Blog

  • ‘I’ve done everything but this’: Samantha Harris on modelling, motherhood and growing up in public | Australian fashion

    ‘I’ve done everything but this’: Samantha Harris on modelling, motherhood and growing up in public | Australian fashion

    It’s pouring down in Sydney’s northern beaches when I arrive at Pilu, a chic waterfront restaurant, usually buzzing with diners. On an unusually cold and blustery morning, the swell and the rain are the only sounds to be heard. The white-linen tables are silent, the doors not yet open to the public.

    Samantha Harris, one of Australia’s most recognisable faces, sweeps into the restaurant. She is casual, in activewear, her baby bump visible beneath her puffer jacket, her longtime modelling agent Kathy Ward by her side. Sipping her chai latte, Harris is smiling as she is congratulated on two fronts: her first child and her first book, Role Model: Taking Up Space in the Fashion World.

    The book has been more than a decade in the making.

    Harris says she was an intensely shy young model. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

    Harris, 35, spent 22 years in the spotlight. Her career began at 13, when she was named runner-up in the Girlfriend modelling competition (Abbey Lee Kershaw took first place). The first half of her book charts her stratospheric rise from a schoolgirl in Tweed Heads to a world of catwalks and editorial shoots. The second half belongs to her mother, Myrna Davison, who writes of her early childhood on a New South Wales Aboriginal mission before being forcibly removed as a young child, like tens of thousands of Aboriginal children torn from their families.

    Reading those chapters, Harris says, was gut-wrenching. She pauses before continuing: “I’m still learning about it and it’s still very hard to read.

    “We know what happened to so many Indigenous people but when it’s your mum, it hits very close to home. It’s really hard.”

    Samantha Harris, 15, and Abbey Lee Kershaw, 18, in 2006 when they were announced as David Jones youth ambassadors. Photograph: Janie Barrett/Fairfax Media/Getty Images

    She owes the book’s existence to their shared pact: “She said she only did it because I wouldn’t share my story if she didn’t share hers. So that’s how it all came about.”

    For many millennials who grew up on a steady diet of teen magazines, Harris’s face is familiar: her wide eyes, bee-stung lips and graceful limbs catapulted her into fame and the media spotlight still dominated by blue-eyed blondes. “No one could pick where I was from,” she says. “They thought I was Brazilian or they thought I was Italian. In London they thought I was Indian.”

    Back then, “I wanted to look like the other models – and kind of just slot in and just do the job,” she says. “Now, I love that I stand out.”

    ‘I don’t feel like I missed out on anything at all.’ Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

    Today, inclusive and diverse casting is more common for fashion brands and magazines, but in the early 2000s, Harris was one of few models with Indigenous heritage and the fashion world had yet to recognise the creativity and rich heritage of First Nations design and culture.

    “When I started, I didn’t know any Indigenous models … just seeing so many beautiful girls on the cover of Vogue now. I’m really proud,” she says, listing models who have come after her. “Charlee Fraser being in movies, Magnolia [Maymuru] is doing great things.

    “Just having stand-alone Indigenous designers within [Australian] fashion week, is really cool to see. It’s not just an outfit, it’s hundreds of years of history and storytelling, it’s so much more special. And being able to see the fashion on the runway. I’m very proud because back to my mum’s time that would be unheard of. She’s so proud.”

    At just 14, Harris was working around the world. She was flown to New York, with a chaperone, after her photo was spotted by legendary fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier. The significance of the Demarchelier shoot was a little lost on the teenager. “[Kathy] told me how amazing Patrick was but I was 14, and I was like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s nice.’ I remember when Patrick shot, he was in and he was out, just a few snaps.”

    In Tahiti for a shoot for Marie Claire, being flown to Bora Bora and staying at fancy resorts was a culture shock for the teen who used to hang out at fast-food restaurants in Tweed Heads.

    Harris made a pact with her mother: ‘I wouldn’t share my story if she didn’t share hers.’ Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

    Being far from home was a challenge for the intensely shy model. She struggled being away from her family, and would sleep with the lights on in strange hotel rooms. “I sound like such a big baby – now I love it and it’s a fun experience. It’s exciting.”

    Ward says she still remembers Harris as a young girl; when staying at her agent’s house in Sydney for castings or shoots, Harris preferred playing with Ward’s kids and watching cartoons to talking with the adults. Even the front desk at her modelling agency, Chic, felt imposing, says Harris.

    “Modelling was always something I wanted to do, even though I was so shy, I still wanted to do it.”

    Harris went on to front campaigns and catwalks for Australian designers Carla Zampatti, Lisa Ho, Josh Goot, Romance Was Born, among others. She was named an ambassador for department store David Jones, along with Miranda Kerr and Megan Gale. She landed an international campaign for Italian fashion house Miu Miu and appeared often in Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle.

