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Beyonce Knowles: ‘Everyone should be able to put a ring on it’

The 'Single Ladies' songstress is one of many celebrities expressing their stance on gay marriage, voicing her support by posting a handwritten note on her Facebook page.
Beyonce gay marriage

Beyonce thinks anyone should be able to put a ring on it

The ‘Single Ladies’ songstress is one of many celebrities expressing their stance on gay marriage, voicing her support by posting a handwritten note on her Facebook page.

“If you like it you should be able to put a ring on it” she wrote on a red background and posted online.

The pictures — a play on the lyrics of the 2008 hit when she sang “if you like it then you should have put a ring on it” — has garnered almost 115,000 likes and been shared by more than 33,000 fans.

The US Supreme Court has concluded the second of two hearings concerning gay marriage, as nine judges prepare to deliver a decision over California’s Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage, and a bid to overturn the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as ‘between a man and a woman’.

Thousands of supporters have descended on the Supreme Court in Washington to show their support for gay marriage, outnumbering protestors, and many celebrities have voiced their support on social media.

“Today I’m thinking of the Supreme Court” tweeted Ellen Degeneres on Tuesday as hearings began.

“I hope they remember what makes our country great, and support equality for all.”

Celebrities like Madonna and Kristen Bell have voiced their support on social media, and Facebook and Twitter users worldwide have changed their profile pictures to this:

Equal love

America’s Human Rights Campaign changed its well known blue and yellow logo to a red and pink version on Facebook, and it has since been shared more than 100,000 times.

“We never expected anything like this — for it to go viral,” HRC spokesperson Charlie Joughin said.

“Red is a symbol for love, and that’s what marriage is all about.

“We wanted to give people an opportunity to show their support for marriage equality in a public and visible way.”

The Supreme Court has heard two cases calling for change in same-sex marriage laws, concluding hearings on Wednesday.

The mostly conservative leaning judges have dropped suggestions they are in no hurry to make changes allowing same-sex marriage, but supporters are hopeful for a positive outcome for equal rights, even though decisions on each case could take months.

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Our week with Ellen!

Sydney brothers Julian and Dailius Wilson were given Access All Area passes during Ellen DeGeneres’ Australian tour, and they’re sharing their behind-the-scenes pictures exclusively with Woman’s Day.

The brothers stole Ellen’s heart when they serenaded her during a competition at Sydney’s iconic Opera House. She was so taken by them, she flew them to her show in L.A. where she presented them with $25,000 to help their sick father, who has been battling a brain tumour.

And when Ellen and her Aussie wife Portia de Rossi headed down under, she asked Julian and Dailius to be part of her team. “We greeted Ellen at the airport,” Dailius tells Woman’s Day. “She stopped to speak to us and said, ‘Hey, there’s my friends’.”

Take a look at what the brothers got up to here!

The boys on stage in Melbourne!

Ellen and Portia arrive in Sydney.

The view from the Stage Prior to Ellen’s Sydney Show.

Finding props in preparation for Ellen’s live Sydney show.

Ellen dances on stage during her the filming of her show.

The boys backstage at Ellen’s Sydney Show.

Julian handling precious camera equipment.

Ellen’s peronal delivery boys.

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‘Normal-sized’ mannequins go viral

'Normal-sized' mannequins go viral

The "normal-sized" mannequin next to a more traditional model in a Swedish department store.

Images of the “normal-sized” mannequins on display at a Swedish department store have been shared more than one million times on social networks.

The size 12 figurines have been used in all 76 Åhléns stores since 2010, but have only appeared online in the past week, when a blogger posted a picture on Facebook.

The images quickly went viral, attracting more than 50,000 “likes” in the first 24 hours.

The majority of mannequins have similar proportions to catwalk models and are usually no bigger than a size 8.

In Sweden, the average woman is size 12, so the department store decided to model its mannequins accordingly.

“Åhléns is using mannequins in different sizes because our customers, mainly women, look different,” Åhléns spokeswoman Monica Hultgren said.

“We’re all proud of them because of the positive reaction [from customers] and because it’s good to encourage a positive body image.”

