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People share their most cringe-worthy sex stories

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metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Sex can be many things: Intimate, lustful, intense, and simply amazing. But it can also be awkward. Embarrassing. Excruciatingly cringe-worthy.

If you’ve never had an awkward sexual encounter, you’re lucky. Because many of us have, and let’s just say, some moments we will just never live down.

After a bunch of men told us their wildest sex stories, we decided to ask another set of people, men and women, about the sexual experiences they’ve had that were so awkward they’ll never, ever forget them.

Here’s what they said.

She squirted, or so he thought…

‘I once was giving a lass oral and was using my fingers quite rigorously that I was sure she had squirted. She told me not to stop, so I kept going and it felt like she squirted some more.

‘When I eventually stopped, I lightly pressed the bed sheet expecting to feel wetness. I felt something alright, as it wasn’t her orgasmic juice, but instead was her poo. She got that excited she literally shit herself and the bed.

‘You’ve never seen a lass get up so quickly and remove the sheets so hastily to the bathroom.

‘I was not embarrassed or put off in the slightest. I figured maybe I just did something right for her to get that excited.’

This mum was eager to meet her daughter’s new man

‘So I once went on a date with a girl and we ended up going back to her house. While we were having sex her mum walked in to “find out what all the noise was about”.

‘Now, why she would walk in when she clearly knew what was making the noise, I really don’t know… what made it worse is when she stood there for what felt like forever staring at both of us laying there completely naked, no covers, nothing.

‘It’s safe to say that I completely lost it after that and decided pretty quickly that I should really get a cab home.’

When you can’t find the lube

‘So basically there was this guy I really liked. Well, I think it was more lust, because I thought he was so fit, but whatever.

‘Anyway, he had a small gathering at his house where we all got super drunk and ended up naked in his hot tub. We kept kissing and I was sitting on his lap and he asked me to stay over, so of course I was over the moon and said yes… it was kind of clear where the night was going to go.

‘One thing lead to another and we ended up in his bed. We both got naked until I said “have you got a condom?” because I wasn’t on the pill. He didn’t and we both sat there until he suggested anal.

‘I was drunk, in lust and thought YOLO. Only problem was, we had no lube. But don’t worry – because he had a solution!

‘A trick he used with “all the girls”… olive oil. This guy seriously poured his mum’s olive oil over my asshole and then had anal sex with me.

‘I stayed the night, got a taxi home in the morning and never spoke to him again… thank god I picked up no STIs, diseases or anything else from that encounter.

‘Oh, and I have it in good faith that his mum used the same olive oil for her dinner the next day.’

couple in bed
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

When it’s not a good idea to have sex with your best friend

‘A couple of weeks after my best friend confided that she fancied me I initiated sex with her.

‘It was excruciatingly embarrassing, I had never slept with a girl before or even imagined I would and it didn’t go well! We didn’t manage much before we both called it a day! Really awful idea.’

One mum caught her son losing his virginity

‘I came back from the US after 3 months in 2011, and slept with the girl I really liked. This was also my first time.

‘Without knocking my mum walked in to find out what time I was working the following day, and well lets say she left my room pretty quick,

‘I still haven’t lived it down, needless to say the girl stopped talking to me days after. My dad thought it was hilarious that it was my mum that caught me especially as she still sees me as her little boy.’

And another mum really should have knocked

‘It was ten years ago while I was at college and still living at home. My girlfriend and I were having sex on my computer chair. My mum walks in and saw us. She was more upset that I was not using a condom.’

Accidents happen

‘I once accidentally headbutted a woman in the dark the first time we were hooking up, and made her nose bleed.

‘For reasons best known to past drunk me, instead of asking if she was ok I just said “do you have any blood borne diseases?” while handing her tissues.

‘Inexplicably she kept sleeping with me for a few months afterwards and took every opportunity to make fun of me for it.’

metro illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Short and sweet:

‘I threw up on a guy while giving him a blowjob.’

Accidental anal: Ouch.

‘Accidental slipping into anal. It is the most painful, horrific thing and genuinely excruciating. In my experience they were genuine accidents, but anyone who pretends to do it ‘accidentally’ is awful.’

Metro Illustrations
(Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

When you date someone who has no concept of female pleasure…

‘I dated someone who quite clearly had no concept of female pleasure. Like, at all.

‘I used to give him head loads but there was nothing back, in part because I was a virgin at the time and nervous.

‘At some point I said ‘okay, I’m ready, let’s go for it’. He literally puts one finger in my vagina, does not move it or do anything else. Just puts it in and holds it still. We did not have sex’.

Handjobs aren’t supposed to hurt, guys

‘I had my dick cut open mid-sex during a handjob, because she forgot to take her ring off.’

When you can’t make it, so you fake it

‘I was once having sex and it wasn’t that great, but I didn’t want to make him feel bad. And so, I made extra noise, probably a lot louder than I do when sex is actually good – but because I’m not usually aware of how I sound I didn’t really know how ‘extra’ I was being.

‘Anyway, we were doing missionary and I was making way too much noise for that position – and he stopped and called me out for faking it, and said I sounded like a porn star. Even he knew it wasn’t that good.

‘I was caught so off-guard that I didn’t even deny it, and felt super awkward. It’s safe to say we stopped and didn’t have sex again after that.’

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You can now ride in a new cosy taxi with rugs, slippers and a fireplace

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Baxi Boilers have transformed a London cab into a really cosy, luxurious, wood-cabin inspired taxi for people to enjoy, creating the ultimate, Relaxi Taxi. Decked out with curtains, faux fur rugs and home fixtures to provide the warmest ride of your life. London.See SWNS story SWBRtaxi.The world???s cosiest taxi has been unveiled in London featuring velvet seats, sheepskin rugs ??? and a roaring FIREPLACE.To help Brits get to work on a chilly February day, the one-of-a kind taxi has been decked out to resemble a country log cabin.From the inside, it???s almost unrecognisable as a London black cab, with blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and screen divider.And an imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door ??? accompanied by a stack of logs to complete the effect.The mobile log cabin is currently being trialled, will be taking Londoners to work for free, picking up lucky cab-hailers from all across the city.
(Picture: SWNS)

Someone has created a super cosy taxi so you can relax when you get a late night lift home, as it comes with sheepskin rugs, complimentary slippers and even a fireplace.

The taxi has been decorated to resemble a country log cabin, and features blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and on the screen divider.

An imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door, along with a stack of logs to complete the effect.

The interior is almost unrecognisable as a London black cab.

The mobile log cabin – created by UK boiler manufacturer Baxi – is currently operating on the streets of London and will be taking commuters on free journeys during a trial period.

The interior of the taxi. Baxi Boilers have transformed a London cab into a really cosy, luxurious, wood-cabin inspired taxi for people to enjoy, creating the ultimate, Relaxi Taxi. Decked out with curtains, faux fur rugs and home fixtures to provide the warmest ride of your life. London.See SWNS story SWBRtaxi.The world???s cosiest taxi has been unveiled in London featuring velvet seats, sheepskin rugs ??? and a roaring FIREPLACE.To help Brits get to work on a chilly February day, the one-of-a kind taxi has been decked out to resemble a country log cabin.From the inside, it???s almost unrecognisable as a London black cab, with blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and screen divider.And an imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door ??? accompanied by a stack of logs to complete the effect.The mobile log cabin is currently being trialled, will be taking Londoners to work for free, picking up lucky cab-hailers from all across the city.
(Picture; Tom Wren/SWNS)

Marketing manager Sian Lewis said: ‘This winter has seen some really chilly mornings, and even as we head towards March it doesn’t seem to be improving.

‘Our taxi will help people have a cosy experience on the way to work, making them feel as warm as they were wrapped up in their duvet that morning.

Other decorative touches in the cab include a stag’s head mounted on the centre head rest to create a real ‘country cabin’ feel, and wooden lanterns to give soft light from the floor.

There are also lots of cushions and wool throws, so you can snuggle up on a cold journey to work.

The interior of the taxi. Baxi Boilers have transformed a London cab into a really cosy, luxurious, wood-cabin inspired taxi for people to enjoy, creating the ultimate, Relaxi Taxi. Decked out with curtains, faux fur rugs and home fixtures to provide the warmest ride of your life. London.See SWNS story SWBRtaxi.The world???s cosiest taxi has been unveiled in London featuring velvet seats, sheepskin rugs ??? and a roaring FIREPLACE.To help Brits get to work on a chilly February day, the one-of-a kind taxi has been decked out to resemble a country log cabin.From the inside, it???s almost unrecognisable as a London black cab, with blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and screen divider.And an imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door ??? accompanied by a stack of logs to complete the effect.The mobile log cabin is currently being trialled, will be taking Londoners to work for free, picking up lucky cab-hailers from all across the city.
(Picture; Tom Wren/SWNS)

To complete the experience, passengers will even be given a pair of sheepskin slippers to give their feet the best possible start to the day.

