Emilia Clarke is a Hollywood actress with heart, drive and a fantastic acting instinct: she understands that you have trust yourself and your abilities before listening to your critics. She’s been starring on the HBO hit “Game of Thrones” as Daenerys Targaryen since 2011, and now Clarke can add Broadway bombshell to her resume, currently starring as Holly Golightly in Truman Capote’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” (The role was originally played by Audrey Hepburn in the film adaptation.)

Clarke grew up in Buckinghamshire, England with her family, and her love for drama and acting began when her mother brought her along to a theatrical set of “Show Boat,” where her father was a theater sound engineer. At the age of 3, Clarke fell in love with the lights, camera and action of a set, and she performed in shows throughout her school days. She also studied at the Drama Centre London, where she acted in 10 plays before moving to America after graduating in 2010.

Read on for five reasons why CG loves Emilia Clarke.


1. Acting isn’t just her career path, it’s her craft
When it comes to young Hollywood, some actors and actresses are just into acting because it can come with a big paycheck, or they want their 15 minutes of fame. To Clarke, acting isn’t just some job with a paycheck; it’s her chosen craft. And like any skill, she wants to work at it and perfect it, which shows her true dedication. In an interview with The Telegraph, Clarke explained her approach to her character’s role on HBO: “We both started out as naive young girls with plenty to learn ... I feel like I’ve learned a huge amount. I think we’re similar in that we try not to make the same mistakes twice. Not to sound too much like an obnoxious actor, but the character never really leaves me.”

2. She doesn’t sweat the small stuff
No one’s perfect, but celebrities often feel the pressure to be the best at all times, whether it’s on set of their latest movie, or when they’re walking the red carpet for an awards show or premiere. Clarke breathes new life into the Hollywood scene by understanding that ignoring the negativity and gossip, instead of perpetuating it, is the best option . Clarke has said, “...I don’t really look at stuff online. At the start I was looking and found something which wasn’t very nice, so now I leave it all. My life is unrecognizable compared to what it was- ‘Game of Thrones’ has opened doors that were never there before. But it can be dangerous to see it in those terms, I think. It’s best to take it as it comes and work as hard as you come, and hopefully the other things fall into place.”

3. She skillfully transitioned from screen to stageAlthough she was a stage actress during her school days, performing on stage wasn’t something that Clarke had done in a while, since her role on HBO takes up much of her time. With the support of her family, friends and “Game of Thrones” cast and crew, Clarke decided to take on Broadway as the lovable ‘Holly Golightly’ in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Since opening night March 20, Clarke has been praised for reprisal of the role originated by Audrey Hepburn.

4. She’s as generous as she is talentedClarke is also admirable because of her kind and hospitable attitude. Always thinking of others, she often brings food and goodies to the sets of “Game of Thrones” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” It’s refreshing to see a young actress thinking of others, as opposed to acting like a diva who demands “this and that” in their dressing room. In an interview with vulture.com about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Clarke joked, “Everyone keeps calling me the Jewish mum, because I keep trying to feed everyone ... I’m loaded like a pack horse full of treats every day, but I think they’re appreciated, you know? It’s nice to do stuff for people when everyone’s stressed out.”

5. She can poke fun at herselfEmilia Clarke is both down to earth and level-headed, and she doesn’t get too wrapped up in being a celebrity or breakout television actress. In fact, she is humble and can have a laugh at herself from time to time, which makes her a great role model for young women today. When Clarke was a guest on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” she told Fallon that sometimes she feels silly talking and communicating to dragons that aren’t “there” on the set of “Game of Thrones” because the dragons are later added in editing via CGI technology. She said, “When you’re filming it, you kind of feel like an idiot.” However, this challenge will only strengthen Clarke’s acting abilities.

The latest student craze? Whisper. If you haven't heard of it yet, Whisper is a social media app that lets students 'whisper' and share secrets anonymously. Students can type in their confessions and upload it onto an image, sort of like a combination of Postsecret and memes.

Whisper not only allows users to be themselves, but it is designed to be a community network. On other social networks, people try to seem perfect. On Whisper, users can be express whatever is on their mind.

Interested in what people are posting?

Emeli Sandé has spirit, style and a voice so striking that she has caught the attention of big names in the music industry, like Adele and Jay-Z, after performing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. It’s no wonder that she is the next big artist to hit the R&B scene!

Sandé grew up in Scotland with her Zambian father and English mother, putting her studies first while listening to jazz artists, like Nina Simone. She grew up singing and playing the clarinet and piano with help from her father who was a choir director. Although receiving a strong education was a priority to her, Sandé has said: “There has to come a point where you take the plunge.” College Gloss is so glad that she has! After moving to London, her debut album, "Our Version of Events," was the U.K.’s best-selling album of 2012, and now her career is about to get even bigger by breaking through the American music scene!

