A bride was enraged after discovering that her sister-in-law had eaten her wedding dinner when she nipped out to go the toilet.
Explaining in a post on Mumsnet, the newlywed said that she had only had two or three bites of her dinner before popping to the loo. She was gone for several minutes after chatting to one of her bridesmaids.
When she returned she found that her sister-in-law was not only sitting in her seat, but had also polished off her stuffed lamb. All of it.
Understandably, she was fuming.
‘Walked in, saw my SIL [sister-in-law] sat in my seat next to my new husband, thought it was a bit cheeky but fair enough, I’d left him for a bit eating his meal,’ she wrote.
‘Approached the table, to find my SIL had FINISHED OFF MY PLATE???!!! I didn’t know what to do except stand there a bit shell shocked!
‘She apologised for been sat in my seat (didn’t mention the food) and started to walk off, well my jaw must have been on the floor.’
After confronting the food-pincher about her dinner, the sister-in-law freely admitted that she had indeed eaten the food, thinking that the bride must have had enough because she was ‘dieting’.
‘I was speechless, she’s stood there with a smug look on her face, my husband’s sat there looking sheepish, I explained to her I’d simply gone to the toilet and she said, “oh sorry, well there’s still dessert I guess” and walked off!’
Given that the wedding dinner is supposed to be one of the most special meals you will ever eat, you have to wonder why the groom didn’t step in to stop his cheeky sister from wolfing it down.
‘Asked my husband why the hell he let her sit there and eat my food and he turns bright red and said he thought I’d finished too. Great. Fuming,’ added the bride.
‘Didn’t want to kick off on my wedding day and make a scene so sat back down in front of my empty plate, looking longingly around the room at the people eating slowly who hadn’t yet finished and pretended everything was OK.’
The bride asked other Mumsnet users if she was being unreasonable for feeling angry about this, but, in the now deleted thread, loads of people jumped to her defence.
‘No you are not being unreasonable and I can’t believe she wasn’t embarrassed at all. That’s so awful,’ said one.
‘I would be furious!! Who does that?’ added another.
Of course, you don’t want to cause a scene at your own wedding – but when it comes to matters of food, you certainly don’t want a hangry bride.
The life of Hollywood’s first female black movie star is set to be immortalised in a one-woman show in London.
Off the back of an acclaimed sold out run at the 2018 London Jazz Festival, actress and singer Camilla Beeput will take on the role of Lena Horne – one of the most significant black figures in 20th Century entertainment.
Accompanied by a five-piece band, the captivating musical performance encapsulates the vibe of 1920s Harlem to the Civil Rights Movement – showcasing the importance of black representation in Hollywood.
We spoke to Camilla about why she has created this show and the lasting legacy of this pioneering black woman.
‘We take the audience on a journey through Horne’s 60-year career, culminating in her triumphant return to Broadway in the 1980s,’ Camilla tells Metro.co.uk.
‘The show navigates Horne’s emotional ups and downs throughout her life. Her personal struggles with race and identity, love and career.
‘It’s not a history lesson, it’s an emotional journey, the journey of a human being who lived through some amazing moments in history and broke barriers in the entertainment industry.’
At the heart of Camilla’s inspiration is representation. Disheartened by the lack of opportunity for black actors, she decided to take matters into her own hands.
‘Initially, it was the lack of roles for people like me that inspired me to create this show,’ she explains.
‘I personally connected to Lena’s story so deeply, her struggles as an artist held back by her race. That powerless feeling really spoke to me.
‘I’ve been extremely close to so many roles and lost out to actors because they had more profile then me, and I’ve had my lines or scenes cut because the “star” wanted more screen time.
‘I’ve not been seen for roles in period drama’s because I don’t look “period” enough, and so many parts for mixed-race actors fall into the murky waters of the “temptress” trope.
‘Talk about a sinister lingering throwback from slavery.
‘Lena Horne was also mixed-race, although the term “mixed” wasn’t used back then; you were either black or white. In fact “biracial” is a relatively new term in the US.
‘Pre-Obama, being mixed-race and admitting to it was really looked down upon. Here in the UK, we were far more progressive in this way. Lena, descended from black slave and non slave Senegalese blood, as well as European slave owners and Native Americans – I mean she really was the epitome of the authentic “All American Girl”.
‘As I researched Lena’s life I became fuelled by a burning desire to tell this story. I became inspired by Lena herself. There was so much I discovered about her that I did not previously know about, like her her activism, she was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
‘I had never heard Lena Horne’s story told in a theatrical capacity before, so I felt compelled to tell it. She broke so many barriers, and her existence has had a direct impact on my life. She is part of my success story.
‘Without her, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing within my career. Without Lena Horne there would be no Beyoncé, or Lupita Nyongo. She was a trail blazer. She changed the way Hollywood perceived black women.
‘She represents so much in terms of artistic integrity, grit, professionalism, racial and cultural identity, and the evolution of popular music and the entertainment business.
‘Her story has so much relevance, and that’s what kept me inspired during the gruelling four years it took to write the show. It has been through sharing Lena Horne’s story that I liberated myself from feelings powerlessness in my own career.’
Lena’s story has universal relevance. The work she did changed perceptions and opened doors for female and male actors who didn’t necessarily fit the pre-existing norms that Hollywood expected.
‘Lena was the first Black Hollywood movie star, the first black “sex symbol” who shattered the way black women were portrayed on the silver screen,’ explains Camilla.
