Nicole Richie

Nicole Richie
in Paris, France (February 2010)
Born	Nicole Camille Escovedo September 21, 1981 (1981-09-21) (age 29) , U.S.
Occupation	Socialite, TV personality, fashion designer
Years active	2003–present
Partner	Joel Madden (2006–present)

Nicole Camille Richie (born Nicole Camille Escovedo; September 21, 1981) is an American socialite, fashion designer and television personality. Richie is the adopted daughter of soul singer Lionel Richie and his then-wife Brenda Harvey. Richie is perhaps best known for her role in the Fox reality television series The Simple Life, alongside fellow socialite and childhood best friend Paris Hilton.

Richie's personal life has received considerable publicity in tabloid press, for her dramatically thin appearance which sparked rumours of an eating disorder, two driving under the influence (DUI) arrests in 2003 and 2006 respectively and her extensive drug abuse throughout her late teenage years and early twenties. Richie entered rehabilitation and has since given birth to two children with her domestic partner Joel Madden, member of the American pop-punk rock band Good Charlotte, which has received international media attention.

Early life and education

Nicole Richie was born Nicole Camille Escovedo in Berkeley, California.^[1] Initially, Lionel Richie became her guardian.^[2] At age two, Nicole went to live with Richie and his wife, Brenda Harvey, who raised her as their daughter. Nicole began attending weekly sessions with a psychotherapist at age three, remaining in therapy throughout childhood. She was legally adopted by the Richies at age nine. Shortly after the adoption was formalized, Lionel's affair with another woman became public knowledge.^[3] The Richies went through a bitter, public split, and as a result, indulged Nicole's every whim. "Their way of making me happy was to say yes to everything I wanted, but I don't think a little girl should have that much freedom," said Richie in an interview with Vanity Fair magazine.^[4] Lionel Richie remarried following his divorce and gave Nicole two younger half-siblings: Myles (born 1994) and Sofia (born 1998).^[5] Richie has one godmother, Nancy Davis, daughter of Marvin Davis and mother of Brandon Davis. Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson were each Richie's godfathers.^[6] Jones said in a People magazine interview that he has "known Nicole Richie since she was a baby. She's a very smart girl".^[7]

In 1986, she started kindergarten at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California, where she met Paris Hilton. Richie graduated from Montclair College Preparatory School in 1999. She also studied Arts and Media for two years at the University of Arizona.^[6]

Television

Paris (left) and Nicole (right) in the first season of the hugely successful The Simple Life which ran for five seasons

In 2003, Richie and best friend Paris Hilton starred in the reality series The Simple Life, in which they lived for a month with a family in the rural community of Altus, Arkansas. The series debuted on Fox on December 2, 2003, to high ratings. The premiere episode drew thirteen million viewers, increasing Fox's Adults 18-49 rating to 79%.^[8] The series continued for a second and third season, and Richie achieved superstardom for her out-spoken, comedic personna.

The show was subsequently cancelled by Fox after a dispute between Hilton and Richie, but it was subsequently aired by E! Entertainment Television for the fourth season, which was a hit for E!, drawing nearly one million viewers and a relatively unsuccessful fifth season.^[9] More complications arose during the production of a fifth season. Both Richie and Hilton faced major charges for DUI, and were at risk of serving jail time. Hilton was sentenced to 23 days in jail, though this was after production of the season had finished.^[10] Richie accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to four days in jail, again after production had wrapped.^[11] Despite talks of a sixth season,^[12] the series finished its run at the end of the moderately unsuccessful fifth season.^[13][14]

In 2005, Richie made her acting debut in the comedic drama Kids in America. Richie has guest starred in television series including Eve, Six Feet Under and American Dreams, 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, and playing the recurring character Heather Chandler on Chuck.^[15] In July 2008, plans were announced to turn Richie's 2005 novel, The Truth About Diamonds, into a television series.^[16]

On January 1, 2010, it was announced that Richie would guest judge on Project Runway. ^[17]

Other work

Writing

In 2005, Richie wrote a semi-autobiographical novel, The Truth About Diamonds, which was released by Bharell Jackson Publishing. The novel is loosely based on her life, but is mostly fictional. It chronicles the life of Chloe Parker, the adopted daughter of a singer who makes her way through all of the hottest nightclubs and parties in Hollywood and battles a drug addiction.^[18] In early January 2006, The Truth About Diamonds peaked at number #32 in Hardcover Fiction on The New York Times Best-Seller List.^[19]

Nicole wrote another novel, titled Priceless, which will be released on September 28th, 2010.

