Meet Kate Minus 8

The annual Southern Women's Show, this year scheduled for September 17-20 at The Park (formerly the Charlotte Merchandise Mart), always brings in a few female celebrity speakers and authors for the series of events, which focus on such things as fashion, food, health, business, education, travel, and home. This year's headlining guest is celebrity mom Kate Gosselin, of Jon & Kate Plus 8. Really?

I've never been a fan of reality TV stars, so I'm probably bias here, but I think the organizers of the women's show, which draws thousands of attendees, could've done better than Gosselin. What is she going to give the audience tips and advice on? I think people should get all they need from her either from her show on TLC or from tabloids in the checkout aisle at supermarkets. But hey, she'll likely be a big draw, so the organizers probably know what they're doing. (Maybe next year they'll bring in one of the Real Housewives of Atlanta.)


Gosselin, who'll being coming fresh off the heels of a two-day stint as co-host of The View (September 14 and 15), is scheduled to appear at the Southern Women's Show on that Thursday afternoon (September 17). Meanwhile an event that evening, that will benefit Dress for Success Charlotte, will feature actress Andie MacDowell (that's more like it). I've always thought MacDowell, who's a Gaffney, S.C. native and honorary chair of this event, was a class act.

Find a full schedule of events for the Southern Women's Show at www.southernshows.com/wch.