Mariah Carey's overcome some challenges over the course of her stellar 20-year singing career, but this week the Weekly reports that the latest one is of a rather physical nature.

Trumpeting ‘Mariah Battles The Bulge' within its pages, the Weekly says Carey has put on 23 kilos since marrying husband Nick Cannon in April last year. The mag says her stay in ‘married paradise' has taken a ‘huge toll' on her figure.

Her weight has ‘exploded' since her marriage, reports the mag.

At her slimmest Mariah weighed 61kg - although this was the result of living on broth, ‘endless pilates workouts and water exercises in the home pool.' Now sources tell the mag she's heading towards the 90kg mark. "She still intends to be a mum some day, and if you're edging towards 90kg, that's not a good place to start."

Meow!

"After her dieting last year, a slimmed-down Mariah could have passed for being in her late twenties. Now, she looks her age at least and, while there's nothing wrong with that, it has come on suddenly."

They've done a blow-by-blow on Mariah's body in a revealing swimsuit for a video shoot. It's rather detailed. Like the commentary on a nature documentary.

"The costume was slit to below her navel, exposing her tummy. Her thighs are sturdier than before and there are bulges spreading out from her back. From behind, there has been a considerable spread, with the backs of her thighs showing dimples that seem to come with quick weight gain."

I saw these pics a few weeks ago and while yes, Mariah definitely could have chosen a more flattering swimsuit and yes, she definitely looks sturdier, good for her.

While it might not be the physique sported by skinny stars like Christina Aguilera, Mariah has tits and an arse and obviously is happy and confident enough to show them off. One thing Mariah definitely doesn't lack is a healthy self-esteem.

And since she's one of the world's most renowned divas - once employing someone to put a straw from a soda can in her mouth, so she wouldn't have to bend; and being carried by a bodyguard through a showbiz do because she couldn't be bothered walking - Mariah's weight gain may make her that much more relatable to female fans, back fat and all.

"The people closest to Mariah say that if she goes over 90kg, she might "give up the ghost" and decide to live her life as a "big girl", looking for character roles in movies," says the mag. Mimi, I'm really not into your music, but nobody doubts you're a great singer. I suggest you stick to that. Mariah makes one movie that's getting good reviews and suddenly the girl is Meryl Streep? Nobody's forgotten Glitter, my dear.

And I have two words for you. Aretha. Franklin. If Aretha can still be respected as a diva while living life on the hefty side, why can't Mimi?

Let's be honest. Who wouldn't choose a life of steak, baked brie, profiteroles and wine over one of steamed vegetables and grilled fish?

Woman's Day's cover girl this week is the fabulous Anna Paquin. ‘My Fun and Romantic Wedding' toots the headline, accompanied by a pic of the actress in a negligee style wedding dress. Paquin's not actually had a wedding, but she has filmed one for her new movie The Romantics, co-starring Katie Holmes, Elijah Wood and Josh Duhamel.

Insiders say the actress is only ‘four months away' from her own wedding to True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, and that the happy day will be in Mexico, complete with tacos and tequila. Sounds fab!

I hope they have a mariachi band.

When it comes to wedding planning it sounds like Anna has her feet very firmly on the ground. "It feels organic," she has said. "It's more about being family than becoming Bridezilla overnight and wearing some big meringue wedding dress. That would scare the shit out of me."

She should ask co-star Katie, whose over the top nuptials three years ago turned the Italian town of Bracciano into a three-ring circus. Mind you, look who she got stuck with.

The mag reports Paquin and Moyer live a ‘bizarre frugal' lifestyle in Venice Beach outside LA. They do their own cleaning, cooking and shopping. My God! How bizarre and frugal! In that case it sounds like all of us are being lumped in the bizarre and frugal basket.

"It's all very hippie with vegan food, jogging, cycling and surfing," a source tells the mag.

The mag also has a little dig at the couple's plans to get family and friends to the wedding. "Despite the millions of dollars in fees the couple have negotiated for making the third series of True Blood, they're not laying on an all-expenses paid trip for their family and friends."

