We’ve covered cleansers and moisturisers already in our vegan skincare guides, and now it’s time for eye creams.

Most of us live quite busy lives and could probably do with a bit (or a lot) more sleep, so it’s nice to have a little pot on your dressing table that makes you feel like it’s doing something magical for your eyes.

Whether it’s reducing puffiness, smoothing wrinkles, or making your under eye area more illuminated, there’s an eye cream out there for you.

It can be hard sifting through ingredients to find vegan products, so we sniffed out 11 vegan eye creams and put them to the test.

1. Seahorse plankton eye lift and lumination serum, Beauty Kitchen, £19.99 for 30ml

‘I’m not an eye cream person because I’m cheap and also because I don’t want to admit that I’m getting old.

‘But having stared in the mirror enough to know that years of squinting at bus stops (yes, I need glasses) has given me crinkles around the eyes, I must accept that a special cream for my eye area is necessary.

‘This one is great – it feels super hydrating without leaving a greasy film, and doesn’t feel too tight like other anti-ageing ones I’ve tried.

‘I keep it in the fridge then dab it on before bed and in the morning to make the process feel more luxurious.

‘I haven’t noticed fewer wrinkles, but I do feel like I look less haggard after minimal sleep.’

Is Beauty Kitchen 100% vegan? No, some products contain beeswax. Find a list here.

2. Frankincense Intense eye cream, Neal’s Yard, £45

‘This feels nicer to put on than my usual eye cream – it’s creamy and not too heavy. It makes my eye area feel moisturised but not greasy.

‘It relieves my puffiness and inflammation in the morning, and is great to put on after you’ve been rushing around at the gym as it’s cooling and feels like a mini treatment.

‘It’s got that typical Neal’s Yard essential oils smell, all herbal and calming. Smells delicious.’

Is Neal’s Yard 100% vegan? No, beeswax is in some products. Find out more here.

3. Instant firming eye serum, Utopia, £27 for 15ml

‘Utopia is a range designed for mature skin, which I fit into as I’m in my 60s now.

‘This eye serum definitely helps to not make my eyes look baggy and tired, and it really does feel like it’s tightening the skin.

‘It’s lovely and cooling on the eye area.’

Is Utopia 100% vegan? Yes.

4. Age defence eye roll-on, Bulldog, £10 for 15ml

‘This is really good. I normally shy away from anti-ageing type products thinking they don’t really work, but this one was amazing.

‘I noticed a difference after one day/night worth of use. It really did leave me looking less tired.’

Is Bulldog 100% vegan? Yes.

5. B Restored 3D eye cream, Superdrug, £10.99 for 15ml

‘This feels nice and light, rather than one of those thick, heavy eye creams.

‘It’s aimed at people in their late 40s, which I am, so it has some crow’s feet to contend with.

‘While I can’t say it’s made much of  a dent in them, I’m not convinced a product could, anyway.

‘It does make my under eye area feel more hydrated though.’

Is B 100% vegan? Yes.

6. Peptide eye serum, Bea, £39 for 15ml

‘This made my eye area feel a lot fresher, especially in the morning when I wake up with puffy eyes after not enough sleep.

‘It feels nice and cool when you put it on and it feels like it’s making my dark circles get better.’

Is Bea 100% vegan? No, some products contain animal derivatives.

7. Vitamin E nourishing eye cream, Superdrug, £2.99 for 15ml

‘I’ve never used an eye cream but as I’m getting older maybe it’s time to invest in the bad boys.

‘This one was a bit like a primer which I use instead of foundation/concealer on most days. I put it under my eyes before I went to bed because I get dark circles often.

‘In the morning, I feel like it was less puffy and dark, I don’t know if that’s a self fulfilling prophecy or what but I think I’d use it in the future.’

Is Superdrug 100% vegan? No, some products do contain animal derivatives.

8. No needle fix eye cream, Nip + Fab, £14.95 for 15ml

‘The “no needle” thing isn’t a lie, your eyes area really does feel a lot tighter after putting this on – whether it makes a visible difference, who know? But it feels good.

‘It’s a lovely one to put on in the morning when your eyes feel a bit baggy, and I like that it’s in a little pump bottle as it makes it more hygienic.

‘My eyes do feel a lot more hydrated after using it, and less puffy too.’

Is Nip+Fab 100% vegan? No, some of their products contain animal derivatives, and a list can be found here.

9. Pure hydration eye cream, Waitrose, £5 for 15ml

‘The Waitrose pure hydration eye cream is a nice option for someone looking for a light and refreshing option that won’t cost them a fortune, given it only costs £5 for 15ml.

‘But, having said that, it didn’t affect my skin in any particular way at all during the week I used it. It was more of an add-on to an already existing skin regime, and would sit well as such, rather than becoming a regular staple.

‘The product gets plus points though, as it’s free from parabens. And it smells nice too, with ingredients including apricot and shea butter.’

Is Waitrose 100% vegan? No, other products contain animal derivatives.

10. Drops of Youth bouncy eye mask, The Body Shop, £18 for 20ml

‘An eye mask? An EYE mask? Yes sir, a little beauty mask for your yes. Super adorable.

‘So you can use this as a regular eye cream to combat signs of fatigue (I like to keep it in the fridge for extra cooling) and it’s got this bouncy, gel-like texture.

‘You can also wear overnight as an eye treatment, which is probably just a marketing ploy to get beauty addicts excited, but it got me.

‘I love gimmicks like this, as it can be added to your nightly self-care routine to help you feel all pampered before bed, and convince yourself that you do indeed look less tired in the morning.’

Is The Body Shop 100% vegan? No, some of their products contain animal by-products like beeswax.

11. Caffeine solution 5% EGCG, The Ordinary, £5.80 for 30ml

‘This liquid worked wonders for the puffiness under my eyes, and I noticed a difference after a week or so I reckon.

‘I was using it twice a day but it started to irritate my eyes a bit, so I cut down to just using it in the morning, and then using a cream at night, so maybe be careful if you have sensitive skin, or ease it in gradually.

‘You could probably also use it under a normal eye cream.’

Is The Ordinary 100% vegan? Yes.

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A brother-in-law decided to surprise his sister’s groom by dressing up in a white gown moments before the wedding.

30-year-old Eric Dodds came up with the prank with his sister, Heidi Zherelyev, 25, to help ease groom Val’s nerves on the big day.

Val, from Tempe, Arizona, heard footsteps approaching and turned around expecting to see Heidi only to lay eyes on her Eric wearing a white dress instead.

Eric, a brewery chef, was asked by Heidi to climb into her pal’s old wedding dress for the prank on June 30.

He said: ‘I found out about this plan a few hours before the ceremony and I thought it was such a great idea.

‘I love my sister and would do anything for her and I love my brother-in-law. She picked such a good guy.

‘He loves goofy things and I love goofy things so it was exactly what he needed.

‘He was such a sweaty mess I knew it would be a good way to calm his jitters.

