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Scarlet Magazine exclusive

Aurora Lourd, by Janet Mock.

The white hot London sunshine is burning through the windows of Prestige Studios...

Aurora Lourd, the oldest of the Lourd dynasty has just arrived with manager Elizabeth Christiana.

Both arrive punctually (a Lourd trademark), Aurora dressed down in a black hoodie and grey sweatpants. After having her hair and make-up done, the starlet curls up on a brown leather sofa in the corner of the studio — Christiana shuffles her notes, poised as they wait for the Scarlet Magazine exclusive interview.

At the tender age of 23, it has been quite the year for Aurora. She has been named one of the most promising power players in the fashion industry — Forbes estimated her net worth at $41m (£29.8m) in April 2018 — with her own fashion line, which had sales last week estimated at $330m (£237m). And earlier this month she took the job as reality star Brielle Silva's personal stylist.

There’s a vulnerability to Aurora — she’s disarmingly pretty in the flesh and seemingly anxious — but protective Christiana sets her at ease. Phone down and fully focused, the interview begins....

MOCK: I was going to start by asking you what you were doing this morning, but I saw on your Snapchat that you were just with Ella Jameson, and she basically renamed the cat. She was like, “No, his name is Dobby.”

LOURD: She changes that poor cat’s name all the time. We had to pick one and stick with it, so I said, “His name is Gianni. We’re going with that.”

MOCK: [laughs] Have you gotten used to the fact that someone like me, a stranger, has this immediate relationship with you and your personal life?

LOURD: I have. I mean there’s social media, on which I’ve always been really open. When we're out getting ice cream or something and people call out Ella’s name, that’s when it’s weird for me. She lives such a normal life, believe it or not, at home with Auggie and I and with her mother.

MOCK: When you’re not working, what do your days look like? Or are you kind of always working?

LOURD: On a typical day, without working, I wake up early, like six in the morning. I try to work out before everyone gets up, and then I have breakfast with them. I try to make sure we have set meals at home, to keep everything as normal as possible. And then I get to work. If you saw my office—I have mood boards of so many different things; maybe 15 sketches sitting on my desk. I have maybe 200 samples of fabrics that I have to go through. I’ll usually have wardrobe fittings for myself or Brielle. Then I might have—and I’m not joking—300 different emails to respond to.

MOCK: I’ve been watching your career from the very beginning, and while there’s obviously the beauty component—the eye candy of how you look—what I’m most attracted to is the connection between you and your fans. You have become more famous than ever—and following the traumatic event of the miscarriage—have you shifted the boundaries of what you will and will not share with them?

LOURD: You really do learn about boundaries over time. I look back at some of the things I've done or said on social media and think, “I can’t believe I did that”—dates with random people when I was single, things like that. But I also think that going through the motions of something like the aftermath of the miscarriage, or situations that most people might not understand, there are some people who might really have gone through that. I think about them. I feel like I came out of that a better person. That said, we all have boundaries so I would rather not get into that.

MOCK: I’ve written two memoirs, and as a writer, I’m able to pick and choose what parts of my life I want to share for public consumption, and what I don’t.  I feel as if the fact that you get to somewhat choose must also be an empowering piece.

LOURD: Oh definitely, though it would be a lot less stressful without the paparazzi leaking personal things. I mean I hadn't even gotten to tell August or anyone, for that matter, about the pregnancy and they leaked the miscarriage. He was completely floored. Everyone was.

MOCK: I got to have a conversation with your mom for my podcast just a couple months ago. She was telling me that one of the first things she realized was that you have this really great opportunity to communicate and engage your social media followers and fans as kind of a focus group. How much have your fans, and their opinions, influenced the way you work as a businesswoman?

LOURD: Take, for example, my new clothing line. There were a couple of opinions that other people might not have loved to hear, but they were really important for me as learning tools. I’m truly listening to these people and watching everyone’s social media. I’m like, “Okay, we gotta fix that, guys. That’s something I really did not think about.” I take their advice to heart. I want to do better always. I never want to sit stagnant.

MOCK: You were talking about being open to critique. What are the conversations like between not just you and your staff, but also you and your family around random controversies and critiques that flare up? Is there a group text? Is it FaceTime?

LOURD: It’s usually me starting a group chat. I’m really aware of what’s going on. If there’s something being said about one of my siblings, I’ll be the first to jump in a group. We have family chats that happen all day, every day. Ana is usually traveling, so she will inevitably wake up at four in the morning to 30 messages. I’ll be the first to jump in and say, “Ana, I’m seeing this. This is not cool. Tell me what’s going on.” I’m usually the ringleader for stuff like that, and I’ll say, “You’re wrong. You need to apologize.” Or, “This needs to be fixed. Everyone just lay low, chill out, don’t say anything. It doesn’t matter if it’s all lies. I know it’s frustrating. I know you want to speak up.” We always have to remind ourselves of stuff like that. We don’t do everything perfectly, but there really are so many lies, so many rumors.

MOCK: I heard you just describe yourself as the ringleader. Watching you on MTV 's the Journey: Celebrities, I saw you as very strategic in that sense. But I feel you’re the one who pulls everything together. I think about how your brother's story of autism leaked and how you stepped forward as the public supportive face, but who do you turn to when you need advice?

