Jason and Shawn hard at work

It is time for another chat with one of the most important cast members on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pit Crew member Shawn Morales. Like his fellow Crew bud Jason Carter, Morales admits it is long and sometimes cold work on the Drag Race set, but the positives far outweigh any negatives.

Morales, like Carter, owes dancing to landing his audition for the show. “I was go-go dancing at a club and a friend who was a promoter knew someone in the casting department,” he explains. “I walked in and did my dance and that was it.”

As for an average day on set, Morales says he and Jason work from around nine in the morning until eight at night, though most of their time is spent hanging around together backstage. And while he says the set is cold he does admit the underwear clad duo received one major perk this season. “They finally got us robes this year.”

Shawn takes charge

In terms of the contestants, Morales is quick to name Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles and Willam as his favorites this season. “Willam is really bitchy and funny and totally fun to be around,” he says. “Chad is just amazing and Sharon cracks me up. She has the best one-liners of the entire cast”

When he is not doing the show, Morales is promoting, and even hosts a viewing party every Monday at The Eagle in West Hollywood for the show.

And last, but not least, how does he get that body? “I workout five times a week, focusing on one body part a day,” he says. “And I eat a high protein diet with carbs and little to no sugar or dairy.”

For more on Morales you can follow him on Twitter at @Brightside009 or on Facebook.

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Adele Wins Big, Gives Finger At Brits

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The lovely Adele was the big winner at the Brit Awards last night in London, taking home the Best Female and Best Album prizes. However, the singer was cut off after winning the biggest award of the night when Blur was set to take the stage and responded in the best way possible — flipping the bird.

Adele later explained the finger was meant for the suits who couldn’t give her enough time to thank her fans and not the audience. You can see the video above.

In other Adele news, the singer is once again at the top of the Billboard charts exactly one year after 21 was released, selling 730,000 copies of the album this week. That is the most the album has sold in a single week and now brings its total sales to just over 7.3 million in the United States.

And it shows no signs of slowing down.

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NOW: Andrej Pejic Scores Beauty Contract

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Androgynous Andrej

Andrej Pejic’s meteoric rise in the fashion world continues with the news that the androgynous male model has scored a fragrance contract with Jean Paul Gaultier — a male fragrance contract.

The campaign for the new scent, Kokorico, was shot last week in Paris by Matthew Stone. Pejic will actually be the second male model to be the face of the brand, with Spanish stunner Jon Kortajarena having shot a black and white commercial for the fragrance when it was released in July.

This seems to prove once and for all that Pejic, who refuses to define his sexual identity, is a major force in both the male and female modelling worlds. And don’t be surprised to see him take the runway at Gaultier’s Fall/Winter 2012 show next week with the other ladies.

Andrej Pejic Signs First Major Beauty Deal [WWD]

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NEW MUSIC: What We Are Listening To

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The etheral Charlotte Gainsbourg.

It is time for another look at the songs we are loving, and this week we have everything from Spank Rock and Charlotte Gainsbourg to some Camera Obscura and The Roots. Check them all out in our playlist below, and head on over to Rdio to make your own playlists.

Or just check out our page and collection of amazing playlists. Your choice.

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NOW: Logo Announces New & Returning Programs

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Ru is back

Logo today announced its 2012 programming slate, laying out the new course the relatively young network is charting. The lineup for Viacom’s gay network is surprisingly diverse, from adoption and couples therapy to what a 6-year-old beauty queen does with her life after she retires from pageants. But don’t worry, RuPaul is staying put and he’ll be doling out style and beauty tips to America’s fashion-phobic females.

“Our goal at Logo has always been to be entertaining while honestly reflecting our viewers’ lives,” said Lisa Sherman, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Logo. “We’re now reinforcing our commitment to them with programming that truly mirrors how many of them are living and want to be entertained today. There’s been a seismic shift in culture since Logo launched six years ago.”

