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We’ve seen her in movies and been in awe of her performances, but what about this active and lively daughter of Jon Voight? She’s on a mission and doing some real things in the area of charitable causes. Here are some of the details, but first some background information

She’s won an Oscar. She’s been a professional model. She’s listed on countless “most beautiful women” lists. She trained and performed at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute following her mother Marcheline Bertrand, who had studied with Lee Strasberg directly. She is a mother to six children and a natural beauty both inside and out.

While filming the movie ‘Tomb Raider’ in Cambodia, she became personally aware of worldwide humanitarian crises. Looking around for more information about what was happening and how she could help, she went to The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). This is the agency tasked with leading and coordinating international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. That was back in 2001. Since then, Angelina has been on field missions around the world and met with refugees and internally displaced persons in more than 20 countries. Here is a partial list of the places she’s been: Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Cambodia, Pakistan, Thailand, Ecuador, Kosovo, Kenya, Namibia, Sri Lanka, North Caucasus, Jordan, Egypt, New Delhi, Costa Rica, Chad, Syria, and Iraq. She just recently visited earthquake victims in Haiti on her latest trip to help survivors of conflict and natural disaster.

Along with her husband, she created The Jolie-Pitt Foundation. It is dedicated to eradicating extreme rural poverty, protecting natural resources and conserving wildlife. They donated $1 million to Doctors Without Borders. Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971. They provide aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from healthcare, or natural disasters. The money Brad and Angelina donated was targeted for emergency medical assistance to help victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Angelina has a stated objective of “Awareness of the plight of these people. I think they should be commended for what they have survived, not looked down upon.” Because of her tireless efforts, in 2001 she was recognized and named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva, to help educate the public not only about the plight of refugees, but also about the perseverance and courage they show in overcoming all odds to rebuild their lives. Then again in 2003, she was the first person to receive the newly created Citizen of the World Award given out by the United Nations Correspondents Association to those who have made a significant contribution. It was initiated in 2003, in honor of Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was killed in the 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Iraq. Furthermore, in 2005, she was awarded the Global Humanitarian Award by the United Nations Association of the USA for her work with UNHCR and with refugees. That same year, Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni awarded her Cambodian citizenship for her conservation work in the country.

More recently, she has become more involved in working with humanitarian causes on a political level. She has regularly attended World Refugee Day in Washington, D.C., dedicated to raising awareness of the situation of refugees throughout the world, and she was an invited speaker at the World Economic Forum. In 2006, she began lobbying humanitarian interests in the U.S. capital, where she met with members of Congress at least 20 times since 2003. Angelina also works with the Education Partnership for Children of Conflict. This group helps fund education programs for children affected by conflict.

She is on the board of advisors for the Yéle Haiti Foundation, and with Brad Pitt took time to help Wyclef Jean with his Clean Streets project. Jolie also arranged a deal with People Magazine allowing them to print the first picture showing her visibly pregnant in exchange for a $500,000 donation to the charity. She has been travelling to refugee camps around the world since filming Tomb Raider. During her missions she has visited places including Darfur, Sierra Leone, Cambodia and Tanzania. She also visited Afghan refugees in Pakistan and donated $1 million to help. She covers all of her own costs while on missions, and shares the working and living conditions as the UNHCR field staff. She and Brad Pitt donated more than $8 million to charity in 2006 alone.

From this it is easy to see how hard she is working to help those in need. Instead of having the easy life, she’s found a greater fulfillment and satisfaction in making a difference in the lives of so many people in need. She sets a standard and example for us all. Great work, Angelina.

American fashion designer Carolina Herrera followed in the footsteps of her sartorial colleague Giorgio Armani this week by vying for a piece of Russia’s recovering luxury good market — the world’s fourth largest. Herrera, who dressed Jackie Kennedy Onassis in her later years, came to open her first boutique at the plush TSUM shopping center in Moscow’s heart and host a show of her linen-woven Spring 2010 collection. The 70-year-old designer is betting — just like Armani, who descended on the Russian capital in October — that Russian fashion followers, once known for their exuberant spending, will help expand her business.

