News Update: Bethany Says 'Ello!' From London & New Diamond Gothic

It's been a pretty quiet week at Bethany Joy Central but as you can tell for good reason! Our lovely and adventurous Joy is busy expanding her international experiences in London by visiting all the fun touristy spots like the Big Ben and the Queen's house. We hope her trip is going swell as it seems to be from her brief blog update last week.

And some extra fun news: Zooey Magazine is hanging out with Joy in London tomorrow! Hopefully we'll get some awesome footage from that.

Moreover, Diamond Gothic's latest installment is over at hellogiggles.com right now!

READ CHAPTER 8 OF DIAMOND GOTHIC

News Update: Q&A with Bethany Joy Lenz

Check out this wonderfully random yet incredibly adorable Question & Answer session with Bethany Joy Lenz. She gives some of the funniest answers!

Random Q&A with Bethany Joy

Q: Which character (book/movie) do you closely identify with?
A: Jane Eyre, and bizarrely, Drew Barrymore’s character in MUSIC & LYRICS.

Q: Hate / love puzzles
A: LOVE!

Q: Can you have music playing while you’re writing, or does it need to be quiet?
A: I need either an abundance of noise, or complete silence.

Q: A dream come true?
A: My incredible daughter!

Q: Favorite time of day?
A: A time for which I’m rarely awake: DAWN.

Q: A recurring dream / theme in your dreams?
A: Mystery & espionage.

Q: Favorite thing to eat?
A: Kraft macaroni & cheese with hot dogs.

Q: Tidy or messy purse?
A: I inherited my purse from Mary Poppins.

Source: DiamondGothic.tumblr.com

READ CHAPTER 7 OF DIAMOND GOTHIC

News Update: Bethany Joy Lenz Attends Nicholas Sparks' Celebrity Family Weekend

Author Nicholas Sparks speaks during fan lunch at the
 inaugural Nicholas Sparks Celebrity Family Weekend on
April 20, 201 in New Bern, North Carolina

Today kicked off the first day of Nicholas Sparks' Inaugural Celebrity Family Weekend in New Bern, North Carolina. The always fabulous, Bethany Joy Lenz was in attendance for the Luncheon with Nicholas Sparks and preformed with her band, Everly at Family Fun Night.

Everly preformed a set which incorporated some of Joy's earlier sounds. Here's the rundown of their set so far:

• Girl in the Moon
• Crazy Girls
• Stars
• Songs in My Pockets
• Quicksand
• Batman/Rescue Me

Also, here are some lovely photos of Joy at the event courtesy of Nicholas Sparks' official facebook page. 

Bethany Joy Lenz attends a fan lunch with
Nicholas Sparks at the inaugural Nicholas
Sparks Celebrity Family Weekend on
April 20, 201 in New Bern, North Carolina

 

News Update: Nicholas Sparks Event to Reunite One Tree Hill Cast

‘OTH’ STARS AMONG GROUP OF CELEBS TO ATTEND SPARKS' FAMILY WEEKEND
BY CASSIE FOSS

Bethany Joy Lenz and Nicholas Sparks

Four “One Tree Hill” stars will join a slew of other sports, TV, film celebrities, and their fans this weekend at a Nicholas Sparks event that will raise money for various nonprofits.

Former “One Tree Hill” cast members James Lafferty, Bethany Joy Lenz, Stephen Colletti, and Robert Buckley are expected to attend Sparks’ inaugural Celebrity Family Weekend April 20-22 in New Bern, N.C., according to a family weekend news release.

Among other events, the calendar includes a Nicholas Sparks Film Festival, with screenings at New Bern’s Civic Theatre of several Sparks-based favorites — including one at 8 p.m. on Friday of his latest feature, “The Lucky One.”

(Some of Sparks’ collaborators recently confirmed that “Safe Haven,” a film based on another Sparks’ novel, will be filmed in Southport beginning in May.)

In New Bern, the family weekend also features a celebrity golf tournament, lunch and brunch with Sparks, a 5K fun run and a “Family Fun Night” with a magician, rides, arts and crafts and more.

Visit sparksevent.org for more

“What we really wanted to do was provide something for everyone,” Sparks said from his New Bern home earlier this month. “It’s a great way for people to get involved and give in an efficient way that’s a lot of fun.”

