It’s been a busy week for Anna Wintour. Hot on the heels of this year’s Met Gala, held at New York’s Costume Institute on Monday evening, today at Buckingham Palace Wintour was made a Dame by the Queen, recognising her remarkable contribution to fashion and journalism.
The editor of US Vogue since 1988, Wintour began her prestigious career in the fashion industry in 1970, when she held the role of editorial assistant at Harper’s & Queen, before a move to New York where she swiftly became fashion editor of New York. Editing British Vogue between 1985-1987, she returned to the States to breathe new life into the American edition of Condé Nast’s publication, revitalising it with more of a fashion focus, much like it had under the legendary direction of Diana Vreeland, as well as introducing iconic celebrity covers.
Not only one of the most influential people in fashion journalism, Wintour has also made an unparalleled contribution to the arts. According to the BBC, Wintour has raised over £116 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute through the annual Met Gala, which she organises. Arguably the fashion calendar’s most anticipated date, this year’s theme was Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garçons and saw the biggest names in the business come together to pay homage (or not) to the avant-garde designer.
Wintour was joined today at Buckingham Palace by her daughter Bee Shaffer, who is engaged to the son of VogueItalia ’s late Franca Sozzani, a close friend of Wintour’s. Thankfully, Wintour removed her trademark sunglasses before she entered the royal rooms, however, according to the BBC, there was a slight wardrobe malfunction as the Queen struggled to fasten the insignia to Wintour’s pink Chanel couture spring 2017 coat, which she wore with tan Manolo Blahnik heels. This is the third occasion this week at which Wintour has worn Chanel: she chose a feather and gold-flecked number for the Met Gala and a double-breasted cream tweed dress for yesterday’s Chanel Cruise show in Paris.
It's clearly been a hectic week for Wintour but it's also been a big week for the Palace, with the news that Prince Philip is stepping down from his public duties come autumn. "I congratulated her on Prince Philip's service because obviously that's so remarkable and such an inspiration to us all," Wintour told the BBC.
Wintour added: "Obviously this is a city that I grew up in, a city that I have so much affection and love for. It's always wonderful to get an award but this one is extra special."
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Forget placards, pussy hats and slogan tees – there's a new way to show your political leanings, and many people are making it their accessory of choice in the run-up to the UK general election. Designer Libby Freeman created this ‘Fuck The Tories’ necklace and has been taken aback by the influx of orders she’s had in the last 24 hours alone.
"You hate the Tories. You hated David Cameron and now you actually hate Theresa May even more," reads the product description. "You didn't think it was possible. Now there's a general election. Could things get any worse? Probably. Show everyone you're angry with this delicate feminine necklace."
Freeman has received 310 orders since putting up a Facebook post at 1pm yesterday, she told HuffPost UK. “I didn’t expect it to be quite as popular. But I suppose that just says it all about how strongly so many people loathe the Tories.”
My mum just messaged me saying she wanted to buy me a "fuck the tories" necklace but can't afford it, which I thought was apt
All profits from sales of the necklace, which costs £24.99, made before the election on the 8th June will go to Calais Action, a charity founded by Freeman, which provides aid and raises awareness of the refugee crisis.
“It was really important the profits went to charity. Refugee charities are seeing large drops in funds due to media interest wavering," she told HuffPost UK.
The recent spike in demand has forced Freeman to change supplier, so she's unsure how much she's raised from the necklace so far. "But it’ll be about £4,000 to £5,000, at a guess,” she said, adding that she hasn't taken her own chain off in the last year.
“After the total mess of everything that happened in 2016 and which is ongoing in 2017, it’s comforting to always have it on me."
The necklace has proven so popular that there's now a waiting list and necklaces will take a few weeks to arrive. Place your orders now.
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Anyone who follows Chrissy Teigen on Twitter knows the model has never been one to bite her tongue — especially if Donald Trump or Piers Morgan are involved. She's as real as it gets in Hollywood, and we adore her for it. So, when we got the chance to get the scoop on her new Glow Face Palette with BECCA Cosmetics, we figured we'd also be getting some great beauty gossip and stories, too. (After all, this is a woman who got in a drunk fight with a set of extensions.)
We weren't wrong. Teigen has an opinion on everything, from Instagram trends — "I'm fucking over strobing," she told us — to showering. Here's what we learned:
She's tired of the highlighters you can see from space.
"I see all the Instagram photos and, basically, I did not want it [her palette with BECCA] to look like those girls who just look silver. And listen, I'm all for a slay queen, but I don't think you have to say 'slay queen' just because you're a silver zorbot. I don't know what a zorbot is. But, I think people should look beautiful and natural and glowy and nice. But I'm over that look. I think that look is done. I'm tired of the silver cheekbone. I'm tired of the silver nose."
Taking off her makeup before bed is not mandatory.
"I never ever in my life have washed my face at nighttime. Can I not say that? I go to bed and never wash my face at nighttime. I shower in the morning, and yeah. If that. If even shower."
Her go-to DIY look: mascara, concealer, and thigh-high boots.
Basically, a great eyelash curler, which I'm in dire need of. I do a Lancôme mascara. I like NARS concealer. A big fucking hat and thigh-highs. As long as you wear thigh-highs, no one cares about your makeup. They're like, 'She goes to dinner in hot thigh highs.' Not, 'Look at her crooked makeup.'"
Her makeup inspiration is a fellow celeb.
"Jessica Alba. Anyone Mary [Phillips] does. I feel like they look natural, beautiful, young, and fresh."
She got liposuction and doesn't care what you think.
"I had an armpit sucked out, which was one of the best things. It's a big secret, but I don't care. It was nine years ago or so. And I had two inches to my armpit. Now it's back though, so now I've gotta pay for [liposuction] again. It was so easy. It made me feel better in dresses; I felt more confident. It was the dumbest, stupidest thing I've ever done. The dumbest, but I like it, whatever. I have no regrets, honestly."
Reported by Lexy Lebsack, West Coast senior beauty editor.
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Welcome toMothership: Parenting stories you actually want to read, whether you're thinking about or passing on kids, from egg-freezing to taking home baby and beyond. Because motherhood is a big if — not when — and it's time we talked about it that way.
Yesterday must have been a very slow news day, because notoriously shameless gossip blog MediaTakeOut ran a sensationalist piece claiming that Beyoncé had gotten lip injections while pregnant with twins. “We’ve heard of your NOSE growing during pregnancy… but can it happen to your lips too??” the site wrote. The unfounded accusation, based off nothing except for a recent photo the star posted to Instagram, hit a nerve with Bey’s longtime publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, who shut down the rumours in a strongly-worded statement provided to Gossip Cop.
Addressed to “MTO staffers,” Noel-Schure’s letter detailed the toll pregnancy takes on a woman’s body — the weight gain, the often dramatic change in blood flow, the fluid retention that causes swelling. “Do you know that often women’s gums get swollen? Do you know that it sometimes affects our speech, our ability to chew intently, and a host of other things?” Noel-Schure wrote. “But the sacrifice to our faces, our feet, and our entire bodies is something we welcome because we bring beautiful humans into the world who will one day combat your hate and negativity.”
It doesn’t take an impassioned statement from a pissed-off celebrity publicist to know that, for most women, pregnancy isn’t exactly a walk in the park. Sure, you get the so-called “glow” and the joy of knowing you’re growing an entire human being inside of you, but your face and body do experience some (usually temporary) side effects as a result of the influx in hormones — and swelling is one of them. “During pregnancy, the body produces approximately 50% more blood and body fluids to meet the needs of the developing baby,” the American Pregnancy Association confirms. “Swelling is a normal part of pregnancy that is caused by this additional blood and fluid.”
