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Yearly Archives: 2019

Love Island star Sophie Gradon died by suicide, an inquest has ruled.

The body of the 32-year-old was found at her parent’s home on June 20, 2018.

And after almost a year, an inquest held at Howard House in North Shields stated no third party was involved in her death. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sophie Gradon (@sophiegradon) on

It was ruled that Sophie had taken n cocaine and alcohol before her death, according to Senior Coroner for Northumberland South, Eric Armstrong. 

He issued a warning to others stating that the combination of drink and drugs made people more likely to harm themselves.

It was also reported that  Sophie's parents weren't at the inquest to learn more of her death. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sophie Gradon (@sophiegradon) on

She was found by her boyfriend Aaron Armstrong and his brother Ryan.

Tragically, only 20 days after her death Aaron was also found dead.

His cause of death was confirmed as suicide. 

Our thoughts are with her family and friends. 

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From zig-zag partings to roll-on body glitter, the 90s were a distinctively interesting time when it came to beauty trends.

Unlike our social media obsessed time, the 90s didn’t have the technological abilities to capture beauty trends like we do today – people’s only concept of what was a la mode came from televised makeup ads and beauty magazines.

Nowadays, we have social media influencers and YouTube beauty gurus who dictate and hone our makeup techniques, but imagine if we were able to see what a beauty influencer would have been like in the 90s?   You spend hours producing videos and when it comes to adding an opening to it, luckily it can be done with a YouTube intro maker that is easy and will make you look totally like a pro video editor.

Luckily, YouTuber Jaime French has made a parody video that allows us to do exactly that. Titled ‘IF BEAUTY YOUTUBERS EXISTED IN 1999,’ her makeup tutorial has already racked up over half a million views.

Jaime has completely embodied what it would have meant to be a YouTuber in the era of the Spice Girls, Gameboys and roll-on body glitter.

Opening her tutorial by thanking us for slotting her tape into our VCRs, she immediately launches into a medley of 90s teen references, and the nostalgia is exceptionally real.

She begins by applying a thick layer of mousse foundation to her face(using a brand we definitely all used in the past) in a shade that can only be described as mahogany tanned, Like all of us in the 90s, she was sure NOT to blend the foundation into her neck, leaving a distinctly stylish foundation line separating her neck and jaw – applied directly with her fingers of course, we were in the pre-Beauty Blender era here.

Next up, we have some moisturising lip prep using a Lip Smackers bubble gum balm, before she lines her lips with a strikingly dark lip pencil – adding a frosty lip gloss inside the lip line.

The eyes are always a defining feature of a makeup look, and this was no exception in the 90s. Using a frosted white shade (on a sponge tip applicator brush *shudder*), Jaime takes her shadow all the way up to her eyebrows, creating a seriously highlighted effect. Speaking of her brows, she used a single line of pencil to draw those bad boys on.

Finishing her eye look, she powders on a baby blue shadow to the centre of her lips.

Thousands of people have commented on Jaime’s hilarious take on 90s beauty – which is extremely accurate to the era.

‘Oh man, so many memories! Butterfly hair clips & a spritz of cotton candy or gummy bear scented body spray!, said one.

‘Damnit! I actually used that mousse foundation and the mascara. Plus I had the hair clips and the hoop earrings. Whyyyyy’ said another – clearly it’s very relatabel.

You can check out the comedy tutorial for yourself here:

 

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The Easter weekend is just around the corner and we honestly can’t wait to curl up on the sofa with an Easter egg (or ten) and simply unwind.

We’ve got dozens of movies to watch on Netflix, drama series to binge-watch and of course, a stellar episode of The Graham Norton Show to tune into on Friday night.

As per usual, Corkman Graham has mustered up quite the incredible lineup.

Pitch Perfect star Rebel Wilson and actress Anne Hathaway will join Graham to chat all about their new movie The Hustle.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Star of Killing Eve Jodie Comer and Harry Potter alum Daniel Radcliffe will also appear on the show.

There will be music from singer Mabel, who will perform her song Don’t Call Me Up.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC1 on April 19 at 10: 30 pm.

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Mental health is an important subject and it's fantastic that more celebrities are opening up about their struggles with it.

Little Mix's Perrie Edwards has gotten candid on Instagram about how she's been battling not only anxiety but also bad panic attacks.

The 25-year-old took to the social media platform to reveal what it was like going through these terrifying ordeals. 

