Married At First Sight was brutal tonight – 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 Bec’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 couldn’t cope with this about-turn from sweet Patrick, who up until now seemed really kind and supportive.
So is there any criticism of Brett in this letter from Patrick and Belinda? 🤔 #MAFS
— SoManyEarrings.bsky.social 🇵🇸 (@SoManyEarrings) March 23, 2021
Patrick is 100% the sneaky gossip from high school who looks sweet and innocent but is secretly always watching out for the drama they can cause #mafs#mafsaupic.twitter.com/Tzw3Tegrdz
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After eight seasons of Married At First Sight, we’ve pretty much nailed down the social experiment’s formula: couple wed, couple fight, couple eventually break up. Actually, that’s harsh, some commit in a final vows ceremony with a lucky few still together today.
It’s that inevitable drama the Channel Nine social experiment offers up that keeps us coming back season after season, because honestly, it’s just fun to watch on screen—albeit when it’s not being super problematic.
While many might believe it’s the MAFS experts and their blatant matching of couples they know won’t get along that results in the inevitable demise of its contestants’ 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 Sydney’s SKYE Suites, packing into the luxurious hotel block following their weddings, and of those that are successful, staying there up until the final vows—so by all accounts, the luxury suites become very much ‘home’ for the duration of their romances.
Surely, if being put up in one of Sydney’s most sought after locations isn’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 “new”, especially in comparison to the MAFS contestants.
From the get-go, the location screams romance—with the SKYE Suites lobby as luxe as the rooms themselves, featuring a red brick façade, with deep blue velvet furnishings set against a backdrop of silver and mirrored finishes. Checking in here, you definitely get the luuuuurve feeling.
It’s everything you’d expect from an urban retreat, nestled amongst the heart of Sydney’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, it’s the perfect setting for a new couple to get to know each other.
Although, I was a bit disappointed to see our names weren’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 that’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 don’t like each other very much. It’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 don’t happen to be two strangers who have absolutely no desire to be in the same room? It’s perfection.
There’s also a pool and spa area too, which we don’t see MAFS contestants use but having witnessed it first hand it’s definitely somewhere that would wash away the stress of being filmed 24/7. The arched roof and dimly lit area really cement the location’s oasis description.
For a one night stay it definitely felt like a faraway destination, with the balcony providing the quintessential setting for a romantic city dinner. It’s also easy to see its potential for a longer stay, too—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 you’ve got a recent trip to Sydney planned (Hamilton tickets, maybe?) SKYE Suites is a great pick—even if it has been home to some dramatic MAFS fights over the years.
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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 won’t make it to the end.
Booka Penned A Song That Sounds Like It’s About Brett
Not a good song, either. One that references “bulls**t on your face” and f***boys, to be specific. While there has been no confirmation that the lyrics are about Brett, the timing is interesting.
Brett Missed Booka’s MAFS Viewing Party
Look, this one isn’t super solid, given the fact that if they ARE still together, they probably can’t be seen in public as such. But still, Brett was definitely absent from Booka’s Married At First Sight viewing party earlier this month.
Brett Follows Booka On Instagram, But Booka Doesn’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.
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. “A person who knows Brett got in touch and said: ‘I know Brett, they definitely do not last. He reckons he’s going to get a bad edit, he’s back in Geelong and telling people they are not together,” 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. “Someone contacted me saying, ‘I work with Brett’s best friend, he went out for dinner with Brett last Friday night, this would have been back in January, and he [Brett] said he’s really worried he’s going to get a bad edit and…that Booka is a nutcase. He’s literally going round telling people that Booka is crazy.” YIKES.
It gets worse. “Booka is a staunch feminist and Brett made a number of comments about her — and women in general — that didn’t sit well with her. He bragged that he had a fetish for Japanese women, cracked jokes that women can’t drive, classic fake woke sexist shit,” host Megan Pustetto said a source close to Booka divulged.
Tonight’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.
“All I could think was that Patrick has heard this from somebody who has painted this really ugly picture of me – and that his best friend is my husband,” Booka tells TV Week.
“Like, ‘Wait a minute – if this is the relationship you’ve been living in, what relationship have I been in this whole time?'”
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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, she’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 Lawley’s latest move on a mission to redefine physical beauty. Interviewing incredible guests like Turia Pitt and Jameela Jamil—as well as ‘ordinary’ people who continue to conquer the world in spite of chronic illness—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 show’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.
You’ve got a really impressive, incredible line-up of guests on the show. Did anyone’s story particularly resonate with you and your journey and how so?
There are so many stories it’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 “perfection” 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 “unfollows, blocks, mutes and deletes anyone” that that makes her feel bad. Unfortunately, these social media platforms are based on algorithms—algorithms that also hook a lot of users in by making them feel bad about themselves. I think you most definitely should follow her advice—they are after you, and if those people are making you feel bad, then you don’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: Surviving & Thriving In A Body Shaming World
You’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 didn’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 shouldn’t be shame, I want to eliminate that shame feeling. Actor, writer and comedian Ryan O’Connell and I discuss what it’s like living with an invisible illness and ‘coming out’ 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 ‘strong’, ‘healthy’ and ‘beautiful’, and we encourage nature, gardening and composting. We try to minimise TV—I think it’s still going to be hard and inevitable that she’ll be surrounded by mainstream messaging, and I’m petrified. I have seen such a shift of late within the industry to include more diversity. It’s not good enough for brands to not represent their buyers. I just keep reiterating she’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 women’s bodies too much. It’s too easy for them to erase what was once natural, like stretch marks and deem them ‘imperfect’ and remove them. And that goes with every other deemed ‘blemish’, like scars, wrinkles, cellulite etc.
On a positive note, what are the biggest changes you’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. It’s now common for runways to feature diversity, and frankly, it’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. I’ve loved seeing Ellie Goldstein model for Gucci recently. She is a model with Down syndrome and a guest in the series
What’s the one thing you would tell your 16-year-old self now, having learnt everything you have, about body acceptance?
That’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 loss—as the fashion industry was forcing me to do—but for future health reasons and strength.
What’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. It’s time we turned off the self-hate, it’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, you’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 together—this podcast wouldn’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 MOTHER—Mother Nature—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 ‘Every Body with Robyn Lawley: Surviving & Thriving In A Body Shaming World’ here.
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Scott Morrison has delivered a tearful speech today addressing the past several months in Parliament—and it’s about time, with the Prime Minister having a lot to answer for as a leader right now.
We’ve been confronted by Brittany Higgins’ 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 “lying cow”; backlash over Morrison invoking his daughters to empathise with Higgins’ 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.
“I am shocked, and I am disgusted. It is shameful,” he began his address in Canberra. “It is just absolutely shameful. I was completely stumped, as I have been on more than one occasion over the course of this last month.”
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 we’ve been actually been asking for: action.
Morrison moved on to talk about the women in his life—his wife and daughters, and his widowed mother—calling them the “centre of my life.”
“I 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.
“They 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.
“Which is why I am here, I owe them everything. And to them I say to you girls, I will not let you down.”
He even, on the brink of tears, asserted he’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. “This is not ok,” he said.
“Whether 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,” he said.
“This 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 I’m committed to dealing with that. We must do better in this place. All of us, and in our country, we must do better.”
It was a powerful sentiment, indeed. But while Morrison’s speech touched on what we’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 didn’t announce new initiatives, new plans or key measures for change. No, he merely acknowledged what we’ve known all along—that this behaviour is not okay and it needs to change.
Some might have been able to forgive Morrison’s seeming inaction, but his address was quickly derailed when taking questions from media—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 “met with bullets”, he became immediately defensive, referring to “all of us working in glass houses.” The inference that no workplace is free from such allegations.
PM accuses journalists of "sitting in glass houses" when it comes to treatment of women, says someone in a media office (Sky News) was harassed in a toilet, an incident which is currently being investigated. "You're free to stand on a pedestal", he warned, "but be careful."
Just so we are all on the same page, ‘Glass houses’ in this context means ‘We should keep each other’s secrets about sexual harassment and sexual abuse in our respective workplaces’ yeah? That’s a very cool and normal thing for a Prime Minister to say to media live on television. https://t.co/NCo3jlI4nN
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, it’s happening everywhere, right?
Demanding we see a “cultural shift” is no longer acceptable from the man who holds the nation’s highest position of power—because, we all know that—we need someone who is going to insight real action, real change. And we need it now.
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From Gwyneth Paltrow’s bee stingtherapy to Emily Ratajkowski’s Snail Mucin skincare, famous faces aren’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 withThe 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 can’t get enough.
“I’m a Capricorn, so I crave routine,” 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 hisbaby daughter, Daisy, saying: “I’ll kiss [Daisy] and we’ll spend some time connecting. I’ll do eye-gazing with her and sing songs.”
But that’s not the real start of his day. Following their bonding time, he marks that with 20 minutes of Buddhist chanting, after which he’ll read a “bit of Buddhism”, which he types up on his Instagram Stories. However, he tries to abstain from using his phone too much because he doesn’t “want to be sucked into the black hole of social media.”
Following his chanting, Bloom prepares his pre-breakfast because he is yet to “earn” his main breakfast—a concept regular folk struggle to fathom. His pre-game meal is typically “some green powders that I mix with brain octane oil, a collagen powder for my hair and nails, and some protein.”
In fact, he knows that his routine is already the lifestyle most of us wish they had. “It’s all quite L.A. really,” he reflects. Once he’s devoured the concoction, he uses the time to “go for a hike while I listen to some Nirvana or Stone Temple Pilots.”
Upon his return at around 9 a.m., Bloom gives himself permission for solid foods, opting for “usually porridge, a little hazelnut milk, cinnamon, vanilla paste, hazelnuts, goji berries, a vegan protein powder and a cup of PG Tips.” Come time for lunch, Bloom choose to indulge his palate in a some “vegetables or a stew.”
But of course, Bloom’s dedication to food prep and consumption doesn’t take up the entirety of Bloom’s waking hours. Working on projects for streaming giant Amazon he said, “I spent a lot of my time dreaming about roles for myself and others—for minorities and women.”
Later in the day, he enjoys some quality time with his LEGO—a habit he formed during COVID-19—building cars while he’s working. “[I] find the methodical nature of creating this little thing makes me feel like I’m achieving something else.”
After his work day is over, it’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.
“Time is so precious. I was always giving my time to other people before. Now I have the space to dream,” he concluded.
Naturally, Twitter is having a field day over Bloom’s routine, and of course, it didn’t disappoint. Scroll on for the best reactions to Orlando Bloom’s wild and oddly perfect daily routine—and which facets of it we’re stealing for ours.
Orlando Bloom: “I like to earn my breakfast so I’ll just have some green powders that I mix with brain octane oil, a collagen powder for my hair and nails, and some protein. It’s all quite LA really. Then I’ll go for a hike while I listen to some Nirvana or Stone Temple Pilots” pic.twitter.com/L5qLMCqCdc
in light of Orlando Bloom’s daily routine I feel I have to release mine. I wake up, eat cake, work, eat pasta, work, tiktok, work, eat more pasta, tiktok, work, sleep. sometimes if I am feeling charitable I also talk to other humans
Woke up after a lie in and saw the TL full of Orlando Bloom's morning regimen. I shambled to the kitchen and made a tea accompanied by a stick of kinder bueno. There are no right answers.
Can’t stop thinking about how Orlando Bloom’s experience of having a 7-month-old involves waking up in the morning and checking your Fitbit to make sure you’ve had your full 8 hours’ sleep, before looking in on said baby and going ‘hey, they seem happy’, then going for a hike.
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Consent education has been the topic of a national conversation in recent weeks, with a wider discussion around sexual assault, women’s safety and men’s accountability surrounding. Per ABC, the Victorian government is now moving to make consent education mandatory in the state’s public schools. The initiative comes after sustained pressure on the government from students, including former Sydney student Chanel Contos (read our interview with her here).
While respectful relationships education does already feature as a core element of the Victorian curriculum, it will now become mandatory for all public school in the state. Further, consent specific classes will be introduced.
“This will build on the current program which is significant and does cover consent,” said Jaala Pulford, Minister for Employment. She acknowledged too that, “what we’re hearing from students is that they believe that an expansion and a greater depth to this training is required.”
The details of the program are still in flux, but it will hopefully address consent in a more nuanced and realistic way that the NSW police commissioner’s absurd idea of implementing an app to “record consent.” So much of the conversation around consent continually recenters men as victims of false accusations, which is yet another indicator that how we talk about gendered violence and sexual assault is broken and doesn’t centre the people actually experiencing it.
The refusal to see and acknowledge the prevalence of gendered violence against women and how actively it’s perpetrated by men—specifically the “good” men—seems almost unthinkable given the statistics. On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner, one in six have experienced stalking since the age of 15, and one in five have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
Most of this violence is perpetrated by men that the women in question knew, yet so often the first immediate impulse is to question the reliability of women—whether that’s on a school playground, the office or at home. Further, people’s (and legal authorities) understanding of what consent is and what constitutes it is so broken.
How about an app where you can enter a cop's id number and it tells you their domestic violence history, how many times they've been investigated, how many times they've been shuffled between departments…
Earlier this month, a former RAAF corporal did not receive jail time after choking a woman to death during sex. The victim, Mhelody Bruno, 25 was a Filipina transgender woman. While the gender and racial identity of the victim absolutely implicate other concerns around biased treatment of this case by the authorities, the issue of consent and it’s blurry “confirmation” absolutely privileges perpetrators over victims of violence.
According to the ABC, the former corporal Rian Ross Toyer told police “this was a common practice between the couple and while he conceded that Ms Bruno had never requested to be choked, he told police she had never asked for the practice to stop.”
How in any way is silence consent? A woman is dead after a man began implementing a sexual practice she never asked for and never verbally agreed to. This is not at all to say that she didn’t consent, but rather point out: why did a man decide to choke someone without getting enthusiastic, clear consent that was surrounded by some semblance of a safety measure?
Pulford has explained that the government intends to work with education experts as well as young people to form the consent education module for Victorian schools. However, this is also the Australian government that is currently in disarray over their incredibly poor handling of multiple alledged sexual assaults and rapes.
Public starting to worry that leaders who need apps and empathy coaches to tell right from wrong might not be the best people for the job
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If Kate Middleton has taught us anything in her past decade in the royal family, it’s that classic wardrobe staples are never to be underestimated. From a tartan coat recycled wherever necessary, always at Christmas and on royal tours of Scotland, to a never-ending selection of affordable basics from Boden and Marks & Spencer, the Duchess of Cambridge has offered up plenty of sartorial lessons over the years.
Her most recent lesson? That a pair of classic gold hoops will always be on trend. Attending an event at School 21 in East London this week, Kate wore a pink sweater from Boden (one of her favourites), black Jigsaw pants, and a matching Max&Co. coat, all pulled together with a pair of gold chain-link earrings from Orelia, which retail for as little as $28.
The entire ensemble was a masterclass in minimalist elegance. Thankfully, the Kate Middleton effect hasn’t grabbed hold of these just yet and the earrings are (somehow) still available on the London-based brand’s website.
We’d suggest getting in quick before these beauties sell out, otherwise, we’ve selected some similar pairs to add to your wardrobe.
Orelia London Mini Chain Huggie Hoops, $29; available at Orelia London
Orelia London Mini Chunky Hoop Earrings, $40; available at THE ICONIC
Reliquia Jewellery Athena Earrings, $169; available at THE ICONIC
Seed Heritage Fine Pearl Huggie Hoops, $39.95; available at Myer
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Victoria Beckham may have the world as her oyster—with a successful fashion company and a booming beauty brand—but turns out, she remains grounded when it comes to quality time with her children, particularly Harper.
In an Instagram video posted on March 21, the former Spice Girl patiently holds her hair back and keeps her eyes closed while her daughter, just out of frame, dabs product onto her eyelids. And honestly, the results are rather impressive.
Giving Harper a set of her Lid Lustre eyeshadows from her namesake beauty brand, Victoria documented the glam session, writing in her caption:
“How MUA #HarperSeven does Lid Lustre: a wash of Tea Rose allover & a dab of Honey in the crease. Add a swipe of Future Lash Mascara and that’s my go-to eye for spring! xVB.”
She gave her mother a soft, smoky eye using Tea Rose, a rose gold shade, all over the lid and using Honey, a bronze shade, in the crease for dimension. The result? A gorgeous shimmery finish that’s perfect for the upcoming London springtime.
Using her fingertips to tap the eyeshadow onto Victoria’s eyelids, Harper is using the products exactly how her mum designed them to be used.
The formula has a unique texture, that’s both very blendable and easy to use—whether you’re a nine-year-old playing with your mum’s makeup or an experienced makeup artist.
Shop Harper’s favourite products below:
Lid Lustre in Honey by Victoria Beckham Beauty, $68.33 at Net-A-Porter.
Lid Lustre in Tea Rose by Victoria Beckham Beauty, $68.33 at Net-A-Porter.
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Prince Harryis using his own experiences with tragedy to give back. The royal recently penned the forward for a children’s book calledHospital by the Hill, which is aimed at kids mourning the loss of loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.
“When I was a young boy I lost my mum,” Harry, who was just 12 years old when Diana died in a car accident in Paris, wrote in the book’s forward (perPeople). “At the time I didn’t want to believe it or accept it, and it left a huge hole inside of me. I know how you feel, and I want to assure you that over time that hole will be filled with so much love and support. We all cope with loss in a different way, but when a parent goes to heaven, I was told their spirit, their love and the memories of them do not. They are always with you and you can hold onto them forever. I find this to be true.”
Harry went on to write about the empathy he feels for anyone else—particularly any young person—coping with the loss of a close loved one.
“Now, I never met them, but I know this person was special to you, and they were someone incredibly kind, caring and loving because of where they chose to work. Helping others is one of the most important jobs anyone can ever do,” he continued. “You may feel alone, you may feel sad, you may feel angry, you may feel bad. This feeling will pass. And I will make a promise to you—you will feel better and stronger once you are ready to talk about how it makes you feel.”
Finally, Harry added, “I hope this book helps remind you of just how special your parent or loved one was. And how special you are too.”
Hospital by the Hillis being published ahead of Britain’s National Day of Reflection next week, according toPeople. The book, which tells the story of a young person who loses their mother, a frontline worker, during the coronavirus pandemic, is being given free to any child or young person in the U.K. who is grieving the loss of a loved one amid the pandemic.
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While smartphones have long been under scrutiny for their potential effects on skin via blue light, a recent phenomenon dubbed ‘tech neck’ is being looked at as a potential reason for the early onset of horizontal neck wrinkles.
And while the constant craning and looking down is known to be bad for our posture, it’s also been said to contribute to the deepening of lines and creases on the delicate skin around the neck.
For a complete low-down on all things ‘tech neck’, from what really causes it to how we can reduce their appearance, we consulted Melbourne-based dermatologist Dr. Shyamalar Gunatheesan for everything there is to know.
What Are The Main Causes Of Horizontal ‘Tech Neck’ Wrinkles?
“These horizontal wrinkles are caused by the combination of frequent, prolonged neck flexion and [the] ageing of the skin,” Dr. Gunatheesan tells marie claire.
“The platysma is a broad, thin muscle covering a large part of our neck. Repeated movements of our cervical spine, which is highly flexible, in turn activates the platysma, resulting in grooves beneath the skin.
“As we age, and with UV damage, the loss of elastin and collagen means that these creases or wrinkles can’t spring back up, resulting in etched lines.”
(Credit: Getty)
How much of it actually comes from our technology habits?
While the name ‘tech neck’ is catchy and our habits with our devices certainly may have a role to play, there’s a bit more to the story, Dr. Gunatheesan emphasises.
“Technology cannot be solely blamed for this phenomenon, as any activity such reading for prolonged periods of time would also be a contributing factor,” she says.
“However, given research shows that an average individual spends around four hours looking down on a smartphone, tablet or computer, this phraseology seems pretty fitting.
“We would also need to examine the role of blue light emission from these devices that could potentially result in oxidative stress damage to the skin, thereby resulting in wrinkling.”
What are some changes you can make to your skincare routine to help minimise and prevent horizontal neck wrinkles?
As the old beauty adage goes, “Your face stops at your boobs”.
The same philosophy that applies to reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the face also applies to the creases on the neck, except it arguably needs a little extra TLC, particularly where sun damage-induced wrinkles are concerned.
Remember Your Sunscreen
“Often, we neglect the delicate skin of our neck, chest and hands in our ritual skincare routine. This is at our peril, given that these areas age faster as they are more susceptible to UV damage,” explains Dr. Gunatheesan.
“A good SPF sunscreen, ideally with visible light protection, is a must in the daytime.”
Take Care With How You Apply Your Products
It’s also important to remember that how you apply your products can contribute to the appearance of your skin, so avoid harsh tugging and rubbing while you’re working your way through your routine.
“Remember to cleanse gently, pat dry and apply facial moisturisers and actives starting from the face all the way to the neck and décolletage,” says Dr. Gunatheesan.
Avoid Fragrances To The Neck And Chest
“Avoid any fragrances to the neck and chest as this results in Poikiloderma of Civatte. This condition often presents as a mottled hyperpigmentation and redness on the side of the neck, jawline and chest due to the photosensitising nature of perfumes,” she explains.
Keep Collagen-Boosting Products In Your Skincare Routine
“Lightweight vitamin B3, vitamin C and antioxidants will help replenish and mitigate the breakdown of collagen and elastin,” says Dr. Gunatheesan.
“Controlled release tertiary retinoids with low irritant potential are best suited for the sensitive neck area for the night. Consistency and time will be determining factors here.”
Alpha-H Vitamin B With Copper Tripeptide, $69.95 at Adore Beauty
What are some lifestyle changes you can make to delay the onset of these wrinkles?
It may sound cliché and rather mundane, but leading a generally balanced lifestyle across the board is important when it comes to anything anti-ageing.
“The general rules to anti-ageing apply here, namely: moderate exercise, a healthy low GI diet with lots of fruit and vegetables, not smoking, adequate sleep and a high potency skincare routine,” Dr. Gunatheesan advises.
As far as the ‘tech’ aspect of the ‘neck’ goes, it may be worth checking in with your posture each time you use your devices (until good posture becomes a habit) and inspecting whether your work setup involves a lot of craning or slumping and may require changing.
“In the case of neck wrinkles, minimising our neck flexion or looking down for long periods of time might help,” Dr. Gunatheesan adds.
“Being aware of our posture, not leaning forward or craning our neck too far down or forward. Elevating and positioning the smartphones or other devices to eye level could be one strategy.”
(Credit: Getty)
Beyond skincare and lifestyle, what kind of cosmetic procedures reduce the appearance of horizontal neck wrinkles?
If you’re looking for a more immediate effect or trying to deal with deep set lines, there are some non-invasive procedures that offer essentially instant results, including hyaluronic acid filler and Microbotox (also known as Skin Botox).
“Carefully placed hyaluronic acid filler along the wrinkle lines may work by lifting the skin and effacing the creases with immediate results. The improvements can last up to a year,” says Dr. Gunatheesan.
“Another technique is Microbotox, where small aliquots of Botox are placed superficially underneath the skin of the neck, which has also been used to reduce platysmal banding and transverse wrinkles.”
If you’re looking for something that doesn’t involve injectables, infrared lasers are also an option.
“Non-ablative skin firming devices, utilising either infrared energy or radiofrequency, heat up the dermis (the second layer of the skin) and subsequently stimulate fibroblasts to increase collagen production,” Dr. Gunatheesan explains.
For more information on cosmetic procedures that target horizontal neck wrinkles, we recommend visiting a reputable cosmetic dermatologist’s office for individualised advice.
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Amidst the many parental dramas that went down on episode 18 of Married At First Sight, there is perhaps one that is capturing the hearts of Australia the most fervently. Throughout the current season of MAFS, Bryce (married to Melissa) has attracted a lot of very reasonable criticism.
The man’s behaviour on screen has been generally incredibly toxic, with the cheating allegations and the fact that he named his wife as the show’s fourth most attractive contestant being hard to forget. By which we mean, Bryce makes it hard to forget, because he keeps bringing it up over and over again. (Why?!)
Bryce isn't a teachable moment to Aussie audiences. He should never have been put on our screens, let alone matched with someone so vulnerable that she already can't fathom him leaving her. It's so dangerous, I sometimes can't believe what I'm watching #MAFS
1. Someone like Bryce shouldn’t be on our screens2. He should not have been paired with someone who has no self worth3. By now experts and producers should have stepped in talked about narcissism, gaslighting and trauma bonding and how to get help if you’re a victim #mafsau#MAFS
In case you somehow missed the plot detail, this whole cheating/hotness mess apparently began from a “casual conversation” that Bryce had with Bec, who is the long-suffering Jake’s wife in the 2021 edition of the MAFS experiment.
In a previous episode, it was revealed that Bryce and Bec had a conversation where Bryce told Bec that he considered her the hottest in the experiment. According to Bec, Bryce then said he had a girlfriend outside the experiment, the latter being the part which Bryce obviously claims isn’t true. He does, however, cop to putting Bec first in the hotness ranking.
This frustratingly dense behaviour is irritating and alarming to us, but imagine how you’d feel after having had to raise this kind of insensitive human?
Well, as of tonight Australia knows how Bryce’s mum feels. The legend dressed-down her tone-deaf toxic son, much to the joy of audiences.
And on the other end of the spectrum? Well, let’s just say that with Bec, the apple fell directly under the tree.
We thought it’d hard to top Bec’s incredibly narcissistic and manipulative behaviour towards her husband this MAFS series well, tonight proved us wrong. Australia met Bec’s mom.
Bec’s mother is the type of person who will defend their child for murder while their child is holding the murder weapon in their hand. #mafsaustralia#mafspic.twitter.com/nh2K59N5IV
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Another week, another set of Married At First Sight problems, right? This week looks set to be a doozy if the Booka/Brett rumours are anything to go by, and I for one am ready for some spice in this show that doesn’t involve gaslighting, thanks!
We’re back with all the couples ensconced in their serviced apartments post-ceremony. Everyone is talking about Bryce and Melissa (namely, Bryce’s toxic behaviour) but Bryce and Melissa are just out here thinking they’re the strongest couple in the experiment and enjoying a set of hoodies.
Those who hoodie together stay together
Meanwhile, Alana is not doing well after Jason’s huge reveal that he doesn’t feel their relationship is progressing as it should. She acknowledges that while the other couples seem to be going from strength to strength, they’re in a bit of a rut.
Jaimie and Chris are also not doing so well. After all their drama at the commitment ceremony and the honeymoon, Chris says he’s had enough of Jaimie’s “lies”, saying she’s telling him one thing off-camera and another on. I feel like all of Australia is demanding justice for Chris at this point.
This man was done dirty
But he also seemed really… fake in this conversation? If anything it felt like HE was putting on a big act for the cameras, trying to position himself as the hard-done-by groom here. Maybe it’s all the toxic dudes on this show this year but I started to feel bad for Jaimie. They were clearly a terrible match. Anyway, Chris marches off – like, not to another apartment, he vacates the premises entirely.
Jaimie’s like:
K bye
It’s time for the new couples to do that awful game where they rate the other couples, because we’ve seen how well that went down before. Kerrie and Johnny are first, and Kerrie puts Brett in top place, saying she thinks he’s unique and quirky and she loves that vibe. Johnny’s off it.
But then Kerrie ranks Johnny as number one, so all is well. Next is Georgia and Liam, and things go well – Liam lines up the other women in Married At First Sight, before putting Georgia… second. She is not happy.
Love this for me
He explains that it’s “neck on neck” but she’s not having it. When she does her line up, she puts Liam first and says there’s no one else in the experiment she’d rather be dating. They talk about him putting her second but they don’t really get anywhere with it.
Then it’s time to check on everyone else. They’re off to the “movies” to Zoom friends and family, because Covid. I forgot about that annoying little pandemic! Belinda and Patrick are first, and their family are quick to ask if they’re happy with the way… their intimacy is progressing? Man, I never, ever want to talk to my parents about my “intimacy”. Thank you very much.
“I love your mum knowing about our sex life, tbh”
Basically, the families are shown the commitment ceremonies, so they have some information but not everything. This becomes apparent with the next couple, Melissa and Bryce. AGAIN, Bryce brings up how he put Melissa fourth in the hotness ranking. WHY, BRYCE. WHY DO YOU KEEP MENTIONING THIS.
Word vomit but make it “I put her fourth”
Bryce’s mum absolutely goes in on him, saying he needs to stop “puffing around like a rooster” and getting into fights, and pay more attention to his supportive wife. She says she doesn’t know why Melissa is still standing beside him. But at the end of the day, everyone just wants to make sure Bryce and Melissa are actually happy. As always, nothing changes with these two!
Next we are gifted (not) a very alarming “intimate” massage between Patrick and Belinda, where Belinda basically punches him in the back for ten minutes. After that, Liam and Georgia make up after the hotness ranking debacle.
We swerve back to Melissa, who is dressed as an undercover FBI agent.
Maybe this is a long game to arrest Bryce for being toxic
She tells Bryce that while she’ll take her mum’s advice, the decision to stay with him is hers. He’s all “as long as you’re happy!” and like… Bryce have you SEEN your wife lately? She is NOT happy.
Next it’s Bec and Jake’s turn to face the family, but they’ve had another blow up overnight, apparently over something small but Jake’s mainly fixated on the fact Bec told him to “shut the f*** up”, which he says is super rude. To be honest I’m like, that’s not that rude but I also feel if I was Bec I’d just bloody apologise for swearing? Like just say sorry!
Anyway, they walk in tense and things only get worse, because Bec’s mum is totally out for blood – Jake’s blood, to be exact – and won’t stop until he’s crying in a puddle on the floor, I reckon.
His own mum and sister-in-law try to get a word in but Theresa, Bec’s mum, will not stop backing her daughter – even when it’s pointed out that Bec literally said Jake was “draining the life” out of her.
The feeling when you’ve still got 5 days to go
Eventually, Jake says they’re simply not suited and they’ve tried everything. Bec has to get the last word in, saying she’s not giving up but apparently he is. Honestly, I usually take the side of the wife in these scenarios but Bec has been so AWFUL to Jake this whole time. She’s not a horrible person – even Jake says so – but she really hasn’t been great to this guy. Anyway, they’re clearly done as of Sunday’s commitment ceremony.
Tomorrow night! More awful games that will ruin relationships!
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Although most of us are still in denial, summer is officially over, and the long nights and warm, balmy weather has come to an end.
With the change in season comes an inevitable change in fashion, as our head-to-toe linen ensembles become increasingly unsuitable for combatting the chilly winds and rain.
Despite gloomy weather, one thing that can certainly lift our mood is a light spot of shopping – especially when it’s both chic and forecast appropriate. With Australia’s reputation for highly unpredictable (and aggressive) changes in weather, it’s been proven that more times than not, an umbrella is simply not enough.
(Credit: Getty Images)
That’s why this season’s breakout staple is the raincoat – and it definitely deserves a spot in your wardrobe. We know what you might be thinking; raincoats haven’t always been considered ‘fashion-forward.’ But with fashion and form more intrinsically linked than ever, this is one trend you’ll want to start taking more seriously.
Spotted on the fashion sets of New York, London and Paris Fashion Week, and on the runway of cult street style brand Off-White, it’s only a matter of time before raincoats garner the sartorial following they’ve always longed for.
Below, we’ve rounded up five on-trend, rain repellent pieces that are redefining the humble raincoat.
A timeless classic
When you think of wardrobe staples, a Burberry trench is one of fashion’s perennial pieces. Back in 1879, Thomas Burberry invented the revolutionary hard-wearing fabric, gabardine, which surprise surprise, is also water-resistant. If you’re looking to invest in a raincoat that gets the job done but doesn’t always have to be saved for a rainy day, a Burberry coat is the way to go.
