Alyssa Edwards tweeted that she will be on an upcoming episode of Transformations with James St. James! YES GAWD! Click over to see what she transforms him into.
Are you excited to see Alyssa Edwards transform James St. James into a pageant contestant?! Stay tuned…
Watch Alyssa’s Secret:
Watch Transformations:
The post Tweet of the Day: Alyssa Edwards To be on Transformations with James St. James appeared first on World of Wonder.
A comprehensive (and absolutely hysterical) list of songs to help make dusting time fun time, from one of our favorite wowlebrities David Munk (Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys) via his blog Stargayzing.
Writes David:
I would have liked to call this piece “A Gay Man’s Guide to the 10 Best Songs to Listen to While Doing Housework,” but since it is very hard to hear music over a vacuum cleaner, I have created this list to accompany the most quiet of household tasks, the dreary, dreaded, dolorous and thoroughly disagreeable removal of dust. Intuitively a gay man understands that to dust well requires not only the right tunes, but a musical approach to the physical task itself. A short list of dusting moves any gay house cleaner worth his salt must know, would include the theatrical swipe, the broad lunge, the jab, the Tinkerbell (jumping to reach a high object whilst fluttering your dusting sceptor of choice), the around-the world and, perhaps the best-loved of all, the I can see myself. Proper gay dusting attire will be addressed in subequent installments.
Regarding housework repertoire, a good dusting song for a gay man should be rousing, anthemic, or highly dramatic and be both musically and lyrically motivating within the context of housework. A successful selection can be uptempo or a ballad but in either case should distract from the onorous work at hand while simultaneously transporting the duster’s imagination someplace else. This special destination—this someplace else—is, of course, highly personal. For me, it is either to a five star hotel in an exotic locale or, even better, to my own imaginary urban aerie where I have staff of people to supervise. In either of these exalted imaginary places, the only thing required of me would be some advance straightening to allow the cleaner access to surfaces or, even better, some casual pointing (as in, I think you missed a spot, or make sure you move the lamp—don’t just dust around it), while I catch up on the phone with an old friend.
Here then, is the first Stargayzing list of songs that will make your dusting responsibilities as effortless and light as a cloud of Febreze wafting across your California King. From my home to yours—with love.
1. “Holding Out for a Hero” Bonnie Tyler
Oh the ’80s were so great for this kind of biblical, sonic, schmaltz. Though any Jim Steinman production is great for housework—one could easily make a strong argument for any of his work with Meatloaf, Celine Dion, or even Air Supply—I opted to lead with what may, in fact, be his most bombastic record ever, Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero.” If you are at all familiar with Steinman’s approach, you know that this is not a small statement. Mr. Steinman was fortunate enough to have his record of “Holding Out for a Hero” included on the Footloose soundtrack, which ensured a major payday for him and the song’s co-writer, the estimable Dean Pitchford (who also co-wrote the film’s title song, as well as Deniece Williams’ “Let’s Hear it for the Boy.”)
“Holding Out for a Hero” is so over-the-top that when it came time to shoot the video, it was, apparently, determined that the only visual capable of supporting the operatic intensity of Steinman’s studio wizardry was to put the Welsh songbird on top of the Grand Canyon. The resulting clip conjurs Clash of the Titan-level drama; one half expects Zeus to reach down from the heavens to deposit a hero at Bonnie’s feet. It is hard to think of another record in any genre released since 1984 that comes close to matching “Holding Out for a Hero” for turbo-charged Sturm und Drang. It remains for me, the crack cocaine of diva pop.
I recommend this song for dusting the highest peaks of your home: tops of bookshelves, on top of the refrigerator, or the tippy top of your closets—the places only goddesses like you and Bonnie Tyler can hope to reach. Bonnie needed a helicopter to reach her royal perch, but you need only need Stargayzing to watch.
2. “The Auctioneer” by Leroy Van Dyke
I recommend keeping the housework sound bed lively by pulling from many genres. Toward that end we have one of my favorite country tunes, “The Auctioneer.” The LeRoy Van Dyke and Buddy Black composition is certainly one of the catchiest ditties of the 1950s. Missouri native Van Dyke wrote the song while stationed in Korea and, upon his return home, entered it in a contest that led to a record deal with Dot Records. Van Dyke has had a long country music career, in fact, he’s still alive.
You’ll be living for this earworm and the hertoefore unknown regional qualities it will bring forth in your dusting. Do not be surprised if you begin to square dance, even if you have never square danced before, or spontaneously begin to bid on your own dusty knick knacks. The response frequently begins with a slight, insistent up and down shoulder move and can quickly spread throughout the body. Don’t be alarmed: this is all a normal response to “The Auctioneer.” Just remember: keep dusting, you’re not really at an auction and most of your crap has no value to anyone but you.
