Miss France keeps title despite racy photos

Miss France keeps title
despite racy photos

PARIS — Miss France 2008 will keep her crown, despite racy photos that appeared recently in a gossip magazine, but will not compete in the Miss World or Miss Universe pageants. Valerie Begue, 22, will not be stripped of the title she won Dec. 8, but will not be allowed to take part in upcoming international competitions, Miss France organizers said Friday. Begue described the outcome as “a compromise which satisfies all parties.” The pageant’s criteria stipulates that candidates must “never have posed or exhibited [themselves] in dubious outfits or poses, partially or totally nude.” Photos published in Entrevue magazine recently included one of a bikini-clad Begue lying on a cross in a swimming pool and another of her licking what appeared to be yogurt or evaporated milk. Begue is a native of France’s Indian Ocean island of Reunion. She is to be replaced in international pageants by the first runner-up, Vahinerii Requillart, Miss New Caledonia.

Festival will honor
singer Ricky Martin

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A decades-old street festival in San Juan’s colonial district will dedicate its 2008 celebration to Ricky Martin. Martin’s international singing career and charitable work for children will be saluted at the San Sebastian Street Festival, which kicks off Jan. 17, organizers announced Thursday. The popular festival, now in its 38th year, is a raucous four-day celebration that attracts thousands to the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. Martin, 36, said in a statement that he is thrilled to receive the honor. The ex-Menudo member has long been one of Puerto Rico’s top-selling artists. His hits include “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and “She Bangs.” Martin created the nonprofit Ricky Martin Foundation to advocate for children’s rights. He has also spoken out against human trafficking, especially the trafficking of children.

Billy Joel will perform
with Philly orchestra

PHILADELPHIA — The Piano Man will make his Philadelphia Orchestra debut next month. Billy Joel will perform with the orchestra Jan. 26 to celebrate the 151st anniversary of the Academy of Music, it was announced Thursday. The program, led by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach, will also include the Blue Man Group, soprano Disella Larusdottir and pianist Conrad Tao. Joel, 58, will play a selection of his own songs, and the orchestra will present the world premiere of his classical composition “Waltz No. 2 [Steinway Hall]” in a new orchestration. The Academy of Music was the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1900 to the opening of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in December 2001. A portion of the concert proceeds will support the orchestra’s Billy Joel Endowment Fund for Education. Joel released “Fantasies & Delusions,” an album of classical piano compositions, in 2001.

Today’s birthdays

Singer-musician Bo Diddley is 79. Actor Joseph Bologna is 73. Actor Russ Tamblyn is 73. Baseball Hall-of-Famer Sandy Koufax is 72. Actor Jack Riley is 72. Folk singer Paul Stookey is 70. TV director James Burrows is 67. Actor Fred Ward is 65. Singer-musician Michael Nesmith is 65. Singer Davy Jones is 62. Singer Patti Smith is 61. Rock singer-musician Jeff Lynne is 60. “Today Show” co-host Meredith Vieira is 54. Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is 52. Country singer Suzy Bogguss is 51. “Today Show” newscaster Matt Lauer is 50. Actress-comedian Tracey Ullman is 48. Radio-TV commentator Sean Hannity is 46. Runner Ben Johnson is 46. Singer Jay Kay (Jamiroquai) is 38. Actress Meredith Monroe is 38. Actor Daniel Sunjata is 36. Actress Maureen Flannigan is 35. Actor Jason Behr is 34. Golfer Tiger Woods is 32. Singer Tyrese is 29. Actress Eliza Dushku is 27.