Following its London debut, the cab will be travelling up and down the country offering free lifts in cities across the UK including Birmingham, Manchester and Nottingham.

Some people have already tried the taxi out.

Linda Joubert, 33, said: ‘It was so nice. They had slippers! I’ve never taken my shoes off in a taxi before.

‘The fire made me feel warm. It’s the cosiest cab I’ve ever stepped into. A brilliant ride.’

A passenger enjoys a ride in the taxi. Baxi Boilers have transformed a London cab into a really cosy, luxurious, wood-cabin inspired taxi for people to enjoy, creating the ultimate, Relaxi Taxi. Decked out with curtains, faux fur rugs and home fixtures to provide the warmest ride of your life. London. See SWNS story SWBRtaxi.The world???s cosiest taxi has been unveiled in London featuring velvet seats, sheepskin rugs ??? and a roaring FIREPLACE.To help Brits get to work on a chilly February day, the one-of-a kind taxi has been decked out to resemble a country log cabin.From the inside, it???s almost unrecognisable as a London black cab, with blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and screen divider.And an imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door ??? accompanied by a stack of logs to complete the effect.The mobile log cabin is currently being trialled, will be taking Londoners to work for free, picking up lucky cab-hailers from all across the city.
(Picture; Tom Wren/SWNS)

55-year-old Clive Woods added: ‘I was completely shocked. I wondered what was different when it pulled up and then I got inside.’

To book a free ride, passengers need to Tweet @Baxi_Taxi with their postcode and preferred pick up time.

Sian Lewis from Baxi, added: ‘Getting a cab rather than walking or taking public transport can often feel like an unnecessary luxury.

‘But because ours won’t cost a penny, it means commuters can ride in absolute comfort, totally guilt-free.

The interior of the taxi. Baxi Boilers have transformed a London cab into a really cosy, luxurious, wood-cabin inspired taxi for people to enjoy, creating the ultimate, Relaxi Taxi. Decked out with curtains, faux fur rugs and home fixtures to provide the warmest ride of your life. London.See SWNS story SWBRtaxi.The world???s cosiest taxi has been unveiled in London featuring velvet seats, sheepskin rugs ??? and a roaring FIREPLACE.To help Brits get to work on a chilly February day, the one-of-a kind taxi has been decked out to resemble a country log cabin.From the inside, it???s almost unrecognisable as a London black cab, with blue velvet curtains hanging on the windows and screen divider.And an imitation fireplace has been mounted to the passenger door ??? accompanied by a stack of logs to complete the effect.The mobile log cabin is currently being trialled, will be taking Londoners to work for free, picking up lucky cab-hailers from all across the city.
(Picture; Tom Wren/SWNS)

‘We’ve used all of our boiler and heating know-how to make a small space feel as warm and inviting as possible – with fantastic results.’

The Baxi Taxi will be appearing in towns and cities across the UK from Monday 25 February.

Bookings will be available between 10am and 2pm and will be offered on a first-come-first-serve basis.

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The UK must follow New York’s lead in fighting racism by banning hairstyle discrimination

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Portrait of black female flicking hair
It’s easy to dismiss hairstyle discrimination as something frivolous or inconsequential because how you choose to wear your hair is seen as essentially superficial (Picture: Getty)

There have been no shortage of stories of black and mixed women and men being fired, denied jobs or sent home from work or school for daring to wear their hair in the style in which it naturally sprouts from their scalps or, for that matter, in comfortable styles that suit their specific hair type.

It is for this reason that hairstyle discrimination needs to be reprimanded with the same vigour as any other kind of racial discrimination – just as New York City has declared.

Leading the way, the city has announced it is set to ban discrimination based on hairstyles and it’s time for the UK to catch up.

It’s easy to dismiss hairstyle discrimination as something frivolous or inconsequential because how you choose to wear your hair is seen as essentially superficial – purely aesthetic.

But when black people are being punished for the sheer fact of the naturally occurring texture of their hair – a factor entirely out of their control – why is it any different than discrimination based on the colour of their skin?

To assert that black hairstyles are ‘messy’ or ‘unprofessional’ just because of their divergence from European norms, is nothing more than simplistic racist stereotyping – and now we need help from official legislation to undo this ingrained thinking.

Opinions about black hair can also lead to smaller microaggressions that black people have to face on a daily basis – in every area of their lives.

People will touch black hair uninvited, ask weird, insulting questions about whether the hair is real, even make assumptions that a black person will be able to sell them weed simply because they have dreads.

If you don’t think it’s a problem in this country, a cursory search of headlines over the last few years will quickly tell you otherwise.

In 2017 a black woman was told that she would not secure a role at Harrods unless she chemically straightened her hair.

In 2015 a black woman had a job offer withdrawn because she was unwilling to remove her braids.

Last year, a black woman was rejected from a hospitality position because she wore dreadlocks.

Also last year, a 12 year old boy made the difficult decision to leave a school in Fulham after they told him he had to cut off his dreadlocks.

Shot of a young female designer working in her office
One colleague called me ‘urban’, another said I looked like I should be at a ‘reggae dance party’ (Picture: Getty)

This isn’t to say that white candidates aren’t fired, rejected from jobs or sent home from school because of their appearance or choice of hairstyle. But the difference is in the element of choice.

A white employee flouting the company dress code by, say, dying it blue is completely different to a black person being told their own natural hair is unprofessional, or that they aren’t allowed to wear a style common for their hair type.

If natural afro hair is deemed ‘unprofessional’, and styles like braids, cornrow and dreadlocks are also regarded as unacceptable what options are we left with?

If the only alternative is an often painful, expensive and damaging procedure – like chemical straightening – it’s clear there is a double standard at play.

It isn’t simply the fact that the hairstyle doesn’t adhere to ‘company guidelines’ – it is the fact that it doesn’t adhere to European standards of beauty. And that’s why it’s racism.

A lot of the most uncomfortable moments in my professional career have been caused by unsettling comments about my hair from white coworkers. I have written about my experience when I got my hair braided for the first time.

One colleague called me ‘urban’, another said I looked like I should be at a ‘reggae dance party’ (no, I don’t know what that is either), and I lost count of the times people just reached out and grabbed at my braids.

It was disappointing, upsetting and made me feel ridiculously self-conscious. As though by daring to wear a ‘black’ hairstyle rather than the inoffensive bun I normally used to hide and control my afro hair, I was drawing attention to my ‘otherness’.

I didn’t like it, but it was manageable. I would smile and shrug off the comments. The people who have been fired or missed out on job opportunities because of their hairstyles didn’t have that option.

The government website states that in the UK discrimination against certain ‘protected characteristics’ is illegal. These include, race, age, gender reassignment, religion, sex and disability. But we need to be even more specific.

New York’s new guidelines specifically mention the right of citizens to maintain their ‘natural hair, treated or untreated hairstyles such as locs, cornrows, twists, braids, Bantu knots, fades, Afros, and/or the right to keep hair in an uncut or untrimmed state.’

When it comes to racism and discrimination, it appears that people really do need what’s right or wrong to be spelled out to them by the letter.

Discrimination against black hairstyles is racism. But until companies and schools are threatened with official guidelines stating this fact, they will continue to play dumb and find loopholes to enable their racist behaviour.

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Attention, vegans: Plant-based cream eggs are now available online

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(Picture: PA)

A chocolatier has created a vegan Creme Egg, and it’s said to be ‘as good as, if not better than, the dairy alternatives’.

The Mummy Meagz Cream Egg contains no animal products and so its creator says it offers a ‘cruelty-free’ alternative to your favourite Easter treat.

‘We didn’t see why people should miss out on an indulgent Easter treat just because of their ethical lifestyle choices,’ the confectionery company’s owner, Meagan Boyle, nicknamed Mummy Meagz, said.

Announcing the product on social media, Mummy Meagz tweeted: ‘MOOOve over Cadbury’s.

‘They’re back… Mummy Meagz Vegan & Gluten Free Cream Eggs.

Undated handout issued by Mummy Meagz of the Mummy Meagz's Vegan Creme eggs. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday February 20, 2019. See PA story CONSUMER VeganEgg. Photo credit should read: Mummy Meagz/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
(Picture: PA)

‘On sale, ONLY through the Mummy Meagz website, as of tomorrow.

‘We will be shipping every 2 weeks all the way up to Easter!’

The mother and daughter-owned company, from Cottingham, East Yorkshire, has been producing the vegan cream eggs for five years, having started selling them in its coffee shop.

But the eggs recently became more popular after becoming available online, with thousands of people visiting the website to buy them.

Mummy Meagz products have previously appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, with Piers Morgan describing the rocky road bar as ‘tasteless’.

Undated handout issued by Mummy Meagz of Meagan Boyle making the Mummy Meagz's Vegan Creme eggs. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday February 20, 2019. See PA story CONSUMER VeganEgg. Photo credit should read: Mummy Meagz/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
(Picture: PA)

The company said: ‘We did consider sending Piers and his underlings a box.