#3. “Working Girl (For the)” Melissa Manchester
I have written extensively about “Working Girl (For the)” on Stargayzing in the past—in fact, it got an entire blog piece writen about it—but when it comes to my regard for the song, one just can’t say too much. Culled from the more linear-titled album For the Working Girl, this Melissa Manchester/Bernie Taupin song was meant to be an everywoman anthem, a sort of “I Am Woman” for its own time. There had even been talk of a film to be spun off from the song’s narrative and produced by Taupin’s production company.
Sadly, none of that came to pass. Even worse, the song wasn’t even released as a single. What was label head Clive Davis thinking? Maybe Arista got cold feet and lost its appetite for working a feminist anthem with a shit load of vibrato at radio. Or maybe the promotion department struggled with what is certainly one of Taupin’s worst lines ever: “a nest eggs a day dream, that never gets laid.” Whatever the reasons, I’m still sad about what happened so I like to talk about it once in a while; it’s cathartic. I listen to the song regularly—probably once a week—but it never makes me happier than when while I’m doing work around the house. Try it and you’ll see. Taupin’s lyric, notwithstanding the line about the nest egg, is perfectly paired with Manchester’s passionate, theatrical performance. I guarantee you will identify with every put upon occupation Melissa names as you clean your home.
#4. “This Is My Life (La Vita)” Shirley Bassey
There is nothing like adding a dollop of defiance to your ballads to keep the dusting on track. Dame Shirley Bassey’s 1968 lung-busting anthem is just the song to do it. Never known for her restraint, here Miss Bassey really let’s it rip and the seismic result is one of her signature tunes. If you don’t know it, you’re in for a treat. If you do know the song but haven’t heard it in a while, it will feel like you’ve run into an old friend that you had mixed feelings about; though charismatic, you find this old friend loud, unduly attention-seeking and forever mired in her anger issues dressed up as self-actualization. I’m sure you know the type.
A word of warning: absolutely do not work with anything fragile while listening to Miss Brassey, as the sheer power of her voice and depths of her desperation to, you know, grow, are likely to summon forth your own anger issues. A safe bet is to work on wood objects for the 3:17 seconds it takes the singer to get it out of her system.
#5. “Bortsch Riders In the Sky” Micket Katz
Mickey Katz was a trailblazer. In the years after WWII he became famous as a Yiddish musician and comic who enjoyed a great deal of crossover success. First as a member of Spike Jones and His City Slickers and then on his own, Katz released many successful LPs. Though his music bore a clear influence of both jazz and Klezmer, Katz is best remembered today for his parody records. One of my favorites is his “Borscht Riders in the Sky,” a parody of the 1948 country standard “Ghost Riders in the Sky.” For me what makes Katz so impressive, beyond the inate likability and musciality of his records, is how willing he was to make his ethnicity the focus of his work at time when so many performers were circumspect about their Jewishness. In addition to his great records, Katz has also left us the familial legacy of his son, the legendary performer Joel Grey, and granddaughter Jennifer Grey.
For our purposes here, let me say that listening to Mickey Katz while dusting is wonderfully motivating. When I do, I immediately feel transported to my grandparents dining room. In the sound of Katz’ Yiddishisms, I hear their generation and it is a comforting sound. For that reason, may I suggest you work in the dining room while listening to the most meshuga Mickey?
#6. Medley: “Tropical Nights/Bali Hai” Liza Minnelli
There was a period in the late-1970s where everyone made a disco record. Given the lemming-like tendencies of the record business to begin with, it was practically mandatory. For Miss Minnelli, who was not a stranger to discos in the first place, a foray to the dance floor probably made more sense than it did for many of her peers, (like say…Ethel Merman, maybe?) The resulting record, Tropical Nights, is not one of her strongest efforts, but I love it anyway, primarily for the album cover (art directed by LuAnn Graffeo) and for the inclusion of this frantic medley.
Though the “Tropical Nights/Bali Hai” medley begins atmospherically enough, by the time you get to the end of the 6:17 track you will be thrashing through your medicine chest for something in the benzodiazpine family: it’s that caffeinated. As always, Liza is up, up, up for anything and here she gives it her all (and then some). Belting at full volume and at the very top of her range for six minutes about the tropics will do far more for your dusting than it probably did for Liza’s pipes. Speaking of plumbing, this record is long enough to finish a particularly annoying task, like cleaning out under the sink, so get crackin’.
#7. “Up All Night” Taylor Dane
Though I’d already left Arista by the time Taylor’s second album Can’t Fight Fate was released, I always had an affinity for her and the other artists I knew and worked with at the very beginning of my career. Though Diane Warren’s “I’ll Be Your Shelter” and “Love Will Lead You Back” are the well-known mega-hits from this album, I always particularly enjoyed Shelly Peiken’s “Up All Night,” which easily could have been a hit as well.
