‘You ever just embroider Beyoncé?’ asked 25-year-old Priya Dhillon from Chicago, Illinois, U.S, tweeting the very thing.
The self-started sewist (sewing artist) shared images of Queen Bey and lots of other Bollywood celebrities she handstitched into different bits of cloth.
Priya , originally from Punjab, India, challenged her users to guess who the stars were.
Most people guessed the artwork correctly, a credit to Priya’s stunning creations, and her tweets blew up.
The talented embroiderer spoke to Metro.co.uk about how she credits public access television with inspiring her to take up sewing.
Embroidering Beyoncé took 20 hours (Picture: P. Dhillon)
‘Embroidering completely sprung up from public television for me,’ she said.
‘I was so entranced as a kid by the multicoloured thread, huge hoops, complicated patterns, and the steady motion of sewing or stitching done by the very formidable looking women on TV.
‘I’d steal my mom’s or grandma’s tins of sewing supplies and just make little things for myself.
‘I can’t remember the first piece I ever made but—while I’m sure it was objectively terrible—it gave me enough confidence that I kept at it and eventually improved myself.’
Sridevi, from Bollywood film Lamhe (Picture: P. Dhillon)
‘When Sridevi died last year, I realised how much she and her body of work had meant to me my entire life. Quietly, for myself, I wanted to commemorate her.
‘When I watched Beyoncé’s Homecoming, I felt another bolt of emotion strike me.
‘She’s somebody who has been around my entire life and has never disappointed me. And this past decade, she’s brought so much to the public sphere.
‘She’s opened up about motherhood, womanhood, blackness, and all the injustices and triumphs that accompany each those identities in such powerful, insightful, and communal ways.’
Some of the other celebrities handstitched by Priya include Aishwarya Rai, Kajol, and Madhuri Dixit.
Guess who? (Aishwarya Rai in Devdas) (Picture: P. Dhillon)
Though widely appreciated, each design – which is six inches tall – takes about 10 hours.
Wanting to get it perfect, Priya spent 20 hours on Beyonce.
Since her tweet went viral, people have even expressed an interest in buying her artwork but Priya doesn’t yet want to sell it.
What about this one? (Madhuri Dixit from Hum Aap Ke Hai Kaun) (Picture: P. Dhillon)
‘I turned everybody down because I wanted to keep my hobby a hobby, but I encourage everybody to learn.
‘It’s a really easy thing to pick up and do. Everybody should have a creative outlet and this is a really inexpensive one. Also, the College of YouTube is free for everyone.’
Guess who? (Kajol from DDLJ) (Picture: P. Dhillon)
Priya added that Sridevi and Beyoncé were her fave to do though they did add some challenges.
‘Beyonce’s hair. In real life, her hair is so beautifully coloured and styled. I put off stitching it because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to capture its essence.
‘It absolutely does not match up to her real, glorious mane, but it was earnestly my best effort.’
Alicia and Gracie, and Gracie in hospital (Picture: Alicia Brown Phillips)
Alicia Brown Phillips was curling her sister Gracie’s hair, when she suddenly felt ill.
It was just a normal morning, where the sisters were getting ready for church. Within minutes Alicia was experiencing ‘one of the scariest moments of her life.’
She explained on Facebook that her sister went very pale, her lips went blue and she was unresponsive and limp.
She said that she was also shaking and it was ‘very seizure like.’
After taking her to hospital, they discovered she had suffered from a hair-grooming syncope.
The condition is common in children from ages five to 13, where doing something to the hair causes nerve stimulation and means some children have seizure like symptoms.
According to the Heart Rhythm Alliance, hair-grooming syncope most commonly occurs in young women who experience nausea, light headedness, sweating, and visual disturbances before fainting. Research suggests that the pulling of the hair or scalp has an effect on a particular nerve in the head that triggers the faint.
Luckily Gracie was completely fine.
Alicia said: ‘I experienced one of the scariest moments of my life this morning with my little sister and I am going to put this out there because I had never heard of this in my life!
Luckily, Gracie was fine (Picture: Alicia Brown Phillips)
‘Hair-grooming Syncope…
‘Look it up. This morning I was curling my little sister Gracie’s hair for church. I was maybe about five minutes in and she starts to gag a little and looks kind of pale.
‘I asked her if she was going to get sick and she shook her head yes. I get my little daughters out of the bathroom and start to hold her hair up for her as she leans over the toilet. 30 seconds later… she looks at me. She is extremely pale with blue lips and starts to pass out. Her pupils got really big and I caught her.
‘I start screaming for Dale to come help. Gracie has a blank stare and look on her face and is completely unresponsive and limp for about a minute. Her hands were also shaking. Very seizure like. She then comes back to and says she feels much better.
‘She says she remembers hearing us talk but couldn’t see us. I was crying. She was very confused. My mom and dad rush to my house and a few hours in Children’s hospital, an EKG, and a head scan later… she is fine.’
Alicia adds that she had no idea something like this could happen and she wanted to spread the word about hair-grooming syncopre.
She said: ‘Turns out there is something called hair-grooming syncope affects kids from ages 5-13. They said they see about 1-5 cases a year. Turns out brushing, curling, braiding, or drying can cause nerve stimulation on the scalp and cause some children to have seizure like symptoms.
‘I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE! We were told if she ever starts to feel nauseous or light headed while getting her hair brushed to sit down and take a break. I am putting this out there for others to see.
‘If a kid ever complains of their belly hurting or feeling light headed while they are getting their hair done, make sure they take a seat and keep a close eye on them! Apparently very rare but so scary to see it happen!’
Get planting some easy to transport pots (Picture: Getty)
When you’re renting, you never quite sure how long you’ll be in once place.
Maybe your flatmate moves out, your lease comes to an end or that tiny patch of damp starts taking over and you just can’t live there any more.
So if you are lucky enough to have a little outside space, investing in planting some flowers and shrubs might seem like a great idea, but of course if you leave a few months later, you’ll have to leave them behind for someone else to enjoy.
Freddie Blackett, CEO & Co-Founder of Patch, has a few recommendations for cheap plants you can buy if you want to brighten up an outdoor space, but are worried about not being able to stick around to see them bloom.
