Jessica Simpson Considers Adoption

In a move inspired by Angelina Jolie's adoption of two orphaned children, Jessica Simpson has announced that she wishes to adopt a child.

The 25 year old reality TV star and singer has been looking forward to trying to adopt a baby, according to her publicist, Rob Shuter. Quoted by E Online, Shuter said "Jessica and her family have anonymously contributed money to [Mexican] orphanages for several years. It is true that Jessica is exploring options to further help these children in need." Shuter also said that nothing has been finalized yet. Simpson's contribution to the Mexican orphanages is nothing new. She has been visiting orphanages with church groups since she was 11, and has ben donating money to other orphanages for many years.

Jessica Simpson, star of the MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, is soon to be divorced from Nick Lachey. According to People, Jessica told reporters from Extra that, even though she is single, "I want to adopt, and I plan to adopt before I have my own kids"

The Mercury News reports that Jessica Simpson has cited Angelina Jolie as part of her motivation for wanting to adopt a child. "I think Angelina Jolie has done amazing, amazing things, and the international adoption rate just since her has skyrocketed. It's unbelievable."

Angelina Jolie, the Academy Award winning actress who has acted in movies such as Girl, Interrupted, Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, has recently adopted two boys. On March 10th, 2002, Angelina adopted her first child, whose legal name now is Maddox Chivan Jolie-Pitt, when he was 7 months old. Jolie met the child in a Cambodian orphanage while filming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Then, on July 5th, 2005, People Magazine reported that Angelina Jolie was attempting to adopt an Ethiopian child that had been orphaned, as her mother had died from AIDS. After a woman claiming to be the baby's mother was proven not to be, Jolie eventually gained custody of Zahara Marley Jolie. On January 19th, 2006, both of Angelina Jolie's baby's were also adopted by Brad Pitt, giving the children the surname Jolie-Pitt.

Jessica Simpson first achieved notoriety as a singer, launching her debut album, Sweet Kisses, in 1999. After selling 2 million copies in the US on the strength of the single "I Think I'm In Love With You", she released her follow-up album Irresistible, which only managed to sell 500,000 copies in the US. Her sister, Ashlee Simpson, is also on the pop music scene, with singles such as "Pieces of Me", "Shadow", "Boyfriend" and "L.O.V.E.".

On October 26th, 2002, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey of 98 Degrees were married. Their marriage led to the MTV reality TV series Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, which ran for 4 seasons, and is probably Jessica Simpson's true claim to fame. In November 2005, Nick and Jessica announced they had split up, and on December 16th, 2005, announced they were filing for divorce.

Jessica recently made her first major film appearance in The Dukes of Hazzard, playing the role of Daisy Duke. The movie went straight to #1, and Jessica's hit single from the soundtrack, a cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking", was a moderate hit for Simpson.

Jessica Simpson is set to release a new album, entitled And The Band Played On, on May 16th, under Epic Records. She is also set to appear in the movies Employee of the Month and Major Movie Star.

[Additional Sources: E Online, People, Mercury News]