‘But they are like gold dust at the moment and we just can’t spare any!’

The company says veganism is ‘growing fast’ and it is proud to be a ‘trailblazer’ in the movement.

‘As vegans we don’t want to eat any products derived from any animal,’ it said. ‘To us, a ‘regular’ cream egg isn’t normal, as we don’t think drinking milk from a cow is normal!

‘We’d rather eat something that is made 100% from plants, but tastes as good as, if not better than, the dairy alternatives.’

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Woman, 19, wants people to stop bashing her marriage to 62-year-old man

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PICS BY SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED : Samantha Simpson, 19, with her husband JR Simpson, 62, who receive abuse on a daily basis from strangers over their 43-year age gap.) A stunning teenager, who has married and is trying to have children with a 62-year-old grandad, is speaking out after trolls call her husband a child snatcher. Samantha Simpson, 19, first met her husband, JR, 62, through mutual friends when she was just 18-years-old and, after months of talking, fell for him. After her family didnt accept her age-gap relationship, Samantha moved into her own apartment in Berryville, Arkansas, US where retired JR moved in with her - before they got their first joint home in Wichita, Kansas, six months ago. The couple then quickly got engaged, and sealed their relationship by getting married on January 8 2018 after dating for one year, and are now actively trying to have a child. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS)

Samantha Simpson, 19, is speaking out after trolls call her 62-year-old husband a ‘child snatcher’.

She met her husband, JR, through mutual friends when she was 18.

After months of talking, the pair got together.

After her family didn’t accept her age-gap relationship, Samantha moved into her own apartment in Berryville, Arkansas, US where retired JR moved in with her – before they got their first joint home in Wichita, Kansas, six months ago.

The couple quickly got engaged, and got married on 8 January, 2018 after dating for one year. They are now trying to have a child.

But despite how seriously they take their relationship, Samantha, a student, says that they receive daily abuse from strangers – calling her husband a ‘child snatcher’, ‘paedophile’ and mistaking him for her granddad.

Samantha said: ‘When we are out in public, we have strangers mistaking us for granddad and granddaughter all of the time and it can really upset me.

‘But it’s even worse when people call JR a ‘child snatcher’ or a ‘paedophile’ when they see us hold hands or kiss in public.

‘There’s not a moment when we are out and about that someone doesn’t make a comment about our relationship, and it’s just exhausting.

‘We have had enough of a hard time with family and friends not accepting our relationship, that when strangers do it too it just becomes too much.

PICS BY SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED : Samantha Simpson, 19, with her husband JR Simpson, 62, on their wedding day in January 2018.) A stunning teenager, who has married and is trying to have children with a 62-year-old grandad, is speaking out after trolls call her husband a child snatcher. Samantha Simpson, 19, first met her husband, JR, 62, through mutual friends when she was just 18-years-old and, after months of talking, fell for him. After her family didnt accept her age-gap relationship, Samantha moved into her own apartment in Berryville, Arkansas, US where retired JR moved in with her - before they got their first joint home in Wichita, Kansas, six months ago. The couple then quickly got engaged, and sealed their relationship by getting married on January 8 2018 after dating for one year, and are now actively trying to have a child. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS)

‘We just want people to realise that we are happily married and serious about our relationship – and other people shouldn’t be discriminating us in such a way.’

Samantha says she fell for JR instantly.

She said: ‘When I saw JR I was automatically drawn to how well presented he was and the fact that he was such a gentleman.

‘He was very well spoken whenever we met, and also when we would talk over the phone and text, he was just something I had never found in a man before.

‘I have dated men who have been closer to my age before, but they’ve been very immature and haven’t known how to treat their partner.

PICS BY SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS - (PICTURED : Samantha Simpson, 19, with her husband JR Simpson, 62, who receive abuse on a daily basis from strangers over their 43-year age gap.) A stunning teenager, who has married and is trying to have children with a 62-year-old grandad, is speaking out after trolls call her husband a child snatcher. Samantha Simpson, 19, first met her husband, JR, 62, through mutual friends when she was just 18-years-old and, after months of talking, fell for him. After her family didnt accept her age-gap relationship, Samantha moved into her own apartment in Berryville, Arkansas, US where retired JR moved in with her - before they got their first joint home in Wichita, Kansas, six months ago. The couple then quickly got engaged, and sealed their relationship by getting married on January 8 2018 after dating for one year, and are now actively trying to have a child. - SEE CATERS COPY
(Picture: SAMANTHA SIMPSON / CATERS NEWS)

‘Being with JR is completely different – he’s so mature and treats me like a Queen, there’s nothing that I would change about him or our relationship.’

Despite other people’s opinions on their relationship, the newlyweds are both taking their relationship very seriously and are even trying to have children.

Samantha said: ‘Although JR had a child from a previous relationship, we want to have children of our own and start a family.

‘We are currently trying to get pregnant as we feel the time is right – we’ve just got married and we have our own place, so why wouldn’t we want to?

‘Hopefully when we have a child the abuse will stop, as we don’t want to raise a child in an environment where they have to hear nasty slurs about their father.

‘We hope that by sharing the story of our relationship, people will realise that it isn’t a joke and we are very serious about one another despite our age gap and appearances.’

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Woman asks for undercut design, gets ‘world’s worst haircut’

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- Picture of Lucy Burrows, 22 TRIANGLE NEWS 0203 176 5581 // contact@trianglenews.co.uk By Helena Kelly A WOMAN who received the ?world?s worst haircut? claims her confidence has plummeted since hairdressers left her half bald. Traumatised Lucy Burrows, 22, showed stylists a photo of an elaborate undercut she had seen online. However, the sales account manager was devastated to find hapless hairdressers had butchered her long locks and left her looking nothing like the photo. *Full copy filed via the wires*
Lucy Burrows asked for an undercut design. It didn’t go to plan (Picture: Lucy Burrows/Triangle News)

We’ve all had haircuts that don’t quite look like the picture we brought in for reference.

But this one is a tad more drastic than a slightly too-short fringe or some dodgy layers.

Lucy Burrows, 22, showed a hairstylist a picture of a detailed undercut design she had seen online, and asked for the same style.

The undercut shaves a small V section in the hair, complete with some line work.

Instead of that subtle but edgy design, a large portion of Lucy’s head was shaved, and that detailed line work wasn’t quite right.

As it’s on the back of her head, Lucy didn’t get to check out the design until it was too late.

Here’s what she asked for:

- Picture of the haircut Lucy Burrows had asked for. Image taken from Instagram TRIANGLE NEWS 0203 176 5581 // contact@trianglenews.co.uk By Helena Kelly A WOMAN who received the ?world?s worst haircut? claims her confidence has plummeted since hairdressers left her half bald. Traumatised Lucy Burrows, 22, showed stylists a photo of an elaborate undercut she had seen online. However, the sales account manager was devastated to find hapless hairdressers had butchered her long locks and left her looking nothing like the photo. *Full copy filed via the wires* *TRIANGLE NEWS DOES NOT CLAIM ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE ATTACHED MATERIAL. ANY DOWNLOADING FEES CHARGED BY TRIANGLE NEWS ARE FOR TRIANGLE NEWS SERVICES ONLY, AND DO NOT, NOR ARE THEY INTENDED TO, CONVEY TO THE USER ANY COPYRIGHT OR LICENSE IN THE MATERIAL. BY PUBLISHING THIS MATERIAL , THE USER EXPRESSLY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND TO HOLD TRIANGLE NEWS HARMLESS FROM ANY CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR CONNECTED IN ANY WAY WITH USER'S PUBLICATION OF THE MATERIAL*
(Picture: esta_hed.shed/Instagram)

 

And here’s what she got:

- Picture of Lucy Burrows 'world's worst haircut' TRIANGLE NEWS 0203 176 5581 // contact@trianglenews.co.uk By Helena Kelly A WOMAN who received the ?world?s worst haircut? claims her confidence has plummeted since hairdressers left her half bald. Traumatised Lucy Burrows, 22, showed stylists a photo of an elaborate undercut she had seen online. However, the sales account manager was devastated to find hapless hairdressers had butchered her long locks and left her looking nothing like the photo. *Full copy filed via the wires*
(Picture: Lucy Burrows/Triangle News)

Can you spot the difference? We expect you can.

Lucy says Barber n’ Bar in Cheltenham initially refused to acknowledge the mistake, but eventually agreed to refund the £20 cut, throwing in an extra tenner to apologise.

But Lucy still isn’t too pleased.

‘If you’re looking for a butcher, Barber n’ Bar is the right place,’ she said.

‘They absolutely destroyed my hair and confidence and I couldn’t even go to work because of this.’

The good news is that as it’s an undercut, Lucy can still play around with her hair to cover up the less-than-perfect shave job.

