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Lily James On Road Trips, Waiting Tables & Being A Brit In Hollywood

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There's a line in the upcoming summer blockbuster Baby Driver that sums up how many of us feel at this time of year. "Sometimes all I want to do is head west on the 20 in a car I can't afford with a plan I don't have," says Debora, played by British actor Lily James, more than once. Indeed, when the sun's blazing down, lunchtime drinking is no longer a sackable offence and 80% of work emails are met with an out-of-office reply, it's tempting to pack it all in and take a spontaneous road trip far away.

But if that's not possible and you have, er, actual responsibilities, you could do a lot worse than head to the cinema to watch the aforementioned Baby Driver. From British director Edgar Wright ( Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz), starring Ansel Elgort as protagonist Baby, Kevin Spacey as a crime lord, Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm and Lily James, the film is two hours of pure escapism. The "action-musical" – so-called because of its gripping, fast-paced car chases and electrifying soundtrack – is both a classic all-American car movie and a charming romance between Baby and young waitress Debora.

Until now, James was arguably best known for her part in Downton Abbey and title role in the 2015 Disney film Cinderella, so Baby Driver marks a bold departure for the 28-year-old from Esher, Surrey, hailing a move away from pretty dresses and the dawn of a new stage in her burgeoning Hollywood career. Refinery29 spoke to the actor about music, American accents and hitting the open road.

Hi Lily, how much do you identify with your character, Debora?

I identify with her a lot. There’s something missing in her life and she’s working in a diner and rattling around but really hasn’t got much going on. She lost her mum and there’s this hole [in her life] and she’s trying to fill it and hasn’t found who she wants to be or what she wants to be or what she wants to do. I think that’s the reason why, when this guy walks in and this crazy world descends upon her, she’s so impulsive and she’s like, "Right, I’m going with you". I’m quite impulsive and she’s a real dreamer, she loves music. You feel like she’s an old soul, so there was a lot for me to latch on to.

Debora doesn’t really ask Baby what he’s up to. Do you think you would have been as unquestioning as she is in those circumstances? Would you have just gone along with it like she did?

Well, I think that probably all would come later. I think it’s credit to how brilliant Ansel’s Baby is in that I don’t ever question, as a member of the audience when I watch it, that he’s a good, kind-hearted person and I think she can really see that. She can see that he shouldn’t really be in that world and I think it’s more to do with her own boredom with life as much as it is to do with the fact that she’s fallen in love with this guy, that she’s like, "It’s better than rattling around in that diner for the next 25 years".

What was it like working with Ansel? How did you manage to build such great chemistry?

I don’t know – it’s funny, we found it really easy. I think it’s credit to Edgar Wright – his script is really beautifully written and constructed and he’s really clever. He’s such an amazing storyteller and he does it through images and shots, so he makes us care for Baby and then Debora and then puts them together. He’s manipulated it all, so I think our chemistry is real – not to give too much credit away, we owned it [laughs] – but I do think Edgar was very clever at constructing that.

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Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures.

How did you manage to nail your American accent? Did you do much training, or base it on anyone in particular?

I worked with an amazing dialect coach who I absolutely adore and we really drilled it a lot. It was the most I’ve ever worked on an accent. I tried to stay in an American accent throughout the whole shoot and Ansel was brilliant – he helped me slip into Americanisms and I tried to slip into his rhythm.

Are there any words or phrases you find particularly challenging?

I hate saying "holla". Like, "If you’ve got any questions just holla". It’s just like, I would never say that. A lot of words, even "Baby" and [for "Mary"] they say "merry", they don’t say "mare-ee", and I had to say "Mary" about 10 times in one speech so I was like "merry, merry, merry".

There are a lot of action-packed scenes in the film. What were they like to shoot? Did you do your own stunts?

Edgar had such a clear vision in his head and and he’s so amazing at editing. The editor, Paul, was on set doing it as we shot which was incredible, so you could go up and see what you’d just done, but it means it’s covered from a lot of angles. There was a lot of like, "Turn and scream" or "Turn and jump", so it’s hard to keep a sense of momentum and continuity to it all, so I struggled with that. Also, we were doing night shoots outside in a freezing cold car park in Atlanta. I had some stuff that was really high up, where I had to wear a rope, and I did a lot of driving at the end, but nothing that was too extreme really.

Did you do any physical training for the film?

I wanted to go and work in a diner. I wanted to get a waitress job because I worked in a pub when I was 18 for a year or so when I went to drama school, but I never waited tables. But I didn’t end up having time.

Debora is so polite to the customers…

Yeah, that was something I thought about – in America the service is obviously so different. Waiters want their tip and can live off their tips. Obviously in America they tip so well. When I was in America doing press, in LA, I watched the waiters and they are mostly actors. Everything is so sweet and kind and you’re like, "Oh my god"…

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Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures.

I always wonder how they find the energy. Do you find it quite tricky as an English person in Hollywood to maintain all that energy and politeness?

There’s a lot of energy and there’s a lot of “We love you”. If producers loved me as much as they said they did, I’d be working non-stop for the rest of my life, but that’s not gonna happen. I also find that you get your meal and they come back at least three times and go, “Is everything ok? Are you enjoying your meal?” and [in my head] I’m like "I would be if you would let me eat it" [laughs].

Do you drive?

I don’t have a car in London but I did pass my test when I was 17. I was so eager to learn, I wanted the freedom and independence, but I haven’t driven in the last few years so I think I’d be a bit nervous.

Where are your favourite places to drive?

Well I just drove on the weekend, not me but my boyfriend [actor Matt Smith], to Palm Springs and we went to Joshua Tree, which was incredible and it was very Baby Driver -esque. We were DJ-ing in the car and playing all these really great tunes while driving in the desert. There were all these massive wind turbines and we were listening to [composer] Max Richter – he did Shutter Island and stuff – we were playing this music and driving through the desert, it was very epic.

What’s your favourite music to listen to?

I’m going to Glastonbury this weekend. Oh my god, I can’t wait. I’m very excited about seeing Radiohead and I’m excited to see Liam Gallagher, yeah loads of stuff. I’ve recently been listening to Imelda May – she’s amazing. I love Elbow – I’m obsessed with their album Little Fictions.

What did you think about the portrayal of women in the film? There are only two main female characters and not many others – do you think there could have been more of them?

Erm, no, I think the story is told brilliantly and I think Darling [played by Eiza González] and Debora are two very different women – you’ve got my character, who’s much more the heart and quite pure, and then you’ve got Eiza’s character, who’s firing double machine guns and is as badass as the rest of the men in the gang, but still maintaining this femininity which I liked – her using her sexuality but in a very cool, powerful way. So, you know, the more women the better but for this, I think it rocks.

Baby Driver is in UK cinemas from Wednesday 28th June.

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Never Mind The Rain, Here Are 13 Products To Help You Get That Summer Glow

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With the temperamental British weather and frequent summer showers, sometimes we need a little help in achieving a golden glow. Whether you have a porcelain complexion, olive or dark skintone, there's a whole host of hero products to ensure your skin pops in the summer with a convincing "sun-kissed" radiance, even if it is only 16 degrees outside.

Who cares if it's pouring (cheers England!), here are the bronzers, blushers, highlighters and oils you need to fake that summer glow.

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Dot this liquid highlighter on the top of the cheekbones and Cupid's bow to accentuate bone structure and the lips, or mix into foundation, primer or moisturiser to create an all-over luminous finish.

Topshop Glow Liquid Highlighter in Phoenix, £12.50, available at Topshop

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Just come back from a fortnight in the Maldives? No, us neither. Mimic a post-holiday glow with Hourglass' illuminating, highlighter-infused bronzer. This warm, golden-bronze shade is hand-blended to create the most flattering balance of pigments. Say goodbye to dull skin forever.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Bronzer – Radiant Bronze Light, £45, available at Net-A-Porter

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Enriched with skincare ingredients, the lighter powder offers a protective shield against external factors such as environmental stress and pollution, while the deeper shade provides the perfect bronzing powder. Use the mini kabuki brush to take up the powder and apply on facial contours, moving in a C from the temple to the cheek.

DIORSKIN Nude Air Care & Dare Protecting Glow Powder – Natural Healthy Glow, £40, available at Boots

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This new tinted moisturiser brings tired skin back to life. Wear on its own for a barely there, subtle boost, or apply under your foundation for flawless dewy skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow, £35, available at Charlotte Tilbury

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It may not win points for packaging but this much-loved product does exactly what it says on the tin. Velvet-soft in texture, sweep this all over the face for a natural and even bronzed look.

Rimmel Natural Bronzing Powder Sun Bronze 22, £5.99, available at Superdrug

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This highly pigmented, iridescent multi-use powder can be used as an eyeshadow or a facial highlight.

Topshop Chameleon Glow in Changeling, £9.50, available at Topshop

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This Sunset Bronzing Crayon glides onto the skin, enhancing an existing tan or adding a convincing glow and contour to tired skin.

Laura Mercier Sunset Bronzing Crayon, £25, available at Space NK

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This transfer-resistant tint won't leave any marks on your clothes and bronzes the body instantly. Featuring antioxidants Oceania saffron, Tahitian vanilla, and a hydrating mix of monoï and tamanu oils, slather this on after the shower.

NARS Laguna Body Tint SPF30, £30, available at Space NK

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Huile Prodigieuse is one of the number one body oils in France and there's a reason this product is cult. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, its iconic formula has been reinvented for improved efficacy, now enriched with highly nourishing tsubaki oil, repairing argan oil and vitamin E.

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® 25th Anniversary Limited Edition – Beauty, £29, available at Space NK

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Think of blusher and NARS' bestselling Orgasm blush probably springs to mind. This natural, healthy-looking colour adds the perfect flush to any face.

NARS Orgasm Blush, £23, available at NARS

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Featuring six sparkling shades that act as bronzers, blushes and highlighters, sculpt, brighten or correct with this gorgeous summer palette.

By Terry Sun Designer Palette, £65, available at Space NK

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Featuring the same ultra-flattering apricot-gold powder as the original, this limited-edition update is packaged in a chic gold-edged compact that you'll want to carry with you everywhere.

Becca Limited Edition Shimmering Skin Perfector – Champagne Pop, £32, available at Cult Beauty

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Free from OTT sparkle or shine, sweep this matte bronzer over cheeks, chin and forehead for a natural radiance, even for the palest skin.