Decidedly not a normal part of pregnancy: undergoing elective cosmetic procedures. In 2015, during her second pregnancy, Kim Kardashian was also accused of getting lip injections after alluding to her “pregnancy lips ” in an Instagram caption.
A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on
Jessica Simpson shared a similar photo on Twitter in 2012, writing, “Woke up looking like the lip injection fairy visited me in the night! Is this how pregnancy face begins?!”
Woke up looking like the lip injection fairy visited me in the night! Is this how pregnancy face begins?! Yikes! pic.twitter.com/ha9THrwF
While hyaluronic acid fillers and Botox aren’t technically banned for usage in pregnant women, they are discouraged — not because there’s a known risk to pregnancy associated with them, but because, as an article published by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery states, “Definitive recommendations on the safety of procedures such as chemical peels, injectables, fillers, and most laser therapies during pregnancy cannot be made [due to] a lack of controlled trials addressing the safety of cosmetic procedures during pregnancy.” In other words: There hasn’t been much research into whether or not these procedures are safe during pregnancy, so they’re generally not recommended.
Considering that Beyoncé spent her entire past pregnancy being accused of not actually being pregnant, the claim that she’s had lip injections is relatively tame by comparison — but, as Noel-Schure made very clear, patently untrue and still hurtful. And, even though B didn't get lip injections, why are we still so obsessed with analysing the decisions other people make about their own bodies — not to mention, furthering the negative stigma around cosmetic surgery? It's 2017, people. Let's move on.
Naomi Campbell has walked countless high-profile catwalks, appeared on the cover of nearly every major magazine at least twice, hosted a reality TV show, starred in a music video for a Bob Marley song, and was called “the reigning megamodel of them all ” in her early-‘90s heyday. But in her 31 years in the industry, there's still one thing she's yet to do. As Campbell told ES Magazine in a new interview, "I’ve never done [a beauty campaign] for anyone."
Despite being the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, of American Vogue ’s iconic September issue, of the boundary-breaking all-black issue of Italian Vogue, Campbell says she still faces prejudice in the industry. “People say, ‘Oh, you’ve got beautiful skin,’ and yet I’ve never done [a beauty campaign],” she told the publication. Why? The author of the interview writes of her response, ““She gives me a look that says, ‘You know why.’”
When it comes to diversity and inclusion, the fashion and beauty industry has made tremendous strides since Campbell first made her debut as a model on the cover of British Elle, just before her 16th birthday. But just because it’s better doesn’t mean it’s perfect. We’ve still got a lot of work to do — and you can bet that Campbell will continue to come out swinging for her fellow models of colour.
A few years ago, while an ex-partner was going down on me, I realised I was having trouble breathing. Then a sense of dread filled my head, and I felt like I was being stabbed in the chest. So I quickly asked him to stop — not because he was doing anything wrong, but because I was having a panic attack during sex.
One of the (few) good things about panic attacks is that they usually only last for about 15 minutes, says Gail Saltz, MD, psychiatrist and author of The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder And Geniu s. When I had my attack, I sat on the edge of the bed and did a series of breathing exercises. Gradually, I did begin to feel better.
But one of the most perplexing aspects of panic attacks is that they're intensely fearful physical reactions that occur in the absence of any real danger or identifiable cause, as the Mayo Clinic explains. In my case, I was in a safe space with someone I trusted when my ex was going down on me. However, I had very real and terrifying feelings of detachment, the aforementioned shortness of breath, and chest pains.
Of course, I'm speaking about panic attacks during consensual sex. Fear that happens during an assault or dangerous sexual experience is completely different than having a panic attack during healthy sexual intimacy. (Reach out to Victim Suppor t if that's the case.)
Although there are many causes for panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often to blame, says Barbara Greenberg, PhD, clinical psychologist and relationship expert. That was true for me: I'm a survivor of multiple sexual assaults and have been diagnosed with PTSD by a psychiatrist. As a result, sometimes during sex, I'll have a flashback of an incident and experience a panic attack. Although the attacks subsided thanks to therapy and medication, it's an ongoing process.
That said, panic attacks during sex can also happen to people who haven't been sexually assaulted or diagnosed with PTSD. Dr. Greenberg says that generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder can also trigger panic attacks during intimacy, but anyone can have one during their life — with or without a diagnosed disorder. Sometimes these things just happen.
However, if your panic attacks are, like mine, recurring and have an identifiable root cause, it's an especially healthy idea to see a psychiatrist, Dr. Saltz says. "If you are having multiple panic attacks or PTSD flashbacks you should 100% get treatment," Dr. Saltz says. Treatment will begin with an evaluation of the cause of the panic attacks with a mental health professional. Then, that person will suggest therapy, medication, or both.
But is there anything you can do when you're in the midst of a panic attack during sex? The first thing to do, if you can, is explain to your partner what's happening — and step back from sex to take care of yourself. You can always try having sex again later when you're feeling better. Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practice, and reassuring self-talk can all be helpful in calming a panic attack, says Michael Aaron, PhD, a sex therapist and author of Modern Sexuality: The Truth about Sex and Relationships. Changing your physical position or getting up to walk aroundcan also helpcomfort you.
At that point, Dr. Aaron says it's okay to take any anti-anxiety medication you've been prescribed, such as benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax, Ativan, and Klonopin). Because you can become dependent on such medications over time, they're meant to be used on an as-needed basis, Dr. Aaron says. But, depending on your individual needs, you may be taking them for a week or have a prescription at-the-ready for the rest of your life. While you're taking these medications, though, you're also (ideally) learning other self-soothing techniques in therapy that will come in handy when you stop taking the meds as frequently.
On top of managing what's happening in your own mind and body, explaining it to your partner presents another challenge. In particular, when I had a panic attack, my partner had a hard time understanding that he did nothing wrong. But Dr. Saltz says that, in the moment, it's enough to "tell your partner [your panic attack] will pass, take slow and deep breaths, and relax your muscles." After the crisis has passed, you can get into a more detailed description of what you experienced — and how it wasn't your partner's fault.
If you've been a witness to someone else's panic attack, know that they have likely experienced panic attacks before meeting you and probably will have them after you've parted ways, says Amanda Luterman, MA, OPQ, a psychotherapist who specialises in sexuality. "What you can do is be a soothing and stabilising partner for that person, keep the focus on them, and reassure them that it’s going to pass," she explains.
So, remember that panic attacks do go away. But if you continue to have them during sex as part of a larger mental health issue or due to unresolved trauma, you should seek treatment. Trust me, it can be a life- (and sex life-) saving experience.
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We love cooking with quinoa for a lot of reasons, but its versatility is high up on the list. Plain quinoa can become the base for everything from a breakfast parfait to a hearty dinner bowl. And cooking it is pretty simple. Most of the time, recipes that call for quinoa just say "cook according to instructions on box," and that will steer your right nearly always. But you don't need a box or a recipe to even cook it.
If you buy it in bulk or want to cook less or more than the package instructions call for, the basic instructions are incredibly simple. You just need to use one part quinoa to two parts water or liquid of your choice. Bring to a simmer and lower heat to low and cover, cooking until liquid is absorbed. If you started with one cup of dry quinoa, that takes around 15 minutes, though cooking times will vary based on amount of quinoa. Once the water is absorbed, fluff with a fork and serve or let cook.
