How to turn a rundown castle into a luxury retreat
In travel news this week: a restaurant on the edge of space is now booking, a hypersonic startup promises to fly people from Europe to Australia in under five hours and couples' incredible property transformation projects in Italy and Japan.
2023-05-13 18:22
Save 42% on this AI and ChatGPT training bundle
TL;DR: The Complete ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence Training Bundle is on sale for £23.73, saving
2023-09-08 12:55
Sunak Faces Perilous Holiday as Gloom Grows Over Migration Plans
Rishi Sunak joked as he switched on the Christmas tree outside 10 Downing Street that it would be
2023-12-02 13:21
Naomi Campbell faces backlash for Pretty Little Thing collaboration
Naomi Campbell has been hit with backlash from fans over her newly announced collaboration with fast fashion retailer Pretty Little Thing (PLT). The supermodel, 53, who has modelled for Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and Burberry, is expected to release a clothing line with PLT in the coming months after the brand shared a promotional video to tease the collaboration. In it, a director’s chair is left empty on a photoshoot set, with the words: “Pretty Little Thing designed by Naomi Campbell coming soon.” The retailer has previously been criticised for contributing to the fast fashion cycle – an industry which is based on mass-producing low-cost, low-quality clothes and accessories. The negative environmental impacts of fast fashion are well-known, with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) previously naming the fashion industry the second-biggest consumer of water and “responsible for eight to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined”. The forthcoming collaboration has been labelled by fans as “disappointing” and “shocking” due to the brand’s fast fashion business model. “Naomi Campbell x PLT is the most disappointing collab to come out in recent times….I have no words,” wrote on Twitter user. “This Naomi Campbell x PLT news has hit me hard,” another added. “Is this just proof that the whole sustainable fashion system is so unattainable that we’ve pretty much given up / decided it’s not our problem to fix?” One fan wrote: “Never thought I’d see the day where PLT and a whole Naomi Campbell collab,” as another added: “A high fashion model for a fast fashion IG influencer online boutique??!! How do you go from Valentino to PLT? I HAVE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS.” The Independent has contacted representatives of Campbell and PLT for comment. The company has seen some major changes in its directorial roles recently. Last month, former Love Island winner Molly-Mae-Hague stepped back from her creative director role to focus on her baby daughter Bambi. The brand typically works with influencers and reality TV stars who front their campaigns. After leaving the Love Island villa in 2019, Hague signed with the online fast fashion outlet as creative director as she became the face of the brand. “I am still working with them and doing collections and edits, but I have actually decided to step down as my creative director role,” Hague said in a YouTube video last month. “Over the last few weeks, I have realised that I’m only going to get this time once with my first-born child and I’m only going to get Bambi being four months old once and I feel like I’ve had to rearrange my life a little bit and lose some commitments that I did have.” Hague added that she did not give herself maternity leave because her work is her “phone” but the decision to leave the role at the company was “collectively” decided with the brand. The news comes as Campbell announced she has welcomed her second child, a baby boy, on Thursday (29 June). Campbell shared the surprise on Instagram with a photo of herself and her two-year-old daughter holding hands with the newborn. “It’s never too late to become a mother,” Campbell wrote in the caption. Read More Meghan and Harry in their flop era, says Rolling Stone magazine Jo Lindner death: YouTube bodybuilding star known as Joesthetics ‘dies from aneurysm’, aged 30 Plans for Prince Andrew to move into Harry and Meghan’s former home ‘quietly shelved’ Naomi Campbell welcomes second child at 53: ‘It’s never too late’ The history of royal fashion at Wimbledon Water companies may be taking the pee but I’m the one left bathing in it
2023-07-03 15:51
Meta's new AI dating coach is a prude, apparently
Meta AI, a host of different generative AI personas on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, launched
2023-10-06 23:24
Why the Latine Queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race Win, With or Without Crowns
It’s no secret that Latines dominate television’s biggest drag platform, RuPaul’s Drag Race, with fan favorites like Valentina (S9, AS4), Miss Vanjie (S10, S11), and Jessica Wild (S2, AS8). Yet with so much Latine representation on the show, only one Latine has won the crown in the original series: Bianca Del Rio (S6), almost 10 seasons ago. As more Latine and Latin American drag queens grace our screens with adaptations like Drag Race México and Drag Race Brasil, is it enough to overcome the lack of Latine winners on the main show?
