Celebrities and Lifesyle Websites

We never seem to tire of celebrities and the glamorous lives they lead. Some celebrities use their visibility to promote their favorite charity or political causes, while still others prefer to launch websites and blogs to promote their passions and lifestyle.

Four celebrity women who have launched or will be launching lifestyle websites are juggernaut talk show host and lifestyle guru, Oprah Winfrey, irrepressible television personality and chef, Rachael Ray, Thespian actress, Gwyneth Paltrow , and star of the television drama, Desperate Housewives, Teri Hatcher.

Oprah Winfrey

After many years of success with her television talk show, Oprah Winfrey launched her companion website Oprah.Com. . In classic Oprah fashion, the site offers broad, quality content and a smorgasbord of lifestyle information.

Readers can expect to find spiritual and relationship advice, home and garden tips, financial information and an aptly named, O store to purchase anything and everything from men and women's clothing to home décor and even African crafts.

Fans of the Oprah show can purchase transcripts of their favorite shows and of course, DVD's as well. Oprah.com also includes highlights from her previous shows, previews from upcoming shows, information on Oprah's charity, The Angel Network , Oprah's Book Club and clips from Oprah's Radio program with hosts such as Dr. Maya Angelou, Gayle King and perennial favorite on Oprah's television show, Dr. Mehmet Oz. ( Are we dizzy yet? )

And finally, if that is not enough "all things Oprah" for die hard Oprah fans, you can register with Oprah.Com and have access to message boards where you can discuss a variety of topics with other Oprah fans and devotees.

Though 2010 will be the swan song season for her television show, if anyone thinks Oprah Winfrey will just "go gently into that good night", they are sorely mistaken. With her OWN (The Oprah Winfrey Network - what else?) television network soon being added to her successful resume, Oprah Winfrey will continue to be a force to be reckoned with. Especially if her lifestyle website, Oprah.Com is any indication.

Rachael Ray

Another successful celebrity website that has also been touched by the golden hand of Oprah is bubbly television chef, Rachel Ray. Born in Cape Cod, Massachsetts, Rachel cut her teeth, so to speak, working in her family restaurant. It was there, Rachel says that her "Sicilian maternal grandfather, Emmanual Scuderi and her Cajun ancestry exerted a strong influence on her cooking."

It was Rachael Ray's 30-minute meals which she originally began as a cooking class, that led her to local radio program appearances in New York. As Rachael's popularity grew, she gained a weekly spot on a local CBS television affiliate which eventually led to a book deal and her own show on The Food Network in 2001.

But, it was Oprah Winfrey who catapulted Rachael Ray to syndicated fame with her own television program in 2005, after popular, recurring appearances on her show. As with everything Oprah touches, Rachael Ray soon became a household name and is now the author of several books, a cooking magazine of her own and a lifestyle website, Rachael Ray.

An ardent pet lover, Rachael Ray features a food section specifically for pets at her website with seasonal recipes and a photo archive that is guaranteed to elicit plenty of "awwww moments." There are blogs with feature writers offering up their favorite recipes as well and a store front featuring a full line of Rachel Ray cooking products, cutlery, books, DVD's, wines and Rachel's own dog food line Nutrish.

There is also a special kid section featuring her favorite mom bloggers along with a solid library of articles geared toward health and wellness for kids.

The Yum-O section, which is actually a non-profit organization started by Rachel to help children and families develop a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating, provides more recipes and basic kitchen-know how to empower the little people in our lives.

There is a fashion and beauty section for those of us who like to look good while we eat and of course, plenty of ideas for quick and simple meals, Rachael Ray style.

Finally, readers can sign up for Rachael's weekly newsletter or subscribe to her magazine entitled Everyday with Rachael Ray..

Gwyneth Paltrow

When Gwyneth Paltrow, daughter of actress Blythe Danner and film and television director, Bruce Paltrow first came onto the scene in the early 1990's, she was just another blonde waif in the Hollywood landscape.

In her early years, Gwyneth was known more for her relationships with actors Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck than her acting chops. All of that changed for Gwyneth, however, when she won an Oscar for her role in Shakespeare in Love proving to any who may have had doubts, that she was no lightweight blonde actress wannabe.

Since then, Gwyneth married singer/songwriter Chris Martin from the group Coldplay, has become a mother to two young children and launched her own website called GOOP.Com to share, as she puts it, "recipes, my personal travel notes, the advice that I get and follow, and so much more."

As the name implies, GOOP.Com is a collection of this and that without much emphasis on much of anything in particular, though she does have a pretty good collection of wholesome, healthy recipes under the Make section.

Unlike Oprah.Com and Rachael Ray.Com, GOOP.Com seems to be getting its feet off the website ground so to speak and does not offer much other than a weekly newsletter that she markets as "usually once a week."

Perhaps Gwyneth is still developing the mission statement of GOOP.Com. But, for now, the site is underwhelming at best and seems to lack a solid purpose. A few links pointing here and there is about all GOOP offers the reader, thus far.

Maybe when Gwyneth has more to say, GOOP will rise to the level of a lifestyle website. But, for now it seems to be more of personal blog than a website and borders more on the level of a vanity project.

Teri Hatcher

DisneyFamily.Com is hoping to capitalize on the endearing and affable persona of television actress, Teri Hatcher, by tapping into the adult market and launching her lifestyle website GetHatched.Com; "A Chick's Guide to Life."

Created by Teri Hatcher, the new site promises to be "a new online destination that celebrates women and offers funny and real answers to life's dilemmas big and small." According to Disney Dreaming.Com, the new site will feature Teri Hatcher and other guest authors and experts on various topics.

Already a successful author, Teri Hatcher is hoping to capitalize on her writing skills to, "......create a go to respite for women where they can find a shoulder to lean on."

The site will feature articles and several original web series. The first series, "In the House" is a talk show, shot in Teri's home, where she will interview a number of celebrities and everyday women. It will be about "intimate conversations," says Teri. "It's not about promoting your next movie. It's about natural conversations."

There is not a specific launch date for GetHatched.Com, but according to DisneyFamily.Com, it will be hatching soon. Thus far, the site looks interesting and this chick, for one, can't wait to see what it's all about.

Sources: GOOP.Com
Oprah.Com
Rachel Ray.Com
Telegraph.co.uk - Oprah Winfrey to start her own Network
Wikipedia: Rachel Ray
Yum-O.Org
New Disney Website GetHatched.com with Teri Hatcher | Disney Dreaming