Top 10 Beauty Winners of 2009

In a recent issue of Glamour magazine, the readers and an expert panel chose their top 50 most glamorous women. I agreed with many of their picks but I thought I'd list my own Top Ten Beauty Winners of 2009. Continue reading to find out who I chose!


10. Katy Perry


Katy Perry's fashion sense is pretty bold and risky and so is her makeup! This is a girl who loves to have fun with makeup and doesn't take it too seriously. She's cheeky and a bit irreverent. Any girl who wears a hot pink lip gets an A in my book.

9. Kim Kardashian


She may come as a strange choice but I have to admit, I love Kim Kardashian's make up and overall look. She has come off too strong in the past but she's toned it down and looks gorgeous! I love her shiny long waves and doe like eyes. She (or perhaps her makeup artist?) does a great job balancing her eyes and lips for the perfect look.

8. Pat McGrath


Pat McGrath is my favorite make up artist, hands down. She is someone without any formal training but instead takes an artistic approach to beauty. She often forgos brushes and works strictly with her hands. McGrath has done a huge range of looks and thought I'm disappointed that her associated cosmetics line Max Factor is being discontinued, I look forward to the day when I can buy Pat McGrath make up....and I hope that's very soon!

7. Diane Lane


Could she be any more beautiful? This woman seems to get more gorgeous every year! I love her wholesome, natural look. Her skin is phenomenal! Talk about the fountain of youth.

6. Queen Latifah



I LOVE Queen Latifah and I always have. Did anyone else watch her talk show in the past? Maybe that was just me but you have to admit, she is an amazing model of self-confidence and poise. She just seems like an awesome person who has remained to true to herself and her values in Hollywood.

5. Kate Winslet



I think Kate Winselt is finally getting the credit she deserves. She is an amazing actress- someone with a true talent and not just a "celebrity." The media has been too caught up in her weight in the past, which is ridiculous because she has an amazing figure. I hate to be cliche but this woman glows from within and it really shows!

4. Michelle Obama



Michelle Obama gets my vote as a beautiful woman because she has brought the role of First Lady up to its 21 century level. She doesn't come across as a prop or sidekick to the President but instead is a real person, a loving wife and mother, with her own interests and values. Her style is chic and effortless, tailored to fit her athletic figure while mindful of the country' economic situation.

3. Cate Blanchett



I love Cate Blanchett because she is beautiful and unique at the same time. She doesn't fit the cookie cutter mold of beauty- she embraces her beautiful fair skin and rejects nips and tucks. I find myself looking up to her the most as a beauty icon out of all the women I listed. And like Winslet, she is a phenomenonal talent!

2. Reese Witherspoon



I might be a bit biased as I'm a Tennessee girl too but who can resist Reese Witherspoon? I love her whole attitude and ethos. She comes across a polite put together woman with a strong sense of self. And her sense of style is spot on! Witherspoon had one of the best break up come backs Hollywood has every seen and I love her for it!

1. Freida Pinto



Pinto is my pick as the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. Or maybe the world! She is absolutely gorgeous and seems completely unaware of her beauty. Just like her recent runaway hit, Slumdog Millionaire, Pinto is a sleeper in this category- someone slightly under the radar destined to become a huge success. I love her combination of neutral smokey eyes and natural lips at the Oscar's.

There you have my Top Ten list for 2009! Let me know what you think. Who would you have chosen? Check back soon and I'll have some celebrity beauty misses to talk about!

Cougars. Meow.

Me. Ow.



I was trying to come up with fun blog ideas and it hit me: what's the number one most fascinating new development in pop culture? The cougar. Sure, Mrs. Robinson has been around for awhile but cougars, those are a new breed. Cougars conjure up a completely different image that makes Mrs. Robinson look meek and milk. Predators hunting for their prey, not with razor sharp teeth and a husky growl (well, actually...) but with the following accessories:

(In no particular order)

5. A tan. Not just any ordinary healthy glow, but a deep burnt orange color, perfected only by years of sun worshiping in the glorified tanning bed. The cougar usually gives off a powerful coconut tanning oil scent, lingering long after she makes me attack. A crumbly bronzer compact and shimmering body spray are but added weapons of mass destruction.



(Picture from the upcoming movie Bride Wars, which I'm not so secretly dying to see)

4. Speaking of mass destruction, no cougar is complete with a set of powerful devices: "augmented" breasts. No longer continue with an old-fashioned boob lift, these puppies must be lifted to mythic proportions, bolted on firmly, and stretched to the size that would make Pamela Anderson jealous. A tummy tuck often follows to ensure that the 26 whittled waist accents the 42 inch bust line on a 5'3 frame.



(Not sure who this woman is--apologies to her family and dress-maker).

3. Looking for just the thing to emphasize your tiny-ness while proclaiming you've got the best money can buy? Look no further, cougar. The Hummer is your car of choice. Sure, you're not exactly navigating through jagged terrains or high altitudes, but that Target parking lot is scary enough. Wouldn't want Grandma in the Corolla to get the wrong idea and steal your prime sparking spot. Rear view not included since you won't be using it anyway. Just cross your fingers and hope you don't mow down any unsuspecting strangers outside Kirkland's. Feel free to exchange any other mirrors or turn signals for a Route 44 Diet Coke from Sonic or an over-sized sunglasses case.


(*Matching mani and pedi not included with sticker price).


2. Let's get back to practical matters. No cougar would be compete without her stunning visage. Years of hard partying and yo yo dieting don't matter when you've got botox to freeze your forehead and lipo to alter gravity. Number one rule of a cougar: if it ain't broke, fill her up! Trout pouts are essential to the cougar's allure, layered with Victoria's Secret newest plumping lip gloss. Feel free to mix and match various products from the Wet n Wild line you've been using since tenth grade.


(Yes, that is a real person. Kim Bryant of The Real Housewives of Orange County AKA Cougar Diaries)

1. What cougar would be complete without her mane? A bleach blonde weave is necessary to attract men from behind (tight white jeans also come in handy). Roots are no problem as long as the hair extends far past the shoulders, often in varying shades of flaxen. Brunette extensions are acceptable too but must be paired with highlighting or a monotone effect. The weave is the perfect accessory to deflect men from noticing your mutton dressed as lamb appearance. Who needs age appropriate-ness when you've got Jessica Simpson's Clip 'N' Go Line!



(See Kim Zolciak of The Real Housewives of Atlanta on the left).




Bonus:


Favorite Non Cougar:

Diane Lane: Who doesn't love her? Well, besides that guy she's divorcing...


Favorite Cougar: Mostly because she is the craziest woman on the planet and can't give up the fact that she's no longer 20 years old. Also has the best damn trout pout any fisher man has ever set sights on.