‘She was a heroic symbol for so many disenfranchised black people, she was a beacon of hope, a sign of change. Up until then black actors were only used to portray racist stereotypes in Hollywood narratives; rapists, buffoons, slaves, and maids.
‘Lena Horne was a political symbol as well as a bonafide talent. Tragically though she was restricted in her art because of the weight she carried as a “symbol” and sadly, the movie industry was not ready to embrace her fully and she was restricted to playing night club singers in most of her films.
‘She was too white to play romantic leads alongside leading black male actors, for fear of audiences thinking she was white and boycotting the movie in their disgust at interracial relationships.
‘She was too black to share screen time with white actors, because that just wasn’t allowed.
‘She also faced backlash from the black actors working in Hollywood who saw her ground breaking contract as a threat to their livelihoods, because they made their living playing degrading stereotypes. These black actors rallied against Lena Horne in Hollywood, ostrasizing her even more.
‘Again this is a trait of the mixed-race narrative; often feeling like you don’t fit in on either side of the fence.
‘Today, more than 100 years after Lena Horne was born, in the wake of the #MeToo movement and post-Weinstein, it seems as though things are only now beginning to significantly change for women in our industry, and change for non-white women in our industry is a few steps behind that.
‘Lena Horne’s fortitude, her grace in the face of all she had to endure, followed by the success she found in her 60s with her award-winning one-woman show, makes her an inspiration. She deserves to be celebrated.’
For Camilla, it is hard to overstate the importance of telling stories like Lena’s. The consistent whitewashing of history has a profound effect on the aspirational prospects of minorities – she sees her show as an opportunity to chip away at this overarching narrative.
‘It’s so important to hear stories about iconic figures of all backgrounds because it re-balances the history books that have largely written out our preciously diverse history,’ she tells us.
‘We all need to see ourselves mirrored in history to be able to claim our value in the present. The stories of our mothers and fathers and grandmothers anchor us in who in we are. And if we don’t have uplifting roles models available to us we can’t see beyond our own circumstances.
‘These people are part of our rich collective human history. Experiencing stories from different perspectives enriches all our lives. Stories are not just black stories, or Asian stories or white stories, they’re human stories.’
Nancy Ray, a mum from North Carolina was expecting her third daughter with husband Will.
The parents already had two little girls and wanted to find out if they were going to have a third, so asked their doctor about the sex after an ultrasound.
Warming to the idea of being parents to an all-girl brood, the couple began to prepare for the new arrival.
But when Nancy went into labour, they were in for a surprise. The baby girl they were expecting was, in fact, a little boy – their first, fulfilling their dream of having a son.
‘My husband and I decided to wait until birth to find out the sex of our first two babies,’ Nancy explained to Metro.co.uk
‘This time, Will wanted to know if we were going to be welcoming another girl so he could mentally prepare to be an all-girl dad, so we decided to find out.
‘Low and behold, the ultrasound tech wrote “it’s a girl” on a sheet of paper that we opened for dinner the evening of our big ultrasound!’
A few days after the due date, the parents went into hospital with their birth photographer, Lauren Jolly, ready to welcome their third child into the world
‘I delivered my baby in the tub and then carried “her” over to the bed. About 10 minutes later, they prepared to cut baby’s cord and I exclaimed “What is that? Is this a boy baby?!”’
‘Will immediately double checked and fell to his knees. We were all in shock and couldn’t stop laughing. I’m so glad my photographer Lauren was there to capture this moment! She arrived just 15 minutes before the baby was born!’
Nancy detailed the birth story of her first son Beaufort – as she did with all her children – on her blog.
The mummy blogger explained how she only had only one ultrasound for each pregnancy – an anatomy scan at 18 weeks. But for Beautfort she had one more to check to see the head was facing down as she chose to have him at a birth centre.
Of course, it was a different story on the day. After being in labour for two hours, Nancy decided she wanted to be transferred to a hospital to be given an epidural.
Sadly though that meant Will couldn’t join her in the delivery room beause he had come down with the flu. But Nancy decided she wasn’t going to give birth to her child without the father there.
So she kept pushing at the birth centre until baby Beaufort was born – a name they had been saving for him.
An estate agent, Kory Feltz from California, became a skin cancer advocate when she had a scare more than a decade ago.
The 40-year-old who loves tanning on sunbeds had found a lump on her calf at the age of 27, which turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common form of skin cancer.
After being teased for being pale as a youngster, Kory had always loved tanning in the sun.
Having a tan made Kory feel better about herself, which led to her using sunbeds three times a week and burning her skin to create a base tan. Despite this, Kory rarely applied sun lotion.
Since getting rid of the lump on her leg, Kory attended mandatory skin checks every six months.
But some years later, Kory noticed a small lump on her lip, which she first assumed was a spot. However, no white head appeared and despite trying, no liquid could be extracted.
So she had the spot removed through surgery but unfortunately, there was still cancer in the body after the removal.
Her lip was also stitched unusually making it look misshapen.
The surgery she had was meant to take an hour but ended up taking more than five hours because more tissue needed to be removed, resulting in scarring and a misshapen lip.
When she woke up from surgery, Kory’s first question was whether she now looked like Kylie Jenner.
She has had two corrective surgeries since where the bottom of her nose was cut and moved closer to its natural position, and the corner of her lip was cut to create mobility for her upper lip, so she can eat and talk.
‘I woke up five and a half hours later after five frozen sections and half my lip was gone,’ she said.
