By T.J. DeGroat

What happens when a celebrity-watcher becomes a celebrity? HATCH got in touch with the hilarious blogger behind Pink Is the New Blog to find out.

A former teacher, Detroit area-based Trent Vanegas, 31, stamps sometimes snarky, sometimes tame captions on paparazzi photos that won't make it into magazines until days later.

Since the current version of the web site went live in 2004, Vanegas' life has changed dramatically. He attended this month's Grammy awards. He counts some of Hollywood's young A-listers among his fans. Hilary Duff invited him to hang out backstage at a concert this summer. Nicole Richie even mentioned the web site in her recently published novel.

Can you describe 2005 in a few words? It must have been a crazy year.

It was absolutely cruiseazy! Celeb gossip really just exploded and made for an amazingly fun year.

You've gotten to meet some big-time celebs during your recent jaunts to LA. What's been the most surreal celebreality moment so far?

Meeting Madonna was utterly amazing. I never dreamed that I would ever be that close to the Madonna. Meeting Nicole Richie was pretty surreal as well. When she told me she was a fan of mine I about fell on the floor.

Does meeting people like Madonna and Lindsay Lohan, who regularly appear on your blog, and knowing that celebs like Nicole are reading your site make you think twice about posting awful pictures or making snarky comments about them?

Not at all. When I meet them they are very familiar with my brand of humor and seem to appreciate it. Why would I stop doing it?

OK, here are some really tough questions: First, Nicole or Paris?

Two years ago I would have said Paris, but I'm more on Team Nicole now. She has really stepped out on her own and is no longer Paris' sidekick. Paris has become a bit of a parody of herself ... but I am excited for her debut album. I hear it's really hot.

Of course. How else could it be described? OK, Britney or Christina?

Britney all the way. She has been my girl from the beginning. And, even though she's going through some rough times right now (well, rough-looking actually) I'm gonna stick right by her side ... and hopefully push K-Fed out of the picture.

Jessica or Ashlee?

If you are referring to the Simpson sisters, I'm all about Ashlee Simpson. I have to admit, I don't like a single Jessica Simpson song at all. Ashlee has some really fun music -- it may not be the best music ever, but it's pretty damn fun.

Spederline or TomKat?

Spederline owns my heart, but I can't get enough TomKat. I'll take them both!

Will Kimberly Stewart remain at the top of your dis list in 2006? Where did the incredibly funny hate come from, anyway?

As long as Kimberly Stewart keeps making horrible, horrible fashion choices I'm gonna have to bring the heat. I wouldn't necessarily call what I do "hate," it's more a strong chiding that I engage in. Paris Hilton made being rich a career and Kimberly Stewart is trying to do the same thing. I have to give Paris credit for making it work; Kim so far has not. I'll cut her some slack when she gives me reason to.

This site has gotten so big. When did you realize that Pink was no longer just a side project that friends and some devoted fans were checking out?

At the end of last summer. When Blender magazine put me on their Hot 100 list I went, "Wow, there are actual people out there who like what I do." It's been crazy since then, the email never stops ... and I really don't want it to.

Is Pink your full-time job now? When and how did you make that decision?

No, it's not my full-time "job" necessarily. It has been the means by which I am working on my next full-time job ... maybe in another medium.

So then, what does 2006 hold for you? Any projects you can tell us about?

Well, there are a lot of plans ... we'll see if they come to fruition. I am still tight-lipped about these plans because I don't want to jinx them. We'll see how things turn out.