girls rock !!

It could be said that Vanity Fair would have a reasonable idea of the World’s Most Beautiful Woman, but even they must have been surprised at the results of their recent online poll. Not just the winning margin, but also the low ranking of stars like Beyonce Knowles and Carla Bruni.

The explanation behind the poll included the thought that modern-day Helens of Troy could start wars - and that is a pretty close description of what we term modern amazons.

So huge respect to Angelina Jolie (photo) for such a tremendous result. Another surprise, and also pleasant, was the comparatively high result for Jennifer Connelly, who we happen to have loved for years - through thick and thin.

• 1) Angelina Jolie 58 per cent
• 2) Gisele Bundchen 9 per cent
• 3) Halle Berry 4 per cent
• 4) Penelope Cruz 3 per cent
• 4) Scarlett Johansson 3 per cent
• 4) Jennifer Connelly 3 per cent

Of course we could be biased, but Angelina and Jennifer are more “complete” women than some of the others, having both acting and personal talents which show strong minds and passionate emotions. A great combination from our perspective.

Looking very tanned and brunette, High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale has a new single out to start the promotion for her next album. With a rock sound similar to Miley Cyrus, it seems the new teen music stars are following Kelly Clarkson rather than Taylor Swift.

The premiere of Tisdale’s new song It’s Alright, It’s Ok was on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show this week, and she talked about the themes of break up and revenge. The 23-year-old explained the song feels “really empowering, and it’s like an independent anthem song, which is great because it’s something I’m listening to right now.”

Ashley Tisdale (photo) also mentioned her second album Guilty Pleasure comes out on June 16th, followed shortly after with her upcoming movie called They Came From Upstairs which is due July 31st.

The album comes from personal experience and she said it is a reflection of where she is in her life. “I’m growing up, but I feel like my fans are growing with me,” Tisdale explained.

If your “pals” include Carrie Underwood, Eva Longoria, Brooke Shields, Lauren Hutton and Anjelica Huston, chances are you’ve been on the celebrity scene for a while. But when you can also boast exclusive photographs for your 20th anniversary by ace photographer Annie Leibovitz, you are pretty near the top of the field.

Which was the case when Annie posed fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka alongside the music and film stars in celebration of the pair’s Badgley Mischka fashion line.

The 20th anniversary campaign will appear in April issues of magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle. Badgley Mischka is available at Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman, plus boutiques in West Hollywood and Boston.

Katharine Isabelle is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Ginger in Ginger Snaps (2001). In recent years Katharine has appeared in many movies and TV episodes and looks set for new popularity.

The Canadian’s career began in 1988, in the movie Cousins (1989), starring Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini. 2004 was another big year with Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed and Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning and the Ginger trilogy have become very popular cult classics.

Katherine Isobel Murray has used other stage names besides Katharine Isabelle (photo, not naked), such as Katie Murray, Kate Murray and Katherine Isobel. She is also not extremely impressed with acting, despite considerable talent: “You do these Canadian independent movies, you build up a name, and then you’ve gotta do TV episodes just to pay your bills.”

TV Movies have also been on the agenda, including supporting roles in the remake of Carrie as Tina Blake and a minor role in Insomnia. In 2004 Katharine secured a supporting role in The Life and a lead role in The Last Casino. 2006 included Eight Days To Live and Engaged To Kill.

Horror movies are a common theme, so 2009’s Rampage, directed by Uwe Boll, a prolific producer of horror movies, is perhaps no surprise. It’s not all great, though: “Everyone wants you naked. I think I’ve done one or two movies in the past six years where they haven’t tried something slimy to get me naked.”

One person in the news a lot lately, for all the right reasons, is Miley Cyrus. The nominations are finalised and the voting is taking place for the Kids’ Choice Awards 2009, with Miley featured in two categories.

In the Favourite Female Singer list it might be a good year for Miley Cyrus (photo 3). The others in the category could have less appeal for various reasons. The music of Alicia Keys (photo 1) may be seen by many as being too “old” - closer to adult contemporary or even jazz and so not “pop”.

Although Rihanna (photo 4) has also been in the headlines a lot, some may feel it’s for the wrong reasons, so her popularity could take a nosedive, even if the situation is not her fault. Or she may get a big sympathy vote. The fourth nomination is Beyonce (photo 2) and we all know the huge support she has. Our guess is a vote battle between Miley and Beyonce this year.

In the Favourite Song category, similar problems may exist for Rihanna and her nominated single Don’t Stop the Music is perhaps a little too close to real life. Beyonce is in the mix again as well, with Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and that is certainly catchy. Our pick, though, is Katy Perry’s I Kissed A Girl because it is more pure pop than the others, and possibly more reflective of the mood of the times.

The Favourite Music Group is a real mash-up of styles and ages. Surely Daughtry and Linkin Park are too “old” to do well. So that leaves the Jonas Brothers versus Pussycat Dolls (photo 5) . Our guess is the Dolls because the Jonas film bombed.

