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Bold idea sees hotel offer thousands in cash back if it rains

<p>In a move that's making waves in the travel industry, a posh hotel in the heart of Singapore has rolled out a revolutionary offer: rain insurance. Yes, you heard it right – rain insurance!</p> <p>InterContinental Singapore, a sanctuary for jet-setters seeking respite from both the humidity and the occasional tropical deluge, has unleashed a game-changer for travellers. Dubbed the "Rain Resist Bliss Package", this offer promises to keep your spirits high even when the rain gods decide to throw a dampener on your plans.</p> <p>Picture this: you've booked your suite at this 5-star haven, eagerly anticipating your Singapore escapade. But lo and behold, the forecast takes a turn for the soggy, threatening to rain on your parade – quite literally. Fear not, dear traveller, for with the Rain Resist Bliss Package, you can breathe easy knowing that if your plans get drenched, your wallet won't.</p> <p>Now, you might be wondering, how does this rain insurance work? Well, it's as simple as Singapore Sling on a sunny day. If the heavens decide to open up and rain on your parade for a cumulative 120 minutes within any four-hour block of daylight hours (that's 8am to 7pm for those not on island time), you're entitled to a refund equivalent to your single-night room rate. The package is available exclusively for suite room bookings starting from $SGD850 per night – so that’s around $965 rain-soaked dollars back in your pocket, no questions asked. No need to jump through hoops or perform a rain dance – just sit back, relax, and let the rain do its thing.</p> <p>And fret not about having to keep an eye on the sky – the clever folks at InterContinental Singapore have got you covered. They're tapping into the data from the National Environmental Agency Weather Station to automatically trigger those rain refunds. It's like having your own personal meteorologist ensuring that your plans stay as dry as your martini.</p> <p>But hey, if the rain does decide to crash your party, fear not! The hotel has an array of dining options to keep your tastebuds entertained while you wait for the clouds to part. And let's not forget, Singapore isn't just about sunshine and rainbows – there are plenty of indoor activities to keep you occupied, from feasting at Lau Pa Sat for an authentic hawker experience to retail therapy at Takashimaya.</p> <p>And here's a silver lining to those rain clouds: fewer tourists! That's right, while others might be scrambling for cover, you could be enjoying shorter lines, less crowded attractions, and even snagging better deals on accommodations. Plus, let's not overlook the fact that the rain brings a welcome respite from the tropical heat, making outdoor adventures all the more enjoyable once the showers subside.</p> <p>So, pack your umbrella and leave your worries behind. With InterContinental Singapore's Rain Resist Bliss Package, you can embrace the unpredictable and turn even the rainiest of days into a memorable adventure. After all, as they say, when life gives you lemons, make Singapore Slings and dance in the rain!</p> <p><em>Images: InterContinental Singapore / Getty Images</em></p>

