Actress? Singer? Dancer?

At this point in her 17-year-old life, Diandra Newlin of Richmond is doing it all.

Among her latest endeavors is a music video, "Boyfriend," filmed by her brother Colin Newlin, 19. Diandra premiered the video in March at the 29th annual Young Artists Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

She also was nominated for best performance in a short film in "Bench."

This Sunday, Diandra will perform for the sixth annual Omni Youth Music & Actor Awards, where Lou Gossett Jr. will be presented a Legendary Lifetime Career Achievement Award.

Diandra, Colin and their mother Donna have been living in L.A. -- chasing the dream -- while father Jim holds down the fort at home.

Donna Newlin loves being with her kids. She doesn't even seem to mind that, for example, while "Bench" was filming for three nights in New Mexico, she slept in her car.

But she's also ready to come home when she can. "I love Richmond. I love to come back."

She especially can't wait to see the kitchen-tiling project her husband is having done this week. Even the kids love coming home, she says.

"Richmond is so quiet!"

For more on Diandra's burgeoning career, visit www.diandranewlin.com.

Sadollah's still fighting for the ultimate prize

Richmond's entry in "The Ultimate Fighter" is still in the mix.

Amir Sadollah is now a resident of the Ultimate Fighter House on season seven of the Spike TV show.

The 27-year-old, who's in competition for a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is keeping a blog of his TV experience.

The show, filmed in Las Vegas, airs at 10 p.m. Wednesdays through the live finale on June 21.

To check out Sadollah's weekly take on reality TV, visit www.punch.freedomblogging.com (under Categories, click on Amir Sadollah's Ultimate Fighter Blog).

Could country's funniest student hail from Virginia?

Sam Rogal of Richmond made it to the regional semifinals in RooftopComedy's first National College Comedy Competition.

Rogal, a 19-year-old freshman at Marymount Manhattan College, finished as a first runner-up.

But Kathleen O'Brien of Montclair is still in the running for the country's funniest college student. She is a senior English education major at University of Virginia.

O'Brien will compete against three other finalists live from the Aspen (Colo.) Rooftop Comedy Festival beginning at 8:45 p.m. May 31. Her competitors are from Duke University, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Xavier University in Cincinatti.

Online voting at www.rooftopcomedy.com/college will determine the grand-prize winner.

Victoria magazine features Midlothian painter's shop

The March/April issue of Victoria spotlighted Melissa Carr's Midlothian shop, Gather.

Carr wrote the story, "A Room of One's Own: Where Friends & Neighbors Gather," which accompanies a six-page spread. A customer, she says, alerted the magazine to Carr's store.

Carr, a painter, explains how she and her husband Matt discovered the 1851 building at 920 Mount Hermon Road, in 2004. Eventually, they bought the building and then the 1850 farmhouse next door.

Gather showcases Carr's work as well as furniture, housewares and accessories. "I want Gather to be a place that helps people slow down and linger -- a respite from the hectic world outside," she writes.
Contact Cynthia McMullen at (804) 649-6361 or cmcmullen@timesdispatch.com.