Vanessa Minnillo has lofty aspirations, she wants to win an Oscar.  Minnillo is currently working on her second movie but is professionally known for hosting TRL and as a correspondent  for Entertainment Tonight, but mostly for being Nick Lachey’s girlfriend.

“My goal is to be acting and winning an Oscar,” the 27-year-old MTV alum told In Touch at the 4th Annual Pink Party in Santa Monica on September 13. “I want to be an actress with an Oscar and babies.”

In Touch Weekly

The former Miss Teen USA has been dating Lachey for a few years and the babies thing is probably on their collective agenda, but her last acting gig, Disaster Movie, was about as far as you get from Oscar material.  The people in that set of spoof movies aren’t on the Academy’s short list. 

“Seldom has a pic been more appropriately titled,” said Variety. The New York Times called the flick “the latest disposable parody of disposable Hollywood movies (with) a shelf life of about five minutes, tops.”

Los Angeles Times

Vanessa does have a movie coming out next year, a romance called Redefining Love, so the jury could still be out on her actual acting ability.  And she has no shortage of long term ambition.

Mannillo’s inspiration?  Julia Roberts.

“She’s phenomenal!” says Vanessa. “I would love to be just like her.”

In Touch Weekly

Julia Roberts won an Academy Award in 2001 for Erin Brokovich and was nominated in 1998 and 1999 for Steel Magnolias and Pretty Woman.

Vanessa Minnillo is shown at The 4th Annual Pink Party in Santa Monica, CA on 9/13/08. Credit: David Gabber / PR Photos

Vanessa Minnillo and Nick Lachey haven’t been on vacation for a while, or if they have they decided not to invite photographers after that pesky hot tub incident, so we haven’t heard much about them. Both have jobs now, which could also explain why they’re not holed up drinking margaritas at some tropical resort. Nick, 34, is hosting the teen reality competition show “High School Musical: Get in The Picture,” which airs on Mondays on ABC. The ratings have been poor and it’s likely the show isn’t going to stick around after this season. Vanessa, 27, has a role in the film Disaster Movie, which is out on Friday. She’s talking about her relationship with Nick in relation to her cheerleader character’s boyfriend, and says that Nick is open emotionally and was the first to say “I love you.”

In Disaster Movie, hitting theaters Friday, Minnillo’s cheerleader character just can’t get her boyfriend to say “I love you.”

“He just can’t drop the L-word,” Minnillo, 27, tells PEOPLE of her character’s commitment-challenged boyfriend. “And what a girl wants more than anything in the world is for their boyfriend to say ‘I love you.’ ”

But, says Minnillo, her real-life beau Nick Lachey, 34, doesn’t have any similar hang-ups: “The L-word is not thrown around by men as easily as it is by women – but I didn’t say it first! He’s very loving. We’re very open and vocal.”

[From People.com]

I remember Nick on that Newlyweds show, and he arranged an incredibly romantic anniversary night for his then-wife Jessica Simpson. They had a private dinner at a NY city restaurant, then retired to a hotel suite decorated with candles and rose petals. It ultimately didn’t last for them, but it seemed like Nick did his best. You would expect him to be the type to say “I love you” first, and he seems like the rare type of guy who is thoughtful and loyal without being sappy about it. Minnillo is lucky to have landed him.

I asked my husband if he remembered who was the first one of us to say the L word when we first got together and he couldn’t remember! I think it was him, but I’m not sure. It really doesn’t matter considering the outcome. Do you remember who was the first to say “I love you” in your relationship? Maybe it depends on how momentous it was at the time, if you both waited a long time for it, and how long you’ve been together.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are shown outside Crown Bar on 7/16/08. Credit: Revolutionpix/Fame Pictures

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have been dating for what seems like a celebrity eternity – about two years. Minnillo has long been reported to be nearly desperate to marry Lachey, especially since the pair moved in together last year. Accounts that she’s putting pressure on Lachey are heating up – but Nick is said not to be interested, at least for the time being. There are also a lot of stories floating around about Minnillo’s immature behavior, comparing her to a high school drama queen. Lachey has generally been portrayed as a pretty mature, sensible guy, and they seem mismatched in a lot of ways.

Nick Lachey and girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo are on the verge of splitting. The couple has been trapped in a break up-to-make up cycle, and now Nick is fed up with Vanessa constantly pressuring him to marry and give her children. And he came unglued with the former MTV host accused him of still being in love with ex-wife Jessica Simpson, pals reveal.