Perhaps family members don't feel comfortable sponging off wealthy relatives?

Speaking of Anna's co-star, the NI reports that Katie Holmes has told ‘new best friend' Paquin how unhappy she is in her three year marriage to Tom Cruise.

"Anna is a very sweet, compassionate girl who is easy to talk to, and Katie has opened up more and more until finally the dam burst and everything came flooding out."

Details of Tom's life behind closed doors include his "unusual sleeping arrangements, Tom's daily rituals and his bizarre obsessions with his body, youth and cleanliness."

The Day has more on Mr Cruise's secrets. "Tom likes to relive his glory days by parading around the house in military uniforms like the ones he wore in Top Gun and A Few Good Men - because it makes him feel handsome."

New Idea leads this week with jailed Aussie Schapelle Corby and and the fight by friends, family and other supporters to have her back in Australia for Christmas.

Apparently she was diagnosed as clinically insane several months ago. Was she? I didn't know.

The NW runs that photo this week of Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart holding hands on a Parisian tarmac. You know, the one that's got Twilight fans all hot under the collar lately. You'll also find ‘20 On-Set Secrets' from New Moon and Eclipse. Can't wait to get your hands on them? Rob is a huge fan of Greek yoghurt (stop the press!), he and Kristen are chronic chain smokers, and Bryce Dallas Howard won her castmates over with cupcakes.

Jeremy Corbett and wife Megan are in the Day with a headline trumpeting ‘Our Christmas Baby.' No, they're not having a baby at Christmas. She's not even pregnant. We've been duped! But the couple will start trying for a baby during the festive season after a two year struggle to conceive.

New Idea reports that "Prince Michael Jackson has the same skin condition as his late father, giving the biggest indication yet that the King of Pop was the biological father of his three children."

Or maybe just of Prince, seeing as he's the only one with the condition.

Oh wait, the mag's source is La Toya. Enough said.

Angie vs Jennifer drags on in the Weekly, with both actresses involved in a long-running, rather tedious game of one-upmanship. The Day also has a story on Jennifer Aniston, reporting the star has ditched the dieting for love.

Aniston is one of Hollywood's most notoriously ruthless stars when it comes to her figure, invested heavily in a regimented diet and exercise regime which has certainly paid off for her over the years. She's in great shape, but she's earned it.

The mag says she's going off her diet to come a mother, prompting by a lonely incident at a friend's wedding where the actress couldn't find a date and had to take her long-term hairdresser.

"I think she wants to enjoy life a bit more," says a source. "She hasn't gone crazy and is still eating healthily, but she's allowing herself treats and has stopped exercising every day for hours like she used to."

Proof: Aniston was seen eating carbohydrates.

The mag also reports the actress has been hooking up casually with John Mayer in LA and ‘they haven't always been careful. Just because she's single doesn't mean she couldn't be pregnant.'

Yeuch. The thought of John Mayer involved in babymaking almost made me heave up my flat white.

Meanwhile, NW reports Jennifer's BFF Courteney Cox Arquette has invited both The Aniston and Brad and Angelina to hers for Thankgiving dinner this week.

Those two women have never spoken since Angie ran off with Jennifer's husband, and all of a sudden they're going to make nice over the turkey? Doubtful.

"Courteney asked Jen if she could invite Brad and Jen said absolutely," says a source. "Brad said they'd stop by if they were in town, so there just might be more fireworks than the Fourth of July."

What's up with Nicole Kidman's boobs? There are pics of her in the Weekly at the Country Music Awards in Nashville earlier this month with some significant cleavage. Mind you, it was only successful in diverting me from her mutated top lip for about two seconds.

NW leads with celebrity body secrets again this week, including '60 New Slimdown Tips From The Stars.'

They're not really that secret, or that new. Just substitute booze and all things tasty for a life of lunges, steamed fish and snacking on celery. Easy!

Are Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale trying for another baby? NI and Weekly both say yes! I hope so. Their kids are gorgeous. The couple are already parents to super-cute Kington, three and a half, and Zuma, 15 months.

And that's all from the mags this week!

 

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