We’ve read about some celebs’ elaborate weddings, but what about the proposals?

PINK AND CAREY HART
She’s never been the most tradi-tional girl, so when Pink felt she was ready to get hitched, she took matters into her own hands. The muso proposed during one of Carey’s motocross races. She wrote ‘Will you marry me?’ on a pit board as he was coming up on his first lap. He dismissed her so she followed that up with ‘I’m serious’ when he came around again. Once he realised she wasn’t joking, Carey promptly abandoned the race to say ‘Yes’!

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON
Millions watched as an ordinary girl wed a prince in a fairy-tale ceremony, but few know William proposed while on safari in Kenya. Well known for their love of Africa, the couple had gone on a hiking holiday with some friends. Wills had stashed the emerald and diamond ring that had been his mother’s in his rucksack and during a quiet moment on their private veranda he proposed.

MARIAH CAREY AND NICK CANNON
She cast him to play her love interest in a video for her multi-platinum album E=MC2. Mariah then shocked fans when she announced that they had wed after a one-month courtship. Nick had to propose twice because Mariah turned him down the first time. His first attempt was on top of the Empire State building, which had been lit up pink and purple to promote her hotly anticipated album. He presented her with a 17 ct whopper estimated at R20 million, but he was only able to put it on her finger when she accepted his second proposal during a helicopter ride over NYC.

DAVID ARQUETTE AND COURTNEY COX
Things didn’t start well for this couple (an omen, perhaps?). When David approached Courtney’s father to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage, her dad agreed but later tried to talk her out of it. For his proposal, David took the Cougar Town actress to a beach in Florida. While walking along the shore he asked Courtney to marry him. When she accepted, fireworks lit up the night sky. Sadly the couple separated shortly after their 11th anniversary.

CHARLIE SHEEN AND BROOKE MUELLER
Charlie had a tumultuous 2011, managing to get himself fired from his hit sitcom Two and a Half Men. But before things went pear-shaped, Charlie was married to real estate investor Brooke Mueller. He popped the question while they were on vacation in Costa Rica. The twice-married Charlie presented her with an expensive watch. On the inside he’d asked the jewellers to engrave ‘B – Wanna get married? Love C’. The couple are now divorced, but rumour has it a reconciliation may be on the cards.

SEAL AND HEIDI KLUM
When Grammy-winning soul crooner Seal decided to pop the question to German supermodel Heidi Klum, he really went all out. He had an igloo built on top of a glacier in the Canadian Rockies and kitted it out with all the mod cons an A-lister could need:
a bed, rose petals, candles, Champagne and romantic food. The couple flew to their destination in a helicopter and when they arrived, Seal asked for Heidi’s hand.Unfortunately they’re now divorced, but before their marital woes the songstress and her music exec ex were head over heels in love.

CHRISTINA AGUILERA AND JORDAN BRATMAN
Jordan whisked Christina away for a short holiday to Carmel, California. He had their room carpeted with rose petals and he wrapped presents with personally penned poems inside for her to unwrap. When she got to the last gift, there was a five-carat diamond engagement ring inside. Jordan promptly got on one knee and asked her to be his missus.

Just because they’re in the limelight doesn’t mean celebrities are immune to tragedy and illness. These personalities reveal how they dealt with adversity. By Tracy Lynn Chemaly

Just because they’re in the limelight doesn’t mean celebrities are immune to tragedy and illness. These personalities reveal how they dealt with adversity. By Tracy Lynn Chemaly

Danny K, 34, singer
Danny lost his 23-year-old brother Jarren in a helicopter accident in 2003.What were some of the biggest struggles you faced? The news came as a huge shock to us. For the first six to eight hours, we didn’t know whether the people in the crash were alive or dead, so it
was frustrating and nerve-racking. When we discovered Jarren had died, I experienced a sense of emotion I’d never felt before. It’s like being in a car accident – like someone has smashed you up against a wall. I wasn’t really compos mentis for a while.

How did you deal with this loss?
Our Jewish religion has an amazing mourning process – for seven days, you do nothing but have people visit and say prayers. This really helped, as did the traditions we followed in the subsequent months. The sense of community and love propped us up. I dedicated my album, J23, to Jarren, and it was therapeutic to incorporate him in my work. I’ll always have that pain, but I don’t let it poison or derail me. I am still inspired by his legacy and I try to emulate his best characteristics. He’s still a tremendous influence in my life.