Their problems were on public display March 25 at the trendy restaurant Katsuya when they “sat in stone silence for more than 30 minutes after having what appeared to be an argument,” according to an eyewitness. “As they left that night, Vanessa was in tears sitting next to Nick who was gripping the steering wheel of the car.”

Three nights earlier, at a birthday bash for basketball star Baron Davis at the Stone Rose Lounge. Vanessa “had a good bit to drink, and she turned into a bitchy high school drama queen,” said an eyewitness. “She was rude to some people and then flirted with a bunch of athletes, partying like a single girl. She was hanging all over other guys. Vanessa was rude to fans who wanted her autograph. She spent half the evening sneering at other female guests. From what I saw, it’s not wonder Nick is sick of her.”

[From the National Enquirer, April 14th 2008 print edition]

The Enquirer goes on to talk about how desperate Minnillo is to “get a ring on her finger” and “have Nick’s babies.” I get really tired of the way they portray women as thinking about nothing but marriage and babies… but to be fair, that seems to be most of what you hear about in Minnillo’s case. Whatever career she had as an MTV VJ has totally died out, and her acting career hasn’t exactly taken off. The only thing she’s notable for anymore is dating Nick. Given all that, it makes sense that she’s pressuring him into marriage – what else has she got to focus on? According to the Enquirer, Nick is not giving in. He’s not in love with ex-wife Jessica Simpson anymore, but he’s still stung by their divorce, and remarriage is the last thing on his mind right now. Something tells me one of them will be giving the other an ultimatum pretty soon.

Here’s Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo at Vanessa’s Birthday Celebration at Lax Nightclub in Las Vegas on November 17th. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Fox News reported that Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo were in the Bahamas at one of the Carlyle Hotels to have a secret wedding this weekend. “Fair and balanced” Fox seemed to think that they had everyone else scooped.

He may have been a “Newlywed” once before, but it seems Nick Lachey is ready to march down the aisle again … this weekend. Pop singer Lachey and his MTV star girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo will be married in a secret ceremony at one of the Carlyle Hotels in the Bahamas this weekend, a source told FOXNews.com’s Pop Tarts columnist Hollie McKay.

Minnillo’s entourage arrived at the dazzling digs Friday afternoon, the source said. Reps for the comely couple could not be reached.

[From Fox News]

The story made waves this weekend, with excited bloggers buzzing. I always find it funny how often the line “Reps for _____ did not immediately return our calls” appears in articles. When you really pay attention, it seems half of the articles you read carry this little caveat, essentially saying, “Reps for ___ didn’t call us back within ten minutes, so we went ahead and printed the story.” After reaching most of the major gossip blogs, Lachey and Minnillo’s reps did manage to get a hold of Fox News, and told them their story was bunk. Interestingly, they still haven’t taken it off their site.

Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are not getting hitched this weekend, his rep tells Usmagazine.com exclusively. FOXNews.com’s Pop Tarts columnist Hollie McKay had quoted a source saying that Lachey, 34, and Minnillo, 27, were expected to tie the knot in a secret ceremony at one of the Carlyle Hotels in the Bahamas this weekend.

But a rep for Lachey tells Us the singer is in his hometown of Cincinnati working on his new NBC show Clash of the Choirs, as well as another show he is producing for MTV.

[From Us Weekly]

Minnillo was also supposedly spotted several times in Los Angeles over the weekend. I am kind of surprised these two haven’t gotten married yet. They seem really into each other, and Vanessa is supposedly bugging Nick about it constantly. She seems the type that could definitely annoy a guy into marriage. He didn’t rush into marriage with Jessica Simpson – they dated for four years before they walked down the aisle. Regardless, it makes sense that Nick would be cautious. Some places insist on a blood test before they’ll issue a marriage license. I think in Nick’s case – given his history – he should insist on an I.Q. test. If that checks out, go forth and marry.

Picture note by Celebitchy: Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo are shown at Vanessa’s Birthday Celebration at Lax Nightclub in Las Vegas on 11/17/07, thanks to PRPhotos.

Vanessa Minnillo is hardcore. She’s got a reputation as being a bit of a diva – supposedly that’s why she was axed by MTV and “Entertainment Tonight” – and apparently she’s bringing that same diva mentality to her relationship with Nick Lachey. She’s told him that he’s got to marry her by next year or she’s out the door. I think Vanessa Minnillo has an inflated sense of self. When she worked for “Entertainment Tonight” she was supposedly a total bitch when she had to actually work, and thought she’d become enough of a celebrity that she shouldn’t have to interview people… which was her job. Ahh, to be paid to stand there and look pretty. Pretty much what I do here at Celebitchy.