The fact that I still enjoy listening to the song almost 25 years later is a testament to how highly I regard it still; that I’m endorsing the song as a house cleaning pick confers on the song an even greater level of esteem. But be warned in advance, this earworm of a twirler may very well have you prancing around with your dusting wand like a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
#8. “Justified and Ancient” KLF featuring Tammy Wynette
It’s hard to express how much I enjoyed (and still adore) the bizarre cultural mash-up of country legend Tammy Wynnette and the U.K. band KLF. At the time the song was an international hit. I love hearing Tammy singing about Mu Mu Land and other things that don’t make sense. At the time, she was quoted as saying, “I really don’t know why they chose me. I was apprehensive at first, but I’m really excited with the way it’s all turned out. Mu Mu Land looks a lot more interesting than Tennessee, but I wouldn’t want to live there.”
#9. “If He Walked Into My Life” Eydie Gormé
In general I enjoy a wide range of musical styles but never more than while dusting. I think it is important to not get stuck in a rut; to keep the music varied both in tempo, genre, and vibe. Toward that end, a little Jerry Herman is never the wrong choice. Though I certainly do suggest housework accompanied by some of his uptempo standards, sometimes an exremely dramatic ballad allows the duster to step in to the frame of mind of the character. You’ll be surprised how this can impact your dusting and even change your style.
#10. “Cars That Go Boom” L’Trimm
Tigra and Bunny D. were two teenage girls from Kendall, Florida whose tribute to subwoofers was a minor hit back in 1989. I have always enjoyed dusting to L’Trimm and I think you will too. Though she may not enjoy it as much as I do, I bet Bunny has plenty of housework herself, having been married no less than five times, (though she only had four kids with four of her husbands). Who knows, maybe the sixth husband is the charm.
This song brings back fond memories of my days working at W.E.A. International (now Warner Music International), and serves as fun-filled finale to our first installment of great songs to dust to.
The post A Gay Man’s Guide to the Best Songs to Listen to While Dusting appeared first on World of Wonder.
Other possible theories: UFOs are drilling for uranium to power their spaceships. Or maybe it’s a wormhole in the time/space continuum. Or the Hellmouth from Buffy. WHO THE HELL KNOWS?
What we DO know so far is this: A mysterious giant hole has suddenly appeared in Yamal, on the far north of Siberia. Nobody has many details right now, but the pics and video captured from a helicopter show a weird configuration with debris and signs of combustion around it. Was it an explosion, an impact, or some violent drilling? Scientists are baffled.
From The Daily Mail: There has been web speculation about the crater indicating ‘the arrival of a UFO craft’. But one Russian expert says the cause is more likely to be global warming releasing gases under the surface, which then explode like a champagne cork. Experts say that the darkening around the inner rim of the crater indicates ‘severe burning’ which scorched its edges.
But according to The Siberian Times, it might be something as boring as an explosion caused water, salt and gas.
Anna Kurchatova from Sub-Arctic Scientific Research Centre thinks the crater was formed by a water, salt and gas mixture igniting an underground explosion, the result of global warming. She postulates that gas accumulated in ice mixed with sand beneath the surface, and that this was mixed with salt – some 10,000 years ago this area was a sea.
Or maybe it’s a geological phenomenon called a pingo—a block of ice that’s grown into a small hill in the frozen arctic ground. Says polar scientist Chris Fogwill:
The permafrost [frozen earth] can be hundreds of metres thick, allowing for large ice features.
This is obviously a very extreme version of that, and if there’s been any interaction with the gas in the area, that is a question that could only be answered by going there.
We’re seeing much more activity in permafrost areas than we’ve seen in the historical past. A lot of this relates to this high degree of warming around these high arctic areas which are experiencing some of the highest rates of warming on earth.
Watch the video below and tweet me your theories @JSJdarling. (via Sploid)
The post Giant Hole Mysteriously Appears In Siberia. Likely Theory: GIANT HELL WORMS COMING OUT OF THEIR LAIR TO GET YOU! appeared first on World of Wonder.
On tonight’s very special episode, we find Big Freedia at home with her family planning the final celebration of Miss Vera’s life. It’s a difficult time but Freedia finds strength in her family and friends. Their stories of Vera are both emotional and inspiring. Freedia, along with her sister, Crystal, uncle Percy and the rest of the family set the stage for a loving and fitting homegoing for Miss Vera. It’s and emotional send off that is fit for a queen. Queen Vera, you will live on in our hearts.
The post Big Freedia Queen Diva Vol. 2 Issue #6 appeared first on World of Wonder.
All the most buzzworthy celebrities IN THE WORLD, papped for your viewing pleasure!
A virtually unrecognizable Ryan Reynolds on the set of Woman in Gold. Seriously, he looks like my Uncle Jim. I would have NEVER known that was him.
Our old chum Lisa Edelstein attends the 2014 Television Critics Association Summer press tour. She stars in the upcoming scripted Bravo series Girl’s Guide to Divorce which promises to be amaaaazing.
Wowlebrity and LOVE OF MY LIFE Luis D. Ortiz attends the 2014 Television Critics Association Summer press tour. I just want to put him in a little locked cupboard in my kitchen and KEEP IN THERE FOREVER. Is that creepy?