What advice do you have for people battling with tragic loss?
Premature death is traumatic. It takes a tremendous amount of time and patience to overcome it. Mourn and be honest about the period – fast-tracking is dangerous. Also, focus on the person and think about the moments you two had together, rather than the day of their death and the circumstances surrounding it.

Are there any support groups you can recommend?
The Compassionate Friends, www.compassionatefriends.org.za.

Gerry Elsdon, 40, TV personality, businesswoman and motivational speakerGerry was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) 12 years ago.
What were some of the struggles that you faced when you were diagnosed?

I discovered I had TB in the lining of my uterus after struggling to fall pregnant. At first, I was more angry about my infertility than anything else. But then I became confused and curious about the disease. I knew nothing about it, and that made me afraid.

How did you deal with it?
I did my research on the internet and spoke to a physician to learn more. I discovered the various types of TB and their treatments. Mine was non-infectious and located in an organ, and not the airborne, pulmonary type of TB that requires six months of treatment. So I had to undergo nine months of treat-ment, swallowing a handful of pills every day.

What advice do you have for people who suspect they have, or do have, TB?
Early detection is key! Get tested if you’ve had a constant cough for three weeks, have lost your appetite for no reason, break
out in night sweats or if you are HIV positive or diabetic. If you are diagnosed, compliance with treatment is fundamental. People who don’t stick to their treatment can infect others or develop a strain of multi-drug-resistant TB, which requires 12 months of hospitalisation (as opposed to the six months of treatment as an outpatient for normal TB).

Are there any support groups you can recommend?
The Red Cross, the Department of Health’s local TB clinics and the South African National Tuberculosis Association (SANTA).

Mbali Nkosi, 27, former Miss Deaf South Africa 2010
Mbali has been deaf since she was born.

What are some of the biggest struggles you face?
My mother discovered quite late that I was deaf, as I only used to cry when I was hungry. So I started off in a normal school and was only moved to a deaf school later. Sometimes people who don’t know I can’t hear well think I’m ignoring them when they greet me. It’s hard to communicate with people who don’t understand me, especially when buying something; sometimes they give me the incorrect change or the wrong thing. Also, some TV programmes don’t have subtitles. When using public transport, I try to tell the person sitting next to me to instruct the driver where to stop, but they often don’t understand me. Even at home, when I can’t hear everyone, they some-
times get fed up with me. I wish I could hear what it sounds like when people are singing.

How do you deal with your hearing impairment?
I have accepted that this is who I am, and I’m happy that I can do things such as write, read, model, travel the world and attend college – I can still do anything and I love motivating school children to do the same. I am proud that I’m deaf.

Claudia Henkel, 28, former Miss South Africa 2004 and motivational speaker Claudia battled with an eating disorder 10 years ago.
What were some of the biggest struggles you faced?
At 18, I joined a modelling agency and attended castings with lots of women. They all seemed so perfect. I’m 1.83m tall, and the average model is about 1.77m, so I realised that, in order for the clothes to fit me like the other models, I would have to be really thin. I became conscious about what and how much I ate, and the thinner I became, the happier I felt. During the last show of Cape Town Fashion Week, I was sent home – I was pale, dehydrated and could hardly walk. I’ll never forget the look on my mother’s face when I returned home to Pretoria. She hadn’t seen me in a few weeks and I had lost quite a lot of weight, when I was never even overweight in the first place.

How did you deal with this eating disorder?
The turning point was when I decided to enter Miss South Africa. If I wanted young girls to see me as a mentor, I would have to look like a healthy, happy woman. I was fortunate enough to have the support of my family and was able to overcome it.

What advice do you have for people battling with eating disorders?
This is difficult: when I was losing weight, I was happy, and those suffering from an eating disorder will always deny they have a problem. The best way to recognise that you have a problem is when your loved ones start showing concern about your weight loss. If you are suffering from an eating disorder, you’ll know it, and although you may enjoy the drastic weight loss, there are serious health issues that will catch up to you later in life.