If you want to get more advanced than that, there's an endless number of ways to change things up. Ahead, easy tweaks to making cooking with quinoa even better.
Bake With Raw Quinoa Think of it as a hipper version of a multigrain muffin. The addition of raw quinoa adds both protein and texture to a morning baked good.
Simmer In Broth For A Flavor Boost Cooking in broth, or a combination of broth and water, is a great way to add flavour to plain quinoa. The ratio of quinoa to liquid stays the same.
Add An Onion Another way to flavour raw quinoa is to simmer with an onion, or any other hearty root vegetable or dried spice you might find in a broth or rice recipe.
Add It Into Soups Raw quinoa can go right into soups or chilis and can be a great way to add some more oomph to a favourite dish. Just be aware that you may need to add more broth or water if you're cooking without a recipe or tweaking an existing one.
Batch Cook & Reap The Benefits All Week If you're making quinoa for a recipe, double it and keep half to use as bases for future meals, like this breakfast parfait.
Slow Cook It Quinoa can also be cooked in the slow cooker using the same two-to-one ratio. You can do this for a quinoa main dish, like this take on primavera, for stews or soups (just make sure to have extra liquid) or to batch-cook plain for sides or a base.
Add Coconut Milk For Any Easy Sweet Dish Substituting in coconut milk for some or all of the liquid makes a sweet porridge, add more to make your own version of rice pudding. Flavour with a pinch of cinnamon and your favourite fruits, fresh or dried.
Mix It In With Granola Fans of extra-crunchy granola will love this easy trick: stir in raw quinoa to your homemade granola before baking and cook normally.
3.3 million people tune in to Mario Dedivanovic's Instagram feed every day for makeup ideas, lustworthy product flat lays, and sneak peeks at the prettiest red carpet looks — from Kim Kardashian to Gabrielle Union. But who are among the 1,404 people he follows for inspiration? Well, wouldn't you like to know?
Hot off our last round with hairstylist Jen Atkin, we asked Mario to share the top 20 makeup feeds he's loving right now. "These makeup artists are a mix of up-and-comers who are ones to watch, and others whose creative work inspires me," he told Refinery29.
Click through our slideshow for Mario's picks and get ready to hit the 'follow' button. Then say goodbye to the rest of your weekend, because these accounts will send you down a serious Instagram makeup rabbit hole. Happy scrolling!
Los Angeles-based makeup artist Sean Harris lets pops of electric colour and dewy skin do the talking, and the results are all worthy of a double tap. Plus, the badass duo Chloe X Halle make frequent appearances.
Natasha Denona is a makeup artist, founder of her own eponymous line, and has a makeup academy for the aspiring set. And her feed is just as good as you'd expect. It's full of can't-look-away swatches of her formulas and dreamy, radiant looks worth (trying to) copy.
Sam Visser may be too young to vote, but the teen is making his voice heard in the industry as one of the youngest makeup artists working today. He already has a loyal celeb following — including Kris Jenner.
Fan art is nothing new, but we straight-up want to frame Mike Gibson's stunning illustrations on our wall. (And the celebs he draws agree.) His makeup imagery is equal parts lifelike, dreamy, and informative — like this history of eyeliner shapes.
Celebs like Justine Skye and Fantasia Taylor frequently show up on L.A. makeup artist Arianna Garcia's page, which is a 24/7 glam factory — and home to some seriously impressive contouring.
Makeup artist Kale Teter frequently assists L.A. "It" makeup artist Hung Vanngo, making him one to watch. This dreamy creamsicle look on Selena Gomez is just one example of their work together.
It's not easy to master the fine line between outrageous and wearable, but makeup artist Michael Anthony has made it his calling card. His colourful, stunning work is spiked with chrome detailing and pops of colour.
Las Vegas-based makeup artist Sheila's feed is a hotspot for colourful macro beauty shots that will inspire you to (finally!) use the brightest, sparkliest shades in your favourite palette.
Makeup artist Liz Castellanos' page is an equal mix of soft, bright makeup on celebs like Olivia Culpo and Tamera Mowry and BTS shots from her cool gig as the makeup artist for E! News.
Dewy skin takes on new meaning on makeup artist Nam Vo's page. Seriously, how she makes highlighter and skin look that glowing is worth a follow.
Calling all with a flair for the dramatic. Do yourself a favour and follow makeup artist Gilbert Soliz. He even breaks down some of his looks for you to follow step by step.
If you tend to play up your eyes, let makeup artist Adam Burrell be your guide; his feed is full of beautiful takes on smoky eyes (including this rad rainbow number).
Love a pop of colour? Follow Melissa Hernandez for constant inspiration on how to mix things up.
Jay Suárez has many talents, but flawless glowing skin is definitely at the top of the list.
"It" girls like Amanda Steele, Alissa Violet, Kylie Jenner, and Jordyn Woods dot makeup artist Samuel Rauda's page — and he nails daytime glam on every single one.
UK-based makeup artist Andrew Gallimore's work will make you do a double take: trippy editorials, avant garde shadow, and so much more.
We can't decide what we love more: Mohammed Hindash's lifelike beauty drawings, or his stunning work on actual humans.
Lip lines that look like they were drawn with computer precision and complexions so seamless, we can't stop staring — Mali Magic's work is beautiful, and impeccable.
Moises Ramirez is a makeup artist with a flair for colour, yes, but he's also a visual artist whose work hangs in museums. The result? Instagram makeup porn.
Ashley K. Holm's feed hits all the right trends: colourful upside-down liner, chiseled cheeks, and enough highlighter to be seen from space.
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Sexist media coverage is putting girls off politics, according to a new study.
The study by Girlguiding found that 41% of girls aged between nine and 16 in the UK believe there has been a rise in media sexism in the last six months.
Meanwhile, 39% of girls said this had knocked their confidence and could them off politics, the Press Association reports. Some 62% of the 1,147 girls polled said sexist coverage negatively impacts their peers' views of girls and young women.
The study's findings come just five weeks after the Daily Mail 's risible but still-damaging "Legs-it" headline, which encouraged readers to compare Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon's physical attributes rather than their political policies.
Sturgeon, leader of the Scottish National Party, responded to the study's findings by saying: "It is unacceptable that women and girls continue to face sexist attitudes that are putting them off playing a full role in our society and it is incumbent on all of us to work to change that. That doesn’t just mean an end to sexist attitudes but an end to the focus on appearances and family life and to the macho-aggressive language that is used far too often in politics."
"As a mother of two daughters, it really upsets me that media sexism is having a direct impact on the self-confidence of girls and young women," she told The Independent. "The Women's Equality Party has made fair treatment of women in the media a core objective because we understand that the press has enormous power to shape the culture we live in."
“We need it to change, to allow girls and young women to thrive," she added.
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As defined by Urban Dictionary, a serial monogamist is “someone who jumps from one relationship immediately into another one”.
We all know one. We might even be one. They’re people who’ve had several partners and spent a mysteriously small amount of time single. They go from one relationship to another with little time to breathe in between; breaking up with Tom one week and bringing James as their plus-one the next.
And we tend to think certain things of serial monogamists. Let's move further down Urban Dictionary’s list of definitions:
2: “A person who can't stand not being with someone and so goes headlong from one relationship to another without any break in between.”
3: “A descriptor for a person who has commitment issues but does not engage in cheating or infidelity.”
