place in the USA Today/Gallup Poll survey was another Illinois African American female, who helped get the Obamas into the White House: the billionaire businesswoman and TV talker Oprah Winfrey.

Predictably, among admired males, the incumbent president easily tops the list as usual. This year, he was followed by, less predictably, his immediate predecessor, Republican President George W. Bush, and then by former South African leader Nelson Mandela.

Someone named Glenn Beck — completely unknown to us here in the predictably liberal, MSNBC-watching and indubitably elite media — is the No. 4 most admired male despite — or perhaps because of — his 1950s haircut.

Pope Benedict XVI is fifth, and the Rev. Billy Graham is No. 6, putting him in the top 10 most admired males for the 54th consecutive year. The Rev. Al Sharpton did not make the top-10 cut. Neither did David Letterman.

However, just squeaking into the top 10 most admired males is Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Well, actually, he tied for 10th place with the cellphone texter Tiger Woods.

She took the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, made herself pure and fit for divine communication. Later in her life, as Mother Teresa, she regarded her life and works as an expression of God’s love on earth. When she was eighteen, Neptune entered her 9th house-the area of education, higher learning and yearning to be with God. There was a call to be in union with the higher forces of the universe and she heeded the call. She left her home in Skopje, Yugoslavia and became a nun in Dublin, Ireland. She was changed forever; she came to be known as  Sister Teresa.  Her life was transformed as she dedicated it to doing God’s will. The order she joined ran convent schools in India. She later went to India to teach and eventually adopted it as her home and the base for her saintly work.

On September 10, 1948, while on the train heading to a retreat, she had a remarkable spiritual experience. There was another message form God, instructing her to leave the convent and to help and express God’s love to those who are poor, suffering and downtrodden. In this year, she started her special mission; she left the convent to seek the poor. She attracted 12 followers who were very devoted to her cause. They sought the most miserable of society and lived with them. Early in the existence of their order they endured abuse and humiliation but they persevered. In 1950, the Vatican established the Missionaries of Charity and Sister Teresa became Mother Teresa. Unlike other missionary orders, they took and additional vow- a life of dedication to the care of the poor and the needy.

In 1952, the House for the Dying was opened, caring for the helpless and guiding them to die in dignity. In 1957, they started to work with the outcast of society-the lepers. Wherever there was a calamity, missionaries from her order were present, giving moral support and helping raise funds for the people in distress. Mother Teresa’s strong dedication has won her many admirers and supporters worldwide. By her selfless example she has proven that despite economic issues that divide people, human beings are the same-they share the same pain and sorrow. Her work has transcended national and religious boundaries.

She has won the support of world leaders and other benefactors form different backgrounds, hence, she did not have to worry about the source of funding for her projects. In 1985, then US President Ronald Reagan honored her with the Medal of Freedom. In 1996 a poll was made and she was voted second to Princess Diana as the World’s Most Caring Individuals.

Mother Teresa has helped millions of people who were suffering and have inspired the rich and the poor alike into another way of compassionate living. Some individuals were born to embody a universal principle that if more people would emulate would lead to a more peaceful and spiritual planet; Mother Teresa was such a light, she pointed us a way to be closer to God, through the path of service.

Early Life:

When Martha was sixteen years old, she begged her father to take her to a dance performance in Los Angeles, which he did. Her father presented a bouquet of flowers to her outside of the theater, as told by Martha in her autobiography. The dance performance made such an impression on her that she decided to devote her life to dance, much to the dismay of her parents. She was told that a career in the arts was simply not suited for the daughter of a prominent Presbyterian physician. However, something Martha had seen on that stage had been a revelation to her; she was determined.

Destiny Found :
Martha enrolled at Denishawn School, a dance school and performing troupe. At age 22, extremely late for an aspiring dancer, Martha had found her destiny. She was told, however, that she was far too old to begin dancing and that her body was not properly build for it. But Martha persevered, proving to be a quick learner. She worked very hard, paying much attention to detail, to train her body.

Martha danced with Denishawn for seven years, then moved to New York City. She launched her own company in 1929. Nothing stood in the way of her mission: to “chart the graph of the heart” through movement.