Benefit Hoola Lite, £24.50, available at Cult Beauty

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Leomie Anderson: "I Hated Runway Pictures Knowing I Was The Only Black Girl In A Show"

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It’s 2017 and for those in the public eye to captivate us, we need more than good looks and a great aesthetic. From Adwoa Aboah speaking out on addiction and mental health, to Hari Nef fighting for trans issues, the models we admire stand for something and use their platforms to encourage change. Leomie Anderson is one such role model. The 24-year-old south Londoner has an impressive CV: she began her modelling journey with Premier back in 2011, starring on The Model Agency; she’s been front and centre of Yeezy Season One and Two; has walked for everyone from Fenty x Puma and Vivienne Westwood to Jeremy Scott; and, of course, is a Victoria’s Secret model.

But while her past work is testament to her dedication to the industry, Anderson has caught our attention more recently with her collective LAPP. Started as a blog in 2012, Leomie has used it as a platform to talk about everything from racism in the industry to empowering women in the workplace. It’s evolved into a fashion and feminist platform, with her first clothing collection tackling the issue of consent via slogan T-shirts modelled by a host of babes. A self-described “safe space on the internet for women to express their views and perspectives, free of judgement”, Refinery29 caught up with Leomie and chatted body shaming in the modelling industry, the way the media treated Kim Kardashian post-armed robbery, and her work styling the Nike Beautiful x Powerful collection.

Can you explain how LAPP The Brand came about?
I wrote about consent and the pressures young girls are under on my personal blog and it went viral. I realised how much influence I could have and how powerful my voice could be. When I had the opportunity to speak at a girls' school I asked them who they would turn to for advice – those who didn't have an older sister or family member felt that they had nowhere to go to hear a female perspective. I felt inspired to use my voice and influence for good; that's how LAPP really began.

Why did you want the brand to be both a fashion and feminist platform, and how do you think the two interconnect?
I see fashion as a universal language that can be used to convey all types of messages; look at Vivienne Westwood using her designs to discuss climate change. I love fashion and have always enjoyed designing so wanted to bring together all of my loves into one place. My first collection was the 'Consent Collection' and it featured phrases inspired by the girls I spoke to at the school – really, they were to let them know that it's okay to say no. Then there's the infamous 'This Pussy Grabs Back' hoodie that Rihanna wore to the Women's March in NYC; they were to hit back at the face of misogyny at the time, Trump! Our latest collection is the Nudi-tee Collection, which explores the way that we subconsciously view women's bodies.

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Photo: Courtesy of Nike.

Tell us about your work with Nike’s Beautiful x Powerful campaign:
The amazing Nike London team reached out to me to shoot a look book with LAPP clothing and the Cortez from their second Beautiful x Powerful collection, and host a LAPP event at their King's Road store. It was a huge opportunity for LAPP and they gave me free rein to create something that truly represented the brand. The event was such a success! We had a panel discussion with myself, singer Bree Runway, photographer and stylist Erika Bowes and British athlete Morgan Lake. It was the first of many events I want to do to bring together contributors and supporters of LAPP to discuss issues that really matter to us.

You've spoken out before about the way in which Serena Williams’ strong physique has been used against her. How do you think prejudice and misogyny plays out in the way the media presents women?
If a woman removes herself from the male gaze, they are chastised for it. The media pushes unrealistic views of women to the public – these are the images that young women grow up with and internalise. This is why I'm such a strong advocate of getting real women's voices heard: because the majority of the people in the media creating the voice and perception of women are middle-class white men.

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Photo: Courtesy of Nike.

Another topic you've talked about is the fact that people spoke about Kim Kardashian as a mother over a human being in relation to her hotel attack...
It really sickened me to see how many people only had sympathy for Kim when they remembered she had children – a thought pattern I've seen in many situations with women. I think it says a lot about how we as a society view and value women's lives.

You’re vocal about issues like racism and body shaming in the modelling industry – tell me about how you’ve fought back against that...
The day I started being vocal is the day I became much happier. When I was younger I was sometimes scared to speak up in fear of being labelled a 'diva', 'fierce' or whatever stereotype people could apply to me because I was a black girl; I didn't want to live up to any of those phrases. But I realised that it made me insecure; I would hate seeing my runway pictures knowing that I was the only black girl in a show or had the worst hair just because I was too scared to say something [to a hair stylist]. So now I speak up when I don't feel happy or comfortable, and in turn I've opened the door to make other young, black models speak up too.

What advice do you have for young women looking to gain self-confidence?
Stop following people that make you feel insecure on social media!

And for young women looking to follow in your footsteps?
Write for LAPP! But also, my advice would be to take risks and remember that you can't put a time limit on true success. Just because it doesn't happen when you thought it would, doesn't mean it can't happen.

Nike Beautiful x Powerful collection is available at Nike.com

Further reading:
Bella Hadid On Being A Role Model, Personal Style & Her Favourite Trainers
Model Adwoa Aboah Talks About Depression With Her Mother

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Kate Moss, Naomie Harris & Adwoa Aboah Star In New Miu Miu Campaign

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Miu Miu campaigns are always a sumptuous, colourful feast for the eyes but the just-released images for AW17, entitled 'Preservation Hall and Other Stories' are particularly special. Featuring a star-studded cast of actresses and models including Moonlight 's Naomie Harris, Kate Moss, sisters Adwoa and Kesewa Aboah, Jean Campbell, Eliza Cumming and Jasmine Daniels, alongside the Preservation Hall Brass Band, the diverse array of powerful female faces embodies the maximal, eccentric spirit of the collection, which Miuccia Prada described after the show as “the madness of glamour in this time, in front of a very uncertain future.”

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Styled by LOVE editor-in-chief, Katie Grand, and shot by photographer Alasdair McLellan (his fifth campaign for the Italian fashion house), the striking cast is captured in locations around New Orleans. The campaign imagery consists of collages of black-and-white and saturated colour photographs, juxtaposing landmarks and landscapes, the old and the contemporary. The intensely coloured images emphasise the vibrant faux-fur coats, hats and shoes, the clashing psychedelic prints, glittering earrings and headpieces and '70s knits that comprise the collection.

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A Miu Miu press statement explains the story behind the vivid images: "In certain places and amidst certain sounds, time seemingly circles itself. Throughout the untamed, thick-aired Mississippi bayou, draped with Spanish moss, the siren of insects is interlaced with jazz melodies somehow both timeless and avant-garde. In the deep American South, and more specifically the port of New Orleans, patois more than a dialect, it’s a way of life. Everything here is a deeply textured bricolage, full of tension and wild energy."

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It may be the height of summer (though the British weather says otherwise) but these captivating images, featuring our favourite models – from fashion's latest obsession, Adwoa Aboah, to the original supermodel, Kate Moss herself – mean we can't wait to pile on the boldest faux fur possible this autumn.

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Faecal Bacteria Found In Ice At 3 High-Street Coffee Shops

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The next time you fancy a refreshing iced coffee on a hot day, you might want to put some extra thought into choosing where to part with your cash – because faecal bacteria has just been found in ice at three major coffee shops.

Researchers visited Costa, Starbucks and Caffe Nero to test their cleanliness and ended up finding “concerning” levels of faecal bacteria in samples of iced drinks. We have no words, aside from: vom.

The investigation, carried out by the BBC's Watchdog, found faecal coliforms, which contain disease-causing pathogens (i.e. they could make people ill), in 70% of samples in Costa, 30% of Starbucks samples and 30% of Caffe Nero samples.

The researchers also tested tables, trays and high chairs for their cleanliness at over 30 branches.

Tony Lewis, an expert from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, called the levels of faecal bacteria "concerning" and said they "should not be present at any level – never mind the significant numbers found," the BBC reported.

It's unclear exactly how these bacteria made their way into the ice, but all three chains affected said they had now taken action. Thoughtful of them, eh?

A Costa spokesperson said the company was "disappointed" by the findings and that it had reviewed its food safety procedures and updated its ice-handling guidelines. It's also introducing new ice equipment across its stores, reported The Telegraph.

Starbucks said "nothing is more important" than customer safety and that it's conducting its own investigation into the claims. "All employees nationwide have received updated training on our high standards of hygiene including ice handling," its spokesperson added.

Caffe Nero also said it was undertaking "a thorough investigation" and that it would take "appropriate action".

Just to be safe, it might be worth perfecting your own iced coffee recipe. You'll save money – and possibly your health – in the process.

If you've got a strong enough stomach, check out the episode of Watchdog tonight at 8pm on BBC One.

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Jon Snow Has Been Accused Of Chanting 'F*** The Tories' At Glastonbury

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Legendary broadcaster and all-round good sport Jon Snow attended Glastonbury for the first time this weekend – and it seems he may have got a little caught up in the festival spirit.

According to reports, the 69-year-old took part in a chant of "F*** the Tories" and sarcastically reminded his fellow festival-goers that he's "supposed to be neutral" as part of his job as a newsreader for Channel 4 News.

In a statement, Snow didn't deny taking part in the Tory-bashing but said: “After a day at Glastonbury, I can honestly say I have no recollection of what was chanted, sung or who I took over 1,000 selfies with," reported the Independent.

On Monday evening, a photo emerged on Twitter of the journalist with his arms around a group of students at the festival but the tweet has since been deleted, possibly because people started commenting on it and the accompanying tweet.

One of the students, Danny Millea, wrote: “Boss place that Glasto. Having a dance with Jon Snow and hearing him shout f*** the tories is what dreams are made of.” He also said he was impressed when the veteran broadcaster “turned around just after he got off and sarcastically went ‘I’m supposed to be neutral’.”

Snow is alleged to have made the comment after throwing some shapes with the students. Millea added: “He was proper sound, had a good little boogie with him and a good laugh, walked off and he sarcastically said he’s a neutral hahahah.”

Aside from the questions over his professionalism, Snow appears to have had the time of his life at his first Glastonbury. He tweeted about the "dusty selfies; great music; loads of longing for a decent poltics [sic]" and said it was "amazing" to be "amid a real energy for a better politics", presumably referring to the Corbynmania that swept the festival.

He also retweeted a Channel 4 News clip of Corbyn's speech on the festival's Pyramid stage, in which the Labour leader quoted Shelley and made a plea for a "decent, better society" to a rapturous response from the packed-out audience.