“Vanessa Minnillo has hit Nick Lachey with a wedding ultimatum - marry me by next year without a prenup or I’m gone! ‘Vanessa loves Nick, but she’s prepared to walk if he’s not willing to marry her,’ an insider told The ENQUIRER. ‘And she’s not going to get involved in a prenuptial agreement. She feels marriage is forever, and she doesn’t want to begin a lifelong commitment by signing an agreement that’s just an out for a divorce.’ Ex-boy band member Nick, 33, and the 26-year-old beauty are spending time between homes in Los Angeles and New York - and are nearly ready to seal the deal, say sources.

“As the Enquirer recently revealed, Vanessa has picked out an engagement ring - a platinum band with a large emerald-cut diamond in the center and two smaller emerald-cut stone on each side. She first spotted the sparkler at the Kentucky Derby in May. ‘But all bets are off in Nick forces a prenup on her,’ said the insider.”

[From The National Enquirer, print edition, October 8, 2007]

My favorite part is just how worried Nick is about his money. Supposedly the “Enquirer’s” source said, “‘Nick wants the prenup, mostly because he saw what happened with his first marriage to Jessica.” Um, isn’t that exactly how he got all his money that he’s worried about? When he was with Jessica, their net worth was around $50, but he was only responsible for $5 million – so 10%. Yet he ended up with about half of their net worth, which means he gained about $20 million just for being married to Simpson. I’m not arguing whether he did or didn’t deserve it, but I just think it’s really ironic that he’s so worried about losing it in the exact same way he won it.

Picture Note by Jaybird: Here’s Vanessa Minnillo at the launch for her “limited edition” of Flirt cosmetics. “Limited edition” meaning it won’t sell well so they’re planning on canceling the line from the get-go. Images thanks to PR Photos.

Nick Lachey has moved on in style after his high-profile divorce from ditsy singer Jessica Simpson. There are reports that he is engaged to his girlfriend, MTV’s Total Request Live hostess Vanessa Minnillo, and that the cute couple plans to tie the knot this April.

Speculation is that they’ll marry in Mexico, where they shared a romantic vacation together last June. There’s a quote from someone who’s supposedly close them who claims that Nick wants a low profile wedding, because he and Jessica had a huge ceremony and reception and that didn’t work out so well:

“They’re moving forward with plans for an April wedding,” a close friend told The Enquirer.

The engagement comes slightly more than a year after Nick, 33, and Jessica Simpson announced their split. Now Nick and Vanessa are mulling destinations for their wedding and honemoon, disclosed a friend.

“Since they both love Baja, Mexico, it will probably happen south of the border, where the first fell in love.”

[From The National Enquirer print edition, January 29, 2007]

The article says that Nick is urging 26 year-old Vanessa to design the kind of engagement ring she wants and says they’ve seen a jeweler who is working on it.

That’s good news for Nick and is sure to be depressing for Jessica. Nick’s ex doesn’t seem to be in a new relationship apart from a dalliance with John Mayer, who only seems to throw her a bone when he feels like it. There were rumors that Jessica was drunk dialing Nick last year and that she was prank-calling Kirsten Cavalleri back when Nick was dating her.

There’s a story that Jessica is taking secret cooking lessons and will attempt to make John Mayer a romantic dinner before he goes on tour around Valentine’s day. From what I remember of Newlyweds, she could use some help in the kitchen. This news seems to be based on an earlier report that Jessica received the cooking lessons as a gift from someone who worked for her, so if it’s true that she showed up for them, it’s not like it was her idea.

Still, maybe Jessica has some time left before her ex ties the knot again, and doesn’t have to be so eager to latch on to a new guy. Lachey said just a short while ago that he and Minnillo “are not dealing with marriage yet.”