He says: ‘There are two ways of looking at nomadic gardening. On one hand, you might want to plant inexpensive, easy growers that you won’t mind leaving behind when you go. You can buy a dianthus plant for less than the cost of a glass of wine and enjoy its ruffled pink flowers for a summer or two, then bid it farewell when you move, bequeathing it to the next resident.
Try a dianthus plant (Picture: Getty)
‘Others you can have for under a fiver include bacopa snowflake, dotted with little star-shaped white flowers; sherbert-coloured African daisy. If you invest roughly the amount you’d spend on a Friday takeaway, you’ll get an array of cheerful flowers to decorate a small outdoor space.’
The other option is to grow something in a pot that you can take with you if you move, but of course, you need something that is still easy enough to transport when you decide to take it to a new home.
Freddie adds: ‘You can invest in a slow grower you can keep potted and take with you, so that when you find your forever home – or your for-a-long-time-home – you’ll have a mature plant that’s already been through its gawky teenage phase.
‘Acers grow fairly slowly and while they’re pretty plants when they’re younger, with their flame-coloured leaves, they get more impressively elegant as they grow. Potted up, they’re easy to transport until they’re a good few years old.
‘Olive trees grow extremely slowly, but if you’ve ever seen one that’s had years to spread its branches you’ll know it’s well worth the wait. Or consider a lemon tree, which could well bear fruit the year you buy it, but should give you noticeably more as it grows.’
Just because you’re not sure where you’ll be in a few months time, don’t be put off. You can also try plants that are cheap, colourful and practical. A herb garden, chilli or tomato plant can be moved but also gives you the satisfaction of growing your own food.
If you haven’t quite settled down, gardening can still be for you. A plant you only have for a summer or two can bring just as much happiness as one you nurture for a lifetime.
When you’re on a flight, other passengers aren’t always the most considerate.
There’s the struggle over armrests and of course, the moment where the person in front reclines their seat.
One man on an Australian airline could barely believe how ‘rude’ a fellow traveller was when she flung her hair behind her.
The man, who identified as David, took a picture of the woman’s long blonde hair covering the TV screen behind her.
After he shared the image online, others slammed the female passenger, calling her ‘incredibly selfish’ and ‘rude’.
Meanwhile, some of us are too shook to even ask fellow travellers to get up so we can use the toilet.
People shared examples of other inconsiderate passengers (Picture: Facebook)
The image was shared on a travel shaming group on Facebook where most followers had no time for the inconsiderate woman.
Many wished they had access to some scissors.
‘How rude. Where’s a pair of scissors when you need them?’ asked one person.
‘That’s why they don’t let you take scissors on board. I’d ask politely to remove it and if she didn’t then I’d be removing it for her myself. One strand every minute.’
One person had other ideas: ‘Just go play with her hair and annoy her until she turns around and tell you to cut it. Consent accepted.’
Though a lot of the followers were offended at the woman’s audacity to cover someone else’s screen on flight, some were more diplomatic.
They noticed that the person behind had been reading a book anyway and probably didn’t care too much about the screen being covered.
Others also pointed out that if David was so concerned with it, he could’ve requested she move her hair rather than take a picture without consent.
‘Not sure why some people sit and fester over issues and take the time to take a photo and post,’ they wrote. ‘What happened to just politely explaining the infringement on your personal space is not acceptable?
‘If you get off your phone and talk to people you can actually meet some nice people.’
But no matter how nice people are, we definitely wouldn’t be impressed if a passenger covered our screens with their hair.
Have you ever had a conversation that completely changed your day or even your life? It’s funny how just a little word of advice, or even some brutal home truths can be so powerful.
There are around 6500 spoken languages in the world, helping people to communicate, share stories and educate; whether it be between families, friends or complete strangers.
New Zealand’s most admired wine brand Villa Maria has surveyed the nation about what makes a conversation memorable, how body language plays a huge role in communication and what we love the most about talking.
While technology makes connecting with a subtle ‘like’ here or an emoji there easier than ever, there has got to be something said for hearing someone’s voice, or even seeing the expression on their face as they speak.
Striking up a conversation with an old pal can bring back feelings of old times, while making chit chat with someone new could potentially open doors, ushering in new job opportunities or even a new flame. But it can be hard knowing what to say and at the right time – and harder to keep the conversation flowing. After all, recent research suggests that it takes 38% of Brits less than two minutes to lose interest in a conversation.
The comfortable feeling of being able to pick up where you left off, even if it was years ago, as you enjoy a glass of wine with your companions is priceless, and yet so is the confidence to introduce yourself to a stranger – despite how nerve-wracking it is – because of the opportunities it can lead to. You just never know.
Villa Maria ambassador Angela Lewis has opened up about her favourite conversations, inspired by the brand’s founding father, Sir George Fistonich.
She says, ‘the founding of Villa Maria hinged on a pivotal conversation between Sir George and his father, and conversations have continued to play a crucial role in making Villa Maria one of the most successful family-owned wineries in the world.’
So, as part of its expert series, which celebrates the value of conversation, Villa Maria’s Angela spoke to former hostage negotiator and SAS soldier Colin MacLachlan about the importance of engaging conversation in keeping someone’s attention, even in tough circumstances. Watch the highlights below:
It’s an age-old joke that as an ice-breaker, Brits love to talk about the weather and while it might seem like a fail-safe, the subject Brits really warm to is families. Nothing invokes more pride and excitement (and frustration!), as 29% of Brits love to discuss the ins and outs of family life.
Sir George made many of the decisions about his company, which he started in 1961, with his family around the dinner table so would know a thing or two when it comes to the beauty of conversation, especially as Villa Maria has gone on to become the most-awarded winery in New Zealand.
He admits he loves nothing more than to get to the essence of a person, discovering who they are and listening to what they have to say.
‘I’m very curious to know what peoples’ backgrounds are,’ he said. ‘And so I tend to sort of work out a way to ask questions and find out what they’re doing, what they’re interested in. But what I have found is that people actually quite enjoy that.’
