Coco Austin: Interview with the Star of ‘Ice Loves Coco’

Reality star and former Playboy model, Coco Austin, has adored fans with her sweet, down-to-earth personality since debuting on the show, Ice Loves Coco, with her devoted husband, rapper/actor Ice-T, in 2011. With Coco’s charm and playfulness and Ice T’s use of common sense and telling it like it is makes this couple’s every day life seem quite entertaining to watch.

But there is more to this Southern California girl than just wearing over-the-top sexy outfits that hug her voluptuous curves and being arm candy to her man at celebrity events. She is also a business woman and an advocate of full-figured women being comfortable with their bodies.

The 34-year-old, blond bombshell’s latest project is Peepshow at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. The striptease show has wowed audiences. Coco was even named by Las Vegas Weekly to be one of the top 13 performers to watch in 2013. TheCelebrityCafe.com had the chance to speak with Coco about Peepshow (which has been extended through Sept. 1st) and how she manages to make her marriage work despite the distance.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: What can people expect at Peepshow?

Coco Austin: When people hear the term peepshow they automatically think of it as a sleazy, grimy-type atmosphere. But this show is the opposite of that. It’s a musical love story. Everything you would expect at a Vegas show is in Peepshow such as Cirque du Soleil-like entertainment, comedy, singing, and dancing.

Another thing viewers won’t expect is the character I play, Bo Peep, who is shy and timid, which is the exact opposite of me. A lot of people didn’t think I could pull it off. In fact, after each show I do a meet and greet with the audience and some actually thought I really was shy like my character. So it’s nice to know that I did my performance so well that people really thought I can be timid.

TCC: Do you personally sing, dance, or do any acrobats on the show?

CA: I only dance on the show. When I first got the call to do the Vegas show, I had seen Holly Madison prior to taking her place on Peepshow and she was singing and dancing. So I said, “If I am coming all the way from New York to Las Vegas for the show I want to dance.” The reason why I said this is because I have been dancing my whole entire life. Peepshow gave me the opportunity to show off my skill. There are not too many times that you start something in your childhood that you actually get a chance to show off later on in life. I might tweak it a bit and incorporate singing in my performance. But for right now I’m not too into it. I can hold a tune, but I’m not comfortable doing that just yet. I am not on the level of the talent we have on the show. So I’ll leave the singing to them. (Laughs)

TCC: Since this is a burlesque show there is nudity involved, right?

CA: Um…maybe I shouldn’t give it away, but in the show my character gets some help on how to be more comfortable with her body. So there is nudity involved. I won’t tell you what parts are shown, but it happens suddenly that the audience doesn’t expect it.

TCC: Were you nervous during your debut because of having to bare your body in front of an audience?

CA: I get asked that all the time and what people don’t realize is that you do so many rehearsals before you actually hit the stage. After practicing over and over again when you finally perform on stage it comes off natural. Also, when on stage what the audience doesn’t know is that you can’t see them because of the stage lights that hit you in the face. It’s a trick that stage performers do. So that helps me a lot when I’m doing my thing on stage.

TCC: Is Peepshow something only men will enjoy or could they bring their wives or girlfriends with them?

CA: It is for all audiences. Let me tell you, I have a really big female fan base. So I mostly see more women than men in the audience. And they come in packs because of girls’ night out or celebrating a bachelorette party. Back then I used to have more of a male fan base during my swimsuit modeling days. But now that I do television more women are my fans and so they come to see my show. And I am grateful for that.

Also, women love musicals and love stories, sometimes they bring their husbands with them. After watching Peepshow people always say to me that it was more than what they expected. It is so much more than a musical. It has a lot of energy and is fast-paced. You are entertained the whole time watching it. One guy from Germany watched Peepshow every single day for the whole week he was in Vegas. He found the show to be that interesting. Some have watched the show more than once because there is so much going on that you miss a lot the first time you see it.

TCC: Would you want to do burlesque shows permanently?

CA: This has been a great experience. When you’re on stage, you really feed off the audiences’ energy. There is nothing like it. After Peepshow I really don’t know what my next project will be. But I would like to keep on doing theater. I think I could do that forever.

TCC: How does it feel being a 1,000 miles away from your husband, Ice-T, while doing the show in Las Vegas?

CA: We do a lot of Skyping. That’s like our NO. 1 thing. When I’m not in New York visiting him, he’s out here on the weekends to see me. But now that the season for Law & Order has recently ended, Ice will spend the whole summertime with me. He really likes Peepshow. He said to me, “This show fits you perfectly.” It feels nice getting approval from your man. I want him to be proud.