    Miranda Kerr and Samantha Harris pose after the David Jones spring/summer 2011 season launch in Sydney, Australia, 2011. Photograph: Caroline McCredie/David Jones/Getty Images

    Harris always knew she wanted to model and in the book her mother writes that she was posing even in her first ultrasound image. “My big dream was, if I made it in a Kmart catalogue,” she says.

    But while international fame beckoned, family and community held a much stronger appeal, so Harris made a “conscious choice” to remain in Australia.

    “The grasses aren’t always greener on the other side. I’ve had such a great time. Met so many great people, and worked with amazing clients. I don’t feel like I missed out on anything at all.”

    Ward has a maternal warmth, and it’s easy to picture her taking the younger Harris under her wing. She says Harris captivated her from the first time she saw a Polaroid of the 13-year-old.

    “It wasn’t because she was Indigenous. She just had this most extraordinary face, the lips, the eyes, everything was totally in proportion. She had the height. We were just like ‘Wow, we found a star’.”

    Ward says the industry has changed dramatically over the past two decades. “When Sam started, they were putting 13, 14, 15-year-olds on the cover of Vogue … Fortunately, these days, girls do have to be older,” she says.

    The 2000s era of modelling felt ‘supercharged’, says Harris. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

    At Chic, they aimed to support Harris and her family through the intensity and pressure of the modelling world. “Knowing her background, her mum and her upbringing, we took a lot more care, and a bit more time,” Ward says.

    Ambition, professionalism and resilience saw Harris succeed in a fickle and demanding industry but Role Model reveals disheartening experiences too.

    The 2000s era of skinny models dominated magazine covers. In the book, Harris writes “it felt supercharged between 2005 and 2010”. “Gotta be skinny, gotta be skinny” was a phrase that played through her mind, but she says it came from internal pressure rather than her agency.

    She writes that brands would tell her – even at her thinnest – that she wasn’t thin enough. One even rang her agency saying she had been spotted eating pasta backstage.

    Harris and her brothers were raised by her mother in a tight-knit, loving family, which helped her navigate the challenges and pressures in the industry.

    Her mother urged her to stay grounded during her early career and instilled in her pride and gratitude for her heritage, family and culture.

    Harris says she’s looking forward to ‘everything’ about motherhood. Photograph: Bec Lorrimer/The Guardian

    Even today she says that despite her years in the modelling industry she prefers to hang out with those behind the scenes rather than those in front of the camera, making friends with makeup artists rather than models and actors.

    For many Australian girls, Harris’s success meant something bigger – seeing themselves reflected in the glossy pages of a magazine. These girls are now women, and that connection continues on Harris’s Instagram, where she shares scenes from her daily life with her dog and husband, Luke.

    “People will message me like, just a daily chat. They remember seeing me in magazines, so they’ve kind of watched me grow and been a part of my journey.”

    Now Harris is excited to step away from the spotlight for a while, to focus on her growing family (she’s already a proud dog mum). When I ask her what she’s most looking forward to about motherhood, she replies with a smile: “Everything. Just all of it. I feel like I have done everything but this – being a mum.”

    Continue Reading

  • Comprehensive age-period-cohort analysis of global pancreatitis burden and socioeconomic disparities (1990–2021) | BMC Gastroenterology

    Comprehensive age-period-cohort analysis of global pancreatitis burden and socioeconomic disparities (1990–2021) | BMC Gastroenterology

    Burden of pancreatitis attributable to high alcohol use

    We analyzed the burden of pancreatitis-related deaths and DALY attributable to high alcohol use, incorporating specific data on temporal trends and gender differences. As shown in Fig. 1, the global proportion of pancreatitis deaths attributable to high alcohol use remained relatively stable at approximately 16% between 1990 and 2021. However, significant gender differences were observed in deaths and DALY burdens attributable to high alcohol use. From 1990 to 2021, the proportion of male deaths attributable to high alcohol use increased from approximately 19.77% to a peak of 22.07% in 2010, before slightly declining to stabilize at about 21.5% in 2021. In contrast, the proportion of female deaths remained consistently lower, decreasing from 5.93% in 1990 to around 4.82% in 2021. Regarding DALY, the proportion among males rose from 20.23% in 1990 to 23.17% in 2010, stabilizing at approximately 22.47% in 2021. For females, the proportion slightly increased from 5.97% in 1990 to 6.59% in 2008, before declining to 5.25% in 2021. Overall, the results indicate that the burden of pancreatitis attributable to high alcohol use is significantly higher among males than females.

