Milo Ventimiglia just put to bed a far-fetched but hopeful fan theory about Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life. In the actor's expert opinion, his character Jess Mariano is 100% not the man who conceived a child with Rory Gilmore — shutting down the possibility of an off-camera tryst between the exes.
"No. No, it is not Jess’ baby," the This Is Us star said emphatically during an interview with AOL Build. "I feel like everybody’s like, ‘But man come on, what if he came out with a pompadour, leather jacket and a smart brain?!'" He laughed, "Then maybe it would be."
The actor also touched on how great it was to revisit his first big TV project all these years later. "It was fun, it was great. Being on that show, I felt like that was the show that raised me. I was 24, 25 when I signed on, and then I did a bunch of seasons after the fact." For him, there was never any question when it came to joining the cast of the Netflix reboot. "When I got the phone call from Amy and Dan [Palladino], the producers, saying, 'Hey, we're coming back,' I was like, 'Yeah great! I'll be there.' I'm always going to be there for them...that Gilmore world, those producers care and love all the fans that love that show so much. They do it for the work, they do it for the creativity. They don't do it for any other reason."
Maybe that, and to drive said fans crazy with cliffhanger endings that may or may not ever be resolved. But with Ventimiglia's help, at least we've ruled one possibility out.
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When you're in a beauty rut, it's a little like looking in your closet and seeing absolutely nothing to wear. Sure, you have the bones to create a killer look — a bold liner here, a bottle of texture spray there — but sometimes you just need a boost of inspiration. That's why we created Short Cuts, a series of quick, easy-to-follow videos meant to educate, empower, and excite the beauty nerds in all of us. Whether you're looking to learn something new or to refresh your current routine, there's a Short Cut for you.
Remember way back in January when we swore to start adorning our faces with more color? Well, we're happy to report that the exercise is going swimmingly. Case in point: This two-tone bold eye look that's chic, artsy, and very easy to recreate. Check out the step-by-step breakdown below.
Step 1. Line your lashline using a matte, blue gel liner and an angled brush.
Step 2. Gently pat a matte blue eyeshadow over your liner to intensify the color.
Step 3. Line the outer third of your bottom lashline with white, cream eyeshadow. (We love this one.)
Step 4. Layer a matte red eyeshadow on top of the white line and finish off with a few coats of mascara.
In the past, I used to watch documentaries out of a sense of duty. While Game of Thrones may have been more appealing, I accepted documentaries as necessary brain vitamins. At the film’s end, I would have paid my dues to intellectualism, and then could resume the blood, sex, and gore that characterize my TV consumption. Blame HBO!
Well, all that changed when I discovered Netflix’s new documentary series, Abstract: The Art of Design and Chef’s Table. Charging through hourlong episode after hourlong episode, I came to the realization that Netflix had done the impossible. It had made documentaries bingeable.
The gist of these series is deceptively simple. Each one revolves around a united theme. Chef’s Table tracks the careers of some famous chefs and the ethos behind their restaurants. Abstract devotes an episode to eight global designers, from Es Devlin, a British stage designer known for designing Beyoncé's world tours and the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony, to Platon, a photographer known for his intimate portraits of public figures.
Kase Film/Netflix
Abstract, the series which dropped in January 2017, is especially inventive, perhaps because of its creative subject matter. Take the series’ first episode, which features German illustrator Christoph Niemann as its subject.
The documentary seamlessly weaves in animated versions of Niemann’s art with footage of his daily life. With endearing figurines interspersed with scenes of modern Berlin, the documentary brings the artist’s half-real, half-imagined world to life. And, since Niemann is reluctant to show too much of his personal life on screen, his professional creations become the focal point in an innovative way.
But not every episode of Abstract proceeds like Niemann’s animation bonanza. The series' manner of storytelling is tailored to the subject. The second episode centers on Tinker Hatfield, the shoe designer who brought Air Jordans to fame. Since his extraverted, laid-back Oregonian personality so greatly contrasts with Mr. Niemann’s serious Berliner aura, his episode proceeds far differently. His graphs come to life; he socializes with Michael Jordan; he surfs.
Bruce Ely/Netflix
Each Abstract episode embodies the designers’ moods and processes, leading to a varied and enjoyable viewing experience.
Chef’s Table is an equally addictive docu-series. After all, what’s almost as good as eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant? Getting to know the creative mind behind it. So, if your starving artist status doesn’t allow for expensive dinners, we’ve found your entry into the culinary world.
With shows like Chef’s Table and Abstract, Netflix is producing bite-size documentaries that bring viewers up close and personal with some of the leaders in their field. It’s worth tuning in for an episode or two — you’ll leave with a greater appreciation for what people are capable of producing, be it gourmet feasts or reproductions of the shoes from Back to the Future.
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Sorry, Winona fans, it looks like the Joyce you know and love isn't coming back for Stranger Things ' second season. People broke the news today, which came directly from everyone's favorite gruff sheriff, Jim Hopper, a.k.a. David Harbour. In an Instagram post, he revealed that instead of Ryder, a Pomeranian would play the role of meme-able frantic mom instead.
"Bittersweet season 2 spoiler. Joyce has been recast for season 2," Harbour captioned the pic.
We know, we know. It's all a joke. Who could replace the inimitable Winona Ryder? Her character, Joyce Byers, was one of the most memorable characters from the sci-fi hit's first season (no justice for you, Barb), inspiring everything from Halloween costumes to memes and more. To think that anyone, a dog included, could capture her frazzled phone calling and dedication to her son would be absurd. The dog is cute, though.
Very real rumors are flying about the second season, however. We have plenty of news on a few of the new characters who are set to appear, such as Paul Reiser as a mysterious new doctor, and Eleven's perm, which is definitely a character in and of itself.
There have also been some hints a the second season's plot, including some PTSD-related issues for Will (Noah Schnapp) and a new love interest for Joyce (the person, not the pup). Co-creator Matt Duffer also mentioned that Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Mike (Finn Wolfhard) will come together over the losses of Barb (Shannon Purser) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). One thing we can confirm for sure? The show's return date. Clear your Halloween plans, because Stranger Things season 2 is set to drop on everyone's favorite holiday.
Unfortunately, there's no word on just how this cute Pom figures into everything.
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Ingredients 1/4 cup raw unsalted whole cashews 4 large Medjool dates, pitted and chopped 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats 1/8 tsp vanilla extract 2 tsp organic coconut oil, melted 3/4 cup Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla Greek Nonfat Yogurt 1/4 cup blueberries
Special Equipment 6-cup standard-size muffin pan Food processor
Instructions 1. Cut four 6x3-inch pieces of parchment paper and place them inside four cups of a muffin tin, making sure the paper sticks out a little over the top of each cup.
2. To make the crust, place cashews, dates, salt, oats, vanilla, and coconut oil in a food processor. Pulse, 1 minute, until nuts and oats are crumbled and a sticky dough is achieved. When you grab the dough with your fingers, it should stick together.
3. Place 1 heaping and packed tbsp of dough in each muffin cup. Using your fingers, press down on the dough firmly, bringing the crust up and around the edges. Set aside.
4. In a clean bowl, mix together yogurt and blueberries.
5. Spoon 2 tbsp yogurt mixture into each crust, filling to the top.
6. Freeze, at least 4 hours or overnight.
7. Approximately 30-35 minutes before serving, remove pan from freezer to allow yogurt to soften a bit. Use a butter knife and parchment paper to remove cheesecakes. Enjoy!
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In today's divisive times, there seems to be one thing bringing us together: mascara. In the past year, mascara launches have been at the center of some of the biggest boundary-breaking, beauty industry moments, including boys in makeup and the rise of muslim beauty bloggers. And L'Oréal is here to deliver the next one.