LOURD: I usually go to August for advice about my brand, my life, my image. But if it’s other drama, I go to one of my best friends, Lennox Reynolds. She and I  worked together, I met her about three years ago. She’s just a really smart girl, so I always get her opinion on everything. If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now, or if this doesn’t work out one day, I could so be a publicist. I feel like that’s my job for my friends sometimes, at least the crisis part of it.

MOCK: You’re basically your group’s Olivia Pope. [laughs]

LOURD: That’s the perfect description!

MOCK: When you were coming to prominence, what was the best piece of advice that you got about the “fame monster,” as Lady Gaga would call it?

LOURD: Gosh, I don’t know if I ever really got advice. I just knew what I wanted and I refused to stop until I got it. Hard work and dedication.

MOCK: What was the early vision that you had for your career? What were you looking for?

LOURD: At the time, there was nothing specific. Dad was getting calls to do this and that. Our thinking was that maybe there’s power in saying yes to things. I look back on certain business ventures and say, “Well, I wouldn’t do that today.” I had so many great experiences along the way, and so many times I thought, “Well, this has got to end soon.” My initial reasoning for wanting to do acting was to get out of my dad's shadow.

MOCK: But there has to have been something that you really wanted.

LOURD: Stupid little things. I would look in a magazine—there was this page in Us Weekly that I remember vividly. It’s just a spread, and it has one person and all the fashion moments that they love. I remember looking at it, being like, “It would be my dream to be this person.” I was so excited when I got it. I still don’t take anything for granted. I am genuinely still so excited about my career. I feel like now is when someone would turn off and think, “Okay, I’ve done this for a few years. I’ve done pretty well for myself. I can chill for a bit.” But instead I’m like, “No, let me turn it up.”

MOCK: Someone who mentors me has said that one of the greatest gifts you can ever have as a public person, and a businessperson, is the gift of being underestimated. That sound bite continues to follow you—the sense of, “She's just famous for being famous musician's kid.”

LOURD: I used to say, “I love being underestimated.” But now when I hear, “She's so not talented,”—ten years into it—I’m kind of like, “Okay, give a girl a little respect.” If I’m so not talented, if I do nothing, then how is my career my reality? And I poke fun at it, like when I was on the cover of Forbes I posted the hashtag #NotBadForAGirlWithNoTalent. I don’t mind being underestimated because it does fuel me. But after a while, I do feel like, “C’mon, you can recognize a little bit.”

MOCK: Well, no one makes something like $14 million in mere hours, like you did during the launch of Girl Gang. That doesn’t just happen. That takes a lot of thought and planning and work.

LOURD: You can say a lot of things about me, but you cannot say I don’t work hard. I can sing. I can dance. I can act. And I'm about to show the world that I can be successful in the fashion industry as well.

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Dear Me.

When the ladies at Scarlet Magazine contacted my team to ask if I would participate in the "Dear Me" program I immediately told my manager no. There was nothing about those years that I wanted to revisit, but after recent events in my life, starting with the leaking of my personal files right up to the miscarriage of a child I never knew I wanted, I've decided to give it a shot. Maybe my story will help you. I hope it does. Lord knows I could have used the advice back then. Dear 16 year old Aurora, I know that right now you think you're all alone, but you aren't and you don't have to be. You have this friend that loves you so much, and even though you don't think so now, one day you're going to be happy and healthy. Don't listen to your mother when she tells you that you're too fat or too thin. You are perfect just the way you are. Don't take that car from him, not even just to crash it. Trust me, it's more trouble than it's worth. Just tell him to go to hell. Tell him no. It's okay to say no to anyone, to everyone. Being fired from Disney is going to be the best thing that ever happens to you. When you find out about the baby, don't leave. I know it's going to be hard to stay because you're hurt and you feel betrayed and worthless, but that boy loves you so much and I promise that spending five years away from him is not the answer, even though the reunion was mind blowing. That baby is going to be extremely important to you one day. You're going to love her like she's your own and she's going to look at you with those big adoring eyes like you hung the moon. Enjoy it. It's so incredibly rewarding. When something bad happens don't hide away. You are so much stronger than you know and I can assure you that every challenge you face you are going to come out on top. In 2016 you're going to want to leave acting for good, don't do that just yet. You meet some amazing people in the next two years. Just know that in 2018 you're going to do just that and it's going to be one of the best choices you've ever made. You have to follow your gut, but you also need to follow your heart. 2018 is a good year for you, so look forward to that, but also be prepared because it has some pretty viscous speed bumps as well. Don't think too much, don't doubt yourself. You are killing it here in the future. And London is everything.

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Be Fab. Get fit.

How did 23-year-old Disney star Aurora Lourd amass over 10 million Instagram followers in under 500 posts? The California native shares a mix of vaguely captioned bikini, bedroom, fitness, and food photos: Writhing on a beach with new flame August Jameson, nestled in hotel linens, stretching sexily, posturing with desserts. Lourd's adoring fans flood the comments section with praise and heart-eye emojis, and likes soar to hundreds of thousands.

What you won't see on her feed are ads for gummy vitamins, diet tea, or waist trainers. "I just want this to be real. That's my whole thing," she tells me over the phone. "If you're an influencer and that moment is not real for you, then what's the point of it?"

