Jessica Simpson

Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson And The Art Of The Second Act

04 May 2012 06:53:10 EDT

Above the Buzz examines how these former pop princesses serve as examples of how stars can re-brand themselves again and again.
By Jocelyn Vena

Both Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson dominated headlines this week. Not since the late '90s have these two duked it out for so much media coverage.

However there's a remarkable difference in what's happening today to what was happening then: Then, everyone was talking about their music and their pop star personas. Where Britney was a Lolita who proclaimed virginity while dancing provocatively in belly-baring tops, Jessica was innocent and sweet and didn't dare anger her minister daddy. Jessica released songs that put her big voice on display, and Brit focused on songs that put eyes on her dazzling dance moves and her ear for dance beats.

A lot has changes in the years since then. What's interesting is that, despite their seemingly different personalities, in retrospect, they have a lot more in common than was initially apparent: They are both down-home country girls who have built empires that few can touch. Both have had very public career highs met with very public personal lows. Both have loved boy banders. Both have even documented their lives on reality shows, albeit with very different outcomes.

With almost 15 years separating the women they are now from those girls they were then, it seems they are looking to change it up.

At a time where the pop world is filled with plenty of younger pop princesses looking for their time to shine, Britney and Jessica seem comfortable enough with their own musical legacies to let them all have their moments. And, they should be at ease. They have both been incredibly successful in that world, having sold millions of albums, had huge radio singles and made music that is uniquely their own. And while Simpson has let her music take a back seat to other projects in the past few years, Spears is still a working singer who sells out tours and tops the charts.

These days, Jessica seems focused on maintaining the post-pop star second act she launched several years back. She's a fashion mogul with a billion-dollar empire that has outfitted fashionistas with reasonably priced essentials like platforms and bags. She also judges up-and-coming fashion talent on NBC's "Fashion Star," sharing with new designers her own wisdom on breaking into the industry. But, always savvy enough to keep people guessing, she's expanded her brand even further.

Now, she is also the latest mommy mogul. Jessica just added another gig to her post-pop star career — that of the A-list mom. Just this week, she welcomed her first child, Maxwell Drew, into the world. We expect she'll use that experience to re-launch herself yet again. We should expect fashion lines for stylish toddlers. And who wouldn't want to see a reality show that follows the new mom and her family?

It seems that, like Simpson, Spears might be looking to take a break from music for a moment. Having already given birth to two sons and tried her hand at the worlds of fashion and beauty, Spears is now a frontrunner to judge "X Factor." Her own experiences in the industry certainly make her the perfect candidate to give advice on the ups and downs of pop superstardom. She's experienced both with the entire world watching. While Spears' other projects (clothing line, fragrances) have generally been overshadowed by her music career, this rumored gig might be the first one to take the attention away from her pop fame while using it for all it's worth.

Spears is probably up for the gig because she is basically the heir to the Madonna legacy. She truly understands how to be a pop star. And the rumors that she might join Simon Cowell on the show seem to be intriguing Spears' critics and non-devotees more than anything she's done in the past few years. Spears might have found her perfect next chapter.

Right now, it's unclear how these new career paths will shape the future for Simpson and Spears — musically and otherwise. But, as has always been the case for them, no one doubts they will redefine what it means to be a female pop star. They are women who aren't willing to go quietly into the night. For Spears and Simpson, it seems they want it all or nothing. And, who can blame them?

What would you like to see Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson do next? Share your thoughts below!

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Jessica Simpson And Beyonce: From One Mommy Mogul To Another

02 May 2012 13:49:45 EDT

Maxwell's mom can learn a lot from another superstar mama, Queen B.
By John Mitchell

Jessica Simpson is basking in the glow of new motherhood after giving birth to her daughter, Maxwell Drew Johnson, on Tuesday, but if we know anything about celebrity moms, she'll be back to work in no time flat.

While she hasn't released an album of new material since 2008's country crossover record Do You Know, Simpson remains a true mogul. Her fashion line, the Jessica Simpson Collection, is the most successful ever for a celebrity. What began as a vanity line of bags and shoes has transformed into a billion-dollar brand that now also includes clothing, jewelry, fragrances and sunglasses.

The dueling pulls of motherhood and celebrity create a tough balancing act for a new mom, but being a mogul already is evidence enough that Simpson can wear a lot of hats. Just look at Beyoncé, another multi-hyphenate superstar with a newborn who is already plotting her return to form.