She said, ''When I first started to feel the effects of anxiety I thought I was losing my mind and it terrified me. I felt so alone and like I was the first person in the world to ever experience it."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Perrie Edwards  (@perrieedwards) on

She continued, ''The first panic attack was so intense and overwhelming I felt like I was having a heart attack, I was so scared and confused and had no idea what was happening to me. I’m not sure what triggered that first one but it soon spiralled & I found myself in a really dark place, feeling alone and scared.''

She added, ''I had people around me but I couldn’t explain to them what was happening to me or why. It affected me so badly that I didn’t even want to leave the house.''

The singer confessed that it took over my life for a while but that she is in a better place now.

She revealed, ''I’m happy to say that the physical attacks have stopped but unfortunately, the anxiety still lives on. The reality is it probably always will.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Perrie Edwards  (@perrieedwards) on

She added, ''It feels like the most unnatural thing in the world but the thing that helped me the most was discovering I’m not alone. As soon as I realised I wasn’t going insane I felt more eager to beat it.''

Perrie went on to say that she has sought therapy and is now feeling the positive effects of it – and she also reminded her fans that if they are suffering from anxiety, they are not alone. 

Her followers showered her with messages of love and support.

One said, ''I'm not sure you realise just how important you are, but we all do, and we are so grateful for you.''

While another wrote, ''Such a brave and inspirational post. I know you’ll be helping so many in the same situation.''

Well done Perrie for speaking out about a topic that should be spoken about openly. 

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Anne Hathaway adores her son, three-year-old Jonathan.

And since she welcomed him, she decided to make some big shifts in her life, that would help her adapt seamlessly to motherhood. 

She told Tatler magazine that, after 8 years of drinking, she wanted to be sober for her son. 

She said, ''My issue is I just love it. So. Much. But the way I do it makes me unavailable for my son.''

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Anne Hathaway (@annehathaway) on

She continued, ''My last hangover lasted for five days. I’d earned it: it was a day drinking session with friends that went into an evening birthday party with one of my drinking buddies.

She added, ''I will never be that person who can nurse a glass of wine throughout an entire evening.''

The 36-year-old, who is married to actor and producer Adam Shulman, told Ellen DeGeneres’ chat show that she is “going to stop drinking while my son is living in my house”.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The Oscar winner said, ''Just because I don’t totally love the way I do it and he’s getting to an age where he really does need me all the time in the morning.''

When it came to the subject of marriage, she revealed that she gets advice from fellow actor and Interstellar co-star Sir Michael Caine.

She said, ''Michael and I don’t really have a ring-you-up sort of relationship. But he’s always very warm and lovely when we run into each other. He gives me marriage advice. Separate bathrooms. When he told me that, I laughed and he looked at me and said ‘I’m serious, it’s such an important part of the marriage’.”

That's a tip we'll take on board, thanks Michael. 

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Beyoncé is a powerhouse of a woman – singer, producer, performer, business maven, and mum.

And now the 37-year-old has revealed in her Netflix documentary, Homecoming, that she battled pre-eclampsia during her second pregnancy.

The movie does focus on her 2018 Coachella performance but she also touched upon her role as a mother to her three kids. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

The singer is mum to seven-year-old Bue Ivy and one-year-old twins Rumour and Sir.

She got candid about suffering from pre-eclampsia when she was pregnant with the twins. 

She revealed how it took its toll on her saying, ''My body went through more than I knew it could.''

She weighed 218 pounds at the time of their birth and had a tough pregnancy, and this is when she developed high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on

So what is it?

It is characterized by high blood pressure and is a leading cause of maternal death.

It is not preventable and symptoms of pre-eclampsia include severe headaches, abdominal pain, and changes in blood pressure. 

Beyoncé got honest about the fact that one of the twins' heartbeats stopped beating in the womb, so she had to have an emergency C-section.

She spoke before about suffering from the condition. 

She wrote in an essay for Vogue that she was "swollen with toxemia.''

She said, ''My health and my babies' health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU…My husband was a soldier and such a strong support system for me."

We applaud her for being so honest about the condition and opening up the conversation for other women who have been through the same thing. 

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Lewis Capaldi has announced a huge Irish gig for next year. The Someone You Loved singer is set to play 3Arena next March.

