WHAT Happened to Whitney Houston's funeral

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all-time.[1] Houston was one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. She released seven studio albums and three movie soundtrack albums, all of which have diamond, multi-platinum, platinum or gold certification. Houston's crossover appeal on the popular music charts, as well as her prominence on MTV, starting with her video for "How Will I Know", influenced several African American female artists to follow in her footsteps. Houston is the only artist to chart seven consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits. She is the second artist behind Elton John and the only female artist to have two number-one Billboard 200 Album awards (formerly "Top Pop Album") on the Billboard magazine year-end charts. Houston's 1985 debut album Whitney Houston became the best-selling debut album by a female act at the time of its release. The album was named Rolling Stone's best album of 1986, and was ranked at number 254 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Her second studio album Whitney (1987) became the first album by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Houston's first acting role was as the star of the feature film The Bodyguard (1992). The film's original soundtrack won the 1994 Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Its lead single "I Will Always Love You", became the best-selling single by a female artist in music history. With the album, Houston became the first act (solo or group, male or female) to sell more than a million copies of an album within a single week period under Nielsen SoundScan system.The album makes her the top female act in the top 10 list of the best-selling albums of all time, at number four. Houston continued to star in movies and contribute to their soundtracks, including the films Waiting to Exhale (1995) and The Preacher's Wife (1996). The Preacher's Wife soundtrack became the best-selling gospel album in history

Only hundreds may have gathered in Newark, N.J. to celebrate the life and legacy of Whitney Houston; however, millions all over the world tuned in to pay tribute to the singer during a four-hour ceremony at the New Hope Baptist Church.

Over 1.7 million tuned into the live Internet stream of Houston's funeral while it also streamed delayed on network and cable television.

Celebrities took the stage to pay their respects to Houston, with stars revealing sides of the singer many never knew. Music industry "father," Clive Davis paid respects to the woman who was "always holding his hand," and Tyler Perry revealed how we may have never heard the singer's voice.

Kevin Costner gave one of the best speeches, sharing similarities between both him and the singer—they both grew up in baptist churches—and recalling behind the scenes knowledge of how Houston landed her role in "The Bodyguard." "She hadn't said four lines when they had to stop," Costner said of the screen test for her Hollywood debut. "She wanted to know what was wrong," Costner said. "I needed to know what she did in those 20 minutes. She said 'Nothing.'" What she did was reapply makeup before the screen test to look just perfect; however, the hot lights of the stage sent it streaming down her face.

Many performers had a tough time making it through their performances with Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and R. Kelly among the stars who paid tribute. Both Keys and Kelly had to pause during song.

Among those in the audience that didn't speak or perform included Oprah and Mariah Carey.