Booboo Stewart wraps filming Disney’s The Descendants in Vancouver. He plays Jaffar from Aladdin‘s son.
And here’s another picture of my boo.
Scott Michael Foster walks around Vancouver on a day off from filming Once Upon a Time. He’ll play Kristoff from Frozen on the upcoming third season, as well as on the possible spinoff. Yes, a Frozen TV series. Way to milk that teat, Disney.
COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY.
(Photos: Pacific Coast News)
The post Celebrity Roundup 7/16 appeared first on World of Wonder.
Gripping mini-doc about the legendary Club My-O-My, a female impersonator club that flourished in New Orleans from 1930s-1960s, with interviews from some of the (now elderly) performers. Says Lady Bunny: “I think I saw Bianca Del Rio!” Interesting how different drag was back then, and how classy all the dames were.
Via the New Orleans Historical Society:
The Club My-O-My was a female impersonator club that originated and ended in the French Quarter. It flourished after first being kicked out of an informal, after-hours home in a fur warehouse in the Vieux Carre in the early 1930s, according to oral history in the New Orleans gay community. The Club My-O-My joined the older Wonder Bar in the West End area of New Orleans. The Wonder Bar eventually closed; from the 1930s through the 1960s, the My-O-My served as a popular part of New Orleans nightlife for tourists as well as residents.
The New Orleans club was one of several in the United States whose impersonators performed for heterosexual as well as homosexual audiences. Grayline Tours brought tourists by the busload for decades until a 1972 fire destroyed its lakefront location. The club relocated to the French Quarter for a short while before closing for good. The once risque club had been rendered too tame by the sexual revolution and changes in dress and mores.For the majority of its existence, the club allowed only white patrons and white performers.
The post Vintage Drag Queens from New Orleans’ Club My-O-My appeared first on World of Wonder.
Stritch the year of her Broadway debut in 1948
“Elaine was a magnificent woman in every sense of the word. A true trail blazer. Her talent and spunk will be greatly missed by so many of us.”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, from Modern Family, also shared his thoughts, via Twitter;
“What a life! 89 full years. A true legend & one of my all time favorites.”
The marquees of all Broadway theaters will be dimmed in Stritch’s memory tomorrow night at 7:45 p.m. for one minute in her honor, the theater community state in a statement. Charlotte St. Martin, executive director of the Broadway League, said in a statement;
“Elaine Stritch’s big personality was matched by her big talent. Collaborating with some of Broadway’s greatest playwrights and composers throughout her lengthy career, her signature numbers and singular style created a memorable legacy. Elaine Stritch will always be remembered as an important part of Broadway’s rich history, and she will be missed by her many fans.”
She surely will be. What a great old broad, as they used to say…
The post RIP: The Incomparable Elaine Stritch appeared first on World of Wonder.
Nicole Richie stopped by Buzzfeed to give her opinion on 46 random things. What does she think of crocs, guacamole, Hilary Clinton, and more? Click over and find out!
The post 46 Random Things And What Nicole Richie Thinks About Them via Buzzfeed appeared first on World of Wonder.
What a GORGEOUS shot! RuPaul’s Drag Race legend returned to her old stomping grounds this week for the Sydney Mardi Gras, when a gust of wind BLEW UP SKIRT. Marilyn Monroe’s got NOTHING on our girl. This might be the most glamorous wardrobe malfunction EVER! She tweets of the incident: “It was a bit windy yesterday at @sydoperahouse. #sydneymardigras”
And here’s another shot of her outfit billowing in the wind. Just fab.
Just ginning around the @sydoperahouse forecourt in my @marcosquared gown shooting a little global tourism campaign for @sydneymardigras
The post InstaGlam Pic of the Day: Courtney Act Sweeps Into Sydney appeared first on World of Wonder.
On this episode of Courtney Naturally, Courtney Stodden plays the blindfold drawing challenge! See if her drawings of a unicorn, kitty cat, and a bunny look anything like those animals!
Watch new episodes of Courtney Naturally every Thursday on WOWPresents!
Accents Challenge
Courtney shows us her accent “skills!” Listen to her do a British, Southern, Australian, Irish, Russian, plus so many more accents!
Saltine Cracker Challenge
Courtney plays the saltine cracker challenge! Can she eat 6 saltine crackers in 60 seconds? It’s harder than it sounds!
Tweet Courtney with what challenges you want her to do!
Bad Jokes
Courtney Stodden tells some really…bad jokes! Courtney some how manages to make these bad jokes funny! Tweet Courtney YOUR favorite BAD joke!
Chubby Bunny Challenge
Courtney does the chubby bunny challenge! How many jumbo size marshmallows can she fit in her mouth? Gotta watch to find out!
Blindfold Object Challenge
Courtney does the blindfold object challenge! Using only her hands, Courtney has to guess what the objects are that she’s touching.
Wikipedia Mad Libs
Courtney plays some Mad Libs! Mad Libs with a twist! She fills in the blanks from her Wikipedia page!