Indeed, Queen B is a perfect example of exactly how to balance early motherhood with the rigors of being a mogul. She's done things her way and is readying her musical comeback with several planned dates in Atlantic City, currently appears on the cover ofPeople's Most Beautiful issue (a covert and classy post-baby body reveal, in true Beyoncé style) and has even suggested she may at some point create a line of maternity clothes for her House of Dereon fashion line, telling Harper's Bazaar late last year, "I love figuring out designs that still make me feel edgy and sexy while pregnant."

Here are the three ways Jessica should look to Beyonce for post-baby mommy mogul inspiration:

Bouncing Back Professionally
Simpson's focus has switched from music to television in recent years, though she has never ruled out returning to the studio. Motherhood is a subject that has proven to be ace songwriting material for several pop divas, most notably Madonna. Madonna's 1998 album Ray of Light was inspired by the changes having a child had on her life, from her pursuit of spirituality post-baby to the change in her priorities once Lourdes entered the picture. The album went on to become one of her best-selling and most acclaimed, scoring five Grammy nominations, including Album and Record of the Year, and winning three awards. Its success reinvigorated the star, who returned to touring a few years later with a bang and has been on the road multiple times since, setting records along the way.

Beyoncé is reportedly already working on not one, but two records, and it goes without saying that baby Blue Ivy and the experience of motherhood will be a chief topic of her songwriting. She's also set to make her return to the stage for three concerts at the re-launch of Atlantic City's Revel Entertainment Center over Memorial Day weekend.

Simpson would be smart to put all the emotions she's feeling now to good use and start penning tracks for her return to music. The very emotions she's feeling now are the things that make for the best songs, something Beyoncé is seemingly well-aware of.

Working on Your Fitness
Jessica seems intent to make her post-baby weight loss a public affair (Get it? That song is her most underrated jam!) with a reported multimillion-dollar endorsement deal with Weight Watchers, clearly taking a cue from B by keeping it healthy.

Unlike so many other celebrities, who rush hard in ways that cannot be good for them to get their figures ready for "How I Got My Body Back" tabloid photo shoots as if it were some sort of competition, Beyoncé didn't appear to feel any sort of rush to get her pre-baby figure back. According to her People interview, she has relied on a healthy, protein-heavy diet and three 90-minute workout sessions per week, mixing things up by combining running, dancing and exercise ball crunches. And the results speak for themselves: Four months later she looks fantastic, if not yet back to her perfect pre-baby figure. (Which is just fine; regardless of what the tabloids tell you, it is unnatural for the mother of a newborn to look as if she never had a baby in the first place just a few months after giving birth.)

"I feel my body bouncing back," B told People. "Whatever was tight and muscular, like my legs, I'm seeing it come back. You just have to work at it."

And work at it is exactly what Jessica will do — just in a more public setting than B. In the scheme of diets, Weight Watchers is among the healthiest and most effective. The program helps participants lose weight by forming helpful habits, eating smarter, getting more exercise and providing support, and has proven successful for such celebs as Jennifer Hudson.

Having negotiated her contract with the company in December, she may not be taking her cues from Beyoncé here, but they clearly share the same mind-set when it comes to post-baby weight loss. Slow, steady, healthy and long-term is the goal.

Creating Products
While Beyoncé doesn't have a line of baby clothes just yet, she has mentioned being interested in creating a maternity line for her House of Dereon label. Jessica may have a leg up on Beyoncé in this department, given the breadth of products that have popped up under her Jessica Simpson Collection label.

As both moms search for ways into the elusive baby market, Christopher Gavigan, who works with Jessica Alba on her Honest brand, told MTV News that he urges celebrity moms like B and Jessica to stick to what they love when it comes to branding.

"Find what you're passionate about and go do that," he advised. "You articulate that in a brand or in a way you feel from a business perspective that you feel you get your focus articulated in some meaningful or special way. A lot of it is partnerships and leveraging the greatest assets of each other."

What else can Jessica learn from Beyoncé — or vice versa? Let us know in the comments below!

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Jessica Simpson's Maxwell Is The Latest Newsmaking Baby

01 May 2012 17:47:11 EDT

Simpson's bundle of joy joins the ranks of spotlight-stealing little ones like Suri Cruise and Blue Ivy Carter.
By Kara Warner

Hooray for new mom Jessica Simpson and the recently announced arrival of her bundle of joy, daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson. The birth announcement, which Simpson shared on her website, is the latest in a relatively long list of celebrity baby births that have caused quite the stir in the media. Does Maxwell Drew have what it takes to grace magazine covers and launch countless headlines? Only time will tell.