‘I really got into the role. I put on girl’s perfume and deodorant to get into character.

‘When he turned around it was hilarious. We messed around and had a little photo shoot of our own.’

Val said he was ‘so nervous’ and anxious to see Heidi, and had the biggest smile on his face before turning around to see Eric.

He said: ‘When I saw Eric in his dress, it took me a few moments to process it.

‘It definitely made all my nerves go out the window.’

Heidi, a health sciences graduate, and Val, a navy veteran, met on the first day of their freshman year at high school and eloped in San Diego in 2013.

The pair wed without friends or family but felt like they missed out on the opportunity to have their dream wedding.

Heidi knew her husband would be nervous about exchanging vows in front of their 67 guests, which inspired her hilarious plan.

Heidi said: ‘My friend and I came up with the idea about five months before the wedding.

‘Chelsea had her old wedding dress we could use and I knew my brother would be on board.

‘He has known Val for about ten years now and they are like brothers at this point.

‘I was watching everything from the window of the bridal suite.

‘I was trying so hard to be quiet but I couldn’t.

‘It was just too funny.

‘I’m so glad we have it all caught all in photos.’

Photographer Nichole Clien said the moment was a pleasure to capture on camera and had the desired effect on nervous Val.

‘The groom’s reaction was priceless. I love photographing that first moment, it’s usually such raw emotion so to twist it like this was really funny,’ she said.

Val added: ‘It was so funny and it set a precedent for the whole day.’

Although Eric was happy to get into the wedding dress to ease Val’s nerves, he changed into a second outfit ahead of the ceremony.

Eric said: ‘I’m a man’s man and I was a little uncomfortable getting into the dress but you have to do what you have to do.’

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Former England cricket captain Mike Gatting’s grand family home has just gone on the market for nearly £2 million.

Mike is currently looking to downsize with his wife Elaine after their two sons finally left home.

The double fronted Edwardian house doesn’t have a garden big enough for a cricket pitch – so sorry, cricket super fans – but it does overlook a cricket ground in Enfield, north London, and offers more than 4,000 square feet of accommodation set within half an acre of land.

The property, which is selling for £1.895 million, includes four bedrooms, two living rooms and three bathrooms over three floors.

There’s also two gyms, one en suite and the other in a pavilion attached to the triple garage and overlooking the well maintained garden.

Mike, 61, who was born in Kingsbury, said: ‘We adore Enfield, its location and community spirit are unique so we won’t be moving very far.

‘As the children have flown the nest, we are looking to downsize which will hopefully mean more time for some serious spectator cricket.

‘The house has been a wonderful place to raise our family from young teenagers to adults saving to move out with partners.

‘The accommodation is suited to those with older children as the upper floors can make the perfect hideaway for teenagers wanting their own space.

‘The garden is a great size, plenty of space but manageable at the same time.

‘We hope the house would be bought by a young family wanting as much fun from a family home as we have enjoyed.’

James Lamb, head of residential at Savills in Loughton said: ‘Mike and Elaine are lovely down to earth people.

‘Mike had his first viewing at the weekend with his wife.

‘The buyers had very young children and one of them was pulling everything off the shelves.

‘When they left, I said sorry and Mike said ‘it doesn’t matter, we are used to having a lot of people in this house.”

He added: ‘There is a nice big garden and the house has everything an aspiring family desires.’

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A makeup artist who spent £15,000 on a nose job which went wrong managed to save the botched plastic surgery using leeches.

Mum-of-two Shari Manchon decided to treat herself to a new nose for her 40th birthday back in November 2017.

However, she developed ‘polly beak’ – a post-operative deformity, when the tip slowly collapses away from the cartilage, so it resembles a parrot’s beak.

Shari said: ‘I didn’t have the most attractive nose in the world and had wanted to get it done for a while.’

But after being horrified by the results of her operation, which she claimed made her nose look ‘deformed,’ she then fell ill with a sinus infection, saying she was shocked by ‘the amount of gunk’ coming out of her nose for several weeks.

‘It was absolutely terrible,’ she recalled. ‘And I was too embarrassed by the whole ordeal to tell friends the real reason why I was ill.’

A little while later, Shari noticed her nose had changed colour while out trying on new clothes.

She said: ‘I was trying on a dress and looking in the mirror when, suddenly, I realised that the end of my nose had changed colour completely.

‘It went a very deep purple, almost black, which I later discovered was due to a lack of blood circulating.

‘Then when I touched it, I realised that it was ice cold and rushed out of the store straight away, ringing my doctor.’

Shari knew something needed to be done to stop her nose crumbling away but didn’t want to go back to the same surgeon.

Instead, she sought advice from one of the USA’s most renowned plastic surgeons, Dr Donald Yoo, who works with Dr. Paul Nassif, who stars in hit reality TV show ‘Botched,’ travelling over 2,500 miles to his boutique clinic in Beverley Hills, California, expecting to shell out more money on additional surgery.

To her amazement, he suggested her best option would be to use leeches – more commonly associated with Medieval medicine – to kick-start the blood into circulating again.

Shari said: ‘When he first brought it up, I thought, “There is no way I’m letting a blood-sucking leech anywhere near my body.”‘

But Shari, who runs her own makeup reviewing business and frequently posts videos of herself trying new products online, was eventually swayed.

‘My husband, who is a general practitioner, said that I might as well try it,’ she recalled.

‘I also have a skin problem, which gives me little spots on my face. I’ve tried literally everything, including cosmetic tattooing, to fix it – so I thought, I might as well see if it helped that, too.

‘Dr Yoo said it was the only way they could do anything, because the nose was so damaged that any more invasive operations would only make it worse. “Trust me,” he said – and I did.’

Sent to Irina Brodsky hirudotherapist, a leech specialist, in Los Angeles, California, she had half an hour of therapy, costing £115 during which she lay, covered in her own blood, with several leeches writhing on her face.

‘I was nervous, but I thought to myself, ‘You’ve got yourself into this situation girl, you’re going to have to get yourself out of it somehow!’ she said.

‘Irina was very nice and made me feel relaxed. I felt a tiny prick as the leeches attached themselves to my skin, but then it was fine.

‘They start out small and then they grow and grow, as they start to effectively get drunk on your bad blood.

‘Within a minute, I was completely calm. They seemed to have this property which made me feel very relaxed, very rested – it’s amazing.’

After three days, Shari’s nose had returned to normal.

No longer discoloured and cold, her blood circulation had been restored and her sinus infection had cleared.

‘All the old, bad blood which was stuck in there turning it black had been sucked out by the leeches, and clean fresh blood was flowing in its place,’ she said.

Shari returned to Florida a few days later for her daughter’s sixth birthday party – happy to show everyone her new nose.

‘I had been really worried about it,’ continued Shari. ‘I was thinking that I may not be well enough to host a load of small children. But in the end it was completely fine – no one noticed a thing about my nose!’

