Saturday 29 November 2003

Celeb bodies: Mariah Carey

The pop diva has had eight chart-topping albums and 25 singles in just ten years, and is now bouncing back after a few professional and emotional setbacks. "I'm really happy now for the first time in a long time," says the 33-year-old who, last year, signed a £14m contract with Universal after being bought out of her Virgin contract for £20m.

Although her debut movie Glitter flopped, she's still keen to become an actress and we'll next see her playing a boxing manager in SweetScience. She is famous for her exotic looks, and it is her mixed-race heritage - an Irish mother and a black Venezuelan dad - that accounts for her unusual colouring. At 5ft 9in, she has cascading lush hair, fathomless brown eyes and the sort of lithe, long-legged figure that most girls can only dream about.

She suffered a nervous breakdown in July 2001 after working herself to near exhaustion. She also had to deal with the break-up with Latin pop-star Luis Miguel and the death of her father. "I started to pack on too much extra weight," she says. "So I began a crash exercise programme, sweating it out on the treadmill and bike. "I lost 30 pounds and am now in the best shape I've ever been for years." She also horse-rides: "Now that really is great exercise - for me and the horse!"

Now that she's back to her best weight, 124 pounds, Mariah intends to keep it that way. A lapsed vegetarian, she says she has never gone on a strict diet, but eats healthy stuff whenever she can. She admits to a weakness for potato skins with cheese, buttered popcorn and bagels with salmon and cheese filling. She says: "My favourite food is Italian, especially pasta." She has always eaten lots of honey: "It can be very good protection for my voice - as well as tasting delicious on toast!" She enjoys the occasional red wine - Italian if possible.

At 18, she met Sony Music boss Tommy Mottola at a party. She gave him a demo tape, three days later he signed her - and married her three years later. Despite a fairytale wedding and palatial home, the union ended in divorce. Since then she has been linked with Yankees baseball star Derek Jeter, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Dillon, Latin singer Luis Miguel and rapper Eminem. There is no one special at the moment. She says: "I am not in any hurry to get romantically involved again."

(ic Newcastle)



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