The birth of their daughter Jamie has brought pure joy into the lives of the comedian and her husband George Betsis.
When Mary Coustas gave birth to her daughter Jamie three months ago, there was one thing she needed to hear before she would let herself truly celebrate – her baby’s cry.
Having suffered the devastating loss of their first daughter Stevie when she was stillborn at 23 weeks in 2010, Mary and her husband George Betsis were justifiably anxious to know that this time everything would be OK.
“I just needed to hear her cry,’” recalls Mary, 49, about those first few moments in the delivery suite. “I kept thinking, ‘Where’s that cry?’
“And then I heard it. It was so overwhelming. I was so relieved. There were so many feelings that came up…I literally had to cover my mouth not to scream with relief and happiness and gratitude. I looked at George. He was crying, I was crying, everyone was crying. It was so fantastic.’”
Read more about Mary’s baby joy and see more beautiful pictures in this week’s issue of Woman’s Day, on sale Monday, February 24, 2014.
Flaunting their relationship on national TV, the controversial My Kitchen Rules couple have a big secret.
Dubbing her his “trophy wife” and bragging about their lavish lifestyle, it seems MKR baddie David, 53, and his younger love Corinne couldn’t be happier – but behind closed doors their romance is far from the fairytale they make out.
Corinne is in fact already married – and her heartbroken husband can’t bear to watch the hit TV show, cringing as his wife fawns over the man who broke up their marriage.
“I don’t know what she sees in him,” Corinne’s husband David Wood tells Woman’s Day in an exclusive interview.
“He was our neighbour, a friend… we had dinner parties together.”
Blonde Corinne, 32, and her husband had just moved to Cairns when they met David and his fiancee Judy and all became friends before the MKR stars embarked on a secret affair.
Read more about Corinne’s secret marriage in this week’s issue of Woman’s Day, on sale Monday, February 24, 2014.
Tension has been brewing between Modern Family favourites Sofia Vergara and Julie Bowen for years. And in Australia, it finally boiled over in a brutal clash of egos.
In Sydney to film episodes of their hit show, the actresses refused to board the same Qantas flight from LA, with Julie landing two days later.
On arrival she discovered Sofia, 41, had claimed the ultimate prize in their battle of wills – the Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel, where the cast is holed up.
Woman’s Day understands Julie – who plays show matriarch Claire Dunphy – has long loathed Sofia for hogging the limelight and screentime despite having little acting experience.
Julie has been known to snipe that Sofia – who plays sassy Latina Gloria – was hired based on her looks and “that annoying voice”.
Julie, 43, made her feelings clear in an interview with News Ltd last week, saying she could stand naked on Bondi Beach next to Sofia and “no-one would notice”.
You may be outgoing and friendly in social situations, but those characteristics don’t always translate well in the workplace. Everyone has painful bouts of self-doubt — it’s simply human nature. Fortunately, there are a number of everyday tricks that can help to boost your confidence and land you that job or promotion.
“A change in working environment or practice, a new job, a new boss, even personal circumstances — these are all factors that can impact our confidence on the job,” explains Hays NSW recruitment director, Jane McNeill. “It isn’t restricted or more or less common to any level or industry; it can happen to anyone.”
McNeill may have been in the recruitment business for over 25 years, but that doesn’t mean she hasn’t struggled with her own confidence issues.
“When I was younger I wasn’t so confident when meeting people,” McNeill admits, “But I have learnt to build trust through communication. Recruitment is a people business, so I had to overcome that pretty quickly as I was meeting a lot of people every day.”
It’s common for even the most experienced person to feel a lack of confidence at work sometimes but, over a period of time, insecurities and nervousness can have an impact on your career.
Landing the role
There are few people out there who profess to loving a job interview. The perennial conundrum remains the question of how to sell yourself without appearing arrogant or pushy?
When it comes to job interviews and selling yourself to potential employers, it really is a question of balance, says McNeill. “You want to come across as knowledgeable and confident, but not stubborn or confrontational.”
McNeill’s interview tips to win the role
Highlight one or two unique selling points to differentiate yourself. “For example, were you one of the highest achievers in your university degree? Have you improved customer retention levels or led a project successfully? Make sure you have relevant examples and statistics at your fingertips.”
Be careful to answer questions directly and thoroughly, as well as give anecdotes about your career history, past actions and results. You should always directly relate these experiences to the job description.
Ask insightful questions like: “What prospects are there for personal and professional development?” or “what skills and attributes do successful people at your company usually have?” A useful tactic at the end of the interview is to ask: “How do you think I match up with this position?”
Listen — it’s is the most important thing you can do in a job interview. Getting confirmation that you are on the right track, even if you don’t get the job, is a great confidence booster.
Advancing your career
So you’ve got your dream job — how do you impress your boss and colleagues when you’re feeling out of your element? McNeill suggests practicing these three simple techniques which over time can make the world of difference to your performance:
1. Focus on the positives
“Try to focus on your skills and talents as much as possible,” McNeill says. “Make a list of all your good qualities and don’t dwell on what you perceive as your weaknesses. Building self esteem is about finding out what your strengths are and then developing and building on them. Sometimes, finding a mentor, either within or outside your organisation, can be really helpful in giving you a broader perspective on both your qualities and career.”
2. Stand up and be counted
“When you do something well or achieve something, acknowledge it and give yourself praise, even if is just a small achievement,” McNeill suggests. “Also, make sure that your boss knows about any good work that you’ve done.”
3. Act with confidence
McNeill’s last word of advice is to be aware of the way you present yourself to others, and the signals that your body language is sending out. “Think about your posture. Stand up straight, and when you move around a room, move with purpose.”
On Saturday the life of beautiful TV presenter Charlotte Dawson ended far too soon.
