Last days of USAF Jess Shipps

*Warning: PIRATE RADIO presentation*

A transgender Air Force veteran who helped fellow vets overcome their own suicidal struggles wrote 'I tried' on Facebook before killing herself, it has been revealed.

Jess Shipps, of Hampton, Virginia, was found dead on Tuesday, two years after leaving the military to pursue a life as a woman.

Her last note on Facebook - written the same day as her death - was revealed as friends remembered her work with other LGBT servicemen and women battling their own demons.

Jess Shipps (pictured), who saved 'countless lives' by helping fellow LGBT veterans, took her own life on Tuesday

The 32-year-old, pictured as a man, left the military in 2013 having spent the last two years of her service teaching photography and video in the US

The 32-year-old had served for 10 years helping to repatriate troops killed in Laos, Vietnam and New Guinea to allow their families to hold funerals, according to the New York Daily News.

But she left in 2013 having spent the last two years of her service teaching photography and video in the US.

According to her friend Army Sergeant Shane Ortega, a transgender man, she left 'because she couldn't be who she was and couldn't tolerate living this double life'.

Posting on his blog he said: 'I am horrified to say that Jess Shipps has passed away. She was a transgender military veteran of the United States Air Force. 

'She took her own life due to the struggles very often faced by transgender women - especially veterans. I had been friends with her for two years and her story is one I shared oftentimes.'

He added that 'certain people received a goodbye letter from Shipps'. 

Shipps, who leaves a wife she married before transitioning, was known for helping fellow LGBT veterans and soldiers.

Shipps shared videos of her transformation on YouTube. Here she is seen applying make-up and doing her hair

Transformed: Shipps, of Hampton, Virginia, looking fresh-faced having done her hair and make-up

Under current Department of Defense rules, transgender people are barred from military service. 

Christopher Hooper, of SPART*A, an advocacy group for LGBT people, told the Daily News: 'She was a go-to person for anyone that was feeling suicidal. If somebody needed someone to talk to, Jess is who we trusted.

'Jess leaves behind a great legacy. The countless number of lives she saved is a testimony to her strength and will.' 

Stills from a video she shared on YouTube which shows her journey to becoming a woman, pictured right, from a man, pictured left

On Sparta - An LGBT Military Organization's Facebook page it posted: 'It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce to you today the loss of a great SPARTAn. 

'Her name was Jess Shipps. Jess took her own life this morning. She served honorably in the United States Air Force. 

'She decided to get out of the Air Force due to being Transgender at the end of her contract and began to transition. 

'Jess was full of life and was a leader in our organization. She really was a talented and amazing person whom we got to know. 

'She was more than a member, she was family. She was our sister. She has helped many of our members and for that we all stand together today as one in mourning her loss.'

Jess shared videos online of her transition from a man to a woman. She often filmed herself driving in her car

Jess Shipps describes her early struggles as a transgender

She also reached out to others through online trans communities on Reddit and on YouTube.

Her videos were often shot in her car and some spoke about her struggle to suppress her female identity while others focused on what she had done that day.

Her most popular video, which has had over 30,000 views, tells the story of 'before and after' beginning at the start of her transition. 

'Lost too soon': A number of tributes were paid to Jess on social media, pictured above

In it she explains that when she was younger 'because of the media at the time I never thought I could ever embrace [being trans] or that this would ever be a possibility for me, so I just let it be'.

She adds that it has helped her by 'finding a trans community locally and online', and 'realiz[ing] that this goal is not that far out of reach'. 

ROSE McGOWAN speaks!

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Rose McGowan during a chat show appearance on Thursday blamed the Hollywood culture for a recent sexist casting call notice she shared on Twitter.

The 41-year-old actress and director was asked about it while appearing on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live.

A caller from Colorado asked Rose if the script for the Adam Sandler movie was sent specifically to her or any actress. 

In the clubhouse: Rose McGowan talked about sexism in Hollywood during an appearance on Thursday on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live

Rose responded that the script was sent out for any actress.

The Charmed star spoke up about sexism in Hollywood on June 17 when she tweeted about a casting wardrobe note that came with a script.

The note said: 'Black (or dark) form fitting tank that shows off cleavage (push up bras encouraged). And form fitting leggings or jeans. Nothing white.' 

Chat show: Rose appeared on the show along with singer Josh Groban

She's honest: The actress candidly answered nearly every question tossed at her

While she did not directly say Adam Sandler's name, McGowan made it quite easy to decipher who she was talking about in the caption: 'Casting note that came w/script I got today. For real.

'Name of male star rhymes with Madam Panhandler hahahaha I die.'

