It’s a tough time to be called Karen.

You might have heard the popular meme about entitled women who ask to speak to the manger and are now dubbed under the umbrella term of ‘Karen’.

The spread of ‘Karen’ started around the same time as the outbreak of coronavirus and with lots of people refusing to wear masks in stores, the name is being thrown around everywhere.

Of course, not everyone called Karen is like that.

And to recognise that, Karens in Australia who wear their mask without a fuss can get free pizza.

Domino’s in Australia and New Zealand launched the tongue-in-cheek offer (sadly, not available in the UK), but it has sparked quite a reaction Down Under, with over 30,000 comments on the announcement.

Posting on Facebook, the fast-food brand said: ‘CALLING ALL (MASK WEARING, LAW ABIDING) KARENS!

‘It’s a tough time to be a Karen. Karen the nurse, Karen the teacher, Karen the mum, Karen the neighbour, Karen the mask wearer – we’re all in this together, but a vocal minority who believe rules and laws don’t apply to them have given the name “Karen” a bad rap this year.

‘At Domino’s, we know there’s plenty of Australians named Karen that aren’t, well, “Karens”. Let us know if you’re one of them… We may send some pizza your way!’

However, some people weren’t fans of the idea.

One said: ‘Whoever is in charge of social media at dominos, you’re really bad at this.’

‘Ok guys ‘karen’ is not longer funny the cooperations have found it. wrap it up. was good while it lasted,’ someone else posted.

Over on Twitter, there was more criticism.

Alanah Parkin said: ‘There are so many GENUINELY marginalised people doing it tough right now/always, & you wanna give free pizza to… Karen? This misses the mark completely. Give pizza to people in poverty, people who can’t get a wage subsidy… people who are ACTUALLY struggling.’

Karen Freilich added: ‘My name is Karen. Please don’t waste a pizza on me, MUCH rather you donate pizza (or, $) to local orgs and charities supporting those actually affected by the 2020 crises.’

Domino’s responded: ‘We do give hundreds of thousands of pizzas to key groups of people who need it including our feeding the frontline activity which sees us donate thousands of pizzas to the hospitals, medical workers and the homeless.’

Meanwhile, others embraced it and went along with the joke.

One person said: ‘Ironically those ones who don’t think the rules apply to them are going to go full Karen on this saying it’s discrimination.’

A woman called Karen weighed in and said: ‘Thank you Dominos, for recognising that not all Karens are a “Karen”. The thing is, we can’t even complain about it because then it just perpetuates the myth!’

‘Hooray….its not much fun being a Karen these days,’ another said.

In New Zealand they decided to pull the offer and deleted the post on social media but the post remains on the Domino’s Australia page.

A Domino’s Spokesperson said: ‘Throughout COVID-19 we’ve tried to bring a smile to customers faces, with our social media and our pizza, supporting our communities by giving away over 30,000 pizzas to frontline works and those in need.

‘Our intention with this particular post was one of inclusivity only. Our pizza brings people together and we only had this at the heart of the giveaway. The post came off the back of a number of situations in Victoria, Australia which received international media coverage, including in New Zealand.

‘A person who decided they didn’t have to follow the mandate and wear a mask and took it out on retail workers; a person who breached a COVID-19 checkpoint, potentially endangering others; a person who was bored walking in her neighbourhood.

These examples were widely known, and publicly commented on: Bunnings “Karen”, Checkpoint “Karen”, and “Karen” from Brighton. We wanted to bring a smile to customers who are doing the right thing – “Karen” the nurse, “Karen” the teacher, “Karen” the mum.

‘In New Zealand, because it lacked this important context, people interpreted this in a different way than we intended.

‘Some of our customers reached out to us to highlight further context around the “Karen” meme and we listened, removed the post and apologised. Domino’s is always listening and learning and when we get it wrong, we fix it.’

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Peanut the miniature dachshund is just five but he’s already had five different homes.

Last year, he was rescued by Tricia Young, 55, and was living happily in his forver home, when suddenly he stopped being able to use his back legs.

He was diagnosed with intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) – a spinal disease which left him paralysed.

Tricia hadn’t been able to get him insured as he’d already been rehomed so many times in his short life.

But thanks to the kindness of strangers, she was able to raise £4,500 in just 36 hours for his treatment.

The little pooch underwent decompressive surgery last month, which involved having his spinal discs ‘shaved’ and left him with 13 staples in his back.

Peanut is now on the mend, although he still can’t exercise.

Tricia, from Prestwick, South Ayrshire, said: ‘Peanut was absolutely fine one day and then the next he couldn’t move his back legs.

‘I took him straight to the vets and they said he had intervertebral disc disease.

‘They said he would need to have his discs shaved because they were in a really bad way.

‘After he was diagnosed we were able to get the surgery very quickly, in the next five days because we raised the money so fast.

‘The community really pulled together to raise the money because everyone knows him and his history.’

Tricia was so desperate to get help for Peanut she even contemplated selling her car after vets told her the surgery would be life-saving.

But kindhearted locals manage to raise the money for the op in less than two days, with one donating enough money to buy Peanut a special pram so he could still get outside.

Tricia, who also has two lhasa apsos, said: ‘He has been rehomed four times already, I got him last year from my friend’s daughter.

‘She was working and he has really bad separation anxiety so I said I could take him because I already have two other dogs.

‘We had been working on his separation anxiety, but since he’s been back home after the vets it’s gotten worse.

‘He’s on the mend but still on limited exercise so I just take him everywhere with me in a pram and he’s happy with it.’

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It’s National Lipstick Day, which happens to crossover with National Wing Day.

So to celebrate, KFC has produced a lipstick with the flavours of their famous Hot Wings.

And the shade fits the theme too – it’s called Bucket Red No 11 in a nod to the famous containers for their chicken.

Apparently, the classic lipstick has a blend of Hot Wings and chilli oils distilled from the real thing to give full coverage, a bold finish and a gentle tingle.

Perhaps this could be the key ingredient to get the perfect full pout we’ve been waiting for.

The brand also promises that the limited-edition lipstick had been formulated with WingProof technology so it will stay on, even if things get messy.

KFC say: ‘Set to take the beauty world by storm, KFC Crave has been designed with a revolutionary new WingProof formula.