    Fig. 1

    Proportion of Pancreatitis-Related Deaths (A) and DALYs (B) Attributable to High Alcohol Use by Gender, 1990–2021

    As shown in Fig. 2, the number of deaths and total DALY attributable to high alcohol use exhibited an upward trend from 1990 to 2021, with a significantly higher burden among males than females. Deaths attributable to high alcohol use among males increased from approximately 8,444 to 16,563, while female deaths rose from about 1,527 to nearly 2,186. The crude mortality and DALY rates among males were consistently higher than those among females, rising from approximately 0.31 per 100,000 and 13.07 per 100,000 in 1990 to 0.41 per 100,000 and 15.95 per 100,000 in 2021, respectively. Although age-standardized mortality and DALY rates for males showed a slight downward trend during the study period, the changes in these indicators for females were minimal, and their overall burden remained at relatively low levels.

    Fig. 2
    figure 2

    Global Burden of Pancreatitis Attributable to High Alcohol Use by Gender, 1990–2021: (A) Mortality, (B) Mortality Rate, (C) ASMR, (D) DALYs, (E) DALY Rate, (F) ASDR

    Trends in the burden of pancreatitis globally and across different SDI regions from 1990 to 2021

    From 1990 to 2021, the global number of new pancreatitis cases increased from 1,728,141 (1,495,096 to 1,995,752) to 2,747,368 (2,413,878 to 3,133,076) (Fig. 3 A); deaths rose from 68,490 (60,748 to 78,272) to 122,416 (109,848 to 141,362) (Fig. 3D); and DALYs grew from 2,583,402 years (2,265,738 to 2,985,509) to 4,101,154 years (3,647,631 to 4,684,283) (Fig. 3G). The incidence rate increased from 32.4 per 100,000 people (28.03 to 37.42) to 34.81 (30.59 to 39.7) (Fig. 3B), mortality from 1.28 (1.14 to 1.47) to 1.55 (1.39 to 1.79) (Fig. 3E), and DALY rate from 48.44 years (42.48 to 55.98) to 51.97 (46.22 to 59.36) (Fig. 3H). The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) declined from 37.62 (32.57 to 43.46) to 32.81 (28.85 to 37.38) (Fig. 3 C), the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 1.69 (1.5 to 1.92) to 1.45 (1.3 to 1.67) (Fig. 3 F), and the age-standardized DALY rate (ASDR) from 57.39 years (50.34 to 66.07) to 48.43 (43.07 to 55.35) (Fig. 3I). Globally, the net drift for ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR were − 0.44% (−0.42 to −0.46), −0.49% (−0.47 to −0.51), and − 0.55% (−0.52 to −0.58) per year, respectively (Table 1).

    Fig. 3
    figure 3

    Trends in Global and SDI-Specific Pancreatitis Burden, 1990–2021: (A) Incident Number, (B) Incidence Rate, (C) ASIR, (D) Death Number, (E) Deaths Rate, (F) ASMR, (G) DALYs, (H) DALY Rate, (I) ASDR

    Table 1 Incidence, Deaths, and DALYs: Numbers and Rates for Pancreatitis in 1990 and 2021, and Percentage Change of Crude and Net Drift of Age-Standardized Rates by SDI

    The incidence rates in all five SDI regions show a slow upward trend. Mortality and DALY rates in high-middle SDI and middle SDI regions are increasing, with the high-middle SDI region showing the most significant rise, while mortality and DALY rates in low SDI regions exhibit a slow downward trend (Fig. 3). In low SDI regions, the incidence rate increased from 16.74 per 100,000 people (13.83 to 19.81) to 18.16 (15.04 to 21.51) (Fig. 3B), and ASIR rose from 24.34 (20.52 to 28.51) to 24.83 (20.93 to 28.97)(Fig. 3 C). However, ASMR and ASDR declined from 2.06 (1.48 to 2.88) to 1.79 (1.42 to 2.37) and from 69.2 years (50.74 to 95.49) to 59.12 (45.64 to 79.64), respectively (Fig. 3 F and I). In low-middle SDI regions, the incidence rate increased from 22.27 (18.58 to 26.36) to 28.46 (23.69 to 33.82) (Fig. 3B), mortality rate rose from 1.28 (0.97 to 1.7) to 1.42 (1.17 to 1.8) (Fig. 3E), and DALY rate grew from 51.28 years (39.85 to 67.57) to 52.06 (43.03 to 65.44) (Fig. 3H). In middle SDI regions, the incidence rate grew from 25.72 (21.53 to 30.29) to 31.08 (26.83 to 36.07) (Fig. 3B), whereas ASIR declined from 32.04 (27.29 to 37.41) to 28.42 (24.42 to 32.92) (Fig. 3 C); mortality and DALY rates decreased to 1.29 (1.13 to 1.52) and 42.98 years (37.65 to 50.11), respectively (Fig. 3E and H). In high-middle and high SDI regions, ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR all declined significantly (Fig. 3 C, F and I). In high SDI regions, ASMR dropped from 1.28 (1.21 to 1.33) to 0.97 (0.9 to 1.02) (Fig. 3 F), and ASDR fell from 41.45 years (38.33 to 45.55) to 31.21 (28.72 to 34.55) (Fig. 3I). Net drift analysis shows a slight positive growth in ASIR (0.06%) in low SDI regions, while ASMR and ASDR in high SDI regions declined most rapidly, at −0.89% and − 0.91%, respectively (Table 1).