‘I knew it was bad when I noticed little mobility in my mouth while trying to ask the nurse if I looked like Kylie Jenner.
‘Her facial expression to that question led me to the conclusion that it wasn’t good.’
Since her corrective surgeries, Kory was also given a chemotherapy cream to kill off any SCC cancers. She had a painful reaction as the cream dried her skin out considerably, but its use in reducing the cancer cells was successful.
Kory now wants others to take skin cancer more seriously after learning how easily this could have been avoided if she protected her skin when she was younger.
‘My features will never return to normal, unfortunately. I have a huge scar, an oddly shaped lip, I dribble, have speech issues and I have nightmares of being on the surgical table,’ she added.
‘If I could only go back. I can’t and I know that, but it kills me to think about how avoidable this is. I am now sharing awareness of skin cancer and skin checks.
‘I will always miss wearing red lipstick and I’ll always regret not kissing my husband more.
‘Skin cancer needs to be taken seriously. I want everyone to know that SCC can be deadly so don’t avoid the doctor. My goal is to have skin checks be included with our annual checks like breast, colon, pap, teeth, eyes and so on.’
Love it or loathe it, it’s hard to ignore the influence that the Aperol Spritz cocktail has during summer.
As the warmer weather rolls in, more and more people reach for the orange-tinged beverage.
While most of us are accustomed to drinking our cocktails in pub and beer gardens, Aperol likes to mix things up. Last year, the brand created a custom-made canal for people to paddle around in.
This year, it’s Aperol’s 100th anniversary and celebrations are set to be even more extravagant.
Welcome the Aperol 1919 Lido, a pop-up event that features a lido, flowing orange waterfall and Fiat 500 hot tubs. Guests will also get a chance to lounge on orange slice floats.
Those who don’t fancy getting wet can grab a seat on the revolving carousel bar or hang out by the glass-shaped ball pit instead.
The event is coming to London at the end of this month, and will be hosted at Shoreditch Electric Light Station in Hoxton Square between 23 May to 1 June.
Some dates are already sold out, including the launch night, so if Aperol Spritz is your go-to summer theme, you better hurry.
Tickets start from £10, which includes two drinks and some Italian aperitivo.
Bring a mate and save a few quid, with bundles sold at £18 for two or alternatively £34 for four.
The Aperol Spritz lido will also make an appearance in Manchester, with details to be revealed soon.
If you’re not a fan of the drink, then you can always host your own party in the back garden.
Buy a cheap inflatable pool, stock up on one of these equally summery drinks and ask a mate to pour water over you (to simulate the waterfall).
Ok, running around in the rain or getting up at 5am to go spinning might not immediately make you feel happy – but the science is solid. Exercising releases endorphins, which are a group of hormones that can boost your mood.
Two sporty sisters have taken this concept to the next level and designed a workout that optimises the feel-good factor of fitness.
Alex and Maddy Weaver aka the Soul Sisters have curated a step-by-step guide to their serotonin-boosting workout – and it could be the perfect thing to put a smile on your face this bank holiday weekend.
‘It’s widely known that serotonin helps regulate your mood but it is also equally as important for appetite, digestion, sleep, memory and even sexual desire and function,’ explains Maddy.
‘Our goal when designing this workout was to show people how to harness the power of serotonin to offer a completely natural high caused by a surge of “happy hormones”.
‘The following moves will show you how you can do just that for yourself.’
Tree pose
Start standing straight, with your feet together and arms down by your side, once comfortable begin to shift your weight to your left foot.
Then, bend your right knee, reaching down to clasp your inner right ankle and using your hand to draw your right foot alongside your inner left thigh.
Be sure to rest the foot above or below the knee. Once you feel stable and your hips are aligned and facing forwards, press your palms together in prayer position at your chest.
If you can, hold the pose for up to one minute and to release, step back into the standing pose. Repeat for the same amount of time on the opposite side.
‘This pose is great for stretching the thighs, torso and shoulders while building strength in the ankles, calves and toning our abdominal muscles. While the balancing posture is designed to help calm and focus the mind.’
Warrior two
This standing pose enhances strength, stability and concentration.
Stand in a wide-leg stance with your front leg slightly bent and facing forwards.
With your arms out straight to the side, at shoulder height and parallel to the floor, bend your front knee as you exhale and sink your hips so your front leg is bent parallel to the floor.
Be sure to keep your back leg straight by pressing through your back foot. Turn your head to look across the tip of your middle finger in front of you, drop your shoulders and lift your chest.
Breathe deeply and calmly for up to one minute.
Burpee
The burpee is simply a four-point move.
Begin in a standing position, with your feet shoulder width apart. Drop into a squat position with your hands firmly flat on the ground, placed just in front of your feet. Once in this position, kick your feet back behind you, keeping your arms straight and back parallel to the floor so you are in a raised plank position.
From here, jump your feet towards your hands leaping into the air with your arms above your head ad be ready to do the process all over again. You’ll be sure to feel the burn from this simple but effective high-intensity move.
Crunch and punch
This move is great for team work, so team up with a partner and get to work – if one you are on you own, not to worry as this can easily be done individually.
The ‘crunch and punch’ is an evolution of your ordinary crunch and is a great way to build your core strength.
As you would in a crunch, start by lying down on a mat, with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor – use your partner to keep your feet on the ground.
As you exhale, lift your head slightly off the mat while keeping your hands in a fist position on your chest. Once at the top, throw a right punch towards your partner’s right hand. Inhale and lower yourself down.
