Bailey's Battle

She’s been called one of Australia’s sexiest models, but actress Imogen Bailey recently revealed her ugly battle with anorexia.

Bailey dropped below 40 kilograms before family and friends intervened and sought help for the actress.

Now healthy and happy, Bailey joined TODAY to talk about her experiences.

The star recently revealed she struggled with anorexia to Who Weekly magazine.

The Neighbours cast member said she was anorexic for approximately 12 months in 2000 and 2001.

“I was modelling at the time and being surrounded by other skinny women I got skinnier and skinnier and just thought it was normal,” said Bailey.

Bailey only realised she was anorexic when a client said some of her shots made her look too skinny after a modelling shoot.

Bailey sites a combination of factors leading to her battle.

“My career, being surrounded by other anorexics and the stress of a breakup from an unfaithful boyfriend,” said Bailey.

Bailey is critical of magazines for putting anorexic women on the covers as she believes this encourages other women to think that is what is needed to get on front covers.

“Girls need to know that what they see on TV and in magazines is not real. Lighting and photoshopping have such an impact that even the girls themselves don't really look like that.”
Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among teenage girls, after obesity and asthma.

Diet attitudes in Australia

More than half of Australian women have taken diet pills
88 per cent regularly skip meals to lose weight
20 per cent starve themselves for a day
15 per cent admitted to vomiting after eating
56 per cent used slimming tablets
37 per cent smoked to suppress their appetite
17 per cent went for more than a day without eating
Three-quarters of women prefer to be a size six than size 16

Make Yourself Beautiful for Animal Welfare

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) in Australia is responsible for today’s Site of the Day, “Make Yourself Beautiful”, www.makeyourselfbeautiful.org.au

Visitors to the site are invited to draw a picture of a friend (having a graphics tablet is a definite advantage) and send it to them with an invitation to sign a petition advocating for animal rights.
The web site, created by Clemenger Blue Melbourne, is part of an ongoing campaign encouraging members of the public to sign a declaration in support of animal welfare to be taken to the United Nations for adoption.

Louise Paton, senior account manager at Clemenger Blue said: “The campaign is as simple as letting people know that all it takes is a drop of ink – their signature – to change the lives of animals worldwide”.

“The idea behind the website is to draw whacky portraits of your friends and show them that beauty isn’t about the way you look, it’s about the way you act. It’s a fun way of engaging people with a serious issue,” Paton said.

A number of Australian celebrities are lending their support to the campaign including actors Abbie Cornish and Pippa Black, musicians Augie March, models Erin McNaught and Imogen Bailey, swimmer Emily Seebohm and entertainers Wil Anderson and Kathleen de Leon Jones.
Traffic to the site is being supported by a partnership with The Body Shop, in which ‘declaration ink’ has has been packaged into the brand’s translucent bottles and branded as a product called ‘make yourself beautiful’.


The Principles of the Declaration
1. The welfare of animals shall be a common objective for all [states];

2. The standards of animal welfare attained by each [state] shall be promoted, recognized and observed by improved measures, nationally and internationally. [Whilst there are significant social, economic and cultural differences between societies, each should care for and treat animals in a humane and sustainable manner][in accordance with the principles of the Declaration];

3. All appropriate steps shall be taken by [states] to prevent cruelty to animals and to reduce their suffering;

4. Appropriate standards on the welfare of animals be further developed and elaborated such as, but not limited to, those governing the use and management of farm animals, companion animals, animals in scientific research, draught animals, wildlife animals and animals in recreation.

NEW NEIGHBOURS STAR IS AN 'ANGEL FOR ANIMALS' IN PETA ANTI-FUR AD

For Immediate Release: 26 September 2008
Contact: Sam Glover 020 7357 9229, ext 229; SamG@peta.org.uk

London - Wearing nothing but form-fitting underwear and angel wings and standing next to the tagline "Earn Your Wings - Don't Wear Fur. Fake. For the Animals' Sake", the new girl on Ramsay Street, actor Imogen Bailey, appears in a brand-new anti-fur ad campaign for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Bailey, who has appeared in FHM and Celebrity Big Brother and is often called Australia's sexiest model, is one of Australia's hottest exports, and she is committed to seeking justice for animals.

"I'll gladly bare some of my skin if it will help save animals' skins", says Bailey. "With all the luxurious synthetics available, there's simply no excuse to wear fur." She adds, "By wearing fur, you're supporting one of the most hideous industries on the planet, so please don't".

Why is Bailey using her beauty to expose the ugliness of the fur industry? Animals trapped in the wild sometimes suffer for days before they are bludgeoned, drowned or stamped to death by trappers. On fur farms, animals spend their entire lives pacing in tiny, filthy wire cages, where they go insane. Then they are anally electrocuted or gassed, or their necks are broken. An investigation of fur farms in China - now the world's largest fur producer - revealed that foxes and raccoon dogs were skinned alive after their heads were slammed on the ground.