In other words, we don’t think much of serial monogamy. We think it’s emotionally unhealthy and that people who engage in it invest so much in short-lived relationships that they miss out on crucial self-development and are, in reality, just terrified of being alone.
A serial monogamist would rather this weren’t true; that it’s the work of armchair psychologists who should butt out because there’s more to it than poorly addressed emotional issues, surely?
“There are many reasons why someone might move from one romantic relationship to the next,” says counselling psychologist Dr. Mari Kovanen.
“They might be afraid of commitment; they may long to be in a deep and meaningful relationship but when the relationship hits a certain marker and depth, feel too uncomfortable, and break up the relationship and move on to another.
“Another reason could be that they’re afraid of being alone. But everyone’s different, and one can’t really make a global statement about whether it’s healthy or not – it depends on whether it’s causing distress and hurt.”
So if you were hoping there wasn’t an element of truth in the stereotypes, bad news.
“Every ending of a relationship is like a miniature death,” says psychologist Donna Dawson. “It has to be mourned, grieved for and thought through; it needs a bit of a post-mortem. Without a breather in between each relationship, a new one becomes a quick fix and all you’re doing is replacing a need in yourself to not be alone.
“Monogamy is great but monogamy without thinking – perhaps because you need control or 100% of your needs answered – isn’t a good way to experience it.”
The important thing here, Mari points out, is considering whether or not it’s causing you anguish.
In the past five years, Bea* (24) has been single for a “grand total” of five months. “I have a sneaky feeling I crave commitment and stability,” she says, “because it's been lacking in other areas of my life – I've lived a very nomadic lifestyle since I was 11 years old.
“I'm usually someone who goes from extreme to extreme – I went from serially dating and going out every night with a different person to moving in with someone within a year."
As Bea points out, if a feeling of reliability and safety isn’t provided in the form of a stable home and supportive family, it’s understandable to seek it elsewhere.
“I get a lot from relationships,” says 30-year-old Katrina*, who hasn’t been single for more than a few weeks since she was 15.
In this time, the length of Katrina’s relationships has varied from three months to three years and, similarly to Bea, where stability was lacking in other areas of her life, Katrina found it invaluable in relationships.
“I don’t have a very supportive family, I have no relationship with my mother for instance, so I guess I get that emotional support from relationships that I don’t have in the traditional places and for me, that has been a positive, sometimes even a lifeline.”
Lifeline or not, by failing to give themselves breathing space in between each relationship, serial monogamists risk, as Donna warns, using them as a “quick fix” for loneliness. So instead of filling that empty space as soon as possible, what if they played out the alternative?
Through trial and error, 26-year-old Lisa* has learned to do just this:
“I never used to leave a break between relationships, but then I realised that I need to have some time for myself to analyse what went wrong and how I can learn from my mistakes,” she says.
“For the last few years I’ve tended to wait about a year before I start something serious – I want to make sure I'm 100% over someone and ready for the next chapter.”
“I think it does make me stronger. When you've been in a relationship for a long time you forget how it is to be alone – it can be quite difficult to cope at first.
“Being single for a bit lets you appreciate your time alone and people around you.”
There’s no denying that a break is likely better for one’s emotional strength. But knowing this doesn’t make it any easier to put into practice. So it’s hardly surprising that serial monogamists often end up living by that famous saying: "The quickest way to get over someone is to get under someone else."
“I stay in bad relationships for months – if not years – after they should have ended because I'm not very good at identifying how I really feel, or trusting that feeling enough to act on it,” says Katrina.
“I just assume every relationship should last forever, even if it clearly should have been a fling!
“So then the thing that makes me move on, sadly, is meeting someone else while I'm in the bad relationship and then breaking up with the previous person for the new person.
“It sounds bad, it is bad, but we all have our reasons for acting the way we do.”
Heard from Bea and Katrina’s perspective, the stereotypical traits of a serial monogamist – jumping from one relationship to another in hope the next will be better, a fear of being alone – sound like a simple desire for support and love. And while they acknowledge the habit's hindrances, neither expresses regret over the relationships themselves. As Bea says: “How I feel about my current partner is how I feel – I don't feel like I have anything to regret by committing.”
After all, Donna reminds us, a happy relationship can provide emotional support, trust, love and a stable sex life. We just need to make sure we’re getting into (or out of) it for the right reasons.
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In a series of viral tweets, Natalie Gordon shared a story on Twitter about being sexually harassed by a man while riding the bus. Her tweets describe an experience that, for many women, is one to which they can instantly relate. The story begins with Gordon saying, “Let me tell you a story about why men will never understand what it's like to be female.”
Let me tell you a story about why men will never understand what it's like to be female.
For every story shared by a woman about having to pacify the unwanted, inappropriate advances of a man, there are countless more that have not been told. Sometimes they go untold out of shame, other times they are not told because they are so ingrained in our culture that the behaviour ceases to shock people. Worse still, there are other times they are not heard even when they are told. It is something that should never happen, but it does everyday.
You know what I expect, fucking respect for women no matter who they are or what they look like or what they're wearing.
According to Gordon, many people responded by sending her private messages of their own experiences with sexual harassment. Gordon’s tweets resonated with so many women. She told Metro, “Support from people on the internet is phenomenal – the outcry of love and worry from almost as many men as women.”
Gordon accentuated one of the most positive things to come out of her experience and subsequent story were reactions from men. “Just having men realising that this happens all the time and that we’re not lying or exaggerating is a huge step in the right direction, she told Metro. “We need more men highlighting women’s issues because we can only change things together.”
Gordon shared on Twitter that she filed a report with the British Transit Police that was being taken seriously. She encouraged other women who have experienced anything similar to report it and, should they see her on public transport in London and feel vulnerable to simply ask her to stand with them.
Adele has always seemed mature beyond her years. To celebrate her 29th birthday on Friday, she decided to show us what it would look like if she really were an old lady. Adele posted four hilarious photos of herself with prosthetics, a wig, and reading glasses — and those of us on the other side of 30 just have to hope she's not trolling us.
Knowing her, this is probably just self-deprecating humour. But we can also read something deeper into it if we want to: Since she released 19 in 2008, her big voice and emotional delivery seemed to come from someone much older. Her signature '60s makeup style also gave her a more mature, glamorous air than her contemporaries early on. Maybe this old lady character is who she feels like on the inside?
Adele seems to have a bit of an obsession with getting older. Obviously, all of her album titles are named after her age, reflecting how she changed in that phase of her life. In her most recent, 25, she expresses a whole lot of nostalgia for her youth already. In "Hello," she talks about "who we used to be / When we were younger and free." Then, of course, there's "When We Were Young," in which she's already anticipating missing this exact moment and says, "I'm so mad I'm getting old / It makes me reckless."
All of which makes me want to say: Relax, girl, 30 IS NOT OLD. If you want to go by the numbers, the average age of death for a woman in the U.K. is 89, so your middle age is 15 years away, at least. Plus, most people in their 30s will agree that things are so much easier after your angst-ridden 20s. If anything, you may want to worry that you won't have as much pain to write about once you hit that not-so-big 3-0. Just kidding, there's plenty of pain here too, just not so much self-doubt. That may also be where that old myth about hitting your "sexual peak" at 35 comes from — it's not about age at all, but about feeling free to express yourself, experts say.
Anyway, here's hoping we all live to see Adele in her real old age because clearly, she's going to be a hoot.