Burberry The Pimlico Heritage Car Coat, $2,590; available at Burberry
Sporty chic
Known as much for their outerwear as for their daring, vibrant activewear, Australian cult sport-luxe brand P.E Nation knows a thing or two about combining fashion and functionality. For a piece that mixes work and pleasure, the Ace Action Jacket is a street style favourite we just can’t go past. The perfect protection for running weekend errands or your next outdoor workout.
P.E. Nation Speed Cut Jacket, $229; available at THE ICONIC
Attention to detail
If you’re a fashionista who values the finer details in life, this Max Mara gabardine raincoat will be your perfect match. This carefully considered piece is an artisan’s dream, from the contrasting stitch to the tortoiseshell buttons and divine lapel collar, this is one raincoat that will take you from day to night in a flash.
Max Mara Water-Repellent Gabardine Trench Coat, $2,090; available at Max Mara
Shine on
When Danish-born brand RAINS first stepped onto the scene, their contemporary, chic and durable pieces instantly redefined the traditional raincoat. Bid adieu to the gaudy, impractical wet weather gear of yesteryear and welcome the sleek, Skandi outerwear silhouettes the brand has become famously known for. Although RAINS offer an unprecedented variety of colours, styles and textures, this lilac design will elevate your wet weather look in an instant!
This coat isn’t for the faint-hearted, but it will certainly make any outfit roar. Street style favourite brand GANNI has never been shy of experimenting with bold patterns and prints; and while most tone down their outfits during the cooler months, it might be worth taking the opposite approach. There’s nothing wrong with standing out – and staying dry – all at the same time.
GANNI Tiger-Print Matte-TPU Hooded Raincoat, $170; available at The Outnet
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Australian radio host Hamish Blake and skincare brand owner Zoë Foster Blake have recently made the move to Sydney—keeping great company with the also recently relocated Hemsworth family. Unlike the Hemsworths, who have decided to hang on to their custom-built Byron Bay mansion for weekend visits, the Blakes have recently sold their home in the Richmond Hill precinct. Not just any home, their Grand Designs-featured, multi-million dollar home.
The former residence of the Blake family is notable not only for it’s appearance on Grand Designs—the house was created by architect David Neil—but also the lift-access rooftop with 360-degree views of the city and MCG, a stunning pool and, of course, the wine cellar.
Zoë Foster Blake spoke with Domain about the home, which is currently under offer. While it’s not known how much the current buying party has sunk into their new investment, estimates are between $5.9 million and $6.3 million, potentially more. The Blakes paid $4.25 million for the home in 2013, the highest price a Richmond home had gone for at the time. “We couldn’t believe it when we found it,” she told Domain.
“Our days at home—and we spend a lot of time at home with our kids—were filled with sunlight, swimming, cooking, surrounded by greenery and gum trees. It felt like an oasis with the very best of Richmond, Fitzroy and Melbourne right there on our doorstep.”
The couple’s current home in Sydney’s Vaucluse suburb is also pretty stunning, which they paid a cool $9 million for. When sharing the news about the move, Hamish was very supportive of his wife—as he should be!
“For a long time I have known that stealing my wife from Sydney would mean one day we’d venture there to live a while,” the radio host shared in an Instagram post from December 2020.
“Since her business is going so strong (‘booming’ I believe is the business term), her family is there, and I am keen to get a role on Bondi Rescue (as a tourist who faints from eating too many ice creams) it seemed like the time to make the move!”
“Its been on the cards for a while but, and I know this might sound a bit weird, I’m sort of glad we got to spend this last year in Melbourne while we all went through lockdown together, and experience the strength and spirit of this amazing city. I may wander north for a while, but Melbourne, you will always be home.”
How cute!
Below, all the pictures from the couple’s former Richmond home.
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As she steps onto the set of the marie claire x L’Oréal Paris Know Your Worth campaign photoshoot – featured within marie claire’s April issue – chef and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow has an air of confidence about her.
It would be easy to assume that self-confidence has always come easy for this 47-year-old, who shot to fame as a contestant on MasterChef Australia in 2009. However, when she moved to Australia from Malaysia, aged nine, Ling Yeow was, by her own admission, painfully shy. “I was so self-conscious about the way I looked when I was younger,” she says, explaining that she earned the nickname Geisha because of the thick makeup she wore. “I was always shy, but coming to Australia and looking different to everyone else made it even worse. I spent a lot of time obsessing over my appearance and trying to fit in.”
At the time, a close group of friends helped Ling Yeow to overcome her crippling shyness. Yet even now, despite her status as a much loved personality, it’s a cramp that still needs massaging. “Every time I stand in front of a camera or sit down to write another book or start a new painting, that self-doubt is still there. For me, self-esteem is like a muscle, you have to keep flexing it so you can build up a bit of muscle memory,” says Ling Yeow. “There’s nothing more humbling than thinking you’ve sorted yourself out and then walking into a moment that transports you back to your childhood awkwardness and reminds you that you’re still a dork.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
Having come to terms with her insecurities and stepped into her power as a formidable, fearless female, Ling Yeow is perfectly poised to join the ranks of marie claire’s Know Your Worth campaign in partnership with L’Oréal Paris. Fronted by cover girl Jessica Mauboy, along with other game-changers such as athlete Ellyse Perry, activist Rosie Batty and writer and presenter Phoebe Burgess, the campaign seeks to end the cycle of self-doubt, and empower women to realise their true value.
The L’Oréal Paris tagline “Because I’m Worth It” turns 50 this year – yet, the issue of self-doubt amongst Australian women has never been more pressing. A shocking 94 per cent of Australian women say they experience low self-esteem and nearly 70 per cent say self-doubt is their biggest block to success, according to new research commissioned by L’Oréal Paris1.
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
“There’s power in embracing yourself, freeing yourself of expectations and walking to the beat of your own drum,” explains Ling Yeow, who says her new appointment as a L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth , along with her involvement in our Know Your Worth campaign, is incredibly meaningful – not just to her, but also to all the young women out there who feel different, inadequate, other. “In hindsight, my self-doubt was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it made me feel invisible, but on the other, it made me fight harder.”
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As if the absurdly expensive property market didn’t need another potential drawcard, Elsa Pataky and Chris Hemsworth are moving to Sydney. The acting-fitness power couple and their family have long been staples in the Byron Bay bubble of celebrities. Chris’ brother Liam Hemsworth and fellow actor Zac Efron also call the beachy locale home.
“Byron has been beautiful,” Elsa told Sydney Morning Herald. “We made the right decision in 2014 to leave LA and come to Australia—it’s been great for the kids to be in nature, enjoy animals and go horse riding.”
Elsa and Chris first left the Californian beaches of Los Angeles to Byron Bay in 2014, with their kids, India Rose, Sasha, and Tristan.
Now, the family are moving back to Sydney. The seachange is ostensibly to send the kids to school but we wouldn’t be surprised if Marvel Studios moving their production headquarters to Sydney for five years also had something to do with it.
Chris is currently filming Marvel’s Thor: Love And Thunder at Sydney’s Fox Studios, part of the fourth phase of Marvel’s expansive superhero universe. Based on the ’80s-themed party photos, it looks like they’re having an excellent time.
“It’s a whole new experience,” Elsa said of living in Sydney to shoot her upcoming film Interceptor(Chris is executive producing the action-flick). “We are loving being in the city and the kids will go to school here.”
Don’t worry though, their million-dollar mansion in Byron Bay won’t be lying empty. “I can’t dress down as much as I do in Byron Bay, [but] we hope to get back there on the weekends.”
The Spanish actress also noted that, while she loves her home country, a move back there is not quite on the cards. “They always ask me when I’ll come back to Spain,” she shared about her family.
“I tell them, one day. I do love Spain but love Australia so much, and to be able to work here is also amazing. Australians have adopted me and I feel loved by them—we have a similar sense of humour. All the Spanish people who come here love it.”
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Sharon Stone’s upcoming memoir is garnering much hype – understandably so, given the actor’s long-running career spanning decades. But one revelation is, quite frankly, horrific.
In her memoir The Beauty of Living Twice,Stone covers her iconic scene in 1992’s Basic Instinct, in which her vagina was exposed when her character, Catherine Tramell, was interrogated by police.
While the scene has gone down in film notoriety, the back story is actually awful. In a book excerpt forVanity Fair, Stone says not only was she shown the final footage in a “room full of agents and lawyers” when she expected to just be seeing it alongside the director, but that she was unaware of the level of nudity.
“That was how I saw my vagina-shot for the first time, long after I’d been told, “We can’t see anything—I just need you to remove your panties, as the white is reflecting the light, so we know you have panties on.” Yes, there have been many points of view on this topic, but since I’m the one with the vagina in question, let me say: The other points of view are bullshit.”
While she acknowledges that she did have the power to veto the scene, and chose not to, the events leading up to this decision paint a portrait of the power imbalance for female actors and a very male industry.
“After the screening, I let Paul know of the options Marty had laid out for me. Of course, he vehemently denied that I had any choices at all. I was just an actress, just a woman; what choices could I have?”
Stone also recalls other toxic scenarios in which producers would ask her to have sex with male co-stars for better chemistry.
“I’ve had other producers on other films just come to my trailer and ask, ‘So, are you going to fuck him, or aren’t you? … You know it would go better if you did.’ I take my time and explain that I am like the nice girl they grew up with, and get them to recall that girl’s name. This leaves us all with a little bit of our dignity.”
Stone’s memoir,The Beauty of Living Twice is out on March 30 and is available to preorder now on Amazon.
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While it took a revealing exit interview from Meghan Markle with Oprah and international furore over her appalling treatment by “The Firm”, it seems that the royal family are beginning to take the accusations of racism levelled at them more seriously. According to sources from inside, Queen Elizabeth II is looking to appoint a “diversity czar” to conduct diversity training around matters of race, sexuality and disability.
The rumoured plans also apparently include a “major drive” across Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace in which aids will take part in a “listen and learn” exercise where individuals and businesses will explain how the Monarchy can improve representation.
it seems to me that <<things that make us feel better>> about being in a white supremacist system and <<things that would actually destroy>> that system are being conflated
Of course, the entire institution of the monarchy is built on racism, colonialism and the belief that if someone is born to particular parents they somehow have the inbuilt authority to rule. That said, we’ll take the small amount of critical thinking progress we’ve seen post-Oprah interview so far as a win regardless.
Lol I’m perpetually tickled at people being surprised by Black people taking racism personally. What did the British ever do to you is a wild question, like mfer I’m speaking English to you right now what the hell you think they did lol
”This is an issue which has been taken very seriously across the Households,” a palace source told a British tabloid. “We have the policies, procedures, and programs in place but we haven’t seen the progress we would like and accept more needs to be done. We can always improve. We are not afraid to look at new ways of approaching it. The work to do this has been underway for some time now and comes with the full support of the family.”
“In the months when I was pregnant, all around the same time, so we have in tandem the conversation of he won’t be given security, he’s not going to be given a title, and also concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born,” Meghan told Oprah.
When Meghan was prompted by Oprah on the same topic, she also declined to identify the family member, saying, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Since then, Prince Harry has confirmed that it was not the Queen or her husband Prince Philip who made the comments about Archie’s skin colour. The Queen has also officially shared a statement about the matter, which did not include an apology and per a royal source included an “underlying jab” at Meghan.
It seems like Prince William may have some further work to do before the world believes his statement to far-right leaning network Sky News, owned by media company News Corp. Something to note? Sky News has been accused of trading and profiting off inflammatory reporting for years, including giving one of Meghan’s most fervent haters, right-wing shock-jock Andrew Bolt, a platform.
William had told Sky News, “We are very much not a racist family.”
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Over the weekend, parts of New South Wales and Queensland were subject to torrential rain that has since been described as a “one-in-100-year” weather event, says the MidCoast Council.
Evacuation warnings have been issued in anticipation of more flooding this week, while thousands of rescues have been carried out by the NSW State Emergency Service (SES).
The Bureau of Meteorology said flooding in the Hawkesbury and Nepean areas were expected to reach levels not seen since the floods in 1961, with authorities warning NSW residents that the “prolonged weather event” will continue for the coming days, with Port Macquarie among one of the hardest-hit areas.
“This is different. What we’re going through now is different to what you’ve been through for the last 50 years, so please take it seriously,” said NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The Premier added the priority was to save lives and save property as much as is possible, “although, unlike a bushfire, it is very difficult to mitigate against, once the water has come the damage is done.”
Below, photos and videos that show some of the devastating damage caused by the recent floods.
People ride their bicycles through a flooded park on the banks of Nepean river in Penrith (Credit: Getty)Parramatta ferry wharf overflows and floods due to continuous and heavy rain (Credit: Getty)The house of Windsor resident Kelly Miller is seen as flood waters reach her workplace, a 100 year old property near the Windsor CBD (Credit: Getty)
#NSWRFS aviation crew continue to assist @NSWSES where required. This video was taken by one of our Air Observers on approach to Taree. For emergency assistance with flood and storm damage call the #NSWSES on 132 500. If it's a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000). pic.twitter.com/lKu4YlV6To
Crews worked for 3 hours overnight to safely and slowly evacuate 5 adults and 4 kids after they found themselves isolated by moving floodwater. The silver lining was that everyone arrived to the evac centre in style – via our big red trucks. pic.twitter.com/6E5PptL7og
Drone footage shows extensive flooding in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, as parts of Australia have faced relentless downpours and devastating flash floods. https://t.co/qxbsgrbgSEpic.twitter.com/ol2TmzVx9f
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Out of all the current 2021 MAFS couples, Booka Nile and Brett Helling have been the pairing we’ve shipped the hardest. They’ve seemed to have no relationship dramas since the series began – but apparently that’s set to change, at least if Booka’s recent song lyrics are indicative.
Fans noticed some very interesting lyrics pop up on Booka’s Facebook this week, which seem to hint at a split between her and Brett. Also, if these lyrics ARE about Brett – well, let’s just say Booka’s not exactly sounding like she’s on great terms with the guy.
It’s not just the lyrics, though – there’s a whole preview music video. To be fair, the guy looks like any old Australian f**kboy, even though some fans reckon he looks a bit like Brett.
Not seeing it.
But why will the MAFS power couple split? While we’ve seen hints at fractures in their relationship so far – namely that Brett feels Booka is too intense, and Booka took offense at Brett’s comments during one of the new couple’s weddings, the latest gossip is that Booka will cheat on Brett with Jake, can you believe – plus there are rumours swirling that Brett says some sexist stuff about Booka.
But most concerning is this information from TV Week, that sees Booka receive a feedback letter from Patrick, which suggests she’s self-absorbed. It sets off a chain of events between the couple, and things just don’t look great.
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Jennifer Lopez has never been one to sit idly by while rumours are circulating about her personal life. For those who may have missed it, the actress is currently fending off reports that she and her partner Alex Rodriguez are all-but-finished. One way J.Lo is drawing some focus? Swanning around a beach in a wedding dress.
The star shared pictures of herself in a wedding dress on her Instagram, captioning them with some charmingly Boomer hashtags: “Eye on the prize. 🌴 🌊 🎥 #ShotgunWedding #MakingMovies #SetLife #ProducerLife #BTS.” The gown isn’t for any IRL nuptials, however, rather for her upcoming film Shotgun Wedding.
J.Lo’s wedding dress photo has garnered thousands of likes, despite it not being from an actual wedding.
It’s also not the only time J.Lo has given fans a peek (and potential initial shock) at her matrimonial film-wear.
She has previously shared a look at what might be the same wedding dress from behind. Judging from the missing sleeve and dirty hem, we think she and her Shotgun Wedding co-star Josh Duhamel have had some unexpectedly eventful nuptials.
As for her real partner, baseball player Alex Rodriguez aka A-Rod, the pair were recently snapped in a cute PDA. The photo-op came swiftly after rumours the engaged couple had broken up—rumours are circulating that Rodriguez may have cheated.
Take these details with a grain of salt as they’re “from a source” but apparently Rodriguez is working hard to try and save the relationship.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CL0pBszJ9sF/
“He is sending flowers, calling, flying to see her, but she feels it doesn’t make any sense to be together after hearing that he was talking to other women and discovering the NDA’s he had women sign,” the source shared. “She loves Alex but she can’t accept his cheating no matter what.
“He knows he has messed this up and their future is crumbling,” said the source. “She’s working right now and doesn’t have time to deal with this.”
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Former Home & Away star Pia Loyolais celebrating a major milestone this week, taking to Instagram to share a sweet tribute in honour of her son Isaiah’s 18th birthday, which the family celebrated with a big celebration in Melbourne.
The Chilean-Australian model, who recently became engaged to Hollywood agent Patrick Whitesell, threw her son a lavish birthday bash—even hiring a private jet for him and his friends.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Pia may have spent up to $25,000 for the short luxury fare that carried Izzy and his pals from Sydney to Melbourne. The event was then held at the rooftop bar of Le Ciel, a luxury event space with a break-taking contemporary view of Melbourne’s CBD.
Pia even shared a photo of a neon sign that read: “Izzy 18.”
“Last night celebrating Isaiah’s 18th birthday,” Pia captioned an adorable selfie with her son. “Thank you to everyone who came to join us. It was such an incredible night!”
Just last month, the actress revealed she gifted Isaiah with a luxury SUV, captioning a photo of Izzy smiling from ear-to-ear in front of the extravagant present.
“EIGHTEEN years of loving you,” she wrote. “Happy birthday beautiful. How grateful we all are to have you in our lives. So incredibly proud of everything you are.”
Pia is also the mother of 14-year-old Lennox, who she shares with ex-husband Brad Miller.
In December 2020, Pia opened up to marie claire Australia about her holy grail beauty product, Macabalm—a multi-tasking macadamia-based slave. With brightening Kakadu Plum antioxidants and skin-softening lipids extracted from macadamias, Pia’s newly-released natural balm is for everything from chapped lips to dry patches and cuticle care.
“Macabalm is a nourishing, soothing, healing multi-purpose skin salve,” Pia says. “It’s a remedy for a variety of different everyday skin concerns providing extra hydration on any dry skin spots and lips – it immediately makes a difference.”
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Did you know that dry and dehydrated skin are different things? Dehydrated skin is a condition that is often occasional, brought on by seasonal changes, environment and harsh topicals. Dry skin, on the other hand, is a skin type that is often chronic (cheers, genetics!).
Whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, we’ve found a new, innovative and ingestible product that can offer some relief: Vida Glow Hyaluronic Complex.
The latest addition to Vida Glow’s stable of supplements, Hyaluronic Complex is a specialised ingestible treatment for dry and dehydrated skin. Divided into single-dose ampoules, Hyaluronic Complex offers a 100 mg dose of low-weight hyaluronic acid, along with eight other skin-enhancing actives, including gotu kola, coenzyme Q10, niacin, biotin, vitamin C, zinc, acai extract and lycopene. Together, this potent mix of ingredients work in synergy to help boost skin water content, and soothe and soften skin.
Chances are, you’ve come across hyaluronic acid before in relation to skincare.
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally occurring in the skin; it’s a powerful humectant that draws in water and holds it there, making your complexion look youthful and plump.
Skincare brands have been adding hyaluronic acid to serums and creams for years to help boost our natural (and often declining) hyaluronic acid stores. It’s a popular ingredient because it works! Applied topically, hyaluronic acid-infused products instantly plump fine lines.
The catch? While it is great, topical hyaluronic acid can only offer hydration to the topmost layer of the skin.
So… What’s The Deal With Ingestible Hyaluronic Acid?
Here’s where things start to get interesting. Hyaluronic acid in skincare isn’t new; however, we’re only just learning about the benefits of ingestible hyaluronic acid supplements.
Studies have shown that taking a hyaluronic acid supplement can significantly increase skin’s moisture content, improve elasticity and improve the appearance of wrinkles due to dry or dehydrated skin. Compared to hyaluronic acid in skincare, ingestible hyaluronic acid has a far more systemic effect; it’s transferred by the blood and lymphatic system, meaning it has a much greater impact on the body.
The best way to tackle a dry or dehydrated complexion? From the inside, out.
Vida Glow recommends taking one to two ampoules of Hyaluronic Complex for at least six weeks see the full spectrum of benefits. The formula has a delicious acai berry flavour (that isn’t too sweet) which means that taking the supplement isn’t a chore.
To get the best results for your skin, also add a collagen supplement to your routine, like Vida Glow Marine Collagen. Consuming marine collagen helps to stimulate the body’s natural production of collagen, helping to boost your skin’s inner glow.
Together, Hyaluronic Acid Complex and Marine Collagen work together synergistically to form the ultimate ingestible skincare routine.
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The east coast of NSW has experienced some of the worst rainfall in history over the last week, with evacuations across the Mid-North coast and western Sydney as rivers have broken their banks and flooded residential areas. Unfortunately, it looks like this NSW weather is set to continue through this week, too.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian told residents in a media statement to prepare for worse weather this week. “It’s not going to be an easy week for us but I know no matter what comes our way we will be able to deal with it,” she said.
The Mid-North coast is the most dangerous zone currently, with Berejiklian calling the rainfall a “One in 100 year event” after areas like Nelson Bay recorded over 458 millimetres of rain in the three days up to 9:00am on Sunday morning, marking the highest ever three-day total since records ever began in 1889. 16 local government areas have been declared a national disaster thus far.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) March 20, 2021
In terms of Sydney, more than 200mm of rain has fallen in Parramatta in the past three days, with the river breaching its banks and flooding parts of the area. Rainfall is expected to continue for the next few days, with relief coming on Wednesday, which is predicted to be sunny according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Warnings have been issued around travel to work, with SES Commissioner Carlene York urging commuters to consider work from home. “Going to work, even though you hope it may not be affected, your work premises may be affected in some areas, so once again know that if you do need to go to work make arrangements to work from home,” they said.
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Luxury jeweller Bvlgari and fashion designer Mary Katrantzou have a lot in common. For one, they share Greek heritage – the former was founded in 1884 by Greek silversmith Sotirios Voulgaris, who had moved to Rome to pursue a brighter future; while Katrantzou was born in Athens and relocated to London to study fashion and set up her eponymous brand. Both are masters of a spectacular sartorial statement, always awash with bold colour and decadent details. And while Katrantzou has been dubbed the “Queen of Prints” for her striking patterned garments, Bvlgari’s dazzling jewels are favoured by royalty.
As such, there was a strong synergy when the two brands came together to collaborate on a line of handbags, available for pre-order from today. “The first time we worked together was for my couture show at the Temple of Poisedon in Greece [in late 2019],” Katrantzou tells marie claire, recalling the opulent jewellery Bvlgari lent her to accessorise the collection. “It felt very natural to continue with this handbag collaboration.”
Mary Katrantzou
As part of Bvlgari’s “Through the Eyes of…” series – which sees acclaimed designers re-imagine the house’s famed Serpenti – Katrantzou was invited to put her own stamp on the slithering house icon, which dates back to the 1940s.
“The Serpenti holds such important symbolism and it was a great creative challenge to think about what it means to me,” she says. “That’s how we came up with the idea of metamorphosis and the symbolism behind the Serpenti to transform itself and be a symbol of rebirth.”
The capsule collection comprises three pieces, which each walk the line between a bag, a piece of jewellery and a work of art. There’s the Serpenti Metamorphosis, a rectangular leather handbag adorned with an explosion of exquisite embroidered butterflies. “Each piece takes 40 hours to make, using some of the couture techniques we use in our Mary Katrantzou collections,” the designer explains.
Then there’s the Serpenti Metamorphosis Handle, adorned with – you guessed it – a striking snake-like handle. “For me it was important to take this idea of transformation and make it a part of the design,” says Katrantzou. “So the bag itself transforms by removing the handle and becoming a crossbody. As a woman, designing something that gives us the freedom to wear it as either an evening piece or an all-day crossbody felt like a huge liberation.”
Finally, the Serpenti Metamorphosis minaudiere is a chic little evening bag that plays on the hypnotic beauty of the snakehead, inspired by the Bvlgari Serpenti watch.
The campaign stars supermodel Natalia Vodianova wearing bespoke bejewelled bodysuits, also designed by Katrantzou. “I was inspired to create these pieces as a second-skin for Natalia, almost like a snake suit,” she explains. “We chose her for the campaign because she’s the epitome of a woman who’s had many moments of transformation in her own life. She inspires me with everything she does as an entrepreneur, a mother, a wife, a philanthropist.” (Bvlgari and Katrantzou also partnered with Vodianova’s charity, Naked Heart Foundation, which supports disadvantaged children in Russia).
Bulgari and Mary Katrantzou collaboration
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Notably, while the collaboration was conceived in a world pre-COVID (and then designed and produced in lockdown), the themes of transformation and rebirth seem more relevant than ever right now. “It does feel very in sync with the times,” comments Katrantzou. “And as the project was evolving it became more and more relevant. All of us are changing, and the world is changing. I hope that the next chapter feels like a rebirth.”
And hopefully for Katrantzou, who is currently locked down in Greece, that rebirth will involve stepping out with one of these sumptuously spell-binding bags slung over her shoulder. “At the moment I feel people are drawn to pieces that have beautiful craftsmanship and strong storytelling,” she says. “That’s why I’m personally drawn to the Serpenti. Holding it feels like more than just a design. You feel its symbolism and power.”
The capsule collection is available for pre-order in Australia from March 22, and will be available in selected Bvlgari boutiques worldwide and online here from April 15.
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Warning: This article contains Married At First Sight 2021 spoilers. Read at your own risk.
Every year Married At First Sight Australia gifts its loyal viewers with a juicy and salacious cheating scandal that provides Channel Nine with enough advertisement content for the remainder of the season. But this time around, the reality TV series is hell-bent on providing us with more drama than ever before, thanks to two more cheating scandals headed our way.
Following Coco and Cam’s disloyal tryst—and that cringe-worthy kiss—rumour has it, that two more couples will be caught up in cheating allegations that don’t seem to be manufactured by the show’s producers.
Both seemingly taking place outside the show, the scandals will be revealed at the reunion special, and let’s just say, they’re not short of dramatic. Of course, if you’re not looking to spoil the rest of this season, we suggest you don’t scroll down.
First up, the So Dramatic! podcast has revealed that the first scandal is between MAFS‘ Jake Edwards and Booka Nile. Essentially, the two apparently shared a kiss at a New Years Eve party, and while the kiss was apparently just innocent, Beck saw a video of it and naturally, was upset.
“At midnight Jake and Booka shared a sloppy, drunken kiss,” So Dramatic! host Megan Pustetto said.
“Jake also kissed Beth that night, and then Booka and Beth kissed… It was a friendly kiss but apparently they locked lips for a few seconds more than everyone did,” a source told Pustetto.
However, their ‘friendly’ make out session took place after filming which can only mean that Beck and Jake make it until the final commitment ceremony.
As for our beloved Brett and Booka, turns out that the oh-so-sweet pair don’t make it quite as far. Apparently, Brett embraced his inner sexist with some out-of-line comments, leaving Booka upset.
But fret not, the drama doesn’t stop there. The show’s second cheating scandal involved Beck and her ex-boyfriend that took place during filming.
According to So Dramatic!, producers allowed Beck to fly back home for a small period of time in order to look after her sick dog. But of course, while on said trip, she allegedly hooked up with her ex, with the affair accidentally being recorded on camera.
While Beck was away, she and Jake were told to keep in contact through video diaries. A friend of one of the contestants explained to Pustetto that “during one of the videos, Beck thinks she’s turned it off [her camera] but accidentally films herself going over to a sofa and making out with someone who is not Jake.”
As one could expect, the footage will be shown at the long-awaited MAFS reunion, where tensions are sure to rise. Which only means one thing, we’re counting down the days until the air date.
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Two weeks on from Harry and Meghan’stell-all Oprah interview, a Palace insider has shared thatKatemay ‘break Royal protocol’ in response to the claims.
Kate normally doesn’t react to any media speculation about her, taking a similar approach to theQueen. That is a ‘never complain, never explain’ approach, according to one source.
The source shared withThe Express: “She was dragged into this within ten minutes of Meghan’s interview and hasn’t been able to fight back.”
“She usually adopts the Queen’s ‘never complain, never explain’ approach, but this has gone too far.”
This comes following Meghan shared that Kate made her cry ahead of her wedding day. During the Oprah interview, the Duchess of Sussex claimed that, rather than Meghan making Kate cry, as the reports at the time speculated, ‘the reverse’ happened.
The upset was said to be over an ill fitted bridesmaid dress for Princess Charlotte, and Meghan shared that the fact the Palace did not respond to defend her, when she had not caused any upset, was a turning point in the relationship.
Now, it is claimed that Kate is set to share her own statement.
The source continued: “They [Kate and William] don’t want to turn this into a war of words any more than it already is, but for Kate, this is personal.”
This is out of character for the Duchess, who, as above, normally keeps her private life private.
During the interview, Meghan described Kate as a ‘good person’, but emphasised that she felt it ‘really important for people to understand the truth.’
She also confirmed that, after the incident, Kate had made an effort to heal the rift, sending her flowers and apologising, too.
“The narrative with Kate, which didn’t happen, was really, really difficult and something that… I think that’s when everything changed really.”
Winfrey then asked Meghan if she made Kate cry, to which Meghan responded: “No, no, the reverse happened. And I don’t say that to be disparaging to anyone, because it was a really hard week of the wedding, and she was upset about something, but she owned it and she apologised and she brought me flowers and a note apologising, and she did what I would do if I knew that I’d hurt someone, right, to just take accountability for it.”
“What was shocking was, what was that, six, seven months after our wedding, that the reverse of that would be out in the world.”
Meghan continued: “I would have never wanted that to come out about her, ever, even though it had happened, I protected that from ever being out in the world.”
“A few days before the wedding she was upset about something, pertaining to, yes, the issue was correct, about flower girl dresses, and it made me cry, and it really hurt my feelings.
“And I thought in the context of everything else that was going on in those days leading to the wedding that it didn’t make sense to not be just doing whatever, what everyone else was doing, which was trying to be supportive knowing what was going on with my dad and whatnot.”
“I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details of that because she apologised, and I’ve forgiven her.”
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On tonight’s MAFSwe’re winding down from that dinner party, which can only mean one thing: drama.
Everything is centred on Bryce and Melissa’s relationship, of course, because things are getting more problematic by the minute.
Basically, tonight Bryce tries to justify his actions by explaining the rumours about his “girlfriend” on the outside, and unsurprisingly everyone questions why he would have even brought it up with Bec in the first place (something we’re still asking).
We finish the episode with expert John encouraging Bryce to be “delicate” in how he goes forward in treating Melissa, and he agrees, before adding: “I need your help in dealing with pure stupidity and idiots.”
*Big sigh.* Below, the best reactions to tonight’s episode, and head to our nightly recap for a full rundown.
So in the last 5 mins onscreen, Melissa has used the words “frightened” and “scared” so many times, it’s clear she’s in an abusive relationship. Where is the duty of care from producers to even put her in that position? And if pap shots are correct, they’re still together #MAFS
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It’s your Married At First Sight 2021 recap for episode 17! In this ep, Bryce embarrasses Melissa on the commitment ceremony couch by reminding her she’s his 4th hottest in the experiment behind Bec. Meanwhile, Alana and Jason are having relationship issues.
Alana is worried because she feels she likes Jason more than he likes her. I feel at this point like the producers are just making some tepid drama between them to keep them interesting since they just seem like a happy couple who are secure in their relationship.
When everyone gets to the commitment ceremony, Bryce tells James he’s always been about being honest in the experiment and feels like he’s being targeted unfairly. Melissa tells the girls she doesn’t want to confront Bryce.
Belinda and Patrick are first on the couch, and they talk about how they’ve progressed with intimacy and now make out heaps. They’re so cute you guys! Mel brings up how James rudely called Belinda “frigid” at the dinner party, and Belinda says she felt it set her back a bit because she got so offended. The experts look like they’d enjoy slow-roasting James over hot coals, to be honest.
Please stop talking
James apologises but not before Alessandra roasts him for his misogynistic terminology. Bravo!
