Theresa Vail: Miss America Contestant

When you think of a Miss America contestant, Theresa Vail is not who you picture.

A military sergeant and member of the Army National Guard’s Medical Detachment, Vail is an archery expert, amateur boxer and skydiver, with tattoos.

She's also Miss KansasIf there is one thing that competing has taught me, it’s that you need to be unapologetically yourself and not let others dictate how you feel," she wrote on her blog.

Theresa Vail, who is competing in Sunday's pageant, will not be covering up her tattoos during the competition - a first for any Miss America hopeful.

Vail has tattoos of the Serenity Prayer and a military medical insignia, and she says she decided to display them proudly during the swimsuit round.

"Why am I choosing to bear my tattoos? Reference A; my platform! Empowering women to OVERCOME stereotypes and break barriers," she writes.

"What a hypocrite I would be if I covered the ink. With my platform, how could I tell other women to be fearless and be true to themselves if I can’t do the same?"

"I am who I am, tattoos and all."

Nina Davuluri: Miss America 2014

Nina Davuluri was crowned Miss America 2014!

The 24-year-old Miss New York, whose talent routine was a Bollywood fusion dance, became the first Indian-American pageant queen to win the Miss America tiara.

She is the second consecutive Miss New York to win the Miss America crown, succeeding Mallory Hagan, who was selected in January in Las Vegas.

The Miss America Organization will compensate Hagan, also 24, for her shortened reign at the top after the group changed its venue and schedule.

Interestingly, a report surfaced just a few days ago in which Nina Davuluri was allegedly recorded calling Mallory Hagan "fat as f--k" in a hotel room.

Whatever the case, she's succeeding her now.I'm just so happy this organization has embraced diversity," she said in a press conference after winning the crown in Atlantic City, N.J.'s Boardwalk Hall.

Her platform was "celebrating diversity through cultural competency," and she said, "I'm thankful there are children watching who can finally relate to a new Miss America."

The native of Syracuse, N.Y. wants to be a doctor, and is applying to medical school with the help of a $50,000 scholarship she won as part of the pageant title.

Davuluri's victory, of course, led to some negative comments on Twitter from users upset that someone of Indian heritage had won the pageant.

"I have to rise above that," she said, brushing that aside.

"I always viewed myself as first and foremost American."

Her first runner-up was Miss California, Crystal Lee.

Other top 5 finalists for Miss America 2014 were Miss Minnesota, Rebecca Yeh; Miss Florida, Myrrhanda Jones, and Miss Oklahoma, Kelsey Griswold.

In the run-up to the pageant, much attention was given to Miss Kansas, Theresa Vail, the Army sergeant and first Miss America contestant to openly display tattoos.

Vail, not surprisingly, won a nationwide "America's Choice" vote to advance as a semi-finalist, but failed to make it into the Top 10 at the event.

Elton John wants to cut down on concerts

Singer Elton John says he wants to reduce the number of concerts and tours he does in order to spend time with family.

The 66-year-old has two sons -- Zachary, 2, and 7-month-old son Elijah -- with partner David Furnish.

"The time has come in my life when I will definitely cut back on shows so I have more time with my family," John said.

"That's a conscious decision. I know I'm addicted to playing. I'm addicted to working. I'm addicted to touring. I'm addicted to everything," he added.

John, known for songs like ‘Circle of life’, ‘Sacrifice’ and ‘Candle in the world’, wants to utilize time to focus on other projects.

"I want to take my boy to school and I want to spend more time with David. I also want to spend more time on projects that maybe I should have done years ago but never found the time for," said John.

"This might be a piano album or something just different. If you're going to be Elton John, you have to push the envelope," he added.

Keerthi Sagathia

Brief Biography

Son of the legendary Gujarati folk singer Karsan Sagathia, Keerthi stands as one of the most coveted singers of India.

Hailing from a music loving family, Keerthi’s passion for the art came by as a natural progression. Instruments like tanpura, harmonium and tabla garnered his attention as a child, while he grew up watching his father perform.

At the age of four, he rendered his foremost live performance along with his father. It was under Kalika Prasadji that he undertook formal training in Kuwarsham Gosai Gharana.

He also underwent training under Pandit Murli Manohar Shuklaji and Ustad Bhure Khan Sahab. At the age of 19, Keerthi’s training in classical singing commenced under the guidance of Pandit Bhavdeep Jaipurwale.

When filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bansali approached his father to voice two songs for Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Keerthi accompanied him during the recording of ‘Dholi Taro’ and ‘Nimbuda Nimbuda’.

Realizing his passion for playback singing, it was then he decided to take up the profession more seriously. The year 2005, saw Keerthi participate in the reality show – Fame Gurukul. Proving his mettle, he shot to fame, becoming a favorite on the show. Post his eviction from the contest, Keerthi received immense backing from the judges KK, Javed Akhtar and Shankar Mahadevan.

Continuing his pursuit to achieve his dream, Keerthi worked with music biggies like Ram Sampath, Rajat Dholakia, Ranjit Barot, Aadesh Shrivastava and Viju Shah for jingles and background scores.

The year 2006, saw Keerthi make way into mainstream cinema as he rendered voice for the song ‘Maaya Maaya’ in Guru. Yet another breakthrough came by when he crooned for Delhi Belly tracks like ‘Nakkadewale disco’, ‘Switty switty’ & ‘I hate you’.

Sunny Leone to star in Ragini MMS

Bollywood’s most searched celebrity on the internet, Sunny Leone is set to enchant her fans yet again.

A year ahead of the release of her debut film, the most desired adult entertainment star will be featuring in the sequel, Ragini MMS 2 that is slated for a January 17, 2013 release.