    Globally, while the ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR have shown a downward trend, the mortality and DALY rates in high-SDI regions have increased, contrary to the general expectation that the burden in areas with higher social development levels should decrease. This anomaly may be related to changes in alcohol consumption patterns, shifts in dietary habits, or the increasing prevalence of chronic disease comorbidities. Additionally, in low-SDI regions, although the incidence of pancreatitis is on the rise, mortality and DALY rates have slowly decreased. This paradox may reflect the gradual improvement in healthcare levels in these regions, as well as enhancements in early disease diagnosis and intervention measures.

    Eastern Europe ranks highest globally in ASDR at 240.99 (278.40 to 211.60), ASMR at 5.60 (6.07 to 5.15), and ASIR at 99.35 (117.93 to 82.69). Western Sub-Saharan Africa ranks second globally in ASMR at 3.23 (4.02 to 2.44) and ASDR at 106.59 (135.71 to 79.03). The High-income Asia Pacific region has the lowest ASDR at 16.87 (20.8 to 13.99) and ASMR at 0.47 (0.51 to 0.41), while Tropical Latin America shows the lowest ASIR at 16.63 (18.83 to 14.70). Other regions, such as High-income North America with an ASIR of 51.99 (55.53 to 48.36) and Central Asia with an ASIR of 47.94 (55.37 to 41.43), display relatively high incidence rates but remain lower than those in Eastern Europe (Fig. 4).

    Fig. 4
    figure 4

    Trends in Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR), Disability-Adjusted Life Year Rate (ASDR), and Mortality Rate (ASMR) of Pancreatitis by Location from 1990 to 2020

    It is noteworthy that Eastern Europe has the highest ASIR, ASMR, and ASDR globally, significantly surpassing other regions. This marked disparity may be attributed to factors such as the region’s long-standing high alcohol consumption, limited healthcare resources, and a heavy burden of chronic diseases. In contrast, the high-income Asia-Pacific region has the lowest burden indicators, particularly ASDR and ASMR, which may be due to lower alcohol consumption rates, more comprehensive public health systems, and effective preventive measures.

    In 2021, the global burden of pancreatitis exhibited significant differences across countries and regions.The three countries with the highest ASDR were the Russian Federation (260.76, 300.90 to 229.71), the Republic of Moldova (222.06, 260.97 to 184.93), and Ukraine (203.99, 269.68 to 148.48).The three countries with the highest ASIR were the Russian Federation (102.24, 121.76 to 84.68), Ukraine (96.94, 115.45 to 80.12), and the Republic of Moldova (86.36, 103.99 to 71.43).The ASMR peaked in the Russian Federation (6.28, 6.79 to 5.82), the Republic of Moldova (5.57, 6.45 to 4.78), and Kazakhstan (4.97, 6.32 to 3.93) (Fig. 5).

    Fig. 5
    figure 5

    Global maps showing the Age-Standardized Incidence Rate (ASIR), Disability-Adjusted Life Year Rate (ASDR), and Mortality Rate (ASMR) of Pancreatitis in 2021

    Analysis of age, period, and cohort effects for pancreatitis globally and across different SDI regions

    From the Figs. 6 and 9, it is evident that the incidence, mortality, and DALY rates of pancreatitis globally and across SDI regions increase significantly with age.In high SDI and high-middle SDI regions, the incidence and DALY rates rise sharply after age 50, peaking in the 85–89 age group.Mortality also increases gradually with age, though the growth rate slows in older age groups (80 years and above).In middle SDI regions, the incidence and DALY rates rise significantly after age 70, though the overall trend is slightly lower than in high SDI regions.In low-SDI regions, the growth curve for incidence and DALY rates is more gradual, but it also increases notably after age 70, with the DALY rate peaking after age 80.Mortality rates in low-middle SDI and low-SDI regions are higher across all age groups, with particularly pronounced increases after age 70.The peak age for DALY rates also varies: in high SDI and high-middle SDI regions, the peak occurs at 75–79 years, while in low SDI regions, it appears after age 80, highlighting distinct age effect characteristics across SDI regions.

