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Are Adorable โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Couple Patrick & Belinda Still Together?

We really hope so!

While Married At First Sight 2021 has had quite a few long-standing couples making it to the final vows this week, when it comes to strong pairings, it doesnโ€™t get much more compatible than Belinda Vickers and Patrick Dwyer.

The MAFS couple were an instant hit with fans thanks to their adorable shy energy and slow pace, becoming friends first, then lovers over weeks of tentativeness. 

Sure, there was that whole โ€œis Belinda lying about never having had a boyfriendโ€ business when it was revealed she may have had a 73-year-old partner years back.

But their romance has been sweet as hell, itโ€™s their off-screen behaviour that has fans thinking the couple are still going strong outside the show. Hereโ€™s why.

1. They Spent Time Together In Melbourne

As spotted on reality TV Instagram The Wash, Belinda and Patrick attended a party together looking very much loved-up. Theyโ€™ve been spotted plenty of times hanging out, like here paying for parking (celebrities, theyโ€™re just like us!) and by other fans in Melbourne.

Both hailing from Victoria, gossip sites speculate that the pair have actually moved in together in Melbourne.

2. They Were Spotted At A โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Party

MAFS

Adding to the strong rumour that Patrick and Belinda are still together, Popsugar claims they saw the couple attend Fitzy & Wippaโ€™s Married At First Sight dinner party, and that Patrick himself confirmed they were still an item.

Given all these couple appearances going on, theyโ€™re either tricking us or the real deal.

3. Patrick Is Plagued By Cheating Claims, Though

MAFS

While most of the rumours circulating about Patrick and Belinda are positive and hint at the MAFS couple staying together after the show, one rumour from reality TV podcast So Dramatic claims that Patrick has been hitting on women at the gym he works at. 

Granted, itโ€™s a rumour from a source and we donโ€™t know who this source is. But still! We hope this isnโ€™t the end of Patrick and Belinda.

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An Investigation Into Whether โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Alana And Jason Are Still Together

If rumours are to be believed, the couple are involved in a "shocking twist" at final vows.

As Married At First Sight begins its final vows tonight, the couples who have bravely joined Channel Nineโ€™s social experiment must decide if they plan to leave as a couple or call it quitsโ€”and one couple in particular weโ€™re dying to see how things have turned out since the series ended is Alana and Jason. 

While the season has been largely dominated by Bryce and Melissaโ€™s relationship, the couple demanding the drama as rumours of a โ€œsecret girlfriendโ€ spread throughout the group, resulting in numerous dinner party blowups (which featured yet another wine-throwing incident). 

Even Alana and Jasonโ€™s relationship was affected by the drama going on between Bryce and Melissa. Alana decided to speak her mind and tell Melissa something Jason had told her in confidence, which caused Jason to storm out of the dinner party yelling: โ€œYou will never see me again after this.โ€

Despite having some rocky patches, the couple has pretty much been a steady partnership throughout the past several weeks. 

On Monday nightโ€™s episode, the pair made their decisions to stay or leave. 

โ€œAlana is definitely the perfect woman for me and I canโ€™t wait to tell her how I feel,โ€ Jason tells producers ahead of the ceremony, while Alana admits sheโ€™s ready to โ€œwalk away.โ€ 

Jasonโ€™s up first for the ceremony, telling his bride, โ€œYou are a kind, soft-hearted woman that would do anything to make me happy, and all of these qualities prove to me that you would be an amazing wife and mother of my children.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m falling in love with you Alana, and I canโ€™t wait to go back to sunny Queensland with you to live out our happy ever after,โ€ he finishes. 

โ€œEven though we felt the lowest of lows, we both never have given up. However, I started to second-guess your actions, and feel like I wanted to leave,โ€ Alana begins.

โ€œI canโ€™t deal with the way you speak to me, and you being blindly loyal to people with questionable morals have made me question your morals.โ€

โ€œI truly believe you are not ready to settle down, and I feel that we are in different stages of our livesโ€ฆโ€ she goes on, pausing before telling her groom, โ€œWe have some huge issues to work through, but Jasonโ€ฆ Iโ€™m willing to do the work if you are.โ€

โ€œDid you just change your mind just then?โ€ Jason asks as Alana throws away the cards containing the rest of her vows.

Following the episode the pair are yet to release a formal statement, but just last month the So Dramatic! podcast shared a photo of the MAFS couple holding hands during a date on the Gold Coast, leading fans to believe they are still together. 

However, in news that contradicts the pair staying together comes from eagle-eyed fans who noticed the couple donโ€™t follow each other on Instagram, and according to Now To Love, Alana isnโ€™t following any of her fellow MAFS contestants, while Jason is still following Coco Stedman, Bryce Ruthven, Jake Edwards, and Brett Helling.

Weโ€™ll have to wait and see! 

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Are โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Cuties Liam & Georgia Still Together?

We investigated.

When it comes to Married At First Sight 2021, one of the strongest-seeming couples has to be Georgia Fairweather and Liam Cooper. Their romance has seemed effortless and supportive โ€“ until the recent dinner party, which showed some potential cracks in the foundations.

While Georgia and Liam had instant chemistry and a mutual attraction, itโ€™s been their easy enjoyment of each otherโ€™s company that has had fans speculating that the couple will not only make it to final vows, but make it beyond the show as a real-life couple.

However, certain events of late have us thinking Georgia and Liam wonโ€™t last beyond the show. Here, we investigate whether they last.

1. Liam Said His Friends Wouldnโ€™t Like Georgia

MAFS

At last nightโ€™s dinner party, Liam went from being our favourite sweet husband on Married At First Sight 2021 to being enemy number 1, when he passionately exclaimed that his friends would not like Georgia, then went to get the groupโ€™s approval when he suggested that everyone hates Georgia when they first meet her.

It was super rude, and revealed a side to Liam we donโ€™t love, to be honest. Could that comment be the beginning of the end for the couple?

2. Bryce Hinted That Liam & Georgia Lied About Sleeping Together

MAFS

While Liam and Georgia easily developed from new friends to lovers, according to what they told the experts, Bryce Ruthven & Melissa Rawson hinted on the Kyle & Jackie O Show that Liam and Georgia lied about having sex during the show.

โ€œYou reckon thereโ€™s been no sex there, at all?โ€ Kyle and Jackie asked regarding Liam and Georgia. โ€œThatโ€™s the rumour thatโ€™s going around,โ€ said Melissa. โ€œItโ€™s a very strong rumour that weโ€™ve been told by multiple people on the show,โ€ added Bryce.

3. The Damning Viral Video

MAFS

By far the strongest indication that Liam and Georgia are over has to be the viral video that was posted to So Dramaticโ€™s Instagram account, which saw Georgia and fellow MAFS stars Johnny and Jason talking trash about Liam, including awful comments that heโ€™s โ€œchubbyโ€ and โ€œuglyโ€. Georgia laughs along, which is surely not something youโ€™d do if you were still with your partner, right?

4. It Looks Like Georgiaโ€™s Been Hanging Out With Johnny A Lot

Finally, The Wash  recently posted photos of Georgia and Johnny visiting the same Brisbane venues, with photos posted just days apart โ€“ hinting at them spending time together but not wanting fans to know about it.

They both posted photos at the Comuna Cantina bar and the pool at The Fantauzzo toward the end of last year. Just friends or something more?

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We Know Which Couples Decide To Stay Together (And Break Up) At MAFSโ€™ Final Vows

Apparently, there's a twist nobody saw coming!
Man in blue floral shirt and woman with updo smile at camera, "Married at First Sight" logo in corner.

This article contains spoilers for MAFSโ€™ Final Vows. 

Thatโ€™s it, Australiaโ€”weโ€™ve made it through yet another season of Married At First Sight. Not without some serious drama along the way, of course, mainly thanks to Bryce and Melissa, who have been a couple riddled with controversy this season. 

The social experiment also brought with it this season yet another wine throwing incident, rumours of a โ€œsecret girlfriendโ€ and it wouldnโ€™t be MAFS without the final plot: a cheating scandal. 

Now with the first round of final rounds done, we know (partly) who decided to write stay, and who decided to write leave. 

Below, see which MAFS couples are still together and which ones called it quits. 

Belinda Vickers and Patrick Dwyer

Having kept their relationship fairly steady over the course of the experiment, Belinda and Patrick got a fairytale ending on Tuesday nightโ€™s episode of Married At First Sight. 

Belinda praised Patrick for being patient with her, adding she was โ€œgratefulโ€ heโ€™d come into her life. 

Since the series stopped filming, the pair have been spotted together, with gossip site The Wash receiving a message from a fan who saw them looking โ€œloved upโ€ in Melbourne. 

โ€œNot sure if this is actually news or not, but Patrick and Belinda (MAFS) still together,โ€ the source said. โ€œThey were out on Brunswick street tonight looking loved up and talking to fans.โ€

Aww! 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNhU21-r8uS/

Jake Edwards and Beck Zemek

In news that fans might find surprising, Jake and Beck decided to give things a go outside of the experimentโ€”perhaps, all that fighting with Bryce brought the couple together? 

At the final vows, Rebecca revealed that the decision hadnโ€™t been an easy one, but ultimately she wanted to try and make it work with Jake outside of the experiment too. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNhWjg6D0w1/

Johnny Balbuziente and Kerry Knight

Arguably one of this seasonโ€™s strongest couples, itโ€™s unsurprising that Johnny and Kerry choose to stay together. 

The couple made their way to Sydneyโ€™s stunning Botanical Gardens to make their final decision, and declared their love for one another. 

โ€œKerry, I have never met somebody like you, and I am falling in love with you, and I wholeheartedly want to continue this crazy journey with you,โ€ Johnny told his bride, while she confirms her feelings for him telling Johnny sheโ€™s falling in love. 

Following the episode, the couple took to Instagram to share some sweet photographs from the final vows. 

Johnny wrote, โ€œShe is strong, she is fierce, she is radiant and I am so proud to stand by her side.โ€ 

Kerry added simply, โ€œ#jerryforlifeโ€, using the coupleโ€™s sweet moniker. 

Alana Lister and Jason Engler

During the final vows, the pair made their decisions to stay or leaveโ€”and it involved a twist nobody saw coming. 

Jason was first up, telling his bride, โ€œIโ€™m falling in love with you Alana, and I canโ€™t wait to go back to sunny Queensland with you to live out our happy ever after,โ€ while Alana seemed hesitant at first, she goes on to tell her husband: โ€œWe have some huge issues to work through, but Jasonโ€ฆ Iโ€™m willing to do the work if you are.โ€

Following the episode, the pair are yet to release a formal statement, but just last month the So Dramatic! podcast shared a photo of the MAFS couple holding hands during a date on the Gold Coast, leading fans to believe they are still together. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM9P-Gbgv2I/

Georgia Fairweather and Liam Cooper

It was a bittersweet and shocking end to one of MAFS fan favourite couples, where things began to take a turn at the dinner party before the final vows, where the groom revealed his family and friends might not like Georgia. 

From there the couple parted before their explosive Final Vows. Liam revealed he loved Georgia, with Georgia responding by claiming he โ€œgaslitโ€, โ€œmanipulatedโ€ and โ€œdegradedโ€ herโ€”words the groom strongly disagreed with.

While Georgia was willing to give the relationship another go, her harsh words turned him away. โ€œYou donโ€™t know me at all,โ€ he said. โ€œLetโ€™s just call it quits.โ€ 

Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson

The couple thatโ€™s had the most ups and downs this season is hands down Melissa and Bryce, which is why everyone is holding out to see whether the couple chooses to stay or leaveโ€”and unsurprisingly, the controversial couple decided to stay together. 

โ€œMelissa, I am falling in love with you and I canโ€™t wait to start a life together,โ€ Bryce tells Melissa during the ceremony, to which she responds: โ€œDespite the rumour, the conflict and everyoneโ€™s opinion, I know deep down in my heart that I have never felt this way. I can absolutely say with certainty that I am in love with you,โ€ she finishes.

Following the emotional episode, the pair took to social media to share an update on their relationshipโ€”confirming our suspicions that they were back together. 

Sharing a photo of the pair from the final commitment ceremony, Bryce wrote: โ€œWe know people donโ€™t agree with how our relationship appears to be from the outside. We have proven you can be happy with someone when others negatively judge our relationship from afar without knowing the home truths. People are always going to have opinions as we do in our own relationship. In the end, @mafs shows everyone that love silences all โ™ฅ๏ธโ€ 

Melissa echoed his sentiments, writing: โ€œMy heart is full. I love this man so much and we truly make each other happy every single day. While it might be hard for some to believe, it is my decision, my life and my choice. And I choose him. He is my partner, my lover and the man that I have fallen head over heels for. Our love story is what I asked for; an all consuming and unconditional love. And I have found that with Bryce โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿฅฐ #MAFS.โ€ 

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We Tried Nancy Ganzโ€™s New Bras, Which Promise A Weightless, Natural Fit

Tried and tested.

Ask any woman what bras she has in her wardrobe and youโ€™ll almost always be met with an answer that consists of three staples: an everyday bra, a sports bra and one kept for special occasions. Throw in a strapless for good measure. 

Now ask any woman the reason she limits her bra choices to so few and itโ€™s often going to be met with a similar opinion: itโ€™s an intimidating, daunting and often frustrating experience. 

Too often the question stays focused on whether or not a bra is the right โ€œsizeโ€, without taking into consideration the other thousands of questions that should go into the monumental decision. And yes, monumental it is considering most of us keep the same ones for years (and wear daily, might we add). 

Thereโ€™s so much more to consider when shopping for lingerie, going beyond just number and size. Colour, shape, coverage, fabric, texture, and of course, pinch-factor, all play a huge role in whether that bra is right for you. So the reality is, finding one thatโ€™s both form-fitting and comfortable is surprisingly hard.

Thatโ€™s why the marie claire team decided to put Nancy Ganzโ€™s newest Shaping Bra collection to the test. The range is designed locally with the mission to create pieces that are โ€œversatile, comfortable and inclusiveโ€ for all body types, running from size 10 to 18 with cup sizes B to G. The new collection includes innovative fabric made with innovative technologies at the underarm, designed for a lightweight, โ€œanti-jiggleโ€ wearability. 

nancy ganz

I ordered the nude Body Fusion Wire-Free Contour Bra in a 10C to test it out for myself. 

On first impression, the cup size was much fuller coverage than Iโ€™m used to, both on the cup and bottom strapโ€”which I was interested to see if it made any difference. 

Giving it a whirl with a typical work outfit, namely a plain white tee, I was instantly impressed with how smooth and almost invisible it was underneath the cotton, which admittedly is something thatโ€™s been bothering me with another bra Iโ€™ve been wearing recently. 

The back was smooth (huge!) and didnโ€™t pinch (huge, again!), which meant it didnโ€™t give off that uncomfortable feeling in the back like so many others seem to do. 

The straps were what I was most impressed with, though. They didnโ€™t slip or budge the entire day, while remaining soft enough to go unnoticed, and for once I wasnโ€™t constantly rearranging. 

And unlike other non-wired bras Iโ€™ve tried in the past, it didnโ€™t droop (although Iโ€™m by no means on the bustier side when that would present as a real issue). 

All in all, I have to say ever since it arrived it has quickly become the first bra I gravitate to in the mad morning dash of getting readyโ€”which really, speaks for itself. 

bra

Also trying the new collection was marie claireโ€™s Editor (digital) Melissa Mason, who was roadtesting the Body Light contour range

โ€œI was surprised that I liked this bra, because for years Iโ€™ve avoided any padding at all when it comes to brasโ€”even really light contour padding felt like it made by 10E bust look five times bigger,โ€ she says. โ€œBut the contour padding in this bra is flexible and feels like it genuinely contours your bust, rather than staying firm and adding a cup size.

โ€œThe highlight for me however was the infinity edging and tech called โ€˜comfort underarmโ€™. Basically, Nancy Ganz has really thought about minimising those classic lumps and bumps we all get when wearing bras, making it actually seamless under tees and tanks.โ€

The collection is available to shop here

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Why Was Prince Philip Not King? The Answer Is Monarchial Title Traditions

Queen Elizabeth II herself chose to bestow him with the title 'Prince'
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband to Queen Elizabeth II, died on Friday. The 99-year-oldโ€™s death was confirmed by the palace, here, an account of his life. One question many had on his passing was why was the late Prince Philip not king, despite being married to the queen? Prince Philip, who was in his own right a former prince of Denmark and Greece, was actually never in line to the British throne.

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth were married in 1947, and she took the throne and became queen in 1952. It was actually only in 1957 that Philipโ€™s title was adjusted from Duke of Edinburgh to Prince. This was a decision made by the Queen herself and was in keeping with regular traditions around titles the monarchy observe.

The statement released by the palace at the time read: โ€œThe Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm bearing date 22nd February, 1957, to give and grant unto His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, K.G., K.T., G.B.E., the style and titular dignity of a Prince of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Whitehall.โ€

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

Per monarchic traditions, a woman who marries a king may be called a queen, but the same does not apply to men who marry women. Per BBC News, โ€œmen who marry the monarch canโ€™t use the title king, which can only be used by male sovereigns.โ€

The next person who will be a British king is Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth IIโ€™s son, Charles, Prince of Wales. Following Charles is his and Dianaโ€™s son, Prince William, whose eldest son with Kate Middleton, Prince George, is next in line for the title of king.

Following his death, tributes and condolences have rolled in for the now widowed Queen. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have personally paid tribute to Prince Philip on their Archewell site. 

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Why Meghan Markle Will Not Be Attending Prince Philipโ€™s Funeral

The Duchess' reason is perfectly understandable

In the wake of his grandfather Prince Philipโ€™s passing, Prince Harry is all set to return to the U.K. to attend the funeral and reunite with his family for the first time since stepping back as a senior royal, however Meghan Markle will not be joining him on the journey.

Naturally, people have been speculating as to why the Duchess of Sussex wonโ€™t be returning to London with her husband, and as it would turn out, there is a perfectly understandable reason for their decision for her to remain in Los Angeles, where the couple now reside.

Meghan, who is pregnant with the coupleโ€™s second child, has been advised by her physician not to travel, per a Buckingham Palace spokesperson who issued a statement on April 10.

โ€œThe Duke of Sussex is planning to attend,โ€ they said. โ€œThe Duchess of Sussex has been advised by her physician not to travel. So the Duke will be attending.โ€

Per E!, Meghan and Harryโ€™s own representation confirmed the spokespersonโ€™s statement, adding that the Prince will follow the required COVID-19 protocols for travel to and from the U.K., as well as during his time in the country.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
(Credit: Getty)

Prince Harryโ€™s return will mark the first time that he will see his family in person since he and Meghan stepped down as senior royals last year. It will also be their first meeting since the airing of the coupleโ€™s controversial Oprah interview, which aired in March 2021 and from which a number of major revelations about their life as royals were made public.

Following Prince Philipโ€™s sad passing, Harry and Meghan shared a tribute to the World War II veteran on their Archewell website, which said: โ€œThank you for your serviceโ€ฆ you will be greatly missed.โ€

The Duke of Edinburghโ€™s funeral is set to take place on April 17 at St Georgeโ€™s Chapel at Windsor Castle, which was also where Harry and Meghan had their 2018 wedding. Due to COVID-19 protocols, there wonโ€™t be any public processions and only 30 people, most of whom will be his family members, are permitted to attend. 

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BAFTAs 2021 Red Carpet: All The Best Dressed Stars

Vanessa Kirby in sleek Versace? Perfection.
Woman in a metallic dress leans against a wall in a narrow alley, looking at the camera.

Award season is officially in session, and on April 12 it was time for British filmโ€™s biggest night of the yearโ€”the 2021 BAFTAs. Held at Royal Albert Hall in London, the event was scaled back due to COVID, with nominees choosing to attend both in-person and virtually. 

Phoebe Dynevor, of Bridgerton fame, kept things simple in a floor-length Louis Vuitton gown, while Priyanka Chopra Jonas went colourful alongside husband Nick Jonas. Also in attendance at the glamorous event were Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Emerald Fennell, Sophie Cookson and Felicity Jones.

Rose Byrne, Andra Day, Anna Kendrick and Renรฉe Zellweger all appeared from Los Angeles via Zoom. 

Below, weโ€™re rounding up the best looks from the 2021 BAFTAs. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNiedbirzjD/
Phoebe Dynevor in Louis Vuitton
Phoebe Dynevor in Louis Vuitton
Anna Kendrick in Zuhair Murad
Anna Kendrick in Zuhair Murad
Emerald Fennell in Roland Mouret & Theo Fennell jewellery
Emerald Fennell in Roland Mouret & Theo Fennell jewellery
Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Pertegaz & Bulgari Jewellery and Nick Jonas
Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Pertegaz & Bulgari Jewellery and Nick Jonas
Niamh Algar in Maison Valentino
Niamh Algar in Maison Valentino
Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton
Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Louis Vuitton
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Louis Vuitton

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That โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Dinner Party Just Made Us Hate Everyone

Enough.

Okay, weโ€™ve reached that point where to be honest, weโ€™re pretty keen for Married At First Sight 2021 to be over. Specifically, because we just canโ€™t handle Bryce and Melissaโ€™s toxic on-screen relationship anymore. 

Tonightโ€™s dinner party saw, as always, Bryce being confronted with rumours of a girlfriend on the outside of the experiment, while Melissa defended him even after multiple people have made the same claims.

This season has really felt focused on this couple and while weโ€™ll never know the true nature of their relationship off-screen, itโ€™s pretty apparent that the on-screen stuff we see of them is toxic as hell. Plus, watching Melissa let their issues go again and again on camera is getting, well, just too difficult to watch.

But we also had another depressing moment โ€“ Liam, our fave, showing a mean side after telling the table his friends wouldnโ€™t approve of wife Georgia. Really? You needed to say that?

Not to mention Bec continuing to string along Jake, another relationship weโ€™re pretty tired of.

Honestly weโ€™re just getting a bit over all the yuck on-screen relationships, and Twitter feels the same, with plenty of people taking to their keyboards to express their frustrations.

https://twitter.com/_rachael94_/status/1381189378169442311

UGH. Are we rooting for anyone on Married At First Sight anymore?

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Australian Of the Year Grace Tame Helms marie claireโ€™s May Cover

In a cover that celebrates one of most inspiring young women of our time, Grace Tame talks survival, speaking out and starting a revolution.

As with other young global activists โ€“ think Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafazi โ€“ child sexual abuse survivor and activist Grace Tame is a true change-maker. The power of the impassioned message she has voiced since being named 2021 Australian of the Year in January has captured the nation and ignited a revolution, leading to her helming marie claireโ€™s first non-celebrity cover in its 25-year history.

Not that she sees it that way โ€“ humbly rejecting the revolutionary tag and instead describing herself as a โ€œtiny dominoโ€ whoโ€™s helped prompt others into action. Think former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, schoolgirl sexual assault petitioner Chanel Contos and the thousands who attended the rallies against sexual violence and inequality in March. โ€œPeople are sometimes deterred from action or doubt the value of their contribution in change,โ€ says Tame, 26. โ€œBut thereโ€™s a whole set of dominos waiting to be pushed over. Just be that one domino. Your tiny little contribution has enormous catalytic potential.โ€

grace
(Credit: Image: Corrie Bond)

Adamant that men not be seen as the enemy or that sheโ€™s a poster-girl for rage, Tame speaks affectionately of the males in her life who have helped steer her life towards positivity and hope. Thereโ€™s her partner and โ€œsoulmateโ€ Max, who she met last year and describes as the love of her life. โ€œWeโ€™ve both been in long-term relationships; I was even married [to actor Spencer Breslin]. But Iโ€™m already closer to Max than I was to my husband,โ€ she tells marie claire.

Thereโ€™s also Dr Simon William, who she trusted with details of the harrowing sexual assault she suffered for years at the hands of fellow school teacher Nicholaas Bester, leading to his arrest. Lastly, her 11-year-old brother, Oscar, who Tame describes as her โ€œlittle heroโ€. โ€œHeโ€™s a very, very special person. He came into the world right when the abuse started, and pardon the pun, he was a literal saving grace.โ€

grace
(Credit: Image: Corrie Bond)

Despite the incredible momentum that has occurred since her heart-pounding Australian of the Year acceptance speech, Tame is clear that a frenzied uprising is not the answer. โ€œWeโ€™re all getting very stirred up at the moment. We see these surges and then they die down. What we need to do is sustain a more manageable, reasonable momentum thatโ€™s not so overblown, itโ€™s just measured.โ€

And sheโ€™s adamant that sheโ€™ll keep fighting the fight long after her reign โ€“ until child sexual abuse is eradicated and the laws around consent have a standard national definition. โ€œI wonโ€™t stop until I see the end of child sexual assault,โ€ she says. โ€œItโ€™s as simple as that.โ€

For more, be sure to get a copy of the May issue of marie claire Australia, on stands April 15.

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โ€œItโ€™s The Love Story For Me.โ€ The World Reacts To Prince Philipโ€™s Passing

The duke had been married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years and was her "strength and stay"
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip young

On April 9, the royal family confirmed the passing of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabethโ€™s husband of 74 years. 

The announcement came via an official statement, which read: โ€œIt is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.โ€

The statement added HRH passed away โ€œpeacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.โ€ 

Philip is survived by his children, Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward, and their families, including his great-grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Savannah and Isla Phillips, as well as Princess Eugenieโ€™s son August, and Mia, Lena and Lucas Tindall, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s son Archie Harrison and their soon-to-arrive second child. 

Upon hearing the news, many praised the Duke for his marriage to Her Majesty.

โ€œHe was the longest-serving consort in history, one of the last surviving people in this country to have served in the second world war at Cape Matapan, where he was mentioned in despatches for bravery,โ€ said U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, adding, โ€œHe was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world long before it was fashionable.

Below, how the world is reacting to the news or Prince Philipโ€™s passing. 

https://twitter.com/F0xyUK/status/1380489490658131970
https://twitter.com/Soxthewavingcat/status/1380491150637826048

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Prince Philip Duke Of Edinburgh Has Passed Away, Aged 99

Kensington Palace has confirmed the news.
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth

Queen Elizabeth IIโ€™s husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has passed away at age 99.

The royal family announced the news on Twitter via an official statement. 

It read: โ€œIt is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.โ€ 

The Duke has been hospitalised numerous times over the past few years, including in 2018, Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€˜s royal wedding was notably rushed along to ensure Harryโ€™s grandfather would be well enough to attend. 

prince philip

Prince Philipโ€™s Life

The duke was born Philip Mountbatten to Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg on June 10, 1921 on the Greek island of Corfu.

He was one of five children: Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark, Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark, Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark.

The royal was educated in Paris, then moved to the U.K. and stayed at Kensington Palace with his uncle, George Mountbatten, later attending school in Germany, which was owned by his brother-in-law, before moving on to another school in Scotland. 

Sadly, in 1937 his sister and her family were killed in an air crash, which led him to join the Royal Navy, where he worked his way up to second-in-command of a ship during the Invasion of Sicily, and at just 21 and he served in the Second World War. 

prince philip

Philip and Queen Elizabeth II met when she was just 13, and got engaged and wed the same year at Westminster Abbey, the same venue their grandchild Prince William would wed now-wife, Kate Middleton.

The royal couple went on to live in Malta for the next few years, where they had their first son, Prince Charles in 1949, and welcomed their first and only daughter, Princess Anne, in 1950.

royal family
The royal family at Buckingham Palace in 1972. Left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward and Prince Charles

In 1953, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth at age 25 after her father died and Prince Philip has been by her side throughout her reign. 

Prince Andrew was their third child who was born in 1960 and four years later, their last child Prince Edward was born. 

Prince Philip had eight grandchildren: Prince William, Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice of York, Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Harry, Zara Phillips, Prince Eugenie of York and James, Viscount Severn.

He is also a great-grandfather of five: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Savannah and Isla Phillips, as well as Archie Harrison, and Princess Eugenieโ€™s new arrival, a baby boy whoโ€™s name is yet to be released, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s soon-to-arrive second child. 

โ€œThe Royal Family join with people around the world in mourning his loss,โ€ the Twitter statement continues. โ€œFurther announcements will be made in due course. Visit royal.uk to read the announcement in full.โ€

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Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris Launches A Capsule Collaboration with Elie Saab

The couture designerโ€™s new lip collection brings his elegance to the everyday

Lending his refined blushing and nude colour palette from the couture runways to wedding aisles and now smiles, Elie Saab and Lโ€™Oreal Paris have partnered to launch an exclusive makeup collaboration.

With a curated edit of four nourishing satin lipsticks, three hyaluronic acid-drenched lip glosses and a volumising mascara for fluttering lashes, the collection heroes the simplicity of Saabโ€™s artistry and pared-back beauty.

โ€œMy goal has always been to make women look beautiful and this collection allows me to bring an array of products to fit into womenโ€™s lives; helping them to feel more elegant and confident in their everyday,โ€ shares the designer Elie Saab.

โ€œMore than just a fashion collaboration, the launch of this collection during such unprecedented times will be a way for Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris and Elie Saab to bring optimism, beauty and self-worth,โ€ says the brandโ€™s Global President Delphine Viguier-Hovasse.

With packaging inspired by the intricate minimalism of Elie Saabโ€™s lace gowns, Viguier-Hovasse adds the collection is an โ€œaccessible way for every woman to indulge in a little escapism and experience the strength that comes from beauty.โ€

 The Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris x ELIE SAAB collection is available now for $24.95 a piece at Chemist Warehouse and online at chemistwarehouse.com.au.

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โ€˜Themโ€™ Is The Chilling Series Shining A Light On Racism At The Hands Of Eerie 1950s Housewives

Say goodbye to a good night's sleep

Moving to a new and unfamiliar neighbourhood is terrifying enough, but when youโ€™re a person of colour heading into an area dominated by racists, itโ€™s surely a horror inducing experience.

Which is why fans of Lovecraft Country or Jordan Peeleโ€™s Us are in for a treat, thanks to Amazon Primeโ€™s latest offering, THEM.

Created by Lena Waithe (Master Of None) and Little Marvin, the series is set in the 1950s during a period called The Great Migration, and follows a Black family as they move from North Carolina to an incredibly eerie all-white neighbourhood in Los Angeles.

Filled with picture-perfect white women ร  la The Stepford Wives sporting sinister smiles, creepy children and spine-tingling comments, the series is a lesson in Black trauma that not only ran rampant in the โ€™50s, but continues to do so today, as the world witnessed with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Curious on what happens to the EmorysKeep reading for everything you need to know about the filmโ€”from the plot and cast members to when you can watch it in Australia.

What Is The Plot Of THEM?

Set over a 10-day period in the 1950s, THEM is an anthology-style seriesโ€”ร  la American Horror Storyโ€”that follows the Emory family during their move from North Carolina to an all-white neighbourhood in Los Angeles.

Moving into a seemingly beautiful family home, things quickly turn sour when the family become subject to horrific racial abuse by their neighbours, later finding out that their dream abode is holding a secret thatโ€™s far from dreamy. 

The Emory family then must fight a war on two fronts, against their house thatโ€™s haunted by mysterious supernatural forces and a neighbourhood who wants them out.

But donโ€™t take our word for it, check out the trailer below to see for yourself.

WATCH BELOW: THEM Trailer

Who Is Cast In THEM?

As per every streaming service must-watch, Them boasts an impressive line up of famous faces. Leading the cast is Deborah Ayorinde (Marvelโ€™s Luke Cage) and Ashley Thomas (Top Boy) as Lucky and Henry Emory, the parents of the family.

Joining the pair are Shahadi Wright Joseph (Jordan Peeleโ€™s Us) and Melody Hurd (Jurassic World) as daughters Ruby and Melody Emory, as well as Alison Pill (Midnight In Paris) as one of the showโ€™s main villains, cruel neighbour Betty Wendell, while Liam McIntyre (The Flash) stars as her husband, Clarke.

Rounding out the main cast are Australian Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) as George Bell, Christopher Heyerdahl (Tin Star), as Hiram Epps, Jeremiah Birkett (Lucifer) as Da Tap Dance Man and Abbie Cobb (Suburgatory) as Nat Dixon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMNKC9mjHAm/

When Can We Watch THEM In Australia?

Intrigued? You can check out the first season of THEM on Amazon Prime from April 9.

And if you find yourself lost post-binge-watch, THEM has already been renewed for a second season, focusing on an entirely different story with new characters.

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3 Of The Best Natural Deodorants To Try

Putting the beauty staple to the test

When we first started our sustainable living and natural beauty journey, natural deodorant was the standout product to switch out in our daily routine. It seemed easy, we wouldnโ€™t have to sacrifice on anything the world can see (insert your favourite red lipstick, foundation, mascara or eyeliner here) and we were immediately addressing concerns of aluminium and paraben laden chemist-bought deodorants, and the perils of sweat blockers. However, as anyone who has ever tried a natural deodorant will tell you, many of them are impossible to apply, leave stains on your clothes and frankly donโ€™t always hold up.

Until now. The good news is natural deodorants have progressed so much in the last year. They smell great, are making inroads into sustainability, and performโ€”some even betterโ€”than their mainstream counterparts.

Weโ€™ve tested them to their limits (Pilates class, coastal runs and even horse riding), theyโ€™ve undergone the laundry test (no yellow marks), the toddler sniff test and even our partners approve. But what sets these hard-working daily essentials apart is they have all the benefits of a pasteโ€”long-lasting, you still sweat but you donโ€™t smellโ€”but all in a convenient and no mess stick. Here is our pick.

BIODE

A total game-changer as far as we are concerned. Biodeโ€™s packaging is 100 per cent biodegradableโ€”to the point that when youโ€™re finished with the packaging simply bury it in the garden, or a pot plant and it will break down in 12-20 weeks. Plus, itโ€™s formulated with natural and certified organic ingredients, is applied via a push-up tube, so again no mess, and has a woody, unisex scent, which we love.

biode

Biode Deodorant Into the Woods, $19; available at Mint Eco

ASUVI

Another sustainable game-changer, Asuvi deodorants arrive in a recyclable, easy to handle tube, but the clincher is they provide refills wrapped in biodegradable cardboard. All ingredients are sourced from smallholder family farms or Australian certified organic suppliers, and we love that they have scents for men and women.

asuvi

ASUVI The Refillable Deodorant Palm Grove, $20; available at Nourished Life

NATCH ESSENTIALS 

Housed in a chic green cylinder that can be recycled in your curbside collection, Natch Essentials deodorants are handcrafted in Sydney in small batches so that no two deodorants are the same. Itโ€™s free of all the nasties like aluminium, parabens and synthetics, and features a blend of coconut oil and vanilla oils. Itโ€™s one of our all-time favourites, easy to apply, no fuss and no mess!

natsh

Natch Essentials Natural Deodorant, $29; available at Assembly Label

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โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Star Jason Has Apologised For โ€œInappropriate Remarksโ€ In Viral Video

The video saw him call fellow MAFS star Liam "ugly and chubby".

MAFS star Jason Engler has issued a public apology for comments he made in a viral video that emerged this week of him slamming fellow Married At First Sight star Liam Cooper.

The video, which was exclusively shared by reality TV podcast So Dramatic on Instagram, showed Jason talking to-camera while spending time with fellow MAFS stars Johnny Balbuziente and Liamโ€™s on-screen wife, Georgia Fairweather. Johnnyโ€™s on-screen wife Kerry Knight was also present, although not shown on film.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNTQ-F7BM49/

In the video, Jason makes multiple slurs against Liam, calling him โ€œuglyโ€ and โ€œchubbyโ€, saying heโ€™s a โ€œ110% wankerโ€. He goes on to say โ€œHe hasnโ€™t gone to the gym in 64 years. Georgia is way hotter than him and he is batting way above his average,โ€ and โ€œGeorgiaโ€™s husband is full-blown homosexual.โ€

Naturally, fans were outraged by the video, as not only are Jasonโ€™s comments out of line, Georgia and Johnny are also seen laughing to the side. Georgia was allegedly the person who uploaded the video, as well.

mafs

Since the videoโ€™s release, Jason has made a formal statement to The Daily Mail, apologising for his words.

โ€œI would like to sincerely apologise for my comments in regards to a fellow MAFS participantโ€™s sexuality,โ€ he said.

โ€œAfter a few too many drinks I made some inappropriate remarks that I am ashamed of and greatly regret. I will learn from this and try to become a better person from this experience.โ€

A source allegedly close to Liam also told the outlet Liam was โ€œabsolutely betrayed and heartbrokenโ€ by the video. 

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Reese Witherspoon Shares the Clean Skincare Changing Her Skin (and The Industry) For the Better

Biossance is the beauty biotech making strides in sustainability and clean efficacy

When you spend as much time on-set and in camera-ready makeup as Reese Witherspoon, a dependable and hard-working skincare routine is a must. Taking to her Instagram, Reese Witherspoon announced her five year partnership as Global Brand Ambassador with the California beauty biotech company Biossance, sharing her love of their science and results-driven formulas and clean and sustainable values.

โ€œI have always been conscious of whatโ€™s being put on my skin, but after all the time Iโ€™ve spent on-sets throughout my career, Iโ€™ve learned so much.  As my knowledge has grown so has my desire to use clean and consciously created products,โ€ Witherspoon shares.