What Brits think makes a winning conversation
Hot topics
Family – 29%
TV – 289%
Movies – 28%
Food – 27%
Sport – 24%
Favourite conversations
One everyone can relate and contribute to – 50%
Mutual interests – 49%
Happy stories – 39%
Something that inspires debate and discussion – 35%
Nostalgic memories – 35%
Key indicators of a good chat
Eye contact – 51%
Listening – 44%
Positive facial expressions – 32%
Laughter – 30%
Facing a person – 28%
When it comes to a great chat, nothing’s better than feeling like you’ve been listened to – that your voice has been heard. Nearly half of Brits value listening as part of a good conversation, while 51% believe good eye contact (often a signal of listening) is validation of a meaningful exchange.
No one likes to be spoken at, but rather spoken to, and they want to feel as if they’ve been heard and understood. You’re more likely to want to continue your chat with Tom from accounts if he looks you in the eye rather than keeping tabs on the footy over your head. It also depends on who you’re talking to; more women than men prefer to read someone’s face to see if they’re interested or bored, and 19% of women say positive facial expressions help.
The power of a conversation can shape your future, change your thinking and leave a lasting impression. It’s no wonder it’s good to talk.
Villa Maria's Value of Conversation
Villa Maria thinks it’s time to remind the world of the pleasure of taking quality time out with friends, colleagues, loved ones – or even strangers – over a glass of wine, while celebrating something truly invaluable: conversation.
Throughout the summer, you can expect a whole host of chatter from Villa Maria and Metro – we’ve been asking the nation what makes conversation so special to them, uncovering our secret likes and dislikes and taking the time to sit down with experts in their fields and pick their brains about what they feel is so special about conversation.
All of this, along with a series of expert talks (over a glass of Villa Maria wine) will delve into four important aspects of conversation, which you can explore here over the coming weeks. So, grab a glass of wine with a friend, sit back, and enjoy!
As part of our Staying Active summer series, we have teamed up with fitness experts to set you daily challenges to try at home, at the gym or in the park.
The aim is to get you active every day for six weeks over summer. Are you up for the challenge?
These challenges can be done in isolation, or you can build them in to a larger workout – it’s completely up to you. As long as you’re moving, that’s all that matters.
Today’s challenge is the low plank. How long can you hold your position – without losing your form?
Throughout the series, fitness experts Elia and Amanda – both qualified instructors at Flykick – will be on hand to show you how to do each challenge and give you their top tips.
Check back every weekday to see what the next challenge is – you can even film your progress to make a record of how far you’ve come.
It’s really important to focus on your form when you’re doing a plank (Picture: Getty)
We know doing the same fitness routine every week can get really tedious, trying a new challenge every day will keep your fitness fresh and fun – and you might even learn some new moves.
How to do a low plank
Start on the floor on your hands and knees.
Lower your forearms to the floor with your elbows under your shoulders and your hands shoulder-width apart.
Step your feet back, one at a time, until your knees are off the floor and your legs are straight.
You want a straight line from your heels all the way to the top of your head.
Look down at the floor, but don’t let you neck collapse. You want to keep your bum in line with your hips, don’t lift up into a pike position.
Now, tighten your abs and hold. Keep holding. You got this.
I am Team GB
Toyota has teamed up with Team GB to re-launch the hugely successful participation campaign ‘I am Team GB’.
Inspired by the achievements of Team GB athletes and the amazing efforts of local community heroes, Team GB has created ‘The Nation’s Biggest Sports Day’, which will take place on the 24thAugust.
Over the weekend, there will be hundreds of free and fun activities across the country, put on by an army of volunteers; the ‘I am Team GB Games Makers’.
To Join the Team and be part of The Nation’s Biggest Sports Day sign up at: www.IAmTeamGB.com
Childhood obesity is soaring – adults need to inspire kids to be active (Picture: Getty)
The school holidays start today – and it can be hard to know how to keep your kids active, entertained and away from their beloved screens.
The summer holidays means six empty weeks are stretching out before you – it’s the perfect opportunity to get your children moving – if you can convince them.
Exercise doesn’t come as naturally to children as it used to.
Rather than playing outside after school or spending the weekends tearing around the streets on their bikes, kids are more likely to be found indoors playing video games, scrolling Instagram or watching YouTube clips.
But how do we tear them away from the many technological temptations at their fingertips? It has to start with us. The adults. It’s up to us to show them how it’s done.
‘One of the most positive things you can do as a parent is to engage in physical activity with your kids,’ fitness expert Dean Coulson tells Metro.co.uk.
‘It’s important that they see that you enjoy being active, especially at a young age. To encourage this, it’s important to expose children to a wide spectrum of physical activity.
‘Competitive sports represent only a small fraction of the ways children can form a relationship with exercise. As your children’s fitness “mentor,” you may have to think outside of the box to help them discover activities they enjoy.’
The key to getting kids moving is fun and enjoyment (Picture: Getty)
To loads of kids, the word ‘exercise’ conjurs up nothing but images of sweat, discomfort and boredom. What child in their right mind wants to spend their free time ‘getting fit’?
But luckily it’s really easy to package exercise and physical activity into something that looks and feels much more fun than slogging away for ages on a treadmill – your little ones will be fooled in no time.
‘Exercise doesn’t have to be a high-intensity, heart-pounding, competitive endeavour,’ explains Dean.
‘A low-intensity, play-based activity may work to get kids off the sofa. The biggest thing to remember when getting kids up and moving is to make it as fun as possible.
‘Make things a game or a challenge, something to engage them in and have fun. Kids need to move for the sake of moving – not for getting fit. This notion has been so lost for so long, we may need to show them how.
‘This might mean showing your kids how to play.’
Fun fitness activities for kids
Walking
This could include dog walks, exploring parks, or heading to the beach. Make things interesting, explore and collect things.
Throwing things around
Whether it’s a ball, a Frisbee, or chucking stones in a river – there are plenty of ways to make throwing and catching part of your routine.
Make it into even more of a game by throwing objects at targets and offering prizes.
Bikes
If you’ve got bikes in the shed it’s time to dust them off and get the kids involved.
You can find safe, traffic-free routes online, or encourage kids to make a trip to the shops more fun with some added pedal power.