‘Not only does it taste lip smackingly good, but it’s been formulated with a new eight-hour conditioning and smudge proof technology that means it can survive a KFC wing-sesh.

‘The budge-proof finish gives you the freedom to wear your lipstick and enjoy your wings.’

The lipsticks will be given away for free but the only catch is that there are only 400 lipsticks available so you’ll have to be quick.

To get one, you need to register for KFC’s Colonel’s Club.

You’ll then receive an email to enter a draw for the lipsticks, with entries closing on 11 August.

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A quick-thinking photographer who captured the moment a bride and groom tied the knot on the Brooklyn Bridge, has managed to track down the smitten couple.

Nevona Friedman, 26, from New York, NY, captured the intimate moment last weekend while on a stroll with her partner.

Nevona, who works in tech, quickly took to social media to share the snap and made sure to tag reporters.

Eventually, she found a mutual friend who connected her to the bride, Nikolina Kovalenko, a 32-year-old artist from Sunset Park, and her partner Stefan Ponova 30, from Romania, who is an electronics design engineer.

The couple had decided to tie the knot on the bridge as it was the anniversary of the day they met while backpacking through South America last year.

Due to the pandemic, they knew they wouldn’t be able to have a huge affair and decided to opt for something super intimate.

The fact that they didn’t have a photographer but a stranger managed to capture the special moment meant all the more to the couple.

Nevona is also delighted to have been able to show the image to the couple.

She said: ‘I was riding my bike with my boyfriend and saw them so I just jumped in and took a pic.

‘It was really quiet on the Brooklyn Bridge, which is usually super busy, but ever since the pandemic started it’s been way less crowded. It was one upside to the whole quarantine situation – the bridge would usually never be so empty.

‘I thought the moment was so sweet and super intimate! I couldn’t believe they didn’t have any family/friends there or photographers.’

Nikolina and Stefan said they met while backpacking through South America a year ago while dancing salsa in Cali, Colombia.

The couple’s first date was a 10-hour bus ride on a rough road in Colombia, but that didn’t stop them from talking the entire time before exploring the small village of San Augustine together.

After three days together, Nikolina was headed to Peru and Stefan back to Romania.

Not wanting to be separated for long, Stefan then decided to come to Argentina a month later to join Nikolina on her South American adventures.

‘It felt amazing to see him again, and we spent three weeks exploring Ecuador and Peru together,’ Nikolina explained.

‘This could have been the end of this beautiful story, but the day when we were saying goodbyes with the tears in our eyes, Stefan told me that he got a ticket to meet me in Patagonia, Argentina in a month and a half.’

Over the next two months, the pair called each other every single day until they were finally reunited in Bariloche, Argentina, and have never spent a day apart since.

Stefan eventually moved to New York, where Nikolina has been living for the past eight years.

‘When Stefan proposed to me, we both felt like it’s the most natural thing,’ she added.

The couple said they had no idea Nevona had taken the picture of their big day and are blown away and humbled by how much their romantic snap resonated with people.

‘Maybe it was a welcome reminder that love prevails no matter what,’ they said.

She continued: ‘It was just the two of us and the officiant, no witnesses or even a photographer, which is why Nevona’s photo is even more special. It is the only photo we have of this moment.

‘We felt like starting together on one side of the bridge holding hands and crossing to the other side already married is a beautiful symbol of going through life together.

‘We crossed so many bridges suspended over the precipice while hiking in Patagonia together, that for us, it became representational of unconditional support to each other, and a life of adventure.’

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For years we’ve been told the importance of protecting our skin from the sun.

Not only to stop the harmful UV rays which can cause skin cancer and sunburn, but also for more cosmetic reasons – such as preventing sun spots, pigmentation and fine lines.

For this reason, SPF has become a staple in beauty routines – found in moisturisers, foundations and more.

But there’s a new type on the market which appears to be bigger and better than the ones that have gone before.

Some brands have brought out products with SPF 100 – but does it really offer maximum protection?

We’ve asked dermatologists and skincare experts to share their thoughts…

Is SPF 100 more effective?

Dr Sophie Shotter explains the research that has been carried out into the effectiveness of SPF 100 looks promising.

She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Recent studies have shown that SPF 100 is 11 times more effective at preventing sunburn than SPF 50. 

‘This was determined by dermatologists conducting a split face study where people applied one tube of SPF to the left and one to the right, without knowing that one contained SPF 50 and the other SPF 100. 

‘Whilst in the UK most people are unlikely to need an SPF 100, there are people with sun sensitivities who require very high protection and for whom this would be useful.’

Dr Sophie explains that SPF 100 could be a good choice for people with Fitzpatrick 1-3 skin types – which refers to the three lightest skin types (usually fair and with freckles).

SPF 100 products would therefore extend the amount of time these people could stay in the sunshine – but reapplication would still be required.

Does SPF 100 need to be applied less?

While a higher SPF might mean more protection, it doesn’t mean that it protects all day.

Harley Street skin repair expert Lorena Oberg tells Metro.co.uk: ‘The SFP 100 that is available does not mean that one application will be fine for the whole day on the beach. 

‘You will still need to apply your SFP 100 regularly for it to work.’

There’s a danger that a higher SPF will encourage people to spend longer out in the sun without reapplying.

This is why experts say it’s important to apply suncream every two hours or so, to cover factors such as swimming, sweating and friction (where it could rub off).

Lorena adds: ‘This might appear holiday specific but I advise all of my patients to incorporate SPF into their daily skincare regime.’  

The sun comes out all-year-round – even in the cooler and colder months – which means SPF should be applied throughout the year, too.

Is SPF 100 practical?

Lorena Oberg adds: ‘ I would say it is all about your specific skin type, don’t just buy SPF 100 if you don’t feel comfortable with the application. 

‘The application is thick and will leave a while creamy appearance on your skin, so some would say it could be less practical.

‘I would say SPF 100 is aimed at people with extremely pale skin and those who do not tan and burn very easily. It will be more beneficial for skiers and people sunbathing in very hot climates with more vulnerable skin tones.’

Is it worth it?

Dermatology and Aesthetic RGN Emma Coleman says while SPF 100 might seem very appealing, it’s worth considering a few things.

