Vanessa Minnillo ready to be a star, not just interview them

By Stone Martindale Jun 6, 2007, 4:09 GMT

04/24/2007 - Vanessa Minnillo - New York City, NY © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi

Photos, very racy ones at that, are all over the Internets of Nick Lachey's rebound girl from Jessica Simpson, ex MTV hostess Vanessa Minnillo.

X-17, the paparazzi photo agency has released photos of a younger Lindsay Lohan vamping it up in sexy lesbian poses with knives with what was a mystery brunette - the New York Post claims now is Vanessa Minnillo, who they muse, "might have a hard time getting a new job because of the risqué party pictures."

"One of the photos from last summer shows Minnillo pulling down Lohan's tank top. Another shows her with face upturned, eyes closed and lips parted, as if about to kiss the wild child, who is now 20 and in rehab," claims Page Six's Richard Johnson.

Minnillo, 26, was once the host of MTV's "TRL" and New York correspondent for "Entertainment Tonight," until her contract expired back in April.

She did not renew with either show.

Page Six reports that TV industry insiders are buzzing about "her diva-like behavior at work and hard partying outside the studio."

Page Six insiders say "her bosses at CBS Paramount soured on her when she covered the Grammys in February. Minnillo was not assigned to the Academy Awards in March."

Allegedly when the show producers flew her to Los Angeles to cover the Grammys, "she was extremely high maintenance," said Page Six's source. "She insisted they fly her own hair and makeup people and her personal assistant out with her every time she flew to L.A. She only flew first class and stayed at the Four Seasons, and then she didn't want to work.

"Vanessa wants to be a celebrity, not interview them," said the Page Six source. "She wouldn't conduct post-show interviews because she wanted to party. She expected to be paid a full-time salary for a part-time job."

Page Six observed Minnillo at one of the New York fall fashion shows "changing seats for 15 minutes until she was satisfied. She's been known to bark orders at cocktail waitresses and cause scenes when she goes club hopping at night.".

Minnillo's publicist tells Page Six, "She chose to leave 'ET' because her contract ended. This is the first I've heard about any bad behavior."