Read on for five reasons why College Gloss loves Emeli Sandé!



1. She has soul

At 25 years old, Emeli Sandé has more soul and emotion in her work than many other artists can boast throughout their entire career. She was inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone, and her vocal range is unbelievable. Also, not only can she sing and play piano, she is an accomplished songwriter. Sandé has written for pop artists like Leona Lewis, Cheryl Cole and Susan Boyle.

2. She has style

Sandé is extremely fashionable, and her style is both girly and hip, with a chic rocker edge. As an up-and-coming artist, trying to break the fashion mold is important to Sandé. Sandé stated in an interview with NPR: “You want people people to recognize you instantly, and you want people definitely to have an image of you when they hear your music.”


3. She’s a down-to-earth star

Emeli Sandé is such an inspiration to CG, and her fan base is growing each day. But, some might be surprised to hear that when she was a kid, she didn’t see herself as a huge star because she was very shy. Instead, she wanted to write songs for artists that people could connect with emotionally. (Little did she know that one day she would be taking on Europe and the R&B scene internationally!) Today, she is married to Adam Gouraguine, and she travels and promotes her music with him by her side.

4. She’s unique ... and proud of it

Sandé isn’t the cookie cutter model of what it is to be a mainstream female singer in the entertainment business today. Her music is a cool mix of pop, soul and jazz. Also, growing up in a small town in Scotland, she always felt different because she was a part of the only mixed-race family. “I’ve always felt different, and when I was young it made me more of an introvert. But then as I grew older, I kind of began to embrace that feeling of being different. I really wanted to speak for people who feel different.”

5. She sings her heart out

Emeli Sandé is dedicated to her craft, and it is really paying off! Her success has had an impressive start in the U.K. with a No. 1 debut album and winning the “Critic’s Choice” award at the BRIT Awards. After performing at the 2012 London Olympics, she has caught the eye of many notable American artists. Jay-Z said, “she is going to be a big deal,” and Alicia Keys has complimented Sandé, saying she is a magnificent up-and-coming artist. She has also had recent guest spots on "The Late Show with David Letterman" and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Emeli Sandé has a promising career ahead of her, and she isn’t letting anything stand in the way of her dreams. She’s so talented, and she offers so much variety in terms of jazz, pop and R&B singers in the music biz today. With her new popular single like “Next to Me,” and the uplifting track “River,” College Gloss is looking forward to many hits to come!

By: Mallory Feeney | Images: 1, 2, 3

Face

For a perfect canvas apply a favorite foundation all over the face and concealer under the eyes and over any problem areas.

Next, take a powder pink blush and apply it to the apples of the cheeks. MAC’s Springsheen blush ($21) is a peach color with pearl shimmer that works with all skintones and will give just the right amount of highlight to the cheeks. For a more affordable option, try e.l.f.’s Studio Blush in Candid Coral ($3).

To frame the face, take an eyebrow pencil or powder, like NYX’s Eyebrow Cake Powder ($6), and fill in the brows. This will make the look much stronger and more glamourous than just running clear gel through the brows.



Eyes

On the eyes, apply a matte nude shadow all over the lids from the lash line all the way up to the browbone. Then take a light brown matte shadow and softly apply it in the crease of the eye. For affordable single matte shadows try NYX’s Nude Matte Shadow’s for $6 each.

While the look may seem simple now, the true drama of the eye comes with the black liquid liner and false lashes. Take a liquid liner, like e.l.f.’s Studio Precision Liquid Eyeliner ($3), and draw a thick line above the top lashes and wing it out at the ends of the eyes.

Then apply a set of false lashes on and let set for a few minutes. Follow up with two coats of black mascara to blend the false and real lashes together to give the lashes a more flawless appearance.

Lips

To complete the look, take a red lip liner and line the lips. Then apply a coat of true red lipstick all over the lips. MAC has wonderful lipstick and lip liner options that will have the perfect shade or red with the right undertone. For a more affordable option, try Revlon’s Matte Lipstick in Really Red ($8). Finish the lip by taking a tissue and blotting the lips to prevent the color from bleeding.

The combination of a classic look red lip, sultry cat eye and a flawless canvas, is perfect for any Oscar party. All that’s left to add is a great dress and a deep side part before heading to the party. While it may be exciting to see who the awards go to, it’s just as fun to see what the stars, or your friends, are wearing!