The singer confirmed that he will play the Dublin venue on March 8, 2020.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MCD (@mcdproductions) on

He recently supported Picture This during their five-night stint at the 3Arena so there’s no doubt fans will be thrilled to see him return to the stage.

Tickets cost €37.35 including booking fees.

They go on sale on Friday, April 26 at 9 am so don’t forget to set your alarms!

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Former co-directors of the Together for Yes campaign have been featured on Time magazine’s list of most influential people.

Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe Smyth and Orla O’ Connor are said to be thrilled to feature in the TIME 100 list.

They stand alongside Jacinda Ardern, Brie Larson, Taylor Swift and Greta Thunberg.

The women were recognised for their efforts in leading the Together For Yes campaign during the abortion referendum in Ireland in 2018.

Ruth Negga penned a touching note for Time magazine about the impact the campaign has had on the country.

She wrote: “In May 2018, Irish society voted to lift the near-total ban on abortion that had been in place for 35 years. Society gave its overwhelming blessing to the fundamental rights of women and girls to bodily autonomy, after generations of secondary status, largely dictated by the power and oppression of the Catholic Church.”

The actress praised the activists: “Together for Yes, the campaign to repeal the eighth amendment to the Irish constitution, put the Mná na hÉireann (women of Ireland) front, centre and in control of their own bodies and rights like never before.

“It was breathtaking to witness the determination, intelligence and sheer hard work of its leaders Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe Smyth and Orla O’Connor, who mobilized people of all different backgrounds in the lead-up to the vote. They put the experiences of women and the needs of their country first.

“Their incredible tenacity and integrity and courageousness will be an inspiration for generations to come,” she added.

Huge congratulations to Grainne Griffin, Ailbhe Smyth and Orla O’ Connor and everyone involved in the Repeal the 8th campaign.

Feature Image: Niall Crason/PA

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We’ve been waiting far too long for the third season of The Crown to return to Netflix and it looks like we’ll be waiting even longer than we hoped.

Fans of the show are going to have to wait another few months to see Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Ben Daniels and Helena Bonham Carter take on the iconic roles of Britain’s Royal Family.

According to Deadline, the third season of The Crown will air in the second half of the year, which means we have to wait until after July to binge-watch the show.

Netflix commented: “We’re looking forward to a strong slate of global content in the second half of the year, including new seasons of some of our biggest series.”

It has been confirmed that the upcoming season will focus on Princess Margaret’s troubled love life, as it follows the breakdown of her marriage to Antony ‘Tony’ Armstrong-Jones'. We will also be introduced to Camilla Parker Bowles in season three.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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There will also be a huge focus on the life of Prince Charles, including his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles this season.

Call The Midwife’s Emerald Fennell will play Camilla Parker Bowles and Josh O’ Connor will play Prince Charles.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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It is understood that season three will be set during the 1970s. The Duke of Windsor passed away in 1972, so we have a feeling his death will be a major storyline during season three.

There’s no doubt the next season of The Crown will be worth the wait.

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With just four weeks to go, Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development is joining forces with Dancing With The Stars winner, Mairéad Ronan and calling on people to reach out to their neighbours as part of The Big Hello!, the first National Community Weekend which takes place this May Bank Holiday Weekend (May 4-6).

“The Big Hello!” supports communities to host events in their local area in order to strengthen community ties and help tackle the problem of social isolation.

Minister Ring said: “In a world where people are spending less time in their communities and more time at work, it is important to find new ways to connect people and focus on the importance of neighbours. In our busy lives we rarely make time for each other outside of our network of family, friends and social media contacts.”

In order to support these events, Minister Ring has allocated €10,000 to each of the 31 Local Authorities and asked them to allocate funding to The Big Hello! events in their areas. The target is for at least 1,000 local events to be held throughout Ireland.

Funding for events is available to residents’ committees and community and voluntary groups through their Local Authorities. Further details can be found here, and on The Big Hello! Facebook page.

Minister Ring continued: “Sadly, many people living among us are experiencing social isolation and loneliness. I firmly believe that this initiative can help people to connect or re-connect with their neighbours and communities.”

Mairéad Ronan said: “We all lead such incredibly busy lives nowadays; The Big Hello! is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with our neighbours by organising an event or attending one in our local communities. No matter how big or small, it’s up to you to decide with your neighbours what type of event you’d like to host in your area.”