Designer and Fashion

In April 2007, Richie announced plans to start a jewelry, accessories, and sunglasses line along with a perfume and style book.^[20] In October 2008, she debuted a jewelry line, House of Harlow 1960.^[21] The line became available at Kitson's online boutique.^[22] In Spring 2010, the line was extended to include apparel and shoes.^[23] In 2009, Richie joined maternity store A Pea in the Pod to create the new collection maternity clothes.^[24]

In 2010, she attended Glamour 'Women of the Year' Awards in London. She won Entrepreneur of the Year for her House of Harlow 1960 brand.^[25]

In June 2010 Richie visited Australia in her role as global ambassador for Mid City, a shopping centre in central Sydney.

Music

Richie was a member of the rock band "Darling". Although widely speculated that Richie is working on an album, she told People that it's not true; however, she said "I do eventually [want to record an album], but right now I have a lot on my plate"^[26]. A demo of the LFO song "Dandelion" leaked onto the internet and radio in 2006.

In 2004, she auditioned for the part of Maureen in the popular Broadway hit, Rent, but did not get the part. In 2008, she was offered the lead role in the hit musical Chicago as Roxie Hart.^[27]

Online

Nicole launched an official website with BUZZMEDIA where she blogs regularly sharing personal photos and news. She announced the birth of baby Sparrow James Midnight Madden exclusively on her site on September 9, 2009.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Richie and Joel Madden in March 2010

In April 2005, reports surfaced that Richie and longtime friend Paris Hilton were no longer speaking. Hilton commented on the reports stating, "It's no big secret that Nicole and I are no longer friends. Nicole knows what she did, and that's all I'm ever going to say about it."^[28] Neither Richie nor Hilton ever spoke publicly about the cause of the split, though rumors suggested that the pair fell out due to Nicole showing one of Paris' home made sex tapes to a group of their friends. The two eventually reconciled in October 2006.^[29]

Richie has had a string of high-profile relationships. She dated DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) from 2003 to 2005, and they broke up after a nine-month engagement.^[30] Richie was also briefly linked to childhood friend Brody Jenner of MTV's The Hills.^[31]

Richie's highest profile relationship thus far has been with Good Charlotte lead singer Joel Madden. They have two children: daughter Harlow Winter Kate Richie-Madden (born January 11, 2008)^[32] and son Sparrow James Midnight Madden (born September 9, 2009).^[33] The couple confirmed their engagement in February 2010.^[34]

Weight issues

In early 2006, Richie made headlines with a dramatically thinner appearance, after spending two seasons of The Simple Life slightly heavier than her usual weight.^[35] In May she told Vanity Fair, "I know I'm too thin right now, so I wouldn't want any young girl looking at me and saying, 'That's what I want to look like.'"^[36] She also said, "I started seeing a nutritionist and a doctor. I was scared that it could be something more serious."^[37] During this time it was reported that she had also sought the help of a psychiatrist and a personal trainer.^[38] Later that year, in September, Richie stated "I am not anorexic. I am not bulimic. I do not have an eating disorder." ^[38] On October 27, 2006, it was announced that Richie was seeking treatment for "an inability to put on weight," though it is not treatment for an eating disorder.^[38]

In March 2007, Richie was taken to the hospital for dehydration. On March 21, her representitives announced she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia.^[39]

Legal issues

Nicole Richie's December 2006 mug shot

In February 2003, Richie was arrested in Malibu, California and was charged with possession of heroin while driving with a suspended driver's license.^[40]

On December 11, 2006, Richie was arrested by the California Highway Patrol after she failed a field sobriety test. She was charged with driving under the influence on State Route 134 in the Burbank/Glendale, California area. Several motorists had reported a black Mercedes-Benz G-Class entering the SR134 freeway on the exit ramp and traveling in the wrong direction.^[41] She admitted to using marijuana and the narcotic Vicodin before the incident.^[41] July 27, 2007, Richie was sentenced to four days in jail,^[42] but served only about 82 minutes of the sentence as Richie checked herself into the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, California on August 23, 2007 at 15:15 PDT and was released at 16:37 PDT.^[43]

A spokeswoman for the sheriff's department told People magazine that Richie "was released early due to overcrowding in the jail system. This is standard procedure for nonviolent offenders." After spending 82 minutes in jail, Richie was "Of course pleasantly surprised to be released so quickly," said her attorney.^[44]

Richie signed up for an 18-month SB 38 anti-drinking driver education program, according to papers filed with the Superior Court of California.^[45] On June 22, her probation was extended one year to March 2011 because she missed her anti-drinking driving class to care for her children. ^[46]

Charity

In November 2007, Richie and Joel Madden created "The Richie Madden Children's Foundation".^[47] In May 2008, Richie and Madden shot a UNICEF public-service announcement to generate aid for the cyclone-devastated Myanmar.^[48]

In February 2010 Nicole Richie and partner Joel Madden opened a playground in Los Angeles to encourage children to get outside and play. The project was funded by the Richie-Madden foundation.^[49]

Filmography

Award nominations

References

External links

• Official Website
• Official website of The Richie-Madden Foundation
• Nicole Richie at the Internet Movie Database
• Nicole Richie at TV.com