Got old bikes in the shed? Dust them off and get them on the road again (Picture: Getty)
Set an obstacle course
Find a safe environment and set up little challenges – chairs to crawl under, cushions to jump over, platforms to balance on – and the kids will be working up a sweat and trying to beat each other in no time.
Trampolining
So much fun (for kids and adults) but also an incredible cardio workout.
You can buy one for the garden or if you’re lacking in space (or funds) take the family to a trampoline activity centre.
Street games
Come on, you’ve got to remember some of these – tag, capture the flag, bulldog? Bring back your playground classics – they might not be high-tech, but they are unequivocally fun.
Races
A brilliant, heart-pumping activity to try in the park. Get all the family involved and set up your own course in a patch of grass – add a relay element if there’s lots of kids.
They could even make their own batons.
Dancing
Who doesn’t love a good hip wiggle? Blast your kids’ favourite tunes as loud as your neighbours will allow.
You could even turn out the lights, close the curtains and provide glow sticks for a full-on rave.
Swimming
Hitting a lido in the sunshine will make it feel like you’re all on holiday. And you don’t have to do length after length, have fun, use inflatables and make up water-based games.
Swimming is a great way to cool off and get active when you’re abroad (Picture: Getty)
Digging
No doubt you will spend some time at the beach this summer – digging holes or building huge sand castles can be a great way to keep kids moving.
Keepy uppy
A classic balloon game – which is perfect for parties.
Blow up a balloon and keep it off the ground. It’s simple, hilarious and can be done inside – which is ideal if the summer turns into a washout.
Gardening
Helping in the garden can create brilliant games – like who can make the biggest pile of leaves, or the fastest to clear away the weeds wins.
‘It’s really important to create a positive connection with what kids are doing and how they feel afterwards,’ explains Dean.
‘Usually exercise helps kids to feel energised, alert and even more focused.
‘As they get older, they will then realise that the benefits of physical activity are much bigger than just weight loss or improved performance.
‘With a better understanding of fitness, kids will exercise if they know why it is important to them.’
Children look to their parents and to the other adults in their lives to teach them how to live – so a healthy lifestyle has to start with us.
Showing kids that exercise is fun and beneficial will help them to make positive, healthy decisions about how they want to live their lives. So let’s get moving.
I am Team GB
Toyota has teamed up with Team GB to re-launch the hugely successful participation campaign ‘I am Team GB’.
Inspired by the achievements of Team GB athletes and the amazing efforts of local community heroes, Team GB has created ‘The Nation’s Biggest Sports Day’, which will take place on the 24thAugust.
Over the weekend, there will be hundreds of free and fun activities across the country, put on by an army of volunteers; the ‘I am Team GB Games Makers’.
To Join the Team and be part of The Nation’s Biggest Sports Day sign up at: www.IAmTeamGB.com
Running a small business, you would expect people to ask for refunds from time to time.
But one woman who makes custom glitter coffee mugs was shocked when one customer said that she needed a refund because she had looked through her Facebook profile and discovered the seller was autistic.
The customer quite cruelly said she didn’t ‘believe anyone with the disease would be able to properly make these mugs’.
The anonymous seller posted the messages between them on Facebook and the screenshots have gone viral, with many people disgusted at the way the customer acted.
Explaining on Facebook, the seller said: ‘She ordered a set of 4 coffee mugs with blue glitter base and “addicted to pot” on them. Decided to spend the night stalking me on Facebook and decided that I’m too autistic and to do the order and called me retarded.
‘BTW, the last time I posted anything about autism publicly was January. Every autism post had privacy settings on it, so she spent a long ass time on my account to be able to see any of them.’
The custom contacted her the day after she placed the order through an online shop.
She told the seller she no longer wanted to purchase the mugs.
But the seller replied saying that she had already started working on them and as it was a custom order, she wouldn’t be able to use them for another order.
The customer started to get angry and told her it wasn’t acceptable and that she ‘no longer wanted to purchase from someone like you’.
The message the woman posted on Facebook with the text screen grabs (Picture: Reddit)
The seller was a little confused (Picture: Reddit)
She added that she had found someone else who she thought was ‘more capable of doing them properly’ and demanded an immediate refund.
The confused seller explained that she’s capable of making the mugs, that’s she’s had over 300 sales and a five star rating.
She said: ‘I’ve never sent out anything it I thought it wouldn’t be exactly what the customer wanted. I’m not sure why you would think I wouldn’t be able to make these items.’
Then the customer dropped the real reason.
In the message, she says: ‘I found your business page on Facebook and saw your profile. There were several posts on it about “autism awareness”. I thought at first that it was in support of someone you know who is autistic, but I eventually came to realize the one with autism.
‘My neighbor’s son has that and after observing his behaviors, I do not believe anyone with the disease would be able to properly make these mugs.’
it turned out she spent a long time looking through her Facebook profile (Picture: Reddit)
The customer really wasn’t getting the point (Picture: Reddit)
The shop owner quite calmly explained that autism is a spectrum disorder.
She said: ‘Each person with autism is different and has a different level of functioning. I’m very high functioning and am more than capable of making the items in my shops.’
But the seller didn’t get it. ‘You’re all the same level of retard. Cancel the damn order,’ she said.
What are your rights around asking for refunds on custom orders?
Obviously this customer’s reasoning for asking for a refund is not acceptable but you can get a refund on custom orders in certain circumstances.
Unlike something that you buy that is already pre-made, you can only get a refund on a customised item if it is faulty or broken.
You aren’t entitled to a refund if you:
knew an item was faulty when you bought it
damaged an item by trying to repair it yourself
no longer want an item (eg because it’s the wrong size or colour) unless you bought it without seeing it
Obviously people were shocked by the attitude of the woman and her lack of understanding.
When the screenshots were shared on Reddit, one person said: ‘As a father of twin boys who are Autistic and Fragile X Syndrome I can say that this woman is likely passing up on some of the best made mugs out there.
‘Often time an Autistic person’s focus and craftsmanship is so intense it can’t be matched by those of us who are not Autistic. In many cases my boys are far more capable than I at tasks.’
Another added: ‘I believe she’s the one with a problem, not that artist..’