The Sunday Times has been publishing its annual Rich List of the UK's 1,000 wealthiest people or families since 1989. Obviously the compilers rely on well-informed estimates - no one phones up JK Rowling and asks her to log into her online banking for a quick update. So while the final figures aren't "official," there's a strong chance that they're pretty close to the mark.
The Rich List 2017 has been published today and alongside the main countdown, The Sunday Times has compiled The Young Rich List featuring the UK's 50 wealthiest people under 30. Unsurprisingly, it contains some of our favourite singers and actors. Adele places sixth on the list with an estimated fortune of £125 million, which is a massive £40 million up from last year thanks to the success of her 25 album and world tour.
Daniel Radcliffe places eighth with an estimated personal fortune of £78 million, while Robert Pattinson finishes 10th with an estimated personal fortune of £67 million.
Radcliffe's old Harry Potter castmate Emma Watson also makes the cut, placing 20th with an estimated personal fortune of £39 million. The Sunday Times notes: "Watson is expected to earn handsomely from her portrayal of Belle in this year’s Disney live action film of Beauty and the Beast. Although she reportedly accepted a £1.6 million appearance fee, she also took a cut of the production’s global takings – which have far exceeded expectations."
Meanwhile, all five members of One Direction appear in the top 50 with estimated personal fortunes of £40 million each for Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Liam Payne, and £35 million for Zayn Malik, who obviously left the group earlier.
They're joined by fellow singing stars Ed Sheeran (£52 million), Florence Welch (£21 million), Ellie Goulding (£20 million), Sam Smith (£20 million), Jessie J (£17 million), and Little Mix (£24 million collectively). Actors Rupert Grint (£28 million) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (£18 million) also feature in the top 50.
And don't be fooled into thinking that fashion doesn't pay, too. Supermodel-turned-actor Cara Delevingne is a new entry on The Young Rich List this year with an estimated personal fortune of £15 million.
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But now one wine writer has claimed the UK's Prosecco habit is misguided. Apparently, we should all be sipping a different (and rather fancier) Italian sparkling wine instead. Nick Passmore of Forbes argues that Prosecco is a "boring, one-dimensional wine that’s currently enjoying considerable vogue because it’s possessed of one attribute, and one attribute only: bubbles."
"So it goes “Pop!” when the cork's pulled. Spare me please," Passmore adds dismissively.
The wine writer then argues that another Italian fizz, Trentodoc, is far superior because it comes from the "high peaks and steep valleys of the Trentino region in the Dolomites," which apparently gives it a "mineral-infused flavour." He also points out that Trentodoc benefits from the same "slow, difficult and expensive process" that winemakers use when producing Champagne.
Now, intriguing as this is, Trentodoc probably isn't going to replace Prosecco in our hearts and glasses just yet. For one thing, it's much harder to get hold of - you can't pop into your local Tesco Metro and pick up a bottle for less than a tenner. It's also rather pricier. M&S is selling a case of 6 bottles of Trentodoc for £120, while Wine Direct has a selection of Trentodoc blends starting at £23.50 per bottle.
But if someone tops us up with Trentodoc at our next party, we certainly won't be turning it down. Bottoms up!
In an Imgur post titled, "My domestic violence tale, yadda, yadda, yadda," a woman created a picture of what life was like with her abusive ex-husband, through the text messages he had sent her.
Imgur user KrissyKross said she shared the messages as a way to get some closure. "Strangers on the internet are better than keeping it inside for so long," she wrote.
The messages she shared show how controlling an abuser can often be. "Where are you?" her husband, Adam, asked in the first thread. That's a normal enough message, except that he sent at least 10 more texts before she was able to answer.
"This is a good example of strings of texts I would get at work while on shift (I am not allowed my phone on the clock)," KrissyKross wrote.
Her next thread showed how Adam would get jealous over her co-workers and assume that she was cheating on him. "How's Tony? lol," he wrote. When she responded that she didn't know how Tony was, because he had worked the morning shift and gotten off before she started, her ex-husband called her a liar and used the fact that she knew Tony's schedule as "proof" that she was sleeping with him.
Adam's behaviour escalates with each thread, showing that he would set "traps" for her to see whether or not she was sleeping at home, that he bit her so hard it left a bruise for several weeks — and that he wanted her to lie to her mother about it, that when visiting her mother she was required to call him at midnight every night, and that he would tell her to text photos of herself so that he knew she was actually at her mother's house.
"My ex-husband was a kind, loving man. That is, until I lost weight," she wrote. "I then got a job. Suddenly I was cheating, I lost weight to get men, I couldn't buy clothes that fit me after the 80 pounds lost because it showed off my body. He hit me and sexually assaulted me. He waited outside my work for whole shifts, not telling me if he was carrying the Beretta M9 he had purchased recently," she wrote.
She details physical abuse and the jealousy that other people didn't see in him.
"I tried to talk to his parents and they told me it was normal in a young marriage and I should reassure him. His father is a pastor in Tennessee and holds this belief," she wrote.
When she was finally able to leave him, she went to court to charge him with abuse and had to sit through several character witnesses who testified that he was a good man.
"I still had to listen to several people testify how great of a person he was - a whole group on his side while I sat there with one friend and my lawyer," she wrote.
Her ex-husband was charged with a few misdemeanours and two felonies, she wrote. It has been three years since she left him, and she said she keeps his text messages as a reminder of how far she has come.
KrissyKross told the Huffington Post that she posted the messages on the third anniversary of Adam's sentencing.
“It was weighing heavy on my mind,” she told HuffPost. “I never got therapy afterwards due to lack of money, so I never really learned how to deal with what had happened. I didn’t ever bring it up with anyone and never really talked about it with my family after the fact.”
Many of the people who have read her post have sent messages of support, and hopefully given her the ability to finally talk about her abuse. One of the people who commented pointed out that his abuse was not a result of her losing weight, though it may have seemed by the timing that it was.
"He thought he wasn't going to be able to control you anymore. It was always there but he used your lack of confidence to his advantage," another person mentioned.
It's important to note that abuse is never at the fault of the person who was abused, and there's nothing someone can do to "provoke" an abusive relationship.
While most of the messages on her post were of support, some also asked the problematic question that is often asked of domestic abuse survivors, "why didn't you just leave." KrissyKross told HuffPost that it's hard for people who have never been in an abusive relationship to understand the reasons someone would stay.
"I made very little money, I was financially dependent and I just really wanted my marriage to work. I didn’t want to give up on it. But it’s hard for people on the outside to really understand that, I suppose."
Her post could help people to understand that there are many reasons someone might stay in an abusive relationship, and it could also show other women in her situation that there is a way out.
“I think that women (and men) who manage to escape these situations should find someone they can talk to,” she told HuffPost. “Getting through the court dates and trying to pay bills alone on minimum wage is hard enough, but I found that my real struggle was learning to undo all the mental and emotional damage that had been done.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please callVictim Supporton 08 08 16 89 111 for guidance.
Lily Allen has added her voice to a campaign encouraging women who work in music and other creative industries.
The singer-songwriter spoke yesterday at a London panel event hosted by Girls I Rate, an organisation that "celebrates and champions women to work together in the creative industries."
Describing the event as a sign of "positive" change in these traditionally male-dominated industries, Allen told the BBC: "There are more girls getting involved in songwriting and production and it's brilliant. Things are happening."
"Creating communities where people can share their experiences can only ever be a good thing - that's the only way we can possibly learn," she added. "So these kind of [events] are vital."