Chad Saaiman, 28, singerChad was shot in the ribs during an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg in June 2011.
What were some of the biggest struggles you faced after the attack?

Survival! The bullet hit five of my organs and the pain was indescribable. I was on a thin line between life and death and wasn’t
sure which way things would go. I also often have flashbacks of the attack.

How did you deal with getting over this incident?
I went to Cape Town to live with my family during the healing process and also received professional help from a trauma counsellor. Having a great foundation of friends and family played a pivotal role and I’ve turned the incident into something positive by choosing to focus on living life one day at a time, to the best of my ability. As a result, I have tapped into so many new sides of myself.

What advice do you have for people battling to come to terms with violent attacks?
Speak about it – communicate your emotions in order to deal with them. We often don’t speak out enough and so we become part of the silent majority of South Africans. You can make a difference to yourself and others by raising your voice.

Do the rich and famous have money problems? No way, you say. Read on…
LADY GAGA
Who would have thought this superstar, with her sold-out tours and chart-topping hits, would ever find herself facing bank-ruptcy? But in 2010, Lady Gaga’s financial situation wasn’t looking too good. Surprisingly, it had nothing to do with the eccentric outfits or lavish lifestyle that set her back – it was her 18-month The Monster Ball world tour. Thanks to expensive wardrobe changes and state-of-the-art set designs, the singer had a R24-million bill to pay. Fortunately, Born This Way is raking in big bucks, so she won’t be cash-strapped for too long.

TLC
Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins, Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes and Rozonda ‘Chilli’ Thomas made up the all-girl group TLC, whose mix of hip hop and R&B put them at the top of the music charts in the ’90s. But at the height of their success, Lisa (who battled a drinking problem) became involved in an expensive lawsuit after torching her boy-friend’s house. This, along with claims that their managers were withholding money from them, led to the band filing for bank-ruptcy in 1995. Fortunately they made back their millions with their third album, FanMail. But the group disbanded after Lisa died in a car accident in 2002.

MARVIN GAYE
Best known for hits such as ‘What’s Going On’, Marvin Gaye was a music icon of the ’70s. Yet in 1979, the crooner was penniless. Unpaid taxes, a raging drug addiction and a failed marriage had sapped his finances. Marvin was so down and out he lived in a bread van in Hawaii for a while. But, with the release of his album Midnight Love, Marvin sung his way out of debt. Sadly, two years later the Prince of Motown was shot and killed by his father after a family dispute.

DONALD TRUMP
This billionaire has staged a come-back from financial ruin – not once, but four times! The business tycoon filed for corporate bankruptcy twice in the ’90s and then again in 2004 and 2009. His over-leveraged casinos and hotels were to blame for his lack of cash. Despite these setbacks, ‘The Donald’ is now a regular feature on Forbes’ list of richest celebrities, thanks in part to his hit reality TV programme, The Apprentice.

MIKE TYSON
He made millions as a world champion boxer, but, like many celebs, he blew it all on fast cars, diamonds and bad habits. His lavish lifestyle is rumoured to have cost around R3.2 million a month. The wild spending caught up with him when his mega-earnings ran dry in 2003, and Mike was left with a debt of R184 million. Since then, the former heavyweight champ has been doing TV and movie appearances (remember him in The Hangover?), signing book deals and appearing in exhibition matches to get out of the red.

TONI BRAXTON
She was discovered at a petrol station while filling her tank and singing at the same time. She then flew on to the scene in the ’90s, but a few years later Toni was battling money troubles. In 1998, the R&B diva was forced to sell her household assets, including two Grammy awards, to cover her R31-million debt. Just over 10 years later, Toni was broke. In 2010, she declared bankruptcy for a second time, citing debt of up to R400 million!

LARRY KING
He’s now worth an estimatedR1 billion, but former Today Showhost Larry King has experiencedhis share of monetary setbacks.In the ’70s, when he was makinghis way up in the entertainmentindustry, his business partneraccused him of theft. As a result,his career nosedived and so didhis bank balance. In 1978, Larryracked up a debt of R2.8 millionand filed for bankruptcy. Luckilythe lawsuit was dropped andhe returned to prime-time TV.