She says: ‘In my view, SPF 100 products have been launched to set brands apart from competitors in a very crowded marketplace.

‘It is aimed at consumers who are always looking for the latest thing – and this is a rapidly growing market.

‘The reason I say this, is because it may seem like an SPF 100 sunscreen would give you double the protection of an SPF 50 sunscreen. 

‘But the truth is that higher-SPF products are only marginally better at shielding you from UVB, according to both the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

‘SPF 30 blocks nearly 97% of UVB radiation, SPF 50 blocks about 98%, and SPF 100 blocks about 99%. Several studies have compared SPF 50 to SPF 100 products; the people who used the SPF 100 had slightly lower rates of sunburn, but both groups had participants who got burned.’

Emma stresses that whatever the factor – SPF 100 or not – it’s important to check the label and choose a product which offers broad spectrum protection. 

She adds: ‘This means the sunscreen will protect from both UVA/B light, as even a high factor won’t protect from skin aging if it doesn’t have a broad spectrum quality.

‘From my research, SPF 100 products vary in price quite dramatically, from around the £10 mark to £50.’

So, depending on your skin type, it might not be worth paying any extra for it.

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Having a few wrinkles is no big deal.

But when Neo’s sagging skin stopped him from being able to see and made it tricky to eat, his owner knew surgery was the only option.

Neo is a 150lb Neapolitan Mastiff, a breed that’s known for a wrinkled face.

But the dog’s skin had become excessively saggy, falling in his eyes and causing him pain.

Thankfully, a face lift was an option. Neo was taken in for treatment at Eastcott Veterinary Referrals in Swindon, Wiltshire, where surgery was carried out to remove more than a kilogram of excess skin to fix his sagging eyes and eyelids.

Owner Mark Hutchins, from Chippenham, said: ‘I know it sounds a bit mad when you talk about a dog having a facelift but it was a very traumatic time for the family.

‘Neo was having a lot of problems with his face and eyes because he had so much saggy skin hanging down and he was in a lot of pain and discomfort.

‘We even had to pull his skin back for him so he could see his meal and eat it properly.

‘It was obvious something had to be done, although we were very worried that he wouldn’t look the same afterwards, especially my daughter Millie, who was a bit tearful over it all.

‘Thankfully, the results have been amazing and made a big difference to Neo, who’s recovered very well, and we owe a big thank you to the team at Eastcott.

‘They were absolutely brilliant and Neo was operated on within three days of us contacting them, which was terrific.

‘Now it’s all over, we can finally see the funny side of it and it’s already led to a few chuckles. When people say to me “Oh isn’t he lovely?” I say “That’s because he’s just recovering from a facelift’.

‘No-one believes me when I say the vets removed more than a kilo of skin, they think I’m joking, but it’s absolutely true and Neo’s all the better for it.’

Eastcott’s head of ophthalmology Ida Gilbert headed up the urgent case and worked with specialist soft tissue surgeon Andrew Phillips.

Alongside fellow ophthalmologist Dave Johnson, the team were able to make Neo’s day-to-day life so much happier and healthier.

Ida, an advance practitioner in veterinary ophthalmology, said: ‘Neo was clearly struggling, so he was considered to be an urgent case and was prioritised for surgery.

‘His vision was poor due to his eyelid conformation and extremely heavy facial folds. He had also developed very sore eyes because of the irritation from his condition.

‘The constant irritation caused him to rub his eyes repeatedly, which worsened the situation, and he’d also become anxious about anyone attempting to handle around his eyes and face, which made the application of eye drops nearly impossible for his owners.

‘A full investigation revealed the eyelids and skin folds were causing irritation to the cornea and putting him in a lot of discomfort.

‘There was inflammation and damage to the left cornea, he struggled to open his eyes and had a double kink in his left upper eyelid and a single in the right, due to the excessive eyelid lengths.’

The surgery saw Neo have his eyelids shortened by 15mm, with an extra procedure to stop them turning inwards.

The face lift, meanwhile, involved slicing away 1,050g of excess skin.

‘Everything went well and it has really given him a new lease of life and opened his eyes again to the world around him,’ said surgeon Andrew.

‘He has healed very nicely and his owners report he is a much happier dog as a result of the surgery.’

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I completed Umrah – a religious pilgrimage to the holy site of Mecca – a week before Saudi Arabi stopped accepting visas into the country due to the coronavirus outbreak.

While Umrah is the baby version of Hajj – the main and compulsory (if you are able) pilgrimage – it is an immersive insight into what you can expect on the laborious but fulfilling journey.

While I’m thankful for the opportunity to experience Mecca, many of my Muslim peers were set to embark on Hajj this week but had to cancel in response to the pandemic.

The current cancellation has been a huge blow to those who had booked a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Pilgrimage doesn’t come cheap – package deals can range anywhere from £6,000 to £16,000, depending on who you’re travelling with and your itinerary.

Coupled with the fact that, for once, the dates for Hajj this year align with the end of the school term, making it easier for families with school children to travel, this feels like a missed opportunity for many.

Though it may be the first Hajj that has been cancelled for foreign visitors due to a pandemic in modern memory, it’s not the first time the holy site has had to stop pilgrims coming in.

Plagues, battles, and previous pandemics have halted the sacred event 40 times throughout history.

Though the occasion may not be unprecedented, the blow isn’t cushioned for young Muslims hoping to complete an obligatory part of their religion.

Muslims who had the important trip lined up now have to console themselves and either get a refund or try again next year.

Though it might be easy for non-Muslims to brush this off as no big deal, it’s important to note that pilgrimage isn’t just a regular holiday.

Many Muslims wait their whole lives to stand in front of the Ka’aba (black cube) and prostrate towards God. And not all may be able to return in following years.

A lot of Muslims also see the chance to do pilgrimage as an invitation from God, who has willed it for them.

So now they have to grapple with this not being written for them right now, which can cause existential dread.

We spoke to some people to see how they’re feeling about the whole situation and what they plan to do.

Here’s what they had to say.

Hanna and Mohammed

‘I don’t know how to explain how I’m feeling,’ says Hanna. ‘Disappointment really doesn’t even begin to cover it. We prioritised Hajj over a new car, looking for a house, going on holidays.

