Hollywood razzle-dazzle came to Toronto over the weekend when famous names such as Tori Spelling and Paris Hilton mingled with homegrown talents at an awards ceremony held by MTV-style channel MuchMusic. Newlywed Tori declared that she felt like Cinderella walking the red carpet.
Her good spirits probably owed as much to being escorted by her own prince charming, Ontario-born husband Dean McDermott, as to the gems she'd been lent for the evening. "It’s always fun when you get loaned jewellery – and then you look at the price tag and you feel like one lucky girl. At least for the night… then you have to give it back," she said.
The thousands who'd gathered to see the stars turn out were in for a treat as 24's Elisha Cuthbert and Shawn Ashmore, who plays Iceman in the X-Men, series also faced the flashbulbs. "When MuchMusic shuts down the street, it’s truly exciting," said British Columbia-born Shawn, who helped present awards to winners such as Kelly Clarkson of American Idol fame and pop group Simple Plan.
Inside, songbird Nelly Furtado took to the stage to give the audience a taste of her latest offering Loose. "It's a summer album, it's hot, it's fast and loud - so it's perfect," she promised fans.
Paris is also about to turn her attention to the music scene. After splitting with her latest flame Stavros Niarchos, the hotel heiress says the search for love is off while she concentrates on her career.
She's in Canada to publicise her CD, which is out in July or August. Having just auditioned dancers, the unstoppable blonde plans to take to the road on tour in the next four months. In the meantime she had a message for all her admirers north of the border: "I love Canada."
Photo: George Pimentel
Photo: Chandra Price