This isn't the first time Bailey has helped PETA help animals. She stood in front of Buckingham Palace - wearing nothing but a sign which read, "Bare Skin, Not Bear Skin!" - in support of PETA's campaign to stop the killing of bears for The Queen's Guards' caps.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

ACT BEAUTIFUL FOR ANIMALS!

Some of Australia’s leading sport and entertainment talent has joined together to support the biggest and most ambitious campaign ever to improve the lives of the world’s animals. They’re helping the World Society for the Protection of Animals achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations – in the same way the UN has made Declarations on human and child rights.

Stars involved are: Internationally-acclaimed actress Abbie Cornish, Olympic gold medal swimmer Emily Seebohm, Comedian Wil Anderson, Neighbours actresses Pippa Black and Imogen Bailey, ARIA-award winning band Augie March, Model Erin McNaught, Former Hi-5 performer Kathleen de Leon Jones.

All are adding their name to a global petition for a Universal Declaration, which will be international recognition that animals matter, can feel pain and experience suffering. And that all of us – from individuals to governments - have a responsibility to put an end to cruelty around the world. Abbie Cornish said she believed it was extremely important to improve the lives of animals, whether they be domestic, farm animals or wildlife.

Abbie Cornish: “We are responsible for creating and altering the environments that many living creatures are subject to, and because of this we also have the ability to make their lives better,” she said. “By signing this petition you can support the WSPA in their campaign to make changes and help animals all over the world."

Australians nationwide will get their chance to add their name by taking part in the WSPA’s ‘Act Beautiful’ campaign from September 22 – October 13.

During this time, simply visit any The Body Shop store or go here to sign for the Declaration.

Stars unite for animals worldwide

Stars unite for animals worldwide
Posted 16th Sep 2008 by WSPA

Some of Australia’s leading sport and entertainment talent has joined together to support the biggest and most ambitious campaign ever to improve the lives of the world’s animals.
They’re helping the World Society for the Protection of Animals achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations – in the same way the UN has made Declarations on human and child rights.

Stars involved are:

• Internationally-acclaimed actress Abbie Cornish
• Olympic gold medal swimmer Emily Seebohm
• Comedian Wil Anderson
• Neighbours actresses Pippa Black and Imogen Bailey
• ARIA-award winning band Augie March
• Model Erin McNaught
• Former Hi-5 performer Kathleen de Leon Jones
  

All are adding their name to a global petition for a Universal Declaration, which will be international recognition that animals matter, can feel pain and experience suffering. And that all of us – from individuals to governments - have a responsibility to put an end to cruelty around the world.

Abbie Cornish said she believed it was extremely important to improve the lives of animals, whether they be domestic, farm animals or wildlife.

“We are responsible for creating and altering the environments that many living creatures are subject to, and because of this we also have the ability to make their lives better,” she said. “By signing this petition you can support the WSPA in their campaign to make changes and help animals all over the world."

Australians nationwide will get their chance to add their name by taking part in the WSPA’s ‘Act Beautiful’ campaign from September 22 – October 12.

During this time, simply visit any The Body Shop store or go to http://www.makeyourselfbeautiful.org.au/?CPID=9 to sign for the Declaration.

Every drop of ink improves the lives of animals!

Republished from: http://www.yenmag.net

Beauty for the Beasts

Republished from: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/50816/Beauty-for-the-Beasts/

NAUGHTY Neighbours newcomer Imogen Bailey is single, sexy – and not afraid to put her money where her mouth is.

The sizzling actress may leave us hot and bothered Down Under, but she is also causing every bit as much trouble off-screen as she is on the box.

The model-turned-actress is a staunch animal rights campaigner whose antics include stripping naked in front of Buckingham Palace last year in protest of the use of fur on the Guards’ famous bearskin hats.

Spoilsport London policemen did not take too kindly to the Aussie beauty in her birthday suit, so she was almost arrested.She is now planning an even bigger stunt and plans to join forces with former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson, 41, to make it a really big hit.

“You have to use pretty things to show the ugly things of life,” Imogen tells me during our exclusive chat.

“I have been involved with animal rights charity PETA for a while and am planning another stunt soon.

“I want to raise awareness about the use of animals during the testing of drugs.

“There is no excuse for it these days. When science is so far advanced, we really shouldn’t be torturing innocent animals. So if it means stripping naked then I will.

“Sex sells in all industries and if we can make the traffic stop and people pay attention, then we have a chance of getting the message across.

“Pamela wrote to me a while ago, congratulating me on the work I had been doing, so hopefully we will be doing something together soon.”

Imogen, 31, feels as passionately about animal rights as she does about the rest of her career and says she is willing to risk her job to stand up for what she believes.

“I am not one of these celebrities who puts my name to something just because it’s cool,” she insists.

“If I support something I do it for real – even if that lands me in trouble with my bosses.”

Thankfully for those in charge at the Aussie soap, Imogen puts as much passion into her role as Nicola West as she does in her campaigning.Over the coming months fans will get to see just what this feisty blonde has to offer, including an HIV scare and murder. And Imogen warns that there will be a few men who will bite off more than they can chew when they try to take on her alter ego.