    Fig. 6
    figure 6

    Age effect analysis of incidence rate, mortality rate, and DALY rate of pancreatitis in global and different SDI regions from 1990 to 2021

    Between 1990 and 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rates in high SDI and high-middle SDI regions showed stable or declining trends after 2000, with DALY rates in high SDI regions decreasing most significantly.The incidence rates in high SDI and high-middle SDI regions have changed little since 2000, while mortality rates began declining gradually after 2005.In middle-SDI regions, incidence rates slightly increased between 2000 and 2015 before stabilizing, while mortality and DALY rates showed minimal variation.In low-middle SDI and low SDI regions, incidence rates have slightly increased since 2000, with a more pronounced rise in low SDI regions.Mortality and DALY rates in low-middle SDI and low SDI regions have remained consistently high, with slight increases in some years for low SDI regions.Overall, distinct patterns are observed across SDI regions. The burden in high-SDI regions has gradually declined, whereas the burden in middle- and low SDI regions has remained high over the past 20 years, with some indicators continuing to rise (Figs. 7 and 9).

    Fig. 7
    figure 7

    Period effect analysis of incidence rate, mortality rate, and DALY rate of pancreatitis in global and different SDI regions from 1990 to 2021

    The cohort effects globally and across SDI regions indicate that incidence, mortality, and DALY rates for recent birth cohorts (e.g., those born in 2000) are significantly higher than for earlier cohorts (e.g., those born in 1895).The cohort effect is most pronounced in low SDI regions, where risks have risen rapidly in recent birth cohorts, with incidence, mortality, and DALY rates peaking in the 2000 birth cohort.The cohort effect curve in middle SDI regions also shows a clear upward trend, though the magnitude is slightly lower than in low SDI regions.In contrast, the cohort effect in high SDI and high-middle SDI regions has increased more moderately, with slight rises in incidence, mortality, and DALY rates among recent birth cohorts.The burden difference between earlier and recent birth cohorts in high SDI regions is small, while recent birth cohorts in high-middle SDI regions show a certain degree of increase.Globally, the cohort effect grows significantly with birth year, with low SDI and middle SDI regions showing the most pronounced growth and the largest increases in burden (Figs. 8 and 9).

    Fig. 8
    figure 8

    Cohort effect analysis of incidence rate, mortality rate, and DALY rate of pancreatitis in global and different SDI regions from 1990 to 2021

    Fig. 9
    figure 9

    Combined analysis of age, period, and cohort effects on pancreatitis across different SDI regions

    Continue Reading

  • Levetiracetam-Induced Rhabdomyolysis: An Alarming and Unexpected Turn in Seizure Management

    Levetiracetam-Induced Rhabdomyolysis: An Alarming and Unexpected Turn in Seizure Management


    Continue Reading

  • Alexander Isak transfer: ‘Despicable’ stars or ‘hypocritical’ clubs? in player power debate

    Alexander Isak transfer: ‘Despicable’ stars or ‘hypocritical’ clubs? in player power debate

    Before this summer Isak was “fast becoming a Newcastle legend” according to former Blackburn and Aston Villa striker Sutton.

    The Sweden striker, who had three years left on his contract, had scored 27 goals since joining the club in 2022, helping Newcastle win the Carabao Cup in March, the club’s first trophy in 56 years.

    But, after his British transfer record move to Liverpool, his reputation in the North East is now in tatters.

    On the other hand, Newcastle ended up benefiting from Wissa “downing tools” at Brentford. The DR Congo striker missed all four of his side’s games in August before the Newcastle’s bid on deadline day was accepted.

    Although both got their moves, Sutton believes the two players’ behaviour was in the wrong.

    “Players sign contracts, people in their everyday lives sign contracts and you adhere to those contracts,” he told BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.

    “It is absolutely despicable what they [Alexander Isak and Yoane Wissa] have done. They may well be happy tonight, but it is a disgraceful, disrespectful way to behave.”

    Likewise, back in August, Alan Shearer told BBC 5 Live: “I get clubs and football players, there is no loyalty, clubs look after themselves and players look after themselves, but there’s a way of doing things .

    “The way that Alex [Isak] has done things is not the right way.”

    Continue Reading

  • Reiss Nelson’s first interview: I can’t wait to excite the Brentford fans | Brentford FC

    Reiss Nelson’s first interview: I can’t wait to excite the Brentford fans | Brentford FC

    New Brentford signing Reiss Nelson has given his first interview after becoming a Bees player on Deadline Day.

    Nelson has joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal and insisted that he will “care for the club like it’s my own.”

    “I can’t wait to get going,” he said. “It’s a big platform for me to express myself, and that’s what I need right now.