โ€œI not only fell in love with Biossanceโ€™s products, especially their Rose Oil, but also their innovative, female-led team and their mission towards a sustainable future,โ€ she adds.

Joining their self-care ambassador, Queer Eyeโ€™s Jonathan Van Ness as a convert of the brand, Reese Witherspoon says โ€œmy skin has never felt healthier and Iโ€™m proud to work with such a strong industry leader in sustainability and care for our planet.โ€

While Witherspoon is set to curate limited-edition edits of favourite products, scroll below to shop some of Reeseโ€™s (and the marie claire teamโ€™s) Biossance picks.

Biossane Squalane Vitamin C Rose Oil

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil, $110; sephora.com.au

This pretty pink bottle delivers firm and bright skin with its damascus rose petal extract and gentle vitamin C, suspended in squalane for lightweight hydration.

Biossance Squalane + Omega Repair Cream

BIOSSANCE Squalane + Omega Repair Cream, $89; sephora.com.au

Also counting Jonathan Van Ness as a fan, this reparative squalane and omega fatty acid cream sinks into skin to plump and soothe dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin.

Biossance 100% Squalane Oil

BIOSSANCE 100% Squalane Oil, $49; sephora.com.au

Just straight-up squalane, the brandโ€™s signature sugarcane-derived hydrator multitasks to nourish skin, hair and nails by mimicking naturally-occurring squalene as it depletes with age.

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Welcome Back Lara Croft, Angelina Jolie Returns To Action In Film About A Deadly Bushfire

It's been 10 years since her last action film

Putting Maleficent aside, itโ€™s been a decade since action fans saw Angelina Jolie battle her way through their screens via her stellar performances in classic violent flicks like Salt and Tomb Raider.

But now, Jolie is back to impress with more extraordinary stunt work, thanks to her latest film Those Who Wish Me Dead.

The new action movie sees Jolieโ€™s character cross paths with a young boy who is suddenly being hunted by assassins. And of course, the pair must also outrun a deadly bushfire that threatens their lives.

Directed by Taylor Sheridan, the film shares similarities to the horrific bushfires that Australia suffered over a year ago, and while the events in the movie are clearly glamorised, it could hit a little too close to home.

Curious? Keep reading for everything you need to know about the filmโ€”from the plot and cast members to when you can watch it in Australia.

What Is The Plot Of Those Who Wish Me Dead?

Based on a book by Michael Koryta, Those Who Wish Me Dead follows Hannah Faber (played by Jolie), who is a firefighter who struggles with past trauma of losing loved ones in a bushfire.

While patrolling her woodland surroundings in a watch tower, she crosses paths with a young boy who is fleeing after witnessing a murder. On the run, the pair must escape a group of assassins who are trying to kill the pair.

But donโ€™t take our word for it, check out the trailer below to see for yourself.

WATCH BELOW: Those Who Wish Me Dead Trailer

Who Is Cast In Those Who Wish Me Dead?

As we know, the film boasts a stellar line-up with Angelina Jolie taking the lead as firefighter Hannah Faber and Finn Little (Reckoning, 2067) starring as the young Connor Casserly.

Joining Jolie as the assassins are Nicholas Hoult (Skins, X-Men)Tyler Perry (Gone Girl, Star Trek) and Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones), along with Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead, The Punisher) as Harrison.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

When Can We Watch Those Who Wish Me Dead In Australia?

Those Who Wish Me Dead will be hitting cinemas in Australia on May 13.

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Kate Middleton Was Warned Not To Have Another Child Before Announcing Pregnancy With Prince Louis

This is what the Cambridges were told
Kate Middletonโ€™s adorable plans for Prince Louisโ€™ lockdown birthday
Kate Middletonโ€™s adorable plans for Prince Louisโ€™ lockdown birthday
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Prince William and Kate Middleton are parents to three beautiful children, Prince George, 6, Princess Charlotte, who turned 5 in May and Prince Louis who celebrated his second birthday in lockdown.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often open up about family life, whether itโ€™s sharing Louisโ€™ favourite celebrity or Charlotteโ€™s fancy go-to snack.

They have always worked hard to ensure that, despite being in the public eye, their three little ones have a sense of normality when it comes to their upbringing; they use a โ€˜chat sofaโ€™ to discipline the Cambridge children and Kate even stays up late baking their birthday cakes.

prince william

However, just before announcing that they were expecting their third child, William and Kate were warned not to have any more children.

During a tour of Poland and Germany in the summer of 2017, Kate was reportedly given a baby toy whilst in Warsaw. As George and Charlotte were four and two at the time, she is believed to have said to William: โ€˜Weโ€™ll just have to have more babies!โ€™

Shortly afterwards, childrenโ€™s organisation โ€˜Having Kidsโ€™ โ€“ which promotes a โ€˜sustainable and child-centred family planning modelโ€™ โ€“ urged the Duke and Duchess to reconsider expanding their family.

In an open letter, Executive Director President Anne Green Carter Dillard wrote that โ€˜the example the British Royal Family sets is extremely influential,โ€™ continuing: โ€˜Your discussion of having a larger family raises compelling issues of sustainability and equity.

โ€˜Large families are not sustainable.โ€™

kate middleton

She added that while George and Charlotte are โ€˜certain to have wonderful livesโ€ฆ the same canโ€™t be said of every future child.โ€™

Two months later, in September 2017, the couple shared the news that they were expecting their third child and Louis was born in April 2018.

Royal fans have been hoping that a fourth Cambridge baby could be on the way, but during a trip to Northern Ireland earlier this year someone called out to Kate: โ€˜Number four?โ€™

She replied: โ€˜I think William would be a little worried!โ€™

Well, thatโ€™s that!

This article originally appeared on marie claire U.K.

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Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! April 9th โ€“ April 15th

See what's in store ๐Ÿ’ซ
If you celebrate your birthday this week:
Your Year Ahead
Ariens are prompted to take more of a gamble this year, which could mean a change of address, or occupation.  While you may quietly dread the upheaval this suggests, donโ€™t waste your energy resisting.  Sure, youโ€™re tempted to stay snuggled in the familiar but change doesnโ€™t necessarily bring chaos โ€“ the Universe never gives you more than you can handle.  The timeโ€™s right to get the ball rolling on contracts that hold the promise of long-term success.  But itโ€™s not all work.  Look forward to mischievous May โ€“ a month that offers the chance to mix business with some delightful play.

Aries (March 21 โ€“ April 20)

Best Day:  Saturday 10th
Your mind is on the move, and the change looks positive.  Basically, it comes down to trusting your instincts and then acting on them quickly.  For many, this will mean new work or study.  And why not take a chance on love?  All this, thanks to a new moon in your own sign.  It seems that, this week, youโ€™re irresistible.  

Taurus (April 21 โ€“ May 20)

Best Day:  Monday 12th
Recently, too many demands have drained the Taurean spirit. No wonder youโ€™ve scuttled back into your shell.  Take heart, my friend.  Brighter times lie ahead. The greatest gift?  A growing self-confidence, and an equally expanding income.  For some, this may relate to professional matters.  Others look to resolve a mystery.   An โ€œaโ€™haโ€ moment sheds light.

Gemini (May 21 โ€“ June 21)

Best Day:  Sunday 11th
Seems that youโ€™re sensitive to the slightest hint of criticism this week, Gemini.  Please donโ€™t overreact to casual comments.  No one is out to deliberately hurt you.  And if you are feeling more vulnerable โ€“ let others know.   At work, too, impatience could lead you astray.  Donโ€™t scatter energies, or you could end up exhausted.

Cancer (June 22 โ€“ July 22)

Best Day:  Tuesday 13th
Youโ€™re upset, Cancer โ€“ and want to speak your mind.  But if you have nothing nice to say  โ€“  for now, itโ€™s wiser to say nothing at all.   Donโ€™t make allegations that are hard to take back. Should you choose to push personal boundaries, be sure you can cope with the consequences.  Or if feeling truly tired, take some time out to rest.    

Leo (July 23 โ€“ August 23)

Best Day:  Sunday 11th
Think twice before saying anything in the heat of the moment, or you may regret it.  Yes, these are difficult times, but remember weโ€™re all in this together.  Itโ€™s at home that youโ€™re particularly restless.  Leos who manage to get out regularly fare better.  Itโ€™s the home-bound that are having a particularly hard time.

Virgo (August 24 โ€“ September 22)

Best Day:  Wednesday 14th
This week brings a welcome turning point.  As thereโ€™s no telling where unexpected offers may lead, why not take a few calculated risks?  Financial problems should also start to ease โ€“ so, at last, niggling debts can start to be cleared.  Youโ€™re welcome to disagree, but this all sounds like the makings of a much easier time.  

Libra (September 23 โ€“ October 23)

Best Day:  Monday 12th
That old self-doubt is back again, but youโ€™ll just have to scrape up your self esteem and paste on your best smile.  Most of the trouble is at home, so youโ€™re in for some candid chat if thereโ€™s any hope of restoring the peace.  Sometimes itโ€™s best to just forgive and forget.  That means forgiving yourself, too.  

Scorpio (October 24 โ€“ November 22)

Best Day:  Saturday 10th
As much as youโ€™d like to retain stability, the cosmos now seems determined to cause the unpredictable.  This is your week to discover that a new way of looking at life can bring blessings.  If offered an opportunity to expand, donโ€™t hesitate.  Youโ€™re also better equipped to deal with financial issues โ€“ so sort out money problems.

Sagittarius (November 23 โ€“ December 21)

Best Day:  Friday 9th
Common sense proves to be your biggest ally this week, when youโ€™re asked to be more giving in your approach to life and love.  Children draw out your nurturing tendencies, or close friends and family request a helping hand.  If that means putting up with minor gripes, so be it.  You now have heavenly support.

Capricorn (December 22 โ€“ January 20) 

Best Day:  Thursday 15th
You may be cash-strapped, but donโ€™t give others the impression that your finances are unsettled.  Worrying about income makes no difference but it could attract dishonest individuals.  There are plenty of sharks out there all-too-happy to feed on concerned Capricorns.   Stay silent about your income and expenditure.  

Aquarius (January 21 โ€“ February 18)

Best Day:  Saturday 10th
Take the initiative when it comes to love.  A burning attraction could set off real-life sparks, so why let so much passion go to waste?  Enjoy the fireworks, Aquarius.  If romance isnโ€™t whatโ€™s fuelling current desires โ€“ make the most of what is, especially in creative or artistic matters.  Thereโ€™s also a direct link between work and romance.  

Pisces (February 19 โ€“ March 20)

Best Day:  Friday 9th
This week, Pisceans tackle negotiations forcefully and with purpose โ€“ happily, in your favour.  And now that youโ€™ve finally decided to embark on that special journey or project โ€“ thereโ€™s no turning back.  This is a time when one small catalyst could make all the difference.  Someone in authority may offer a helping hand.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for marie claire readers! For your unique 30-page Character Profile, or a 60 page day-to-day Year Ahead Transit Report โ€“ email Tanya Obreza at astrology@tanyaobreza.com. For more details, head here.

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Home Page 39

Surely After This, Melissa Canโ€™t Stay With Bryce On โ€˜MAFSโ€™

The tea was firmly spilled.

WOW. While tonights episode of Married At First Sight started off pretty slow, with all those one-on-one hangs between couples, it certainly revved up during girls and guys night, with the return of The Sams creating havoc between Melissa and Bryce.

Again, the Bryce and Melissa drama centred around Bryceโ€™s alleged secret girlfriend in Canberra. Fans went into overdrive as Melissa โ€“ away from Bryce for the first time in forever โ€“ was told by Sam that the rumours have been, apparently, true โ€“ Bryce had a secret girlfriend as recently as a week before the reunion that was waiting for him outside of MAFS, which he had apparently done just to further his radio career.

I mean, were we shocked though.

There were also plenty of LOLs to be had over Bryce getting riled up by Other Sam, who returned set to stir the pot big time. How is he so good at getting Bryce going? Itโ€™s truly wild to watch.

But mainly we all just felt like โ€œMELISSA!!! PLEASE!!! GET OUT NOW!!โ€

Honestly, this relationship has been really hard to watch play out on screen. 

https://twitter.com/ImRubyMaxwell/status/1379749588312068096

Ugh. Thanks, we hate it.

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Home Page 39

An Ode To the Transcendent Charm Of Dame Judi Dench

How do we love Judi? Let us count the ways...

In 1957, when Judi Dench made her first professional stage performance as Ophelia in Hamlet, a reviewer for London Evening Standard wrote that she had โ€œtalent which will be shown to better advantage when she acquires some technique to go with it.โ€

64 years later and sheโ€™s more than demonstrated sheโ€™s acquired the technique to go with it.

There are few people who can command the stage or screen quite like Dame Judi Dench.

Known as one of โ€“ if not the โ€“ best actors in history, sheโ€™s carved out a career defined by brilliance. Sheโ€™s won one Academy Award, six Academy Award nominations, six British Academy Film Awards, four BAFTA TV Awards, seven Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. Sheโ€™s also received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2001, and the Special Olivier Award in 2004. In June 2011, she received a fellowship from the British Film Institute (BFI) and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

As Tina Turner might say; sheโ€™s simply the best.

judi
Dench as Madame Arcati

Her latest role is in Blithe Spirit, the new film adaptation of Noel Cowardโ€™s famous 1941 play. As infamous stage medium Madame Arcati, Dench brings warmth to the movie, which follows the crime writer Charles Condomine (Dan Stevens) who aims to solve his writerโ€™s block by employing the supernatural abilities of Arcati. He asks her to perform a sรฉance at his home, hoping to spark inspiration for his screenplay.  

Instead, she unwittingly brings back Charlesโ€™ dead ex-wife, Elvira (Leslie Mann), much to the chagrin of his current wife, Ruth (Isla Fisher). Obviously, mayhem ensues. As Arcati, Dench is bumbling and bright, a woman still mourning the loss of her soldier boyfriend. In fact, itโ€™s him sheโ€™s always hoping to rematerialise when she performs sรฉances. Thereโ€™s also a very amusing scene in which Arcati performs an occult ceremony in a beachside cave โ€“ and once again causes more harm than good.

The movie might not be earning her an Oscar nomination anytime soon, but it serves as a reminder of why itโ€™s so easy to love Dench in the first place; she epitomises warmth, humour and charm. She lifts the film when it feels like itโ€™s teetering on the brink of cringe and delivers one-liners that will have you chuckling into your wine.

madame

On top of all of that, sheโ€™s got the skills to go viral on TikTok, too. When the pandemic broke out last year, Denchโ€™s grandson, Sam Williams, posted a video of his grandmother as part of the โ€˜Famous Relative Checkโ€™ challenge, which he captioned: โ€œNot sure who she is but seems that she is my grandma.โ€ He also posted a video of the duo performing a dance to the song Cheryl by Yung Gravy, where, due to quarantine, it had to be done virtually. Williams filmed himself dancing alongside an iPad which featured Dench dancing perfectly in sync.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, Dench even said it helped her during lockdown as the film and theatre businesses were shut down. โ€œIt saved my life. I know nothing about TikTok. Sam is the person who is technically-minded and who has all the ideas, so he got very strict,โ€ she said.

If you needed further convincing of her power to enchant, hereโ€™s a picture of her vacuuming Benedict Cumberbatchโ€™s face. Because why not.

Judi
(Credit: Image: Getty)

Whatโ€™s not to love about Dame Judi Dench?

Blithe Spirit is streaming now on Amazon Prime.

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Jameela Jamil On The Future Of Diversity & Sustainability In Fashion

The actor and activist has partnered with Tommy Hilfiger on its latest campaign.
A person with long dark hair in a trench coat and red top stands outdoors with greenery in the background.

When Jameela Jamil signed on for Tommy Hilfigerโ€™s new campaign, we took notice. The actor and activistโ€™s passion for inclusivity and transparency from celebrities and brands is well-known, so if Jamil is attaching her name to a brand, they must be doing something right in that space.

When it comes to fashion, style isnโ€™t everything anymore. As our anxiety around the planetโ€™s health and our realisation that, contrary to what weโ€™ve historically been told, all bodies should be valued and accepted, weโ€™re moving away from shopping with brands that keep pushing airbrushed, white models and labels with no transparency around production toward those that celebrate diversity and champion sustainable practice.

When we looked into Tommy Hilfigerโ€˜s new campaign, Moving Forward Together, we saw a group of influential talent that stood for something โ€“ stood for diverse representation, being proud of your individuality and breaking down everything from stigmas to โ€œhow things areโ€. It makes sense that Jamil has partnered with Tommy Hilfiger on this campaign โ€“ she has long taken a stand against fat-shaming, body-shaming and the way in which bodies are edited online. 

We chatted to Jamil about the campaign, and her take on the future of fashion in these spaces.

What drew you to the Tommy Hilfiger Moving Forward Together campaign?

Their shift over the past 5 years towards inclusivity and change. Iโ€™m a big fan of those who wield their power to not only learn, but to educate others too. To me, they embody progress. And progress, not perfection, is the road to practical and lasting change.

I also loved that they were willing to not airbrush me; and they really took the advocacy element of our participation seriously, by having us write essays and modules around the causes we were passionate about. Also, Indya Moore was in the campaign who I am completely obsessed with. So that was at least 50 percent of my decision making.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNCliX9MbJz/

Sustainability is a huge buzz word of late. How important do you feel brand sustainability as a trend is to our fight against climate change?

Itโ€™s not a trend itโ€™s a way of life now. We simply cannot carry on the way we did before. I love encouraging people to buy for the long term. I have always bought stuff that I knew I was going to own for decades. Iโ€™ve never been into trends and โ€œmust haveโ€ items. A lot of the clothes in the collection I will be wearing into my eighties. The shift is going to be incremental, as education and empathy grows around the subject, and our responsibility as consumers is to only fund/follow the brands that are taking impressive steps to be more sustainable and responsible. 

When did you first realise you needed to make life changes to support the environment, can you tell us about that moment, particularly regarding fashion?

There was no moment, I think, because of activists, scientists and David Attenborough documentaries, Iโ€™ve been gradually growing towards it over the past decade. Itโ€™s why Iโ€™m very careful about which brands I partner with. I rarely put my name to anything because you have to be making a huge effort towards making the world a better place for me to go anywhere near you.

I know the perfect brand doesnโ€™t exist, but I make space for those who are throwing as much as they can at progress. And also, regarding fashion I come from a family where the women keep everything. They only buy things they love to death, and then they one day hand it down to their daughters/nieces. Itโ€™s part of my culture. Thatโ€™s a big part of my nature so I shop thoughtfully. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNHvIKcsJJi/

Youโ€™re at the forefront of body positivity and inclusivity activism. What do you think needs to change in 2021 in this space?

Iโ€™m not at the forefront of body positivity, and Iโ€™ve been saying this for years and years nowโ€ฆ that is not my movement. Itโ€™s really frustrating that I keep being centered in a movement that is for and by fat women and disabled women. It is not my place to take up space in their socio-political work. I support their work from the side.

I work in body neutrality. Which is a complete divorce from opinion of the body whatsoever. Itโ€™s designed to allow the body to just be what it is, a vehicle for you to get from A to B. Not a billboard of your worth and health for others to judge as the patriarchy and capitalism would want us to view it. 

What needs to change is how we consume. We need to be more thoughtful. We need to stop funding companies that donโ€™t care about diversity. We need to block and mute the ones who do not represent modern values. Hitting them in the wallet is how they learn.

We need to get loud and push for more representation from our brands. Where are the disabled people in mainstream media? Why are there so few in our magazines when there are so many living in this world? Why do we not question that more often? 

We need to pressure people with large platforms to speak up and raise awareness and use their pulling power with big brands to push them for change. 

We need to stop bloody airbrushing. Itโ€™s so deeply problematic and ableist and ageist and fatphobic and racist and misogynist. The archetype of the perfection airbrushing promotes, hates women. It hates our natural form, and it is used as a tool to make us hate our natural form because unhappy people tend to buy more. So they keep us permanently unhappy so we will keep consuming. Itโ€™s a scam of deliberately impossible beauty standards to harm our self-esteem. 

As part of Future Learn, you presented a course on body neutrality. Can you explain this philosophy to Marie Claire readers? Do you feel we can ever achieve true body neutrality in this society?

Itโ€™s seeing your body as nothing more than a machine. My body is now something I fuel up and look after. I donโ€™t starve. I donโ€™t over exercise. I look at it as something I need to look after as I would a car. I donโ€™t look in many full length mirrors and I donโ€™t consider it anyone elseโ€™s business, or even my business as to whether or not I meet todayโ€™s beauty standards.

My body is a life tool, not an ad. 

The Tommy Hilfiger Moving Forward Together campaign is live on site now. You can see more here.

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Prince Harry And Meghan Markleโ€™s First Netflix Show Has Just Been Announced

The series covers a topic near and dear to the Duke and Duchess' hearts

Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s first Netflix series has finally been announced, and of course, itโ€™s about a topic thatโ€™s very close to their hearts.

Partnering with Archewell Productions, the Invictus Gamesโ€”an Olympic-style sports competition that hosts disabled and injured atheletes and veterans of the militaryโ€”will work with their production company to produce a documentary series titled Heart of Invictus.

According to a press release on April 6, the series will be directed by Orlando von Einsiedel and produced by Joanna Natasegara, the Oscar-winning team behind The White Helmets, Virunga, and Evelyn. 

Heart Of Invictus will follow coaches, athletes and their families while they work toward the 2022 games at The Hague in the Netherlands, which was supposed to take place in 2020 but was postponed because of the pandemic.

As a former working royal, Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William were strong supporters of the Invictus Games, especially since Harry himself is a veteran of the British Army.

Prince Harry Invicitus Games
(Credit: Getty Images)

In a statement, Prince Harry revealed, โ€œSince the very first Invictus Games back in 2014, we knew that each competitor would contribute in their own exceptional way to a mosaic of resilience, determination, and resolve,โ€

He continued, โ€œThis series will give communities around the world a window into the moving and uplifting stories of these competitors on their path to the Netherlands next year,โ€

โ€œAs Archewell Productionsโ€™ first series with Netflix, in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation, I couldnโ€™t be more excited for the journey ahead or prouder of the Invictus community for continuously inspiring global healing, human potential and continued service.โ€

The Duke of Sussex will serve as an executive producer on the series and will even appear on camera. As for whether Meghan will make an appearance on-screen is still unknown.

Heart of Invictus is the first project to come out of Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s partnership with Netflix, which is one of multiple avenues the couple have been pursuing to gain financial independence from the royal family since their exit. Since their departure, Prince Harry has also secured his first job as โ€œchief impact officerโ€ at BetterUp, a mental health coaching company.

As for when the series will premiere, there is currently no release date, but perhaps royal fans can give The Crown a rewatch in the meantime. 

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We Canโ€™t Believe Bryceโ€™s Friends Just Confirmed That Secret Girlfriend Rumour

YIKES.

Weโ€™re reaching the tail end of Married At First Sight for 2021, and that usually means things calm down for a while as all the couples in the experiment hang around all loved-up and happy. Well, not this season โ€“ this season is pure chaos.

Not only did tonightโ€™s episode see Bec leave Jake because of her apparently dying dog (although fans have been quick to be cynical about her excuse, considering she wrote leave last night), we also saw Melissa meet Bryceโ€™s friendsโ€ฆ and yes, they ruined his lies about not having some sort of girlfriend-outside-the-experiment. 

Naturally, MAFS fans had a field day with this moment on Twitter. The reactions are so good โ€“ sometimes we wonder if we watch this show for the show, or for the funny tweets. Probably the latter, to be honest.

https://twitter.com/SueKennedy19/status/1379378046361202688

Honestly, we cannot WAIT for the reunion episode.

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Apparently Thereโ€™s An Australian Celebrity Season Of โ€˜MAFSโ€™ In The Works

We need this!

In news we canโ€™t quite believe โ€“ but really, really want to โ€“ there might be an Australian celebrity version of Married At First Sight in the works โ€“ and the names rumoured to be attached are pretty juicy.

The news comes via New Idea, who say Endemol Shine, the company that produces MAFS, is having preliminary conversations and casting chats around a season filled with Australian talent, including ex-reality stars.

โ€œIf we want the show to keep going, we need to be bold and change things up,โ€ a producer at Endemol anonymously told the publication.

mafs

Some of those names that are being thrown around by Endemol Shine, apparently? Richard Reid, Gogglebox star Yvie Jones, controversial Iโ€™m A Celeb contestant Ash Williams, Big Brother alum Tully Smyth, and Paulini Curuenavuli. Weโ€™d watch all of them find love, to be honest.

tully smyth
Tully Smyth.

Apparently the production company had celebrities approaching THEM, and not the other way around. The concept โ€œonly became a possibility due to celebs in Australia already putting their hands up to take part in the experimentโ€.

We certainly hope these rumours are true โ€“ a Married At First Sight celebrity season would surely be the best yet.

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Home Page 39

What Happened To Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc From Netflixโ€™s Crime Thriller โ€˜The Serpentโ€™?

Where the long-term girlfriend of the 'Bikini Killer' is now

If, like us, youโ€™ve deep dived into Netflixโ€™s latest true crime offering, The Serpent, then youโ€™ll surely know all about serial killer Charles Sobhraj, AKA the โ€˜Bikini Killerโ€™, who is said to have killed dozens of backpackers in southeast Asia on the infamous โ€˜Hippie Trailโ€™ in the 1970s.

And while the true story behind his life and crimes is now well-known, what some may not be aware of was that he didnโ€™t act alone. Thanks to his long-term partner, Marie-Andrรฉe Leclercโ€”sometimes โ€œMoniqueโ€ or just โ€œMarieโ€โ€”she helped him carry out his heinous and despicable acts.

But since we know Charles Sobhrajโ€™s fate, fans have been left wondering about what happened to his partner in crime, and whether or not she was held accountable for her crimes.

Luckily, weโ€™ve done the deep dive for you. Below, everything we know about what happened to Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc.

How Did Marie-Andrรฉe And Charles Meet?

As for how the crime-peddling, star-crossed lovers met, according to The Express, Leclerc was a medical secretary from Quebec, Canada, who took her own journey on the Hippie Trail in the spring of 1975.

It was there that she met Sobhraj in Thailand in July 1975, where they supposedly fell head over heels for each other, and as we know, the rest is history.

ser
Jenna Coleman as Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc

What Part Did Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc Play In Charles Sobhrajโ€™s Murders?

As we witnessed on-screen, Leclerc quickly became his accomplice for the multiple murders and illegal drug distribution, travelling together across Asia using the stolen passports of their victims.

However, Jenna Colemanโ€”who portrays Leclerc on-screenโ€”revealed in an interview that she was fascinated by how she may or may not have been brainwashed.

โ€œI think the โ€˜is she a victim or is she notโ€™, how much of her was brainwashed, how much of it was a choice to be there and a choice to live in the delusion,โ€ she told Radio Times. โ€œI think thatโ€™s whatโ€™s really interesting, to make the choices that she made in keeping this reality in a way that she could so that she could keep existing and being with Charles.โ€

But when push came to shove, the law saw her as guilty and she was arrested with Sobhraj in 1976 in India. She later denied taking any part in Sobhrajโ€™s crimes, however, one victim claimed that Leclerc โ€œhad to know about it. Anyone with eyes and ears could see what was going on in this apartment,โ€ as per The Sun.

Marie-Andree Leclerc
The real Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc

Where Is Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc Now?

Just like Sobhraj, she was sentenced to life in prison but the verdict was later overturned following her diagnosis with terminal ovarian cancer and was granted permission to return to Canada in 1983, according to Associated Press. Not long after returning home, she died on April 20, 1984 at just 38-years-old.

You can check out season one of The Serpent on Netflix here.

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Diane Keatonโ€™s Snakeskin, Thigh-High Boots Deserve All Your Attention Today

The internet is living for this unexpected fashion moment.

In 2019, Diane Keaton turned heads when she began her now-iconic #OOTD posts on Instagramโ€”which, at a time when influencer culture was at an all-time high, breathed new life into the simple selfie. The actress would regularly don layered necklaces, top hats, chunky boots, all while finishing off each ensemble with that signature effortlessness that weโ€™ve come to adore her for. 

Thatโ€™s exactly why Keatonโ€™s latest outing has caused such a reaction, with the Annie Hall actress stepping out in a pair of thigh-high, snakeskin boots. We repeat, a pair of thigh-high, snakeskin boots! Pairing the statement-making footwear with an oversized white button-down, black-rimmed glasses, and her usual bob-length hair switched out for longer grey locks, the internet couldnโ€™t get enough of the daring look. 

Keaton was photographed in Palm Springs, where sheโ€™s shooting her upcoming project Mack & Rita, a romantic comedy directed by Katie Aselton. The film follows Mackenzie Martin (played by Elizabeth Lail) who, after stumbling into a sound bath regression pod during a bachelorette party in Palm Springs, transforms into a 70-year-old woman who she nicknames her Aunt Rita (Keaton). 

If the sheer mention of Keaton in a pair of snakeskin boots wasnโ€™t enough to have you lining up for the film, we bet these reactions to the look might just do the trick. 

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Home Page 39

The True Story Behind Terrifying New Netflix Series โ€˜The Serpentโ€™

From Charles Sobhraj's murderous rampage to where he is now

From The Ripper to Murder Among The Mormons, Netflix has done more than deliver with its true crime offerings, however this time, theyโ€™re taking shape in the form of a fashionable remake, courtesy of The Serpent.

Jumping back and forth in time, the Netflix hit follows the crimes of notorious jewel thief and serial killer, Charles Sobhraj who terrorised Southeast Asia during the 1970s.

In The Serpent, Charles Sobhraj and his long-time girlfriend, Marie Andrรฉe-Leclerc use their assumed identities as the gem-dealing married couple, Alain and Monique, to con young backpackers and wayward travellers by promising them adventure and free housing at their home in Bangkok.

But while the series seems like a work of fiction, there are some truths that inspired the show and its characters.

Before you dive into your newest binge-watching obsession, weโ€™ve unpacked the truth behind The Serpent, from Sobhrajโ€™s real life crimes to where heโ€”and all those involvedโ€”have ended up.

Is Netflixโ€™s The Serpent Based On A True Story?

Inspired by real events, The Serpent focuses on the pursuit of Charles Sobhraj and his girlfriend Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc by Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg in the late 1970s. 

Using their assumed identities as a gem-dealing married couple, Alain and Monique, the pair make a living from conning young backpackers and wayward travellers by promising them adventure and free housing at their home in Bangkok. 

Sobhrajโ€™s right-hand man, Ajay Chowdhury, helped the couple lure victims to their apartment at Kanit House, where they would drug them and steal their belongings and identities.

Nicknamed โ€œThe Serpentโ€, Sobhraj was known to prey on young, usually Western travelers (and particularly women) who making their way along the โ€œHippie Trailโ€ of the 1970s, or the overland route between Europe and South Asia that became popular for young backpackers in the 1960s and โ€™70s.

In real life, Sobhraj did just that and was accused of more than 20 murders throughout the โ€˜Hippie Trailโ€™โ€”which included victims across Thailand, Nepal, and Indiaโ€”however, he was never convicted of murder until 2004, as per BBC.

The Serpent
(Credit: Netflix)

What Happened To Charles Sobhraj?

Charles Sobhraj was arrested in 1976 for providing an entire bus of French students with copious amounts of drugs in New Delhi, India. As a result, he was jailed for various charges and served 20 years, briefly escaping in 1986 after drugging the prison guards with poisoned sweets. However, he was released from jail in 1997 after the warrant for his extradition to Thailand ran out. 

In 2003, Sobhraj was arrested in a Kathmandu casino and later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the 1975 murder of Connie Bronzich. In 2014, he was also convicted of the 1975 murder of Laurent Carriere. Currently in his mid-70s, Sobhraj has suffered health problems and is looking to be released from jail. He has never stood trial for the alleged murders in Thailand.

The Serpent
(Credit: Netflix)

What Happened To Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc?

Sobhrajโ€™s on-screen accomplice, Marie-Andrรฉe Leclerc, was a Quebec native who met and fell in love with Sobhraj while travelling, eventually becoming his partner in crime. 

However, in real life, many of The Serpentโ€˜s details about her life are, in fact, true. Played by Jenna Coleman, the actress revealed that she did extensive research into whether Leclerc was complicit in the crimes or brainwashed by her companion, as well as how she was able to distance herself from their wrongdoings.

โ€œI think the โ€˜is she a victim or is she not,โ€™ how much of her was brainwashed, how much of it was a choice to be there and a choice to live in the delusion,โ€ Coleman told Radio Times, โ€œI think thatโ€™s whatโ€™s really interesting: to make the choices that she made in keeping this reality in a way that she could so that she could keep existing and being with Charles.โ€

Ultimately, Leclerc and Sobhraj were captured and sentenced in India, however, she was released in the early โ€™80s and returned to Canada, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, where she died in 1984.

What Happened To Ajay Chowdhury?

By the end of The Serpent, Ajay Chowdhuryโ€™s fate remains unknown after Sobhraj abandons him in the middle of nowhere. However, in real life, Chowdhuryโ€™s whereabouts still remains a mystery to this day. Aside from the alleged sighting in Germany in 1976, no one has seen or heard from Chowdhury since.

However, his last known whereabouts was in Malaysia with Sobhraj, which could mean that Sobhraj may have killed his partner in order to evade arrest. However, the truth is still unknown.

The Serpent
(Credit: Netflix)

What Happened To Herman And Angela Knippenberg?

By the end of The Serpent, Angela and Herman Knippenbergโ€™s marriage troubles are evident as the latterโ€™s obsession with catching the โ€œBikini Killerโ€ completely consumed their lives. After leaving Thailand in 1977, the couple were divorced by 1989, and are now both remarried. Angela later served as the Under-Secretary-General for Management in the United Nations until she retired in 2015.

Herman, however, served as a diplomat in nations around the world until he retired in 2003. Now 76-years-old, Herman lives in Wellington with his second wife, Vanessa, after  serving as a consultant for the series based on his real-life investigations.

The Serpent
(Credit: Netflix)

What Happened To Nadine Gires?

Nadine Gires, the neighbour who helped the Knippenbergโ€™s prove Sobhrajโ€™s crimes, was a lonely housewife who befriended Marie-Andrรฉe but did not suspect โ€œAlainโ€ of anything and the real-life Gires told the U.K.โ€™s Mirror in a January interview, that those details were, in fact, true.

โ€œCharles is a monster and I am terrified of himโ€”I used to sleep with a baseball bat under my bed. But I have to admit that when we first met, I suspected nothing and was taken in by his charm. I was married to a sous chef and had little to do while he was at work, so I spent almost every day at Charlesโ€™ apartment. I became good friends with Marie-Andrรฉe and sheโ€™d cook dinner for me, normally rare steaks and salad,โ€ Gires said.

โ€œWeโ€™d drink Coke and beer, talk about lifeโ€”we seemed to have a lot in common. When I found out what he was doing to those people I had to act, or I would not be able to live with myself.โ€

Now, Gires is 67-years-old and told the publication that when Sobhraj was arrested, she broke open a bottle of champagne.

The Serpent
(Credit: Netflix)

Who Were The Victims Of Sobhrajโ€™s Crimes?

The names and details of Sobhrajโ€™s victims on The Serpent may not correlate to those who suffered in reality. For example, the Dutch couple who sparked Herman Knippenbergโ€™s investigation were named Willem Bloem and Lena Dekker on the show, but in real life they were based on backpackers Henk Bintanja, 29, and his fiancรฉe Cornelia Hemker, 25.

Teresa Knowlton, the American tourist on her way to a monastery in Nepal, was actually based on a real-life woman of the same name from Seattleโ€”who Sobhraj confessed to killing multiple times in On the Trail of the Serpent, the biography by Julie Clarke and Richard Neville, and several articles. Vitali Hakim served as the real-life inspiration for โ€œthe Turkโ€ character, with Charmayne Carrou as his French girlfriend briefly seen on the show.

When it came to the couple who Sobhraj and Leclerc attacked in Nepal, they were based on real-life victims Canadian Laurent Carriรจre, 26, and American Connie Bronzich, 29. As for Sobhrajโ€™s roommate Dominique Renelleau, who made a daring escape, he was poisoned by Sobhraj and he did escape Thailand with the help of his neighbours.

As for the rest of the real-life details, Sobhrajโ€™s wife on the show, Juliette, is based on his real-life wife Chantal Compagnon; and their TV daughter, Madhu, is based on their real-life daughter, Usha.

You can rewatch season one of The Serpent on Netflix here.

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Activist Rosie Batty Offers Sage Advice For Women Struggling With Self-Esteem: โ€œRecognise it, give it a place, but donโ€™t let it define or limit youโ€

Batty shares her definition of โ€œreal strengthโ€, along with the book that inspires her when she feels nervous, scared or insecure

When Rosie Batty talks, you listen. So when she says, โ€œweโ€™re all worth it,โ€ you hear it and you believe it. โ€œWe all go through setbacks in life โ€“ whether itโ€™s a relationship falling apart, an illness, or losing a loved one โ€“ those things can shatter your confidence and make you question your worth. I think real strength comes from pushing through adversity and putting one foot in front of the other until you arrive at a place where you feel proud of yourself,โ€ says Batty, 59, who was named Australian of the Year in 2015 for her campaign against family violence.