Lafferty, Lenz, Colletti, and Buckley are expected to attend the movie premiere and/or the golf tournament on Saturday, according to the release.

Read a list of other celebrities expected to make appearances include as well as the weekend schedule; HERE.

Source: StarNewsOnline.com

News Update: Joy Joins A Million Girl Revolution!

Just Yell Fire: Campus Life (2012)

A REVOLUTION OF A MILLION GIRLS WHO ARE SAYING 'NO MORE'

About six months ago, Bethany Joy Lenz filmed a feature for Just Yell Fire - an educational film aimed at teaching young girls and women techniques to get out of life-threatening situations.

Just Yell Fire's latest film is now available online and they've posted footage of Joy's contribution to the Million Girl Revolution. Educate yourself and share the message. Watch now:

[CHECK THE VIDEO OUT HERE]

For more on this amazing mission to fight violence against women, read the official description as written by the founder and CEO, Dallas Jessup:

Just Yell Fire™ is taking on a crisis social problem: violence and abuse against young women and girls. The numbers are horrific: 1 in 4 becomes a sexual assault victim, 1 in 3 face dating abuse, and too many encounter random violence, date rape drugs, hate crimes, or traffickers. We believe every girl has the right to live a life free of fear, abuse, or violence and we're fighting back. 

Since 2006 Just Yell Fire has grown into a 1.5 million girl revolution across 64 countries as we empower girls to know their rights, to stand up for themselves, to be aware of dangers they face, and to escape violence when trouble finds them. Ladies, watch our free films, learn to be safe and be part of our revolution; then tell your friends and your school to join us too. You have the right to live the life you want on your own terms. Stay safe. 

Dallas Jessup
Founder and CEO Just Yell Fire, Inc
More about Dallas Jessup: www.dallasjessup.com

Source: JustYellFire.com 

Watch the new film JUST YELL FIRE: CAMPUS LIFE now.

News Update: Joy Auctions One Tree Hill Memorabilia for Charity

ONE TREE HILL BETHANY JOY LENZ AUTOGRAPHED HALEY SEASON NINE CHAIR BACK

BIDDING CLOSED 

Ended: Apr 09, 2012
Winning bid: US $1,580.00 [ 75 bids ]

As Season 9 says goodnight to Tree Hill, Bethany Joy Lenz is auctioning off her personal Season 9 Chair Back for charity. Bethany Joy has portrayed Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill for 187 episodes. She is a gifted actress, musician, writer, director and creator of all things creative. BETHANYJOY.COM

Love146 is a charity that is dedicated to the fight against Human Trafficing. Bethany Joy has been working with Love146 for several years to help bring awareness and fight against the $32 Billion dollar a year instrusty. Love146 works toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through Prevention and Aftercare solutions while contributing to a growing abolition movement. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Love146. Stand up for Love,  LOVE146.ORG

100% of the final sale price
will support LOVE146

This is a RARE piece of One Tree Hill memorabilia. The chair back is from her personal collection and she has autographed the front. Haley and One Tree Hill fans do not miss the once in a lifetime chance to own this.

Source: ebay | One Tree Hill BJL Autographed Haley S9 Chair Back

New Music: Bethany Joy Lenz Transports Back to the Roaring '20s

After reaching 5 thousand followers on Twitter, DIAMOND GOTHIC decided to treat fans to an exclusive cover of a 1920s song sung by authoress, Bethany Joy Lenz. Over 700 votes were cast and Someone to Watch Over Me from the 1926 George Gershwin musical, Oh, Kay! was the clear winner. YAY! 

So if you were ever wondering what the 1920s version of Joy would act and sound like, take a peep below! (Disclaimer: the introduction is absolutely hysterical!)

DIAMOND GOTHIC/HELLOGIGGLES: 
SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME(VIDEOCHAT KARAOKE)

One word: YES.

Also, check out this hot new photo of Joy from the recent Diamond Gothic photoshoot!