Repeat again but this time throw a left punch towards your partner’s left hand and return to the start position for on full rep of the exercise.
Breath work
The final relaxation posture is a great way to end a workout as it allows a time to come back to your breath after the high-energy exercises.
For this posture it is essential your body is in a neutral position, so lie down on your back with your legs separate and your feet free to fall open either side.
Bring your arms alongside your body and turn your palms so they are facing upwards. Tuck your shoulder blades onto your back for support.
Once settled in the position, let your body become heavy and relaxed and your breathing rhythm to occur naturally.
Stay for a minimum of five minutes – make sure to give yourself enough time to let your body and breathing settle. As you come up from the floor, begin with a deep breath and wiggle your toes and fingers to slowly reawaken your body.
Stretch your arms over your head for a full body stretch and then bring your knees to your chest and roll onto your side. Slowly, using your hands for support, bring yourself back to a standing position.
‘This is the most important part of the workout as it allows cortisol levels to reduce, to come back to your intentions and leave you feeling rejuvenated, restored and happy.’
You can try this SBW Workout for yourself on the main-stage at Balance Festival this year. Standard Admission tickets to Balance Festival are priced from £24.50 for day tickets and from £50 for VIP day tickets.
In a bid to nab the millennial market and give itself a youthful boost, Laura Ashley has joined forces with Urban Outfitters to offer a new collection.
The collaboration presents the best of both worlds; it incorporates the traditional, floral style that Laura Ashley is renowned for, but with a more contemporary look that is bound to appeal to younger audiences.
The inspiration features SS19 trends such as ‘square necklines, exaggerated sleeve detailing and prairie-inspired femme dressing’, according to Urban Outfitters womenswear buying director, Malika Zagzoule.
It will launch in UK stores and online tomorrow (7 May) and includes nine pieces in total. Here are our favourites.
Frill detail top, £34
Baby doll dress, £49
Floral co-ords, £32
Square collar dress, £49
Victorian-style high-neck dress, £42
Albeit new in the UK, the line is already available on Urban Outfitter’s US site with 27 exclusive items up for grabs, including headbands, interior pieces and cute summer co-ords.
It’s not yet known whether the full line will be offered in the UK, but we’ve contacted Urban Outfitters to find out and will update this article once we hear from them.
We’ll take as much floral fashion as we can get, so fingers crossed.
But for now, at least we’ve got these pieces to play around with.
Plenty of influencers have been criticised for risky shots taken in the name of creating breathtaking Instagram shots.
The latest to be slammed for their dangerous pic is Jean and Camille, travellers from Brussels, who pulled the stunt for their Instagram account Backpackdiariez.
In the picture, the couple was seen smooching while hanging out of a moving train travelling through Sri Lanka.
The famous train had been travelling from Kandy to small-town Ella and features stunning tea country scenery along the way.
So the couple couldn’t resist going in for the perfect picture for the ‘Gram and Camille asked her brother to capture the shot.
But many felt that it could’ve been life-threating and may encourage copycat acts who may end up getting hurt.
The risk-taking couple doesn’t seem too bothered though and has previously been pictured standing atop high planes and buildings.
In that image, traveller Racquel could be seen hanging completely out of the train while boyfriend Miguel planted a kiss on the forehead.
Both times, some of their hundred thousand strong followers had concerns.
Jean and Camille’s post received more than 35,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments.
A caption was shared with the image which read: ‘We couldn’t think of a better picture to describe our couple: Blind trust in each other, no matter what, madly in love, living on the edge (sometimes a bit too much), having fun whenever we can, and organised chaos’.
Followers weren’t convinced though. One person wrote: ‘This is how people die,’ while another wrote: ‘Wouldn’t call this adventure, but stupid, risking life for likes on Instagram.’
‘Another pic of people sacrificing themselves over a picture….ridiculous,’ echoed another.
Some people were wowed by the shot though. One person wrote: ‘Wow, that looks thrilling and totally romantic and wild,’ while another said: ‘amazing capture’.
Beautiful picture or not, we wouldn’t advise replicating the image.
Muslims all over the world are celebrating the beginning of Ramadan – the fasting season during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
And it’s not just about skipping a couple of meals and drinks (yes, that includes water), Ramadan is also about doing good deeds, being charitable and being the best version of yourself.
One mum managed to nail all those things on the first day by generously handing out wonderful care packages for her neighbours.
Samira Ansari, from Ontario, Canada, created hampers complete with homemade goods, sweets, biscuits, dates, and more.
The sweet packages were to welcome Ramadan into the community and came with a little card too, which had a kind message handwritten inside.
The note read: ‘May Allah bless you and your family throughout this beautiful month and may He give us the ability to make the most of it,’ ending with, ‘love and prayers’.
The images of the gifts were shared by her son Ma’az Syed on Twitter where it soon went viral.
Ma’az explained to Metro.co.uk how it’s become a bit of a tradition among their apartment complex to share food.
‘We’re situated in Mississauga and have a high population of Muslims in general and in our area especially’ he told us.
‘We’ve lived In the same complex for the last 13 years and the community has been like this through it all. My mum tries to do something similar every year whether it’s just sending some food or doing a bit more like this year.
‘The entire process of making the baskets took a couple of days for the shopping and making of the snacks some of which were homemade.
‘I helped deliver some of them so I witnessed a couple of their reactions too. All were extremely grateful for the baskets’.
Ma’az’s tweet has garnered almost 4,000 likes on Twitter and he said mum Samira was delighted to see all the kind comments.