International Travel

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Is the Barbie movie a bold step to reinvent and fix past wrongs or a clever ploy to tap a new market?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-gurrieri-5402">Lauren Gurrieri</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p>After a months-long marketing blitz, the much-hyped Barbie movie is released this week.</p> <p>From a <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/barbies-malibu-dreamhouse-is-back-on-airbnb-but-this-time-kens-hosting/">Malibu Barbie dreamhouse</a> listed on AirBnB, an AI tool that <a href="https://www.barbieselfie.ai/au/">transforms selfies into Barbie movie posters</a> and multiple Barbie-themed brand collaborations ranging from nail polish to roller skates, Barbie is everywhere.</p> <p>She has even gone viral as a fashion trend known as <a href="https://www.elle.com.au/fashion/barbiecore-27286">Barbiecore</a>, exploding across social media with people embracing vibrant pink hues and hyper feminine aesthetics. A Barbie world is upon us.</p> <p>Although some have criticised this <a href="https://twitter.com/MosheIsaacian/status/1673415496929267712">saturation</a> strategy, it is a very deliberate marketing ploy to revitalise and redefine a brand with a contested position and history.</p> <p>As well as attracting adults who grew up with Barbie and are curious to see what’s changed, the reinvention is drawing in those younger fans swept up by the tsunami of marketing and merchandise.</p> <p>Despite being one of the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/brandspark-most-trusted-brands-america-2022">most trusted brands</a> with a value of approximately <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1009126/barbie-brand-value-worldwide/">$US700 million</a>, Barbie has long attracted feminist criticism for fuelling outdated and problematic “plastic fantastic” sexist stereotypes and expectations.</p> <h2>The Barbie backlash</h2> <p>Only a few years back, Barbie was a brand in crisis. <a href="https://time.com/3667580/mattel-barbie-earnings-plus-size-body-image/">Sales plummeted</a> across 2011 to 2015 against the cultural backdrop of a rise in body positivity and backlash against a doll that represented narrow ideals and an impossible beauty standard.</p> <p>After all, at life-size Barbie represents a body shape held by <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01544300#page-1">less than 1 in 100,000</a> real people. In fact, she is so <a href="https://rehabs.com/explore/dying-to-be-barbie/#.UWs-5aKyB8F">anatomically impossible</a> that, if she were real, she would be unable to lift her head, store a full liver or intestines, or <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/305/6868/1575">menstruate</a>.</p> <p>The backlash has also been in response to growing concerns about how she influences child development, particularly how and what children learn about gender. Barbie has been identified as a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144521000243#!">risk factor</a> for thin-ideal internalisation and body dissatisfaction for young girls, encouraging <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S174014451630208X">motivation for a thinner shape</a> that damages body image and self esteem.</p> <p>And despite the multiple careers Barbie has held over the decades, research highlights that girls who play with Barbie believe they have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-014-0347-y">fewer career options than boys</a>. This speaks to the power of toys to reinforce gender stereotypes, roles and expectations, and how Barbie has imported narrow ideals of femininity, girlhood and womanhood into young girls’ lives.</p> <h2>Reinventing a long-established icon</h2> <p>In response to this backlash, Mattel launched a new range of Barbies in 2016 that were promoted as <a href="https://shop.mattel.com/collections/fashion-dolls#filter.ss_filter_tags_subtype=Fashionistas">diverse</a>, representing different body shapes, sizes, hair types and skin tones. This was not without criticism, with “curvy” Barbie still considered thin and dolls named in ways that drew attention foremost to their bodies.</p> <p>From a white, well-dressed, middle-class, girl-next-door with friends of a similar ilk, Barbie has since been marketed as a symbol of diversity and inclusion. To signify the extent of the transformation, Mattel’s executives gave this project the code name “Project Dawn”.</p> <p>Mattel - like many other brands joining the <a href="https://theconversation.com/victorias-secret-joins-the-inclusive-revolution-finally-realizing-diversity-sells-163955">“inclusivity revolution”</a> - knew that diversity sells, and they needed to make their brand relevant for contemporary consumers.</p> <p>Diversity initiatives included a line of <a href="https://shop.mattel.com/pages/barbie-role-models">female role model dolls</a>, promoted as “introducing girls to remarkable women’s stories to show them you can be anything”.</p> <p>Barbie was also given a voice in the form of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5BsRl9zFaeSKIL4XD-pdGHGbJRvkfe8S">Barbie Vlogs</a>, where she expressed her views on issues including depression and the <a href="https://www.bustle.com/p/barbies-vlog-about-the-sorry-reflex-is-the-feminist-pep-talk-all-90s-babies-need-to-hear-9852366">sorry reflex</a>. A gender neutral collection called “creatable world” was added in 2019 to open up gender expression possibilities when playing with Barbies.</p> <p>Such efforts were crucial to undoing missteps of the past, such as a “Teen Talk Barbie” that was programmed to say “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSL2-rbE9AM">Math class is tough!</a>”, or the compulsory heterosexuality that Barbie has long advanced.</p> <h2>The latest step in Barbie’s transformation</h2> <p>Barbie the film is simply the next step in an evolution to make brand Barbie inclusive. And with a rumoured film budget of $100 million, the supporting marketing machine provides a critical opportunity to reset the Barbie narrative.</p> <p>With Greta Gerwig, acclaimed director of female-led stories such as Little Women and Lady Bird at the helm, and a diverse cast of Barbies of different races, body types, gender identities and sexual preferences, the film and its creators have sought to assure audiences of the film’s feminist leanings.</p> <p>Addressing the complicated history of Barbie is crucial for audiences who grew up and played with the doll and are grappling with introducing her to the next generation of doll consumers.</p> <p>Yet, Robbie Brenner, executive producer of Mattel Films, has explicitly stated that Gerwig’s Barbie is “not a feminist movie”. Indeed, the main character still represents a narrow beauty standard - tall, thin, blonde, white - with diverse characters in place to support her narrative.</p> <p>Which begs the question: are these inclusion initiatives simply emblematic of diversity washing, where the language and symbolism of social justice are hijacked for corporate profit? Or do they represent a genuine effort to redress the chequered history of a brand that promotes poor body image, unrealistic ideals and rampant materialism?</p> <p>What is clear is that in today’s climate where brands are increasingly rewarded for taking a stand on sociopolitical issues, brand Barbie’s attempts to reposition as inclusive have paid off: sales are now booming.</p> <p>Seemingly, Barbie’s famous tagline that “anything is possible” has shown itself to be true.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/209394/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lauren-gurrieri-5402">Lauren Gurrieri</a>, Associate Professor in Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-the-barbie-movie-a-bold-step-to-reinvent-and-fix-past-wrongs-or-a-clever-ploy-to-tap-a-new-market-209394">original article</a>.</em></p>

Movies

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How beauty filters like TikTok’s ‘bold glamour’ affect tweens using social media