Djimon Hounsou: 'Blood Diamond' star's remarkable journey

From scavenging for food through garbage and sleeping in the streets, to becoming an international fashion model and a Hollywood A-lister, Djimon Hounsou's journey to stardom has been an astonishing one. The Benin-born actor, one of the most prominent film stars to come out of Africa, has appeared in blockbusters such as "Gladiator," "Amistad" and "Blood Diamond," and has worked with Hollywood royalty like Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio. His role in the film "In America" made him the first black African man to be nominated for an Oscar, while his performance in "Blood Diamond" earned him a second nomination. See also: The best of African film It's a long way from where the soft-spoken actor imagined he would be while growing up under difficult conditions in the West African country of Benin. "I was just a very torn child, very wounded in so many areas, with no family support," recalls Hounsou, who grew up without his parents, who had moved to Ivory Coast. Djimon Hounsou's lonely upbringing Djimon Hounsou: Homeless to Hollywood Djimon Hounsou: Actor and activist "I happened to the be the fifth child of my family," he explains, "so everybody was already grown and had left home already." For Hounsou, who finally met his father for the first time around the age of 10, this was a "very lonely" period of his life. "The dream was to escape that surrounding," he says. At the age of 13 he left Benin to move to Paris with his older brother -- but the hardship continued. "The rocky time came right after I left school," remembers the acclaimed actor. "I spent a lot of time at night navigating the streets of Paris trying to find something to eat," he says. "I was not anymore legal because I'm no more a student and I could not work. So I was left out on the street, I couldn't walk around too much because obviously if you get caught, noticed or get stopped by the police you're deported immediately." Hounsou's good looks, however, did get noticed by a Paris photographer, who invited him to audition as a fashion model. There, Hounsou met famous French designer Thierry Mugler and soon established himself as a successful high-fashion model. The collaboration with Mugler also took Hounsou to the United States for the first time, where he quickly started working toward realizing his dream of becoming an actor. See also: The evolution of African cinema My passion is more about bringing the stories out from the African continent mixed with the West. Djimon Hounsou He made his foray into the industry by appearing in music videos and went on to feature in Roland Emmerich's 1994 film "Stargate." But the break-out moment in Hounsou's acting career came three years later with Steven Spielberg's "Amistad," where he appeared alongside Hollywood legends Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman. "It was one of the most powerful stories about Africans that define African Americans' legacy and that a lot of people were shy about wanting to hear, wanting to see," says Hounsou of the film. Another defining moment for Hounsou was his performance in 2006's "Blood Diamond," where he won rave reviews for portraying a fisherman forced to work in a diamond mine after being captured by rebels. The film was set in Sierra Leone in the 1990s -- a time of civil war and a period when more than 4% of all African diamonds were sold on the black market. "My passion is more about bringing the stories out from the African continent mixed with the West," says Hounsou. Hounsou, who is married to former fashion model Kimora Lee Simmons, is also an outspoken activist and a prominent campaigner in the fight against climate change. His desire to make a difference has seen him working with charities such as Oxfam and SOS, while in 2009 he spoke at the United Nations' Summit on Climate Change in New York -- a far cry from his early days as a lonely child in Benin. But despite all he's achieved so far, Hounsou says his remarkable life journey is just starting. He says: "It was a great journey, but I strongly feel like I'm still at the beginning of that journey". Djimon Hounsou is a film star from Benin who has appeared in movies including "Amistad," "Blood Diamond" and "In America."

Hounsou, a former model in Paris, is married to Kimora Lee Simmons, well-known in her own right for her career in the fashion industry.

Appearing alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond," Hounsou won rave reviews for his portrayal of a fisherman forced to work in a diamond mine after being captured by rebels.

Hounsou, who is a well-known activist, addresses the United Nations' Summit on Climate Change in New York on September 22, 2009.

Then U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton attend the Washington premiere of "Amistad" on 4 December 1997.

Djimon Hounsou, Helen Mirren and Alan Cumming attend a party for the premiere of the 2010 film "The Tempest" on December 6, 2010 in Los Angeles. (CNN)

Algerian singer Warda dies in Cairo at 72

Along with Lebanon's Fayrouz and Egypt's late Umm Kalthoum, Warda was one of the legendary singers of the Arab world

Aldjazairia, or the Algerian Rose, was born in France in 1939 to an Algerian father and Lebanese mother [EPA] The Algerian singer Warda, whose sultry voice and range helped make her one of the giants of Arab song, has died aged 72. Egyptian state TV said Warda died on Thursday at her home in Cairo. The official MENA news agency said that her body will be flown to Algeria on Friday for burial. Along with Lebanon's Fayrouz and Egypt's late Oum Kalthoum, Warda was one of the legendary singers of the Arab world, with a voice that has been described as both sweet and powerful. Warda lived in Egypt on and off for more than 40 years, and it was in Egypt that she earned both her cinematic and singing breakthroughs that won her fame across the Middle East. She had at least five lead roles in Egyptian films, and about 300 songs to her name. Formidable team Warda Aldjazairia, or the Algerian Rose, was born in France in 1939 to an Algerian father and Lebanese mother. She began singing as a little girl, gaining a following among Arab children in France through her songs broadcast on local radio. Warda travelled to Algeria for the first time in 1962 after the country gained independence from it French colonial rulers. Warda Aldjazairia Born in Puteaux, France, in July 1939 Died May 17, 2012, in Cairo, Egypt, from a cardiac arrest Began singing professionally in 1951, at age 11, as a star in her father's Parisian cabaret, the Tam-Tam Famous for singing in support of the Algerian independence movement, including songs such as "Ya habibi ya mudjahid" (O friend, O fighter), "Bladi ya bladi" (O my Country), "Ya mrawah lelblad" (Thou who goest back to thy Country) Abandoned her professional career for a decade at the request of her first husband, an Algerian man Relaunched her musical career in 1972, moving to Cairo Married the Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi She married an Algerian and quit singing for ten years. After moving to Cairo, at the time the heart of the Arab cultural and artistic scene, she had her big break in the late 1970s with the hit "My Times Are Sweeter With You". She frequently worked with Egypt's, and the broader Arab world's, best-known composers, and eventually married one - Baligh Hamdy. They formed a formidable team, even after their divorce, making some of the most memorable Arab love songs, including "Stay Here, Stay" and "Listen To Me". Late Egyptian singer and composer Mohammed Abdel-Wahab said Warda had "a broad voice with special abilities that other singers lack". "I feel safe when she sings my tunes," he said. Warda sang in all Arab dialects, and although better known for her love songs, she also sang nationalistic songs for Algeria and the larger Arab world. She was first introduced to a wider audience in Egypt when she took part in a pan-Arab song in 1960 called "The Greater Nation" written under the-then Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel-Nasser. In the song, she sang the part referring to Algeria, earning her the moniker Aldjazairia, or The Algerian. Warda had a liver transplant ten years ago, which forced her to give up performing for a number of years. Her son told an Arab newspaper on Sunday that his mother was planning to film a new song in Algeria soon. Her last album was released in 2011, entitled: "The Years I lost."