The brand just cast 11 powerful women for their new "The Original" campaign, starring L'Oréal Voluminous Original Mascara, the #1 drugstore mascara in the U.S. Featured in the lineup? Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry, former TV host Lauren Ezersky, trans activist Hari Nef, actresses Diane Keaton, Kiersey Clemons, and Julianne Moore, and models Barbara Palvin, Soo Joo Park, Dominique Babineaux, Katerina Tannenbaum, and Juana Burga.
"Each [of the women] embody the essence of Voluminous Mascara — originals who continue to be fresh, creative and confident,” says Tim Coolican, the president of the cosmetics company. “With this campaign, we want to encourage everyone to embrace their originality, take chances and make a statement, whether they have used Voluminous Mascara for years or are discovering it for the first time.”
It also proves once again that beauty and self expression know no race, age, or gender. What other ceilings can you shatter, mascara? We're waiting.
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Khaleda Khorsand Devotes Her Career To Women's Rights
Reporting on Taliban activities was a journalistic effort that was inherently dangerous. But for Afghanistan's Khaldea Khorsand, it was a life-or-death job that was deeply personal. A former correspondent for BBC Persia and Pajhwok—Afghanistan’s largest media outlet—Khorsand was one of the few women allowed to work during the Taliban's regime, and still had to play by its misogynistic rules while attempting to denounce them.
After the Taliban fell in 2001, Khorsand has studied the lingering effect that the regime still has on Afghanistan’s social, cultural, and economic realities. Today, she uses her unique position as a female writer and broadcaster to advocate for women’s equality, despite the constant threat of personal danger. Khorsand has been followed and threatened for her work, and endured three days of stalking after hosting a debate on the roles of religion and secularism in Afghan culture. But Khosand won’t let the specter of intimidation dampen her commitment to broadening the opportunities for her nation’s girls and women. “If we are afraid all of the time,” she says, “we wouldn’t be able to carry on.”
Citing the country’s enduring poverty, widespread illiteracy, and extreme violence as the three most daunting hurdles facing today’s Afghanistan, Khorsand spotlights stories that will help promote a more compassionate, peaceful future for all, especially the women long-silenced by the Taliban’s distorted interpretations of Islamic law.
Want to know more Khaldea's incredible story? Check out this up-close look at the women of Afghanistan's ongoing struggle for equality.
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Filmmaker Roya Sadat Refused To Be Stopped By The Taliban
Roya Sadat is considered Afghanistan's first post-Taliban female director. Her work spotlights the ongoing struggles of her nation's women and girls, which in-and-of-itself is a feat, considering the fact that it is still considered taboo for women to appear in movies. Through films like Playing The Taar and Three Dots, Sadat has become a pioneering voice in international cinema, casting the stories of Afghan women fighting the Taliban's lingering political shadow across the global screen.
Forced to leave school after the Taliban takeover in 1996, Sadat began training as an assistant doctor at Kabul hospital — the last remaining place for her to find work. While working there, Sadat boldly wrote and organized a play with her fellow classmates, secretly staging the performance while the hospital chief was not watching.
Following the collapse of the Taliban, Sadat has gone on to achieve worldwide renown for her defiant portraits of Afghan women, who continue to strive for greater visibility in a world still scarred by the brutal regime. "Most of [Afghanistan's] young generation don't have a good education," she reflects. "It's easy [for them to] accept the Taliban's ideology." Spurred by her belief in film's revolutionary power, Sadat founded the International Women's Film Festival in Afghanistan to feature trailblazing female storytellers from around the world.
Want to know more Roya's incredible story? Check out this up-close look at the women of Afghanistan's ongoing struggle for equality.
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For some reason, Donald Trump tweeted a message in support of International Women's Day early this morning. (Still can't decide if he gets up super-early or just stays up this late.)
I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy.
Of course, actions speak louder than tweets, and hundreds of people immediately seized on Trump's statements to remind him that he runs the most anti-woman administration in recent history.
We could dredge up every single thing Trump has done to disrespect women. It's so tempting. There's the grabbing-them-by-the-genitalia comment that would have disqualified almost anyone else from running for office, the reinstatement of the global gag rule, the whiter-than-white and almost all-male cabinet, and of course the immigration-policy proposal to separate mothers and children at the border.
Oh, and who could forget: "Women, you have to treat them like shit."
But since today is International Women's Day, we're not inclined to do the labor to find all of the sexist statements, allegations, and policies. It's all out there.
Instead, we'd like to direct your attention toward positive actions. There are many ways to participate in today's worldwide women's strike, even if you're not taking the day off work. You can call your elected representatives, donate to local organizations that support women, or post what you're passionate about on social media (without mentioning Trump's tweets).
You can educate yourself on how we can stop lifting up hateful narratives as a society, and how to fight hate speech with your wallet. You can also help women succeed with your wallet: We've put together a list of innovative, forward-thinking woman-owned brands you can support today and every day. And if you're thinking of starting a business of your own, you can get inspired by the advice we've put together from powerful women. You can run for office.
On the topic of Trump's tremendous respect, we'll let these tweets speak for themselves.
@realDonaldTrump by blaming sex assaults in the military on co-habitation
There are plenty of ways to shake up your sex life, whether it's by trying out a new sex toy or consulting the Kama Sutra. But what if you're in an especially playful mood? That's where sex games come in. You're probably familiar with some of them — sexy truth or dare, dirty dice — but have you ever given a sensory-play card game or a role-playing app a whirl?
Whether you're looking to try something new with a long-term S.O. or getting adventurous with a new partner, sex games can be just the thing you need for inspiration. Just dim the lights, turn off your phones (or keep them on if you're using a sexy app), and see how things start to heat up.
If you end up in bed before you finish the game, don't worry. In that case, everyone's a winner.
Click through to browse some of the steamiest sex games available.
With 20 romance cards, 20 sensuality cards, 20 body language cards, and 20 love-making cards, this game boasts 30,000 possible outcomes.
Kheper Games, $19.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
Each of the four panels on these scratch cards reveal an important detail for the fun you're about to have: The "Action" panel tells you what to do, the "Location" panel suggests a room, the "Time" panel names a minimum duration, and the "Bonus" panel offers a way to heat things up even more.
Lovehoney, $6.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
With 52 games in one box, this game set is as thorough as it gets.
Kheper Games, $24.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This set of truth or dare cards comes from sexpert Susie Bright, and depending which card you draw, it can kick off an exciting (and horizon-expanding) conversation between you and your partner, or maybe even ignite an entire night of passion.
Susie Bright, $14.95, available at BabelandPhoto: Courtesy of Babeland.
Whip this deck of cards out when you want some variety — and a bit of a challenge. Whether you consider yourself an "expert" or not, these near-acrobatic positions will be a delight to perfect.
Nerve, $7.00, available at BabelandPhoto: Courtesy of Babeland.
Strip poker is plenty fun, but if you're looking for something a little different, give strip blackjack a try. Each card comes with a "foreplay" and "strip" suggestion, so it's up to you how fast or slow you undress.
Lovehoney, $6.00, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
With fantasy cards that start with "What if he" or "What if we," this game allows couples to explore new things in a low-stakes, fun setting. The best part? The set comes with six blank cards so you can add your own fantasies to the deck.
Little Genie, $17.00, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
With this steamy calendar, every day is an opportunity for a new bedroom adventure for you and your partner. Of course, if you'd rather spend the month focusing on yourself, may we suggest our 30-day masturbation challenge?
Adam and Eve, $12.00, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This adults-only twist on Connect Four has players challenging each other to different foreplay activities, all while trying to get four pieces in a row.
Lovehoney, $19.00, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
You and your partner tease and tempt each other around the board until one of you wins the grand prize, which is — you guessed it — oral sex.
Adam and Eve, $12.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This set boasts — count 'em — 105 exciting and "moody" seduction suggestion cards. This is one game that will keep you busy.
Trystology, $14.00, available at trystologyPhoto: Courtesy of Trystology.