Pictured: Bethany Joy Lenz  Photo: Jeremy Cowart

My Thank-You Letter to Haley James Scott

A TUTOR GIRL LIFE LESSON

9 Years in the Making

I was a 12-year-old girl when One Tree Hill premiered on The WB 11 on September 23, 2003. At this time I was an impressionable pre-teen who was being fed problematic distortions from my peers about what it meant to be ‘cool.’ I envisioned invisible parameters around the definition of cool and equated it to belonging to an exclusive club. In essence, being part of the cool club was contingent on my social conformity. The more I flirted with the idea of compromising myself to be cool the more accepted I was by my peers – an attractive give and take for any struggling pre-teen.

In a culture saturated in ideals responsible for reinforcing negative perceptions of self-image, I gradually became disillusioned and misguided. The older I got, the harder it became for me to be myself. I couldn’t identify with any female role model – they all seemed too fazed by the societal pressures of being over-sexualized and dumbed down versions of themselves for the sake of fitting in. And how unfortunate it is to be a malleable young girl with no one to really look up to…

That is until one casual day, I turned on the T.V. and the rest is history.

Haley became my favorite character in 1.06 - EVERY
 NIGHT IS ANOTHER STORY. A simple ending
 montage depicts Haley as an outsider as she solemnly
watches the popular girls of Tree Hill High. 

Initially, Haley James Scott was just the eccentric girl-next door. There was nothing remarkable about the character who at first glance was nothing more than Lucas Scott’s talkative and clumsy sidekick. But as the show progressed I realized I couldn’t be more wrong. In spite of her strange way of dress, her unusual bits of advice and her rare stance on sexuality, Haley James was confident! She was flawed but self-assured and that was truly remarkable.

In a cultural climate where images and rhetoric in the media serve to propagate lies about what it means to be a sexy, proper and desirable female, Haley James became my beacon of hope. Haley James was a free spirit – a unique compliment to the Brookes and Peytons of the world. She was a female lead who circumvented and challenged societal norms without making any apologies for being herself. Haley taught me so much, particularly as I navigated through some tough years as a teenager.

And her inner strength not only managed to empower other characters on the show but millions of young girls much like me.

Source: bjldaily.tumblr.com

My sensitivity to the abysmal depiction of females in the media and the longing to find that someone to look up to is what attracted me to the character of Haley James. And Bethany Joy Lenz's portrayal of Haley proves that it really is possible to make a positive impression on young adults while remaining "classy, talented, [and] wholesome." Although it saddens me to say goodbye to Haley, I know the things I've learned and taken away from her character will certainly follow me for a very, very long time.

So I end this post by looking towards the future and finding comfort in knowing that I've identified a role model in Joy as a young girl and even now as a young adult.

May you continue to be a beacon of hope to millions of young girls struggling to find someone to look up to.

+ +

For those of you interested in continuing the topic of women in the media, I urge to revisit  two poignant posts where Joy addresses it beautifully:

- I GOTCHA YOUR CLASS RIGHT HERE

"Is it possible the entertainment industry is genuinely ready for a new generation of classy, talented, wholesome young women?"

- SWEETHEART CLOSE YOUR LEGS

"Have we fallen so far? Have we finally arrived to the place where not only do you need no talent to become a role-model (and yes, I'm sorry but if you're perpetuating a public career, you are famous and young people look up to you), but you don't even need class?"

Moreover, I advise you all to check out the trailer to a film called "MISS REPRESENTATION," which is incredibly relevant.

Like drawing back a curtain to let bright light stream in, Miss Representation uncovers a glaring reality we live with every day but fail to see. Written and directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the film exposes how mainstream media contribute to the under-representation of women in positions of power and influence in America. The film challenges the media’s limited and often disparaging portrayals of women and girls, which make it difficult for women to achieve leadership positions and for the average woman to feel powerful herself.

[http://www.missrepresentation.org/the-film/]

One Tree Hill Series Finale: The Beginning of the End

I'm a bit overwhelmed now that the countdown has started till the series finale of ONE TREE HILL - but fans are not the only ones acknowledging the significance of tonight's episode: Bethany Joy Lenz has taken to youtube and her blog to commemorate her nine revolutionary years on One Tree Hill. (Disclaimer: You're going to need the Kleenex).

JUST A LITTLE HI :)

"Thank you so much for an amazing 9 years, I will be watching with all of you tonight and remembering and looking back." 