Luckily, despite calls from the political right for him to be sacked, it doesn't look like Snow's job will be at risk. Ofcom, the communications regulator and media watchdog, said it only ever considers complaints about content aired over its licensed services, and its neutrality guidelines don't relate to what journalists do in their own time.

Channel 4 hasn't commented on the allegations at the time of writing.

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Breaking the Silence Around Female Genital Mutilation

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Over half a million women and girls in America are affected by female genital mutilation (FGM), and thankfully, people here are finally starting to talk about it and take action — the first-ever US trial against doctors who perform these procedures is about to take place in Detroit. But much more needs to be done to end FGM in the US and worldwide.

Currently, more than 200 million people around the world have undergone FGM, and where I live in rural Somalia almost every single woman and girl has undergone the procedure. In fact, 98% of Somali women and girls have been affected, which is the highest prevalence rate of anywhere in the world. Over 80% are cut between the ages of five and nine — old enough to remember what happened, but not “too old” that they have already experienced much independence. Almost two thirds of Somali women undergo infibulation, the most extreme form of FGM, which leaves girls with their labia stitched together following the excision of the clitoris. This makes urinating and menstruating almost impossible, as a girl is forced to do so through a hole the size of a matchstick. Of course, that's not to say that any form of FGM is more acceptable than others; it is always a human rights violation.

Last year, I met a 15-year-old named Istar, who had been married off to a 70-year-old man in Eastern Somalia. He paid 10 camels and a gun for her. Istar had been subjected to infibulation. Like many girls who have undergone this type of FGM, her new husband was unable to penetrate her during sex. So he used a dagger to cut her open. But he did it with so much force that the dagger went deep, affecting the vaginal walls and cutting into her cervix. Istar started bleeding profusely, forcing her family to seek medical help and counselling for her. Although she is now out of immediate danger, Istar is deeply traumatised and, unsurprisingly, does not want to go back to her husband.

Although religion is sometimes used as an excuse, there is no religious obligation for girls to undergo FGM. And unfortunately, it doesn’t happen in a vacuum: FGM is directly related to other forms of violence against women and girls. Domestic violence is also prevalent in Somalia, and over three quarters of married women aged 15 to 49 think that a beating can be justified in certain circumstances. So-called “child marriage” is highly prevalent, too, and is often seen as a driver for FGM occurring in the first place.

Over 80% are cut between the ages of five and nine — old enough to remember what happened, but not 'too old' that they have already experienced much independence.

And now, there seems to be another, more timely cause for concern: After several months of extreme drought, it has finally rained in Somalia. This is a huge relief to many, but it also means that girls now face an enormous risk as families, which had previously been preoccupied with getting enough food, have refocused their energies. Schools are now also closed for the summer, and many town dwellers have moved back to rural areas. Families are more likely to think it’s the “right time” for them to hold FGM ceremonies, and girls are at extreme risk.

As a survivor myself, I know the effects of FGM firsthand, and I wanted to do something to help end it. So, in 1999, I set up The Galkayo Center, which aims to end FGM and other forms of violence against girls. We work at various levels, but our main focus is on education. We provide free schooling to more than 800 poor, orphaned, and displaced girls in primary school, and to around 1,600 girls over the age of 13 who are in “non-formal” education. Nationally, only 24.6% of girls in Somalia attend school, but as a result of our work, girls’ enrolment in northeast Somalia has increased to 40%, the highest rate in the country. We teach each of these girls about the harms of FGM and how it can be ended. We try to persuade these girls that their destinies are their own to make – they can help break the cycle of abuse in their own lives and in their families.

The Somali government has promised to ban FGM for several years, but has yet to follow through on doing so. Since 2014, however, the most severe form of infibulation has been illegal in the Puntland region, thanks to a presidential decree. This is part of a recent wave of bans across the African continent. Nigeria and the Gambia both made it illegal to perform FGM in 2015. This leaves Somalia in a small group of countries — including Liberia, Mali, Sudan, and Sierra Leone — which have yet to enact laws against it.

Unfortunately, only 33% of Somali women and girls think FGM should end, although this number is somewhat higher for wealthier and more educated demographics. Among that 33%, though, there’s no reduction in prevalence between middle-aged women and adolescent girls. I know that we must still climb a huge mountain if this abuse is to be eliminated within our lifetime.

But I’m not deterred — my eyes are firmly on the goal. We can speed things up by getting money to the front lines, where it can be used effectively. There are so few of us working on this, and we cannot always reach everyone with such limited resources. To date, we have seen a big increase in awareness of the issue in the US and discussion at the international level, but those of us working at the local level have not been able to access enough funds to carry out our urgent work.

Changing the futures of girls in this region is my life’s mission, and I won’t stop until I have done my part to protect every single girl at risk. Hearing the experiences of girls like Istar — as I do almost every day — terrifies me, but it also drives me to keep going. I have no other option. The lives of Somali girls and women depend on it.

Hawa Aden Mohamed is Executive Director of The Galkayo Center, the Puntland-based partner of international women’s group Donor Direct Action.

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Corbynmania Just Reached A Whole New Level

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Stop what you're doing: we’ve just reached peak Corbyn. We thought we hit it this weekend when the Labour leader became the star of Glastonbury, what with the chants of “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” and reports that he drew a bigger crowd than headliners Radiohead.

But no. So how do we know Corbynmania has reached new heights?

Apparently more than 50% of parents would consider naming a child Corbyn after the Islington North MP, according to a survey by Channel Mum. 15% said they would also consider the name Jeremy.

The survey of 1,305 parents across the UK suggests the beginning of a bizarre politically inspired baby name trend that could overtake the recent craze for animal-themed names.

Siobhan Freegard, founder of ChannelMum.com, said: “Corbyn is the stand-out naming trend this year, and we expect to see lots of babies over the election period named after the Labour leader,” reported the Huffington Post.

The trend is revealing because names “reflect both changing fashions and our changing society”, Freegard added. However, she cautioned against naming a child after a politician on a whim. “Remember a week is a long time in politics and your child will have that name for a lifetime, so do consider the effects of naming a child after any politician.”

Fewer of those surveyed said they would consider the name May (38%) but its popularity is stronger and more stable than Theresa, which only 4% of parents would choose for a newborn. The names Boris (as in Johnson) and Diane (as in Abbott) also proved unpopular.

A third of parents said they would consider the name Cameron. One can only hope they weren’t considering picking it as a tribute to the disgraced former prime minister.

Nearly a quarter (23%) of parents said they had noticed other parents choosing politically inspired names in recent times – could the seemingly never-ending cycle of national ballots be to blame?

Other current baby name trends highlighted by the research included surnames as first names (noticed by 66% of parents), traditional English names (61%), gender-neutral names (41%), and names with an 'x' in them (35%).

The survey also made some predictions about upcoming baby name trends. Along with political names, Channel Mum reckons there will be an increase in Viking/Scandinavian-inspired names, "tough" names, Muslim names among non-Muslim families, '70s-inspired names and names inspired by places in the US. Hey, anything's better than baby Boris.

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Game of Thrones Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

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Game of Thrones takes place in a universe with far less electricity and far more white walkers than our own. But don't kid yourself. Everything you see in Game of Thrones, from the skyline of King's Landing to the rolling plains of the Dothraki Sea, can be found right here on Earth.

With filming taking place in seven countries, it's no surprise that Game of Thrones is one of the most expensive shows of all time. In any given season, some cast members will be getting tan in Morocco, and others, soaking up the cold rain in Northern Ireland. Note to all aspiring actors: If you're auditioning as a Game of Thrones extra, it's better to be an assassin in Dorne (Spain) than a Watcher on the Wall (Northern Ireland).

If you're a diehard Game of Thrones fan, here are the destinations you should put on your bucket list. Just like Scotland is full of Outlander -themed tours, Dubrovnik, Croatia caters to Game of Thrones fans. You'll be among your people.

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On Earth: The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland

Originally planted by the Stuart family in the 18th century, these beech trees functioned as one long drum-roll up to the Stuart's stately Georgian mansion. Now, Dark Hedges is one of the most photographed attractions in Northern Ireland — and home to a spectre called the Grey Lady.

Unfortunately, only 90 of the 150 trees of Dark Hedges remain following a powerful storm in February 2017.

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On Game of Thrones: The King's Road

At the start of Season 2, Arya escapes King's Landing and travels North with the intention of finding her brother, Jon Snow. Her journey along the King's Road was filmed in the Dark Hedges.

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On Earth: The Azure window in Malta

Following a powerful storm in March 2017, this iconic fixture of the Maltese landscape succumbed to erosion. The natural limestone arch collapsed back into the sea after thousands of years.

It's estimated that over 80% of tourists to Malta visited the Azure window.

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On Game of Thrones: Daenerys and Khal Drogo's nuptial ceremony

Malta's tourism association said regretfully, "Only millions of photographs remain as testimony of this touristic spot."

Well, millions of photographs — and Game of Thrones. The arch was used in a backdrop during the show's very first episode, when Daenerys and her new husband, Khal Drogo, received wedding gifts and watched duels.

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On Earth: Minceta Tower in Dubrovnik, Croatia

Anywhere you go in Dubrovnik, you'll be able to see the Minceta Tower, the tallest of four fortresses in the Dubrovnik City Walls. Built in 1319, the tower served as an important stronghold for the city.

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On Game of Thrones: The House of the Undying in Qarth

Remember the moment when Daenerys walks around the circumference of the House of the Undying, shouting for her missing dragons, in Season 1? At that moment, Emilia Clarke was actually circumnavigating the highest point in Dubrovnik: Minceta Tower.

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On Earth: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Minceta Tower isn't the only part of Dubrovnik to air in Game of Thrones. Essentially all of King's Landing is filmed in the Old Town of this Croatian city by the Adriatic Sea.

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On Game of Thrones: King's Landing

Dubrovnik is the backdrop to all of the King's Landing scenes. Some highlights include Cersei Lanniser's walk of shame, which takes place on the Baroque stairs of the Jesuit Staircase. Every bustling market scene is filmed at St. Dominic Street. And the gateway to the Red Keep entrance is actually the east entrance to Old Town.

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On Earth: The Castle of Zafra, Guadalajara, Spain

Venture deep enough into the desert, and you're bound to find something interesting, right? If you're in Guadalajara, Spain, you'll come across an imposing structure which sits atop a sandstone outcrop. This castle was built in the 12th and 13th centuries, and is the only building for miles.