2023-10-04 03:20
Apple's Vision Pro retail plan will be a velvet-rope experience
If you're looking to buy the Vision Pro as soon as possible, you'll have to
2023-07-08 01:58
Groping, abuse and racism: 10 of the most shocking revelations from The Super Models TV show
A new Apple TV+ documentary, which follows the careers of modelling stars Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington and Cindy Crawford, has brought several shocking and formerly unknown revelations to light. The Super Models is a four-part series spotlighting the four model’s early careers and how they were treated working as young women, and the most sought-after models in the fashion industry in the late Eighties and Nineties. Campbell, Evangelista, Turlington and Crawford, now in their fifties and with children of their own, offer a snapshot into their early careers, like Turlington’s pre-modelling work experience that involved babysitting and cleaning toilets, or Campbell’s experience of having her bag stolen in New York and running out of money. Each episode has a theme – “The Look,” “The Fame,” “The Power” and “The Legacy” – with each model addressing the camera in intimate interviews, featuring archival footage from their heyday. While each of the models discussed the “glory days” or “golden years” of their careers in the Nineties, Evangelista admitted in the documentary that those years “weren’t always perfect”. As all four of the models recount their own experiences of misogyny and mistreatment working in the fashion industry, here are 10 of the main revelations from Apple TV+’s The Super Models: Evangelista said she regrets ever saying that she doesn’t get out of bed for ‘less than $10,000 a day’ In 1990, Evangelista uttered one of the most iconic lines in modelling history in a Vogue interview, confessing that she won’t “get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.” Despite later apologising, Evangelista said she regretted ever saying it. “I shouldn’t have said that – that quote makes me crazy,” she says in the series. “If a man said it? It’s acceptable to be proud of what you command.” Cindy Crawford calls out Oprah Winfrey for treating her like ‘chattel’ in old interview In a clip shown in the documentary, Winfrey is heard introducing the then aspiring model to The Oprah Winfrey Show , before asking: “Did she always have this body? This is unbelievable. Stand up just a moment, now this is what I call a BODY.” Crawford, who was accompanied by John Casablancas, a representative from Elite Modelling Agency, then sheepishly stood up before the studio audience to show her figure. Reflecting on the moment in the new documentary, Crawford said: "I was like the chattel or a child, be seen and not heard.” “When you look at it through today’s eyes, Oprah’s like, ‘Stand up and show me your body. Show us why you’re worthy of being here.’” Crawford added: “In the moment I didn’t recognise it and watching it back I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that was so not okay really.’ Especially from Oprah.” The Independent has contacted Winfrey’s representatives for comment. Naomi Campbell says she was called a racial slur for the first time when she was five years old Speaking about her childhood as a performer, Campbell revealed that she was called the N-word when she was five years old, but the supermodel said that she didn’t let it affect the way she viewed herself. “I wasn’t going to accept being bullied at school for the colour of my skin,” she said. “My mother was paying my school fees just like everybody else. I had every right to be there, so take your bullying somewhere else, is how I felt.” Cindy Crawford says her father initially thought modelling ‘was another form of prostitution’ Elsewhere in the documentary, Crawford shared how her father, John Crawford, didn’t initially understand that modelling was a career. “My dad really didn’t understand that modelling was a real career. He thought modelling was like another name for prostitution,” she said. “So [my parents] came with me to my very first modelling appointment.” She added: “I never even thought about modelling,” she said. “I didn’t even know it was a real job. I didn’t know how I would get from DeKalb, Illinois, to a magazine.” Linda Evangelista told bookers that if they didn’t book Naomi then they wouldn’t get her either In a segment on the racism that Naomi Campbell faced while working in New York City, the model told the cameras: “I would put my hands out many times on New York City streets, and the taxis would fly by,” “Then Christy [Turlington] would put out the hand and they would stop. The guy would be like: ‘I don’t want to go to Brooklyn,’ and I’m like: ‘I’m not going to Brooklyn.’ I was just like, why is he saying that? It didn’t strike me until, you know, Christy would have to stand out in front of me, get me a taxi to get it to work.” Campbell then shared how her friendship with Turlington grew over time, noting that they lived together throughout the early days of her career. Evangelista also expressed how she tried to advocate for Campbell when the British model was discriminated against because of her race. “Naomi wasn’t always booked to do the shows,” Evangelista said. “I didn’t understand. Naomi, I thought, was more beautiful, had a much more rocking body than I did and a better strut. [I was] like: ‘Why aren’t they booking her?’ I said to them: ‘If you don’t book her, you don’t get me.’” Linda Evangelista claims she was abused by ex-husband Gérald Marie Evangelista was married to Gérard Marie between 1987 and 1993, who was the European chief of Elite Model Management at the time. “I learned that maybe I was in the wrong relationship,” she said looking back on the marriage. ​​“It’s easier said than done to leave an abusive relationship. I understand that concept, because I lived it. If it was just a matter of saying, ‘I want a divorce, see ya’... it doesn’t work that way.” “He knew not to touch my face, not to touch the money-maker, you know?” She continued: “I married him when I was 22 and I got out when I was 27 and he let me out as long as he got everything. But I was safe and I got my freedom.” In 2020, Marie was accused of rape and sexual misconduct by seven women, with Evangelista praising their “courage and strength”. Evangelista credited the seven women for giving her the courage to come forward She said in the documentary: “Thanks to the power of all these women coming forward, God bless all of them, it gave me the courage now to speak... In a statement to Apple TV+, Marie denied the claims of abuse and said he “has never committed the slightest act of violence”. While The Independent has connected Marie’s representatives for comment, his legal representatives told MailOnline: “Gérald Marie firmly objects to the defamatory and false allegations made against him. He refuses to participate in this dishonest media controversy.” Marie was never charged and the investigation into possible rape and sexual assault was closed. Naomi Campbell recalls a time an art director told her she had perfect breasts and touched them without her consent Reflecting on a photoshoot she attended as a young model, Campbell recalled how she dealt with a situation when she was sexually assaulted. “Once an art director felt the need to tell me my breasts were perfect. But he felt the need to have to touch them,” she recalled. Campbell said that she turned to her mentor, the late fashion designer Azzedine Alaïa, when the incident occurred. Campbell added that Alaïa, to whom she refers as “Papa” throughout the series, continuously “protected” her during her earlier career. “I called Papa immediately,” recalled Campbell. “I called him right away and Papa called [the art director] up straight away.” “[The art director] never came near me again. It served that I opened my mouth and spoke my truth because I believe that protected me, as well as everyone that I was surrounded by.” Turlington posed topless aged 17 While models recall the realities of working with adult men as teenagers, Turlington remembers being asked to pose topless by a photographer when she was aged 17. “Can you put your arms down a little bit lower? A little bit lower,” she says she was told. “I do remember being like, ‘Oh my gosh, I shouldn’t be doing this.’” She was shocked to discover the image appeared on the cover of PHOTO magazine. “I don’t think there was any age that you were supposed to be in order to have a nude picture. I don’t think there was anyone monitoring or regulating any of that.” Naomi Campbell said she was paid less than white models “I wanted to be paid the same as the white models,” Campbell said, recalling her fight to appear on the cover of Vogue. “I was working for Mr [Yves] Saint Laurent [at the time] so I told them,” she said. “I didn’t know what type of power he had. I didn’t know he would say something.” “The next thing I know, I was in New York.... I had no idea until it came out that it was the first time a Black person had been on a French Vogue cover [in 1988]. I didn’t think of it as breaking a barrier. I just looked at it as: ‘This can’t stop here, this can’t be the only token.” The Super Models is now streaming on Apple TV+. The national domestic abuse helpline can offer support on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Women’s Aid website. For those in the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Read More Cindy Crawford calls out Oprah Winfrey for treating her like ‘chattel’ in old interview: ‘Seen and not heard’ Model Linda Evangelista commends ‘courage and strength’ of women accusing ex-husband Gérald Marie of sexual assault Rihanna and A$AP Rocky share first photos of their newborn son Riot Rose Cindy Crawford calls out Oprah Winfrey for treating her like ‘chattel’ Naomi Campbell recalls racism she faced early on in modelling career Celebrities mingle with royals at glam Vogue World party in London
2023-09-21 00:47
'Barbie' delayed in Pakistan province over 'objectionable content'
The "Barbie" film's release was delayed in Pakistan's Punjab province Friday over "objectionable...
2023-07-21 23:54
Adele reveals she’s three months sober after being a ‘borderline alcoholic’ in her 20s
Adele has revealed that she’s three months sober after a period of drinking heavily in her 20s. On Friday 13 October, the “I Drink Wine” singer admitted onstage that she recently gave up alcohol after seeing audience members drinking “a pint” of whiskey sour during her Las Vegas residency show. In a video shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, she told concertgoers at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace: “I stopped drinking… maybe, like, three and a half months ago.” However, Adele - whose full name is Adele Adkins - acknowledged that it hasn’t been easy refraining from alcohol. “It’s boring. I mean, oh my God, it’s boring,” she continued. “I was literally borderline alcoholic for quite a lot of my 20s, but I miss it so much. I cut out caffeine [too].” The singer jokingly added: “So, enjoy your whiskey sour. I’m very, very jealous.” Adele, 35, previously addressed her relationship with alcohol during a performance in March, when she detailed her pandemic drinking habits. “I remember when I came here in Covid, in lockdown. It was 11 am, and I was definitely, like, four bottles of wine in - like we all were,” she revealed, per the Evening Standard. “I said in 2020 that I wanted to put my album out. And we were all at home just drunk basically.” In an interview with Vogue in October 2021, the “Hello” singer admitted that she has a very “close relationship” with alcohol. She explained to the outlet: “I was always very fascinated by alcohol. It’s what kept my dad from me. So I always wanted to know what was so great about it.” Perhaps the singer has recently cut out drinking because she’s been