Here are five other celebrity babies that received royal treatment:

Suri Cruise:
Suri Cruise generates the kind of media coverage and public interest that most adult celebrities would kill for. Born on April 18, 2006, the blue-eyed, brown-haired beauty caused a media storm from the get-go. Do you remember that Brooke Shields also gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on that same day? Probably not. The photogenic little lass made her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair via a top-secret photo shoot with dad Tom Cruise and mom Katie Holmes, and she's been photographed ever since, from every public outing to every birthday.

Moroccan and Monroe Cannon:
Very proud parents Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were not at all shy about sharing the details of their highly-anticipated new additions with the world. Carey and Cannon introduced their son and daughter, nicknamed "Dem babies," via a special interview on "20/20" after which they launched their "Dem Babies" website to give their adoring public even more info and access to their new bundles of joy.

Max and Emme Anthony:
Although Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony were used to living their lives in the spotlight, the former couple remained cagey about Lopez's pregnancy, despite the fact that the seemingly forever svelte star was getting wider in only one place, her middle. Although it seemed like the worst-kept-secret around, their "strategy" only fueled the buzz surrounding their babies' arrival. Lopez and Anthony were not quite as shy with the way in which they chose to unveil their bundles of joy; a cover story in People that reportedly cost the mag a pretty penny to the tune of $4-6 million.

Shiloh, Vivienne and Knox Jolie-Pitt:
Speaking of pricey cover photos, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt lead the way when it comes to banking the most buck for their babies, all for a good cause however, since they've given the money earned from their kids' magazine covers to charity. Shiloh Jolie-Pitt was the first of two headline-making births for Jolie and Pitt. The couple traveled all the way to Africa for the occasion in 2006, to the small Cottage Medi-Clinic in Swakopmund, a coastal town of some 20,000 in the African nation of Namibia to be specific. Twins Vivienne and Knox were born in an equally if not more exotic location, the Fondation Lenval hospital in Nice, France. Shiloh's cover reportedly cost People $4.1 million, while Vivienne and Knox's first photos were rumored to cost $14 million, the price of which People shared with Britain's Hello! Magazine.

Blue Ivy Carter:
The first-born of mega moguls Beyoncé and Jay-Z was famous many months before she was born, thanks to the proud momma-to-be's now-famous pregnancy announcement at the 2011 VMAs. The arrival of Blue Ivy Carter earlier this year is still a topic of conversation, particularly after the happy couple released the first photos of their baby via Jay's website, and a brand-new song featuring little Blue's cries and coos.

Share your well-wishes for Jessica and Maxwell Drew in the comments!

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Ashlee Simpson 'In Love' With Jessica Simpson's Baby

01 May 2012 16:39:36 EDT

'I couldn't be more excited for her and Eric,' Jessica's little sister tells People of Maxwell Drew Johnson's birth.
By Jocelyn Vena

Ashlee Simpson is pretty excited about the arrival of big sister Jessica's baby girl, Maxwell Drew.

On Tuesday (May 1), the fashion mogul confirmed the birth of her first child with fiancé Eric Johnson, and just hours after the news broke, Ashlee is welcoming the baby to the Simpson clan with open arms.

"Bronx and I are in love with Maxwell already!" Ashlee told People magazine about how excited she and her son, Bronx, are. "Jessica has wanted to be a mom since we were little girls and I couldn't be more excited for her and Eric!"

The magazine also reported that as a gift for Maxwell, Ashlee bought the budding fashionista a Fendi dress with matching garment bag.

Ashlee's excitement about her new niece is as joyous as Jessica's baby announcement earlier in the day Tuesday. "Eric and I are elated to announce the birth of our baby girl, Maxwell Drew Johnson," she wrote on her website. "We are grateful for all the love, support and prayers we have received. This has been the greatest experience of our lives!!"

For those wondering how Jess' baby got such an unusual name, reportedly Maxwell is her fiancé's middle name while Drew is her mom's maiden name.

This is the first baby for the couple, who got engaged in November 2010. Simpson announced she was expecting on Halloween 2011, dressed as a "mummy" in a photo posted on Twitter.