Vanessa Minnillo made boyfriend Nick Lachey go get his hairy chest waxed at a Beverly Hills Spa. It hurt so bad that he screamed in pain and insisted that the esthetician stop right there. I wonder if he’s still got those landing strips on his chest:

In a scene that was sorta “40-Year-Old Virgin” meets “Fur,” NICK LACHEY’s sexy squeeze VANESSA MINNILLO – itching to control his chest hair, which sprouts like scratchy sawgrass, according to pals – dragged “Gorilla Guy” off to a BevHills spa to get his man-thatch wax-snatched! But after just two wax strips were ripped from his manly man-boobs, Nick emitted a nearly-girly shriek and yelled, “NO MORE!” With half his chest bare as a baby’s bottom – and the other half sorta bear-y – Nick hopped off the table and split for the changing room, ignoring Vanessa’s please to lie down and get waxed like a man!

That goes to show that men can’t hack what we women go through for the sake of beauty. I once took my husband to get a manicure with me and the ladies painted his nails with that clear nailtiques polish. I took it off for him when we got home, but he won’t get his nails done again. The nail technicians must have been laughing about it afterwards.

We weren’t holding our breath, but we were kind of hoping Nick and Jessica would get back together. Jessica wore her wedding ring around her neck for a while, and Nick told Rolling Stone that he still loved his wife of two years, but ultimately Jessica’s immaturity and Nick’s wild oats won out and now the two are officially divorced. The divorce was made final on June 30. No word yet as to the settlement amount. Jessica’s dad tried to low-ball Nick into accepting a $1.5 million settlement, while Nick is said to have asked for a more realistic $8 million that he lowered to $5 million.

Nick is dating MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo while Jessica may be with her co-star in the upcoming film “Employee of the Month,” comedian Dane Cook. Cook was involved with someone else at the time of filming, but is now single and said to be getting cosy with Jessica.

This is sad news for Nick and Jessica fans, and should serve as a warning to all women who try to hold out before marriage and then get married young because they can’t wait.

Here is Jessica in NY on 6/28. She’s wearing the deadly long jeans/platform sandals combo that caused Britney’s near baby-drop. Nick Lachey is shown performing a private concert for Q-100 listeners on 6/29.

Nick Lachey hooked up with MTV VJ and former fling Vanessa Minnillo in Atlantic City after meeting up with her at a club on Sunday night. They left together and things must have heated up quickly for the pair, because they were then spotted in Mexico together according to PerezHilton:

It is difficult to tell whether they were in Mexico first and planned to meet up at the club, or if they met in Atlantic City and promptly jetted off to the vacation spot. Either way, it looks like they’re back together and that this means curtains for Nick’s relationship with stylist Kim Kardashian.

Kardashian, who was linked to Nick after a romantic movie date on May 24th, has been seen out shopping and attending events with Paris Hilton. Her friendship with the flightly self-centered heiress couldn’t have helped her relationship with Lachey, whose friends thought Kardshian’s status as an outsider from the usual Hollywood circle was part of what made her attractive to Lachey. Kardashian’s gorgeous looks couldn’t have hurt, either.

This is also bad news for poor Jessica Simpson. She seems to have come to terms with the fact that it’s over between her and Nick, because she may have approved of his relationship with Kardashian. Jessica reportedly sent her best friend and ex-assistant Cacee Cobb to check out Kardashian for her, and Cacee is said to have called Kim “nice.” Nick and Jessica’s divorce may be final on June 17th, and it looks like Nick is moving on with style.

Here is Lachey promoting his album at Lucky Strike lanes in Chicago on June 12th and at the Borgata Hotel Casino fight weekend after party on June 11th. He is shown with Tyson Beckford. The poor quality inset images are of Minnillo and Lachey in Cabo San Lucas.

The Maxim 100th issue party was held on April 8th at Club Tryst at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. While Christina Aguilera and Haylie Duff showed up, Paris and Nicky Hilton are noticeably absent from the arrival and inside pictures of the party. We know that they were at the Maxim weekend event as they attended the poker tournament the day before.

The sisters must have been too exhausted to party on Saturday night, because Perez Hilton reports that they were out quite late with a group the night before. Vanessa Minnillo had a cat fight! Paris also gave an impromptu performance of her entire CD at club Pure at 2:30 in the morning.

Oh no. The crap has just begun with Paris’ album. You can bet her singles are going to get more airplay and become stuck in a loop in your head worse that Madonna’s “Hung Up.”

Here are some of the more sober people at the Maxim party the next night, including Jordan Bratman and Christina Aguilera, Hayden Christensen, Shannon Elizabeth, Taye Diggs, Usher, Lucy Lawless, Vanessa Minnillo, Carey Hart (without his wife pink), Haylie Duff, Kristy Swanson and James Franco. Lil Jon, Ludacris and Usher performed.

16 pictures total.

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