Ciara
Gossip

R&B star Ciara would like to set the record straight about the photo spread she shot for the October issue of Vibe magazine: She was not nude.

EDITOR'S NOTE: It's fairly obvious that she is. See below.

Ciara says she is very upset by the magazine's depiction of her - rumors on the Internets have suggested that the singer was not nude during the photo shoot but instead wearing underwear, which Vibe allegedly airbrushed out.

"I walked into the Vibe photo shoot very excited about making an artistic expression," Ciara said. "And when I saw the photos, I was a little bothered because the photos appear as if I was nude, when in reality I wasn't nude."

EXHIBIT A: The non-nude Ciara nude picture in question.

Vibe Editor in Chief Danyel Smith responded that not only was Ciara nude, the entire idea behind the spread was the singer's, not the magazine's.

"Almost any photo you see on the cover of Vibe or any magazine is airbrushed [to some degree]," he said. "What I was thinking of doing, actually, was releasing the untouched photos online so people can see what the hullabaloo is about."

Here's hoping!

Chris Brown and Ciara performed onstage at the 2008 BET Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on Tuesday in Los Angeles, Calif.

One wonders, looking at these photos, whether Chris Brown performed someplace else with Ciara later in the night, if you know what we mean.

We mean Rihanna better shield her eyes. The heat from these photos alone may be hazardous to your health - and make you take a cold shower!

Chris Brown and Ciara have obvious, palpable sexual chemistry. Do you agree?

Maybe she should go on The Bachelor.

After all, despite being young, talented and famous, Ciara says that doesn't necessarily mean that dating is easy.

"It's definitely tough at times," the singer, 21, told People magazine. "I'm now past my year mark of being single, and I've got to say I'm a big fan of love. Being in a relationship is one of the most beautiful things, and I'm looking forward to being in a relationship."

At the same time, Ciara â€" who dated rapper Bow Wow before she let him go for some reason in April 2006 â€" says she's in no rush to get back into something serious, like the Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack marriage.

"I'm also at a place where I want to be patient and do it right," she says. "I'm one of those girls that when I date, I date to marry, so I like to take my time and really get to know a person. I do meet people and run across people, but it's all about building a friendship."

So what does she want in a potential mate?

"I look for someone who is down to earth, has a great personality and is respectful â€" someone who just loves to have fun and has goals," she says.

Does that sound like Blake Lewis to anyone else?

Ciara is set to accomplish a goal of her own when she directs her first music video: She's participating in Glamour magazine's Reel Music Project, which supports emerging female recording artists. Fans can log on to Glamalert.com and listen to music by singers Tiffany Evans, Paula Campbell and Samantha Jade and then vote on their favorite.

Ciara will direct the debut video of the singer with the most votes.

"This is my chance to direct my first video, and it's such a cool opportunity," Ciara says of the project. "It's all about embracing the women in this industry."

Amen. After this week, there's a good chance those women will include Jordin Sparks.