Rose told Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen that she thought the note was funny because it also urged reading the script to understand the context of scenes. 

Test of time: Chat show host Andy Cohen showed Rose some of her outrageous outfits from the past and asked if she still liked her decisions

Hollywood culture: Rose talked about sexism in Hollywood as Josh looked on

Cleavage encouraged: Rose earlier this month shared a sexist casting notice she received

'It's an Adam Sandler movie,' Rose said noting that context wasn't hard to grasp in his comedies.

Rose revealed that she hasn't heard from Adam while also acknowledging that he didn't write the offending notice.

'It's institutionalized stupidity,' Rose said.

Directorial debut: The Charmed star is shown on Wednesday at a screening of her directorial debut Dawn in New York City

Speaking up: Rose tweeted on Wednesday that her acting agent fired her due to her tweet

Own mind: Rose has been vocal about the double standard in Hollywood

Rose ended her two-year engagement to rocker Marilyn Manson in 2001 citing 'lifestyle differences'. 

Andy during the show's Plead The Fifth question-and-answer session asked Rose for one example of a lifestyle difference between them.

'Scarface,' Rose replied. Andy was perplexed until Rose asked him to think about the 1983 film starring Al Pacino as a Miami druglord.

Rose McGowan at 2015 Zuhair Murad Haute Couture show (archive)

Lifestyle differences: Rose is shown with ex-boyfriend Marilyn Manson in 1998 at the MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles

'It was the blow,' Andy said as her cocaine reference sunk in.

Rose on Wednesday attended a New York City screening of her directorial debut Dawn, a short film about sexuality and youth in the 1960s.

The 17-minute film is available in its entirety on YouTube.

The short received critical acclaim when it debuted in 2014 at the Sundance Film Festival and Rose said she was glad to have it on YouTube so more people can see it.

Chat show host: Andy asked the questions during the half-hour Bravo chat show

Teen Vogue's controvery

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A Teen Vogue editor who faced a severe online backlash after she opted to use a light-skinned model to illustrate a feature about African-American hairstyles has penned an open letter to her critics in which she defends her controversial decision.

The June/July issue of the popular teen publication features an article by the magazine's beauty and health director Elaine Welteroth, in which she writes about having her hair braided in Rwanda and the reaction she received upon her return to New York City. Since its publication, readers have taken to social media to express their frustration with the magazine for excluding black models from the feature; the featured model in the piece has light skin, while many of the other women used to illustrate the Senegalese twists style were white.

Now, Ms. Welteroth has penned an essay defending her choice, as well as noting that the piece has opened a discussion about race.

Talking 'bout tresses: The latest issue of Teen Vogue has received backlash over the lack of dark-skinned models used to illustrate a feature on Senegalese twists, a hairstyle popular among African American women

All-inclusive: The article's author, editor Elaine Welteroth (pictured), wrote in a new essay that she chose a model who is biracial to demonstrate that there is a broad spectrum of what 'black' looks like

While a version of the article online features photos of Welteroth, who is herself of mixed race, the print version used photos of a model named Phillipa Steele.

Phillipa, Ms. Welteroth wrote, is of mixed race as well - just like singer and actress Zendaya, who inspired the piece on Senegalese twists by wearing dreadlocks to the Oscars earlier this year.

'Phillipa Steele... strikes an uncanny resemblance to Zendaya, the story's hero,' she wrote, noting that Zendaya used her platform to shed light 'on the importance of debunking harmful stereotypes linked to ethnic hairstyles'.

With this piece, Ms. Welteron was hoping to do the same. But because she used a 'racially ambiguous' model, whom many readers assumed was white because of her light skin, the message seems to have gotten lost.

#Boy7 RESTRICTED release

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#Boy7


https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5b_bVpO2x0DY0RUT0FzUGFNLTQ/view?usp=sharing

Is STELLA MAXWELL the next Bond Girl?

*Warning: PIRATE RADIO presentation*

When one hears the name Stella Maxwell, your brain probably pictures a sexy and sassy 1970s Bond Girl; at least that’s what my brain did the first time I heard her name. Alas, Stella Maxwell is real and could no doubt be a Bond Girl, or any type of girl she wants.

By the looks of these pictures you’ve probably guessed that Maxwell is a Victoria's Secret Model. She walked the runway in the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show and then the next year (2015) she became a Victoria's Secret Angel.

I have a feeling that that decision was a no-brainer. All the other Victoria’s Secret Angels gathered in their best bra and panties sets, and their wings of course, there was very little discussion before they welcomed Maxwell to the club. Granted, I don’t know how Victoria’s Secret really picks their angels, but I’d like to believe that’s how they do it. Maxwell has also been in the news recently for becoming Miley Cyrus’ new gal pal. Whether it’s true or not, more power to both of them.  