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On Game of Thrones: The Tower of Joy

The Tower of Joy holds the secret to Jon Snow's lineage. It's here that a young Ned Stark finds his sister, Lyanna Stark, giving birth to Rhaegar Targaryen's child. After Lyanna dies, Ned Stark brings the boy home and raises him as his own.

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On Earth: Mussenden Temple and Downhill Strand in Northern Ireland

Mussenden Temple is a small circular building perched at the end of the world. Okay, it's actually just on a cliff overlooking a seven-mile stretch of beach – but it's quite a dramatic view.

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On Game of Thrones: Dragonstone Island

As a follower of the Lord of Light, red priestess Melisandre opposes all other religions. In Season 2, Melisandre burns statues of the deities of the Faith of the Seven — the main religion of Westeros — on a beach. This dramatic scene takes place in Downhill Strand, Northern Ireland.

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On Earth: Trsteno Arboretum, Croatia

The oldest arboretum in that corner of the world, Tresteno is home to two trees that are over 500 years old.

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On Game of Thrones: The Gardens of the Red Keep in King's Landing

The Gardens of the Red Keep were Lady Olenna's domain in Seasons 3 and 4 of Game of Thrones. With the Arboretum as a backdrop, Lady Olenna Tyrell and Varys plotted to overthrow Joffrey and went on walks with a still-quivering Sansa Stark.

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On Earth: The Roman bridge of Córdoba, Spain

At the centre of New York is Times Square, an homage to crowds and capitalism. And at the centre of Córdoba, Spain is a Roman bridge built in early 1st century BCE. Take your pick.

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On Game of Thrones: The Long Bridge of Volantis

Spanning the mouth of the Royne River, the massive Long Bridge is practically a city unto itself. It's covered by multi-level buildings, including taverns, marketplaces, and inns. On the other side of the bridge, the river spills into the Summer Sea.

In Season 5, Tyrion Lannister and Varys meander through the Long Bridge.

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On Earth: Ouarzazate, Morocco

Nicknamed the door of the desert, Ouarzazate is small Southern Moroccan village bordering the Sahara. Its rust-coloured skyline has served as the backdrop for films like The Mummy(1999), Gladiator(2000), and Lawrence of Arabia(1962).

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On Game of Thrones: Yunkai

In Season 3 of Game of Thrones, Daenerys liberates the enslaved people of Slaver's Bay. Scenes that took place in Yunkai were filmed in Ouarzazate, and scenes in Astapor, another town in Slaver's Bay, were filmed in Essaouira, Morocco.

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A Nap Bar Just Opened In Spain, So BRB

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Cities are exhausting. Napping is good for you. Those are the two principles the new "nap bar" Siesta & Go in Madrid seems to operate on. Following in the footsteps of similar establishments in London, Brussels, Tokyo, and other cities, this will be the first one in Spain.

The siesta is considered one of the "small pleasures of life" in Spain, according to Siesta & Go's website, and disco naps have various known health benefits.

Siesta & Go, reports Lonely Planet, offers both private and shared rooms for napping. You can either pre-book or just walk in and see if any of the 19 available beds are available.

If you just need a little solo time to study or catch up on emails, you can also rent a work space. Another option is to lounge in one of Siesta & Go's armchairs, where you can read a book in peace — which is priceless, if you ask us. The centre offers coffee, newspapers, slippers, and nightshirts. (And if you're worried about the hygiene aspect, it gets professionally cleaned, and bedding and clothing are single-use.)

You can pay by the minute or the hour; an hour in a private room is about £10-12. There are also a few bonuses and promotions of which to take advantage. Check the website and Facebook page for more information. Next time we're in Madrid, we'll definitely be stopping by between shopping and tapas.

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17 Quotes — And Images — That Capture What Pride Means Today

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Pride Month comes to a close this week, and we have to say, it's been a blast. But this time of the year isn't just about throwing the biggest, gayest, most rainbow-filled month-long shindig possible (though we certainly haven't stopped trying). The history that led us to Pride is about a struggle for visibility, an unwillingness to give up fighting for it, and an unbreakable sense of love and identity — all of which lasts far beyond the month of June.

In fact, ask a group of people from the LGBTQ community what the term "pride" means to them, and they'll each tell you something different. So that's what we did: asked R29 staffers who identify as LGBTQ to give us their perspectives on pride. Ahead, read what they said — and check out a few of the original images their words inspired us to create.

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What does pride mean to you?

"Recognising and celebrating how far my community has come and the great struggles my brothers and sisters had to go through in order for me to be the person I am today, while acknowledging how far we still have to go."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Standing up for yourself in a courageous way that may not be socially acceptable."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"I'm basically the gayest of the gays so pride, for me, will always be connected to the queer community. It means being out and visible as a lesbian whenever I can and feel safe to be. It means talking about my identity no matter how uncomfortable it makes other (straight) people. It means calling people out for the homophobic things they say (again, when I feel safe to do so)."

Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
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"Being yourself, unapologetically."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Pride means feeling happy with the wonderful life my wife and I have created together."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Love."

Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
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"I'm a bisexual woman, and sometimes pride month is hard for me, as I am in a relationship with a cis male. But to be proud of who I am through and through means no hiding, and no embarrassment. I'm always the first person to answer questions, be a champion for bi women, and be open of my sexuality regardless of my relationship status."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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How do you show or support pride in your life?

"By unapologetically being true to who I am, speaking out when I hear a homophobic [or] transphobic comment or action, showing up to rallies and screaming as loud as I can, walking down the street in drag even if I feel uncomfortable at times."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Wearing my hair its all its curly glory; going braless and letting my nipples free when I want; PDA."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"When I first came out I sported as many rainbow and queer pins as I possibly could, which I think a lot of queer people do when they just really want people to recognise their identities. I don't do that anymore because I realise that I can show my pride for the queer community even if most people walking down the street have no idea that I'm gay [...] by being confident in and talking about my identity."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Tasteful acts of subversion — speaking up for those who are afraid to use their voice, answering questions about my sexuality and asking my own, and, mostly, being a support system for those people in my life that don't always have a shoulder to cry on or a place to stay when things go bad in their life."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Living my truth."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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If you could illustrate pride in one way, how would you?

"I think of the rainbow flag. I also envision people marching for what they believe in, whether that is gay rights, women's rights or Black Lives Matter. To be proud is to be active for what you believe in and stand for."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"The classic fist in the air."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"I don't think it's necessary to be decked out head to toe in rainbows to show your pride as a queer woman. It just looks like me (and other queer people) taking up space as the fabulous femme lesbian I am."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
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"Holding my boyfriend's hand in public."

Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
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"A rainbow pirate holding all the pride flags (the pink and purple bi flag, trans flag, and rainbow) with one leg up on a barrel of wine."

Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.

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Protesters Form Human Chain Around US Capitol In A Powerful Display Of Opposition To The AHCA

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Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that a vote on the GOP's revised healthcare bill has been postponed until after the Fourth of July recess. The GOP's plan to repeal and replace The Affordable Care Act would have left 22 million people without access to healthcare by 2026. It also put funding for Medicaid and Planned Parenthood in peril.

The vote has been delayed because it failed to garner enough support from Republican senators, but a protest at the United States Capitol has continued as planned this evening. Hundreds of protestors from over two dozen advocacy groups and non-profits formed a human chain around the Capitol to express their opposition to the GOP's dangerous healthcare proposals.

The protest went on despite the delay because the vote has certainly not been cancelled entirely. Over 1,500 people had RSVP'd prior to the protest, and some familiar faces were in the crowd. California Senator Kamala Harris tweeted yesterday that she planned to join the human chain and encouraged others to do the same.

Planned Parenthood, which could be federally defunded under the GOP's healthcare proposal, was out in full force with its many supporters.

Hundreds of people had gathered around the United States Capitol by 5 p.m. EST in a powerful display of opposition to the healthcare bill that even Donald Trump himself has described as "mean."

Yesterday, Planned Parenthood organised a protest inspired by The Handmaid's Tale to highlight how devastating the American Health Care Act would be for women.

As Trump scrambles to secure a victory, the delay in the healthcare vote marks yet another setback for the president and prominent GOP congresspeople. And, based on the public outcry regarding the healthcare bill, he faces an uphill battle in fulfilling his promise to "repeal and replace Obamacare."

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Hold Up: 56 New Emoji Are Coming

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Anyone unsatisfied with the currently available 1,851 emoji is about to get a slew of new options. USA Today reports that the Unicode Consortium will be adding 56 new tiny images to the next Unicode update, which could come as soon as July.

The Unicode Consortium gave emoji die-hards a preview of some of the new selections back in the spring, but the latest announcement has the complete roster, which includes a few very necessary additions and a few that probably won't make it to most users' frequently used menu. Among some of the best additions in Unicode version 10.0 include a breastfeeding woman, something users have been wanting for a while, alongside a bearded male emoji, and a female emoji wearing a hijab.

For those more apt to use the yellow smileys, there's a cursing face, a Pretty Little Liars -approved shushing emoji, and a vomiting option, too.

Foodie emoji users also have reason to celebrate. The emoji menu is expanding with a few new Asian food options, including what appears to be a xiaolongbao, aka soup dumpling, as well as a take-out box and chopsticks. This follows the addition of bacon and the croissant back in Unicode 9.0., making for a truly international array of eats.

And while we appreciate the effort, we're not quite sure how many people will use the new merman emoji or a yellow face sporting a monocle. While those seem pretty charming, it's not often that British P.I.s and specific Zoolander references come up in conversation. New animals, dinosaurs, wizards, zombies, and fairies are also included.

The final Unicode 10.0 release, which is an edited version of the consortium's proposal announced in March, doesn't just expand the emoji library. For anyone using special keyboards and obscure characters, there are 8,518 characters being added to the system, too.

Teen Vogue notes that the new emoji probably won't get integrated into Apple's iOS and other operating systems until later this year, however. That could mean anything from July to December, but fortunately, there's a fingers-crossed emoji that we can all use while we wait for these new emoji to drop.

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Tinder Is Launching A "First-Class Swipe Experience"

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If you're a serial swiper (we see you, people in elevators/the subway/in restaurants when your date is in the bathroom), you might like this news.

Yesterday, Tinder announced that it is launching a velvet-rope, VIP-type experience called Tinder Gold. The premium service will give users access to all the features already included in Tinder Plus — like Passport, Rewind, Unlimited Likes, five Super Likes per day, and one Boost per month.