By: Flannery Underwood | Image: Source

AnnaSophia Robb, star of the hot new CW hit "The Carrie Diaries" isn’t a rookie when it comes to the acting game. This 19-year-old Hollywood veteran has been a favorite of CG, and we are loving her as the pre-"Sex and the City" Carrie Bradshaw! Robb brings a vibrant spunk to the Carrie we know and love, and it’s going to be a great watching her transition from a young adult to the sophisticated New York City-obsessed freelance writer.

This Denver native has been acting since she was 5-years old, and she has starred in films like "Because of Winn-Dixie" with Jeff Daniels, "Race to Witch Mountain" with Dwayne Johnson and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (as the memorable Violet Beauregarde) with Johnny Depp. Robb is a major inspiration to CG on and off screen; read on for five reasons why College Gloss loves AnnaSophia Robb!

1. She has spunk
AnnaSophia Robb is both spunky and relatable as the teenage version of the Carrie Bradshaw. It’s refreshing to see such a bouncy, golden girl with a girl-next-door edge and sex appeal, honor the role of such an important female character. We cringe to think she almost turned down the role! Originally, Robb thought the show would be too much of a commitment, and she wanted to begin her college career at Stanford University. But after reading the script, she changed her mind. In an interview with teenvogue.com, Robb stated: “I realized it was actually a really strong story. It had a lot of heart and integrity, and Carrie seems like a character that I can grow with.”

2. She has drive
Robb has been acting since her kindergarten days, and she brings drive and determination to each of her roles. AnnaSophia Robb inspires those who are entering the acting field to take on challenging roles, like when she played Bethany Hamilton in "Soul Surfer" with Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. In "Soul Surfer," Rob portrayed a Hawaiian surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack yet still went on to become a surfing champion. Robb was fascinated by the story, and she agreed to take on the role when she was told by director Sean McNamara that the Hamilton family actually recommended her for the part!

3. She is involved in charity work
Aside from acting, Robb also takes another role seriously, charity work. Robb understands the importance of giving back to those who are less fortunate, and she approaches her charity work with an enthusiasm that is both notable and admirable. She is involved with PeaceJam, an education program, which aspires to build up a new generation of international peacekeepers. In the summer of 2008, she traveled to India to volunteer with The Dalit Freedom Network. The network provides education for the Dalit people.

4. She has other cool talents
It may seem like this is a bit of a “duh” reason, but Robb’s skills aren’t limited to acting! She has a knack for gymnastics (which helped her in the film "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"), swimming, modeling and, many may not know, Irish step dancing. Robb also recorded her own single for the film "Bridge to Terabithia" (which she co-starred in with Josh Hutcherson), called “You’ve Got To Keep Your Mind Wide Open.”

5. She has a craving to see the world
AnnaSophia Robb has a lot of moxie and drive for a 19-year-old. She is always stepping out of her comfort zone, from taking on diverse acting jobs to committing herself to charity work. Her moxie also plays a dual role in her love for traveling. She has been to France, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan and India. She also loves meeting new people there: “I like big cities. I like New York, I like London, I like L.A. I like people. I get lonely, really, really easily.”



AnnaSophia Robb has not only added flair to the CW network, but she also has added a new spark to the acting scene that hasn’t gone unnoticed by College Gloss. Keep Robb the radar, as she’s Hollywood’s latest “it” girl!

By: Mallory Feeney | Image: Source

How would your friends describe you?
M: Funny and supportive. I hope!

What are some of your hobbies?
M: I love surfing, and I love yoga. I also have a thing for fashion and recently have started sketching designs and building costumes.

What is one thing your fans don’t know about you?
M: When I was younger, I won Team Gold and Individual Silver for the North American Young Riders Equestrian Show Jumping Competition.

What is the best part of being a musician?
M: I love going into the studio with my piece of paper with scratch lyrics and notes and tons of production ideas scribbled all over it ... working with such incredible producers and co-writers and musicians … and within hours, making those ideas come to life. Blows my mind every time.

What is your advice for aspiring artists?
M: Take risks, and surround yourself with people you trust and who know what they are doing, so that those risks can be rewarded. Push your boundaries, whether it be vocally or production-wise. Try and raise the bar a little each day.

Who are your favorite singers?
M: Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Robert Plant, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Tora Fisher, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, Florence Welch...

What artists do you hope to collaborate with in the future? 
M: That list is endless because there are so many that inspire me, but it would be a dream-come-true to work with people like David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Kanye or Diplo. But really, there are hundreds.

Want to learn more about Miasha? Read CG’s article from the last time we caught up with her about fashion and beauty.

By: Annie Robinson | Images: Source