Patrick tells the experts his feelings are growing for Belinda, and it’s all very cute. They obviously both decide to stay.
Booka and Brett are next, and while they talk about some incompatibility stuff they’ve noticed, like the whole Brett-joke thing at the wedding this week, they both choose to stay.
The world’s happiest couple, Liam and Georgia, of course also both choose to stay. They say how shocked they are that the experiment has come so easily to them. Bec and Jake are also on Cloud Nine right now, both choosing to stay because things between them are far better than they used to be.
Alana and Jason let all their problems out on the couch. Alana tells the experts about how she feels more invested than Jason, and Jason says their spark has gone and seeing the new couples is making him feel like his feelings aren’t developing as fast as he feels they should be. But they both write stay so they can work on things.
If these guys break up love is dead
Kerrie and Johnny are next, and Johnny tells the experts about how Kerrie’s ex texted her to see how the experiment was going, and how their subsequent conversation really helped their bond develop because of her honesty. They’re doing well, and both write stay.
Jaimie and Chris are next, and it’s so awkward guys. Jaimie is like “well I haven’t dated a FIFO worker and I went to Uni so we come from different worlds” and Chris just sits there uncomfortably. She’s very polished in her responses, but they’re also super formal and stiff, which John points out. They agree and say they are still working things out between themselves, and both decide to stay.
Joanne and James are next – they’re clearly VERY over but not before James tries to convince Mel and the other experts that he’s been trying super hard all week to fix their relationship. Midway through Joanne stops him and tells him to “cut the shit”, telling the experts about how he disappeared one night and then lied to her.
“get me away from this gaslighter”
John cuts in and tells James his behaviour is classic gaslighting, then explains how he needs to stop this going forward with any partner because it’s so damaging. In the end, they both of course write leave.
Then we get to the couple we actually want to hear from – Melissa and Bryce. Bryce tells the experts about the “lies” going around that he has a girlfriend outside the experiment. He then tells them Bec started it, before Bec tells everyone what she’s already said – that they had a conversation in the gym, and that Bryce told her he’d put her at the top of his hotness list, and that he had a girlfriend outside the experiment.
Bryce says the first part of the conversation happened but the second part didn’t – then John asks for the entirety of Australia what we want to know – why the hell would you even bring that up with Bec? To me it feels PAINFULLY clear that Bryce was trying to hit on Bec, but he says it was just casual conversation. Melissa is like:
“Love being reminded I’m your 4th hottest”
Eventually John drills it down for him, explaining how regardless of the girlfriend rumour, him telling Bec he thought she was hotter than his wife is embarrassing for Melissa. Yeah, no shit! Bryce promises to try harder to speak with more tact, essentially. That drama certainly isn’t over – but they do both write stay.
Tomorrow! Some sort of awful cinema experience to meet the parents since it’s Covid.
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The new Netflix psychological thriller Deadly Illusions has been the perfect rainy weekend viewing for NSW, and a great choice for a chilled night in around the rest of Australia. But with a huge twist at the end, you likely need that ending explained.
What Is Deadly Illusions About?
So basically, Mary Morrison, played by Kristin Davis, is a successful writer who hires a nanny called Grace (Greer Grammer) to mind her two children while she writes a book.
Grace turns out to be dangerous, people get killed, and we’re left wondering what was real and what was part of Mary’s imagination.
Also, Mary smokes a lot of cigars. Weird choice.
How Does Deadly Illusions End?
Basically, Grace tries to kill Mary’s husband Tom, we realise Grace is two people – Grace, and “Margaret”, a personality she has invented due to trauma she experienced as a child in an abusive family.
A year later, we see Mary go to a hospital to visit Grace, who seems to have reverted to her childhood but otherwise seems pretty okay.
Except then we see “Mary” walk out in a trench coat, scarf over her head and sunglasses – the same outfit worn by someone the police assumed was Mary, when they found her best friend murdered and a woman dressed that way leaving the apartment block.
What Does The Ending Of Deadly Illusions Mean?
Look, we don’t actually know – but we have three theories.
The first is that the trench coat woman was just Mary, leaving the hospital as normal. That’s boring though.
The second is, of course, that the trench coat woman is Grace, disguised as Mary, escaping the psychiatric ward (I assume she killed Mary to get her clothes).
The third and most fun theory is that the trench coat woman IS Mary, but it’s a hint that Mary was Eileen’s killer all along. She’s wearing the exact same outfit, after all.
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Following the international furore around womens’ safety from gendered violence and sexual assaults, misogyny will now be recorded as a hate crime in England and Wales. The news comes from an announcement by the Home Office and was achieved after campaigning from organisations and pressure from politicians for tougher legislation to protect women.
The tragic death of London woman Sarah Everard has become something of a cipher for the fear and vulnerability that all women face, regardless of the precautions that we put up when we move through the world. Many have noted the optics of a young, white, able-bodied person igniting international outcry again when many marginalised folks suffer the same awful violence. Regardless, the moment has been galvanising.
Last night, in a victory for campaigners and women, the Government agreed in the House of Lords to ask police forces to treat misogyny as a hate crime.
— The Jo Cox Foundation (@JoCoxFoundation) March 18, 2021
The change means that England and Wales will now be required to record all crimes that are judged to motivated by “hostility based on” gender. That runs the gamut from sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, murder and harassment. Unfortunately, the frequency of women enduring such crimes has been proven to be near-universal. In a recent UK-based study, 97% of 18 to 24-year-old women reported that they had been sexually harassed.
“This is a human rights crisis. It’s just not enough for us to keep saying ‘this is too difficult a problem for us to solve’—it needs addressing now,” said Claire Barnett, executive director of UN Women UK, the organisation which helmed the study.
Prior to the changes, seven polices forces across the UK were already recording misogyny as a hate crime, now the other 42 will follow.
“I’m delighted that the government has listened to this cross-party and grassroots campaign to make misogyny a hate crime and is now taking the first steps towards making it happen,” Stella Creasy MP said in a statement. “It should give all women confidence that if they come forward to report crimes they will be taken seriously, too.”
The new legislation will be implemented in the UK on an “experimental basis” from autumn onwards. It will then be decided in a subsequent review by the Law Commission whether misogyny remains a hate crime.
What remains to be seen following the implementation of the law is whether the actual prosecution of instances of sexual assaults and rape rises. Recent events involving Christian Porter demonstrate a number of ways the adversarial legal system continually fails women, and prosecution rates are appallingly low.
For what it’s worth, the lawyer for Porter’s now deceased accuser is calling for an independent inquiry into the Attorney General. “Rule of law simply ensures or guarantees equality under the law—equal access and equal protection,” Michael Bradley of Marque Lawyers told The Sun-Herald. “In relation to sexual violence, it’s not delivering that at all. The legal system has failed completely so it requires pretty deep reform.”
“If there is no justice, then the law has failed,” Bradley said in his speech at the March 4 Justice earlier this week.
Recently, Australia’s NSW police commissioner Mike Fuller has suggested the utterly idiotic idea of an app to record consent as a solution to sexual assault. In terms of concrete action against gendered violence, the UK might still be doing slightly better than us here in the antipodes.
Y’all are meant to be protecting women and their bodies, not men and their reputations.
— Madeline Hayman-Reber (@MadelineHayman) March 18, 2021
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Career goals take priority for the most part of this year. Just don’t take on more than you can handle. April is a good time to trim back relationships. The planets create a “make or break” situation for those of you in not-so-serious love affairs. Motto for the winter months? Speculate to accumulate. August’s professional changes release huge reserves of inner power – a perfect time for the real you to shine through. September calls for greater compromise. We all have our moody moments, but controlling them is the key.
Aries (March 21 – April 20)
Best Day: Tuesday 23rd
Deciding whether or not to give someone another shot is difficult this week. Expect some uneven emotions, as you initially succeed in going with the flow, only to perhaps change your mind again…and again. You might also get mixed signals and wonder whether or not you’re making a mistake. For now, it could be hard to tell.
Taurus (April 21 – May 20)
Best Day: Monday 22nd
You often keep others guessing, assuming that if someone cares enough – they’ll either know your mind or ask the right questions. This week is different – you volunteer information, minus the sugarcoating and clever word play. That’s refreshing, and appreciated when we’re all in such close quarters.
Gemini (May 21 – June 21)
Best Day: Friday 19th
Recent planetary shenanigans may have left you feeling a tad overwhelmed But this week helps lift exhaustion, or sagging spirits. To top it off, finances look sharper than they have been for a while. So should the cosmos signal the time’s right for extravagance, don’t argue. Stay amenable for surprising events.
Cancer (June 22 – July 22)
Best Day: Saturday 20th
It’s high time that others realised you’re an individual, not their personal servant. Your devotion to duty is inspiring, but the planets warn that no amount of success can replace strong health once it’s been lost. Some kind of financial dispute or personal wrangle places additional strain on an already overwrought nervous system.
Leo (July 23 – August 23)
Best Day: Sunday 21st
Lust is in the air, Leo. Find the right online dating network, and a new kind of enticing play arises. Committed couples willing to give their imaginations full reign also stand a good chance of merging more than their souls. At work, don’t let opportunities pass you by. People in authority have been watching, and they like what they see.
Virgo (August 24 – September 22)
Best Day: Tuesday 23rd
You’re about to set yet a new course, but this change in direction may bring some tough decisions. If at odds with a spouse or business associate, the main source of conflict is likely to be money. While one wants to save, the other is more interested in spending. A sensible compromise may be to spend only what you have – put all credit on hold.
Libra (September 23 – October 23)
Best Day: Saturday 20th
Sobering Saturn now calls for less speculation and more consolidation of resources. This message may be frustrating, but a temporary slowdown is inevitable during these difficult times. If you’re going to spend anything this week, make sure it’s just some “quality time” with your nearest and dearest.
Scorpio (October 24 – November 22)
Best Day: Thursday 25th
Thanks to a fever-pitched Mars, it’s a week when major conflict can grow out of minor issues – so try to douse any flames of anger. On the positive side this fiesty planet gives you the courage to ask for what you want, even if you were previously refused. Your ideas and actions strengthen. Warning: avoid being combative when in close quarters.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 21)
Best Day: Wednesday 24th
At last there’s an honest breath of fresh air in your relationships, allowing you to comfortably be yourself. This week offers an easier run, though there are no promises regarding how long this will last. If new love makes an entrance, it’s most likely through an unusual connection, someone from overseas or with a vastly different lifestyle.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)
Best Day: Friday 19th
The cosmos advises against compromise this week, for good reason. Being pushed into not-so-satisfactory situations or having to take the blame because of someone else’s mistakes is not acceptable. The cosmos helps those who help themselves, so stand your ground and and make your thoughts heard.
Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)
Best Day: Sunday 21st
It’s hard to know whether your irrepressible nature is endearing or irresponsible, but it seems you’re determined to take a proverbial leap of faith. Having staked a claim on better opportunities, you’re ready to prove your talents. This week, you have the ability to attract and win over any person or situation to your advantage.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Best Day: Monday 22nd
Even though those rose coloured glasses are practically sutured on, let reality have a look-in as well. You’re not misguided in your outlook, Pisces – just a tad too idealistic. But no one’s asking you to curb all that lovely optimism – only your expenditure. The Sun puts its heavy hand on your shoulder to ensure a slow down on the spending.
EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT for marie claire readers! For your unique 30-page Character Profile, or a 60 page day-to-day Year Ahead Transit Report – email Tanya Obreza at astrology@tanyaobreza.com. For more details,head here.
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In this week’s onscreen pairings we didn’t know we needed: Ali Wong and Steven Yeun have signed on to star in a new series together, and of course, we’re already begging to be first in line to watch. The duo will reportedly lead and executive produce a 10-episode dramatic comedy, Deadlinereports, with further details about the plot still being kept under wraps.
While we don’t know much, we do know that the upcoming project was pitched just last week, according to the outlet, and it’s already attracting some interested bidders, including streaming services Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
Per Deadline, Lee Sung Jin will serve as its showrunner, writer and producer, best known for his work as a producer on Dave, a comedy series starring rapper Lil Dicky.
It also won’t be the first time Wong and Yeun have worked together, previously teaming up to appear on animated series Tuca & Bertie, where they played the adorable bird couple Bertie and Speckle.
(Credit: Getty Iamges)
The news comes has as Yeun made Oscars history, becoming the first Asian-American nominated in the Best Actor category for his work in Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari. It also marks his return to TV, having held a title role in The Walking Dead for six seasons.
Meanwhile, Wong has been starring in the sitcom American Housewife, as well as the animated series Big Mouth and Birds of Prey. The comedian and actress also, of course, starred in the Netflix film Always Be My Maybe, alongside Randall Park, which they co-wrote together.
We may not know much yet, but one thing’s for sure: we’ll be tuning into this as soon as it drops.
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It’s a good day for fans of True Detective(and a late ’90s Matthew McConaughey), who will be happy to hear the actor is set to reprise his A Time To Kill role in a new John Grisham adaptation, with HBO confirming a new series is officially in the works, per Variety.
The upcoming project, which is currently in development, is a follow up to Grisham’s books A Time To Kill, first released in 1989, and Sycamore Row, all of which centre on the character of Jake Brigance, with McConaughey having starred as the attorney in the 1996 film.
A Time To Kill, which was a breakout film for the actor, saw his character defend a Black man (played by Samuel L. Jackson), who killed the two white men who raped his 10-year-old daughter. The film also saw Sandra Bullock star as McConaughey’s law student, Ellen Roark.
According to Variety, the new series will be based on Grisham’s 2020 novel, A Time For Mercy, which follows Brigance once again as he defends a 16-year-old who killed his mother’s boyfriend, a deputy sheriff, with the boy claiming the man was abusive toward his mother, himself and his little sister.
While McConaughey is yet to announce his return to the role, he did take to Instagram to promote Grisham’s novel when it was released in 2020.
There’s also no word yet on if Bullock would reprise her role in the new 10-episode series.
If the film goes ahead, it would see McConaughey return to HBO, where he starred as Detective Rustin “Rust” Cohle, which landed the actor a Best Actor nod at the Emmy Awards.
Reports claim no writer is yet attached to the project, but Warner Bros. executive Lorenzo di Bonaventura has signed on to executive produce.
Fans of John Grisham novels will know this isn’t his first screen adaptation, with Netflix having pegged the American novelist for their docuseries, The Innocent Man.
The six-part series focused on two murders that rocked the small town of Ada, Oklahoma in the 1980s, and the controversial events that followed which, are also the subject of Grisham’s best-selling book: The Innocent Man: Murder And Injustice In A Small Town.
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There’s nothing quite like the start of a new season to make you crave some change—especially when it comes to our hair.
It’s arguably even more the case when the cooler temperatures rolls around, with the onset of autumn and winter goading the desire for a tress refresh to match our new cold weather wardrobe (hello, return of the boot).
So, to help you find the inspiration you need to change up your haircut or style for autumn/winter 2021, we called on some of Australia’s leading hairdressers for their top picks and predicitions of the trending looks of the season.
From the most modern way to style your fringe to this winter’s take on the bob, scroll on (and prepare to screenshot) the hairstyles and cuts tipped to take over winter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CLQSWnTjN6n/
THE SHAGGY BOB
Anthony Nader, Salon Owner and Creative Director atRAW Anthony Nader:
“I love that her bob length and colour is forever changing, which keeps the hair industry on our pretty toes, that’s for sure! Kaia’s latest bob is more shaggy and rock and roll which is a favourite for those that want a hair shape that appears less stagnant and stiff and, dare I say, it’s ‘excellent for the time poor’. Choppy layers and softness in the interior, paired up with a solid baseline to give it more fullness ticks all of my boxes. [Plus], her colour is ever-so natural at the moment, but with a touch of golden lightness on the last two inches which helps add dimension and works beautifully with Kaia’s natural complexion glow.”
“Heavy fronts and strong bangs are going to be seen a lot this autumn/winter, and this works on any length hair. The key is to keep it heavy and full to create a strong frame for your face.”
(Credit: @stellatumakeup/Instagram)
STRONG FRINGES
Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder ofValonzand Salon X by Renya Xydis:
“With 2020 becoming the year of the curtain fringe, we’ve started seeing a more dramatic ‘bang trend’ coming off of that style. When looking for an autumn or winter change up, fringes have often been a style of choice to add dimension and fun to a look. Whether blunt, side swept or curtain, the choices are endless and your hairstylist will be the expert in helping you choose the best bang style for your hair.”
(Credit: @cwoodhair/Instagram)
GLAM WAVES
Anthony Nader, Salon Owner and Creative Director atRAW Anthony Nader:
“Glam waves will always be in! Opt for a strict centre part to keep things more contemporary, as well as soft layers to frame the face, help the bends hold the shape and last the distance. Darken up the base colour to give maximum sheen and incorporate some calculated free hand painting on the mid lengths and ends with end target shade in the warm wooden tones. These tones will not only make you look sun-kissed in the cooler months ahead but looks dreamy with hazel/green eye shades.”
NATURAL CURLS
Renya Xydis, Creative Director and Founder ofValonzand Salon X by Renya Xydis:
“Give your hair a break from excess heat styling this autumn/winter and embrace the natural curls. Styling your natural curls, or natural hair in general, can be a fun and unique journey, giving you a chance to learn about your hair texture and type. I would recommend looking for products that suit and enhance your natural curl type, texture and style to make the whole process more enjoyable. If you have natural curls to enhance, chat to your stylist to get a cut that will embrace your curls.”
“If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try the modern mullet (also known as a ‘soft serve mullet‘). For people with natural movement in their hair, this haircut is a great way to enhance texture. It’s perfect for those that prefer minimal blow-drying as it looks best when you apply the right product and let it air dry. To keep it modern, make sure your stylist keeps your layers connected.”
(Credit: @anyataylorjoy/Instagram)
CREAMY BLONDE LENGTHS
Anthony Nader, Salon Owner and Creative Director atRAW Anthony Nader:
“Craving Anya’s extra-long creamy blonde thick mane? My best advice for keeping your colour and hair intact is making sure you feed your thirsty strands moisture—and lots of it. Ensure that you invest in a hydrating shampoo and conditioner, so your hair will appear shines and healthy. This colour service is a commitment though so be prepared for hours in the salon chair, from covering up your natural root base colour and then freshening up the rest of the strands’ length is pure ‘balance’—genius, when executed professionally. Want to keep as much length as possible? To ensure clean, fresh ends, make sure you have a snip every six to eight weeks, as you want your ends to always look like a million bucks and not fail or wispy.”
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Everyone might be talking about Oprah Winfrey’s explosive interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, but fans already have their sights set on the television host’s next celebrity tell-all.
According to Entertainment Tonight, Spears has been grateful to see the outpouring of support from her fans, with the Hulu series documenting in detail her legal conservatorship, helmed by her father Jamie Spears, as well as the intense media scrutiny and negative treatment the pop star received throughout her career, especially as a teenager.
Reports say Spears has been inspired to possibly open up about her life “sometime soon”, potentially turning to Oprah for the task.
“Britney has considered speaking out about her past, mostly because she doesn’t feel others should tell her story,” a source told ET. “She’s always hated doing interviews but if she ever takes that step, Oprah would most likely be her first choice. At this point, there is no plan in the works for her to do an interview but when she does, there will be steps Britney would need to take before speaking out.”
The source added that Spears has been encouraged by the fans. “Britney has been much happier lately and those closest to her feel it’s because she’s received such tremendous support from her fans,” said the source. “The release of the documentary has inspired an outpouring of more love than ever. While she hasn’t been able to make changes to her conservatorship, she’s received millions of messages from fans on social media and she feels far more understood.”
The possibility of Oprah taking on an interview with Britney has been backed by Twitter, with fans suggesting the sit down after watching Meghan and Harry’s recent segment.
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When it comes to our TV habits, we love a series that keeps us on our toes, from Netflix’s Behind Her Eyesand that viral ending to Nicole Kidman’s whodunnit suspense thriller The Undoing, we are obsessed with shows that have us constantly guessing.
Well, if you’re starved for yet another edge-of-your-seat, let us introduce you to Toni Collette’s latest project: Pieces of Her.
The dramatic thriller, based on Karin Slaughter’s eponymous novel, is headed to Netflix later this year, and on top of being just what we look for in our shows, it features an impressive all-female creative team at its helm.
The eight-episode series also includes an incredible lineup of Australian talent and is currently being filmed on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Intrigued? Below, everything to know about Netflix’s Pieces of Her.
What Is Pieces of Her About?
As mentioned, Pieces of Her is based on the 2018 book by bestselling crime author Karin Slaughter, which follows the story of Andrea Oliver, who is “caught in a deadly mass shooting at a local diner. Moments later, she witnesses her mother Laura, violently eliminating the threat with such ease.”
Its official description reads: “As Andrea begins to unravel her mother’s actions on that very day, her perspective on their entire familial relationship takes a new turn. Soon after, figures of her mother’s past reappear and she is forced to escape. While on the journey, she attempts to piece together the remnants of truth that her mother buried long ago.”
Australian actress Bella Heathcote (Credit: Getty Images)
Who Has Been Cast In Pieces of Her?
Toni Collette, coming off her acclaimed starring role in Unbelievable, will take on the series title character Laura Oliver, while Australian actress Bella Heathcote has been cast as her daughter, Andrea.
Also joining the cast is another Aussie actor David Wenham (Lord of theRings), Jessica Barden (The End of the F***ing World), Joe Dempsie (Skins), Jacob Scipio (Bad Boys for Life) and Omari Hardwick (Power).
The series also has an impressive lineup of female creatives behind the scenes, including Charlotte Stoudt, who wrote the screenplay, as well as executive producers Lesli Linka Glatter and Bruna Papandrea, who was behind the team of Big Little Liesand Gone Girl.
When Will Pieces of Her be released on Netflix?
No word yet on when the series will hit our screens, so stay tuned for updates.
If you’re waiting to get a head start on the upcoming thriller, Slaughter’s book is available here.
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In a no-holds-barred royal interview that echoed the one given by Princess Diana, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry shared to the world the challenges and lack of support they received from the British royal family.
The heavily circulated takeaways from the interview were troubling. Meghan divulged her severe mental health struggles in the face of tabloid vilification, that Buckingham palace did not move to dispel lies about her, and that members of the royal family were concerned about the potential colour of her son Archie’s skin.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan,” she said. “The issues, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much-loved family members.”
The statement was found lacklustre by many, with some pointing out the phrase, “While some recollections may vary,” as quite defensive and undermining. Apparently, the assumption was correct. Per a royal insider source, the line was an “underlying jab.” While it’s unclear what specific recollections the phrase is about, we wouldn’t be surprised if it was about Meghan’s race.
Prince Harry has confirmed that it was not his mother Queen Elizabeth or her husband Prince Philip who were the royal family members who made the comment about Archie’s skin colour. When Meghan was prompted by Oprah on the same topic, she also declined to identify the family member, saying, “I think that would be very damaging to them.”
Shortly after the Queen’s statement was released, Prince William, Harry’s brother and husband to Kate Middleton spoke with Sky News. “We are very much not a racist family,” he claimed. As yet, no other royals have commented on the interview. However, Prince Charles is reportedly in “a state of despair” over the situation.
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Jessica Mauboy: “Self-Worth Is Definitely A Journey And It’s A Work In Progress”
We ask our April cover girl Jessica Mauboy to share her journey to confidence, reflect on what it means to have self-worth and divulge her strategies for creating positive self-talk.
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Since she shot to fame on Australian Idol 15 years ago, Jessica Mauboy has become one of Australia’s most loved and recognised entertainers – a dynamic female triple-threat who transcends genres and leaves audiences spellbound with her talent, beauty and charm. Yet while Mauboy’s super-star status has enabled her to become a role model for many Australian women, the singer’s path to fame hasn’t been immune to vulnerability and challenge.
As the cover star of marie claire’s April issue, Mauboy is proud to support the marie claire x L’Oréal Paris Know Your Worth campaign, alongside an ensemble of other fearless females including domestic violence campaigner Rosie Batty, celebrity chef and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow, athlete Elyse Perry, model Jessica Vander Leahy and TV presenter and writer Phoebe Burgess.
Mauboy reveals her recent decision to take control of her life, resulting in her parting ways with her record label of 14 years and long-term manager: “I knew I needed to do things my way and take the reins,” she says. “Last year was probably my lowest and also my highest because I gained so much strength.”
A shocking 94 per cent of Australian women experience low self-esteem and nearly 70 per cent say self-doubt is their biggest block to success, according to new research commissioned by L’Oréal Paris1. A further 79 per cent of women think they are not good enough.
We all know a beautiful, accomplished woman who is crippled by low self-esteem; a talented over-achiever who second guesses her every move at work; or a hilarious, inspiring and warm woman who gets stuck in the never-ending Instagram scroll and comparison trap. We know her because we are her. But no more!
As the L’Oréal Paris slogan “I’m worth it” turns 50 this year, we asked Mauboy to share her journey to confidence, reflect on what it means to have self-worth and divulge her strategies for creating positive self-talk.
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
Was there one lightning-bolt moment where you realised your worth, or has it been an ever-evolving work-in-progress?
“My family are the reason I entered music in the first place. They really encouraged me and always had wise words when I felt fearful about getting up on stage. Although in the back of my mind, I knew I had this ability to be able to sing; I was confident when I was by myself. Other people felt it too – whether I was singing a cover or making up my own tune.”
“I think [my self worth] came from how I built myself and my values. Both of my parents gave me mantras when I moved away from home at the age of 16: [they said] don’t forget where you come from and always respect the opportunities that come to you.”
Can you tell us one moment you experienced crippling self-doubt and how you overcame it?
“My first ever audition was in the Northern Territory; my mum and her sister drove me to Adelaide River. I was 11 years old. We got there and I looked around and there was nobody my age – everyone was in their 20s.”
“I didn’t have an instrument to play – I only had a backing track on a CD. [When I got up on stage] I pictured the backyard where my family would get together and we’d have a dance. I put that image in my head and I sang, and until halfway through, my eyes were pretty much closed. By the end of it, all of a sudden, I just heard this grand applause. I took this deep breathe, I exhaled and I held my head high and walked off the stage.”
“I won. I received two trophies and a $500 cheque. From that moment, I knew this is something that I’m going to do.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
How do you feel now? Do you still get nervous before performances?
“I always try to remain as humble as possible. I’m happy with what I’ve got. [When I feel uneasy] I think of other who might be feeling the same at that exact moment. It’s something that I’ll do forever, working through that fear. I always tell myself to be completely present in the moment. If I’m really there with that audience, it’ll be okay. I’m not quite sure how it’s going to end, but if I’m present, we can work this out together.”
L’Oréal Paris commissioned research showing that 79 per cent of women think they’re not good enough. Do you have any words of wisdom for women who are struggling with low self-esteem?
“It’s important to acknowledge your thoughts. If I’m getting too much into my own head, I speak to myself a different way or make sure I’m choosing the right words.”
“One of my greatest experiences was when [Australian Idol judge] Kyle Sandilands said, ‘that dress doesn’t look flattering on you’ and that it needed to be ironed. He made me feel really self-conscious in front of millions of people. I just went backstage and looked in the mirror and said, ‘you’re okay, you are who you are.’ You can only learn from those experiences. It makes you kind. I’d never want to treat someone like that.”
“Remember who you are and where you come from – that’s something that has really resonated with me throughout my whole music career.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
Why did you want to be involved with the marie claire x L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth campaign?
“For me, it was a no brainer. When I was growing up, my mum used L’Oréal Paris products. But this campaign is not just about the product, it’s about relating to different faces from different places and hearing women out – their struggles, their obstacles and helping them get to a stage where they feel the most free.”
“Seeing that 79 per cent of women have low self-esteem is scary. It’s the constant comparison [that affects out sense of worth]. I’ll probably be there forever. But if we really work on that and share those feelings, the more we understand that we’re not alone. We’re all strong in our own way and we’re all soft in our own way. I think it’s really about unveiling and creating big support networks.”
It’s the 50-year anniversary of the ‘Because I’m Worth It’ tagline. It’s still so relevant today; why do you think that is? And what does it mean to you?
“It’s amazing that the L’Oréal Paris tagline ‘Because I’m Worth It’ is 50 years old. It’s like a declaration to myself to be confident and proud of every part of who I am.”
“Self-worth is definitely a journey and it’s a work in progress. It’s about looking into myself, finding the beauty and remaining confident – I think that’s the best way to look at beauty for me.”
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In case you haven’t noticed, women are angry. We’re angry because it feels like the tragic news just won’t stop.
Over the past several weeks we’ve seen an allegation of rape inside Parliament House and a historic sexual assault allegation levelled against a man in one of Australia’s highest positions of office. The global news has been flooded with Sarah Everard’s murder, and the violent response of police following a vigil held in her honour in London, as well as the brutal targeting of Asian women in Atlanta overnight, which saw six women murdered in a shooting spree.
Everywhere we turn, there’s a different depiction of gendered violence and it feels like a vicious cycle running on repeat.
So, when NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller suggested the state needed to modernise ideas around “positive consent” and proposed the idea of using modern technologies to better protect women, it felt like maybe things could be pushing forward.
“Intimate violence particularly against women is a real problem crime for us at the moment and we need to find a solution,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.
Fuller’s idea came in the form of an app, similar to the government’s COVID tracking app, which sees patrons ‘check in’ to track consent between sexual partners.
While a police official attempting to combat sexual violence in Australia is always welcome and I believe Fuller’s intentions were good, it feels, yet again, like no one is listening to what we actually need.
The creation of a consent app is problematic on many levels, but one of the most concerning is that the concept continues to centre the victimhood of an abuser rather than the consent of their sexual partner. Men still don’t get it.
— Madeline Hayman-Reber (@MadelineHayman) March 18, 2021
Infuriatingly, the app presents the possibility of placing more responsibility and blame onto women in these situations, a rhetoric we’ve seen play out in recent weeks.
The NSW Police suggest the app that would allow two people, before they get intimate, to log in and agree with a digital contract, of sorts.
There’s one glaringly obvious problem. Sexual consent is a complex concept, and whittling it down to a black-and-white set of rules is impossible.
The proposed idea doesn’t acknowledge that consent can be taken away at any point, and the app could, in turn, make women feel like they’ve signed an unbreakable agreement.
Chanel Contos, the former student whose petition revealed thousands of teenage sexual assault claims earlier this month, called out the idea as a “bad Band-Aid” solution to Australia’s overarching sexual assault crisis.
“Consent can be taken back at any time, and an app couldn’t account for that,” Contos told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s very reflective of how consent is seen; as a black and white thing. But consent isn’t a single sentence. It’s how people interact with each other as a whole.”
“I do appreciate the sentiment. But we’re at a pivotal moment – we’re about to create serious change – so we have to seriously consider how to do it,” she added. “Every solution will have backlash. We have to look to best practice [and] any decision has to be sustainable and as forward-thinking as it can be.”
There’s no denying that alcohol and other substances can also play a part in sexual consent, so having a potentially impaired sexual partner asked to ‘check in’ as a means of consent opens up plenty of potential risks, which is admittedly something Fuller and the NSW Police did take into account.
“A number of the matters that we see involve the victims being impaired, they are often nearly unconscious. I think it would be pretty tough to get someone to [make a statement] on an app in that case,” Fuller said.
There’s also the issue of women being forced, persuaded, and coerced into signing a digital document that could potentially be used later as “proof” that they had consented.
It’s yet another example of a decision that is being proposed within our government that does not reflect the women it will have an immediate and direct effect on.
On March 17 a new federal government scheme was announced that would allow domestic violence survivors to withdraw thousands from their superannuation to fund their own crisis response.
The policy was meant as a “compassionate measure” to help aid those trying to escape violent situations, but considering we, as women, retire with less than half the superannuation of men, the decision, announced in a week that saw the #March4Justice protests, proved again that responsibility often gets placed on the backs of victims.
