Paris, Nicky Hilton judge beauty contest

Tokyo – Paris Hilton may not be ready for her planned charity work in Rwanda, but she was up for judging a beauty contest in Tokyo.

Hilton, 26, and her younger sister, Nicky, each chose one finalist for the Miss Universe Japan contest. A dozen or so more will be selected next month.

“I love Tokyo,” Hilton said Tuesday. “The shopping is great.”

Hilton has promised to improve her bad-girl image since she finished a jail term this June for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case. She had announced plans to do charity work in Rwanda this month for the Playing for Good Foundation, but the trip was postponed until next year.

Japan has the reigning Miss Universe, Riyo Mori, the first Japanese to win the pageant since 1959.

Russell Crowe makes plans to be baptized

New York – Russell Crowe, who is 43, says he’s planning to be baptized.

“I’d like to do it this year,” the Oscar-winning actor tells Men’s Journal. “My mom and dad decided to let my brother and me make our own decisions about God when we got to the right age. I started thinking recently, ‘If I believe it is important to baptize my kids, why not me?”‘

Crowe says the baptism will take place in the Byzantine chapel he built at his country ranch in Australia for his wedding to Danielle Spencer in 2003. The couple have two sons, 3-year-old Charlie and 1-year-old Tennyson.

“It is consecrated and everything,” Crowe says in the magazine’s December issue, now on newsstands. “Charlie was baptized there. And when Tennyson gets baptized there, I will, too.”

Crowe – a reformed Aussie bad boy with a reputation for throwing temper tantrums – is more spiritual than people may think.

“I do believe there are more important things than what is in the mind of a man,” he says. “There is something much bigger that drives us all. I’m willing to take that leap of faith.”

Bambino on the way

Los Angeles – Giada De Laurentiis may have to put her weekend getaways on hold.

The star of Food Network’s “Everyday Italian” and “Giada’s Weekend Getaways” says she is expecting her first child, a baby girl, in April.

De Laurentiis, 37, announced her pregnancy on NBC’s “Today Show” on Monday. She is a contributing correspondent on the morning show.

Her husband is clothing designer Todd Thompson.

She is the granddaughter of Dino De Laurentiis, producer of films such as “Hannibal” and “Ragtime.”

Spears must pay most of Federline’s legal fees

Los Angeles – Britney Spears has been ordered to pay $120,000 in legal fees to her ex-husband Kevin Federline, who was awarded temporary custody of their young sons.

Superior Court Commissioner Scott M. Gordon ordered the pop star to pony up that much of the $154,500 in legal fees that Federline owes to his attorney, according to court papers filed Tuesday.

Gordon made the decision after considering factors including “the notable disparity between the parties’ income,” the ruling said.

Court papers released last week show that Spears makes roughly $737,000 per month and spends lavishly on clothes and entertainment. Meanwhile, Federline “indicates that he does not earn any income,” the ruling said.

Rebecca De Mornay arrested for DUI

Beverly Hills, Calif. – Rebecca De Mornay has been arrested for investigation of drunken driving, a magazine reported Tuesday.

The actress, who starred in the films “Risky Business” and “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle,” was stopped Oct. 30 for a traffic violation in Beverly Hills when officers smelled booze on her breath, according to People magazine. Authorities told the magazine her blood alcohol level was .09 percent, above the legal limit of .08.

“She was very cooperative during the arrest,” Lt. Tony Lee, a police spokesman, told the magazine.

De Mornay had not been charged, said Los Angeles County prosecutor’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

Associated Press records indicate De Mornay’s age is 45, while some other sources give it as 48.

Once more in lights

Las Vegas – Robert Goulet’s name appeared for years on the marquees of the Las Vegas Strip and will be there again the day of his funeral.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has asked hotel-casinos to honor the late singer and actor by featuring his name on their marquees Friday.

The big-voiced baritone died Oct. 30 in Los Angeles of pulmonary fibrosis while awaiting a lung transplant.

Services will be held at The Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer in Las Vegas. Among those invited are Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorme, Michael and Kirk Douglas, Suzanne Somers, Barry Manilow, Celine Dion and Wayne Newton. The public is also invited.