The brand-new part? A feature called Likes You. Likes You lets you see who's swiped right on you instantly, so you can match — and actually start talking — faster. "As this test feature is integrated, double opt-in will continue to be an essential part of the Tinder experience, meaning both users have to swipe right for a match to be made and for them to be connected," according to a statement from Tinder.

"Tinder Gold members are interested in taking advantage of all the features Tinder has to offer," Brian Norgard, the company's chief product officer, said in a statement. "They’re using the app to meet new people, and Likes You makes that easier and more efficient than ever by letting users know when someone is interested. Likes You builds on previous features like Boost to help users optimise their time — and go from matching in app to getting together in the real world."

Tinder Gold will start testing in Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Mexico in the next few days, and Tinder hopes to roll it out to users in other countries soon, according to a company blog post.

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12 Ways To Wear The Khaki Trend This Summer

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Utility and khaki may not sound like the sexiest trends to hit the SS17 catwalks but they're certainly two of the easiest to try, for a sophisticated update to your summer wardrobe. Whether it's a pair of tailored khaki trousers to trade in for your favourite jeans, a khaki shirt, a trench coat, or skirt, there are numerous ways to incorporate the coloured cotton (anything from a brownish yellow to a deeper olive green) into your look.

The SS17 catwalk at J.W.Anderson featured a button-up khaki dress with a corseted waist, while Valentino brought the trend to life with a cross between a trench and cape as well as a military-esque coat. At Alexander Wang and Kenzo, high-waisted, paper-bag khaki trousers were showcased and Balenciaga, Dior and Prada all presented their own versions of the iconic khaki trench.

If you're looking for new pieces to add to your work uniform, some inspiration for something elegant to wear on holiday or an alternative to denim or shorts this summer, it's time to give khaki a go. Click ahead to see how some of our favourite style stars are wearing the trend this summer.

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Katherine Ormerod wears a ruffled ASOS khaki skirt with an H&M vest, Mango sandals and Meli Melo bag. The combination of tan, khaki and grey tones works perfectly. Extra points for matching her top with the wall.

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A light trench coat is the most obvious way to incorporate khaki into your summer wardrobe. Jessie Bush wears a khaki Topshop trench over a blue striped Topshop shirt and faded black Levi's jeans, finished off with silver Topshop boots and Céline sunglasses.

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Gurls Talk founder and model, Adwoa Aboah, wears a khaki Burberry trench and carries the Burberry DK88 Document Case.

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If your wardrobe mostly consists of black, add in a pair of khaki trousers for a muted hint of colour. Stylist Giovanna Engelbert wears Céline trousers with a black blouse, white belt and a bag by her sister, Sara Battaglia.

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InStyle Germany's Fashion Director, Jan-Michael Quammie (we'd love to raid her wardrobe) wears a khaki MA1 bomber jacket over an Alyx top and J.W.Anderson skirt, finished off with a Fendi bag.

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Veronika Heilbrunner goes for a military look in lace-up boots and khaki coat but adds a touch of femininity with a pastel pink J.W.Anderson Pierce bag.

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Caroline Issa wears a green quilted coat over a khaki polo neck with wide-leg culottes, black slippers and a Chanel bucket bag.

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Okay, okay, this isn't strictly khaki but we couldn't resist including founder of Avenue 32, Roberta Benteler 's green ensemble. Roberta wears a Vetements cap, Acne coat, white polo neck and Vetements jeans with an Hermès bag.

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Net-A-Porter Fashion Director, Lisa Aiken, admits that she's "trying to give up my denim addiction with khaki." This high-waisted skirt is from Joseph and is paired to perfection with black and white Altuzarra mules, a black T-shirt and a black leather jacket.

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Lisa strikes again in khaki, this time wearing a red and white striped top with paper-bag khaki trousers, and a J.W.Anderson Pierce bag.

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Stylist Anastasia Barbieri heads into the Dries van Noten SS18 men's show during Paris Fashion Week in double khaki. We love the oversized silhouette.

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Oh Kate, can you do no wrong? Ms Moss wore cropped khaki trousers with a leather jacket and flat cap to the Louis Vuitton men's SS18 show.

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What Life Was Like As A Sex Worker In The 1700s

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In 1760s London, sex was big business. There were brothels on almost every street corner, and thousands of enterprising women collecting their share of the massive wealth that poured through the city.

Most people's views of sex workers in Georgian times are limited to a few glimpses of courtesans in paintings, or the occasional character on TV. New show Harlots, though, follows the fortunes of women selling sex in the 18th century, giving us an intriguing insight into their everyday lives – and there are some surprising similarities with the sex we have today...

18th-century sex workers had client review websites (kind of)

In 2017, sex workers can post adverts online to market their services, and on some sites clients can even leave comments and reviews. The Georgian version of this was a book called Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies. A bestseller in its day, it effectively functioned as a Who's Who of Covent Garden sex workers, telling potential punters where the best brothels were, who to ask for, which services could be procured and – of course – the price.

But as well as the headlines, Harris's List also contained intriguing snippets of back story, often explaining how the women came to be working in the city. Miss Le__ of Soho was a "tall and genteel" lady who was caught one day "with a certain naughty book". After being whipped by her governess, she ran away and was eventually taken in by a city merchant who was himself "fond of the rod". This submissive suitor helped Miss Le__ find her feet.

Sex work in Georgian times was big business

How big? Estimates vary but historian Dan Cruickshank, in his book The Secret History Of Georgian London, posits that the sex trade in London at the time had an annual turnover of around £20 million. That's close to £1.5 billion in today's money.

Why so much money? Well, back in Georgian times there were far more women working in the sex trade – it wasn't just the quickest route to riches, it was one of the few ways women really could earn money. As historian Dr. Kate Lister explains on her blog Whores of Yore, there were far fewer options than there are for women today: “Historically, men have always held the money and the power and there was only three ways a woman could access some of that for herself; she could inherit it, she could marry it, or she could shag it.”

Sex could cost anywhere from a few pennies to £9,000

As a Georgian sex worker, how much you could charge depended on a number of factors. Your Harris review would certainly make a difference, but so would the reputation of the brothel you were working in. Apparently, the average cost was just under one guinea (about £1), although haggling wasn't unheard of. Harris's List explains of one woman:

“Her price is one pound one, but, like many others of the fraternity, she will not turn her back on a less sum, she will rather accept of half a guinea, than her friend should return home with his burthen.”

More genteel establishments could command much higher prices, though. It is estimated that a night at one of the most fashionable and successful brothels in Soho – with an emphasis on well-groomed women and high-class clientele – could cost up to £2,000 in today's money.

Special services cost even more. Many would charge huge sums – up to £50 (£9,000 in today's money) – to people who wanted to buy a woman's virginity. Naturally, there was big money to be made, as a savvy businesswoman could sell her 'virginity' many times over.

Some rose to the status of major celebrity

Kitty Fisher, a real-life sex worker, was such a celebrity in her day that she even attracted the Georgian equivalent of paparazzi: newspapers and ballad-writers mocked her for falling off her horse one day, playing on the notion of the 'fallen woman'. Her portrait – by one of the most prominent painters of the time – hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

They used condoms (though not as we know them)

Long before the invention of latex there was... sheep intestine. Condoms in Georgian times were made from washed-out sheep guts, tied at the end to stop leaks, and sewn at the other end with ribbon. The resulting condom could be tied on to the penis before sex and rinsed out afterwards.

The Georgians were as keen on porn as we are

The more you look at the sex lives of the Georgians, the easier it is to spot similarities between the sex industry of the time and what we have today. Though our tech might be a little better – porn sites, webcams, nude selfies and the like – Georgians weren't limited to using their imagination. One of the reasons Harris's List was a bestseller was because it wasn't just used as review material, it also served as the Georgian equivalent of porn. People would buy it purely for the titillating reviews inside.

Like the review of Miss S__tt of Cavendish Square, who was “amorous to the greatest degree, and has courage enough not to be afraid of the largest and the strongest man that ever drew weapon in the cause of love.” Or Miss Fra___r, who “enjoys the sport with all the vigorous ardour that may be expected from a girl of one and twenty.” Or Miss H__y: “very active and nimble, and not a little clever in the performance of the art of friction.”

Harlots: Series 1 is out now on DVD & digital download

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Meet The Lionesses: The England Women's Football Team Are Going For Gold

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A few weeks ago, the SSE Women's FA Cup final was held. Over 35,000 people attended the match between Manchester City and Birmingham. It was a record for the event. Just three years ago, the same cup final drew fewer than 5,000 fans.

So what's changed? Well, for starters, the FA Cup final was held this year, as it has been for the last two years, at Wembley. Rather than a much smaller stadium in Doncaster.

Secondly, interest in the women's sport has skyrocketed. Since 2010, investment in women's football has tripled. In 2015, it was estimated that in England alone, 27,324 women were affiliated with women's football and, across the UK, at Premier League level, players are finally experiencing full-time training, access to state-of-the-art facilities and, crucially, full-time wages. It is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK.

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When it comes to the international stage, 2015 saw England's Lionesses experience their best ever result, coming third in the World Cup. It was an incredible success and the team is now ranked fourth in the world.

This summer, the Lionesses are in with a real chance of nailing the European Championship, held in the Netherlands. Germany are currently the favourites to win but the Lionesses have been given odds of 7/1, just behind France.

We spoke to some of the players ahead of the opening game against Scotland on 19th July to find out how women's football has changed over the course of their careers and what their hopes are for the next generation.

Alex Scott

Alex Scott, 32, is a defender for Arsenal. She previously played for Birmingham City and the Boston Breakers in the US. She has made 138 appearances for England. She works with the Women’s Football Academy at Kingston College to find and nurture young players.

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On the World Cup

It was an amazing achievement for the team. I don’t think anyone besides us had the belief that this England team could achieve such a thing and walk away with a bronze medal on the world stage. It has elevated women’s football in this country. If we can just take it one step further this summer…

On the misconceptions people have about her job

I think it’s the attitude that’s the main thing. You do still get that one guy being like “Oh women’s football? That’s not good.” But then you find they come to a game and they’re so surprised! And they come back and they come back. It’s easy to talk about women's football but when you’ve actually seen it, then your whole perception of it changes.