Thinking about exploring your kinkier side? This deck of position cards will show you how to add a little bondage to your normal routine. Get ready for a wild learning experience.
Lovehoney, $6.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
This set of "sexploration" vouchers can either be "raunchy" or "romantic," so whether you're interested in cuddling the night away or heating things up, there's something in the deck for you.
Lovehoney, $7.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
Instead of betting money in this game of poker, you're wagering erotic favors that you'll do for your partner or receive from them. If you ask us, it's a win-win either way.
Adam and Eve, $22.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This set of dirty dice is actually customizable. Take your pick of stickers to add to the three cubes for a one-of-a-kind gambling experience.
Bijoux Indiscrets, $10.00, available at trystologyPhoto: Courtesy of Trystology.
Gift your partner a couple of Bedroom Bucks the next time you're in a giving mood. These coupons entitle the holder to a sensual massage, oral sex, and more.
Adam and Eve, $6.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This best-selling game has you exploring your partner's body in a variety of ways, with varying levels of intensity. Draw "Mm" cards to get warmed up, "Ooh" cards to try out role-playing scenarios, and "Aah" cards to end the game with a bang.
Nookii, $24.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
On paper, the object of this game is to get to 50 points before your opponent. Really though, your goal is to tease your opponent with restraints, sensory play, and more. And it comes with all the props you'll need.
Adam and Eve, $19.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
Nothing like a straightforward pair of sexy dice — one has body parts, the other has actions, and it's up to you to connect the dots.
Babeland, $7.00, available at BabelandPhoto: Courtesy of Babeland.
Feeling adventurous? The 69 Places app helps you brainstorm new locations (and events) where you can have sex. You can even check off your accomplishments.
Photo: Courtesy of iTunes.
This game gets physical from the get-go: Place color-coded stickers on your partner's body, roll the dice, and place your hands on the colors you roll.
Trystology, $15.00, available at trystologyPhoto: Courtesy of Trystology.
This set of cards is a major source of inspiration, and each idea is framed as a vow or promise ("I vow to perform oral sex on you while you are standing"), in case you have a flair for the dramatic.
Lovehoney, $8.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
Think of this card game as a truth-or-dare starter kit, minus the "truth" part. Simply draw a card and do what it says, like "Kiss the player others will be the most surprised to see you kiss." Did we mention this game is great for groups?
Lets Fool Around, $9.95, available at The Pleasure ChestPhoto: Courtesy of The Pleasure Chest.
This jar of different sex position ideas will look great on any bedside table.
Craftformers, $7.52, available at EtsyPhoto: Courtesy of Etsy.
You can play all 50 I.O.U. cards at once, or draw the game out for days, swapping cards with your partner and performing the naughty acts as a surprise.
Lovehoney, $7.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
The KINDU app is essentially a role-play idea generator, and it places you and your partner in a choose-your-own-adventure-style scenario where you can you select the exact fantasy you'd like to play out.
Photo: Courtesy of KINDU.
Use these question cards as flirty ice-breakers at a party or as a way to get to know your partner more intimately.
Good Vibrations, $14.95, available at Good VibrationsPhoto: Courtesy of Good Vibrations.
This game is just the thing you need to take things slow. The massage oil candle quickly melts into a sensual lotion, and the seduction cards tell you how to use it.
Adam and Eve, $22.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
Download this "hot truth or dare" app and have the largest collection of dirty truth and dare prompts at your finger tips.
Photo: Courtesy of iTunes.
What you and your partner do to each other depends on where you land on the board. Can you guess what you get to do when you reach the final square?
Adam and Eve, $12.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This is about as straightforward as it gets: Each card has an article of clothing printed on it. Every time you draw a card, your partner must remove the corresponding piece of clothing.
The Pleasure Chest, $7.95, available at The Pleasure ChestPhoto: Courtesy of The Pleasure Chest.
Live out your wildest affair fantasies with your partner in this intense role-playing board game.
Lovehoney, $32.99, available at LovehoneyPhoto: Courtesy of Lovehoney.
These cards are basically dirty Mad Libs: Fill in the blanks in these sex scenarios to make them steamier or sillier.
Trystology, $14.00, available at trystologyPhoto: Courtesy of Trystology.
With dice, cards, and props, this game will keep things hot for hours.
Adam and Eve, $24.95, available at Adam and EvePhoto: Courtesy of Adam & Eve.
This role-playing game hits all the classics, with scenarios featuring "cops and robbers" and "doctors and nurses."
The Pleasure Chest, $19.95, available at The Pleasure ChestPhoto: Courtesy of The Pleasure Chest.
With a simple slot-machine interface, the Pleasure Machine app is guaranteed to kickstart your evening, whether you're feeling romantic, playful, or wild.
Photo: Courtesy of iTunes.
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Whether you're feeling Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Nathan Riggs (Martin Henderson) or not — I mean, will we ever really get over Meredith and Derek's (Patrick Dempsey) ultimate love story? — there's no way Meredith can deny that she's into the doc. He may not be McDreamy, but he's certainly, well, dreamy — and always down to push Mer's buttons. Not that Meredith is any sort of pushover: the doctor was suspended from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital when she refused to let Eliza Mennick (Marika Dominczyk) into her operating room. Meredith's insubordination may have gotten her booted from her own OR, but now she's back — at the request of Dr. Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.). And Nathan has something to say about it.
But let's be honest: Nathan just wants an excuse to talk to Meredith.
In this sneak peek from March 9's episode "Civil War," Riggs takes a jab at Mer for "folding" under the pressure to return to the hospital. It's essentially the equivalent of playground teasing — except that these two are high-profile doctors who have already made out aggressively on a car. Alex (Justin Chambers), of course, sees right through the doctors' flirtationship — even though Meredith insists she doesn't want to be with the cardio-thoracic surgeon. (Because yeah, okay.)
Riggs Teases Meredith In This "Grey's Anatomy" Sneak Peek
Look, I get it: it's not easy for Meredith to move on from Derek, and with the drama at her job, dating a co-worker isn't exactly the best idea. But... since when does anyone on Grey's Anatomy put not making things weird at work before attraction? The answer to that is never... and maybe it's time that Meredith put her hang-ups aside and goes for what she really wants. After the year she's had, she deserves a guy who's going to kiss her in the parking lot like Riggs will.
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It makes sense that celebrity kids look a lot like their parents — surprise, that's how genes work! Regardless, it will never cease to amaze us when a famous child looks strikingly like their well-known parent. (Previous examples include Ava Phillipe, Charlie Sheen's daughter, and James Lively.) And this one is no exception.
As E! Online reports, Drew Barrymore toted her daughter Frankie to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Bunny Hop, and the tot looks just like Barrymore did in the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. When the Santa Clarita Diet star appeared in the film, she was only 7 years old. Frankie Barrymore Kopelman is almost 3 years old — she's got four more years to go before she could star in a Stephen Spielberg film — but the resemblance is stunning. Perhaps it's the sweet pink bow. Perhaps it's the swath of angelic blonde hair. Perhaps it's because we're all skeptical of this whole "gene" thing, and so it's really cool when we find proof that genetics exists. Either way, we'll never stop being amazed.
For further proof, see below.
Photo: Universal/REX/ShutterstockPhoto: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images.
Look at those bows! Those cheeks! That blonde hair! If you, like me, have trouble distinguishing between the two, here's a handy guide: The little girl in the turtleneck is Drew Barrymore as Gertie in Steven Spielberg's alien flick. The little girl in the chic and fuzzy gray coat standing in front of the step-and-repeat is Frankie.
Frankie is one of two children Barrymore had with her ex-husband Will Kopelman, an art consultant. The elder, Olive, was born in June of 2012. Barrymore and Kopelman divorced officially in August of 2016 after four years of marriage. The split seemed to amicable, though — Barrymore and her two kids cheered on Kopelman at the New York City Marathon in November 2016.