I’m spreading my bets on all the apps in my bid find the #OneTrueLoveOfMyLife and I’m not shy about letting the world know about my efforts (Picture: Kaye Ford)
Hello. My name is Stephanie and I am a member of all the dating apps.
The swipe through ones, the ‘meet through friends’ ones, the ‘pay monthly-yet-only-use-the-free-features’ ones and the hobby-specific ones.
I’m spreading my bets on all the apps in my bid find the #OneTrueLoveOfMyLife and I’m not shy about letting the world know about my efforts.
We all know that dating – either online or IRL – in this day and age can be an absolute cesspit of annoyance and despair.
So I always thought that to cut down on the timewasting, ghosting and potential inappropriate messaging, it would be easier to connect with people on apps featuring specific themes or hobbies you have in common.
For me, I suppose that would mean joining dating apps where my specific body type was the preference, as opposed to a hindrance.
Upon typing in ‘Plus-size dating apps’ however, I’m met with row after row of websites promoting feederism sites, fat fetish sites, and ads asking me to join the ‘number one BBW app in the world’.
A lot of these sites feature the pornographic category term BBW (Big Beautiful Woman) in their title, instantly letting you know that you’re about to encounter a lot of overtly sexual content, or they feature the same stock image photo of a fat couple staring lovingly into each others’ eyes.
The latter type of website almost always tends to be a scam site, which leaves you with over-sexualised fetish/casual hookup sites.
My question is though; why can we not have our own fat version of OkCupid, Match.com, or EHarmony?
The (somewhat) closest we have come to that would be popular dating app WooPlus which touts itself as the ‘Best Dating App for Plus-Size Singles’.
Having been a member of the app for over a year, my experiences using it has been quite horrid – to say the least.
From men being incredibly racist and objectifying, to having requests made for me to do incredibly sordid things with food, I’m at my wits’ end.
Despite the app trying to separate itself from its fetish-y counterparts, they still somehow make their way in.
For there to be any change, society needs to wake up and realise that fat people do not exist for the sexual pleasure, humiliation and abuse of others (Picture: Kaye Ford)
A reason I think there is a lack of relationship-friendly’ plus-size dating apps is because of society and the way in which plus-sized people are perceived.
On an everyday basis, we are routinely dehumanised to the point of humiliation, and because we are not treated with the same level of basic human decency, love and respect as everyone else, we are automatically reduced to our body parts and are objectified as such.
We are mere vessels to be used for the fun, humiliation and sexual pleasure of others and I suspect that people do not see us as human beings who also crave forming tight bonds with others, relationships, security and love.
To this day, I still often hear stories online from plus-size women who have been shamed or policed by others for having an attractive partner, or for having a partner at all.
As chubby children, we were often told to be seen as attractive to others and find love, we would need to slim down.
I think back to a time a few years ago while in Italy, I was called a ‘prostitute’ while out in public with my ex who was a lot smaller because people couldn’t fathom that he could possibly find me attractive enough to want to be in a relationship with.
Obviously, this doesn’t apply to all plus-sized people, as I know many who are in loving, happy relationships but why does it seem like a rarity to me?
Why must I log into a conventional dating app and state on my profile that I am indeed, fatter IRL (despite adding a series of drop-dead gorgeous full-length photos to my profile?).
For there to be any change, society needs to wake up and realise that fat people do not exist for the sexual pleasure, humiliation and abuse of others.
Society needs to realise that we are human beings that are capable of having loving relationships, and not just a pit stop on someone’s sexual experimental journey.
Fat women are treated with so much contempt and are routinely dehumanised and mistreated to the point where we are seen as the butt of all jokes when it comes to dating.
We can freely be told to lose weight, that we are ugly or what we are just good for sex because people don’t think about the ramifications of their actions.
I speak as someone who is fat and who wants to one day be in a relationship with someone who finds me equally as attractive as I find them and doesn’t just find me attractive because of how much I weigh.
In the same way that you can set the height and age preferences in your mainstream dating app.
I’ve always fantasised of there being a ‘weight’ preference because for me, it would cut out SO much browsing time, and would make it a lot easier for me to instantly view the men who preferred bigger women.
As opposed to the rigmarole of matching, chatting a little, them finding out that they actually don’t like your body shape, and unmatching.
Can we at least not have that little UX tweak to make our lives a bit easier at least? I know it can be seen as segregation like but if I’m being honest, it’s one I can live with.
Old venetian harbor with boats in Heraklion, Crete island, Greece
Want a Greek holiday experience that the whole family will love?
Well look no further than Heraklion, the largest city and port on the island of Crete.
Famous for its beautiful beaches, stunning wines and delicious cheeses, as well as its fascinating history – you can guarantee there’s something for everyone.
Breathtaking beaches
Matala beach
After all of the eating and drinking, it’s time to relax on the beach and luckily there are several great sandy stretches to choose from.
One of the best to lounge on is Ammoudara beach right in Heraklion, boasting soft sand and clear blue waters.
It has both busy parts as well as secluded spots and is actually the perfect place for windsurfers.
Heading further afield from the city of Heraklion is Maridaki beach with its pebbled filled shoreline, while further afield again are the beaches at Matala and Tripiti.
Matala is an enclosed bay and its beautiful scenery makes it one of the most popular in Crete while Tripiti has perfectly clear waters – ideal for snorkelling.
Culture vultures
Knossos palace
Away from the beaches, Heraklion is awash with history having been the birthplace of the Minoan civilisation.
One of the best places to learn about this is at the famed palace complex at Knossos which flourished more than 2,000 years ago and has stunning frescoes and the perfect water supply system.
While at Heraklion’s Archaeological Museum, you can see one of the world’s best collections of Minoan art.
Another museum worth a visit is the Natural History Museum, where you can learn about geological ecosystems in interactive exhibitions, designed especially for kids.
History buffs should also definitely plan a visit to Koules, a huge Venetian-style fortress emblazoned with a Venentian lion.
Here you can also discover the building of Lodgia – once a club for the Venetian middle class but today a town office.
For living history, visit Archanes, a traditional Crete village close to Heraklion, that boasts beautiful churches, restaurants and taverns.