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On how team sports can boost self-esteem

People take for granted the confidence you can gain from being in a team – dealing with different personalities, figuring out how to communicate… These are everyday skills you need. You have to be so resilient [to be in a football team]; the stuff you have to come through like adversity, not being selected, injuries, not winning. You learn to bounce back from things.

On countering negative thoughts

I always remind myself how lucky I am to be doing what I do. For me, it could have been a completely different path with my upbringing, where I’ve come from, so I never take anything for granted. I’m so grateful for what football has given me and people I’ve met along the way; I’ve travelled the world. There’s not one thing I can moan about.

Jodie Taylor

Jodie, 31, currently plays for Arsenal as a striker but has spent most of her career playing abroad in Australia, Sweden and the United States. She has appeared for England 24 times.

On sacrifice

Things are going in the right direction and are getting better [with women’s football], we’re now privileged enough to be full-time and have a salary but there is still a level of sacrifice that we have to give. At Arsenal we get really good access to the facilities now but it's not like the men's [sport] yet.

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On the differences between the UK and the US

I’ve spent a lot of my career abroad, I went to college on a scholarship to the States when I was 18 because it was full-time training, which you couldn’t get here then. The facilities were phenomenal. When I came back in 2012 with a hope to make the national team again, we were training twice, three times a week in the evening at like 8pm. Financially it was terrible, fortunately I had my family there to support me. But fast-forward a few years and see where we’re at now and it’s full-time wage, you don’t have to work on top of it, there’s been an increase in the standard and that’s why I think we are more successful now than we were. It’s a step in the right direction.

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On inspiring young girls

In the States it was insane. There were avid young girls at every single game. When I was at Washington Spirit there were these same couple of girls who would be at every team signing or event we had. They were there trying to get into sessions with the girls, they’d bring cakes on people’s birthdays. I don’t think I’ve really seen that in the UK yet but we’re starting to get a good fanbase at Arsenal. It would be great to get to that point!

On getting motivated

Coffee! Coffee is a big one, especially when I’m tired in the morning. I think on the low days it’s about the bigger picture. Last year I was struggling with an injury and the focus on these Euros really got me through a lot of the days. For me it’s about what the end goal is and certainly focussing on having a successful summer has been the driving force for the last few months.

Fran Kirby

Fran, 23, plays for Chelsea as a striker. She is one of the youngest members of the England team and has appeared for them 19 times.

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On being someone to look up to

We have to see ourselves as role models, as hard as it is. I would never consider myself to be one but you have to take on that role.

When I do see a young girl kicking a football about in a park, I try to go over and say hi and get involved. It’s really important for us to try and encourage [them] to play. With us playing full-time they can look up to us and be like, “That’s what I want to do”, they can see there is a career for them in women’s football.

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On the fitness revolution

The interest in football is increasing – obviously a lot of people do just go to the park and play football for fitness purposes. It’s a fun game you can play with your friends so if you do want to get fit and healthy, go and play a five-a-side game in the evening with your friends. You do get a good workout from it! I think if you see the England women on TV doing well, looking fit and healthy, a lot of people will be like, “I want to be fit, I want to be healthy.”

On motivation

It’s always so easy to think of the negatives in your life but try and take the smallest positives out of everything, like you just made a cup of tea and it’s the best cup of tea you’ve ever made. Do you know what I mean? Little positives like that. It does give you that incentive to go on and try and have a good day.

Fara Williams

Fara, 34, plays midfield for Arsenal and has previously played for Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea and Charlton Athletic. In 2014, she became the most capped England player ever. She has racked up 162 international appearances.

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On the first match of the Euros

I think Scotland is going to be a big one just because of who it is. I’ve got old teammates in that team. I think the group stage for us is going to be difficult and it just makes it more exciting that the opening game is Scotland.

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On making the 2017 squad

I was nervous! The older you get the less opportunities you’re going to get, what with age and good younger players coming through. We’ve got a big squad of players that are more than capable of being here, both on and off the pitch, so I was nervous. I didn’t sleep too well the night before so I was relieved when I got that email.

On her early career

I wasn’t aware of any support as a young player getting into a team. I played on the streets for a long time and I was probably one of the later ones to get in a team at 12. Some girls started as Under 9s and Under 8s so I probably missed a few years of playing but now there’s loads of support.

On appreciating what you have

There’s lots of people out there that I know would want to be in the position that I am and I think because it has come so late in my career, I’m really appreciative of it and what opportunities I have. Sometimes as female footballers, we forget where we come from – like training in a park where dogs are chasing you! I find it hard that people would struggle or be de-motivated to get out of bed on those cold and horrible mornings. I think if that time was to come for me, I think that would be time for me to go “Actually, maybe I shouldn’t be doing this.”

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Fixtures

England kick-off their Euro 2017 campaign against Scotland in Utrecht on Wednesday 19th July live on Channel 4. You can join the conversation using #Lionesses and for more information visit thefa.com/forgirls.

19th July 2017 England v Scotland Utrecht, Netherlands, 8.45pm
23rd July 2017 England v Spain Breda, Netherlands, 8.45pm
27th July 2017 England v Portugal, Tilburg, Netherlands, 8.45pm

Further dates to come after the group stages...

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Are You Addicted To Exercise?

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A scroll through the #fitfam or #fitspo posts on Instagram will reveal countless images of gym buffs grappling with kettlebells, before-and-after transformations and motivational quotes. If you’re an avid exerciser, perhaps they inspire you to work out harder and longer, to try new moves that will lead to a more defined body, to exercise every day. But where does being fit, healthy and strong end, and an unhealthy attachment to exercise begin?

"Exercise addiction" used to be a relatively innocuous term – a jokey way of saying that you loved exercise – but now it’s a recognised problem and the British Medical Journal has even published a piece about how to recognise and treat it.

According to an Italian study, people who strongly identify as an exerciser and have low self-esteem are at a higher risk of developing an addiction. Women are more likely to suffer from secondary exercise addiction, meaning that it’s associated with an eating disorder. Over 40% of the 120 gym-goers who completed the study were found to be at risk.

What are the signs?

Those with exercise addiction might exercise even when they’re ill or tired. They might miss out on social or family occasions so that they can exercise. They might feel anxious and irritable if they can’t work out or they might exercise to the point that they experience physical injury, such as a stress fracture. They have an inability to stop or reduce their levels of exercise.

But plenty of people love exercise and train to a high level without a problem. So where does the boundary lie between healthy and unhealthy? "The difference is that a compulsive exerciser works out not to feel good, but to avoid feeling bad," says Dr. Carolyn Plateau, a Loughborough University psychology lecturer who specialises in compulsive exercise. "They rely on it for mood regulation, may get feelings of guilt, failure or anxiety if they don’t exercise, and tend to have a very rigid routine. It comes above all else – exercise will always take priority."

Polly Hale, 33, agrees. In her late teens and early 20s, she was addicted to exercise alongside having anorexia. She attended dance school, where image was all-important, and during the holidays she would exercise compulsively, seeing it as a way to burn as many calories as she could.

"I started cutting down on the calories I ate," she says, "but I would also take any opportunity to exercise, such as walking everywhere (even if it took hours) or dancing without stopping all night at a club. If I was away with my family, I would have a strict regime of strength exercises to do. My motives were all wrong. I wasn’t exercising to feel good or stay healthy but to stay thin, and I would get overwhelming feelings of guilt and failure if I couldn’t exercise. I lost the ability to listen to my body and pushed on through, even when I was exhausted and undernourished."

The triggers can vary. "It can be a small thing, such as a comment on your body made by a friend or family member," says Carolyn, "up to a dramatic life change such as going to university, having a perfectionistic personality where you’re always striving for high goals, or having a difficult emotional experience and exercise becomes a way of avoiding it."

"Social media can also play a role, particularly in people that use it a lot as they can lose a sense of the real world," she adds. "There has been a backlash against being very skinny; now it’s all about lean and strong. But that can be equally damaging if you’re striving for an unrealistic image of a woman with a six-pack and zero body fat – she could be training for hours a day to look like that."

And because exercise addiction is so often linked with disordered eating, the "clean eating" trend can also play a part. "Hyper-vigilance about what goes into your mouth and a focus on consuming only ‘healthy’ foods can often go hand in hand with compulsive exercise behaviours," says Carolyn.

A problem with other people recognising it in you, or even a health professional diagnosing it, is that exercise is usually a positive thing. Where starving yourself is clearly a bad idea, we’re encouraged to exercise. "It can go under the radar if it’s not accompanied by an obvious eating disorder," says Carolyn. "It can also be disguised in much the same way as the early stages of an eating disorder – 'I’m just exercising a bit more at the moment to stay healthy'."

"Although my family could see it was part of my eating disorder, they questioned the amount of food I ate but not the amount of exercise I was doing," says Polly. "I recognised it in myself and knew that it wasn’t normal, but I couldn’t stop myself. The desire to exercise was so overpowering."

Where to get help

"The first and often the hardest step is admitting to yourself that you have a problem," says Polly. "Then you can open up to someone else and say you need help."

You can see your GP, who can refer you to an appropriate service. You could even open up to your personal trainer, who may be able to help you devise a healthier schedule and set positive goals, rather than exercising for exercise’s sake.

Treatment can include cognitive behavioural therapy and psychological help to equip you with healthier ways of dealing with negative emotions. "You wouldn’t necessarily have to stop exercising but you might be asked to reduce it or replace it with low-intensity exercise such as yoga," says Carolyn. "It’s about reformulating your attitudes to both exercise and food (if it’s associated with an eating disorder)."

For Polly, her turning point was a night at the pub in her early 20s. She had been hospitalised three times but always relapsed. "That night, one friend announced she was pregnant and another that she was getting married. Something in my head just clicked and I realised that everyone was moving on with their lives and I was going to be left behind. No one would want a relationship with me and I would never have children (my periods had stopped long ago). I suddenly wanted this thing out of my life. I worked with a dietitian to help me see food as a pleasure and as fuel, rather than unnecessary calories, and my attitude to exercise slowly changed."

Change doesn’t happen overnight but Polly proves that it is possible. She’s now a personal trainer and founded The Fit Mum Formula, helping women to learn to love their bodies, exercise and eat well because they want to look after themselves. She’s also married with two children. "It took me about five years to fully recover, but I now exercise and eat well because I want to enjoy life, and I appreciate what it feels like to be strong and healthy, rather than thin and exhausted."