Courtney N’ Krista
Courtney Stodden’s Mom, Krista stops by to take a trip down memory lane! She comes equipped with old photos and stories of Courtney when she was a little girl!
Hollywood Haul
Courtney has a shopping spree on Hollywood Boulevard, shows us what she bought, and gives a little fashion show!
Dear Courtney
Courtney answers questions that she was asked on Twitter.
#StoddenSelfie
Courtney shows how to take one of her infamous Stodden Seflies!
Helium Hoorah:
Courtney hits a high note while singing with the help of helium balloons.
Courtney Stodden, the infamous tabloid teen-bride and bombshell-beauty, is ready to expose a new and surprising side of herself in an original web series! Courtney Naturally reveals Courtney’s genuine and softer side that the tabloids have too often ignored – the girl behind the gossip. This intimate series showcases Stodden perched among a serene setting of fluffy white clouds, where she shares compelling personal stories, advice, and hosts quirky YouTube video challenges. Get a glimpse of Courtney Stodden’s unique perspective on the world that only someone of her age and experience could have! No topic is off limits, including her world famous boobs.
Courtney says about her webshow:
“It’s a delight and honor to be creating such a fun web series with World Of Wonder, I’m excited to reveal the many colors of my personality and share pieces of me, naturally.”
New episodes of Courtney Naturally every Thursday, on WOWPresents!
The post Courtney Stodden Naturally – Blindfold Drawing Challenge appeared first on World of Wonder.
Sporting an impressively tattooed torso, Tim Howard opens up to Adweek about his meteoric rise to fame and the opportunities it brings with it.
From Adweek:
So, is this your big chance to cash in with sponsorships?
I suppose so. That’s what everyone’s telling me.
Your agent says you’re seeking sponsorships that fit who you are as a person.
It’s important that I’m a role model, and that the companies that I associate myself with feel the same way about their own images. Those are companies I’d like to be associated with. I try not to and I don’t think I ever have just jumped at any opportunity because a company wanted me. Just because there was money on the table doesn’t mean that I took it.
Are you looking for long-term deals?
Sponsorships and marketing are oftentimes pretty short-lived. From a company’s standpoint, they’re often not looking to do tremendously long contracts. They’re always trying to catch the next big thing. I do believe that relationships are important. I always feel that if it works for me and it works for them, if there’s a good rapport, then longer-term relationships—one year, two years, five years, whatever that means—help to grow my brand and the company’s brand. Consistency’s important.
Has your sudden fame in the U.S. been overwhelming?
It’s not overwhelming for me in the sense that I play in England. In England, soccer is just mega—it’s huge. I’ve been there for 11 years. I’ve seen firsthand how people react. Obviously, in America, the nonsoccer fans have really taken notice of the sport with the World Cup. That’s been cool to see as an American who is trying to help grow the sport.
What’s shocked or surprised you the most in the past couple of weeks?
Just how intrusive a camera phone can be (laughs). That’s just the world in which we live. That’s society today, so I understand how that works. The worst thing is probably when I’m with my children, having people bombard me at times.
Is it better to experience this kind of fame at 35? Could you have handled it at 21, 22?
Without question, I think it’s better to be a mature adult who’s gone through life experiences, who’s seen some ups and downs.
The post Check Out US World Cup Superstar Tim Howard Shirtless on the Cover of Adweek! appeared first on World of Wonder.
Two for the road. The iconic Elaine Stritch performs two of her signature songs “The Ladies Who Lunch” and “I’m Still Here.” She’s not anymore (here) but she’ll never be forgotten. What a woman!
First up: “The Ladies Who Lunch” from Company. A bitter, biting, and vodka-soaked toast to empty-headed society swans who waste their time with frivolous things like luncheons and parties. At the end of the song, the character Stritch plays, Joanne, realizes that she is one, herself – a socialite who spends her time criticizing the lives of other women, but never does anything to improve her own life. It’s a devastating critique of New York society, and nobody sings it better than Elaine.
Then: “I’m Still Here” from Follies was written for the show’s original star Yvonne de Carlo (TV’s Lily Muntser) by Stephen Sondheim. The song is a about looking back on a long and storied life and congratulating yourself on your survival. Elaine explains at the beginning of the video that an actress has only earned the right to perform the song once they reach 80, like herself. Everyone else is just fooling themselves.
The post Once More, With Feeling: Elaine Stritch Sings Her Signature Songs appeared first on World of Wonder.
Sinead O’Connor premiered her new single Take Me to Church on NPR yesterday. The new album, I’m not bossy, I’m the Boss, (a nod to the Ban Bossy campaign) drops on August 11. I know what you are thinking and yes, her last 8 albums were interesting? but this track feels different. Its feels like she may be back. And with an all new surprisingly “whorish” look which I love especially considering the Miley Cyrus fiasco…
Enjoy the track below, it’s like hearing from an old dear friend you haven’t talked to since 1990 (I do not want what I haven’t got).
