Popular Posts

The statistics don't lie as internet surfers flock to Careless Whispers in their thousands. Is it because of our superb and unique take on society? Or are they simply bored. We'll never know but who cares as long as they keep visiting this distant corner of the internet.

Left is a screenshot of Blogger's 'stats' for this website and interestingly topics with a 'conservative' bent were all almost equally popular. Of the 'views ' of out little tale on Republican candidate Donald Trump, nearly three quarters came from the USA. Have we influenced the American election?.

Donald Trump, Miss Universe & Whispers

When Australia's Jennifer Hawkins won the Miss Universe title in 2004 she was considered the most successful winner of all time in the contest.
When Hawkins returned to Australia she embarked on a two week tour of Australia organized by top model agent Grant Dwyer who discovered Hawkins and numerous other beautiful models who are household names today.

Whispers accompanied Jennifer on the Aussie tour along with half of a dozen of Donald Trump's Miss Universe workers. The tour was a promotional sensation. The Trump crew were astounded at the continued front page and television publicity including the above sensational snap taken by Whispers in Sydney at a fashion show as her skirt slipped off while she left the stage.
The picture swept around the world

But behind the scenes chat with the Trump workers was illuminating . They simply abhorred the man, hated working for him, rarely got paid on time and classed him right back then as a shocking misogynist and a ruthless bully. America, you have been warned

Myer Spring Summer fashion

It would be remiss of us having spruiked the David Jones' 2014 Spring Summer fashion parade, to not present their direct competitor Myer. And so here is the official video of the event. Keep an eye out for Jen Hawkins and see if you can spot the lump (baby!)

Turning 30

The most popular Miss Universe of all time Jennifer Hawkins celebrated her 30th birthday with a masquerade party at a restaurant in The Rocks.
Like any event Jennifer attends, it's all about the money with an exclusive deal with a glossy magazine to publish photos of the event.

On the other side of town at the uber smart Beach Haus nightclub in Kings Cross, Fiji Water boss Aaron Zerefos who races Porches cars in his spare time also turned 30 with a fab party for 100 close friends.
Aaron always seems to be surrounded by pretty girls. The last time we saw Aaron Zerefos he was deep in discussion with Khloe Kardashian at Ottos in Woolloomooloo. How does he do it ?.

Some months ago the Shuttle went to Beach Haus for a small party thrown by superstar Leo Di Caprio.
We were given instructions not to approach Leo at his table which is pretty difficult in Beach Haus given it's size but by the look of his burly minders, wasn't at all advisable

Dark Side of The Beauty Business

Grant Dwyer with Jennifer Hawkins (centre)

GRANT DWYER is well spoken young entrepreneur who often does business the old gentlemanly way-on a handshake.

Running a medium sized model and promotional agency from chic premises in Double Bay, he has had countless successes. Dwyer has a unique eye for spotting talent amongst the dozens of young aspiring models who walk through his door.

Jamie Foxx

In just the past few years, many of the careers launched by Dwyer have become household  names.

Model Ashlea Talbot,  teenage water skiing champion Lauryn Eagle, Celebrity Apprentice winner Jesinta Campbell, TV presenter Rachael Finch and the most successful Miss Universe ever Jennifer Hawkins.

Donald Trump's Miss Universe contest was languishing in the doldrums until Dwyer spotted the young Newcastle demonstration model Hawkins and persuaded her to enter the quest. A panel of judges that included fashion photographers, journalists and the Oscar winning actor Jamie Foxx all concurred with Dwyer's choice and sent Hawkins off to the 2004 quest in Ecuador.    

Lauryn Eagle

When Hawkins took the Miss Universe crown the contest became a major media event that astonished even the jaded Trump who couldn't believe his luck. Dwyer organised a home coming tour that would have been the envy of any chart topping pop group. Hundreds of fans rushed Hawkins. TV and newspaper cameras followed her every move over a two week tour of Australia culminating in the famous fashion slip in Sydney that catapulted Hawkins back onto front pages and TV screens around the world .

Rachael Finch

Now a legal stoush has broken out over one of Dwyer's top discoveries Rachael Finch

On Wednesday in the Downing Street Local Court Finch's current manager Deborah Miller was ordered to pay Dwyer $9406 after  Dwyer said he brokered a deal for Finch to appear as a celebrity ambassador for the McHappy Day fundraiser, which raises money for Ronald McDonald House Charities, after learning the beauty once worked for the fast food chain.

The rewards enjoyed by Dwyer's discoveries can be considerable. Even though Finch only came fourth in the 2009 Miss Universe contest in the Bahamas, Dwyer was already negotiating deals before she had returned to Sydney including a $45,000 make-up deal and a Disney promotion for $36,000.

As for Jennifer Hawkins, as the face of Myer department stores and with her own range of swimwear, Hawkins is estimated to earn up to $5M a year.

Australia the "Dumb Blonde"-what about Jennifer Hawkins ?