Other designers remain uncertain about the country’s recovery from a recession that wiped out a tenth of its economy in gross domestic product terms in the first half of the year. Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney boarded the windows of their boutiques less than a year and a half after opening, while others were forced to deal with drastically dropping sales. But Herrera is optimistic. “I think the crisis stopped many things, but fashion is the last one to go, because women are always buying,” the designer, dressed in a sleek black velvet top and black pants, told Reuters after her show. Russian consumers have been famous for most of the decade for their lavish spending and penchant for high-end brands, but the crisis has curbed their disposable income, taking a toll on the country’s luxury market.

Incipient sings of economic recovery began last summer, however, fueled by relatively high oil prices — Russia’s chief export — and the improving global outlook. More festive and glittering decorations than a year ago have lit up Moscow’s shops in recent weeks, fuelling hopes that this season will bring the Russian consumer back to buying. Herrera showed some 200 elegantly dressed fans a collection of chiefly amber, rose and caramel dresses inspired by forms seen in Japanese baskets. The designer seemed enchanted with what Moscow had to offer. “I wish I could stay a week” she said.

WARNING! Men are strictly prohibited from trying to understand this CODE.

Step 1. First, the “bend and snap” – a broken nose is the best way to get closer. If it’s not love at first sight and the catchiest snap, then go to

Step 2. Money. When he invites you to a restaurant tell him that you’ve got fascinating earrings and haven’t got a necklace to put on with an absolutely stunning dress you found in Vogue but haven’t, by the way, bought yet. He will buy them both while he’s in love. And afterwards, when he wakes out of the trance, he will count how much money he’s invested in you and will have a fierce desire to legalize his investment by marrying you. If it’s not enough for his liberality, go to

Step 3. Jealousy. Use the men’s primitive mentality, “If somebody else’s interested, then I’m interested, too. If nobody is interested, then this woman/girl is not worth even looking at.” So, show him that there are at least two more candidates thirsty for your hand/body/love/benevolent glance. Send a bouquet of flowers with a card for yourself and tell him that you are tired of this admirer. If he appears too depressed by your non-existent caballero, go to

Step 4. Food. What is the single’s “every day’s special”? It’s coffee at work and gherkins at home. That is why they are easily baited with good home-cooked food. Which does not necessarily mean that you will spend the rest of your life cooking for him. Let’s say till you get married, that’ll do. Most cases end up in marriages after a satisfying dinner, but if it’s not enough, especially if the man lives with his mother, press him next, and go to

Step 5. Hysterics. From time to time go into hysterics making pauses to become a really nice bunny. Such unpredictable behavior stimulates and interests men. If he still resists, and you do not break up, carry heavy metal – go to

Step 6. Lewinsky’s trick. But do it for a marriage not for publicity. If he doesn’t kill you, he will marry you. If not, and you are still alive, then go to

Step 7. Pregnancy. Pretend that you are pregnant (and you’d better obtain real pregnancy after a marriage just in case your man appears to be a nasty bastard). Oh, don’t worry about your little cheat. He won’t check anything (at least if he does, there’s always the way out to say, “Oops! False alarm!”). But still the former is more likely just because male’s brain is adjusted to stop working once the ears hear the words, “I’m pregnant”. And a sudden fear/euphoria literally enforces a man to make a proposal. So, if he believes you he will marry you.

And finally, if you get through to the seventh step and at last he asks you to marry him, think, whether you really want to marry this manipulated by a woman, wasteful and depressed mamma’s darling with a broken nose! So, do not take this algorithm seriously.

Taylor Monsem on the set of “Gossip Girl” filming on location in the Meatpacking District in new york city. Sixteen year old Momsen who perform Jenny Humphrey on the CW show is seen wearing her fishnet lace stockings, a warm sweater paired with a pearl necklace, and Ray ban aviators.

Photo by PacificCoastNews.com