No doubt Stella Maxwell has a bright future ahead of her. I’m sure she’ll stick to modeling, but maybe there will be a chance for her to a Bond Girl. I bet she’d be awesome.  

 

A-FORCE returns!

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Fans of Marvel's A-Force, the all-female Avengers team, are in for some good news: today, the company announced that the title launched during its Secret Wars event will get its own ongoing series starting with A-Force #1 this fall.

Marvel is on a roll with its female superheroes, and have recently announced plans to launch a lot of female-led titles (or titles featuring female superheroes) later this year. Earlier this week, Marvel announced an ongoing Spider-Gwen series, featuring an alternate female version of Spider-man.

The company also recently announced a more diverse team for its Avengers comic book series, including Hispanics, blacks and several women.

Now, A-Force joins the ranks of new titles coming from Marvel in the fall as part of its "All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative." A-Force features many of Marvel's iconic female superheroes, including She-Hulk, Captain Marvel, Medusa, Dazzler and Nico Minoru.

Glamour recently interviewed G. Willow Wilson, who created A-Force, and is also responsible for the the Kamala Khan as Ms. Marvel title, along with Marvel director of content Sana Amanat. The two women spoke about A-Force, along with the importance of having a comic led by an all-female team of Avengers.

"We thought it would be cool to take all these female characters who have no reason to interact and put them all in the same book," says Wilson. "It's a fan's dream to see these characters with very different background stories having to work together. And it's very exciting to imagine what a world run by women would look like. There are a lot of moments about that-and then there's giant sharks and punching things, too."

Amanat commented about the fact that more women and minorities are now reading characters and that they expect to see themselves reflected in the stories. She mentioned the number of female titles being launched, something that would have been impossible ten years ago.

"The dialogue of female representation is so hot right now, not just in comics but in general," says Amanat. "And that makes us more responsible in how we depict our characters."

As of yet, the new A-Force series does not yet have an artist or writer attached to the project, but we expect Marvel to make an announcement about that soon.

However, we do know this: the new A-Force #1 arrives in comic book stores and online this fall.

 

#MyDaughtersBoyfriend12 with actress NIKKI DANIELS

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No MARVEL at San Diego Comic-Con

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Marvel Studios caused quite a ruckus earlier this month when it announced that it wouldn’t grace Hall H at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con International.

Many assumed that Marvel ducked out in favor of Disney’s D23 Expo 2015—which is essentially Disney’s exclusive version of Comic-Con—but the studio never gave a concrete explanation for the absence.

That changed today, when Marvel Studios Head Kevin Feige finally broke his silence on this year’s Comic-Con. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Feige explained that Marvel simply doesn’t have any Comic-Con worthy news at this point in time.

“It was just timing. We had done that [media] event in October, when we announced so much,” Feige said. “Everyone knows what we're doing over the next few years. I really have a belief: If you can't go to Comic-Con and overdeliver, then don't go.”

Feige is referring to the major bombshells Marvel Studios dropped at a separate event last year, where he announced every Marvel Movie movie between 2016’s Captain America: Civil Warand 2019’s The Inhumans. But of course, recent developments with Sony Pictures have added a Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man film to the docket since Feige’s October announcements.

So there you have it, folks. We suppose the Marvel Machine can’t produce magic every time we want it to. Or can it? Let us know what you think of Marvel's Comic-Con absence in the comments below.

 

Flaunt Magazine's ELIZABETH BANKS

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The truth is, Elizabeth Banks has always kind of rocked that whole weirdo thing like a real sexy lady boss. Remember her role in the 40 year old virgin in which she plays that crazy book store bitch who is DTF just about anyone and everyone? Embracing that sexy weird girl side of herself truly has been one of the sexiest things about this hot and crazy blonde. Her new Flaunt Magazine spread, well, it's just further proof of the fact that Elizabeth truly is one hot little weirdo.

Now, I'd by lying if I said I understood the whole masked demon thing that Flaunt was working with in this spread. But then again, it really doesn't matter, does it? Elizabeth looks sexy as hell in those strangely futuristic outfits she's wearing, and thus it's probably best to just categorize the blurry details as weirdly hot and enjoy these photos for all their worth.

I've got to give it to her, there are plenty of seriously not-hot weirdos out there. But then again, we've all got our own weird little secrets after all. Although I might be prone to saying "don't make it weird" on a daily basis, when it comes to Elizabeth Banks, I can only hope that she keeps on embracing her weirdly sexy self!