The cut happened back in August, but she says her still has only just started to recover.

She said: ‘I still can’t wear my hair up at all and it looks so bad and messy.

‘You can’t tell as much anymore but it still feels very thin to me.’

‘After a long argument, the hairdressers admitted they did do it to me and sent back £30 but I am still half bald which obviously isn’t great.’

Barber n’ Bar have been contacted for comment but haven’t responded yet.

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My Label and Me: Being pansexual in the real world is complicated

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Pansexuality was a word I discovered when I was about 17.

Before this I’d never labelled my sexuality. Girls at school would ask if I was a lesbian. Then, when I got a boyfriend, they all started asking whether I was bisexual.

The truth is, I’d always been attracted to multiple genders but didn’t think I saw relationships in the same way that they did.

When it came to fancying someone, I didn’t really think about what that person’s body was like or what it might be like to have sex with them, my view of a person was more complex.

I also knew I felt especially attracted to people who were androgynous, as well as liking trans people.

It was actually my trans best friend who first introduced me to the word.

Lana, the author in front of a canal
A key characteristic of pansexuality is that pan people don’t really ‘notice’ gender (Photo: Alexander Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

He came from a world where a lot of friendships began on tumblr – a place where scholarly jargon on sexuality and gender was often thrown around and discussed, so he had a much broader view and wider knowledge on all of this than I did.

He told me that pansexuality meant you could feel attracted to people of all genders – boys, girls, transgender people, non-binary people, people who felt as though they had no gender or didn’t identify with any kind of gender-related label and also gender fluid people.

A key characteristic of pansexuality is that pan people don’t really ‘notice’ gender; it doesn’t really cross their mind when experiencing attraction. And that explained a lot.

Finally, I’d found a label that ‘fitted’ how I felt, and it gave me a sense of belonging. When navigating through the world, though, it kind of gets more complicated.

I feel proud of who I am and feel part of the LGBT+ community, for sure, but being pan is sometimes something I have to explain to people.

I often have to explain my sexuality to people (Photo: Alexander Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

It also isn’t that ‘obvious’ as a sexuality – it doesn’t often spring into people’s minds as one of the categories you could fall under. Even more infuriating is that because I ‘look’ like a woman and often date men, a lot of people assume I’m heterosexual.

The problem with this is that (sadly) in this society, being seen as straight is a privilege. It keeps you safe from homophobic attacks; it makes those who might hate you if they knew who you really were keep quiet.

Although this privilege has probably saved my life, I don’t feel comfortable having it. I am a survivor of homophobic bullying in school, and I’m proud of this.

I’m also proud to be surrounded by all of my wonderful friends in the LGBT+ community; many of whom are often fighting for their rights, and their lives, every day.

Although passing for straight has probably saved my life, I don’t feel comfortable having it (Photo: Alexander Crawley/Metro.co.uk)

But saying this, having an ‘unclockable’ LGBT+ identity makes it hard sometimes to feel secure in queer spaces. In a place where everyone else is LGBT+, I should be able to be more myself than ever, right? Wrong.

I feel the need to tell people pretty much as soon as I meet them that I’m ‘one of them’ (I mean, not in those words, that would be weird) and find myself over-exaggerating traits that would make me look more obviously queer, just to feel accepted by my ‘own kind.’

What I often wonder is whether a ‘label’ exists for you, and for your own sense of identity, or whether it’s for other people – a tool to aid their perception of you, perhaps?

The conclusion I’ve reached is that it doesn’t matter.

With labels, it’s not a one-size-fits-all; two people could adopt the same label but feel and experience completely different things.

And as for all that beauty-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder crap, who cares?

Although I’d like someone to see me as pan to help me feel validated in my chosen identity, I also think you just can’t win them all.

Not everyone is going to ‘get’ what you’re trying to put out there, and whatever you do just won’t be perceived by everyone in the same way.

Adopting a label is a big step in owning yourself and loving who you are and if one little word can help you to celebrate your truth, that can only be a good thing.

[/metro-fact-box]

Labels

Labels is an exclusive series that hears from individuals who have been labelled – whether that be by society, a job title, or a diagnosis. Throughout the project, writers will share how having these words ascribed to them shaped their identity  positively or negatively  and what the label means to them.

If you would like to get involved please email jess.austin@metro.co.uk

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People are using mugs and toilet seats to pretend they’re on a flight for fake plane challenge

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(Picture: CGTN)

This is an internet challenge we can actually get behind – and it doesn’t involve eating anything spicy or covering yourself in ice.

Over in China the fake plane challenge is taking off (pun intended), with the hashtag ‘pretending to be on a plane’ receiving more than 20 million views on social media site Weibo and videos appearing all over TikTok.

The challenge is simple: Use whatever household possessions you can grab to pretend you’re on a plane.

The trick is to get crafty and fake the classic plane window photo or video. You know the one: a shot of the clouds or the city below through the curve of a plane window, to show everyone that you’re a cool travelling type.

You could use this technique to stunt on the ‘Gram, but the brilliant part of this challenge is the big reveal, where people pan out to show how they’ve faked their journey.

Some of the excellent attempts we’ve seen use mug handles (the curve is perfect to replicate a plane window), toilet seats, and detergent bottles held in front of iPhone screens.

The key is to get creative.

The more mundane an object you use, the better, especially if it’s something wildly impractical such as a plastic stool.

Bonus points shall be awarded for the involvement of pets. A cat or dog peering out of a ‘plane window’ is always a win.

Pick up a curved object, pick your view on your iPhone, then film your shot along with the grand reveal.

Pair with the falling stars challenge then pat yourself on the back for your internet success.

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Glossier has released a brand new cleanser that has beauty editors buzzing

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(Picture: glossier.com)

Everyone went nuts when Glossier released their Milky Jelly Cleanser.

It was a cleanser for all skin types, made with poloxamer to avoid irritation and tightness.

They’ve changed the game up once again, however, with their new Milky Oil, which is set to be your new micellar water replacement.

Micellar water is that amazing dirt and oil attractor that takes your makeup off with a swipe of a cotton pad, and this essentially gives it an upgrade with the addition of oils.

It’s half micellar water and half oil, which nourishes your skin and avoids your pad dragging on your skin as you wipe.

The idea is that you use this when you have extra (or more long-wearing) makeup on, to take the day off before giving your face a proper wash.

Milky Oil contains pro vitamin B5 and comfrey root to moisturise and heal, and castor oil to create the smooth glide.

Beauty editors at the likes of Vogue are saying it’s great for eye makeup, but that the bottle is a teensy bit too small and they want to see something bigger.

Like everything from Glossier, it comes in that minimalist pastel packaging for all your #shelfie needs, and is cruelty-free like the rest of the range.

This wee beauty is also completely vegan and ophthalmologist tested so it won’t sting your eyes.

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Lean On Me: I’m on maternity leave and lonely. How do I make mum friends?

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Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk
(Photo: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Welcome to Lean On Me – a weekly agony aunt style column from Metro.co.uk where Kate Leaver answers your friendship woes.

Dear Kate,

I’ve just had a baby girl and in some ways, I couldn’t be happier. I love her more than I expected to be able to love someone. But I’ve also found that I feel really lonely and I’m not sure what to do.

I’m on maternity leave so it’s my first big chunk of time away from work and all of a sudden my main form of company is a baby who can’t talk, she only cries and a lot of the time I don’t know why. I am the first one of my girlfriends to have a baby – because my husband is a bit older than their partners – and so I don’t really have any mum friends to hang out with or talk to about parent stuff.

I try to see my old friends as often as I can but I just feel like they don’t quite understand what I’m going through, besides which, the days feel very long while they’re at work and I’m at home breastfeeding. Do I need to make mum friends? How do I do that?

Eloise, 27

(Photo: Mmuffin)

Dear Eloise,

Let me tell you about a woman called Michelle Kennedy. She was in exactly your position: the first in her group of girlfriends to become a mama because her husband was a bit older and that fast-tracked them into parenthood.

She never felt lonelier than when she was at home breastfeeding her son at 3am, scrolling through Instagram photos of her friends out dancing. The chasm between her old self and her new self was staggering. She felt alone and lonely, as delighted as she was to have brought her son into the world.

At a Starbucks one morning with her little family, Michelle struck up a conversation with another mother, waiting in the queue for her coffee. They chatted about breastfeeding, they got on, they seemed to have that chemistry that might suggest they could be friends.

‘We should exchange numbers,’ Michelle suggested. To her horror, the woman said, ‘I already have enough friends.’ Michelle was crestfallen.

Imagine how vulnerable you’d feel, being socially rejected with your son in your arms. She vowed never to reach out to another mama in person again, lest the same thing happen.

Luckily, Michelle had the perfect skill set to solve the problem of motherly loneliness. She used to work on dating apps, so she decided to launch her own app, specifically for women just like her. Peanut is like Tinder for mums (only they match with new mum friends, rather than romantic partners, so there’s a lot more talk about teething).