It’s great to see those in power actually making attempts to curb gendered violence. But these decisions—the ones that are created to protect us, but in actuality open us up to potential risk—need to be made with us at the table.
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As Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s divorce proceedings continue, new court documents submitted by the actress cite incidents of alleged domestic violence throughout their relationship. According to Entertainment Tonight, Jolie claims she is prepared to provide “proof and authority” of Pitt’s alleged abuse.
Jolie reportedly filed court documents March 12, ET adds, with the documents revealing the couple’s divorce trial could include testimony regarding allegations of domestic violence from both the Maleficent star and the couple’s children: Maddox, 19, Pax, 17, Zahara, 16, Shiloh, 14, twins Knox and Vivienne, 12.
“This is just another case of Angelina changing the narrative when it suits her,” one source told ET on Wednesday, March 17. “Aside from the one accusation that she made in 2016 that was investigated and dismissed, there have never been any other records, police reports, or even accusations until it suited her case.”
The source added, “No one else knows what she might say now, but that background is important.”
Another insider opened up to Us Weekly, alleging this was nothing more than an attempt to “hurt” the actor.
“Over the past four and a half years there have been a number of claims made by Angelina that have been reviewed and not substantiated,” the insider says. “The children have been used by Angelina to hurt Brad before and this is more of that behaviour. This leaking of documents by her fourth or fifth set of lawyers has been done to hurt Brad.”
In 2016, Brad was accused and later dismissed of child abuse following an incident that reportedly took place between him and his eldest son, Maddox, on a private plane. A source revealed to Peopleat the time that an argument broke out, and the actor who was allegedly “drunk,” began arguing with his then-wife, Jolie. According to the source, Maddox stepped in to defuse the situation, but “there was a parent-child argument which was not handled in the right way and escalated more than it should have.”
Jolie and Pitt started dating after meeting on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2004, separated in 2016 after two years of marriage, and were declared legally single in 2019, although their divorce is yet to be finalised.
In an interview with Vogue Indiain June 2020, the actress and humanitarian opened up about the pair’s split.
“I separated for the well-being of my family,” she revealed. “It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds.”
Jolie further reflected onthe tumultuous divorcebetween herself and Pitt in February 2021,admitting toBritish Voguethat it’s “been pretty hard.”
She went on to say, “I’ve been focusing on healing our family. It’s slowly coming back, like the ice melting and the blood returning to my body.”
Pitt is yet to respond to the most recent court documents.
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I won’t lie – I do think about the dust in my home a lot. A LOT. As someone who gets allergies, it’s a given that I observe the little particles that float in the air when the sun hits them, you know? But I’d never thought about dust testing, until one day Dyson contacted me and offered to do it.
All of this was based off my Dyson Outsize vacuum. It was sent to be as a review model by the brand, and now they were offering to take a sample of dust I hoovered up and send it to a lab to determine what’s actually in my carpets and hanging around on skirting boards.
1. Dust Mites
YUCK. 188 dust mites per gram of dust were found in my carpet sample. None were found on my skirting boards or surfaces, which Dyson say is likely due to dust mites thriving in warm, damp and dark conditions (like carpet, ew) but less so on hard surfaces.
The best way to combat dust mites is to, well, clean. Regularly vacuuming not just your carpets, but your couches, soft furnishings and even your mattress can reduce their food source (YUCK) which then limits their existence.
2. Pet Dander
I have a dog, and she sheds a LOT. When she was a baby puppy my eczema would flare up whenever I was around her, and now I’m starting to think that was to do with “pet dander” as well as her fur – dander is essentially dried flakes of skin, saliva and urine.
Perhaps I’ve gotten immune to hers now, because she doesn’t flare up my eczema anymore, but that doesn’t mean my carpet and surfaces didn’t have plenty of pet hair and dander on them – even though she’s rarely allowed in my room.
Both the floor and surfaces samples showed high levels of pet hair and dander, which is wild – like I said, Millie isn’t really in that room. I assume the particles have accumulated from leaving my clothes on the floor, as well as times she’s snuck in. It’s just interesting to see such high levels even from those few times.
3. Bacteria and Mould
No one wants to find any bacteria or mould in their carpet or on their surfaces, but obviously it’s impossible to avoid it entirely. Still, it scared me a bit to learn that my carpet had 246 live bacteria microbes per plate count, which is confusing but also means LIVE BACTERIA, and 4 microbes of mould. Yuck.
On surfaces, those counts were 230 and 7. So I had more mould spores on the surfaces of my house than the carpet, which feels like a good sign and easier to keep clean. I’ll be ventilating my room a lot more regularly to keep the conditions less suitable for bacteria and mould growth.
4. Other Interesting (and Gross) Stuff
There were medium levels of pollen in my carpet and on my surfaces, which isn’t great considering I get hayfever. I’m not even sure how pollen got into my room, but I assume it’s old and from the (few) times I’ve left my windows open, since they open out to some bushes.
Most interestingly was the discovery of ash and soot – medium levels in my carpet, but high on my surfaces. This is over a year after the bushfires of 2019/2020, by the way – and I don’t have a fireplace in or near my room.
That means the bushfire ash made it into my room, and settled there. For over a year. That really shocked me – even a year after those toxic smoky days in Sydney, I had fallout.
5. Life Lessons
I suppose the biggest lesson I found from these Dyson results was to regularly clean surfaces I don’t usually bother with, like skirting boards, table tops and the like. I get lazy and can’t be bothered decluttering in order to vacuum up dust, but really the results showed some concerning levels on my surfaces, not just in my carpet – especially the high levels of pet hair and ash.
Ventilating my room to lower that bacteria and mould count is also something I’d like to commit to. I don’t really love the idea of bacteria breeding in my carpet and on my tables, thanks.
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Married At First Sight’smost controversial contestant for its 2021 season, Bryce Ruthven, may have had viewers (and John Aiken) calling out his toxic behaviour throughout the series, but his most recent scandal is arguably the worst yet.
At Wednesday night’s dinner party, several of the other brides and grooms decided to confront Bryce regarding a rumour they’d heard, suggesting he had a secret girlfriend outside of the experiment.
Of course, Bryce was quick to deny such allegations—but, turns out there’s a fair bit of evidence to back it up.
Below, an investigation into who Bryce’s secret girlfriend is.
When Did The Rumours First Start?
If you’re a fan of the show, you’ll know that these rumours are by no means new, first surfacing in February when a source who alleged to be close to the production team said Bryce was seeing a girl from Canberra for around “three to four months” after he called off his engagement to Lana.
At the time celebrity gossip podcast, So Dramatic!, identified his girlfriend as a woman named Courtney.
“He had a secret girlfriend the entire time during filming Married At First Sight, back in Canberra,” host Megan Pusetto revealed. “He lied to her and convinced her that he was just doing the show to further his career and he asked her to wait for him. She agreed. So then he kept her on the sly the entire time.”
“He told them he had been seeing a girl before production started,” a source later told Woman’s Day. “He was texting her… And at one point he even FaceTimed her.”
According To Sources, Bryce Didn’t Attempt To Hide The Romance.
Even more shockingly, sources claimed that Bryce wasn’t even trying to hide his secret romance from his inner circle, many of who were in attendance at his wedding to Melissa.
“All of Bryce’s friends knew about Courtney, even the ones who were at his TV wedding. Their relationship was not a secret,” said Pustetto.
Things Get Laid Out On The Table At This Year’s MAFS Reunion.
Jason Roses, a guest who attended Bryce and Melissa’s wedding, even claimed producers were aware of Courtney while filming.
Appearing on TV Blackbox’s The Anj, Rob & Robbo Show, Roses confirmed that the footage was actually shown to the entire cast at the reunion.
“It was at the reunion, and they’ve basically said, ‘Bryce, if you think you’re telling the truth, this is what your friend had to say in secret.’”
After The Dinner Party, Bryce Tried To Defend His Actions.
Taking to Instagram following the dinner party, Bryce responded by posting three separate Instagram posts in an attempt to clear his name.
The first post read: “I’ve been honest from day one of the MAFS experiment, why would I start being dishonest now?”
The second post read: “Very refreshing having @johnnybalbuziente come into the experiment, the poor bloke has no idea what he’s walking into tonight at the dinner party!”
The third post read: “We can’t please everyone but we know better than anyone what our relationship is really like. Hopefully, you see that I absolutely adore this woman. You won’t find a better human being than @lissrawson.”
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The library is a sacred space. Housing centuries of knowledge, the State Library Victoria is particularly revered and on Wednesday night, it transformed into a different kind of holy ground; the runway, for Runway 4 of the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
Celebrating its 25th birthday the festival has become one of the most anticipated events in the Australian fashion calendar. As the festival that celebrates the consumer, it’s thus far hosted virtual events such as panels with industry experts, but welcomed fashion lovers from across the country to enjoy a rare treat in the New World: an in-person fashion show. And, as I said, in one of our most decadent state libraries, no less.
(Credit: Image: Lucas Dawson Photography)
Presented by marie claire, Runway 4 was a showcase of Australia’s best homegrown talent; Blue hues from Scanlan Theodore, flowing white linen bordered by crimson from Aje, structured tailoring courtesy of Bassike and dresses that already have us nostalgic for the summer gone by thanks to Lee Matthews. There was also edgy denim from Viktoria & Woods, sturdy boots and autumnal hues from Oroton, floor-length suiting via White Story and you already know Arnsdorf was characteristically chic without me having to tell you.
As we emerge from the hell wrecked by COVID-19, joy is the theme of the day, month, year, and there was no better way of instilling that than through the celebration of Australia’s most talented sartorial minds.
The festival continues today, with Runway 5 presented by marie claire and Afterpay taking place at 7.00pm. Shot on location at Australia’s first ever surf park, URBNSURF, it’s sure to make waves. You can watch the show live via mff.com.au.
The Melbourne Fashion Festival runs until March 20. Find out more and buy tickets here.
Lee Matthews (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)Aje (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)Oroton (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)Scanlan Theodore (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)Arnsdorf (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)Victoria & Woods (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)White Story (Credit: Lucas Dawson Photography)
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Content warning: this article discusses gendered violence and racial trauma.
Eight people have been murdered—including six Asian women—and another has been injured after a series of shootings at three spa and massage parlour businesses in the Atlanta area. According to initial reports, four of the people who were killed by the white male 21-year-old shooter were Delaina Ashley Yuan, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Yan and Daoyou Feng. The man arrested for the shooting has been charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.
The violence comes following a year of increased racially-motivated attacks and hate crimes against Asian people in the United States. To be clear, anti-Asian racism is not new. Racism and xenophobia have seen an increase in frequency internationally, including here in Australia. These shootings crystallise a long interconnected history of the fetishisation of Asian women, racist immigration laws that specifically linked Asian women with sex work and the dehumanisation and criminalisation of sex workers.
Anti-Asian rhetoric has been insidiously spread by media outlets and political figures like Donald Trump long before the last twelve months: it’s important to be aware that this spike is not an isolated moment. Characterising the pandemic as the “Chinese virus” or “Kung-flu” has tangibly led to an increase in racist attacks on Asian people, both in the U.S. and Australia.
“There has been a documented pattern of recent attacks against our community, as we have received nearly 3,800 reports of hate incidents across the country since March 2020. Not enough has been done to protect Asian Americans from heightened levels of hate, discrimination and violence. Concrete action must be taken now. Anything else is unacceptable,” wrote the coalition Stop AAPI Hate in a statement.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant stated that authorities couldn’t make a determination if the shootings were a hate crime. President Joe Biden has also declined to confirm the connection between the deaths of these eight people and an interconnected racist and misogynistic motive.
“We understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people, but knowing the increasing level of hate crime against our Asian brothers and sisters, we also want to speak out in solidarity with them,” Biden said, also saying, “We are not yet clear about the motive.”
is the motive unknown or are you so entrenched in white supremacy that you’re unwilling to acknowledge racism?
Media coverage of the Atlanta spa shootings is being decried as lacking and incomplete by many Asian activists and leaders. In keeping with the patterns we’ve seen before with mass shootings carried out by white men, many outlets are either unwilling or unable to call the shooting a hate crime, domestic terrorism or even racially motivated—or interrogate the ways racism and misogyny are deeply intertwined.
In an Asian American Studies class I took in college I first heard verbalized the idea that while Asian Americans are viewed as harmless/productive members of society, they aren't viewed as "American".
This white cop empathizing with a murderer is the latest reminder of that https://t.co/xt00rlue6r
Many were also frustrated by the humanising and sympathy shown toward the shooter, who was named long before his victims. Others are pointing out the remarkable restraint and nonviolence police showed towards this white male shooter. His nonviolent arrest stands in very stark contrast to the police brutality that peaceful demonstrators faced during numerous Black Lives Matter actions last year.
To be clear, this is not to say that violence from police is ever admissible, but rather there is a very clear racial dimension at play here. Per Buzzfeed News, the cop who said the spa shooter had a “bad day”, has previously posted a racist shirt that claimed the COVID-19 virus was imported from “Chy-na.”
the fact that I already know his mom worked the church basement cotton candy machine but I don't know the dead women's names yet https://t.co/airb1Z7cTQ
The shooter told officials that he had “sex addiction issues” and that the attack wasn’t racially motivated. These were Asian-owned massage parlours and Asian women that he targeted. The hypersexualisation of Asian women and the dehumanisation of Asian people cannot be disentangled from this attack.
Many are criticising media attention on this particular facet, as opposed to the other factors at play, as ignorant silence at best and a complicit upholding of white supremacy at worst.
The refusal to name anti-Asianess, racism, white supremacy, misogyny, or class in this is whiteness doing what it always does around justifying its death-dealing. The centering of the suspect’s “rage” vs the vulnerability of the victims is also disgustingly familiar. https://t.co/G1tkEMRsBF
This attack is bringing up racial and gendered trauma for many Asian people right now. Many are sharing the instances of being fetishised, assaulted and exploited. Nobody should have to reiterate their experiences of microaggressions, racial attacks or gendered violence in order to find empathy and justice. We should not have to keep justifying our humanity over and over again, especially when the people who are killing us face no such challenge.
Asian Australians can find holistic mental health resources and lists of Asian Australian mental health practitioners at Shapes and Sounds. You can find resources on ways to support Asian people in the face of anti-Asian racism and hatred here.
To my Asian women, be gentle with yourselves today. The misogynist, white supremacist world does not deserve you or the care you provide often with your bodily labor. Just be loved today.
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In order to address systemic racism and bring about inclusive leadership between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Australia, we have to get real (or RREAL). Here is my advice for leaders and organisations wanting to take action to encourage diversity…
Respect: Respect must go two ways. There are different ways of knowing, being and doing. With bosses and staff, there needs to be two-way learning from each other. This goes beyond cultural awareness and understanding — yes, you need to make sure you’ve invested in training for all of your staff so that they are culturally aware, but also that they know how to identify and address systemic racism. Respect also means knowing who the First Nations people are on the country where you work or where your office is situated.
Recognition: We need to recognise the personal capacity and unique skills of the individual. Not every Aboriginal person will have a connection to family and culture, so give them space and time to invest in that. Leaders should not expect every Aboriginal person in their organisation to be the same. While an employee may do well in their role at work, their role at home and in their community may have a different leadership structure and expectations, and this can be recognised with the development of relationships. I’ve had experiences in my career where I’ve been dealing with a junior staff member and I’ve later found out that he’s actually the leader of his family and the cultural knowledge holder for the family. It’s about acknowledging that we all have different roles, and for many people, being at work is just one of them.
Carol Innes (Credit: Courtesy)
Environment: The culture of your organisation has to be safe. That is, it needs to be a safe space to express and to nurture, and there needs to be free flowing dialogue and conversations. If you say there is an open door, it has to be open. Relationship development is critical for building this safe environment. This is created by how you are talking, listening and hearing. An environment of trust is built through not only listening but on acting on what you’ve heard. Many times over the years I’ve had employees come to me with issues or seeking help, and that takes a lot of courage. But if every time someone comes to your door — whether they’re Aboriginal or not — and you’re busy or you say “not now”, that’s not going to contribute to building a safe and nurturing environment. You need to invest in what you say you’re going to do, you need to give all employees attention.
Acknowledgement: We need to acknowledge employees as whole people and value their assets beyond the work capacity. Outside of the workplace someone might spend a huge amount of time engaging with and supporting their community. Seek to understand the community standing your team member has and the time and obligations that this comes with. Recognise the years of relationship building that people bring into the workplace and always acknowledge community obligations and family responsibilities.
For example, in addition to my role at Development WA which is a demanding job, I’m also co-chair of Reconciliation WA and a grandmother looking after four grandchildren full time. If I didn’t have relationships with my employers and my team, they wouldn’t know this about me, and it would make things really hard and potentially unworkable. For people in senior positions, you need to ask first and have these conversations with your team.
I think one of the positives of the pandemic is it’s shaken up a lot of the formalities we had around work and the division between work and home. We’ve all been invited into each other’s’ homes in a way we wouldn’t normally, and we’ve seen some of what goes on when we’re not all at work.
Listening: You need to listen with your whole body, not just your ears. Pay attention to body language, not just to what is being said. Don’t listen to extract information or wait to be told what to do. Listen with your full being so that you can formulate your own thoughts and take action based on what you have come to know.
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Self-care has become a bit of a buzzword of late, which is understandable given the many challenges that the past year has thrown at us.
For some, self-care may mean taking a long walk in nature, a Sunday evening sheet mask or simply lighting your favourite scented candle. There are so many beautiful, ways to treat yourself and honour your body – so it makes sense to start with one of the first things we’ll do when getting ready for the day; getting dressed.
Lingerie is the first piece of clothing we’ll go for when getting dressed, and much like your favourite foundation in your makeup routine, is something that should be luxurious – but not obvious to others.
It should complement – not create a distraction – from what you’re wearing.
Contrary to popular belief, shopping for lingerie need not be arduous – and ought to make you look and feel beautiful, too, bringing a private joy to your everyday wardrobe.
Enter the new Temple Luxe by Berlei, which is available at Myer
– a collection of lingerie that is topping our list of gifts-to-self. With the providence of comfort, support, and confidence that Berlei
is renowned, these pieces can make every day feel a little more luxurious.
Its designs are elegant and feminine, yet comfortable enough to wear every day, complete with gold hardware details and delicate lace.
A special set of lingerie goes further however, and can do so much more than serving its practical function as underwear. Like all clothes, lingerie can communicate our femininity and sensual side – and this new collection achieves does exactly that with its delicate floral prints and chic lace trimming.
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It’s Wednesday night, and you know what that means folks—we’re celebrating hump day with an explosive Married At First Sight dinner party!
And it’s the best kind of dinner party situation too, when somehow *cough: producers* a rumour has begun to spread about one of the contestants, and everyone’s talking about it with their respective partners.
The rumour you ask? That Bryce has a secret girlfriend “on the outside” and is keeping in contact with her while in a relationship with TV wife Melissa.
It’s Jason that gets the guts to tell the 33-year-old radio presenter about the murmurings, and his first concern is… who told him that.
Of course, it was the women who started it, Bryce asserts, because “they love the drama”, and he goes to assure Melissa the rumour isn’t true.
At the dinner party, Bryce yells at the women claiming they have nothing better to do than talk about him (PLEASE!) and seriously, the whole deny, deny, deny thing is making him seem super shady and guilty.
Jake speaks up and delivers these mincing words: “Don’t speak to my wife or any other female with language like that.” More of that energy, please.
Anyway, more fighting and eventually the party ends and Twitter didn’t miss a beat responding to the chaos.
Below, the best reactions to MAFS’ dinner party tonight.
all of australia and EVERY WOMAN applauding jake for standing up to not only his wife but for all the women at the table #MAFSAUpic.twitter.com/mKdIJJHaph
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After much anticipation, Afterpay Day is finally upon us—kicking off on March 18—and it’s jam-packed with so many can’t miss deals.
If you’re looking to up the ante in your makeup game of late, there is plenty to look out for on the beauty front, including great deals at local favourite Adore Beauty.
Of course, The Iconic is getting in on the fun, as well as ModiBodi slashing prices on their Seamless range, so there’s never been a better time to stock up (and save the planet).
Below, we’ve rounded up the best sales from Afterpay Day 2021. Happy shopping!
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As far as Married At First Sightgoes, rumours of cheating and infidelity among its yearly contestants are pretty common. But even we have to admit this latest theory has us seriously shocked.
Eagle-eyed fans have noticed that MAFS bride Samantha Jayne Harvey, who was paired with Cameron Dunne during the experiment, could potentially be dating intruder, Liam Cooper, who is paired alongside Georgia Fairweather.
And, there’s actually a fair bit of evidence to back it up.
First theorised by The Wash, the reality TV stars have been busted sharing flirty comments underneath their latest Instagram photos—and interestingly, since news of the pair’s possible romance, their comments have now been switched off.
If Sam and Liam did hook up post-MAFS they join a long list of former contestants who also found love after the series (which people the experts didn’t match them with).
That includes KC Osborne and Michael Goonan, Troy Delmege and Carly Bowyer, Justin Fischer and Ashley Irvin, and of course, who could forget Tracey Jewel and Sean Thomsen.
There’s not much else to back up the alleged relationship, so I guess we’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out!
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” “Be willing to say yes,” and “Sometimes you have to fluff up a pillow, hold it to your face and scream into it.” These were just some of the pieces of advice on how to survive and thrive in a post-COVID world, shared at the inaugural marie claire x Bumble Glass Ceiling Series virtual event called The Pivot. The Purpose. The Powerhouse.
The multi-platform event, held in December at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, brought together a trio of trailblazers – entertainment legend Dannii Minogue, Today show co-host Brooke Boney and Bumble associate director APAC PR and Communications Lucille McCart – who, along with host Jan Fran, shared their inspiring tips on risk-taking and facing adversity to a Zoom-weary virtual audience.
L-R: Danii Minogue, Lucille McCart, Jan Fran and Brooke Boney (Credit: Image: Damian Bennett)
With research from the Are Media HerPulse 5.0 survey revealing that almost 50 per cent of women are rethinking their lives and looking for new careers post-pandemic, the event was a timely opportunity to hear some words of wisdom from a stellar A–lister lineup.
Rule number one for making change? Take small steps. “Just start making stuff and don’t worry if it’s wrong or right, but simply make a start,” Boney advised. McCart agreed: “Always be ready to say yes. You don’t have to wait until you’re unhappy in a job to leave – sometimes it’s best to leave when you still love it.’’ Minogue, however, perhaps best summed up the mood: “Don’t lets others define you,’’ she said. “Do what brings you joy.’’ Amen to that.
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“People can only take your self-esteem if you let them,” says Phoebe Burgess with the authority of someone who’s been there and done that. “It’s a lesson my dad [Mitchell Hooke] taught me when I was young: people only have power over you if you allow it. And now that’s what I’m trying to teach my daughter; to hold onto her self-worth even when people chip away at it.”
Burgess, now a 32-year-old mum of two, still clings to her father’s words of wisdom. The past year has been a huge challenge for Burgess, whose name hit the headlines in the wake of her split from former NRL player Sam Burgess. In a candid admission, Phoebe reveals that she questioned her worth during her marriage: “[Self-doubt] is such a hard thing to go through. I would say marriage is a place I doubted myself and sacrificed a lot of myself. I had to make myself smaller. I think a lot of women can relate to that in relationships.”
But instead she grabbed onto a life raft: her family. “When you’re struggling, it’s important to surround yourself with people who see you and who can remind you what you’re worth, because we can forget,” she says, adding that she’s raising her four-year-old daughter, Poppy, and two-year-old son, Billy, to know their own worth from a young age. “I want their inner voices to give them constant positive reinforcement.”
Phoebe Burgess (Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
Wanting to help others similarly nurture their value, Burgess has also joined a raft of other high-profile Australian women, including marie claire cover star Jessica Mauboy, for our Know Your Worth campaign. Launched in partnership with L’Oreal Paris, the campaign is aimed at boosting self-esteem among women with Burgess and her peers leading the charge.
Practising what she preaches, Burgess takes a moment to appreciate all that she is and all that she has overcome. “The thing I love most about myself is my resilience. I’ve learnt recently that I have a lot more strength than I ever gave myself credit for,” she says, smiling. “I’m proud that I’ve been able to keep soldiering on and putting my children’s needs first.”
Read more stories from high-profile Australian women on their journey to self-worth in the April issue of marie claire, on sale now. And look out for the #KnowYourWorth hashtag on marieclaire.com.au and our social feeds for more stories and inspiring self-worth videos.
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Apryl Day with her family and portrait of her late mum, Tanya Day, who died in custody in 2017.
There’s been a lot of talking this week. Women have marched in the streets and cried out, ‘Enough is enough.’ Female politicians have appeared on national TV calling for respect (only to be interrupted by their male counterparts). And survivors have courageously shared their stories, bared their souls and demanded change.
There’s been a lot of talking this week, and these conversations are important for real change to happen, but we also need action.
In a sea of voices, Apryl Day is taking action. After successfully campaigning to abolish public drunkenness laws in Victoria (after the death of her mother Tanya Day in police custody in 2017), Day is launching The Dhadjowa Foundation next month to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families whose loved ones have died in custody
“Dhadjowa means ‘sunshine’ in Yorta Yorta; it’s a nod to Mum’s spirit and how she would light up a room. It’s also about shining a light on the injustices Aboriginal people are facing, and a blazing reminder to the government that we will continue to fight for justice,” Day told marie claire in our 2020 Women of the Year reportage.
The launch event is being held on Saturday April 3 at Abbotsford Convent in Victoria and will feature performances by the immensely talented Archie Roach, Soju Gang, Kaiit, Kee’ahn and more.
There will also be an exhibition honouring the individuals, families and communities who have lost their lives to Black deaths in custody, and fundraising artworks for sale on the day.
Since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991, more than 400 Indigenous people have died in custody. This month alone, there were three Black deaths in custody in the span of a week.
This is horrifying – there has been another Aboriginal death in custody, in Victoria at Ravenhall prison. There have been 3 black deaths in custody in the past week. Our people are dying, we've had solutions for 30 years since #RCIADIC but governments have chosen not to act.
To call it an outrage seems insufficient. It’s a disgrace, an abysmal failure, a painful slap in the face to all the families who’ve worked so hard to end Black deaths in custody.
In a joint statement released by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services earlier this month, representatives called for urgent action. “We are extremely concerned that while our people continue to die in custody at alarming rates, Federal, state and territory Government have chosen not to prioritise saving Black lives,” the statement read. “Our people have marched, we have raised our voices, we have participated in inquiry after inquiry, we have shared our stories and developed solutions.”
It’s time for the Government to put in the same amount of effort and act immediately.
And it’s time for us to practice what we preach. If you posted a Black square in support of #BlackLivesMatter, now is your chance to back that up with real support.
Let’s get behind the Dhadjowa Foundation and its important work. As well as offering peer support like mentoring and mental health care, the Foundation will provide financial support for funerals, sorry business, travel and court costs, and develop vital resources shaped by lived experiences.
“Families whose loved ones have died in custody have been leading the way for change to end this injustice since colonisation,” says Day. “My hope is that we have no Aboriginal deaths in custody, that our people are able to live without risk of dying because of the colour of their skin, and that those who are responsible for taking Aboriginal life are held criminally responsible, and justice is served.”
Buy tickets to the Dhadjowa Foundation launch event here.
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The last few weeks of the news cycle have been quite brutal for empathetic people generally predisposed to justice and wanting others to feel safe. Allegations of widespread misogyny, sexism and sexual assaults have been levelled at both the Liberal and Labour parties of the Australian government. Tens of thousands of people joined the Women’s March4Justice earlier this week. Yesterday, Tanya Plibersek delivered a petition calling on Scott Morrison to stop violence against women to Parliament. More than 135,000 Australians signed.
There’s a complicated web of local and international events surrounding how we got here, some of the most circulated being Brittany Higgin’s rape allegation and her subsequent inappropriate treatment, the historical rape allegation against Christian Porter, and the killing of British woman Sarah Everard.
— Janine Hendry @_Janine_Hendry on Threads | Insta (@janine_hendry) March 16, 2021
In recent days, reports have emerged that women of Australia’s labour party have shared detailed stories of their experiences of aggressive behaviour, derogatory comments and widespread sexism in a private Facebook group for current and former Labour staffers. A number of the comments can be viewed here, though they may be distressing for some readers.
Labor leaders are now urging their colleagues to come forward—names of the men who enacted this behaviour were not included in the original Facebook posts.
“Harassment, and sexist behaviour, and indeed patriarchy doesn’t exist just on one side of politics, it exists throughout society,” said Labour leader Anthony Albanese. “What we need to do is to make sure that we listen to the concerns that are put forward and respond.”
Plibersek, the shadow minister for women has seconded that call, stating that the Labour party is committed to ensuring the safety of those who had suffered inappropriate behaviour towards them. At this stage, the inquiry is being headed up by Kate Jenkins, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner.
Per The Guardian, Jenkins believes Australia is “at a turning point” with regard to the conversation around sexual harassment and assault. “In my time working in this area and particularly looking in workplaces over the 30 years, I’ve never seen any moment like this,” Jenkins said.
On the one hand, the inquiry could provide a more collaborative, supportive and victim-focused arena to air the experiences many of the women in Australian politics have experienced. On the other, our hearts are heavy and scepticism continues to bleed into hope. Set aside for the moment that the Australian government is a deeply flawed, ineffective institution that was born from a colonialist, patriarchal society—well, a society that was more overt with those themes that the current covert modus operandi.
When the level of rhetoric from the leader of this country is that people should be grateful that they can demonstrate for recognition of their basic humanity without being shot at, where do we go? What changes can we hope for when people are quicker to throw down the words “presumption of innocence” and “innocent until proven guilty” than entertain the idea that there are very real, very traumatic reasons that people who have been victims of sexual assault and rape often don’t come forward and that part of that is the adversarial legal system itself?
For what it’s worth, the lawyer for Porter’s now deceased accuser is calling for an independent inquiry into the Attorney General. “Rule of law simply ensures or guarantees equality under the law – equal access and equal protection,” Michael Bradley of Marque Lawyers told The Sun-Herald. “In relation to sexual violence, it’s not delivering that at all. The legal system has failed completely so it requires pretty deep reform.”
“If there is no justice, then the law has failed,” Bradley said in his speech at the March 4 Justice earlier this week.
Plibersek hopes that through the Jenkins inquiry an independent investigatory function could be established for parliamentary staff. “We’ve got an independent remuneration tribunal, an independent travel and expenses organisation, it would make sense to me to have a truly independent standalone function for investigating allegations of sexual harassment, dealing with perpetrators of sexual harassment and supporting victims in the workplace.”
For his part, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been accused of wheeling out Liberal figures—mainly women—to discredit the criticism being levelled at his party’s handling of the sexual assault and harassment allegations.
“We must watch out for each other and we must support each other,” he said. Sadly, we don’t think he meant this in the way you’d hope.
I went on ABC tv to talk about why the #March4Justice was so important and Morrison Government Senator Ben Small decided to talk over me. It's so distressing just how much this Government doesn't get it. #auspol#mansplainedpic.twitter.com/MbJawrNBzw
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The urge to detox at this time of year is strong, change up your beauty regime with these four smart and simple steps.
Clean hair
Haircare has lagged behind the natural boom, mostly because creating active formulations hasn’t been easy. But that’s all changing now. “Because of the composition of hair… it is much harder to change your hair with natural ingredients,” says Simon Bright, founder of Jonny+June organic haircare. “There is no shortage of natural oils… in haircare, but only a handful of natural ingredients can make hair cleaner and healthier.”
If you’re vegan or seeking cruelty-free, you’re in the right country. “Australia is the third fastest growing vegan market in the world,” says Bright, who also runs a vegan salon in Sydney called Jonny+June. “We acknowledge more Australians are choosing more ethical lifestyles, so we are thrilled to be able to o er our clients an experience without worrying whether our products have harmed animals for the sake of beauty.”