TCC: Would you like to dispel rumors that you and Ice-T are on the brink of divorce because of an alleged affair you had with rapper AP.9?

CA: The internet is complete rubbish. We never like to read anything off the internet. We hear rumors but we don’t feed into it. Our relationship is very strong. We have been together for 12 years and will continue to be for many years. Simple as that.

TCC: Will there be a fourth season of Ice Loves Coco?

CA: Right now the show is on a break. We just finished season three. Ice has finished Law & Order and I’m doing Peepshow so we are going to figure it from there. It’s a lot of work doing three shows at once. You never really know.

TCC: Now in regards to your clothing line Licious that’s dedicated to curvy women. Why do you think the general public equates curves with being fat?

CA: I believe every woman’s body is beautiful in its own way. I have never understood that just because a woman has thick thighs she is considered fat. For so long I’ve been around in the modeling world and have tried to break that barrier. But I think now it’s turning around. In my opinion, I believe there are more curvy girls out there than skinny girls. To have curves means you are healthier. But when you are super skinny you are not eating correctly probably because you are not eating at all, I mean, let’s be honest here.

The reason why I started the clothing line Licious is because I had trouble finding clothes for my body type. I figured if I’m having trouble finding clothes for me being curvy I know girls with my body type are probably facing the same issue. And so with the help of my designer, I came up with the idea of creating my own clothing line. They are clothes that I like to wear and people like the style. It’s a hobby. I really don’t consider myself to be a designer. But I feel full-figured women deserve to wear clothes that show off their curves in a flattering way. When you have clothes that fit your body type you feel more confident and comfortable with yourself.

Follow Coco Austin on Twitter @Cocosworld.

And for more info on PeepShow and how to purchase tickets, please go to her website at CocosWorld.com  or www.lasvegaspeepshow.com

Photo courtesy of John Ganun

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2013/05/coco-austin-interview-star-ice-loves-coco

The Outsider and Others by H.P. Lovecraft (Book Review)

Considered to be one the greatest horror writers of the 20th century, H.P. Lovecraft, didn’t receive much acclaim until decades later following his death. Eventually when Lovecraft’s literary work started receiving cultural references this made him develop a cult-like status and in turn he had gained respect from horror writers of our time, including Stephen King and Neil Gaiman. After passing away in 1937 from intestinal cancer, two years later his book, The Outsider and Others, had been published.

Lovecraft was labeled by some to be a protégé to renowned author Edgar Allan Poe, since he too wrote science fiction/short horror stories just like his late idol. In fact, most of the short stories in The Outsider and Others were compared by critics to be very similar to Poe’s writing style because of the stories being a psychological thriller that contains elements of horror. The compilation novel has 37 short tales of horror. But there is one story in particular, The Outsider, that became one of Lovecraft‘s best short stories to date, which is why the book was given that title.

The story entails the narrator’s life as being miserable and lonely. He vaguely remembers anything about his life story, or what lead him to the situation that he was in, being alone in a decaying castle that feels like a prison to him. The story focuses more on his dreary environment and how he has never seen light, nor any other humans. He only knew about the outside world from the many books he reads. After being in isolation from society for many years, he one day decides to break free from his rut and explore the outside world. It is through his efforts to search for human contact (by escaping his depressing life to start a new one) that he discovers something about himself that makes him feel even more alone.

When the narrator goes on a journey to discover new surroundings, he comes across another castle where a party is being held. Eager to come into contact with people, he climbs into the castle through a window. However, when people see him they are terrified; some cover their eyes as they frantically try to run away from him. It is not until the narrator views his reflection in a mirror that is when he is finally aware of his “abnormal” appearance. In sorrow, the narrator tries to return back to his castle but is physically unable to go back. He now becomes an outsider, not only from his old way of life but the new way of life he was seeking.

What made this story so memorable is not just the typical elements that you would find in gothic literature, but it covers a social issue that most people subconsciously have to deal with-- having a distorted image of oneself. Some believe that Lovecraft wrote this story based on his own assumption of himself as being ugly. In fact, his own mother told one person that she felt her son had a “hideous face.”