In the years since 2014 โ€“ when her 11-year-old son Luke was murdered by his father at a cricket oval on the Mornington Peninsula โ€“ Batty has had to push through adversity time and again; facing the media to make a stoic statement after the horrific tragedy, addressing the court at an inquest into her sonโ€™s death, launching a domestic violence foundation in Lukeโ€™s honour and then stepping away from it to โ€œtake time to breathe.โ€

Featured within marie claireโ€™s April issue, Batty is proud to support the marie claire x Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris Know Your Worth campaign, alongside a host of other strong, awe-inspiring women including cover girl Jessica Mauboy, chef and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow, and athlete Ellyse Perry. โ€œThis is about all women being empowered and able to celebrate their inner beauty. We all deserve to be able to thrive, laugh, follow our passion and have hope for the future,โ€ she says. โ€œFor women struggling with their self-esteem, I want them to know that itโ€™s normal. Itโ€™s human. Recognise it, give it a place, but donโ€™t let it define or limit you.โ€

marie claire Rosie Batty
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)

The Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris tagline โ€œBecause Iโ€™m Worth Itโ€ turns 50 this year โ€“ but as a collective, we still have a long way to go on our journey to self-acceptance and realising our full potential. The numbers are scary: new research commissioned by Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris1 found that 94 per cent of Australian women say they experience low self-esteem with 39 per cent experiencing it daily. Nearly 70 per cent say self-doubt is their biggest block to success and in the workplace, only 44 per cent of women feel confident to ask for a pay rise (compared to 62 per cent of men).

When she feels nervous, scared or insecure, Batty thinks of a book that sat on her shelf for years: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. โ€œThat title really spoke to me โ€“ and I feel like thatโ€™s what Iโ€™ve done. Iโ€™ve pushed through the fear until the moments of joy became more frequent than the moments of deep pain and sadness,โ€ explains Batty.

marie claire Rosie Batty
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)

Brought to you by Lโ€™Orรฉal Paris.

1 Source: Bastion Insights survey with n=701 Australian women aged 18 and over, November 2020.

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Congratulations To The Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins On Her Sweet Engagement

She has once again found love inside the Wiggles family!

Congratulations are in order for the Yellow Wiggle: Emma Watkins has found love with her Wiggles bandmate Oliver Brian and the pair are now engaged! Watkins shared the news via social media with a cute selfie of herself and Brian, captioning the post โ€œWhen life gets more sparkly.โ€

Watkins had previously been married to Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie, though their relationship ended three years ago. It seems that thereโ€™s only love amongst the skivvy-wearing childrenโ€™s entertainers though. Gillespie was among the first to congratulate the newly engaged couple, commenting โ€œlove you guysโ€ along with a number of purple heart emojis.

Emma Watkins and Oliver Brian announce engagement

The Blue Wiggle Anthony also shared a sweet reaction, writing, โ€œSensational news! Congratulations!!!โ€

Watkins and Brianโ€™s relationship has been blossoming for a little while now. The pair had known each other for four years before beginning a romantic relationship and it was in part their differences that drew them together. Watkins described Brian as โ€œvery opposite to meโ€ in an interview with Stellar magazine.

Emma Watkins Oliver Brian engaged ring photo

โ€œHeโ€™s a very calm and thoughtful person and Iโ€™ve always been interested in his mind and his take on life, and his morals,โ€ she said.

โ€œHe loves talking about the environment and food production,โ€ before adding, โ€œItโ€™s not very โ€˜Wigglyโ€™, but itโ€™s been nice for me to talk about things not just concerning ourselves, but people everywhere around the world.โ€

Emma Watkins engaged ring photo with horse

Watkins has since shared more pictures of herself showing off her ring to the locals in country Victoria. For his part, Oliver Brian does not appear to have an Instagram profile.

Congratulations to this sweet couple!

Images via Instagram @emmawatkinsofficial.

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Hereโ€™s A Laugh, Leonardo DiCaprioโ€™s Malibu House Was Apparently Filled With โ€˜Titanicโ€™ Merchandise As Home Dรฉcor

Jack and Rose's #1 fan

Thanks to their illusive and high-profile status, Hollywoodโ€™s A-list feel like a species of their own. Since average folk find it difficult to relate to award-winning stars, finding out about how they live their personal lives can be extremely fascinating.

But as it turns out, Leonardo DiCaprio is much more relatable than youโ€™d think.

If there was one thing the โ€™90s was known for, it was Titanic. And while we still dream of owning Roseโ€™s sapphire heart necklace, it looks like DiCaprio himself kept relics from the film and in a rather special place.

In an episode of Behind the Velvet Rope podcast, interior designer Megan Weaver opened up about a time when she stayed at Leo DiCaprioโ€˜s beach house in Malibu while he was out of town, back in the late โ€™90s.

And her discovery was all thanks to his mother, Irmelin Indenbirken, she revealed: โ€œWhen I was working for Leo, his mother let meโ€”his mom was so sweetโ€”let me stay at his beach house in Malibu for the weekend.โ€

She continued to explain, โ€œI was dating somebody who was living in Canada, having a long-distance relationship and he came to town, and so they let me have the beach house.โ€

Titanic

And apparently, what she found was less party boy and more fanboy. 

She continued, โ€œI didnโ€™t tell him where we were going and we walk into this beach house and everything was Titanic. Titanic towels, Titanic posters, Titanic everywhere. And so, [my boyfriend] did look at me and was like, โ€˜Is this Leoโ€™s house?โ€™ And I was like, โ€˜Yes this is Leoโ€™s house.โ€™ So that was pretty amazing.โ€

Of course, one may think that an interior shrine to Jack and Rose may feel more like a gift shop, however, apparently it was far from with Weaver insisting that โ€œeverything was very tasteful.โ€

Our personal dรฉcor taste aside, she continued, โ€œI donโ€™t think thatโ€™s something he would do now, but back thenโ€ฆ again, this was like the โ€™90s. I think the film wasnโ€™t even that old [yet]. It was also not his main house, and he hardly went there, so I think it was probably his mother who did it.โ€

Naturally, DiCaprioโ€™s motherโ€™s ode to her son may not be your interior styling of choice, but according to Weaver, her bedroom left a rather lasting impression. Weaver confessed, โ€œIt was the best bed I ever slept in, in my life.โ€

And just like that, our hearts will go on to love DiCaprio another day.

You can check out Megan Weaverโ€™s retelling of the story on the Behind the Velvet Rope podcast below.

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Home Page 39

Gwyneth Paltrowโ€™s Daughter, Apple, Roasts Her Motherโ€™s Goop-Loving Morning Routine And Itโ€™s Hilarious

Like mother, like daughter.

Teaming up with Gwyneth Paltrow for the launch of GoopGlow, Apple Martin still acts like every other teenager, including ruthlessly roasting her mother where she sees fit.

Paltrow, and her ex-husband Chris Martinโ€™s, 16-year-old daughter Apple recently hopped on the Goop TikTok account to break down her motherโ€™s morning routine, and oh boy, did she not hold back.

On April 4, the Oscar-winning actress took to Instagram to share a lovely selfie with her lookalike daughter. โ€œExciting new product launch today featuring one of the absolute loves of my life,โ€ Paltrow wrote in the caption.

But over on TikTok, Martin took a different approach to her gesture of love by jokingly narrating her motherโ€™s morning routine and highlighting her new GoopGlow Morning Skin Superpowder, which the Goop website describes as a โ€œpower shotโ€ of antioxidants meant to reduce the effects that sun and stress have on your skin. 

โ€œSo first, my [mother] drinks her GoopGlow Superpowderโ€”and she eats nothing except for dates and almond butter, so she will have that,โ€ Martin shared as Paltrow mixed in the powder with a glass of water. โ€œI suppose the GoopGlow is a part of her cleanse, which sheโ€™s been on since the day I was born, apparently.โ€

In the video, which is captioned, โ€œWhen you get roasted by your gen z daughter,โ€ Martin continued to chronicle Paltrowโ€™s schedule, poking more and more fun at her mother as time went on. 

โ€œItโ€™s 8 a.m., and sheโ€™s been doing this since 7 a.m.,โ€ Martin said over Gwynethโ€™s skin-care routine. โ€œShe just prances around the bathroom putting on her millions of GoopGlow products for her glowing skin. Then she gets to work making some more vagina eggs and candlesโ€ฆ and vagina perfumesโ€ฆ and just everything vagina. Yeah, thatโ€™s my motherโ€™s morning routine!โ€

While Paltrow is clearly in on the jokes about her brandโ€”and happy to let her daughter roast herโ€”there actually is a serious reason behind the plethora of vagina-scented products

โ€œItโ€™s all part of the crumbling patriarchy. You have to push, you have to go too far. You have to have a โ€˜WAPโ€™ song or a Smells Like My Vagina candle,โ€ Paltrow told ELLE U.S. in September 2020.

โ€œSo people are like, โ€˜What is this?โ€™ And they freak out. And then the centre moves a little bit more this way. Itโ€™s a process that happens over time. But women, especially my generation, and my motherโ€™s generation, we were raised to feel so uncomfortable with ourselves and itโ€™s bullshit. Itโ€™s not cool. We have to be integrated and love ourselves, love every part and integrate all of the parts of ourselves.โ€

And clearly, sheโ€™s successfully passed that knowledge and confidence on to her daughterโ€”be sure to check out Appleโ€™s roast of her mother below:

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Home Page 39

Remembering Carla

Icon, mentor, friend: editor Nicky Briger looks back on the life, talent and times of the legendary Carla Zampatti

If you thought Carla Zampatti was slowing down in her later years, youโ€™d be wildly mistaken. Glimpsing her in action was enough to prove this force of Australian fashion could continue forever, just like her timeless designs. Two years ago, I snuck backstage to wish her luck before her epic solo show at the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Carla was hosting the Grand Showcase, the festivalโ€™s major event and also the largest parade of her career complete with 500-plus exquisite pieces and a rousing performance by singer Dami Im. Behind the curtain was a frenzy of activity, except for Carla, who stood calmly in the eye of the storm, directing the models while meticulously making finishing touches on each and every outfit. Carla hardly needed my luck โ€“ right after the show, she received a 15-minute standing ovation, the crowd erupting into rock-star hysteria as she lapped the runway. She was 76.

With the shock death on Saturday morning of Carla Zampatti, Australia has lost its most loved, enduring and famous designer. Many say itโ€™s impossible to imagine the Australian fashion industry without her, especially as her eponymous label continues to thrive to this day. For 55 years, sheโ€™s remained a mainstay on the style scene by never veering from her core belief that clothes are meant to make women feel confident and empowered. From her trademark jumpsuits and perfectly tailored jackets, pants and power dresses to her successful eyewear collection, millions have a Carla Zampatti piece in their wardrobes. Sheโ€™s dressed politicians, dignitaries, royals, CEOs and celebrities โ€“ a veritable Whoโ€™s Who of Australian powerhouse females โ€“ but Carlaโ€™s greatest pride and joy was designing for the โ€œordinaryโ€ woman, ensuring everyone felt like girl bosses in her clothes, no matter their age, size or background.  

carla

I was lucky to have met Carla decades ago when she befriended my parents in the early 80s. As a kid, I remember Carla arriving at our home for raucous dinner parties in killer pantsuits, chunky jewels and a Dynasty-style jacket slung over one shoulder. She was this impossibly glamorous enigma with a deep, lilting voice. But beyond her impeccable style, Carla was a hugely successful businesswoman and fiercely independent single mum, quite different to the women I knew at that time. I was in awe, and overcome with child-like shyness whenever she visited.

It wasnโ€™t till much later in life, when I edited InStyle and then marie claire, that our paths crossed more frequently. I interviewed her for work often, but weโ€™d always glide off-topic to discuss life, love, women, fashion and family, always family. Talking to Carla was a revelation โ€“ Iโ€™ve never met anyone who knew resolutely what she wanted, and was determined to get it, but always achieved her goals with grace and good humour.

Like her, my father was an immigrant who arrived in Sydney with nothing, so we often discussed the impact of those early years. Carla moved from Italy to Freemantle at the age of nine with her miner father. Sheโ€™d cultivated a love of fashion and art during her youth in Lovero, a small town 120km north of Milan, and these passions never dissipated, finally spurring Carla to buy a one-way bus ticket to Sydney at the age of 19. She married Leo Schuman in 1964, and launched her first small collection the year after with her husband as business partner. When the marriage failed in 1970, Carla lost her factory but importantly retained the rights to her name, so launched her first tiny boutique in Surry Hills in 1972 under the company name, Carla Zampatti Limited. (Years later, Carla told me her greatest business advice would be not to take a business partner: โ€œYou can do this yourself!โ€). By the mid-70s, Carla had launched 30 boutiques across Australia, and was soon after awarded Telstra Businesswoman of the Year.

Throughout her career, Carla never forgot her Italian heritage, bringing that European sensibility to her life and work, but she was equally appreciative and proud of Australia, even becoming the first female chair of SBS for a decade.

carla

Beyond fashion, Carla was a self-confessed โ€œculture vultureโ€ and fierce patron of the arts, holding positions as trustee of the NSW Art Gallery, Sydney Dance Company and MCA Foundation, to name a few. When my brother and sister launched the Australian World Orchestra, Carla generously opened her home to many fundraisers, keeping the champagne flowing while charming potential doners. โ€œShe was the most extraordinary supporter; nothing was too much trouble or off limits. Her home almost became our second office, albeit with much better views,โ€ says Gabrielle Thompson, the head of the AWO. โ€œEveryone in the orchestra is devastated by this news; weโ€™ve lost one of our own.โ€

Others admired Carla for her limitless reservoir of creativity, kindness and curiosity.        

โ€œCarla was always curious and fascinated with how modern women lived their lives,โ€ remembers Kellie Hush, former editor of Harperโ€™s Bazaar. โ€œShe would often ask me, โ€˜What do women want today?โ€™ I loved that about her. That curiosity. Most recently we were debating what women would want to wear post-COVID. She strongly believed weโ€™d all want to dress up again. I didnโ€™t think we were ready. The chicest woman I know would believe that! Personally, she was a beautiful friend. So successful and strong publicly, but privately so warm and generous. Iโ€™ll miss our chats and cups of tea in her sunroom enormously.โ€

carla

Similarly, Jackie Frank, founding editor marie claire, will miss their many catch-ups and deeply admired her trailblazing attitude about womenโ€™s rights, as well as her ability to constantly tap into the zeitgeist by meeting young talent. โ€œShe was a mentor to many, and inspired generations of young designers, but also learned from them.โ€ Instead of being fearful of competing creatives, Carla embraced them, working alongside fashion brands such as Romance Was Born and Dinosaur Designs, even producing a still-popular collection of glasses for Specsavers. โ€œShe surrounded herself with the best and expected the best, but she was also warm, curious and so much funโ€ said Adam Worling, her former publicist and friend. โ€œShe also made my life easy cos she never took a bad photo! Sheโ€™d do three poses and then say to the photographer, โ€˜Weโ€™re done now; youโ€™ve got the shotโ€™. And she was right.โ€

Adds Jackie Frank: โ€œShe was always the last to leave a party and an absolute speed demon. I remember zipping around Sydney in her sports Merc at a limit I doubt was legal. I was terrified and elated all at the same time!โ€

During what would be our last interview, I asked her to pinpoint her greatest achievement. โ€œYouโ€™d expect me to say sustaining a fashion brand for over 50 years, but really itโ€™s my kids, Alex, Bianca and Allegra. Without a doubt, my children are my proudest achievement.โ€

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Home Page 39

MAFS Reactions: No Experts, Standing Up For Yourself Will Never Be โ€œSelf-Sabotageโ€

"Alana is an icon and a queen"

After a little bit of a break, Married At First Sight is back with a bangโ€”with tonightโ€™s commitment ceremony nothing short of drama. Weโ€™re following on from the coupleโ€™s retreat and dinner party, which saw Alana stick up for Melissa by telling her a conversation Bryce had shared with her TV husband Jason.

Viewers are in agreement: Alana did the right thing in standing up for what she believes. The โ€œicon and queenโ€, as the audience has rightfully described the reality star, used the opportunity at the commitment ceremony to tell the experts, no, she didnโ€™t regret saying what she did. 

Upon reflection, she admitted that the moment she chose to share the information wasnโ€™t right, but it needed to be toldโ€”which, YES, finally someone in the experiment is beginning to understand. And on that note, it should be stated that it is not, and never will be, โ€œself-sabotageโ€ for standing up for what you believe in, especially in a relationship. 

Below, weโ€™re rounding up the best reactions to tonightโ€™s MAFS commitment ceremony, and we have one thing to say: Alana, we stan a confident, self-assured woman and thank you for being brave enough to stand up for other women. 

https://twitter.com/Skualg/status/1379014838421090309
https://twitter.com/Spookysadghoul/status/1379015114267881473
https://twitter.com/ariannerrich/status/1379015244341645312
https://twitter.com/Skualg/status/1379014838421090309

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Home Page 39

All Of The Best Virtual Red Carpet Looks From The 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Show-stopping, to say the least

As award season keeps rolling on through 2021, the virtual red carpet circuit continues to do the same. And this time around, itโ€™s courtesy of the 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awardsโ€”and its sparkling show of jaw-dropping fashion moments.

This year, audiences were gifted with an array of Hollywood A-listers swapping traditional gowns for โ€™20s-inspired headpieces and ombre tailored suits. From bold magenta to creamy neutrals, use of colour reigned supreme, and clashing printsโ€”hello, Emma Corrin in Pradaโ€”made a comeback.

Everyone from Anya Taylor Joy to Nicole Kidman made a statement this year, whether from the comfort of their home or a designerโ€™s makeshift studio.

Without further ado, weโ€™ve rounded up the best and most chic celebrity looks that stole the show at the 2021 SAG Awards.

Elle Fanning

Elle Fanning
(Credit: Instagram.com/ellefanning)

Elle Fanning wears Gucci.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman
(Credit: Instagram.com/nicolekidman)

Nicole Kidman wears Armani Privรฉ.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor Joy
(Credit: Instagram.com/entertainmentweekly)

Anya Taylor Joy wears Vera Wang.

Emma Corrin

Emma Corrin

Emma Corring wears Prada.

Kaley Cuoco

Kaley Cuoco
(Credit: Instagram.com/kaleycuoco)

Kaley Cuoco wears Prabal Gurung.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington
(Credit: Instagram.com/kerrywashington)

Kerry Washington wears Etro.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo
(Credit: Instagram.com/_jahmad)

Cynthia Erivo wears Alexander McQueen.

Regรฉ-Jean Page

Rege Jean Page
(Credit: Instagram.com/bestofrjeanpage)

Regรฉ-Jean Page wears Louis Vuitton.

Nicola Coughlan

Nicola Coughlan
(Credit: Instagram.com/nicolacoughlan)

Nicola Coughlan wears Christian Siriano.

Lily Collins

Lily Collins
(Credit: Instagram.com/lilyjanenews)

Lily Collins wears Georges Hobeika.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollet
(Credit: Instagram.com/jurneesmollett)

Jurnee Smollett wears Zuhair Murad.

Josh Oโ€™Connor

Josh O'Connor
(Credit: Instagram.com/gregwilliamsphotography)

Josh Oโ€™Connor wears Loewe.

Jared Leto

Jared Leto
(Credit: Instagram.com/checkthetag)

Jared Leto wears Gucci.

Jamie Chung

Jamie Chung
(Credit: Instagram.com/oscardelarenta)

Jamie Chung wears Oscar de la Renta.

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson
(Credit: Instagram.com/gilliana)

Gillian Anderson wears Dolce and Gabbana.

Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr.
(Credit: Instagram.com/leslieodomjr)

Leslie Odom Jr. wears Berluti.

Eugene, Sarah and Dan Levy

Eugene, Sarah and Dan Levy
(Credit: Instagram.com/sarahplevy)

Eugene wears Prada, Sarah wears Monique Lhullier and Dan wears The Row.

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Home Page 39

Gwyneth Paltrow Reveals That She โ€˜Never Wantedโ€™ To Consciously Uncouple From Chris Martin

โ€œI never would have wanted to not be married to the father of my kidsโ€

Turns out, Gwyneth Paltrow never wanted to split from ex-husband Chris Martin back in 2014.

During a recent appearance on Anna Farisโ€™ podcast, Unqualified, Paltrow revealed that she โ€œnever would have wantedโ€ to split from Chris Martin, who she was married to for 11 years. The pair famously โ€˜consciously uncoupledโ€™ in 2014, but officially divorced in 2016.

โ€œI never would have wanted to get divorced,โ€ the Goop founder revealed. โ€œI never would have wanted to not be married to the father of my kids. Theoretically.โ€

Despite this, the Oscar-winner revealed that her split with Martinโ€”who is rumoured to be engaged to Dakota Johnsonโ€” resulted in a healthy relationship with her current husband, Brad Falchuk.

And since their split, the ex-couple have remained close as they co-parent their 16-year-old daughter, Apple, and a 14-year-old son, Moses together.

โ€œI had learned more about myself through that process than I could have imagined,โ€ she said. โ€œAnd because I focused on accountability, I was then able to find the most amazing man and build something that Iโ€™ve never had before.โ€

Back in August 2020, Paltrow penned an essay where she documents the time when she accepted that her marriage to Martin was over.

โ€œIt was my birthday, my 38th. My ex-husband and I were tucked away in the Tuscan countryside, on a hill in a beautiful cottage with a view of the forest,โ€ she wrote at the time.

โ€œI donโ€™t recall when it happened, exactly. I donโ€™t remember which day of the weekend it was or the time of day. But I knewโ€”despite long walks and longer lie-ins, big glasses of Barolo and hands heldโ€”my marriage was over.โ€

From there, she was able to admit that she and Martin โ€œdidnโ€™t quite fitโ€ as a couple, saying, โ€œThere was always a bit of unease and unrest. But man, did we love our children.โ€ 

In the end, Paltrow explained that both Martin and current husband Falchukโ€”whom she controversially doesnโ€™t live withโ€”have played different, yet equally important roles in her life.

โ€œI know my ex-husband was meant to be the father of my children,โ€ Paltrow wrote, โ€œand I know my current husband is meant to be the person I grow very old with. Conscious uncoupling lets us recognise those two different loves can coexist and nourish each other.โ€

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Home Page 39

Kate Winslet Claims Gay Actors โ€œFearโ€ That Publicly Coming Out Will End Their Careers

She also says she knows "at least four" who are too "terrified" to reveal their sexuality

Kate Winslet has revealed that she knows many gay actors who opt to never go public with their sexuality over โ€œfearโ€ of never being cast in straight roles and destroying their careers.

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, the Oscar-winning actress also claims that she knows a minimum of โ€œfour actorsโ€ who are โ€œterrifiedโ€ of coming out. 

โ€œI cannot tell you the number of young actors I knowโ€”some well-known, some starting outโ€”who are terrified their sexuality will be revealed and that it will stand in the way of their being cast in straight roles,โ€ she revealed.

The 45-year-old also added that she knows of a โ€œwell-knownโ€ actor who has been recently instructed by their agent to not publicise their bisexuality and to keep it a secret from the industry.

โ€œThe agent said: โ€˜I understand you are bisexualโ€”I wouldnโ€™t publicise thatโ€™,โ€ Winslet said. โ€œI can think of at least four actors absolutely hiding their sexuality. Itโ€™s painful. Because they fear being found out.โ€

But itโ€™s not just the industry as a whole, Winslet accused the powerful figures within Hollywood as rife with โ€œjudgement, discrimination and homophobiaโ€, suggesting that Hollywoodโ€™s LGBTQ+ community was in need of a #MeToo-style movement.

Promoting her latest film Ammonite, where she plays unsung heroine Mary Anningโ€”a renowned palaeontologistโ€”whose work was re-appropriated by her male peers and passed off as their own. Directed by Francis Lee, the acclaimed romantic drama also sees Anning fall in love with fellow geologist Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan.

In another recent interview with Harperโ€™s Bazaar U.K., Winslet also expressed how she hopes her work in the love story offers a โ€œhelpful contributionโ€ in bringing LGBTQ+ stories to the mainstream, given the struggles they are forced to face.

โ€œThere needs to be more LGBTQ+ films so that we donโ€™t feel the compulsion to compare the few that do exist, itโ€™s totally mad,โ€ she explained.

โ€œYou wouldnโ€™t compare Titanic with Die Hard or Revolutionary Road and The Holidayโ€ฆ They all have heterosexual people in them,โ€ she said.

โ€œThese kinds of comparisons automatically have the impact of making same sex stories โ€˜controversialโ€™. Why are we even using those words? That really isnโ€™t right.โ€

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Home Page 39

Legendary Fashion Designer Carla Zampatti Has Died Aged 78

She had a serious fall last week.

Australian fashion designer Carla Zampatti has sadly died this weekend, after a serious fall at the Australian Opera saw her submitted to St. Vincents Hospital last week.

Zampatti had been placed โ€œunder observationโ€ after falling down some stairs at the opening of La Traviata at Mrs Macquaries Point, remaining in a coma until she passed away, according to The Daily Telegraph.

carla zampatti

Born in Italy in 1942, Carla Zampatti moved to Australia in the 50s with her family, launching her first collection in 1965 and establishing her label in 1970.

Her first boutique opened in 1972 in Surry Hills, Sydney, before growing into a 30+ chain of stores and placement in David Jones and Myer in the 1990s. Carla Zampatti was one of the first Australian designers to introduce swimwear into her collections, and created the first designer eyewear collection for Polaroid.

Her designs were loved and worn by celebrities such as Tina Arena, Princess Mary of Denmark, Dannii Minogue, Delta Goodrem and Ita Buttrose.

Carla Zampatti
Miranda Kerr in Carla Zampatti, S/S 12

A champion of Australian women, she continued to rise through enormous radical and social change, designing clothes for women fighting for liberation through the womenโ€™s rights movement in the 1960s to creating empowering fashion pieces for women in leadership and the workplace, known in particular for beautiful tailoring and suiting in the 90s.

carla zampatti
Carla Zampatti at a function in the 90s.

In 2020 the label celebrated its 55th anniversary via a collection featuring reinvented icons from collections past โ€“ the jumpsuit, tailored jackets and satin evening dresses.

carla zampatti
A piece from this years Melbourne Fashion Festival

Carla Zampatti was also respected outside of the fashion industry, holding positions such as the Chairman of SBS Corporation and a Trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW, board member of the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation, UTS V-Cโ€™s Industry Advisory Board, Westfield Holdings and McDonaldโ€™s Australia, and up until her death, was a member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, and a board member of the European Australian Business Council and Sydney Dance Company.

She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1987, before being elevated to Companion of the Order in 2009. 

She is survived by her three children, Alex Schuman, Allegra Spender and Bianca Spender.

A few words from our editor, Nicky Briger.

โ€œCarla was a giant in the Australian fashion industry and her passing will leave many โ€“ from family, friends and style lovers to her adoring customers โ€“ utterly bereft. She was a pioneer who empowered women by making them feel confident, competent and in control, thanks to her incredible tailoring, power suits, stunning dresses and flattering cuts. 
โ€œBut beyond fashion, Carla was generous, kind and a beloved mentor. She always sought out new designers and often collaborated with them; supporting emerging talent was her greatest joy. 
โ€œHer parties were legendary; she opened her fabulous home to many of us, with champagne flowing and music booming.
โ€œCarla will be missed on the fashion scene for decades to come, but her legacy will forever burn bright.โ€ 

Vale, Carla.

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Home Page 39

Itโ€™s Official: Rege-Jean Page Will Not Be Returning For โ€˜Bridgertonโ€™ Season 2

The news came directly from Netflix.

There is no denying Regรฉ-Jean Page, our sexy Duke of Hastings, was a highlight of Bridgerton. His blossoming relationship with Daphne, the constant shirtless shots as he boxed out his feelingsโ€ฆ we loved it all.

But sadly, for those eagerly awaiting season 2 of our favourite Regency era series, Regรฉ-Jean Page wonโ€™t be returning โ€“ with news coming directly from Lady Whistledown herself.

Thankfully, the news wasnโ€™t a shock for Regรฉ-Jean Page, who responded positively on his own Twitter, saying โ€œPleasure and a privilege! An honour to be a member of the family โ€“ on and off screen, cast, crew and incredible fans โ€“ the love is real and will just keep growing.โ€

rege jean page

So what will this mean for the Duke of Hastings? Will we see Daphne Bridgerton left a widow with a newborn? Or will the Duke still be around, just not on screen? Weโ€™re really hoping for the latter here โ€“ weโ€™re just far too invested in that love story.

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Home Page 39

Blithe Spirit Is the Perfect Romp For Right Now

Isla Fisher and Dame Judi Dench shine in this hilarious caper.

There comes a time when all you want from a film is a good time.

You donโ€™t want to have to think, to consider morals or ethics, or even to struggle with the resulting emotions of watching a film that stirred something sad, or melancholy, or complicated in you. 

In those moments, what you want is a movie that knows how to leave you feeling a little bit buoyant. Itโ€™s light, charming and endlessly amusing. 

The latest film that fulfils that criteria perfectly is Blithe Spirit. Adapted from the 1941 Noel Coward play of the same name, the film is nothing but a genuine pleasure to watch. Is it going to be nominated for an Oscar anytime soon? Probably not. Is it chaotic? Absolutely? Is it fun, flirty and very funny? You know it.

charles
Dan Stevens as Charles Condomine

Charles Condomine (Dan Stevens) is a writer whoโ€™s struggling to write the screen adaptation of his play. Heโ€™s the kind of guy who scolds the maid because his toast is too cold and bemoans the general state of his life despite the fact he lives incredibly comfortably in a mansion funded by his wifeโ€™s loaded film executive father. His wife, Ruth (Isla Fisher) is very hot and even more patient with him, which kind of doesnโ€™t do much to endear you to Charles. 

But as I said, heโ€™s ill with writerโ€™s block. Then an idea occurs to him: employ famous medium Madame Arcati (Dame Judi Dench) to perform a seance at their home to help get the mental juices flowing. Unfortunately for Charles, the supernatural had other plans for him. Unbeknownst to Madame Arcati, her seance had been a little *too* successful and she had actually summoned Charleโ€™s dead ex-wife, Elvira (Leslie Mann). The problem? Charles is the only person who can see her. And as a tempestuous woman who is determined that only she should have Charlesโ€™ heart, that creates problems with Ruth. 

blythe
Isla Fisher as Ruth with Dame Judi Dench as Madame Arcati

What ensues is Charles being caught between two wives โ€“ one alive, one dead โ€“ who are both vying for his love and attention. It doesnโ€™t help that Elvira was a very important part of his creative process while she was alive, meaning he relies on her to finish his manuscript. 

This doesnโ€™t take itself seriously. Every line is delivered to make you laugh, slapstick is used often and the acting is incredibly camp. But thatโ€™s what makes it so good: itโ€™s almost been designed for pure hedonistic pleasure. Physical comedy is amped up and used to very comical results here. Thereโ€™s more than one scene in which Charles is reacting to something Elvira is doing โ€“ teasing him, or threatening to kill him, for instance โ€“ but because no one else can see him, heโ€™s left looking like he is genuinely going insane. At a time when we still havenโ€™t entirely got past the โ€œcrazy womanโ€ trope, itโ€™s highly satisfying watching a film where the main male character is presented as not just a little unhinged, but very unhinged. 

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Not only that, but the film is the perfect length. At 139 minutes, itโ€™s not overly long and to top it all off: the set design is an absolute 1940s dream. The house where most of the action takes place will have you pausing to take pictures for interior inspiration with colour-blocked rooms, decadent design and manicured lawns. 

Judi Dench as Madame Arcati is loveable in only a way Dench can be. The moments where she is longing for her lost soldier beau are incredibly amusing and make her a character that you canโ€™t help but love like an old friend. And Isla Fisher shines as Ruth, bringing her trademark charm to the character, imbuing her with a warmth that leaves you wanting to watch a whole 139 minutes more just of her. 

Blithe Spirit is the kind of movie you need when all you want to do is sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. Itโ€™s the perfect romp for right now. 

Blithe Spirit is streaming on Amazon Prime now. 

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Home Page 39

Princess Dianaโ€™s Personal Trainer Reveals The Secrets Behind Her Exercise Routine

A workout fit for a Princess
The Secrets Behind Princess Diana's fitness
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When it comes to Princess Dianaโ€˜s most memorable off-duty street style momentsโ€”as well as her most controversialโ€”itโ€™s impossible not to think of her baggy Virgin Atlantic sweatshirt, neon orange bike shorts and chunky white sneakers.

As for her go-to jumper that went up for sale, Boston-based RR Auction says the dark blue cotton-polyester sweatshirt that was a gift from airline founder Richard Branson is expected to get more than $5,000 during the online auction. Diana later presented the Virgin sweatshirt her longtime personal trainer, Jenni Rivett.  

Princess Diana
(Credit: Getty)

Rivett, who worked with Diana for over seven years, opened up about Dianaโ€™s exercise regimen in 2018.

โ€œEvery single session all the media were outside camped with their stepladders, and cameras and lenses and everything. For her she just found it so incredibly, โ€˜why are they so interested in me when there are more important things to worry about in the world.โ€™ It wasnโ€™t her that asked for all this. I remember one of her strategies was that she was going to wear the same Virgin Active sweatshirt every single session,โ€ the London-based personal trainer told Yahoo.  

RELATED: Princess Margaretโ€™s Rebellious Morning Routine Proves She Was The Queen Of Debauchery

The sweatshirt is accompanied by two letters of provenance from Rivett, with one reading, in part:

โ€œThis sweatshirt was given to HRH by Sir Richard Branson. It became the most worn top on her regular visits to the gym. She felt there were far more important issues to focus on in the world than her gym attire and therefore decided that wearing the famous Virgin sweatshirt to every session, would be a good way to stop the media frenzy.

โ€œA few months before her untimely death she called me to say she had left a few sweatshirts for me. Amongst them, this oneโ€”which I have now decided to part with.โ€

Princess Dianaโ€™s Diet And Exercise Routine

Diana
(Credit: Getty)

The Princess of Wales had a disciplined approach to building a strong exercise routine. She integrated at least three 30-minute sessions of vigorous exercise each week. When possible, she began her day with a morning swim or attended to her childrenโ€™s needs. If she had no time to swim, sheโ€™d fit in a bit of stretching before breakfast.

When it comes to Dianaโ€™s daily diet, former Buckingham Palace chef Darren McGrady, who first served the Queen and the royal family before transferring to work for the Princess of Wales, shared some tidbits from his eleven years cooking for Diana.

McGrady worked for Diana after she split from Prince Charles in 1993. After publicly struggling with bulimia, Diana is credited with raising awareness about the eating disorder.

Diana
(Credit: Getty)

Her time with McGrady marked a positive turn in her lifestyle, the chef noted in his book Eating Royally: Recipes and Remembrances from a Palace Kitchen.

โ€œShe was entering a new stage in her life and taking better care of herself. Her years as a bulimia sufferer had ended and she was eating properly,โ€ he wrote. He also revealed to The Daily Mail that in her quest for healthy eating, she stayed far away from carbs and red meat.โ€ 

Sheโ€™d tell me: โ€œYou take care of the fats, Iโ€™ll take care of the carbs at the gym.'โ€

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Home Page 39

9 Of The Most Chic Italian Designers Every It-Girl Is Sure To Have In Her Wardrobe

The whoโ€™s who of Italian fashion
Three fashionable women walking down the street, wearing sunglasses and holding designer bags.

Italian clothing is known as some of the best in the world. Leather from Florence has garnered a serious reputation and Southern Italy marks the home of luxury fashion manufacturing. But what are some of the biggest Italian fashion brands?

Big names like Gucci, Prada, Fendi and Versace are calling cards at Milan Fashion Week, but thereโ€™s more to the shoe-shaped country than just these big four. Add in there some Miu Miu, Giorgio Armani and Valentino and weโ€™ve got ourselves a list.

Below, weโ€™ve rounded up 10 of the most well-known Italian fashion labels, because supple leathers and extravagant faux fur jackets wonโ€™t buy themselves!

Gucci

Itโ€™s a Gucci world, weโ€™re just living in it. After a massive resurgence following the appointment of Alessandro Michele, this Florence-born fashion brand has serious street appeal. Coming in as one of Lystโ€™s most popular brands for a number of seasons running, Gucci has reached record sales and has become one of the most lucrative fashion businesses in the world.

Gucci
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Prada

Founded in 1913, Prada has become one of the worldโ€™s most important fashion tastemakers. Now helmed by Miuccia Prada, Prada is consistently in Lystโ€™s top brands, sitting alongside heavyweights like Nike and Versace. Loved for quirky print, groundbreaking design and a fresh perspective, Prada is virtually a way of life in Milan โ€” and beyond.

Prada
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Fendi

Even following the death of long-time designer Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi remains one of Italyโ€™s top brands. Worn by celebrities including Gigi Hadid, Karlie Kloss and Rihanna, Fendiโ€™s iconic double F logo has been reinvented, leading the brand into a new era of street style cool and instantly-recognisable fame at the hands of Kim Jones and fabulous Fendi family.