It's this emphasis on authenticity, Aurora says, that keeps her from accepting big ticket product endorsements despite the temptation to cash in. "Any of the typical offers have all come to me, whether it's a product for tea, or teeth whitening, or weight loss. And these brands have a lot of money. But [paid posts are] the complete opposite of what I'm trying to do."

Lourd has parlayed her fame into a few noteworthy campaigns for Calvin Klein, L'Oreal, and Express. Last year she appeared in Mario Testino's towel series, apart from her acting career, but when approached by the likes of Crest and Vitamin Water she immediately refused. "I get into a lot of heated debates with my team in this sort of thing, but at the end of the day it's my name on the line, not theirs".

Surely Lourd could follow the path of other celebs and endorse lingerie or swimsuits, but that would be too predictable, she says. Instead, she partnered with Fabletics to launch her own collection of fitness-inspired basics.

"I'm from L.A. and when you work out during the day you usually stay in your workout clothes," she says. "So I always liked it when I could go to meetings in my workout clothes and still feel on it and fashionable." The line is made up of the tomboy-sexy exercise separates that Aurora is often seen wearing when she's clothed. The "Enticed Crop Tee," a $80 warm-up jersey hits just below the navel. The zip-front "Tiger Eye One Piece"($138) looks utilitarian enough to swim laps, but the back is a thong. "I really wanted something that wherever I go I could take it with me and it could be part of my life and story." And for Aurora Lourd, what's more authentic than revealing athletic-wear? I'm going to day nothing. Though we did receive word shortly after the interview that Lourd was quite the diva during the design process. She wanted everything her way or she threatened to pull out of the deal. Now I wasn't there, so I can' be certain, but something tells me that when it comes to Diva, Lourd is in a close race tothe top right along with new bestie Brielle Silva.

Hannah Jane Blakey, Elle Magazine

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You're fired.

Aurora Lourd sat across the table from her entire PR Team, including her manager Simon Chapman. Off to the side sat a younger woman who was also part of Aurora's team, though she was quiet as a mouse more often than not. "I'm sure that you're aware why we called this emergency meeting by now, Miss Lourd", her agent Ron began, but Rory shook her head. "Actually I'm not", she interrupted the balding man. "We're concerned that your relationship with Mr Jameson is moving far too quickly and that it could potentially harm your career if we don't do damage control immediately", Simon interjected. "Excuse me"? The brunette shook her head trying to understand exactly what it was they were concerned about, but couldn't manage to wrap her head around it. "Let's see", Simon said opening a small notepad. "There's the constant twitter war between you and Miss Bennett, the altercation in Santorini that quite nearly landed you in a foreign jail, and now you've put your home on the market and moved in with Mr Jameson without so much as consulting your team", he said nodding towards the others. The more the man talked the hotter Rory could feel her face getting. She was sure she reflected quite a dark shade of red by the time the man spoke again. "We've arranged for a room for you at the Dorchester for the time being", Ron interjected this time. "Surely", the mouse peeped in. "There's a way to sweep all of this under the rug. I mean if we", Elizabeth could you go get the Latte's from across the street", Simon said rudely cutting the blonde woman off before she could even finish her sentence. "Yes sir", the other woman said putting her head down. "Wait up", Rory called after her, moving to stand. An action that had the other quite nearly scratching their heads in confusion. "Elizabeth and I are getting lattes", Rory said offering the woman a smile. "The rest of you can do whatever the hell you want to do because you're all f***ing fired". In unison the mouths fell agape, staring at her in disbelief. "You can't fire your entire team, Aurora", Simon tried to scold, but he sounded too much like her father for Rory to be comfortable. "I'm not firing my entire team. I'm keeping Elizabeth. The rest of you can kiss our asses". With that Rory linked her arm through the other woman's, leading her out of the room. When they were out of earshot Elizabeth finally let out a nervous laugh. "You're insane", she said laughing still. "But I promise you now that by end of week you'll have an incredible new team". Rory nodded, grinning at the blonde. "Well I've already found an incredible new manager so I have faith in you".

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Rio

Wednesday, April 11th.Rio De Janeiro, day whatever. So earlier today I was out looking for my clue. I hiked to see Christ the Redeemer and honestly it was completely breath taking. Now I'm not a very religious person, but I'd be lying if I said looking up at that statue didn't have me seriously shook. So everything was everything, I made it back down to the hotel, changed into something more streetish and headed out to tour the rest of Rio. I did a little shopping, bought a new bikini. I got a shirt for Augie, a little dress for Ella. As I was leaving this woman stopped me, questioned my identity and then literally lost her sh*t on me. 

She was calling me a whore and a home wrecker. She told me I was the soul reason August left Meredith and I was the reason she was so screwed up. Like, seriously? What the f***!? Before I even realized what I was doing I completely flipped out. I shoved the lady as hard as I could, she fell over a rack of clothes, but her head. She was going to press charges, but Rafi, my camera guy paid her two hundred and sent her on her way. Poor guy has to take her on a date  tonight, but I'm not joining Freya and Nova in a Brazilian jail, either so really it's a win.