The days when natural make-up meant forgoing feel-good formulations and good colour payoff are long behind us. “You no longer need to compromise on performance for natural and cruelty- free, as natural ingredients are some of the most powerful in the world,” says Mark Thompson, CEO at Nude by Nature. “One hundred per cent natural ingredients have been a key part of our DNA since the beginning and we are dedicated to providing high-performing formulas combined with active natural ingredients.” Popular much? A bottle of Nude by Nature Natural Mineral Cover Foundation is sold every 77 seconds around Australia.
“The average woman is thought to consume between … [3 to 4kg] of lipstick in her lifetime,” says Langmuir. “So what you put on your lips, you ingest.” To minimise nasties, apply natural lippie at least some of the time.
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The show must go on – even when there’s no live audience. For the first time in its storied history, Paris Fashion Week has presented a full digital-only season, and for Louis Vuitton this came with a silver lining. Usually masters of a magnificent, all-immersive runway experience, with no guests to accommodate, on Wednesday the French luxury house put on a show in the intimate Michelangelo sculpture galleries at the Louvre.
Models paraded the fall/winter 2021 collection while mingling with ancient Roman and Greek sculptures. The clothes took cues from Ancient Greece, with gladiator skirts in sporty neoprene, lace-up sandal-bootie hybrids and classic iconography designed by Italian interiors house Piero Fornasetti. “Fornasetti is a partnership I’ve wanted to make for a long time. I’m very intrigued by the world: the very beautiful drawings of divinity and representations of women,” creative director Nicolas Ghesquière said of the collaboration.
Every look was infused with futurism, as we’ve come to expect from Louis Vuitton. There were metallic jacquards, shots of slick leather and street-smart hoods embellished with shiny sequins. Silhouettes were relaxed and oversized, and sports jackets paired with puffy tulle skirts and stompy boots.
The overall feeling was bold and upbeat – a subtle nod to the Golden Age of travel on which Louis Vuitton was built. “I wanted something impactful, something that conveys hope and joy for what’s coming next, and for people to have a good time watching,” Ghesquière said. “A moment of fashion.”
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The year was 1996. Slip dresses, crushed velvet and chunky sneakers dominated the fashion landscape. And against this backdrop, some of Australia’s sharpest sartorial minds came together to create something radical and new: a fashion festival for the public. Unlike the exclusive, invite-only events on the international fashion calendar (including Australian Fashion Week – launched a year earlier in 1995), the Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF) was created and curated for the everyday fashion follower.
Twenty-five years later, Graeme Lewsey, who’s been CEO of MFF for the last 10 years, is in awe of his predecessors’ foresight. “It couldn’t possibly be more relevant: a fashion festival that celebrates the consumer,” he says. “Right now fashion weeks around the world are choosing to make big changes to their businesses to survive – they’re recognising that there’s been a seismic shift.”
Of course in the early days of the MFF, nobody knew that social media would come to democratise fashion and position consumers at the forefront, or that eCommerce would completely shake up the fashion cycle. So while the festival was ahead of its time, its original aim was to drive sales for designers and retailers – while functioning as a not-for-profit business – and to add life to Melbourne’s already-thriving arts and design scene.
(Credit: Ashley Graham at MFF in 2019)
Soon, they were flying in big names from all over the world to headline the festival – Ashley Graham, Dita von Teese, Eva Longoria and Barbara Palvin, to name a few. “I’ll always remember Ashley Graham on the runway,” says Lewsey. “She was doing the power pump and she came off and said, “The energy in that room! This is incredible! This is incredible here in Mel-bourne!”
That electric energy, says Lewsey, sets the festival apart from other sartorial spectaculars (read: you won’t spot stony pouts or oversized sunglasses in the front row). “I love watching the sheer sense of joy, delight and empowerment that our consumers get from experiencing the events – it’s unrivalled,” he says. “That positivity becomes a drive for more economic stimulus – more sales and better livelihoods for our designers.”
The 2021 festival kicked off on Thursday, with a packed calendar of events to mark its 25th anniversary. There are a mix of live and digital runways (including two shows presented by marie claire), plus art exhibitions, performances and fashion talks – all COVID-safe, of course.
Last year, the festival made the difficult decision to close early as the pandemic took hold, but this year it’s back with a bang.
“It’s been a rough year for all of us and everyone’s experienced challenges in different ways,” explains Lewsey. “The silver lining is that it’s taught us to be more innovative and nimble. Safety is our number-one priority this year. When you’ve got that balancing act between safety and creative integrity, it’s interesting times.
“We know that we’re part of the Australian fashion industry’s recovery post-2020 – we’re the first major fashion event to start the process. We’re really honoured and proud of that.”
The Melbourne Fashion Festival runs until March 20. Find out more and buy tickets here.
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He may be trying to work things out with TV bride Beck Zemek, but it seems Married At First Sight groom Jake Edwards has already moved on.
After being spotted on a date together just last week, Gold Coast fitness influencer and nutritionist Sophie Guidolin has all but confirmed she’s dating the footballer turned reality star, as first reported by So Dramatic!
“Sophie seems to have confirmed their romance, sharing an image on Instagram holding Jake’s very identifiable tattooed arm and also revealing to her fans that she is ‘taken!’,” the gossip podcast wrote alongside the images in question.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMdU1eshPc7/
Jake, who is based in Melbourne, also flew to Noosa, Queensland, on Monday to celebrate his new girlfriend’s birthday, Daily Mailadds, appearing in a video on Sophie’s Instagram captioned “Birthday swims.”
The pair’s openness on social media has fans guessing Jake and Beck don’t make it past Sunday night’s commitment ceremony.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMZLL6kj7AP/
The 33-year-old charity CEO’s new relationship follows his ex-fiancé, Paige McCuskey, slamming the MAFS groom claiming he cheated on her.
According to Edwards’ bio, he broke off his engagement with Paige in late 2019 when he “realised he didn’t love her anymore”, but the Melbourne photographer called him out by taking to Instagram and editing the captions of several photos of the pair throughout their relationship.
Paige’s account is set to private butDaily Mail reportedthat in a post of the pair kissing from August 2017, the caption had been changed from “LOVE” to “Edit: deceit”.
In another photo of the couple snorkelling, McCuskey also edited the post, writing “Should (have) held him under the water.”
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Tonight on MAFS we have *drumroll* more weddings! Don’t get us wrong we love a Married At First Sight ceremony, but at this point, it does feel like the experts might just be adding to the contestant list in the hopes at least one couple leaves the experiment in wedded bliss.
In any case, we meet bride Jamie and groom Chris, who, despite a pretty awkward and rocky start thanks to the FIFO driller’s nerves, he well and truly redeems himself following that tear-inducing speech. It was very cute, and Australia has collectively decided that he must be protected at all costs.
Johnny and Kerry’s honeymoon hits a speedbump when he asks his new wife if she’s still in contact with her ex-husband, which she replies they have been to check in on the dogs (and you know, other normal human communication) and he gets in a tizzy and claims it makes him “feel sick.”
Joanne and James decide to give their marriage another shot, while Georgia and Liam get the honesty box out for dinner, and while usually, that’s a recipe for disaster, the two are both open-minded and good at communication so leave the experience better off. Hooray!
Below, check out the best reactions to tonight’s episode, and head to our nightly recap for a full rundown.
Preach Chris!! Be proud of who you are!! #MAFSAU stop saying you’re not smart though!! You don’t need a uni degree to be smart!! And you were not joking jaimie!!! pic.twitter.com/6IS6uPIWaL
All I can say is that Chris’ daughters have a great role model in their father. I know he won’t raise them to be so judgmental like Jaimie. She’s not worthy to be a stepmother to those girls. #mafs#MAFSAU#MAFSAustralia
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Can you believe we have ANOTHER wedding tonight? How many weddings can this show force us to endure? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Married At First Sight ceremony, but I have far too many names to remember already, OK? Stop adding more.
We first go to Kerry/Johnny and Liam/Georgia to see how their first nights together went. No one had sex but they’re all smitten. So that’s cute.
Meanwhile, Booka is mad at Brett because of some in-joke going on at the weddings last night about him being in a relationship with Patrick? Or something? She clearly felt left out of the conversation but Brett’s worried she’s too serious and gets wound up about stuff that isn’t a big deal. Have to agree with him on this one. There’s a lot of this:
I have made a huge mistake
Which says to me that he’s starting to doubt their relationship. Ugh is this going to be Jonethen/Connie 2.0? Please no!
Then we head to meet this extra couple. There’s some sort of Viking man who is HUGE and covered in tatts, and a woman who always goes for unavailable men. As always, I missed their names!
Jamie (the bride) walks down the aisle and while Chris (the tatt Viking) is taken aback by her beauty, Jamie is totally off his hair from the get-go – although she does at least feign happiness to his face.
Meanwhile, all the other honeymoons are going well. Like too well. There is nothing to report. It’s an abyss of happiness.
Back to the wedding, and Jamie is grilling Chris about his lifestyle. He’s sporty, she isn’t. She’s a princess, he’s a rough and ready FIFO worker. But then he makes a cute speech and she’s all like awww, but he loves family and blah blah, everything is fine now. This is definitely going to be one of those “Narrator: everything was not fine” moments though.
Joanne and James meet up and agree to try one last time to repair their marriage after he told her she meant nothing to him. Hmm, we will see how that goes. Meanwhile, Kerry and Johnny get into an intense convo about something but I got bored and didn’t listen, because it was boring.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Liam get the honesty box out but everything goes smoothly because they’re PERFECT. Even when Liam says he’s had 50+ sexual partners, Georgia is unphased because she’s a woke queen. They also seal the deal sex-wise and seriously, these guys are my new faves.
CUTE
Over to Viking and Jaimie, where things are going well, then okay, then bad, then horrible hellish cesspit. Basically, Jaimie can’t stop correcting Viking Guy on everything from his hair (which is bad) to how he says aks instead of ask (okay kinda mean to point that out relentlessly). He gets mad and storms off to the toot.
You can see the vein in his head pulsing
He comes back and tells us that he just feels a bit shit when she constantly points out his faults, which is fair enough. He then, quite maturely I might add, points this out to her and she seems to understand which is good progress!! John would be so proud!!
Maybe these new couples will be the healthy relationship energy we need on this show – because tomorrow night! Dinner party! Bryce’s secret external girlfriend getting called out! Good times.
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Given the events which have unfolded in the past year, the world is short on its share of entertainment. And while Hollywood slowly creeps back into action—following an almost 12-month pandemic lockdown—our remaining line-up of star-studded films have run rather dry—until now.
Enter: Blithe Spirit.
An Amazon Original, the streaming giant is gifting us with a hilarious-yet-spooky rom-com, that’s a must-watch for those of us who enjoy the warm embrace of a romantic flick with the spine-tingling terror of a paranormal plot line.
Based off a 1941 comic play by Noël Coward, Blithe Spirit gets the A Star Is Born treatment in a modern-day adaptation that follows a sceptical novelist who’s stuck in a writer’s block, and in a desperate plea for content, enlists the help of a self-proclaimed medium for content when things go awry.
Fascinated? Keep reading for everything you need to know about the film—from the plot and cast members to when you can stream it in Australia.
What Is The Plot OfBlithe Spirit?
An adaptation of Noel Coward’s hit play of the same name, the film follows sceptical novelist Charles Condomine, who invites self-proclaimed medium Madame Arcati to his home for a séance, where he’s hoping to gather material for a new book. However, when the psychic accidentally summons the spirit of Condomine’s late wife, Elvira, his home and life are quickly turned upside down as his wife’s ghost torments both himself and his new bride, Ruth.
Essentially, imagine being in a love triangle with your current wife of five years and your deceased first wide whose soul has been summoned by a spiritualist, who you thought was a fraud. If that perplexing concept sounds like a delightful watch, then Blithe Spirit is the pick for you.
But don’t take our word for it, check out the trailer below to see for yourself.
WATCH BELOW: Blithe Spirit Trailer
Who Is Cast InBlithe Spirit?
As is the case with most Amazon Originals, the cast list is riddled with star power. Leading the line-up is Leslie Mann (Knocked Up) as Elvira Condomine, Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as Charles Condomine and Isla Fisher (The Great Gatsby) as Ruth Condomine.
Joining them is the iconic Judi Dench (Skyfall) as Madame Arcati, Aimee-Ffion Edwards (Peaky Blinders) as Edith and Michele Dotrice (A Very British Christmas) as Edna, just to name a few.
Where Can We Watch Blithe Spirit In Australia?
Looking for your next binge-watch? Blithe Spirit will premiere exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Friday, April 2.
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Actors, athletes and activists, Sydney’s Madden sisters push boundaries and thrive at home on Gadigal land. Here, they showcase romantic new-season fashion and reflect on the foundations of family.
Inside the regal walls of Vaucluse House, five Indigenous women are holding court.
Dressed in gothic black dresses, the Madden sisters have congregated for a marie claire shoot, with their grandparents, Lily and Charles “Chicka” Madden, even popping in for a sneak peek. “They can spin a yarn and they were quiet the whole day because they were just in awe,” Miah tells us, noting the particular significance of Charles being a direct descendant of the land’s true custodians, the Gadigal people. “Filming in Vaucluse House, back in the day, it wouldn’t have been the Indigenous people enjoying the beautiful rooms and red carpet. So it was funny to be able to do a shoot in there and say, ‘You know what? We’re Gadigal, this is our land.’”
“I think about all that my grandfather and my grandmother have gone through and all that they’ve done so that we could pursue our careers, passions and dreams, without being discriminated against or be put down because of our race,” Lille adds. “For them to see us being celebrated as the next generation, it was very special and emotional.”
L-R: Lille, Miah, Thea, Ruby and Madeleine. (Credit: Image: Max Doyle)
The Maddens are a family steeped in not only cultural significance (they are also related to the late Indigenous activist Charles Perkins AO), but also artistic brilliance and love. “It feels very liberating to be in our family,” Madeleine says. “We were constantly surrounded by creatives, so were always encouraged to express ourselves. There was never any conversation that was taboo.”
“There’s just a really, really strong matrilineal line in our family,” Thea agrees. “It’s amazing, because especially in this day and age, it’s a patriarchal world and it’s easy to internalise some of those values. But we’ve just never been that way…there’s always an undercurrent of tenderness; of wanting to bring people up with you and support people.”
The sisters tasted grief at an early age when their father, Lee Madden, died in a car accident in 2003. Madeleine, Lille and Thea were raised with older brother Tyson by their mum, art curator Hetti Perkins, with Miah and Ruby brought up by their mum, Belinda. “Growing up in a single mother household, I just feel so blessed, and Miah and Ruby would say the same thing,” Madeleine shares. “Mum’s passed on so much insight and wisdom and love and acceptance to us that I felt like whatever I could come to her with, I would be accepted.”
Miah and Ruby (Credit: Image: Max Doyle)
Their dad shines through them though, Miah says. “He modelled in Paris, picked up a tennis racket and played in Wimbledon; was an actor; an activist and poet. He’s all of us in one person.” As such, it was particularly moving having their grandparents see them at the fashion shoot: “It’s giving our dad life and legacy through his girls.”
Their upbringing had a clear influence on the paths each of the girls took: Thea, 28, is an artist, Lille, 25, works in land conservation with organisations such as SeedMob, Madeleine, 24, and Miah, 18, are actors, while the youngest, Ruby, 16, is a champion runner. “It’s been really fantastic because everyone’s found their own area, so we can all support each other while always having family at the core,” Thea says, noting that her artistic practice is guided by heritage. “A lot of my work stems from looking at family, family archives and places associated with family. But it’s also part of being an Aboriginal person, too. At the core of our culture and values is this family dynamic.”
While their trajectories have been distinct, Lille points out that they’re threaded by storytelling. “That’s the most important factor when it comes to anything really, isn’t it? It’s how we bring people in, share together, pass on knowledge and continue culture,” she says. “It’s essential to everything and for me, in what I do, it means creating an empathetic response and a deeper sense of connection and understanding to something that I believe people need to learn about. Or, it lights that fire within them to take action.”
Lille and Thea (Credit: Image; Max Doyle)
In conversation, their voices are coated with affection for a childhood that was spent having fish and chips at La Perouse, watching Disney films together at their grandparents home or stealing each other’s clothes. “Our dad would be so happy with how much we see and talk to each other. There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not talking to my sisters,” Miah says. For Ruby, it’s the small moments with her sisters – whose group chat is called ‘Sister Act’ – that she holds closest: “all of us having dinner together, watching movies, sitting around telling each other stories.”
Now that they’re older, those moments are rare with Madeleine, Miah and Ruby all noting it was a feat just getting them all in the same place at the same time. “It felt nice just to have us all back together for the day,” Ruby tells, going on to confess her favourite thing about having sisters is “always having someone to talk to. Especially being the youngest, I always had someone to look up to.”
L-R: Miah, Thea, Lille, Madeleine and Ruby. (Credit: Image: Max Doyle)
Their close bond made the marie claire shoot something special, with Lille recalling her favourite moment as the shot on the steps. “Being one of the older sisters having Miah, Maddy, and Ruby all sitting below me and playing with their hair, making sure they looked okay. You know, just doing those big sister things,” she laughs. “I was like ‘okay just settle down, they’re their own women, they’re mature’. Always having that overarching care and love for them.”
But the opportunity to be shot together also holds more than just personal significance. “I came into it thinking that it would be a seated studio portrait,” Thea says. “So it was great to be part of the shoot and I just think it’s amazing to have five Aboriginal women modelling high fashion.”
Madeleine agrees: “Having five Aboriginal women featured in a major fashion magazine is an important moment,” she explains, pointing to the specific visual impact. “People will sometimes say, ‘You guys all don’t look the same.’ And that’s a real issue in Australia: what defines how an Aboriginal person looks? That’s what makes me really happy about this shoot; we are all proud Aboriginal women, we all look different, but we are all sisters. We’re all the same. So that’s something as well – it’s not just a fashion shoot, it’s quite a significant cultural statement.”
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Even the most passionate of Hamiltonfans might not know that Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical genius behind the highly-acclaimed Broadway musical, penned his first production while in college. Titled In The Heights, the musical is set in the Latinx community of New York City’s bustling Washington Heights, and following its stint on the stage in 2008, went on to win four Tony Awards (of its 13 nominations).
The musical, in which Miranda originally starred as its title character, is being adapted for the big screen by Crazy Rich Asians director John Chu—and it’s the vibrant, joyful burst of energy we’ve come to expect from Miranda’s lyrical creations. Below, everything we know about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights.
What Is In The Heights About?
Taking place over three days, the film will follow the lives, struggles and relationships of a Hispanic-American community in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of New York City, where Miranda himself grew up. At the centre of the story is Usnavi, a bodega owner with big dreams and secret love for the girl who works in the beauty parlour next door.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lin-Manuel Miranda production without a hearty soundtrack to go with it, with the tracklist featuring a series of salsa, hip-hop, and soul numbers. And don’t worry, when speaking with Remezcla Miranda said that they have tried to keep as many of the original play’s songs in the movie.
Who Is The Creative Team Behind In The Heights?
Miranda, of course, is the man behind the music in the film, while Quiara Alegría Hudes, who wrote the book for the musical, is the screenwriter. They both also serve as producers. The movie is directed by Jon M. Chu, ofCrazy Rich Asiansfame.
“You’re going to hear the wordmagic a lot today,” Chu tweeted alongside the first sneak peek. “There’s no other word to express what we felt shooting this movie every day. It starts with Lin and Quiara; they planted this magical seed that they planted into all of us. We had the best summer of our lives.”
Who Has Been Cast In In The Heights?
While Miranda took on the stage musical’s title role of Usnavi, for its big-screen adaptation he will be taking on the role of ‘Piragua Guy.’
Anthony Ramos, who originated the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Hamilton, has been cast as Usnavi, alongside Melissa Barrera as Vanessa.
The film also stars Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Stephanie Beatriz and Orange Is The New Black star Dascha Polanco.
Has A Trailer Been Released?
After what seems like years of waiting, we’ve finally been blessed with our first look at In The Heights, which starts with Ramos telling a group of kids about the Heights. “It’s the story of a block that was disappearing; un barrio called Washington Heights, where the streets are made of music,” he says. The two-minute clip is energetic, colourful, and full of sing-a-long lyrics that have become synonymous with Miranda’s musical productions.
When Will In The Heights Be Released In Australia?
In The Heights will be released on June 18, 2021, in theatres and on HBO Max.
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Whether you’re an aficionado for all things Royal family or not, most of the world is well aware of Princess Diana’s infamous 1995 interview with Martin Bashir.
And despite the unforgettable BBC Panorama interview nearing its 26-year anniversary, the issues that the former royal shared with viewers—that saw Prince William break down in tears—have never felt more relevant, especially following Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s emotional interview with Oprah on March 8.
Earlier this month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex finally spoke up about the downfalls of the royal family, eerily similar to the heartache his own mother endured all those years ago.
And while it certainly feels like a timely coincidence, a new documentary on Diana’s tell-all interview is headed to our screens, called The Diana Interview: Revenge Of A Princess.
Delivering the royal family another public blow, the documentary will examine how the historic BBC interview came into existence, Diana’s revelations about her marriage to Charles, his infidelity and the heartbreaking reality of her struggle with mental health. The film is also set to include interviews with those who bore witness to the breakdown of her marriage and plans to spotlight never-before-seen documents and footage from the original interview itself.
According to Variety, Channel Nine is set to air the two-part special in Australia, and while there is no official release date, the publication has confirmed that the explosive documentary will likely hit our screens sometime this year.
However, in addition to those claims, the palace is currently still dealing with Prince Andrew’s controversial relationship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein.
Curious about the bombshell documentary? Feast your eyes on the teaser for the upcoming premiere ofThe Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princessbelow.
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Congratulations to Pippa Middleton! Together with her husband James Matthew, Pippa has welcomed her second child: a sweet baby girl named Grace Elizabeth Jane.
The happy news was confirmed by a family source with BAZAAR.com, who shared that Pippa gave birth on March 15, at about 4:22 am BST. “Their daughter, who weighed six pounds, seven ounces, has been named Grace Elizabeth Jane,” the source confirmed.
Reports of Pippa’s second pregnancy had been circulating for a while. Earlier this month Carole Middleton, Pippa’s mother seemingly confirmed the news.
In a recent interview about her close relationship with her grandchildren, which includes Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Carol shared that she was excited to see more of her family in 2021.
“I hope to see more of my family than I could last year, including, of course, my new grandchild,” she said, speaking about the wee baby we now know is Pippa’s daughter Grace.
Pippa and her husband James became parents for the first time in October 2018 when they welcomed their son Arthur. Neither of them publically confirmed this second pregnancy, but a source told a tabloid in December 2020 that they were expecting. “Pippa and James are thrilled, it’s fantastic news amid a difficult year,” said the source, “The entire family is delighted.”
Pippa and James are quite private, with Pippa not having any social media accounts. Regardless, we’ll keep you posted on when the first official baby pictures are shared by the growing family.
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Just when you thought MAFS‘ Bryce couldn’t display any more… questionable behaviour, the groom has been embroiled in yet another scandal—only this time, it’s with a former bride from the show who says she was “creeped out” by his “unwelcome advances”, reports Woman’s Day.
The publication has released leaked text messages between the 31-year-old radio presenter—who was in a relationship at the time—and MAFS‘ Connie Crayden, where he allegedly tried to hook up with her.
Fans will remember Connie from 2020’s season of Channel Nine’s social experiment, where she was paired with Jonny.
Just last month rumours began to surface that Bryce and Connie had once been involved, but upon being asked on radio Bryce offered up this charming sentence: “Ugh, Connie. Does she look like my type of girl?”
According to Woman’s Day, the pair met when Bryce suggested they record a radio demo together, and at the time he was engaged to Lana Bongioletti, who he has publicly confessed to cheating on in the past.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-UBnFPgR6X/
Connie says that the pair remained in contact and would regularly FaceTime, but while the “conversations would start off quite platonic”, she claims they soon became overly “flirtatious and sexualised.”
The former reality star goes on to tell the outlet that she regularly reminded the MAFS villain he was engaged, but he was much more “direct” and “inappropriate” with her in person.
“Not to sound rude to you… you know I think you are attractive,” one leaked text message reads, with Connie replying, “[This is] a conversation we don’t need to be having.”
According to Connie, after Bryce and his fiancé broke up, he would ask her for advice, but, “when we spoke he’d always twist things and make them flirtatious” and would “hyper-sexualise” and push her boundaries.
“It was getting too hard to have a friendship with him. It was almost like he was using me as a way to get over his breakup,” she told the publication.
It’s also not the first time Bryce has been accused of cheating, with reports claiming the reality star had a “secret girlfriend” while filming the series.
According to a source who spoke to the reality TV podcast So Dramatic!, Bryce was with a woman called Courtney during filming.
“He had a secret girlfriend the entire time during filming Married At First Sight, back in Canberra,” host Megan Pusetto says. “He lied to her and convinced her that he was just doing the show to further his career and he asked her to wait for him. She agreed. So then he kept her on the sly the entire time.”
Even more chaotic is that Courtney was apparently not even a secret girlfriend to his inner circle, many of whom were in attendance at his wedding to Melissa. “All of Bryce’s friends knew about Courtney, even the ones who were at his TV wedding. Their relationship was not a secret.”
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With the Grammy Awards having only just wrapped up, the Academy has wasted no time in kick-starting their event with the release of their long-awaited nominations. But this time, the award ceremony has made history, with two women nominated in the Best Director category in the same year, for the first time ever.
The category includes Chloé Zhao who is nominated for her work on NomadlandandEmerald FennellforPromising Young Woman, both of whom werealso recognised at the Golden Globes back, alongside Regina King forOne Night in Miami.And while King wasn’t nominated by the Academy this time around, her film did earn a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Kemp Powers.
It’s with this nomination that Zhao becomes the first woman of colour to be nominated in her selected category. Along with that, Nomadland is looking to sweep up the awards with the film also up for best adapted screenplay and best picture.
But it’s not just Zhao and Fennell who made history, Viola Davis and Steven Yeun have also broken records. Thanks to Davis’ nomination for Best Actress in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the actress is now the award show’s most-nominated Black actress of all time. Additionally, she became the only Black woman with two best actress nominations.
Alongside Davis, Steven Yeun has earned a Best Actor nomination for his work on Minari, making him the first Asian American actor to earn such acclaim.
Announced from London byPriyanka Chopra Jonasand Nick Jonas, the lateChadwick Bosemanwas also nominated for Best Actor for his role inMa Rainey’s Black Bottom and has been a front-runner all awards season long, with his wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepting on his behalf most recently at the Golden Globes.
The 93rd Academy Awards is set to air on April 26 at 11am AEST.
Here’s the full list of the Oscars 2021 nominees. Place your bets now!
Best Picture
The Father Judas and the Black Messiah Mank Minari Nomadland Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago 7
Actor in a Leading Role
Riz Ahmed inSound of Metal Chadwick Boseman inMa Rainey’s Black Bottom Anthony Hopkins inThe Father Gary Oldman inMank Steven Yeun inMinari
Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis inMa Rainey’s Black Bottom Andra Day inThe United States vs. Billie Holiday Vanessa Kirby inPieces of a Woman Frances McDormand inNomadland Carey Mulligan inPromising Young Woman
Actor in a Supporting Role
Sacha Baron Cohen inThe Trial of the Chicago 7 Daniel Kaluuya inJudas and the Black Messiah Leslie Odom Jr. inOne Night in Miami Paul Raci inSound of Metal Lakeith Stanfield inJudas and the Black Messiah
Actress in a Supporting Role
Maria Bakalova inBorat Subsequent Moviefilm Glenn Close inHillbilly Elegy Olivia Colman inThe Father Amanda Seyfried inMank Yuh-Jung Youn inMinari
Directing
Another Round, Thomas Vinterberg Mank, David Fincher Minari,Lee Isaac Chung Nomadland, Chloé Zhao Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm The Father Nomadland One Night in Miami The White Tigers
Writing (Original Screenplay)
Judas and the Black Messiah Minari Promising Young Woman Sound of Metal The Trial of the Chicago 7
Costume Design
Emma, Alexandra Byrne Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Ann Roth Mank, Trish Summerville Mulan, Bina Daigeler Pinocchio, Massimo Cantini Parrini
Music (Original Score)
Da 5 Bloods, Terence Blanchard Mank, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Minari, Emile Mosseri News of the World, James Newton Howard Soul, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste
Music (Original Song)
“Fight for You” fromJudas and the Black Messiah “Hear My Voice” fromThe Trial of the Chicago 7 “Husavik” fromEurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga “Io Sì (Seen)” fromThe Life Ahead (La Vita Davanti a Se) “Speak Now” fromOne Night in Miami
Documentary Feature
Collective,Alexander Nanau and Bianca Oana Crip Camp, Nicole Newnham, Jim LeBrecht, and Sara Bolder The Mole Agent, Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibáñez My Octopus Teacher, Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, and Craig Foster Time, Garrett Bradley, Lauren Domino, and Kellen Quinn
Documentary Short Subject
Colette, Anthony Giacchino and Alice Doyard A Concerto Is a Conversation, Ben Proudfoot and Kris Bowers Do Not Split, Anders Hammer and Charlotte Cook Hunger Ward, Skye Fitzgerald and Michael Scheuerman A Love Song for Latasha,Sophia Nahli Allison and Janice Duncan
Animated Feature Film
Onward, Dan Scanlon and Kori Rae Over the Moon, Glen Keane, Gennie Rim, and Peilin Chou A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon, Richard Phelan, Will Becher, and Paul Kewley Soul, Pete Docter and Dana Murray Wolfwalkers, Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart, Paul Young, and Stéphan Roelants
Animated Short Film
Burrow, Madeline Sharafian and Michael Capbarat Genius Loci, Adrien Mérigeau and Amaury Ovise If Anything Happens I Love You, Will McCormack and Michael Govier Opera, Erick Oh Yes-People, Gísli Darri Halldórsson and Arnar Gunnarsson
Live Action Short Film
Feeling Through, Doug Roland and Susan Ruzenski The Letter Room, Elvira Lind and Sofia Sondervan The Present, Farah Nabulsi Two Distant Strangers, Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe White Eye, Tomer Shushan and Shira Hochman
International Feature Film
Another Round, Denmark Better Days, Hong Kong Collective, Romania The Man Who Sold His Skin, Tunisia Quo Vadis, Aida?, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cinematography
Judas and the Black Messiah, Sean Bobbitt Mank, Erik Messerschmidt News of the World, Dariusz Wolski Nomadland, Joshua James Richards The Trial of the Chicago 7, Phedon Papamichael
Film Editing
The Father, Yorgos Lamprinos Nomadland, Chloé Zhao Promising Young Woman, Frédéric Thoraval Sound of Metal, Mikkel E. G. Nielsen The Trial of the Chicago 7, Alan Baumgarten
Production Design
The Father Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Mank News of the World Tenet
Makeup and Hairstyling
Emma, Marese Langan, Laura Allen, and Claudia Stolze Hillbilly Elegy, Eryn Krueger Mekash, Matthew Mungle, and Patricia Dehaney Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Sergio Lopez-Rivera, Mia Neal, and Jamika Wilson Mank, Gigi Williams, Kimberley Spiteri, and Colleen LaBaff Pinocchio, Mark Coulier, Dalia Colli, and Francesco Pegoretti
Sound
Greyhound, Warren Shaw Mank, Ren Klyce News of the World Soul Sound of Metal
Visual Effects
Love and Monsters The Midnight Sky Mulan The One and Only Ivan Tenet
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Meghan Markle is fighting backagainstallegations of bullying. The Duchess of Sussex is reportedly asking that Buckingham Palace share with her any evidence turned up in its investigation into claims she bullied members of the royal staff.
According to a report from theDaily Mail, Meghan “has written to Buckingham Palace demanding to see any documents, emails or text messages relating to the bullying complaint against her.” A senior Palace source told the publication that Meghan’s office has “written to request the evidence” from the royals.