Donna Summer died of lung cancer, but the singer wasn't a smoker

(CNN) -- Donna Summer died of lung cancer, but the singer wasn't a smoker, and the cancer wasn't related to smoking, her family's representative said Friday. Summer's family issued the announcement in the wake of how "various reports currently surfacing about the cause of Ms. Summer's death are not accurate," representative Brian Edward said. "Obviously, numerous factors can be attributed to the cause of cancer in general, but any details regarding the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Ms. Summer's case remain between her family and team of doctors," Edwards said in a statement. Five-time Grammy winner Summer, 63, known as the "queen of disco" during the 1970s, died Thursday at age 63. Summer: A diva who defined the disco movement Disco legend Donna Summer Disco legend Donna Summer Much like the expressive era that her music defined, Summer danced her way through the 1970s with extraordinary success, posting successive hits that electrified dance floors and prompted her coronation as America's disco queen. But her own life was marked by the highs and lows of the ballads that she energetically sang, and even at the height of her popularity, she once took steps toward suicide -- only to be stopped by the interruption of hotel maids. She overcame the negative dimensions of relentless public attention, and her legacy as a genre-leading vocalist endures decades later among music enthusiasts, even resulting in an appearance a few years ago on "American Idol." Summer died surrounded by her family in Florida. Overheard on CNN: This 'last dance' goes out to Donna Summer The legacy of Donna Summer A look back at Donna Summer's career Remembering Donna Summer 'Queen of Soul' talks 'Queen of Disco' Gloria Gaynor's tribute to Donna Summer Said her family in a statement Thursday: "Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith. While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy." Summer, who was born in Boston and whose father was a butcher and mother a schoolteacher, sang from the moment she learned to talk, and her debut performance came in church at age 10 when the scheduled singer didn't show and the pastor asked Donna to step in. Summer later recalled that the church performance left worshipers in tears. While she is iconic in the disco genre, her Grammy wins were also in the R&B, rock, inspirational and dance categories. "Her talent was a true gift to the music industry," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy. At the height of her career, she and Casablanca Records created a sex symbol persona for her, and in an October 1977 cover story for Ebony, she remarked about her other nicknames: Queen of Love and Symbol of Eros. "Well, you have to get people's attention some kind of way," Summer told the magazine, "but I'm not just sex, sex, sex. I would never want to be a one-dimensional person like that. "I can sing songs like 'Love to Love You, Baby,' but I can also sing ballads, light opera, things from musical comedies, church hymns -- all kinds of things. Plus I can write, act and think." Listen to a playlist of Donna Summer's greatest hits Summer added that she didn't "want to be known for just one thing." In a 2003 interview with CNN, she said the initial absence of a manager led her to do provocative photo shoots. Her public image as a sex symbol and diva conflicted with her religious upbringing, she said. Her grandfather was a minister and her father a church deacon. "Yes, it was a big complex and the image was sort of created around me," Summer said. "I was sort of there, but not consciously there. And I didn't have anybody sort of on my side at that point, fighting for me, except for me, being in the middle. And then people would say, you know, 'Lay down here and do this.' And you know, whatever," Summer said. Her big break came when she was a teenager and auditioned in New York for a European version of "Hair." She landed a role and went to Europe. When she achieved success by her mid-20s, she wasn't able to handle it well. "It was tough," Summer said. "I think success is always a surprise, you know." She eventually suffered depression and found herself in an abusive relationship. "If people are in abusive relationships, I think they need to get out of them or at least get help," Summer said. She lived in fear during that relationship, she said. "Thank God this person was from Europe, so they were deported. And then I was able to sort of be free, but I was afraid for years," she said. Her hits included "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "She Works Hard for the Money." Summer rose to fame the mid-1970s, thanks to "Love to Love You Baby." The song, with Summer's whispered vocals and orgasmic groans supported by heavily synthesized backing tracks, fueled the decade's disco mania and hit No. 2 in 1976. Summer followed the song with such hits as "I Feel Love," "Last Dance" and a disco version of the Richard Harris hit "MacArthur Park," which outdid Harris' version by hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart. It was Summer's first of four chart-toppers. But with her 1979 album "Bad Girls," Summer broke out of the disco mold as the genre, stimulated by the success of the Bee Gees' "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack, was feeling a backlash. "Bad Girls" demonstrated Summer's vocal and stylistic range and produced two No. 1 hits, "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls," as well as a Top 10 ballad, "Dim All the Lights." However, Summer had some trouble adjusting to the changing times. Her next album, "The Wanderer," went for more of a rock feel. It produced a Top 10 hit in the title track but fared relatively poorly on the charts -- especially disappointing after the success of "Bad Girls," a double album that spent five weeks at No. 1. It wasn't until 1983's "She Works Hard for the Money," which became a ubiquitous video as well as a big radio hit, that Summer's fame approached its late-'70s zenith