Fendi
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Versace

Once helmed by Gianni Versace and now overtaken by his sister, Donatella, Versace was one of the 90s greatest labels. Today, Donatella has bought the Italian heritage brand into a new audience, tapping into supermodel power to reposition Versace as one of the hottest labels to wear. Bordering on kitsch and always packed with glamour, Versace on the red carpet is now a mainstay, with good reason.

Versace
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Bottega Veneta

Known and loved for their exquisite leather goods, Bottega Veneta has built a reputation for high quality bags that will stand the test of time. Originating from the Italian phrase โ€˜Venetian Shopโ€™, the label has since grown from an Italy-first customer base to one of global fame.

Bottega-Veneta
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Valentino

Founded in 1959 by Valentino Garavani, Valentino has become of the best-known Italian labels in the world. Today the brand counts Pierpaolo Piccioli as the design lead, taking the brand in a new, red-carpet-ready direction that has become known for its voluminous dresses and gorgeous colourful gowns. Strong commercial success has seen the brand expand in recent years, ensuring it secures its place as one of the biggest luxury players in the modern space.

Valentino
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Moschino

Born in the 80s, Moschino has taken a flair of colour, pattern and playfulness into its brand identity, producing some of the worldโ€™s most recognisable collections. From the famous McDonalds collaboration to the Barbie-inspired runway, this Italian brand isnโ€™t afraid of shying away from the spotlight.

Moschino
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Giorgio Armani

Despite a host of offshoots, the original Giorgio Armani remains one of Italyโ€™s strongest brands. Known for chic separates and understated tailoring, Giorgio Armaniโ€™s elegant take on the everyday has seen it grow exponentially since its founding in the mid 1970s. Today, fans look forward to the bi-annual fashion shows, which have cemented the label as one that is made with real women at the front of mind.  

Armani
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

Miu Miu

Founded by Pradaโ€™s own Miuccia Prada, Miu Miu is one of the worldโ€™s favourite playful brands. Whether itโ€™s a statement knit or a colourful jacket, Miu Miuโ€™s takes-no-prisoners approach to design has earnt it a serious reputation. Loved by cool girls all over the world, the house has seen celebrities including Elle Fanning and Emma Corrin front its campaigns to much appraisal.

Miu-Miu
(Credit: Source: Gorunway)

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Home Page 39

How To Build A Capsule Work Wardrobe, Step By Step

Less is more and quality is key

Wasnโ€™t 2020 a time to be alive? (Thank god thatโ€™s over.) As COVID-19 took hold, going out became a novelty and staying in was soon the norm. In-person meetings and office banter were replaced by Zoom calls, Zoom calls and more Zoom calls, with a side of matching tracksuits and athleisure to boot.

Now, as we gradually return to the office, itโ€™s time to reassess our workplace attire. While comfort remains high on the agenda, it is no longer our sole priority. This year, sharp tailoring and handcrafted leather accessories are in, whereas sweatpants are on the out.

Curating a thoughtful capsule work wardrobe will put you in good stead for the year to come. By selecting a handful of quality pieces โ€“ just five will do โ€“ youโ€™ll feel cool, calm and collected when your alarm goes off in the morning.

Here, your guide to creating a concise-yet-versatile capsule wardrobe that would make Marie Kondo proud:

Step 1: Invest in a pair of sleek black trousers

A pair of well-cut trousers form the backbone of any work wardrobe. Versatile enough to wear (almost) everyday, find a flattering pair of trousers and theyโ€™ll serve you for years to come.

Renaissance Renaissance Louis Pants, $776.42 at Net-A-Porter.

Step 2: Treat yourself to an investment handbag

There are handbags and then there are handbags. Todโ€™s Oboe Bag falls into the latter category. Made in Italy and crafted in leather, the bagโ€™s unique curves make it casual enough for everyday but chic enough to accompany you into the evening. With enough room to fit the essentials and then some, this handbag will serve you well as you dash between meetings in the city with ease.

Todโ€™s Oboe Bag, $2,280 at Todโ€™s.

Step 3: Go in search of the perfect white t-shirt

With a white t-shirt in your arsenal, the options are endless. Dress it up with trousers (see step one) or dress it down with jeans (is casual Friday still a still a thing?).  Not all t-shirts are created equal; spending a few more dollars will ensure your do-it-all tee lasts the test of time.

Bassike Turnback Detail Tank, $110 at Bassike.

Step 4: Find a pair of quality loafers

While weโ€™ve shelved our trackies, weโ€™re still warming up to heels. Loafers offer a stylish and comfortable alternative without verging into casual territory. Todโ€™s has successfully mastered the art of elegant loafers where function meets form โ€“ the Kate Gommino Driving Shoes feature branded leather detailing, exposed handmade stitching and an iconic rubber pebble outsole.

Todโ€™s Kate Gommino Driving Shoes, $780 at Todโ€™s.

Step 5: Opt for an oversized blazer

The key to elevating any outfit, invest in a blazer now and itโ€™ll serve you for years to come. Pair it with jeans and a tee for a smart casual look or throw it over a silk slip to give your outfit a more corporate feel. Opt for a sharp yet oversized design that will also keep you warm.

Acne Studios Tweed Blazer, $750 at Net-A-Porter.

Brought to you by Todโ€™s.

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All Your Burning โ€˜Snowpiercerโ€™ Season 2 Questions, Answered

Like, is Melanie actually dead?

This article contains spoilers for Netflixโ€™s Snowpiercer season two.

We should have known Netflixโ€™s Snowpiercer wouldnโ€™t leave us with all the answers, and season two was no different thanks to the burning cliffhangers left in its wake (which, of course, has us eagerly awaiting season three).  

As a refresher, Snowpiercer is set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, with the series focusing on the remaining people who inhabit a gigantic, perpetually-moving train, the Snowpiercer, that circles the globe. The series is based on the graphic climate fiction novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob, Benjamin Legrand and Jean-Marc Rochette, and is a continuation of the film adaptation which starred Chris Evans

If youโ€™re as hooked as we are, fret notโ€”the Netflix series has already been renewed for a season three, which is currently in production, so weโ€™ll (hopefully) get some resolutions to the showโ€™s many unanswered questions soon. 

Read on for our investigation into the many questions Snowpiercerโ€™s season two ended with, and how we think theyโ€™ll resolve them in season three. 

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Is Melanie Cavill Really Dead, And What Does That Mean For Snowpiercer

In season two we see Melanie Cavill (played by Jennifer Connelly) get separated from the rest of the train, and get a glimpse of her journey later onโ€”but when Alex (Rowan Blanchard), her daughter, and Layton (Daveed Diggs) make their way to her research centre they find her note, and assume sheโ€™s dead, along with her data, which confirms that the Earth is warming up. 

Fans were quick to ask if Melanie was, in fact, dead. Following the emotional finale, producer Becky Clements spoke with Deadline about Melanieโ€™s fate, saying, โ€œWe are pleased that Melanie will join us for Season 3,โ€ so we can breathe easy knowing Connelly will return next season. 

Although, we still donโ€™t know in what capacity sheโ€™ll return. 

https://twitter.com/ljmiran13/status/1376847629707927557

Will Passengers Finally Get Off The Snowpiercer Train?

With Melanieโ€™s revelation that the Earth was in fact warming, and with Layton and Alex retrieving exactly where the warm spots of the planet are, many fans guessed that meant passengers could finally disembark the Snowpiercer. Only, we know Mr Wilford (Sean Bean) wonโ€™t allow thisโ€”and it looks like weโ€™ll have to wait and see a battle for โ€œNew Eadenโ€, as Layton calls the future outside Snowpiercer, come to fruition. 

Are Javi And Boki Really Dead? 

Not afraid to kill off major characters, Snowpiercer fans were shocked when two other key players were left with unanswered endingsโ€”Javier de la Torre (played by Roberto Urbina) and Bojan โ€œBokiโ€ Boscovic (played by Aleks Paunovic). Engineer Javi was mauled by Mr Wilfordโ€™s pitbull Jupiter for helping Layton and Ruth, while Boki, the last living Breachman, decided to โ€œmake coupโ€ and was last seen being attacked by Jackboots. 

Looks like weโ€™ll have to wait until season three to know what fate Javi and Boki were met with. 

snowpiercer

Is Ruth In Danger?

After being hired by Mr Wilford, Ruth switches sides after learning the true evilness of the dictator and decides her loyalty belongs to the train and its inhabitants. After deciding to become loyal to Layton, Ruth misses her chance to leave on the pirate ship and is left to face Mr Wilford after her betrayalโ€”and if Mr Wilfordโ€™s past torturous actions are anything to go by, we expect it wonโ€™t be an easy journey for Ruth come season three. 

What Will Snowpiercer Season Three Be About? 

Now that weโ€™ve done a deep dive into the questions we want to be answered in Snowpiercer season three, weโ€™re dying to know where the storyline will take Mr Wilford, Layton, and the 1,034-cars-long super train.

As we know, season two concluded with the cliffhanger of Layton leading a group of rebels off Snowpiercer onto a rebel train, setting off for the Rocky Mountains to rescue Melanie (who they assume escaped to take refuge on parts of the Earth that are warming). Mr Wilford will likely make a plan of attack to stop the pirate trainโ€”and it remains to be seen if the villainous character will succeed. 

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Home Page 39

Dancing Is Back! Where To Get Your Groove On In Sydney This Weekend

The DF is waiting

Thatโ€™s right Sydney, dancing is officially back, and it couldnโ€™t come at a better time with the Easter long weekend fast approaching. Venues that were forced to shutter their doors in 2020 are celebrating in style, hosting a string of events to help us get our groove backโ€”and fret not if youโ€™ve forgotten how to bust a move, these venues are here to guide the way with plenty of old-school hits and modern bangers on the agenda. 

Read on to discover the best venues to dance (and sing!) in Sydney.

Estate Coogee

Coogee. 

Estate Coogee is a four-in-one venue that has everything you could possibly want when returning to Sydneyโ€™s bustling nightlife, boasting four different venues under its roofโ€”a seafood-focused restaurant, a tropical terrace bar, taqueria (which just launched Big Mac Burritos, yum!) and a hidden karaoke room. Enjoy the sunshine while relaxing with a cocktail, and as soon as the sun sets dance the night away along to the live music on offer. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGtZurWDUDi/

The Beresford

Surry Hills. 

With a long weekend ahead, thereโ€™s no better place to celebrate than at one of Sydneyโ€™s vibiest Sunday nightโ€™s. Enjoy drinks in The Beresfordโ€™s iconic courtyard before heading upstairs to its dancefloor, with plenty of local DJs ready to bring your groove back with a seamless thread of โ€™90s throwbacks and modern hits. Donโ€™t just limit yourself to Sunday either, the dancefloor will be in full swing on Friday and Saturday night, too. 

SODA Factory

Surry Hills. 

Hidden behind โ€˜Bobbyโ€™s Boss Dogโ€™sโ€™, a vintage fifties soda machine, lies one of Sydneyโ€™s most iconic dancefloor venues and with news of dancing is back on the menu, SODA has a lineup full of canโ€™t-miss-events to celebrate. Enjoy six nights of live music, from Jukebox Thursdayโ€™s to SODA Classics on Sunday (which even includes a cocktail on the house). 

Harpoon Harryโ€™s 

Surry Hills. 

For house, disco and tech lovers, turn to Harpoon Harryโ€™s to get your groove back, with the venue hosting a string of events to celebrate restrictions easing. With their signature range of cocktails on offer too, including the famous Caribbean Cola, you really canโ€™t go wrong. 

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Slimโ€™s Rooftop. 

Darlinghurst.  

With sunny weather predicted for this weekend, Slimโ€™s Rooftop is ideal for those whoโ€™ve dreamt of dancing as the sun sets over the Sydney skyline. The venue, home to the famous pink umbrellas, is perched on the rooftop of Hyde Park House and is preparing to welcome back dancing with a bang. We suggest booking ahead, as Slimโ€™s is a top pick for Sydneysiders. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMN6UU5ASDT/

Tropikana 

Manly.

Sitting just a stone throw away from Manly Beach, Tropikana is set across two levels that house both a tropical beach bar and late-night venue. From dance parties to its iconic basement, not the mention tasty pizzas and cocktails, Tropikana is welcoming back dancing in the only way it knows howโ€”with an epic weekend lineup of DJs and more. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNEtyoVjX1w/

The Imperial 

Erskenville. 

One of the most iconic pubs in Sydney, with a history that includes that famous Guy Pearce champagne moment in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The Imperial is wanting you to dust off your dancing shoes and hit the DF with the return of their nightclubโ€”kicking off with an April Fools Day Party, followed by its Hot Cross Queens night, just one of its many fun Easter themed Drag Nโ€™ Dines. 

The Cliff Dive

Darlinghurst. 

With its quirky, under-the-sea/tiki themeโ€”both in its decor and cocktailsโ€”The Cliff Dive has been one of Sydneyโ€™s favourite late-night venues for years, and with dancing back, the team are ready for the crowds. With a hip hop and Rโ€™nโ€™B focus, prepare to get caught up in the entire visual experience this underground bar has to offer, all with a delicious pineapple cocktail in hand. 

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Frankieโ€™s Pizza 

Sydney CBD. 

A night of dancing in Sydney truly wouldnโ€™t be complete without a trip to Frankieโ€™s Pizza. Known for its old-timey saloon and delicious pizzas (which are an ode to NYC slices), head on through to their Rock nโ€™ Roll stage, where booths and tables await to be filled as a range of live music plays throughout the night. 

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Home Page 39

The Chaotic First Trailer For โ€˜Zolaโ€™, Based On That Viral Twitter Thread Is Finally Here

It certainly delivers on its wild premise

As chaotic as the past few months has been, new film Zola fits in perfectly. Born out of a 2015 viral Twitter thread that began, โ€œYou wanna hear a story about why me & this bitch here fell out? Itโ€™s kind of long but full of suspense,โ€ itโ€™s a movie as tumultuous as the year weโ€™ve faced.

After premiering at Sundance in 2020, the first sneak peek of Zola is here, and it delivers on its wild premise. The film tells the bizarre and other-worldly story that takes place of 48 hours in Tampa. 

Detroit-based stripper Aโ€™ziah โ€œZolaโ€ King (@_zolarmoon on Twitter) introduced the world to her (true!) story via a 148-tweet saga (which you can read in full here). In it, Zola recounts how she and a fellow stripper named Jessica struck up a friendship and planned a weekend trip to Florida to make money dancing. As the trip unfolded though, their friendship and holiday quickly derailed by surprise guests, a suicide attempt and even a murder. 

Check out the first trailer below: 

The project was directed by Janicza Bravo, who co-wrote the script with playwright Jeremy O. Harris. Taylour Paige stars as Zola, while Riley Keough plays Stefani, a character renamed from the threadโ€™s original Jessica. Nicholas Braun takes on the role of Stefaniโ€™s emotionally distraught boyfriend Derrek (Garrett in the Twitter thread), while Colman Domingo plays the secretive X (Z in the thread).

Itโ€™s a bizarre premise to base a Hollywood film off a Twitter thread, but as Harris says the cinematic potential was too much to pass up. 

โ€œI think that something thatโ€™s really interesting about what Aโ€™ziah tweeted was that, everyone who read that Twitter thread had their own movie that they made in their head,โ€ he told IndieWireโ€œBlack Twitter said it was โ€˜The Thotyssey.โ€™ And that compared Aโ€™ziah to Homer. Like, to our earliest epic poem. And so, I was like, I wanna read it like itโ€™s Homer or Toni Morrison or Stephen King, even, you know?โ€

Thereโ€™s no word on a release date just yet, but as the trailer says itโ€™s โ€œcoming soonโ€. 

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Home Page 39

This New Romantic Thriller Is Perfect For Fans Of โ€˜Deadly Illusionsโ€™

Introducing 'Made For Love' a dark, twisted romance sure to give you chills

If you are just winding down from the twisted journey that was Netflixโ€™s Deadly Illusionsthen weโ€™ve found your next psychological romance to devour. Introducing: Stanโ€™s Made For Love. 

The series, based on Alissa Nuttingโ€™s tragicomic novel of the same name, stars Cristin Milioti and Billy Magnussen and follows 30-something Hazel Green, who tries to escape a suffocating marriageโ€”until she realises her tech billionaire husband has implanted a revolutionary tracking device in her brain. She takes refuge in her hometown but quickly notices heโ€™s somehow still controlling her life from afar. Yikes!

If thatโ€™s already given you chills, read on for everything to know about Made For Love. 

made for love
Made For Love on Stan (Credit: Stan)

What Is Made For Love About? 

The new eight-part series is adapted from Alissa Nuttingโ€™s 2018 novel of the same name and is a dark, deeply absurd and twisted story about a woman trying to escape a bad marriage. 

The official description reads: โ€œThe comedy series is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant story of love and divorce following Hazel Green, a thirty-something woman on the run after 10 years in a suffocating marriage to Byron Gogol, a controlling tech billionaire. Soon she discovers that her husband has implanted a monitoring deviceโ€”the Made for Love chipโ€”in her brain, allowing him to track her, watch her and know her โ€™emotional dataโ€™ as she tries to regain her independence. Through the chip, Byronโ€™s able to watch Hazelโ€™s every move as she flees to her desert hometown to take refuge with her aging widower father Herbert and his synthetic partner, Diane.โ€

Who Has Been Cast In Made For Love? 

Youโ€™ll probably recognise lead Cristin Milioti from her latest film, Palm Springs which she starred in alongside Andy Samberg. Joining Milioti is Billy Magnussen (The Big Short), Dan Bakkedahl (Life in Pieces), Noma Dumezweni (The Undoing), Augusto Aguilera (The Predator) and Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond). 

Is There A Made For Love Trailer? 

Yes, the streaming service released the first look at the upcoming thriller on March 5, 2021, and introduces us to the seemingly perfect couple Hazel Green (Milioti) and Byron Gogol (Magnussen), but we quickly learn things are quite what they seem and the tech-billionaire is on a mission to manufacture the perfect romance. 

When Will Made For Love Be Released? 

Made for Love debuts on April 1 on Stan.

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Home Page 39

Turns Out, โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Chris Was Reportedly Arrested On Drug Charges Prior To Appearing On The Show

Well, well, well
A man with a beard and styled hair smiles wearing a white shirt, standing indoors with a geometric light fixture in the background.

Update 01/04/21: Married At First Sightโ€˜s Chris Jensen has finally spoken out since news broke of his reported arrest for alleged drug trafficking prior to filming the show. Jensen was only able to film the show due to being on Supreme Court Bail.

Since the news of his arrest broke last week, he has opted to remain relatively quiet on his social media platforms, until now. On March 31, Chris broke his silence with an Instagram post, seemingly sharing his gratitude to his fans for their loyalty to him.

โ€œI am not perfect, I am not trying to be however, I will always be real,โ€ Jensen wrote.

โ€œI am human. If my heart is in the right place and I try my best then I am okay with this.โ€

He continued: โ€œI am a son, I am a brother, I am a father, I am an uncle, I am a friend.โ€

โ€œI take a great deal of pride in being all of these roles. Thank you to each of you who have accepted and supported me for ME. I appreciate it. I hope you each are appreciated too for who you are and being the real you.โ€

https://www.instagram.com/p/CND6_1UhyUY/?utm_source=ig_embed

Original 26/03/21: If you thought this season of Married At First Sight Australia couldnโ€™t get any more dramatic, think again.

Aside from Bookaโ€™s stalking scandal and Bryceโ€™s secret girlfriend, it looks like fan favourite Chris may have some skeletons in his closet.

In a report by The Courier Mail, contestant Chris Jensen was apparently arrested on drug charges prior to his appearance on the dating show.

The publication also alleges that the reality star is facing one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and serious organised crime. He was set to appear in a Brisbane Supreme Court on March 24, however, the matter has been adjourned until April 23.

According to The Courier Mail, Chris had reportedly been granted Supreme Court Bail, which is why he was able to star in the show, which is set to be filming its reunion episode this week.

The charges were confirmed to Daily Mail Australia by Queenslandโ€™s Courts and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMeWcm3r8Qd/

A Brisbane Magistrates Court spokesman also revealed to The Courier Mail that Chris last appeared in court on October 30 last year, after being granted magistrates bail in 2018. Turns out, he was apparently arrested alongside three co-accused, who are all facing similar charges.

During his last court appearance, not only was his bail extended, but the case was adjourned to July 23.

In the meantime, Chris is now facing a string of other changes, including possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in commission of a crime, possessing used utensils or pipes and two counts of possessing property suspected of being proceeds of an offence under the Drugs Misuse Act.

On this season of MAFS, Chris entered the experiment as an intruder, arriving significantly later than the rest of the contestants. Paired with bride Jaimie Gardner, the couple were unable to form a connection with Australia siding with Chris during their final feud, which saw him voluntarily exit the show.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMg7Q0LBd5B/

On his last episode, the fan favourite delivered an impassioned speech on why he signed up in the first place.

โ€œI came in here to give my heart and to put everything in and I did,โ€ he decalred after choosing to quit the experiment.

โ€œI hope that I will actually find the one that Iโ€™m supposed to be with and they just want to be with me, too.โ€

Following the on-air declaration, he took to his Instagram to dive deep into his time on the show, explaining how he has โ€œso much to offer and so much love to give the woman that chooses me.โ€

โ€œMy #MAFS journey endsโ€ฆ I know my worth and the quality of man I am. I wonโ€™t settle for anything less.โ€

Currently, neither Chris Jensen, MAFS or Channel Nine have addressed the charges.

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Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! April 2nd โ€“ April 8th

See what's in store ๐Ÿ’ซ
If you celebrate your birthday this week:
Your Year Ahead
This year is truly an โ€œI amโ€ period โ€“ a time when youโ€™ll not take a back seat to others.  Neither will you be inclined towards moderation or self denial.  Life is to be lived to the full this year โ€“ though, somewhat extravagantly.  Creativityโ€™s enhanced, but thereโ€™s no telling exactly how or where youโ€™ll direct your talents.  Sexual passions soar, but some may feel restricted by family commitments or children.  Through June, many Ariens lack discipline.  Not to worry.  Youโ€™ll soon be in the thick of passions and projects again.  

Aries (March 21 โ€“ April 20)

Best Day:  Sunday 4th
Tensions flare as power struggles promote either fight or flight.  Your fiery Aries anger can be explosive, but suppressing emotions isnโ€™t healthy either.  If you have a problem, aim for a positive outcome rather than just venting.  Either clear the air, or take a very long walk.  In any case, your health can only improve with a little extra exercise.

Taurus (April 21 โ€“ May 20)

Best Day:  Monday 5th
This week calls for compromise.  Major pitfalls to watch out for are restlessness or family conflict. Also take care with finances. Leave nothing to chance and if necessary, seek trusted advice.  If all this sounds stressful, it doesnโ€™t have to be.  You canโ€™t control others peoplesโ€™s grumpier moments, but you can control your own.

Gemini (May 21 โ€“ June 21)

Best Day:  Tuesday 6th

While all is not lost, something might be.  Your mind is drawn in many directions and as you become less focused, it can be difficult to keep an eye on everything โ€“ especially finances.  Itโ€™s been said that many hands make light work, but some of them can be attached to demanding individuals.  If someoneโ€™s complicating a situation โ€“ go solo.

Cancer (June 22 โ€“ July 22)

Best Day:  Wednesday 7th
At last, youโ€™re ready to start acting on that list of innovative ideas.  Soon, youโ€™ll experience extra clarity that will benefit that long-standing labour of love youโ€™ve been working on.  Bringing your dreams to life will keep you too busy for romance, but be on the look-out for an unexpected financial possibility โ€“ very welcome in these unsettled times.  

Leo (July 23 โ€“ August 23)

Best Day:   Saturday 3rd
Job satisfaction can be elusive, especially at a time when youโ€™re worried about what the next week will bring.  Itโ€™s not a time for drastic changes, Leo.  There are still bills to meet and payments to be made.  You can, however, plan for the future.  Why not consider retraining, perhaps via internet?   Current hardships will become future triumphs.   

Virgo (August 24 โ€“ September 22)

Best Day:  Wednesday 7th
Put the brakes on any major decisions this week, Virgo.  With your usual sense of logic taking a leave of absence, youโ€™re pretty much left under the command of more erratic emotions.  Perhaps youโ€™re hiding something, or not telling all?  Be honest, and let others know your true feelings.  It wonโ€™t be as traumatic as you think.  

Libra (September 23 โ€“ October 23)

Best Day:  Friday 2nd
Appetites are satisfied in a week thatโ€™s hungry for meaning โ€“ youโ€™re eager to taste lifeโ€™s different delights. For some, this may mean spiritual advancement; others are set for a creative leap.  Driven by an insatiable urge to learn as much as you can, youโ€™ll enjoy the company and conversation of others.  So fulfilling for a Libran.  

Scorpio (October 24 โ€“ November 22)

Best Day:  Thursday 8th
Money matters no longer seem to be a thorn in your side.  Your competitive spirit shows an more aggressive edge, but this will serve you better than simply falling in line with others.  You delight in your new-found ability to harass and hustle until you finally get your way.   Even if obstacles challenge your confidence, the cosmos spurs you on.

Sagittarius (November 23 โ€“ December 21)

Best Day:  Friday 2nd
Life may continue to feel like an uphill struggle, with challenges causing frustration.  Should things not go to plan, relax.  Calm that anxious mind and youโ€™ll find the strength to battle on.  From adversity comes victory, and a supreme sense of self satisfaction.  Itโ€™s only a matter of time before current problems ease.  

Capricorn (December 22 โ€“ January 20) 

Best Day:  Tuesday 6th
Almost everything has its upside โ€“ which is well worth remembering this week.  The real problem is that you feel a tad dazed or exposed.  When you feel this vulnerable, it can help to put some distance between you and others.  Sit quietly, and come to terms with a few home truths.  Learn how to turn current circumstances to your advantage.  

Aquarius (January 21 โ€“ February 18)

Best Day:  Monday 5th
Life can be tough.  Still, we must all assume that better times lie ahead.  Lucky for you, mighty Mars does too.  Your professional standing is in line for a boost, with opportunities coming from unusual sources.  Indeed, being in the right place and making the right contacts are important ingredients to current success โ€“ so just go for it!

Pisces (February 19 โ€“ March 20)

Best Day:  Sunday 4th
Just when you were about to let go of some long held dreams, along comes a guardian angel to remind you why you had such high hopes in the first place.  So, what to do?  Give up or go on?   Trust the voice within.   Finally, hereโ€™s a week when thereโ€™s little to lose and much to gain.

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for marie claire readers! For your unique 30-page Character Profile, or a 60 page day-to-day Year Ahead Transit Report โ€“ email Tanya Obreza at astrology@tanyaobreza.com. For more details, head here.

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Meghan Says Archie Sees Her And Prince Harry As โ€œSuperheroesโ€ At Surprise Appearance

Too cute!

News of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry might be stuck on their tell-all with Oprah Winfrey, but it looks like the royal couple is sticking to their life of service. Over the weekend, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised a virtual gathering for an organisation, MomsRising, which aim to advocate for women and raise awareness surrounding issues women and mothers face. 

โ€œThe meeting with Prince Harry and Meghan was a huge boost for MomsRising members, some of whom are struggling without jobs, childcare, paid leave, health care and other essentials during the pandemic,โ€ executive director and CEO of MomsRising Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner told E! News. โ€œThe Duke and Duchess were kind, compassionate and incredibly supportive, both on a personal level and of the policies that would help get their lives back on track.โ€

Rowe-Finkbeiner added that Markle, who is currently expecting her second child, offered up some sound advice. โ€œThe duchess also reminded us that, especially in times of self-doubt, we should take the opportunity to see ourselves through our childrenโ€™s eyes. Because to our children, weโ€™re superheroes. That really resonated with so many of us.โ€

meghan
Earlier this month, to celebrate Womenโ€™s History Month, the duchess baked a cake made with lemons from her garden as part of an Archewell Foundation Dinner thrown for a group of Chicago women in partnership with World Central Kitchen. 
โ€œWe hope you enjoy the offering we baked for youโ€”a small token of thanks, from our home to yours. Our hope with this effort is to show that, when we all participate, even the smallest actions can have a ripple effect. Even individual actions can impact the whole of us,โ€ she wrote in a letter addressed to the recipients of the meal. 

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MAFS Reactions: Yes, Alana!

Tonight's dinner party resulted in... drama

Itโ€™s dinner party night on Married At First Sight, and considering the amount of drama thatโ€™s gone down over the past several days at the retreat we could only assume it was where things would really get heatedโ€”and of course, it was time for other couples to air how theyโ€™ve been feeling about Melissa and Bryceโ€™s relationship. 

Last night we saw Bryce approach Beck and invade her space, kissing her on the cheek calling her the โ€œqueen of the experimentโ€, and now Alana wanted to share her thoughts about what went down. Speaking her mind caused a rift in her own relationship, and while it might have proved rocky, viewers were all for it. 

Below, the best reactions to tonightโ€™s MAFS.  

https://twitter.com/GeorgieALove/status/1377196924386729986
https://twitter.com/Spookysadghoul/status/1377180675976044545
https://twitter.com/hertherevrywher/status/1377197578744332290
https://twitter.com/AussieGal999/status/1377200040381313027

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Netflixโ€™s โ€˜Shtiselโ€™ Is A Must-Watch For Fans Of โ€˜Unorthodoxโ€™

And there are three whole seasons to binge

Calling all fans of Unorthodox: your next Netflix obsession has arrived. Allow us to introduce you to Shtisel.

Make no mistake, itโ€™s hardly new by any means, but the series status as a cult favourite has been exploding since its third season dropped on the streaming service, and suffice to say, weโ€™re not ones to let underrated shows simply pass by.

Intrigued? Scroll on for everything you need to know about Shtisel.

What Is The Plot Of โ€˜Shtiselโ€™?

The show follows the trials and tribulations in the lives of the ultra-Orthodox Shtisel family in Jerusalemโ€™s Haredi, Internet-free neighbourhood community. The first season of the show commences with 26-year-old Aviva Shtisel, a single Haredi man who lives with his father, a rabbi and widower, Shulem Shtisel. Shulem wants to see his son married soon, but Aviva has fallen for a much older woman, while Shulemโ€™s daughter Giti is secretly dealing with marital problems and his other son Zvi Arie is trying to patch everything up. Meanwhile, Shulem himself is also on the prowl.

Itโ€™s the recipe for an excellent family saga, brimming with universal themes despite its distinctly sub-cultural setting. Check out the trailer below to see for yourself. 

WATCH BELOW: Official Shtisel Trailer

https://vimeo.com/105325576

Who Is In The Cast Of Shtisel?

Fans of Unorthodox will no doubt recognise the Golden Globe-nominated Shira Haas in season three of Shitsel in the role of Ruchami, Gitiโ€™s daughter. Dov Glickman stars as patriarch Shulem Shtisel, Michael Aloni as Akiva Shtisel and Neta Riskin as Giti Weiss.

Is Shtisel Coming Back For Season 4?

At this stage, there is yet to be an announcement confirming whether or not Shtisel will return for a fourth season, however its global success makes it seem like a safe bet. And while the seriesโ€™ fate may still be in the air, Deadline has reported that an American adaptation of the show is on its way. Per the report, the show will be based on the Israeli series and is described as being: โ€œa modern-day Romeo and Juliet story about an an ultra-progressive, over-achieving secular eighteen-year-old young woman on the verge of personal freedom, and the strictly observant Orthodox young man to whom she is powerfully drawnโ€”so powerfully that she is willing to uproot her entire life to be with him.โ€ 

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โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Bryce Just Said He And Melissa Are Ready To โ€œStart A Familyโ€

The reality TV star has opened up about their romance

Every year, Channel Nineโ€™s social experiment Married At First Sight has its fair share of controversial couplesโ€”remember Dean Wells and Tracey Jewel? Or Lizzie Sobinoff and Sam Ball? Yeah. Well, safe to say Bryce Ruthven and Melissa Rawson are 2021โ€™s pick, having caused a stir since the minute they wed on our screens. 

From the very start, Bryceโ€™s behaviour has been a point of contention with viewers, with many calling out the series for pairing the two together. At one point even expert John Aiken called out the 31-year-old reality star for his โ€œtoxic masculinity.โ€ 

Despite all this, it seems the couple is on their way to making it to final vows, with fans finding clues that hint theyโ€™re still very much together.

Now with the final vows done and dusted, with the couple deciding to continue their journey beyond the experiment, Bryce and Melissa have released an emotional statement confirming they are still together. 

Sharing a photo of the pair from the final commitment ceremony, Bryce wrote: โ€œWe know people donโ€™t agree with how our relationship appears to be from the outside. We have proven you can be happy with someone when others negatively judge our relationship from afar without knowing the home truths. People are always going to have opinions as we do in our own relationship. In the end, @mafs shows everyone that love silences all โ™ฅ๏ธโ€ 

Melissa echoed his sentiments, writing: โ€œMy heart is full. I love this man so much and we truly make each other happy every single day. While it might be hard for some to believe, it is my decision, my life and my choice. And I choose him. He is my partner, my lover and the man that I have fallen head over heels for. Our love story is what I asked for; an all consuming and unconditional love. And I have found that with Bryce โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’‹๐Ÿฅฐ #MAFS.โ€ 

bryce
(Credit: Instagram)

Appearing on The Kyle & Jackie O Show last month, Bryce told the hosts that he and Melissa have discussed โ€œmaking it officialโ€โ€”meaning, getting married legitimatelyโ€”and are prepared to start a family together. 

โ€œThatโ€™s the plan,โ€ he said, before adding the pair โ€œwant a normal family lifeโ€ together once the madness around their relationship quietens down. 

While Bryce said they wanted to make things official, he admitted he hadnโ€™t proposed but had picked out an engagement ring. 

โ€œ[Iโ€™m] just waiting for the right time. Iโ€™ve got some big grand plan that doesnโ€™t involve Channel Nine,โ€ he said. 

bryce and melissa

Despite the rocky road, it seems Melissa and Bryce have also โ€œcompletely won overโ€ their families and are planning an engagement following the end of the show next month, a source told New Idea.

โ€œItโ€™s clear that they are very much in love and are happy,โ€ they added. 

Reality TV site The Wash caught Bryce and Melissa at the airport together, and when asked about his behaviour toward Melissa on screen he responded โ€œThe edit is definitely part of me, good parts and bad parts. I think everyone else can work that out.โ€ 

In the clip, Melissa stands by his side and responds โ€œI know the real Bryce, what everyone is seeing is a great edit โ€“ Iโ€™ll say that.โ€ They definitely appeared quite cosy!

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These Are the Absolutely Most Iconic Films Adapted From Plays

To celebrate the release of Blythe Spirit, we're looking back at the iconic films that started on stage.
blythe
Isla Fisher as Ruth with Dame Judi Dench as Madame Arcati

Adapting a play is no mean feat. 

Live theatre is an impossible experience to replicate and there have been many โ€“ many โ€“ instances where a film adaptation has not only failed to capture the magic, but actually ruined the original play by even trying to (looking at you, Cats). In recent years, theatre has taken inspiration from Hollywood for adaptations (think: Legally Blonde and Shrek) but for a long time, it was the other way around. 

While there are instances like Cats, there are some film adaptations that have taken texts meant for the stage and transformed them into feats of filmmaking. In fact, in a few instances, the film adaptation has gone on to eclipse the play in notoriety. 

The latest play to be successfully adapted by Hollywood is the iconic Noel Coward piece, Blythe Spirit. Streaming on Amazon Prime from April 2, it stars our own Isla Fisher in an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Dame Judi Dench and Leslie Mann. The British comedy follows a writer (Dan Stevens) who decides to fix his writerโ€™s block by asking a spiritualist medium (Dench) to perform a seance. When she accidentally summons his dead first wife, comedy ensues as the resulting love triangle with his current wife becomes increasingly complex.  

To celebrate the release of Blythe Spirit, weโ€™ve rounded up the best film adaptations of plays for you to consider watching this long weekend.

Moonlight 

Moon

Itโ€™s a little known fact that Moonlight writer/director Barry Jenkins adapted the film from an unpublished, unproduced play named In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. The Academy Award-winning movie is so cinematic that itโ€™s hard to believe it was meant for any other kind of medium than film, but knowing it started as a play text allows for a deeper appreciation of the soul the film has.

Romeo + Juliet

rom

What do you get when Baz adapts the Bard? A technicolour 90s nostalgia dreamscape, thatโ€™s what. The Baz Luhrmann directed 1996 film is now one of โ€“ if not the โ€“ most referenced adaptations of Romeo and Juliet, with too many iconic scenes to count. From the first sighting through a fish tank, to the elevator kiss and Mercutioโ€™s performance of Young Hearts Run Free, to musical masterpieces like Desโ€™ree singing Kissing You and Quindon Tarverโ€™s cover of When Doves Cry, it creates new moments to love from a beloved text. With a young Leonardo Di Caprio starring opposite Claire Danes in the titular roles, it is simply *chefs kiss*.

Angels In America

angels

Tony Kushnerโ€™s 1991 two-part play on AIDS and homosexuality in 1980s America was a cultural revelation; it won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, nine Tony Awards and is broadly considered a turning point in queer representation and American drama. Directed by Mike Nichols, the 2003 film adaptation is technically a miniseries but itโ€™s epic enough that it warrants mention on this list. Starring Al Pacino and Meryl Streep, itโ€™s just as astonishing as the play.