These celebs have no problem parting with their cash … especially when it comes to buying gifts
Oprah Winfrey and Jessica Seinfeld
Scoring an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show to promote your product was pretty much a guarantee for instant fortune.Case in point: After chatting to the former queen of talk about her new cookbook, Jessica’s first foray into the literary world was a major success – Deceptively Delicious was on The New York Times’ best-seller list with well overone million copies sold. So grateful was Jerry Seinfeld’s wife, she gave Oprah 21 pairs of the red-soled Christian Louboutin shoes. They retail at around R5 600 a pair, and pundits reckon Jessica parted with no less than R112 000.

David and Victoria Beckham
On Victoria’s 34th birthday, she was left puzzled when her hubby handed her a bottle of wine. Naturally, it wasn’t ordinary vino, as the former Spice Girl’s name was emblazoned on the label. Turns out, David had purchased a vineyard in the Napa Valley and named it after her. A team of experts was hired to run the winery especially for the couple.

JLo and Ben Affleck
Before Ben settled down with wife Jennifer Garner, he was madly in love with J Lo. During their whirlwind relationship and brief engagement, the couple exchanged Bentleys, fur coats and plenty of diamonds. But nothing beat the six-carat ring, rumoured to have cost R4.9 million, that Ben presented when he popped the question to J Lo.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pit
Angie is quite the romantic, but not in the card-giving manner. For Valentine’s Day last year, the Tomb Raider actress gave Brad an olive tree worth R130 000. Why this tree cost so much remains a mystery, but an olive branch is traditionally offered as a symbol of peace or a truce. The A-list couple intend to plant it in their million-dollar estate in the south of France.

Katy Perry and Rusell Brand
The British comedian is known for his outrageous on- and off-screen antics, and when thinking of the perfect gift for his 36th birthday, wife Katy new just what to get: a trip to space. In order to enjoy this Virgin Galactic flight however, Russell has to undergo three days of vigorous training. Katy parted with a cool R1.4 million for this token of affection.

Beyonc É Knowles and Jay -Z
It’s no secret that this twosome has it all – they were recently voted one of the highest-earning couples in Hollywood. So, despite his arresting collection of cars (including a Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Maybach 62 S), a R14-million Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport rolled up in Jay-Z’s driveway for his 41st birthday … courtesy of Beyoncé.

P Diddy and Justin Combs
No list of crazy purchases and excessive spending would be complete without featuring the rapper and mogul P Diddy. Forhis son’s 16th birthday, Diddy bought Justin a silver Maybach. What is that, you ask? It’s a brand of elite and  luxurious cars that come with a price tag of around R2.5 million. Just in case Justin wasn’t satisfied, Diddy also gavehim R70 000 to sink into his own bank account.

With their toned legs and defined abs, these celebs are not shy to strut their stuff!

KIM KARDASHIAN
Kim is extremely proud of her super famous curves. ‘The most important thing is not to be shy – work with what you have.’ Her secret? Interval training. Kim works up a sweat by mixing strength exercises, such as upper and lower body moves, with bursts of cardio. And she has the basics all figured out. ‘A couple of big bottles [of water] a day helps you get a flatter stomach.’They may be the envy of many, but the Barbados beauty admits to feeling insecure about her legs. So she works them extra-hard during her regular training sessions. ‘I do weights but I don’t want my legs to bulk up, so I do a lot of cardio. I’ve lost weight since I started working out and if I exercise every day for a week, I can drop several pounds.’

RIHANNA
When he appeared in Prince of Persia, viewers were astonished by Jake’s physical transformation. He had clearly been hitting the gym, and boy did it pay off. He attributes his improved shape to weight training, intense cardio and a diet overhaul. He’s not as buff now as he was while filming that gruelling flick, but he still turns heads when he takes his shirt off at the beach.

JAKE GYLLENHAAL
When he appeared in Prince of Persia, viewers were astonished by Jake’s physical transformation. He had clearly been hitting the gym, and boy did it pay off. He attributes his improved shapeto weight training, intense cardio and a diet overhaul. He’s not as buff now as he was while filming that gruelling flick, but he still turnsheads when he takes his shirt off at the beach.