A New Language :
Through her choreography, Martha began to push the art of dance to new limits. Her early dances were not well-received by audiences, as they were confused by what they were seeing on stage. Her performances were powerful and modern, and were often based on strong, precise movements and pelvic contractions. Martha believed that by incorporating spastic movements and falls, she could express emotional and spiritual themes. Her choreography overflowed with beauty and emotion. Martha was establishing a new language of dance, one that would change everything that came after it.

A True Pioneer:
Still dancing in the late 1960s, Martha often turned to alcohol to cope with her despair at her declining body. Her performances began to include more acting than dancing, relying on the movement of the dancers around her. Martha’s love of dance was so strong that she refused to leave the stage, even though critics insisted she was past her prime. However, when the critics became too loud, she left the stage. Despite her age, she kept dancing throughout the 60s. In 1969, Martha finally announced her retirement from the stage. Although she couldn’t perform, she continued to teach until her death in 1991, at age 96.

The Martha Graham Dance Company:
Founded by Martha in 1926, the Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest, most celebrated modern dance company in the world. It presents the classic Graham repertory and new choreography in New York and on tour, featuring many of today’s most talented dance artists.

First of all, never wear too much jewelry or makeup.  One item of jewelry is enough.  A small ring on one finger, or small earrings is plenty.  No big loops ladies.

Make up should be conservative, just plain powder or concealer and barely any eye make up.  No lipstick is appropriate at an interview.  It is just not professional.

The woman’s suit should be wool, linen, or cotton/polyester. Stick with navy, gray, and medium blues, at least for the first interview. As for blouses, solid colors and natural fabrics, such as cotton or silk look clean and professional.  A scarf says a lot about a business woman; it is a powerful status symbol.

Shoes should never be open toed and stay within 2 ½ inch heels, nothing faddish or multicolored.  The color of your shoe should be the same or darker than your skirt. Pantyhose should always be neutral skin tones, nothing outlandish, unless you are interviewing in the fashion industry.  A briefcase is an excellent choice for a business woman, but don’t bring along your purse too.  It looks awkward trying to juggle them around.  You should choose either brown or burgundy, black or navy, either one is fine.  You do not want to ever distract the interviewer with your outfit, makeup or accessories.

Last but definitely not least is your personal hygiene. Bad breath, dandruff, body odor, and dirty unmanicured nails do not give a good impression.  When it comes to body odor, you are what you eat.  If you consume a lot of garlic, onions, cilantro, and junk food, not only will it show in your skin, but it will seep through your pores.  Gross.  Make sure you eat a natural healthy diet so you always smell pleasant.

Born in Philippines to glamorous Spanish mother. Played dress-up in closet. Fashion school in California. Married at 22. Didn’t make own dress; wanted to be a pampered bride. After wedding, designed a collection of bridal gowns. Started company with husband. Worked around the clock. Success didn’t come instantly: Stores would say, “We’re watching you; come back next season.” In 2004 opened NYC showroom. Breakout year: Dressed celebrities for the Emmys; designed top-secret wedding gown for Britney Spears (seamstresses didn’t even know!). Put off having family for 10 years. Now have three-year-old. Other kids watch cartoons; mine watches fashion shows.

]]> http://lavendercastle.com/monique-lhuillier-fashion-designer.html/feed 1 http://lavendercastle.com/hillary-clinton.html http://lavendercastle.com/hillary-clinton.html#comments Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:21:16 +0000 Queen http://lavendercastle.com/?p=60 This year Hillary Clinton did something very rare for a politician: She won while losing. No, she didn’t reach the White House—but she motivated a new generation of women of every political stripe. Former GOP congresswoman Susan Molinari told Glamour, “I’m a Republican, but I’m also a mother of two girls, and now my daughters have no doubts that they could grow up to be president.”

Hillary (does anyone use her last name?) sometimes calls herself “the best-known person in the world whom you really don’t know.” As it happens, I know Hillary Clinton. Over the past decade I have spent a decent amount of time with her, partly because I interviewed her several times for a book I wrote about presidential marriages, and partly because my husband served in her husband’s cabinet. So I have seen her in the White House and the Senate, and as an honored guest at our home on close to a dozen occasions. Perhaps this middle distance—not part of Hillaryland and not a complete outsider—allows me a useful perspective on this trailblazing political pioneer.

She has always defied the odds—and her critics. As First Lady, when she was called down and out after the failure of her health care reform, she picked herself up and used her bully pulpit to become a global advocate for women and children.