Sherman pointed to the recent hire of Ellen DeGeneres by Texan-owned J. C. Penney to illustrate just how much public opinion is changing and how LGBT individuals are becoming more fully integrated — even brand ambassadors — in all strata of American society. “Ellen lost her television show and all of the show’s sponsors when she first came out and now look. A one-hundred-year old company is saying that she speaks to them and their customers.”

Brent Zacky, Logo’s Senior Vice President, Original Programming, adds: “These new projects are anchored by stories that go deep into today’s world: Wanting to start a family is a universal desire, no matter who you love. Families in business together during a recession could be the ultimate drama. Pets are now surrogate children for a lot of people—who go to great length to celebrate them.”

So just what exactly will you be watching on Logo in 2012?

• The Baby Wait—From Tony DiSanto and Liz Gateley, the team behind Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant, this series will chronicle open adoption from the perspective of both the adoptive parents and the biological mother as she adjusts to life after giving away her child. The show will feature both gay and straight couples as well as single parents. (Greenlit)
• Scandalicious—A countdown show with flair, these specials will feature comedians and tastemakers alike as they voice their opinions on the most trivial of topics. Viewers may not learn much, but they will be amused. (Greenlit)
• Eden Wood’s World—Eden Wood achieved international fame by the tender age of six as perhaps the greatest beauty pageant contestant ever, and now she is taking her fame to NYC. Joined by her mom, her talent manager and a brand new publicist from the Big Apple, Eden is now aiming to become an actress/singer/model/entertainment superstar, while also helping young girls realize their pageant dreams with her super secrets to pageant success. (Greenlit)
• Outrageous—A look at the most intriguing and shocking stories in pop culture, including everything from gay Republicans to Kim Kardashian’s wedding and brief marriage. (In Development)
• Wiseguys—Michel Verdi’s mafioso father has just got out of prison and is moving in with Michel as she runs three successful bars and restaurants in West Hollywood. The only problem? Michael also lives with her husband, her gay brother, her boy-crazy cousin and her mom/dad’s ex-wife—who is now remarried. (In Development)
• Design My Dog—From the team behind America’s Next Top Model comes this new reality show that tests the creative talents of dog owners as they are paired with a designer to complete the perfect look for their canine. (In Development)
• Love Lockdown—A new form of relationship therapy that finds couples undergoing a 24-hour intensive therapy session to deal with their problems. Along the way the therapist may come in for an intense talk or bring in key players who may have caused riffs in the pair’s relationship. In the end however, it is “blank” or get-off-the-pot. (In Development)
• RuPaul’s Drag U—One of Logo’s most popular shows is back for season three with a new twist as along with the famous diva makeovers, Ru and the queens will also be providing the fashion challenged women on the program with practical everyday beauty and style tips. (Renewed)

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NNN Style Video: Backstage at Alice + Olivia

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EXCLUSIVE: Madame LaQueer On 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

A lot of work went into getting those models up and standing in front of those color-blocked panels at Alice + Olivia’s Fall 2012 Fashion Week presentation.

Check out some of the behind-the-scenes action from the show below, and after that some of our favorite looks from the collection.

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Kimbra Talks Gotye, Bedroom Singing, Her New Album

EXCLUSIVE: Madame LaQueer On 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

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Aussie sensation Kimbra first came to the attention of many in the US when Perez Hilton posted the video for her moody, rhythmic, slightly creepy (a wall of dolls is set on fire) song Settle Down. Her impressive vocals and punctuated beats immediately won her many fans.

That video was followed by the bright splash of color of Cameo Lover where Kimbra, in similar retro clothing, re-awakened the passion of a man through some bright lipstick and a tambourine. Admirable tactics indeed. (On a side note, the male lead in that video looks EXACTLY THE SAME as the groom in Muriel’s Wedding, leading me to believe there are 1-9 attractive men in Australia.)