‘We really thought that it was the perfect time and would be the best thing to do at this point in our life as we’re fairly young, have our health and are without any real responsibilities.

‘I went from feeling so blessed and excited to have had the means to make the journey, to feeling so heartbroken.

‘It just felt so unfair and I was shocked at my reaction. Before booking, we kept considering if we were even “ready” to go so it felt very special to think that we can and are able to go.

‘For so long after we booked our tickets, I couldn’t even believe that we would be going. And then I really struggled to accept that it wasn’t willed for us to go after all.

‘Obviously, that was the reminder and test of faith in itself. That we plan, but Allah has already written what is meant for us. 

‘We spent just under £16,000 and we are yet to decide if we want to carry over our seats for next year or get a refund.’

Mohammed adds: ‘Of course I was looking forward to it but it’s just another test so inshaAllah (God willing) we will be invited next year and if not, then we just keep making dua (prayer).

‘Obviously I’m sad, we had things planned for our life.’

Fatima

‘I was meant to be going with my husband and mum. My mum is a single parent and this year would have been the first year she was able to go. She was the most excited out of all of us and was the saddest when it didn’t work out. Not that we weren’t sad but she has been thinking and waiting for this for years.

‘For myself, this year would have seemingly been pretty perfect as we don’t have children, have enough savings, and my project is in a good place so I could leave for a few weeks. Who knows what life will be like next year?

‘At the time I was so upset as it seemed like everything was perfect and I was ready. But now I feel like it’s been a lesson in planning and how Allah is ultimately the best of planners. So I’ve left it up to Him. When it’s best for me, then inshAllah I’ll be able to go.

‘In terms of refund, our agency did offer us two options: They could refund us or they can keep the deposit and we will be on the priority for Hajj next year.

‘Hopefully the prices will the same price as this year as the cost always goes up.

‘We opted for option two. This was also with the agreement that we could change our minds should we no longer be able to go, up until Ramadan next year. It’s hard to know what life will be like a whole year later!’

Salma

‘My husband and I got married in Feb 2019 and we always said before having kids we wanted to do Hajj, so summer 2020 was a perfect time. We also wanted to take both of our parents. We paid our deposit back in January and I was really happy that both our parents also agreed to join us. It was going to be quite the journey for all of us.

‘For my parents, my husband, and me, it was going to be the first time doing Hajj. I had gone Umrah back when I was 10 but this was going to be the first time going back as an adult who felt more connected to her religion.

‘We paid £1,000 each as a deposit, the total cost was £5,000. I sorted out my annual leave and we were all good until lockdown was about to begin.

‘I remember when we got the email at work to take home our laptop as we will be working from home for good for a bit. I remember going to the prayer room before leaving the office and breaking down on the prayer mat. That was the moment it hit me that Hajj might not happen for us this year.

‘During lockdown, my work was quite busy as I work for the government so I was heavily distracted when Ramadan hit, I had the best Ramadan ever working from home and prayed that a miracle would happen.

‘As time went on, the more demotivated I became. I started questioning my intentions; maybe I wasn’t ready? Maybe deep in my heart, I didn’t want it? But over time, I had accepted it wasn’t going to happen.

‘Still, until we got the official notice from Saudi it was cancelled for international pilgrims, we kept putting our other plans off, such as family planning and getting a house, that was originally planned for after Hajj.

‘Now it’s off, all those plans have moved forward. My work, career, and side projects has been busy.

‘I pray and hope we can go next year. We asked the travel company to give us a credit note instead as it makes no difference if the deposit sits with them or the bank and this way we will get access first for next year’s packages. But we don’t know what our personal situation will be next year. But one thing I have made intention for is if we can’t do Hajj next year then we will definitely at least go for Umrah inshAllah. Allah knows best.’

Sumaya

‘I feel a little disappointed as I felt like I needed this trip, this year especially, for a fresh start. I’ve done Umrah before but this would be my first time doing Hajj.

‘It’s quite sad to know that I would have been there exactly now but I’ve learned to accept it as God’s will.

‘I would rather not risk our health to go during a pandemic. It cost about £7,000 per ticket but we’ll be getting our money back.

‘We’d like to go next year, however Hajj falls at the same time as my brother’s graduation so I am unsure as to whether we will be able.’

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Since we were little, going to McDonald’s meant ordering a Happy Meal and getting a toy inside the box.

That’s not the case anymore – but don’t panic.

From now on, children ordering a Happy Meal won’t automatically get a tiny toy. Instead, they’ll have the option of a toy or a book, so they can take their pick of what they’d prefer.

Books in Happy Meal boxes aren’t a new concept – McDonald’s has previously swapped out toys for Roald Dahl books and their Happy Readers scheme, when books go in Happy Meals for six weeks of the year, has meant millions have got their paws on a good read.

But now, the concept is being expanded beyond a one-off special or a six-week period, with books on offer alongside toys year-round.

From today, children will be able to choose either a toy or one of two books: Scooby-Doo and the Haunted Castle or Scooby-Doo and the Werewolf.

Toy-wise, there are eight Scooby and the gang bobbleheads available.

If you’re sensing a theme, you are correct. The Happy Meal boxes are Mystery Machine themed, too.

Book options will change throughout the year, rotating along with toy choices.

The book or toy move comes alongside an effort from McDonald’s to cut back the amount of plastic in Happy Meals. Back in March, the fast food brand pledged to ditch plastic toys from 2021, instead offering a soft toy, a paper toy, or a book.

McDonald’s is also set to offer a ‘toy amnesty’ to let customers bring in unwanted plastic toys and swap them for a book or paper toy when they buy a meal, with old toys melted down and made into new toys for its charity.

They hope this change will cut more than 3,000 metric tonnes of plastic at its UK business from 2021.

Gareth Helm, the company’s chief marketing officer in the UK, said at the time: ‘We care passionately about the environment and are committed to reducing plastic across our business including within our Happy Meal.

‘Families have high expectations of us and we’re working as hard as we can to give them the confidence that their Happy Meal is as sustainable as possible.

‘Getting that right is a big responsibility, but we believe the changes we’re making today have the potential to make a big difference.’