The post Sinead O’Connor’s “Church” is Poised to Reclaim Her ’90′s Glory appeared first on World of Wonder.
Texas Rangers first baseman Prince Fielder is on the cover of the annual ESPN Magazine Body Issue, in all his gorgeous, bearish glory.
The five-time All Star baseball star poses for one of the issue’s skin-baring shots which resulted in a barrage of ridicule and criticism online, condemning him for not having a typical athletic body. Sayeth the Twitter trolls:
He doesn’t care. He talks body image in the magazine’s interview saying (among other things):
You don’t have to look like an Under Armour mannequin to be an athlete. A lot of people probably think I’m not athletic or don’t even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can’t be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn’t mean you’re going to have a 12-pack. I work out to make sure I can do my job to the best of my ability. Other than that, I’m not going up there trying to be a fitness model.
I got some nice 22s. My dad has big arms, and everyone in my family has them, so it’s just normal in my house. I had them when I was younger too, but obviously there was a little more cholesterol behind them [laughs]. They’ve always been big, just needed to fill them out with some solid stuff in there.
I need to feed the size. Obviously, I’m a big guy. But I also need to feed myself with the right things. I have a chef now, so it’s definitely easier to make sure that I’m getting full off of the right foods. If I don’t stay on it, it can get out of control.
I wish I would have eaten right earlier in my career. My thing was, especially during the season, I would just lift weights and eat — play for the tie. I’d eat a big meal, then do cardio to try to make it even. Instead of eating right and working smart, I was working harder and making myself more tired.
Meanwhile, Tumblr has been having a field day with the images, as you can imagine:
I found this glowing tribute to his nude layout at devilandgodrageinme
As a large man of color myself I couldn’t help but to feel some existential pride seeing Prince Fielder on the cover. He is a big man, with wide shoulders and a large build, he always has been. People will say some insensitive shit about this but to me, when this hits shelves this week, people will see it. They will see a big man strutting his stuff on the cover of one of the biggest sports magazines ever.
I grew up playing sports as a big kid, always feeling like I had to prove something; That I wasn’t being respected because of my weight. It took some mental fortitude to take the abuses and keep moving. Prince represents one of the best players in his particular craft and while he still faces the stigma, he still consistently proves people wrong.
This issue also says a big “fuck you” to traditional beauty. He’s big and colored and tattooed and, in my eyes, a representative of me and people like me. I truly hope this one magazine cover becomes the start of a new perception in mainstream athleticism and beauty. Be big, be skinny, be different, be who you are and fucking love yourself, you’ve earned it.
Also coming to his defense was an editorial in Care2, saying:
…if there is anything to be learned from this whole situation, it’s that body shaming and body image concerns aren’t exclusively a woman’s issue. if what happened to Fielder doesn’t convince you then how about this recent Today/AOL body image survey which found that men worry about their appearance more than they worry about their health, family, relationships or professional success.
That’s not all. The survey also found that nearly half of all men think about their personal appearance several times each day and 53% said they felt unsure about their appearance at least once a week. Dieting was also a major concern among men with 63% of participants saying they “always feel like (they) could lose weight.” Women also aren’t the only ones who worry when it comes to beach season. The survey found that 44% of men feel uncomfortable wearing bathing suits and another 41% said they worry that people will judge their appearance.
While we’ve long filed body image concerns as a concern for women, the issue now often hits home for men as well. Another study from the JAMA Pediatrics looked at body image in younger boys. The study found that 18% of boys are highly concerned about their weight and body. Of these nearly half were predominately worried about gaining more muscle. Such concerns resulted in boys being more likely to be depressed and engage in high-risk behaviors such as binge drinking and drug use.
That’s why Fielder’s inclusion in ESPN’s Body issue is so special. His nude shots are a great contrast to the everyday examples that engulf young boys’ and men’s lives. Showing a male figure like Fielder who is not only strong, but also proud of his huskier body, is proof positive that beautiful bodies come in all shapes and sizes.
Now, i’d say that’s a home run.
The post Celebrating ESPN Magazine’s Cover Boy Prince Fielder appeared first on World of Wonder.
Seattle-based singer-songwriter Mary Lambert (who scored big with last year’s “Same Love” collaboration with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis) lets loose with a litany of her faults in her bouncy new song “Secrets.” In it, she sings about all the things that she’s been taught to keep hidden, but which she’s decided she’s no longer going to do. Yes! Good for you, Mary! Roar, girl.
“‘Secrets’ might be the first fun song I’ve ever written,” Lambert tells Hitflix. “The song is about accepting yourself, flaws and all. I felt like there were a lot of songs coming out about self-empowerment and challenging beauty standards and I wanted to write a song along those same lines, but in my voice. There is so much shame and guilt in our society and I think it has deprived a lot of people from living fully. We are all facing battles, We’ve all had someone who has hurt us. So let’s talk bout it.”