Samira is exactly the kind of neighbour we wish we had.
Tesco is selling new versions of Jammie Dodgers and Custard Creams, and they both sound amazing.
The new Jammie Dodgers feature rectangluar biscuits, filled with yoghurt and jam, while the Custard Creams have been revamped into Rhubarb and Custard creams – with a new rhubarb filling added to the original custard taste.
Unfortunately, the biscuits aren’t available in every single Tesco store – so you may have to hunt them down unless you’re lucky enough to spot them in your local shop.
The biscuits were shared on the Instagram account Kevssnackreviews, with the Rhubarb and Custards costing 40p and the Jammie Dodgers £1.50.
On the Rhubarb and custard Creams, they said: ‘So here’s what the new Tesco Rhubarb and Custard Creams are like!
‘The cream part is pink and of course flavoured with rhubarb, and actually tastes of it too – who would have thought it!
‘It’s a little sour and tangy, but sweet and creamy enough to be inoffensive. If you like rhubarb you’ll probably enjoy these, and they’re a good fit for a custard cream.
‘They’re cheap at 40p so don’t expect the most buttery luxurious biscuit, but they’re a good little novelty. I do think other flavours would be nicer though…banana and custard anyone?!’
After the photo was shared, many commented to say how excited they were to try the biscuits themselves.
One person said: ‘These sound amazing! I don’t like actual rhuhbarb but like the sweets.’
Another said: ‘This seems so obvious – why did no one think of it sooner’.
Someone else wrote: ‘Omfg if these are disappointing I will C.R.Y! Not even dramatising things here either’.
However, others weren’t so keen. One said: ‘Certain classics need to be left alone… when we trying them?’
Another put: ‘Absolute crime to mess with the classic’.
On the Jammie Dodger front, apparently they’re amazing.
One person said they have tried them, and the ‘whole packet was consumed’. According to them, the biscuits are like a ‘soft jam and cream’ and are absolutely god level’.
However, while her quirky nail art was certainly interesting (it even featured bits of hair), it’s her makeup looks that she is best-known for.
The Korean artist uses her own face and body as a canvas to disassemble photos by blending herself into the background.
She first debuted the optical illusion style in 2016, with a simple but mesmerising photo on Instagram, but has since evolved her style into more intricate designs.
Dain has nearly 600,000 social media followers, and has also appeared on Ellen DeGeneres’ show to talk about her art.
While most of us are still attempting to nail the winged eyeliner or the smokey eye, Dain has been working on her craft since she was nine years old.
She attended art schools in South Korea, including the Korea National University of Arts, and has done theatrical makeup too, drawing on actors’ bodies.
But many of the actors didn’t ‘have the patience to sit still’ for hours on end, and so Dain decided to use her own face and body instead.
‘Somewhat out of necessity, I decided to start drawing on my own face because the actors didn’t really have the patience to sit still for three to 12 hours as well as the belief that the face is the most powerful and sensitive part of the body where I can deliver the most delicate emotions,’ she tells Metro.co.uk.
‘To me, the most powerful medium is the face, as it is the first focal point during conversation.
‘And since I only have one face, it meant that I only had one canvas in the world to best express my individuality.’
‘Anything in life can become my inspiration…as long as I am able to take on a unique perspective,’ Dain said.
‘That said, what’s consistent in my work is the exploration of the multi-faceted ways that express a person’s diversity.
‘A lot of people seem to think illusion means tricking people into something but I don’t think of it that way.
‘I believe in a much broader concept, that anything which seems slightly different from its original form, could be an illusion.’
‘For example, people putting on makeup can be an illusion, because it alters what people look like, but in a way that compliments their original looks,’ she added.
‘Everyone is free to feel what they want to feel from my work.
‘I don’t try to squeeze out a specific emotion, but I want my work to be a stimulating experience.
‘I want them notice that they have been indifferent to certain things, and awaken all of their senses from what they might have become numb to.’
If you fancy getting a regular dose of art in your social media feed, you can follow Dain’s Twitter or Instagram, where she shares her work.
Love Barbie? Wear pink even when it’s not Wednesday? Then you’ll be happy to know Primark has just dropped a bright pink Barbie collection, and it includes some super cute items.
Their latest collection is a Barbie-inspired holiday range, which features loads of stuff perfect for the beach.
This includes sunglasses, a lovely swimsuit, beach towels and bumbags – which are ideal for this year’s summer festivals too.
Here are a few of our favourite pieces:
We love this Barbie beach towel, £8, complete with the Barbie water bottle, £7
This whole outfit is perfect for a festival: Barbie crop top, £8, Barbie scrunchie three-pack, £3, Barbie bumbag, £8
This swimsuit, £8, and t-shirt, also £8, are both very sweet
This cute backpack is just £10
We’re BIG fans of these earrings, £2
These badges are lovely – and they’re only £3 for six
And we also really like this £12 tote bag
The collaboration comes as part of the celebrations for Barbie’s 60th birthday.
Last week, Primark announced: ‘Barbie is 60 years old! And with over 200 inspirational careers, from Video Game Developer to President under her glam belt, she has become an icon of female empowerment to girls and women globally.
‘In celebration of this trendsetting icon, with undeniably amazing dress sense, we’ve released a new collection drenched in pink, so you can rep’ Barbie whether you’re out on the town or lazing on the beach.’
The prices range from £2 – £12, but we’d imagine that if you want to get your hands on it all, you’ll have to act fast, because cheap prices and pretty pieces means we expect it’ll all sell out quickly.