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Mattel has launched a series of new Barbie dolls inspired by upcoming US presidential elections.

As part of the all-new Campaign Team range, four Barbies will represent a presidential candidate, a campaign manager, a fundraiser, and a voter.

The election-themed toys are being launched in hopes of inspiring youngsters and exposing them to women in leadership positions.

And the presidential candidate is a Black woman, to show children that anyone can aspire for the most powerful position in the country.

President Barbie is decked out in a pink suit jacket with black trousers while the fundraiser and campaign manager wear professional-looking dresses.

Voter Barbie is plain-clothed, in jeans and a T-shirt with a sticker that says ‘I voted’.

The brand hopes that by normalising election culture, they can address voter apathy among children as they grow up.

Mattel also wants to open kids’ minds to politics as a future career.

Lisa McKnight, Global Head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel, said in a statement: ‘Since 1959, Barbie has championed girls and encouraged them to be leaders whether in the classroom, community or someday, of the country.

‘With less than a third of elected leaders in the US being women, and Black women being even less represented in these positions, we designed the Barbie Campaign Team with a diverse set of dolls to show all girls they can raise their voices.

‘Our goal is to remove barriers to leadership by giving girls the tools to imagine and play out their future roles.’

Of course, the Campaign Team isn’t Mattel’s first range of diverse dolls.

The brand has been praised in the past for other diverse figures, such as a disabled Black Barbie.

Do you have a story you want to share?

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Nike has officially got the hype.

The sportswear brand has topped the Lyst Index, a quarterly ranking of fashion brand and products worked out by analysing shopping behaviour of more than nine million people.

Nike beat Off-White and Gucci to the number one spot, becoming the first non-luxury brand to get first place since Lyst began doing its index in 2017.

In their report, Lyst notes that Nike has reported a 75% increase in digital sales (which may be in part due to lockdown and growing online shopping habits) since April, accounting for 30% of their total revenue.

Months spent working from home may be why the brand has seen a 106% increase in demand for loungewear in the last three months, too.

Oddly, Nike hasn’t jumped on the face mask train by releasing their own tick-emblazoned face covering, but that hasn’t slowed their success.

Lyst also points to the brand’s response to the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement as a reason for Nike’s recent success.

Nike pledged £30.78 million to organisations furthering social justice and changed their slogan to ‘Don’t Do It’ in a video that received millions of likes on social media.

On the more traditional high-end fashion side of things, in the last few months Nike also ran a massive raffle for access to buy the Air Jordan x Dior sneakers.

In second place on the Lyst Index, which is put together using search data from both Lyst and Google, conversion rates, sales, and brand and product social media mentions and engagement stats, is Off-White, which managed to nab the top spot for the last three quarters running.

Off-White actually collabed with Nike recently, making their close positioning feel rather fitting. The auction of the Off-White x Nike sneakers signed by CEO Virgil Abloh raised $187,000 for Black Lives Matter.

Off-White also saw success with sell-out face masks and a 90s-inspired capsule collection with TSUM.

In third place is Gucci, followed by Balenciaga, then Prada.

In terms of the hottest products, some different brands make the top ten.

The Birkenstock Arizona double strap sandals, which cost upwards of £60 a pair, get first place, followed by a face mask by Marine Serre, and the Loewe basket bag.

If you managed to get that pink H&M dress we highlighted back in June, claps for you – that snuck into the 9th spot on the hottest womenswear products list.

For men, the must-have item is the Off-White arrow logo face mask, followed by the Brunello Cucinelli double buckle suede sandals, then the Asics Gt-1000 7 sneakers.

The JW Anderson Colourblock patchwork cardigan – you know, the one Harry Styles wore back in February and that sparked a crocheting trend – comes in at number eight.

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A woman has completed a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and even become a homeowner by the time she was 20 – and now she is starting a PhD at the age of 21.

Pakeezah Zubairi, 21, from Florida, finished secondary school with 18 months worth of university credits.

She took after-hours classes and tests so by the time she started her bachelor’s degree in Psychology she could skip the first half of the course.

Completing her bachelor’s in record time, just before her 19th birthday, she then also completed her MBA in Human Resources Management and became the youngest student to get an MBA at Lynn University, a few days before turning 20.

Throughout her MBA, Pakeezah also worked full-time and saved enough money to buy a house.

The human resource specialist says it was her family life that motivated her to become more independent and fly the nest.

Pakeezah comes from a religious family who wanted a ‘good Muslim girl’ and stopped talking to her when she moved out.

‘I knew in high school I wanted to be as independent as soon as I could,’ Pakeezah said.

‘I wanted to get out of my parents as soon as I could so once I had my bachelor’s I moved out and lived in student accommodation while I completed my masters.

‘It was tough moving out, I come from a very religious background and they stopped talking to me when I left because they wanted me to be this good little Muslim girl and that just wasn’t for me.

‘I feel like all I did from high school until I got my house was work and study. I would write papers until five o’clock in the morning and then sleep two hours and get up for work.

‘I was saving money wherever I could, I never ate out, I didn’t go out drinking, nor did I spend a penny on designer clothes, gadgets or holidays.’

Pakeezah’s boyfriend Steven helped to save as the couple often bought cheap food to put away their earnings.

A friend also drove Pakeezah from work to school, allowing her to save on travel.

She added: ‘By the time I finished my master’s degree Steven and I were already saving for the house and we saved the $7,500 deposit needed to secure our mortgage within a year.

‘When I look back to the work we put in I’m just so happy with what I have achieved and what we have achieved as couple.

‘I’m the youngest student to ever graduate from an MBA business course at my university and that feels amazing.

‘I would advise anyone to try and get onto the property ladder as soon as they can, the two or three years it takes to save up sucks, but the payoff is incredible.’

Though Pakeezah is starting to enjoy the fruits of her labour, juggling everything was extremely tough.

While most college students take four classes a week, Pakeezah took seven, while working a full-time job.

‘I probably missed out on a lot of teenage stuff like going out, takeaway food and girls holidays but now I’m getting to do it all in my twenties.’

Her new goal is to start a PhD in Industrial Organisational Psychology, which she is currently working on getting accepted into now.