Watch the lyric video below:
From Hitflix:
In Mary Lambert’s “Secrets,” she reveals perceived flaw after flaw that she tries to keep hidden over an irrepressibly jaunty tune— whether it’s that she’s bi-polar, comes from a dysfunctional family, cries all day, is gay, is overweight…she has a catalog full. But her message it that we all have our secrets and keeping them locked away in a place of shame is far more damaging than letting them out.
The song is about reclaiming your power by letting go of the messages that society pounds into us over and over that we are not good enough as we are and that there is always some unattainable goal —losing 5 more pounds, having longer eyelashes, going a shade blonde — that would make us acceptable to the world.
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Check out the latest videos from our WOWPresents Network! Jason Carter, Mike Diamond, Greg Scarnici, and MORE all have new videos! Watch them now!
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Legendary Jackie Beat and the handsome Mario Diaz compete for cash on this episode of Be$tie$ For Ca$h! Click over and see just how well they know each other!
New episodes of Couple$ For Ca$h every Friday on WOWPresents!
Previous Episodes:
The hunky Colby Keller and his adorable bestie Justin compete for cash on this episode of Be$tie$ For Ca$h!
It’s a double dose of double R! Raja & Raven from Fashion Photo RuView appear on this weeks episode of Be$tie$ for Ca$h!
Comedy duo Mikey Scott & Teddy Margas, of Queers of Comedy fame, compete for cash on Be$tie$ for Ca$h!
Miles Davis Moody from RuPaul’s Drag Race pit crew and his be$tie/roomie compete for cash on this week’s episode of Homie$ For Ca$h!
Johnny Scruff and his friend Joey compete for cash on this week’s episode of Homie$ For Ca$h! How much money will they win?
Calpernia Addams and Andrea James compete for cash on this week’s episode of Be$tie$ for Ca$h!
Alaska Thunderfuck and her brother Cory are contestants on this episode of Bro$ For Ca$h! Watch them compete for some dollah dollah billz and test their knowledge. Do they have the brotherly love?
The absolutely delightful Selene Luna and her boyfriend Adam test their relationship knowledge and play Couple$ For Ca$h!
Daniel Franzese and his homie Jordan compete for cash on this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h: Homie$ Edition!
The hilarious duo Jessica and Hunter are competing for cash on this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h:Bestie$ Edition!
Season 4 RuPaul’s Drag Race queen Phi Phi O’Hara and her boyfriend Mikhael compete for cash on this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h!
RuPaul’s Drag Race pit crew member, Shawn Morales and his boyfriend Robert compete for cash on this episode of Couple$ For Ca$h!
Delta Work from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 3 and her boo-thang, Davey, compete for some Freaky Money on this episode of Couple$ For Ca$h!
On this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h, RuPaul’s Drag Race pit crew member, Jason Carter and his boyfriend JASON compete for some cash-money!
RuPaul’s Drag Race Glamazon, Yara Sofia and her boyfriend Rubin are contestants on this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h! How well do they know each other? Watch and find out!
Raven and her boyfriend, Martin, are competing on to win some dollah dollah bills on this episode of Couple$ for Ca$h!
It’s Valentines Day and what do we love more than love? CA$H! Today we debut a new web show on WOWPresents, Couple$ for Ca$h! It’s kindof like The Newlywed Game, only better because it features your favorite wowlebrities and they make cash money! In the first episode, we have Catch-of-the-Day Vivienne Pinay and her boo Devin.
The post Watch This Video Now: Be$tie$ For Ca$h – Jackie Beat & Mario Diaz appeared first on World of Wonder.
The relentlessly gloomy former Warhol starlet performed her medieval lamentation “Genghis Khan” on French television in June of 1978. I honor of her death 26 years ago today, let’s listen to her moan along to her beloved harmonium below.
I have come to lie with you
I have come to die with you
On your padded shoulder
And your golden chest
In a wilderness of glass we rest
And all the flowers they are our words
And my chances follow dances Into a storm afraid
A sweet and bitter rest he gets
A sweet and bitter rest he gets
I have come to lie with you
I have come to die with you.
From Dangerous Minds:
They don’t write ‘em like that anymore, do they? The golf claps from the audience at the end speak volumes. There are so few professionally “in studio” performances by her. This one is a bleak gem.
Nico, real name Christa Päffgen, died on this day in 1988 at the age of 48. More or less off heroin at that point, but still struggling with it, she was living with her son Ari Boulogne in Ibiza. One very hot day she decided to take her bike into town to buy some marijuana, but had a heart attack along the way, hitting her head as she fell and causing a severe cerebral hemorrhage. A cabdriver found her but she was mistakenly diagnosed as suffering from heat exposure at the hospital and died later that evening.
The post Flashback 1979: Nico Performs “Genghis Khan” on French Television appeared first on World of Wonder.
Blake and Adam discuss #CandidyNicole, Million Dollar Listing, Hurricane Bianca, Zoo Jeans, Exclusive Sharon Needles & Peaches Christ polaroids!
New episodes of WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report every Friday on WOWPresents!