    “I wanted to go to a club where I know I’m going to play regularly; I know there’s competition for places but I’m going to train hard and show myself that I can get the minutes I deserve.”

    Nelson added: “I’m a player that expresses myself. I want the fans to go away thinking about a goal, an assist, or something exciting I’d done.

    “I’m very passionate. It might only be a loan, but I’m going to care for the club like it’s my own.

    “I’m excited to get out there in front of the fans.”

    Nelson played with Josh Dasilva, who remains at Brentford completing his rehab, during their youth careers at Arsenal, and the club’s new no.11 described their relationship and conversations before he put pen to paper on the loan.

    Nelson laughed: “He’s a big baller, that’s all I’ll say about Josh!

    “I had chats with him after I’d spoken to Keith. I wanted to get his opinion, especially from someone who has known me from a young age.

    “He was very positive, so I think everyone should give credit to agent Josh!”

    Continue Reading

  • Sir Cecil Beaton’s Archive Comes To Life At Hawarden Estate

    Sir Cecil Beaton’s Archive Comes To Life At Hawarden Estate

    Hawarden Estate in Wales is one of Britain’s most storied and creative private estates, and at the helm is Charlie Gladstone — a music-loving festival builder, property and agriculture innovator, author, podcaster, and cultural curator. And now he’s adding artistry to the 13th-century fortification with Iron Age origins with the Cecil Beaton: A Family Archive exhibition.

    It’s a personal tribute to the famed photographer, after all, Sir Beaton was Charlie’s great uncle. Think of Cecil Beaton, and think of decadence aplenty, one of the great cultural figures of the 20th century.

    Born in in Hampstead, London, in 1904 he became embedded in high society and the glamour ensured. Photographing a whole host of famous faces, his sitters ranged from the Bright Young Things in the 1920s to artists and writers like Jean Cocteau and Andy Warhol, along with Hollywood starlets, cue Greta Garbo (famously his great muse), Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe.

    He also went on to become the official photographer to the Royal Family, capturing the late Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation and throughout her reign. He himself was coined “King of Vogue,” more than a photographer, he was a costume designer, writer, stylist, and double Oscar winner for his designs in Gigi (1958) and My Fair Lady (1964) — Cecil was indeed a polymath tastemaker of his time.

    With all this in mind, an intimate family archive exhibition is rather thrilling. Courtesy of Charlie — Cecil was a regular at Gladstones’ Hawarden Estate — he’s pulled back the gilded rope to share a private collection, with many items on display for the first time, and many revealing the often-overlooked family life of Beaton.

    The immersive exhibition features 40 framed photographs, designs for My Fair Lady, family albums, scrapbooks and even hats. Running across two locations on the Hawarden Estate, in Flintshire, North Wales, pieces can be seen at new Gladstone / Hellen Studio, a new luxury British fashion brand inspired by the estate, and at The West End, a holiday apartment in the western wing of Hawarden Castle.

    Alongside the exhibitions, the Estate has been hosting new works inspired by Beaton, with illustrator Sam Wood creating pieces for the show and its settings, garden designer Sean Pritchard has filmed a documentary on Beaton’s influence, and muralist Melissa Wickham has painted backdrops that nod to both the Estate and Beaton.

    Charlie Gladstone reflects on his great-uncle’s legacy, and shares what to expect at the Hawarden Estate exhibition.

    Felicity Carter: When you look at Beaton’s work now, what feels most surprising or new to you?

    Charlie Gladstone: Most surprising, or at least unusual, is that he was such an artistic polymath with really clear aesthetic ideas at a very young age; and that he emerged from a home that really didn’t value art and culture in any particular way. We always assume that these talents, or world views, are either nature or nurture, or a bit of both, but in the early days there wasn’t a huge amount of nurture and the nature bit is not at all obvious.

    FC: What side of him would you like this exhibition to correct or highlight?

    CG: I think people tend to understand him in very particular ways that match their own interests; they relate to his photographs, or queerness or his writing and are often unaware of many of his other talents.

    The particular thing that I think I can do is connect his sisters with his rise, and vice versa. Baba, my grandmother and his sister, was a patient muse on hundreds of occasions and that shaped them both in dramatic ways. It is this that’s at the core of our exhibition.

    FC: You mentioned he photographed you at Hawarden, do you remember that moment?

    CG: I remember many of his visits here and I think I do remember the day he took the photos. Really, we were just family going a walk and one of the family was dressed as if for the opera in a black beret and heavy black overcoat and that was Cecil.

    FC: How did growing up with Beaton’s presence shape your own creativity?

    CG: I think hugely. I was 16 when he died and I harboured artistic/creative ideas that were already defining me. Having someone to lead the way, even if he didn’t know that he was doing it, was hugely important. I suppose one might say that he gave me permission to be deeply interested in, and committed to, things that perhaps my education/background viewed as no more than hobbies between ‘proper’ jobs.