While the couple have been engaged for more than a year, Simpson doesn't seem to be in any rush to tie the knot. "I want him to be my husband so bad. I do still want to wear the pretty gown and everything, and I have to wait till after the baby. Now she'll just be in the wedding," she told Jay Leno during a "Tonight Show" appearance in March.

Share your well-wishes for the new parents in the comments!

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Five Life Lessons Jessica Simpson Should Teach Baby Maxwell

01 May 2012 15:04:49 EDT

From tuna fish to John Mayer, we've got some parenting advice for the proud new mama.
By James Montgomery

On Tuesday (May 1), Jessica Simpson and her fiancé, Eric Johnson, welcomed their first child to the world: a nine-pound baby girl named Maxwell Drew Johnson.

"We are so grateful for all the love, support and prayers we have received. This has been the greatest experience of our lives!" the couple wrote on Simpson's official site. And while we're really happy for them, we do hope they know that their real work begins now: Parenting, it would seem, is pretty tough (who knew?).

So, as our gift to the new family, we've taken it upon ourselves to throw together five important life lessons that Mama Simpson should pass along to her baby girl ... all in due time, of course. Right now, just enjoy your brand-new bundle of joy! Congrats, you crazy kids.

Chicken of the Sea: Not Actually Chicken: In perhaps the defining moment of her "Newlyweds" show, J.Simp learns firsthand that just because it says "Chicken of the Sea" on the can, doesn't mean there's poultry inside. And that's an important thing to pass along to her daughter. Come to think of it, so is this little fact: Buffalo wings are not made of buffalo.

Never Bet on Tony Romo in the Playoffs: Especially if you've just been on a Mexican vacation with him. This is, of course, in reference to Simpson's former boyfriend, Dallas Cowboys QB Romo, who followed up the couple's whirlwind South of the Border getaway with an absolute stinker of a playoff game against the rival New York Giants. Romo completed just half of his passes, tossed a back-breaking interception late in the game, and the 'Boys lost 21-17. The local press dubbed the whole incident "Cancungate," and Simpson forever earned the ire of Cowboys diehards.

Start Your Own Fashion Line: Look, we know Maxwell is, like, three hours old at this point, but it's never too early for her to start her own collection of baby shoes, bags, sunglasses and accessories. Just look how well it worked out for Mommy: Her Jessica Simpson Collection is carried in more than 650 department stores across the U.S. and generated $750 million in sales in 2010, making it the most successful celebrity line in the world.

Stay Away From John Mayer: Otherwise you may be subjected to a free-ranging Playboy interview in which he compares you to crack cocaine and "sexual napalm," drops the n-bomb and refers to a particular part of his anatomy as "sort of a white supremacist." Seriously, you should avoid this dude at all costs.

Don't Make Fun of Your Cousin's Name: Even if it is Bronx Mowgli.

Share your well-wishes for Jessica and Maxwell in the comments!

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Jessica Simpson Gives Birth To Daughter

01 May 2012 12:11:17 EDT

Fashion mogul and fiancé, Eric Johnson welcome a baby girl, Maxwell, she announced on her website.
By Jocelyn Vena

Jessica Simpson has added a new hyphenate to her resume: She's now a mom! The singer/actress/fashion mogul and her fiancé, Eric Johnson, welcomed a nine-pound-13-ounce baby girl named Maxwell Drew Johnson, she announced on her website.

It's the first child for the couple, who got engaged in November 2010. Simpson confirmed that she was going to be a mom in the punniest way around on Halloween 2011 when, after much speculation about her expanding waistline, she posted a photo of herself and her baby bump dressed up as a "mummy."

Of little Maxwell, she told Elle that she had the baby's name picked out for some time and wanted it to be personal to her. "It's nothing shocking and nothing you'll have to add to the dictionary," she said about her daughter. "Still, when people hear it, they'll know ... why."

As for marrying Johnson, she shared with Jay Leno that she wants to wait until she can wear a properly pretty wedding dress again in a svelte frame. "I want him to be my husband so bad. I do still want to wear the pretty gown and everything, and I have to wait till after the baby. Now she'll just be in the wedding," she said about her plans to marry the former football player and including their baby girl in the wedding ceremony.

Currently, Simpson is one of the mentors on NBC's fashion reality show, "Fashion Star," where she appears alongside fellow fashion entrepreneurs and designers Nicole Richie and John Varvatos. Now, it seems that she has a new mentee in Maxwell.

