Dan's Papers - January 11, 2008 - Kelly Ripa

Nearly every morning, much of America wakes up and tunes into "Live with Regis and Kelly," and let's face it, most of them are tuning in because of Kelly Ripa. "I love her" or "She is in such great shape" are just a few of the comments fans say when the sassy morning talk show host. This blonde fireball has not only taken America by storm with her charm, but the Hamptons as well. Ripa is a television star that, whether she likes it or not, is very much on the Hamptons scene, as she and her soap opera star husband Mark Consuelos enjoy their summer months at their Southampton Estate.

Ripa has had one very interesting life. Born in New Jersey, her father Joe was a labor union president and her mother Esther was a homemaker. Having always loved acting growing up, she began landing roles in local theater and at her high school. She was also a student of ballet. After high school she enrolled in Camden Community College in New Jersey and not long after the talented Jersey girl landed her big break - a gig on the soap opera "All My Children." The role got her a lot of attention from the public who fell in love with her charm. Her character Hayley Vaughan turned out to be an unbelievably popular character, catapulting Ripa from small time to big time very quickly. From there she became a star and spent much of her career working on "All My Children" until she was picked up by ABC to work with Regis Philbin on his morning show in 2001 after Kathy Lee's departure.

Probably one of the most interesting things about Ripa is that the public eats up her relationship with her husband Mark Consuelos of eleven years like candy. The two met on the set of "All My Children," were married in 1996 and have three children together, Michael Joseph, Lola Grace and Joaquin Antonio. What is so wonderful about their love story is that the couple not only met on the set of "All My Children" but the episode when their characters married is one of the highest Nielson rated episodes of day time television in ABC's history. Call it reality television or just plain good timing, but the couples' relationship has stood strong so far to the demands that Hollywood puts on so many other celebrity couples.

In Southampton, Ripa has been known to watch her husband and his friends play bocce in their backyard while the kids swim in the pool. Last summer, no matter where she went, it was mentioned at least once in a tabloid magazine. She was also one of the major celebrities that stood out at the infamous Ross SOCIAL concerts this summer.

These days Ripa and her family spend most of their time at the New York City apartment they bought from Nicole Kidman in a real estate transaction that had all of New York talking.

Now in her mid-thirties, it seems that Ripa is in better shape than she has ever been, impressing everyone who sees her petite but powerful frame. Because the secret to her health is good old-fashioned diet and exercise, she has been a poster girl for health magazines everywhere and is frequently interviewed on the subject. Ripa commented in an interview that these days, in her mid-thirties, photographers are asking to shoot her in a bikini more than when she was in her twenties.

Something that is so great about Ripa is that even when she causes controversy, it is hard to not like her. There was never an Internet sex tape or a drug bust with Ripa and the public likes her that way. In fact, some of the largest controversies that can be documented around her life have to do with a strong Jersey girl being a strong Jersey girl, further enhancing her reputation as a strong woman both mentally and physically.

In 2006, singer Clay Aiken was a guest host on the "Live with Regis and Kelly" and put his hand over her mouth in a casual way in an attempt at a joke to depict that she was talking too much. This did not go over well with Ripa, who became obviously upset that Aiken had touched her. Within minutes of the incident, the wacky world that is Hollywood gossip had countless commentary on websites that spread around the globe. Another controversy with Ripa stemmed from a shouting match that happened on the show with Judith Light over the correct pronunciation of the word Worcestershire. The shouting match became a constant theme for future shows poking fun at the incident.

We are lucky to have a Jersey girl like Kelly Ripa out here in the Hamptons and look forward to seeing her at Super Saturday this summer supporting a great cause with her poise and sunshine smile.