And it's not all glamorous step-and-repeats for the tangentially famous tot. In early 2017, Barrymore brought her two daughters to Disney World for a fun-filled time.
"Frankie, every day since we've gone there, wants to go to Disney World," Barrymore told Seth Meyers in February. "I try to talk her rationally. I'm like — but we have to go to Delta, and get back on the plane..." So, maybe Frankie won't be going back to Florida's fun-filled playground just yet. How about an at-home reenactment of E.T. instead?
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Contrary to his track record, it looks like Nick Viall (who is basic) will be leaving this season of The Bachelor with a fiancee. Us Weeklyreports that while the finale isn't slated to air until March 13, a source has confirmed to the magazine that Viall does indeed make a choice between Vanessa Grimaldi and Raven Gates — but not without heartbreak.
“Nick was scared to death,” the source from the show told Us Weekly. “He said if he left alone, he’d be devastated.”
If you remember correctly, Viall has been rejected on air three different times, so you can't blame him for expecting the worst. That being said, he's also battling some guilt of his own.
"He could relate to the woman he was sending home more than the woman chosen,” the source added. “He had empathy for her. It was hard for him to let her go because it hit so close to home.”
Apparently, he pondered the decision all night before he was ready to film the proposal.
“He tells the runner-up, ‘I’ve been so selfish,'" the source explained. "He told her his heart was with someone else."
The source did not reveal exactly who Viall is talking to in this heartbreaking discussion in order to not spoil the show, but if you've been on the internet recently, you'd know that Grimaldi might have already spilled the beans after posting a photo of herself at a bridal shop.
A post shared by Holly Wiancko 🎨 (@hollywiancko) on
"A good way to end the week at the office!" she captioned the photo. However, TMZreported that the contestant was there simply to discuss a possible partnership, and that she didn't try on any of the gowns.
Unsurprisingly, the source reveals that “the finale is very emotional.” But really, is The Bachelor ever anything but wild and unchecked feelings? We'll have to wait until the 13th to tune in.
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Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Think back to your high school biology class. What stuck with you? If your experience was anything like mine, you probably remember all of two things: The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, and a lot of dead white dudes looked into microscopes for hundreds of years to figure that out. For many people — myself included — the intrigue of science is lost at an early age in heavy textbooks, dry lectures, and a cultural attitude that science is reserved for nerdy boys.
But if you ask Rachel Ignotofsky, that couldn't be further from the truth — and it's way past time to change the way we talk about science, especially in regards to women scientists who too often go ignored. Ignotofsky ’s upcoming book, Women In Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World, aims to change the everyday conversation about science — where we access information about science, whose work we see represented when we do, and how we digest the facts we’re given. Through eye-popping, brightly illustrated pages, Ignotofsky tells the stories of 50 women — some well-known and some who were left behind in mainstream history books — whose research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics influenced the world through their respective fields. Not only did these women make incredible strides in science and medicine, but in doing so they shouted a huge "fuck you" to a society that, historically, has actively and purposefully discouraged them from pursuing their work.
An illustrator by trade whose work often focuses on scientific topics, Ignotofsky realized the power of her work after receiving a fan letter from a father of a young girl with a rare respiratory condition. “He was using an illustration I did to explain to his four-year-old-daughter why she would need a respirator,” she tells Refinery29. “I realized that this work is important; I’m taking information that’s super dense and complicated and making it digestible for kids and adults in a way that no one’s really doing.”
With the success of her scientific illustration — and frustration by male-dominated curricula in high school history and science classes — Ignotofsky decided that her work could help tackle women’s underrepresentation in STEM in an accessible format.
“I just kept saying over and over again, ‘Young girls are testing just as well as boys in these STEM subjects, but aren’t pursuing it as a degree. We’re not taught about women in our history classes. We’re not taught about them in our science classes. We need to be taught about these women at an early age, so that strong and powerful women are the norm.’ So I decided I was going to use my skill set to shape the conversation in a better way.”
The book includes the narratives of women such as Hypatia, a mathematician born in Alexandria, Egypt in 315 CE, as well as modern women like current Stanford University professor and 2014 Fields Medal winner Maryam Mirzakhani, giving the book a breadth of history while proving a point that, yes, women in science have always been around, even if our history textbooks didn't include them.
Ignotofsky also stresses the importance of scientific literacy for everyone: “To make educated choices in life, you need to know how the world works — whether it’s understanding global warming or understanding why your computer turns on,” she says. “There’s a fight for scientific literacy in this country, and if drawing a little happy face on a cell can help it, then I definitely want to be a part of it.”
Women In Science will be released on July 26, 2016 and is currently available for pre-order. Click through to see eight illustrations as well as the bios of women whose pioneering work changed the way we think about health.
Nettie Stevens was born in 1861 in Vermont. She pinched pennies to pay for her education, and often taught classes to help pay her way. She had a very long road to follow to get to her short but groundbreaking career. Nettie slowly finished her undergrad education at the newly formed Stanford University in California. After earning her master’s degree, her interest in genetics brought her back to the East Coast, where she received her PhD at Bryn Mawr College at the age of 41.
The big question in genetics at the time was a simple one: what makes a baby a girl or a boy? At the time, sex determination was a still a mystery. For centuries doctors thought sex was determined by what a woman ate during pregnancy or how warm she kept her body. Nettie and other scientists had their suspicions that there was more to sex determination than that.
Nettie got to work by dissecting bugs. She took the sex organs from butterflies and mealworms to look at the cells under a microscope. Male insects had an XY-shaped chromosome, and females had an XX. Her flawless technique and use of different kinds of bugs strengthened the hypothesis she made based on her observations. In 1905 she published her groundbreaking research in a 2-part book, which overturned hundreds of years of misconceptions.
Around the same time, Edmund Wilson, Nettie’s former advisor, made the same discovery of XY chromosomes on his own, but Nettie’s work had the strongest proof. She wrote about her findings with great scientific conviction, but it was received by a skeptical public. Unfortunately, her untimely death in 1912 has rendered her largely overlooked and forgotten.
We now recognize Nettie for her amazing work, which allowed scientists to better understand sex determination and genetics.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Patricia Bath, Ophthalmologist & Inventor
Patricia Bath was born in 1942 in Harlem, New York City. Her parents worked hard to provide her with a good education. Patricia was a genius, finishing high school in just 2 ½ years and helping with cancer research in a workshop when she was only 16. She was bound to change the world.
Patricia was no stranger to racism or sexism. She didn’t know any female doctors when she was growing up, and many of the medical schools at the time were for whites only. Despite this, Patricia knew she wanted to be a doctor. After earning her medical degree from Howard University, she interned at Harlem Hospital and was accepted into Columbia University’s fellowship program.
Her research showed that African-Americans were more prone to certain vision problems like glaucoma. People living in poor communities could not afford regular eye care, so relatively minor eye problems could turn into blindness. Patricia couldn’t just stand by and watch this injustice, so she started the first community outreach volunteer-based eye-care program. Patricia went into parts of her hometown, Harlem, which had a high rate of poverty, and convinced a fellow surgeon to operate on patients for free. She believed that “eyesight is a human right,” and she went on to cofound the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness (AiPB).
Patricia became a professor at UCLA. She was the first female faculty member at the ophthalmology school and often did not get the respect she deserved from her peers, who assigned her an office next to where the lab animals were kept. She stood up for herself and refused that office. Eventually she became the chair of the ophthalmology residency training program, but she had had enough of dealing with the “glass ceiling” of the university. She traveled to Europe to do research and did some of her best work there.
In 1986, she finished her invention, the Laserphaco Probe, a device that removes cataracts, a major breakthrough that helped restore sight around the world. Patricia continues to work with the AiPB, bringing preventive eye care and sight-restoring surgery all around the globe.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Mae Jemison, Astronaut, Educator & Doctor
Mae Jemison always knew she would go into space. She was born in 1956 in Alabama and grew up in Chicago. She was obsessed with the Apollo missions but noticed that there was no one who looked like her going up into space. However, the fictional TV show Star Trek featured people of different genders and races working together. This had an impact on young Mae, and Lieutenant Uhura became her role model.