planning a week of celebrations, in honour of her son Angelo’s eleventh birthday on 19 October. She shares Angelo with her ex-husband, Simon Konecki. “This week my son turns 11 years old,” she told the audience on Friday. “Can you believe that? We have got a busy week coming celebrating him. He is very much like me because I take my birthday very seriously.” “So, it is a whole week or a month celebration, which I think everyone should treat their birthday like,” she added. The “Rolling in the Deep” singer noted that her only child “seems to have adopted” very similar habits as her own when it comes to birthday celebrations. “He is like, ‘Can I do this and do that?’” she explained. “I am like, ‘That is very expensive. You are 11. Shouldn’t we be having a tea party still?’” “But you know, 11-year-olds in 2023 are, like, going on 25,” Adele continued, as she joked that her update for next week’s Las Vegas show “will be being a bullied mother”. Between songs, the Grammy award-winning singer often takes moments to banter and chat with audience members, often dropping personal anecdotes and spotlighting lucky fans. Earlier this month, the singer referred to her longtime boyfriend, sports mogul Rich Paul, as her “husband” to the delight of fans. Adele’s Las Vegas residency began on 18 November 2022, and is scheduled to end this fall on 4 November 2023. Read More Adele shows off massive diamond ring amid marriage rumours with ‘husband’ Rich Paul Adele’s boyfriend Rich Paul offers advice for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Adele says online shopping and ‘making special time’ for boyfriend Rich Paul make her happy Adele shows off diamond ring amid marriage rumours with ‘husband’ Rich Paul Rich Paul responds to Adele marriage rumours after singer calls him ‘husband’ Kourtney Kardashian reveals she and Travis Barker conceived son without IVF
2023-10-19 04:25
Roasting Beef: Texas-Rice field temperature is truly hellacious
The field of play between Rice and Texas at DKR is hotting that a skillet cooking a sizzling concoction of rice and beef meat. Keep an eye on Bevo, Arch and JT, y'all!
2023-09-03 04:28
Athlete who ran over 200km through the desert shares advice for running in a heatwave
We’ve been hit with a September heatwave and, for runners – whether beginner or seasoned – it means added concerns around dehydration, chafing and generally keeping safe in the heat. Ultramarathon runner Leon Bustin, 36, completed a 220km run through the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan in October 2022, so he knows a thing or two about dealing with hot weather while exercising. Here is the athlete’s advice for heatwave running right now. Be sun safe “Covering your skin to avoid too much direct sunlight will really help,” says Bustin, who is also a content creator for Lean Machines and a personal trainer. “I highly recommend using a good zinc stick under the eyes and across the nose as well. “I used a bright purple one in the desert to remind me of my daughter and also to show very clearly if there was a part I’d missed. [Use] a higher factor than you think you need.” Hydration starts before a run “Working on your hydration starts before you take a single step out of the door,” he says. “I even start my day with an electrolyte-rich glass of water as we even become dehydrated in our sleep. “So having a good 500ml of electrolyte-rich water pre-run will really help, then as a good basic guideline take a further 500ml for each hour you are out. “The important thing is adding the electrolytes to the water. If we over-consume [pure water] we may dilute and flush out essential electrolytes and trace minerals as we pee.” Cool bare skin “Try cooling the glabrous – or none hairy- areas, it really helps flush heat out of your body fast,” says Bustin. “Those areas include the palms of your hands, under eyes, ears and soles of your feet. “Every time l arrived at an aid station in the desert l would hand over my water bottles to be refilled and plunge my hands straight into a bucket of coldish water, splash my face then keep the hands there for a good 30 to 40 seconds.” For those of us without air stations, Bustin suggests wetting exposed skin with water from a bottle. Pop a flannel in the freezer before going on a run and run it across your skin afterwards, or midway. “The key to keeping cool on a run is managing your core temperature because if that rises too much, put simply, it will be the end of your race,” he adds. Breath correctly “Breathing right for you is really important to get nailed down regardless of the running conditions, but especially in the heat as we don’t want to put any unnecessary extra stress on our bodies – because it will just cost more energy,” says Bustin. “We all tend to over-breathe through our mouth so simply focusing more of our inward breaths to be through the nose will help more than you think and over time both bring down and regulate your average heart rate greatly.” Be careful of the chafe Chafing can put you off pretty early in your running journey, and in the heat, where shorts can leave thighs rubbing together and slick with sweat, it’s a run-ruiner. “Anti-chafe cream is your best friend in the key areas (between the thighs and under the arms),” says Bustin, “but also if you get lots of toe blisters like me. “I put a generous dose between my toes of a good oil-based anti-chafe or even just some good old Sudocrem to keep those toes gliding. The right cream for you will take trial and error and is also combined with wearing the right run kit for you as well.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Women being invited to help shape the future of reproductive healthcare – from period pain to menopause How to style your home like a professional One in 10 ‘spending beyond their means’ – try these 7 cutbacks guaranteed to save families money
2023-09-07 19:21
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