Meanwhile, her daughters were thoroughly entertained by the video their mum had made of her treatment.

She laughed: ‘They still love watching the video. They think it’s the coolest thing ever!

‘They even went into school one day and told their teachers that Mummy had a bad nose job and got a few leeches to fix it. That was a little strange.

Shari still needs some reconstructive surgery, but says leeches were her ‘saviours’ and that, without them, things could have been a lot worse.

And she wants to speak out and encourage anyone else with a similar problem to give leeches a chance.

She said: ‘It has really changed the way I think about western medicine. I could have gone to another surgeon instead who probably could have done something but they would have made a lot of money out of me in the process.

‘Instead, going to see Irina and the leeches cost me just £115 – which compared to the £15,000 I spent on the nose job, is very good value!’

Her experience was so good that Shari now fully intends to return to Los Angeles in the near future.

She said: ‘Apparently, leeches can be really good for tightening up the skin, so if you use them on your jaw line, it’s like having a kind of mini face-lift.

‘The model Miranda Kerr swears by them and uses them every week. If a supermodel can have leeches crawling all over her face, then so can I.

‘I’m so grateful to those little guys for fixing me up.’

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If we live in a world in which Priyanka Chopra almost didn’t win the Miss India title because she was deemed to be ‘too dark’, what kind of message is this sending out not only to South Asian women, but to all non-Caucasian women?

For many it is shocking to discover that the talented and stunning Priyanka was considered ‘too dark’ by a juror during the Feminina Miss India pageant. Seriously, a judge felt that her skin wasn’t white enough to represent the nation of India, which just so happens to be filled with plenty of brown-skinned folks.

But mention this story to a female with a South Asian background or a woman of colour, and this isn’t shocking – it’s merely another incident of an impossible beauty standard that many of us have battled our whole lives.

When I heard about this, I did not register much surprise, but more a sense of disappointment that even now, someone as beautiful as Priyanka would be singled out for something that is beyond her control.

Historically, the spectrum of brown or black that your skin registers on is an issue that impacts many women of colour.

Even if we as individuals lovingly embrace our melanin levels, there is a strong guarantee that others in our own community will always categorise us as being simply light-skinned or dark-skinned. This very categorisation is dangerous and problematic because the general vibe is that the lighter you are, the more attractive you are.

Light-skin privilege is a very real concept, something that many women of colour will recognise.

You are either light-skinned and given an array of strange compliments such as ‘oh, you’re pretty light for an Asian/black girl’ or singled out with little nuggets such as, ‘I mean you are pretty, even though you’re a bit dark’, and quite often these will be bestowed upon us by our own family members.

If people within our own communities are promoting such ideas – as also evident in Priyanka’s case – then what chance do we as women of colour have when it comes to embracing our own beauty?

For example, it speaks volumes that model Neelam Gill has spoken out that her darker skin tone made her believe that she wasn’t beautiful.

For many Indians, thanks to the stain of empire and colonisation, Eurocentric ideals of beauty, and therefore whiteness, are considered aesthetically pleasing, and to deviate from such a standard lowers your perceived attractiveness.

Despite the British leaving India over 70 years ago, these beauty ideals have persisted, and can be seen in Bollywood, with the majority of actresses possessing lighter skin, and also in the popularity of Unilever Hindustan’s skin-lightening Fair & Lovely products.

The ironic reality is that women of colour are not supposed to be white; we are genetically supposed to have darker skin, yet this weird and strange obsession with lighter skin has still carried on across oceans and generations.

Change in society comes in the form of visual representations. That is why the need to have darker actresses in Bollywood is vital when it comes to boosting the self-esteem of many South Asian females, especially during their impressionable teenager years.

That is why Vogue India’s decision to pop Kendall Jenner on the cover for a special anniversary edition rather than a model with a South Asian background was damaging.

Yes, a leading fashion publication whose responsibility should be to promote realistic Indian beauty decided to use a white model on the cover, whose only real contribution to Indian culture is appropriating a few bindis here and there for Coachella. Guess all of the darker skinned models must have been busy right?

In my own life, the spectrum of my brownness has long been an issue.

From fiercely instructing the poor woman on a makeup counter that I needed a foundation shade to make me appear lighter in my early 20s, to avoiding family members after a beach holiday because I know I would be teased for my tan, to even taking it as a compliment when guys on dates have commented on my lighter skin complexion for an Asian female.

But as I’ve grown older and become more comfortable within myself, I’ve learned to let go of this impossible standard.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I too felt the pressure to make myself appear lighter than I am, because it was a way of thinking that was ingrained into me growing up. But, if someone like Priyanka can be deemed ‘too dark’ and still go on to win Miss World, then having a darker skin tone is obviously not such a bad thing after all.

Hearing things like this should no longer be damaging, it shouldn’t make women of colour avoid the sun, or religiously exfoliate to get a few shades lighter. Instead it should highlight the impossible beauty standards that our communities have set in stone.

It’s time we move on from this and embrace the different skin shades that make us so unique and beautiful.

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If you’ve been asked to go on your mate’s hen do, don’t get too excited, because it could set you back almost £1,000.

In a recent study, researchers who polled 2,000 UK adults found the typical do abroad costs a total of £998 – including around £125 for accommodation, £119 for drinks and £101 for food.

It’ll also set you back an average of £136 for flights, £78 for taxis and £64 for trains – while those planning to wear fancy dress should expect to splash out an extra £67.

The study also found that a hen or stag in England costs £464 in total – with £56.81 spent on accommodation, £69.55 on drinks and £53.87 on food.

Outfits typically tally up to £51.38, while £50.81 goes on activities and £28.40 is spent on fancy dress.

And it’s not just money people are losing out on.

Amid this, around one third have had to make financial sacrifices to attend a do – including not going on holiday, not buying clothes and not socialising with pals.

And the 60 per cent asked to help with organising the pre-wedding send off can expect to lose 10 hours to the planning.

Commissioned by Hotels.com, the research also found almost half say stag and hen itineraries are becoming ‘too samey’.

And eight in 10 think the rising cost of attending the festivities is ‘staggering’.

The survey also identified what the perfect stag and hen do would involve.

Apparently, stag do ‘musts’ include go-karting, a trip to a casino, along with fancy dress, paintballing – and inevitably, hangovers.

While the ideal hen do includes a pamper session or spa treatment, a champagne reception and a cocktail masterclass.

Hen celebrations would also feature afternoon tea and karaoke – in addition to wine tasting and a boat party.

Sure, all of these are pretty pricey – but it turns out six in 10 said they’d be happier forking out for expensive stag or hen do if the itinerary is something they haven’t experienced before.

Johan Svanstrom, president of Hotels.com, said: ‘Stag and hen dos are a great way to celebrate with friends and maybe some family – either at home or abroad.

‘But we’d encourage everyone to do a bit of research to avoid the ‘been there done that’ feeling and the rising cost.