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Here's Everything Coming To UK Netflix In July

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Sure, July is supposed to be when summer really begins, but do you trust the British weather? On some days this month, it's bound to tip it down. And on others, you'll probably feel too hot to leave your flat. Either way, if barbecue season fizzles out, Netflix has you covered.

The streaming giant is launching more high-quality titles this month, including To the Bone, an original film in which Lily Collins (pictured right) plays a young woman battling anorexia. Another Netflix movie, The Incredible Jessica James starring The Daily Show 's Jessica Williams, is also building buzz ahead of its launch this month.

If you fancy an old classic, John Hughes' seminal teen movie The Breakfast Club shimmies onto Netflix, too. And new episodes of Sherlock, Wallander and Gavin & Stacey are being added, so TV fans won't be disappointed either.

Click through to see every single new title – and its release date – on Netflix this July.

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Ari Shaffir: Double Negative: Collection (2017)

The cult US comedian and podcaster delivers a pair of interconnected stand-up specials: one focuses on children, the other on adulthood.

Available 18th July

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Asian Provocateur (2015)

Six-part BBC travelogue following comedian Romesh Ranganathan as he criss-crosses Sri Lanka, his parents' homeland, in a bid to connect with his roots.

Available 1st July

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Before I Fall (2017)

This Netflix original film is based on a popular young adult novel by Lauren Oliver. Zoey Deutsch stars as a privileged teenage girl who untangles the mystery surrounding her death after being forced to relive her final day, over and over again.

Available 7th July

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Beyond Borders (2003)

Angelina Jolie and Clive Owen star as aid workers who fall in love while helping at an Ethiopian refugee camp and subsequently fighting for human rights. It's hardly Jolie's most memorable film, though there's no doubting her connection with the subject matter.

Available 15th July

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Birdman of Alcatraz(1962)

A Hollywood classic in which Burt Lancaster portrays Robert Stroud, the infamous American criminal who became a respected ornithologist – or bird expert – while serving a life sentence for murder.

Available 1st July

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Blair Witch (2016)

Last year's very watchable sequel to one of the '90s' defining horror flicks, The Blair Witch Project. The Walking Dead 's James Allen McCune and La La Land 's Callie Hernandez lead the cast.

Available 9th July

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Buddy Thunderstruck: The Maybe Pile(2017)

A new Netflix kids' series about a champion truck-driving dog, Buddy, and his best friend Darnell, a ferret mechanic. It's designed to be interactive, so viewers will be able to choose how the story progresses by touching the screen.

Available 14th July

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Castlevania (2017)

A new animated fantasy series based on the cult video games. Super-dark in tone and set in medieval times, it's earning early comparisons to Game of Thrones.

Available 7th July

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Chasing Coral (2017)

A big hit at Sundance earlier this year, this feature-length documentary examines how and why the world's coral reefs are rapidly disappearing. It's visually stunning but also pretty troubling to watch.

Available 14th July

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Cocaine Cowboys(2006) and Cocaine Cowboys 2: Hustlin' with the Godmother(2008)

A pair of highly acclaimed drug trade documentary films from director Billy Corben. The first tracks the cocaine boom that swept through '80s Miami, while the second follows a small-time dealer peddling coke in '90s Oakland.

Available 1st July

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Daughters of Destiny (2017)

A poignant and inspiring documentary about a group of young people trying to transcend their underprivileged upbringing in one of India's poorest communities. Vanessa Roth, who made the Oscar-winning LGBT short film Freeheld, directs.

Available 28th July

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Dawn of the Croods (2017)

Fourth season of the Netflix original kids' series that's essentially a modern riff on The Flintstones.

Available 7th July

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Dear Frankie (2004)

Romantic drama about a mother who hires a stranger to pose as her young son's dad in order to protect him from his real father's history of abuse. Emily Mortimer and Gerard Butler star.

Available 30th July

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Deepwater Horizon (2016)

An uncommonly intelligent disaster movie based on the true story of America's worst ever oil spill. Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, and John Malkovich lead a stellar cast.

Available 23rd July

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Degrassi: Next Class (2017)

Season four of the Canadian teen drama that's a continuation of the long-running Degrassi franchise. Drake – yes, actual Drake – started out in one of the earlier Degrassi shows.

Available 7th July

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El Chema (2016)

Season one of the hit telenovela (essentially a Latin American soap opera) about Chema Venegas, the fictional leader of a huge Mexican drug cartel.

Available 1st July

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Emperor (2012)

Tommy Lee Jones and Matthew Fox star in a solid biopic about the US occupation of Japan at the end of World War II. They play Generals MacArthur and Fellers, who must decide whether Japan's Emperor Hirohito should be tried for war crimes at the risk of triggering a national revolt.

Available 1st July

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Extraordinary: The Stan Romanek Story (2013)

Gripping documentary film about Stan Romanek, a man who claims to have been abducted by aliens on numerous occasions over the last two decades.

Available 3rd July

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Fittest on Earth: A Decade of Fitness (2016)

This documentary tells the story of the 2016 Reebok CrossFit Games, an exhausting five-day sporting event that set out to find "the fittest man and woman on Earth". It's possibly not the one to watch on your next lazy weekend.

Available 17th July

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Friends from College (2017)

A brand new Netflix comedy series about a group of '90s Harvard pals who reunite in present-day New York City. The cast includes the excellent Cobie Smulders and the equally excellent Billy Eichner.

Available 14th July

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Gavin & Stacey (2010)

Third and final series of Ruth Jones and James Corden's endlessly watchable BBC sitcom. Best enjoyed with an omelette and, if you feel like channelling Nessa, a "pint of wine".

Available 15th July

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Given (2017)

Exhilarating documentary about a boy who embarks on a surfing adventure that takes him across 15 different countries.

Available 1st July

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Hitler: The Rise of Evil (2003)

Part one of a two-part Canadian miniseries tracing Hitler's rise and subsequent consolidation of power. Robert Carlyle stars as the Führer, flanked by a classy supporting cast that includes Stockard Channing, Julianna Margulies, and the late Peter O'Toole.

Available 1st July

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Innsaei: The Sea Within (2016)

A beautiful and unique documentary film that seeks to "uncover the art of connecting within today’s world of distraction, disconnection and stress". Its title comes from "innsaei", an ancient Icelandic word meaning "intuition" or literally, "the sea within".

Available 15th July

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Intelligence (2006)

Canadian crime drama series following an unlikely alliance that forms between an arrogant drug baron and the brilliant government official who's supposed to be taking him down. Minority Report 's Klea Scott leads the cast.

Available 19th July

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Joe Mande's Award-Winning Comedy Special (2017)

A brand new stand-up special from the actor and comedian who played Morris Lerpiss on Parks and Recreation. This time, everything from dating shows to Jewish summer camp are on his hit list.

Available 25th July

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Kate and Mim-Mim (2017)

Cute kids' series about a little girl who goes on a series of magical adventures with her favourite toy bunny.

Available 1st July

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Last Chance U (2017)

Second season of the acclaimed sports documentary series following the East Mississippi Community College's super-competitive American football team.

Available 21st July

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Cirque du Soleil: Luna Petunia (2017)

Second season of the Netflix kids' show inspired by Cirque du Soleil. It centres on Luna Petunia, a little girl living in a dreamlike land, whose adventures highlight the value of believing in yourself.

Available 7th July

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Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015)

Say what you want about Tom Cruise, but he knows how to carry an action flick. The fifth and most recent Mission: Impossible film is another rollicking spy adventure featuring a fierce supporting performance from rising star Rebecca Ferguson.

Available 7th July

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Offspring (2016)

Season six of the popular Australian comedy-drama series following a thirty-something obstetrician and her disparate group of family and friends.

Available 1st July

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Orphan Black (2017)

Fifth and final season of the fantastic and slightly underrated Canadian sci-fi drama series. Last year, Tatiana Maslany deservedly won an Emmy for her devilishly complex performance(s) as a woman and her many identical clones.

New episodes added every Sunday

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Ozark(2017)

Jason Bateman stars in this new Netflix drama series as a financial planner struggling to pay off his debt to a Mexican drug lord. The brilliant Laura Linney co-stars as his wife, suggesting Ozark should be another quality offering from the streaming giant.

Available 21st July

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Power (2017)

Fourth season of the popular crime drama series about a powerful New York City nightclub owner who moonlights as a drug lord. Omari Hardwick stars, and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson serves as an executive producer.

New episodes added every Monday

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QI (2014-16)

Stephen Fry's final two seasons hosting the quirky comedy panel series.

Available 15th July

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Rent (2005)

A flawed but still enjoyable film adaptation of Jonathan Larson's iconic rock musical set during the AIDS crisis. Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel head up a talented cast.

Available 19th July

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Ricki and the Flash (2015)

Meryl Streep plays an ageing rocker trying to reconnect with the family she left behind in this decent comedy-drama film. Appealingly, her character's on-screen daughter is played by Streep's real-life daughter, Mamie Gummer.

Available 28th July

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Scary Movie 2(2001)

Anna Faris and Regina Hall return in the sequel to the hit horror comedy, joined by new cast members Tori Spelling and Tim Curry. It's about as classy as a drunken Maccy D's, but you know you're going to laugh.

Available 14th July

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Scary Movie 3 (2003)

Charlie Sheen, Kevin Hart, and the late Leslie Nielsen join the cast for the horror comedy "threequel". Once again, you'll probably enjoy it more than you'd care to admit.

Available 14th July

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Sherlock: The Abominable Bride (2016)

Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star in this Emmy-winning special episode of the hit BBC detective drama. They're joined by Andrew Scott as the villainous Moriarty.

Available 1st July

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Shooter(2017)

Season two of the US action series starring the seemingly ageless Ryan Phillippe. He plays a highly decorated war veteran who's been coaxed out of retirement so he can thwart a plot to kill the president.

New episodes added Wednesday from 19th July

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Sonic Boom (2014)

Season one of the computer-animated kids' show based on the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise.

Available 1st July

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Suits(2017)

The hit US legal drama returns for a sixth season. The main cast includes Meghan Markle, Google's most-searched actress of 2016 thanks to her relationship with Prince Harry.

Available 18th July

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The Adventures Of Puss In Boots(2017)

Fifth season of the DreamWorks spin-off series starring the stylish and smooth-talking feline from the Shrek movies.

Available 28th July

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The Breakfast Club(1985)

John Hughes' iconic '80s high school movie starring Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez. "Don't you forget about me..."