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

cat

As one of Tennessee Williamsโ€™ most celebrated plays, the film adaptation had a lot to live up to. But with a cast that included Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Burt Ives, it delivered. The film captures all of the sensuality, passion and toughness of the original play, leaving behind a truly memorable adaptation to celebrate.

Annie

annie

There are plenty of adaptations of Annie (including a 2014 film one that shall not be mentioned on this list), but the 1982 film starring OG Broadway icons Bernadette Peters and Carol Burnett as Ms Hannigan is all-time. A childhood staple for many, it transformed the play into a film that sparkles with warmth, joy and cheek.

Casablanca

Casa

Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, Casablanca began as a play titled Everybody Comes to Rickโ€™s by Joan Alison and Murray Burnett that was released on the eve of America entering World War II. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film is a testament to the power that film adaptations can have if done right.

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The 10 Most Memorable Celebrity Pregnancy Reveals

The most recent? Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte.

Given that it can often be one of the biggest relationship milestones for a couple (next to a wedding, perhaps), an ultra-adorable pregnancy announcement is fitting.

For most of todayโ€™s celebrities, social media has become the main avenue of choice for famous couples to alert their fans of their incoming arrivals.

Other celebrities prefer to announce their pregnancies in a more low-key fashion, while some go hard or go homeโ€”ร  la Kylie Jenner keeping her fans in limbo for months, or Beyoncรฉ announcing on stage at the MTV VMAs.

Scroll down for the nine best, sweetest, and most extravagant celebrity pregnancy announcements in recent memory.

Kirsten Dunst 

On March 31, the Bring It On actress announced she was expecting her second child, revealing the exciting news on the cover of W Magazine in a stunning shoot directed by Sofia Coppola. Dunst already shares 2-year-old son Ennis with husband Jesse Plemons, and just like her first pregnancy announcement, the actress was dressed in Rodarte. 

Ashley Graham

Graham and her husband, director Justin Ervin, announced their pregnancy in August 2019, with an adorable video shared to Grahamโ€™s Instagram account. Ervin also posted pictures of himself and Graham with their ultrasound on Instagram. 

ashley graham

Kylie Jenner

Beauty mogul Kylie Jenner made no formal announcement of her pregnancy until she gave birth to her daughter, Stormi Webster, in February 2018, leaving her hundreds of millions of fans in the dark for months. 

Jenner first posted a written announcement on her Instagram account, which read, among other things: โ€œPregnancy has been the most beautiful, empowering, and life-changing experience Iโ€™ve had in my entire life and Iโ€™m actually going to miss it.โ€ She then posted a link to a video documenting her pregnancy, titled โ€˜To Our Daughterโ€™, and then shared this photo of herself and her daughter (which succeeded to become the most-liked photo on Instagram). 

kylie

Beyoncรฉ

Beyoncรฉ announced her first pregnancy with her daughter, Blue Ivy, during a performance of her song โ€˜Love On Topโ€™ at the 2011 MTV VMAs. At the end of the performance, the singer ecstatically dropped her microphone and unbuttoned her blazer to rub her burgeoning bump for the audience.

beyonce

Beyoncรฉ

As far as social media announcements go, Beyoncรฉโ€™s Instagram post announcing her pregnancy with twins took the cake. The singer shared this editorial-style picture to her Instagram account in February 2017, with the caption: โ€œWe would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. โ€“ The Carters.โ€

beyonce

Irina Shayk

Model Irina Shayk announced her pregnancy with her then-partner, Bradley Cooper, by walking the runway at the 2016 Victoriaโ€™s Secret Fashion Show while six months pregnant. The couple later welcomed their daughter, Lea de Seine, in March 2017.

irina

Kirsten Dunst

Actress Dunst made no official announcement of her pregnancy on social media. Instead, fashion house Rodarte shared images from their autumn/winter โ€™18 series featuring Dunst in February 2018, which became the official first photographs of the actressโ€™s bump. If weโ€™re ranking pregnancy announcements by most fashionable, Dunstโ€™s definitely sits top of the list. 

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Lily Aldridge

In August 2018, model Lily Aldridge surprised fans by announcing her second pregnancy with her husband, Caleb Followill, on Instagram, with the simple caption โ€œSURPRISEโ€. A month later, she walked the runway for Brandon Maxwell at New York Fashion Week while pregnant.

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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

In 2017, model and occasional actress Huntington-Whiteley shared this beach photo to announce her pregnancy with her fiancรฉ, Jason Statham. Huntington-Whiteley accompanied the gorgeous picture with the caption: โ€œVery happy to share that Jason and I are expecting!! Lots of love Rosie x Photo by @jasonstatham.โ€ 

rosie

Lauren Conrad

The Hills star-turned-fashion designer Lauren Conrad announced her pregnancy with her husband, musician William Tell, with a simple ultrasound snap on Instagram to ring in the 2017 New Year. Conrad captioned the post: โ€œHappy New Year! I have a feeling 2017 is going to be the best year yetโ€ฆโ€

lauren

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Jeffrey Epsteinโ€™s Associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, Charged With Sex Trafficking

A fourth alleged victim has also been added to charges

Jeffrey Epsteinโ€™s former associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, has had sex trafficking charges and another alleged victim added to her superseding indictment, as prosecutors claim the pairโ€™s conspiracy to sexually abuse girls stretched over a decade, reports the Sydney Morning Herald

The British socialite now faces an eight-count indictment and is expected to go to trial in New York on July 12, and itโ€™s unknown if the new charges will postpone that date. 

The rewritten indictment also adds a fourth victim to the allegations, who says she was sexually abused multiple times by Epstein between 2001 and 2004 at his Palm Beach residence, per Forbesbeginning when she was just 14. 

The indictment further alleges that Maxwell encouraged and enticed the girl to recruit others to perform โ€œsexualised massagesโ€ for Epstein.

Maxwell, who has been in federal prison since July 2020, previously pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and groom three teenage girls for sex between 1994 and 1997. 

ghislaine

In a Times report from last year, one alleged Epstein survivor said Maxwell threatened her life after she notified police departments and the FBI about Epsteinโ€™s alleged behaviour.

โ€œBetter be careful and watch your back,โ€ she recalled Maxwell telling her. โ€œI know you go to the West Side Highway all the time. While youโ€™re out there, just be really careful, because there are a lot of ways to die there.โ€

Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the most outspoken of Epsteinโ€™s survivors, maintains that Maxwell introduced her to British royalty Prince Andrew, adding that she was forced to have sex with him.

Prince Andrew and the royal family have so far denied all claims, with Andrew himself telling journalist Emily Maitlis that he has โ€œno recollection of ever meeting this lady, none whatsoeverโ€ in his infamous defense interview last year. He has since retired from all royal responsibilities permanently.

According to The Guardian, if she is convicted, Maxwell could face up to 35 years in prison.

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The New โ€˜Youngerโ€™ Season 7 Trailer Is Here, And Liza Has Some Big Decisions To Make

The seventh series will be the last, but certainly not the least

Itโ€™s been a long time coming, but itโ€™s finally here: the very first look at Younger season seven. If youโ€™ve somehow missed the best thing Hilary Duff has been in since The Lizzie McGuire Movie, donโ€™t worry, weโ€™ve got the briefest primer for you on Younger season six all ready for you. Per a recent announcement, Australian fans of the drama will be able to watch it on Stan, very soon too.

The seriesโ€™ final season will air on April 16, with the streaming platform confirming that its first four episodes will drop that same day. 

On March 31, we got yet another sneak peek at the upcoming seriesโ€”and fans will be happy to know itโ€™s picking up right where we left off, yes with that Season 6 cliffhanger. 

โ€œWe are women, we are fighters,โ€ Hilary Duffโ€™s Kelsey says in the teaser, and if the short clip is anything to go by, it looks like Liza has some big decisions to make. 

Watch the latest trailer below. 

Younger' Season 7 | Trailer
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Younger season seven picks up after that bombshell finale. For those whoโ€™ve somehow forgotten, Charles pulls a surprise proposal on Liza at the reception of their friendsโ€™ wedding. (Which seems like a huge social faux pas to us, but thatโ€™s neither here nor there.)

Younger season six also saw the showโ€™s main conceit finally be pulled out into the open. Liza Miller, played by Tony Award-winning Sutton Foster, has her age revealed. Sheโ€™s not the 20-something she pretended to be to get a foot back into the world of publishing, rather, a seasoned 40-year-old editor facing down the reality of age discrimination. And now, everybody knows it.

WATCH: Younger Season Seven Teaser Trailer

Whatโ€™s going to happen in Younger season 7?

As per the nature of a teaser trailer, we arenโ€™t given too much to work with. The main crux of Younger season seven seems to be shaping up to be a classic love triangle situation. While Liza appears to be happily settling down with Charles, it doesnโ€™t seem like sheโ€™s entirely let go of Josh.

โ€œI donโ€™t think they can let each other go,โ€ Foster told TV Guide. โ€œThereโ€™s something, they have a connection that runs deep. She loves Charles and is in a relationship with him, but she will always love Josh.โ€

That said, itโ€™s hard to base anything concrete off the castโ€™s admissions. โ€œThey never tell us anything. I have no information, really,โ€ Duff told OprahMag. โ€œDarren Star keeps a tight lip [โ€ฆ] I have no idea what theyโ€™re going to throw our way this season. We usually find out like two days before the table reads. So, Kelsey had a pretty brutal go last season, and Iโ€™m hoping she thrives a little more this year.โ€

Which cast members are returning for Younger season 7?

Per the official announcement, we can expect all the key players to return. That includes Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Miriam Shor, Nico Tortorella, Peter Hermann, Molly Bernard and Charles Michael Davis.

Where can I watch Younger season 7 in Australia?

As mentioned, Younger season 7 will premiere exclusively on Stan in Australia on April 15. Which happily, is also where you can rewatch all six of the previous ones. Weโ€™d suggest with a wine or five.

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Home Page 39

Kate Middletonโ€™s Uncle Has Spoken Out In Her Defence Following Meghan Markleโ€™s Crying Claims

Blood is thicker than water

While Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s interview with Oprah has come and gone, the revelations they made continue to follow them long after.

Aside from the news of their second child or how the royal family were allegedly โ€œconcernedโ€ over Archieโ€™s skin colour, one of Meghanโ€™s allegations about Kate Middleton is still circulating, thanks to a certain family member.

In the tell-all interview, Meghan finally broke her silence on the rumoured โ€œfeudโ€ between herself and Kate Middleton that many have speculated about for years.

The incident in question reportedly saw Meghan make Kate cry in the run-up to her 2018 royal wedding over Princess Charlotteโ€™s bridesmaid dress, however Meghan clarified that in fact, โ€œthe reverse happenedโ€.

โ€œA few days before the wedding, she was upset about somethingโ€”yes, the issue was correct, about the flower girl dressesโ€”and it made me cry and it really hurt my feelings,โ€ she explained to Oprah.

However, she went on to emphasise that the problem was actually not Kate, but rather, the way that the story got twisted by the press.

โ€œShe apologised, and she brought me flowers and a note apologising, which is what I would do if I knew that I hurt someoneโ€ฆ to just take accountability for it,โ€ she continued.

Explaining how the story was reported, Meghan admitted that the royal family knew the true story, yet played no part in clarifying the truth to the British press, saying: โ€œEveryone in the institution knew it wasnโ€™t true. So why didnโ€™t somebody just say that?โ€

Since the reports first went public, Kate Middleton has remained tight-lipped, but now, her uncle has spoken out in her defence.

Gary Goldsmith, uncle to the Duchess of Cambridge, spoke out in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, via The Sun.

โ€œIโ€™ve known Kate since she was born and she doesnโ€™t have a mean bone in her body. Itโ€™s just simply not in her nature,โ€ he told the publication. โ€œSheโ€™s even lovelier on the inside than on the outside. If anyone had a hissy fit, it must have been Meghan.โ€

He continued: โ€œKate would have been trying to make the peace. I would fight for Kateโ€™s honour until the day I die. She is the most spectacular person Iโ€™ve ever met.โ€

Of course, it is important to note that Goldsmith wasnโ€™t there during the incident and the royal family are yet to comment on his opinion of the events.

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Home Page 39

Enough.

We are sick of men invading our personal space.

This month, women across Australia marched for justice. We marched to support the many women who had come forward with assault allegations against men in parliament, and we marched to demand women be heard, believed and no longer blamed for being raped, assaulted and murdered. We marched for consent.

The behaviour we fight against is systemic. Itโ€™s ingrained so deeply in our culture, weโ€™re often having to argue that our experiences with men are even PROBLEMATIC. We literally find ourselves in battles over whether someone invading our space, grabbing us, using their physicality to intimidate or coerce us, lewdly joking about us is โ€œrightโ€ or โ€œwrongโ€. 

This systemic behaviour runs all the way down to what we saw on Married At First Sight last night. Bryce Ruthven kissing Bec Zemek on the cheek midway through an argument, as she pushed him away.

MAFS

In case you arenโ€™t caught up, Bryce is this seasonโ€™s villain. His portrayal has included isolating Melissa, his wife in the experiment, from the group, repeatedly criticising her appearance and displaying concerning behaviour that has been called out by other cast and fans. He is all kinds of toxic on screen, to the point where petitions have been created asking for producers to remove him from the series.

Heโ€™s also been embroiled in an on-screen battle with fellow MAFS star Bec, who accused him of having a secret girlfriend outside the experiment. Repeatedly, weโ€™ve seen Bryce complaining about Bec upsetting his wife, yet also insinuating her issue with him stems from her being romantically interested in him. 

This came to a head during last nightโ€™s episode, when Bryce, during an argument with Bec and her โ€œhusbandโ€ Jake, walked up to Jake and tried to shake his hand, โ€œcrowningโ€ him the King of the Experiment. He then walked up to Bec to crown her Queen, but instead of shaking her hand he forcibly kissed her on the cheek while she yelled at him to get off her. 

MAFS

It was tough to watch, but particularly tough if youโ€™ve experienced a similar invasion of your space as a woman, as most of us have. Contrary to what many men on the internet believe, it is closer to being โ€œAll Menโ€ than it is to being โ€œNot All Menโ€. The fact is, most women can think of not one, but multiple scenarios in which their personal space was invaded or body was touched without permission.

I donโ€™t actually feel Bryce was intentionally trying to intimidate Bec. But the behaviour shown on screen is, I believe, still alarming โ€“ feeling okay with invading a womanโ€™s personal space is so ingrained in male culture, many men donโ€™t even recognise itโ€™s wrong. How many times have you swatted off drunk men trying to put their arm around you, or had to step back when a man arguing with you invaded your personal space, and been met with them dismissing your reaction? This is historical โ€“ for centuries, men have been given the right to dominate women. What we know is intimidation, coercion, domination, because weโ€™ve felt it, weโ€™ve dealt with the ongoing psychological impact โ€“ they often either donโ€™t recognise the impact of their actions, or they simply donโ€™t care.

MAFS

Last night we saw a man who has repeatedly taken Becโ€™s criticism of his behaviour as โ€œshe wants meโ€. We saw a man who treated another manโ€™s space with respect, and a womanโ€™s space as fair game. We saw a scenario play out that many of us have personally experienced โ€“ a man feeling empowered to touch a woman who was physically and verbally indicating she did not want to be touched.

Nothing about this kind of behaviour is harmless. Itโ€™s not some โ€œinnocent funโ€ or โ€œa gameโ€, excuses Iโ€™ve heard many times in my life as a defence from men after theyโ€™ve grabbed my ass or physically blocked me from walking away from them. Iโ€™m not saying Bryce intended to intimidate Bec, but that was the result of his actions.

Men need to step back and think critically about the way they behave toward women.

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Hereโ€™s Everything We Know So Far About โ€˜The Handmaidโ€™s Taleโ€™ Season 4

Blessed be the squad!

The Handmaidโ€™s Tale, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood, has been confirmed for a fourth season at Hulu, Variety reports. According to the publication, the gripping drama is the streaming serviceโ€™s โ€œmost-watchedโ€ show, so itโ€™s not surprising the dystopian tale of Gilead is getting another season. 

On Feb. 26, the streaming service debuted the Elisabeth Moss-lead teaser trailer for its upcoming season, as well as revealing the Emmy Award-winning show will premiere on April 28. 

Below, everything we know so far about The Handmaidโ€™s Tale season four. 

A brand new trailer was just released. 

On March 31, the Hulu series got its first full-length trailerโ€”and it looks like June is Gileadโ€™s public enemy No.1. 

It will premiere in 2021.

Hulu announced that the next season of Handmaidโ€™s will arrive on April 28, 2021. The streaming service also shared a teaser that includes tense action scenes from the previous season, plus some clips of what lies ahead.

handmaid

It will follow Juneโ€™s fight for freedom. 

Hereโ€™s a Season four plot summary: โ€œThe cultural phenomenon picks up where we left off, with Juneโ€™s fight for freedom against Gilead. But the risks she takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges, and her desire for justice and revenge threaten to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships.โ€

There will be 10-episodes. 

Scaling back from the 13-episode length of previous seasons, Season four will consist of only 10 episodes, just like Season 1. โ€œSome storylines just seem to shake out as a 10-episode story, in my eyes,โ€ showrunner Bruce Miller told IndieWire in January 2020.

The structure will allow the show to give ample time to delve into a smaller part of the story, as multiple arcs wonโ€™t be used this season, the outlet reported. โ€œI feel like it gives us a little more freedom because you can rely more on one propulsive element,โ€ Miller added.

The original cast will return. 

Season four will be entirely from Juneโ€™s (Elisabeth Moss) perspective. 

Watch the full trailer below: 

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MAFS Reactions: Are We All Just Going To Pretend This Is Normal?

What we're witnessing is not okay.

Weโ€™re back at Married At First Sightโ€™s retreat tonight, and just when we thought last nightโ€™s episode couldnโ€™t get worseโ€ฆ it did. 

The couples attempt to embark on โ€œgirls nightโ€ and โ€œboys nightโ€, and (surprise!) Bryce isnโ€™t happy about the idea of Melissa being alone with the other contestants, claiming heโ€™s worried about yet โ€œanother dramaโ€ startingโ€”even though, if past episodes have proved, heโ€™s usually the one stirring it up. 

Things get worse when Bryce tries to smooth things over with Bec, and he *literally* invades her personal space. 

As always, Twitter had a lot to say about tonightโ€™s events and weโ€™re rounding up the best reactions below. 

https://twitter.com/jesrily/status/1376827065014489094
https://twitter.com/WriterMatt2/status/1376832805859074050
https://twitter.com/Skualg/status/1376831775243051015

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Home Page 39

48 Hours In Adelaide: Our Edit For Your Next Weekender

There's never been a better time to visit

When youโ€™re known for breathtaking coastlines, rolling hills, and home to some of Australiaโ€™s most acclaimed food and wine, itโ€™s unsurprising that you make it to the top of almost every travellerโ€™s must-visit list, especially considering the last few months of travel has seen many turn their explorer attention to our own spectacular backyard. 

Such is the case for Adelaideโ€”while usually overlooked for state capitals Melbourne and Sydneyโ€”the city has proved its one to beat, with festivals, wineries and chic hotels just asking to be enjoyed. 

Thereโ€™s no better time to visit the City of Churches than right now when its streets and nightlife are bursting at the seams (trust us when we say, thereโ€™s simply not enough time in a single weekend to see it all). Read on for our best picks of Adelaide, including everything from where to eat, stay, and visit. 

STAY: EOS SKYCITY 

Steeped in marble and finished with touches of gold, EOS SKYCITY is one of Adelaideโ€™s newest hotel offeringsโ€”and it is seriously lush. Beyond its shiny exterior, the hotel is an advocate for the city in which it sits, keeping a South Australian focus on all aspects of what it has to offer, from food and drink to its bathroom amenities, all the way to its impressive collection of artworks, including pieces from more than 40 South Australian artists. 

STAY: Hotel Indigo 

After years of anticipation, Hotel Indigo finally opened its doors this March and itโ€™s already set to become one of Adelaideโ€™s most vibrant cultural hubs for locals and visitors alike. Located next to the lively Adelaide Central Market, the hotel champions local producers in its two restaurants, Market & Meander Eatery and Bar, as well as rooftop raw food bar, Merrymaker, which stands as the highest rooftop bar in Adelaide (and hosts a very impressive view if youโ€™re after something super Instagrammable).

Its unique design features include nods to the stateโ€™s copper mining heritage, as well as pink-adorned furnishings that pay tribute to former state Premier Don Dunstan, who was famous for his social advocacy and vibrant pink shorts. Fun fact: youโ€™ll find the staff all wearing pins of teeny pink shorts. 

EAT: Leigh Street Wine Room 

When heading to Adelaide, thereโ€™s one thing that canโ€™t be missed: wine. Once home to a longstanding city dry cleaner, Leigh Street Wine Roomโ€™s walls have since been lined with wine (naturally) and finished off with terrazzo detailings. Best for those who prefer natural varieties, thereโ€™s also an incredible menu to boot. The venue offers up the perfect way to sip, eat and enjoy. 

Leigh Street Wine Room
Leigh Street Wine Room

EAT: Shobosho 

Having won some of the nationโ€™s most impressive accoladesโ€”including being named one of the Top 100 restaurants to visit in Australiaโ€”the team โ€œblend smoke, steam and fireโ€ with ancient traditions of Japanese yakitori to create its drool-worthy menu. Add that with its impressive wine and sake menu and youโ€™ve got an award-winning combo of flavour to devour before exploring more the city has to offer. 

shobosho
Shobosho

DRINK: Sol Bar & Restaurant 

Want unrivalled views of some of Adelaideโ€™s most famous landmarks, including from the Adelaide Oval to the Hills? Look to the rooftop at Sol Bar & Restaurant, perched on Level 9 of SkyCity, which features a nearly 360-degree view of the city. Cocktails are aplenty, food is scrumptious and the views are unlike any other. Our suggestion? Book close to sunset to enjoy a truly magical experience. 

VISIT: Art Gallery of South Australia 

For a full cultural experience of Adelaide, the Art Gallery of South Australia is an absolute must. Home to some spectacular collections, youโ€™ll find it hard to wander its halls all in one dayโ€”and right now you can see one-of-a-kind exhibitions, including Clarice Becket: The Present Moment and Rethinking Australian Art.

art gallery of south australia
The Art Gallery Of South Australia

VISIT: The Adelaide Hills 

Of course, it goes without saying that one of Adelaideโ€™s canโ€™t miss sights to see is its sprawling Adelaide Hills, not only housing iconic wineries but innovative and inventive distilleries.

Among our picks is Unico Zelo and Applewood Distillery, creating small-batch, handcrafted spirits emphasising native ingredients and sustainable practices. For the gin aficionados, pack an extra bag to store all the specially crafted flavours on offer here. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1Peisj_b2/

The Uraidla Hotelโ€™s Tank Room experience is also worth a visit, where you can sit in its former rainwater tank (tip: bring a jumper) while their Sommelier takes you through some of South Australiaโ€™s most delectable wines (Chardonnay lovers, this oneโ€™s for you!).

CRFT Wines, run by husband-and-wife duo Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries, also canโ€™t be missed, where the team specialise in small-batch wines using fruit sourced from the vineyards that surround them in the Hills. The winery is unique for its craftsmanship, creating wines made from grapes picked from a single vineyard, resulting in wines that are an honest reflection of the specific location.

Finally, for some food head over to Lost In A Forest, a wood oven wine bar set amongst a leafy 130-year-old church. You canโ€™t go past the banh mi pizza. 

For those really looking to plan ahead, we suggest Door To Door Chauffers to take the stress out of the day. 

Lost In A Forest
Lost In A Forest

VISIT: Adelaide Markets 

One of the cityโ€™s most famous locations, the Adelaide Central Market is one of the largest undercover fresh produce locations in the Southern Hemisphereโ€”which means, you should be arriving with an empty stomach and leaving more than satisfied. A lot of stalls also sell their unique products to take home, so make note of what food really attracts your fancy. For those looking for a fully immersive experience, and wanting to know a deep history of each stall (some having been family owned since the market began!), we suggest booking with Food Tours Australia

VISIT: Adelaide Fringe

While Adelaide has plenty on offer throughout the year, itโ€™s particularly buzzing from mid-February to the end of March, turning into a cultural phenomenon thanks to its three massive eventsโ€”WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival, and the Adelaide Fringeโ€”all offering up special performances, concerts, and activations, while its nearby streets are shut down to make room for outdoor dining and exclusive pop-ups. If youโ€™re not so inclined to attend any of the performances, the Fringeโ€™s two show arenas, Gluttony and the Garden of Unearthly Delights, have plenty of room to eat and drink with the whole family. 

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Home Page 39

All Hail The Rise Of The Rugby Shirt, The Sports-Centric Staple Loved By Princess Diana

No football knowledge required

It comes as no surprise that celebrities and designers continue to be inspired by Princess Dianaโ€™s style. From her sheep-adorned jumperโ€”that Harry Styles famously woreโ€”to her ode to โ€˜90s sportswearโ€”effortlessly recreated by Hailey Bieberโ€”but now, another one of Lady Diโ€™s most-loved trends is on our radar.

Introducing: the rugby shirt.

The late Princess famously donned the sports-centric garment, particularly a cotton candy baby blue and light pink version paired with white denim, polished blue loafers and famous Todโ€™s โ€˜D-Bagโ€™โ€”that was named after herโ€”while attending the Chelsea Harbour Health Club in 1997. Despite it having been 24 years since then, the trend continues to make waves.

Princess Diana
(Credit: Getty)

Of course, athletes could claim the sporty staple as their own but fashionโ€™s It-crowd have taken on the horizontal stripe and contrast collar combo courtesy of the former royal. While most often seen on the sports field, rugby tops have been featured in (somewhat) recent collections by the likes of Stella McCartney, Lacoste and Marc Jacobs. 

Rugby Shirt
(Credit: Getty)

From fashion runways to street style, the classic striped shirt may have become the epitome of preppy dressing, but thereโ€™s a myriad of ways it can be styled to channel your inner Lady Di or otherwise.

Below, weโ€™ve collected the best and most chic rugby shirts to shopโ€”no football knowledge necessary.

Rugby Shirt

Striped cashmere rugby sweater by The Elder Statesman, $1473 at Matches Fashion

Rugby Tee
Presto Rugby Tee by Veronica Beard Jeans, $363.99 at Shopbop
Rugby Shirt

The Womanโ€™s Rugby in White and Sky, $167.61 at KULE

Rugby Shirt

Striped wool and cashmere-blend sweater by Victoria Beckham, $860.60 at Net-A-Porter

Rugby Shirt

The Womanโ€™s Rugby in Multi, $233.08 at KULE

Rugby Shirt

Jacques striped cotton sweater by Alex Mill, $164.88 at Net-A-Porter.

Rugby Shirt

Crystal-button striped polo cashmere sweater by GANNI, $545 at Matches Fashion

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Home Page 39

All The Best Reactions To Tonights Episode of โ€˜MAFSโ€™

That retreat was... something.

Well, we all knew the retreat on Married At First Sight was going to be anything but relaxing, right?

Tonight saw us head off with the remaining gang to see how they fared stuck in a resort type situation with each other, and naturally it led to drama. Bryce versus Bec (again), Jason versus Alana overโ€ฆ Bryce, can you believe. It was all on, and everyone headed to Twitter to make astute observations and, more importantly, lol jokes.

https://twitter.com/unluckylingerie/status/1376468527872270336
https://twitter.com/_itsashleeee_/status/1376466840491155458

Yeugh. How long until Bryce can leave our screens and we no longer have to watch him constantly pummel Melissaโ€™s heart? Iโ€™m counting down the days.

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Home Page 39

Actor Samuel Johnson Pays Tribute To His โ€˜Otherโ€™ Sister, Hilde Hinton

โ€œWithout her I wouldnโ€™t have a life to speak ofโ€

Women supporting women is part of the DNA of marie claire, but this month we asked men to celebrate the game-changing women in their lives. Here, Samuel Johnson honours his eldest sister, Hilde Hinton, an author and prison officer, who waited in the wings while Samuel and middle sister Connie raised millions of dollars to fight cancer.

โ€œI was three when my mum died by suicide. My sister Connie was four, and our big sister Hilde was 12. From then on, Connie and I modelled ourselves on Hilde, who was our mum, our big sister and our best friend. She was our everything girl โ€“ she taught us how to be bold and adventurous, how to jump off cliffs, to try to fly. She was uninhibited and free. We came from heavy dysfunction. Our family was screwy; it didnโ€™t go right. Shit went wrong all the time and it was a very uncertain upbringing. Hilde provided a critical ballast for me and Connie. And we both came through, thanks to Hilde. We both ended up manufacturing wonderful lives for ourselves and each other. I suppose I feel like Hildeโ€™s not just the sister and the mum, but the conductor of the symphony, or maybe its most passionate violinist.

โ€œWhen Connie was sick with cancer and we started our charity Love My Sister, Connie got quite a bit of shine. And Iโ€™ve had my shine through showbiz, but Hildeโ€™s the shining light behind the scenes. I lost her for about seven years; we were all-consumed by the steam engine that was Love your Sister, and Hilde was very patient and understanding. One of the things to emerge from the shadows of Connieโ€™s passing [in 2017] was a resplendent relationship with Hilde. Itโ€™s time for me to be as good a brother to Hilde as I tried to be to Connie.

โ€œWomen have shaped everything about who I am today and Iโ€™ve been lucky enough to have dynamic women in my life. If I didnโ€™t have those women, I wouldnโ€™t have a life to speak of. Iโ€™ve been urged by two sisters to become a better man, a better human. Iโ€™d certainly say I was on the wrong track when it came to making any sort of valuable contribution [to] my own family and community โ€“ I was so hot and bothered by just about everything that I forgot about the importance of [that]. Through both my sisters I was able to find it again in rather spectacular fashion. Iโ€™d just be another empty showbiz shell without them, I wouldnโ€™t have a substantial life that Iโ€™m really proud of. I certainly feel like the answers lay well away from showbiz. If I didnโ€™t have my two sisters, and Hilde especially in terms of mental shit, Iโ€™d have probably fallen victim to showbiz like so many have. God knows, you donโ€™t want to end up dead or as some kind of shadow of yourself. And theyโ€™re two common outcomes when it comes to showbiz. So I donโ€™t just thank my lucky stars for my sisters, I attribute the quality of my life to them.

โ€œHilde has always been the interesting one in our family. Whenever I introduce a friend to her I tell them that Iโ€™m actually the boring one. They always laugh and say โ€˜No youโ€™re notโ€™; then once they meet Hilde they came back to me and say, โ€˜Youโ€™re totally rightโ€™, and I lose that friendship to Hilde! Sheโ€™s very effervescent and ebullient; sheโ€™s sparkly and bubbly. Sheโ€™s outgoing and not shy with her heart nor shy with her ideas. Sheโ€™s a pioneer when it comes to the human condition and how to treat it. Sheโ€™s got a razor-sharp wit, a deep intelligence, a keenness for fun, and an absolute true-north desire to do anything to make the family unity stronger. Sheโ€™s a fierce family girl. Sheโ€™s our bold pioneer who taught us to go to all the places that scare you. Sheโ€™s our fearless leader. But underneath it all sheโ€™s just a loving human and a terrific mum. And an outstanding sister. She was Connieโ€™s hero, sheโ€™s my hero and to us, she was always the sister in Love Your Sister.โ€

Samuel Johnsonโ€™s new book, Dear Mum (Hachette, $22.99), a collection of letters to mothers from notable Australians, is out on March 31.

If you or anyone you know needs help or advice, please call Lifeline (131 114) or Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636). If you need help immediately, please call 000.

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Home Page 39

Police Told Shana Grice She Was โ€œWasting Their Timeโ€. Her Ex-Partner Killed Her.

The 2016 murder has seen renewed interest this week

This article contains information about sexual assault and domestic violence which may be triggering to some.

Women have always been encouraged to seek help when confronted with violence at home, but the murder of Shana Grice proves why so many still suffer in silenceโ€”theyโ€™re just simply not believed. 

The case of Shana Grice, who was murdered by an ex-partner in 2016, has received renewed attention this week after the docuseries Murder In Slow Motion aired on Sky News over the weekend, putting a spotlight on Griceโ€™s killing. 

In August 2016, a 19-year-old Shana was at home when her then-27-year-old ex-partner, Michael Lane, broke in.

It was six months after she had first complained to police about his stalking behaviour. Shana had reportedly complained five times to Sussex Police, but received a ยฃ90 fine for โ€œwasting their time.โ€ 

He slashed her throat and set her body on fire, then left her house and went to work.

The renewed interest in Shanaโ€™s case comes just weeks after Sarah Everardโ€™s murder, allegedly at the hands of a London police officer while she was walking home, and law enforcementโ€™s aggressive response to vigils held in her honour, with many calling out their lack of confidence in the ones sworn to protect them. 

Following Laneโ€™s conviction, where he was sentenced to 25 years to life, an independent investigation found that 13 other women had reported him for stalking. 

โ€œThis is such a tragic murder and all the more so because it was avoidable,โ€ forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes told the Mirror. โ€œThe case typifies why women have little faith in the police and why they often donโ€™t report incidents because they are not confident they will get the help that they need.โ€

Despite domestic abuse prosecutions falling in England and Wales, two women a week are killed by a current or former partner. 

The reality isnโ€™t all that different in Australia, with at least one woman killed each week in a domestic incident. 

According to Destroy the Joint, in 2020 there were 55 women in Australia allegedly killed by a male intimate partner. 

The sad truth is, one in six Australian women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a partner, according to a 2019 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfareโ€”a number that has only increased over the last twelve months.

While Shanaโ€™s case might have happened years ago, the case has proved itself as yet another tragic example of how the legal system consistently fails women, even when they do everything weโ€™re told to do. 

https://twitter.com/lnfloenza/status/1374293235145842690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1374293235145842690%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yourtango.com%2F2021341128%2Fwhat-happened-shana-grice-teen-fined-police-stalker-murdered-her

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800-RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au.

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Jennifer Lopez And Alex Rodriguez Share Their First Couple Photo Since Breakup Rumours Began

Are they still together? Let's investigate

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez have been the subject of breakup rumours for a while now, but that hasnโ€™t stopped the couple from sharing a sweet selfie together. Well, a selfie in the name of a sponsored post for yet another vitamins company. 

The couple is currently in the Dominican Republic, where JLo is working on her upcoming film titled Shotgun Wedding. The reports of a breakup after their near four-year-long relationship began in mid-March. That said, the statement they made at the time said breakup speculation was inaccurate and the couple was โ€œworking through some things.โ€

Some online pundits believed JLoโ€™s sharing photos from her set of herself in a wedding dress were a pointed move to distract from the rumours circulating about the couple. While all of this is naturally unconfirmed, some reports claim that Arod cheated on JLo with Southern Charm star Madison LeCroy.

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez vitamins

For what itโ€™s worth, LeCroy denies the pair ever meeting but has admitted to having a few innocent phonecalls with each other as acquaintances. 

A source at the time explained that JLo and Arod โ€œnever officially broke up,โ€ adding that, โ€œSheโ€™s working in the Dominican Republic and heโ€™s in Miami so itโ€™s tough seeing each other especially with quarantining and COVID, but they want to try to stay together.โ€

The couple became engaged in the Bahamas in March 2019 after two years of dating and were forced to postpone their wedding date twice due to the pandemic. The wedding is now on hold.

โ€œAlex flew to the Dominican Republic, and Jennifer was excited to see him in person,โ€ a source told People. โ€œThey want to spend time in-person to figure out their life together.

โ€œShe and Alex have a lot of issues they hope they can work through, but they both seem willing to do whatever it takes to stay together.โ€

This is somewhat contradictory to other reports from anonymous sources. One reason that an official split between JLo and Arod could take some time is that their professional lives are as intermixed as their personal lives. Beyond integrating their families (both JLo and Arod have children from former partners) the pair also have several business ventures together, as well as co-owning a number of properties.

โ€œTheyโ€™re tied in their business worlds so itโ€™s not a cut and-dry breakup,โ€ says the Lopez source. โ€œItโ€™s taken a while for them to even think about untangling it all.โ€

โ€œThey invested a lot into their relationship. An official split would be devastating on so many levels.โ€

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Home Page 39

MAFS Reactions: Australia Is Sick Of Bryceโ€™s Mind Games

"Shame on MAFS for allowing Bryce to be on this show."

Itโ€™s our favourite night of the weekโ€”well, asides from Married At First Sight dinner party nightsโ€”a MAFS commitment ceremony night. 

Tonightโ€™s episode sees Booka and Brett who have a tough decision to make considering the events that have unfolded since that letter. He makes a heartfelt apology, while she looks defeated and we prepare to farewell our formerly favourite couple. 

Then onto Bryce. Oh, Bryce. The controversial groom starts off the episode by telling Johnny and Jason that he plans to make a big statement tonightโ€”and my goodness, please read the room. 

The experts ask Melissa how she feels about the week that was and she explains itโ€™s been hard (well, yeah!) and Bryce is asked about how that makes him feel, and once again, fails to take responsibility blaming the entire situation on Rebecca.