TAYE DIGGS
He’s a theatre, film and TV actor, well known for his role in the musical Rent. Even though he’s working harder than ever as the star of Private Practice and a new dad, Taye keep his physique in tip-top shape. The actor works out with a personal trainer and enjoys playing basketball, lifting weights and even Pilates.

JENNIFER ANISTON
The 42-year-old Friends star, who touts yoga as her method of staying in shape, has been on many ‘Best Body’ lists and is never shy to don a bikini. She recently told GQ magazine that ‘I feel more comfortable today than I ever did in my twenties or early thirties. I am more at peace in my mind and with my body’.

BAR REFAELI
The Sports Illustrated cover girl virtually lives in a bikini (and gets paid for it too), but hates workingout. ‘I have to do it,’ says the Israeli beauty. ‘I do cardio and crunches and the horrible things you haveto do to stay in shape. I also sleep well and drink lots of water.’

HUGH JACKMAN
Viewers got their first glimpse of the action star’s physique when he played Wolverine in the popular X-Men movies. Hehas been snapped on the beach playing with his kids and flexing his ridiculously toned arms. ‘I run 45 minutes to the gym, whereI row, cycle and lift weights. You have to sweat every day.’ And the diet? ‘No sugar. I eat every three hours – but not much carbs.A lot of vegetables, salad, fish and chicken.’

ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY
She’s a Victoria’s Secret model,and her fabulous bod and never endinglegs are often the star of the runway. She’s also an advocatefor organic produce. ‘Thinkabout what goes into processed foods. Sometimesthe apples in a supermarket are all the same size and colour, but that’s not what they should look like.’ She enlisted the help of two personal trainers to get her ready forthe physically demanding role in Transformers 3.

JAMIE FOXX
The Oscar-winning actor and musician doesn’t seem at all interested in settling down. He told Uptown magazine, ‘[I’m] not necessarily a bachelor, but I look at marriage as not for me. Maybe that will change at some point, but right now, I see many of my married friends who are so miserable. And I’m looking at that thinking, “Man, maybe I don’t need that”.’

GEORGE CLOONEY
The famous serial monogamist called it quits with gorgeous Italian TV presenter and model Elisabetta Canalis after she mentioned her desire to get married and have children in a magazine interview. George has been very vocal about not remarrying after his first union to Talia Balsam failed. He told TV host Piers Morgan that he’d given marriage a shot and had no desire to ever have children.

CAMERON DIAZ
She’s had many high-profile relationships and is currently dating Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez. But if you were hoping to see the Bad Teacher actress with an engagement ring on her finger, think again. She told Maxim magazine, ‘I think we have to make our own rules. We shouldn’t live our lives based on old traditions that don’t suit our world any longer.’

RYAN REYNOLDS
The Green Lantern star was heartbroken when wife Scarlett Johansson filed for divorce just two years after they wed. Ryan (who partied up a storm while shooting a movie in the Mother City earlier this year) admitted marriage wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Whether there’ll ever be another Mrs Reynolds, there’s a legion of female fans happy to have him back on the market.

SANDRA BULLOCK
Since her divorce from Jessie James in 2010, the leading lady has been living the single life. Following her highly publicised split, she was seen with The Proposal co-star, Ryan Reynolds. But the Hollywood gossip mill was working overtime as nothing came of the alleged courtship, and Sandra has made it clear that the only man she has time for is her adopted son Louis.

CHARLIZE THERON
The beauty from Benoni has famously said that she’d only consider tying the knot when same-sex marriages were legalised in the US. But after splitting from long-time boyfriend Stuart Townsend, she admitted to Piers Morgan that ‘marriage was never something that was important’.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO
Known for having famous models on his arm, this megastar is not shy to play the field. Leo dated supermodel Gisele Bündchen, who dumped him because he preferred boys’ nights out instead of settling down. He then moved on to Israeli model Bar Refaeli, but they broke up after spending too much time apart. And he is now courting Gossip Girl starlet Blake Lively. He hasn’t entirely scoffed at the idea of marriage, but we would not be surprised if Leo took after the perennial bachelor George Clooney.