If you’re pregnant or a mother, you just download it, put together a profile and match with other mamas in your area. It’s available in the UK, the US and Australia. It’s changing lives around the world, in this very specific and rather beautiful way. Michelle met a woman on her own app she now cannot imagine her life without and whenever she travels, she meets new mamas in those cities.

So my first suggestion, lovely Eloise, is to download Peanut. Its existence genuinely makes me feel better about the prospect of becoming a mother.

Because of course it’s going to be important to stay in touch with your old, beloved friends, but I understand why you feel isolated and I get why you need mum friends, too. We bond so powerfully over shared experience, so having someone who gets the motherhood thing can be so important.

One of my most cherished friends in the world had babies before the rest of us and she needs her mum friends. She has an all-mum WhatsApp group, they live in the same neighborhood and they meet for brunch and play dates all the time.

So Peanut is obviously miraculous, but you could also pick up some new mum friends at local parenting get-togethers in community spaces. Have a look near you, Google it, check Facebook groups, see if you can find a baby class or a toddler’s play group.

Having mum friends will make you feel so much less alone, I really believe that. You can swap breastfeeding tips, debrief on bad nights and plan how your children will fall in love when they grow up. You can also, obviously, talk about Netflix and love and work and Beyonce, because women are capable of all that.

I wish you such luck with the gargantuan task of raising a child. Please know that you’re not alone in feeling alone. When I wrote my book, The Friendship Cure, I did a callout on social media for people to speak to me about loneliness. The single most vocal group was new mothers.

Mamas around the world were desperate to speak to someone, anyone, about how alone they felt. I was genuinely relieved to hear that someone had invented an app for them, and I hope you will find it helpful.

Kindest regards to the small human you’ve got at home, and to you.

Kate

About Lean On Me

Kate Leaver is the author of The Friendship Cure and she will be answering your friendship woes in her weekly Metro.co.uk column.

If you’d like to submit a question or problem, email LeanOnMe@metro.co.uk with ‘Lean on me’ in the subject line.

Submissions are anonymous and you can follow the discussion on Twitter #LeanOnMe.

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Michelle Keegan reveals her favourite skincare and beauty products

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(Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk)

She’s played Tina McIntyre in ITV soap Coronation Street for six years, Georgie Lane in Our Girl and was named FHM’s Sexiest Woman In The World in 2015 and Michelle Keegan doesn’t look like she’s stopping anytime soon.

Michelle has recently signed as the UK brand ambassador for Nouveau Lashes.

Michelle tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I’ve been a long-term fan of the Nouveau Lashes LVL treatment, so I was thrilled when they approached me to work with them.

‘LVL has been a must-have part of my regime for years now.’

Here she chats about her favourite products, biggest beauty no no’s and the secret behind her glowing, flawless skin.

What’s your go-to everyday makeup?

I keep it simple. For my base a really good foundation, or tinted moisturiser. I use either Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, as it’s quite light despite it’s full coverage, or NARS Barcelona All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation – they’re my two faves.

For contour I use Hoola Bronzer by Benefit, because it’s got no orange pigment in, so it’s quite a deep brown. And I normally just use a Vitamin E Lip Balm from The Body Shop and Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

How do you maintain your eyebrows?

I got my eyebrows microbladed. I had it done because I over plucked in the 90s and I can’t grow them back – if I could get bushy eyebrows again I would.

It helps me with time in the morning, I hate taking a long time getting ready, so the fact I have a LVL Lash Lift my eyelashes are already lifted and because my eyebrows are microbladed I don’t tend to do much to my eyes, or  brows. It’s more my skin really. I like to keep everything to a minimum because it’s easier.

Do you do your own hair and makeup?

I like to do my own hair and makeup, the only time I have my glamsquad is at events or red carpet as I’d be too stressed to get myself ready. Day-to-day or going out with my mates I do it myself.

I just don’t enjoy sitting there for hours. But I like the process of getting ready with my friends, especially when you haven’t seen your mates in a while. The best of the night is getting ready with the girls.

How do you keep your skin looking flawless?

My skin goes through phases, it always changes. At the minute it’s going alright (touchwood), but when I was away filming for the first time in south Africa for Our Girl my skin went really bad. I had really bad breakouts all under the skin, so I saw a dermatologist.

My skin changes with the climate so I just change my skincare routine in line with the weather. In the summer I tend not to wear night moisturiser, but in the winter I do and that’s when I see the change. It took me a while to get in under control. And I can sometimes see it when I’m on camera. But also around this time, I didn’t drink a lot of fluids.

Ah, this is a really good tip actually – my friend recommend that every morning when you wake up drink a pint of water because it kickstarts your body, which is now something I do. And yes, I do see and feel a difference because your body has fasted for eight hours, you’ve not had any fluids so your skin is dehydrated.

What are your three favourite skincare products?

I like the Sisley Day Cream, I wear the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream every morning and I do use Laura Mercier Infusion De Rose Nourishing Crème too, that’s rose scented, which is really nice. A few times a week I use Skin Food by Weleda, because its really thick and nourishing. It’s not something I can use everyday, but I’ve seen a massive change in my skin – it’s so good and cheap.

What are your biggest beauty no no’s? 

I always take my makeup off before i go to bed. That’s what my Mum and Grandma taught me. Even when I’ve had a drink, I don’t know how I do it, but I wake up with no makeup on!

I use the ELEMIS Gentle Foaming Facial Wash, or The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Cream Cleanser and follow with moisturiser.

(Picture: Neil Mockford/GC Images)

Skincare tips and advice for frequent flyers? 

I love an in-flight skincare regime. I get on the plane, it takes off and I get straight to the toilet and wash my face. When you’re on a plane for a long period of time and it’s circulating air you want everything off your face, especially when you’re going to sleep.

Then I put a sheet mask on, I like Charlotte Tilbury Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask. It says leave on for 10 minutes, but I wear for 30 minutes usually while watching a film. I have my dinner and then sleep. Wake up in the morning and my skin feels good.

I repeat this on the way back and my skin feels better for it.

Do you ever pop spots? 

I’m a picker, I can’t leave it. You know when people say ‘don’t touch it, it will get worse’? I’m one of those people that go ‘okay’ and I’ll pop it straight away afterwards – I can’t help it.

In fact, I had a spot last week (popped it) and then put a little Sudocrem on and it had healed by morning. I’ve tried loads of spot remedies; vinegar, perfume, acidic stuff – lemon, toothpaste and even treatments such as Origins Super Spot Remover. But the one that works best for me is Sudocrem.

What’s the secret behind your big hair?

I like a lot of backcomb in my hair. I do wear Rapture Hair Extensions now and again, but during the day I literally shove it up on top of my head. My hair is naturally curly, so I think because I have a bit of natural texture in my hair it holds quite well.

What’s your favourite fragrance?

When I work away for a long period of time I always buy a new fragrance. At the moment (you’re never going to believe it) I really like Cerutti188 – it’s from the 80s and it’s £26 – it’s amazing, sweet and summery. I wore it during the filming of Brassic, so now when I wear it, it’s nostalgic. I like quite fruity ones.

What are your top makeup brands right now?

I love Charlotte Tilbury, I love all her products. Tom Ford is really good, I know it’s really expensive but it’s a nice little treat to get for Christmas, the lipsticks are lovely. You know what, I like high street stuff as well like L’Oréal’s Liquid Eyeliners.

What are your plans for 2019?

I start filming Our Girl again in April and I’m looking forward to going to South Africa for a few months. I’ve got the Sky One TV comedy drama Brassic coming out.

And obviously my collection with Very which is ongoing – we’ve just finished our spring summer collection. I’m busy, but a nice busy, trying lots of different things.

And finally, would you ever bring out your own beauty products?

You know what, I’ve been thinking about that. I like to keep my beauty products simple, so maybe in the future. I wouldn’t rule it out.

Michelle Keegan is the brand ambassador for ultimate lash brand, Nouveau Lashes. For further information please visit nouveaulashes.co.uk

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Restaurant in Melbourne now has a self-serve prosecco fountain

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Self-serve prosecco fountain at The Winery in Surry Hill (Picture: thewinerysurryhills/Instagram)
(Picture: thewinerysurryhills/Instagram)

Not since the ‘push for champagne’ button have we been so excited about a restaurant’s dispensing method for booze.

Darling and Co in Brisbane has just unveiled a free-flowing self-serve prosecco fountain.

It’s open for people to fill their glasses every Sunday from 2pm, as long as they book the unlimited self-serve dining option for $60 (£33), which also includes food.

Yes, the fountain is indeed super Instagrammable, because, as we all know, a prosecco fountain is meant to be posed with.

There are artsy tiles, an old fashion lion face for the spout, and even an overgrown flower wall. It’s an Instagram dream.

Just be warned: If you go, you will likely need to queue to get a Boomerang of yourself pulling the tap.