Your say: Do you think Australian stores should use bigger mannequins?

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Halle Berry in therapy since 10 because of abusive father

Halle Berry has spoken out about her abusive father, revealing he is the reason she has been in therapy for more than 30 years.
Halle Berry

Halle Berry has spoken out about her abusive father, revealing he is the reason she has been in therapy for more than 30 years.s

The 46-year-old actress detailed about her traumatic relationship with her father Jerome in a candid interview in the current issue of Hello magazine.

“I’ve done therapy on an as-needed basis since I was probably 10 years old,” Halle told the publication.

“My father was an alcoholic and a very abusive one, and my mother knew the value of providing me with the outlet of an unbiased person to talk to, so I’ve done that all my life when times get stressful. It really helps me deal with stuff.”

Halle has been unlucky in love and is currently embroiled in a bitter court battle with her ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry over the custody of their five-year-old daughter, Nahla.

She is now engaged to model Olivier Martinez and says she is much happier, but still struggles to share her feelings with people close to her.

“I try really hard not to take my problems out on others and, in order to do that, I tend to mask the bad stuff or deal with it internally — you know, keep my chin up, put on a brave face and just keep going,” she said.

“If I do have a problem, I handle it so well that most other people don’t even know about it.”

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Ellen Degeneres’ interview about wife, Portia de Rossi

Ellen DeGeneres has paid tribute to her "beautiful and brilliant" wife Portia de Rossi in front of thousands of fans in Victoria.
Ellen DeGeneres Portia De Rossi

Ellen DeGeneres has paid tribute to her “beautiful and brilliant” wife Portia de Rossi in front of thousands of fans in Victoria.

The talk show host gushed about her wife of five years while onstage at Birrarung Marr in Melbourne.

“She is the most kindest, the most compassionate, the most brilliant, most beautiful human being I have ever met in my entire life,” she said.

“She makes me happier than I’ve ever been.”

Portia, who was born in Geelong, also spoke to the crowd, saying she was thrilled with Victoria’s reception of her wife.

“Melbourne has made me so proud,” she said.

It is Ellen’s first visit to Australia.

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Chrissie Swan welcomes third child

Chrissie Swan welcomes third child

TV personality Chrissie Swan and her husband Chris “The Chippie” have announced the birth of their third child, a baby girl they have named Peggy.

Both mum and bub are said to be doing well.

The happy news, revealed on The Project last night (Tuesday) means the radio host finally has a little girl to join her two boys, Leo, 4, and Kit, 18 months.

The new arrival will keep Chrissie out of the Logies spotlight this year… and keep her hands full at home.

“I think that if I ever have a third child and it is a girl, that I will fully lose my mind!” she joked earlier this year.

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Chrissie Swan welcomes baby girl

Chrissie Swan has given birth to her third child, a baby girl.
Chrissie Swan: I'm not ashamed of my size

Chrissie Swan has given birth to her third child, a baby girl.

The radio host and her husband Chris, better known to Chrissie’s fans as ‘The Chippie’, welcomed baby Peggy in to their family this week.

She is little sister to Swan’s two boys Leo and Kit.

The news was announced on Tuesday night on The Project and mother and baby are said to be doing well.

She announced her pregnancy on her Mix FM radio show last November, saying she was “so excited”.

“I think that if I ever have a third child and it is a girl, that I will fully lose my mind,” she joked earlier this year.

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This is what $95,000 worth of t-shirt looks like

This is what $90,000 worth of t-shirt looks like

This "crocodile chiffon" t-shirt is retailing for close to a six-figure sum.

What would you buy with $90,000? A couple of decent cars? Some nice jewellery? Set your kids up with a solid education or even make some wise investments?

OR you could become the proud owner of one Hermes ‘crocodile chiffon’ t-shirt.

The most expensive t-shirt in New York City has been discovered in the Hermes flagship store on Madison Avenue with its price tag creeping dangerously close to the six-figure mark.