She adds: “Nicola arrived on Ramsay Street with a suitcase full of trouble.“She is emotionally complicated and needs the validation of a man to survive, but she chews them up and spits them out!

“You will soon be seeing lots of tantrums and tears and I can say that there are diff-icult times ahead for her.”

So how does she feel about being labelled the soap’s newest sex kitten?

Imogen, who has graced the cover of FHM magazine in 28 countries around the world, takes it all in her stride.

She laughed: “That kind of label doesn’t hurt the ego, does it? It always gives me the giggles when people see that because I know that they don’t see me first thing in the morning when I look a state!

“I’m not the sex bomb people think I am. But if it gets more people tuning into the show then that’s fine by me.”

You can catch Imogen in Neighbours every weekday, on Five, at 1.45pm and 5.30pm.For more information about animal rights, log on to www.PETA.org.uk

Neighbours star praises colleagues

Luvvies usually wait until the awards season to slap each other (and themselves) on the backs, but Neighbours actress Imogen Bailey just can't keep her mouth shut when it comes to praising her Ramsay Street colleagues.

The actress, who recently finished her stint in the Aussie soap playing Nicola West, heaped praise on workmates Ryan Maloney - aka Toadie - and Alan Fletcher, better known as Karl Kennedy.

Bailey told Digital Spy that Maloney "could not have been more welcoming" and is "a beautiful person", while Fletcher "was really helpful too".

"I can honestly say Neighbours has the kindest, most generous and the most passionate cast and crew I've ever worked with," she added.

Bailey made a name for herself as a model, and also appeared in the Australian versions of Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Survivor.

Her nice comments make a pleasant change from thesps ripping lumps out of each other, we suppose.

Republished From: http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iLaGxVtSXwQdSD-AkJRMCmGY7I5w

Bailey singles out Toadie and Karl

'Neighbours' star Imogen Bailey - who plays Nicola West on the show - has said singled out two of her former colleagues for special praise.

The model and actress, who has also appeared in several reality TV series in Australia, said that Ryan Maloney and Alan Fletcher were especially helpful to her during her time with the soap. She said that Maloney, who plays Toadie on the show, was a "beautiful person" who "could not have been more welcoming".

Fletcher, who plays Dr Karl Kennedy, was, "really helpful too".

Bailey, who has finished working on 'Neighbours', added: "I can honestly say 'Neighbours' has the kindest, most generous and the most passionate cast and crew I've ever worked with."

Republished from: http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0909/neighbours.html

Bailey praises 'Neighbours' colleagues

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a129839/bailey-praises-neighbours-colleagues.html

Neighbours star Imogen Bailey has singled out two former colleages for praise.

The actress and former bikini model said Ryan Maloney, who plays Toadie, and Alan Fletcher, who portrays Karl Kennedy, were always of assistance during her time on the show.

Bailey, who has appeared in the Australian versions of Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Survivor, remarked that Maloney "could not have been more welcoming" and is "a beautiful person", while Fletcher "was really helpful too".

"I can honestly say Neighbours has the kindest, most generous and the most passionate cast and crew I've ever worked with," she added.

Bailey, who joined the cast as Nicola West in January, has just finished her stint on the Australian soap.

Bailey praises ‘Neighbours’ colleagues

http://actualentertainmentdot.com/?p=3678
Rex Features
Neighbours star Imogen Bailey has singled out two former colleages for praise.
The actress and former bikini model said Ryan Maloney, who plays Toadie, and Alan Fletcher, who portrays Karl Kennedy, were always of assistance during her time on the show.

Bailey, who has appeared in the Australian versions of Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Survivor, remarked that Maloney “could not have been more welcoming” and is “a beautiful person”, while Fletcher “was really helpful too”.

“I can honestly say Neighbours has the kindest, most generous and the most passionate cast and crew I’ve ever worked with,” she added.

Bailey, who joined the cast as Nicola West in January, has just finished her stint on the Australian soap.

Imogen hails 'Toadie'

Reposted from: http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=9514287

Imogen Bailey has praised her Neighbours co-stars, particularly Ryan Moloney who plays Toadie.

Imogen, who plays troublemaker Nicola West, has now finished filming her stint in Australia but said she'd love to go back.

"I enjoyed my time on the show so much," the blonde reveals.

The former model, who has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Survivor in her home country, added: "Over the last few years, I've worked for the three main networks in Australia on different programmes, and I can honestly say Neighbours has the kindest, most generous and the most passionate cast and crew I've ever worked with. I bet everyone says that, but it's true!

"Ryan Moloney, who plays Toadie, could not have been more welcoming. He's a beautiful person. He's married with children, and seeing the way his face lights up when he talks about them is just amazing. Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl Kennedy) was really helpful too, as was Nikki Coghill who plays my on-screen sister."

Neighbours screens weekdays on Five. This week, Nicola causes problems for her sister Miranda by agreeing to keep a secret for her brother-in-law Steve.