Self-serve prosecco fountain at The Winery in Surry Hill (Picture: tapwines/Instagram)
(Picture: tapwines/Instagram)

Alongside unlimited prosecco from the fountain, the self-serve option allows you to graze on a platter of treats, including fried chicken, oysters, cauliflower popcorn, and cheesy croquettes.

You’re let loose for two hours, so it’s best to turn up hungry (and ready to drink).

‘Darling, you won’t believe your eyes. We’re introducing a prosecco and spritz fountain,’ the restaurant said on its Facebook page.

‘Join us every Sunday for our two hour drinks and grazing board package.’

(Picture: tapwines/Instagram)

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first booze fountain to pop up around the world.

The town of Caldari di Ortona, Abruzzo, Italy, has a free-flowing tap of red wine that visitors can help themselves to at any hour of the day and night. It’s supposed to help quench the thirst of hikers tackling the Cammino di San Tommaso.

Then there was that champagne vending machine – not a fountain, but still quite exciting.

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Robin Diangelo explains why it is so hard for white people to talk about race

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The cover of the book White Fragility
White Fragility is an international bestseller Picture: Penguin)

Robin Diangelo’s new book White Fragility dives into the complexities of race and the reasons why discussing racism is so difficult – particularly for white people.

The American academic was a guest on the Sunday Politics panel during which MP Angela Smith used the highly problematic term, ‘funny tinge’ to describe people of colour – mere hours after the inception of the new Independent Group.

It was Robin’s remarks that actually triggered the politician’s use of the term. She thinks the entire interaction was really valuable in understanding how white people generally interact with the topic of race.

‘I think she [Smith] demonstrated some key dynamics,’ Robin tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Firstly – how inexperienced most white people are when it comes to talking about race. How uncomfortable we can be. I think she exhibited real racial anxiety.

‘Yet while she, like many other white people, would see themselves as free of racism, the impact of her anxiety and lack of experience was racial harm.

‘We have to change what it means to cause racial harm. She didn’t say the “N word”, and I’m sure she never would, and still the impact of her words was racism.

‘It’s important to note that she also demonstrated humility and an attempt to repair the harm. For this reason, I actually would not describe her engagement as white fragility.

‘I think focusing on her is a missed opportunity to see a text-book case of white fragility from the two male panelists.

‘Every hallmark of white fragility – individualism, meritocracy, refusal to listen, certitude that one’s uninformed opinion is equal to someone’s informed opinion, dismissing people of color out of hand – they demonstrated.

‘The topic was white fragility and we certainly got to see it.’

Head shot of Robin Diangelo
Robin Diangelo (Picture: Gabriel Solis)

So what exactly is ‘white fragility’? Robin coined the term and it tends to cause a reaction whenever it is used. But if that term makes you feel uncomfortable, that is precisely the sensation that Robin is encouraging people to confront.

‘White fragility describes a consistent pattern that surfaces when white people are racially challenged. That pattern is defensiveness,’ explains Robin.

‘The term is meant to capture how little it takes to upset white people.

‘For many of us, the mere suggestion that being white has meaning, much less generalising about white people or assuming that we could know anything about anyone just because they are white, will cause great umbrage and defensiveness.

‘But the impact of that defensiveness is not fragile at all. It is actually a highly effective means of everyday white racial control. Because it works to silence the challenge and to hold the current racial hierarchy in place.

‘But if we can’t challenge the racial hierarchy then we can only protect it.

‘By every measure there is racial inequality. And by many measures racial inequality is increasing, not decreasing.

‘A refusal to talk about it – the insistence that it is talking about it that causes it – can only protect it.’

As well as identifying that white fragility exists, Robin’s book also explores why. She asserts that one of the biggest causes of this innate defensiveness about race is that our definition of racism is too narrow, too prescriptive.

According to Robin, because we tend to see racism as singular acts carried out by inherently bad individuals, it blinds us from the wider, structural racial barriers that exist in our society.

‘The mainstream definition of what it means to be racist is an individual who consciously does not like people based on race, and intentionally wants to be mean to them,’ Robin tells us.

‘If that is my definition of a racist, then to suggest that I have absorbed racist biases, and act on them, most often in unaware ways, but ways that have a consequence nonetheless, I’m going to hear you saying that I am an intentionally bad person.

‘And that will cause offense and the need to defend my moral character.

‘I also, as a white person, move through daily life racially comfortable. White people are positioned as the norm for humanity. We are just people and ‘they’ are certain kinds of people.

So Mike Leigh is a filmmaker, but Spike Lee is a black filmmaker.

‘White people are able to enjoy the privilege of being responded to as individuals. So when aspects of our racial experience that we take for granted are interrupted, we melt down.

‘We haven’t developed the stamina to withstand the discomfort of having to grapple with what it means to be a member of a social group by which we can predict whether my mother and I would have survived my birth.

‘Being white has profound meaning.

‘We need to be willing to set aside individualism and be willing to see the collective impact of being white.’

Robin makes it clear that her book does not attempt to provide a solution to racism. What she hopes is that white people and people of colour will gain an insight into why these conversations can be so painfully difficult to have, and strategies to make them easier.

‘If we cannot understand the systemic nature of racism we are not going to counter it,’ says Robin.

‘As long as we see racism as individual acts of intentional meanness, we won’t be able to. Once you change your framework you will change your response to being racially challenged.

‘Some of the ways we might do that is to listen to people of colour. To read their writing and engage with their work. They have been telling us what we need to do to change for a long time.

‘Yet you can get a graduate degree in the UK without ever discussing race. You can be certified as a highly educated person without any ability whatsoever to engage with any nuance in discussions about race, much less any skill navigating race.

‘We need to listen and educate ourselves.

‘We need to build cross-racial relationships. We need to talk honestly about race with other white people.

‘One of the most challenging things a white person can do is break white solidarity with other white people and start talking to one another about what it means to be white. That’s really hard to do.’

Robin’s book White Fragility is now an international bestseller. She wants white people to read this book. Particularly the ‘progressive’ white people who don’t think they have anything to learn when it comes to racism.

She strongly believes that confronting uncomfortable truths and delving into these awkward and often painful discussions is the only way to enact real change.

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A half an hour morning walk and taking breaks between sitting can lower blood pressure

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(Picture: Getty)

We all know the wonders of a good walk during a hectic day, whether a quick trip outside with your pet, a brisk walk in the morning or just a walkaround to clear your mind off things.

And now research shows that just half an hour of walking every morning may be effective in lowering your blood pressure too.

Those of us who have a sedentary work life probably feel a bit sluggish sitting in our chairs all day so using our lunch breaks for a jaunt around the area should make us feel better.

According to the authors of an Australian study published in the journal Hypertension, not only do morning walks lower blood pressure, women who regularly get up from their desks to complete a tasks may also see a large drop in their blood pressure.

In fact, researchers found that taking regular breaks away from the desk was even more effective than a half an hour walk a day as participants showed a larger drop in blood pressure.

This is important as the lower your blood pressure is, the lower your risk of stroke or heart disease.

(Picture: Getty)

Researchers from the University of Western Australia experimented with 32 men and 35 women who were overweight, all with an average age of 67.

The respondents, who reported not being very physically active, were asked to spend three days in three different ways, in random order.

The control condition had them sitting uninterrupted for eight hours while another day consisted of some exercise plus sitting, so they sat for an hour, then walked on a treadmill at moderate intensity for half an hour and then continued sitting for the rest of the shift (6.5 hours).

In the last setting, they walked for 30 minutes in the morning and then after every half an hour of sitting went for a light three-minute walk.

In both walking conditions, researchers saw a drop in blood pressure compared to the first (control) day.

But the last setting showed that walking breaks, coupled with a steady morning walk, made the systolic blood pressure (which measures the force that your heart pumps blood into the arteries) of female participants drop even further.

Authors of the study claimed it is the first of its kind to look at the effects of exercise on blood pressure.

The same team’s research from earlier in the month also found that light exercise could ensure better blood flow to the brain.

While more research is being done in the area, you might want to swap the bus for a brisk walk on your commute to work in the morning.

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Nike is launching the Air Max 720 in dreamy new sunrise and sunset colours

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Compilation of Nikes new Air Max 720 trainers
(Picture: Nike)

Nike’s futuristic Air Max 720 has landed – and now the footwear giant is launching a gorgeous new range of colours, just in time for spring.

To celebrate the release of the latest colours, Nike has created an online virtual store experience that will give everyone who buys a pair of the Air Max 720 the chance to unlock limited edition merchandise.

Each week the store will be hosted by a different ‘avatar’ with familiar faces such as Dave, Mini Swoosh and Raheem Sterling taking their turn to act as shopkeeper behind the virtual counter.

The collectable items will include a 720 pendant, limited edition jerseys and prints, 720 footballs, water bottles and Air Max socks.

The new Sunrise and Sunset themes use classic colour combinations to create really vibrant looks – perfect for when the weather starts to warm up.

