maria sharapova biography

Blonde, leggy, and beautiful. If those are the only adjectives you use to describe Maria Sharapova, then you’re selling the tennis world’s newest star short. While she may compare favorably to Anna Kournikova on the modeling runway, Maria is most dazzling when she steps on the tennis court. Her serve is overpowering, her ground strokes are penetrating, and her will to win is punishing. Maria officially arrived with her 2004 Wimbledon title—and she’s not likely to leave anytime soon. This is her story…
Maria Sharapova personal details:

Date of Birth
19 April 1987, Nyagan, USSR [now Russia]

Birth Name
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova

Nickname
Masha
The Siberian Siren

Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)

Mini Biography
Maria started hitting tennis balls at the age of four. At the age of six, Maria Sharapova participated in a exhibition in Moscow that featured Martina Navratilova. So, at the age of nine, she began training at Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Academy located in Bradenton, Florida, USA. Therefore, during those two years, she was separated from her mother for two year due to visa restrictions and finances. Maria occasionally travels with her father and works with tennis coach managers Michael Baroch and Robert Lansdorp. During her leisure time off court, Maria's interest includes modeling in fashion, singing, jazz dancing and movies (Pearl Harbor (2001)). Maria enjoys reading books of her interest in the "Sherlock Holmes" and "Pippi Longstocking" collection series. Basically, Maria's favorite dessert is 'anything'. Maria favors Russian music and food, but except for Italian bread.

Trade Mark

Plays right -handed

2 handed backhand

Grunts loudly when striking the ball

Maria Sharapova Trivia:

2004 women's Wimbledon champion. Defeated two-time defending champion Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4.

Born in Siberia, Russia, and raised in the United States since age seven. Father Yuri brought her to the U.S. in 1994, but mother Yelena didn't join them until two years later due to visa problems.

She was (and still is) so ambidextrous that she almost became a left-handed tennis player.

She won the 2004 WTA Championships, defeating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 in the final to pocket one million dollars and win a new Porsche Cayenne to donate to a charity of her choice.

Her loudest grunt was measured at 101.2 decibels (louder than a motorcycle or a lawnmower) on 21 June 2005 at Wimbledon Centre Court. Previously the loudest grunt was by Monica Seles at 93.2 decibels.

According to the LA Times and Orange County Register, Maria said at a press conference she has grown a few cm this year and is now 6' 2". She's been having back pains and has had to pull out of some tournaments due to the pain which she thinks is from a growth spurt.

Became number 1 in the world in August 2005 & is the first Russian player to become the best player in the world

On the Forbes 2006 Richest Young Celebrities List, it is reported she earned $18.2 million in 2005. She was the highest-paid female athlete of the year.

Named #19 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Very close friends with fellow tennis player Maria Kirilenko.

Was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2005.

She defeated world #1 'Amelie Mauresmo' 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 in the semifinals and world #2 Justine Henin 6-4, 6-4 in the final of the 2006 US Open to win the title and $1.7 million in prize money.

Named #8 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006).

Ranked #17 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2007 list.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated her earnings for the year at $23 million.

Personal Quotes

"I wouldn't say I'm in love with them." (about her endless legs)

Of course, because another three Slam titles will bring a lot more than $25 million, they would be worth even more [than $100 million]. (On whether she would give up her millions for more slam titles)

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maria sharapova pictures

You Talkin' to Me?

Okay, I felt compelled to blow out the background so you could really look. at. this. outfit.
A tank top that says Bang, Bang, Bang worn with a tiny sweater vest - paired with short denim shorts, floral lace tights and...leather...legwarmers? This is accessorized with colored beads looped onto her shorts. But something about her attitude allows her to get away with it. or almost...feel free to add your opinion...

Shahrukh Khan Swings On Ramp With Manish Malhotra

Can the fashion lovers of Mumbai ask for anything more than Shahrukh ‘King’ Khan on the ramp confidently strutting in an exclusively designed Manish Malhotra creation and a unique arm sling for the ‘royal’ elbow which is healing.

The finale entry by super star Shahrukh Khan as he strode down the ramp for the Manish Malhotra show for Fall/Winter 2009 at Lakme Fashion Week brought the audience on their feet begging for more of ‘King’ Khan and his impromptu thank you speech interspersed with touches of humour that only Shahrukh Khan is capable of in his great inimitable style.

The celebrity lineup in the audience was awesome with Hritikh and Suzzane Roshan, Kareena Kapoor, Kajol, Arjun and Mehr Rampal, Boney and Sreedevi, Malliaka Arora Khan and Arbaaz Khan, Priety Zinta and Tusshar Kapur cheering their friend Shahrukh Khan all the way.

One can always expect the unusual whenever Manish presents a show and this time the designer worked around the colours of the Kolkatta Knight Riders theme of black and gold and presented a stunning sports inspired evening wear line. Besides the base colour story of the Knight Riders, Manish added on touches of deep red, blue and green and wove them into garments that will work wonderfully after dark.