Though these videos are admittedly awesome, Kimbra still kept a pretty low profile until her collaboration with Gotye, Somebody That I Used To Know, absolutely blew up all over the world last year. Now, Kimbra will be spending the summer on a US tour opening for Foster The People as well as Gotye. She’ll also be releasing the US version of her album, Vows, as well this summer though a Settle Down EP is available now.

NewNowNext recently sat down with Kimbra to talk about her collaboration with Gotye and why she decided to record her verse of their song in her bedroom??

She also shared with us some upcoming collaborations that will be featured on the US version of Vows, including possibly John Legend.

Last of all, we talked with the striking Aussie songstress about her personal style, and how its progressed from vintage to designers like Viktor & Rolf.

Watch the body paint-heavy music video for “Somebody I Used To Know” below and you can find out more about Kimbra, as well as the dates of her US tour, on her site.

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EXCLUSIVE: Madame LaQueer On 'RuPaul's Drag Race'

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The lovely Madame

SPOLIER ALERT!

On last night’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Puerto Rican beauty Madame LaQueer was, sadly, the contestant chosen to leave the show. However, she did not leave without a bang. Her red carpet look was perhaps one of the most memorable — a bright neon yellow-green gown with voluminous hair to match.

“It’s something I would wear on the red carpet–it’s very comfortable and cute, and I love the color–you just can’t ignore it,’ she told NewNowNext. “It feels very graceful and floaty, and I feel great in it.”

Madame had a great run, her favorite memory on the show being the wrestling challenge, which she won. “It brought back memories because, as a child, I was a big fan of the WWE. Chad [Michaels] did a great job, we worked well together.”

Madame also happens to be Chad’s biggest fan, and hopes that she ends up winning. “She’s so professional, and crazy, like me,” she explained. “When working with someone who’s creative, it makes you creative as well. Chad is polished and very classy–highly sensitive and enjoyable. I believe the superstar comes from the inside.”

It truly is sad to see someone as kind and fun-loving as Madame LaQueer leave. But, for Madame, Drag Race was “a dream come true.”

“It was everything I wanted. If I go home, I go home happy, and with style.”

That you did, Madame. That you did!

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NOW: Rihanna And Chris Brown Record Song

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Rihanna and Brown in 2008 Photo Credit: Getty Images

Chris Brown performing twice at the Grammys this year has already created quite the uproar, and it looks like it is only going to get louder. It’s been three years since his infamous outburst of violence that left then girlfriend Rihanna bruised and battered, but evidently fans and ordinary Americans alike seem to have a harder time forgiving Brown than the 24-year-old singer herself.

For her recent birthday, Rihanna released a surprise song called “Birthday Cake”, with Brown singing verses in the remix about sleeping with the star. Additionally, Brown just recorded a new version of “Turn Up the Music”, with new music by Rihanna.

This is a collaboration that many people will no doubt have an issue with, as for some, three years is just too soon, and, for others, forever is just too soon.

As For Rihanna, a friend simply says: “Rihanna loves to live dangerously. Talking to and hooking up with Chris is all part of that.”

Rihanna Records Sexually Explicit Songs With Chris Brown 3 Years After Assault [US]

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Global superstar Gloria Estefan is a busy woman at the moment. Hot on the heels of releasing her first English album in eight years, Miss Little Havana, Estefan has just come out with the music video for the single “Hotel Nacional.”

The fun, campy, “Rocky Horror” themed video is a perfect compliment to the upbeat album, produced with the help of Pharrell. We recently caught up with Gloria to talk about the music video, and how it ended up featuring (of all people) the never-aging, always glam Susan Lucci.

Also on Gloria’s radar in the next few weeks is an upcoming guest appearance on Glee where she’ll play Santana’s mother. Gloria has yet to film the appearance, but talked a little bit about what she’d love her character to do (hint: definitely NOT get along with Santana’s grandmother) and also why she wanted to do the popular show.

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