By Walter Greene

Actor BRAD PITT has been critized for getting $7million as the new "pitch person" for Chanel Number 5 perfume. The startling advertisment campaign shot in black and white also raised eyebrows for its "suggestive" language and Brad as a male pushing a "female" fragrance. Meanwhile, VANESSA WILLIAMS is on a roll with the launch of her new skin care line "Revitalistic" just launched on QVC and is on the cusp of going global. Vanessa is also receiving rave reviews for her dynamic role on the new television show "666 Park Avenue." The multi-talented actres, singer, dancer and Mother is just coming off starring roles in TVs "Ugly Betty" and "Desperate Housewives." She also just wrote a book with her mother titled: "If You Only Knew."

Trinidadian rapper/singer NICKI MINAJ is launching her new fragrance named "Pink Friday" this month. Under an exclusive licence agreement with the cosmetic powerhouse Elizabeth Arden Inc., Pink Friday will be sold exclusively at: Macy's, Nordstorm's, Dillards, Belk, Bon-Ton and Boscov's, and will be in some 2000 department stores across the USA. In Canada it will be sold at Shoppers Drug Mart and The Bay. The unique styled bottle feature the head and torso of Nicki. "They asked me; `What do you feel is a real extension of you?' I said, there is nothing more synonymous with Nicki Minaj than a pink wig, if they can get that as a bottle that would really make me feel like this is a part of me - my history and my future. When the team returned with the sketch of my head as the bottle I almost passed out. I was so excited," stated the singer.

An extensive television advertising campaign is planned to roll out for the holidays. The TV spot was directed by popular video director BENNY BOOM. Sales executives for of Pink Friday predict that the fragrance could do $30million to $40million in global retail sales in its first year. Nicki's other big success story in the cosmetic arena is her `Rosy Pink' lipstick for MAC Viva Glam Cosmetics, this was one of the company's best sellers. "I feel I have a knack for picking out good beauty stuff," said the singer. NICOLE RICHIE just launched her new fragrance called "Nicole by Nicole Richie" and singer BRITNEY SPEARS has launched and re-branded her best selling fragrance called "Fantasy."  

 Vanessa Williams

Front Pic: Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday Fragrance bottle