Cheese please! (and wine)
Fried graviera cheese
First off, without a doubt, Heraklion is a gastronomic destination and no trip there would be complete without sampling some of the local produce.
One of its most famous exports is wine – in fact the island of Crete has one of the oldest wine making traditions in Europe with Heraklion Greece’s second largest wine area.
There are numerous wineries in the area offering tours, where you can sample some of the very best glasses.
And what goes with wine more than cheese? Well when in Heraklion, try out mizirtha, which is a locally produced goats or sheep’s cheese that is perfect in a salad or sprinkled over hot pasta.
While another cheese worth trying is graviera – Greece’s second most popular cheese after feta – that boasts a sweet taste.
And what’s more the Heraklion produced graviera has an almost caramel taste – delicious!
Or try these cheeses in a pie – another great Heraklion delicacy.
Adventure seekers (big and small!)
While for kids, take them to Cretaquarium, which has 60 tanks and more than 2,000 species of marine wildlife.
Or if you fancy something a little more energetic, discover Heraklion by walking, trekking or even on horse back.
It really is one of the Greek islands’ most fascinating cities.
When Aoife Hartnett, now 14, collapsed whilst bouncing on the trampoline with her friends one afternoon after school aged 11, they simply thought she was ‘playing dead’ – until she started foaming at the mouth.
She was placed in an induced coma at hospital and diagnosed with Hashimoto Encephalopathy, a type of encephalitis, which is a rare condition that sees the immune system mistakenly attack the body’s own cells.
After 22 days, she regained consciousness, but, a world away from the sociable, happy girl she had been, she would hallucinate, erupt in angry outbursts and lost her sense of empathy.
Now Aoife, still suffers with seizures but is improving day-by-day.
Her mum Louise Carolan, 49, from Dublin, Ireland, said: ‘Aoife was bright and happy – she was a perfect little girl.
‘But it was like her personality changed, and what I noticed most was that she lacked empathy.
‘Before, she would give money to homeless people on the street, but that had gone. If she hurt her brothers, it was like she didn’t care.
‘She became very aggressive physically. I got a few thumps, and I couldn’t leave her alone with her brothers in case she became angry.
‘She was confused and angry, and would get agitated by certain things, like the ticking of a clock. We’re an empathetic family so I couldn’t understand it and found it really hard to deal with.’
Aoife in hospital, where was was diagnosed with Hashimoto Encephalopathy (Picture: PA Real Life)
In the build-up to Aoife’s hospitalisation in September 2016, Louise explained how the schoolgirl had seemed more tired than usual on a family holiday to Fuengirola in Spain.
After returning, she also started complaining of an earache and upset tummy.
Then, around a week later, she was playing on a trampoline with her next-door neighbours when she collapsed.
Louise explained: ‘My neighbour heard the kids saying, “Aoife’s playing dead”. He saw she was out for the count and foaming at the mouth.
‘There was screaming at my front door, so I ran to her and saw that she was blue and had stopped breathing. It felt like she wasn’t breathing for a good few minutes. I was hysterical.’
Aoife was raced to Temple Street Children’s University Hospital in Dublin with her father, while Louise followed behind
She was connected to a breathing machine due to the severity of the seizures she’d started having when she arrived at the hospital.
At first, doctors were baffled as to what was causing Aoife’s symptoms, then, a series of MRI scans and a lumbar puncture – which takes a sample of fluid from the spine – found she had some swelling on the brain.
To give her body a chance to recover, she was placed into an induced coma, and was officially diagnosed with Hashimoto Encephalopathy whilst unconscious.
Aoife with Louise and her brothers Ronan and Eoghan (Picture: PA Real Life)
According to the charity The Encephalitis Society, it can affect all age groups, but is most common in females of around 50.
Thought to be an autoimmune condition, the exact cause is unknown, and symptoms include drowsiness, psychiatric disturbances and jerky movements, some of which may be seizures.
Medics treated Aoife with a course of steroids and a blood plasma exchange – where plasma is removed from the blood and replaced – before bringing her round after 22 days.
Coming to, she was unable to walk, talk, or even recognise her family.
Louise said: ‘She would look at us, but she was vacant. There was a deadness in her eyes.
‘She started to hallucinate and would talk to the machines in the ward. She even told us she could see her grandad, who had died four years before she was born.
‘I would try and console her, but then sometimes she would look at me like, ‘Who are you?’ It was five or six days before she recognised us.
“We were told she would have to relearn everything, including how to sit up on her own. She was having to wear nappies and be fed via a tube.’
Slowly, Louise began to see glimmers of determination from Aoife, who retaught herself to sit up, and walk to the bathroom.
Finally, after 12 weeks, Aoife, who also had physiotherapy to help her grow stronger, was allowed home.
But sadly, her nightmare was far from over, as it became clear that despite having medication she was still suffering two to three seizures a week, as well as dealing with personality changes.
In January, Aoife, then on a high dose of steroids and anti-seizure medication, was able to return to school, where she was in her final year of primary school, gradually increasing her hours with a teaching assistant with her at all times.
Aoife in hospital (Picture: PA Real Life)
Explaining how different her daughter’s behaviour now was, Louise continued: ‘She would randomly scream out loud in the classroom, or tell the teachers to f*** off. She’d call teachers fat and ugly.
‘Whatever came into her head would come out of her mouth – she just had no filter.
‘Before she got ill it was really unusual to hear her swear and she would immediately cover her mouth if she said something and would feel really bad about it.
‘We would be in public places, like on the bus, and she would shout at me to f*** off. I would feel like everybody was judging us.
‘I would find myself in the position of trying to act normally, but also wanting to shout to the world, ‘You haven’t got a clue. Don’t you realise what this child has been through?’
Aoife with her brothers Ronan and Eoghan in hospital (Picutre: PA Real Life)
‘There were times when I’d come home, get into the shower so no-one could see or hear me and just cry my eyes out.’
Consulting a psychiatrist, Louise was told that Aoife would need to rebuild all the learnt behaviours she had picked up as a child, such as feeling empathy and social etiquette, knowing what is appropriate to say in public.