#TeamRoLo #HatersEverywhere

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Rome

Rome, Italy. 10:23 pm. "Augieee", the blonde tugged his hand, trying to pull him from the crowd. "Yes love", he replied, chuckling at her huff of impatience. "Let's goooo", she whined. She was tired of mingling and all she had wanted to do since they found their clues was get away from everyone so he could ravage her body again. It was almost like an addiction she couldn't kick. He was like a drug and she needed a fix right now. "Go where baby", he arched a brow, but his lips had curved into a crooked grin, accentuating the little dimple that drive her mad. "Pleeaase", she whined again, pressing herself against him. 

"Alright, let's shake these cameras", he whispered against her ear, too low for anyone else to head him. She watched as his eyes scanned the crowded bar, waiting for their moment. It wasn't long before a fight broke out and the cameras all turned, hoping to catch one of the participants in a brawl. The second they saw their shot they were both dashing for the door. Angie was quick, climbing onto the back of the vespa the show had provided for them, Aurora just as quickly climbing up behind him. Her heart raced as he pulled them away from the bar and into the Italian streets. 

"Stop here", she finally shouted over the wind. August gave a nod, pulling the vehicle into a spot in front of St. Peter's Basilica. "This is a church" , he informed her as he climbed from the seat, offering her his hand. "I know, I found my clue here today" , said matter of factly before taking his hand and tugging him towards the entrance. The place was incredible, majestic even and she almost felt bad for even considering what she had planned, but honestly what had God ever done for in except place her into a fvked up home with two equally fvked up parents. 

"Shh", she told him as she pulled him onward into the building. "The priest told me today that they have one guard at night and he's old so he's probably not that good at his job". August shook his head, but he didn't argue. Instead he grinned at her again. She checked the coast and lead him to one of the confession booths, opening the door. "Get in", she ordered in a whisper, following shortly behind him. The space was tight, but she knew they could make it work. Immediately her lips were on his, kissing him with a hunger even she didn't recognize. As their kiss deepened Aurora's fingers began to quickly undo the button on his jeans, followed by the zipper.

--Sometime later--

He waited until she had pulled her arms back into her dress and zipped the silver zipper for her before turning her to face him. The crooked grin had faded into a smile he reserved only for her and she felt her heart flutter. "We better get back" , he told her, taking her hand into his. "I'm sure they've realized by now that we're gone". Rory nodded her head, leaning into him as he lead her out of the old chapel and back to the vespa. She noticed he drove more slowly on his way back to the hotel, happy that he too hadn't wanted their night to end. She grinned as they came to a stop because one of the producers was waiting out front for them. "I lost my phone, August helped me find it", she told the woman before any questions could be asked. August only grinned. 

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Cairo

Did Aurora Lourd throw shade at Meredith Bennett in Russia?

When Meredith Bennett appeared at Dunbar in Moscow late Sunday night, all eyes were on the hotel heiress. Well, all except two, perhaps. Seated at a table in the back, Aurora Lourd appeared to look down and ignore Bennett as the latter mingled with fans. Awkward.  

In case you need a quick refresher — and you probably don't — Bennett and Lourd have a bit of a tainted history. Bennett formerly dated and became pregnant by music mogul August Jameson, but the couple broke up before the birth of their only child. Shortly after Bennett discovered that Jameson and Lourd had been hiding a sordid affair for several months. (We're sure there's a lot more to the story, but those are the Cliffs Notes.)

Now years later in an official relationship with Jameson, Lourd was selected as a participant on the Mtv reality show, The Journey. The crazy part? Jameson and Bennett were selected as participants as well. (Coincidence? We think not.) When the cast list was released to the public, many wondered whether the famous ladies would finally get an interaction on camera. And, while there was no such luck, a quickly circulating screen grab does seem to show off the next best thing.

In the image, Lourd's tablemate Freya Kennedy seems to give the XxX: Apocalypse actress some discreet side-eye as Bennett mingled with the crowd. Though it's hard to tell exactly where Kennedy was looking, the shot does make it look like the star was trying to suss out Lourd's reaction, either to start drama or prevent it. For her part, Aurora seemed to be dabbing her lips, with an "Oh, she's still breathing?" attitude.

Disclaimer: the screen grab was snapped during one second in time, and it's likely that Lourd was aware of Bennett at most points during the evening. (It's also possible that Kennedy was scanning the crowd for a waiter — or Nova Knox — just hoping to wet her whistle.)

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Lost in Tokyo 4/9

"God"! Aurora groaned, throwing her hands up in the air. "What the f*** does that even say? Can you read that". Her eyes turned to the man behind the camera. "You know we can't help you", he said apologetically. "UGH"! She'd been riding from subway station to subway station for the last four hours and all she wanted was to take off her boots and pass out on the big comfy bed in her hotel room, but she couldn't do that because she had to find the damn clue in order to move to her next destination.

"Excuse me, sir..." , she flipped through her translation book as the Japanese man approached her. "Anata wa eigodesu ka"? She stumbled through the sentence, certain that she had completely butchered it, but the man nodded and gave her a toothy grin. "Oh thank God" , she'd almost burst into tears. "I need to get here", she said pointing to a spot on the subway map. "How do I get to Yoyogi-koen Station". The man nodded again and for a moment she thought he was nodding because he really had no idea what she was saying.

