Cosmopolitan April 2013

Chris McMillan "The first thing Kim said to me was 'Do whatever you want, a hundred percent.' She is so fun to work with," says veteran hairstylist McMillan, who created Kardashian's retro-glam cover look. "We cut her bangs that day and went for a more abundant, slightly '70s flair." First hair experiment: "I was forever getting in trouble by my kindergarten teacher for sitting with the girls and braiding their hair." Angela Levin Chanel makeup artist Levin imparts her insider secrets in the first of three "Getting Ready" beauty columns (p. 90). Levin, who is known for creating the fresh-faced red-carpet looks of Jennifer Aniston and Michelle Williams, says, "I'm constantly surprised by the influence makeup has on a person's life, career, and state of mind." Secret to breaking through…

Fresh from wrapping her show in Miami, a chill yet focused Kim arrived at our New York studio at 8:45 a.m. She bundled up in a fluffy robe between takes and kicked back to Pandora's Rihanna station. Take a peek at our day with the mama-to-be. Kim's favorite lace-up Tom Ford heels—she wore 'em to the shoot. Kim's modern-retro cover look was inspired by classic beauty icons like Sophia Loren. She drank Cuban-style coffee and ate salad and Tater Tots for lunch. Kim raved about the nude Jimmy Choos with cutouts. Our personalized gift for Kim, which she's been spotted wearing since the shoot. Team effort! Superstar make-up artist Pati Dubroff helps hair guru Chris McMillan.…

Some months ago, I was sitting in Sheryl Sandberg's office on the Facebook campus when she shyly handed me a large manila file and said, "Here's a printout of my book, Lean In. Would you like to read it?" Curious but with a packed schedule, I stuffed it into my bag, and a couple of hours later, with some time to spare before my next meeting, I plopped myself down with a cappuccino at the Palo Alto mall, planning to surf through it for 20 minutes and then putter around the stores. Two hours later, I looked up, and the shops had closed around me. Cosmo readers, I couldn't put it down—here was the book I wish I had read 20 years ago as I wrestled to get my own…

DEBT DEFENSE "I was really glad to see 'The Debt Crisis No One Is Talking About.' I used to work in our financial aid office on campus. I quickly learned how clueless students are and also how many of them let their parents handle all the details. You want to know what you are getting yourself into." —Kodie U., Howard, Kans. MATE WATCHERS "I loved reading 'Can Sex Make You Skinnier?' The next time I had an intense carb craving, I marched right into my bedroom and pounced on my sleeping, unsuspecting boyfriend. I'm thankful for a new weapon in my arsenal for battling bulge, and my boyfriend is too! Thanks, Cosmo!" —Sarah A., Nashville, Tenn. BAD (OFFICE) ROMANCE "I was disappointed in 'Sex on a Desk: Worth It?' In…

"I've been a vegetarian since I was 18, and I went full-on vegan when I was 23. I did it for ethical reasons, and now I love how easy it is in our society to maintain a vegan lifestyle. The food is delicious, and vegan beauty products are just as luxurious as their alternatives." NELL ALK, 29, FREELANCE WRITER, FROM GREEN BAY, WIS. "I applied for a credit card a few weeks ago, and I freaked out when I actually got approved. All of a sudden, there's this pressure to assume the role of a grown-up, but I still feel a bit like a teenager!" MICHELLE PEÑA, 24, JUNIOR DESIGNER AT AN ARCHITECTURE FIRM, FROM COLUMBIA, S.C. "When you're in your 20s and 30s, it's so easy to get caught…

Technical Issues "My best friend likes to send me hilarious, NSFW videos when I'm at work. I always turn my computer screen toward my cubicle wall, plug my earphones in, and play them. One day, she sent one of a guy pranking his parents by pretending to be a phone-sex operator. I went through my usual NSFW video motions and watched it—and when I turned my chair around when it was over, everyone in my office was staring at me. I'd plugged my headphones into the wrong outlet on my computer screen, and all my coworkers had heard the whole dirty phone-sex video. I still feel like the office skeezeball." —Laura S. Cast Away "Last summer, I broke my foot and had to wear an air cast, and I felt…