Mae went to Stanford and double majored in chemical engineering and African-American studies. She went on to Cornell and became a medical doctor. She worked in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone and Liberia for several years. She continued working as a doctor until it was time to chase her space dream. Mae applied to NASA and became an astronaut.
In 1992, Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman in space. On the space shuttle Endeavour, she took an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority flag, a West African Bundu statue, and a poster of Judith Jamison dancing. She wanted African and African-American culture to be represented in space and no longer left out. The following year, she left NASA and started numerous companies, including her own technology consulting firm, the Jemison Group Inc. Mae is the founder of the BioSentient Corporation, which creates devices that will allow doctors to monitor patients’ day-to-day nervous system functions.
The technology and problem solving to get humans in space created inventions that we use today on earth. Mae was inspired by this and became principal of the 100 Year Starship project. The goal is to make sure human beings will be able to travel to the next solar system within the next 100 years. This project will also inspire new solutions to materials, recycling, energy, and fuel, just as the space race did. Dr. Mae Jemison still has her eyes on the stars while helping solve problems here on earth.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Jane Cooke Wright, Oncologist
Jane Cooke Wright was born in 1919 into a family of famous doctors. Her grandfather was the first African-American to graduate from Yale’s medical school, and her father founded Harlem Hospital’s Cancer Research Foundation. She and her father changed cancer treatment forever. In the 1940s, a cancer diagnosis was often considered a sure death sentence. Doctors were just starting to experiment with ways to attack cancer cells; they even tried injecting a form of mustard gas into patients. After Jane graduated from New York Medical College in 1945, she started her career in cancer research, working with her father at Harlem Hospital. After her father died, Jane became the head of the cancer research center at age 33.
Jane developed new techniques to approach cancer treatment that saved precious time. Instead of testing chemo drugs on the patient directly, Jane tested only samples of their cancer tissue. This allowed her to quickly create the most effective treatment. She understood that individual people and different types of cancer all needed to be factored into creating a unique cocktail of chemotherapy drugs.
Jane also innovated a new way to treat hard-to-reach tumors. As an alternative to surgically removing all tumors, which sometimes necessitated removing whole organs along with them, Jane developed a less invasive way to precisely deliver chemo to certain areas in the body using a catheter.
In a time when there were few African-American doctors, and even fewer who were women, Jane became a leader in the field of oncology. She was an original cofounder of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the associate dean of the New York Medical College. She was also the first woman president of the New York Cancer Society. Jane Wright was not only an excellent doctor but also a trailblazer for women in medicine.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Gertrude Elion, Pharmacologist & Biochemist
Gertrude Elion was born in 1918 and grew up in the Bronx in New York City. She was a great student who loved all of her subjects in high school and graduated early at age 15. She didn’t know what her career would be until her grandfather died of cancer. She decided to dedicate her life to fighting the disease.
During the Great Depression, universities prioritized hiring men. Gertrude graduated with high honors from Hunter College, but graduate schools were offering no financial aid to women, and chemistry jobs were scarce. Finally, after many odd jobs and one cash-strapped year in NYU’s graduate program, she found a home for her cancer research at the Burroughs Wellcome pharmaceutical company.
That group broke away from the usual trial-and-error way of developing drugs. With George Hitchings, she studied the difference between healthy and abnormal cells and how abnormal cells reproduce so they could create drugs that destroy only unhealthy cells. Gertrude was tasked with studying the nucleic acids in DNA and how they can be used to stop tumors from spreading.
She started working toward finishing her PhD part time at night. Her school demanded that she attend full time and quit her job, but she loved her work so much that she quit the PhD program instead. It was the right choice. Gertrude went on to create many different medications that saved thousands of lives. In 1950, she created 2 drugs to treat leukemia, which began a new era of cancer research.
Gertrude continued to work with many different diseases. Another major breakthrough came in 1978, when she created a way for antivirals to accurately target a virus without harming healthy cells. A resulting drug is used to treat herpes and has been the basis for many other antivirals.
Gertrude’s drug research saved thousands of lives and made tremendous advances in drug treatment. When asked her favorite achievement, she responded, “I don’t discriminate among my children.”
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Elizabeth Blackwell, Doctor
Elizabeth Blackwell had no interest in medicine until a friend of hers died from what was most likely uterine cancer. Her friend said she might have experienced less pain and suffering if only she had had a female doctor. This put Elizabeth on the path to becoming the first woman medical doctor in the United States.
Elizabeth was born into a family of abolitionists in 1821, with an upbringing that valued justice and equality. While working as a school teacher, she was mentored by male doctor friends and read books from their medical libraries. Although many didn’t believe it was possible, she was accepted into Geneva Medical College.
Medical school is hard for any student, but Elizabeth faced additional challenges. Often met with hostility, she had to sit separately from the male students, and her teachers were embarrassed by her presence during anatomy lessons. When asked to leave a lecture about reproduction to protect her “delicate sensibilities,” she argued her way into staying. During the summer she worked in a hospital in Philadelphia and saw how the hospital conditions contributed to the spread of infectious disease. The experience inspired her thesis on how good hygiene could prevent the spread of typhus. In 1849, she graduated from Geneva Medical College, first in her class.
Elizabeth’s sister, Emily, also became a doctor. Together with Dr. Marie Zakrzewska, they opened the New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children in 1857. It was a place for the poor to get treatment and for female medical students and nurses to learn.
In the 1800s, there was little known about communicable diseases, and hand-washing was not mandatory for doctors like it is today. It was very common for doctors to go straight from treating someone with the flu to delivering a baby without even washing up. This caused the spread of diseases like typhus. Elizabeth realized that “prevention is better than cure,” and in her lectures she advocated for better hygiene standards in hospitals and homes. Elizabeth went on to found the Woman’s Medical College of the New York Infirmary in 1868 and the London School of Medicine for Women around 1874. An inspiration to many women, she also made it possible for many of them to become doctors.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Rita Levi-Montalcini, Neurologist & Italian Senator
Rita Levi-Montalcini never let her circumstance keep her from science. She was born in 1909 in Italy to a well-to-do Jewish family. Her father expected her to become a proper lady and marry well, but she hated finishing school and was determined to become a doctor.
Though Rita graduated summa cum laude from medical school in 1936, she had no real job prospects. Italy was one of the Axis powers in World War II, and in 1938, anti-Semitic laws forbade Jewish people to practice medicine. But nothing could keep Rita from pursuing her dreams.
She created a makeshift laboratory in her bedroom and started her research. She borrowed eggs from farmers and used sewing needles to dissect the nervous systems of embryonic chicks. She wanted to know why and how nerve cells developed. By severing the limbs of the chick embryo, she accurately documented how the motor neurons began to grow and then die. This work laid the foundation for her entire career.
Rita Levi-Montalcini, Neurologist and Italian Senator Rita Levi-Montalcini never let her circumstance keep her from science. She was born in 1909 in Italy to a well-to-do Jewish family. Her father expected her to become a proper lady and marry well, but she hated finishing school and was determined to become a doctor. Though Rita graduated summa cum laude from medical school in 1936, she had no real job prospects. Italy was one of the Axis powers in World War II, and in 1938, anti-Semitic laws forbade Jewish people to practice medicine. But nothing could keep Rita from pursuing her dreams. She created a makeshift laboratory in her bedroom and started her research. She borrowed eggs from farmers and used sewing needles to dissect the nervous systems of embryonic chicks. She wanted to know why and how nerve cells developed. By severing the limbs of the chick embryo, she accurately documented how the motor neurons began to grow and then die. This work laid the foundation for her entire career.