‘There are so many affordable options in interesting locations that can prevent the stag lag.’

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Britain is a nation of braggers when it comes to travel.

It’s peak holiday season and time for a rash of social media posts with captions like ‘Not a bad view from the office’ or ‘How’s your Monday going?’

Opening Facebook or Instagram always means being assailed with a welter of lush holiday pictures, featuring impossibly blue skies, elaborate cocktails and people in swimwear weirdly contorting themselves on the sand.

If you’ve been posting pictures because you want the people you went to school with or your ex to see you having an amazing time and feel a twinge of jealousy, you’re not alone.

New research shows that 71% of Brits are posting holiday pictures on social media with the sole intention of making others jealous.

We’re also bragging and outright lying about our holiday experiences, with 64% of people surveyed admitting to wildly exaggerating about how good their holiday was to impress their peers.

45% of respondents confessed to over-editing pictures (using specialist tools like Photoshop rather than simple Instagram filters) to make the holiday look more idyllic.

The research was conducted by cruise agent Bolsover Cruise Club, and also showed that 68% of people would unfollow people for irritating boasting about their holidays – even if they’d only done it once.

We seem to be torn between a wish to brag, to inspire jealousy in others and showcase how amazing our lives are, and then ready to cut others out when they do the same.

Perhaps a steady diet of similar posts from celebrities and influencers is creating the expectation that this is what cool, successful people do, whereas when we see our friends uploading exaggerated or boastful holiday posts in real life, it can be really grating.

Nicolas, 27, said: ‘I told my friend at work I’d been to Laos, and he immediately told me that it was too commercialised and that he usually goes to Maos – which was much more unspoilt.

‘It was only when I Googled it while planning my next trip abroad that I realised there was no such place! He had just been trying to one-up me.’

When people tell blatant untruths about their holidays, it’s probably because they’re not that satisfied by what actually happened.

No one wants to boast about getting a poorly tummy or having their bag stolen.

Also, if you saved up a lot of money for a holiday, it’s understandable to want to present it as amazing rather that ‘just OK’ or worse, a disastrous waste of funds.

It’s easy to feel jealous when you’re stuck at home because you haven’t been able to get time off or you can’t afford a holiday this time round, but remember that holiday braggers usually aren’t telling the whole truth.

And if you do lie about your holidays, prepare to get found out.

Jennifer, 34, told her work colleagues that her partner had proposed on a beach in Ibiza, surrounded by rose petals and candles.

‘In fact, he got down on one knee the weekend before in Blackpool. It was all fine, until his best man mentioned the Blackpool proposal in the wedding speech…’

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No one – apart from a terrifying few – enjoys cleaning day.  But you can make light work of it with these machines that do the dirty work for you –  freeing you up to enjoy the summer sunshine for as long as it lasts.

Cordless vacuum cleaners have come such a long way – the latest generation is light, flexible and a dream under furniture and around corners. The cylinders are easier to open and empty and the power is up to where a regular corded vacuum cleaner would be.

We’ve also included a few other high tech items – because however good the cordless cleaners have got, there’s something very nice about having a robot do the whole thing for you.

The Roomba Robot

This is the robot vacuum of the future that you’ve been waiting for. Engineers at Roomba have really stepped it up with the iRobot Roomba 980, making it 50% more powerful than earlier models.

Undeniably pricey it may be, but you will quickly see why. It  deftly sweeps its way around a room like it’s on Strictly Come Dancing. No bumping into chair legs here. It also has a powerful suction action that obliterates all in its path – and it is leading the pack in terms of vacuum intelligence.

It has navigation sensors and mapping technology so it’s not just bouncing around and it is full of high tech features, including newly-added iOS and Android app control and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Verdict: The Champion. Unstoppable even when you’re not in the room.

iRobot Roomba 980, £859, www.amazon.co.uk

The Dyson Absolute

The Dyson V8 Absolute  cordless vacuum is the creme de la creme of cleaners. It cleans impurities and dust from the air while it busts the dirt. With cord free flexibility, it has a run time of up to 40 minutes from a single charge, meaning you can get it done in one go.

This quiet and lightweight upright vacuum cleaner has some serious suction and picks up everything from dust to larger bits across a range of floor surfaces. And unlike many machines, it automatically senses whether it’s on hard floor or carpet so you don’t have to change the setting yourself. It’s cheap by Dyson’s standards too, and should see you through years of vacuuming.

It separates dust from the air, capturing impurities, while its bristles remove stubborn, ground-in dirt. It has a soft roller cleaner head too, which really goes to town on hard wood floors.

It gets deep into carpet fibres to remove tough dirt, has special attachments for hard to reach spots and it even has a dusting brush.

Some reviews mention the size of the cylinder – it is very small compared to other Dysons – but the fact it is so easy to empty really makes the size insignificant.

Verdict: Still the best cordless vacuum on the market

Dyson V8 Absolute cordless vacuum , £439, ao.com

The Cleva Joey

The engineers who created the Joey 18V benchmarked their performance against the Dyson V6 but it’s around half the price. It has a 30 minutes of runtime on a full charge with a certified HEPA filtration. Captures 99.95% of dust, allergens & pet dander.

It’s light in weight and designed with the motor towards the bottom to take the weight away from your hand and on to the floor.

Powered by lithium-ion for fade free battery performance and has received over 90% 5-star ratings since its debut last June.

Verdict: A definite crowd pleasure and great value for money

Cleva Joey 18V, £99.96, cleva-uk.com

The Gtech Pro

Gadget gurus Gtech has just come out with their first bagged vacuum cleaner. It  combines cordless cleaning with hygienic bags that make it easy to dispose of the yuck when you’re done.

Bagged vacuum cleaners usually hold more dirt than non-bag models – and on this one stuff you suck up is pushed down by the vacuum’s high airflow, compressing the dirt into a reduced volume.  In other words it holds A LOT.

Specially designed for floor to ceiling cleaning, it’s lightweight and has the flexibility to glide effortlessly from carpet to hard floors, stairs and carpets with no settings to change.

Verdict: Lightweight, flexible and the bags are great.

Gtech Pro, £249.99, gtech.co.uk

The CrossWave

A true all- rounder the BISSELL CrossWave lets you clean hardwoods, area rugs and carpets all at once – you can even simultaneously vacuum and wash floors.

The Crosswave has digital fingertip controls so that you can change settings as it glides across the floor and if you’re a pet owner it’s especially good for dirty paw prints and food trails.

In addition, little kids leave lots of little messes which it’s great with. It has a pivoting head that makes it easy to manoeuvre under and around furniture

Verdict: We loved this one. Great versatility. If possible it actually makes cleaning fun.