A mis-leading title ? Of course it is- but a day after we attended the launch of one of our favourite (and cleverest) blonde's new business ventures, British marketing expert Simon Anholt has labelled Australia as the "dumb blonde of the world" in a report in Melbourne's Age newspaper

When Jennifer Hawkins won the Miss Universe title in 2004 few could have predicted the extraordinary success that would follow her win except perhaps Miss Universe boss Donald Trump who has said that Jennifer is one of his all time favourite contestants. He keeps in regular contact with her.



Jen listens for the cash register's ring



Her triumphant return to Australia that year was unlike any tour taken by a celebrity.

Excited crowds greeted her tour of the country over  2 weeks of appearances in major cities.

A rock band would have been envious of the hysteria that followed Jennifer wherever she went.

A couple of mis-haps along the way like a wardrobe malfunction (snapped exclusively by the Shuttle) just increased the mania.

On Wednesday at the Gazebo Wine Bar in Kings Cross, Jennifer launched her own range of teetering stilettos to add to her business empire that has said to have earned her so far, in excess of $20M.

 Here are a few snaps from the night of Jen and her models wearing some of her new range of shoes-and that dress mishap picture that went whirling around the world in 2004.

Rachael firms up in first spot

Model agent Grant Dwyer with some of his discoveries including Jennifer Hawkins (centre)

Within minutes of the Shuttle hitting the blogosphere a missive arrives from the Miss Universe camp in New York.

Aussie entrant Rachael Finch is indeed shaping up to be the favourite according to one of the UK's biggest betting agencies Paddy Power who reckon some of their most astute punters are putting big money on Rachael to waltz off with the crown at Donald Trump's Miss Universe quest in the Bahamas this month. With odds shortening by the hour Rachael began at $16 but is now down to $4.50 for a win and expected to be as low as $3.50 tomorrow.
Time to take a punt. Star maker Grant Dwyer could pull off the trifecta with his nose for winning flesh after the success of Jennifer Hawkins & Lauryn Eagle.

worth a punt ? -Rachael Finch

has Grant pulled it off again with Miss Universe ?

Rachael Finch

After discovering the leggy blonde Jennifer Hawkins who was crowned Miss Universe in 2004 , reviving the flagging fortunes of Donald Trumps glamour puss event , model agent Grant Dwyer may well pull off another coup with this year's Aussie entrant and his latest discovery, Rachael Finch, another stunning head-turner.

Shuttlers may re-call Hawkins fame spread throughout the world as she became a front page sensation. She has since gone onto financial rewards earning of up to $3M a year from various TV and department store endorsements, recently moving into a $2.3M split level seaside house in Coogee with handsome hunk boyfriend Jake Wall.

Who could forget the dress mishap which looked for all the world like a staged event but was indeed an accident-caught on camera by a Shuttle fan which catapulted Jennifer back onto front pages world-wide and has since become a schoolboy pin-up. With the Miss Universe pageant set to take place on Paradise Island ,Nassau in the Bahamas, Rachael is a hot favourite to take the crown. Rachael is already picking up lucrative contracts as our snaps show from Lonsdale and others.

Jennifer slips up

Regular Shuttlers may also re-call when we revealed on another forum how Rolls Royce balked at the opportunity to transport Hawkins about town on her official promotional duties especially when it meant delivering Jennifer to her home town for a civic reception in the working class, former steel city of Newcastle just north of Sydney.
"Not quite us" they sniffed, "and besides, we don't sell too many up there."

Instead, the affable Tony Graziani who flogs Maseratis stepped into the breach and drove Hawkins about town. A good move as Jennifer's first purchase when the cash rolled in was $240k Gran Turisimo. Graziani then picked up the deal to shuttle movie goddess Sophia Loren about Sydney last year when she hit town to open a glitzy Italian style reception centre ..another perfect move when Loren invited Tony to holiday with her in Italy.

Grant Dwyer's other discovery, Lauryn Eagle who became the world champion water skier has also picked up valuable endorsements chiefly after she water skied the 240kms from Manly wharf to Newcastle, non-stop in the open sea -a feat that impressed Sir Richard Branson who immediately signed Lauren to promote something or other.
*********************
## A recent visitor to Sydney from Nassau, Nelia 'Minnie' Wynn has returned to her new Paradise Island home after a lengthy stay at Sydney's most splendiforous Darling Point harbourside mansion, Carthona, the gothic pile that houses the Oxleys. The Oxleys sensibly own 3 abodes in a row to house their extended family and once turned down a generous offer from Tom Cruise who wanted to purchase Carthona for his then wife, Nicole Kidman. Cruise had to settle for a smaller digs around the corner without the commanding views that make Carthona the most desired spot on the harbour.

Minnie has sold her Paradise Island 'Pink House', billed as the "world's smallest hotel" with it's 4 guest rooms. The Pink House has now been incorporated into Atlantis, where the next Miss Universe will be chosen later this month. ***************************