During promo for the show, shortly before she gave birth, she joked about her very, very large size to Ellen DeGeneres on her talk show, placing all the blame on her fiancé. "Believe it or not, there is only one girl, but I did get knocked up by a baller," she laughed. "A big football player. That's what I get. He's like 6'4"."

In March, Simpson celebrated her impending motherhood with a celeb-attended baby shower. "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba and little sister Ashlee all turned up at the baby-friendly fete to bestow her with all the gifts she'll need now that she's added "mom" to her already busy resume.

In the weeks leading up to the birth, it felt like Simpson had long-extended her due date. She even joked about the highly--anticipated birth on her Twitter, writing, "To everyone who keeps congratulating me on the birth of my baby girl...I'm still pregnant!! Don't believe what you read ladies and gents."

Days later she added, "I just woke up from a dream that I wore a leopard caftan in the hospital. Fabulous!! Now I need to find one!" No confirmation if a leopard caftan was worn in the hospital at the time of the birth, but given Simpson's love for style MTV News is sure she looked perfectly stylish.

In the lead-up to the baby's birth, Simpson had many people, including Katy Perry, wondering when she might give birth. Perry joked, "Has Jessica Simpson had that baby yet?! I'm getting anxious."

Weeks later, Perry's anxiety should have gone away, when Simpson's family was spotted entering an L.A.-area hospital on May 1.

Share your well wishes for Jessica and Maxwell in the comments!

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Jessica Simpson Gets Celeb-Filled Baby Shower

19 Mar 2012 12:55:42 EDT

Mommy-to-be was joined by sister Ashlee Simpson and Jessica Alba at L.A.-area party.
By Jocelyn Vena

With Jessica Simpson not far from her due date, the singer's friends and family gathered over the weekend to celebrate her impending motherhood.

Simpson celebrated on Sunday with other famous mamas like "Grey's Anatomy" star Ellen Pompeo, Jessica Alba and little sister Ashlee, People reported. The party was held in Los Angeles and organized by celebrity party planner Mindy Weiss. "Jessica looked pretty and very happy," an insider told the magazine. Another source added, "She's so excited to be a mom. She can't wait to meet her little girl."

Simpson recently revealed she and her fiancé, Eric Johnson, are expecting a baby girl.

"It was a kid-friendly shower with many of her friends bringing babies," another source told Us about the fete. "Jessica [Alba] brought her baby Haven, 7 months, and Ashlee brought Bronx, 3. She received tons of gifts mostly wrapped in pink gift wrap and boxes. There were several books, stuffed toys and clothes among other items."

In photos posted online, Simpson is sporting wavy hair with braids throughout and wears a blue lizard-print maxi gown with her usual sky-high platforms.

In an interview with Elle, Simpson shared that she wants to pick a name that's personal and unexpected. In Touch reports that the couple's top contender is Maxwell, which happens to be Johnson's middle name and his grandmother's maiden name. "They're going to call her Maxwell, Maxi for short," a source said. "Jessica wanted a name with meaning."

Jessica has reportedly been wearing an "M" pendant around her neck and had clothes ordered with the name monogrammed on it. "She's gained so much weight and the baby is so big that doctors pushed up the date," the source said. "Jessica and Eric are so eager to meet Maxwell!"

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Jessica Simpson 'Shocked' Fiance With Pregnancy

13 Mar 2012 11:01:03 EDT

'He had no idea I was taking a pregnancy test. He cried,' Simpson tells Jay Leno of Eric Johnson's reaction to the news.
By Jocelyn Vena

Jessica Simpson stopped by "The Tonight Show" not only to promote her hosting gig on NBC's "Fashion Star," but also to open up about impending motherhood.

"It doesn't feel like I have a lot of time," she replied when Jay Leno asked when she expects to give birth. "Labor is really going to hurt. I have so much respect for my mom and all the women across the world.

This is a tough thing here, and I'm wearing six-inch heels today. It's a lot of weight to carry on six inches."

While Simpson was already engaged to fiancé Eric Johnson, she was still pretty surprised to find out she was going to be a mom.

"I was [surprised to find out I was pregnant]. We weren't trying, but we were practicing, and not safely practicing. I freaked out I was so excited," she recalled. "Eric ... was completely shocked. He had no idea I was taking a pregnancy test. He cried."

The pregnancy means that their wedding won't happen for a while longer.

"I want him to be my husband so bad. I do still want to wear the pretty gown and everything, and I have to wait till after the baby. Now she'll just be in the wedding," she said.