'Sons of Anarchy' creator Kurt Sutter moves to documentary TV

"Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter is putting the finishing touches on the final episodes of "Outlaw Empires." (CNN) -- For years, Kurt Sutter has told stories of criminal activity -- first as a writer for "The Shield" and then as the creator of FX's wildly popular "Sons of Anarchy," a dramatized version of an outlaw biker gang in California. Now he's branching out and focusing his lens on real-life criminal organizations. The Discovery Channel recently premiered "Kurt Sutter's Outlaw Empires," a six-part series that looks at the micro and macro reasons behind groups that have defined their existence outside the law. Episode one tackles famed Los Angeles gang the Crips, with subsequent shows exploring outlaw bikers, the Irish mob, the Italian mafia, the Nuestra Familia and the Aryan Brotherhood. "On 'Sons,' we exposed a lot of people to a new world," Sutter told CNN from Los Angeles. "It humanized what was a stereotype for a lot of people. Yes, our show is highly dramatic, and we take a lot of dramatic licenses. But the reality of it, and details of it are very true, very specific. For me, that's what I wanted to do with this series." The show sprang from a different concept Sutter was pitching that looked at criminal activity from two points of view, the criminals and law enforcement. For the final act, the two sides would be brought together in the same room. "The pitch was to have a high-level crime and get the point of view of the criminal party involved and law enforcement and hear their retelling of the same events," he said. "People were intrigued by the concept, but ultimately it felt a little too old school. Discovery was interested in a variation, and they've wanted to do a high-end documentary series." "Outlaw Empires" explores case studies of a few people involved in the criminal organization, using their stories and knowledge to make larger connections to the context of the outlaw group. Sutter pops up from time to time in cutaways to offer insights into the story he's trying to tell. He's not interested in getting law enforcement officials, psychologists or other talking heads to weigh in on why these people are "bad." Success, for Sutter, is telling a story that doesn't pass judgment. The approach that Sutter and his team took wasn't the typical "let's pick a subject and tell their story" usually associated with documentary storytelling. For him, they started small and worked outward. "We tapped into people that had relationships; some of these guys have been cleaning up their acts -- there's networks to get to these people," Sutter said. "We talked to people to see who had the most interesting story. It came out of character: who had the most interesting people with the most interesting stories. "It wasn't so much like 'Let's go do the Crips. Let's go do the Aryan Brotherhood.' It was about let's cast a wide net and be led into the worlds by the characters." Sutter is putting the finishing touches on the final episodes of "Outlaw Empires" while also in preproduction for the fifth season of "Sons." And like the way he portrays his fictional characters, he aims to give viewers a new look at a group of people who have been largely portrayed in a certain way. "It's a challenging thing to do when you're dealing with guys covered in swastikas," Sutter said. "You try to go in and give it some context, so people have some point of view to why people did what they did. It doesn't mean you're going to get behind it." He added, "The challenge is similar to writing 'Sons.' When you write an anti-hero, it's that balance between 'anti' and 'hero.' You can't make them too righteous and good so they don't feel dangerous or believable. But you can't write them so deplorable that the audience can't get behind them. It's similar with this series." "Kurt Sutter's Outlaw Empires" airs at 10 p.m. ET Mondays on Discovery