The prequel, Ragini MMS, that released on Friday, the May 13, 2011, created a major buzz.

Ekta Kapoor who is producing the sequel too will be releasing the first official teaser ofRagini MMS 2 on yet another Friday the 13th (September 13, 2013), with Grand Masti.

The teaser, which has been certified 'A' by the CBFC, will also be available for online viewing from Friday, September 13, 2013.

In the news - for all the wrong reasons

While the queen of pop thought it appropriate for herself to reside in a castle for £11,000 a night after her show in Nice last month, her entourage were half as looked after. They were flown in on the cheapest flights and were holed up in dingy hotels. A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper, “Everyone is absolutely furious with her and some of them want to walk out of the tour. They feel they are being treated like second-class citizens, despite all their hard work over the last few months.

Shaan, Sunidhi lend voices to Hollywood animation film Rio

Singers Shaan and Sunidhi Chauhan have lent their voice for the 3D Hollywood animation film Rio which releases in India on 8 April 2011.

Apart from dubbing the dialogues in Hindi for the lead characters Blu and Jewel, the singer duo have also sung some songs for the film's Hindi version.

Shaan said he was a huge fan of animation movies and was impressed when he saw the movie's rushes."Associating with Rio was a very unique and exciting opportunity that I couldn't refuse. The film is super fun and will be enjoyed by people of all ages. I had a great time dubbing and singing for the film," he told the media.

Chauhan said she always wanted to do an animation film. "Rio is such an amazing film that I just had to do it. Even though my character is a bird, Rio is a beautiful love story."

Producers Fox Studios had recently roped in comical duo of Ranvir Shorey and Vinay Pathak to do the Hindi voice overs for Blu's friends Nico and Pedro respectively.

Jesse Eisenberg who rose to fame after his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network has lent his voice for Blu in the original version of the film; whereas Anne Hathaway has lent her voice for Jewel.

Divya Dutta signs Hollywood film

A mixed bag of Bollywood and Hollywood films is keeping Divya Dutta busy these days.

"I have recently signed two other very big (Indian) films. I have signed a Hollywood flick too...I can't talk about those now," she said.

The actress said that she will start shooting for the Hollywood film "in August this year". "The half shooting will be held in India and rest abroad," she added.

Her forthcoming Hindi movie is Karan Johar's production venture Gippi!, where she plays the mother to the protagonist.

She is also excited about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Lootera, set to come out in recent future.

"I guess Gippi! will be a very interesting film...then there is Lootera and ...Milkha. I am enjoying this, I am also doing a play," she said.

R.Madhavan bags dream Hollywood debut

South cinema’s blue-eyed boy and Bollywood’s revered actor R Madhavan has bagged a dream debut in Hollywood. Producer Simon West of Tomb Raider, Con Air and Black Hawk Down fame has roped in the actor to star in the upcoming horror re-imaging of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead.

The actor will be seen joining the likes of Tony Todds and Tom Sizemore, Danielle Harris, Sarah Habel , Bill Moseley and Joseph Pilato in the film.

Thrilled with the latest development, Madhavan said, “It's a great introduction to American Cinema, working with Simon West and his team. He's made and continues to make some of the most exciting and thrilling films out of Hollywood. I am honored to be working alongside him. I am also thrilled to be in this 3D re-imagining of the cult-classic Night of The Living Dead." 

The story revolves around a group of survivors fighting to stay alive while a mysterious plague unleashes the undead.

Producer Simon West stated, “This movie represents a whole new way of visualizing the classic zombie genre. It has a fresh and exciting style that sets it apart from all other horror films seen up until now.”

Co-producer, Paresh Ghelani of 2020 Entertainment stated, “It's great to introduce American audiences to what Bollywood film fans have known for years. R. Madhavan is a dynamic talent. 2020 Entertainment is thrilled to have such an incredible opportunity to work with a world class filmmaker like Simon West in delivering this 3D zombie classic to the screen." 

Robert Pattinson wants a confident woman

Actor Robert Pattinson prefers a woman who is confident and comfortable with herself because he is the complete "opposite". 

The 27-year-old has revealed that his partner should be the "opposite" of him because he is "all over the place".

"(I look for) someone knowing who they are, it's the best ... I guess because it's the opposite of what I am - I am so all over the place," femalefirst.co.uk quoted Pattinson as saying.

He also explained a potential girlfriend should be "comfortable" with their own style.

"If someone looks good in their clothes, it's because they are comfortable in their own skin. It's literally just like owning it," he added.

Liam Hemsworth 'cheats on Miley Cyrus' with mystery woman

New York: Liam Hemsworth was spotted locking lips with a mystery woman at the Toronto Film Festival before leaving with her.

Sources have revealed that the `Hunger Games` star, who has been in on-off relationship with fiancee Miley Cyrus, was seen canoodling a brunette at the pop-up club `Bungalow 8` on the Thompson Hotel`s rooftop, the New York Post reported.

However, Hemsworth`s rep, who has denied the claims of multiple sources, said that there is no truth whatsoever to this rumour. 

Robert Pattinson wants a confident woman

Los Angeles: Actor Robert Pattinson prefers a woman who is confident and comfortable with herself because he is the complete "opposite".

The 27-year-old has revealed that his partner should be the "opposite" of him because he is "all over the place".

"(I look for) someone knowing who they are, it`s the best ... I guess because it`s the opposite of what I am - I am so all over the place,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Pattinson as saying.

He also explained a potential girlfriend should be "comfortable" with their own style.

"If someone looks good in their clothes, it`s because they are comfortable in their own skin. It`s literally just like owning it,” he added.