The conversation, of course, did turn to Simpson's nude Elle magazine cover, which paid homage to Demi Moore's similar shot for Vanity Fair in 1991. "I shot that a couple months ago. I don't quite look like that right now," the extremely pregnant singer said with a laugh. "I'm glad I did that a couple months ago. ... I can't believe [the Moore cover] was 20 years ago. I don't think I saw it when I was ten-ish, but I think through the years I saw the iconic pregnant shot. I wanted to do it. Elle didn't even ask me if I wanted to do it. I just always had the idea in my mind that I would do it.

"I don't think [my dad] would have recommended it. No, it was a private set," she continued. "I don't even know if I told him. Maybe my publicist did, but my pub is one of my really, really good friends. I just said I wanted to do it and we don't have to tell anybody about it so everybody's pretty shocked about it. I haven't had a conversation with him about it. He is backstage so it makes for an awkward conversation afterwards."

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Jessica Simpson Poses Nude, Pregnant For Elle

07 Mar 2012 10:09:03 EST

The reality star also confirms that she and fiancé Eric Johnson are having a girl.
By Jocelyn Vena

Like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Demi Moore before her, Jessica Simpson is the latest female superstar to grace the cover of a fashion magazine nude and pregnant.

The blond reality star/ singer dons nothing more than blinging cocktail rings and dazzling earrings for the cover of Elle. (An alternate cover features her in a clinging red dress.) And while the big headline might be that Simpson is baring all for the magazine, she also opens up that she and her fiancé, Eric Johnson, are expecting a girl. "I swear, I will croak if she asks me for a pair of Nikes instead of Christian Louboutins!" the fashion mogul and "Fashion Star" judge says in the April issue. "Eric is so athletic. We're gonna have this athletic girl and I won't even be able to take her shopping."

The former MTV starlet, who announced her pregnancy on Halloween 2011 after much speculation, shared the moment she knew she was expecting. "We were goin' to have an all-day drinking binge," Simpson said. "Gonna ride our bikes, hang out ... do naughty things. But I started feeling this overwhelming guilt. Why would I feel guilt at the idea of going out and having cocktails with my friends?"

As for a baby name, she explains the parents-to-be have one picked out and that it's not going to follow the celebrity trend of odd names. "It's nothing shocking and nothing you'll have to add to the dictionary," she said. "Still, when people hear it, they'll know ... why."

This is the first child for Simpson and her former football player fiancé, who also appears in the magazine with her, kissing her baby bump.

In related news, Simpson's ex husband, Nick Lachey, announced this week that he and his wife, one-time MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo, are also expecting their first baby together.

What did you think of Jessica Simpson's Elle cover? Leave your comment below!

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Jessica Simpson 'Enjoying Being Engaged'

02 Nov 2011 09:58:04 EDT

Singer tells Lucky magazine she and Eric Johnson haven't started shopping for their wedding: 'I have not put a single dress on.'
By Jocelyn Vena

Jessica Simpson sparkles on the December cover of Lucky magazine, and while she may not be dishing on becoming a mom in the issue, she does open up about planning her wedding, letting everyone know she's in no rush to walk down the aisle.

"I haven't started shopping for our wedding yet," she tells the magazine. "When I got engaged, everyone thought I would get married immediately, but I have not put a single dress on, and by the time this comes out, I will not be married! We're just enjoying being engaged right now, and that's honest."

Photos: Jessica Simpson's budding baby bump!

Simpson and former football player Eric Johnson got engaged last year, and on Monday, she broke the news that the couple is expecting their first child together. "When I met him, I just felt so comfortable with myself and where I was in my life that if he didn't want to be part of it, he didn't have to be," she explains about her feelings on love when she and Johnson first started dating. And she says that these days, she's driven by a whole new set of ambitions — none of which has to with life as a celebrity.

"I'm not looking for more fame or money," the mom-to-be adds. "I am very secure in those areas."

The singer/actress/mogul also talks a bit about the chatter around her figure, saying that despite any criticism she might receive for her curves, "I like the way I look."

"Everybody fluctuates, but I'm open about my weight, and I'm still confident. I didn't cry about it too much," she explains. "I got so much scrutiny for putting on extra pounds, but I think that the decision not to make myself anorexic was actually great for branding. Because when you're really, really skinny, not everybody can relate to you. All kinds of women started coming up to me and saying what an example I was setting by not constantly dieting."

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