Backstage Buzz From the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

On Wednesday, I had a really tough assignment: covering backstage at the "sexiest show on earth" aka the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. I've had the opportunity to cover this show many times, when it was in LA and Miami, as well as NYC and it's always really fun because it's not your typical red carpet scenario. You get to the interview the Angels backstage in a sea of bright pink and clouds of hairspray as they're getting all glammed up for the big show in their silk robes. It's kind of like a big slumber party on steroids. You can read my coverage on Wonderwall, but here's some of Victoria's secrets:

1. Yes, the Angels are still very pretty without makeup. Since I had an early interview time, most of the girls had no makeup on while I was backstage or were in the process of getting primped, and they're all naturally gorgeous before the glam squad. But they're also human...I saw some dark circles.

2. Spray tans are a must, even for supermodels. Behati Prinsloo, who's engaged to Adam Levine, told me all of the Angels get spray tans the night before the show. They also get slathered in VS Runway Ready Luminous Bronzing Lotion the day of the show before walking the runway. And if you're wondering how they get their hair so perfectly voluminous, the Angels all get extensions put in, which are styled with GHD tools by 22 hairstylists.

3. Some models eat on the show day. Although Adriana Lima once told me she sticks to a liquid diet for 9 days before the show, I saw Hilary Rhoda eating oatmeal and Cara Delevingne Instagrammed a pic of herself eating bacon before the show. Seriously.

4. Karlie Kloss has a nerdy side. She told me her latest hobby is computer coding, as in learning how to program and build websites. Who says models aren't smart?

5. Adriana Lima is ridiculously nice in addition to ridiculously gorgeous. The Brazilian mom of two was gesturing with her hands a lot during our interview and accidentally sent my tape recorder flying when she was answering a question. She apologized so many times...I thought it was funny!

6. Candice Swanepoel got to wear the most expensive bra. Every year, a super pricey blinged out bra gets handmade by a jeweler and one lucky model gets picked to wear it. Heidi Klum and Miranda Kerr have previously had the honors, but the South African stunner got to wear the Royal Fantasy Bra this year, which was worth $10 million dollars and featured rubies, diamonds and yellow sapphires set in 18 karat gold.

See the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, featuring performances by Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy and Neon Jungle when it airs Dec. 10 on CBS. 

Get all the action in real time on Twitter @cristinagibson and Instagram @cristinablairgibson

Win Your Perfect Holiday Party...or Come To Ours!

Holiday party season is right around the corner and if you live in NYC, you're in luck! Splash, a party planning and invitation tool, is giving one lucky winner an amazing holiday party all for free. Starting today, you can enter their Mingle All the Way to win a free fiesta with the following:

v  Appetizers by Tasting Table & Celebrity Chef crafted desserts

v  Custom designed invitations at a premiere rooftop venue in Lower Manhattan

v  Sponsored bar by awesome premiere liquor brands

v  A hot New York City DJ

v  Pro event photographer

v  Photo booth to create ever-lasting memories

v  Gorgeous holiday décor & furniture

And if you're looking to attend a party instead of throw one, look no further than our annual Movember party. My friends and I host a yearly fundraising party to benefit Movember, a charity that encourages men to grow mustaches in the month of November to raise awareness of prostate cancer, and this year's is extra special because it's also my best friend Katie's 30th birthday. All the info is here if you want to join the
festivities!

And if you're not in the NYC area but still want to support, you can donate to our Mo Babes team.

Check back later this week for behind the scenes from the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, which I'll be covering on Wednesday!

Get all the action in real time on Twitter @cristinagibson and Instagram @cristinablairgibson

Fox News & Fitness Classes

I can't believe November is here already! It's been a busy week. While most of my friends were out continuing the Halloween celebrations Friday, I had a bright and early segment for Fox & Friends Saturday morning, which meant a 6 am wakeup call.

This segment was a bit different than previous ones I've done since it was more of a roundtable discussion about a 23-year-old Canadian chick named Erin Wotherspoon who has a blog all about how she goes on first dates with guys she meets online just so they'll buy her expensive dinners. You can watch the whole segment here, but my two cents is that it's really lame and tacky. Hasn't she heard of happy hour or perhaps getting a job? Feigning interest in men you don't want to see again for a free meal is not cool. Also, note to guys: don't take girls to dinner on a first date if you've never actually met them in real life.

Speaking of good dinners, I took myself out The Chester last night, a restaurant that recently opened at the Gansevoort Hotel in the meatpacking district. It's a great spot for groups of friends or dates, so check it out if you're in NYC. My highlights were the Hellfire cocktail, prosciutto flatbread and jumbo shrimp with orzo. Yum.

Last week, I actually spent a fair amount of time uptown, too. The New York Marathon was on Sunday and I also interviewed Kelly Ripa for SheKnows at the opening of AKT InMotion, a cardio dance studio on the Upper East Side last week. Since Kelly's a Jersey girl like myself and has an amazing broadcast career, I've always been a fan of hers and this interview only confirmed her awesomeness. She was super candid and said the best beauty product she's found is Botox and that she likes any free products that come in gift bags. Most celebrities are shorter and smaller in person, but Kelly is extra tiny! You can read our whole interview here.

I also worked on my own fitness Tuesday and tried a new class at Belleon Body, which was taught by Carlos Leon aka Madonna's ex husband. Obviously their marriage didn't work out but he knows how to work out. The class consisted of cardio intervals with repeated drills and pylometrics...I'm feeling it today! I took the class with a bunch of other editors to kick off New Balance's Lace Up for the Cure 365 program, which celebrates their 25 year partnership with the Susan G. Komen foundation. 5% percent of the retail proceeds from the collection will go the foundation and last year, they donated  $1.9 million to the cause. Plus, these hot pink sneakers are so cute it makes me want to work out just to wear them! I'm actually headed to the gym, because next week I'm covering backstage at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. If that isn't gymspiration, I don't know what is!

Get all the action in real time on Twitter @cristinagibson and Instagram @cristinablairgibson