BISSELL CrossWave, £249.99, bisselldirect.co.uk

The Shark DuoClean

This one makes things very easy for you. An upright, bagless vacuum cleaner that leaves carpets and wooden floors spotless, it’s also good on upholstery and stairs. And you can glide from carpets to hard floors without having to change brush roll heads

Also you can charge anywhere – because the vacuum uses removable, rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries, unlike other cordless vacuums that are fixed to one charging station, Sharks batteries can be charged in situ on the vacuum or straight to the battery using any outlet in your home.

Up to 44 Minutes run time – each battery provides a run time of 22 minutes with single charge, you can then use a second battery for an extended run time of 44 minutes!

Verdict: You will love the freedom and power; vacuuming has never been so much fun.

The Shark DuoClean Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Flexology  £349.99 sharkclean.eu/uk

 Kärcher’s Hardwood Hero

Kärcher’s new FC5 Hard Floor Cleaner is the first product of its kind and uses both a vacuuming and mopping motion to pick up dirt from hard floors in one motion.

Cleaning hard floors usually means cleaning them twice – first you have to vacuum away all the grit, pet hair and dust, and then wash with a mop and bucket. The new Kärcher Hard Floor Cleaner does both jobs at the same time, giving you gleaming hard floors without the need for mops, buckets and scrubbing.

Whether it’s hardwood, laminate, tiles or stone floors it will work and get it done in minutes. You can also add detergent to lift deep down dirt, to leave your floors with a fresh lemon or beeswax smell.  It is also light and manoeuvrable, so it is easy to push, carry and store.

Verdict: A true workhorse – your floors will shine like the top of the Chrysler Building.

FC5 Hard Floor Cleaner,  £249.99 , kaercher.com

The H20 Steam Clean

This is a next level steam cleaner.

The H20 HD Steam Cleaner converts from the mop at the touch of a quick release button to a hand-held steamer. It can clean floors, basins, ovens and even windows. Using just tap water and no chemicals it kills up to 99% of salmonella, E.coli, influenza and listeria helping to sanitise and deodorise without chemicals.

The removable water tank makes filling up simple and holds 450ml for more cleaning time – and it’s lightweight – it weighs less than 5lbs.

Verdict: Those bacteria won’t know what hit them. Great for a deep clean.

H2O HD Steam Cleaner, £99.99 from thane.tv

The Power Washer

A compact cold water high pressure cleaner with 135 bar operating pressure – this baby is a top of the line dirt blaster.

For cleaning jobs around the home and garden, its optimised high-pressure hose reel is easy to manoeuvre, has a fan-jet nozzle and variable pressure.  This means that larger areas are cleaned quickly and effectively, with control over the pressure to clean anything, from wooden floors, outdoor patio furniture, balconies, even fences.

Fitted with trolley and telescopic handle for easy transport and storage, there are hose and swivel power cable holders, rotary nozzles and a detergent spray included.

With a steel-reinforced 9m high pressure hose, its max water throughput is 500 l/h – in other words it’s a total beast.

Verdict: A mighty machine that will not let you down.

STIHL RE129 Plus, £395, stihl.co.uk

The Stain Remover

BISSELL’s Stain Eraser is great for getting stains out of upholstery, car interiors and carpets. It’s great for pet owners and parents of little kids.

It’s lightweight and compact, and does a quick clean up of spots and spills. Has a 15 min run-time and a 4 hour charge time.

Verdict: A messy household’s best friend.

BISSELL’s Stain Eraser and Cordless Cleaner,  £99.99, bisselldirect.co.uk

The Scrubber Pro

Beldray cordless scrubber is fantastic for cleaning multiple surfaces including glass, tiles, oven hobs and even car alloys.

The battery gives a powerful 150 RPM to the rotating flexi-head so you can get a good scrub on. It charges fully in under 6 hours and gives you up to 50 minutes of superb cordless cleaning.

With an extendable handle to help you get to those hard to reach places, it saves you having to climb the sides of the bathtub.

Verdict: Does a thorough job and saves time.

Beldray Cordless Scrubber Pro, £29.99, amazon.co.uk

Going to Australia anytime soon? Well forget checking into a room, because you can now rent out an entire hotel – as long as you have a few thousand to spare, that is.

The Little Albion Guest House, a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Surry Hills in New South Wales, is now available to rent from Airbnb for £7,968 per night.

Sure, that’s expensive, but the hotel has 35 rooms.

Two people per room for one night, is £113; so, all in all, it may not seem so bad.

The hotel’s pride and joy is the Big Albion, a 55-square metre suite with a bath, shower and four-poster bed, but the hotel also offers two accessible suites and five master bedrooms.

According to the listing, the hotel used to be a convent and all the rooms are inspired by a ‘hedonistic design of the 1970’s, the unadulterated luxury of the 1920’s’.

Guests will also have access to the 24-hour Honour Bar, stocked with local and international wines and spirits, and the rooftop terrace – with its stunning views of Sydney.

Breakfast is also included in the stay.

Oh, and if you don’t fancy lounging around your hotel (yes, it really is yours), then there are also hosts available to help you plan how to make the most of your break.

Fancy having an entire hotel to yourself? Or maybe you want a short break away with your mates?

You can book the hotel here.

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When you’ve grown up in a certain community, you’re likely to be acquainted with its shortcomings.

If you’re a woman, you may turn to a safe medium such as Twitter, to voice your frustrations against men in the community.

But South Asian women who do this are starting to face an alarming response from the men they criticise: ‘We get it, you like black guys’.

She might also hear the same phrase if she happens to reject a South Asian man romantically, even if race has not played a part in her decision.

The retort is problematic for many reasons.

First of all, why are black men in particular brought into the argument?

And, why are black people used by Asian men who are unable to grapple with rejection or criticism thrown their way?

It homogenises black people and reduces them to a tool with which to attack opinions.

This comment is not only hurtful to black men, but the presumption takes away the legitimacy of the woman’s criticism and her agency. Just because she complains about her male peers is not to say that race plays a role in her choice of partner.

When women complain about not being suited to men from the same community, racists who use the ‘you like black guys’ quip see it as a personal attack on their community.

To them, the woman is airing her dirty laundry (internal community discussion is expected to stay internal).

Zarah*, a South Asian woman who dated a black man, told Metro.co.uk she looked introspectively to make sure she didn’t fetishise black men nor choose them at the expense of her own kind.

‘I’ve never chosen one race in place of another,’ she explained. ‘I like Asian men, I like black men, but I think the anti-blackness of some Asians really shows when I tell them I’ve liked or like black guys. They don’t understand it. One guy was even startled as to why I’d dated a black dude. I find that behaviour disgusting.’

Akhter, a male student, told Metro.co.uk the misogyny in some parts of the community and anti-blackness ‘fit like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle’.

‘When women criticise (misogyny), reactionary brown men get angry and think they’re challenging their community’s integrity,’ he said.

‘They use the “we get it, you like black boys” quip as a vent for their frustration mixed with their racism, and quite frankly it’s counterproductive and further alienates women from our community.