The women’s wear had fabulous black shaded lehengas with dazzling gold gotta and zari borders and teamed with hooded gold cholies all daringly cut. The western wear line had draped pants, gold jumpsuits, micro shorts with accessories like gold cricket pads and matching helmets and gold sneakers.




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Arctic Bear

Okay, this girl is adorable but what I really love is this coat.

Can anyone identify it? Designer? Store? Anyone? anyone?

Yuko Ogura Wallpaper

Levis Gen Next-Stars of Fashion Biz-LFW Day 3

The Levi’s Gen Next show has been instrumental in introducing to the fashion world some of the most talented and successful names in the fashion business like Rahul Mishra, Kallol Datta, Nachiket Barve, Sailex, Deepti Toor, Rimzim Dadu and Gaba to name a few. Now for Fall/Winter 2009 at Lakme Fashion Week the Levi’s Show brought forth more talent onto the ramp.

ATITHI GUPTA

Sartorial Allure but with elegant simple shapes with a lot of detailing and muted colour tones like shades of grey, balanced with purple, beige, brown, black, green and olive which gave the fabric choice of twill silk, a base for the detailing that was the highlight of the jackets, trousers and dresses. A grey asymmetric short sleeve smock with double sleeves, sheath in purple, a two toned paneled dress and zipped Jodhpur trousers were the interesting ensembles of the collection.


VINIT AGARWAL

Inspired by the beauty of Indian jewellery the collection reflected the colours like sapphire, amethyst, ruby, emerald and topaz which floated down the ramp for heavy lehengas and cholies with a lot of glitter and glitz. The western section with ornate corsets, velvet shrugs teamed with mini skirts in rich fabrics continued the jewel inspired look. Gotta work on a long slim skirt and blouse was the highlight of the range.

GOPAL ROY

Pleating and appliqué stripes of a very high standard in shades of grey, brown, dull green played all over the skirts, dresses and jackets to display a perfect command over fabric manipulation which gave each garment an almost amazing look. The finish was excellent and the silhouettes although simple, were carefully combined to project a coordinated compact collection.

TANVI KEDIA

The almost peasant tribal like draped dhoti skirt and embroidered blouse, the asymmetric layered skirts and top, the chiffon silk woven jackets and dresses, drapes for feminine silhouettes; recreated the look of a journey through tradition and style in shades of beige, white and brown. Quilting and volumes played a medley for the creations that gave the kitschy strokes on the ensembles a trendy touch.




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Harold is Featherlicious

Ever get the feeling that the world is continuously shrinking? More and more I run into/am introduced to/referred to someone who is already in my photo archive. So I already knew they were fabulous I just didn't know their name. Such is the case with Harold James Kuhn (seen above) one of the nightlife loving boys of The Agency NYC. Alex Sweterlitsch, who recently joined the Style Defined team said I had to meet Harold and then while purusing my archive this photo jumped out at me. Coincidence? I think not. Perfectly coiffed? Absolutely.

Itou Misaki Wallpaper

Geek Chic Boy Style

So we had Diana with her DIY Geek Chic book aimed mostly at girls. Here's a boy who defines geek chic for the other gender. The tightly rolled and tapered jeans are going to be big this summer and we foresee this trend continuing into the fall -as will the larger framed glasses. The bowtie, leather loafers and bow tie complete the look.

Summer Wear : Swimwear Tankinis

Tankinis are a firm fave with girls for swimwear as they are so extraordinarily stylish and also provide a nice quantity of coverage.

Tired of wearing the regular looking 2 piece or one piece swimsuits out there? Well now their is some that are called tankini swimwear. They are kind of like bikinis except without the "bi" and adding in a "Tank" this is where the name Tankini's came from. This swimwear is just about like a tank top styled as a swimsuit top and a regular pair of bottoms. This may be a superb new look for swimming suits that was made. The tankini swimwear shows less of your skin as it just about covers up the belly area, but it is not like a regular one piece.

Women everywhere have always been faced by the existential sunbathing quandary : to cover or not to hide? How much is too showing and how unhappy isn't showing enough? But thanks to the latest revolutionary efforts of swim wear designers from all across the fashion world, there's certain to be one just excellent for you. You do not have to turn to extraordinary flaunting nor do you have to cover up like an unpleasantly wrapped burrito either.

This hybrid of the tank top, the one-piece suit and the bikini has proved to be one of a girl's best chums. If you are not a gigantic fan of showing off too much skin or remain a small nervous about flaunting your God-given assets, then it'd be a sensible idea to take this direction. Next to the skin-baring eye-catching string bikini comes the comfort and charm of the tankini.

Source: Ste Wishaw, designertoejonline.blogspot.com

Kusano Minamo Wallpaper

Subway Style

We found her on the R train and she was kind enough to pose for us. Love the colorful braids and little black jacket - with leggings the new little black dress!