A post shared by Carla Marie Williams (@carlamarieuk) on
Girls I Rate was founded by Carla Marie Williams, a British singer-songwriter who has co-written recent tracks for Beyoncé ("Freedom", "Runnin'") and Britney Spears ("Private Show").
Williams told the BBC: "The purpose of today is just to encourage more women to come forward. We want to see more female producers, we want to see more female songwriters. We just want them to get heard, and I want to provide a platform for that."
To find out more about Girls I Rate, visit the website or join the movement on Twitter.
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You're not just imagining it — that really was a pickup line. Cleverness or corniness aside, everything feels charged with sex magic and innuendo this week. Thank Wednesday's full moon, which falls in Scorpio, the Zodiac's most erotic sign. Forget about passing anyone an obvious "I'm feeling you" note after class. Scorpio's brand of seduction is far more subtle, operating on all the senses. A trailing brush of the hand, a quick but magnetic gaze, a hint of perfume — tiny embers like these could basically start a blazing bush fire.
The question is: Are you in or are you out? There's an "all or nothing" quality to this week's full moon. If it's time to bail, don't linger too long with a guilty goodbye — or ghost without explanation. The direct approach can be cleanest, even if feelings are hurt temporarily. Let 'em know, "This isn't working for me anymore," then bound on to greener pastures. You'll find them easily on Friday, as lusty Mars and adventurous Jupiter align and expand everyone's options. Be open to a totally new type or someone from a different cultural background.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Love, love, love — it’s basically all you can think about this week thanks to Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio and your relationship house. Forget keeping it casual — that’s not really your committed sign's style. This lunar lift-off can launch a dreamy flirtation into a full-on relationship. Heads up: The secretive energy of a Scorpio full moon can make it hard to cop to a crush or admit to your S.O. that you're wanting "more." But instead of clamming up, get some private time on the books. Scorpio is the sex-magnet of the skies, so these discussions might even be best staged as post-coital pillow talk.
Up your workout game another notch on Fridays, as vital Mars and adventurous Jupiter throw down the gauntlet. If you perfected your plank — and can hold it for two minutes — work a new muscle group. Variety is the ultimate fitspo, so mix up your routine. Your go-to vinyasa flow class can lengthen while something more vigorous can seriously strengthen. Get out into nature this weekend! It might just be warm enough for glamping or a long hike. Weather not permitting? How about a romantic indoor picnic with pillows and flower petals on the floor?
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
Worship! Your body is your temple, Gemini, and Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio sounds the call for sacred self-care. Put the party all night, sleep all day routine on hold for a minute and devote the week to wellness. Add more clean, green nourishment to your plate. Catch up on your beauty rest, then try a new gym class when you're good and rested. And how about a massage while you're at it? One thing you don't want to do? Get all fixated on the scale or say negative things about your body. Follow this Instagrammer's body-positive prompts if you need a reminder to love the skin you're in.
Keep the front-facing cam focused on your beautiful self this Friday as a confidence-boosting alignment of Mars and Jupiter make you a star in your own right. Live broadcast your life or set up a photo shoot — an excuse to break out those maximalist muumuus only a Gemini can pull off. Friends won't be the only ones who love watching you in action. A secret supporter could confess to being enamoured with you and your work. If it isn't a love connection (and even if it is), this could be a giant leap down the path to prosperity.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
Seduction, thy name is Cancer. Get ready for a burst of come-hither charm and attraction, because Wednesday’s full moon in Scorpio sizzles in your passionate fifth house. A fling could start looking more like a real thing this week — or you could meet someone with LTR potential. If you’re already attached, keep the flame alive with sweet and sexy gestures. Ditch the yoga pants for some La Perla and make it an evening for two at the Cancer love den. Heads up: These moonbeams could take you straight to the Mothership — happy news for Cancers who want to fulfill the mummy fantasy. Not there yet? Protect, protect, protect. This fame-fuelling full moon could also bring public attention for your talents — or simply inspire a photo shoot. (Werk!)
Lately, has it felt like your theme song is "Hold On For One More Day"? Put the nostalgic earworm away this Friday and practice letting go. You’re sentimental by nature, Cancer, but memorialising every object, photo, and relationship can leave you crowded by clutter. Devote the weekend to downsizing and a deep spring clean. It's a leap of faith to believe that disaster won't strike if you give away that spendy dress you bought last year — the one that still has the tags on. Or maybe you'll block someone's number who ghosted and broke your heart, even if you still wonder WTH happened. This trust-building exercise could be a defining moment, Cancer. Moving on can mean moving forward!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Leo July 23 to August 22
Is your castle a little worse for wear these days, Leo? This Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio sweeps in with spring cleaning motivation. Don the rubber gloves and grab the eco-chic counter sprays. Getting your sanctuary sparkling is step one of blessing your nest. Then, take a peek at shelter blogs, Pinterest boards, and DIY sites (we know you secretly love to get your hands dirty) for inspiration. Maybe you just need new upholstery and pillows along with a paint job ? If you’re pondering a move, start cruising your Redfin app or make an appointment with an estate agent midweek. Like all full moons, this one could bring about a decisive event. Hey, Leo, you may find your dream home and snatch it up that day. Have your accounts and paperwork in order so you can act ASAP.
Branch out socially on Friday, when a rare mashup of open-minded Jupiter and dashing Mars makes you feel down for anything. A totally unexpected invite could pop up — one that's too rich to say "No" to. While you might not become a card-carrying member of this scene, your journalistic curiosity will certainly enjoy discovering all its facets. If nothing else, this will make for an amazing story to share at parties (perhaps with some character impersonations thrown in). You could also have a moment of truth with your existing squad. Have they been talking over you or ignoring your ideas? Inform them clearly that this is no way to treat the Zodiac's queen.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Virgo August 23 to September 22
Keep the capture tool close! Pure genius ideas flow in this week, thanks to Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio and your clever, communicative third house. If you’ve felt stuck with a project or creative work, your long-awaited breakthrough moment arrives. Ask friends for feedback — even offer to buy pizza if they brainstorm with you, focus-group-style. Already put the final touches on a brilliant mission? Now's the time to publicise and market. Cue up the Instagrams, send out a press release. Your natural gift of gab is amplified under these moonbeams — the perfect time to pitch a project, record a podcast, or seal a deal.
On Friday, get ready to take another career leap as daring Mars makes a favourable connection to lucky-duck Jupiter. This one-day formation will give you the courage to ask for what you really want, whether it’s a raise, promotion, or a cut of the sales. (Scared to negotiate? Read this.)
And forget about sitting around, waiting to be noticed. Fortune favours the bold this weekend. Cast modesty aside and brag a little. Or, instead of telling people why you're so awesome, show them! A free trial demonstration of Virgo in action will have people clamouring to be part of your fan club.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Libra September 23 to October 22
Living pay day to pay day? Enough of that, Libra! Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio activates your income zone, helping you discover new and profitable ways to make bank. Have a talk with upper management about growth opportunities. Even if nothing is available on the company job boards ATM, these discussions could guide you to sign up for a training seminar or pick up a special project to nurture your relationship with a colleague who can help you get ahead. Already at max capacity with your earning power? Rejig your budget so you aren't bleeding green. Think creatively: Perhaps a work-study shift at the yoga studio could pay for your classes. Maybe you could help a friend paint her bedroom in exchange for time in her recording studio. The barter system is a great win-win! Set up drinks or go to industry events. Get yourself seen by influencers and employers — results come rapidly as a result of your initiative.