She added: ‘After the PhD, well, I’m planning on having a lie down.’

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Lots of people have been getting outside over the past few months – be it walking, cycling or picnicking.

In fact, many of us have fallen back in love with the British countryside and the 200,000km of public access paths that it boasts.

For those partial to a bit of fresh air, a new hiking network called Slow Ways combines 7,000 different walking routes across the UK.

Brought about by self-confessed ‘guerilla geographer’ Daniel Raven-Ellison, Slow Ways connects around 2,500 towns, cities and other notable spots across Britain.

Some paths which are old and lesser-known are likely to be given a new lease of life, now they form a part of the enormous network.

Daniel had been sitting on the idea for a few years, but UK lockdown finally gave him the chance to start charting the routes. The process took him three months – with the help of 700 volunteers using maps from national mapping agency Ordnance Survery.

The draft map includes 100,000km of routes – which is roughly the equivalent of 2.5 laps of the equator

He’s now on the hunt for volunteers to test his new intricate network.

Daniel posted on Twitter earlier this week: ‘This Autumn we need 10,000 volunteers to help walk, test and explore 100,000km of drafted #SlowWays. Would you like to help? If so, please do sign-up for the newsletter on my website to stay updated.’

He told Lonely Planet: ‘The purpose of the Slow Ways is to inspire and support lots more people to get out and about walking and discovering new places.

‘While lots of people will use them for recreation, I’m personally really inspired by the memory of what these paths were originally for: for people to walk to nearby places to see family, trade or work’.

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Cast your mind to the heady days of 2018, when fresh off the back of the Yanny Laurel debate, we had a new sound to dissect.

In an audio clip that did the rounds two years ago, you could hear a voice say either ‘brainstorm’ or green needle’.

0f course, polarising videos have much viral potential, and over on TikTok it’s been gaining traction.

After TikTokker Emily Sophie, from Wales, shared a video using the old sound, she went viral, with people watching her TikTok more than five million times.

In the clip, Emily asks viewers to watch the clip twice, once reading brainstorm – which should mean they hear that word – and then trying it again with green needle.

After being liked more than 170,000 times, the clip was also shared on Twitter, where it found more fame.

@emilysophie.m

Watch it twice and try both words 🙌 #mindblown #greenneedle #brainstorm #greenneedleorbrainstorm

♬ Shoutout to the dead creators using this for likes – redlobsterz

The video has fascinated celebrities including actor and comedian Ricky Gervais, who retweeted the video alongside the caption: ‘It also works if you close your eyes and just think of the one you want to hear’.

Not only that, others pointed out that you could get your brain to find a middle ground between the opposing words.

If you think ‘brain needle’ or ‘green storm’ or read those words, you can also hear them in the audio.

Those who hadn’t come across the old audio – which initially got shared on Reddit in 2018 – were amazed.

One person wrote: ‘OMG… IM KINDA FREAKED OUT, YET VERY VERY IMPRESSED’.

Another wrote: ‘What wizardry is this???’.

If you’re wondering why our brains play this trick on us, it may be because people’s hearing and brain function may ‘latch on’ to different sounds. 

When the phenomenon first surfaced, University College London Professor Valerie Hazan told the Huffington Post: ‘The reason that a person can see their perception switch without explanation may also mean that our ears and brain have latched on to the other acoustic pattern than the one they were previously latching on to.’

And interestingly, it was previously revealed that the original audio actually said ‘brainstorm’.

Do you have a story?

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After being in print for nearly 50 years, the iconic Argos catalogue is going paperless.

Two versions of the catalogue have been printed every year since 1973 and one billion copies were made in that time, with comedian Bill Bailey once referring to it as ‘the laminated book of dreams’.

With the ‘book of dreams’ set to disappear from our living rooms, here’s what you need to know about the future of the Argos catalogue…

Will there be a new Argos catalogue?

While physical copies will no longer be made, an online version of the Argos catalogue will still be available, with the retailer saying it will now only display all its products on its website.

Some Argos branches will keep laminated versions of the catalogue in-store until January 2021 – when digital screens are set to be installed in all of shops across the country.

Simon Roberts, chief executive of Argos’ parent company Sainsbury’s, said: ‘As most customers are now browsing and ordering online, we have decided that the time is right to stop printing the Argos catalogue.

‘Removing the printed catalogue helps us to flex our range and offers and to be more competitive on price.’

Even though the main catalogue is now out of print, physical versions of Argos’ Christmas gift guide will still be made available.

If you want to kick your sense of nostalgia into overdrive, you can browse an archive of old Argos catalogues via Retro Mash.

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Share your views in the comments below.

For all of lockdown I was talking to a guy and we’ve become really close. He invited me to his Zoom birthday party, at which I ‘met’ his friends.

Recently we even had phone sex, which was really hot. We finally met in the flesh for a walk and although it was nice, it was way more awkward than I was expecting.

Eventually he said he had to go but he hadn’t mentioned evening plans before. He messaged me immediately and has been his usual lovely self since but neither of us has mentioned our disastrous date.

Now I’m wondering if this is just a phone thing. I’m ready for a boyfriend and he knows this. Should I suggest another date? I’m worried he’ll reject the idea of meeting up again now and I really like him.

You were bound to feel awkward. You’re both being two people at once.

‘You’re the phone sex couple and you’re also two complete strangers,’ says James McConnachie.

‘Early relationships are built by the way we move and touch so you almost have to let your bodies catch up with your voices.’

The attraction equation

When physical contact isn’t possible, we lack a vital part of the attraction equation.

‘You lose those body language moments, such as stumbling into each other as you walk and little brushes of the arm,’ McConnachie continues.

‘I’d even say a date where you can’t communicate with the body is as difficult as a silent date.’

So have patience and don’t think this awkwardness is about you, says Rupert Smith.

‘The jury is out on just how much of our interpersonal communication and attraction resides in the non-verbal realm but it’s generally agreed to be well over 75 per cent,’ he adds.

The first meeting fantasy

What’s more, your fantasies about that first meeting were never going to match the reality.

‘The burden of expectation and illusion would have been enough to throw it out of balance,’ Smith says.

‘It’s also worth reminding ourselves that we’re in the middle of a global catastrophe, which is a tough time to forge a new relationship.’