A trans teen attending his mum’s wedding was asked to be part of the bridal party – as her bridesmaid.
The 19-year-old, who came out as trans and no longer identifies as a woman, told his mother that he identifies as male.
And yet his mother asked that he wear a dress despite his protests and insistence on wearing a suit.
The teenager wrote about the story on Reddit under subreddit Entitled Mothers saying his mum would only allow him to wear what he wants only if he wears a dress over it.
His mum insisted that she understands and respects trans people, but that had nothing to do with her wedding.
But backing out of the wedding wasn’t a choice for the anonymous poster as the mum was adamant on keeping up appearances.
‘So, I come out to my aunt first, for support because she’s awesome, and then my mum, but she brings me to her house to ask about wedding dresses she wants me to wear and I can’t help but feel uncomfortable,’ he wrote.
‘They looked nice and all, but last time I was forced to wear a dress, I spent the whole time trying to hold back a panic attack, not throw up, and avoid running into people.
‘So I come out very awkwardly by starting to explain what being trans is.’
He then explained what the mother’s reaction was.
‘I know what transgenders are, what does this have to do with the wedding?’ the mum asked, following it up with ‘So what can you be at the wedding?’
The poster continued to narrate his feelings at her reaction, saying: ‘I got pretty silent after this. Because even though she’s been a b*tch to me my whole life, I thought for some stupid reason she would care.’
He told Redditors that the timing of his coming out wasn’t ideal as weddings can be stressful but that he had tried to come out to her in the past but to no avail.
The poster explained that this was a new low for her as he was being forced to do something that’s uncomfortable to him.
‘My mum won’t let me wear a suit, pants suit, or simply not be up with her at the altar, she wants me to be up there with her, right close to her, because she has it in my future step dad’s family that she is close with all her children, despite the fact all three of us hardly want to be near her at any given day.’
Other posters offered words of encouragement and shared their own experiences with parents.
Some said urged the poster to cut the mum out of their life as nothing was worth risking his mental health over.
A lot of us have specific things that we find attractive.
It might be blonde hair, thick thighs, a beard or a strong jawline – alongside non-physical features such as being funny or clever – but one guy currently looking for a girlfriend has more, er, specific requirements.
He wants the girl he dates to have fake nails.
Rebecca Watkin recently shared on Twitter a Tinder profile she had come across. She had found a guy who was so specific about needing a woman with fake nails that he even put two photos of his preferred set of nails on his profile.
Yes, that’s some determination.
The man in question, Alex, 25, a footballer and warehouse worker, says he loves ‘a lass who gets her nails done often’ and ‘keeps them fresh’.
He wrote: ‘When u [sic] hold her hand and feel her acrylics on her fingers, gives me tingles.
‘Yes basically acrylics or french tips are a massive turn on for me. They can also scratch your neck and back.’
Yes, Alex. Yes they can.
Alex then went on to share two sets of his preferred nails: Some long pink and white acrylics with glitter and jewels, and another pink and white set, this time ombre, again with jewels and glitter.
He certainly has a type.
Rebecca captioned her tweet: ‘Tinder truly never fails to amaze me. This lad has got pics on his profile of the nails he likes on a bird cos they’re a turn on, cya’.
Tinder truly never fails to amaze me. This lad has got pics on his profile of the nails he likes on a bird cos they’re a turn on, cya 💀 pic.twitter.com/O3AHbA1dfF
Honestly, we can’t really slam Alex for being so upfront about his nail needs. At least he was honest, and gave some example pics.
And hey, it cuts down the competition – because it would be a lot of effort for someone interested in Alex who doesn’t have fake nails to go and get them done.
Who wants to spend upwards of £30 for a date that might not even go well?
Alex, we wish you well on your Tinder endeavours. And we hope you find a loving woman to run away into the sunset with… as long as she has pink and white acylics, of course.
Unless you’re lucky enough to click in bed straight away, odds are you’ll have to communicate what you like – and if it’s a more unusual kink, you might feel embarrassed about it.
It’s not just an issue with budding relationships; it can be equally nerve-wracking to tell a long-term partner that you’d like to spice things up.
Blurting out ‘darling, do you mind choking me a little next time we have sex?’ isn’t always easy, especially if you and your lover have difference levels of sexual experience.
A recent study by Superdrug revealed that 45% of men and 40% of women hide sexual fantasies from their partner. Furthermore, it found that more than one in three people hide their sexual needs from the person they’re with.
Granted the study was fairly small, with 1,000 participants, but the findings are still interesting, because it shows there’s still a stigma and shame attached to certain sexual fantasies and fetishes.
Whether part of a casual fling or a full-blown relationship, sex is based on trust – trust that your partner won’t laugh at your needs and that they’ll take what you’re saying seriously.
But how do you tell someone about your secret fantasies?
While you should definitely try your way, there are some recommended dos and don’ts.
Firstly, don’t bring up a fantasy while you’re mid-throes-of-passion.
‘Approach it when you are in a good place together,’ Adam Wilder, intimacy coach and founder of House of Togetherness, tells Metro.co.uk.
‘Over a glass of wine, dinner, on a date. Not when you are already in bed together. Do it once you have already established a healthy sexual relationship so there is trust there.
‘You can say “hey I’ve been thinking about doing something with you and it makes me feel excited, would you like to hear what it is?”‘
Here’s the hard part: just because you want to try something new, it doesn’t necessarily mean your partner will be receptive to it.