<p><a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a43203022/tiktok-bold-glamour-filter/">TikTok’s new “bold glamour” filter</a> “enhances” physical features in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish whether someone is using a filter or not, despite its airbrushing qualities.</p> <p>Unlike its predecessors, this filter allows movement through an AI feature with the filter remaining fixed on when, for example, a hand crosses the face, with fewer glitches. </p> <p>Users could be left comparing their unfiltered appearance with their “perfect” filtered self. They may start to develop unrealistic goals of perceived physical perfection that affect their self esteem. </p> <p>Although the terms of service for most social media platforms require users to be at least 13, a significant number of “tweens” (children between the ages of nine and 12) <a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/childrens/children-and-parents-media-use-and-attitudes-report-2022">now have a social media profile</a>.</p> <p>Online safety lessons in schools <a href="https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Childrens-Commissioner-for-England-Life-in-Likes-3.pdf">tend to concentrate</a> on physical risk and predatory behaviour rather than emotional risks that children may encounter, as these may not be as apparent or experienced by adults.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I am old enough and tough enough that filters don’t have an impact on me. My face tells the story of my life and I know its value; I can (mostly) look at who I am with love and acceptance. But if I had had access to Tiktok’s Bold Glamour as a kid, I would have been destroyed. <a href="https://t.co/USjFcLJkoh">pic.twitter.com/USjFcLJkoh</a></p> <p>— Rebecca Seal (@RebeccaSeal) <a href="https://twitter.com/RebeccaSeal/status/1640275766100279296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>The <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1461444819873644">damaging effect of “filters”</a> (digital image effects that alter a person’s appearance) is less commonly taught.</p> <p><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KXDECXZB3CVNZNDHNURF/full?target=10.1080/03004279.2022.2095416">In my research</a>, I presented eight focus groups with activities to generate discussions with children of 10 and 11 years of age who were in their final year of primary school. One of the activities was related to the use of filters.</p> <p>Participants were given a set of photographs of people using filters on the social media site Snapchat and were asked questions such as: “How are these different from how they look in real life?” and “why do people use these filters?”</p> <p>The results demonstrated a clear and distinct gender divide. The boys said they used filters for fun and entertainment, favouring dog ears and exaggerated tongues to “make people laugh”. The girls used filters to create an idealised image that conformed to beauty ideals and for validation in the form of likes and comments.</p> <p>One girl, Samantha, said: “[filters] make you look perfect and flawless”. Another explained: “I like putting filters on because it doesn’t show my birthmark at all. It takes the blemishes off my face”. </p> <p>Similarly, tween Mia explained: “when you put a filter on, it makes your skin tone better and it covers up any spots or like any bruises and stuff that you feel insecure about in yourself.”</p> <p>My findings suggest that girls are internalising and aspiring to the beauty ideals that they are consuming via social media. There is a pressure to adopt a polished, physical appearance through filters, which may have <a href="http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/82913/3/__smbhome.uscs.susx.ac.uk_dm50_Desktop_Jaynes%20V.pdf">emotional repercussions</a>.</p> <h2>‘Beauty isn’t everything’</h2> <p>I also used collaging as an activity for exploring individual experiences. One child, Sophie, chose to show a binary depiction of herself as two halves.</p> <p>On the social media side, she used lots of different animal prints in triangles to show that you can be lots of different things and there are lots of different parts of yourself.</p> <p>She explained that the patterns she had chosen looked unnatural, unlike the more realistic filters online. </p> <p>Because (like other females in the study) she felt that there is an expectation for girls to look a certain way, Sophie also wrote “no one is perfect” on her collage.</p> <p>For the girls in my research, there was a sense that self expression was strongly linked to appearance, with a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26612721/">pressure to adhere</a> to certain perceived physical ideals.</p> <p>In her collage, Karen discussed at length how social media can be an augmented reality and can emphasise feelings of self consciousness linked to physical appearance.</p> <p>The characters drawn on her collage show a “real-life” self that had no filter, which “makes her sad” and a “filter self” which used make up and filters to enhance her appearance and made her happy. </p> <p>She also emphasised the feelings of negative self-esteem that viewing filtered images could have by saying, "People try and make themselves look beautiful and at the end it may really disappoint them."</p> <p><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1461444819871669?journalCode=nmsa">Similar research from 2020</a> also concluded that girls tend to replicate “female” cues popularised through social media patterns, such as exaggerated lips and flawless skin. </p> <p>Although my research specifically focused on Snapchat, other social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram also encourage enhancing appearance through filters.</p> <p>Beauty filters reinforce the message that wearing makeup, looking a certain way and conforming to beauty ideals, is the desired physical state for women. Isabel had a strong message for girls in her collage: “be your own person and stop comparing yourself to others”.</p> <p>The widespread use of filters is certainly not facilitating this message and it is important that the emotional repercussions of using these appearance altering tools – as well as continually seeing them in social media feeds – is addressed. </p> <p>Open discussions could help educate girls to learn that these unattainable physical aspirations do not represent reality.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-beauty-filters-like-tiktoks-bold-glamour-affect-tweens-using-social-media-203383" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Beauty & Style

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New classified report makes bold Covid-19 origin claim

<p>The US Department of Energy has reached the conclusion that the Covid pandemic is most likely to have arisen from a laboratory leak, as suggested in a classified intelligence report delivered to both the White house and key members of Congress. </p> <p>The conclusion, drawn with “low confidence”, comes more than a year after the FBI declared their belief that a laboratory incident in China was the source of the Covid-19 pandemic. In contrast to the Energy Department, the FBI made their assessment with “moderate confidence”. </p> <p>Reportedly, intelligence agencies make their assessments on a scale of low to high confidence, with a low confidence grading meaning that the information is not reliable enough, is not substantial, or is not cohesive enough to make a complete and informed judgement. </p> <p>The new report demonstrates the differing opinions of the US intelligence community about the origins of the pandemic, though the Energy Department is now in line with the FBI in believing that the virus likely spread due to an accident in a Chinese laboratory. However, while two agencies remain undecided, there are still four - as well as The National Intelligence Council - that are firm on their stance that the pandemic was the result of natural transmission from an infected animal.</p> <p>The Energy Department’s findings are allegedly drawn from new intelligence, and are considered to be significant due to their expertise and network of US laboratories. Though the Energy Department oversees the US’ nuclear weapons program, some of their laboratories are said to participate in biological research.</p> <p>Officials in the US did not provide details into the new intelligence that caused the Energy Department to shift its standpoint, but according to the Wall Street Journal, added that “while the Energy Department and the FBI each say an unintended lab leak is most likely, they arrived at those conclusions for different reasons.”</p> <p>Although intelligence agencies aren’t all in agreement, the update reaffirmed existing ideas that Covid-19 was not the result of a Chinese biological weapons program. </p> <p>“There are a variety of views in the intelligence community,” Jake Sullivan - the White House’s national security adviser - said to <em>CNN’s State of the Union </em>of the ongoing investigation into the origins of Covid-19, and US President Joe Biden’s request for national labs to be brought into the assessment. </p> <p>“Here’s what I can tell you: President Biden has directed, repeatedly, every element of our intelligence community to put effort and resources behind getting to the bottom of this question.</p> <p>“And if we gain any further insight or information, we will share it with Congress, and we will share it with the American people. But right now, there is not a definitive answer that has emerged from the intelligence community on this question.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty </em></p>

Caring

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Prince George's bold warning to classmates

<p>A new book has claimed that Prince George delivered a sassy comeback to a fellow classmate during a tussle on the playground, flouting his royal status. </p> <p>According to journalist and author Katie Nicholl, who wrote <em>The New Royals – Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown</em> biography, the second in line for the throne called out a student during a scuffle at the young royal’s former school Thomas’ Battersea in south London. </p> <p>Katie wrote that the Prince replied to his peers with the line, “My dad will be king so you better watch out,” when they were messing about on the playground one day.</p> <p>In her book, she wrote, "They [Prince William and Princess Kate] are raising their children, particularly Prince George, with an awareness of who he is and the role he will inherit, but they are keen not to weigh them down with a sense of duty."</p> <p>“George understands he will one day be king and as a little boy sparred with friends at school, outdoing his peers with the killer line, ‘My dad will be king so you better watch out.’”</p> <p>The royal children now attend the elite Lambrook School in Berkshire, west London, as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were pictured with their parents for orientation day earlier this year. </p> <p>The young royals were welcomed by headmaster Jonathan Perry at the front gate, as they all said they were excited for their first day. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Books