Release the tension by daring to admit the date was a flop.

‘We spend so much of our time avoiding awkward conversations and situations, leaving us feeling worse than if we just confronted them,’ says Dr Angharad Rudkin.

‘You’re both disappointed but something has kept you connected so be brave and keep the conversation light. You don’t want to become someone he can have phone sex with but is not important enough to meet up with.’

We’re all shaken by the thought of rejection but just like avoiding uncomfortable situations, experiencing it isn’t as painful as expecting it.

Our guess is that the relief and laughter this conversation brings will ease you through your next real-world meeting.

The experts

• Dr Angharad Rudkin is a clinical psychologist
• James McConnachie is the author of Sex (Rough Guides)
• Rupert Smith is the author of Interlude (Turnaround)

Got a sex and relationship dilemma? Email it to Lisa.Scott@metro.co.uk.

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In our weekly series, How I Save, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty of how people spend and save their money.

Each week we ask someone to track their spending for a week and share what’s in their savings account, then get them some expert advice on how they could boost their savings.

This time around we’re chatting with Sam*, a 47-year-old dad and systems analyst in County Down. Heads up – he’s a man of few words.

How Sam saves:

I earn £38,000 a year and in my savings account right now I have £300.

I’ve saved this money in lockdown. The main way I save is by working from home and appreciating the simple pleasures, like watching TV and listening to the kids’ stories.

I also order groceries online, shop around, use a permanent razor, and avoid brand names unless it brings real value. We subscribe to Petrolprices.com for updates on where fuel is cheapest.

The kids save money by obsessing over video games rather than toys but we’re not too comfortable with that. We encourage them to build their own toys from Lego and cardboard.

I’m trying to save for a mortgage deposit.

I struggle with saving because I love chocolate. Also, modern life is overpriced.

How Sam spends:

Monthly expenses:

• Rent: £595
• Car insurance: £55
• Broadband: £22
• Student loan repayments: £102.42
• Gas: £120
• Amazon Prime: £8
• National Trust: £10.50
• Netflix: £12
• Mobile service: £20
• Electric: £50
• Diesel: £100
• Food: £500
• Car Finance: £650
• Loan repayment: £100

A note from us: You’ll notice very little spending in the week Sam tracked… bear in mind he’d already done a big food shop!

A week of spending:

Monday: Nothing spent.

Tuesday: Nothing spent.

Wednesday: Milk and burger baps – £1.99 for two 2l jugs of milk, £1.20 for six brioche burger baps.

Thursday: Nothing spent.

Friday: Nothing spent.

Saturday: Nothing spent.

Sunday: Nothing spent.

Total spent this week: £3.19

*Name has been changed.

How I Save is a weekly series about how people spend and save, out every Thursday. If you’d like to anonymously share how you spend and save – and get some expert advice on how to sort out your finances – get in touch by emailing ellen.scott@metro.co.uk.

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

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Where to eat in London this week: Carousel London, W1U

Let’s be frank. Tasting menus are often pretentious and leave you scrabbling for scraps or pondering a Big Mac on the way home. But the new Asian Greatest Hits menu at Carousel London is generous and laid-back. 

The five-year-old restaurant, based just off Baker Street, launched the Greatest Hits series to celebrate the chefs who have frequented their kitchen over the years.

Tonight’s menu is inspired by the chefs who have served up Asian dishes there, including Carl Ishizaki from Sushi Sho Stockholm and contemporary Vietnamese chef Céline Pham. 

The evening starts off with some spicy peanuts to nibble on, followed by a bowl heaped with Korean fried chicken (or corn balls if you are vegetarian). It’s extremely moreish, though I prefer mine a little bit spicier thanks to my numerous visits to Angry Chicken in Berlin. 

This is followed by a soy-cured egg yolk with mackerel sashimi, alongside okra and crispy rice. It is a really gorgeous dish and, er, goes straight onto Instagram (you can check out our new Instagram here).

The highlight of the menu for me was their pork katsu, inspired by chef Yugi Tani. It comes with green onion and sancho rice, pickles, cabbage and tofu with numbing spices. The portion sizes are great and it easily feeds two greedy people. 

Somebody once told me that you can’t go wrong with the house white or red at a restaurant, despite their reputation. It’s a case in point here. All of this pairs really nicely with their house bottle of wine, the very light and biodynamic Gran Cerdo white rioja. 

The sixth and final course is a banana tarte tatin with a Thai basil sorbet. It is a great way to round up an evening of memorable plates in the informal setting of their cosy outdoor terrace. Shout out to the service, too, which is very good without being too in-your-face. 

The Asian menu runs until August 8th and will be followed by The Mediterranean and The USA menus later on in the month. You can get them delivered or eat in, but make sure you pre-order on their website. 

See you next week!

Food news this week

Erev opens up their alfresco restaurant in Borough Market this Friday. Look out for Tel Aviv inspired sharing plates from the people behind Shuk, a market stall. Every Thursday they will be offering set menus for one night only with chefs, including Helen Graham of Bubala and Eran Tibi of Bala Baya. Tickets for these are very limited, so be quick!

The Cheese Bar in Camden will be offering their bottomless raclette nights every Wednesday as part of the government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme throughout August. That means unlimited plates of raclette will work out at £9pp, rather than £18pp. That’s a serious bargain. 

The steakhouse Hawksmoor have revealed a £10 steak and chips deal as part of the Eat Out to Help Out government scheme.

Dip&Sip kicked off in Brixton Brewery’s tap room last weekend for a burger and beer collaboration with Dip&Flip. It was a one off event for now, but a very promising start.  

Flora is a new outdoor restaurant and farm shop, opening on July 31st in Portobello Docks, from Stevie Parle and Tom Dixon. The restaurant plans to dish up seasonal food, including watermelon and feta salads.

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If there’s one hotel that should be on your post-pandemic bucket list, it’s this one that has been named the best in Europe.

The Canaves Oia Epitome resort in Santorini, Greece, was crowned the number one hotel in Europe at the Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2020.

But, not only did it scoop the one prestigious accolade, it also was named top resort hotel in Greece.

And, if the pictures are anything to go by, it’s not hard to see why.