Monaco Twenty Four Concept combines works & looks with time

Invoking the electrifying spirit of the world's most arduous sports car race, TAG Heuer continues to push the boundaries of watchmaking with its Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph. Introduced at BaselWorld, this provocative timepiece features the same state-of-the-art engineering as the powerful GT cars that take to the 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit. Additionally, the Monaco boasts a shock protection system invented by TAG Heuer that is the first of its kind, underscoring the brand's passion for revolutionizing the way timekeeping works and looks.

The Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph's race car-inspired functionality is found in every aspect of the piece's design, most notably in the energy manifold that houses the Calibre 36 movement. Comparable to a GT car's cockpit cage, this proprietary steel-tube structure safeguards the mechanism, ensuring that the watch can better withstand shock.

The movement gains additional protection from a shock-absorbing composite filter material that comprises the manifold's arms. Used in the racing and aerospace industry, this material insulates the Calibre 36 movement by directing vibrations into the composite filter, which absorbs and dissipates their energy. Unlike a conventional timepiece's Incabloc system, which protects the mechanism only from external shocks, TAG Heuer's revolutionary Advanced Dynamic Absorber insulates the movement entirely.

The Monaco Twenty Four Concept Chronograph is able to withstand an impact of 24,000 G, the equivalent of a 65-foot fall, compared with the industry standard of 2,000 - 5,000 G, or a three-foot fall. These additional safeguards ensure the Monaco and its components will remain unscathed whether the wearer is skydiving from 15,000 feet or attending a very enthusiastic business meeting.

Another definitive attribute of the chronograph is its annular oscillating weight. Unlike conventional watch weights, the Monaco's is made out industrial-grade tungsten, a rare metallic element that is extremely hard and infusible. The heaviness of the tungsten - and ultimately the oscillating weight - allows the chronograph to be more fully wound, resulting in more accurate timekeeping. Such attention to detail epitomizes TAG Heuer's passion for perfecting even the tiniest increment of time.

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A Model Example

This is Colleen, a lovely model we met last night. We loved her casual downtown look at an affair that style-wise seemed more uptown. Or make that midtown, actually!

Detail shot of her jeans.

Colleen told us she had to leave to work in Malan Breton's show which was happening at Six Degrees Lounge Party at Splash that we were already planning to attend. So here's a photo of her working. (if we all could wear liquid silver dresses to work ;) )

And a photo of Malan with his models. Look for an upcoming review of the show.

Akiko Yada Wallpaper

Teenagers Sexy Lingeries

Teens today are obsessed with fashion and lingerie is no exception. With so many music videos and celebrities showing off their style, it is no wonder that our teenagers want to jump onto that “fashion wagon". Lingerie shopping for teenagers can easily be done with tact and class by realizing what is appropriate and what is not.


Finding the right look depends entirely on the personality of the teenager. Is she the sporty type, quiet type or the outgoing cheerleader type? There is always a perfect look for every style. They are still teenagers, so something overly sexy may not be a suitable look. Think pretty and attractive when buying lingerie for a teenager. A teenagers body has not finished developing well into their 20’s, so getting accurate measurements before heading to the stores will help in finding the right fit.


Lingerie for teenagers should be beautiful but tasteful. Surprisingly, lingerie for teenagers and more are very similar to lingerie for the adult woman. Knowing what works for your teenager or yourself is the key to looking fabulous. Lingerie for teenagers generally is a bit more supportive than a sheer garment for an adult woman, as she may need more “encouragement” of her self image than an adult woman does. Many people think of sexy, sheer and lacy when it comes to lingerie for teenagers and more, but the truth is, supportive bras, panties, lacy tank tops and slips are all part of the lingerie family.


Lingerie for teenagers can be an exciting new world for the soon-to-be woman. Lingerie makes a woman feel beautiful and attractive. Being a teenager can be an awkward time for any young woman, and having a positive self image will help during this awkward time.




Source: fashionarticleworld.com, designertoejonline.blogspot.com

Diana Eng is the Princess of Geek Chic

Those crazy contestants from Project Runway are everywhere these days: From Austin Scarlett at Vandam to Malan Breton's own party tonight (yes, we're so there!). And now Diana Eng just had a release party and fashion presentation sponsored by Fashion Indie at Pop Lounge in Midtown for her new book Fashion Geek. If you don't remember Diana, she incorporated all the kooky tech stuff into her work. It was creative but she didn't make the cut. However if you're one of those who loved it her new book shows you how you too can rock technology and "refresh" your clothes with things using led lights and wire strippers.

I don't know if I'd personally have the patience but love the playfulness of the pieces...so if anyone wants to make me something I won't say no!

The Blooming Buttons on the dress on the left light up when a garment is buttoned and turn off when it is unbuttoned. The buttons use a reed switch, which turns on when it is near a magnet.

Tulle skirts with electroluminescent wire sewn into the hem--that can be worn when you want to recapture the Rave era - or just because. You can learn how to make this yourself!