Meghan’s request has reportedly been passed on to Prince Charles, whose “closest aides are now conducting a search of files,” according to theDaily Mail.
The investigation comes after aTimes of Londonarticle, published on March 2, that alleged Meghan bullied members of the royal staff during her time at Kensington Palace with Prince Harry.
“We are clearly very concerned about allegations in the Times following claims made by former staff of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the Palace said in it’s statement. “Accordingly, our HR team will look into the circumstances outlined in the article. Members of staff involved at the time, including those who have left the Household, will be invited to participate to see if lessons can be learned. The Royal Household has had a Dignity at Work policy in place for a number of years and does not and will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the workplace.”
While the Palace initially seemed poised to handle the inquiry internally, the royals are now considering bringing in an independent law firm to conduct the investigation, according to a report fromThe Sun.
Meghan has vehemently denied the claims. “The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma,” a spokesperson for Meghan said in a statement after theTimes of Londonpiece ran.“She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
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Tonight on MAFSwe were introduced to two new couples, and you know what that means—a whole lot of drama! The episode sees the current couples attend the weddings of the new brides and grooms and honestly, what a twist to keep us, and the intruders, on our toes.
James and Joanne continue fighting when James is nowhere to be found (leaving behind his wedding ring!), but upon his return, the two continue to argue and eventually head off to their separate hotel rooms, and something tells us we won’t be seeing much more of these two. Bryce continues his questionable behaviour (seriously, how does this man not think he’s done anything wrong).
First up we have Liam, a farm living prison officer, and pink obsessed Georgia. Despite these two getting along like a house on fire, Liam shocks the group when tells them he’s bisexual, which, despite it being 2021, is a confession that’s met with a table audibly surprised by a man being comfortable enough to discuss his sexuality. C’mon guys. At least Georgia is supportive, telling her new husband his past has brought him to this exact moment.
Next up, we have theatre producer Johnny and occupational therapist Kerry, who are both coming out of failed marriages—although, one ended in heartbreak and the other described as the “most amicable divorce in history.” What! Could! Go! Wrong! Despite this, people are really rooting for these two so here’s hoping the join the list of successful couples.
Below, we’re rounding up the best reactions from the night, and as always head over to our nightly recap to get the lowdown on what went down.
This season should come with an extreme man child warning #MAFS
Goddamn, Johnny and Kerry are just so wholesome! Thank God it’s the Italian guy setting a good example of a happy and sane marriage so far this season… 😛 #MAFSpic.twitter.com/z0kyUyy0y4
The bitter and broken brides and grooms arriving at the marriage of the latest sacrifice to the Channel Nine gods via a Handmaid’s Tale death van really delivers the shuddering sense of dread that this wedding deserves
I don’t like the way that that went down, I don’t like it when someone’s sexuality is treated like a storyline or a bombshell. I didn’t stand for it in bachelor in paradise and I won’t stand for it here #mafs#mafsau
why is it so shocking he’s bi…he didn’t just announce he’s a murderer like fuck sake thought we were more progressive than this #MAFSpic.twitter.com/rpObbaDyBb
On a show that’s screaming for diversity both culturally and queerness, outing a bisexual man in such a cruel way is unlikely to attract people to applying for the show. #MAFS
Are you joking #MAFS ? It’s 2021. I know these people sign up for this show (and obviously I continue to watch it) but to put someone in a position where their sexuality is basically laughed at is NOT okay. #mafsau
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Hoo boy that was a big Married At First Sight commitment ceremony, wasn’t it? We lost three couples, and we’re pretty much on the verge of losing another already.
First up we visit that couple – Joanne and James – who are now sleeping in different apartments and also, James has gone totally AWOL and left his wedding ring in his room. Damn. Joanne is pissed – she feels she was the one who was humiliated and yet here he is acting like a big baby.
Bryce and Melissa have a bloody weird conversation where Melissa tells him he was unfairly treated at the commitment ceremony. He’s basically got a total Yes Girl in his corner, and it’s quite alarming to watch Melissa wash over all his toxic behaviour like he’s the victim here.
Bec and Jake decide to “press the reset button” after Bec wrote leave during the commitment ceremony. They’re going to try and make things work this week. Meanwhile, James has been discovered! Joanne goes to speak with him and ask why he’s being such a shit and he is SO rude, he can’t understand why she was upset with him over his comments about Alessandra, and is literally like “you’re nothing” as in, she’s not of any importance to him and he to her. She storms out, understandably.
On to new weddings! The first couple is Liam – a farm living prison officer who loves his grandparents and seems pretty sweet, and Georgia – a 25-year-old OBSESSED, and I mean OBSESSED, with pink. Look at her bedroom.
What is this Barbie complex
The next couple is this guy who is a theatre producer and Italian, and his wife left him. I missed his name, lol. His wife is Kerry, this heaps-smiley occupational therapist who has also been through divorce. I guess at least they can bond over being divorced if nothing else?
I swear she did not stop smiling like this for the entire ep
All the couples get to go to the weddings! Fun!! Everyone is stoked except for Joanne, who is literally counting down the seconds until she is no longer contractually obligated to remain on the show.
“Love is dead”
The first couple to get hitched is Johnny (the Italian theatre guy!) and Kerry. They seem to really like each other from first impressions, and kiss at the altar. Cute! Then it’s time for Liam and Georgia’s wedding. She is WAY more chatty, Coco-esque than her first video made her appear to be, but what’s so nice is Liam loves that about her. Finally they pair the chatty cathy with a guy who LIKES chatty cathys! They exist guys!
At Kerrie and Johnny’s wedding everyone is getting along – even when Kerrie tells Johnny that her two dogs are being minded by her ex, who she is still super close to, he doesn’t seem phased. They talk to the other couples and at one point James yells out that they make a good looking couple, and Joanne retorts “from the outside, yeah” with this withering look on her face. LOL.
Meanwhile, Georgia and Liam are getting along famously until one of the couples asks them about what their dealbreakers are, and the convo ends up revealing that Liam is bisexual. Honestly, the way everyone behaved was so immature and gross, lots of shocked giggles and stupid shit like that. Christ, how is it 2021 and we still treat fluid sexuality or bisexuality like it’s taboo? Grow up.
Anyway, they go have a talk about it alone, because it was news to Georgia, and what is REALLY cool is her response – she says that everything in his past has led to this moment, and as long as he is willing to commit to her she’s cool with it. It’s slightly off (I mean, he doesn’t stop being bisexual just because he’s currently with a woman) but the fact she didn’t have a total tizz over the news was great to see, and Liam is stoked.
YES. We love a positive queen.
Over at Kerry and Johnny’s wedding, Joanne and James go for a talk. They both agree the wedding has brought up feelings between them and they somewhat mend fences. They then explain to Kerry and Johnny that their previous animosity was because they saw themselves in their cute wedding.
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As we not-so-patiently await the arrival of Outlander‘s sixth season—which only just resumed production due to coronavirus delays—fans can rest easy following confirmation that Jamie and Claire will return for a seventh time.
Confirmed on the show’s Instagram, our TV screens are set to be blessed with yet another season (and, ahem, more Jamie moments to daydream about).
The series—for those who may have just jumped on the bandwagon—is based on Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling book series of the same name and follows British Army nurse Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) who is suddenly transported to 1743 into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she must marry Jamie Fraser, (Sam Heughan) a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past. Obviously, their romance blooms and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives.
And if the first six seasons wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, we’ve gathered intel for our own investigation into everything there is to know about the popular series’ seventh season, to read up on after you partake in a five season re-watch.
Below, all the important details for Outlanderseason seven—from what the plot might entail to when we may get to see it in Australia.
Has Outlander Been Confirmed For A Season Seven?
According to Variety, Outlander has officially been renewed for a season seven. The news comes as the show is currently in production on season six, which was supposed to air in late 2020 but was ultimately delayed due to the pandemic.
Consisting of 12 episodes, it is rumoured that season seven of the popular series will follow the seventh novel in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander book series, An Echo in the Bone.
In the novel, the story returns to Lallybroch, where Brianna, Roger, Jem and Mandy discover letters from Claire and Jamie from the past, one of which mentions hidden gold with a location only known by Jem. The novel continues to chronicle the adventures of Claire and Jamie in the 18th century, as well as their daughter, Brianna MacKenzie and her husband, Roger MacKenzie, who have returned to the 20th century.
In a statement released by Starz, the TV company that airs the show, the season could also see Claire and Jamie take on the American revolution, saying: “We look forward to following the adventures of Claire and Jamie in America during the Revolution as well as more time travel during this next season.”
Which Cast Members Will Return For Outlander Season 7?
In a rather unsurprising turn of events, fans are sure to see Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan return as Dr. Claire Fraser and Jamie Fraser, along with returning cast members, Richard Rankin (Roger Mackenzie), Sophie Skelton (Brianna Mackenzie), Lauren Lyle (Marsali Fraser) and John Bell (Ian Murray).
Set to appear in season six, the character of César Domboy’s Fergus Fraser and David Berry’s Lord John Grey will presumably appear in the seventh season, however the fate of the entire troupe will be determined in the upcoming season.
When WillOutlanderSeason 7 Be Released In Australia?
Currently, there is no confirmed release date for Outlander season seven, which is hardly surprising given that season six is still yet to be released. That said, production for the sixth season is said to have resumed in February 2021, so here’s hoping that an approximate release date for season seven will be on the way soon.
Is There A Trailer ForOutlanderSeason 7?
Given that the season was only recently confirmed, there is no trailer for season seven of Outlander. But of course, we will be sure to update you as soon as one is released, so keep your eyes peeled!
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Today was the March 4 Justice. Across Australia, thousands marched in support of women – demanding action from our government against sexual assault and standing in solidarity with those who have experienced it personally.
But where were the men?
Yes, there were men standing as allies with women at these marches. To those that made the effort to show up in support, we thank you. But this is the thing – we need allies if we are going to demand change. Even though we hold the majority when it comes to population, we live in a society that is heavily weighted against us. The only way we will affect real, lasting change is if we stop making this a women’s issue.
Because this is NOT a women’s issue. This is a men’s issue. It is men who are raping women. Men who are murdering their children and their wives. Men who are harassing women in the workplace. Men who perpetuate rape culture with how they speak and behave. We are the survivors, but men are the perpetrators.
What the signs says. (Credit: marie claire)
The reason #NotAllMen is so damaging is because actually, it IS all men. It may not be your husband, but on average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. It may not be your male colleague, butfour out of every five harassers in the workplace are men. It may not be your boyfriend, but 69.7% of female sexual assaultis perpetrated by someone known to the victim.
So yeah, it is actually all men.
Instead of arguing for their voices to be heard, for their name to remain untarnished, we need men to step up and be our allies. We want them at our rallies. We want them sharing our stories on social media. We want them to speak out when friends slut shame, cat call, make sexist jokes.
Enough is enough. (Credit: marie claire)
We want our male Prime Minister showing up at a rally that is protesting a culture of sexism. We want men in positions of power to throw the weight of their voices behind our causes.
And we want men to accept that while they themselves may never rape, assault, harass or murder a woman – there are plenty of other men like them, ones who appear to be honest, upstanding citizens, who do. Every goddamn day. Women aren’t just in danger of predators hiding around street corners at night, we’re in danger of predators who are “good” men. “Legends” amongst mates. “Heroes” in their footy teams. Men who send shock waves through their close circles when they murder their spouses or are revealed as rapists, because STILL no one can believe that this is a systemic MEN’s issue and these predators live among us, not in dark alleyways.
When men make this a women’s issue they just further ingrain the sexism we’re fighting against in the first place. So we ask you to stand up, stand beside us, and own this fight as your own.
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When it comes to beauty, Today entertainment reporter Brooke Boney knows what she likes, and how to achieve her signature luminous skin in a flash. Below, Boney talks marie claire through her on-the-go morning routine, her all-purpose skin, body and hair hidden gems and natural skincare that packs a punch.
How would you describe your bathroom cupboard?
Quite sparse! When I was younger I would jump on trends, but now I’m so in tune with what I like and what works for me. This is why I’ve chosen to pair up with Andalou Naturals – natural skincare that’s actually really effective which doesn’t compromise on my values.
What is one surprising beauty product you always have in your beauty cupboard?
I love coconut oil. I keep heaps of it because I can use it for everything. I put it in my hair, on my feet, on my skin. I use it all the time.
When it comes to your beauty routine, would you say you’re high or low maintenance?
Unfortunately, I am probably pretty high maintenance, mainly because I have to wear so much makeup on-air each morning. I need to be aware of clogged pores and breakouts. When I was growing up, I didn’t wear as much sunscreen as I should have. Now I have to counter pigmentation. Sometimes that feels like a full-time job in its own right.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CL30u-CHhxk/
If you could only have five products in your makeup bag, what would they be?
In the morning, I have a very simple cleanser, serum, and moisturising routine. In the evening, I take things up a notch. Being on-air so early in the day, I’ve come to realise how vital my evening skin routine is to ensure my skin looks plumped and hydrated.
Perfume can feel a bit strong for me. I prefer to skim a scented oil on my wrist or across my chest. One that I particularly like is Labdanum by Le Labo.
I like Kevin Murphy products for my hair because I find they clean my hair really well. I’m particularly fond of Blonde.Angel. It is the perfect toning colour for my hair. I also love the David Mallett treatment as it works to repair/prevent damage to my hair from blow dryers and tongs.
KEVIN.MURPHY Blonde.Angel, Colour Enhancing Treatment for Blondes $43.95; adorebeauty.com.au
Do you have any self-care rituals or products you like to treat yourself with?
I have resolved that you can’t cheat your way to good skin. I learned the hard way. Now I drink a lot of water, wear sunscreen, exercise every day, and stick to my skincare regimen morning and night. Indulging in a weekly mask helps me to slow down too. My skin is much more radiant for those daily disciplines.
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Today, thousands gathered across Australia’s major cities to attend the March 4 Justice, a call to demand our government stand up and act against gendered and sexual violence. The protests come as a direct reaction to allegations made by Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, and the historical rape allegation against Attorney-General, Christian Porter, as well as a response to the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard in London last week.
In Hobart, Australian of the Year Grace Tame spoke at the protest, returning to her home state where she passionately campaigned for a change in laws that banned her from speaking out about being sexually assaulted as a teenager.
“Tasmania! You know what’s incredible—this surge, this cultural shift, this paradigm shift of normalising the conversation of sexual abuse. You know where that started? It started here!” the activist told the crowd. “We may be a small community but we are leading the nation. That is a testament to the power of solidarity. It’s a testament to the power of hope, resilience and a refusal to let fear stop us from doing anything.”
In Canberra Higgins also took to the mic, declaring the “system is broken”, telling the crowd, “We’re not here today because we want to be here, but because we have to be here. We fundamentally recognise the system is broken, the glass ceiling is still in place and there are significant failings in the power structures of our institutions. We are here because it’s unfathomable that we are still having to fight the same tired fight.”
The marie claire Australia team was on-site at Sydney’s demonstration, and below we share the most powerful signs spotted at the protest.
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The Bachelor’sLaurina Fleure, who appeared on Blake Garvey’s season of the reality franchise, has issued a statement after footage of her snorting a mystery powder leaked over the weekend.
In the video, which was posted on Instagram account celeb_spellcheck, the 36-year-old reality star can be seen snorting a white powder while at a party with friends, before stepping back and saying, “I did it.”
Reportedly filmed at a party in Melbourne on Saturday night, the clip has quickly amassed more than 119,000 views.
On Sunday, Laurina spoke to The Herald Sun, saying she was “humiliated” by the video.
“I feel sick. I am humiliated. I don’t know what else to say. I am really embarrassed,” she told the publication.
The I’m A Celebrity star added that while she tries to maintain a healthy lifestyle, she’s recently fallen back into partying.
“I always aspire to live a sober life just mainly for beauty and anti-ageing, and things like that, but there is also balance in life too,” she said. “Sometimes I try to be absolutely as good as I can and then the scales tip the other way and I have a blowout sometimes when I go out.”
Laurina finished by telling the publication she’s now more determined than ever to remain sober and focus on her health.
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Emma Corrin fans are truly enjoying a golden era. The British actress has recently secured numerous nominations and wins for her work as Princess Diana in the royals series The Crown, will be starring in an upcoming film with none other than Harry Styles, is in negotiations for Lady Chatterley’s Lover and now, she’s taking to the stage. And the next role she tackles is going to be a spicy one: Corrin is set to embody the infamous New York socialist-turned-con-artist Anna Delvey (real name Anna Sorokin).
The news broke when entertainment writer Baz Bamigboye shared an update via social media, which was then seemingly confirmed by London Theatre Direct. Per the update, Corrin is set to appear on London’s famed West End in Anna X at the Harold Pinter Theatre.
Anna X was written by Joseph Charlton and directed by Daniel Raggett. Between the respective talent of Corrin and Raggett, who is currently helming a new Broadway production of West Side Story, this is one play we’re hoping to see translated to screen.
emma corrin will star in a theatre production named Anna X, which takes place in the world of front-row fashion shows, alongside nabhaan rizwan. the theater season is planned to open in may in the west end 🎭 pic.twitter.com/0Huv3B331Q
Anna X follows a couple called Anna and Ariel. Their respective bios paint them as ciphers of Westen urbanite life. Meet Anna: “25. Curator. Retired intern. Previously @RAW magazine. I ♥ art, fashion, NYC,” and Ariel: “32. CEO of @GenesisApp. A social and dating network by invitation only. SF-NYC-LDN.”
Lucky Corrin fans and Delvey-obsessives in the West End audience will be “immersed in an addictive world of private views, front-row fashion shows, and endless parties,” as the pair spiral trying to climb up the social ladder.
This isn’t the first medium that’s decided to tackle the Anna Delvey story. If you’re quite fascinated with this whole sordid, sorry tale keep your eyes peeled for Netflix’s forthcoming TV miniseries Inventing Anna.
As we wait for Corrin and Julia Garners‘ interpretation of the former socialite, there’s also always Delvey’s own Instagram. We hear she’s launching a vlogging channel soon.
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Most recently, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis chose to honour their grandmother for Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom in the sweetest way, and apparently, their dedication has become quite a tradition among the royal family.
According to a new Instagram post from Kensington Royal, every yearGeorge,Charlotte, andLouismake cards for their “Granny”, Princess Diana, and gift them to their father,Prince William and his brotherPrince Harry, who lost their mother in 1997.
(Credit: Getty Images)
“This year Mother’s Day will be different once again. Many of us will be apart from our loved ones, but looking forward to a time in the not too distant future when we can give our mother a hug again,” the caption reads. “But for those experiencing bereavement, today may be particularly challenging.”
“Each year on Mother’s Day, George, Charlotte and Louis make cards remembering their Granny, Diana, for William,” the post continued. “Whatever your circumstances, we are thinking of you this Mother’s Day.”
“Dear Granny Diana, Happy Happy mothers day,” seven-year-old Prince George wrote in his letter, alongside a drawing of a landscape. “I love you very much and think of you always. Sending you lots of love.”
Meanwhile, five-year-old Princess Charlotte decorated a heart and wrote, “I am thinking of you on Mother’s Day. I love you very much. Papa is missing you. Lots of love.” While two-year-old Prince Louis wrote his name and decorated his own heart with an array of insect stickers.
Naturally, the young royals also paid homage to their own mother, Kate Middleton, thanking her with a sweet treat.
“Celebrating two other special mothers today ❤️,” read the Instagram caption. “🎂 made by George, Charlotte and Louis.”
In a separate Instagram post, the Cambridge family shared a photo of a cake baked by George, Charlotte, and Louis, served on a heart-shaped plate and decorated with colourful pipe cleaners. And on the second image was a touching throwback photo of the Duchess with her own mother,Carole Middleton.
The heartfelt tributes to the family’s matriarchs comes after Kate Middleton was spotted at the tribute for Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered in London while walking home on the night of March 3.
Visiting a memorial service at London’s Clapham Common, the Duchess attended the socially distanced event mask-free and laid a bouquet of yellow daffodils, taken from the gardens of Kensington Palace, and laid them at the site.
According to royal sources, the Duchess of Cambridge “remembers what it felt like to walk around London at night before she got married.”
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Another week of Married At First Sighthas brought us to yet another commitment ceremony, and it couldn’t come at a better time—following the last dinner party which saw Bryce and Sam come to blows over… respecting women? An argument ensued, water was thrown and frankly, we’re ready to move on from this storyline.
The episode sees Coco tell Cam she didn’t feel “supported” by him at the dinner party before they end the conversation with a kiss, which honestly, I wish I could erase from my memory for good.
Booka and Brett continue to be the cutest couple on the show, expert John Aiken slaps some sense into Bryce over his continuous displays of toxic masculinity and James, bizarrely, admits he’s in love with… Allessandra, and everyone’s like read the room, dude.
Eventually, we say goodbye to Russell and Beth, Coco and Sam and Sam and Cam. Adios! In next week’s episodes, we’ll be introduced to three new couples.
As always, if you want a rundown of tonight’s antics head to our nightly recap, and see below for the best reactions to MAFS‘ thirteenth episode.
After that kiss I'm suing Channel 9 for emotional damages.#MAFS#MAFSAU
The way Bryce keeps holding Melissa tighter and tighter as if he is gonna convince anyone they are in a happy and healthy relationship #MAFSpic.twitter.com/e79zMz19Nv
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So it’s the morning after THAT Married At First Sight dinner party. You know, the one where the two worst dudes, Bryce and Sam, were at loggerheads with each other about respecting women or something? Water was thrown, Patrick copped most of it even though he’s the sweetest angel in this show, etc.
Bryce seems to think Sam is jealous of him, and Melissa’s reaction to this was priceless.
“Dream on, babe”
He reckons everyone thinks they’re faking it coz they’re going so well. Mate, are you? I feel like everyone’s actually wondering if they need to extricate poor Melissa from that gaslighting situation at this point (and they should, to be honest).
Cam and Coco meet up to discuss his woeful lack of support at the dinner party, namely that he literally just avoided eye contact and was all Mariah Carey “I don’t know her” about Coco as soon as one smidgen of confrontation emerged with his wife, Sam.
Coco says she wanted some support, he sort of apologises, they make out in front of fifteen cameras.
Super romantic, guys
Everyone then gathers at that warehouse thing to make their Stay/Leave decisions and talk shit about their partners to other spouses. Joking! It’s pretty beige pre-ceremony. Then first on the couch are Booka and Brett, who are just so loved up you want to squeeze them ‘til they die.
They both wax lyrical about each other and their relationship, and you can tell the experts are stoked that at least one of these couples is working out.
Next is Melissa and Bryce. They go on about how great they’re going, until John pointedly asks Bryce about the dinner party and he looks like he’s going to wet his pants:
Tbh John IS terrifying
John is disappointed in his behaviour, and when Bryce tries to argue that it was him defending his wife, John’s like “uhhh, are you going to just start throwing water at anyone who says anything about Melissa, forever?” Good on John for calling out toxic masculinity like this. Sam gloats from the couch and John then goes in on him too. You can’t escape the John truth bombs, people! He will find you and he will COME FOR YOU.
Bryce tries to tell the experts about how he delusionally thinks this brought him and Melissa together, and they’re like “how did we make these people?” John says Melissa looks miserable (she does) and Bryce is so red he looks like he’s about to explode.
*screams internally*
In the end they both write stay but Bryce basically throws his flip thing onto the couch in anger. He is so off the experts and so convinced he’s in the Best Couple Ever. Oh dear.
Anyway! Alana and Jason are doing great, Bec and Jake have improved (sort of) but clearly have no chemistry at all. Bec writes leave but Jake writes stay.
Then it’s James and Joanne and what everyone’s been waiting for – who is James in love with?? It turns out it’s…. Allessandra, the sex therapist expert. Everyone is shocked at his truly awful, terrible joke. Joanne is like:
“well that’s me done here”
Allessandra is like:
“If I wasn’t contractually obligated to not cause a scene, I’d knee you in the balls”
James is oblivious to how absolutely shithouse his joke is, and when it comes to the decision, he writes leave because he’s STILL dirty at Joanne for the time she wrote “stay (for now)” which admittedly was a terrible call from her but also come on buddy, this is some long game retaliation shit here. She wrote stay and looks physically repulsed at the idea of having to hang around for another week with this cretin.
Patrick and Belinda are next, and obviously both write stay. Then it’s Russell and Beth, the most boring and chemistry-less couple in the experiment, and they thankfully admit their feelings haven’t grown beyond friendship and call time on their relationship. Bye, guys!
Then it’s Coco and Sam. They talk about just being friends (not even, really) and at one point Coco accidentally calls him Cam, which results in giggles all round except from Girl Sam who looks like she wants to rip Cam’s balls off, to be honest.
Note: the pillow divider, a nice touch
Coco corrects herself and then talk turns to her “relationship” with Cam. She explains that nothing has happened (even though we know something HAS), and Girl Sam says that while she was impressed that Coco spoke to her about it candidly, she wishes she did that before Intimacy Week because she hugged this guy for fifteen minutes and now wants to burn all his belongings in a funeral pyre.
In the end, Coco and Sam write leave. Then it’s Sam and Cam, who obviously write leave. It’s all pretty cut and dry with them.
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Trial By Fire isn’t a new film – it was actually released back in 2018 – but it’s certainly stirring up conversation thanks to it landing on Netflix this week. What you might not be as across is the true story behind the film.
Who Is Cameron Todd Willingham?
A Texan, Willingham was convicted in 1992 of the arson-related triple homicide of his three little girls after they died in a house fire he managed to escape. Willingham was far from an upstanding citizen, holding a criminal record and known for his violent tendencies – but never against his children.
Cameron Todd Willingham and his family
Did He Set The Fire?
Willingham insisted that he didn’t, plus early forensic evidence wasn’t conclusive. Still, he was sent to death row.
The investigative techniques used by police were also criticised, both around the time of his execution and after, in 2009. In August 2009 an investigative report by an expert hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission deduced that the original claims of arson were doubtful.
What Happened To Cameron Todd Willingham?
In 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed afters years of trying to appeal his conviction, maintaining his innocence until the end. He was 36 years old.
What Is The Film Based On?
While the events are based on real life, the film used this New Yorker article by David Grann as a reference point.
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New research reveals a staggering 94% of Australian women experience low self-esteem – to this we say, enough! To help women build confidence and banish self-doubt, marie claire has partnered with L’Oreal Paris to launch our #KnowYourWorth campaign, supported by female game-changers including this month’s cover star, Jessica Mauboy
We all know a brilliant woman who struggles with low self-esteem, an accomplished boss who battles with imposter syndrome, or a whip-smart woman stuck in a never-ending Instagram scroll comparing herself to airbrushed models.
We know her because we are her.
New research* conducted by L’Oreal Paris has found that 94 per cent of Australian women experience low self-esteem, 68 per cent say self-doubt is their biggest block to success, and nearly three-quarters have moments of self-doubt every week.
Also alarming is the fact that 87 per cent of women compare themselves to others, 73 per cent say they experience moments of self-doubt every week and nearly 70 per cent have experienced public harassment or felt unsafe in public. The crisis of confidence is also hindering working women at disproportionate rates to men: only 44 per cent of women are confident to ask for a pay rise compared to 62 per cent of men, and only 44 per cent of women go for jobs where they don’t meet the criteria compared to 62 per cent of men.
To help reverse these shocking stats, marie claire has partnered with beauty giant L’Oreal Paris to launch our joint Know Your Worth campaign. The initiative, featured in the April issue of marie claire (out now), showcases a lineup of high-profile, game-changing women who have all come together to say no to the self-doubt epidemic that impacts us all.
Says cover star Jessica Mauboy, who was also named a L’Oreal Paris “Woman of Worth” on International Woman’s Day: “It’s scary to look at the numbers and know that low self-esteem is such a huge issue. That’s why it’s important for us to tell our stories and be vulnerable with our struggles. Only then will we realise we’re not alone, and work together to help value, foster and know our worth. We need to back ourselves, always.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
L’Oreal Paris decided to conduct the survey to help celebrates the 50th anniversary of its iconic “Because I’m worth it” tagline. “It’s incredible to me that half a century later, the ‘I’m worth it’ message is still relevant and needed today,” says Mauboy.
To instigate change, we’ve bought together a group of trailblazing Australian women to fight self-doubt by sharing their own journeys to self-worth: athlete Ellyse Perry, chef and TV presenter Poh Ling Yeow and activist Rosie Batty (who were also just named L’Oreal Paris “Women of Worth”), as well as writer/TV presenter Phoebe Burgess and model/writer Jessica Vander Leahy.
For Mauboy, despite being one of the biggest stars in the country, the singer’s path to fame hasn’t been exempt from vulnerability – most notably when Kyle Sandilands made a disparaging comment about her weight on Australian Idol in 2006. “It’s honestly scary that a grown man spoke to a 16-year-old girl like that,” says Mauboy. “He made me feel self-conscious in front of millions of people.” The singer also details her recent decision to take control of her life, resulting in her parting ways with her record label of 14 years and long-term manager: “I knew I needed to do things my way and take the reins,” she says. “Last year was probably my lowest and also my highest because I gained so much strength.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
While the cricket pitch is the one domain where athlete Ellyse Perry feels like she is capable of asserting herself, she concedes her confidence is fluid, and names guilt as her biggest stumbling block. “At times I feel I’m not being a good enough family member or friend because sport is an inherently selfish job, so I’m often focused on myself,” says the captain of the Sydney Sixes. “I try to repay them by doing my best.”
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
“Self-esteem is like a muscle: it requires maintenance to keep it in shape,” says celebrity chef Poh Ling Yeow, who reveals she suffered from crippling shyness when she moved to Australia from Malaysia as a teen and was nick-named “geisha” for the thick make-up she wore. “In hindsight, my self-doubt was a double-edged sword – it made me feel invisible, but on the other hand, it made me fight harder,” she reveals.
(Credit: Image: Victoria Zschommeler)
2015 Australian of the Year, Rosie Batty, has struggled through adversity for years since the tragic murder of her son Luke at the hand of his father. “I’ve pushed through the fear until the moments of joy became more frequent than the moments of deep pain and sadness,” explains Batty. “For women struggling with their self-esteem, recognise it, give it a place, but don’t let it define you.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
While mum-of-two Phoebe Burgess has experienced huge challenges in the wake of her split from NRL star Sam Burgess, some old advice from her father held her in good stead: “People can only take your self-esteem if you let them”. Still, she concedes her confidence suffered a significant blow during her marriage, but there have been positives: “The think I love about myself is my resilience … I have a lot more strength than I ever gave myself credit for.”
(Credit: Image: Darren McDonald)
Finally, model and writer Jessica Vander Leahy reveals her international success has helped tame her inner critic/‘In the early days of my modelling career, I experienced a lot of rejection as a curvy woman of colour,” says the model. “Those knock-backs made me question the space I take up in the world, but ultimately they were character-building.”
Read more stories from high-profile Australian women on their journey to self-worth in the April issue of marie claire, on sale now. Also, visit marieclaire.com.au and our social feeds (@marieclaireau) for more stories and inspiring self-worth videos. Also look out for our #KnowYourWorth visual podcast series on IGTV, where over the next month editor Nicky Briger talks to experts about boosting self-esteem.
Finally, email us your own “How I knew my worth” story to marieclaire@aremedia.com.au, or share it on social media using the hashtag #KnowYourWorth (and tag marie claire). The best five will be published in an upcoming issue and receive a L’Oreal Paris gift pack.
*Source: L’Oreal Paris Bastion Insights Survey with N = 701 Australian women aged 18 and over, November 2020.
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According to 9Honey, the future princess treated herself to the expensive design (the yellow gold version retails for around $7,800 in Australia) as a reward for the success of Suits.
“When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season—which, at the time, felt like such a milestone—I totally splurged,” Markle told Hello.
“I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M.’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day,” she added.