The event is being organised by the Minister’s Department in partnership with representatives of Public Participation Networks, Local Community Development Companies, Volunteer Ireland, Young Social Innovators, Macra na Feirme, Street Feast, An tOireachtas and Change X.

It is intended to have at least one Irish language event in each Local Authority area.

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The fight to cure HIV and AIDS is ongoing, and while science and medicine have now developed treatments to reduce the life-threatening velocity of the illnesses, an all-out cure has yet to be discovered. 

One company who saw the necessity to support those living with AIDS, and the non-profits which provide for them, was M.A.C.

Back in 1994, M.A.C first released their VIVA GLAM range, 100% of the sale of which has contributed to the support of AIDS sufferers for a quarter of a century. 

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When VIVA GLAM was created, society was struggling to navigate the height of the HIV epidemic.

The first ever Viva Glam lipstick was launched, designed to get people talking about the epidemic – and the gorgeous Ru Paul fronted the campaign, showcasing the original bright red lip shade.  

In the years since, big name celebrities have continued collaborating with the brand to create a shade. 

In 1995, we saw fashion designers  Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood and Katharine Hamnett participated in creating the couture 1995 colour collection, showcasing the shade of the original intense brownish red VIVA GLAM Lipstick we have come to know and love. 

Throughout the years, the ambassadors have included Sia, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Dita Von Teese, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande and Ricky Martin – and five staple shades now make up the collection. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared byWinnie Harlow(@winnieharlow) on

So far, VIVA GLAM has raised $500 million for the global fight against HIV/AIDS, helping millions of people. The UK and Ireland alone have given 540 grants to over 100 charities including Positive East, HIV Ireland, National AIDS Trust, Terrence Higgins Trust and George House Trust in that time by buying a lippie each year. 

This year, the brand are focused on recreating their original campaign, with the gorgeous Winnie Harlow fronting the throwback recreation – posing just as Ru Paul did in 1994.

'I was inspired to recreate the original Viva Glam campaign after my hairdresser, Jay Brumant, showed me the beautiful images,' Victorias Secret model Winnie said.  

'Working in fashion, I’m surrounded by many types of beauty, and I strongly feel that the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community are both prominent & embraced in the fashion world. I remember being invited to my first Vogue Ball. It was invigorating to see so many people from different walks of life come together and celebrate themselves freely.'

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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'Ever since then, I have loved & always wanted to try to recreate a “drag moment". I knew that if I was ever going to attempt it I would need to embrace an ICONIC look! Who is more iconic than RuPaul in the M·A·C Viva Glam campaign?'

'So when I was in full “regalia” post Adam Burrell’s make-up magic, my friend & New York photographer, Gabriel Perez Silva, helped me recreate the images, and that’s how this costume came to be! I’m so honoured to follow in the footsteps of amazing artists like Lady Gaga, Elton John, and Ru celebrating Viva Glam’s 25th Anniversary alongside raising awareness for the MAC Viva Glam Fund.'

Each Viva Glam shade is €20.00 and can be purchased at any M.A.C. counter or store, and on maccosmetics.com.

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Eva Mendes is looking as stunning as ever as she graces the cover of Women’s Health this month. 

The 45-year-old opened up about her gorgeous daughters, who she has with her partner Ryan Gosling. 

She revealed that before Ryan, she didn't see herself with a family. 

She said, ''It was the furthest thing from my mind. Ryan Gosling happened. I mean, falling in love with him. Then it made sense for me to have…not kids, but his kids. It was very specific to him.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The pair are parents to two little girls – five-year-old Esmeralda and two-year-old Amada.

She said, ''We’re just starting to get out of survival mode. I’m starting to feel like a person again.”

Thankfully, she and Ryan have their family to help them with raising the girls.

She said, ''Family. We have an amazing support group: Ryan’s mom, my mom, Ryan’s and my sisters. It’s a village that helped us. My heart goes out to women who do this alone.” 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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The couple has been together for eight years after they met on the set of The Place Beyond the Pines.

Eva wants to make sure that her daughters have a strong role model in her.

She said, ''What I try to emphasise is that I don't let them see me put attention to how I dress. They've never seen me get ready for something; they've never seen me at work.''

She continued, ''Which is fine, for whoever wants to do it that way, but the way I keep it normal is by not letting them see me in these situations. I'm just Mom. And I'm more than happy to just be Mom.''

It sounds like she has it figured out just fine. 

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