Now, despite still struggling with school, finding spelling and maths hard, and getting exhausted if she has to concentrate for more than 20 minutes, she is slowly making progress – although, since April 2018, she has been suffering with a different type of seizure brought on by anxiety.
These happen once or twice a day where she will shake uncontrollably but be conscious and aware of what’s happening, and is usually able to get them under control herself.
She still takes 22 tablets a day to try and keep her seizures under control and these have now reduced to once or twice a month.
‘All of that is slowly getting better. We hope it will continue to do so,’ Louise added.
The wrap, with either crispy chicken or chicken breast strips (Picture: McDonald’s)
If you haven’t figured out what you’re having for lunch today, good news – McDonald’s is selling wraps for £1.49 this week.
From today until Friday, you can get 50% off their new Cajun chicken wrap.
You will need to download the app and order through using it to get the deal. Going into the store and ordering at the counter won’t work for this deal.
The voucher can only be used once so save your cheap wrap for a day that you need it.
The new wrap is delicious crispy chicken breast strips or grilled chicken with a Cajun sauce, Pepper Jack cheese, tomato, Jalapeño slices and lettuce in a soft, toasted tortilla wrap.
Sounds great, right?
The wrap is part of their new summer menu, which also includes Malteasers, Smarties and two types of Flake McFlurries.
If you fancy a cheesy side, they’ve also launched Red Leicester cheese melts.
And for something to drink, try the McCafe iced range, featuring millionaire’s iced frappe, frozen strawberry lemonade, raspberry ripple iced cooler, caramel iced frappe, mocha iced frappe and mango pineapple iced fruit smoothie.
LGBT people report more memory problems than heterosexual cisgender people (Picture: Getty)
An American study has found that LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of memory loss and confusion – two early signs of dementia.
LGBT people from the U.S were found to be 29% more likely to report cognitive impairment than their straight, cisgender (identifying with sex assigned at birth) counterparts.
The large survey may have found new risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia.
Results also raised questions about the impact of social stressors i.e homophobia and transphobia on cognitive abilities.
LGBT people from the U.S were found to be 29% more likely to report cognitive impairment (Picture: Getty)
Researchers looked at data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which included 44,403 adults age 45 or older.
Among the participants, 3% identified as LGBT and the remainder said they were heterosexual and cisgender.
One in seven, or 14%, of people in sexual and gender minorities reported memory problems which worsened.
In comparison, one in 10 heterosexual and cisgender people reported the same problems.
After adjusting for characteristics such as age, gender, race and ethnicity, marital status, and income, the researchers found 29% more reports of cognitive decline.
Jason Flatt, an assistant professor at UCSF and lead author of the study also said LGBT people struggle more with daily activities compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals.
People with subjective cognitive decline are three times more likely to have future cognitive decline, he said.
He added that the survey doesn’t necessarily mean that LGBT people will have a higher rate of Alzheimer’s, but that they show a concerning trend that needs addressing.
‘The community really needs greater support, education, screening for their memory, an opportunity to talk to their doctor about these problems,’ said the author.
‘Additional research is also needed, and [we need] questions asking about sexual orientation and gender identity in national surveys.
‘Otherwise, how are we going to see how the community does over time?’
With dementia being rare for those below 60, it’s important to note that the subjects studied were relatively young.
Also worth noting is that 29% of the LGBT group out of 44,400 respondents is just 386 people.
The findings of the study will be presented at the 2019 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Los Angeles.
Amazon Prime Day 2019 is underway and you know what that means – your bank account is about to have a field day.
The annual Prime Day has generous offerings across technology, beauty, fashion, and home.
To make life a little easier for you, we’re breaking down the best items on offer in each category.
So if you’re looking for home and kitchen appliances, furniture or gadgets, look no further.
But remember that the offers are only available to members of Amazon Prime, but if you aren’t one, there is the option to have a one-month free trial so you can make the most of the money-saving deals.
If you're not yet an Amazon Prime member and want to take advantage of the exclusive deals and offers this Prime Day, you can sign up now for a free 30-day trial here.
Better yet, until 16th July Amazon are giving you £20 off your first year's membership (was £79 now £59).
As an Amazon Prime customer you'll be able to access the Prime Day discounts, but you'll also be able to enjoy all the benefits of membership, including free, one-day and two-day shipping, 'try before you buy' clothes, grocery savings and movies, TV shows, music and e-books.
Amazon Prime is upon us and there are thousands of offers on beauty products to be had.
For the next 36 hours, hundreds of products across Amazon will be available at discounted prices exclusively for Prime members.
They’ve already dropped prices across on their own-label products, so if you’re in the market for an Echo dot, Fire Stick or a Kindle, now is definitely the time to buy.
But there are some great deals on beauty products, including huge savings on latest beauty tech including Real Techniques’ best-selling brushes, FOREO sonic facial cleansing brushes and 40% off ghd Styler.
So whether you’re in need of a new concealer, hair tool, or just looking to restock your current skincare favourites, here are the best beauty deals worth knowing about this Amazon Prime Day.
If you’re looking to get fit for your looming summer holiday – having all the latest kit can do wonders for your motivation levels.
From wearable fitness technology to the latest training kit and equipment to help you turn your living room into a gym – Amazon Prime has everything you need, and today is the day to snap it up.
Here are our favourite fitness deals on offer today – get ready to fill up your shopping basket.
Keeping track of your progress has never been easier (Picture: Fitbit)
The ultimate wearable fitness tech, the Fitbit Charge 3 is fully swim-proof and water resistant, it automatically tracks workouts and has a battery life of up to seven days.
The 24/7 heart rate monitor allows you to track your calorie burn and optimise your workouts to make sure you’re fitness regime is perfect for you.
This is a great full-body workout (Picture: Athlyt)
Turn your living room into a gym with this compact rowing air machine. It even features a fan to cool you down while you sweat.
Designed to enhance the results of your fitness journey, Athlyt’s air row machine has adjustable air resistance levels to help you work and sculpt your entire body.
Take push-ups to the next level (Picture: Winline)
These handy handles will increase the intensity of your push-up workout – working your upper body even harder.
Store them under your bed, or even bring them to the gym with you – these comfortable handles are durable and have an anti-slide rubber base, so you won’t end up on your face.
