Latest news with #OklahomaCityUniversity
Pink Villa
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who is Lakshmi Manchu? All about The Traitors contestant who comes from rich film family, is married and has daughter via surrogacy
The Traitors, led by filmmaker Karan Johar, is about to hit screens. This reality show will unveil the unfiltered faces of the celebrity contestants, promising to unveil celebrities as they engage in a thrilling hunt to identify the Traitor among them. Among all the celeb contestants is the talented actor and producer Lakshmi Manchu. With a contribution to the entertainment industry that began at the tender age of 4, she has carved out a remarkable niche for herself within the Telugu cinema landscape. Who is Lakshmi Manchu? Born on October 8, 1977, in Chennai, Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna, popularly known as Lakshmi Manchu, is a celebrated actress in the Telugu film industry. She is the only daughter of renowned actor Mohan Babu and Vidya Devi. Lakshmi forayed into the world of entertainment with a show named Las Vegas, where she had the unique opportunity to collaborate with the Oscar-winning actor James Caan, playing the memorable character of Sarasvati Kumar. In December 2011, she made her foray into Tamil cinema, starring in Mani Ratnam's film Kadal as Celina. Beyond acting, Lakshmi took on the role of director in 2020 with her short film Perfect Lives, showcasing her versatility and creative vision. Lakshmi holds a Bachelor's degree in theatre from the prestigious Oklahoma City University. Throughout the years, she has acted in numerous films and produced a variety of successful projects, garnering multiple accolades. Lakshmi has also made her mark as a host on popular shows such as Feet Up with Stars and Chef Mantra. Apart from her professional endeavors, Lakshmi is involved in various social causes In 2006, she married Andy Srinivasan, an IT professional from Chennai. Together, they have a beautiful daughter born through surrogacy and currently reside in Mumbai. As Lakshmi Manchu gears up to compete in The Traitors, she is set to join an impressive lineup of celebrity co-contestants. The Traitors contestants are: Karan Kundrra, Anshula Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, Elnaaz Norouzi, Harsh Gujral, Jannat Zubair, Janvee Gaurr, Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid, Jasmine Bhasin, Lakshmi Manchu, Maheep Kapoor, Mukesh Chhabra, Nikita Luther, Purav Jha, Raftaar, Uorfi Javed, Raj Kundra, Sahil Salathia, Sudhanshu Pandey and Sufi Motiwala. The Traitors will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 12, with new episodes airing every Thursday at 8 PM.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The reigning reader
Mar. 29—Miss Ohio contestant visits South Point Elementary School SOUTH POINT — Every Friday, children are treated to a visitor from the community who helps to promote reading, South Point Elementary School principal Bill Christian said. During First Chapter Friday, guests visit the cafeteria during lunch and read the beginning of a selected book. But last week marked a first for First Chapter Friday — the author of a book was the guest. Olivia Fosson, who is from Kitts Hill, was runner up last year for Miss Ohio and is the current Miss Clayland. And, earlier this month, she published Rocky's Race, a children's book which is available on Amazon. On Friday, March 21, she visited the school, dressed in a spring-themed suit and wearing her crown and sash, to read to the book in its entirety to the children. Based on one of her pets, Fosson said the book is also themed to her platform. "I've been traveling Ohio, teaching kids self confidence and hoping to create positive body images," she said. She said the book teaches children nutrition and "how to listen to their bodies." Fosson said she will be making another go for Miss Ohio this year, at the pageant, which takes place on June 21 in Mansfield. She said the pageant is part of the Miss America organization, which has been around since 1921 and is the largest scholarship provider for women in the country. The pageant consists of a talent competition, as well as fitness, question and answer and evening gown categories, she said. Last year, Fosson won the overall talent competition in the Miss Ohio event, for her skills at opera. Fosson received her undergraduate degree in music from Oklahoma City University in 2023 and is currently pursuing a law degree from The Ohio State University. After reading her book, Fosson was stopped by several students, who complimented her and asked to take photos with her. She was also invited to draw the winning ticket in the school's Pointer Bucks raffle, with the prize being a signed Cincinnati Bengals jersey. The winning ticket for that prize went to student Callan Stover. After the lunch event, Fosson donated a signed copy of her book to the school's library.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Election, Christian nationalism spur minister's 'Red State Revival' stop at OKC church
Election, Christian nationalism spur minister's 'Red State Revival' stop at OKC church An ordained Lutheran minister and author known for her unorthodox approach to ministry will speak at an event aimed at encouraging unity amid increasing partisanship, and pushing back against Christian nationalism, particularly in "red states." The Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber, founder of the House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, will hold a "Red State Revival" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Mayflower Congregational Church UCC. In a message posted on her website, Bolz-Weber shared her reasoning behind the "Red States Revivals." "Because first and foremost, this is not the moment to concede the Christian faith to nationalists — nor is it the moment to double down on things that don't work," she wrote. The Rev. Lori Walke, senior pastor of Mayflower, said it was her understanding that the results of the 2024 presidential election, in which Republican Donald Trump was elected to a second term, inspired Bolz-Weber to plan her tour. "She personally felt like she needed to do something, and given her platform and her background and her calling, this is what she could do," Walke said. Walke said Bolz-Weber is expected to lead a conversation that aims to unite people across the U.S. by focusing on shared values. Walke said the revival tour seeks to counteract divisive partisanship. "The gatherings are to remind each other of what's important ― humility, curiosity, mercy and hope," she said. "In really focusing on those values that I think many, many, many of us share, we take the spotlight off partisanship." Walke said Bolz-Weber specifically wanted to speak to people in states where voters mostly vote Republican, "because there are many people of faith in red states that feel like they are not being heard, that they do not have a voice, because we have so many elected officials that are really pushing a Christian nationalist agenda, which is not focused on humility, curiosity, mercy and hope." "We really hope that when people show up, that they will just be reminded that they are not alone, that there are people all around them that care about the things they care about that are focused on living and embodying those values," Walke said. More: Pastor discusses unconventional approach Bolz-Weber is the author of several best-selling books, including "Accidental Saints: Finding God in All The Wrong People," "Patrix: The Cranky Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint," and "Shameless: A Sexual Reformation." She has previously visited Oklahoma, including in 2017 as the keynote speaker for the Wilson Lecture Series at Oklahoma City University. Besides Oklahoma, other states on the "Red State Revivals" tour include Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Georgia. Walke said enough people have registered to fill the sanctuary at Mayflower, so the church will open its fellowship hall to give more people an opportunity to join in the conversation with Bolz-Weber. She said individuals who register in the coming days will sit in the overflow seating, as space will allow. "One of the reasons that we want to do this is because Mayflower is a congregation that has a history of opening its doors to the wider community in moments where people are seeking solidarity and shared values, and we hope this event fits right in with our history of doing that," Walke said. Red State Revival Tickets to Nadia Bolz-Weber's Red State Revival in Oklahoma City are free, but registration is required to ensure adequate space is available. For more information about Bolz-Weber, go to To register for the event, go to