When he pulled a notepad from his briefcase and began to scribble she let out a sigh of relief. The man handed her the paper which contained specific directions on exactly how to get to her final destination of the day. She didn't think twice as she threw her arms around him, giving him a big hug. He chuckled, face her another nod and then walked away. "Yes"! She screamed, heads whipping to look in her direction. "What are you waiting for", she said to the camera crew as a pastel pink subway car rolled to a stop in front of them. "Let's go get this damn clue"!

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Moscow 4/8

Day one, Moscow. So apparently I'm supposed to document my experiences here in Russia through a journal entry. (Really, MTV?) I haven't 'Dear Diary'd since I was like twelve years old, in middle school, but I'll give it shot. What i know so far? The food is weird. The language is weird. It is cold as sh*t. Upon my arrival I felt like a Whovian, time traveling two hours into the future. The lady in the airport who gave me directions spoke broken English, but was kind enough to send me to my first destination. I was able to shower, had a weird ass breakfast, which was interesting to say the least.

I ate what they call kasha (a type of porridge made from different grains), butterbrots (a kind of sandwich made of a single slice of bread and one topping such as butter or ham, I had both), boiled eggs and tvorog (similar to cottage cheese). Later in the morning I got to see St. Basil's Cathedral in the Red Square, which was honestly the most beautiful thing i have ever seen in my entire life. It's like a Russian Hogwarts, but a church?

I'm about to head out now and try to find the bar where my clue is hidden so i can beat these other bitches to Tokyo! I'm sure you guys wanna know how I'm going to beat everyone else? It's all about efficiency. You cant beat around the bush and play tourist all day. You get in and get out. That's how I'm going to win. Wish me luck, this language barrier is a total bitch.

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Narcissistic Bitch

"Miss Lourd, please have seat". Dr Drake's voice pulled her attention away from the beautiful London skyline and her memories of the night before. With a disappointed little sigh she moved back to the sofa, taking her seat in the center of the leather upholstery. One leg crossed over the other she gave the older man a smirk causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat. He cleared his throat, took a sip from his coffee cup and then began. "As I was saying", he started. "I believe that you suffer from a mild case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, among other things", he stated matter of factly. "You're extremely vain and appear to care about the emotions of very few people in your life", he added causing Aurora to simply shrug her shoulders. An action that she could tell annoyed him. "You don't see anything wrong with this"? His tone held a ring of disbelief though she couldn't quite understand why. They'd been meeting every Monday for the last seven months. He honestly shouldn't be surprised by anything she said anymore since 90% of the time she didn't have a filter. Sugar coating wasn't exactly her strong suit. "How many times a day do you stop to look at yourself in the mirror"? Okay now he was starting to piss her off. Her legs uncrossed and she slid to the edge of the couch. "I don't know doc, I've never actually taken the time to count, but you know what"? His brow arched as he scribbled in his notebook, clearly catching the shift in her mood. "I don't need to know how many times I've looked at my reflection every day because it doesn't matter. What I know is that I'm god damn flawless every time I see my reflection. I'm a fuvking goddess. I'm sure somewhere out there someone has a shrine of me in their home. I don't care about this 'narcissistic personality' thing", she said making quotations with her fingers. "What I care about is that people love me". She couldn't be sure, but she swore she saw the older man roll his eyes at her last statement. "This is supposed to be about growth, Miss Lourd". Aurora pushed herself to her feet, rounding on him again. "No this was supposed to be about me finally putting my past behind me". Her blood boiled in her veins. How dare he pretend to not know how incredible she was. "As far as I'm concerned doc", she said moving closer to him. Leaning in she put one hand on each of the arms of the chair where he sat, pinning him in. Her face was only inches away from his when she began to speak again. "The only thing that has ever grown during our little meetings is your cock. So you can sit here and scribble sh!t about me and feelings or reactions in your stupid fuvking notebook all day, but between you, me and your d!ck, well we all know that all I'd have to do is let this little dress hit the floor and you'd be nutting in your cheap ass polyester pants". The man didn't speak again until Aurora had walked away and grabbed her purse. "Next week then, Miss Lourd"? His question made her laugh. Opening the door she stepped out into the lobby, leaving the door wide open. "Have a good evening, Miss", the receptionist chirped from behind her desk. "Fvxk you", the leggy blonde responded before stepping back out onto the streets of London.

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A Tale of Two Tweens

Charlotte West and Aurora Lourd: A Tale of Two Tweens. (07-16-2004, writer Amy Johnson via Teen Beat Magazine.)

The moment that 11-year-old Aurora Lourd knew for sure that her life had taken a surreal turn happened just a few weeks ago, when her 8-year-old sister, Anastasia, sheepishly told her that she had entered a contest on the Disney Channel Web site to win backstage passes to a concert featuring the network's newest star. It was Aurora.

"You live with me!" Aurora said she told her sister, before issuing a warning: don't even think about swiping anything from my bedroom to sell on eBay.

It sounded like something that might happen to Charlotte West, the character Aurora plays on the new hit Disney series Dream Big. The half-hour sitcom is about a 12-year-old girl, regarded by many of her middle-school peers as an ,  geek, who has a secret identity by night as the pop sensation Charlotte West. (Not unlike her real life father.)