'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Scandal' ratings rise for finales

"Scandal" stars Jeff Perry, Tony Goldwyn and Kerry Washington (EW.com) -- Three Thursday night dramas were greeted with larger audiences for their final episodes of the season, but one NBC comedy tied its all-time low. ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" delivered 11.1 million viewers and a 3.9 rating, up 11 percent from last week and marking its best rating in three months. Check out EW.com's interview with "Grey's" showrunner Shonda Rhimes about last night's two shocking exits here. Bigger news: Rhimes' "Scandal" (7.5 million, 2.4) was up too, and not just a little. The political soap was up 26 percent, which is expected to mark a series high for the show (even after its rating is adjusted later today to account for some "Grey's" overrun). "Scandal" started its brief midseason run modestly but, as we've noted before, seemed like it had the potential to grow. CBS' "The Mentalist" (13 million, 2.5) was also up a tick for its latest Red John-focused finale (our interview with creator Bruno Heller about the finale here). Lead-in "Person of Interest" (13.3 million, 2.5), however, was down a notch for its finale. All four dramas return this fall, though "The Mentalist" will shift to Sunday nights. Now, about that triple-header "Community" finale. Why is NBC moving this comedy to Friday nights? Ratings like this. "Community" (2.5 million, 1.3), given a shot in the 9 p.m. hour, tied its series low across two episodes, as well as its 8 p.m. episode (3 million, 1.3). At 8:30 p.m., "30 Rock" (2.9 million, 1.3) didn't fare any better. At 10 p.m., "Awake" (2.1 million, 0.7) was down 22 percent from last week. Fox's "American Idol" (15.8 million, 4.2) was up 8 percent. "Touch" (6.3 million, 1.8), however, didn't take advantage of its boosted lead in, and fell 5 percent (Fridays!).

Art class for the blind

“Art class for the blind.”

Bojana Coklyat in art class at the Concordia Learning Center at St. Joseph’s School for the Blind in Jersey City, New Jersey

‘Circle of Fashion’

A model wears a creation by Colombia's designer Bertha Henriquez from her collection inspired by Wayuu Indian. – Photo by AP

‘Circle of Fashion’

Models present creations by Colombian designer Martha Arredondo. – Photo by Reuters

‘Circle of Fashion’

‘Circle of Fashion’

A model presents a creation inspired by native Indian culture by Colombian designer Martha Arredondo. – Photo by Reuter