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Stars make bold choices at the 2021 Met Gala

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After spending 2020 on hiatus due to the pandemic, the annual Met Gala is back for the 2021 event. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stars from all over the world gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City to celebrate the biggest moments in fashion. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year, the theme was “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion”, which gave guests an opportunity to pay homage to the rich history of American designers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first celebrity on the carpet was international teenage superstar and Met Gala 2021 co-chair Billie Eilish, who stunned in an Oscar de la Renta gown that was inspired by fashion icon Marilyn Monroe. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Billie took to her Instagram account to tell her fans that she agreed to wear the gown on the condition that the world-renowned designer would no longer use real fur. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other stars also used the high profile event to make political statements in their outfits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The two New York congresswomen in attendance, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn B Maloney, made bold statements in their gowns, with AOC’s dress reading “Tax The Rich” on the back. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carolyn B Maloney’s gown was an homage to the suffragette movement, with her dress resembling the “Votes for Women” sashes worn by women in the 1910s.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other celebs used the opportunity to stun in extravagant pieces that stood out amongst all the attendees. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">International supermodel Iman wore an elaborate gold embellished outfit that was adorned with feathers and a show-stopping headdress that was designed by her date, revolutionary designer Harris Reed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Debbie Harry stuck to the theme with a ballgown shrouded in the American flag and partnered with a bedazzled denim jacket. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The star-studded event showcased some of the most inventive and daring outfits to honour the American fashion industry. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">All image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Beauty & Style

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It’s Never Too Late To Be Bold and Chase Excitement

<p>A seemingly nonsensical suggestion led Gail MacCallum to uproot her life and follow her dream.</p> <p><strong>Some people get more averse to risk as the years go by.</strong> Not so Gail MacCallum, who at age 40 quit a secure job and left the city she had enjoyed her whole adult life in order to leap into the unknown. But she had to learn to be bold.</p> <p>MacCallum moved quite a bit in childhood and spent her formative years outside Canberra in a farmhouse without electricity. She read the books of animal observer Gerald Durrell and relished the freedom of the natural world. In her teens she and her family moved into the heart of inner-city Sydney, and she found she adored that too. “I was 14 and it was the perfect time. I loved the excitement of the city.”</p> <p>She continued to love it over the following decades as she moved through jobs including coffee-roaster and bookseller before finding her calling in book publishing and then magazines. In 2002 MacCallum and her then partner had a daughter, Amelia. They wanted to make sure that despite being a city kid Amelia had plenty of natural encounters so they sought out places to climb trees, watch lizards and spot turtles. But one day MacCallum realised her little girl was more at ease with busy streets than bushland. “When she was about seven, we were visiting a friend whose place had a beautiful lawn. Amelia called out to me from the verandah and said, ‘I can’t go into the wild!’ We decided we had to let her experience a wider world and two months later we were in a campervan heading off around Australia.”</p> <p>MacCallum admits she felt daunted. “I thought we’d need to know things like how to whittle your own clutch plate. I didn’t know how much it would all cost or what we’d do about money. But I thought the worst thing that would happen is we’d have an adventure and a holiday. I figured if we only make it two weeks in, so be it.” As it happened, the van they’d bought broke down just 90 minutes into the trip. But after repairs they set off again and travelled the country for six months, during which Amelia became an avid adventurer adept at digging fire pits. They returned to the city purely because the money had run out. “That trip helped me understand that success doesn’t have to be assured,” MacCallum says. “I realised that you can start something and just work it out as you go along.”</p> <p><strong>Four years later she and her current partner Ian Connellan </strong>were on a brief holiday in Tasmania, enjoying the chance to get up close to wildlife including “the fluffiest wombats in the world”, when they ran into some friends-of-friends, soon to move interstate, who asked them to dinner. The next day, recalls MacCallum, “They said, ‘We think you should buy our house.’” With no intention of uprooting their lives she and Connellan thought this was “entirely ridiculous”, yet they got so excited talking about the possibilities such a move might present they missed their plane home. “We stayed at a hotel that night, woke up the next morning and said, ‘Let’s give it a go.’”</p> <p>They resigned their publishing jobs and in January 2013 moved to Hobart to start not just a new life but a new business. Individually and together, both are intrepid, independent travellers who had spent time with scientists and conservationists working in various remote spots around the world, including Papua New Guinea and the Galapagos Islands. They wondered if they could make a living supporting such work by helping others to experience those unique places for themselves. The two decided to set up a company that specialised in organising trips to places where important scientific and environmental research was taking place.</p> <p>Naming the new company Curious Traveller, they began taking paying customers to remote locations including Western Australia’s Kimberley region and islands off South America. “For us the travel business comes out of a love of science,” MacCallum explains. “It works brilliantly. Scientists get helpers and funding. Guests get to see what scientists do and how the world is changing because of it. They leave excited and inspired, having had an awesome experience in a place they otherwise might never have seen.”</p> <p>Two-and-a-half years in, the pair still have to supplement their incomes with some freelance writing and editing, but the business is growing and within five years they hope to be helping fund half a dozen research projects. It’s a big task. “Some days we think it would be great to turn off and have making it all work become someone else’s problem,” MacCallum says, “but when we see the wonder on the face of a person who is experiencing somewhere like the Galapagos for the first time we know we’re living a fabulous, lucky life.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.3411078717201px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844052/follow-yr-dream-2-um.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5f0c645b37b24c14b8304fa17e82ae63" /></p> <p><strong>The Expert View</strong></p> <p>The type of business MacCallum started, which aims to do good as well as provide a living, is known as social enterprise. Celia Hodson is CEO of an institution specially created to give such people the business savvy they’ll need to survive – the School for Social Entrepreneurs.</p> <p>The desire to create a business with broader aims than just making money is gaining ground. “When we used to put a call-out for people who thought they had an amazing social enterprise idea we’d have maybe 20 applying.” says Hodson. “Now we get 120.” Some leap straight in, but most make the transition while establishing the business: “Typically they taper off their paid employment as their idea starts to gather speed.”</p> <p>The rewards are great, but it’s important to be realistic. “We sometimes ask people who come to us, ‘Where in your cash-flow is your salary?’ They’ll say, ‘Oh I don’t need money.’ Yes, social impact is what it’s about but to make it sustainable you need to ask yourself, ‘Is it going to pay me a salary?’ And you need to think about how to measure the difference you’re hoping to make.”</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on </em><em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/inspirational/Never-Too-Late-To-Be-Bold">Reader’s Digest</a></em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Elvis Presley’s granddaughter announces bold new "calling"