Just like the narrator’s view of seeing himself as hideous to outsiders, many suffer from self-consciousness, which leads them to living an isolated life. But some take drastic steps by altering their body through plastic surgery. It has been reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons that in the U.S. alone, more than 14.6 million cosmetic surgeries were performed in 2012, a five percent increase from the year before. Yet, despite so many people undergoing plastic surgery having more than one procedure isn’t enough. Most patients keep returning to have more work done to alter their bodies. Feeling that if they alter one more facial feature or body part they will then be perfect. They chase an illusion of what is socially acceptable but are never satisfied with the results because it is in their mind that the distorted body image is occurring. This disease is best known as body image dissatisfaction. It can ruin a person’s self esteem and, not to mention, their relationship with others. Though some crave for social contact they fear of being shunned by society because their appearance doesn’t fit in with what people consider to be attractive.

Regardless of whether or not The Outsider was considered to be an autobiography of Lovecraft’s personal life; what can be taken away from this story is how people in our days suffering from body image dissatisfaction can learn from the narrator’s example and avoid isolating themselves from others. This can leave them at a standstill; in that they are not moving forward in their life, but rather being trapped in a life of inaction and loneliness. Aside from the various plot holes in the short story, it is still worth reading, as well as the other Gothic tales in The Outsider and Others.

Review Rating: Four out of Five

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/reviews/2013/04/outsider-and-others

Jillian Michaels: Interview with Fitness Trainer from ‘The Biggest Loser’

As a personal trainer for 11 seasons of ‘The Biggest Loser,’ Jillian Michaels’ tough as nails approach towards weight loss contestants reaching their goal each week, has made her a media sensation. But Jillian also has a soft side to her when she chats with contestants about the emotional struggles they are going through while losing weight and gives them the motivational support they need.

Jillian has become not only a successful entrepreneur by selling millions of exercise DVDs and weight loss products, but she has become the world’s leading health and wellness expert. The New York Times best-selling author has sold more than 3.5 million books worldwide, including such titles as "Master Your Metabolism" and "Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life" and her latest book, "Slim for Life: My Insider Secrets to Simple, Fast, and Lasting Weight Loss."

TheCelebrityCafe.com talks with Jillian about her return to the show that made her a star and also her tour across the U.S. and Canada to get people to achieve their weight loss goal and boost their confidence, as well, through motivation and fitness counseling.

TheCelebrityCafe.com: I’m glad to see that you’re back on The Biggest Loser again.

Jillian Michaels: Why, thank you.

TCC: Will you stay on the show from now on or only for this season?

JM: At the moment I’m on board for two more seasons and I’m having a good time. So, yes, it looks like it.

TCC: Who do you think has the potential to win The Biggest Loser this year?

JM: Gosh, really all the finalists have the potential to win. Of course, for selfish reasons, I would pick Danni to win because she’s sort of like my contestant when she was on my team. We started together as a team and ended together. So I would love if she won. But I also think Jackson and Jeff are great. I’m not actually a fan of Joe (Laughs) but maybe there are some people out there that are and want him to win. But it’s really anybody’s game to be honest with you.

TCC: Since you have the “Maximize You Life” tour coming in April, what can people expect attending your show?

JM: You’re going to learn the science of having a proper diet and boost your metabolism through state of the art, cutting edge techniques to help make your workouts the most effective so that you lose weight and keep it off. With that said, the show also focuses on connecting with your passion and living your authentic true self by learning how to boost your confidence and redefine your self image. Believe in your worth and the value of your dreams and goals. The show will also help you discover ways in developing a specific skill set so that you subsequently can achieve these goals because you feel capable of doing so.

TCC: What are common foods that you eat to stay healthy?

JM: I supplement a lot. So I’ll take a probiotic and I mostly eat green food. I like to drink this amazing green grass superfood. And I also drink various teas. More importantly, I take a quality multi-vitamin. Another food item I eat quite often are berries, which I sometimes have with Greek yogurt. Also I like wheat products, veggies with stir-fry, and brown rice. If you have the means, I would highly recommend using supplementations for optimal health.

TCC: Now there are a few diet and fitness questions that I have. The first one is, what would you say to someone that says, “I workout everyday, but I don’t sweat.” Would a person see better results if they did sweat during workouts?

JM: No, the key to working out is focusing on your heart rate. So if you’re working out at 85% of your maximum heart rate than you’re doing great. You don’t need to sweat. The sweat is just your body’s way of cooling itself. There is a huge misconception that if you do something like hot yoga you’ll burn more calories and the opposite is true. You want to heat your body from the inside out, not the outside in. But the key with any successful exercise regimen is going to be intensity and the best way to gauge that is by working out at 85% of your maximum heart rate.

TCC: Does it matter what time you exercise in order to lose weight?