Miley Cyrus is back in the nominations for Favourite TV Actress and is up against strong competition. Can Hannah Montana succeed against America Ferrera and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Ugly Betty. The other two nominations are Miranda Cosgrove for Drake & Josh and iCarly, plus Selena Gomez for The Wizards of Waverly Place and Another Cinderella Story, so this award is too hard to pick.

Just to round out the perfect triple, Miley is also in the running for the Favourite Voice From An Animated Movie for her work on Bolt. And, of course, that duet with John Travolta.

Despite earning around $25 million dollars last year, and undertaking all the activities required of a performer at that level, Miley Cyrus has continued with her education. She recently announced she is a straight A student.

This type of news from a celebrity is rather welcome, although I doubt it will get huge exposure in the gutter press. They will be too busy worrying about “Miley Cyrus cleavage shock” and will have trouble reporting any good news.

This type of story is good news, however, especially as Miley used it to reinforce an important message to all teens: “I hope you take school seriously! Education IS your life, stay in school, do your best.”

So despite all the scare stories about celebrity teens going off the rails, and the enormously biased reporting on many, stars like Miley, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry are showing that it is possible to be a “pop star” and all that entails, while also presenting a positive example of living their life.

The Climb is the new single from Miley Cyrus, hot on the heels of 7 Things. This time Miley is in pop-rock-country territory, which the panoramic video uses to spectacular effect.

The single is from the soundtrack to Hannah Montana: The Movie which is in store from March 24. The movie opens in April.

As usual there is the typical dull response from so-called music critics. One even has trouble that it is “too American Idol” and that is a joke. Idol tops the charts as both a TV show and as a launch pad for music success. Idol winners and finalists are regulars at the top of the charts.

So maybe that will all be good news for Miley and her fans, rather than the bad news the critics like to portray.

When Faith burst onto our screen in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, lots of us breathed a sigh of welcome relief. At last here was a character with some real grit. Much as we loved them, Angel and Spike were a bit cardboard, but Faith was the real deal.

Eliza Dushku played Faith and gained further exposure with Tru Calling on the small screen. Teaming up again with Buffy creator and director Joss Whedon for Dollhouse may be a great move. In episode one called Ghost we learn about the “dolls” who take on new personalities to undertake various missions.

Also known as “actives” they receive mind-wipes and then get reprogrammed with whatever talents are necessary for the new job. To help free a kidnapped daughter of a businessman, Eliza’s character Echo becomes a highly skilled hostage negotiator, with all the memories necessary to fulfil the role. Once the mission is complete, Echo returns to the Dollhouse to be re-wiped. But maybe the process is not complete?

In the background - so far - is an FBI Agent who has been chasing “Project Dollhouse” for 14 months with little result. How the two storylines will meet, and maybe save his career, could be an interesting feature.

There are other great series that have gone on to become cult classics, even if they do not achieve huge popularity. Jessica Alba played Max in Dark Angel and her career zoomed after that funky exposure. Maybe Dollhouse is the next rung up the star ladder for Eliza. We hope so, because Eliza’s husky voice and toned physique really appeals and we need to hear and see more.

The power of Apple in the whole range of media - music, film, tv - has been increasing year on year. From Toy Story (via Pixar) to digital downloads (iTunes) and mobile phones (iPod), the creators of the wonderful Apple Mac have dominated new channels.

We are now seeing an impact on film and tv, following iTunes becoming the number one digital downloads site for music.

The latest show to benefit from Apple is the new tv series for Buffy and Tru Calling star, Eliza Dushku. The premier episode of Dollhouse has already shot to No. 2 slot on iTunes sales, just behind Battlestar Galactica.

Eliza Dushku plays Echo, a member of a group of people known as Actives or Dolls. Sort of a cross between Alias and Dark Angel, the Dolls can become powerful contractors for various missions, good and bad, or even fantasies.

Although the Dolls have their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with new personas, Echo starts to become self-aware. The acquired talents, muscle memory, skills and language from different assignments can be a benefit or a curse.

Actives are monitored by Handlers. In between tasks, the mind-wiping takes place in a futuristic dormitory/laboratory, a hidden facility nicknamed “The Dollhouse.”

Stay iTuned for further updates !!

Love her or not, Katrina Darrell has spiced up the web, hammered Google and YouTube, and probably raised American Idol ratings by a chunky percentage. Go Katrina !!

There is surely nothing more all-American than cheerleaders and, as we know and love, bikinis are not unusual in that discipline. Why all the fuss over Katrina using her cheeky intelligence for a healthy chunk of self-promotion?

As you can see to the left (photo 1), Katrina Darell has put the work in to tone her fantastic body, and in any other arena than a music audition we may all be thankful for the original DNA.

We can’t see that Katrina is worse than Girls Aloud and their swimsuit calendar style (photo 2), especially as self-marketing in the MySpace and YouTube age is very much about image.

Just when we thought TV was the visual medium of the future, the web has zoomed past in so many ways - including claiming better advertising revenue.

Anyone else who strips down to bare essentials is often applauded, as you can see with Eliza Dukshu (photo 3) in her photoshoot for the new series Dollhouse that is soon to appear.

What’s the fuss? A storm in a C cup? Meanwhile, we’ll enjoy the view.