‘What they also don’t understand is that there’s nothing wrong with a woman liking any man of any race (as long as it doesn’t turn into fetishisation); it doesn’t challenge the integrity of our community.’

Some Asian men feel women who say they don’t like members of their own group are displaying internalised racism (racist attitudes towards members of their own ethnic group, including themselves), which is a legitimate concern considering that some people do look down on their own roots.

But, it becomes even more problematic when men use that criticism to legitimise their anti-blackness.

You can’t assume that a woman likes black men as a result of internalised racism.

Sometimes, women don’t even need to mention Asian men but are still faced with the same phrase.

Women who oppose racism against black people or avidly support black excellence are told they’re doing it to impress a black guy.

But it is possible to do these things without trying to rally romantic interest.

Collating the two shows that some Asian men think supporting black people must be due to an ulterior motive, and that black people are not worthy of being supported or loved in their own right.

Black men are also hypersexualised when they’re prescribed as the go-to demographic for Asian women; hypersexual generalisations are made about black men by all groups.

One of the other instances in which an Asian woman may hear the comment is if she rejects an Asian man, usually online.

The assumption made by the reject is that if she doesn’t want to engage in a conversation, it’s because she has her eyes on a black person.

The comment is deployed by a man who truly thinks a romantic black partner is not a worthy opponent, and therefore can feel better about himself under the false impression that it’s his race that has affected his chances – and not the fact that the woman doesn’t find him attractive.

It’s a symptom of the anti-blackness that plagues some members of the Asian community.

Jennifer, another South Asian woman, has heard this response a number of times.

‘I don’t see how me not wanting to speak to a random person correlates to my preference in men,’ she told Metro.co.uk.

‘It’s like a sort of racism embedded in some Asian boys where they can’t deal with being rejected by Asian girls, as if we owe them something just because we’re the same colour.’

What’s even more troubling, is that the phrase itself calls on the woman to go and be with a black person, not white or any other ethnicity. Partly because, for some of these men, to be with a black person transcends all expectations and boundaries of romantic etiquette.

And it’s definitely a gendered problem – Asian women who see Asian men critiquing them do not respond with ‘we get it, you like black women’.

Men who feel attacked by female criticism might want to check their privilege and understand where she is coming from. Women who have an aversion to Asian men might also want to check whether internalised racism has played a role.

Thankfully the phrase is not plaguing the whole community, but rather a misguided, misogynistic bunch who have yet to realise the error of their ways.

*Names have been changed.

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As if trying to find love in a world of dick pics and casual sex isn’t hard enough, now there’s a new study that reveals you’re more likely to drink alcohol if you’re single.

In an effort to determine the links between drinking and dating, online dating site and app, Zoosk, carried out a survey with 8,793 members, and as well as analysed 133,175 messages on its platforms.

The figures show that 72% of online daters consume alcohol, with millennials especially finding it harder to date without drinks; 38% of participants claimed that going sober on a date made the experience more difficult.

Interestingly, 7% of all participants also admitted to pretending to drink on a date, while with millennials this figure was higher, at 10%.

When it comes to venues where you can enjoy an alcoholic tipple, the local pub was voted the favourite date spot by both men and women, followed by the wine bar and lounge.

The least popular location for drinking and dating was college bars.

So why does alcohol play such a big part in dating?

Nearly 73% of the singles thought that drinks were a good idea for a first date, and almost half of those surveyed said the main reason was that it’s ‘easy and less formal’ and a ‘good way to let your guard down and have a conversation’.

And you’ve got the go-ahead to drink solo, too; 92% of online daters are fine with their date ordering a drink while waiting for them.

Might want to hold off on the shots though, because 2% of daters expressed that they would judge a date for drinking before they arrive.

If you’re still in the planning stage of your budding romance, make sure you mention the words ‘sparkling wine’ somewhere in the conversation.

Apparently, it’s among the sexiest drinks to name-drop. That’s right, showcasing your love of bubbly increases your chances of a response by 29%.

The best word to attract non-drinkers to say hi is Kombucha.

Oh yes, the fermented tea drink made from a combination of sweetened tea, bacteria and yeast (known as Scoby) is 16% more likely to score you a date.

You might want to bring some chewing gum though.

Whatever you choose to quench your thirst with, two drinks maximum is the lucky number with most singles.

Or, just skip the whole decision-making process and suggest a night at the cinema instead.

Everyone likes popcorn, right?

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Rotterdam plus jazz equals magic.

That equation was true again this year when the North Sea Jazz Festival returned on July 13.

The Dutch city once again came alive as it hosted some of the best music talents from across the world.

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Those names included Willie Colon, Gary Clark Jnr and BadBadNotGood.

If visitors did not initially know who these acts were they were would have definitely become fans after leaving.

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A special shout out has to go out to sets performed by young talents Khalid and twin sister group Ibeyi (Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz), who are the daughter’s of the late Buena Vista Club member Anga Díaz.

We couldn’t stop thinking about these acts as we made our way home to London on the Eurostar.

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Here are a selection of the best images from the 2018 festival

How to get there

Eurostar operates a direct servicefrom London St Pancras International to the Netherlands in just three hours with one-way fares starting from £35 (based on a return journey).

Click here for more information.

We first heard about The Real Junk Food Project (TRJFP) via a small pay-as-you feel café around the corner from our house.

The organisation runs a movement to reduce food wastage and we thought it was a fantastic way of bringing people together.

But, it was only after discussing our wedding plans with an old colleague, that my then fiance and I found out that TRJFP caters for events too.

We did our research online, read up on other couples who had used the project, and decided this could be our chance to add another positive element to our wedding, by catering for various palates, as well as spreading awareness about such a great cause.

We got in touch with the lovely founders, Emma and Chris, who were very warm, helpful and accommodating. They invited us down to their unit for a cook-off event, where we could meet like-minded people and ask questions, as well as sample the delicious food – all of which had been headed for the bin.

Emma gave us a tour and introduced me to the chefs.

There was such a great energy in the kitchen, with the chefs really putting their creativity and flair into their dishes, yet maintaining a homely atmosphere, which really fitted with our ideals.

Best of all, nothing got wasted.

We decided to go ahead, and started the food planning for our 140 guests. By the time our wedding came around, TRJFP had already catered to other couples at our chosen venue, which allowed the whole process to run smoothly.

This was a massive help when trying to put together a wedding while taking care of our 13-week old baby.

We were very confident that our guests would enjoy the food, but we decided to tell them afterwards, so that the food could speak for itself, without judgment.

When my husband dropped the bombshell during the toast, the guests were pleasantly surprised. They were very positive and complimentary in their response.We even got a cheer and piqued a lot of interest in the project.

Everyone ate plenty and left happy.

Also, because we had slightly overestimated on numbers, we had some leftover Pickard’s Pies at the end of the night, from our night caterer who supplied some additional products.

TRJFP was more than happy to work with them, because it meant they could use this produce for their next event, once again avoiding food wastage.