When the war ended, Rita reentered the formal scientific world, already well into her research. She was asked to come to Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri, for one semester, which turned into 30 years of teaching and research.
While learning how to grow tissues in a glass dish, Rita observed that a tumor sample was affecting the embryonic cells in the same dish. The nerves started to grow very quickly—but why? By experimenting with snake venom, tumors, and finally mouse saliva, she discovered nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein that regulates nerve growth and keeps our neurons healthy. This was a very important finding for understanding and fighting diseases.
Rita received the 1986 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine. When asked if she was bitter about how the Italian government treated her during the war, she said, “If I had not been discriminated against or had not suffered persecution, I would never have received the Nobel prize.” She went on to become a senator-for-life in the Italian government, where she fought for civic equality and promoted the sciences.
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
Rosalind Franklin was born in 1920 in London. Her father wanted her to do work that he considered fit for a lady; he disapproved of women going to university. The women in Rosalind’s family helped her stand up to her father. She went on to earn a PhD in physical chemistry from Cambridge University.
The big question of the day was this: what is the shape of DNA? Scientists knew that DNA formed the building blocks for the body, but they had no proof of what it really looked like. Rosalind Franklin was one of the scientists at King’s College who were on the case.
Rosalind spent hours and hours using an X-ray on the delicate fibers of DNA. She captured the famous photo that proved DNA is a double helix.
Meanwhile, 2 scientists, James Watson and Francis Crick, were also trying to figure out the structure of DNA. They snuck a peek at Rosalind’s work, without her permission, and used her findings to publish their own work without giving her any credit. As a result, she was overlooked. Rosalind left the toxic work environment of King’s College and continued her research. She went on to a top research lab and started doing interesting research with the tobacco mosaic virus and the polio virus.
Unfortunately, Rosalind was diagnosed with terminal cancer, probably caused by radiation from her dedicated work with the X-rays. She died in 1958 at only 37 years old.
James Watson and Francis Crick won a Nobel prize after Rosalind died. James Watson wrote scathing, tasteless comments about Rosalind in his book The Double Helix. He also admitted that he had looked at her data, and people started to figure out how the discovery really happened.
Rosalind is remembered as a woman who should have won a Nobel prize. Now that we know the story of her groundbreaking work, we can celebrate all that she accomplished!
Photo: Courtesy of Ten Speed Press; Illustrated by Rachel Ignotofsky.
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Lena Dunham has always been a vocal feminist, so it's not a surprise that she used her celebrity platform to speak out about International Women's Day, which is today, March 8. The actress posted an essay on LinkedIn about a "personal hero" of hers who's also an undocumented immigrant.
In the essay, Dunham explained that her friend "has cared for the dying, for the just-born, for people who can't care for themselves," and that she "is everything you could hope for from an American." Still, she apparently "doesn't travel besides to and from work" in order to maintain a "low profile."
One instance when her friend did venture into the public sphere, though, was to attend the Women's March in solidarity with female immigrants. Any fear of arrest or even deportation was overcome by her friend's desire to show her support her fellow women, Dunham explains.
Dunham also used the essay to reflect on her great-grandmother, Lena Simonoff, who's also her namesake. Simonoff, she explains, was a Russian immigrant who came to America in the late 19th century. Dunham hopes to emulate her "by taking action against silent injustice," just as her great-grandma would have.
"Feminists have always been emboldened by the acts of immigrant women," Dunham wrote. Following their lead will never steer us wrong."
Dunham also used the essay to promote several organizations that help female immigrants. She listed the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), "so that those affected by Islamaphobia aren't denied their right to enter our country." (Dunham didn't specifically mention President Trump's immigration travel ban, but the implication is there.) She also suggested giving "food, flowers, or toys" to "a local center for Latinx immigrants" or "supporting Dreamers attending college." Dunham also suggested volunteering at Planned Parenthood or getting to know and help a refugee family near you.
We're glad to see that Dunham is taking the opportunity to speak out for immigrant women, who may not have the same platform she does. It's great to see women supporting each other today — let's hope the solidarity extends long past International Women's Day.
The Bachelor in Paradise couple everyone was rooting for has some major news. Jade Roper and Tanner Tolbert, who met on the Bachelor spin-off and later got engaged, announced to In Touch Weekly that they are expecting their first child together.
The couple married last year in Dana Point, CA. That same month, Roper and Tolbert sat down with Us Weekly to discuss wedding details and the possibility of building a family together. Roper, who had just turned 30, told the magazine that she would love to have a baby in 2017. It looks like her wish has come true. And like their unconventional love story — not many can brag about wedded bliss post-reality TV — Roper is hoping for an unconventional childbirth, too. In Touch reports that she's looking into a home birth.
"If the pregnancy is low-risk, I would love to have an at-home water birth," Roper told In Touch. In fact, the magazine reveals that Roper once considered a career as a doula. "But Tanner's a little concerned," she explained.
As for Tolbert, he's excited about the prospect of fatherhood. Minus one thing: diapers. He explained to In Touch that he's willing to do every other chore to avoid changing a dirty diaper. "I'll do every other duty if it means no poopy diapers!" he told the magazine.
Roper is fine with that. The former Playboy model said that she's more than happy to have extra time with the little one when he or she arrives. For now, the two are focusing less on who will do what and are just excited to be parents.
"He works a lot, so I'll gladly take on most of the responsibility," Roper said when asked about parenting duties. "I’m naturally nurturing, and I just can’t wait to have our baby."
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The best thing about ClassPass is also the worst: You can try a different class each time you work out and never get bored. It's a uniquely New Yorker problem to feel crippled by having too many options at your fingertips. That's why you can live in an apartment for years and still walk down the block and think, "Hey, I didn't know there was a restaurant here!" because you only order from the same three places on Seamless.
Branching out and trying a new spot outside your normal routine — whether we're talking takeout food or fitness classes — can be beautiful and adventurous, and it can also be the worst. Worst case scenario is that you spend a whole yoga class wishing it would end, wasting your precious ClassPass credits and time. Best case? You try something out of your comfort zone and end up actually liking the workout. Currently, there are upwards of one thousand studios on ClassPass in New York City, so you've got to do your research.
There's really only one way to find out if you like something (trying it), but we combed through the list and found the best of the best classes and studios on ClassPass. Flip through to find the class that sounds like it could be your thing — then go!
Y7 Studio
Hip hop music is the soundtrack to these hot yoga classes. And yes, this is that place you saw on Instagram with the steps that quote a Drake song.
Y7 Studio, 430 Broome St, New York, NY; (646) 820-0781
Photo: Courtesy of Y7 Studio.
Mile High Run Club
If you've never experienced a runner's high before, you will after one of these classes. The coaches tell you how to adjust your speed and incline (which is great if you're not used to using a treadmill), then walk you through some strength moves off the 'mill. You can also rent some Nike running shoes if you don't have your own.
The hour-long strength and cardio class at Barry's might sound intimidating, but the instructors are super-motivating. It's broken up into half-hour segments, so it doesn't get boring, either. Most of the studios use MALIN + GOETZ products in the locker room, so that's pretty chic.
Barry's Bootcamp, 419 Lafayette St, New York, NY; (212) 260-4777
Photographed by Aaron Richter.
Physique 57
If you're into barre classes, these mix it up with cardio, stretch, and strength training. At first, the lingo might be confusing, so try a beginner class if you're new to barre. You can't have bare feet in the studio, so make sure you bring socks.
Physique 57, 55 Broadway #1602, New York, NY; (212) 747-0570
Photo: Courtesy of Physique 57.
Swerve Fitness
Before class, you're assigned to a team based on your bike. You race against the other side for quick timed cycling intervals. Win or lose, it's still fun, but might be best for competitive types. Oh, and there's a smoothie bar by the front desk.
Swerve Fitness, 30 W 18th St, New York, NY; (212) 242-3330
Photo: Courtesy of Swerve Fitness.