And for Bryceโ€™s โ€œbig statementโ€, he chooses to write โ€œleaveโ€ and crosses it out to write โ€œstayโ€โ€”seriously! He shows his handiwork to the group, the experts and Melissa, and as the audience could have predicted, it did not go down well. 

Honestly, no one can figure out what Bryceโ€™s motive was here besides humiliating his wife AGAIN. 

Below, weโ€™ve rounded up the best reactions to tonightโ€™s episode and as always head over to our nightly recap for a full rundown. 

https://twitter.com/Ben_Shute/status/1376103285455605761
https://twitter.com/Belaime_/status/1376087005591785476
https://twitter.com/unluckylingerie/status/1376105189946454021

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MAFS Recap: Oh, God

Bryce, come ON.

Itโ€™s time for a Married At First Sight commitment ceremony! Not exactly my favourite moment of the week (lol, thatโ€™s dinner parties) but I was very invested in tonight because I was SURE Booka and Brett would be splitting up. Turns out, I was wrong. But letโ€™s recap first.

We come back to our previously-favourite couple as they sit down to debrief the night before. Both Booka and Brett seem completely exhausted by the situation, but to his credit Brett gives Booka a heartfelt apology about the letter โ€“ how it hurt her, and also reiterates that he didnโ€™t talk about her in a derogatory fashion, but simply was talking about his experiences with her and Patrick had made assumptions based on that.

Booka seems really defeated though, and also doesnโ€™t acknowledge Brett feeling unseen in their relationship which kinda sucked. I felt like Brett really came to the table at this point and Booka just didnโ€™t meet him there. 

Bryce and Melissa think theyโ€™re going from strength to strength, even though Melissa permanently looks like someones run over her cat:

MAFS
Honestly, in what world does this look like a happy woman

Honestly, how does Bryce not see how unhappy she is? Even if itโ€™s not unhappy about him, sheโ€™s clearly not doing well in this experiment and he should be acknowledging it, not pretending everything is fine.

Everyone heads to the commitment ceremony. Beforehand, Bryce tells Johnny and Jason that heโ€™s going to make some big statement tonight and theyโ€™re like:

MAFS
No one is thinking this is a good idea

I donโ€™t like the sound of this. Liam and Georgia are first on the couch and aside from their brief argument over the ranking hotness game, theyโ€™re doing great. Both write stay, as do Kerrie and Johnny who have literally no problems and are just out here having great sex and living the dream.

Then itโ€™s time for Booka and Brett. Oh man, this was hard to watch. Just look at them:

MAFS
MY HEART

They rehash the same stuff to the experts, and John, the wisest of them all, asks Booka if sheโ€™s got feelings for Brett after Brett suggests she might be pushing him away due to a fear of emotions sheโ€™s having. She says she doesnโ€™t know anymore and when John asks her to think about positives in their relationship from when times were good, she canโ€™t bring herself to do it.

MAFS
MY HEART, AGAIN

Brett, however, rattles off some really nice stuff โ€“ how attracted he is to Booka, how he loves having fun with her and how easy it is to be around her. Itโ€™s quite sweet, and itโ€™s clear these two do have feelings underneath all the bullshit going on.

In the end, Booka writes leave because she doesnโ€™t want to โ€˜feel like this anymoreโ€™, while Brett writes stay โ€“ he wants to work on everything and feels leaving now wouldnโ€™t be right.

Then itโ€™s Bec and Jake who are SO happyโ€ฆ. For now. As John says, they seem to crash and then fly over and over, but Jake says theyโ€™ve turned a corner and have been focusing on the positives of late, which has helped. Itโ€™s nice seeing them happy. 

MAFS
This is more like it

After those two itโ€™s Alana and Jason. They talk about how deep their connection has been running lately, and both start crying. I love how these two are such criers, yay for emotions you know? Why keep that stuff bottled up. Mel asks Jason how he feels about Alana, and Jason says he finds it hard to articulate his feelings, but eventually says heโ€™s struggling to imagine the future without her in it. Itโ€™s a really nice moment for them, and again โ€“ all is well, both write stay.

The happiness continues with Patrick and Belinda, who talk about their nude drawing before the experts push Belinda to be specific around what they got up to that wasnโ€™t sex, but was LIKE sex. Itโ€™s a lot of Belinda wanting to be absorbed by the couch cushions from humiliation, but she doesnโ€™t seem to be horrifically embarrassed, just the usual amount of โ€œsomeone making me talk about sex on televisionโ€. Eventually others from the group ask Patrick to be specific and heโ€™s like โ€œI got a handjobโ€.

MAFS
It could have gone so bady but it was actually kinda cute

The happiness died forever when Bryce and Melissa hit the couch, though. First, Melissa is asked how sheโ€™s felt this week and she says the experiment has been hard. When Bryce is asked about how this makes him feel, instead of being like โ€œwell I donโ€™t want to hurt Melissaโ€ he turns the entire thing onto Rebecca, saying itโ€™s basically her fault Melissa is having a bad time of it. 

MAFS
Also was this matching intentional

I wouldnโ€™t say heโ€™s entirely wrong here โ€“ Bec has been stirring the pot BIG time with them. But she also only said the truth (well, her truth) โ€“ a statement about something Bryce told her in the gym and how it came across flirtatiously. For Bryce to gloss over his involvement and turn this into Bec destroying his relationship is a bit rich.

It gets even worse. Bryceโ€™s big move? To write โ€œleaveโ€, but then cross it out and write โ€œstayโ€. Then show that to the group, the experts, and Melissa. Everyone is perplexed. I think even Bryce is perplexed.

MAFS
This was also me watching

He tells us he did it to protect Melissa from bullying, but as Patrick points out โ€“ Melissa wrote stay, which means they would have to remain in the experiment for another whole week anyway. No one can work out what Bryceโ€™s game was here besides โ€˜humiliate my wife, againโ€™, which I honestly donโ€™t think he was intending to do, and yet thatโ€™s EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS. Melissa looks defeated, the whole thing is awful, and once again Bryce has screwed up. 

Anyway, this week theyโ€™re sending the entire group to some retreat which sounds like fireworks galore, to be honest.

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In 3 Weeks There Have Been 4 Aboriginal Deaths In Custody, Yet Where Is the National Outrage?

April marks 30 years since the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.

CONTENT WARNING: marie claire advises that this story contains mentions and photos of Aboriginal people who have passed away.

Anzac Sullivan was loved. A Bakindji man, brother, son, nephew and uncle, he was 37 years old.

Anzac Sullivan died last week during a police pursuit in Broken Hill on the 18th of March. 

Anzac Sullivan is the fourth Aboriginal death in custody in three weeks. Two weeks ago, a man in his 30s and a woman in her 50s died in prison custody in New South Wales. Last Sunday, an Aboriginal man died in Victoriaโ€™s Ravenhall correctional centre. 

Four lives. Three weeks. 

And yet, where is the national outrage?

in the past weeks, the country has been practically consumed by discourse surrounding the alleged sexual assault and harassment taking place within the walls of parliament. You canโ€™t read the paper, turn on the paper or scroll social media without reading about ministers accused of rape, ministers calling women alleging rape โ€œlying cowsโ€, or ministerial staff accused of taking photos of themselves masturbating on office desks โ€“ to name literally only three scandals out of too many to count. Comparatively little attention has been paid to the state infrastructure that commits racist acts of violence every week.

In April, it will be 30 years since the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody handed down 339 recommendations. 

In that time, there have been more than 440 Aboriginal deaths in custody

In 2020, on average there were more than 12,000 Indigenous people in Australian prisons every night. 

A recent study by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) found that Aboriginal defendants were 20.4% more likely to be refused bail by police than non-Aboriginal defendants in similar cases. 

In Victoria, Aboriginal people are imprisoned at rates 12 times higher than non-Aboriginal people. 

On average, the life expectancy of Aboriginal people in Australia is ten years shorter than non-Aboriginal people. 

Where are the calls for Scott Morrison to answer for the violence, repression and deprivation that results in statistics like these?  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM1IDY2BCsa/

In addition to the four deaths in the past three weeks, this week the Northern Territory Government announced its plans to introduce new amendments to the Northern Territory Youth Justice Act which should prompt serious concern about the way our state targets Indigenous youth. The proposed changes include the introduction of breath testing on children, $5 million funding to build youth detention centres, the expansion of the Bail Act which would broaden the list of crimes to make it more difficult for children to be granted bail, and changes that will restrict the ability of judges to put children on diversion programs instead of sending them to prison.

Itโ€™s insane that this even needs stating: Children do not belong in gaol. 

In fact, research indicates that rates of reoffending drop dramatically for kids put into diversion programs, but the chance of reoffending increases the younger a child has their first contact with the criminal legal system. Reminder: The current age of criminal responsibility in the Northern Territory is 10 years old, four years below the UN recommended age of 14. 

History tells us that these harsh, punitive measures do nothing but increase the power of the police to target children and the likelihood of them being put into prison. 

Where is the national outrage? 

Some might argue that Australia has failed to meet the global movement to defund the police because of the fact that the police are invariably bound up with our very inception. The police were introduced as a tool of colonial repression to target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from our establishment as a colony. The police were fighting in the Frontier Wars and existed as a militarised, armed force long before even Britain or America established organised police units. 

If we want to talk about violence โ€“ violence against women included โ€“ we need to start acknowledging the root cause of it in our country and that begins with demanding answers from the police and the politicians that empower them. The deaths of the man and woman in NSW two weeks ago were only revealed under questioning during a state parliamentary hearing. What else are they not telling us? 

These deaths, the government efforts that are further endangering children and the stateโ€™s insistence on strengthening police power should have us in the streets with as much, if not more, gusto than we saw when thousands took part in the March for Justice. 

Day
Apryl Day with her family and portrait of her late mum, Tanya Day, who died in custody in 2017.

Sexual assault and harassment is unacceptable and the Morrison governmentโ€™s response to the consistent stream of allegations of it occurring in parliament has been nothing short of unconscionable. But itโ€™s imperative we not lose sight of the role the state plays in the pervasive, racist violence occurring every week. 

You can care about more than one issue but the fact is that these issues donโ€™t get the same amount of attention and thatโ€™s a symptom of white supremacy functioning pretty well in Australia. 

Some actionable steps to take: 

  • Sign the statement condemning the NTโ€™s youth penal policy
  • Follow and support the work of organisations working directly with communities such as the Dhadjowa Foundation which was founded by Apryl Day to provide support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose loved ones have died in custody 
  • Attend a rally on the National Day of Action, April 10, to demand justice and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 

See you on the streets. 

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Home Page 39

10 Chic And Stylish Umbrellas To Hide Under This Sprinkle Season

Staying dry and staying on-trend? We've got you covered

As Australia braces itself for drier and drearier weatherโ€”and prepares to bid adieu to our beloved sunshineโ€”thereโ€™s no better time to turn our attention to our wet-weather wear.

With classic black boots, raincoats and frizzy hair remedies all locked down ahead of the cold weather sprinkles, thereโ€™s one more winter utility to tick off your checklist.

Enter: the humble umbrella.

While yes, umbrellas donโ€™t usually reach the top of fashionโ€™s must-haves, but when the drops start falling, youโ€™ll be grateful to have chosen a sturdy, rain repellentโ€”and more importantlyโ€”stylish waterproof parasole.

And thanks to the fashion crowd, whipping out an on-trend umbrella not only keeps your ensemble dry, but it can also elevate your outfit in rain, hail or shine. 

The Best Umbrellas To Shop In Australia

Below, weโ€™ve rounded up 10 of the most chic umbrellas to protect youโ€”and your outfitโ€”come sprinkle season. 
Umbrella

Compact Umbrella by Rubi, $19.99 at Cotton On.

Umbrella

See-Thru Bird Cage White Border Umbrella by Shelta, $34.95 at MYER.

Umbrella

Logo Small Umbrella, $69.95 at Oroton.

Umbrellas

Compact Umbrella, $19.90 at Uniqlo.

Umbrella

Rain Umbrella 70s Cinque, $99.99 at Business & Pleasure Co.

Umbrella

Travel Umbrella by Kate Spade, $99.95 at The Iconic.

Umbrella

Vintage Check Umbrella by Burberry, $620 at Farfetch.

Umbrella

Ayr Telescopic Umbrella by Mackintosh, $144 at Farfetch.

umbrella

Blunt Classic Umbrella by Blunt Umbrellas, $129 at The Iconic.

Umbrella

Rain Umbrella in Laurenโ€™s Pink Stripe, $99.99 at Business & Pleasure Co.

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Home Page 39

Tributes For The Late Actress Jessica Walter Of โ€˜Arrested Developmentโ€™ Are Pouring In

Raise a glass (or five) for a true legend

Veteran actress Jessica Walter, famed for her role as the iconic Lucille Bluth on Arrested Development and tritagonist Malory on Archer, has passed away. Her family confirmed that she died in her sleep on March 24, aged 80.

Walterโ€™s daughter Brooke Bowman remembered her mother in a statement as โ€œa working actor for over six decades,โ€ whose  โ€œgreatest pleasure was bringing joy to others through her storytelling both on-screen and off. While her legacy will live on through her body of work, she will also be remembered by many for her wit, class, and overall joie de vivre.โ€

As well as her incredible comedic timing and ability to completely inhabit the heavy-drinking, snarky character of Lucille Bluth, Walters will be remembered and immortalised digitally. Winking gifs, reaction pictures and memes featuring her iconic lines are spread across the internetโ€”a legacy that far more people are probably aware of than her Golden Globe and Emmy awards.

Following the news, peers and fans of Walters have taken to social media to both celebrate her life and mourn her loss. Walterโ€™s Arrested Development co-star Jason Bateman, who played her son Michael Bluth, wrote, โ€œWhat an incredible career, filled with amazing performances. I will forever remember my time with her, watching her bring Lucille Bluth to life. She was one of a kind.โ€

Meanwhile her Archer co-star Amber Nash recalled her inimitable wit. โ€œI was so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with and know Jessica. She was the best of us,โ€ Nash wrote on Instagram. โ€œShe would wait for a moment and then blow us all out of the water with the funniest thing youโ€™ve ever heard. I learned so much from Jessica. A classy gal indeed.โ€

Below, some of the tributes from fans and friends of the late Jessica Walters.

https://twitter.com/phuonghhle/status/1375202753027399680?s=20
https://twitter.com/flurtcobain/status/1375162233483710468?s=20
https://twitter.com/Scaachi/status/1375160680765095948?s=20

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Home Page 39

New Zealand Has Passed A Landmark Bill Ensuring Paid Leave After A Miscarriage

When will Australia follow suit?

In a landmark move, New Zealand has passed a bill that allows people who have a miscarriage and their partners three days of paid bereavement leave.

The parliament voted to pass the Bereavement Leave for Miscarriage bill unanimously on Wednesday, which clarified any confusion around what employers were required to do. Employers were previously required to grant paid leave if someone had a stillbirth, but as of this new legislation, anyone who loses a pregnancy at any point can access the leave.

Prior to this, couples had to use sick leave when dealing with and mourning the loss of a pregnancy. It also extends to those who are in the process of surrogacy or adoption and lose a pregnancy, however, it does not apply to abortions.

โ€œThis is a bill about workersโ€™ rights and fairness,โ€ tweeted Ginny Andersen, the Labour member of Parliament who presented the bill. โ€œI hope it gives people time to grieve and promotes greater openness about miscarriage. We should not be fearful of our bodies.โ€

Supporters of the bill hope that this will not only allow grieving couples more financial stability but also help shift the discussion and treatment of miscarriages, which are still considered a taboo topic by some people.

Andersen said that to the best of her knowledge, New Zealand is the second country of any in the world to pass such legislation. In her speech, she called for other nations to โ€œrecognize the pain and the grief that comes from miscarriage and stillbirthโ€ and to pass similar laws.

For what itโ€™s worth, India brought in six weeks of paid leave for those who suffer miscarriages under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 1961. However, actually implementing it has been another story. Further provisions for people affected by pregnancy loss exist in Mauritius, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines.

https://twitter.com/LucyHockingsBBC/status/1375088950197563398?s=20

In Australia, people are only entitled to unpaid leave after the occurrence of stillbirth after 12 weeks. The U.S. has no laws requiring employers to grant any leave at all to someone who experiences a miscarriage.

Itโ€™s a reflection of the taboo and misunderstanding of miscarriages, which are actually incredibly prevalent: around one in four pregnancies end in a miscarriage. In Australia, 282 women a day experience the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeksโ€”assuming theyโ€™re partnered, that amounts to 103,000 couples a year.

Samantha Payne, who established The Pink Elephants Support Networkโ€”an Australian charity that supports women who experience an early pregnancy loss, says that people still donโ€™t talk about miscarriages, โ€œand if anyone did talk about it, theyโ€™d whisper.โ€

Recent years have seen more high profile women and celebrities speaking about their miscarriages in an attempt to normalise and break the stigma around them. Some of these women include Beyoncรฉ, Michelle Obama and Meghan Markle.

This is not the first time New Zealand has proved itself a leader with regard to womenโ€™s rights. Led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the government has recently passed legislation to provide free period products in all schools as well as passing a historic law that decriminalised abortion.

If you or someone you know needs pregnancy loss support, please contactโฃ Pink Elephants Support Network at 1800 882 436โฃ, SANDS at 1300 072 637โฃ, Bears of Hope at 1300 11 HOPEโฃ or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636.

Lead image via Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images.

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Kristen Stewart Is The Spitting Image Of Princess Diana In New Look At Upcoming โ€˜Spencerโ€™ Biopic

See Stewart in Princess Diana's casual style with the young actors playing her sons William and Harry

When it comes to film and television adaptations of Princess DianaTwilightโ€™s Kristen Stewart is arguably not the first person youโ€™re going to think ofโ€”partly because, sheโ€™s not British. But, the actress has been cast as the late royal for an upcoming biopic. 

According to Deadline, Stewart will depict the Peopleโ€™s Princess in the new Pablo Larraรญnโ€“directed drama, Spencer. Larraรญn is well-known for his work on Jackie, the Jackie Kennedy biopic starring Natalie Portman.

The film โ€œcovers a critical weekend in the early โ€™90s, when Diana decided her marriage to Prince Charles wasnโ€™t working, and that she needed to veer from a path that put her in line to one day be queen,โ€ the publication explained. โ€œThe drama takes place over three days, in one of her final Christmas holidays in the House of Windsor in their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England.โ€

In the latest photo to emerge of Stewart in the iconic role, fans are doing a double take at how similar she looks to the Princess Of Wales. The image, shared by production company Neon, shows the actress sporting a green-and-red tartan coat over a cream knit turtleneck, paired with a feathery blonde wig.

Resting her head on her left hand, she also shows off a replica of the late princessโ€™s engagement ring, which was originally a 12-carat oval Ceylon sapphire surrounded by solitaire diamonds.

Kristen Stewart
(Credit: Neon)

At the beginning of March, Stewart made her first appearance as Diana in a still released from the upcoming Larraรญn film, showing the actress in a veiled boater hat, pussy-bow blouse, and red jacketโ€”as well as Dianaโ€™s signature feathery blonde hair and piercing gaze. Her red coat is actually vintage Chanel, sourced from the fashion houseโ€™s Fall-Winter 1988/1989 collection.

stewart
(Credit: Pablo Larraรญn)
Since these official releases, photos of Stewart as Princess Diana have now surfaced that show her with two young actors. Based on the red hair, weโ€™re willing to bet theyโ€™re playing Dianaโ€™s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. 
The new photos give fans a glimpse into the parts of Princess Dianaโ€™s lauded casual style that will feature in the Spencer film. With her blonde bob hidden under a baseball cap, Stewart rocks a classic Diana combo of an oversized blazer and high waisted, light-wash jeans.
https://twitter.com/filmsstew/status/1376921357724889093?s=20

The film is a โ€œdive inside an emotional imagining of who Diana was at a pivotal turning point in her life,โ€ the actress said in a statement. โ€œIt is a physical assertion of the sum of her parts, which starts with her given name; Spencer. It is a harrowing effort for her to return to herself, as Diana strives to hold onto what the name Spencer means to her.โ€

Joining Stewart in the cast are Timothy Spall (Secrets & Lies), Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water), and Sean Harris (Mission: Impossible โ€“ Fallout, Prometheus). The screenplay is by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

โ€œKristen is one of the great actors around today,โ€ Larraรญn told Deadline. โ€œTo do this well, you need something very important in film, which is mystery. Kristen can be many things, and she can be very mysterious and very fragile and ultimately very strong as well, which is what we need. The combination of those elements made me think of her. The way she responded to the script and how she is approaching the character, itโ€™s very beautiful to see. I think sheโ€™s going to do something stunning and intriguing at the same time. She is this force of nature.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ve seen movies from Kristen that are so diverse, itโ€™s incredible, showing different layers and her diversity and strength as an actress,โ€ he continued. โ€œWeโ€™re very happy to have her, sheโ€™s very committed. As a filmmaker, when you have someone who can hold such a weight, dramatic and narrative weight, just with her eyes, then you have the strong lead who can deliver what we are looking for.โ€

princess diana

In a recent interview with InStyle U.S., Stewart also teased how sheโ€™s preparing to transform her American accent into Princess Dianaโ€˜s British one.

โ€œThe accent is intimidating as all hell because people know that voice, and itโ€™s so, so distinct and particular. Iโ€™m working on it now and already have my dialect coach,โ€ Steward revealed.

โ€œIn terms of research, Iโ€™ve gotten through two and a half biographies, and Iโ€™m finishing all the material before I actually go make the movie.โ€ 

Stewartโ€™s portrayal of Diana follows Emma Corrinโ€™s breakout performance of the royal in The Crownโ€™s fourth season on Netflix. Australiaโ€™s own Elizabeth Debicki will succeed her in the role in Season five, which will likely premiere in 2022.

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Brittany Higgins Launches Formal Complaint Against Scott Morrisonโ€™s Office For Alleged Backgrounding

The PM says he has received the complaint and will respond later today

After alleging she had been raped in Parliament House, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has issued a formal complaint to Prime Minister Scott Morrisonโ€™s chief of staff, John Kunkel, accusing government staff of backgrounding her, her partner and her family, as well as alleging spreading rumours. 

Higgins was reportedly first told by journalists that โ€œbackgroundingโ€ was happening behind the scenesโ€”a practice where journalists are briefed with information that the source, including from a political office, does not want attributed to them, per ABC News.

On Thursday, March 25, Higgins wrote to Kunkel after Scott Morrison said in an interview with the ABC that no one from the parliamentary press gallery had โ€œraised thatโ€, in reference to the backgrounding, with his chief of staff. 

โ€œNo one in the [parliamentary press] gallery, nothing has been raised with my office from anyone in the gallery making any of those accusations or any discomfort about anything that my office has done,โ€ the PM told ABC. 

โ€œPeople make allegations all the time second, third-hand. But thereโ€™s no one who has raised that with my chief of staff out of the gallery, no.โ€

Following Morrisonโ€™s comments, Higgins wrote to make the formal complaint. 

โ€œIn the days following my interview with The Project regarding my experience in Parliament House, I was made aware by numerous journalists about the backgrounding that was happening against my partner,โ€ she wrote, adding, โ€œto my knowledge, this was being done by staff within the prime ministerโ€™s media teamโ€.

โ€œI believe in giving people the benefit of the doubt,โ€ Higgins continued. โ€œIt is entirely plausible the prime minister did not know that this was happening, however, the more relevant point is that it did occur.โ€

The PM has said he was aware of the letter and would respond later today. 

โ€œI have seen and received that correspondence and I will be responding to Brittany Higgins in the course of today,โ€ he said. 

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Meet The Best Hair Launches of 2020

Our editor-approved shortcuts to strong, glossy and voluminous hair

Achieving great hair days can be a long process of trial and error, but our Beauty Directorโ€™s Prix de marie claire Beauty Awards 2020 haircare finalists are here to take out some of the guesswork.

From multitasking leave-in conditioners, to shine-inducing oils and luxe masks, keep scrolling to discover our top in-shower and styling launches of the past 12 months. Vote for your favourite for a chance to win one of three beauty prize packs valued at up to $500!

The 2020 Prix de marie claire Beauty Awards winners will be announced in the June 2021 issue and here at marieclaire.com.au.

Hask 5-in-1 Leave-In Keratin Spray

HASK Keratin Protein 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray, $14.99; priceline.com.au

Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil

OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil, $50; adorebeauty.com.au

Bumble and Bumble Pre-a-Powder Post Workout Dry Shampoo Mist, $46

BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Pret-a-Powder Post Workout Dry Shampoo Mist, $46; mecca.com.au

Hair Rituel by Sisley Paris Restructuring Nourishing Balm

HAIR RITUEL BY SISLEY PARIS Restructuring Nourishing Balm, $160; sisley-paris.com

L'Occitane Almond Oil Hydrating Shampoo

Lโ€™OCCITANE Almond Oil Hydrating Shampoo, $31; au.loccitane.com

John Frieda Detox & Repair Masque

JOHN FRIEDA Detox & Repair Masque with Avocado Oil + Green Tea, $17.99; priceline.com.au

Oribe Curl Gelee

ORIBE Curl Gelรฉe for Shine & Definition, $66; adorebeauty.com.au

JONNY+JUNE Hair Original Purple Shampoo

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Home Page 39

Chrissy Teigen Is On A Mission To Rid The World Of Language That โ€œUndermines Womenโ€

It all started with a viral thread about the term "geriatric pregnancy"

When Meghan Markle announced she and Prince Harry were expecting their first child in 2018, headlines around the world would be quick to point out that, because she was 37, her pregnancy would be categorised as โ€œgeriatric.โ€ 

While simply the medical term for a woman who falls pregnant over the age of 35, itโ€™s an example of terms that are not only offensive but undermine women in the processโ€”something Chrissy Teigen is now wishing to change. 

After having been vocal about her own miscarriage, announcing she and husband John Legend had tragically lost their third son, Jack, in 2020, Teigen is teaming up with motherhood app, Peanut, to change the way the world talks about expectant mothers over 35, and the use of other outdated terms, too. 

Teigen shared a video on the app of a woman recalling being told by her doctor that her pregnancy was classified as โ€œgeriatricโ€, with the woman telling the camera: โ€œI just canโ€™t help but feel really inadequate and guilty right now that Iโ€™m lacking as a woman because I decided to pursue the things I love and build my career,โ€ the Peanut user said. โ€œItโ€™s really unfortunate that the term โ€˜geriatricโ€™ mum doesnโ€™t take into account that a womanโ€™s mental health is just as important as her physical health and I deserve to feel hopeful and empowered and instead I just feel so shitty right now.โ€

In response, the Cravings By Chrissy founder wrote: โ€œThis poor woman. Why are terms like โ€˜geriatric momโ€™ still being used in 2021? There is so much language that is not only offensive, but undermines women!โ€

The tweet sparked a conversation between other women, and the languageโ€”whether pregnant or notโ€”that has made them feel shame or judgement. 

โ€œBrings back memories of that time I was 42 and pregnant for the first time. My GP was tired of seeing genetic surprises and proceeded to scare the shit out of me. I swear she was relieved after I miscarried. Because, you know, it was all about her,โ€ wrote user Laura Tucker in response. 

Halle Tecco added, โ€œFor the love of god can they please not call miscarriages โ€˜spontaneous abortionsโ€™.โ€

Inspired by the conversation, Teigen has joined forced with the app to create โ€˜The Renaming Revolutionโ€™ where women on the Peanut app will join forces with linguists and medical professionals to develop a new glossary of terms to be used when speaking to a woman about motherhood, hoping to replace terms like โ€˜failedโ€™ pregnancyโ€™ with language that actually reflects modern motherhood. 

โ€œA huge reason I have spoken about my personal experiences publicly was the immense need to destigmatize the way we talk about all stages of motherhood,โ€ Chrissy said about the partnership. 

โ€œWhen I saw the woman sharing her own story on Peanut, it made me realise so many women everywhere are made to feel shame or undermined, just like I did, and that has got to stop. Iโ€™m so hopeful with this new project we are working on and I canโ€™t wait to see real change come from it.โ€

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Home Page 39

Weโ€™ve All Dated These Men Before

Bryce and Brett's behaviour on-screen has been toxic, but it's not new.

If youโ€™ve been watching Married At First Sight, youโ€™ve probably been feeling as exasperated as I have watching women suffering through toxic on-screen behaviours from their โ€œhusbandsโ€. 

This season has seen a particularly problematic pairing โ€“ Melissa Rawson, a woman who expressed her lack of self-confidence in early episodes and has repeatedly shown behaviours that align with low self-esteem and insecurity in relationships, and Bryce Ruthven โ€“ the man who repeatedly reminds her on-screen that he wouldnโ€™t have picked her first.

Weโ€™ve seen James Susler get called out for gaslighting Joanne Todd, twisting her words on-screen and telling her sheโ€™s imagined conversations and scenarios. Sam Cararro tell Coco Stedman sheโ€™s too much and not funny. 

Then thereโ€™s Brett and Booka, the dark horses โ€“ a seemingly healthy, thriving relationship that has completely broken down and seen Booka criticised for everything from being too โ€œintenseโ€ to being too confident.

MAFS

The reason weโ€™re all up in arms about the behaviour from men on MAFS is because we know this is how so many men behave in relationships. We recognise gaslighting because weโ€™ve lived through it โ€“ weโ€™ve all had a man manipulate us by twisting our words in an argument or telling us weโ€™re โ€œcrazyโ€ or โ€œimagining thingsโ€ when our gut recognises something is wrong in the relationship. Weโ€™ve been with the guy who tells us weโ€™re too much โ€“ too loud, too intense, too confident. 

Weโ€™ve been in the relationship with the emotional manipulator and the man who makes us feel less-than, comparing us to exes or other women, critiquing our appearance in subtle ways.

These men arenโ€™t unique in their behaviours on-screen โ€“ we have all dated these men, or watched a friend go through these experiences. They are a product of a culture that still favours men, that still says to women โ€œyou need to be fun but not loud, successful but not more than me and you definitely canโ€™t talk about it, you should be thankful you have found a man who wants you because he could easily leave you.โ€

Like many men I have dated, Bryce seems to have one eye on Melissa, and one eye on something โ€œbetterโ€. Instead of lifting Melissa up by focusing on the qualities he likes about her, he has honed in on her faults on-screen โ€“ which, in his eyes, centre on her appearance. He placed her fourth in a ranking of the wives in the experiment, and while we could possibly forgive him for that had he been gentle about it, expressing how superficial the task was given he barely knew Melissa at that point โ€“ he has repeatedly brought it up both in private and in public. How lucky Melissa should feel to be with this man when she is, after all, only the fourth hottest woman in the room. 

MAFS

What has played out on screen has been reminiscent of a relationship I was in once where my partner would often mention a woman he used to hook up with, always calling her โ€œso hot but so crazyโ€. I found myself comparing my body, my face, my style to this woman, always falling short. In hindsight I can see my self-esteem slowly eroding every time she was mentioned. 

I also related deeply to Bookaโ€™s experience this week, she was (via Patrick, what Brett had told Patrick, and The Letter) ripped her to shreds over her confidence and personality. She had simply spent too much time being proud of her achievements and failed to build up her husband with affirmations, she wasnโ€™t funny enough but when she did joke around, it wasnโ€™t the RIGHT kind of funny. 

I have been with SO MANY MEN whose eyes have glazed over when Iโ€™ve talked about my podcasts or stories I was proud of. Iโ€™ve seen grown men throw tantrums because Iโ€™m too busy with side hustles and a demanding job. I was once told I talked too much, โ€œ70% of the conversation was about youโ€, by a man who barely responded to questions I asked him about his life. 

MAFS

If I could sum up how I feel about what weโ€™ve seen on MAFS, and how Iโ€™ve experienced dating men in my own life, itโ€™s this โ€“ men want women to be standing behind them. Donโ€™t be confident, be grateful to be chosen. You can be talented but if you make me feel untalented, thatโ€™s a problem.

Itโ€™s โ€œmake ME feel good about MYSELFโ€ energy, whether that comes from the doting, just-happy-to-be-here relationship or the need for women to pipe down about their own successes to allow men to shine. 

No, women arenโ€™t perfect. Yes, I believe Booka could have acknowledged Brettโ€™s feelings, and both parties were terrible at communicating across the last two episodes. Yes we have seen pretty toxic on-screen behaviour coming from women on MAFS too โ€“ Bec picking Jake apart has been hard to watch. Itโ€™s worth us as women assessing how we have behaved in relationships past, too โ€“ and if weโ€™ve been the Bec or the Booka, lacking self-awareness when it comes to how our partner is feeling. 

Is it problematic to show these experiences on TV? I donโ€™t think so โ€“ Iโ€™ve always felt the concerning depictions of relationships in reality TV just help us to recognise and discuss these wider issues, because they donโ€™t exist in a vacuum. Yes, I think people such as Melissa who already have self-esteem problems they need to work on shouldnโ€™t be cast in shows that will only traumatise them further. But in general, documenting these toxic behaviours doesnโ€™t validate them, it draws them to the forefront of conversation and makes us in turn cast a light on our own learned behaviours and accepted social norms.

Itโ€™s just my hope that the men who behave like this and see it play out on screen, from the stars of the show to viewers, see the ramifications and change their ways accordingly.

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โ€˜Married At First Sightโ€™sโ€™ Booka Nile โ€œTargeted By Stalkersโ€, Says Bridesmaid

"It's pretty freaky"

Appearing on one of Australiaโ€™s most viewed reality series has to come with its fair share of scary momentsโ€”from its seriously awkward intimacy challenges to couples battling it, all on display for the world to see (and judge). But for Booka Nile, the reality of being made famous overnight has come with another fear. 

Appearing on gossip podcast So Dramatic!Madlin, Bookaโ€™s bridesmaid and roommate, claimed the reality star has been targeted by a โ€œfew stalkersโ€ since the Channel Nine social experiment went to air, revealing theyโ€™ve even had to call police after a man was found โ€œlingering at 10pmโ€ outside their house. 

Speaking with host Megan Pustetto, Madlin further revealed because a guy had tried to โ€œbreak in constantlyโ€, they were forced to move homes. 

โ€œMen who have expressed interest in her and a few guys who have gotten a bit over excited and they have not left her alone,โ€ she said.

โ€œHeโ€™s been pretty close [to breaking in],โ€ she said, adding that โ€œliterally as soon as we go outside, he just runs away.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s super freaky,โ€ she continued. โ€œSheโ€™s had this as a musician, but having people invested in her personal relationships is different. Itโ€™s pretty freaky.โ€

The news comes as Booka and Brettโ€™s relationship continues on a downward spiral, with fans guessing the pair might not make it much longer after Patrickโ€™s letter claimed she was โ€œself-centredโ€ and wasnโ€™t giving her husband enough attention. 

โ€œThat letter highlighted that you think Iโ€™m an ugly human being, and all I talk about is how good my band is,โ€ she told her husband. 

It also comes as eagle-eyed fans spotted something interesting about Bookaโ€™s Facebook page this week, where she seemed to hint at a split between her and Brett when the lyrics of her new song definitely made it sound as though the two were over. 

Only time will tell with these twoโ€ฆ 

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Your Weekly Horoscopes Are Here! March 26th โ€“ April 1st

Welcome to Aries season! โœจ

If you celebrate your birthday this week:

Your Year Ahead

Ever gone to pull a loose thread, only to find the whole thing unravelling?  Stop picking at minor flaws or life may start to come undone.  While delays can be disappointing, you just need to take each day slower.  In the meantime, enjoy your birthday season with those you love.  Today makes tomorrowโ€™s happy memories.   Itโ€™s not until early May that you emerge determined, knowing your own worth both at work and at play.  Donโ€™t be surprised if a soul mate quietly saunters into your life, as if theyโ€™ve always belonged.

Aries (March 21 โ€“ April 20)

Best Day:  Monday 29th

Whether youโ€™re working in the office or at home, new ideas blaze a fiery trail.  At home, your love life is set for a breakthrough.  Indeed, this next week finds many Ariens cosmically charged with a renewed surge of satisfaction. The timeโ€™s right to start turning long standing dreams into reality.   Singles may even meet a new love.  

Taurus (April 21 โ€“ May 20)

Best Day:  Saturday 27th

This week you could learn a great deal from someone โ€œin the knowโ€.  Be open to the possibility of a partnership that may work to your advantage.  Just make sure youโ€™re dealing with above board, ethical people.  There are a lot of fraudsters out there.  Use your innate ability to get to the truth and donโ€™t be rushed into financial decisions.

Gemini (May 21 โ€“ June 21)

Best Day:  Wednesday 31st

Forgive and forget, Gemini.  Whatโ€™s done is done, and no amount of hostility can change things.  If someone waves the white flag โ€“ or offers sympathy, accept with gratitude. Likewise for an unexpected invitation โ€“ one pleasant diversion can often lead to another.  No surprises, then, if love comes by way of a mutual friend.

Cancer (June 22 โ€“ July 22)

Best Day:  Sunday 28th

Everyone has moments of doubt.  The thoughts of โ€œwould haveโ€, โ€œcould haveโ€ or โ€œshould haveโ€ can sometimes overpower your motivation and energy.   You canโ€™t change the past, Cancer โ€“ but you can let go of old negativity.  Remember the lessons learned, but leave the dramatics behind.   Be present.   Stay present.