It’s important to remember that their opinions are just as valid as yours.
‘Be prepared for them to say no,’ Wilder added.
‘Just because he doesn’t want to dress up like Daenerys Targaryen, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be together.’
Try to find a compromise that you’re both comfortable with.
For instance, if anal sex is off the cards, perhaps you could introduce lighter anal play with sex toys or just finger action, but not full penetration.
Do also remember to be respectful to your partner.
You have a right to express your needs, but tread carefully and make sure they understand that exploring a new fantasy doesn’t mean they’re currently not pleasing you.
‘The best way to approach your partner concerning fantasies you have is to make it about them, this will reassure them that they are not letting you down in the bedroom department,’ Lianne Young, lifestyle, sex and relationship guru at House of Ardent, tells Metro.co.uk.
‘The best opening line would be something like: “I’m really satisfied with our sex life and what we have is amazing, yet even though it’s a little different I have been getting aroused by fantasies coming into my mind which excite me, would you like to hear about it?”
‘See it as a special bonding moment, one you can both do together and maybe ask what their fantasies are first before you tell them about yours. You may be surprised that literally everyone has fantasies which are just as wild as yours.’
It’s completely healthy to have saucy fantasies, but not everyone wants to act on theirs – sometimes just talking about it together can be a turn-on in itself.
If you take the leap and bare your soul (from the sexy side of things at least), you might get more than just an orgasm out of it. Offering your partner this level of trust could end up bringing you both closer together and can also feel empowering.
Do bare in mind though, some fantasies can bring up insecurity issues more than others.
If you want to include another person in your sex life, even if it’s just a role play scenario and you never actually end up inviting anyone to join your bed, be careful of your partner’s feelings.
Or if it’s a physical fantasy that involves dominance, consent is everything.
Discuss what you’re going to do before you do it, have a safe word ready and don’t push boundaries – physical or mental – unless you’re both on the same page.
Above all, remember to have fun.
If you don’t feel ready to talk just yet, why not make a fun activity out of it?
Take your partner to a sex shop and buy goodies together, go to a sex club or party together and see what makes both of you tingle.
When Google software engineer Ken Kawamoto wanted to get a massage, he decided to get his son to give him one. But instead of bribing the child with offers of sugar-filled sweeties, Ken made the boss move to trick the youngster.
The Japanese dad made a t-shirt with train tracks drawn across it, so that every time the toddler wants to play and run the toy train across the tracks, Ken gets a lovely massage on his back.
Ken shared the genius invention on Twitter where, obviously, people applauded him for it.
— Ken Kawamoto(ガリのほう) (@kenkawakenkenke) March 3, 2019
The video demonstrating the son gleefully running the train up and down Ken’s back has been watched over a million times. We’re just surprised another dad didn’t come up with the idea sooner.
The idea to make the t-shirt came to Ken after seeing how much his child loved trains. And what’s a train without different routes?
The inventive dad decided to add different directions to the railroad to ensure the mini train would hit all the spots.
Some of the destinations that the train can choose to travel to include Right Shoulder, Left Shoulder, Spine, and Lower Back (genius).
After the video demonstration blew up, a company wanted other parents to revel in a free massage while their child plays and so has started offering the top.
Other parents commented on the tweet saying they’ve been getting their children to play on their backs for years now, but a t-shirt with clear signs might make it more fun for parent and child so we definitely see the appeal.
But Olivia Corcoran was probably not expecting this level of interaction after sharing a message about her affection for men in ‘dirty work gear’.
A few days ago, she sent out a tweet that read: ‘Boys in there dirty work gear [sic], nothing sexier’, with a cheeky emoji included.
It quickly went viral, with over 23,000 likes and 4,200 retweets – but the men of Twitter decided that mere words didn’t cut it and soon enough, flooded her Twitter with photos of themselves in their work outfits.
Most of the tweets are fairly innocent, but some of the men went all out.
One man decided to pose half-naked in the sun with his hi-vis vest.
Since going viral, the thread also has several ‘unavailable’ tweets, so it’s likely some of the men became shy after receiving such a high level of attention for their pics.
Olivia said the thread, which also included videos of men trying putting on their best sexy shows, had left her ‘creasing’ with laughter, according to the Daily Mail.
And it had also ‘made her day’.
You have to admire their dedication to the cause.
And if nothing else, at least Olivia has plenty of pics to look appreciate now.
The Met Gala 2019 – AKA the biggest fashion event of the year – is here.
Each year those deemed worthy by Anna Wintour are invited to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate a new collection. They’re also invited to dress up to excess, all while sticking to the theme.
This year’s theme is Camp: Notes on Fashion, inspired by the Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay, Notes on Camp.
But who will stick to the theme? We’ll have to wait to find out.
We’ll be updating this article with celebs’ looks as they arrive on the pink carpet.
Mindy Kaling
Awkwafina
Awkwafina arrives in Altuzarra.
Celine Dion
So. Much. Fringing.
Harry Styles
Harry Styles went for all-black custom Gucci.
Alessandro Michele
Gucci’s creative director wears – you guessed – Gucci
Ashley Graham
A Gucci x Dapper Dan blazer.
Bevy Smith
Fashion Queens’ Bevy Smith goes all out in a cape.
Hamish Bowles
Bonus points for the feathers.
Regina Hall
Big fan of the pink hair.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox complements a Christian Sirano gown with pale turquoise hair.