JM: It really doesn’t. But a lot of studies will tell you that if you workout at the same time everyday you are going to have more energy, because your body essentially adapts and anticipates the workouts. This in turn causes your body to release a lot of its energizing, fat burning, muscle building hormones. So if you really want to maximize your workouts than consistency with your workout time would be key. But if you can’t for whatever reason that’s okay because a workout is still a workout. It’s still going to be very effective no matter when you get it in.

TCC: What if a person says, “You can eat whatever you want, but only in moderation. The only important thing to do is just exercise.” Do you believe that statement is true?

JM: My feeling on this is I really don’t want people eating chemicals that are mostly found in processed products. So I fully don’t agree with that statement. I believe you can eat whatever healthy food you want, but in a balanced way. And the way I find that balance is by 20 percent of the time I’ll eat a more fattening treat food and 80 percent of the time I’ll make a better healthy food choice. There is really no room in any healthy diet for trans fat, artificial sweeteners, and artificial colors in food. So if you are going to go buy a candy bar, I would rather you buy a brand, such as Unreal, that has half the sugar and none of the chemicals. To me it contains just sugar and fat and that’s fine. But chemical based junk food is terrible for your metabolism and your overall health.

TCC: There are some people that want to eat healthy but can’t afford it. Do you believe that’s an excuse?

JM: I understand what they are saying. In my new book, “Slim for Life”, I give readers a whole shopping list and plan so that they can afford to buy healthy food. It suggests everything from buying at wholesale stores, like Costco, to clipping coupons, and getting your food from a community supported agriculture (CSA) or at your local farmers’ market.

These are a few simple steps you can take to get quality food at an affordable price. Plus, my book mentions how you can prioritize your food dollars. You don’t have to buy all organic fruits and vegetables. Buy instead thick-skinned fruits and veggies rather than the thin-skinned. And get your greens in bulk and be sure to reserve enough funds in your food budget to buy quality meat and dairy products. I promise you not all healthy food is expensive. A bag of oranges is not costly. In fact, it’s much cheaper than marmalade or juice for that matter. So be smart and use smart money saving strategies when shopping for healthy food. I literally have a whole section dedicated to this subject in “Slim for Life.” I know the task may seem a bit overwhelming but it can be done. You’ll see an improvement in your overall health and your body will thank you for making the switch to eating more of what’s good for you.

Watch the live finale of season 14’s ‘Biggest Loser’ next Monday on NBC

Jillian’s ‘Maximize Your Life’ tour will begin April 6 thru May 21. To purchase tickets go to her website at www.jillianmichaels.com

“Maximize Your Life” tour schedule:

April 4             Winnipeg, MB                Centennial Concert Hall
 April 6             Calgary, AB                Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
 April 7             Edmonton, AB Northern           Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
 April 9             Vancouver, BC                Queen Elizabeth Theatre
 April 10           Seattle, WA &          The Paramount
 April 12           San Jose, CA           San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
 April 13           Las Vegas, NV           UNLV Cox Pavilion
 April 14           Phoenix, AZ           Comerica Theatre
 April 17           Jacksonville, FL           Moran Theatre
 April 18           Clearwater, FL           Ruth Eckerd Hall
 April 19           Melbourne, FL           King Center for the Performing Arts
 April 20           Miami, FL           Knight Center
 April 21           Atlanta, GA                Fox Theatre
 April 24           Washington, DC &               Warner Theatre
 April 25           Raleigh, NC                Memorial Auditorium
 April 26           Newport News, VA                Ferguson Center
 April 28           Westbury, NY           Theatre at Westbury
 April 30           Worcester, MA           Hanover Theatre
 May 1                 Lowell, MA           Lowell Memorial Auditorium
 May 2                 Hartford, CT           Bushnell Ctr PAC- Mortenson
 May 3                 Philadelphia, PA           Kimmel Center
 May 4                 Cleveland, OH          State Theatre
 May 5                 Milwaukee, WI           Riverside Theatre
 May 7                 Indianapolis, IN           Murat Theatre
 May 8                 Wabash, IN                Honeywell Centre
 May 9                 Detroit, MI                Fox Theatre
 May 10              Chicago, IL                  Auditorium Theatre
 May 11               St. Louis, MO                Fox Theatre
 May 12               Kansas City, MO           Midland Theatre
 May 15              Hamilton, ONT           Hamilton Place Theatre
 May 17               London, ONT           Budweiser Gardens
 May 18               Ottawa, ONT           National Arts Centre
 May 19               Oshawa, ONT           General Motors Centre
 May 21               Toronto, ONT           Sony Centre for the Performing Arts

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2013/03/jillian-michaels-interview-fitness-trainer-biggest-loser

Style Network’s ‘Built’: Interview with the ‘Hott and Handy’ Team

With expertise in construction and redesigning homes, these high-fashion male models (Gage Cass, Sandy Dias, Shane Duffy, Donny Ware, and Mike Keute) know a thing or two about style both on and off the runway.