Leo (July 23 โ€“ August 23)

Best Day:  Friday 26th

Some Leos take an unscheduled trip down memory lane, complete with confronting issues that need addressing.  Think before you act.  Itโ€™s probably a better week to throw life into cruise control but if you still feel like forcing the odd issue, just make sure itโ€™s done in a pleasant way.   Better still, treat yourself and loved ones to something special.

Virgo (August 24 โ€“ September 22)

Best Day:  Tuesday 3rd

Feeling tired?  Little wonder, Virgo.  Itโ€™s been a challenging time with much stress and little rest.  But you canโ€™t keep burning the candle at both ends, and then be surprised when the flame burns out.  Take this week to nurture yourself.  Find somewhere quiet, and pamper.  You can only help others if you first help yourself.   

Libra (September 23 โ€“ October 23)

Best Day:  Thursday 1st

Life suddenly seems less stressful for many Librans.  Daily worries give way to a sense of calm and security.  Increased self-awareness also brings a deeper understanding of what you truly want from life.  And youโ€™re more willing to share.  Your cosmic reward?   The more you give, the more you gain.  

Scorpio  (October 24 โ€“ November 22)

Best Day:  Sunday 28th

A kindred spirit may present an exciting proposal or opportunity.   Sure, you prefer to be your own unique mastermind.  Intellectual, and sometimes stubborn, Scorpios like to have the first idea and the last word, but this is one time when you should at least consider another viewpoint.  Projects move slower than usual, but thereโ€™s no real rush anyway. 

Sagittarius (November 23 โ€“ December 21)

Best Day:  Tuesday 30th

Youโ€™ve half a mind to make a run for it, but this obviously isnโ€™t the time to do it as many Sagittarians are still restricted to their home surrounds.  Itโ€™s a confusing week all round, so the best advice is to go about your business and ask others to do the same.  Singles can perhaps try online dating as a way to ease restlessness.  

Capricorn (December 22 โ€“ January 20) 

Best Day:  Friday 26th

If you can command some sort of respect in this self-serving world, youโ€™re not doing too badly. This week, many Capricorns fare better than most.  Perhaps itโ€™s because youโ€™ve finally sorted your thoughts into coherent order.  Suddenly, it all makes sense.  After midweek, look out for new ways to increase your income.

Aquarius (January 21 โ€“ February 18)

Best Day:  Saturday 27th

Youโ€™re a very private person,  Aquarius โ€“ and even more so this week.  Youโ€™re in no mood to share thoughts or feelings with anybody.  But sometimes our privacy is invaded, whether we like it or not.  Question is, how are you going to handle this intrusion?  For starters, keep your temper under control.  If you need time alone, simply say so.  

Pisces (February 19 โ€“ March 20)

Best Day:  Monday 29th

Finances and work share the same upward trend this week.  Sometimes, though, it can be easy to waste opportunities, simply because over-optimism can lead to taking things for granted. Plant the seeds of success now, so that they may grow taller and stronger in the months to come.  Plenty of support comes from friends and family.  

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Home Page 39

New Series โ€˜The Neversโ€™ Looks Like The Perfect Blend Of โ€˜Bridgertonโ€™ And โ€˜Charmedโ€™

Sign us up!

Move over Bridgertonit looks like weโ€™ve found our next great period drama to obsess over, only this one comes with an epic science-fiction edge and heavy mix of feminist themes spread throughoutโ€”basically, everything we look for our in our binge-worthy watches. 

Prepare to be hooked by The Neversa brand new six-episode series that follows a group of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies, and a โ€œmission that might change the world.โ€ Sounds epic already, right? 

Below, everything to know about the upcoming series The Nevers including what itโ€™s about, whoโ€™s been cast and where you can stream it in Australia. 

What Is The Nevers About? 

The Nevers follows the last years of Queen Victoriaโ€™s reign, where London is plagued by the โ€˜Touchedโ€™โ€”people, mostly women, who suddenly manifest abnormal abilitiesโ€”some useful, and some very sinister.

The official description reads: โ€œThey are the champions of this new underclass, making a home for the Touched while fighting the forces ofโ€ฆ well, pretty much all the forcesโ€”to make room for those whom history as we know it has no place.โ€  

Who Has Been Cast? 

The show features a huge female cast, including Outlanderโ€™s Laura Donnelly as its lead character of Amalia True, joined by Ann Skelly (Vikings) as Penance Adair. Other notable cast include Olivia Williams, Amy Manson, Pip Torrens and Elizabeth Tomlinson. 

James Norton will play Hugo Swann, a โ€œpansexual posh boyโ€ who runs a secret club, with Nick Frost as The Beggar King, a low-level criminal in the community, while Poldarkโ€™s Eleanor Tomlinson is set to play a singer called Mary Brighton.

Has A Trailer Been Released? 

Yes, weโ€™ve already been given our first-look at the upcoming series. Watch it in full below. 

The Nevers | Official Trailer
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Why Did Joss Whedon Step Down From The Series?

In November 2020, Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon announced he was stepping down from The Nevers citing various reasons for his decision in โ€œthis year of unprecedented challengesโ€ and amid allegations of misconduct on set throughout his career. British screenwriter Philippa Goslett was announced as the new showrunner in January 2021. 

Where Can You Watch The Nevers In Australia? 

The Nevers will premiere on Binge in Australia in April 2021. Sign up to the streaming service to be the first to watch, and catch up on series like Big Little Lies and 

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Kate Middletonโ€™s Subtle Act Of Kindness Is Going Viral This Week

Incredibly sweet!

The Cambridges are undoubtedly one of the most talked-about families in the world.

Following their role elevation over the coronavirus pandemic and their mention in Prince Harry and Meghan Markleโ€™s Oprah interview, itโ€™s hardly surprising that Prince William and Kate Middleton are making non-stop headlines right now.

From Prince Louisโ€™ struggle with social distancing and Princess Charlotteโ€™s signature sass, to their recent snow day at Anmer Hall, the Cambridge children have got the world talking the most, particularly now that the family of five has returned to London.

It was the Duchess of Cambridge however who made news over the weekend, as her sweet act of kindness went viral.

While speaking to staff outside during their visit to Newham Ambulance Station in East London, the Duchess of Cambridge spotted one of their hosts left without an umbrella.

โ€˜I feel bad you havenโ€™t got an umbrella. Would you like one?โ€™ Prince William reportedly asked the woman. And according to reports, when the woman didnโ€™t want to make a fuss, Kate sourced one for her.

โ€˜Is there a spare?โ€™ Kate asked, before declaring โ€˜thereโ€™s a spare oneโ€™. She is then said to have nodded over her protection office who handed the woman a spare brolly.

kate middleton

Well, thatโ€™s lovely.

This article originally appeared on marie claire U.K.

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Home Page 39

MAFS Reactions: Tonight, Itโ€™s Booka Vs. Brett And Patrick

"I canโ€™t wait for the experts opinions, Iโ€™m sure itโ€™ll be so illuminating"

Weโ€™re up to MAFSโ€™ 20th episode, which means weโ€™re well and truly getting down to the nitty-gritty with the remaining couplesโ€”and former golden couple Booka and Brett are tonightโ€™s main source of entertainment.

Weโ€™re coming off the back of that letter, where Patrick alleged Booka was pretty much self-centred and her partner Brett pretty much agreed (just in not so many words). 

Basically, she says he portrayed her as an โ€œugly personโ€ and unsurprisingly, Brett disagreed, asserting he never said she was an ugly person. Yes, Brett, but you didnโ€™t exactly try and refute those claims?

Viewers are awarding a *chefโ€™s kiss* to the producers, who placed a very angry Booka in between the two men who started this whole mess, and Bryce tries his hardest to not make things all about him for a change. 

The two eventually make good, but not without some great commentary from Twitter along the way. For a full rundown of tonightโ€™s events, head to our nightly recap

https://twitter.com/WriterMatt2/status/1374650535949733894
https://twitter.com/lil_nazza/status/1374648961126985728

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MAFS Recap: Great, Now All Our Hearts Have Broken Over Booka & Brett

Why, MAFS?

Sorry guys, this is no longer a Married At First Sight recap. It is purely a Booka and Brett funeral eulogy. Honestly, did anyone expect that relationship to come crashing down as fast as it is? Iโ€™m SO UPSET ABOUT IT.

So we come back to them, Brettโ€™s slept on the couch (AS HE SHOULD AFTER THAT PERFORMANCE) and Booka tells him the ball is in his court โ€“ if he wants to take ownership of what heโ€™s been saying to Patrick and how he really feels about her and their relationship, she can start moving forward. But she says sheโ€™s not sure why he would want to โ€“ she says he portrayed her as an โ€œugly personโ€ and of course Brett twists the words and is like โ€œI never said you were an ugly personโ€. YES, WE KNOW BRETT. YOU BASICALLY DID, THOUGH.

MAFS
โ€œI said horrible annoying person not UGLY personโ€

Anyway, over to Patrick and Belinda, who have had sex!!! Well, we assume โ€“ Belinda tells us sheโ€™s now seen โ€œallโ€ of Patrickโ€™s nude body, which all but confirms the sexy time has been had. Patrick says he wonโ€™t be telling the boys about their new development. 

Bryce and Melissa are getting ready for the dinner party and Melissa says she wants them to just be a normal couple for once โ€“ no drama, no fights. Heโ€™s like yeah totally!!! But to us heโ€™s sort of likeโ€ฆ well, weโ€™ll see.

Of course, when they show up and Bec hones in on them to discuss them calling her and Jake โ€œartificialโ€, itโ€™s immediately on. To be fair, Bryce seems to be trying not to engage too hard, but he looks livid. Still! He doesnโ€™t get into a tiff and thatโ€™s pretty impressive after his hothead behaviour at other group hangs.

More importantly is, of course, Booka and Brett. Before they walk in, Patrick asks Jake for his advice โ€“ he explains that he gave a harsh letter to them about Booka, and he doesnโ€™t know what to do. Jakeโ€™s advice was really wishy-washy because the TRUE advice is DIVE OUT THE WINDOW AND FLEE THE COUNTRY, PATRICK.

MAFS
You can feel the awkward energy in this screengrab, canโ€™t you

When Booka and Brett walk in, even Brett seems mad at Patrick. At the dinner table Booka is literally seated between the two guys, her new arch nemeses, and looks stoked about it (not). 

Bryce meanwhile is trying very, very hard to keep his cool, and Bec is trying really, really hard to get him to crack. She eventually resorts to bringing up the mysterious girlfriend-on-the-outside.

Bryce calmly says he has no recollection of telling her about any girlfriend, and when she suggests a lie detector, he welcomes it. So far Iโ€™m really impressed with Bryce avoiding all the drama, but then he HAS to go ruin it all by telling us to-camera that either Bec is deflecting from issues in her own relationship, or sheโ€ฆ has feelings for him?????

MAFS
Ok mate not EVERY woman is in love with you

Honestly, what are men. 

Booka finally gets into it with Patrick. He then tells her that everything he said in the letter, was what Brett had said to him. So Booka turns to Brett and is like, cool so you DO think Iโ€™m self-centred. Brett says that he never specifically called her self-absorbed or said she was obsessed with her band, but that the gist of the letter was how he felt. 

They say the same shit โ€“ how can he like someone like that, how can she not acknowledge how heโ€™s feeling in the relationship, blah blah. Honestly, Iโ€™m on Bookaโ€™s side here โ€“ yes, she needs to hear Brett but also that letter was INSANE and she SHOULD be livid that he never voiced this stuff to her and instead told Patrick behind his back. 

Eventually Brett goes to sit with Johnny and properly starts to break down, telling Booka to please stop continuing the argument. Itโ€™s all a bit Big-Man-Baby energy for me. I felt for him, sure โ€“ the man seemed genuinely upset. But it also worked really well as an avoidance technique and Iโ€™m like, is this guy on acid? How can he not see that the letter would make anyone feel like pure shit and that he probably needs to address THAT before they address this other issue.

MAFS
I feel for you Brett but also use your words

Then Brett and Patrick make up (!!!) pretty easily even though Patrick just set fire to Brettโ€™s entire relationship. Again โ€“ HOW can Brett not just put his bullshit down to go make things right with Booka at this point, but he can do it with Patrick? Unbelievable.

Patrick then asks Booka about how the task went, and she tells him about her joke, saying Brett didnโ€™t find it funny and maybe they just didnโ€™t share the same sense of humour. Someone asks if their marriage is ok and she says โ€œwell my marriage is pretty much over, soโ€. YIKES.

MAFS
Me dealing with all this chaos

Meanwhile, Bec is still trying to get a rise out of Bryce, this time by taking Melissa aside with Liam, who has become like a secondary demon henchman, to tell her that Bryce was flirting with her in the gym. Itโ€™s news to Melissa and clearly affects her, and when she tells Bryce you can see heโ€™s about to explode. But! Instead they walk out of the dinner party and donโ€™t engage.

Itโ€™s pretty awkward though because from Bryceโ€™s comments, it sounds like maybe he WAS flirting with Bec. Ugh. Still, sheโ€™s also not in the right here โ€“ she spent the entire night trying to get Bryce to crack. Thatโ€™s MAFS for you though, eh?

Sunday nightโ€™s commitment ceremony looks SO bleak, guys. I canโ€™t deal with any more Booka and Brett heartbreak.

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Five New Season Lip Looks With Diorโ€™s New Rouge Dior Lipstick

Show some lip with bold colour and couture-inspired textures

A lipstick change is the fastest way to update your look. From their iconic 999 red,  to sophisticated pinks and soft, blushed nudes, find your favourite from Diorโ€™s new Rouge Dior range and put it on high rotation โ€“ high impact and long-wearing colour is just a swipe away. 

Five New Season Lip Looks with Dior Rouge
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Dior Rouge Dior lipstick

Red Hot

The perfect matte red lip relies on application. โ€œA lip liner in the same shade as your lipstick all over the lip keeps the look matte and holds the colour,โ€ says Jefferyes. โ€œKeep skin minimal and fresh and just curl lashes; you donโ€™t need mascara.โ€ 

To find your perfect shade of red, Jeffereys advises pale skin suits blue-based reds, while olive skin tones benefit from orange-tinged reds and deeper shades of ruby.

Dior Rouge Dior 999 red lipstick

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 999 Velvet, $59; dior.com.au

Dior Contour lip liner

TRY: DIOR Dior Contour Lip Liner Pencil Intense Couture Colour in 999, $45; dior.com.au

Dior Forever Correct concealer

TRY: DIOR Diorskin Forever Skin Correct, $65; dior.com.au

Dior Rouge Dior red lipstick
Anjali wears Dior Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 886 Enigmatic Velvet, $59; Christian Dior 30 Montaigne choker, $1350, 1300 406 581. (Credit: Daniel Goode)

Heavy Metal

A metallic lipstick might sound full-on but itโ€™s actually super flattering, gold flecks define lips beautifully. โ€œDefine the lips with a pencil before you apply lipstick,โ€ says Jefferyes. This look benefits from some definition on the eyelids using an eyeshadow in the same shade family. โ€œIt adds life to the eyes.โ€ 

Dior Rouge Dior Enigmatic dark lipstick

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior in 886 Enigmatic Velvet, $59; dior.com.au

Dior Rouge Blush Long-Wear Powder Blush pink

TRY: DIOR Rouge Blush Couture Colour Long-Wear Powder Blush in 047 Miss, $74; myer.com.au

Dior Rouge Dior red lipstick
Holly wears Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 999 Velvet (top lip) and 964 Ambitious Matte (bottom lip), $59 each; Christian Dior jacket, $3500; Dior Fine Jewellery Rose Des Vents necklace, $3640, 1300 406 581. (Credit: Daniel Goode)

Two Way

Why pick just one lipstick when you can choose two? Experimenting with two colours neednโ€™t be reserved only for the truly courageous. Select complementary shades then apply the lighter shade to the area you want to look more full.

โ€œUsing two shades is very wearable if you keep the texture the same for both shades,โ€ says Jefferyes. โ€œLighter shades make things appear bigger, while darker shades will make the lip smaller, so do what works for your lips.โ€

Dior Rouge Dior 999 red lipstick

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior in 999 Velvet, $59; dior.com.au

Dior Rouge Dior lipstick Ambitious

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior in Ambitious Matte, $59; dior.com.au

Dior Forever Natural Nude foundation

TRY: DIOR Diorskin Forever Nude Fluid Foundation, $93; dior.com.au

Dior Rouge Dior Nude Lipstick
Cate wears Dior Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 720 Icรดne Velvet, $59; Matteau dress, $990, matteau-store.com; Dior Fine Jewellery Rose Des Vents necklace, $7100, 1300 406 581. (Credit: Daniel Goode)

Tone on Tone

Smudgey, taupey tones on lips, eyes and cheeks look beautiful. โ€œBlend in well so itโ€™s seamless,โ€ says Jefferyes, who suggests ditching lip liner and using a small eye brush to blur your lipstick line. Then keep the colour going up to the eyes. โ€œThen use your brush to apply a wash of lipstick over eyelids.โ€

Looking for a wearable taupe? Diorโ€™s universally loved Icรดne shade with its velvet finish is a constant sellout. 

Dior Rouge Dior Icone lipstick

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior in 720 Icรดne Velvet, $59; dior.com.au

Dior Diorskin Forever Cushion Powder

TRY: DIOR Diorskin Forever Cushion Powder, $94; dior.com.au

Dior Rouge Dior Nude Lipstick
Anjali (left) wears Dior Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 314 Grand Bal Matte, $59; Christian Dior dress, $13,000, and Mille Fleurs De Dior earrings, $950. Holly wears Dior Rouge Dior Couture Colour Refillable Lipstick in 100 Nude Look Matte, $59; Christian Dior dress, $8100, 1300 406 581. (Credit: Daniel Goode)

Pretty Nudes

The perfect neutral shade will take you from morning to night. Seek out rosy shades, which suit just about every skin type. โ€œThose with darker skin should look for shades of rose with more depth,โ€ says Jefferyes, who suggests a matte lipstick to keep the look modern. Pair with brushed-up natural brows and a veneer of warm colour over the lids. โ€œWarm brown eyeยญshadow works well,โ€ says Jefferyes. โ€œTeam with curled lashes.โ€

Dior Rouge Dior Grand Bal

TRY: DIOR Rouge Dior in 314 Grand Bal Matte, $59; dior.com.au

Diorskin Forever Skin Veil Primer

TRY: DIOR Diorskin Forever Skin Veil Primer SPF20, $82; dior.com.au

Makeup by Linda Jefferyes. Beauty direction by Sally Hunwick. Styling by Naomi Smith. Hair by Koh/Vivienโ€™s Creative. Models: Holly/Chadwick; Cate/Priscillas; Anjali/Priscillas. 

This article originally appeared in the April 2021 issue of marie claire.

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Home Page 39

6 Australian Fashion Brands Making Chic Tracksuits (Yes, Really)

Winter-worthy winners

As the old (but apt) clichรฉ goes: winter is coming.

With the advent of the colder months very much upon us, and the lowering temperatures reigniting our desire to stay home, itโ€™s only fitting that our wardrobes reflect and support our needs.

Enter: tracksuits.

Now, fear not, for these arenโ€™t the tracksuits of decades past (there will be no velour here). Weโ€™re talking locally loved labels making sweats that are as comfortable as they are stylish.

Looking to elevate your โ€˜inside clothesโ€™? Keep scrolling for six Australian fashion brands making chic tracksuits.

CAMILLA AND MARC

One of the earliest proponents of the neutral knit set trend, Sydney-based CAMILLA AND MARC are leading the way for laid-back luxury and elevated sweats. Their tracksuits typically feature streamlined silhouettes, tapering at the ankles, subtle logo accents and are well-suited to minimalist design lovers.

Shop their range here.

Assembly Label

Well-regarded for their pared back pieces and relaxed aesthetic, Assembly Label is definitely a front-runner when it comes to fusing comfort with style. Their soft โ€˜Kinโ€™ fleece top and matching track pants are perfect for cosy days at home and just light enough to make layering a breeze.

Shop their range here.

Bassike

Ethically made in Australia, Bassike has a longstanding reputation as a go-to label for fashion editors and influencers alike. Renowned for using organic Melbourne-made jersey and high quality Mongolian cashmere, their sweats offer more than a touch of luxury with each wearโ€”they deliver a timelessness that will last season after season. 

Shop their range here.

P.E Nation

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMnyXcnhzA6/

For those who favour maximalism and statement-making styles, look no further than P.E Nation. The beloved activewear brand has long been known for its signature colour-blocked aesthetic and go-big-or-go-home logo accents, and their tracksuits and sweat separates are no exception to the rule.

Shop their range here.

Jaggad

While compression leggings and sweat-ready activewear might be their strong suit, Melbourne-based Jaggad makes seriously good tracksuits as well. From soft oatmeal-hued sets (as above), to oversized logo sweats that work with leggings and track pants alike, their pieces are no-fuss and all comfort.

Shop their range here.

Karameleon

Who said โ€˜chicโ€™ has to mean โ€˜neutralโ€™? When it comes to colour-meets-comfort, it doesnโ€™t get much better than local label Karameleon. Designed, printed, and posted out of Bondi, this ethical brand takes its inspiration from the psychedelic 1960s, through to the 2000s, favouring a make-to-order business model to ensure sustainability. A big yes in our books!

Shop their range here.

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Home Page 39

Netflixโ€™s โ€˜Under Suspicionโ€™ Spotlights The Alleged Murder Of A Woman At The Hands Of Her High-Profile Husband

Trust us, you won't want to miss this one.

Trigger Warning: This article mentions death and suicide and may be distressing to some readers.

From Murder Among The Mormons to Elisa Lamโ€˜s chill-inducing case, Netflixโ€™s foray into true crime territory looks to be far from over.

The streaming giantโ€™s latest addition to its true crime collection is potentially one of its most haunting yetโ€”if thatโ€™s even possible, of course.

Introducing: Under Suspicion: Uncovering The Wesphael Case.

The five-part docuseries dives deep into the life of former Belgian politician, Bernard Wesphael, who was accused of murdering his wife, Vรฉronique Pirotton, in their Belgium hotel room back in 2013. Aside from the nature of the apparent crime, the high-profile case has left the world furious, demanding justice for Vรฉronique and the other women who have been killed at the hands of the countryโ€™s members of parliament.

Fascinated? Keep reading for everything you need to know about the seriesโ€”from the plot, the crime and where you can stream it in Australia. 

What Is The Plot Of Under Suspicion?

Under Suspicion follows the high-profile case of Belgian politician Bernard Wesphael, who was accused of murdering his wife, Vรฉronique Pirotton, in 2013. The true crime series features interviews with the acquitted Wesphael and other commentators as it looks at evidence surrounding the death of Wesphaelโ€™s wife of just over a year, who he claimed had died by suicide in a Belgian hotel room.

Created by Georges Huercano and Pascal Vrebos, true crime fans can expect the five episode docuseries to cover Wesphaelโ€™s arrest, interrogation and trial for manslaughter for her deathโ€”for which he was eventually acquitted. Only the second member of parliament to go on trial for his wifeโ€™s death, naturally, Wesphaelโ€™s case resulted in a media frenzy in Belgium.

Bernard Wesphael

Who Is Bernard Wesphael?

A former Belgian politician, Bernard Wesphael was arrested in 2013 after his wife, Vรฉronique Pirotton, was found dead in an Ostend hotel room.

A founder of the Ecolo partyโ€”a political party aimed at green and ecological policy-makingโ€”in 1980, becoming a member of Belgiumโ€™s Provision Council in 1987. However, after becoming the leader of the Ecolo group in 2014, he left the party in 2012 to found the Left Movement, a new left-wing political party.

In November 2013, the 62-year-old was arrested over the death of his wife Vรฉronique Pirotton, who he claimed had taken her own life in their shared hotel room.

According to Wesphael, he travelled to Ostend on the Wednesday evening to join his wife of 14 months for a two-day mini break together. Following an evening of drinking, the couple returned to the hotel room where Vรฉronique had โ€œa very strong seizure, a sort of deliriumโ€ during which she insulted him, fallen over a few times, tried to scratch him before calming down and going into the bathroom, at which point he goes to sleep, according to a report by La Libre. After 40 minutes, Wesphael apparently wakes up to find his wife dead, tries to resuscitate her and then goes down to the hotel reception to ask for help.

But this where the holes in his story start to appear, detectives discovered bruises on Pirottonโ€™s body and pillow fibres on her face, as per VRT NWS, while an autopsy found that Pirroton may have died from a mixture of drugs and alcohol, but couldnโ€™t rule out asphyxiation, whether suicidal or accidental.

Wesphael remained in custody for 10 months until August 2014, when he was released on bail. His trial took place in September 2016, where he was tried on a charge of murder, however the jury was unable to convict him beyond reasonable doubt and on October 6, he was acquitted.

Under Suspicion
(Credit: Netflix)

Where Can We Watch Under Suspicion In Australia?

Looking for your next binge-watch? Under Suspicion: Uncovering The Wesphael Case is currently available to stream on Netflix.

If you or someone you know needs help you can call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyondblue 1300 224 636.

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Home Page 39

Anna Faris & Gwyneth Paltrow Talked Candidly About Their Divorces This Week

Gwyneth was a guest on Anna's podcast, 'Unqualified'.

Of all the celebrity divorces that came our way in the last decade, Gwyneth Paltrow splitting from Chris Martin and Anna Farisโ€™ divorce from Chris Pratt easily hit us the hardest. 

While weโ€™ll never completely know the full story behind these relationships (nor should we, celebrities deserve privacy too), there was collective shock when these power couples chose to split, and naturally weโ€™re always curious as to how it all went down.

Now, Anna Faris and Gwyneth Paltrow have actually been quite candid about their divorce experiences, after Gwyneth appeared as a guest on Annaโ€™s podcast, Anna Faris Is Unqualified.

โ€œIโ€™ve learned so much from something I wanted least in the world. I never wanted to get divorced,โ€ Gwyneth told Anna during the episode, explaining that she always imagined sheโ€™d remain married to the father of her children.

Gwyneth met Chris Martin, frontman of Coldplay, back in 2002 when the band was on tour in Los Angeles. They dated for a year before marrying in 2003, before having daughter Apple in 2004 and son Moses in 2006. However, the relationship eventually reached its end in 2014, when the couple famously โ€œconsciously uncoupledโ€.

However, Gwyneth told Anna the experience taught her plenty of life lessons, and prepared her for her second marriage to producer Brad Falchuk. โ€œI have learned more about myself through [the divorce] process than I could have imagined, and because I focused on accountability, I was then able to find the most amazing man and build something that Iโ€™ve never had before with my husband.โ€

She also says the reason they work is communication.

โ€œI was scared, because he is a person who demands presence and intimacy and communication in a way that I just didnโ€™t know how toโ€”I like to fight by shutting down. Iโ€™m like, โ€˜Goodbye.โ€™ I, like, leave the room,โ€ she told Anna, adding โ€œHe was like, โ€˜No, absolutely not. Weโ€™re sitting down, and weโ€™re figuring this out.โ€™ He demands that Iโ€™m honest with myself in a way that is hard for me, but which really helps me grow.โ€ 

Anna was even more specific about her relationship breakdown, saying โ€œcompetitivenessโ€ was a factor.

โ€œMy two other marriages were with actors and I donโ€™t think we did a great job of eliminating competitiveness. Or at least I didnโ€™t, being a proud person, and not wanting to reveal vulnerability.โ€

Anna Faris

Anna was married to actor Ben Indra from 2004 to 2008, before meeting and marrying Parks and Recreation star Chris Pratt, who she was with from 2009 to 2018. Sheโ€™s currently engaged to cinematographer Michael Barrett.

โ€œAny hint of competitiveness and comparison, I didnโ€™t handle that very well, I donโ€™t think. And I hope Iโ€™ve grown from that,โ€ she told Gwyneth.

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Home Page 39

How I Separated My Double Life As A Mortician And A Stripper

Memoir author Emma Jane Holmes reflects on the role of sex and death in her very eventful life

 I was alone in the dressing room when the funeral home called my mobile phone. My rhinestone manicure sparkled in the glow of the globes framing the mirror and I checked my rouge lipstick as the funeral director at the other end of the line informed me of a death.

โ€œWasnโ€™t found for at least two weeks,โ€ he said. โ€œJust letting you know so youโ€™re prepared. Iโ€™ll call you back in a couple of hours when itโ€™s time to transfer him.โ€

I glanced at the time on my phone screen. 3:30am. The club would be closed by the time he called back, allowing me enough time to peel off the lashes and remove the winged eyeliner before jumping into the transfer van to collect the dead. Iโ€™d be tired from dancing all night, but nothing a triple shot skinny latte couldnโ€™t fix. And plenty of concealer to mask the eye bags.

My arms would be weak from performing on a pole, but I was always surprised by my strength when collecting a dead human being from a floor. I could transfer dead weight onto a stretcher with ease, but once home I couldnโ€™t unscrew the lid on a jar.

โ€œTalk soon,โ€ I reflected my colleagueโ€™s funeral-director tone, the call ending as three showgirls swanned into the changeroom, costume jewellery jangling.

โ€œI need you to check my tampon string isnโ€™t visible,โ€ said Heaven.

โ€œOnly if you massage my new boobs,โ€ replied Sugar. โ€œThe surgeon said I have to massage them to prevent the capsule hardeningโ€ฆโ€

Oh, the polarity of my life.

I returned my gaze to the mirror, blonde-bombshell Madison staring back at me. Perfect contouring slimmed my cheeks, eyebrows arched as high as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, huge GHD curls and almost a can of hairspray to set them coiled in place. My cleavage shimmered with glitter, my torso (and love for pasta) hidden beneath a corset.

The stage light would soon be turned down as the sun came up, and Iโ€™d swap stilettos for funeral director shoes so shiny I could use them as mirrors. Beige gloss would replace red lipstick, dramatic blonde hair slicked into a corporate bun. My recent manicure would be tucked snugly into latex gloves and the rest of my body sealed in PPE wear designed to collect a decomp.

Decomp is slang for โ€œdecompositionโ€ in the funeral industry. I felt so much compassion for those not found for weeks after death. They usually died alone and I wanted to be there for them. I knew once I got home following the transfer, the scent of Chanel that usually perfumed my house would be overpowered with the smell of death. Decomp cases follow you home. The smell makes its way into your pores, your hair and shower. Glittery heels by the door, death stench in the air. This was my reality.

When I was a girl, I was curious about the death profession. My nan died when I was eight, and I accompanied my dad to the hospital late that night to view her. I touched her cold lips and wondered why they werenโ€™t like mine anymore. Little did I know that one day, not only would I discover why her lips were cold and blue, but Iโ€™d learn how to make them plump and pink again. During Nanโ€™s funeral, I noticed the two grown-ups standing by the long shiny car, poised and seemingly emotionless. Once Nan was buried, I watched them slip into the death car and drive off amongst the headstones to a place unknown. Who were those mystery people? Did they touch the dead bodies? Why werenโ€™t they crying like all the other adults? I decided they were some sort of superheroes in suits, and longed to become one. Later, I watched the movie My Girl, which is about a little girl who lives in a funeral home. I was inspired to enrol in beauty school as soon as I left high school with plans to apply makeup to the dead.

But how did a funeral director end up stripping in the evenings with a garter hugging her thigh? I first entered the adult industry because I had set up house in my car. My marriage had broken up, I had no job, and Iโ€™d hit a speed bump in the road, pun intended. My diet consisted of $2 cheeseburgers and microwave macaroni cheese. I asked fuel stations if I could borrow their microwave. I dressed in public toilets and made excuses to friends and family when they asked if they could visit for dinner. I kept my predicament secret because I was at an age when everyone around me was making babies and homes.

Although I eventually found a house and a full-time role as mortician, I was still struggling financially. Contrary to common assumption, funeral directors and morticians are paid a slim wage. Iโ€™d had enough of eating microwave pasta so I applied some lippy, and checked into a hairdresser and nail salon, using my last hundred on a professional blow wave and manicure. Peppermint gum masking cheeseburger ketchup, I strutted into a strip club with phony confidence.

The dismal circumstances that led me to the stage turned out to be the greatest of blessings, because spinning around a stripper pole on stage brought me much joy. I learned to climb the pole and touch the ceiling, the crowd down below cheering my name โ€“ or Madisonโ€™s, anyway. Rainbows of cash fluttered to my feet as I twirled and pirouetted in nine-inch heels. On stage, all of my worries melted away. I didnโ€™t think of mounting bills, the dead at the funeral home requiring my attention, or family dramas when I was dancing.

The adult industry rescued me and thanks to Madison (my alter ego), not only could I afford vegetables from the organic grocer, I now had defined and strong legs, a stronger heart and some wonderful friends who wore twinkling costumes after dark.

But it wasnโ€™t all cash and Moet. Separating my two identities was as tough as Shellac. The constant shift from Madison to Emma Jane was exhausting. The lack of sleep and constant lying became almost too much to bear. My heart broke a little each time I lied to my parents, my friends, my colleagues. The funeral directors had no idea I twirled into character at dusk; likewise, fellow adult entertainers had no clue I tended to the dead during the day. I didnโ€™t want to freak them out, because letโ€™s face it, most people squirm at the word โ€œmorticianโ€. Only I knew my secret. Well, Madison and I, letโ€™s say.

Fatigue aside, the hardest part of the compartmentalisation was keeping the stories to myself. I once buried a local celebrity (legally) and lap danced for another on the same day! Some nights in the dressing room, when the dancers asked about my day, I was dying to tell them about my fascinating day job. But I knew they would consider it morbid; Iโ€™d been called a weirdo enough times already.

I never considered my role as cosmetician for the dead as gross or macabre. Scrubbing corpse blood from my mortuary gumboots did not bother me at all. In fact, it was like attending a classroom each time I walked into work. Each and every deceased person taught me a valuable lesson. It was like having tens of parents telling me what not to do, in order to stay alive. I stopped running red lights. I invested in my diet. I stayed clear of hard drugs. Because I had seen more road tragedies, overdoses and cardiac arrest victims than you can possibly imagine. Confronted by death every day, I was grateful to be alive. I didnโ€™t go home and cry (well, some days); I tackled my job head on with a smile. How lucky was I? I lived to see another day! Death enriched my life. I wasnโ€™t alone in this mindset. The funeral crew were a family. At the end of a long day, we headed to the lunch room to debrief and share jokes, banter and hugs. Like a daily Christmas party, a mental high five: we made it, guys! Weโ€™re alive. We get to eat dinner!

I experienced a similar vibe in the stripperโ€™s changeroom. The beautiful dancers were a team. Sure, there were catfights and the odd hair pulling tussle: โ€œThatโ€™s my regular! How dare you lap dance for him!โ€ But mostly it was a sisterhood, all trying to make as much money as possible to live our best life. Whoever would have thought? Death and sex: my daily inspiration to live each day as if it was my last.

Death and sex work are two of the biggest taboos in life; hushed from conversation. But acknowledging mortality everyday makes life special. And the sex workers, dancers and showgirls Iโ€™ve met in my time, are the most special souls Iโ€™ve encountered. Maybe itโ€™s time we embraced it all: dying, strip clubs, coffins, bordellos, hearsesโ€ฆ and heels.


Emma Jane Holmesโ€™ debut memoir One Last Dance: My Life in Mortuary Scrubs and G-Strings published by HQ, is a sassy, heart-breaking and jaw-dropping memoir of life behind the scenes in a funeral home and strip club, written with all the panache, honesty and sensitivity of Rosie Waterlandโ€™s The Anti-Cool Girl and Sarah Krasnosteinโ€™s The Trauma Cleaner. Available to purchase from Booktopia.

Lead image by Darren Leigh Roberts courtesy HQ.

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Home Page 39

Can You Believe It, Prince Harry Has Landed His First Proper Job Post-Royal Life

Congratulations, Haz!

Hot on the tails of his tell-all interview with Oprah, Prince Harry has made yet another surprise announcement about his new life in Los Angeles: heโ€™s a tech start-up bro now.

Following his and Meghan Markleโ€™s split from the royal family back in 2020, the Duke of Sussex officially has a new job and title, announcing that he has accepted the role of chief impact officer at billion-dollar coaching and mental health company BetterUp, that offers professional mental health coaching.

In a blog post on the companyโ€™s website, Harry expressed his excitement to be joining the business, referencing his own military background when talking about how much he values resilience and emotional fitness. 

He also shared why he signed on with the company, which has a network of more than 2,000 coaches across the United States working with companies and organisations such as Hilton Worldwide, Chevron, NASA, and Salesforce Ventures.

โ€œI firmly believe that focusing on and prioritising our mental fitness unlocks potential and opportunity that we never knew we had inside of us. As the Royal Marine Commandos say, โ€˜Itโ€™s a state of mind.โ€™ We all have it in us.โ€

He continued, โ€œBeing attuned with your mind, and having a support structure around you, are critical to finding your own version of peak performance. What Iโ€™ve learned in my own life is the power of transforming pain into purpose.โ€

โ€œDuring my decade in the military, I learned that we donโ€™t just need to build physical resilience, but also mental resilience. And in the years since, my understanding of what resilience meansโ€”and how we can build itโ€”has been shaped by the thousands of people and experts Iโ€™ve been fortunate to meet and learn from.โ€

BetterUpโ€™s mobile-first learning platform connects workers with professionals in coaching, counselling, and mentorship on a one-to-one basis via phone, text, or video chat. In fact, Harry even revealed that he had connected with one of the companyโ€™s coaches before officially taking on the role.