We even gave some lemon possets to an engagement party taking place the next day.

Overall, the Real Junk Food Project went above and beyond, exceeding our expectations with the results.

We loved that there was was such a plentiful array of colour, and everything looked fresh and much of it was healthy. There really was something for everyone, including vegan and gluten-free options, so no-one felt left out.

Since then, the majority of feedback from the public has been encouraging.

Many people didn’t know about the project and are saying it’s a great way to reduce food wastage.

You don’t have to fit a certain stereotype or be some kind of radical to care about environmental issues; they affect everyone.

Consumer demand, throwaway lifestyles and confusion over label dates have led to alarming levels of waste, which is just not sustainable.

With all the information available to us now, we feel that if we take some responsibility by coming together as a community, we can create a future that we can look forward to, rather than fear.

For more information visit The Real Junk Food Project.

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Fitness bunnies and Instagram influencers know a thing or two about good angles and lighting when it comes to taking a perfect snap.

And more often than not, the images have washboard abs and enviable derrieres.

We don’t all look like that though – and even the people in the images don’t always look like that.

Rosie Rees, a relationship coach who’s also founded nude yoga for women, wants to see other sides to these images, showing real bodies with stretch marks, cellulite, rolls and the like.

So she’s launched a campaign; #Barebothsides.

‘It’s so important that we see more than one depiction of “beauty”,’ she told Metro.co.uk.

‘On social media platforms like Instagram, we typically see one standard of beauty when there are thousands!’

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She recently shared a topless picture of herself from different angles – a ‘flattering side’ and a ‘raw/imperfect/flawed side’ and asked her followers to do the same as part of the campaign.

‘As I was playing around shooting some of my own images for Instagram, I realised how conflicted I felt as to which image to share with my followers; the one where I look slimmer and more toned, or the one where you can visibly see cellulite and tummy rolls.

‘So I decided to share both!’

The aim of the movement is to show that real bodies are diverse and versatile, she added.

‘I realised how I wanted to see women who I look up to and admire showing both sides.

‘Women feel incredibly deflated when they constantly see perfect, skinny bikini models portrayed as perfect, despite usually being heavily Photoshopped.

‘It doesn’t enhance a woman’s sense of self-worth or body image perception when we only show this one version of beauty.

A lot of Rosie’s followers found the pictures honest and inspiring and told her the difficulties they’ve had with their own bodies.

Other women followed suit and revealed pictures they said they normally wouldn’t.

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Rosie’s message of self-acceptance resonated with lots of users.

She said: ‘I have learned how to accept, love and embrace both sides of Rosie. Not just the pretty, bubbly, sexy, slim version of me. I also dig my curvy, scruffy, pudgy, emotional mess side too!’

We definitely need to see more of these types of images.

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Google’s definition of mansplaining is: ‘A man explaining something to someone, typically a woman, in a manner regarded as condescending or patronising.’

If you’re a woman, it’s probably something you’ve experienced at some point in your life. We know it’s not a malicious move employed by men but God, it can be annoying being told something you already know by someone who assumes you don’t.

If you’re a man, it can be confusing as to what constitutes this grave sin and what doesn’t.

Thankfully, then, there’s now a handy little chart to tell you when you’re about to mansplain.

Author Kim Goodwin is the genius behind the hack and came up with it after many a male colleague asked her what the secret was.

Considering that a lot of men think themselves more knowledgeable than their female counterparts, it’s a wonder why so many failed to grasp the concept.

So, Kim’s flowchart began with ‘did she ask you to explain something?’ and ended with either ‘probably mansplaining’, ‘definitely mansplaining’ or the ever-blunt ‘just stop talking now’.

Oh and there is a ‘not mansplaining’ option.

As with a lot of things, consent is the most important part. If she’s explicitly asked for an explanation or could not possibly know something, then go ahead and explain away.

If you’re genuinely unsure as to whether she has the necessary knowledge at her level then phrase it in such a way that ensures it’s not patronising.

And before you say it’s reverse sexism and if a woman explained something, it’s womansplaining, then just remember that not enough women do it on a daily basis for it to have become a phenomenon.

Also, the majority of women don’t assume they know more than men (at a professional level, at least) just by virtue of being female.

Unsurprisingly Kim was inundated with messages from men mansplaining her mansplaining chart.

Her answers, like her flowchart, hit the nail on the head though.

‘It’s gendered because the behaviour is predominantly gendered,’ she replied to a man’s comment saying such patronising situations are a human problem, not a gendered one.

‘You might also notice I don’t say “all men” anywhere…the chart just asks if you are mansplaining. And by the way, men are, by definition, not targets of sexism.’

Also, she added, the label describes the behaviour and not the whole group.

So if you’re at risk of mansplaining or know someone who might be, point out this chart to them.

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There are few things as quintessentially British as the local pub.

A place etched into British social lore for decades, the pub is a community hub that offers a space for people to come together and chat about life.

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But in recent years, they’ve come under threat.

Although rising rents, unscrupulous landlords and the undercutting price ranges of supermarket alcohol are all key factors, the Beer Alliance’s new ‘Long Live The Local’ campaign has been set up to target one particularly huge issue – beer tax.

And it’s backed by none other than former model turned pub landlady herself, Jodie Kidd.

That tax, the alliance argues, is strangling profits in an already struggling industry; due to current laws, £1 from every £3 goes to the taxman.

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With that in mind, earlier this week, Beer Alliance launched a petition as part of the campaign, with the aim to get 100,000 signatures behind its demands to lower beer tax in this November’s budget.

Jodie, who co-owns West Sussex boozer The Half Moon, has pledged her allegiance to the campaign wholeheartedly.

‘It’s my local,’ she tells Metro.co.uk. ‘It’d been closed down for six months, and it was being sold – developers were going to come and turn it into houses.

‘I live in the country, and I’ve been seeing this trend happen a lot to local villages. Especially in rural areas, [pubs] are so important. It’s not just somewhere that you go and have a pint – people come to celebrate there, it’s a place to be social. There’s so much more to it than just having a drink.’

Buying up the village pub with two of her friends around 18 months ago, she quickly opened up to the daily struggles publicans face.

‘The margins are so slim anyway, and with this non-stopping increase in beer tax – every time it goes up and up – it’s kind of crippling.

‘Business taxes are quite large anyway, and then there’s VAT, etc. But this one [beer tax] is just getting to a point where landlords or landladies are going to have to start charging so much money for a pint, that people are going to stop going to the pub.’

Model-turned-pub-owner Jodie Kidd wants you to get behind your local

It’s an interesting flip-side to the age-old ‘how much is a pint’ question (the answer, in some parts of London, is probably best left unsaid) but it has very visible consequences.

As Jodie points out, three pubs close down in the UK every day which amounts to more than 1,000 pubs a year.

What’s more, that figure equates to nearly a million jobs across the industry.

‘We’ve gotta do it sooner rather than later because otherwise one day we’re going to wake up and there’s going to be no more pubs left,’ she says.