<p>Eight months after the death of her brother Ben Keough, Elvis Presley’s granddaughter Riley has announced that she just completed her training to become a "death doula".</p> <p>The actress took to Instagram to thank the community of people who taught her “conscious dying and death work.”</p> <p>"We are taught that it’s a morbid subject to talk about. Or were so afraid of it that we’re unable to talk about it... then, of course, it happens to us, and we are very ill-prepared," she wrote.</p> <p>"I think it's so important to be educated on conscious dying and death the way we educate ourselves on birth and conscious birthing. We prepare ourselves so rigorously for the entrance and have no preparation for our exit. So I'm so grateful for this community and to be able to contribute what I can."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCydlDNllTw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCydlDNllTw/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Riley Keough (@rileykeough)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Riley noted she'd gone through the<span> </span><em>Art of Death Midwifery Training Course by Sacred Crossings</em>, an institute offering workshops and classes in conscious dying and home funerals.</p> <p>The community experience is part of a movement that approaches death through an old-fashioned lens.</p> <p>“When a body is whisked away moments after death, this window closes, often permanently, leaving families feeling helpless, unsure and wishing they had a little more time," the Sacred Crossings website reads.</p> <p>Riley lost her brother in July of 2020, which could point to her decision to want to support others in their experience of death.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGnG4WSFGtp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGnG4WSFGtp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Riley Keough (@rileykeough)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"For folks who do this work, often it is in response to experiences with significant loss… who can respond by helping other people," Dawn Walsh, a death doula and co-founder of the<span> </span><em>Lily House<span> </span></em>said.</p> <p>"It is the case with me," she says, adding that she essentially felt like "a spectator" during the rituals that followed. "It's a calling, end-of-life work… It's not something that you just do casually."</p>

Family & Pets

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The one percent plan: Bold strategy to reverse economic downturn

<p><span>Egypt will deduct 1 per cent from resident’s salaries for 12 months, starting from July 1.</span><br /><br /><span>The new bold measure aims to offset the major economic repercussions seen due to COVID-19.</span><br /><br /><span>Both public and private sectors will be hit with the tax but it will only apply to those who have a net monthly salaries exceeding 2000 Egyptian pounds ($NZ206.05).</span><br /><br /><span>A tax of 0.5 per cent will also be deducted from state pensions.</span><br /><br /><span>The brand new measure follows as Egypt tries to deal with the economic impact of the pandemic, which has brought tourism to a grinding halt, triggered major capital flight and threatened remittances from Egyptians working overseas.</span><br /><br /><span>Funds from the new salary tax will go towards supporting organisations and workers specifically impacted by the virus.</span><br /><br /><span>The cabinet also said in a statement, that direct support will be offered to some citizens.</span><br /><br /><span>Those affected economically by the outbreak may be exempted from the tax.</span><br /><br /><span>Egypt now has over 13,400 coronavirus cases, including more than 650 deaths.</span><br /><br /><span>On Tuesday, the country recorded its biggest rise in daily cases to date.</span></p>

Money & Banking

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Angelina Jolie opens up in bold new interview about Brad Pitt

<p>Actress Angelina Jolie has given a revealing interview about her third husband Brad Pitt in a new interview for<span> </span>Harper’s Bazaar.</p> <p>The actress appears on the cover sporting a veil and talks about regaining her footing after splitting from husband Brad Pitt in 2016.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4fJKm8JSs1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B4fJKm8JSs1/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">#AngelinaJolie on our December 2019/ January 2020 subscriber cover. See the full cover story at our link in bio. Photography by @solvesundsbostudio Styling by @patrickmackieinsta Hair by #malcomedwards Makeup by @thevalgarland Manicure by @chisatochee</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/harpersbazaarus/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Harper's BAZAAR</a> (@harpersbazaarus) on Nov 5, 2019 at 6:10am PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Jolie is clever during the interview, as she technically never utters Pitt’s name once and refers to him as her children’s “father”.</p> <p>She also made a dig about how she would love to travel but is currently unable to do so due to their custody agreement.</p> <p>“I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18,” Jolie said. “Right now I’m having to base where their father chooses to live.”</p> <p>Jolie also speaks about the “visible and invisible scars” that the last four years have left on her body.</p> <p>"My body has been through a lot over the past decade, particularly the past four years, and I have both the visible and invisible scars to show for it," she explained.</p> <p>She continued: "The invisible ones are harder to wrestle with. Life takes many turns. Sometimes you get hurt, you see those you love in pain, and you can’t be as free and open as your spirit desires."</p> <p>However, Jolie credits her children as they know her “true self”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0_oK14gcEQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B0_oK14gcEQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">Family ♡ Can we talk about Zahara’s glow 🌙✨✨ - - [#ZaharaJoliePitt #AngelinaJolie #BradPitt #BlackgirlMagic]</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/zaharajp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Zahara Marley Jolie-Pitt</a> (@zaharajp) on Aug 10, 2019 at 11:51am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"My children know my true self, and they have helped me to find it again and to embrace it," she said. "They have been through a lot. I learn from their strength."</p>

Movies

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Duchess Meghan steps out in bold look for the first time since doco drama

