The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute held it’s annual fashion gala, this year titled Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion, at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC last night (think of it as Celebrity Prom). Rihanna made her red carpet return, taking a stroll down the press-filled carpet for the first time since her assault back in February … she opted for a shiny black suit with floods. Madonna caused a sensation on the red carpet when she showed up with a coat hanger wrapped in an old turquoise stocking attached to her head. A who’s who of fab celebs braved the rain to attend last night’s gala and many of them looked amazing (Anne Hathaway, I’m talking to you). Here are a few pics from the red carpet arrivals and some info on the event itself:

Even with the rain, the stars shone bright Monday night at the Costume Institute’s gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Models and the hottest celebs turned out in droves to celebrate “The Model as Muse” exhibit. There was Gisele Bundchen and Chanel Iman, along with Victoria Beckham, Jessica Alba (in Michelle Obama favorite Jason Wu), Renee Zellweger (in Carolina Herrera), Eva Mendes (in Calvin Klein) and Eva Longoria, wearing Diane von Furstenberg. Chairing the event were Marc Jacobs, Kate Moss and Justin Timberlake, who rocked a pair of geek-chic specs (and girlfriend Jessica Biel). For a party celebrating models, the guest list was missing a few of the big ones. Legendary supermodels Stephanie Seymour and Naomi Campbell opted out of attending the gala – reportedly in solidarity with their date, designer Azzedine Alaia, who felt his clothes were underrepresented in the exhibit. And Christy Turlington is abroad filming. But though those notable ’90s frock stars’ absence left the party, well, a lot less super – even with Cindy Crawford in the house – fashion’s new guard arrived in full force. Heidi Klum, pregnant with her fourth child and wearing J. Mendel, promised to wear “high heels in the delivery room.” Tyra Banks wore Badgley Mischka, and Rachel Roy dressed India-born Lakshmi Menon. Kanye West helped deflect reports he’s broken up with model Amber Rose by making a show of support – literally, gripping her as she teetered and adjusting her dress. Model behavior, indeed.

It turns out that Maddy’s funky headpiece was designed by Marc Jacobs and, apparently, is a look that was used on the runway at the Fall fashion shows this year. Unfortch, I think the contraption makes her look like a geriatric Playboy bunny. Not a good look for her. Methinks that she was heavily inspired to wear something “wacky” at last night’s Costume Institute Gala after she attended Lady GaGa’s concert in NYC over the weekend. But, there were many other folks who looked utterly faboo at last night’s event. Vicky B. rocked her usual short skirt look (meh). But there were a lot of really great looks on the red carpet last night. After the jump, check out a few more pics from last night’s event and see who rocked and who LOLed …

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Rap icon Snoop Doggy Dogg was on hand at the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum inside the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV yesterday for the unveiling of a wax statue in his honor. Much like other wax statue exhibits at other Madame Tussaud museums around the world, this one is particularly stunning in its likeness of Snoop. Here are a few photos of Snoop and his wax doppelgänger … can you pick out the real man from the wax statue?

It’s 4/20 and Snoop Dogg is in Las Vegas but the iconic rapper is vowing to “lay low” on the counterculture holiday. “I lay low, I stay in the hotel so I won’t get in no trouble so the media can keep me out of their face,” he said Monday. When asked if he’d celebrate 4/20, he said, “You better know that,” – but he wouldn’t go into specifics. A bright-eyed Dogg began the afternoon by unveiling his new wax figure at Madame Tussauds. “What better way to celebrate 4/20 than to put yourself in wax?” he said. Though it’s unlikely that the rapper-producer-actor has shunned marijuana for good, he has recently made significant strides to be a better role model for his young fans. “I’m supposed to represent at all times and … keep it positive and be very peaceful,” he said, adding, “That’s what I’ll continue to do. … Whatever’s good I’ve been trying to be involved in.” The recently reformed rapper, whose real name is Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., announced last month that he had converted to Islam. Several members of his youth football team, the Pomona Steelers, came to Las Vegas to see their coach reveal his wax statue. Dogg said it was important to him to have the kids there. “I just wanted to show them that, you know, I’ve become something and that their coach is somebody that they can look up to and they can want to be inspired by,” he said. The figure was unveiled Monday during a private event at Madame Tussauds. The figure was greeted by rounds of applause and the sound of his early hit single, “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?).” The statue will live in the museum’s “On Stage” area. The “Doggfather” and his wax replica wore identical outfits on Monday: Dark Converse Chuck Taylors; tan pants with a black bandana hanging from the left pocket; a white T-shirt; and a Long Beach Loyals team jacket from Dogg’s clothing line, “Rich and Infamous.” Snoop reportedly hand-picked the outfit for his $300,000 statue – though the wax figure was wearing more bling at the unveiling than the living breathing rapper. The 36-year-old father of three said he liked the way he looks in wax but said, “It’s kind of scary … it looks just like me!” Snoop is a busy man: He coaches his son’s football team, has his own clothing line, just completed a new reality-style series for MTV, “Dogg After Dark,” and is working on both a new album and a new line of merchandise, too. “I’m in the process of working on my new album, ‘Malice in Wonderland,’ and I’m about to start … a Snoop Dogg school supply (line) for the kids so they can have a piece of me,” he said. Snoop is also gearing up to hit the road with Slightly Stoopid this summer for a still-to-be-announced tour. His appearance today at Madame Tussauds came a day after he performed as part of the season opener pool party at Rehab. The star was far less reserved on Sunday afternoon, dropping plenty of vulgarities during his 30-minute set. But swear words and sexual references were everywhere at the Hard Rock’s notorious adults-only pool party and no one seemed to mind. Considering his music career, clothing line, charity and community work, TV shows, and other projects, Snoop Dogg has put his talents on display. Knowing his audience is just one of them.