Brooklyn Body Burn
This is like reformer Pilates, only harder because the machines have stronger springs in them. Show up a few minutes early so someone can walk you through how to use the machine (there are lots of straps and things), and be prepared to feel muscles you didn't know you had the next day.
Ultra-chill yoga studio doubles as a communal workspace — so Greenpoint, right? The classes are vinyasa yoga, and they're known for their supportive and positive teachers. They also provide mats, but the studio is pretty intimate, so get there on time.
New Love City, 4th Floor, 68 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY; (616) 915-4576
Photo: Courtesy of Mindy LaVergne.
The Bari Studio
You'll use trampolines and resistance bands to bounce around during the workout — it's fun, not gimmicky. The classes are a nice departure from your usual strength-and-cardio class, and the instructors use the music to keep time with the exercises.
The Bari Studio, 23 Leonard St, New York, NY; (212) 966-2274
Courtesy of The Bari Studio.
City Row
Rowing indoors on a machine might be the new cycling. The machines at City Row are easy to use, and you'll also do some bodyweight exercises between breaks on the ergs. You'll be surprised how much of a mind-body experience rowing is, because you really have to think about form.
City Row, 80 5th Ave #1501, New York, NY; (212) 242-4790
Courtesy of Jay Sullivan.
Body and Pole
If learning how to pole dance is a secret passion, go to one of these classes. The instructors will teach you how to safely do flips and tricks, and your upper body will really feel the workout. Plus it's a fun party trick!
Body and Pole, 115 W 27th St, New York, NY; (212) 334-6900
Photo: Courtesy of Body and Pole.
Uplift Studios
This is a women-only gym that offers small group classes. Most of them focus on strength training, and people say they're challenging but pressure-free.
Uplift Studios, 24 W 23rd St, New York, NY; (212) 242-3103
Photo: Courtesy of Uplift Studios.
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The skirt belongs to her mother, the scarf to a friend. The red necklace was a gift ("My grandma bought it for me from the market — it’s my favorite thing in the world"), and her shoes…well, her shoes are her own — but they’re about to be kicked off and discarded somewhere in the field. As Kusum, 15, scoops up the folds of material in her fingers and runs towards the makeshift photo studio, she stumbles and lands face first in the grass. Her friend, Hasina, makes a small noise and steps forward, but Kusum sits back on her heels and grins. Real life has been suspended for the next six hours, and you can see it all over her face.
Girls in Nepal are forced to grow up fast. Far, far too fast. Countrywide, it’s believed 41 per cent of all weddings take place to child brides, but in the time-frozen Terai regions bordering India, that figure may be even higher — local experts believe more than two thirds of teenage girls may be married off before they turn 18. School is dropped and swapped for motherhood, and aspirations buried: dreams tucked to one side as a deeply patriarchal culture reminds every woman, time and time again, that she doesn’t have the right to choose her own future.
Today, that changes, for a moment — and it’s why Kusum is in her (freshly-grass-stained) costume. As part of an ongoing photographic project created by 32-year-old Vincent Tremeau, and an international campaign to end child marriage by the UNFPA, we’re asking teenage girls from agronomic Kapilvastu to dress up like what they’d like to be when they grow up — if we took prospective husbands out of the equation. Entitled "One Day I Will, " the aim is to highlight the limitless potential of young women and illustrate the strength of their ambition.
That, and allow them to be teenagers again — at least for six hours of a single day.
Ahead, meet ten teens from the region and discover the futures they're dreaming about.
Join the UNFPA and DFID’s campaign to end child marriage all over the world at www.unfpa.org #EndChildMarriage.
One Day I Will… Be A Tailor
Aasha Nefali, 16, Bankaffa
"My mum died while she was giving birth to my brother ten years ago. I was only six years old, but it’s been up to me to raise him ever since. I have to look after my dad too. He’s sick, and struggles with his hearing — plus he drinks every day, which makes things difficult. But there’s nobody else but me around. I have to cope. Not coping isn’t an option. It’s only when I stop for a second that I start to worry. I’m barely literate because I had to leave school as soon as my mum died, and that makes me feel like I’m not going to get anywhere in life. I know I’m going to have to get married soon — but if I could choose, then I’d like to try and wait until I’m 20. If I can find a way to become a tailor, then maybe I’ll have more options. I’m teaching myself numbers at night so that I can measure people for their clothes. I just really, really hope that’s enough."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Forest Guide
Laxmi Tharu, 16, Baluhaw
"There’s a huge amount of deforestation near my village, and thinking about it makes me so sad inside. Someone needs to put a stop to it, or we’ll all be in trouble, so I’ve decided that that person should probably be me. It’s think it’s happening because families are getting too big, so they chop the trees down and use the land to build more houses — but it’s just generally really, really bad. So I’m going to complete my studies, and then when I finish school, I’ll start teaching everyone how important it is to save the forests. In the meantime, I go there every morning to collect firewood. I love walking through the jungle. It’s so green.
"Sometimes I feel really scared that I won’t get to do everything I want to in life. My father isn’t very well at the moment — he has some deep wounds in his hands, which happened while he was fixing a truck. So he can’t work, and that puts a huge amount of financial strain on our family. My sister is about 12 months older than me, and until recently, the burden of supporting us all had fallen on her shoulders — so she had to drop out of school and find work. But now she’s married, so I’m the eldest daughter now. And that means it’s all on me."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Beautician
Rumani Tharu, 18, Harrahaw
"I’ve always, always wanted to be a beautician, but people think it’s just a matter of doing other people’s makeup — and it’s not. I want to open the first ever beauty parlor in my village. I’ve only ever been to one before — my sister and I went to have our hair straightened in the town nearby. It felt so silky afterwards.
"I haven’t received any proposals yet, and I’ve never had a boyfriend, but I don’t do my makeup to impress guys. I feel happy and proud of myself when I’m wearing kohl or lipstick. Looking good is a positive thing when it makes you feel more confident in yourself.
"But I’m lucky: My parents have told me that when men do start asking me to marry them, I can be the one who decides whether or not to say yes, or whether I’d rather wait a bit longer. Not many girls get that opportunity. All I know that I’d like to be the boss of my own business before I start a family.
"My parents were both bonded laborers until I was three years old, and we were forced to live as slaves to a master who would torture them both in front of me. It was only when he was killed during the civil war that my family was finally free to go. That might be why I don’t like the idea of working for anybody else, I guess. And it’s probably why my parents agree."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be An Air Stewardess
Parbati Tharu, 15, Harrahaw
"I’ve never been on a plane, but I know that I’d love to leave Nepal and travel far, far away — like to India or Dubai. Nobody I know has ever been there, but I’ve seen planes before in the sky, and I’ve read about other countries in books. If you’re in the air, then the sky is the limit. Anything is possible.
"Right now, I go to school with all of my friends, but I worry that I’m not going to be able to stay for very much longer — my family’s current living situation means that I’m going to have to quit and stay home to help my mother with the housework. There’s just so much of it to do, and I know that she’s struggling to cope with it all on her own. I’m the eldest of five children. That means that I have to be the one who eases some of the pressure from my parents’ shoulders.
"I hope I can delay getting married until I’m 22 or 23, but that depends on my parents, too. If I have to leave school, then I really, desperately hope I can leave school to get a job rather than become a wife straightaway. I don’t want to have to give everything up just to wash clothes and sweep floors forever."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Police Officer
Rina Tharu, 16, Wajawa
"Women in Nepal are expected to be quiet, and I hate that. You’re either a housewife or you’re a mother, and I don’t think I want to be either of those things. I’d much rather be a police officer and speak my voice. It’s not like I’m against getting married, but I want a husband who hears me, and doesn’t assume he’s always right. If I could marry another police officer, then that would quite cool — we’d make a really powerful team. But teams only work if you both listen to one another, and if you both see the other person’s perspective. I guess I’m just really tired of boys assuming they’re the only ones whose feelings count. They think it’s OK to be mean to girls, or hurt them, and it’s not. That’s not OK at all.