On September 5, 1995, she stood before thousands at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing and declared, to thunderous applause, “Women’s rights are human rights.” Then she took direct aim at China’s shameful record on female infanticide, saying, “It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls.” In Pakistan, India and Nepal, women waited for hours just to catch a glimpse of her. Hillary had found her platform and her self-confidence—and she made up her mind to run for public office herself.

Her resounding Senate victories followed, and then came her presidential bid. During the primaries, with her back to the wall, she again showed what she was really made of—grit, brilliance and a surprising vulnerability. Tearing up while answering a sympathetic question at a New Hampshire coffee klatch about how she could handle so much pressure and criticism, she gave us a rare glimpse into her soul, displaying a side she has been trained (and self-trained) to suppress in public.

Early on, she had campaigned not as a female, but as a politician who “happened to be a woman.” As the months went by, that distinction seemed to erode. In almost imperceptible ways, she became more of what she really was—the first woman to mount a serious campaign for the presidency. She put more emphasis on women’s issues and one of her real passions, health care. But Barack Obama, an extraordinary, history-making candidate in his own right, was on a roll, not to be denied.
When Hillary finally ended her hard-fought campaign on June 7, she did it with eloquence and precision. Unbowed, she moved even her critics; many who had opposed her wept as she spoke in the sweeping hall of the grand old Pension Building in Washington, D.C. She emerged from defeat ennobled by her gutsy campaign.

And of course, she’s not done yet. She continues to be a huge force on every topic she cares about, and her stature remains undiminished throughout the world. “Hillary has emerged as an international symbol of the endeavor to give globalization a more human face,” says Michelle Bachelet, the president of Chile. Hillary’s famous “18 million cracks” in the glass ceiling—the number of votes cast for her in the primaries—represent the closest any woman has ever come to the greatest prize in the world, the presidency of the United States. Her candidacy defined the high-water mark of the women’s movement in American political life—so far.

I believe that young girls and women everywhere, Republicans and Democrats, will carry the images of Hillary’s run in their heads and hearts for the rest of their lives. Some will follow in her footsteps, inspired to take the fight further. Whether they know it or not, their paths will be easier because of the courage and grace of Hillary Clinton in 2008.

Beneath Nicole Kidman’s unruffled exterior, there’s always been something clearly, unapologetically complicated.

We’ve seen a hint of it in her gritty, bravura performances, whether in her dramatic roles (she became Virginia Woolf in The Hours) or her comic turns (remember her wacky scheming in To Die For?). We’ve been treated to her startling-for-a-movie-star candor: In 2006, when her husband, country singer Keith Urban, entered rehab for alcohol addiction virtually on the heels of their honeymoon, she didn’t avoid discussing their ordeal; she said she hoped it would help other couples. And the intense work ethic—more than 30 movies over the course of almost two decades—is hardly the stuff of blithe serenity, especially since she’s kept up that hectic schedule while being a mom to Isabella, 16, and Connor, 13 (her children with ex-husband Tom Cruise), and now Sunday Rose Kidman Urban, five months.

It was really only a matter of time before the impassioned actress became an activist, too, as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). “We didn’t call her; she called us,” says Joan Libby Hawk, UNIFEM’s chief of public affairs. “And she said, ‘I’m in this for the long haul.’ There’s a level of passion that shows.” That passion was evident in her numerous visits to shelters for abused women in a range of countries, from Switzerland to Kosovo. When she meets victims at shelters, Kidman’s empathy is marked—and effective, say the women who have accompanied her. At a safe house for survivors of domestic violence in Kosovo two years ago, “she was so modest and close to the women that she made it easy for them to speak about what happened,” says the house’s director, Sakibe Doli.

Baz Luhrmann, who directed Kidman in her current film Australia and 2001’s Moulin Rouge!, has long seen the actress as both an “extreme professional” and “the most human friend…a true mother, a real person.” Indeed, when Glamour sat down with Kidman at her hotel in London, where she was in rehearsals for the film musical Nine, we met that “real person.”

LC: Important things first: Who does Sunday Rose look like, you or Keith?
NICOLE KIDMAN: Keith! It’s fine by me, having a little Keith-ette. When he goes away, I can look at her and see him.

Taken from glamor.com