The Sunrise shoe combines oranges, yellows and golds for that first-thing-in-the-morning vibe. Sunset uses the cooler tones of pinks, purples and blues for a twilight feel.

Nike Air 720 Sunrise shoe
Sunrise (Picture: Nike)
Nike Air 720 Sunset shoe
Sunset (Picture: Nike)

The 720 has the tallest heel unit in Air history, giving it the most spring of any Air Max shoe.

And it’s good news if you like your purchases to be environmentally ethical, all of the trainers have a composition of more than 75% recycled manufacturing waste.

More colours are set to be released by the end of the month. Including the moody black Total Eclipse, the aqua marine Sea Forest and the lighter than air Pink Sea.

Nike Air 720 Total Eclipse shoe
Total Eclipse (Picture: Nike)
Nike Air 720 Sea Forest shoe
Sea Forest (Picture: Nike)
Nike Air 720 Pink Sea shoe
Pink Sea (Picture: Nike)

‘Colour needs to strike a balance between amplifying the tech and making its own statement,’ says Courtney Dailey, Nike VP of Color Design.

These new kicks certainly make their own statement and they will definitely put a spring in your step for the start of the new season.

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Disabled woman says reborn dolls have changed her into a devoted ‘mummy’

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(Picture: PA Real Life)

Reborn dolls have changed the life of an adult with physical and mental disabilities, helping her come out of her shell so much that she is now a confident young woman and devoted ‘mummy’ to her ‘babies’.

With disabilities including complex partial seizures – a symptom of the brain condition epilepsy – causing random body movements and loss of awareness, as well as impaired mobility in her left leg and arm and blindness in her left eye, Natalea Wilson, 28, was teased by other children growing up.

Timid and nervous of people as a result, everything changed last summer, according to her mum and full-time carer, Gaynor Wilson, 48, after they discovered reborns – which can cost in excess of £2,000 each – online.

Reborns are seriously lifelike dolls. Gaynor bought the first doll for Natalea for £52 on eBay last September, and they have since completely changed her daughter.

Gaynor said: ‘She used to be withdrawn – just staring at her phone and finding random apps to play games on. She is on benefits, as she isn’t well enough to work and would be bored sitting at home – not even getting out of bed until midday.

‘Shy even around her own family members, all that changed when we discovered reborns on social media.’

Gaynor 'feeding' one of the reborns (PA Real Life/collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

Gaynor and Natalea’s window cleaner dad, David Allsopp, 58, feared they would lose their daughter when, aged one, she developed an aggressive malignant tumour on the back of her head.

But the cancerous growth was removed in a six-hour operation, followed by intensive care, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Amazingly, Natalea pulled through – although she was diagnosed with short-term memory loss, aged five.

Struggling to learn as fast as the other children, being ‘different’ made her an easy target for bullying.

Gaynor said: ‘She had to be taken off into a separate room to learn English and maths. That and her disabilities made her a bit of a target for bullies, which was very upsetting and affected her confidence.’

Then, years later, at 21, Natalea was diagnosed with complex partial seizures – caused by epilepsy – after a series of MRI scans at The Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, making her even more reclusive and shy.

Gaynor said: ‘Getting a reborn changed all that.

Natalea and her reborn (PA Real Life/collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

‘When we saw them online, Natalea loved them, but I was worried about her taking a fake baby outside and being ridiculed for it in the street – the same way she was teased years ago.

‘But I could see how much she’d fallen in love with the idea, so I had to find a way to get one.’

Natalea was over the moon with her first eBay reborn, calling it Emily Rose and immediately pretending to feed it, dress it, wash it and rock it to sleep.

After that, Gaynor bought her a £60 reborn called Sarah from a family member, a £140 baby boy called Anthony from an online retailer and, finally, a neighbor gave her a baby girl called Lucy.

‘Natalea has such strong maternal instincts. She loves the idea of being a mum to her reborns,’ Gaynor continued.

‘But she knows she could never safely have a real baby – especially with her fear of dropping one, or forgetting to feed them.

‘There was one time when she accidentally knocked Anthony’s head off while dressing him. She was devastated and quite frightened at the thought of it happening to a real child.

‘She knows the responsibility it takes to be a real mum and is quite happy just to role play instead.’

Gaynor has spent £500 on accessories for the ‘babies,’ which include a Moses basket, a pram, various clothes, bottles, and dummies. She searches charity shops and online boot sales for items to add to her daughter’s collection.

She says every penny has been worth it, as it has made such a difference to Natalea’s life.

She said: ‘She used to be quite shy and would just sit in the corner of a room whenever family came round.

‘Now she chats a lot more and brings the babies into the room to feed them and interact with people.

Natalea's reborn (PA Real Life/collect)
(Picture: PA Real Life)

‘She wakes up earlier every day to feed her reborns and look after them, rather than lying in bed feeling bored and frustrated.

‘Luckily, everyone locally knows her, so no one’s picked on her. Instead, she’s been able to chat to strangers and make new friends online and offline.’

Gaynor also says when Natalea pushes her ‘babies’ through the streets in a pram, she often meets other people who have reborns.

She said: ‘Whenever me and Natalea are out with them, at least one person will tell us they either have some themselves or know someone else who does.

‘I don’t think anyone should be ashamed of keeping them. People can have them for so many reasons, such as the loss of a child, the inability to get pregnant or fear of childbirth.’

Now Natalea is patiently waiting for her mum to save the £400 needed to buy another reborn that has taken her fancy.

She said: ‘I adore them, because they are so beautiful.’

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People don’t think this woman’s ‘fully loaded English Brekki’ is the fry-up we know and love

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(Picture: Gemma E/Rate My Plate)

Is there anything more quintessentially British than a full English breakfast?

As much as we love the greasy old fry-up, we Brits have a hard time accepting people’s preferences when it comes to the breakfast staple. Black pudding, no black pudding? A hard pass on tomatoes?

But we can all pretty much agree that this woman’s ‘fully loaded English brekki’ is not the one.

The woman posted on Facebook group Rate My Plate with her measly portions of hash browns, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and a lonely piece of egg and half a bacon.

The poster was lambasted for her meager-looking breakfast with plenty of users mocking the lack of options available.

Fully Loaded English Brekki by Gemma E (Picture: Gemma E/Rate My Plate)
(Picture: Gemma E/Rate My Plate)

Well, you can’t exactly get over a hangover with these portions.

The post racked up over 165,000 comments with a majority of them following the same line of thought.

‘My balls are more fully loaded and I’ve had a vasectomy,’ wrote one user while others said: ‘I’ve found more food down my bra’ and ‘I’ve picked more food out from between my teeth’.

One person asked if the meal was still loading. Others urged followers to donate money to the poster so she could afford a better breakfast. Ouch.

So, what exactly is a perfect full English, and is there such a thing?

When it comes to the popular breakfast staple, it seems everyone has an opinion.

Chef James Donnelly, who has worked in pubs and British restaurants his whole career, told Metro.co.uk about his ideal brekkie.

‘It’s about quality not quantity,’ he says. ‘It’s about using the best possible ingredients and knowing where they are coming from. At Donnelly’s in Bermondsey, we use black pudding from Lake District Farmers and our sausages are handmade.

‘We also have a vegetarian full English on the menu with avocado, roasted tomatoes and roasted pumpkin for guests who are looking for something a little lighter.

‘A traditional full English is my favourite with a really good Cumberland sausage, slow roasted tomatoes and you can’t forget the potato element – I love a comforting hash brown or bubble and squeak.’

(Graphic: YouGov)
YouGov conducted research into Britain’s favourite ingredients in a fry up (Graphic: YouGov)

If you ever wondered what other people are putting on their plates then you’ll be pleased to know that YouGov conducted research into the area to find the nation’s faves.

They found that the number one ingredient on everyone’s plate is bacon.

Closely followed by bacon were sausages (82%), toast (73%), beans (71%), fried egg (65%) and hash brown (60%). Black pudding was least enjoyed.

Tom Shiers from The Fry Up Police, has also told Metro.co.uk about his preferences in detail.

‘It’s about the ingredients. Fresh free range eggs. Quality butchers sausages. Dry cured smoked British bacon. If you get the ingredients right you’re almost there.

‘People always claim how much they love “crispy eggs”, but I believe that’s because they don’t know how to cook them properly. For the perfect fried egg I crack them into cold oil on the hob and turn it onto the lowest setting. Pop a lid on and they will fry, perfectly!  Always serve the eggs on a white fried slice, it’s the law.

‘A homemade potato rosti is also a fine addition. A lot of purists will tell you they’re an American import. So what if they are? Who doesn’t love a bit of fried potato!

‘This one’s a bit controversial as this is something I don’t fry, but halved tomatoes, seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled are a wonderful thing. I always go for button mushrooms too, fried in lots of butter!