(Credit: Cartier)Meghan Markle wearing the watch in 2013. (Credit: Getty)
The royal family has a long tradition of passing precious pieces of jewellery down through generations—Markle’s engagement ring features two diamonds from Princess Diana’s private collection, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, wears the sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to the late princess.
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In her 62 years, Barbie has become more than the sum of her accessories as an activist and an icon of empowerment and change. Here, we look back at her evolution and pay homage to the doll who defined our childhoods.
1959, BARBIE’S DEBUT
The brainchild of Ruth Handler, Barbie Millicent Roberts was first introduced to the world on March 9, 1959. Dressed in a black and white striped bodice with fiery red hair, she epitomised old-school glamour and was a reflection of the times.
The first Barbie doll, created in 1959 is displayed on April 6, 2009 in Paris during the “Barbie Fashion show 2009” (Credit: Getty Images)
1965, BARBIE WALKS ON THE MOON
Whatever man can do, Barbie can do better – and a whole four years earlier. Such was the case when Miss Astronaut Barbie hit shelves, marking her journey to the moon long before Neil Armstrong took that famous step. She’s had more than 200 different careers since then, sticking one to the patriarchy along the way.
1967, FIRST CELEBRITY BARBIE, TWIGGY, IS UNVEILED
As well as appearing on countless magazine covers, British model Twiggy was the first celebrity to have a Barbie made in her likeness. The doll wore her iconic makeup, striped minidress and knee-high boots.
1968, BLACK DOLLS INTRODUCED
To increase diversity, Christie – one of the first Black dolls – was released. She was dressed in a mod-inspired swimsuit and marked the beginning of a more inclusive chapter for Barbie.
1971, MALIBU BARBIE
The ’70s saw disco take over and Barbie relocate to the coast. Sun-kissed Malibu Barbie was your quintessential California girl and will celebrate her 50th
1992, BARBIE RUNS FOR PRESIDENT
Barbie has fronted seven US presidential campaigns, and the first was in 1992. Dressed in a star-spangled gown, she also came with a red power suit allowing for seamless transition from ballroom to boardroom.
2015, BARBIE ROLE MODELS
It’s one thing to say a girl can do anything, but you can’t be what you can’t see. Enter: Barbie role models, inspired by real women who have achieved extraordinary things (think Ava DuVernay).
2016, BARBIE FASHIONISTAS
Barbie Fashionistas ushered in a new era as Barbie became the ultimate shape-shifter and the most diverse doll on the market. Available in four body types, seven skin tones, 22 eye colours, 24 hairstyles, and different physical abilities, she was no longer confined to outdated beauty standards.
2019, DREAM GAP PROJECT
Proof she walks her talk, Barbie established the Dream Gap Project in 2018 to close the confidence gap between little girls and boys. In 2019, a fund of $250,000 was split between three charities – Step Up, She Should Run and She’s the First – that are working with communities to educate future female leaders, encourage them to enter politics, pursue careers and ensure they have the confidence to become their most emboldened selves.
In a radical embrace of self-expression, Barbie Extra puts forward the notion of style as a state of mind. Blue hair? Duh. Clashing prints and bold shapes? Absolutely. Changing your mind about who you are every day? Totally fine! So long as you do things on your terms, anything is possible.
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With a cheating scandaland yet another alleged wine throwing incident on the Married At First Sighthorizon, you’d think we’d be just about done with the drama quota this season. But, the Channel Nine social experiment is always full of surprises, releasing the details of the four (yes, four!) new intruders set to spark some serious drama between the couples next week.
Without further ado, here are the four new faces joining MAFS for its 2021 season.
Georgia, 25, QLD
First up with have Georgia, a 25-year-old entrepreneur from Brisbane. She describes herself as “confident, upbeat and friendly”, and with not a lot fo dating experience, the bride admits she’s not settling for anyone who won’t support her dreams. She’s looking for someone special who’s not intimidated by her business drive, who also needs to have “their shit together.”
Kerry, 30, QLD
This “fiercely independent and head-strong” bride is “living life to the fullest” and is ready to push herself out of her comfort zone. Kerry recently split from her husband, who she’d been with for six years, after she realised she wasn’t in love anymore. Hailing from the Sunshine Coast, the occupational therapist loves her sports, describing one of her favourite things to do as “drink beer and watch AFL.”
Liam, 29, QLD
A colourful prison officer from Brisbane, Liam likes to “speak his mind” and “stir the pot” when he’s bored, describing himself as an “Aussie Bogan” growing up on a farm and riding horses. With a complicated upbringing, Liam wants to find the right person to settle down and have a family of his own. He’s openly bisexual and is in the search of someone to settle down with.
Johnny, 30, QLD
A theatre producer from Brisbane, Johnny is a romantic at heart who is on the search to meet “Miss Right.” Having already been divorced, Johnny is looking to break down his walls and find someone who’ll fit in with his large Italian family.
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Prince William has publicly denied Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s accusations against the royals, in particular claims that the family took issue with Archie’s skin colour, which were revealed during their tell-all interview with Oprah.
On March 11, while on a visit to a London school, Prince William was asked by a reporter if he had spoken to his brother about the interview, he responded, “No, I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I will do.”
The reporter then followed up by asking, “Can you just let me know, is the royal family a racist family, sir?” to which William replied, “We are very much not a racist family,” while continuing to walk with Kate.
Prince William says he hasn’t spoken to his brother yet but will do and they are “very much not a racist family”. pic.twitter.com/3j0AulDDOB
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning,” the statement reads.
“While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately.”
During their interview with Oprah, Meghan and Harry revealed that while they served as senior members of the royal family, there were “concerns and conversations abouthow dark [Archie’s] skin might be.”
But while Harry didn’t reveal which member of the royal family it was, Oprah did confirm that he wanted to make it clear that it was not Her Majesty nor Prince Philip who made the comments.
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Today, women around the world are grieving. We’re grieving following the story of yet another woman whose life hasn’t just been lost—it’s been violently taken from her. Once again, we’re confronted with violence against women—a woman who could have been any of us.
On March 3, 33-year-old Sarah Everard disappeared after leaving a friend’s house in Clapham, south London. She wasn’t alone in a dark alley. She wasn’t drunk and getting into a stranger’s car. She followed the unspoken rules women are conditioned to believe will keep them safe: she walked the most well lit, busiest route, and even called her partner along the way to check in.
Women everywhere will know exactly what Sarah was thinking on that walk home. We know why she took the longer route along the well-lit streets, and why she called her partner along the way. She was doing these things because these are the things women do when we walk alone at night. These are the precautions we take, even though it shouldn’t be about precaution, it should be about men simply not raping or murdering women.
Following Sarah’s disappearance, a serving Metropolitan police officer was arrested on suspicion of her murder, with a woman also arrested on suspicion of assisting.
Police advised women in Clapham to not go out alone so they could be kept safe—a directive that not only comes when walking outside is one of the only forms of freedom (London is, of course, in lockdown), but one that pushes blame onto Sarah—that if she had just stayed home, this wouldn’t have happened. As always, the question being asked is how do women keep themselves safe, rather than how do we stop men from being perpetrators of violence?
Police search for Sarah Everard (Credit: Getty Images)
This is, of course, commentary we know well. In 2018 when the body of 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon was found in Melbourne’s Princes Park after she’d been brutally murdered and raped, Australian police responded by telling women to be “mindful of their surroundings”, to “stay safe” by using “protective strategies.”
In 2021, ADF General Angus Campbell told first-year cadets to avoid drinking and going out alone if they look “attractive” as a means of protecting themselves, but the issue remains, as long as we continue to believe these are the means of protecting ourselves, those intent on harming us will continue to do so.
What police continually fail to recognise is that women will never truly be safe. These tactics that will supposedly keep us safe, don’t. The conversation we need to have when these acts of violence occur is “how do we stop violence against women?” but every time a woman is raped or murdered, that conversation gets drowned out by men.
For example, when the story prompted an outpouring from women online discussing their own experiences of walking alone at night, the hashtag #NotAllMen began to trend—with men outraged over women telling stories of feeling scared or afraid at night. The thread was filled with phrases of “I’m not the problem” and “only 1 out of 9 are the problem.”
This defensive stance from men is the problem. Every time women speak up about the systemic issue of violence against women, we’re drowned out by men who want to reaffirm that they are not rapists or murderers. And they’re not—but, as author Emma Burnell put it best in her now-viral Tweet: “We know it’s not all men but we absolutely don’t know which men it is.”
We know it's 'not all men' but we absolutely don't know which men it is.
We need to collectively start having these conversations without defensiveness or derailment. Men need to listen and learn, step up and take a stand against violence.
It’s true what they say, if you’ve never had to feel afraid by the simple task of walking home under the dim light of street lamps, looking ahead for escape routes and walking at a slightly quicker pace, all while tiny hairs prickle your body when you see a dark figure in the distance: you’re a man.
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Behind every great woman is a man who feels inspired and enlightened. In celebration of International Women’s Day, we asked six people to describe their leading ladies.
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Brooke Boney
Aspire Talent Group Director Mark Jones on the Today Show Co-Host
I first met Brooke in 2018 when my client [Paralympian] Dylan Alcott was working with her at triple j. Later that year, she was approached by the Today show, and as she didn’t have a manager at the time, Dylan asked if I could help with her contract. We had a meeting that became one of the most defining two hours of my professional and personal life. I came away thinking Brooke was someone who has the ability to change Australia and potentially the world. At that time, [my company was called] The Sport Group, but I went back to my business partner and said, “We have to work with this girl, and rename and reshape our business to do that.”
She’d been on Today for three weeks when she delivered that amazing editorial about Australia Day and changing the date. The aftermath of that moment, for me, was incredibly confronting and transformative. I thought I was educated and aware, but I realised how little I knew and understood about social justice and equality through the lens of Indigenous Australians. Brooke is an amazing communicator. She speaks from her heart, but also from a place of very deep knowledge and, of course, lived experience. That is something that you can’t replicate – it’s the lived experience of her mum, her grandmother, her mob. I consider it an absolute privilege to be able to pick her brain and learn from her. She’s deeply aware of the responsibility that comes with being seen by people across the country, who start to understand her life story and challenges, but also of the opportunity to inspire others. She breaks down barriers just by being herself. Brooke has fundamentally changed the way I view the world and operate within it.
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Courtney Act
Performer Shane Jenek on becoming their muse
I was drawn to drag from a young age. In 2000, when I was 18, I was coming out and discovering myself. I moved to Sydney, and there wasn’t really an opportunity for me to express femininity in any sort of socially acceptable way. So I stepped out as Courtney and felt my way into drag, which was a place where you could express femininity and it’d be celebrated. When you go out as a boy, there are all of these rules you have to conform to. Drag was such a bucking of the system that the rules were left in your hands.
Courtney has been the biggest influence on my sense of self. I was always trying and failing to be more masculine. Even up until 2013, despite doing drag, I still had a lot of shame, and it was very compartmentalised: Shane on one side, Courtney on the other. It took conversations evolving and for the gender fluid label to exist, for me to realise, “Oh, that fits better.” That was when the compartmentalisation of Courtney and Shane stopped. Over my life, I’ve come to understand being Courtney and performing in drag is authentically me. It was the thing I was never able to stop doing, despite most of the world telling me I should. That’s always a good yardstick; if it’s something you love, makes you happy and isn’t harming anyone, then that’s the thing to listen to. Unless it’s drugs, in which case you should probably stop.
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Kylie Kwong
Environmental educator Clarence Slockee on the esteemed chef and restaurateur
I’ve been yarning with Kylie for more than 10 years, since we met at the Australian Botanic Gardens. She’d reached out to learn more about First Nations culture and native species. Something I really admire about her is that she just gets shit done. She’s very driven; she doesn’t have time to muck around, but she gives of her time – when she is with someone, she’s totally present with you. That’s rare for busy people like her. And she’s such a positive person, that’s what struck me when we first met; her positivity and energy.
She’s not a First Nations Australian, but she has this amazing love for and affinity with First Nations people, which is truly authentic. Kylie has had a huge impact in really bringing to the fore how our native ingredients can be incorporated into dishes. She’s been so passionate about reminding people, particularly other chefs, of where these ingredients come from and the importance of engaging First Nations people in the conversation around those plants and seeds. She’s been a real game-changer.
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Leah Purcell
Actor Hunter Page-Lochard on the powerhouse actor and director
I was brought up in the theatre and film world, and the Black community was vibrant within the arts – it was a unit. Everyone knew and supported one another, and that’s how I came to know Leah. But it wasn’t until Brothers Wreck in 2014, which I starred in and she directed, that our relationship really evolved. It was such a personal play, and Leah was like a mother throughout that whole experience. She knew exactly what we, not only as a mob, but as individuals, have gone through. She could nurture, as well as dictate, to get the best out of you. She really fucking pulls it out of you, as a director. There was one instance where I had a breakthrough because of Leah. Back then, I would perform anger, rather than just live in it. But Leah pressed me and didn’t stop until I made her believe it. That day, she said the most beautiful thing to me: “Now you’re an actor.” I’ll take that moment to the grave. I still look in the mirror and say that was the day I became an actor.
She’s taught me that there’s a beautiful side to your ugliness and to not overprotect yourself. What I admire most about Leah is her resilience and passion. She is a strong-arsed woman and a phenomenal talent – a real trailblazer who should be celebrated by all of Australia as someone who always pushes boundaries to create memorable performances that continue to shine. She is an absolute inspiration.
(Credit: Image: Cameron Grayson)
Hilde Hinton
Actor Samuel Johnson on his sister and acclaimed author
I was three when my mum died by suicide. My sister Connie was four, and our elder 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 – she taught us how to be bold and adventurous, how to jump off cliffs, to try to fly. We came from heavy dysfunction. Our family was screwy; shit went wrong all the time and it was a very uncertain upbringing. Hilde provided a critical ballast for me and Connie. When Connie was sick with cancer and we started our charity, Love Your Sister, Connie got quite a bit of shine and I’ve had my shine through showbiz, but Hilde’s the shining light behind the scenes. Both my sisters urged me to become a better man and a better human. Without them I’d just be another empty showbiz shell – I wouldn’t have a substantial life that I’m really proud of. Women have shaped everything about who I am today, and I’m very grateful.
For my upcoming book, Dear Mum, I asked prominent Australians to write letters to their mums; it’s such a gorgeous and important tribute to women. One of the things to emerge from the shadows of Connie’s passing [in 2017] was my resplendent relationship with Hilde. She’s always been the interesting one. She’s sparkly and bubbly, and she’s not shy with her heart or her ideas. She’s got a razor-sharp wit, a deep intelligence, a keenness for fun. She’s our bold pioneer who taught us to go to the places that scare you. But underneath it all she’s just a loving human and a terrific mum. She was Connie’s hero, she’s my hero, and to us she was always the sister in Love Your Sister.
(Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Edwina Forest
Aje CEO Adrian Norris on the label’s co-founder and creative director
I met Edwina at a shop in Queensland in 2005. She thought I was a lost Norwegian tourist, but I thought she was the one who was out of this world. She was incredibly beautiful and impeccably well dressed. Edwina radiated friendliness and warmth, and nothing has changed. After that initial meeting, we became solid friends.
She moved to Sydney to work for a fashion magazine and I had my own retail store in Noosa. I started creating a fashion line, but after a collection or two I realised it just wasn’t very cool, so I called on Edwina to help me make adjustments. Needless to say, Edi has incredible taste and a very attuned eye, and our collaboration as Aje was born. We’ve now worked together for 13 years and I admire so many qualities in her; she likes to dig deeper and has a sincere curiosity about the world. We have a bit of a brother/sister dynamic and I can’t imagine my life – or business – without Edwina. She’s one of a kind.
This feature originally appeared in the April issue of marie claire Australia, on stands now.
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Magic Mike Live has been dubbed a glorious celebration of female desire, a spectacle of sweaty, sculpted male dancers who really, really care about what women want. But in reality, is it a feminist’s worst nightmare or a dream come true?
Image: Courtney with the Magic Mike Live cast, clockwise from left: Dayton Tavares, Chris Van Doren, Blake Varga, Ned Zaina, Anthony Bartley, Jake Paul Green, Aaron Theodore Cooke and Nathan Kara. Photo by Damian Bennett
When Princess Marie Bonaparte couldn’t orgasm, she went to Sigmund Freud. She’d already failed to treat herself by undergoing experimental surgery to shorten the distance between her clitoris and vulva, so she approached the psychoanalyst seeking to understand her inability to climax during sex. It was to Bonaparte that he famously remarked: “The great question that has never been answered and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my 30 years of research into the feminine soul, is ‘What does a woman want?’”
Clearly, Freud had never been to see Magic Mike Live.
For the uninitiated, the Magic Mike journey began with the 2012 film, in which Channing Tatum and director Steven Soderbergh immortalised Tatum’s true story of becoming a stripper at 18. It spawned what has now become the Magic Mike industrial complex. In the nine years since, there have been two films, a live production that’s toured Las Vegas, London and Berlin, and a Broadway musical.
With his erotic routines, Tatum has seemingly done what Freud could never: discovered what women want. In creating Magic Mike Live, specifically, the actor writes he tried to “provocatively jumpstart the conversation about what it is that women really want”. The show, which premiered in 2017, is sold as “empowering, exhilarating and unexpected”. Tatum urges us to “imagine a world where all women were empowered to ask for more – from men, from a night out, from everything they wanted – and all of their desires were met.”
I’m not the type to drink the Kool-Aid. So the idea that a show of topless men will finally – finally! – give me what I “want” seems like a tall order. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the show; my issue with Magic Mike Live’s premise is that it just seems to be promising a bit much. I want my feminism to agitate for structural change, and I’m not exactly sure how a group of 16 half-naked himbos dry-humping a stage does that. My vibe is more bell hooks’ than beefcakes, and given a choice between a protest or brunch date, I’d pick the protest. Which is probably why my editor asked me to attend the show: I was easily the most cynical. But, y’know, I did what I was told.
Magic Mike Live (Credit: Image: Peter Brew-Bevan)
Upon arrival, there’s an eclectic mix of women congregated: hens parties taking photos out the front with bright-red feather boas draped across their shoulders, mother-daughter pairs sitting patiently in the lobby with glasses of champagne in hand, and groups of friends who are clearly just there for a good time after enduring the shit-show of 2020. The air feels kinetic, the novelty of attending a live performance evidently not lost on anyone.
The show opens with a male MC, who looks as though he smells of Joop and had me nearly choke on my prosecco with the line, “You’ve got some precipitation in the pussy, I’m going to need a cumbrella.” Thankfully, the show shifts gears five minutes later, subverting expectations by having a middle-aged woman named Amy take the reins. Meanwhile, the men change from costumes that make them look like the Village People into T-shirts and jeans with their Calvins peeking out. Amy is sarcastic and unashamed in her lust for the dancers, setting the tone for the show with a list of her desires: a guy with a really great smile, who laughs at all of her jokes; the guy on the train reading She Comes First; a CEO who pays his women employees just as much as men – actually, no, she’s the CEO.
The dudes seem happy to go along for the ride, returning her remarks with a wink. Speaking of the dudes, I doubt it needs clarifying, but they are very hot. It’s a wonder Magic Mike Live wasn’t around when Raewyn Connell first wrote on hegemonic masculinity, because I’m pretty sure these are the kind of guys she had in mind.
The show originally included a lap-dance and slow dancing for a few lucky audience members. COVID threw those out the window, but the men more than make up for the lack of close contact. From one telling a woman she’s “more than beautiful” to others who take time out of their dance routines to thrust in the direction of specific audience members, the men ensure every woman feels seen.
Then, there’s the horniness. It is very horny. While there’s no full-frontal nudity, it doesn’t need any because there are moments hot enough I’m certain that most attendees are calculating the time it’ll take them to get home, or to their nearest fuckbuddy. Or, at least, I surprisingly was.
In two scenes one of the men is joined by a female dancer for what can only be described as very creative sexual simulations. One takes place in cascading rain, the other on aerial ropes, and in both, the dancers writhe in sync, creating a choreographed interpretation of what sex could look like when the pleasure and enjoyment of both people is the top priority. Here, the woman is an active – rather than passive – participant. I make a note to encourage any friend who’s told me they struggle asserting themselves during sex to see the show, because even if we can’t contort our bodies like the dancers, as least we can try keep that same energy.
(Credit: Image: Damian Bennett)
The show’s sincere pursuit of sex positivity resonates most. Masturbation is encouraged, cunnilingus naturally incorporated and women’s desire is centred. With a soundtrack that ranges from Fatman Scoop’s booming “Be Faithful” to Sam Smith’s “Latch”, it straddles the line of being both earnest and tongue-in-cheek, delivering a perceptive meditation on women’s pleasure. Sex positivity can curdle into something cringe when it forces people into situations they’re uncomfortable with, but Magic Mike Live simply implores you to have a good time.
Co-creator and choreographer Alison Faulk tells me they wanted to create a show that prompts introspection as opposed to crafting something didactic. “Women, we change what we want all the time. We might feel something one moment, and then totally different the next. That’s OK! It’s more about giving people permission to ask themselves what they want,” she explains over the phone from Los Angeles. “Chan and all of us really wanted to give people the permission to really be like, ‘Well, what do I want?’ Maybe no-one’s ever asked them before. Hopefully, we do it in a way that’s fun and not overly serious.”
Judging by the audience’s enduring screams, it would seem very few of them actually had been asked that before. The response is nothing short of hysterical, to the extent that at one point, my friend turned to me and asked, “Do you think they’ve ever seen a man before?” In the era where WAP goes platinum and platforms like OnlyFans are mainstream, I’d believed an issue like sexual liberation to be a bit passé, but the show made me realise how far we still have to go.
In fact, the audience seem to be taking the assertion that they can have whatever they want a little too literally: on more than one occasion a woman reaches out to touch one of the dancers, despite the show’s repeated refrains that we are to look, not touch. I mean, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, and you’d think people would heed a health hazard warning, even before you take into account the potential breaches of consent. And yet!
Courtney with the cast, clockwise from top left: Charles Bartley, Joshua Williams, Nick Phillips. Kit Clark, Sam Marks and Brian Siregar (Credit: Image: Damian Bennett)
A few days later, I’m sitting with the men themselves. They’re dressed in their suits from the show and look like the suave businessmen you walk past in the CBD. In conversation, they’re distinctive: Charlie is thoughtful, Nick is charming, Josh is sweet, Kit is assertive and Brian is a little bit cheeky. I want to know how they feel about the attention – the good, and the bad.
I learn the grabby woman I saw is just the tip of the non-consensual iceberg. They’ve had women up on stage when they’re not meant to be, others opening up their legs to reveal a lack of underwear and, because it’s 2021, some unsolicited nudes in their DMs. “I never take it personally,” Kit says, unfazed. “I mean, that’s what the show is. They’re having a good time. It’s not like they didn’t see the movie.” Even if the men aren’t totally unsettled, I still am. There’s a false assumption that buying a ticket to Magic Mike Live also gives you permission to act without consequence or, I don’t know, basic dignity and respect.
Women presumably behave this way because they’re granted so few opportunities to truly express themselves sexually. I ask the guys if doing the show made them realise how badly women settle – in love and sex. “We definitely do underestimate that,” Nick explains, holding my gaze the entire time he addresses me, with the others nodding emphatically. “Something so simple as locking eyes with them for five seconds and holding it: if they lock in there with you, you can literally see them drop out of reality and go into this trance. Everybody does have a sensual or sexual side, but some people’s are so repressed.”
It was 1925 when a sexually frustrated Bonaparte went to Freud for answers, and almost 100 years later Magic Mike Live might have finally unearthed part of the puzzle of women’s desire: being seen, feeling understood, having their pleasure prioritised. Chiselled adonises who can dance also don’t hurt.
Magic Mike Live is currently performing in Sydney until 16 May and touring Australia, visiting Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. You can purchase tickets here.
This feature originally appeared in the April issue of marie claire, on stands now.
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The process of undressing can be many things; harried, seductive, thoughtless, or filled with deliberation and anticipation. The circumstances will, obviously, inherently shape the mood that comes with any state of undress, and there are few instances as exciting as when you’re arriving at a party in the middle of winter and remove your copious layers of warmth to reveal the pièce de résistance.
Chanel’s latest runway show captured that very feeling with the Fall-Winter 2021 collection, which matched voluminous winter pieces suited to the slopes with dresses fit for the club. Because make no mistake; that’s exactly where Virginie Viard was transporting us this year in lieu of the Grand Palais, which is currently closed for renovations. Specifically, she was taking us to Chez Castel, the illustrious Left Bank nightclub that Jean Castel opened in the 1960s. The multi-floored club has played host to everyone from Françoise Hardy to Mick Jagger over its lifetime and has been an enduring icon of Parisian cool.
“I like Castel so much for its many salons, the spiral staircase, its bar, the journey through this venue, its little house style, where the models can get changed, dressed and undressed, do their make-up together, and have fun like a girls night in,” Viard explained in the show notes. “It’s very sensual.”
Contrast was the centerpiece; between volumes, materials and spirit. Think heavy tweed coats draped over delicate chiffon dresses, bare legs wearing voluminous boots in black curly faux fur and ski pants worn with short cropped jackets and black lace camisoles. The late Stella Tennant, a famed Chanel muse, was also an inspiration evidenced in the sequined ballet flats, strass-covered minaudières worn like a sautoir necklace, a man’s black shirt with a white collar and cuffs under a precious suit in navy lurex.
“I love contrasts, so for the more voluminous winter pieces, I wanted a small space. I don’t know if this is because of the times we live in, but I wanted something warm, lively,” Viard said, describing the atmosphere of the show.
“I imagined the models doing a show for themselves, going from room to room, crossing each other in staircases, piling their coats up in the cloakroom and going up to the next floor to get changed. And I thought of the shows that Karl would tell me about, back in the day, a long time ago, when the models would dress themselves and do their own make-up”.
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As far as cars go, SUVs have the It-factor—everyone wants the practicality they offer up, with everything from high-views, state-of-the-art safety features, and plenty of space to suit the entire family. But no one wants to feel like they’re driving a four-wheeler monster truck, so the SUV provides the perfect solution with its compact road presence and interior space. Navigating which one best suits you, is another story though.
Enter: Hyundai’s 2021 Venue model.
The Venue compact SUV draws on the company’s extensive experience in the sports utility market, which dates back to the launch of the ever-popular Santa Fe in 2001, with Hyundai Motor Company Australia Chief Executive Officer, JW Lee saying of the latest addition” “The new Venue is ahead of the curve, offering customers a high level of value in a practical and well-equipped compact SUV.”
Basically, the new range-entry model combines the rugged looks and practical benefits of an SUV and light car, with advanced safety technologies, all with a price that won’t break the bank.
It also comes equipped with a large tablet-style multimedia display, which includes Apple CarPlay, AndroidAuto, and a reverse camera, all with a sophisticated and sleek finish thanks to the use of black, grey, and denim-coloured interior trim combinations.
The Venue comes fitted out with its new Aussie-tuned suspension and steering calibration, too, all designed to tackle our uniquely challenging urban and country roads, including unique calibrations suited to snow, mud, or even sand driving—so you’ll feel safe on those weekend getaways exploring all the breathtaking locations our country has to offer.
Not to mention, its automatic variants come with a Drive Mode system that allows the driver to choose a powertrain setting best suited to their personal driving style.
The result? A charming and fun car, with intuitive control responses, communicative steering, and playful chassis dynamics that make it continually rewarding to drive.
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There’s a lot to be said for how online we are. And perhaps even more to be said about the smooth brain state most of us enjoy as a result.
Do you understand that sentence? If not, I have good news for you: you’re probably well-adjusted. If you do, then the ABC series Why Are You Like This was made for you.
Set in Melbourne, the show follows three best friends – Penny, Mia and Austin – failing to figure things out as very, very online millennials. Penny is a straight white woman who tries to be the Ultimate Ally but usually just ends up taking up an unnecessarily large amount of space, Mia is a South Asian bisexual woman who’s a bit – okay, no, quite a bit – cruel but gives few shits about it and Austin is a baby drag queen who treats his depressive episodes with tiktok dance videos and memes. They kinda suck, but that’s kinda the point. As co-creator and writer Naomi Higgins (who also stars as Penny) tells marie claire: “The whole point of the show is to just be like: ‘hey, look, this is fucked’”.
The series satirises the “hellscape that is 2021” with nothing off limits; from cancel culture to identity politics they mine that hell thoroughly and to very entertaining ends.
The brainchild of Higgins along with lawyer and illustrator Humyara Muhbub, and comedian Mark Bonanno (Aunty Donna), the series was developed through Fresh Blood – the joint initiative between ABC and Screen Australia to foster new talent. The team received a grant in 2018 to produce a four-part web series and subsequently got the order for a six episode first season. It’s already been picked up by Netflix and will stream internationally later this year.
Here, marie claire has a fairly chaotic chat with Mahbub and Higgins about their friendship inspiring the show, cultural criticism that makes them feel suicidal and the dire need for arts funding in Australia: “give us money!” (You should do what they say.)
Austin (Wil King), Penny (Naomi Higgins) and Mia (Olivia Junkeer) (Credit: Image: Supplied)
mc: Where did you start with Why Are You Like This?
Naomi: It was when Fresh Blood came about. I’ve always wanted to make a sitcom, they’re my favourite, and when I was thinking about who I could write it with, I thought of Hum. I talked about it with Mark (the other co-creator and writer) and we decided to try get Hum on board to write about mine and Hum’s friendship. And Hum had never really written any comedy before but–
Hum: I was actually illiterate; illiterate and blissful.
Naomi: Absolutely. And I said, ‘Do you want to write about a terrible friendship? Because it might make good TV’. And she said, ‘yeah, I’m not doing anything else.’
mc: Hum, when I first met you, I thought you were a TV writer. Because you’re so funny.
Hum: Someone else said to me recently that I would make a great celebrity, like I was meant for it. And I was like, you know what? I am meant for this.
mc: Tell me about how you both met.
Hum: We met at Splendour one year because Naomi’s boyfriend was performing and my boyfriend was also performing, so unfortunately we were brought together by men.
Naomi: We were brought together as chuckle fuckers.
Hum: Anyway, so we spent all three days hanging out, walking around in the dirt. Naomi saw me yell at multiple men and I think she liked that. There was a guy who tried to sell me coconut water and I said, ‘No.’
Naomi: Literally; a white man with dreadlocks came up to us and said, ‘would you like some– ’ Hum was halfway through a sentence and she went, ‘literally never!’ Then just kept talking. And I was like, ‘this is my kind of woman’.
mc: So the show started with your friendship, was there anything about your friendship that you particularly wanted to tease out or explore?
Naomi: The first conversation that Hum and I had was in a group setting at about Taylor Swift and Kanye West. We started basically emphatically screaming and agreeing with each other about the gendered and racial aspects of that feud, and no one else cared. I thought: ‘finally! Someone who cares about the intersection of very important issues and things that don’t matter at all!’ And I would say that’s what the show does.
Hum: The yelling and agreeing is really important. It’s like we’re agreeing, but we’re still mad about it. It’s something I really value about our relationship.
Naomi: We’re always mad, but usually in agreement…usually. If we’re talking about Matt Damon, then we’re screaming in disagreement and it gets really heated.
mc: Who is pro and who’s anti Matt Damon?
Naomi: I’m anti, Hum’s pro.
Hum: Naomi’s only anti Matt Damon because she’s white and she feels she has to hold her kinsmen to account or something.
mc: Matt Damon’s fine. He’s kind of random, I mean, he’s one of those white men who’s always just…there.
Naomi: Well, this is the thing. Hum’s greatest flaw is that her favourite movie is Ocean’s Eleven. So that probably has something to do with it. Print that. Print that!
Hum: I love Ocean’s Eleven, it’s a perfect movie. I love an ensemble cast.
mc: I agree. I don’t know if it’s problematic, but I do love Brad Pitt.