Available 6th July

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The Illusionist (2006)

Edward Norton stars as a turn-of-the-century magician who uses his conjuring skills to woo a woman from a wealthier background. Rufus Sewell and Paul Giamatti co-star.

Available 15th July

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The Incredible Jessica James (2017)

An awesome-sounding comedy film about a New York playwright (Jessica Williams) who begins to bounce back from a painful break-up after striking up a friendship with a fellow dumpee (Chris O'Dowd). It's 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at the moment, so we have high hopes.

Available 28th July

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The Standups (2017)

A collection of six comedy specials featuring the wit and wisdom of Deon Cole, Beth Stelling, Nate Bargatze, Dan Soder, Nikki Glaser, and Fortune Feimster. Netflix reckons the season contains a total of 2,395 jokes. Not bad.

Available 14th July

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To the Bone (2017)

Lily Collins stars as a 20-year-old woman battling anorexia in this eagerly anticipated Netflix original film. It currently holds an enviable "80% fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Available 14th July

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Top Cat: The Movie (2011)

A computer-animated update of the classic Hanna Barbera cartoon series. Roy Schneider and Danny Trejo lead the voice cast.

Available 31st July

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Wallander(2008-2016)

All four seasons of the acclaimed BBC adaptation of Henning Mankell's popular mystery novels. Kenneth Branagh brings a touch of class, obviously, as title character Inspector Kurt Wallander.

Available 1st July

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Wild Kratts (2012-2014)

Season two of the American-Canadian animated series which aims to educate kids about issues surrounding biology, zoology and ecology.

Available 15th July

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Zoo (2016)

Season two of the US drama series about a varied group of experts who investigate violent animal attacks upon humans all over the world.

Available 17th July

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12 Candid Photos Of Russian Women At The Pool

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Moscow's Chayka pool looks exactly as it did in 1957, when it opened as a training facility for the national diving, synchronised swimming, and water polo teams. Although it's maintained its Soviet-style design, the pool's clientele has since expanded to include families and tourists (in addition to the occasional athlete).

Photographer Olya Ivanova visited the hub of summertime activity to find out how the Russian women swimming there really feel about their bodies. The first thing she noticed was a confidence age gap. "Previous generations of Russian women are often ashamed of their bodies and don't want to show them," Ivanova tells Refinery29. "But now, a lot of young women accept their bodies as they are."

Many of the women told Ivanova that, after years of worrying about their appearance, they finally learned to love their bodies when they stopped caring what other people think — even those closest to them. "They usually heard the most critical things about their bodies from their boyfriends," Ivanova says.

Others mentioned that their journey to self-acceptance is ongoing — and admitted that it's difficult to silence their inner critic. But Ivanova takes their honesty as a sign of progress toward self-love: "Being fragile and accepting your body are connected," she says.

Ahead, learn more about the women of Moscow and how they talk about their bodies.

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

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Nadia, 32, editor
"When I was a teen, I really hated myself and my body. It took a lot of time to feel comfortable in my skin, and I'm still learning how to do that. But I remember the very first turning point. Once I asked my boyfriend why he loved me, and he answered: 'Because you have green eyes.' It sounds strange now, but then it felt like revelation. Someone found a reason to love me. Maybe I'm not so bad!

"When I was 25, I was diagnosed with a benign tumour in my breast. It required a small operation which left me with a small scar. A nurse told me: 'When you sleep with boys, don't ever tell them about this operation.' I was so shocked, like this small scar made my body not good enough.

"Russian society has very high expectations for women's bodies. I remember I judged people for being too fat or too ugly. But at some point I started to think more about it, and my opinion has changed. Now I basically see all people as beautiful, because they are alive. Life is the most beautiful thing in the world."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Elena, 36, journalist
"I was lying in bed with my boyfriend, it was the very beginning of our affair. Suddenly he said that it would be better if I start doing ab exercises, because he likes it when a girl's belly is flat, even concave. I was struck by his words and felt panic: It was pretty much impossible after giving birth twice to have a concave belly. I was blaming myself and felt scared he'd stop loving me if I didn't fulfil his wish.

"It's always a problem for me to buy the proper swimsuit, because my breasts are bigger than average. Once I spent a whole hour in the fitting room, putting on one swimsuit after another. My bosom looked unwillingly provocative in any cute bra, making me feel insecure. At last the shop consultant noticed that I was desperate. She whispered while holding out another swimsuit to me, 'You have a gorgeous figure.' I made my choice very quickly, and that beach season was my favourite, ever.

"I hate judgmental comments regarding human bodies, like, 'He is fat,' 'She is ugly,' etc. I wish not to think about people like this at all. But sometimes, these thoughts just come into my head and I feel disappointed in myself. Unfortunately, our appearance is predominant over everything these days. At the moment, my body is going through a big change, and I notice that I became invisible to men. I know it's normal. I am just pregnant. But I can't stop thinking, what if I always lived in a body that wouldn’t fit in any standards? To be honest, it's a very lonely feeling."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Liliya, writer
"I try not to criticise other people aloud, but I feel sorry about women who do not take care of themselves and look messy. I like women who are plump by nature; I accept it. My criticism is aimed only at those women who don’t love themselves."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Ksenia, 29, model
"The best things I've heard about my body were: 'You are tasty,' 'you have beautiful legs and breasts,' 'your skin is velvet.'

"The worst one was: 'You look like the mother of many children.'

"In other people's bodies, I pay attention to the details that I am interested in my own. I think each body is unique, and I appreciate this uniqueness. That’s why I participate in the art project Matreshkas, which finds, creates, and supports unacknowledged beauty."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Natalia, 35, sales manager
"Once my partner said: 'Your body is insane.' That really made me feel accepted and more laid back.

"Then there was a comment that made me feel very aggressive towards the guy who said it. He said, 'Fuck! What huge tits.' It felt like I was a piece of meat. That was rude, and for me that showed a lack of respect. I receive a lot of comments about my breasts, but they can be so different [depending on] the manner and tone they are said. Why on Earth do all these people try to comment on the obvious things?

"I really see how what I say and think about other people's bodies has changed through time. It’s getting more and more positive. The more I accept myself as I am, the more I love my body — my expressions, emotions — the more I feel beautiful, the more I see beauty in others, the more I accept their imperfections. Nowadays, I actually focus less on the bodies and more on personal qualities, face expression, manner of moving — that’s interesting to watch and to ask myself what I feel about this or that."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Masha, 36, founder and coach at the Body Language Project
"I feel most beautiful when I’m inspired and loved. I don't quite remember being told anything unpleasant about my body, but I do get quite a lot of compliments from people. And I’ve put a lot of effort in getting to know my body, accepting it, and even cherishing it at some point.

"The first thing that I focus on when I meet somebody is their body — the way it looks and feels. I love hugging people. When a person is present in their body, you feel that right away. And then you meet. That’s really beautiful."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Nika, 29, food and travel journalist
"People don’t talk with me about my body much. But if they do, they usually make some very pleasant compliments on the exact parts of my body, mainly my ass and tits. But my life partner says that I have very harmonic body.

"The worst thing that I’ve ever heard was from my dance trainer — he said that my body is stiff and wooden.

"I say things about people’s bodies only if I know exactly that he or she will be happy to hear it. Usually I’m too shy to say something positive about people’s bodies, because it is very personal for me. And I never talk negative about people’s bodies because I don’t see negative things. Don’t know why. Maybe I have some special filters in my eyes. I don’t value bodies much, but I value how people get along with their bodies."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Ekaterina, 35, artist
"Even when I was 19 years old, with less acne and long hair, I was not sure if I deserved love for how I looked. Now I understand that it’s not about looks, but about people.

"I love watching other people. Each body has its own story. If you are smart, confident, or a good interlocutor, all your features will be nice. If one is beautiful, but silly, cruel, or arrogant, all his beauty crashes down in a moment."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Tanya, 34, editor
"Weight doesn’t make you look worse. In my life, I was thin and fat, coloured my hair in various colours and shaved my head, wore strange clothes. It doesn’t affect anything. It's unlikely that anyone could hurt me seriously with his thoughts about my body. I don’t reduce my life achievements to my pants size. If somebody does, I feel sorry for them. It’s impossible to win with such values because there are no winners in this fight for beauty.

"Sometimes I look too long at people, even strangers. I look at the shape of their eyes, at hair, or how clothes accentuates the colour of the lips. The variety inspires me. Often I can't understand why someone is called beautiful, and another is not."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Dana, 34, photo editor
"A guy once told me I was 'too big' for him, that he preferred skinnier girls. It didn’t hurt my feelings, but that was probably the only time when somebody said anything negative about my body. I guess I am lucky.

"My body is so average that I don’t really get many compliments, either. When I used to play basketball and worked my ass off in the gym, I enjoyed compliments on my muscles. Once in college, my teammate’s boyfriend couldn’t hide his surprise when he first saw me in a sleeveless shirt. He said I didn’t look that strong when clothed. I was over the moon. Unfortunately, these times are long gone."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Aliona, 36, photographer
"One of my ex-boyfriends, who used to hear a lot of my laments about my body, once took me to the Pushkin Museum of Arts and showed me antique sculptures of women in the Greek room. 'Look,' he said, 'she looks like you. Her figure and posture, and muscles.' I looked at her, and she was very athletic and strong. Still today, when I feel ugly, I say to myself, 'I look like an antique statue.'

"I don't give a shit about strangers' opinions. And I like how people's bodies look — so many shapes, colours, and textures. I think, I really find most people, of all genders and ages, very beautiful. I like to scrutinise different forms of bodies and faces: how they move, how they exist in space. People fascinating me."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.
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Yuma, 45, psychologist
"In my childhood and youth, I was told that I was skinny, bony, and clumsy. But I did not care. I always liked my body. I love to take care of my body. I don't smoke or drink alcohol.

"With age, I began to hear compliments about my body, and the most pleasant ones were from my partners. I was often told that I have a graceful body.

"I especially like watching mature people who treat their body with dignity. I think that bodies reflect our emotional traumas. I do not praise or criticise the bodies of people, but I try to understand what their bodies say to me. If the body suffers, I feel sorry for this. I want to help.

"Surprisingly, I gained full harmony with my body only when I shaved my head. With a shaved head I feel natural, my agender identity calmed down in my body. I think 'beauty' is a balance and sense of dignity, rather than the form, size, or weight of a body."

Photographed by Olya Ivanova.

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