This weekend "anywhere but home" is where a Libra should be. Nomadic Jupiter and daring Mars sync up, activating the spirit of adventure. Could you do a two-day getaway on the cheap? (Think: airline miles and couchsurfing.) If not, opt for day trips like a bike ride and picnic or a road trip to see your favourite local band on their regional tour. If you have some money in the budget, this cosmic combo might be the nudge you need to book the trip to Cuba or the writer's workshop in a Scottish castle. No matter where you are, be open to the kindness — and fondness — of strangers. An attraction could be sparked with someone from a different culture or walk of life.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Scorpio October 23 to November 21
Get ready for your big reveal, Scorpio! This Wednesday marks 2017's one and only full moon in your sign — a day meant for letting your radiance shine. An opportunity to perform or present could arise, while the more secretive among you could make a splash behind the scenes. Either way, your hard work of the past six months is about to bring you some well-deserved recognition. Ready for a reset? Full moons are manifestation points and as you celebrate a milestone, you may realise that you've gone as far as you care to down a certain path. Don't be afraid to start over somewhere new, Scorpio. Life feels stagnant when you're not challenging yourself.
Boundaries dissolve near Friday, setting the stage for an intimate weekend. Rolling in the deep with your amour du jour? Sounds good. You might not leave the house 'til Monday. If you're craving facetime with your innermost circle, a weekend staycation — at a friend's apartment or a local Airbnb — will clear your cache. Harbouring a secret crush? With daring Mars and candid Jupiter in cahoots on Friday, you can 'fess up to your feelings. But why hit 'em over the head with the revelation when seduction is such a Scorpionic art form? Cast a spell with more "show" than "tell."
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Sagittarius November 22 to December 21
Make way for the muse! Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio and your 12th house of fantasy can bring divine downloads galore. But while you're sketching, song-writing, or furiously typing the plot outline of a screenplay, take off the rose-tinted shades. Your optimistic sign likes to see the good in everyone you meet. But positive qualities aren't the same as trustworthy qualities. You may decide to push certain people back to arm's length — especially if handing them the keys to the Sagittarius queendom might mean getting robbed blind. If you’ve met someone new who seems incredible, do some Google snooping! You don’t have to hack their accounts, just see if their story matches who they say they are. If it's time to let go of an outmoded situation, these moonbeams will light the exit ramp. No more deliberating, Archer. Be done with it and create space for something better to flow in!
Your indie spirit is legendary, Archer, but even your go-it-alone sign can benefit from a good collab. On Friday, a lucky matchup of motivator Mars and your ruler, whimsical Jupiter, inspires you to give a new group a go. Break the ice by connecting to people one by one. Don't try to charm the intimidating leader of the pack. Start with the friendlier "gatekeepers" who can put in a good word on your behalf. Over the weekend, the results of a team effort could be better than you ever expected — whether creative, romantic, or in the activism realm. Share your offbeat vision and reap the rewards. People will be down to give your wildest ideas a try!
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Capricorn December 22 to January 19
Break out the bubbly! You could be toasting a shared victory when Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio lights up your 11th house of teamwork. Your squad's efforts of the past six months could come to a shining milestone — or maybe a proposal you worked hard on together gets green-lighted. Even if you haven't hit all your benchmarks, take time to applaud how far you've come together since last October 30. These moments of celebration and gratitude are fuel for your tanks. Does it feel like the load is unevenly distributed? Time to ask the rest of your crew to step up. If you know deep down they'll never really pull their weight, you might have to do some recasting of your dream team, ASAP.
Don't shift into weekend warrior mode too soon, Capricorn. On Friday, make-it-happen Mars and enterprising Jupiter get in good-fortune formation. Before the boss leaves the office, drop a quick pitch of your latest vision. Plan your weekend socialising strategically, nestling yourself among the movers and shakers. Splurging on VIP access tickets could be the fastest way to connect with an industry influencer. Funds too tight? Try charming your way onto that list (you'll have the touch this week) or even volunteering in exchange for admission.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aquarius January 20 to February 18
Step up to the plate, Aquarius! With little effort, you'll knock it out of the park this week, thanks to Wednesday's full moon in Scorpio and your 10th house of success. Circulate your CV, ping people in high places on LinkedIn. A polished performance is essential, but drop the perfectionism. Taking a bold leap can be scary — and no one is ever 100% "ready" for it. And hey, if you don't feel confident talking yourself up, ask friends to start a buzz by sharing links and spreading the word. An influential person you work with might also send a recommendation on your behalf. Stop worrying and just ask!
On Friday, energetic Mars in your fame and romance house gets a liberating boost from Jupiter. Your live-out-loud personality cannot be suppressed, validation be damned. Friends and family will always have opinions on what you should wear and who you should date. So what! This self-authorised mashup advises you to close the opinion polls. Love could come in an unexpected form and maybe with a sexy accent. And sure, you might see jaws drop over the weekend. Don't stress it, Aquarius. That's all part of being a trailblazer.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Pisces February 19 to March 20
Pack your bags, Pisces — or pick some new must-visit coordinates on Google's green Earth. This Wednesday, the annual full moon in Scorpio lights up your worldly ninth house, activating your wanderlust. Researching travel blogs could leave you rethinking your ideal vacation. Instead of doing the fancy, all-inclusive resort, opt for something more authentic, where you can live among the locals and practice a new language in your daily interactions. Change your POV if you can’t reroute your GPS. Mingle multiculturally close to home or sign off for a mind-expanding workshop before the week is through.
On Friday, your Spidey sense will be buzzing as energiser Mars and amplifier Jupiter align in the most intuitive zones of your chart. You're not going mad, Pisces. Those signals you're picking up are real. Pay attention — and investigate. Figuring out the meaning or message of these gut feelings will require you to dive below the surface and do some detective work. You might even discover a secret crush — or a painful betrayal — once you crack the case. But don't let paranoia take hold! The discovery could be something totally magical. Don't be afraid of the unknown.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
Aries March 21 to April 19
Come here often, Aries? Your powers of attraction reach peak levels this week, thanks to Wednesday's full moon in sultry Scorpio. Down the love potion and pursue your pleasure. Seducing the average person is like taking candy from a baby this week — and late night flirtations could get steamy, fast. But for you, Aries, nothing short of a mind-body-soul connection will do. (And maybe a mutual playlist appreciation.) Keep standards high and hang on to your final rose until you're clear about who you're dealing with. Already head over heels for someone? You could plunge in much, much deeper this week, even going as far as happily-ever-after.
On Friday, your ruler, white-hot Mars, gets a celestial sext from bawdy Jupiter. Both of these impulsive planets are in your partnership sectors and their combined powers are pushing you to be more of a relationship risk-taker. Shift out of neutral by professing your feelings, letting bae in on a fantasy or proposing the next step for the two of you. And in the case of platonic pairings, fess up to fangirl status. Someone you admire might want to team up on a project. Nothing ventured, nothing gained — and that willingness to put yourself out there with people will pay off all weekend long.
Illustrated by Alia Penner. Photographed by Jason Rodgers.
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In April 2014, more than 200 young girls went missing in Chibok, Nigeria. The Christian school girls, ages 16 to 18, were kidnapped during their exam week and held captive by Boko Haram, an extremist group that opposes the education of females.
Today, after years of negotiations with the Nigerian government and Boko Haram, 82 of those girls have been released.
According to CNN, the young women are currently in military custody in the northeastern town of Banki. From there, the group will reunite with their families in the capital, Abuja. There they will also a receive medical evaluation.
