Free Republic

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow insisted Monday that contrary to a recent article in a European newspaper, she feels "proud to be American" and would never compare her homeland unfavorably to Britain. In a statement issued through People magazine's Web site, Paltrow said she was "deeply upset" by remarks attributed to her by the Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias, which quoted the actress as saying: "The British are much more intelligent and civilized than the Americans." "I never, ever would have said that," said Paltrow, 34, who is married to British rock star Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, and...

Spain's main fashion show is to turn away models if they are too thin, striking a blow for fuller-figured women. Organisers of the Pasarela Cibeles have devised a formula to calculate the models' body mass index and 30 per cent of them are expected to fail, said the Association of Fashion Designers of Spain. The move is part of a voluntary agreement with the Madrid regional government, said designer Jesus del Pozo. The association said it wanted models to project "an image of beauty and health" and shun a gaunt, emaciated look at the show, which begins on Sep 18....