The dreamy five-star hotel is made up of 24 suites and villas – most of which come with their own private pools. Rooms are an utterly decadent affair, too, with high-end Rugiano furniture and Hermes pillowcases.

The stylish white-washed architecture is also in-keeping with Santorini’s blue and white colour palette.

What’s more, Canaves Oia Epitome is the island’s only hotel to offer both ​sea and sunset views​ from the every room.

Elsewhere, the hotel’s restaurant is headed up by executive chef Tassos Stefatos, who combines modern European cuisine with traditional Greek touches.

With great views, rooms and food, it’s hardly surprising that the spot has been known to attract a celebrity clientele – with the likes of Jennifer Lawrence and Helen Hunt among previous guests.

As with lots of places in Santorini, Canaves Oia Epitome comes with a rich history. Owners Yiannis and Anna Chaidemenos transformed the 17th-century caves – which were once used to store wine – into luxury hotel rooms. 

The Chaidemenos clan were also one of the first families to introduce tourism to the fishing village of Oia in Santorini.

In other travel news, Runswick Bay – located between Staithes and Whitby in North Yorkshire – has been named Britain’s best beach, in a list compiled by the Sunday Times.

Do you have a story to share?

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The pandemic has had a ruthless impact on the job market.

The coronavirus lockdown has devastated many industries and large swathes of people have had to go looking elsewhere for new work.

That UK job vacancies were down over 45% in June makes it even harder for job hunters to find employment.

While it can feel like no one is hiring, don’t be discouraged – there are some jobs that are still recruiting.

According to new data from CV website Resume.io, who looked at the most in-demand jobs on Indeed, nursing tops the charts in terms of the most positions listed in the last two weeks.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

Over 75,500 new jobs were added to Indeed over the past 14 days, of which 11,063 were nurses.

Those in the health and care sectors have never been needed more than now, so it’s good news for those who want to apply.  

There are plenty of other vacancies to choose from including care workers (10,157 listings), childcare jobs (2,742), and doctors (2,335).

If you don’t have these experiences or specific qualifications though, there are still lots of choices.

Other in-demand jobs include customer service sales assistants and cleaning roles.

Interestingly, teachers are also relatively sought after with 1,058 job listings.

Resume.io’s spokesperson Menno Olsthoorn has provided his top tips for the perfect CV.

He says: ‘Hiring managers will likely be sifting through CVs even faster than usual, so initial appearances mean everything – how a CV appears is just as important as the information it provides.

‘Keep your CV concise with a mix of formats and make the important information obvious – this visual balance will mean the reader focuses on what matters the most: your credentials.

‘CVs should be tailored to each job, using only the relevant skills for the application. Research each vacancy beforehand to handpick the best skills to target.

‘Most job applications are now online, but that doesn’t mean you have to rely on this. Also known as the hidden job market, some research suggests as many as 70% of jobs aren’t posted online. So if you excel in word-of-mouth to secure a job, keep practicing this alongside online applications.’

Good luck!

If you have a story, email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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Even as lockdown lifts, virtual dating is still on the cards for single people and long-distance lovers.

Months of living through a pandemic has made many of us more open to having dates over computer screens, but even practice in the form of endless Zoom meetings and Houseparty quizzes doesn’t completely eradicate the potential for awkwardness.

To help us navigate the choppy waters of dating over a screen, we asked the experts for their essential tips on nailing a virtual date.

And by experts, we mean cam girls, because who better knows how to form a connection and get sexy on screen that people who get paid to do just that?

We spoke to some cam girls who work through Off The Record for their wisdom on getting your next virtual date spot on.

Amber Kelly

‘My best advice is to first make sure you have decent internet speeds. Don’t just look at your download speeds, check your upload as that’s the most important part when sending sound/image. You don’t want the chat to drop mid-flow.

‘Secondly, background check and clear the decks, make sure there is nothing distracting behind you. Go with a white wall somewhere and avoid your bedroom for obvious reasons.

‘Get yourself a good webcam, HD or 4K and a ring light, as looking your best is key. Ring lights create a lovely glow.

‘You could also play games, get yourself a deck of cards that break the ice. Highest number gets to ask a question about the other person. Make it fun and always be yourself!’

Your Goddess Jo

‘My main go-to would be to ask them about their hobbies. It’s an easy ice breaker and helps you get to know someone.

‘For a virtual date you need to make sure your lighting is perfect and to test it on cam before the date starts.

‘You’ll also want your hair and makeup done to suit the occasion, dressed for the date as if it were in-person so you really feel the part.

‘You can still have a glass of wine to settle any nerves and making sure you’re sat comfortably – it’s always easier at home!’

Camilla West

‘Virtual dating is almost like you’re inviting someone into your home on the first date. It can feel quite intimate and personal, despite not physically being together.

‘It’s important that you’re well presented. Make an effort as if you were going out on a real date.

‘Also, make sure your background and surroundings on your webcam are tidy and clean. You don’t want yesterday’s leftover dinner played or a pile of washing in the corner of the cam!

‘Make sure your lighting and camera settings are sorted before the date starts. Open up whatever software it is you’ll be using and get it right before they call you.

‘It’s still a real date, despite being virtual, so be yourself and talk and ask about things you usually would. Ask about their work, their hobbies, how their day was, who they live with, where they grew up… if you click, the conversation will just flow.

‘There’s lots of ice breaker questions you can find online that are quite good if you’re really stuck!’

Lola Rose

‘The main thing to take away from camming into the dating world is the the confidence factor. Everyone assumes cam girls must be super confident to do the job, but I gained confidence as I worked. This has helped me massively when it comes to dating as I would be petrified to meet someone for the first time before.

‘Much like camming, virtually dating helps you figure out your dates quicker. When we talk to clients we need to work out what they are looking for in order for them to spend money. You find you use this technique when dating so my time is not being wasted on a man who might not be looking for the same thing.

‘Because I spend so much time online as someone else, when I date, I date completely as me. Before I cammed I didn’t always feel confident being myself. I would swap the things I actually enjoyed for things I thought men like women to enjoy… so cocktail drinking for reading books, etc. Now I’m 100% myself and it feels so much better.

‘Always remember to be true to yourself.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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