Welcome to TaraRulz.com, the oldest and largest website dedicated to the 1998 Olympic, 1997 World and National, World Professional figure skating champion, and current NBC broadcaster, Tara Lipinski. Working hand and hand with Tara, we strive to be your number one source for fans across the globe for news, photos, and more, including the largest photo gallery on the web. Thank you for visiting and come again soon!
Webmaster: Angie
Online Since: September 1, 1999
Contact: Lipinski82@aol.com
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All photos and videos belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringment intended. Contributions are always accepted and appreciated.
Header photos are copyright Tara Lipinski.
ESSENTIALLY TARA PHOTOS: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (PARTYING) POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
Photos from Tara's blog post 'Rules of Engagement (Partying)' have been added to the gallery.
PHOTOS: 2016 KENTUCKY DERBY POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
"Figure skater Tara Lipinski attends the 142nd Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 07, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky."
"Tara Lipinski attends Barnstable Brown Kentucky Derby Eve Gala on May 06, 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky."
"Kentucky Oaks Pink Carpet, May 6, 2016"
"Peacock Paddock, May 6-7, 2016."
VIDEO: KENTUCKY DERBY PRE-SHOW POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
VIDEO: TARA AND JOHNNY AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
JOHNNY WEIR & TARA LIPINSKI'S 2016 KENTUCKY DERBY QUOTES PROVE THEY'RE THE PERFECT DUO POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
If you are reading this, then I officially welcome you to the 2016 Kentucky Derby. It's a magical time of year where hats are as revered as horses, the racetrack comes with a red carpet and, for once, I am enthusiastically participating in watching a televised sport. No, really, I love the Kentucky Derby. It provides the same amount of pomp and circumstance as the Super Bowl or the Olympics but it's full of horses and celebrities. Coincidentally, horses and celebrities are two things I enjoy watching on television more than sweaty, beefy-necked athletes in shoulder pads. Want to know what the best part of the Kentucky Derby is this year? Five words: Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir.
It's the third year that Lipinski and Weir are NBC's "fashion and lifestyle experts" for the Kentucky Derby — what did we do to deserve such a blessing? Lipinski and Weir are a perfect pairing, and they need to be in my life every day. Before heading to Rio this summer for the 2016 Olympics, the pair will be having a dress rehearsal at the Derby, and they are providing colorful fashion and culture commentary. To be perfectly honest, they're nailing it. Not only are they perfect for this wild yet refined world of horse-racing, they are hilarious to boot. Here are some of their most quotable lines thus far:
1. "I'm Bringin' 'My Little Pony' Realness Yo Kentucky."
Yes, Johnny. By all the power of Zeus, you are slaying with that crown and pink braid. Work!
2. "[Use The] Hashtag #WatchMeNeighNeigh, And Watch Lawrence Here Gallop Across Your Heart."
Johnny's brooch Lawrence is my everything. I am living for Lawrence. Or is it #LivingforLawrence?
3. "So Tuck In—" "Grab A Mint Julep—" "And Get Fancy Because It's Derby Day!"
Oh my god, yes. Johnny and Tara have literally just blessed my life with this proclamation. We up all night to get fancy.
4. "It’s Like A Game Of Pac-Man When You Watch The Ladies Try To Circulate Through Churchill Downs."
Tara is going to need to keep up with Johnny's quick observations. I bet it's really ridiculous trying to navigate the sea of crazy fascinators and wide brims. Fingers crossed nobody has lost an eye to one of those feathers.
5. “I Love Lani! He’s Japanese, He’s Got The Cherry Blossom In His Blood, And He’s Craaaaaazy!”
I'm starting to think this is Johnny's time to shine, because he is delivering one-liners all over the place. His astute observation on Lonnie is sincerely chuckle-worthy.
As the 2016 Kentucky Derby comes to a close, it looks like Johnny and Tara provided us with some super-fun quotes that we should all try and incorporate into our daily conversations. If this Derby coverage is anything to go by, in addition to the lovable reputation this duo have created for themselves, the 2016 Summer Olympics are going to be phenomenal.
JOHNNY WEIR, TARA LIPINSKI INJECT LIFE INTO STALE KENTUCKY DERBY COVERAGE POSTED BY ANGIE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
The first Saturday in May has always been fascinating to me as someone who's only observed the Kentucky Derby from afar. No matter where you live it's hard to escape the network's coverage of the derby that day in May, and for the non-racing enthusiasts, the broadcast always felt stodgy and elitist.
No doubt it's difficult to fill six or more hours of air time about sports figures — nope, not having this debate today — who can't talk so it's natural that there's additional focus on betting schemes and live odds.
But NBC's decision to throw former Olympic ice skaters Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir as the derby's "fashion and lifestyle correspondents" into the mix injected life into a sport generally targeted to the nation's most privileged viewers. The Kentucky Derby is synonymous with high fashion and higher hats. As the first leg of the Triple Crown, the atmosphere at the Twin Spires is more performance art than performance itself, so why not bring in two of the experts?
What's refreshing about watching Weir and Lipinski during the hours-long broadcast is how, even when they're dressed in some outrageous getup they're still relatable. Weir had a neon pink, braided pony tail — not to be confused with a ponytail — hanging from the right side of his derby crown. They act like brother and sister and they're not afraid to have a little fun in the network's "Peacock Paddock."
Weir wore a massive lapel pin with a pink-tailed unicorn named Lawrence that lit up and galloped every time someone on Twitter typed the phrase "#WatchMeNeighNeigh," which is the equine version of the Silento song "Watch me (whip/nae nae)."
Lipinski opted for a red and white dress with a giant scarlet, veiled fascinator hat but completed the look with a rhinestone-encrusted microphone. The duo joked earlier in the week that they'd bring 20 suitcases a piece to Louisville, but instead opted for a suitcase for each day they were in town. Totally reasonable for any fashion expert worth his or her salt.
One of the best quips of the afternoon was Weir's tidbit on derby hats: "It's like a game of Pac-Man when you watch these ladies try to circulate through Churchill Downs," Weir said on the broadcast, explaining his view of the massive headpieces from above.
The two teamed up to make a $25,000 pecan-dusted mint julep served in a gold-plated and diamond-encrusted julep cup. The individually numbered cups, whose proceeds benefited the disabled jockeys fund, were sold out, according to the broadcast.
In the moments that should have felt stuffy — who can rightly afford one $25,000 mint julep? — Lipinski and Weir were able to bring levity by being themselves. Sure, the Kentucky Derby is about horse racing. But it's just as much about the culture of horse racing: the signature drink, fashion and fun. That's what the pair does best.
As more networks trip all over themselves for the coveted Milennial viewership, NBC seems to have it figured out: call Johnny and Tara.