โ€œI was matched with a truly awesome coach who has given me sound advice and a fresh perspective,โ€ he explained. โ€œAnd because we believe in strengthening our own mental fitness, our entire Archewell team also has access to BetterUp coaching.โ€

Wasting no time, Harry has already begun his work with the company, aiming to drive advocacy and awareness for mental health, guide BetterUpโ€™s social mission and impact, work on product strategies, and help expand their global community of coaches and members. And of course, once it is safe to travel again, the Duke will occasionally travel to the companyโ€™s San Francisco headquarters.

As to how he got the job, Harry was introduced to the companyโ€™s CEO Alexi Robichaux last year via a mutual friend, according to the statement. And after the pair got to talking, they realised how much good they could do for each other.

โ€œAs a true citizen of the world, he has dedicated his lifeโ€™s work to bringing attention to the diverse needs of people everywhere and advocating for mental health initiatives: from founding the Invictus Games, a platform for service personnel to use sport as part of their psychological and physical rehabilitation, to launching Sentebale, which supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people affected by HIV in Lesotho and Botswana.โ€

And thereโ€™s even more happening on the job market for Harry and Meghan. Only yesterday, it was revealed that they had significantly expanded their own charitable foundation, Archewell, hiring a plethora of newcomers, including an Oscar-nominated producer to lead their team.

Harry has since confirmed that his new employees can enjoy access to BetterUp coaching, with Robichaux explaining the synergy between the start-up and Harryโ€™s own organisation.

โ€œAs co-founder of Archewell, he is focused on driving systemic change across all communities through non-profit work as well as creative activations,โ€ Robichaux wrote. The mission across Archewellโ€ฆ is united behind the deeply held belief that compassion is the defining cultural force of the 21st century.โ€

Ultimately, Prince Harryโ€™s new position at BetterUp shines a spotlight on his dedication to humanitarianism. โ€œAs BetterUpโ€™s first Chief Impact Officer,โ€ the Duke says, โ€œmy goal is to lift critical dialogues around mental health, build supportive and compassionate communities, and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations.โ€

โ€œAnd my hope is to help people develop their inner strength, resilience, and confidence.โ€

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Home Page 39

Thanks To Recent Activism, NSW Police Have Announced A Change To Sexual Assault Reporting

Chanel Contos' viral petition has sparked real change

Weeks following Chanel Contosโ€™ viral petition, which revealed more than 2,000 testimonies of sexual assault from current and former Australian school students, NSW police have announced a change to the stateโ€™s sexual assault reporting process. 

Contos joined forces with Stacey Maloney, Head of the NSW Sex Crimes squad, and Dr. Joy Townsend, one of Australiaโ€™s leading consent educators, to launch Operation Vest as a direct response to the petitionโ€”a new iteration of SARO, the Sexual Assault Reporting Option. 

According to Contos, the purpose of the new reporting process is to โ€œcreate an environment where it is normal for individuals to speak up about and report sexual assault, and to emphasise the need for structural reform in our society.โ€

Previously, victims of sexual assault could submit a form online to register than an assault had taken place, but it wouldnโ€™t be classified as evidence and was not used in relation to other victimsโ€™ cases, instead, helping police identify patterns of offending. 

Now, thanks to weeks of campaigning and activism, victims can submit a form online, that isnโ€™t a formal complaint to police, but can be used when someone else makes a formal complaint as evidence of a pattern of behaviour. 

The main difference being that SARO questionnaires can be used to support future victims who choose to come forward in cases where the perpetrator is a repeat offender. 

โ€œThis helps us look toward a better Australia, and will cause those who think they may have been perpetrators, to be conscious of their actions going forward,โ€ said Contos. 

Victims will be able to complete the process online and can submit as much information they want and anonymously if they so choose.

Perpetrators also will not know if they are reported this way, and there will be no repercussions for them unless someone makes a formal complaint about them in the future. 

โ€œWe must acknowledge the courage it takes victims of sexual violence to come forward and tell their stories,โ€ said Detective Superintendent Maloney, via Nine News.

โ€œRe-telling your story means reliving your trauma, and NSW Police are committed to a framework that supports a victimโ€™s pursuit for justice but also ensures they have access to services that provide the appropriate support.

โ€œWe want you to know that if you share your story with us, we will listen to you and if you decide to pursue legal action, immediately or anytime thereafter, we will stand by your side through that process.โ€

Operation Vest reports will be also be used as a โ€œcall for urgent educational, cultural, and structural reforms in our societyโ€, Contos added. โ€œIt will also be used to emphasise the need for a Sexual Violence Policy to be implemented in the NSW police force, and for funding to go into this software for it to be optimised and rolled out Australia-wide.โ€ 

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 

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Kelly Marie Tran On Carving Out New Ground In Hollywood With โ€˜Raya And the Last Dragonโ€™

โ€œI wish I could have brought every person who's a Disney fan along for this experience, because I know how rare it is."
Image: Tawni Bannister

It wasnโ€™t her first time attending, or even presenting at the Academy Awards, but Kelly Marie Tran still felt like a fish out of water when she stood on stage at the 2020 Oscars. โ€œI fully didnโ€™t know what was going on,โ€ she laughs now. โ€œI didnโ€™t know that awards season was a thing until I became an actor. It felt like moving to a different planet.โ€ 

To make the trip to Mars less daunting, she took her Dad as her date. โ€œIt was the best! I mean, Dad and I were drinking tequila and just having a great time. We sat right next to Joaquin Phoenix, right in front of Elton John and on the left was Oscar Isaac, who I just love so much. It was crazy. Iโ€™m so grateful that I got to share that experience with Dad.โ€ 

Itโ€™s been an extraordinary few years for Tran. In 2015, she was cast as fan-favourite, Rose Tico, in Star Wars:The Last Jedi (it was her first feature film, no big deal), and followed that up with a role in Croods: A New Age. Despite this intense success, she says she can โ€œstill go unnoticed at Trader Joesโ€ and live a relatively normal life despite the occasional extraordinary experiences like drinking tequila with her dad at the Oscars. โ€œMost of my life is normal,โ€ she laughs. โ€œThe other day I was just talking to my boyfriend about having to unplug the shower.โ€ 

Kelly
Kelly Marie Tran at the Oscars (Credit: Image: Getty)

Now, sheโ€™s joining Disney as the voice of Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon. The film centres on a woman from the kingdom of Kumandra, where people and dragons once lived together peacefully, before the dragons sacrificed themselves to save the humans half a century ago. When Kumandra is once again invaded by monsters, Raya must find the last dragon to help her save her homeland. โ€œRayaโ€™s technically a princess, but sheโ€™s also definitely someone who is a warrior and a survivor as someone who goes through a lot of traumatic experiences early in her life. She sees the world through this sort of lens of not trusting anyone,โ€ Tran explains of her character. โ€œI think thatโ€™s very different to what weโ€™ve seen before in terms of Disney princesses.โ€ 

Raya as a character is not wholly empowered, or even happy, to begin with. Sheโ€™s angry and distrustful and โ€œsees the world as brokenโ€. Tran says the movie asks audiences to consider: โ€œhow do we view the world in a way where weโ€™re not just seeing our pain? How do we view the world where we are able to see the goodness in people again? How do we do that?โ€ She laughs, โ€œI donโ€™t know that I know how to do that. Let me just be clear. But going on this journey with this character, and seeing her try to learn that; itโ€™s really, really powerful.โ€

The filmmaking process, Tran says, was inherently defined by COVID-19. โ€œIt was basically me in a makeshift voiceover booth at home that my boyfriend built. You know when youโ€™re a kid and you build forts with pillows and blankets? Thatโ€™s what I recorded inโ€ she says, describing how they managed to make an entire Disney movie remotely. โ€œHow all these people who had to work separately in 400 different locations were able to make something as beautiful as this movie is pretty spectacular. Itโ€™s an incredible miracle that it got made.โ€

Raya
Raya (Credit: Image: Disney)

The film is particularly momentous because itโ€™s the first Disney feature inspired by Southeast Asia, and Tran is the first Southeast Asian actor to lead a Disney animated film. โ€œItโ€™s been truly one of the best experiences Iโ€™ve ever had,โ€ she says, talking about the significance of a film that is specific in its cultural representation. โ€œThe writers are both Southeast Asian and thatโ€™s an experience Iโ€™ve never had before. I canโ€™t even explain what it felt like when I got into that room, looked at these scripts and had them bring up specific words or things that I remember from growing up. It was really magical.โ€ 

While Hollywood still has a ways to go in terms of representation โ€“ Tran admits, โ€œin an ideal world, there would be so many different stories being told and every type of person would be so well represented, and so easily represented, that we wouldnโ€™t have to talk about it at allโ€ โ€“ itโ€™s films like Raya that need to be celebrated. In presenting a young woman who is a little rough around the edges, and one who doesnโ€™t ascribe to White Eurocentric beauty ideals, they again expand the idea of who can be a Disney princess and in doing so, inspire young generations to be themselves. Itโ€™s clear Tran is cognisant of just how special it is, her voice tinged with genuine awe talking about the film: โ€œI wish I could have brought every person whoโ€™s a Disney fan, or who loves movies, along for this experience, because I know how rare it is. And I know how privileged I am to have been part of it.โ€ 

Raya and the Last Dragon is in cinemas and streaming on Disney+ now.

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Home Page 39

MAFS Recap: Booka & Brettโ€™s Relationship Crumbles

RIP.

Anyone else feel like this week of Married At First Sight is going to be super hectic? Between Jake and Bec having to stay together even though they hate each other at this point, to the demise of Booka and Brett, there is a LOT going on already. 

First, we have to get through some of the happier couples. Johnny and Kerrie are doing the intimacy week laughing challenge and being cute. Boring! Over to Booka and Brett โ€“ Booka is writing a looong list of โ€œthings that are sick and things that are suckyโ€ about her relationship with Brett. Sheโ€™s trying to keep it light-hearted but itโ€™s going down like a sack of bricks with Brett, who feels she doesnโ€™t listen to him and doesnโ€™t consider his feelings at all.

MAFS
โ€œAlso your cap is uglyโ€

Meanwhile Bec is pouring a massive glass of red after that theatre Zoom business with Jake. Bec legit has no idea how to apologise to someone, saying she โ€œdidnโ€™t mean to hurt his feelingsโ€ when she called him boring, and sheโ€™s โ€œsorry it didโ€. What? On? Earth? Bec? 

MAFS
โ€œSorry you were offended thoโ€

They just canโ€™t seem to get on the same page, and honestly it feels primarily like thatโ€™s because Bec canโ€™t ever concede. However I heard rumours they make it to the end, so maybe they somehow mend fences soon?

Meanwhile, Alana and Jason go do the Zoom family theatre thing. It goes badly and they end up having an argument in front of their fam and barely even speak to them. Afterward the argument continues at their apartment and Alana says sheโ€™s โ€œnot here for longโ€, which leads to Jason totally shutting down. 

Then we head back to Booka and Brett, who are meeting their family on Zoom. Bookaโ€™s parents encourage their intense conversations and Brett feels he can see where Booka gets that part of her personality from. It goes fine, but not WELL. These two seem to be drifting apart REAL quick.

Over to Johnny and Kerrie who are writing letters to each other. Johnny talks about his beloved Aunt who died of cancer. The experience brings them closer and they sleep together that night!

Alana and Jason kind of make up, with both agreeing that they could work together if they can overcome the arguing and stuff. Alana ends up crying because she feels the experiment is really emotional and its taking its toll on her.

MAFS
Honestly you couldnโ€™t pay me to go on this show

Next itโ€™s time for the new game โ€“ rating each otherโ€™s marriages! What could possibly go wrong! Bryce and Melissa are judging Jake and Bec, and vice versa. Great choice, producers. Cue Bec just rattling off shit to Jake who is like:

MAFS
โ€œSlow down Iโ€™ve got RSI alreadyโ€

Bec and Jake get their feedback first, and itโ€™s prettyโ€ฆ accurate? Considering Bryce has a personal vendetta against Bec going on, he was pretty balanced, saying the lack of apology from Bec has led to their relationship breakdown. Facts only, right? Bec however is like:

MAFS
Yeahโ€ฆ no

They each give the other couple a task to โ€œfixโ€ their relationship. Melissa gets to control Bryce for a day, right down to what he wears. Jake and Bec have to swap places and do role play as each other. 

Melissa makes Bryce go to dinner dressed like this:

MAFS
So pretty

While Bec and Jake really shine, particularly Jake showing us his shapely legs in one of Becโ€™s dresses:

MAFS
Rude for his legs to look this good tbh

They have heaps of fun with it and it seems to rekindle a spark between them. They spend the whole task laughing, pretty much.

Next is Patrick and Belinda writing about Booka and Brett. Theyโ€™re WAY harsh, and the entire letter is about Booka being self-centred and talking about how smart she is and how good her band is. There is literally nothing in there about Brett, and Booka seems totally blown away with how harsh the feedback is.

She asks Brett if he agrees and he says yes. She then calls him on his shit, saying Patrick doesnโ€™t know her that well, so for him to have this opinion of her heโ€™d have to be getting information elsewhere, namely from Brett himself.

Her task is to make a Brett Day, but before we see that we have to experience Patrick and Belinda doing some really G rated nude life drawing of each other. Well, PG rated I guess:

MAFS
Sorry

Theyโ€™ve been told to do this to develop their intimacy, which Booka and Brett feel they lack. They say Patrick and Belinda seem like theyโ€™re just friends, which I totally agree with. The intimacy challenge goes fine? It doesnโ€™t seem to change anything.

Meanwhile, Alana has decided to make Jason dinner in her knickers, so thatโ€™s something.

Back to Booka and Brett for Brett Day. Booka has gone next level and I donโ€™t know guys, I thought it was pretty funny:

MAFS
This was โ€œfishing with Brettโ€ lol

She even writes this stupid song for him called โ€œBrettโ€. Itโ€™s all very tongue in cheek and hilarious but Brett is so off it, I thought he might pop a blood vessel.

MAFS
*brain explodes*

He feels like sheโ€™s not taking his feelings about their relationship seriously, which I guess I understand but also heโ€™s told her to have more fun SO many times, and now the woman is taking the piss and heโ€™s annoyed?

Anyway, itโ€™s a lot but mainly itโ€™s sad to see the golden couple totally crumbling. Damn, love really ISNโ€™T real, huh.

Tomorrow night! Dinner party time! It looks chaotic.

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Weโ€™re Not Coping With โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Star Patrick Turning Evil On Us

Is it backwards day?

Married At First Sight was brutal tonight โ€“ did anyone cope with those feedback letters? Sure, Bryce and Melissa vs. Jake and Bec kind of turned out for the better (at least, in Jake and Becโ€™s situation it did), but man, Patrick and Belinda just totally went IN on Booka in their letter to her and husband Brett.

To be fair, it felt like that letter was ALL Patrick, in some sort of bromance support move for best pal Brett. Still, it felt a bit off that the entire feedback letter centred on Booka and her faults, with absolutely no critique of Brett at all. 

Poor Booka was clearly very affected by the harsh words. But mainly we all couldnโ€™t cope with this about-turn from sweet Patrick, who up until now seemed really kind and supportive.

https://twitter.com/natalie19815/status/1374294533958037507
https://twitter.com/TheFakeNRL/status/1374294550223544322
https://twitter.com/UnderYourPorch/status/1374294869208801286
https://twitter.com/ltlblkdress/status/1374294739093135361

That really was brutal. Looks like the Married At First Sight weekly dinner party tomorrow night will be awkward as all hell.

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I Made My Partner Stay Where The โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Couples Live, And No, We Didnโ€™t Break Up

Is it a romantic setting, or destined for doom?

After eight seasons of Married At First Sight, weโ€™ve pretty much nailed down the social experimentโ€™s formula: couple wed, couple fight, couple eventually break up. Actually, thatโ€™s harsh, some commit in a final vows ceremony with a lucky few still together today. 

Itโ€™s that inevitable drama the Channel Nine social experiment offers up that keeps us coming back season after season, because honestly, itโ€™s just fun to watch on screenโ€”albeit when itโ€™s not being super problematic

While many might believe itโ€™s the MAFS experts and their blatant matching of couples they know wonโ€™t get along that results in the inevitable demise of its contestantsโ€™ romances, could there be another explanation? Could the surroundings that the couples are thrust into contribute to said relationship expiration dates? And no, not the relationship itself but rather, their new home base. 

For the past two MAFS seasons the couples have moved into Sydneyโ€™s SKYE Suites, packing into the luxurious hotel block following their weddings, and of those that are successful, staying there up until the final vowsโ€”so by all accounts, the luxury suites become very much โ€˜homeโ€™ for the duration of their romances. 

Surely, if being put up in one of Sydneyโ€™s most sought after locations isnโ€™t enough to keep a couple together, what is? I wanted to find out. 

Checking in with my boyfriend for an overnight stay, I put that very theory to the test to see what it would be like to be immersed in the location where these couples attempt to fall in love. As an FYI, my partner and I have been together for six years so are by no means โ€œnewโ€, especially in comparison to the MAFS contestants. 

From the get-go, the location screams romanceโ€”with the SKYE Suites lobby as luxe as the rooms themselves, featuring a red brick faรงade, with deep blue velvet furnishings set against a backdrop of silver and mirrored finishes. Checking in here, you definitely get the luuuuurve feeling. 

blue velvet

Itโ€™s everything youโ€™d expect from an urban retreat, nestled amongst the heart of Sydneyโ€™s CBD, with the apartment-style suits fitted with minimalist designer interiors and spacious open-plan layouts with all the comforts of an actual apartment. Basically, itโ€™s the perfect setting for a new couple to get to know each other. 

Although, I was a bit disappointed to see our names werenโ€™t on a placard on the door, nor were pictures from our relationship framed across the room. But I digress. 

The bedding was spacious and plush (is it too much to say thatโ€™s exactly what both new and old couples are looking for in a living space?), the kitchen fully-equipped, with an internal laundry tucked out of sight, alongside a bathroom stocked with Australian-founded products by Kevin Murphy. 

While it has all the makings of an ideal first-time apartment for a new couple, I can see how this type of space might not present itself as the best arrangement for two strangers who donโ€™t like each other very much. Itโ€™s intimate, a little bit sexy and forces you to be together pretty much all of the time. Literally, a wooden partition is all that separates the living room from the bedroom. 

If you donโ€™t happen to be two strangers who have absolutely no desire to be in the same room? Itโ€™s perfection.

Thereโ€™s also a pool and spa area too, which we donโ€™t see MAFS contestants use but having witnessed it first hand itโ€™s definitely somewhere that would wash away the stress of being filmed 24/7. The arched roof and dimly lit area really cement the locationโ€™s oasis description. 

skye

For a one night stay it definitely felt like a faraway destination, with the balcony providing the quintessential setting for a romantic city dinner. Itโ€™s also easy to see its potential for a longer stay, tooโ€”with the apartment housing everything you could possibly want for easy convenience (pots, pans, a large enough fridge and even a large sink in a small laundry room). 

If youโ€™ve got a recent trip to Sydney planned (Hamilton tickets, maybe?) SKYE Suites is a great pickโ€”even if it has been home to some dramatic MAFS fights over the years. 

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Home Page 39

All The Signs Suggesting That โ€˜MAFSโ€™ Couple Booka & Brett Will Split

RIP our favourite 2021 couple.

If there was ever a stand out couple from this 2021 season of Married At First Sight, it has to have been Booka Nile and Brett Helling.

The metal band star and the psychology student seemed to hit it off right from the start, falling into an easy relationship filled with chemistry and friendship. Perfection, right?

Booka and Brett sailed through MAFS commitment ceremonies and dinner parties with little to no drama following them. Until this week, when rumours started circling that the fan favourites were soon to break up.

Below, find all the clues that seem to indicate Booka and Brett wonโ€™t make it to the end.

Booka Penned A Song That Sounds Like Itโ€™s About Brett

Not a good song, either. One that references โ€œbulls**t on your faceโ€ and f***boys, to be specific. While there has been no confirmation that the lyrics are about Brett, the timing is interesting.

MAFS

Brett Missed Bookaโ€™s MAFS Viewing Party

Look, this one isnโ€™t super solid, given the fact that if they ARE still together, they probably canโ€™t be seen in public as such. But still, Brett was definitely absent from Bookaโ€™s Married At First Sight viewing party earlier this month.

Brett Follows Booka On Instagram, But Booka Doesnโ€™t Follow Brett

To be fair, Pedestrian cleared this one up, finding a comment by Booka that said Brett was just breaking the rules and they were not even allowed to follow cast on Instagram during the show, anyway. 

MAFS

Sources Have Been Leaking Break Up Information

According to podcast So Dramatic, not only will Booka and Brett not last, but a source says Brett is going to look really bad on the show soon. โ€œA person who knows Brett got in touch and said: โ€˜I know Brett, they definitely do not last. He reckons heโ€™s going to get a bad edit, heโ€™s back in Geelong and telling people they are not together,โ€ host Megan Pustetto said in a recent episode.

Apparently, Brett Says Some Really Sexist Stuff

So Dramatic had even more gossip for us about Booka and Brett. โ€œSomeone contacted me saying, โ€˜I work with Brettโ€™s best friend, he went out for dinner with Brett last Friday night, this would have been back in January, and he [Brett] said heโ€™s really worried heโ€™s going to get a bad edit andโ€ฆthat Booka is a nutcase. Heโ€™s literally going round telling people that Booka is crazy.โ€ YIKES. 

It gets worse. โ€œBooka is a staunch feminist and Brett made a number of comments about her โ€” and women in general โ€” that didnโ€™t sit well with her. He bragged that he had a fetish for Japanese women, cracked jokes that women canโ€™t drive, classic fake woke sexist shit,โ€ host Megan Pustetto said a source close to Booka divulged.

Tonightโ€™s Letter Writing Task Will Start Their Breakdown

According to TV Week, a letter writing task that takes place tonight, which sees Patrick writing a letter to Booka and Brett about the state of their relationship, sees fractures form.

โ€œAll I could think was that Patrick has heard this from somebody who has painted this really ugly picture of me โ€“ and that his best friend is my husband,โ€ Booka tells TV Week.

โ€œLike, โ€˜Wait a minute โ€“ if this is the relationship youโ€™ve been living in, what relationship have โ€จI been in this whole time?'โ€

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Robyn Lawley Talks Podcasting, Body Acceptance In Australia And The One Piece Of Advice Sheโ€™d Give Her Teenage Self

The supermodel and new podcast host speaks candidly about her mission to make inclusivity mainstream

To say Robyn Lawley is a force to be reckoned with would be an understatement. The Australian supermodel, who now resides stateside with her husband and daughter, has quite the CV both in front of and behind the camera, counting the likes of designer, inclusivity advocate and eco-activist among her many titles and achievements. And now, sheโ€™s adding a new one to the list: Podcast host.

Releasing her brand new Audible Original podcast, Every Body with Robyn Lawley: Surviving & Thriving In A Body Shaming World, on March 23, 2021, the series is Lawleyโ€™s latest move on a mission to redefine physical beauty. Interviewing incredible guests like Turia Pitt and Jameela Jamilโ€”as well as โ€˜ordinaryโ€™ people who continue to conquer the world in spite of chronic illnessโ€”Lawley turns a critical eye on the #BodyPositive movement and ask: who does it leave on the margin, and what is a better call to action?

Ahead of the showโ€™s launch, marie claire caught up with the homegrown powerhouse to talk podcasting, reclaiming your self-love and how to teach the girls growing up today to do the same.

Below, our conversation with the brilliant Robyn Lawley.

marie claire: Congratulations on the new podcast! Take me back to the moment you first decided you were going to launch the podcast. What went through your head as you realised this was something you wanted to do?

Robyn Lawley: Thank you! This past year has been so surreal and tragic for so many, so when this opportunity presented itself (I was quarantining with my family upstate in New York), I thought this was most definitely the time to seize the moment and interview these diverse group of people, carrying stories of survival, perseverance, and acceptance, many of whom are so often left out of the body positivity movement.

Youโ€™ve got a really impressive, incredible line-up of guests on the show. Did anyoneโ€™s story particularly resonate with you and your journey and how so?

There are so many stories itโ€™s so hard to have any particular ones. However, I love episode one with burn survivor Turia Pitt, it is always my go to now if I find myself in a hospital bed. I use her episode to help find my strength, she has such courage and determination and has been through so much. And my own doctor, Dr. Brooke Goldner, who helped put my lupus into remission through a plant-based diet and who is helping so many.

Social media is a particularly difficult place to navigate when it comes to images of โ€œperfectionโ€ and unachievable beauty standards. How do you think we as women can make social media have less of a negative impact when it comes to our body image and self-esteem?

Jameela Jamil has some excellent advice on our series, she makes sure she โ€œunfollows, blocks, mutes and deletes anyoneโ€ that that makes her feel bad.  Unfortunately, these social media platforms are based on algorithmsโ€”algorithms that also hook a lot of users in by making them feel bad about themselves. I think you most definitely should follow her adviceโ€”they are after you, and if those people are making you feel bad, then you donโ€™t have to follow them.

I just think it has reached a crazy level of perfection and with these filters, I worry it makes us believe this altered reality. We still have to look at ourselves in the mirror and our bodies. For me now, I try to follow a varied amount of people on my social media, not limited to fashion only, but people who make me laugh, and science and nature.

Every Body with Robyn Lawley podcast
Every Body with Robyn Lawley: Surviving & Thriving In A Body Shaming World

Youโ€™ve spoken really openly about your accident, your chronic health conditions and difficult pregnancy before. How have those things impacted the way you view your body today?

My pregnancy was actually very easy, it was immediately after my pregnancy that my health declined rapidly and suddenly. At age 25, I had two strokes.

Anyone that goes through such a decline in health and who almost dies, I think, is left with a mark. For a while, I kept the strokes hidden because I felt ashamed by them. I was so young. I didnโ€™t understand why? My Lupus/Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome (APS) diagnosis answered the question, however, getting the diagnosis after the fact is also hard to take. I want to prevent the damage in other people. That is why I am so vocal.

I now have epilepsy because of the stroke. Lupus and APS are very serious but can be reversed through diet, I know because I have reversed mine. Unfortunately, epilepsy cannot be but there is hope for the future. I talk openly about my health conditions now because there shouldnโ€™t be shame, I want to eliminate that shame feeling. Actor, writer and comedian Ryan Oโ€™Connell and I discuss what itโ€™s like living with an invisible illness and โ€˜coming outโ€™ of the disability closet so to speak.

How do you approach teaching body acceptance to your daughter in a world where the mainstream messaging so often feels like the opposite?

My partner and I focus on words such as โ€˜strongโ€™, โ€˜healthyโ€™ and โ€˜beautifulโ€™, and we encourage nature, gardening and composting. We try to minimise TVโ€”I think itโ€™s still going to be hard and inevitable that sheโ€™ll be surrounded by mainstream messaging, and Iโ€™m petrified. I have seen such a shift of late within the industry to include more diversity. Itโ€™s not good enough for brands to not represent their buyers. I just keep reiterating sheโ€™s beautiful just the way she is.

As a model who has lived and work internationally for many years, how do you think Australia compares to overseas when it comes to body inclusivity?

Australia has a fair way to go, however I am happy to finally see different ethnicities in campaigns of late. I want to see more women like Samantha Harris and Khadija Gbla, and of course, sizes (including heights). Photoshop unfortunately allows companies to scrutinise womenโ€™s bodies too much. Itโ€™s too easy for them to erase what was once natural, like stretch marks and deem them โ€˜imperfectโ€™ and remove them. And that goes with every other deemed โ€˜blemishโ€™, like scars, wrinkles, cellulite etc.

On a positive note, what are the biggest changes youโ€™ve seen take place in relation to body acceptance and inclusivity? And what do you want to see happen next?

The fashion industry has made some huge strides, especially since I first started. Itโ€™s now common for runways to feature diversity, and frankly, itโ€™s boring without it. Sports Illustrated is always filled now with such epic diversity, and designers from Versace to Gucci are featuring a range of models. Iโ€™ve loved seeing Ellie Goldstein model for Gucci recently. She is a model with Down syndrome and a guest in the series

Whatโ€™s the one thing you would tell your 16-year-old self now, having learnt everything you have, about body acceptance?

Thatโ€™s such a big question. As much I try to live without regret, I often think back to this moment. If it was just one thing, I would tell myself to stay plant-based (I was vegan as a teen), not for the reasons of weight lossโ€”as the fashion industry was forcing me to doโ€”but for future health reasons and strength.

Whatโ€™s the one practical piece of advice you would give to any woman struggling with body insecurities right now?

Your body fights for you every single day, she is your ally. She shows up for you. Itโ€™s time we turned off the self-hate, itโ€™s not going to help you in any way. My piece of advice is show up for her, give her some love back. Take care of your body, feed her nutrients, give her water. Take some time off for yourself. Walk in nature if you can. Loving yourself starts from within.

And lastly, youโ€™ve done an incredible job with the podcast: what is next for Robyn Lawley?

Thank you very much, they were such incredible guests it was easy. There was an amazing producer behind it, Naima Brown. We laughed, fought and cried togetherโ€”this podcast wouldnโ€™t have happened without her. I hope to get it the recognition it deserves, and perhaps even a TV version.

For my own personal journey, I always want to shine light on the ultimate MOTHERโ€”Mother Natureโ€”and what we can do as individuals urgently and today to fix the crisis we are in, as well as helping others to end their autoimmune battles, like Lupus and APS.

Check out โ€˜Every Body with Robyn Lawley: Surviving & Thriving In A Body Shaming Worldโ€™ here.

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Morrison Says Attitudes To Women โ€œMust Changeโ€, But Fails To Announce Plan Of Action

The PM might have addressed women's fears, but failed to deliver what we've been asking for: action. 

Scott Morrison has delivered a tearful speech today addressing the past several months in Parliamentโ€”and itโ€™s about time, with the Prime Minister having a lot to answer for as a leader right now. 

Weโ€™ve been confronted by Brittany Higginsโ€™ allegation that she was raped in Parliament House; saw former Defence Minister Linda Reynolds issue an apology after calling Higgins, an alleged rape victim, a โ€œlying cowโ€; backlash over Morrison invoking his daughters to empathise with Higginsโ€™ experience; a nationwide rally to March 4 Justice; and finally, an allegation of Coalition staffers filming and sharing footage of themselves performing sex acts in Parliament House. 

โ€œI am shocked, and I am disgusted. It is shameful,โ€ he began his address in Canberra. โ€œIt is just absolutely shameful. I was completely stumped, as I have been on more than one occasion over the course of this last month.โ€ 

His speech attempted to resurrect a reputation that has been tarnished by seemingly endless allegations of misconduct behind Parliament walls, and while his address did touch on the fears women face every day, it failed to deliver what weโ€™ve been actually been asking for: action. 

Morrison moved on to talk about the women in his lifeโ€”his wife and daughters, and his widowed motherโ€”calling them the โ€œcentre of my life.โ€ 

โ€œI have the deepest of vested interest, criticise me if you like for speaking about my daughters, but they are the centre of my life. My wife is the centre of my life. My mother, my widowed mother is the centre of my life.

โ€œThey motivate me every day on this issue. They have motivated me my entire life, they have taught me the values and the faith has sustained me every single day in this job.

โ€œWhich is why I am here, I owe them everything. And to them I say to you girls, I will not let you down.โ€ 

He even, on the brink of tears, asserted heโ€™d listened to how distressed these allegations have made women feel, hearing our needs to feel safe walking home at night, to not be talked down to or looked over, to our real concerns of calling out behaviour in the workplace in the fear of losing a job. โ€œThis is not ok,โ€ he said.

โ€œWhether this is unconscious deafness and blindness, or whether it is wilful malevolence that is behind all of this, it must be acknowledged. It must be called out, and it must stop,โ€ he said.

โ€œThis is not something that is of a scale that any government can simply change. It is something we must change as a society because we know it happens all over this country, but for me and my house, the house I work in here, then we must take responsibility, it is our problem here, it is our responsibility here, and Iโ€™m committed to dealing with that. We must do better in this place. All of us, and in our country, we must do better.โ€

It was a powerful sentiment, indeed. But while Morrisonโ€™s speech touched on what weโ€™ve been thinking for the past several weeks, he failed to do the one thing we need a leader to do right now.

The PM didnโ€™t announce new initiatives, new plans or key measures for change. No, he merely acknowledged what weโ€™ve known all alongโ€”that this behaviour is not okay and it needs to change. 

https://twitter.com/AmyRemeikis/status/1374140046484205575

Some might have been able to forgive Morrisonโ€™s seeming inaction, but his address was quickly derailed when taking questions from mediaโ€”where he quickly proved he was still unwilling to address any wrongdoing or take responsibility. 

When probed by journalists in the room, who referred to his recent comments following the March 4 Justice rallies, where he shared we should be thankful we live in a country where such protestors are not โ€œmet with bulletsโ€, he became immediately defensive, referring to โ€œall of us working in glass houses.โ€ The inference that no workplace is free from such allegations. 

Morrison glaringly revealed one problem with that simple statement, that we have a leader who genuinely believes no workplace is ever free from bad behaviour. That we should all remain hush about incidents of sexual misconduct, because hey, itโ€™s happening everywhere, right? 

Demanding we see a โ€œcultural shiftโ€ is no longer acceptable from the man who holds the nationโ€™s highest position of powerโ€”because, we all know thatโ€”we need someone who is going to insight real action, real change. And we need it now. 

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Orlando Bloomโ€™s Viral Daily Routine Is Both Chaotic And Perfect, So Of Course, Twitter Is Going Wild Over It

"I like to earn my breakfast"

From Gwyneth Paltrowโ€™s bee sting therapy to Emily Ratajkowskiโ€™s Snail Mucin skincare, famous faces arenโ€™t short of obscure daily rituals, and now, it looks as if Orlando Bloom is the next to take the spotlight.

In a recent interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, Bloom proves that no matter where you come from, the quintessential Los Angeles lifestyle is bound to catch up with you, and of course, the internet canโ€™t get enough.

โ€œIโ€™m a Capricorn, so I crave routine,โ€ he admits at the start, attempting to justify the information with an astrological connotation. 

Right after he rises, Bloom checks his FitBit to ensure he achieved eight hours of sleep, then he checks in on his baby daughter, Daisy, saying: โ€œIโ€™ll kiss [Daisy] and weโ€™ll spend some time connecting. Iโ€™ll do eye-gazing with her and sing songs.โ€

But thatโ€™s not the real start of his day. Following their bonding time, he marks that with 20 minutes of Buddhist chanting, after which heโ€™ll read a โ€œbit of Buddhismโ€, which he types up on his Instagram Stories. However, he tries to abstain from using his phone too much because he doesnโ€™t โ€œwant to be sucked into the black hole of social media.โ€

Following his chanting, Bloom prepares his pre-breakfast because he is yet to โ€œearnโ€ his main breakfastโ€”a concept regular folk struggle to fathom. His pre-game meal is typically โ€œsome green powders that I mix with brain octane oil, a collagen powder for my hair and nails, and some protein.โ€

In fact, he knows that his routine is already the lifestyle most of us wish they had. โ€œItโ€™s all quite L.A. really,โ€ he reflects. Once heโ€™s devoured the concoction, he uses the time to โ€œgo for a hike while I listen to some Nirvana or Stone Temple Pilots.โ€

Upon his return at around 9 a.m., Bloom gives himself permission for solid foods, opting for โ€œusually porridge, a little hazelnut milk, cinnamon, vanilla paste, hazelnuts, goji berries, a vegan protein powder and a cup of PG Tips.โ€ Come time for lunch, Bloom choose to indulge his palate in a some โ€œvegetables or a stew.โ€

But of course, Bloomโ€™s dedication to food prep and consumption doesnโ€™t take up the entirety of Bloomโ€™s waking hours. Working on projects for streaming giant Amazon he said, โ€œI spent a lot of my time dreaming about roles for myself and othersโ€”for minorities and women.โ€ 

Later in the day, he enjoys some quality time with his LEGOโ€”a habit he formed during COVID-19โ€”building cars while heโ€™s working. โ€œ[I] find the methodical nature of creating this little thing makes me feel like Iโ€™m achieving something else.โ€

After his work day is over, itโ€™s time to hit the home gym, put his baby to bed and make some dinner. After which he watches a movie or documentary for work before bedtime at 11pm.

โ€œTime is so precious. I was always giving my time to other people before. Now I have the space to dream,โ€ he concluded.

Naturally, Twitter is having a field day over Bloomโ€™s routine, and of course, it didnโ€™t disappoint. Scroll on for the best reactions to Orlando Bloomโ€™s wild and oddly perfect daily routineโ€”and which facets of it weโ€™re stealing for ours.

https://twitter.com/emeramchugh/status/1373772522009804807

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