With the help of former model and top interior designer, Kim Gieske, this handy team proves that they are more than just handsome fellas with chiseled physiques, when they show off their skill in using power tools on their new reality show Built that debuted earlier this year on Style Network.

TheCelebrityCafe.com spoke with four out of the five members of the ‘Hott and Handy’ team about their experience remodeling houses and how they handle working with difficult clients.


TheCelebrityCafe.com: This question is for Shane, since you are the owner of ‘Hott and Handy’, how did you come about creating this team of handy models?

Shane Duffy: I started the company back in 2010 and all the guys, who are on the show, Built, are my best friends. But they started working as the ‘Hott and Handy’ team before the show was even a concept.

TCC: What would you say is the most fulfilling job, being a model or remodeling homes?

Sandy Dias: That would have to be remodeling homes because you create something out of nothing. We just build things. And when we see the faces of our clients, when they look at the finished product, they are in tears and are so happy with the results. The fact that we can bring joy to people is a great feeling for us.

TCC: I wanted to ask you Mike, aside from modeling you are also pursuing a law degree and an MBA simultaneously while working on the show and handling your company, Famed International, Inc. How do you manage your time with such a hectic schedule?

Mike Keute: I always say, ‘Where there's a will, there's a way.’ For me, life is about becoming my best possible self. While it may seem like I have a lot to handle all at once, I look at it as a challenge and I put forth my best efforts to achieving such. Along the way, I have learned the skill of time management and look forward to embracing the challenges each new day brings me. For energy, I utilize my personal training background, and make sure I go to the gym every morning to hone my focus and keep me motivated throughout the day. In short, it's the combination of time management, a rigorous gym routine and a commitment to becoming my best self that motivates me to be able to achieve all that I have thus far.

TCC: I heard Donny, that you were in a car accident about five years ago that left your face partially burnt. How did you handle recovering from such a horrific event?

Donny Ware: Patience – a lot of patience and keeping positive. It ended up healing just fine. You can’t see any blemishes. It could have been worse, but the accident was definitely a wake up call for me.

TCC: Are other models ever surprised that you guys are into power tools and building things?

Sandy: They are definitely surprised because most models are not as well versed as we are. Every one of us is extremely skilled in every power tool out there. We know what we are doing and yes other models are surprised and envious of us.

Mike: Because of our experience on this show, we actually look forward to ending that stereotype that models are seen as dummies. And we (except for Donny) try to break that mold.

Donny: (Laughs) But in a good way though.

TCC: Is it more difficult to please a client that knows what design they want, or a client that doesn’t have a clue what they want?

Shane: I think it’s challenging either way. For the client that knows what they want, they end up micromanaging throughout the entire project. They envision a certain way they want the end result to turn out and if they feel it’s not going the way they want it to, they’ll freak out. But we ensure them that it’s a process and the end result will be what they want. Now for the client that has no idea what they want it can be difficult too, because you can be there for hours trying to get them to sign off on something and they’ll be indecisive with colors and designs. But in the end the two groups are fun to work with once you get past the planning stage.

TCC: Do you guys have any stories of working with a client that was too demanding?

Sandy: Yeah, one story I have is about a client from our show. He was extremely demanding because he felt like he knew more than us. This client even told me, 'I have a million dollar design team and you guys are just handy men. Do you expect me to believe you can execute such a project?' That’s when I wanted to whip out my aeronautic degree and hit him in the face with it. He tried to push us to the limit to see if we would fail. But I told him that as a foreman of the crew I can ensure him that all the guys are real experts at what we do. So don’t judge us by our appearance. I’m not going to tell you what happened with that project. You’ll have to watch the show.

Shane: Sometimes it is tough dealing with a difficult client like the one Sandy mentioned. We have also had customers that signed off on something and then afterwards not be happy with the results. That ends up costing us thousands of dollars in work that has to be redone. But we take it in stride because we want the customer to be happy and have it turn out the way they want it. Then again, not all of our clients turn out to be difficult. There are some that are pretty reasonable. In the end, we always try to come to a solution with demanding clients.

For more information about “Built,” visit www.StyleNetwork.com.

Written by: Bridget Campos

Link: http://thecelebritycafe.com/feature/2013/03/style-network-s-built-interview-hott-and-handy-team-0