<p>The Duchess of Sussex stepped out in public for the first since the airing of a controversial documentary, where she opened up about the pressures of royal life. </p> <p>On Tuesday night, Duchess Meghan, 38, attended the opening ceremony of the One Young World Summit at London’s Royal Albert Hall. </p> <p>The One World website noted the royal as a “long standing supporter” of the organisation since joining as a counsellor at the 2014 summit in Dublin. </p> <p>She attended the event without  her hubby, Prince Harry, to fulfill her role as vice-president of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. </p> <p>The former actress showcased her glossy locks and made a bold statement in a royal purple $50 dress - one royal fans saw before from when she was pregnant with her five-month-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. </p> <p>The long-sleeved, bright plum coloured number is from Babaton by Aritizia and was first worn back in January 2019 when she and the Duke of Sussex visited Birkenhead, Englandin. </p> <p>During the opening ceremony, the royal was announced as one of 70 counsellors to appear at the summit, along with fellow celebs, Bob Geldof and Ellie Goulding. </p> <p>Ahead of Tuesday's event, the<span> </span>Sussex Royal<span> </span>Instagram account shared photos and footage from Meghan's appearances at previous One Young World summit.</p> <p>In one video, the royal addressed an audience in Dublin. </p> <p>She spoke passionately about female empowerment and implementing change, regardless of how old you are. </p> <p>"I think what scares people is that the idea of female empowerment is somehow threatening," she said.</p> <p>"No, it's not! You empower the women, you're empowering the community."</p> <p>The Duchess also mentioned as a child she successfully petitioned for the wording of a TV advertisement to be changed, in order to reflect gender equality. </p> <p>"I think anything is possible, because with my small voice at 11 years old we could do it, so I can only imagine what all of you are going to be able to do," she said.</p> <p>Tuesday’s events follows after both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made headlines for the release of the ITV documentary<span> </span>Harry and Meghan: An African Journey. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Duchess Meghan’s bold purple look.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Calling all canine heroes: Bold new venture from Duchess Kate's baby brother

<p>The Duchess of Cambridge’s brother is known for his love of dogs, mentioning in the past how his four-legged friends helped him cope with his depression.</p> <p>Now, James Middleton is wanting to shed light on mental illness, using dogs as a driving force for change.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram, James announced the he’s partnering with the Kennel Club U.K. and the dog show it organises, Crufts, to give the loyal companion the honour they deserve.</p> <p>“I have spoken publicly about the positive impact dogs have had in my life,” he said as he sat with two of his five dogs. “Now, I want to hear your stories … I want to celebrate unsung canine heroes, who deserve to be recognised for the amazing impact they have on their owner’s lives.”</p> <p>He then invited fans to submit their deserving dogs to the Kennel Club’s “Friends for Life” competition, in one of five categories: Extraordinary life of a working dog, hero support dog, best friends, child’s companion and rescue dog hero. He will be reading through all of the submissions before meeting the finalists at Crufts in 2020.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MWhxcgDUB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"><a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B2MWhxcgDUB/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">My own dogs played a vital role in my recovery from clinical depression. In light of this I want to celebrate the important role dogs play in our lives and the unconditional love and support they give us ❤️🐾 . If you know of an unsung dog hero, PLEASE nominate them for the @thekennelclubuk 2020 #FriendsforLife competition at www.crufts.org.uk/ffl - I will be honoured to read all the stories &amp; meet the finalists at @Crufts 2020 🎉 . #crufts #friendsforlife #thekennelclubuk #goodluck</a></p> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/jmidy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> James Middleton</a> (@jmidy) on Sep 9, 2019 at 6:59am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This isn’t the first time James has celebrated his dogs, as he regularly shows them off on his Instagram page. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see James with his furry friends.</p>

Relationships

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Meryl Streep steals the red carpet in unique and bold gown

<p>Hollywood heavyweight Meryl Streep looked to be in high spirits when she gracefully made her way down the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in Italy on Sunday. </p> <p>The 70-year-old actress had on a stylish, long-sleeved, dress with a multi-coloured floral print embroidered into the all over the gorgeous blue fabric. </p> <p>Not one to shy away from a bold and pronounced statement, Streep also added a pair of red heels and a sleek pair of sunglasses. </p> <p>The Oscar winner was all smiles for the camera, and waved to the crowd in the monochrome Givenchy frock which featured a saucy asymmetric hem, high neck style and a warm, friendly colour palette. </p> <p>She appeared alongside co-stars and director of her next upcoming project,<span> </span>The Laundromat. </p> <p>The film goes into the intricate details of the highly controversial Panama Papers - leaked documents from 2016 which show how a Panamanian law firm laundered money for the elite wealthy. </p> <p>This is not her only rodeo however as a veteran actress and over 50 years in the industry - meaning the stunning 70-year-old has had a number of headline-worthy looks showed off on the red carpet. </p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Meryl Streep’s stunning blue number as well as some of her most iconic looks over the years.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Impeccable style: Queen radiant in bold fuchsia for 6th engagement in one week

<p>Queen Elizabeth was the colourful view among many grey outfits at this year’s Royal Windsor Cup.</p> <p>For her final royal engagement of the week, she spent it as a guest of honour at the Guard’s polo Club’s oldest tournament and presented the trophy to the winning team.</p> <p>The senior royal member looked radiant in a bold fuchsia coat and floral dress, once again proving she is not one to ever shy away from a bit of colour.</p> <p>It has certainly been a busy week for the monarch who attended Royal Ascot this week as well – making it her sixth engagement.</p> <p>To accessorise the bright look, she paired her coat with a matching hat decorated with equally dazzling flowers and feathers on the front.</p> <p>The 93-year-old added a pearl necklace and earrings along with a silver brooch to complete the regal, classy look.</p> <p>Historically, the Finals Day for the Royal Windsor Cup is attended by the Queen and Guard’s Polo Club’s President, the Duke of Edinburgh.</p> <p>The Guard's Polo Club was founded on 25 January 1955 with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as the club’s President.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the Queen’s vibrant look.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Effortless beauty! Duchess Kate steals the show in bold white number