Shah Rukh Khan faces police probe over cricket row

Shah Rukh Khan gestures towards a security guard blowing a whistle to direct children accompanying him off the playing field after the IPL Twenty20 cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.—AFP Photo MUMBAI: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan faced a police probe and a lifetime ban from Mumbai’s main cricket stadium on Thursday following a furious late-night row with staff at the ground, officials said. The actor, who co-owns the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders, took a group of youngsters including his daughter Suhana onto the pitch of the Wankhede Stadium after a match on Wednesday night. A security guard tried to stop them from playing, leading the multi-millionaire actor to argue angrily for 10-15 minutes before finally giving up and leaving the stadium, an AFP photographer witnessed. “Security officials told him to leave, but Shah Rukh Khan started the brawl,” Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) secretary Nitin Dalal told NDTV news. “He entered the ground half an hour after the game. The officers told him that this was not the right time. He misbehaved and he used foul language,” he added. Dalal said the MCA had filed a police complaint and would ban the cricket-crazy star from future attendance at the Wankhede Stadium. “He’ll not be allowed for any match—Test match, one-day international or any T20 or IPL matches hereafter. That is what we have decided,” said MCA treasurer Ravi Savant. The sweaty and dishevelled appearance of Khan, one of the most popular stars of the nation’s prolific Bollywood film industry, was a far cry from the carefully managed image presented through his advertising and acting roles. The 46-year-old was embroiled in another ugly row in January after a female director accused him of assaulting her husband at a late-night party. Khan has also been summoned to appear before a court in Jaipur later this month after he was seen smoking at the city’s main cricket stadium, in violation of anti-smoking laws.

Lady GaGa's 'Born This Way' Concert in Indonesia Gets Canceled

Lady GaGa's upcoming concert in Indonesia was scrapped, so it was announced on Tuesday, May 15. "The National Police said verbally that [the concert] would not be permitted," said Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto as quoted by the Jakarta Globe.

The gig was halted by authorities due to protests launched by Islamic hard-liners and conservative politicians in the country. Permit for the concert was also denied, so another spokesperson from the National police Boy Rafli Amar informed the press. The concert, which was part of "Born This Way" promo tour, was supposed to take place on June 3 at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta. 52,000 tickets were sold out in just two weeks, and due to the overwhelming demand, promoter announced the release of an additional 2,000 tickets on Monday. During the occasion, Michael Rusli of Big Daddy responded to the claim that the Mother Monster would corrupt Indonesian youths with her "evil" way. The president director of the company dismissed the claim, calling it ridiculous. Among those who were against GaGa was Islamic Defenders Front (FPI). "We will stop her from setting foot on our land. She had better not dare spread her satanic faith in this country," its chairman Salim Alatas said. FPI threatened to have 30,000 people block the Mother Monster from landing in the country. "Her style is vulgar, her sexual and indecent clothes will destroy our children's sense of morality. She's very dangerous," he reasoned. Indonesian Council of Churches (PGI) supported the protests as well. Secretary general of the PGI, Gomar Gultom, stated, "It is the duty of religious figures to guide people to have a clear mind and stand against pornographic temptations." The promoter has no comment regarding the cancellation, but promise to issue a statement as soon as possible.

See larger image Creator David Shore once teased that "House M.D."

Creator David Shore once teased that "House M.D." will have a bittersweet ending and it has been hinted in a preview for the final episode. The titular character is seen falling through a floor and lying next to a blonde woman, possibly Cameron, in the promo set to the song "Live Forever" by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Described as an emotional series finale, "Everybody Dies" is preceded by an hour-long retrospective at 8/7c on Monday, May 21. After treating a drug addict patient (guest star James Legros), House begins examining his life, his future and his own personal demons. Beside Olivia Wilde's Thirteen, familiar faces like Jennifer Morrison's Cameron, Amber Tamblyn's Masters, Kal Penn's Kutner and Jesse Spencer's Chase are expected to return to help the show bid farewell to fans. Gushing about how the story ends for his character, Spencer who will next star on NBC's "Chicago Fire" recently said, "It's actually very short, but it's so great." "It's this tiny little bit [that] opens up a whole new story, and we go 'Oh my God.' And [it leaves you] wondering," the Australian actor went on sharing. "You kind of know where it is going, but you'd like to see where it goes from there. Then the series ends. I like it. I can't wait.

Miss World 2011 Winner: Miss Venezuela Ivian Sarcos Wanted to be a Nun

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos, was crowned the winner of the Miss World beauty pageant 2011 Sunday, in London. Sarcos, 21, took the ultimate beauty accolade at Earls Court in London while being watched by a billion viewers. The Miss World 2011 winner defeated Miss Philippines Gwendoline Ruias and had a unique story that may have helped her win the crown. Sarcos was orphaned at the age of just eight and at one point in her life, she studied in a nunnery for five years. According to Nueva Prensa publication, her dream was to become a nun but she later gave up the idea and went to study in the Central University of Venezuela. "Unfortunately, I lost both my parents at a very young age, which led me to study for five years in a nunnery. I spent my five years in there and my dream was to become a nun," said the new Miss World, as reported by Agence French Presse

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos (4th L), joins other contestants on stage after being crowned Miss World 2011 in Earls Court in west London November 6, 2011.

