HOT FOR HOLLYWOOD AIDS CELEBRATION

America Ferrera

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Katherine Heigl

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Bai Ling

The third annual Hot In Hollywood Party was hosted at Avalon at where else, but Hollywood California. Bai Ling looked great as did T.R. Knight and Katherine Heigl looked stunning. Hot In Hollywood is a celebration benefiting charities dedicated to the education, prevention, testing and treatment of HIV/AIDS. In just three years, this celebrity fundraiser has become one of the hottest events in Los Angeles and 2008 is shaping up to be the hottest on record yet! The event was a huge success and they raised close to $300,000. Find out more about this charity at HOT FOR HOLLYWOOD

T.R. Knight And Mark Cornelsen

Photos By: Steve Buckley/BuzzFoto

AMERICA FERRERA HITS NEW YORK STREETS

America Ferrera

Television actress America Ferrera films a scene for an upcoming episode of her series 'Ugly Betty' at Whitehall yesterday in New York City. Between takes, America drinks an ice tea, holds a small fan to her face and looks bewildered by the high humidity on set. The Big Apple was like a oven yesterday, but the talented star handled it well.

Photo By: Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto

AMERICA FERRERA FILMS IN 70S STYLE

America Ferrera

America Ferrera was in full outfit as she filmed an episode of 'Ugly Betty' yesterday in Los Angeles, California. The actress was sporting her trademark glasses and braces and her outfit looked like it was from the 70s.
Photo By: Hector Vasquez/BuzzFoto

AMERICA FERRERA'S ANGUISH OVER FATHER

America Ferrera has revealed her anguish at being abandoned by her father.The 'Ugly Betty' star - who hasn't seen her dad since he left the family when she was young - admits it took her a long time to come to terms with what he did.She said: "It wasn't easy, but as a kid you find ways to make sense of it."I remember just bits and pieces of that time in my life, but I do remember being so incredibly matter-of-fact."It wasn't until I was older that I thought, 'Damn, I never really grieved over that'. And there have been male figures in my life who provided that kind of fatherhood role for longer than he was ever in my life."The Emmy-winning actress, the daughter of Honduran immigrants, says her family struggled to make ends meet during her upbringing in Los Angeles.She told Britain's Marie Claire magazine: "My family never lied about the fact that we didn't have a lot. You just kind of have to play the cards you're dealt."America, 23, believes her own experiences help her relate to the struggles of Betty Suarez, her Latino character in 'Ugly Betty'.She said: "It feels good to be a part of a show that confronts a lot of issues, like the portrayal of a Latin family with a father struggling for citizenship."'Ugly Betty' addresses these serious issues with humor, and that's the easiest way to make people listen as opposed to preaching and shoving it down their throats."

'UGLY BETTY' AMERICA FERRERA SPEAKS

America Ferrera can't believe super-slim actresses like Eva Longoria and Jessica Alba are labelled "curvy". The 'Ugly Betty' star insists she is more deserving of praise for her genuinely shapely figure than the two slender screen beauties. She said: "There's just way too much attention placed on the way we look. I think it's hilarious when people call Jessica Alba or Eva Longoria curvy. Come on - they're not curvy. I'm curvy!"I've been really lucky. Playing Betty has prepared me to be exactly who I am and not to change."What is normal now? Is it normal to be size zero? Starving yourself is not beautiful."The 23-year-old actress loves the fact that playing the dowdy-looking Betty means she doesn't have to constantly worry about her appearance.She added: "If I've gained a pound or lost a pound, or have food in my teeth, it all works for the show!"Ferrera admits she does occasionally obsess over her appearance, but loves food to go on a diet to lose weight.She told Britain's Star magazine: "There are times when I go to the gym and really try, and there are times when I just don't."Even if I wanted to be anorexic, I just don't have what it takes. After four hours of being anorexic, I'd be like, 'It has been four whole hours. Feed me!' "

AMERICA FERRERA 'UGLY BETTY' SPEAKS

'Ugly Betty' star America Ferrera claims she was a real-life Ugly Betty when she first tried to get work in Hollywood.The Golden Globe winner admits she felt attractive and happy with her appearance until she started going to auditions and realised all the other actresses were skinny and perfect. Ferrera told Hello magazine: "I didn't know how fat and ugly I was until I started going to auditions. I don't feel that way inside."To me, it seems like the roles that mean something, the roles that really delve in and make people feel connected to it and make me feel connected to it, are roles that are flawed and the roles that nobody else wants to play."The 22-year-old actress insists she never wants to be considered good looking in Hollywood, because it's not something that she aspires to be. She said: "I never wanted top be a model. I never wanted to do ads for skincare."If I'm in the spotlight for something like 'Top Sexiest Girls Between 21 and 22', that's a little uncomfortable because it's not based on who I really am."