"That’s why the idea of having an arranged marriage appeals to me; as soon as you add feelings to the mix, things get really complicated. I trust my own judgment, but I trust my parents too. I know they have my best interests at heart. Still, my marriage won’t be like theirs — where my mother has to do what my father tells her. Mine is going to be on my own terms, even if I don’t get to choose when it happens."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Dancer
Kusum Chaudhary, 15, Bankatta
"All I want to do is dance. Whenever I’m sad, I go into the mustard fields behind my house and dance and twirl and spin in the yellow flowers. It makes me feel lighter — like everything is going to work out OK in the end. I’ve never had any lessons, but I think I’m getting better by just practicing on my own.
"I left school when I was about 13, so I spend a lot of time worrying because I don’t think I’ve had enough education to do the things I’d like to do. I feel out of control a lot of the time, but I never talk about this stuff with anyone — not even my friends. Feelings aren’t encouraged here. You just get on with things. So I try not to think about my future too much, because it makes me scared. Like, what if I’m made to marry the wrong person? That happens all the time, and you can’t do anything about it.
"Life is harder here for girls. When I was seven my dad died, but I wasn’t allowed to attend the funeral because I was a girl. I don’t think that’s fair. I should have been there. He was my dad, and I miss him every day. Life would be so much easier if he was still around."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Radio Presenter
Sunita, 18, Bankatta
"A lot of the time I feel like nobody hears my voice. But if I was on the radio, then I would be able to play all my favorite folk music — and people would have to listen to me, too. I could talk about my experiences, and my friends’ experiences, and people would pay attention. I know so many girls who were made to get married to men they don’t like, or made to get married when they were too young, but there’s nothing they can do about it. As soon as the ceremony is over, it’s like all of their power has been taken away. And none of us have very much power to begin with."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Teacher
Indrawati Yadav, 19, Fulawapur
"I’m ‘fixed’ to a man, which means half my marriage ceremony has been performed, although I don’t have to live with my new husband for another couple of months. The first ceremony took place when I was 17, and lasted two days. I remember spending hours getting ready — my aunts painted my hands and feet with henna, and I oiled my hair before wearing an embroidered red sari with gold jewelery stacked up to my elbows. Then a long red veil was placed over my face. Afterwards, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, and just thought ‘I’m so red’. I looked like a tomato.
"I didn’t speak to my new husband once that day — and I didn’t see his face, either. It’s considered bad luck for the bride to see her husband, although he got to see me. Kneeling on the ground, the Hindu priest lifted my veil to apply vermillion powder to my forehead, and that was his chance to check my appearance. But I had to keep my eyes on the ground and bite my lip to stop sobbing. I was surrounded by my new husband’s relatives, and I suddenly realized that they were my new family now. If they didn’t like me, or if they weren’t nice people, then it was too late. My mother had to keep taking me to one side and touching up my makeup because my tears were making it run down my cheeks.
"The final ceremony takes place this year and I can’t stop thinking about it. As soon as it’s over I’ll have go and live with my husband and start having his children — and I don’t feel ready for that. I don’t want this life. I just wish it could all take place later so that I could actually be a teacher, even for a little while."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be An Accountant
Sheskalo Pandey, 17, Pandahawa
"Money is a big problem in this community. So many people still keep all their savings in boxes underneath their beds, and lots of families in my village can barely afford to eat two meals a day. That’s why I want to be an accountant: Somebody needs to show everyone how banks work and how they can protect themselves and their incomes. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that you need to be able to support yourself. I think that’s doubly important if you’re a girl, because you’re doubly disadvantaged. Half the time, our families won’t even let us go outside — and that isn’t fair. I’m determined to change things.
"My parents used to discriminate against me and my brother. They didn’t want to send me to school for nearly as long as him, or to give me the same opportunities — mostly because of money. They said that it was a waste to pay money for my education, when we were struggling so much to afford food to eat. They wanted me to get married. But I’ve had enough of being treated like I’m worth less because I’m a girl, so 18 months ago, I started my own business to pay for my school fees. After finishing my chores every day, I sit in the porch and make rugs and bowls and calendars and incense, then at weekends I take them to the local market and sell them to people for a fair price. Now I’ve saved enough money to pay for an evening course in commerce and computers. It’s hard work sometimes, but I don’t mind. Dropping out of school and getting married would have been so much worse."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
One Day I Will… Be A Beautician
Suman Chaudhary, 18, Bithuwa
"I bought this makeup box in the local market for 1,500 rupees [$14] — but I don’t know why I’m bothering to plan my career, because I’m getting married this year. I know the man has been chosen, but the ceremony to make the engagement official hasn’t taken place yet. That’ll happen in a couple of months' time, and then there’s no going back. I’m so nervous about it that sometimes I start shaking. I don’t know what food he eats or what he looks like or what his bad habits are. All I know is that he’s in Year 12, and that soon he’ll be my husband. But I could never turn around and say to my family, ‘I don’t want to do this’. I can’t even imagine doing that.
"When my uncle and my father told me that they’d told me they’d met the man I was going to marry, I immediately felt sick to my stomach. Then I felt angry because they’d fixed my future without consulting me. But nobody ever apologized. My mum and I are close, but she didn’t even say anything — just that the proposal was a good one, and that I would be OK. I wish I knew how to believe her."
Photo: Courtesy of Vincent Tremeau.
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From feminist nail art to glittering geode manicures, we'll never stop coming up with ways to express ourselves through our hands. And luckily, brands like Orly keep churning out the colors and products we need to keep up with our ever-changing looks.
We went behind the scenes of Orly's sprawling, paint-splattered factory to see how its bright, innovative polishes are made. And trust us when we say it is truly a sight to be seen. Imagine rivers of burgundy and neon orange polish being mixed, swirled, and poured into glass bottles and gleaming, electric purple paint pouring from 200-pound vats. It's like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory, but for beauty nerds.
Today, Orly — whose founder Jeff Pink invented the French Manicure — manufactures 5 tons of tinted lacquer every day. But the history of nail polish dates back way before that. Watch the video above to see the entire, mesmerizing process. Warning: manicure appointments may follow.
Correction: We mistakenly state that Orly makes 5 tons of nail polish everyday. In fact, we dont know how much they make. But it's a lot : )
Correction: Jeff Pink is not makeup artist, he owned a beauty supply store, selling products to makeup artists.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Since the presidential election, thousands upon thousands of young women across the country have pledged to enter politics themselves.
But will they actually run? And soon? If one special congressional election in Southern California is any indication, the answer is yes.
At least eight women under the age of 40 have joined the crowded field of candidates vying to replace Xavier Becerra in Los Angeles' 34th Congressional District, according to bios published by The Los Angeles Times. In all, 12 out of the 23 candidates are female — more than half of the ballot.
The special election to succeed Becerra, who was appointed as the state's attorney general following Kamala Harris' election to the U.S. Senate, is set for April 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, the two with the most votes will compete in a June run-off.
The election of any of these women would give a small but crucial boost to gender balance in Washington. Currently, just 83 women serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, accounting for 19% of the body.
The young women in the race bring a range of backgrounds and experiences to the campaign, as the Times reports. Ahead, meet the eight under-40 female candidates for the seat. ß
Vanessa Aramayo, 39, worked for state and federal politicians and as the director of a nonprofit. She's now a stay-at-home mom, according to the LA Times.
Wendy Carrillo, 36, is a progressive activist and journalist who has made her own experience as a formerly undocumented immigrant from El Salvador a central part of her campaign (Editor's note: Carrillo has written for Refinery29 in the past).
Photo courtesy of the campaign.
Adrienne Nicole Edwards, a 28-year-old community organizer, is staging her third bid for the seat