<p>The Duchess of Cambridge was an absolute delight when she attended a gala dinner for a charity looking to aide in breaking the cycle of addiction on Wednesday evening.</p> <p>The 37-year-old royal attended an engagement at Somerset House, in London, wearing an off-the-shoulder white gown by Barbara Casasola.</p> <p>The figure-hugging gown was first worn by the Duchess in 2016.</p> <p>The mother of three looked effortless with her hair in loose curls and glittery pumps by Jimmy Choo.</p> <p>To add to the look, the royal added a touch of glimmer with a Wilbur and Gussie clutch and a pair of drop earrings.</p> <p>Duchess Kate is a patron of Action on Addiction and attended the event in honour of Addictions Awareness Week.</p> <p>In a touching speech, the royal paid tribute to the organisation for its immense work.</p> <p>“What’s remarkable about Action on Addiction is that it goes beyond helping those who are suffering on the courageous journey into recovery – it also lends direct support to the children and families affected by addiction – for as long as it takes.”</p> <p>The Duchess went on to commend the charity that works with those addicted to drugs, alcohol and gambling for being a “catalyst for my interest in early childhood development".</p> <p>“For the last few years, I’ve been focussing on the importance of prevention: how can we all really support the earliest years of life, build foundations, and help avoid adversity later on in life.</p> <p>“Having met so many people who’ve suffered from addiction, I have seen over and over again that, sadly, the root cause can so often be traced right back to the very earliest years of someone’s life.</p> <p>“Trauma experienced in early childhood, in some cases, as a result of separation, abandonment, abuse, or even emotional neglect, can have a lasting effect.</p> <p>“What we experience during our earliest years, even while we’re still in the womb, shapes the developing brain.</p> <p>“It is vital that we support everyone who cares for children in those formative years, especially if we want to help with the inter-generational cycle of addiction.”</p> <p>Action on Addictions works across all areas of research, treatment, family support and professional education.</p> <p><span>​Scroll through the gallery above to see the Duchess of Cambridge's effortless look.</span></p>

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Helen Mirren debuts bold new hairstyle on the French red carpet

<p>Dame Helen Mirren is proof a complete hair colour change is a style anyone pull off.</p> <p>The stunning 73-year-old was a picture of class when she appeared at the Cannes Film Festival for her red-carpet appearance.</p> <p>The actress also came in tow with her latest hairstyle – coral pink hair.</p> <p>Mirren wore a blush sequinned Ellie Saab gown with a soft pink hue along with a coral lip and matching nails.</p> <p>The Oscar winner's stylish red-carpet appearance was for the screening for Les Belles Annees D’Une Vie at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival. </p> <p>Helen is currently in the French city to promote her latest film that is set to hit cinemas this winter, which will follow both Mirren and Ian McKellan sharing the screen together for the first time.</p> <p>Ian plays an ageing con man searching for his newest target to deceive, while Helen is playing the role of a wealthy widow he woos via email.</p> <p>The 2019 Cannes Film Festival has been held at the iconic Palais des Festivals and will wrap up on May 25.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Helen Mirren’s brand-new hairstyle.</p>

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Katherine Kelly Lang reveals her ageless beauty secrets

<p>Ageing is something we all go through. It’s the body’s natural process, reminding us how long we have roamed the earth.</p> <p>Unless you’re Katherine Kelly Lang, who despite gracing our television screens for over 30 years, hasn’t aged a day.</p> <p><em>The Bold and The Beautiful</em> star is rarely seen with a hair out of place, but only a short while ago, the 57-year-old was forced to appear makeup-free on Australia’s <em>I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!</em></p> <p>But even then, with the show's less than ideal living arrangements, the actress managed to look picture perfect.</p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/beauty/ageing/katherine-kelly-lang-plastic-surgery-53743" target="_blank"><em>Now To Love</em></a>, Lang has shared her beauty secrets for infinite youth.</p> <p><strong>1. Cosmetic surgery</strong></p> <p>Remaining as honest as ever, Lang credited a little nip and tuck to her everlasting beauty.</p> <p>“Sometimes I do a little filler, sometimes I do a little Botox. I do all those things, but I try really to stay natural and not do it all the time,” she admitted to <em>Now To Love</em>.</p> <p>Over the years, the star has learnt that less is more when it comes to her face.</p> <p>“Sometimes the doctor does go overboard and I’m like, ‘Well I never want to do that again!’” Lang revealed.</p> <p>“At some point you have to age gracefully, and you have to accept that. You can’t get rid of every line and wrinkle.”</p> <p><strong>2. A good skincare routine</strong></p> <p>When entering the jungle on <em>I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here</em><em>!</em> one of the toughest challenges Lang was faced with was not having access to her favourite skincare products.</p> <p>The TV soap actress said the week she appeared on the reality show took a major hit on her skin, saying it affected her “horribly”.</p> <p>“I kept asking them, ‘Can I have my creams!?’ Where’s my creams!? One of these mornings you’ve got to give me my creams!” she explained.</p> <p>And clearly her disciplined routine is working for her.</p> <p>“I’m so picky about what I put on my face – I need my night serums, I need my under eye cream, I need my heavy duty moisturising night cream. Then when I wake up, I put them on all over again in the morning!</p> <p>“Then I have my daytime creams, I have my lunch creams. Then I have my special shampoo … you know – you get it!”</p> <p><strong>3. Nourish your body inside and out</strong></p> <p>Lang is a strong believer in one thing: Keep everything natural, healthy and organic.</p> <p>“What you eat really plays a big part of [your health], and how much sleep you get,” she said.</p> <p>“I also try to drink lots of water, it helps to keep your skin moist, plumped and nourished.”</p> <p><strong>4. Staying active</strong></p> <p>You don’t need to look far to figure out that Lang is keen on working out, with one look at her Instagram page telling you everything you need to know.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtsON3DrSg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BrtsON3DrSg/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Katherine Kelly Lang (@katherinekellylang)</a> on Dec 22, 2018 at 6:58pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The actress is a regular when it comes to competing in triathlons and it’s helped her remain active and healthy over the years.</p> <p>Speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.tvsoap.com.au/" target="_blank"><em>TV Soap</em></a>, Lang said: “I did endurance racing on my horses for 20-plus years … and I loved that and that’s similar to the long-distance triathlons, the Half Ironman or Full Ironman.</p> <p>“I have a trainer … even when you don’t feel like it you really have to push yourself, get out there and follow the schedule. Get the workouts in and get them done.”</p> <p><strong>5. Using a variety of masks</strong></p> <p>Lang is a strong believer in LED masks, which help reverse the signs of ageing with red-light technology.</p> <p>According to the actress, the mask “reduces fine lines and improves skin texture".</p> <p>Taking to Instagram, the star shared a few photos of herself using the strange contraption, writing: "This is a Deesse Pro LED mask that increases the production of collagen, reduces fine lines, improves skin texture, and so much more! 20 minutes a day.”</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdUHFcehcDU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdUHFcehcDU/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Dominique (@dom472522)</a> on Dec 29, 2017 at 9:13pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Clearly, it’s working.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see Katherine Kelly Lang's transformation over the years.</p> <p>Will you be implementing any of <em>The Bold and The Beautiful </em>star’s beauty and health routine into your own? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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Duchess Meghan breaks royal protocol with bold fashion choices