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, reacts as she hears that she has been named Miss World 2011 in Earls Court in west London November 6, 2011.

Miss Venezuela, Ivian Sarcos, is crowned Miss World 2011 in Earls Court in west London November 6, 2011

Organisers underline beauty contest fairness

Organisers of the Miss Redds Tanzania have in strong terms ruled out the possibility of favouritism during the entire process of the campaign towards the final. Lino Agency’s director Hashim Lundenga said ever since the beauty pageantry was re-introduced in 1994, all winners have been voted by competent judges with high degree impartiality. He said some unscrupulous people have always been engaged in tarnishing the image of the organisers who have been doing a good job throughout. Lundenga was speaking during a meeting with media sports and entertainment editors in Dar es Salaam yesterday. “We have been keen and articulate in the whole procedures, formalities and all activities leading to the finals of the pageantry premierships”, said Lundenga. He said his agency strives to achieve new benchmarks in running and organising the beauty pageantry while avoiding complaints which might surface if any. The preliminaries of Miss Tanzania are expected to get underway in various parts of the country as Lino Agency will be behind supervision of the shows. Lundenga rule devout the inclusion of foreign based Tanzanians to compete in the show. He said the door is open to those Tanzanians who happen to study or stay abroad and make frequent return home such that they are still familiar with the country’s affairs. “We are sorry to say that participants living abroad for five back-to-back years are ineligible to compete in this shows as they are unlikely to cope with the pageantry requirements”, said Lundenga. Tanzania Breweries’ marketing manager Fimbo Butala said his firm is making efforts to stage the best ever premier beauty show at national level this time around. Redds used to be a platinum sponsor behind Vodacom Tanzania which ended its five-year sponsorship stint to pave way for the brewers. More than thousand beauty contestants have benefited from Miss Tanzania shows ever since the event was revived in 1994. The Miss Tanzania has become a new mining site for young women aspiring to the profession. Some have transformed their living standards through taking part in the events as they landed lucrative commercial deals besides travelling opportunities and experiences. The Miss Tanzania has been a huge attraction for the entertainment fraternity who follows it with tenacious zeal whenever is staged. The finals of the event are expected to be held later in September

Kopa leads Kili award winners in Moshi tour

Taarab music vocalist Khadija Kopa took a centre stage during the EATV sponsored Kili Music award winners upcountry tour over the weekend. The tour comprising all Kili award winners stormed Moshi Municipality as music fans jammed the Moshi Cooperative College Stadium for the entertainment bash. Light rainfall and cool breeze descending from the nearby slopes of Kilimanjaro Mountain, the highest peak in the continent did not bother the crowd at all. The show started early in the afternoon and extended deep into the midnight while fans had a closer look of the award winners. All winners had an opportunity to showcase just a leaf of their expertise as Ali Kiba, AT, Suma Lee, Omy Dimpoz, Warriors music group and Kopa to mention a few during the opening year’s most entertaining music bash. Music fans kept flocking into the Stadium as the show gained tempo in the early evening hours of the day. Business was almost stalled during the day as the entire Moshi Municipality was shaken by the show. The show in Moshi crossed over the barriers when contrasted to similar ones already held in Dodoma and Mwanza cities. Upcoming musicians were the first to take the stage ahead of the award winners as Elias Sungura won hearts of the crowd. The Arusha-based Warriors from East group had a full hour of entertainment that looked the shortest duration for fans that were treated with variety of Reggae compositions including “Arusha Gold” during the live show. Kopa’s attractive metallic voice coupled with her waist gyrations took Moshi fans by bewilderment as the show progressed with many requesting her to stay longer than her scheduled time at the stage. Zanzibar’s AT thrilled fans as he sang ‘Vifuu Utundu’ composition that won him the annual award. Roma Mkatoliki also known as “Mpare wa milimani" concluded the otherwise highly thrilling music bash in Moshi since the year started.