Made from crocodile skin and silk chiffon and crafted using “innovative technology”, the men’s t-shirt retails at $91,500 (around $87,000 AUD) and when $8,000 sales tax is added, it comes to almost $100,000 (almost $95,000).

The crocodile tee debuted on the catwalk as part of Hermes’ Spring/Summer 2013 menswear collection as part of the label’s lightweight “crocodile chiffon” line. Yes, that’s right. Crocodile leather — for summer.

Across the range products are priced between $60,000 to $100,000.

The t-shirt is outrageously expensive but it can’t claim to be the most pricey top on the planet, facing stiff competition from an energy efficient diamond encrusted tee valued at $400,000, and this solid gold button-down.

Animal protection agency PETA has weighed in, saying that crocodiles are the ones really paying the for the expensive t-shirt.

“The highest price for this rather cheap-looking and ludicrous Hermes T-shirt is paid by the crocodiles who were bludgeoned to death or even skinned alive to make it,” PETA spokesperson Colleen O’Brien told TODAY.com.

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Italian court rules Amanda Knox retrial

Italian court rules Amanda Knox retrial

US student Amanda Knox thought her painful Italian court battle was behind her, but in an incredible turnaround, her trial will be reopened.

Italy’s highest appeal court has rejected her 2011 acquittal for the sexual assault and murder of Meredith Kercher and ordered a retrial.

The 25-year-old spent four years in jail for the murder of her British housemate in 2007.

Amanda and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively for their alleged involvement in Meredith’s death in the Italian town of Perugia. A third defendant, Rudy Guede, who has also denied the murder, is the only person still in prison for the crime.

Amanda, who immediately moved back to the US following her release from jail, says that although the news was “painful” she is prepared to fight.

“The prosecution’s theory of my involvement in Meredith’s murder has been repeatedly revealed to be completely unfounded and unfair,” she said in a statement.

“No matter what happens, my family and I will face this continuing legal battle as we always have, confident in the truth and with our heads held high in the face of wrongful accusations and unreasonable adversity.”

Prosecutors allege that Meredith, who was found half-naked in a pool of blood with her throat slashed, was killed during a drug-fuelled sex attack. They claim Knox delivered the final blows as Sollecito and Guede held her down.

Although a trial date hasn’t been set, it is expected that Amanda will remain in the US for the duration of the trial. If she is convicted definitively, the Italian court may seek her extradition, despite the fact that the United States does not normally hand over its citizens for legal action.

The astonishing turnaround comes as prosecutors warned the court to “make sure the final curtain does not drop on this shocking and dire crime”, saying the acquittal contained “omissions and many mistakes”.

Meredith’s family welcomed the news, with her sister telling Sky News there are “still questions that are unanswered and we are all looking to find out the truth”.

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Fred and Mary’s chopper drama

Fred and Mary's chopper drama

A near-disaster reminds the troubled royal couple what’s important.

Flying high above the Atacama Desert in Chile, Princess Mary could sense something wasn’t right. The mother-of-four was in a helicopter, on her way to an official engagement, when her pilot, with a look of confusion and concern on his face, began fiercely working the controls. Abruptly he announcedthey would have to make an emergency landing.

Crown Prince Frederik, flying in a separate chopper, was beside himself with worry when his own pilot explained they’d lost all communication with Mary’s crew. He could only wait anxiously on the landing strip for news of his wife’s predicament – a situation no husband would wish on anyone.

As Danish magazine Her & Nu reports, Mary was finally reunited safely with Fred on the ground, but it wasn’t without drama. “As they flew over the Atacama Desert the GPS signal was lost. Mary and Frederik were supposed to land at the same time,” the publication reports. “No-one was able to get in contact with the helicopter, and Frederik and the other visitors were very worried. The Crown Princess finally arrived an hour late.”

As many couples will attest, there’s nothing like a near-tragedy to bring you closer. Rumoured to be butting heads over Fred’s party-boy ways, the helicopter saga clearly provided a reality check for the future King of Denmark and his Australian bride.

Read more about Mary’s close call in this Woman’s Day on sale Monday March 25, 2013.

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