EVA MENDES
This stunning Cuban-American actress won’t be walking down the aisle any time soon. ‘I’m not anti-marriage or the institution, like other people,’ Eva told TV host Chelsea Handler. ‘And I love the idea of a union – that’s all very beautiful. But I think it is a very old-fashioned, archaic kind of thing.’

We bring you the scoop on some of Hollywood’s lesser-known marriages.

SEAN PENN AND MADONNA
A colossal clash of Hollywood egos occurred in 1985 when actor Sean Penn married pop diva Madonna. The tumultuous relationship almost destroyed her. According to sources, Sean was both physically and verbally abusive, once tying her to a chair and hitting her with a baseball bat. After a very rocky four-year union, it all came to a crashing end in 1989. They both remarried and divorced again.

DONALD TRUMP AND IVANA ZELNÍKOVÁ
The real-estate mogul met first wife, Ivana, in 1976 and the two married in a lavish ceremony a year later. But happily ever after came to a sudden end when Ivana caught wind of an affair between Donald and model Marla Maples. After Mrs Trump confronted the young woman, the couple divorced and he had to pay an estimated R175-million settlement. He went on to marry and divorce mistress Marla, before settling down with 23-year-old Slovenian model Melania Knauss.

LIONEL RICHIE AND BRENDA HARVEY
The recording star married his college sweetheart in 1975 and went on to forge a successful career selling more than 100 million albums. However, during the course of his marriage he met 19-year-old back-up dancer, Diane Alexander. After being caught in a romantic embrace outside their apartment, Lionel and Brenda went their separate ways. Lionel then married, and eventually divorced, Diane.

MICHAEL DOUGLAS AND DIANDRA LUKER
The actor met Diandra when she was only 19 and he was 32. They married six weeks later. Michael had a successful career during the ’80s and ’90s, amassing a fortune. His roving eyes became legendary in Hollywood, resulting in Diandra filing for divorce in 1997 after 20 years of marriage. The split cost Michael roughly R315 million. He went on to marry Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones in 1999.

HARRISON FORD AND MELISSA MATHISON
Following three unsuccessful marriages, Harrison took eight years to wed current wife Calista Flockhart – maybe because he was rebuilding his bank account. His divorce from Melissa, a well-known screenwriter, cost him a rumoured R630 million. The pair had been married for 18 years and have two children together.

KEVIN COSTNER AND CINDY SILVA
After 16 years and three children, news of the couple’s split in 1994 shocked Tinseltown. Cindy could no longer handle Kevin’s steamy movie scenes or his womanising ways. The price of the divorce was a record because Kevin had made most of his wealth during their marriage. Cindy left with a cool R560 million, and Kevin is now married to German model Christine Baumgartner.

STEVE HARVEY AND MARY SHACKELFORD
Comedian Steve reinvented himself by writing two New York Times best-sellers aimed at improving the dating world for single ladies. His image was shattered when ex-wife Mary posted videos on YouTube claiming that Steve had cheated on her and left her for his current wife, Marjorie Bridges. In these interviews, Mary claimed she was broke and homeless. Steve denied all the allegations.

TOM CRUISE AND MIMI ROGERS
During the 1980s, Tom married actress and professional poker player Mimi. They separated after three years when Tom became emotionally unavailable and seriously considered entering a monastery. Mimi said at the time, ‘He thought he had to be celibate to maintain the purity of his instrument, but my instru-ment needed tuning, and we had to split.’ Both have remarried since, and Tom has subsequently divorced second wife Nicole Kidman, making Katie Holmes the third Mrs Cruise.

Many young women dream about tiaras, castles and princes. These ladies live the reality.

PRINCESS SIKHANYISO DLAMINI
Country Swaziland
Marital status Single
Her story Sikhanyiso is the oldest daughter of King Mswati III from one of his 14 wives. Educated in England, she’s currently studying drama in the US at the University of California. A very controversial figure, she’s been known to shun Swazi culture and opt for a more Western approach. To add insult to injury, she has publicly criticised the practice of polygamy, going against her father’s beliefs. The Swazi press has apparently been banned from reporting on her.