LMAO. Of course Snoop would be honored in such a way on a day like 4/20 … makes perfect sense. Snopp Dogg is simply one of the coolest celebs out there. Not only is the man insanely talented but he is such a genuinely nice guy. He may have his faults just like anyone else but you kinda know that his heart is in the right place. His care and regard for his family is admirable and he’s a funny-ass guy. What’s not to love about Snoop Dogg? He should be very proud of his new wax likeness, it scarily looks exactly like him. It really is kinda hard to tell the real from the wax … the Madame Tussaud’s artists have done it again. Congrats on your new statue, Snoop!

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

Britney Spears, in her newest incarnation as a pop superstar, is being honored again at Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum in London with a brand new wax statue unveiled in her fabulous likeness. Madam Tussaud’s first immortalized Britney in her Dream Within A Dream Tour garb (particularly, her I’m A Slave 4 U costume) and has decided that Comeback Britney is due another wax tribute. Here is a pic of the new wax statue flanked by a bevy of other “Britney“s … can you spot the wax one?

The attraction already has several Spears waxworks at its museums across the world but wanted a glamorous new model to depict the pop star’s return to form. The statue, which was unveiled in London this morning, shows the 27-year-old singer in a sparkly silver dress with plunging neckline, holding one of the three MTV Video Music Awards she won in September. “We are delighted to be featuring Britney at Madame Tussauds London for the second time,” said the venue’s Liz Edwards. “Her original figure captured a provocative pose from her 2001 Dream Within A Dream Tour and was extremely popular. However, she’s undergone a huge transformation since then and we wanted to reflect her as she is now.” The broad smile and long blond hair are a far cry from images of Spears in 2007, when she was filmed shaving her head in a salon window during a high-profile breakdown. But the former Disney child star has rebuilt her career and her world tour is due to hit the UK this summer at London’s 02 Arena. She recently released her sixth studio album Circus, a follow-up to her album Blackout which was popular with the critics despite expectations due to her well-documented personal troubles. Spears is one of the top-selling artists of the last decade and has sold more than 62 million albums worldwide. To celebrate her latest wax incarnation, Madame Tussauds has launched an interactive dance experience. The Britney Dance Chain will allow visitors to learn some of Spears’ best moves, enter a “dance tunnel” and strut their stuff on camera.

Yay! With all the amazing, hard work that Britney has accomplished this year thus far … I think a new wax statue in honor of her achievements is absolutely in order. I mean, what sort of parameters are in place for such an honor to get bestowed on a person? This sounds as good as any. After the jump, check out a few close-up photos of this new wax Britney statue and check out the amazing detail that was put into the likeness …

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Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Washington DC unveiled last month a new exhibit that featured wax statues of now President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton posing with Xmas gifts in the Oval Office of the White House. Today, the museum has announced and released photos of their newest wax statue exhibit which is currently in production. First Lady Michelle Obama is the latest person to be immortalized with her own wax statue:

The First Lady is already getting her first statue: Madame Tussauds Washington, D.C., will unveil a wax figure of Michelle Obama in March. In this photo (released Wednesday), Madame Tussauds senior sculptor Colin Jackson touches up the clay mold of her figure’s head. When complete, Michelle’s figure will join her husband Barack Obama’s wax figure, which was unveiled in February 2008, in a replica of the Oval Office. Obama is the third First Lady to be immortalized in wax by Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., joining Jacqueline Kennedy and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Even tho the statue is in the very early stages, the likeness is really pretty remarkable. Not all of the wax statues that the Madame Tussaud’s sculptors create are perfect likenesses of real people they represent … but sometimes, like in this case with First Lady Obama, they get it pretty perfect. I had no idea that the museum had only previous created likenesses of former First Ladies Jackie O. and Hillary Clinton (I assumed that all First Ladies were immortalized along with their president hubbys) … I guess it’s quite an honor to have a wax effigy created in your honor. Michelle Obama is such an amazing woman, I love that she’s being honored in this way (if, in fact, a wax statue of one’s self is an honor). So far, it looks pretty good … I can’t wait to see the final product — and what outfit from J. Crew it’ll be wearing.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum in Washington DC has put together a new holiday themed exhibit which features President-elect Barack Obama and Secretary of State designate Hillary Clinton surrounded by wrapped Xmas gifts as they stand side-by-side in the Oval Office of the White House next to a festively adorned Xmas tree:

LOL. And, for your information, the gifts that are piled atop the President’s desk have gift tags made out to the Cabinet member nominees that have already been announced — Rahm Emmanuel (Chief of Staff), Tom Daschle (Secretary of Health and Human Services) and Robert Gates (Secretary of Defense). Hahahahaha … I really love this display … cuz as much as I adore Michelle Obama and I *know* that she will be an amazing First Lady, I honestly believe the real First Couple of the US is going to be made up of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. If she successfully becomes approved to be our next Secretary of State, Obama is going to essentially be married to her for the course of her tenure. Honestly … I’m not really sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing ;) But by looking at this wax exhibit … I do think they make a very handsome couple.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

Kiefer Sutherland was among the guests who attended the premiere opening of a new photography exhibit called 24: Redemption – Captured In Africa which was held at the The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, CA last night. 24: Redemption, as some of you may be aware, is a 2-hour TV movie prequel that will air on FOX on Sunday November 23 ahead of the debut of the new season of 24 in January. The TV movie was shot on location in South Africa and this new exhibit at The Paley Center (on display until January 11) showcases some of the amazing photography that was shot while the movie was being filmed. Here are a couple pics of Kiefer on the red carpet at last night’s event and some information about the exhibit itself:

From the press release: Last spring, FOX announced that after a nearly two-year hiatus, 24 would return to the airwaves with 24: REDEMPTION, an unprecedented two-hour television event shot on location in South Africa and Los Angeles. Now as the producers ready this epic tale for broadcast, they are unveiling a never-before-seen collection of stunning photographs shot by five members of the show’s creative team during the overseas filming. “24: REDEMPTION – Captured in Africa” is a rare inside look at the making of the show composed of candid moments between cast and crew, including Emmy Award-winner Kiefer Sutherland; dramatic stills from the spectacular action sequences; and vivid photographic captures of the scenic South African locations. The Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles will host the one-of-a-kind photo exhibit of fine art museum quality archival prints from Nov. 10, 2008 through Jan. 11, 2009, when it may move on to additional venues to be announced later. Curated by Entertainment Weekly deputy photo director Michael Kochman and custom printed at DigitalFusion’s fine art printing facility, the exhibit features works by executive producer/director Jon Cassar, director of photography Rodney Charters, producer Michael Klick, unit photographer Kelsey McNeal and star/executive producer Kiefer Sutherland. “I was so impressed with the quality of the photography, and it was exciting to see a production photographed from five different perspectives,” said Kochman. “Each photographer captured something very special and poetic – sometimes intimate, sometimes epic, sometimes documentary-like and raw. It all adds up to a fascinating photographic experience.” “Shooting 24: REDEMPTION in South Africa was the highlight of my six years on the show,” said 24 executive producer and Emmy Award-winning director Jon Cassar. “It was nothing short of exhilarating. Africa also became a wonderful canvas for the still photography enthusiasts among our crew. Every day put us in places and situations that were new and exciting to us, and our cameras clicked constantly. This exhibit chronicles the seven weeks that were spent in Cape Town and the surrounding regions from moments captured during a hectic shooting schedule to the faces and places that represent not only the making of 24 but the Africa of today.”

After the jump, check out a few of the photos that will be on display in this new exhibit …

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Carrie Underwood is the latest celeb to have her likeness made into a wax statue for display at Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum … unfortch for Carrie, tho, her statue was not made by the London branch of Madam Tussaud’s (which is known for their expertly flawless recreations) and was instead made by the folks at the Las Vegas, NV branch of the museum … which may explain by Carrie’s statue looks like it has Céline Dion’s face … EW!

Carrie was a good sport to show up for the unveiling of her wax likeness but if I were her, I’d sue. Carrie Underwood looks far prettier than her waxen doppelgänger … especially in these pics.

[Photo credit: Splash News]