    FC: What are your fond memories of him?

    CG: I so well remember the flowers, cakes and generosity of visiting him at his home. He made such a fuss of us and I was incredibly shy but I can see that house clearly now, it is etched into me.

    FC: Why did you choose to split the exhibition across the Studio and The West End instead of keeping it in one place?

    CG: Really because this was the best space for it to be actively seen by people without us putting on a standard exhibition. Both spaces are ‘working’ spaces so I didn’t want to consume them with Beaton. It was really interesting to imagine what a public exhibition would look like in a working/semi private space. As a result it is a very human, warm and immersive thing. And I wanted two of my businesses to ride on Beaton’s coat tails; Hawarden Estate Holidays and Gladstone/Hellen are therefore the sponsors of the show, in a similar was to any company sponsoring any art show.

    FC: What do you think he would he make of the exhibition being shown in these spaces on the estate, rather than in a gallery or museum?

    CG: I suspect he would be rather pleased. He was great friends with my parents and so Hawarden was, in some small ways, in his DNA. Hawarden is much better known as the home of my great, great grandfather William Gladstone (four times Prime Minister) and Cecil was nothing if not competitive!

    FC: Which of the pieces in the exhibition feels most personal?

    CG: The endless photos I discovered of my grandmother and mother blew my mind. My mother had a very difficult final 20 years of her life with depression and dementia and so to see her as a young, very beautiful and glamorous person did something profound and important to me; it showed me a side of her that I hadn’t considered for many years.

    FC: What are the must-sees?

    CG: The beautiful album that Cecil gave to my grandfather on his wedding day. On the cover it says To Alec of Baba by Cecil. It was full of photos of my grandmother and is, in very significant ways, a snapshot of a happier time. Ten years later my grandfather had been killed in Tripoli in the War, and I think my grandmother’s life was somewhat destroyed.

    FC: What was it like sifting through the boxes and envelopes you inherited, any fun discoveries?

    CG: I kept thinking, ‘I’ve found enough for now, but one last look’ and then finding something so amazing that I just carried on. It’s a bit like a fisherman’s last cast catching something which in turn spurs him to cast again and again…

    FC: Do you see this as the beginning of more projects with his archive?

    CG: I think we have more to do, but that will reveal itself when we’re ready. I have done a lot for posterity with this; his stuff is now largely in order for future generations. But Cecil is a gift that keeps on giving.

    FC: Beaton was such a 20th-century figure, why do you think his work and life still feel relevant today?

    CG: Two things. Seriously. Live life to the full and be daring, be yourself.

    Address: Hawarden Estate, Flintshire, Wales, CH5 3FB.


    Continue Reading

  • Brentford sign Reiss Nelson on season-long loan from Arsenal | Brentford FC

    Brentford sign Reiss Nelson on season-long loan from Arsenal | Brentford FC

    Brentford have confirmed the signing of Arsenal winger Reiss Nelson on a season-long loan.

    The 25-year-old has made 50 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, and a further 11 for Fulham last term.

    Nelson has also had loan spells in the Bundesliga and Eredivisie, with Hoffenheim and Feyenoord respectively, where he recorded a combined 19 goal contributions.

    Brentford head coach Keith Andrews said: “Reiss has a skillset that will complement the rest of the attacking players we have. He’s a dribbler and he’s very comfortable with the ball at his feet.

    “I really like his Premier League experience and know-how of the league, as well as his age profile.

    “He’s coming into the optimum years of his career, and he’s shown a real desire to come here when there’s been a lot of interest elsewhere.”

    Nelson joined Arsenal’s Academy aged eight and made his debut in the 2017 Community Shield aged 17.

    He has had a series of loan spells during his career, with his first for German side Hoffenheim in 2018/19, where he scored seven goals in the Bundesliga.

    The following term, Nelson made 24 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions and netted the decisive goal against Liverpool in a 2-1 win at Emirates Stadium.

    Nelson also scored from the spot to help Arsenal beat Liverpool in the Community Shield at the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

    The forward spent 2021/22 on loan at Eredivisie side Feyenoord, featuring 32 times and playing a key role in the run to the Europa Conference League final, where they lost to Roma.

    Nelson returned to Arsenal the following season and, despite injury problems, he had an impact when he featured for Mikel Arteta’s side, providing five goal contributions in 11 substitute appearances.

    He made 23 appearances for the north Londoners in 2023/24, contributing two assists in the Champions League and scoring in the Carabao Cup against Brentford at Gtech Community Stadium.