PRINCESS MADELEINE
Country Sweden
Marital status Single
Her story Born to King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Princess Madeleine (also known as the Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland) is third in line to the throne. She was schooled in her native country, but also studied in England. When she’s not riding horses, she is involved in various royal duties and charity work, having interned with Unicef in New York for six months. She was born just 11 days before Britain’s Prince William and was tipped as his perfect match … at least until Kate came along!

PRINCESS MARIE-CHANTAL
Country Greece
Married to Crown Prince Pavlos
Her story Born in England to an Ecuadorian mother and American father, Marie-Chantal was raised in Hong Kong, attended school in Switzerland and Paris, before heading to university in New York. A career woman, she designs a luxury children’s clothing and acces-sories range, and has also written and illustrated the kid’s book, The Frog Prince. Despite being a busy mom to their five children, she finds the time to sit on the board of various charities.

PRINCESS HAYA
Country Jordan
Married to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Her story Although Princess Haya goes by this title, she’s actually married to the sheikh (king) of Dubai. At just 13 years old, she was the first female to represent Jordan on the international equestrian field. She competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the World Equestrian Games, becoming the first Arab woman to qualify for a world champion- ship. She amazed people once again after obtaining a licence to drive the heavy trucks that carry her horses.

PRINCESS LETIZIA
Country Spain
Married to Prince Felipe, heir apparent to the Spanish throne
Her story Before she married into royalty, Letizia was a divorced journalist with a master’s degree in audiovisual journalism. Now she’s globetrotting with her husband, representing Spain on overseas trips. She focuses on causes to do with children’s rights, culture and education. Back at home, this princess is also the down-to-earth mom of two children.

PRINCESS MASAKO
Country Japan
Married to Crown Prince Naruhito
Her story After receiving magna cum laude for an economics degree from Harvard University, Princess Masako started building a very successful career at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although her father was the director general, she took the job seriously. In preparation, Masako completed a few courses at the University of Tokyo. It was there where she first met Prince Naruhito, who fell madly in love. They have one daughter, Princess Aiko, who will not become queen as the Japanese Imperial House does not allow female heirs.

CHARLOTTE CASIRAGHI
Country Monaco
Marital Status Single
Her Story World-renowed for her stunning looks and flair for fashion, Charlotte is no stranger to the media. She’s a hereditary princess and fourth in line to the throne. Born to Princess Caroline and industrialist Stefano Casiraghi, Charlotte is an established magazine editor and horse rider. She was named the official equestrian ambassador for Gucci, sporting their trendy, one-of-a-kind outfits during the various competitions.

These celebrities don’t just shine on the silver screen and in the music business, they’re established names in the restaurant industry too.

Eva Longoria: BESO, CALIFORNIA AND LAS VEGAS
Having just released a cookbook, Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends, the petite Desperate Housewives star’s prowess in the kitchen knows no bounds. Eva Longoria, whose specialities include guacamole and English artichokes, added some of her own recipes when developing the concept for her restaurant. The South American-inspired steak and seafood entrées are a hit with her A-list celebrity friends, making the eatery a paparazzi hot spot.

Sandra Bullock: BESS, AUSTIN
After a turbulent period following her Oscar win in 2010, Sandra Bullock abandoned Hollywood and headed for Texas. Since moving, the actress has started a number of ventures, including a florist, a catering business and a bakery. But her most famous endeavour to date has been her restaurant, an eco-friendly set-up using biodegradable

Justin Timberlake: SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY BBQ, NEW YORK
Aside from being a music sen- sation, songwriter, record producer and actor, Justin Timberlake can also add restaurateur to his long list of achievements. The Memphis-born singer sticks to his southern roots at his appropriately named restaurant. He brings his passion for barbecues to the Big Apple, serving up delicacies such as fried pickles, ribs and pulled pork.

Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges: STRAITS, ATLANTA
Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges created a chic Asian fusion restaurant in his hometown of Atlanta. In keeping with his southern background, his eatery is all about family-style dining. It also has a pretty amazing cocktail list, featuring his signature lemon grass mojito. But earlier this year the establishment was embroiled in controversy when it failed a health inspection. The confusion was soon cleared up and it’s running again.