The series' premiere episode received an enormous boost on its opening night, March 24, by being packaged as the lead-in to an encore showing of one of the most-watched films in the 23-year history of Disney Channel. That night Dream Big attracted 4.7 million viewers. Since then, in its regular time slot the show has drawn an average of more than 3.8 million viewers, most of them ages 6 to 14, making it the most popular show among so-called tweens on a basic cable television network every week it has run since.

Little wonder that Disney has already asked the producers of Dream Big to sign up for three more seasons. They seem to believe that "Charlotte" could also serve as a marketing platform. Its also rumoured that Disney is planning to release a Dream Big soundtrack and, in all likelihood, a line of accessories that would probably include Charlotte West inspired clothing.

Aurora — who was born Hope Marie Lourd, but has long preferred her nickname Aurora (think Sleeping Beauty) — beat out more than 1,200young girls for the role of Charlotte, though she had little experience beyond some scattered roles in school plays in her native Los Angeles.

So why Aurora Lourd? The network executives say that it was her confidence, her intuitive comic timing and a raw singing voice not unlike Bonnie Rait's. Aurora, who sings the show's theme song with her dad, but insists that's all the singing she wants to do, was able to infuse Charlotte West with a real-life sense of the joys and perils of superstardom and teenage normalcy.

Aurora is eldest of three children of Tommy Lourd, who became known in the late 1970's for the progressive rock anthem "Dandy Warhol" and who, until recently, could be seen in the United States and more than 40 other countries on his anti retirement tour.

Mr. Lourd, 46, has a role in Dream Big too. He was offered a job as a producer and works with the shows writing team. He is responsible for most of the shows unique songs.

"I didn't know if it was something I should even consider," he said, seriously, as he strummed an acoustic guitar in a cavernous dressing room on the show's Hollywood soundstage, where he and Aurora occupy adjoining alcoves, separated by a frilly curtain (hers). "The last thing I would want to do is screw up Ro's show."

Mindful that Aurora is working alongside her father at an age when she might be craving a little less togetherness, Lourd said he had been careful to give his daughter lots of space. He has, he said, made a point of biting his tongue hard to avoid giving her any unsolicited acting advice.

"I never say, 'I'd do it like that,' " he said, before adding that Aurora was far more likely to tell the producers, "It might be funny if I do it that way."

Of working so closely with her famous father, Aurora said: "At the beginning it was a little bit weird. We'd get into little arguments I guess from spending so much time together on the set and at home."

"Now," she added, "it's really fun."

Young viewers will be pleased to know that she has also befriended her two co-stars — Caroline Austin and Jackson Russell, both 13 — who also play her best friends, Shanna and Chase, on the show. At least early in the series, Shanna and Chase are the only schoolmates whom the fictional Kiley Roberts (Aurora) trusts with the secret that she is really Charlotte West.

In real life, Caroline, Jackson and Aurora say they are constantly sending each other text messages offstage and gathering, at least electronically, in the evening for three-way conference calls in which they talk like the teenagers they are.

The message of "Dream Big" is one meant to strike a chord with parents, as well as with their children. They want to show that celebrity is not to be confused with real life, and that happiness comes when one stays true to oneself. Which is why the on-screen alter ego of Charlotte, Kiley Roberts is constantly faced with thedesires to reveal her alternate, fabulous identity to her schoolmates, who pay her little mind but have Charlotte West pictures plastered inside their lockers.

The real-life Aurora still has to make her bed and clean up her room at home. In her father, Aurora says, she has a role model as grounded as a daughter (and teenage star) could have.

On more occasions than she could possibly count, Aurora says, she has also watched her father get bombarded for autographs during meals out, and, however much he might have been inconvenienced, watched him sign his name with a smile. "He'll say: 'These are people supporting you. Be good to them," Aurora said.

Which is not to say that the real-life Aurora has grown comfortable with the notion of being recognized in malls, among many other places. "I have always been known as Tommy Lourd's daughter," she said. "Now they say my name. I freak out!"

What will come of this little star with great big dreams? Personally, I think there's only one direction for the articulate tween and that's up!

[praisethelourd24-blog]

Almost Lover

Los Angeles, California | 2014

"Your fingertips across my skin. The palm trees swaying in the wind. Images.."..

Green eyes gazed happily at the blonde across the pool. They were just kids really. Kids who had too much money and too much free time, but it didn't stop the twenty year old from looking upon her young lover with a twinkle of admiration in her eyes. He'd been there for her through so much, been her friend over half of her life and yet it had taken them this long to figure out that there was an undeniable spark between them. What was worse about the situation? The fact that they were both in relationships with other people. There's was a sordid love affair. The love was there, for both of them, of that much she was certain, but there was always an obstacle in the way. "I'm going to tell Sebastian tonight", she finally spoke when he emerged from the water.

She sat with one long leg draped over each side of her sun chair, eyes squinted against the bright noon day sun, waiting for his response. "You're going to tell him what exactly", he asked, his usual smirk painted across his face as he propped against the side of the pool, his arms folded over the ledge. She watched him intently, trying to gauge his reaction, but the crooked smile he wore never faltered. "I'm going to tell him", she said with a sigh. "That I met someone else and I can't be with him anymore". Truthfully she'd been done with him since the first time Aj had kissed her, but she had been scared. Her parents loved Sebastian, especially her mother and you didn't let Angie Lourd down.