The 47-year-old Australia’s Next Top Model judge was found dead in her waterfront home in Woolloomooloo.
The TV presenter masked her struggles with a happy and witty persona. She had previously revealed a tortured private life, having suffered from depression and the cruel taunts of vicious cyber bullies.
Her death has shocked the nation with public outpourings from the likes of Kyle and Jackie O, Alex Perry and Richard Wilkins flooding social media.
See our tribute to the amazing life of Charlotte Dawson here!
The smile that gained Charlotte so many friends and many fans.
Flashback to 2003: A young, brunette Charlotte looking stunning in lace and pearls.
This gorgeous model knew how to rock any outfit. Even top hats and patent leather.
Charlotte Dawson has been found dead in her Sydney home.
Dawson, 47, is believed to have been found by a security guard at the Woolloomooloo Wharf apartment around 11.18am this morning.
Police said there were no suspicious circumstances involved in her death.
Charlotte has battled depression for many years and has been the victim of relentless cyberbullying, which landed her in hospital more than once in recent years.
If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
Charlotte Dawson has tragically passed away but her effervescent sparkle will never be forgotten.
In tribute to a beautiful soul gone too soon, we’ve put together this collection of images of the Charlotte we will always remember: a gorgeous person both inside and out who will be greatly missed by all who knew her and her hundreds of thousands of fans.
If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
The popular TV presenter and former model is understood to have been found by a security guard in her Woolloomooloo home at around 11.18am this morning.
Police have confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances in her death.
Charlotte, 47, had battled with depression for several years and has been mercilessly cyberbullied since 2012, with online trolls repeatedly telling her to kill herself.
The bullying landed Charlotte in hospital more than once but she told The Weekly she was determined not to let the troll get her down.
“It’s a really unfortunate thing,” she said. “I’ve suffered from this mental illness for 12 years and I have had other trigger incidents which have put me in hospital before.
“It’s an unfortunate thing but having said that, the support systems around me have been overwhelming. I will recover from this.”
If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
“Yellow is the colour of sunflowers and daffodils,” the grade six student once wrote.
“The colour of Sponge Bob, the Tour de France winner’s jersey, happy faces, post-it notes … it’s the colour of happiness and optimism, of enlightenment and creativity, sunshine and spring.”
Luke’s grandmother, Josephine Batty, travelled from England and fought back tears during her eulogy.
“Luke was early twice in his life,” she said. “The first was when he was born and decided to put us all into a spin with his early arrival, which meant he was already two weeks old when we met him.
“Now, the second time Luke was early … just last week, when death claimed him much too early.”
More than 1000 people formed a massive guard of honour as Luke’s coffin was taken away to a private cremation.
Luke’s mother, Rosie Batty. Photo: Getty Images
Luke was killed by his father, Greg Anderson, after cricket training last week. Anderson was shot dead by police shortly after.
Since her son’s death, Rosie Batty has talked publicly about family violence.
Reverend David Reitvels said at the service, “I don’t think any of us for a moment thinks that possibly more good could come than the bad that has been perpetrated”.
“But like me, I suspect you have marvelled as Rosie has sought to bring good out of the bad that’s taken place as she’s tried to bring a spotlight on domestic violence and bring that into the public conversation in the hope that we might minimise the harm that it causes.”
She was Royal hairdresser for 35 years and the model of discretion during that time. But Denise McAdam has let slip some gossip titbits about the Royal family in an interview with Radio Times.
The Duchess of Cambridge is “maybe a little overdone”, Princess Anne “was the scary one” and Fergie “always wanted to put bloody flags in her hair” the stylist said, bringing an unceremonious end to “35 years of keeping my mouth shut”.
She went on to tease that with some of the information Princes William and Harry shared while sitting in the barber chair she could write “a brilliant book”.
Her career of tending to high society began in 1976 when Princess Grace of Monaco went to the Edinburgh salon where McAdam worked. Although McAdam had no idea she was tending to a Princess, she left enough of an impression for Princess Grace to return.
“The next day my boss said, ‘Well, obviously the princess was happy because she’s coming back for a blow dry’. I said, ‘What? A princess? A superstar as big as Marilyn Monroe?’
“After that I ended up dedicating most of my career to royal women and their hair.”
About Kate Middleton McAdam said, “I’m a good friend of the Duchess of Cambridge. I think her hair is wonderful, maybe a little overdone at times. But she always looks lovely.”
She wasn’t so warm about the Princess Royal, saying “Princess Anne was the scary one, particularly when I was young.
“It was a simple up-do, so I just used to go in, close my eyes and do it as quickly as possible.”
The highlight of her Royals career was styling the Duchess of York’s hair for her wedding in 1986. Describing the Duchess as a “great friend” she boasted about their relationship in the early days.
“I knew the Palace better than her so I used to show her the important places like the carpenter’s where you go to have your wardrobes built.
“Then one day I was walking up by Bond Street when this red apparition came running towards me. I said, ‘Oh my God, you’re marrying him aren’t you?’ and she said, ‘Yes and you’re doing the hair.'”
Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson
McAdam has signed up for a new BBC show, Hair, which is a contest for hairdressers.
McAdam will be a judge alongside David Beckham’s hair stylist, Alain Pichon. Pichon, who has also worked with Kylie Minogue and Claudia Schiffer, is giving away his own fair share of secrets.
“With someone like David, you have to have a strategy because his hair is so important to his status. The evolution between his styles has to work.
“I never go against his wishes. Saying that, a few years ago he wanted to keep his hair long, but I told him to cut it short.
“Then he tried to grow it again and I said, ‘This isn’t happening. We’ll end up with another ponytail and we’ve done that’…we worked something out.”
.png?resize=380%2C285)
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
.png?resize=380%2C285)
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
