Katie Holmes: The wedding ring is off as she reclaims her independence

Katie Holmes is moving full speed ahead into her new life as a single mother. Within days after she reportedly "blindsided" Tom Cruise by filing for divorce, she's ditched her wedding ring and is carving out a new life for herself and her daughter.

Despite the media attention on her right now, Holmes honored her commitment to appear as a judge on "Project Runway All-Stars" Monday afternoon. Looking pretty and pulled together in a navy blue dress, the 33-year-old actress arrived at Parsons The New School for Design in Manhattan to tape the guest spot. She didn't say anything as she entered or exited the building, but she let her finger — bare of the wedding ring she's worn since she married Cruise in Italy in 2006 — do the talking.

"Project Runway" judge Isaac Mizrahi told People that Holmes, who has a high-end fashion line called Holmes & Yang, "did great" during her guest gig. Another source told the magazine, "She was engaged, articulate, and wonderful!"

In addition to keeping busy with work, Holmes is establishing a new life for herself and 6-year-old Suri. Last Thursday, the day she filed for divorce from Cruise, Holmes and Suri were spotted moving bags from the New York City apartment they shared with Cruise to a new apartment in the city. The former "Dawson's Creek" star went to great lengths to find a new home that was perfect for her little girl, opting for a three-bedroom rental near Suri's gymnastics studio, reports People.

And while there were some rumors that Holmes was being followed by Scientology operatives on behalf of Cruise, who is one of the church's most famous members, the organization denied the allegations. People reported that the men trailing Holmes are actually in her employ. She fired Cruise's security team and  hired her own. Holmes, who is seeking sole custody of Suri, reportedly has issues with her daughter being raised as a Scientologist.

[Related: Inside Scientology: Is the church's controversial Sea Organization what drove Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes apart?]

According to a new report, Holmes – who signed an iron-clad prenup when she married Cruise – stands to walk away with very little in the divorce. "Katie Holmes will be getting virtually nothing from Tom Cruise by way of $$$$ because their prenup cuts her out of his fortune ... and sources connected with Katie tell us it's just fine with her," reports TMZ. "Our sources say Katie will walk away with what she brought into the marriage ... and hardly anything else."

Meanwhile, today is Cruise's 50th birthday. How is he spending it? On an airplane. According to Us Weekly, the actor – who has been filming "Oblivion" in Iceland – boarded his private jet at the Reykjavik airport at 2 a.m. and is headed to the $30 million Beverly Hills home he once shared with Holmes.

[Related: Tom Cruise's three marriages: the rundown]

We'll venture to say there won't be a lot of celebrating for Cruise, whose lone statement about Holmes' divorce filing was that he was "deeply saddened" by her decision.

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