"You sang me Spanish lullabies. The sweetest sadness in your eyes. Clever trick".

She could see the exact moment that the expression on his face shifted. His normal mischievous smirk faded, leaving a sadness that made her heart physically ache. "You.. don't want me.. to tell him, do you"? The betrayal of her words echoed like a penny hitting the water at the bottom of a well. He shifted uncomfortably before pulling himself up onto the side of the pool. She watched his feet as they carried him across the stone, leaving wet footprints in their wake. He took his seat on the sun chair across from her and she noted that his face was still too somber, his breathing too erratic. "Just say it. Just go ahead and spit it out". Her words carried a venom she typically reserved for her enemies, clearly catching him off guard.

"She's pregnant". The confession stung like a slap to the face. Tears welled up in those green eyes, threatening to spill down her sun kissed cheeks, but Aurora remained speechless. What was the appropriate response to something like that? What did you say to your 'secret' lover when they confessed to you that the girlfriend they claimed to detest was carrying their child? "I told her to get rid of it, but she won't", he said shrugging his shoulders. The nonchalant behavior made her want to reach out and punch him right in the mouth. "I hate you". It took her by surprise. She had meant to say 'her', but the words had come out so quickly that there was no possible way to take them back. His head had snapped up, the sting of her outburst still holding him in a type of undeniable shock. "What", he finally managed to spit out.

"Well, I never want to see you unhappy. I thought you'd want the same for me".

Within a split second she was on her feet and grabbing her things, shoving everything into her purse. She couldn't think straight, but she'd be damned if she let him see her fall apart. It was over. Everything she thought they had been had gone up in smoke in the time it had taken her to blink. A split second and all her spectacular hopes and dreams of their future had crumbled to the ground at her feet. "Aurora stop". She ignored his shouts as she burst through the back gate of his family home. Her hand rummaged frantically through the large purse in a desperate attempt to retrieve her keys.

She had to get away from him. "God dammit, Aurora stop". He was too close, his hand reaching out to grab her arm, spinning her around. In the same second her free hand had swung. The slap heard 'round the world. It stung her hand so she knew that it had at least stunned him. Grabbing her keys she unlocked the door of her Mercedes and threw her bag inside before rounding on him again. Rage masked the hurt, but it didn't keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks now. "Would you just stay", his shoulders were slumped, defeated almost. A way she'd certainly never seen him before. "I can't.. I can't do this. Not now. Not like this. I'm sorry". She was sobbing by the time she climbed behind the wheel. The engine came to life and she floored it, leaving him there in the drive, watching her fade out of sight.

"Goodbye, my almost lover. Goodbye, my hopeless dream. I'm trying not to think about you. Can't you just let me be? So long, my luckless romance. My back is turned on you. Should've known you'd bring me heartache. Almost lovers always do".

{song inspiration: Almost Lover, A Fine Frenzy} https://youtu.be/I_S_TbD1XFM

[praisethelourd24-blog]

Dr William Drake

Red bottom heels click clack against marble tiles. Long, tan legs carrying a slender frame into the heart of Dr William Drake's expansive London office. Stopping at the reception desk the blonde removed large, black lenses. "Aurora Lourd for Dr Drake". The peppy young receptionist looked up through dark lashes at the now familiar face. " Dr Drake is with another patient. Please have a seat", the woman said motioning towards the lobby. "Actually, I don't like to be kept waiting", Aurora said moving towards the office of Dr Drake. "Miss Lourd I can't.. you can't.. He's with a patient". Aurora rolled her eyes as she pushed past the receptionist. "Don't care".

"Am I early", she grinned as she stepped over the threshold and into the office, making herself at home next to a sniveling 50 something year old woman. "I'm sorry", the receptionist mouthed as Drake ushered his previous patient into the lobby. "Free half hour next week Mrs Steinmetz", the doctor assured the frazzled woman. She could see the disapproval on his chiseled features as he reentered the office, closing the door behind him. When the metal lock clicked Aurora settled into the old leather sofa. She waited until the older gentleman was seated across from her, notepad resting upon his knee, pencil perched behind his ear, before flashing him a devilish smile.

"Shall we continue from where we left off last week"? His question was probing, but gentle. Aurora gave him a shrug as she crossed her right leg over her left, stiletto bouncing ever so slightly. "When did it start"? Right to it then. No foreplay today, huh doc? The question was silent,acknowledged only by the slight raise of a perfectly arched brow. "When I was twelve". Like always her answers were short and to the point. She watched as he scribbled in his notepad before lifting those piercing blues back to hers. "And when did it stop"? Another typical question. When, where, why, how did that make you feel? Green orbs rolling as she shifted her weight to the other hip.

"When a friend put a gun to his head and threatened to kill him. I was fourteen". Again he scribbled, though he faltered slightly at the mention of a firearm. It made her lips curve at the side, a slight smile. Surely he had been unprepared for that response. Now this was getting fun. "And the Mercedes", he asked looking back into her eyes again, though briefly this time as they were focusing on the hands that rested upon her lap. Her nails clicking against each other. "All mine if I let it start again". Her voice never changed, something he found almost hard to decipher, almost. "So you crashed it"? She gave a nod, lifting perfectly manicured hands to her shoulders.