PREVIOUS EPISODES
Blake and Adam discuss Nicole Richie’s TV Takeover, Nicole Richie talks friendship withParis Hilton, Big Dipper’s kick starter, Miley Cyrus’ new video, tattoo, James St. James’ list of the top 10 signs that Miley Cyrus has possibly lost her mind, Million Dollar Listing New York‘s Emmy nod, and RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s Emmy snub!
Blake and Adam discuss RuPaul on Mystery Girls, 17 of the Hottest Actors, hot boutique hotels on the east coast, and World of Wonder’s awesome 4th of July playlist!
On this episode of WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report, Adam and Blake talk about #CandidlyNicole, Kim Kardashian, MDLLA, Bianca Del Rio, and more! Click over and watch!
Adam and Blake are joined by RuPaul to talk about #CandidlyNicole, Skin Wars, new Emojis, Milk’s new webshow and more!
Adam and Blake talk about new WOWPresents shows Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce Big Ass Moments and Fashion Photo RuView, Alaska and Big Freedia‘s new music videos, and the Genderbent Project!
Adam and Blake are on the World of Wonder rooftop talking about Adore Delano’s music, gay movie history, La Toya Jackson’s engagement, and the Realscreen awards!
On this episode Adam and Blake talk Big Freedia on the cover of Frontiers magazine, RuPaul’s Drag Race award nominations, RuPaul on Hey Qween, RuPaul Drives… Iggy Azalea, MDLNY Reunion and more!
On this episode Adam and Blake talk Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce marathon AND “Release Your Wiggle contest, Bianca Del Rio, her episode of Transformations, Adore Delano’s new web show, and #DragQueenProblems!
On this episode Adam and Blake talk ALL ABOUT RuPaul’s Drag Race related posts on this RUPERSIZED episode of WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report! And it’s milkin’ time! MILK from RuPaul’s Drag Race season six stops by!
On this episode Adam and Blake talk about Alaska Thunderfuck and her brother Cory on Bro$ For Ca$h, Trey Speegle’s gorgeous upstate New York home featured in Scene Magazine, Life with La Toya and Million Dollar Listing Miami release date, Serena ChaCha and Jiggly Caliente on Ring My Bell, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, a tiny hamster eating a tiny burrito!
On this episode Me and Blake talk about RuPaul’s Drag Race Reunited Season 6 tickets, Big Freedia’s new album Just Be Free, Iggy Azalea on RuPaul Drives, and a 3D printed statue by Stuart Sandford! We also give a special shout out to our friend Danny Franzese! Watch now!
On this episode, Me and Blake talk about the GLAAD Media Awards, RuPaul’s Drag Race Paris street art, and Coachella’s trend alert!
This week Blake and I discuss new World of Wonder shows Friends to Lovers and Million Dollar Listing Miami coming to Bravo, RuPaul and Michelle Visage’s new Podcast What’s the Tee?, and new videos featuring Joslyn Fox, Phi Phi O’hara, Bianca Del Rio and Sherry Vine!
If that isn’t enough, we even have a surprise visit from our besties Hunter & Jessica to teach us their word of the week!
This week Blake and I talk RuPaul‘s candy bar, #CandidlyNicole, and much more on the all-new WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report! And Michelle Visage guest stars! WATCH!
Helloooo! Check out this week’s WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report! Blake and I tell you the top posts on the WOW Report that you can’t miss! Posts about RuPaul’s candy bar, RAWk Your Body, #CandidlyNicole coming to VH1 , and more! Also Michelle Visage pops in to say a little something!
PS. Tweet us @adamasea, @BlakeJacobs, & @WorldOfWonder a picture of you chowing down on a RuPaul candy bar and we’ll post it on the WOW Report! YAY!
This week on WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report Blake and I discuss Michelle Visage’s book deal, Naomi Campbell’s reaction to Kim and Kanye on the cover of Vogue, WOW’s partnership with Base79, Alaska’s rules of etiquette when watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, and #cockinasock! We even had special guest kitty, Santa, to help out! Check Santa out on Pimp My Ride!
Me (Adam Asea) and Blake Jacobs present to you WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report! A brand-new web series on WOWPresents! Find out what it’s about!
Each week Blake and I will be tell you the top 5 posts on the WOW Report that we think are MUST-READS! This week, we suggests posts about RuPaul, Big Freedia & Miley Cyrus, Jinkx Monsoon & Peaches Christ, Courtney Love, and more! James St. James even stops by for a quick cameo!
The post Watch This Video Now: WOWPresents The Weekly WOW Report – Candidly Nicole, Million Dollar Listing, Bianca Del Rio & more! appeared first on World of Wonder.
NYC drag icon, actor and musician Sherry Vine, aka Keith Levy, strips down for a chat with I’m From Driftwood Project- the archive of apolitical LGBT stories, to discuss her journey to becoming a drag queen and owning her freakdom.
The post Watch: “I Like Being a Freak” Keith Levy AKA Sherry Vine Interview appeared first on World of Wonder.