Lady Gaga
It’s Lady Gaga, of course she’s going to wear three dresses in one go, all by Brandom Maxwell.
Oh, and then she stripped down to her lingerie. Safe to say she nailed the theme.
Serena Williams
Serena wore a custom neon yellow gown by Versace – with matching Nike trainers.
Bee Shaffer
Bee Carrozzini wears Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Anna Wintour
The queen of the Met Gala herself, Anna Wintour, wears Chanel couture.
Liza Koshy
Liza Koshy is covering the pink carpet in custom Balmain.
Billy Porter
We knew Billy Porter would deliver on this theme.
Wendi Murdoch
Caroline Trentini
Karlie Kloss
Sara Sampaio
What is the Met Gala?
The Met Gala, also known as the Costume Institute Gala, is a fundraising event held each year at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
It was first held in 1948 by publicist Eleanor Lambert, but has since been taken over by Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Since Anna’s ruling, the event has become attended by all the celebs, who are all required to dress according to the theme of a new exhibition at the museum.
Since 1995 Anna has been running the event and selecting celebrity co-chairs, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Taylor Swift.
This year’s co-chairs are Lady Gaga, Alessandro Michele, Harry Styles, and Serena Williams.
When is the Met Gala?
The 2019 Met Gala will take place on 6 May at 7pm New York time (so midnight in the UK).
What is this year’s Met Gala theme?
As usual, it’s pretty complex and will require in-depth thinking from attendees.
The theme of the 2019 Met Gala is Camp: Notes on Fashion.
The new exhibition, curated by Andrew Bolton, centres around Susan Sontag’s essay from 1964, Notes on Camp. Camp is all about extravagance and being gloriously extra – so anyone who turns up in an LBD will be criminally ignoring the theme.
Anna Wintour described the theme as going ‘from sun kings to drag queens.’ Sounds fun.
Previous Met Gala themes have included Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (2018), Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons (2017), Manus x Machina, Punk: Chaos to Couture (2016) and China: Through the Looking Glass (2015).
It breaks our hearts, truly. Sure, they look great, but they’ve wasted an opportunity to go all out. They have the means to commit to a fancy dress code, so why on earth don’t they?
As with every Met Gala before it, the Met Gala 2019 had its share of celebrities who missed the mark on the theme of Camp: Notes on Fashion.
Camp is all about extravagance, colour, and sparkle. Some celebrities had the gall to show up in plain black dresses.
Have a look at the worst offenders.
Karlie Kloss
That’s just a gold dress. Nothing camp about it.
Charli XCX
The ruffles are kind of camp, but this dress just doesn’t hit the mark. Charli could easily wear this to any other event.
Richard Madden
A man in a black suit? Groundbreaking.
Taran Egerton
This one hurts, because Taron *just* finished acting as Elton John in Rocketman. Elton John! Just raid the costumes cupboard, Taron. Deeply disappointing.
Huma Abedin
This is the second year running that Huma’s turned up in a gorgeous yellow gown with floral detailing. Lovely, but not on theme. Rescind her invitation.
Frank Ocean
Why, Frank?
Miley Cyrus
We thought we could rely on Miley Cyrus to give us something full on, fun, and absolutely campy. We were wrong.
Demi Moore
A plain black dress. Anna Wintour must be seething.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid is always wearing black dresses with cut-outs, so this falls pretty flat.
Penelope Cruz
It’s not the time nor the place for this plain gown.
Sarah Paulson
Another black dress. Sigh.
Kim Kardashian
This is glitsy, sure, but how often do we see Kim Kardashian in a super fitted, basically naked, nude toned dress? This is just any other Monday night for her.
Zoe Kravitz
Cool detailing, but that doesn’t stop this being another plain black dress.
Gwyneth Paltrow
Did you read the invitation, Gwyneth?
Halsey
We’re honestly puzzled by this entire look.
Regina King
Regina! Save this perfectly fine dress for any other event.
Not only did Lady Gaga revive those iconic hair bows we endlessly tried to recreate when she dropped Poker Face, but she also totally nailed the camp theme with this face.
Nothing says camp more than a curled under platinum bob, a punchy pink lip, dramatic liner, and massive metallic eyelashes. Glorious.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Note to self: buy picture frame, hold it up to frame all future good face days.
Lily Collins
Lily Collins looks like a perfect doll we’d be too scared to play with in case we messed up her hair.
Look at that lilac eyeshadow! The backcombing! The fluttery lashes! We die.
Yara Shahidi
We’re big fans of the fauxhawk and asymmetrical eye gems.
Ezra Miller
The sheer artistry of this is astounding. We also enjoy the concept of carrying around a second face.
Lucy Boynton
Pastel hair was a sub-theme at the Met Gala (see Regina Hall, Mindy Kaling, and Laverne Cox), but we think Lucy’s faded blue take is our favourite.
Also, those eye gems are worth bookmarking for festival makeup inspiration.
Hailey Baldwin
A velvet bow and a cat eye is always a winning look.
Gigi Hadid
If Lady Gaga’s statement lashes weren’t up your street, how about Gigi’s?
Emma Roberts
We’re not sure this is entirely camp, but we greatly love the braided in flowers around Emma’s hairline, and that subtle wash of pink along her lids.
Lupita Nyong’o
Pure glitter and glam, the definition of camp. Well done, Lupita.
Tessa Thompson
We shall dream of this super long leather wrapped ponytail for many nights to come.
Zendaya
Cast Zendaya as live-action Cinderella, you cowards.