Accelerate your fitness goals with the buzzy device (Picture Bluefin)
This vibration plate is meant to improve the efficiency of your workouts and help you to see results faster – all from the comfort of your living room.
The no-noise technology means that your vibration workout will be basically silent and the anti-slip surface means you can push yourself without risk of falling.
It can be notoriously difficult to target your stomach muscles during a workout – but this ab wheel can really help.
It comes with a free knee rest to help you workout anywhere, and using the wheel will target the upper and lower abs as well as the upper body and shoulders.
But the fun back into your workout with this mini trampoline – you’ll be bouncing towards your fitness goals in no time.
It’s foldable, easy to store and assemble, and it’s made of strong, durable mesh so you can really go to town when you’re working up a sweat.
Looking to join Amazon Prime?
If you're not yet an Amazon Prime member and want to take advantage of the exclusive deals and offers this Prime Day, you can sign up now for a free 30-day trial here.
Better yet, until 16th July Amazon are giving you £20 off your first year's membership (was £79 now £59).
As an Amazon Prime customer you'll be able to access the Prime Day discounts, but you'll also be able to enjoy all the benefits of membership, including free, one-day and two-day shipping, 'try before you buy' clothes, grocery savings and movies, TV shows, music and e-books.
Canadian student Chris Rice was enjoying summer in 2012 when he dove into a pool and plunged to the bottom.
Disastrously for the 26-year-old from Nova Scotia, the pool was shallow, at four feet high.
Chris immediately knew that something was wrong because although he was conscious, he couldn’t move any part of his body apart from his eyelids.
He hoped he would regain movement but when he saw his hands moving in the water, yet couldn’t feel it happening, Chris knew he must have sustained serious damage.
Doctors then told Chris that he’d never walk again.
But seven years later, Chris not only walked, he danced at his best friend’s wedding.
Chris standing after seven years at his friend Kate’s wedding (Picture: MDWfeatures / Chris Rice)
‘The pool is only four-foot deep, but I had dived in many times before from the same spot,’ said Chris.
‘As soon as I realised that I couldn’t control any muscles below my head, I panicked. I tried holding my breath for as long as possible, but the air ran out quickly.
‘I was completely conscious and aware of everything that was going on. At first, I thought I was stunned and figured after a few seconds it would go away and everything would be fine.
‘When I could see my hands moving when I wasn’t telling them to do so, things got scary.
‘The effort it took to not inhale water was extreme. My mouth was open, face and neck muscles clenched, trying with every ounce of my strength not to let things end that way.’
Chris was immediately paralysed and almost drowned when he was unable to signal for help in the pool (Picture: MDWfeatures / Chris Rice)
At the time of the accident, Chris almost drowned after lying down face down in the water for approximately 45 seconds.
His brother Alex rolled him onto his back just in time as Chris may have drowned if he’d been left for a couple more seconds.
He was then taken to hospital where they discovered he had crushed his vertebra. He had to have surgery that day to replace the bone with a metal plate as well as having four screws put in to fix his neck.
In the next few months, Chris stayed in hospital and worked on physiotherapy.
However, he didn’t regain function for a year after the accident.
Once he was discharged, Chris found Walk It Off, a rehabilitation facility where he tried to retrain his muscles and increase strength.
Once he was discharged, Chris found Walk It Off, a rehabilitation facility to retrain his muscles and increase strength (Picture: MDWfeatures / Chris Rice)
‘I’ve spent over 1,700 hours trying to retrain the muscles below my chest,’ he added.
‘To lift my foot, I had to focus on which individual muscles needed to fire in order to do that action. It’s all about repetition, so after thousands of attempts, it starts to become natural again.
‘I was man of honour at my friend Kate’s wedding and danced for the first time. At the time we danced, I was too busy focusing on not falling or losing my balance as one of my biggest struggles is muscle spasms.
‘When the song ended, I sat back in my wheelchair in shock at what we had just done. It wasn’t until later that night when I was lying in bed, that the emotion started really flooding in.
‘I was lying in bed by myself, with tears streaming down my cheeks. After five years of hard work, being told by professionals that I would never walk, I had defied the odds.’
Chris credits much of his optimism and recovery to his trainer, Rebecca (Picture: MDWfeatures / Chris Rice)
Chris has some advice for others who, like him, may not appreciate their blessings.
‘Enjoy life while you have it, we’re not here for very long.
Hard at work (Picture: MDWfeatures / Chris Rice)
‘The journey is never over; I’m always going to be pushing my limits and fighting to regain whatever I can.
‘I still have a long way to go and there will always be something to work on, but that’s part of the joy in life.’
Sweet meets savoury: Ice cream will be topped with fried chicken and chips (Picture: Hannah Miles)
Traditional ice cream flavours can get a little samey during the summer months, but a new London pop-up is getting creative with the nation’s favourite frozen treat.
The House of Ice Cream pop-up will boast a buffalo milk ice cream topped with fried chicken, chips and hot sauce on its menu, for brave dessert-lovers to try.
Set to launch on National Ice Cream Day – aka July 17 – the bizarre temporary ice cream parlour will open next to the Conductor pub at Fleet Place in Farringdon.
But poultry and hot sauce are not the only unusual items set to be on the whacky menu.
For two weeks only, those with a sweet tooth will be able to enjoy a whole host of alcoholic ice cream floats.
Boozy ice cream floats are on the menu too (Picture: Hannah Miles)
Boozy flavours will include a pornstar martini paired with raspberry sorbet, tequila and blood orange sorbet, pink gin matched with raspberry sorbet and Bacardi and coke topped with vegan coconut ice cream. These unique creations will be priced at £8.50 a pop.
Those looking to personalise their ice cream can try their hand at the Build-Your-Own station. Guests will be able to top their scoops with party rings, smarties, gummy bears, popping candy and more, to make their own customised snack. A vegan chocolate ice cream made with coconut milk will also be available.
If unconventional ice cream and boozy floats weren’t enough, DJs will be taking visitors into the evening with garage and hip hop tracks.
The brains behind the frozen operation are the folks at Fuller’s – a pub empire with more than 400 pubs across the UK.