<p>Royal watchers are once again left wondering whether Duchess Meghan has broken royal protocol, as she eschewed some of the unwritten rules at a public engagement this week.</p> <p>The Duchess of Sussex was seen rocking dark nail polish on her toes and a Roland Mouret gown that showed her bare legs at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil’s new show Totem on <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/pregnant-duchess-meghan-stuns-in-glamorous-6k-gown">Wednesday night</a>. The event was held for Prince Harry’s charity foundation Sentebale.</p> <p><img style="width: 263.15789473684214px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822824/duchessmeghan.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c1ba004123544f8fa3954df17f438a65" /><img style="width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7822825/duchess-nail-polish-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/acca8f033c5846f9b4df107e251e34bf" /></p> <p>It has long been reported that women of the royal family are required to wear pale polish and hosiery for official appearances. The tradition is said to originate from Queen Elizabeth II, who always wears flesh-coloured stockings and reportedly finds colourful nail polishes vulgar.</p> <p>However, royal expert Marlene Koenig said the Duchess was not breaking any rules with her lack of tights.</p> <p>“There are no rules for royal women regarding pantyhose,” Koenig told <em>BAZAAR.com</em>. “While most women (royal or commoner) wear pantyhose with suits or gowns for a good slim line, it is not required by any decree from the Queen.”</p> <p>Royal correspondent Omid Scobie also said the Duchess’s polish choice was not an issue.</p> <p>“There’s no actual protocol about dark nail polish,” said Scobie. “It’s simply about being appropriate – we’d never see this at a royal engagement.”</p> <p>Scobie also said “there’s a lot more flexibility on what one can wear” for non-royal events. </p> <p>This is not the first time Duchess Meghan has broken longstanding royal beauty customs. Since joining the royal family, she has also been criticised for styling her hair loosely, using a cross body bag instead of a clutch, wearing a sheer skirt at a public event, taking off her wedges to go barefoot in Sydney’s Bondi Beach and more. </p> <p>What do you think of Duchess Meghan's royal style? Do you think she's breaking royal protocol? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Beauty & Style

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Serena Williams makes bold fashion statement at Australian Open

<p>Serena Williams is always the best dressed athlete on court, so it’s only natural that fans were eagerly anticipating what the tennis champion would choose to wear at the Australian Open.</p> <p>After causing an uproar in June last year for wearing a catsuit at the French Open, then following that controversy by donning a tutu at the US Open, the 37-year-old knows how to get people talking.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjX1maqloXv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BjX1maqloXv/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)</a> on May 29, 2018 at 12:05pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The mother-of-one has decided to rebel against those who go against her fashion statements and stray away from traditional tennis outfits to more eye-catching styles.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnP1oKilj8t/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BnP1oKilj8t/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)</a> on Sep 2, 2018 at 7:37pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The catsuit was originally worn to help her with blood clots, but tennis officials deemed the full-length attire as “too far”.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BspLZYPnIwC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BspLZYPnIwC/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Serena Williams (@serenawilliams)</a> on Jan 14, 2019 at 9:26pm PST</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>And this Australian Open, she did not disappoint, as she opted for a Nike ‘90s-inspired-romper, with fishnet stockings underneath.</p> <p>Do you enjoy seeing Serena’s fashion statements on court? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

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Duchess Meghan breaks royal tradition: Steps out in another bold fashion choice

<div class="replay"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>The Duchess of Sussex has managed to stun in another bold fashion choice as her royal duties continue in London this week.</p> <p>As she made headlines for her <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2018/08/duchess-meghan-steps-out-in-daring-tuxedo-minidress-with-prince-harry/"><em>mini blazer dress</em></a> last week, this time, it’s her signature tuxedo as the Duchess chose a chic, black pantsuit from New York-based fashion brand Altuzarra.</p> <p><img width="499" height="945" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820162/gettyimages-1026697572_499x945.jpg" alt="Getty Images -1026697572"/></p> <p>Paying a visit to the WellChild Awards with Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan paired her outfit with a black Stella McCartney clutch and a pair of black pumps.</p> <p><img width="500" height="365" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820163/gettyimages-1031124438_500x365.jpg" alt="Getty Images -1031124438"/></p> <p>The awards ceremony, which is held annually, celebrates the achievements of those children who are seriously unwell, as well as showing recognition to their caretakers.</p> <p>The event is never missed by Prince Harry, as he has been a supporter of the organisation since 2007, saying it’s one of the most emotional events on his calendar.</p> <p><img width="500" height="353" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820164/gettyimages-1026723910_500x353.jpg" alt="Getty Images -1026723910"/></p> <p>The previous week, the Duke and Duchess visited the Hamilton show in London’s West End, where Duchess Meghan wowed in a short black Judith and Charles tuxedo dress. The Duchess of Sussex has been curbing royal protocol as of late, by not wearing pantyhose with dresses.</p> <p>And that wasn’t a first. The Duchess has previously broken royal rules by taking selfies and handing out autographs to her fans. But as far as fashion goes, there is no rule in the “royal rule book” banning women from wearing suits – even though the Queen does prefer the women in the royal family wear skirts or dresses.</p> <p>What do you think of Meghan's bold pantsuit look? Tell us in the comments below. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div>

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