"So I crashed it", she responded as those same hands pushed the leather trench coat down her arms. She tossed the jacket over the arm of the sofa and crossed her legs once more, though this time the long limbs moved slightly slower. "What about your mother". Next topic, she wanted to demand, but instead, for some unknown reason she chose to answer this time. "What about her", she said through pursed lips. "She was so self absorbed and out of it on her pills and Martini's she never knew which way was up. Unless she was telling me how fat and disgusting I was", she nearly spat, the venom evident in each syllable.

"I supose I'm a bit confused. He has been gone for a little over two years. Why now? Why did you decide to come forward? Why talk about it now"? So many questions. Leaning forward she uncorked a bottle of brandy from the oak coffee table and poured herself a small glass much to his disapproval. "Because he can't hurt me anymore". Her answer hung between them in the air as she lifted the glass to cherry painted lips. The burn felt normal, welcome and warm like a long slow kiss. "I see". His flippant response to her confession made her want to chunk the glass tumbler at his head. "I see? That's all you got, doc? No infinite Harvard wisdom"? She was angry, he could almost feel it vibrating the air between them now. Tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"I graduated from Cambridge". Was all he could muster as he pivoted to place his notepad upon the mahogany desk top. "I see", she mimicked his tone almost exactly drawing his eyes back to hers and yet they strayed again. This time over the rise of her breasts. "Like what you see there, doc", she teased allowing the tip of her tongue to graze the curvature of her lips. He shifted, uncomfortable, in his seat, eyes searching for anything inside the confines of his office that wasn't attached to the voluptuous twenty four year old's body. He jolted when the timer buzzed, announcing the end of their session. Aurora chuckled as she rose to her feet, jacket draped over her arm. "See ya next week, doc".

[praisethelourd24-blog]

Goodbye

January 15th, 2016

It was nearly impossible to continue singing as her father's casket was carried passed her. Her voice catching in her throat on the last note. She waited patiently as her mother passed by before following behind her, working hard to hold in the tears. She climbed into the long black Cadillac, taking her seat beside her mother, allowing herself a moment to breathe as Josie, her younger sister climbed inside, followed shortly after by Roman, her twelve year old brother. She could tell it was taking her sister just as much strength not to fall apart as it was her to keep her composure. Saying goodbye to Robert Thomas Lourd was going to be so much harder than she had ever imagined that it would be.

She nodded her head when her sister spoke, instantly knowing just how right the younger brunette was. Their father hated to see anyone cry. He was always the first to make a joke or to try and lighten the situation somehow. She saw a lot of his personality in her younger sister. Josie was very much like there father in a lot of ways. Roman had taken after their mother. It was easier for him to compartmentalize things than it was for his siblings even at such a young age. Aurora liked to believe she had received equal portions of both her parents. She could be serious when it was called for, but she also enjoyed being silly and carefree.

"No, he wouldn't want us to be sad", Aurora finally spoke with a soft nod of her head. "Sometimes", their mother interjected. "Allowing yourself to feel sadness or pain is a necessary step within the healing process". The car came to a stop in front of Mount Auburn Cemetery just as their mother had finished speaking. A few brief moments later and Roman was opening the door of the limousine, offering his hand to help his mother from the vehicle. Aurora watched as her mother paused at the door. "Come Josephine, walk with mommy". Josie looked wide eyed at Aurora who gave her a gentle smile and a nod. When the teenage girl had disappeared from sight Aurora let out a sigh.

"When I lost Andie, daddy told me time will ease my pain". Swallowing that old familiar lump she fluttered her long lashes, trying to keep back the tears. "I've decided that I need to find a new home. When I get back to LA I'm going to make the necessary arrangements and then I'm going to move to London. Nolan says it's more relaxed there. I just wanted to tell you before.. all this because I've decided and I wanted you to know". Dabbing at her eyes with a Kleenex she climbed from the back of the limo and straightened her dress before holding out her hand to her grandmother. "We've only got to make it through this last part. Just a little while longer .."

There was no three-volley salute performed like the one she had witnessed at the funeral of her first love, when she was merely 16. No rifle shooting blank cartridges in honor of a fallen soldier, but as they neared the canopy that had been erected over the grave sight Aurora could barely force herself to move any closer. Her body felt as though it weighed a thousand pounds as she rounded the chairs that had been set up for the immediate family. Briefly she glanced at her little sister, who sat with her face buried in the crook of her mother's neck. Her attention, however, was pulled away as pastor Jacobson began to speak to the small crowd that had followed them from the funeral home.

"In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also", his eyes roamed the faces of the grieving as tears began to roll silently down cheeks. "Now all the songs have been sung and we must stand at this graveside and commit the body of our dear, Tommy to the keeping of this earth until the coming of the Lord, and we will commit his soul into the loving hands of the God he served bringing an end to the final chapter of his earthly life. But it will not be the end of his story, because the memory of his life and the influence of his life remains in the lives of his son Roman, his daughters Aurora and Josie and his precious wife. He will be deeply missed".