Michael Jordan: ONE SIXTYBLUE, CHICAGO
Basketball icon Michael Jordan owns several restaurants and steak houses in cities across the US, and it’s his Chicago spot, with sophisticated cuisine and contemporary decor, that’s a slam dunk with food lovers. It used to be a pickle factory, so the urban feel runs strong throughout the restaurant. Unique dishes include chorizo-stuffed squid, bacon-wrapped rabbit saddle and English pea ravioli. Sounds delicious!

Jennifer Lopez: MADRES, LOS ANGLES
Jennifer Lopez looked to her Latina upbringing when opening her plush restaurant in Pasenda. Serving Cuban food, she brought in her first husband, Ojani Noa, to manage it. After a bitter fallout between the two over an alleged book about their brief marriage, J-Lo fired him. The restaurant closed in 2008 after a successful six-year run.

Sean Diddy Combs: JUSTIN’S, ATLANTA
Hip hop mogul Sean Diddy Combs named his Atlantan eatery after his son. With their slogan ‘Serving food for the soul’ guiding the way, the restaurant features famous southern deli- cacies with a Caribbean flair. The focus is on fresh ingredients and exotic spices. Local favourites include blackened catfish and curry chicken.

Robert De Niro: NOBU, NEW YORK
This culinary powerhouse is the brainchild of Hollywood legend and Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro and Japanese chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa. The flagship restaurant is in New York City, and there are 21 eateries across the world, including at Cape Town’s One&Only Hotel. Be warned though that the dishes carry a hefty price tag.

It’s Father’s Day this month and we’re celebrating with a look at Tinseltown’s sexiest dads.

USHER
Despite being one of R&B’s top players, Usher still finds time to be a dedicated dad to his two sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Ely. And it seems this star takes his role as superdad very seriously. ‘It really hits me that
I’m responsible for raising them and showing them what a real man is. I don’t know if I always get it right, but I’m trying.’ Well, if he ever needs help, he can give us a call!

BEN AFFLECK
While Ben Affleck hasn’t made many blockbuster movies lately, we’ve absolutely loved watching him play the role of doting dad to his two daughters, Violet and Seraphina. The 38-year-old actor is a natural when it comes to parenting but admits to feeling outnumbered at home. ‘I know what it’s like to be a serf that just does things,’ the actor told Ellen DeGeneres. ‘I take orders from people who cannot speak.’ Good looks and a wicked sense of humour – we love it!

WILL SMITH
Will Smith is raising an empire with son Jaden taking the acting world by storm and his 10-year-old daughter Willow wowing the music industry. Being the good father he is, Will makes sure his kids give back and stay humble. Last year the impressive brother and sister team modelled for the Buy Life campaign in support of Alicia Keys’ Keep a Child Alive charity. We’re glad Will’s teaching his children to put their fame to good use.

JUDE LAW
This single dad is not only super hot, but also completely devoted to his three children – sons Rafferty and Rudy and daughter Iris (he also has a love child, Sophia, with model Samantha Burke). While his career takes him all over the world, Jude always makes time for his kids and is often snapped taking them on outings in London. Good-looking and a good father – now that’s a lethal combination.

ORLANDO BLOOM
The jury’s out – if anyone can pull off a baby carrier it’s sexy Orlando Bloom! He’s only been a father for a few months, but The Pirates of the Caribbean star is taking to parenthood quickly and was spotted out in LA with his bundle of joy and supermodel wife enjoying a bite to eat. You wouldn’t have known just by looking at him that he was new at this. What a pro!

JAVIER BARDEM
Not only does he have an Oscar on his mantelpiece, a beautiful wife on his arm and a coveted spot in Cosmopolitan’s 20 Sexiest Men of 2010 list, but this Spanish hunk is also a proud father to a baby boy. The 41-year-old star and his missus, actress Penélope Cruz, welcomed their first child into the world in January, and if his parents are anything to go by, we expect little Leo will grow up with rugged looks, charm and unmistakable talent.

TOBEY MAGUIRE
Tobey Maguire and his wife Jennifer Meyer have two children together, daughter Ruby and son Otis. And if pictures really do speak a thousand words, they’re the light in this star’s life. While he’s still a regular on the red carpet, Tobey manages to spend ample time with his kids. We wonder if they ask him to dress up as Spiderman?