GOODNIGHT, TREE HILL

"So, I just want to say thank you to everyone who invested in our show. You didn't just provide me with a lifestyle or job. You were part of giving me experiences that have molded who I am and that have prepared me for the next leg of my journey in life, which is going to be a drastic change in many ways. In a strange way, an indirect way… I supposed we raised each other."

In less than 10 minutes the episode will begin, here's a new episode still and sneak peek just in case you missed it:

Bethany Joy Lenz as Haley and
 Sophia Bush as Brooke in ONE TREE HILL
Photo: Fred Norris/The CW ©2012 All Rights Reserved.

ONE TREE HILL - 9.13 SERIES FINALE 
PRODUCER'S REVIEW

Celebrating Joy Week: A Small Look Back

THE EVOLUTION OF JOY

Join Bethany Joy Central this week, as we take a small trip down memory lane to appreciate but most importantly celebrate the beautiful, Ms. Bethany Joy Lenz.

+ + +

In the last year, Joy has been blogging up a storm, so I thought it would be fun to re-read some of my favorite blog updates from the past year. Check it out:

- IN THE KITCHEN! PARCHMENT BAG COOKING  

 

- WARDROBE WEDNESDAY [12/21/11]

- THE AMERICAN GOSSIP EPIDEMIC  

"If you are a teenager, I don't envy you your pain, but I do see the amazing opportunity you have to change the environment around you. Your parents aren't perfect, no one is, and if they didn't teach you to be kind then teach yourself. Take responsibility for your own words, thoughts and actions and make this world a better place than what has been left to you. Please. 

We have to start somewhere... "

- TEMPER, TEMPER...

"Why aren't they learning self-respect and respect for others, and respect for their environments? Why aren't they learning that they have something to offer the world instead of being so self-focused that they find it acceptable to throw a tantrum in public as a pre-teen!?" 

- RESPONDEZ S'IL VOUS PLAIT 

"I am blown away and inspired by people like you, who have walked through such great adversity and have found victory and freedom on the other side. You are an important voice in your generation, don't let your fire go out, even if, at times, you may feel your are only burning enough for an ember-- you will rekindle in time!" 

- ICONIC FILM FASHION READY - TO - WEAR 

- TREE HUGGERS, HEARTLESS BASTARDS, & ME 

"Enjoy completing your civil and environmental duties, but don't forget to be intentional with the relationships around you! And remember that your philanthropic cause is not more or as important as the person with whom you are crusading."

+ + +

Last but not least, 8 years ago on this very day, Joy performed the most beautiful rendition of the National Anthem at a One Tree Hill Charity Basketball Game. Do yourself a favor and check it out - I get goosebumps listening to this.

Happy Birthday Ms. Bethany Joy Lenz

CELEBRATING 31 YEARS 

APRIL 2, 2012

Today thespian, singer, author, producer, director, artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, mother and my idol, Bethany Joy Lenz turns 31. Fresh out of elementary school and well into my college career, I have been blessed with realizing and appreciating the heck out of such a talented and inspiring individual.

As a long-time fan, I have come to describe Joy as a 'conscious' role model because she possesses this incredible ability to teach her fans in profound yet subtle ways – be it through the characters she portrays, lyrically, or through her writing. Not a day goes by that I am not learning – learning about a new yummy recipe or classic film, learning about new ways to interpret fashion, learning new perspectives on politics and the environment or learning about a great cause among many other things. But most rare and admirably is Joy's ability to teach her fans the importance of seeking self-discovery, self-expression, self-preservation, self-respect, and self-love.

In today’s Hollywood culture celebrities must be strident and image obsessed and their efforts must be swift and pronounced in order to be ballyhooed – for they are in essence hot fads – nothing more than a tabloid’s best friend. And while Hollywood has become a cesspool of monotony where many 'stars' have no more aesthetic quality than a brick on the street, you do occasionally discover rare gems. Consider Bethany Joy Lenz one of those precious gems.

Joy you are a fearless pioneer, a wildly creative and adventurous spirit, you are a public intellectual, and you exude such great tenacity and confidence yet you are suprisingly down-to-earth and relatable. Your words are uplifting, your voice soaring, your beauty staggering and your potential unending.

May you continue to bless the world with your raw talent and passion for everything that is good.

Wishing you the absolute best. And once again:

Happy Birthday Joy!

xoxo