Daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is known for many things — her groundbreaking former sitcom "Ellen," in which her character came out as a lesbian, the fact that she dances in the opening of every episode of her show, and her veganism, which means she doesn't eat any animal products. The 54-year-old recently opened up to the Associated Press about becoming a vegan, and admitted that it was far from easy. DeGeneres, a native of New Orleans, a city that takes pride in its extravagant food, said she tried a vegan diet for the first time in 1997, but that the change only lasted six months. "I've always called myself an animal lover. And yet I ate them," DeGeneres said. "Until four years ago I would be driving past these cows on pastures, and think 'What a lovely life that is,' and I'd go and order a steak." It wasn't until 2008 that she gave up eating meat and dairy products for good. "Someone mentioned, 'If you knew what chicken looked like or you knew how chicken was made, you'd never eat it again,'" she explained. "Something snapped."

Ellen DeGeneres (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)Ellen and Portia de Rossi (Fern/Splash News)

(Prince Williams / Splash News)

In the late '90s, you'd be hard pressed to find a teenager who wouldn't want to switch places with Brandy. The "It" girl had her own sitcom, "Moesha," a starring role in the film "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer," and had been awarded a Grammy for her musical collaboration with Monica, "That Boy Is Mine." But Brandy's personal life was anything but perfect as she secretly battled an eating disorder.

The Beckhams all celebrated at lunch in Beverly Hills. (Campos/X17online.com)It's her birthday and she won't eat cake if she wants to. For the big 3-8 on Tuesday, super skinny Victoria Beckham did not allow herself a caloric indulgence of birthday cake — instead, she went with a healthy substitution. The Spice Girl-turned-fashion designer tweeted a photo of a fruit plate, complete with oranges, strawberries, blueberries, mango, and pineapple, with "Happy Birthday Victoria" spelled out in what appeared to be chocolate syrup along the outside of the dish. (We can only assume Beckham did not eat that part.)

Carey on the cover of Shape

Unlike some new moms, Mariah Carey is more than happy to show off her post-baby body. The songstress, who gave birth to twins nearly one year ago, flaunts her abs on the May issue of Shape and reveals some of the weight-loss secrets that helped her shed 30 pounds in just six months.

Robert Erdmann/SELFBethenny Frankel is a force to be reckoned with. It's been just a few years since she was an unknown reality TV contestant on "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart." Now, the natural food chef juggles several roles — TV star, businesswoman, author, fitness guru, and soon-to-be talk show host — but it's her personal life with husband Jason Hoppy and daughter Bryn, 2, that she finds most rewarding.

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagicGrammy-winning musician Jewel has a lot on her plate these days — she's a mentor on the new season of singing competition show "The Voice," just released a kids' album, has an upcoming children's book due out this fall, and is mom to 9-month-old son Kase. But as for what's literally on her plate, the 37-year-old recently shared her healthy eating habits and workout strategies with Self.com.

Rachael Ray talks to omg! about food, family, and fitness. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)It was those famous "30 Minute Meals" — always focused on fresh ingredients — that helped Rachael Ray become a household name. But despite the celebrity chef's penchant for veggies, her "everything in moderation" mantra (which includes burgers and mac and cheese too), and her push to use good-for-your-heart E.V.O.O. (her now-famous abbreviation for extra virgin olive oil), Ray admits one big piece of a healthy lifestyle was missing for her for a very long time.

NUTRISYSTEM/SPLASH NEWSGustavo Caballero/WireImage

Janet Jackson has been candid about her lifelong struggle with weight, but — as you can see in this new photo from her Nutrisystem ad campaign — she appears to be winning the battle. The 45-year-old singer, whose weight has yo-yoed up and down during her long career — debuts her much trimmer figure in a curve-hugging orange dress.