A statement from a spokesman for President Muhammadu Buhari made it clear that this was a group effort. He thanked "security agencies, the military, the Government of Switzerland, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and local and international NGOs" for assisting in the rescue.
When news broke of the kidnapping in 2014, the Nigerian government initially denied the incident. And while the tragedy made a few mainstream headlines, it was only after the hashtag #BringHomeOurGirls went viral on social media, when the world took notice. Former first lady Michelle Obama and other public figures around the world posted photos and tweeted out to put pressure on then Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan to find the Chibok girls.
Since the kidnapping, a few survivors have managed to either escape, and 21 survivors were released through government negotiations last year. Captivity details about the rescued girls are still unknown. According to the Associated Press, some of the Chibok girls were killed during bombings of the Boko Haram camps by the Nigerian Air Force. Others have given birth to children by their captors. Many of these captors are also victims of kidnaping.
The exact identities of the survivors are not yet known. However, after years of unanswered questions and heartbreak, parents of the kidnapped girls are eager to hear good news. "I am very, very excited with this development. I cannot even sleep tonight," said Yana Galang to CNN. Galang’s daughter was among those taken by Boko Haram in 2014. “I hope and pray that my daughter is among these released girls," she said, hopefully.
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After being originally passed by France’s National Assembly at the end of 2015, the law requiring models in France to provide medical certificates of health before being allowed to work has come into effect. The law was first proposed back in the spring of 2015 to combat the promotion of inaccessible ideals of beauty.
"Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact health-related behaviour," said France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Marisol Touraine, in a statement on Friday.
Previous versions of the bill first suggested using a minimum Body Mass Index as a measurement for determining the health of the models. After vehement protests from modelling agencies and fashion executives, it was altered in favour of a doctor’s examination being the final say in whether a model is healthy enough to work. While a minimum BMI is not the deciding factor, doctors are urged to pay close attention to it with regard to the model’s age.
France is not the first country to introduce legislation of this kind. Similar laws are in effect in Italy, Spain, and Israel all of which require a minimum BMI.
According to World Health Organisation guidelines, an adult with a BMI below 18.5 is considered underweight, 18 malnourished, and 17 severely malnourished. The average model today has a BMI of 16.
Numerous studies in recent years have indicated that BMI is not as accurate at predicting health as was previously thought. It is not a reliable measurement for general health. Requiring a doctor’s examination to be the controlling factor in whether a model is deemed healthy enough to work could be more effective overall rather than taking a more prescriptive approach with a set BMI which ignores the individual.
Violations will be substantial. Employers found to be breaking the law by hiring models without a doctor’s note could face fines of up to £68,000 and up to six months in jail.
Also going into effect on October 1 of this year addresses the commercial use of photoshopping. Any photos used for commercial advertisements of models who have been digitally altered will have to include text that labels it a “retouched photograph.” This includes any altering whether it makes certain body parts appear smaller or larger. The fines for violation are very prohibitive starting at just over £32,000 to as high as 30% of the ad’s production budget.
Given Paris’ prominent role in the fashion industry, this step toward a healthier-looking catwalk could have a widespread impact on the industry as a whole.
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, please callBeaton 0345 634 1414. Support and information is available 365 days a year.
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Political newcomer Emmanuel Macron will be France's next president, pollsters projected Sunday night, delivering a resounding victory to an unabashedly pro-European former investment banker and strengthening France's place as a central pillar of the European Union.
A crowd outside the Louvre museum at a Macron victory party jubilantly waved red, white and blue tricolor flags at the news.
If confirmed, the result would constitute a resounding rejection of far-right Marine Le Pen's "French-first" nationalism and dash her hopes that the same populist wave that swept Donald Trump into the White House would also carry her to the French presidential Elysee Palace.
A Macron victory would mark the third time in six months — following elections in Austria and the Netherlands — that European voters have shot down far-right populists who want to restore borders across Europe. The victory of a candidate — Macron — who championed European unity could strengthen the EU's hand in its complex divorce proceedings with Britain, which voted last year to leave the bloc.
Pollsters projected that Macron won 65 percent of the votes Sunday. Le Pen's projected 35 percent score was lower than her polling numbers earlier in the campaign.
Many French voters backed Macron reluctantly, not because they agreed with his politics but simply to keep out Le Pen and her far-right National Front party, still tainted by its anti-Semitic and racist history.
After the most closely watched and unpredictable French presidential campaign in recent memory, many voters rejected the choice altogether: Pollsters projected that voters cast blank or spoiled ballots in record numbers Sunday — a protest of both candidates.
At 39, Macron would become France's youngest-ever president — and one of its most unlikely.
Unknown to voters before his turbulent 2014-16 tenure as a pro-business economy minister, Macron took a giant gamble by quitting the government of outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande to run his first-ever electoral campaign as an independent.
His startup political movement — optimistically named, "En Marche!," or "Forward!" — caught fire in just one year, harnessing voters' hunger for new faces and new ideas and steering France into unchartered political territory.
In a first for postwar France, neither of the mainstream parties on the left or the right qualified in the first round of voting on April 23 for Sunday's winner-takes-all duel between Macron and Le Pen.
Despite her projected loss, Le Pen's advancement to the runoff for the first time marked a breakthrough for the 48-year-old. She placed third in 2012, underscoring a growing acceptance for her fierce anti-immigration, France-first nationalism among disgruntled voters.
The candidates' polar-opposite visions presented the 47 million registered voters with the starkest possible choice. Le Pen's closed borders faced off against Macron's open ones; his commitment to free trade ran against her proposals to protect the French from global economic competition and immigration. Her desire to free France from the EU and the shared euro currency contrasted with his argument that both are essential for the future of Europe's third-largest economy.
As well as capitalising on voter rejection of the left-right monopoly on power, Macron also got lucky.
One of his most dangerous opponents, conservative former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, was hobbled by allegations that his family benefited from cushy taxpayer-funded jobs for years. On the left, the Socialist Party imploded, its candidate abandoned by voters who wanted to punish Hollande, France's most unpopular president since World War II. Hollande himself realised he was unelectable and decided not to run again.
In power, Macron would take charge of a nation that, when Britain leaves the EU in 2019, will become the EU's only member with nuclear weapons and a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.
He has promised a France that would stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin but that also would seek to work with the Russian leader on what he says will be one of his top priorities: fighting the Islamic State group, whose extremists have claimed or inspired multiple attacks in France since 2015.
France has been in a state of emergency since then and 50,000 security forces were used to safeguard Sunday's vote.
Macron is expected to keep up French military operations against extremists in Iraq and Syria and Africa's Sahel region, and maintain pressure on Russia over Ukraine and support for Syrian President Bashar Assad.
With the United States, Macron says he wants continued intelligence-sharing and cooperation at the United Nations and hopes to persuade Trump not to pull the U.S. out of a global emissions-cutting deal against climate change.
Domestically, Macron inherits a deeply troubled and divided nation of 67 million people. The French are riven by anxieties about terrorism and chronic unemployment, worried about the cultural, economic and religious impact of immigration and fear France's ability to compete against giants like China and Google.
His proposed remedies include both economic reforms and his own infectious, upbeat optimism that France need not resign itself to continuing economic and social decline, especially as part of an EU competing together against other powers.
The campaign ended Friday night with a hacking attack and document leak targeting Macron. France's government cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, is investigating. Macron's team said the hack aimed to destabilise the vote. But the timing of the leak appeared too late to have a significant impact on voting intentions.
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