Naomi: So you are cancelled, unfortunately, Courtney.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFjK2P-hv2X/
mc: I mean, I was cancelled long ago, so that’s all good. The show feels quite specific in both characterisation and references. When you were developing it, was that ever a concern? Or did you go into it like: we know who this is for and who this serves?
Hum: We did. We built the show out of very specific incidents that have really happened to us. So a lot of the stuff in the pilot, for example, really happened to Nom. We were pretty adamant about a lot of it just being for the people it’s for. There’s no reason for it to be for everyone. It’s tiny. We maybe don’t want too much money and it’s about us and what we think is funny. But also, we did try exploring concepts that would be alien to people who aren’t permanently online. We wanted to explain them in a way that won’t be annoying to the people who already know what it is, but will provide enough context clues for the people who don’t understand it. For example, Episode Five is set during Ramadan. So we did do a bit of work to make it understandable for people who don’t know what Ramadan is. However, it shouldn’t be like: “And this is what Ramadan is! And at night time we do this. Anyway, here’s another religion!”
mc: You mentioned at the start that your favourite genre is sitcom. Did you have any shows or comedians in mind that you drew from for inspiration?
Naomi: Yeah, one of my favourite shows is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I’ve always been more drawn to shows where the characters aren’t good people, which is very true for our show as well. It’s different to It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, because that’s about a group of mostly white men just sort of fucking around. We wanted to expand on that, make these people minorities, like a bisexual, Muslim woman and be like, oh yeah, she’s also a huge piece of shit. That’s just funny. To me, that’s funny.
mc: It is funny when people are bad. Can you elaborate on that? Why it was important for your characters to be bad people?
Hum: Yeah, I’m actually gonna go full red pill in this interview. I feel like a lot of cultural criticism now is just, I don’t know, people who got half a degree in literature or something and now are like, ‘this show has a person who did a bad thing and therefore, this show is condoning said bad thing’. Which is so lame, every time I see it, it makes me wanna shoot myself. First of all, it’s funnier [to have bad people]. But also, if we’re talking about making serious art, it’d made for better serious art, too, because we can actually explore what really happens in the world, and how people are mostly, I don’t know, capricious, and venal and terrible and disgusting. That’s people!
Naomi: When you have a really simplistic view, like when Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri came out, and they’re like, ‘wait, this character’s racist!’ And that was the entire criticism. It’s like, you’re trying to see the world in black and white and, yeah, that guy is racist and he said one funny comment once, that doesn’t mean the movie is saying he’s a good person worthy of redemption. So, we really like exploring those grey areas and those grey areas are really easy to explore when everyone’s doing something wrong. Having bad characters means you don’t have to present certain characters, like the protagonist, as the moral centre of the show. Because what we don’t wanna do with the show is preach or teach any lessons about how to be a better person in the world. The whole point of the show is to just be like: ‘hey, look, this is fucked’.
mc: Because it is.
Naomi: Yeah, everything’s fucked. Stop trying to pretend things aren’t fucked. Everything is fucked!
mc: I mean, Sam Rockwell seems to play a racist piece of shit in almost every film he appears in.
Hum: He’s got a racist face
(Credit: Image: Supplied)
mc: I think so. I want to expand on that point about cultural criticism. When it comes to representations of women or minorities, there can be an instinct to gloss over how much they suck and instinctively justify their shittiness by making it empowering or something. It’s often like: ‘how are they empowering? How are they powerful?’ And sometimes, it’s like, well… they’re neither. They just are.Or, they’re just a bit shit!
Hum: Bitches need representation!
mc: At the same time, it’s not always that deep. You can just have a really funny show with the people who are super entertaining.
Naomi: I mean, exactly. There are so many shows where they’re like ‘how can you paint this minority in a bad light?’ And it’s like they’re just a person, you’re still the one putting them in a box. Just chill, bro.
Hum: We got to have a lot of fun with the Ramadan episode because we got to deal with a lot of different kinds of women and Muslims and girls being brown and/or not brown – Naomi’s white, I don’t know if you know that – So we got to have a fun breaking people out of those boxes. That was something I enjoyed doing.
Naomi: Yeah, which is very easy for Hum to do as someone who has grown up Muslim and for me and Mark to just sit there and be like, I guess we’re saying it. Okay!
Hum: They made me cut out a “Muslims are terrorists” joke. And that was a real infringement on my artistic freedom.
Naomi: Hey, that wasn’t me.
mc: You were saying that a lot of stuff in the show is drawn from real life; have you ever had a gay male friend fish a moon cup out of your vagina?
Hum: Well, the moon cup thing happened to me. Unfortunately, I did not have a gay friend around and for that; I blame the entire LGBTQI community. So I had to go to the doctor like an idiot. It was… it was fine. We got it out. But after, I was like, that would have been a lot better if I didn’t have to go to a doctor for that. But then I started the pill and now I just don’t have my period anymore.
Naomi: Print that!
(Credit: Image: Supplied)
mc: How do you see this show fitting into the Australian TV landscape? I read somewhere that you said you wanted to make the filthiest show possible.
Naomi: I don’t know, I guess people have compared it to Please Like Me, but I think the only thing that it really has in common with that is that it has queer characters, and that it’s sort of young and Australian? I wouldn’t say in any other way that it’s really similar at all. That and the names of the shows are sentences.
Hum: So it’s basically the same obviously.
Naomi: Yeah, exactly the same. And it’s like Broad City because it has two girls in it. It’s quite different to other stuff that’s on TV. And I wish I wasn’t saying that. There are so many talented comedians and writers in Australia that are so funny. And there should be so many more shows. Not like ours, but alongside ours that are different. Because it’s a shame there aren’t more.
Hum: Yeah, I would say that we’re different from other stuff on Australian TV, not because Australian TV is all the same. But nobody’s giving people money to make really cool shit.
Naomi: Give us the money!
mc: What do you what do you want people to take away from the show? If anything.
Hum: I want people to be worse after watching our show. Believe in your worst self.
mc: Do you think people are better by being their worst selves? Do you think we try too hard to be our best selves?
Hum: I just think it’s funny to be a bitch. It’s great.
Naomi: Yeah, I would say you’d save you save a lot of time. Since knowing Hum – I was already a bitch, to be fair – I’ve become a lot more of a bitch and I have so much extra time on my hands from being a bitch.
(Credit: Image: Supplied)
mc: This has gone really well. I hope you’ve enjoyed this very serious investigative interview into your show. My final question: If there would be a legacy for the show, what would you want it to be?
Naomi: A legacy for the show? Hum?
Hum: Oh, a legacy? I mean, ideally, I’d want us to be cancelled.
mc: Really? Should I print that?
Naomi: And write “Naomi disagrees”; “Naomi, as a white ally, respectfully disagrees”.
mc: Hum, you’re not on Twitter, so you can’t technically be cancelled.
Naomi: Yeah, that’s the thing; I’ve got a fucking target on my back!
Hum: You are the ally, you must throw down!
Naomi: If that happens I will go down with this ship.
mc: Awesome, well, I was going to go with the headline: ‘These Women Are the Future of Australian TV’ But maybe it’ll just be: ‘Hum & Naomi Dare You: Cancel Us!’
Naomi: Hum and NOT Naomi! I much prefer the first title, thank you very much.
mc: Is there anything we haven’t covered?
Hum: I did want to work in the fact that I’ve got the wettest pussy out of the co-creators.
mc: An important caveat. I’ll print that. Naomi, do you have any…
Naomi: No, yeah, she’s right. It’s fine. I know who I am.
‘Why Are You Like This’ is streaming now on ABC iView.
This conversation has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
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We all know Married At First Sight isn’t exactly a raw reality TV show. Editing, production and all those interfering elements come into play, creating drama and intrigue – exactly how we like it. However, sometimes those editing moments are, well, kind of a fail.
That’s exactly what happened last night – and fans were quick to catch the moment. It all centres around whether the experts are actually watching the MAFS dinner party live in a separate room, or whether they are watching recordings after the fact.
If you look closely, you’ll see that the room used to do face-to-face reaction chats with the contestants is the same room used for the experts when watching the dinner parties.
Here’s Sam in one of her chats:
And here are the experts having a chat “during” the dinner party.
See how that bookshelf thing is the same? Right down to the plants hanging off it. It definitely seems like the room they use for the experts is the same as the one used for the to-camera segments of the dinner party.
That being said, it’s not like the experts NEED to be watching the dinner party at the same time as it occurs. They’re really just watching to assess the interactions of couples to make a better judgement during the commitment ceremony. Still, pretty funny.
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On her final day on Sunrise, Samantha Armytage has delivered a tearful goodbye to the breakfast program she’s called home since 2013, sitting alongside co-host David ‘Kochie’ Koch.
Prior to thanking the cast and crew, the breakfast hots took aim at certain “nasty” media for “bullying” her throughout her career.
“I do want to say that I never fully understood some of the scrutiny and the snarkiness and the bullying from some aspects of the media, but today we move on from that because there is a new chapter starting. It has been overwhelmingly a good experience in my life.”
“Thank you, most all, to all our viewers, you are just wonderful people. There are so many lovely people out there, so many more lovely ones than the nasty ones,” she continued.
Kochie also delivered a tearful farewell to his co-host: “For the past eight years she’s been a much-loved part of the Sunrise family but the time has come for her to focus on her family. Goodbyes are never easy, there will probably be some tears, but this morning we’re going to celebrate an incredible journey with some very special guests and a lot of surprises.”
The show was filled with several surprises, including the Channel Seven star getting a surprise video call from her younger sister Georgia and niece Lucia, who are currently locked down in London.
Armytage first announced her decision to depart the popular program on March 8, telling viewers: “I have some big news to announce. The time has come for the sun to set on my time atSunrise. I have always been very brave and fearless in my life and my career and this decision is no different.”
“As many of you know, the last six months of my personal life have been very bittersweet. Some bits have been very happy and some bits have been very, very sad. I want to step out of this public world for a while, take some time and calm things down [and] enjoy a bit of slow living and spend some time with my precious family, my husband and Banjo.”
Armytagestressed she made the decision to leave, not addressing speculation that her contract wasn’t renewed, saying: “I go out of this job at a time of my own choosing and on top of the ratings which not many people in television can say they do. I’m extremely proud of my almost eight years at the helm of Sunrise, my seven years before that at Weekend Sunrise and my almost 18 years with the Seven network.”
Sam will remain with the Seven Network, with her future projects to be announced at a later date.
Her replacement asSunriseco-host will be announced “soon”, according to the network.
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It’s a busy year ahead, so try to synchronise schedules with loved ones. You will need their support. Through the winter months, mind and body run on overload. A fidgety June can also bring difficult moments, with outworn situations abandoned – either forcibly or voluntarily. But while other zodiac signs would focus on the negative, your innate optimism sees you through. Year’s end is a time of serenity and self-reflection. You’ve learnt to trust your inner voice, and this year’s challenges have been successfully conquered. Your reward? Life’s greatest gifts – love, mindfulness and maturity.
Aries (March 21 – April 20)
Best Day: Monday 15th
Putting your grand plans into motion could prove to be tricky this week. Pushing your agenda before it’s primed to go is not a recipe for success. Activate your creativity, and let it lead you in the right direction: with art, a journal, make a collage. It could generate that major ‘a-ha’ moment that provides you with a key piece of the puzzle.
Taurus (April 21 – May 20)
Best Day: Saturday 13th
Certain realisations can take time to dawn on us. The tell-tale signs often come in the form of a project or relationship that’s lost its appeal. The question is: are you really interested anymore? If you feel like letting your game drop, maybe it’s for good reason. The planets encourage you to stop awhile, and take stock. Clear your head, Taurus.
Gemini (May 21 – June 21)
Best Day: Sunday 14th
It seems that what you most want at this time, you can’t have – that proverbial “forbidden fruit”. Or, you still might go for it – despite knowing that you’re making a bad choice and for all the wrong reasons. It seems you want instant gratification, Gemini – despite all the warning signs. Expect consequences.
Cancer (June 22 – July 22)
Best Day: Tuesday 16th
There’s not much in the heavens to help you along this week. Basically, it’s up to you to stay in control, because if anything – the planets are spoiling for a squabble. Although under pressure, don’t give in to conflict. And there’s no consolation to be found comfort eating, either. Try a portion of exercise instead.
Leo (July 23 – August 23)
Best Day: Friday 12th
With independence as your driving force, you’re tired of pandering to others’ egos. At the same time, the planets encourage new work and financial schemes – so expand your network of contacts. Late week continues to keep you busy – with noticeable improvement in your interactions with others. Romance isn’t out of the question either.
Virgo (August 24 – September 22)
Best Day: Sunday 14th
It’s not like you to be so biased, Virgo. Just remember that everyone has a right to their own opinions, and that could at least get you back on talking terms. Although tired, you have just enough energy to wave the white flag and agree to meet on neutral territory. Chances of ending conflict improve with a mutual meeting of minds. Call a truce.
Libra (September 23 – October 23)
Best Day: Monday 15th
Libran compassion is called upon this week. You may encounter some resistance, because others are feeling embarrassed by their current situation. Thankfully, you help lift their hopes as you remind them that life can be enjoyed – despite their current circumstances. No surprise, too, if loved ones benefit from your financial generosity.
Scorpio (October 24 – November 22)
Best Day: Wednesday 17th
Looks like you’re not as pliable as some would like. Scorpios are too astute to be duped, but this won’t stop those with lesser morals from trying. You’ve half a mind to call their bluff, but the best thing to do is go about your business, and ask others to do the same. Look after your own interests for a while.
Sagittarius (November 23 – December 21)
Best Day: Thursday 18th
Sometimes Sagittarian naivety leads you to put your trust in situations that aren’t reliable. You did not ask to be hurt, but hurt you were. At some point, you must forgive those who have caused you pain. If the time’s not yet right, don’t force anything. Be gentle with yourself. A meditative solo walk in nature could be just what you need.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 20)
Best Day: Tuesday 16th
Occasionally you’re given goals that seem to fall short of fair. Don’t fret. It’s all just part of the great cosmic joke. In any case, the fun’s not always at your expense and this week’s targets are well within reach. If nothing else, this should throw you into more positive frame of mind. It’s a busy time, laden with extra responsibilities.
Aquarius (January 21 – February 18)
Best Day: Saturday 13th
There’s always someone who will try and nudge you into a reluctant corner. If you’re finding it difficult to retain your autonomy, lock into the slipstream of a strong Jupiter – which is happy to steamroll opponents out of your way. Mars also offers help, encouraging a review of boundaries. As the borders change, so do the rules – they become yours.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20)
Best Day: Friday 12th
For better or for worse, this week spells temptation. Without mentioning names, someone’s turning life upside down with their enticing antics. Part of the fun seems to be in leading you towards extravagance, probably at a time when you can least afford it. Enjoy what you already have and make the best of it.
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Unless you’ve been hiding in a receptionless cave for the last few months, it seems highly probable that you’ve come across Netflix’s latest smash hit reality show: Bling Empire.
And if you’re anything like us, you drank down all eight episodes in a frenzied thirst left caused by Selling Sunset withdrawals, and are probably desperate to know: Will there be a season two of Bling Empire?
So, we’re here to be of service and answer that very question. Below, everything we know about season two of Bling Empire (so far).
Is Bling Empire returning for season 2?
Per an official announcement from Brandon Riegg, the Netflix VP of Unscripted and Documentary Series, your prayers have been answered: Bling Empire has been renewed for season 2.
“The cast is hilarious, sexy, funny, dramatic, and conniving. All of us would love to continue on this journey with them for as many years as viewers are interested,” Jeff Jenkins told OprahMag.com.
In conversation with Town & Country, Jenkins also said he envisions the show going for many years, if the audience wants to see it.
“We just celebrated 14 years of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. I would love to take this cast even further,” he said.
“There’s so much that has happened in their lives since season one was shot. There’s just so much going on. God willing, viewers enjoy it and respond.”
What is going to happen in Bling Empire season 2?
Now that we have solid confirmations about Bling Empire’s return, there are already some clues as to what we might see transpire on the show in season two.
With the way things wrapped up in the finale, one of the biggest questions is around whether Kelly Mi Li and Andrew Gray are still together, with their relationship appearing particularly ambiguous towards the end. Here, everything we can expect to see happen with the cast in season two.
Kelly and Andrew
As it turns out, the pair are still together! In an interview with ET, Kane revealed that the couple seemed “pretty stable” at the moment.
“Right now, they seem pretty stable,” Kane said of Kelly and Andrew.
“I don’t know whether it’s because of COVID, if that’s keeping them together. Maybe season two, we’ll see another breakup.”
In the same interview, Kelly also revealed how she will likely conduct herself in season two.
“I think for season 2, I’m gonna be a little more outspoken,” she said.
“Everybody was in my business, all the time, with me and Andrew. Sometimes I have to draw the line: This is my personal relationship, let me work it out and, I know you guys love me, I know you guys care for me, but let me take my space and my time to work it out.”
Andrew also weighed in, saying that they have both been in therapy—separately—to work on themselves and improve their relationship.
“She’s bettered me every day of my life,” he told ET.
“She makes me want to be a better man. That’s pretty cliché, but it’s true. And I always admit to my faults, where I fall short and do the work. And I can’t wait for people to see that, if we get a season 2, I recommend it to every human being—not just a man—to seek help.”
Kevin and Kim
Season one finished with Kim Lee’s search for her biological father ending with a heartbreaking conclusion. That said, it also saw what appeared to be some sparks flying between her and Kevin—a potential relationship fans are on board with.
In a recent joint interview with E!, the pair touched on their flirtatious friendship when asked if they’ve kissed since the cameras stopped rolling.
“Have we, Kim?” Kevin coyly remarked.
“We haven’t kissed yet,” Kim Lee responded (yet!). “There’s definitely a lot of flirting going on. Kevin’s been calling me every single day.”
And it seems the feeling is mutual, with Kevin pointing out that Kim’s been doing the same: “No! You’ve been calling me every day. She gets so upset if I don’t call or text her back right away.”
Kevin has also expressed an interest in going further into his journey to connect with his roots, following his bid to find his birth parents in season one, as well as view it as a chance to travel with the whole cast.
“I’d like to go to South Korea!” he told ET. “I’d love to go to South Korea with everybody. Not just to be like, ‘Oh, where are my parents at?'”
He joked: “I think it could be a good cultural experience, because I think Kane always pushes me to be more Korean: ‘You’re too white, you’re a white!'”
Cherie and Jessey
The first season of Bling Empire saw Cherie Chan and Jessey Lee go through a lot, from Cherie’s grief over her mother’s passing, her proposal to Jessey and the birth of their son. Sadly, it seems as though they might not be up for a second season should the show continue.
“Jessey and I talked about potentially not coming back for Season 2. We don’t know. We might, we might not,” Cherie told Distractify.
“It depends, because Jessey’s so busy with all of his businesses. I’m starting to get really busy with the kids and my own business. We might, or we might not; we don’t know.”
Christine and Gabriel Chiu
As revealed to OprahMag.com, Christine reportedly has a plan for the show’s second season.
“If you thought I dropped a big bomb in season 1, then you have no idea,” she said, before adding that she had a confession that would be “timely in our climate” and “touch many people”.
In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily, the couture collector and businesswoman also revealed she might launch a “beauty line” in season two.
“After two decades building Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery with Dr. Chiu, literally in hard hat and heels, I’m working on a beauty project—something highly curated that’s endorsed by my husband and a team of leading experts.”
While the line’s release date is unconfirmed, she did say: “Maybe the second season!”.
Anna Shay
Easily our favourite person on the show, Anna Shay had the most free-flowing storyline of all the cast members, acting as a sort of ‘fairy godmother’ for the likes of Kelly and Kevin. As for what’s in store for her for season two? Anna has said that if the show does go ahead, she would be interested in returning and would just continue to be herself.
“I had an amazing experience. I thank the crew and everybody for their patience, because I never thought I would ever be in front of a camera,” she told People.
“If there is going to be a second season, I would still end up being me because I don’t know what else to do. Besides, it’s reality. You have to keep it real.”
Kane Lim
While Kane didn’t have much of an individual storyline on the first season, he has expressed that he would love to see the whole cast fly to Singapore in season two.
“Personally, I think travelling is going to be a huge thing,” Kane told ET.
“You know, we tried to travel for the first season, but obviously with time constraints and stuff like that, we couldn’t. I would actually like to fly the whole cast to Singapore to show them what Singapore truly is. I know you watch the movies, you’ve seen all the glamorous stuff, but there’s so much more to Singapore. Like the food, the culture, the people.”
Jamie Xie
Perhaps the least shown of the main cast, 22-year-old fashionista and heiress Jamie Xie (who many will recall asked a shaman which Bottega Veneta pouch bag she should buy) became one of the show’s more quiet breakout stars, beloved by fans for her style and unique humour.
As for what she’s said about season two? Well, not much, other than she will try to plan her outfits better for season two “if there is a season two”.
Which Bling Empire cast members are returning for season 2?
At this stage and based on the Bling Empire cast members‘ own comments, it seems likely that we can expect Kevin, Kim, Anna, Kane, Jaime, Christine, Dr. Gabriel, Kelly and Andrew to all come back, with only Cherie and Jessey’s potentially backing out for season two.
What is the release date for Bling Empire season 2?
Given Bling Empire only just announced it was returning for season 2, a potential release date is hard to pin down. That said, we will keep you updated on all things Bling Empire, so watch this space for details as they come!
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In the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s tell-all with Oprah, many have been speculating how the bombshell allegations have made the rest of the royal family feel, especially the Duke of Sussex’s brother, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton. On March 10, two days after the interview, Buckingham Palace released a statement that said they were “saddened” by the treatment Meghan and Harry said they received while senior members of the family, but that the issues would be dealt with “privately as a family.”
But now, a source has come forward to share how the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge personally feel about the interview, which included Meghan revealing to Oprah that Kate had made her cry just weeks prior to her royal wedding in 2018.
“William and Kate were in total shock after hearing what Meghan and Harry said,” a source told Us Weekly. “What shocked them the most was Meghan’s suicidal thoughts and their quotes on a royal family member mentioning Archie’s skin colour. William and Kate knew about some of their troubles with palace aides, but nothing to this extent.”
The source added that the couple “feel horrible” for Harry and Meghan, but reportedly “still wish” they “had not tried to take down the royal family” on television. “William and Kate feel that these conversations could have been made in private,” the source added.
The day prior royal reporter Katie Nicholl gave an update on how Kate and William were feeling post-interview, revealing that Will was “pretty distraught” by the events, while Kate felt “awful”.
“William is devastated by this interview,” Katie told Entertainment Tonight, and added, “Don’t forget that the Duchess of Cambridge is being dragged into this whole saga and William will hate that and of course, relationship between father and son is of course at an all-time low. I think that the idea that Kate’s being dragged into this will be upsetting for Kate who behind the scenes has tried really hard to be a peacemaker between William and Harry. She has been deeply saddened by the brothers’ falling out. Don’t forget she was incredibly close to Harry herself.”
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FINALLY, Married At First Sight Intimacy Week is over and the dinner party fun begins. I did not need any more cupping of genitals or extended eye-gazing, thank you very much.
As always, we visit the couples as they prep for the night. It’s very same-same: Belinda and Patrick are good-but-awkward. Bryce and Melissa are fractured and messed up. Cam/Sam and Coco/Sam are off, Coco/Cam is definitely about to be on.
The only event of note is that Coco has decided a full body stocking is appropriate dinner party attire.
I mean she looks bloody amazing but it’s more of a disco club party times outfit, not a sit down to eat a whole roast chicken outfit. Still, when she walks in everyone’s jaws drop to the floor. Russell has a hard time describing what he saw.
She’s waiting for Cam to arrive, and when he does it’s kind of hard to watch Sam blissfully unaware that Coco’s dressed up specifically for her husband. But before we can even deal with their whole cheating thing, Boy Sam gets WAY into it with Bryce after 14 beers. And damn, does Bryce take the bait. They end up yelling at each other from across the room with everyone else trying to stay out of it.
Basically, Sam is pissed about Bryce giving it to him at the commitment ceremony, while Bryce feels Sam is a piece of crap, to be honest. It did get a bit rich when Bryce was banging on about being upset when he sees women treated badly, considering the way he’s TOTALLY GASLIGHTING MELISSA.
Next thing we know we’re in the dinner party, with Sam and Bryce getting progressively more drunk and more inflammatory, and Cam/Coco getting progressively more drunk and more flirty. Bad news all round – especially as we keep getting shots of Girl Sam saying how well her and Cam are going.
Eventually Cam shuffles seats to be closer to Coco, and winds up in a convo with Brett and Patrick where he admits he has a crush on her. Brett suggests he just do things the right way and sit down and be honest with Sam and Coco. But he’s like:
Meanwhile, Coco is chatting about Cam to Alana very close to where Cam is sitting, so eventually they ALL chat together a bit and it’s flirty, etc. Coco then goes and tells Joanne, Booka and pretty much everyone at the table how compatible she is with Cam, before deciding the right thing to do here would be to speak to Girl Sam directly. It’s pretty admirable of her to bite the bullet and admit she’s into Cam, although Girl Sam is like:
She says she gives them her blessing before rushing off to cry in the loo, because she obviously doesn’t actually give them her blessing.
Back at the table, Bryce has ANOTHER go at Sam, and this time it gets really heated. The arguing continues before Sam starts telling Bryce he’s got the personality of a doormat and other awful things, which culminates in Bryce throwing his water in Sam’s face before storming out of the room.
Hilariously most of the water hits Patrick, not Sam, and when Bryce comes back he apologises. Someone suggests he sit next to Sam and Bryce goes “Id’ rather sit next to my ex-fiance”, which upsets Melissa because OF COURSE IT DOES IT’S AN AWFUL THING TO SAY.
Then Girl Sam comes back and is clearly upset by what’s happened. Boy Sam totally pokes the bear by “giving Coco and Cam my blessing” and stuff like that, insinuating they’re a couple already. Coco loses it at him and then Girl Sam asks Cam if he wants to end it, dropping her ring on the table. He’s super cold toward her and says “if you like” and so on.
Coco sees this and is clearly put off. Cam’s also ignoring her like she’s his worst enemy, which is disgusting the judges. Eventually Coco says, in front of Cam and everyone, that she doesn’t think the “juice is worth the squeeze” with Cam after the way he’s been acting at the dinner party, and she’s pretty ready to call it.
Will they never get past eye-gazing? We’ll see in Sunday night’s ep, I guess!
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Married At First Sight tonight was actually ridiculous, wasn’t it? From Cam and Coco’s terrible faux flirting (do any of us really believe this relationship?) to Bryce being, well, Bryce.
Basically, Sam started stirring up Bryce after his comments at the commitment ceremony were still stewing away. Bryce took the bait and THEN some, absolutely getting into Sam before the dinner party and implying he was just standing up for women.
Naturally, all of us viewers who have watched Bryce repeatedly gaslight his wife Melissa, not to mention constantly criticise her appearance, were a bit flabbergasted.
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“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore.” That was just one of the many raw admissions Meghan Markle made during her and Prince Harry’s tell-all with Oprah this week. The interview—which was met with both praise and criticism—has opened up one of the most important global conversations around mental health we’ve ever seen, and thanks to Meghan’s candid and open dialogue surrounding her own personal struggles, we can finally begin to dismantle the shame that’s still associated with speaking out.
Whether you love or hate Meghan, even the most disagreeing of viewers have to wonder where particular voices within the royal family are right now, and call into question their decisions to remain silent, because that deafening silence is starting to tell an incredibly disappointing story.
For the last decade, Kate Middleton and Prince William have made it their mission to champion mental health, with their foundation Heads Together raising millions and sparking important conversations, not just in the U.K., but across the world. So, when an opportunity was presented to make real, life-altering change to stand in support of seeking mental health help, their voices were nowhere to be heard—which is even more discouraging when you factor in exactly why the charity was founded, to “ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing and to give people the tools and information to support friends and family through difficult times.”
It begs the question if sitting idly by while such an important conversation is happening, is a decision that puts the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the wrong side of history.
During the interview, Meghan explained to Oprah that she went to the Institution to seek help, revealing she was struggling while pregnant with Archie and under attack from the U.K. press, adding she even sought help for suicidal ideation: “Nothing was ever done.”
“Look, I was really ashamed to say it at the time and ashamed to have to admit it, to Harry especially, because I know how much loss he’s suffered,” she revealed. “But I knew that if I didn’t say it that I would do it—and I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.
“And I remember how [Harry] just cradled me and I was, I went to the institution and said that I needed to go somewhere to get help, said that I’ve never felt this way before and I need to go somewhere, and they said I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution.”
It’s a candid confession, and one that would not have been easy to make on the world stage, but Meghan has once again shown us that her voice—one that has been continuously tarnished, as she says, for simply ‘breathing’—is one that no one can deny is making a difference, creating a wider dialogue for others struggling with their own mental health issues.
Considering the pandemic has meant that, for most of us, our mental health is far more fragile than ever before, having high-profile people like Meghan Markle choose to openly and candidly share their personal experiences encourages the masses to adopt an open discourse, one that has the potential to destigmatise mental health for good.
“On a very serious note, Meghan Markle did a huge service tonight,” one Twitter user wrote. “She openly talked about suicide and suicidal ideation. A lot of us have been in that very dark place (i know I have). She made it ok to openly talk about it without shame and to get help.”
On a very serious note, Meghan Markle did a huge service tonight. She openly talked about suicide and suicidal ideation. A lot of us have been in that very dark place (i know I have). She made it ok to openly talk about it without shame and to get help. #OprahMeghanHarry
THIS. Too many of us suffer silently, thinking no one would understand, or afraid or ashamed to speak up. Someone like Meghan Markle or Chrissy Tiegen sharing their sorrow or mental health struggle can help SO many people who are hurting & may not know where to turn. 😞 https://t.co/5PcKrenIhf
It’s not just the royal family’s seeming lack of concern for Meghan’s mental wellbeing that needs to be addressed either, but the rising commentary from many online that continues to claim she’s just making it all up or that it couldn’t have been that bad. That negative narrative was so loud it’s been hard to ignore, with mental health charity Mind releasing a statement to draw attention to its harm: “It’s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.”
But, for once those public comments claiming Meghan is lying or those that chose to just simply not believe her (Piers Morgan) have brought global attention to why people choose not to speak out about mental health in the first place. It looks like the narrative is beginning to change, with Morgan forced to step down from his high-profile position following his damaging comments.
The sentiment was best summed up by writer Elena Cresci in a now-viral Tweet: “Meghan’s not going to see you tweeting you don’t believe she was suicidal – but your friends who have been suicidal will.”
But while Meghan speaking out will undoubtedly help countless others, imagine for a second just how powerful it could have been if Kate and William chose to use their platform to discuss the importance of mental health, to dissect why some still feel ashamed to come forward, or how if the tools and resources they so regularly speak about were offered up to a member of their own, how much further the conversation could have been pushed.
Meghan seemed aware of just how powerful her comments would be for those watching. “I share this because there’s so many people who are afraid to voice that they need help,” she said. “And I know personally how hard it is to—not just hard it is but when your voice is silenced, to be told no… This was emails, begging for help, saying very specifically I am concerned for my mental welfare… Nothing was ever done. So we had to find a solution.”
The royal family missed its opportunity to be included in this conversation, one it claims to be at the forefront of, and it will leave a permanent stain—especially considering how things have changed over the past 12 months. Perhaps if they had been willing to address the struggles of their own, or learnt from past mistakes, they might have had the chance to become part of the change we need to see in the mental health space. Instead, they actively chose to be left behind.
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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Image: Courtney with the Magic Mike Live cast, clockwise from left: Dayton Tavares, Chris Van Doren, Blake Varga, Ned Zaina, Anthony Bartley, Jake Paul Green, Aaron Theodore Cooke and Nathan Kara. Photo by Damian Bennett
Naomi Higgins and Humyara Mahbub