The industry’s plight is about much more than just necking a few pints with mates too.

‘Because of mobile phones and social media, people are living more insular lives and that comes with its own problems,’ she says. ‘People might come down and have a glass of water, but that social interaction is really important for us.

‘It brings everyone together – I’ve met more people since being the landlady of The Half Moon over the last year than I had in 15 years of living in that same area. It’s been amazing.’

Saving the pubs could have knock-on effects throughout society, she argues.

‘It’s like a butterfly effect, but there’s something we can change. If we all sign this petition and they cut or freeze [beer tax], and that allows pubs to survive, that then spreads out to so many different things.

‘It’s not just a small thing about how your pint has gone up 20p or whatever, it’s a bigger thing than that.’

You can back the campaign here.

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Diarrhoea stories can be funny (if you’re into that sort of thing) and might leave you feeling a little queasy, but it’s not often they’re cute and wholesome.

Clint Edwards’ story is a bit of all three as his encounter with liquid poop left him (and the dude in the next stall) both laughing and awwing.

That’s because, throughout the whole ordeal, his four-year-old daughter decided to encourage him to get it all out so he could feel better.

He shared the post on his Facebook page No Idea What I’m Doing: Daddy’s Blog, explaining how he was troubled with loose motions during a 12-hour journey to a family funeral.

While he and daughter Aspen stopped at a gas station for a quick break, Chris had a sudden urge to go to the toilet and had no choice but to take the little one with him.

‘Aspen watched as I struggled,’ he wrote. ‘Moana light-up crocs on the wrong feet, blue eyes wide and supportive, hands clapping. “Good job, Daddy! Good job! You make two poops! Now three poops! I’m four!”’

‘Yucky, Daddy. It’s stinky,’ she added.

‘She is the Richard Simmons of pooping. I’ve never felt so supported in anything in my whole life. She commented on the size, smell, and sound. “Wow!” She said. She commented on my work ethic: ‘You’re trying so hard!’

‘At one point I had to actually push her face away from the business end of things as she clapped and cried “You’re doing it, Daddy! You’re doing it!”’

Aspen seemed to have picked up the words of encouragement from her parents who always motivate her when she has to go to the toilet, he said.

‘I suppose she’s gotten used to the positive reinforcement Mel and I give her each time she goes,’ he wrote.

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‘And when I’m cheering her on in our family restroom, it seems normal, even appropriate. But when the roles are reversed, it’s just, well, awkward.

‘Particularly in a public restroom where the man in the stall next to me was obviously holding back tears of laughter, laughter that busted loose when she called me a ‘pooping-farting robot’.

Clint almost got away with the whole incident without the rest of the family knowing too but unluckily for him, Aspen decided to enlighten the group during the journey back.

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When Emma Carey last went to Switzerland, she suffered a broken spine in a horrific skydiving accident.

Emma, from Queensland, Australia, fell 14,000ft from a helicopter and landed on her stomach, breaking her spine and shattering her pelvis.

The injury left her with a bowel and bladder incontinence meaning she can only hold about 100ml of liquids before she wets herself.

But after five years, she’s ready to jump out of a plane once again.

‘It’s finally happening,’ she wrote. ‘After five whole years, I’m going back to Europe, back to Switzerland and back to the exact place I had my accident.’

‘I’ve haven’t been back since so I have no idea how it’s going to make me feel,’ she told Mammamia.

‘The thought of going back to Europe makes me feel sick. It’s like everything in my body is screaming at me to not go back there, to the place where it got so hurt.

‘But everything else is begging me to go, to create new memories, to stop thinking about it so much and to finally enjoy a European summer for what it should have always been… fun.’

Emma admitted she was feeling very conflicted and part of her doesn’t want to think about it. It’s not the jumping out of a plane bit that scares her either – it’s returning home.

The last time she came home from her trip, her whole life changed and she can’t bear the thought of it changing again.

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‘I think that scares me now because I am so in love with the new life I’ve created here.

‘My job, my friends, my home, my body I’ve worked so hard to heal, my happiness… it feels like there’s a lot to lose.

‘This might explain why I miss almost every flight I catch. I think subconsciously a part of me actually wants to miss it. I love travelling but it’s definitely not something which comes easy to me anymore.’

Since her accident, Emma has become an advocate for disability rights. Earlier in the year, she posted a picture after wetting herself – a condition left by her spinal injury.

‘I don’t think I have a single friend that hasn’t seen me pee,’ she wrote on the post. ‘I tell people about my incontinence generally within 10 minutes of meeting them. And now I’m posting a picture of my pee-covered pants to over 100,000 people without a second thought.’

‘If you own your life and all your “flaws”, they will never be able to own you. It’s the most freeing thing in the world,’ she told her followers.

Wise words to live by.

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Miss Universe Great Britain is the beauty pageant that decides who will be representing the UK in the Miss Universe contest.

And for the first time in its 66-year history, a black woman has been crowned the winner.

Dee-Ann Kentish-Roger, who has Anguillan ancestry, made history when she was chosen to go on to fight for the title of Miss Universe.

As Dee-Ann prepares for the global beauty competition, she told Metro.co.uk about her whirlwind career and why we need more black women in the beauty industry.

How did you get into modelling?

I actually have very little modelling experience. What I have done recently would be my first attempt at modelling but I hope to continue in the industry.

Why is representation so important, especially for black girls?

Representation empowers people to chase dreams otherwise thought to be improbable or impossible. It is an invisible hand that reaches back and pulls up those who feel disenfranchised and rejected.

Black women must be reinvigorated to believe in the beauty of themselves and their dreams. If winning this title has done that, good.

However, that is simply the first step. Now, they must forge paths for themselves remaining confident in their abilities and not give up despite the obstacles.

What struggles did you face at first, whether from family, friends, colleagues?

I have been very fortunate to have had the full support of my friends, family, and colleagues during and in the run-up to the Miss Universe Great Britain 2018 finale.

The struggle every contestant will face is preparing themselves mentally. Most times our insecurities are rooted in disbelief in our own abilities.

Once I overcame that disbelief I was ready to embrace fully the support I had been receiving all along.

What struggles did you face within the modelling world?

At this moment my goal is to get more experience in this industry. I believe the greatest challenge I will face is getting the necessary experience under my belt.

I’m sure that the Miss Universe Great Britain title will open doors for me.

How do you feel knowing you’ve broken so many glass ceilings?

It feels amazing to have the privilege of being the first.

You never truly realise what you have done until it is accomplished. I’m really humbled by the messages that I’ve received in the last three days and I hope that my journey may continue to inspire young women of all ethnicities.

What are your future moves?

Right now my focus is on the Miss Universe pageant this December.

I want the spotlight to turn to the charity A-sisterhood which brings awareness to the victims of Acid Attacks in India, victims of female genital mutilation and provides programmes for women in homeless shelters.

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