‘Black pudding is very much a love/hate thing for a lot of people and I can see where the hate comes from.’

Has all this talk of a fry up got anyone else craving for one?

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Is Guinness vegan?

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(Picture: Getty Images)

With St. Patrick’s Day fast approaching (it’s Sunday 17th March this year), you might be looking forward to a drop of Guinness.

More than 13 million pints of Guinness are drank around the world on St. Patrick’s, and countless hours are spent by bar staff getting the perfect serve.

With more and more people choosing to live a more conscious lifestyle and go vegan, they may be wondering whether the black nectar fits their requirements.

In the past, they would have been extremely disappointed, as the process to make the beverage used isinglass – which comes from fish bladders.

It helped to clarify the Guinness, keeping it clearer and brighter.

However, in 2015, the company announced they’d be implementing a new system where isinglass wouldn’t need to be used during the brewing process.

By 2018, every Guinness you have been able to purchase – whether at home or in the pub – has been certified vegan.

Diageo – who makes the drink – had tried to do this earlier, but didn’t yet have the technology, and didn’t want to be selling murky drinks to anyone.

In 2017, the technology was in place to ensure that all pints were vegan, but customers had to wait a little while when it came to bottles and cans.

This is because the brand couldn’t guarantee that you’d be getting stock from the new or old batch, so phased it out.

A spokesperson for Guinness comfirmed that the change wouldn’t affect the taste of your drink, saying ‘“The recipe for Guinness has not changed and the taste has not changed. It is still the same great pint of Guinness it has always been.’

Unfortunately there are still quite a few other beer brands that have yet to follow suit, with Carling, Foster’s, Newcastle Brown Ale, and even some BrewDog beers among the list of non-vegan beers.

Hopefully as time moves on, they’ll move on too. If you want to check if your favourite drink is vegan, use Barnivore’s handy search function.

MORE: People don’t think this woman’s ‘fully loaded English Brekki’ is the fry-up we know and love

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How to get Dua Lipa’s Brit Awards 2019 beauty look

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(Picture: Getty Images)

As the Official Makeup Partner of last nights Brit Awards, Charlotte Tilbury’s team had the pleasure of painting many famous faces using her iconic makeup and skincare collections.

This included Brit Award Winner Dua Lipa, who ever since bursting onto the music scene has given us many enviably gorgeous beauty looks.

At the Brits this year, Dua Lipa opted for a monochrome makeup look boasting a peachy toned eyeshadow and glossy lip, serving up whole load of sass and major beauty inspo. Does the singer ever get it wrong?

So if you’re wanting to recreate this look (maybe out in the city this weekend), Charlotte Tilbury has shared all the products used, including her new limited edition The Iconic Palette and Latex Lip Love lip glosses set to be released later this month on 28 February.

Get the look ahead…

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💕 @brits 2019 💕

A post shared by Dua Lipa (@dualipa) on

How to get Dua Lipa's Brit Awards 2019 beauty look

Complexion:

  • To prep the skin apply Charlotte’s Magic Cream (£49), to create a ‘glowing canvas of magic’. This cream is brimming with hydrating ingredients including hyaluronic acid and rosehip oil.
  • For the base create instantly illuminated skin, using Charlotte’s Light Wonder Foundation (£32) mixed with a little Hollywood Flawless Filter (£30) and gently buff into the skin, starting from the center of the face working outwards. This combination will give the skin a glow like no other.
  • For any areas which need a little extra coverage, including the under eye area, use the Magic Away Concealer (£24), to brighten and conceal.
  • Next add subtle definition using Charlotte’s best-selling Filmstar Bronze and Glow contour palette (£49) and apply to the cheekbones, temples, jawline and nose.
  • To add a pop of colour, apply Charlotte’s Cheek to Chic blusher in Climax (£30) to the apples of the cheeks.
  • To set, blur and softly mattify the skin, apply a light dusting of Charlotte’s Airbrush Flawless Finish powder (£34).

Eyes:

  • For busy brows use Charlotte’s Brow Lift pencil (£22.50) to brush up the brows and then softly fill in any gaps.
  • To recreate Dua Lipa’s eye makeup, use Charlotte’s new The Icon Palette (£55, available from 28th February) using shades Dark Gold, Golden Bronze and Smoky Warm Brown.
  • To elongate the appearance of the eyes and add definition, line the upper lash line using Charlotte’s Rock ‘n’ Kohl eyeliner pencil in Bedroom Black (£19).
  • And of course, no makeup would be complete without lashings of mascara. Apply Legendary Lashes Volume 2 (£25) to the top and bottom lashes to recreate Dua Lipa’s incredibly long lashes.

Lips:

  • Last of all, apply Charlotte’s new Latex Love in Berry Nude (£24, available from 28th February) a gorgeous rose-blush pink to the lips, for a lacquered, shiny pout.

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Britain’s fattest dog has finally been re-homed after losing a bunch of weight

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FILE PHOTO Eight year old ???Hattie The Fattie???, dubbed ???Britain???s Fattest Dog???. See SWNS story SWPLhattie; Britain's fattest dog who grew to the size of a 'pot-bellied pig' after living on hamburgers has finally found a home - after shedding nearly half her body weight. Hattie the Fattie was taken into care weighing almost 40kg, but despite her large frame she soon won over carers at the animal sanctuary. They put the overweight pooch on a special diet and her weight plummeted to 23kg. Offers to re-home the plump pooch came flocking in but her rescuer has now decided to adopt her and become her permanent owner. Gables Farm in Plymouth, Devon, was inundated with offers to re-home Hattie but shelter deputy manager Ruth Rickard, 51, said she couldn't give her up as she had taken a special liking to her.
(Picture: SWNS)

Britain’s fattest dog, who grew to the size of a ‘pot-bellied pig’ after living on hamburgers, has finally found a home after losing nearly half of her body weight.

‘Hattie the Fattie’ (we know, so mean), was taken into care weighing almost 40kg.

She was rescued by an animal sanctuary, and was put on a special diet. She lost weight very quickly, getting down to 23kg.

So many people wanted to re-home Hattie, but her rescuer has now decided to become her permanent owner.

Gables Farm in Plymouth, Devon, was inundated with offers to re-home Hattie but shelter deputy manager Ruth Rickard, 51, said she couldn’t give her up.

FILE PHOTO Eight year old ???Hattie The Fattie???, dubbed ???Britain???s Fattest Dog???, with the Deputy manager Ruth Rickard, 51, at Gables Farm.Plymouth, Devon. See SWNS story SWPLhattie; Britain's fattest dog who grew to the size of a 'pot-bellied pig' after living on hamburgers has finally found a home - after shedding nearly half her body weight. Hattie the Fattie was taken into care weighing almost 40kg, but despite her large frame she soon won over carers at the animal sanctuary. They put the overweight pooch on a special diet and her weight plummeted to 23kg. Offers to re-home the plump pooch came flocking in but her rescuer has now decided to adopt her and become her permanent owner. Gables Farm in Plymouth, Devon, was inundated with offers to re-home Hattie but shelter deputy manager Ruth Rickard, 51, said she couldn't give her up as she had taken a special liking to her.
(Picture: SWNS)

She said: ‘I couldn’t imagine her living with anyone else. I did get very attached to her and all her little funny ways.’

Hattie was morbidly obese, diabetic and almost blind when she arrived at the dogs and cats home in April last year.

Speaking at the time, Ruth said: ‘When I first saw Hattie I couldn’t believe it as she looked more like a pot-bellied pig than a dog.

‘I just knew we had to try and help her. I take her home with me at night so I can administer her insulin injections, which she tolerates very well.

FILE PHOTO Eight year old ???Hattie The Fattie???, dubbed ???Britain???s Fattest Dog???, on a scale at Gables Farm.Plymouth, Devon after losing half her body weight.. See SWNS story SWPLhattie; Britain's fattest dog who grew to the size of a 'pot-bellied pig' after living on hamburgers has finally found a home - after shedding nearly half her body weight. Hattie the Fattie was taken into care weighing almost 40kg, but despite her large frame she soon won over carers at the animal sanctuary. They put the overweight pooch on a special diet and her weight plummeted to 23kg. Offers to re-home the plump pooch came flocking in but her rescuer has now decided to adopt her and become her permanent owner. Gables Farm in Plymouth, Devon, was inundated with offers to re-home Hattie but shelter deputy manager Ruth Rickard, 51, said she couldn't give her up as she had taken a special liking to her.
(Picture: SWNS)

‘As the weight has started to come off we have found that she is very spirited and extremely loving, despite the fact we put her on a diet.

‘She spends her days in our reception, keeping an eye on the staff and customers, and as we watch her gain confidence and lose weight it makes me proud that we are a genuine non euthanasia charity.’

Ruth says that since losing weight, Hattie has really changed. She said: ‘It was like she had no real enjoyment of life before and was just existing.’

Now, she’s happy and healthy, and loving life with her new owner.

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