    In 2024/25, Nelson spent the season across west London on loan at Fulham. After a promising start, his season was cut short after picking up a hamstring injury.

    Continue Reading

  • Voidbox Industries’ PwrTool 500 Home Assistant Power Monitor Hits Crowd Supply for $149

    Voidbox Industries’ PwrTool 500 Home Assistant Power Monitor Hits Crowd Supply for $149

    Voidbox Industries’ Chloe Madison has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the PwrTool 500, a 60V 500A power and battery monitor designed to easily integrated into Home Assistant.

    “PwrTool 500 is an open-source battery and power monitor designed for off-grid energy systems,” Madison explains of the project. “It integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant and supports direct customization via ESPHome or your own firmware. Designed for most 12–48 VDC systems, PwrTool 500 is built to handle up to 500A peak current across 6–60 VDC, and provides detailed insight into your energy flow, generation, storage, and usage so you can monitor and automate data-informed actions.”

    The PwrTool 500, a 500A power and battery monitor designed for Home Assistant, has finally opened for crowdfunding. (📹: Voidbox Industries)

    Madison first unveiled the PwrTool 500 around a year ago, revealing a design built around the Texas Instruments INA238 16-bit power monitor chip with a Voidbox FLIP_C3 Espressif ESP32-C3 microcontroller board and ambient temperature and humidity monitoring alongside the promised power monitoring capabilities. There’s an 45W N-channel MOSFET for lighting or load control, and Qwiic/STEMMA QT compatible expansion for external sensors — or to daisy-chain multiple PwrTool 500s together.

    “Conventional ‘smart shunts’ lock your data into proprietary apps and ecosystems,” Madison says of the reason for designing something new. “Even when modified, they typically require decoding undocumented protocols. PwrTool 500 is different thanks to its fully open hardware and software. With direct access to the sensors, firmware, and GPIO [General-Purpose Input/Output], you can configure PwrTool 500 to meet your system’s exact requirements with no vendor lock-in.”

    Voidbox’ Chloe Madison recently appeared on Hackster Café to discuss the project. (📹: Hackster.io)

    The PwrTool 500 is designed to connect to Wi-Fi then automatically register itself in Home Assistant thanks to a pre-flashed ESPHome firmware, and there’s a header for switching between hot- and cold-side installation. As previously promised, it’s also open-source under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 license with an EasyEDA Pro project file containing a schematic, board layout, and bill of materials available on the project wiki — with a separate project file available for the FLIP_C3 microcontroller board at its heart.

    Those interested in picking up a ready-to-use unit rather than building their own, meanwhile, can do so on the project’s Crowd Supply campaign page, where hardware is available for $149 with free worldwide shipping; all devices are expected to ship in late April next year.

    Continue Reading

  • How a Mediterranean diet helps women manage menopausal symptoms

    How a Mediterranean diet helps women manage menopausal symptoms

    New research shows that women following a modified Mediterranean diet were far less likely to report disruptive hot flashes and sexual discomfort, pointing to diet as a promising non-hormonal approach to menopausal well-being.

    Study: Association between modified Mediterranean diet score and menopause-specific quality of life and symptoms: a cross-sectional study. Image Credit: Nina Jovic / Shutterstock

    In a recent study in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers investigated associations between adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet and the severity of common, yet disruptive, menopausal symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, sexual discomfort). The cross-sectional study involved 149 postmenopausal women (eligible aged 40+ years; observed aged 42–63 years) and utilized a validated 117-item food frequency questionnaire.

    Study findings revealed that participants who adhered most closely to the Mediterranean diet were significantly less likely to experience moderate to severe vasomotor (hot flashes; -80% lower) and mild to severe sexual symptoms (-83% lower) than those who adhered least. Mean MENQOL and domain scores did not differ significantly across Mediterranean-diet tertiles; however, the odds of moderate to severe vasomotor and sexual symptoms were lower at higher adherence.

    This study suggests that diet may be a promising tool for improving menopausal well-being and may inform women and healthcare providers.

    Background

    Menopause refers to the natural and irreversible cessation of menstrual cycles in females, typically occurring between the ages of 40 and 55. It marks a significant physiological transition and is often accompanied by a host of disruptive symptoms, including vasomotor symptoms (e.g., hot flashes, night sweats), as well as psychological, physical, and sexual challenges.

    Conventional treatment interventions involve the use of hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is effective for vasomotor symptoms for many women; however, non-hormonal strategies remain important for those who cannot or prefer not to use it. Modifiable behaviors (sleep quality, diet, and physical exercise) are increasingly recognized for their potential to meet these needs.

    The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is a predominantly plant-focused dietary pattern closely resembling the traditional diets of countries near the Mediterranean Sea (Greece, Italy, France, and Spain) and is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

    The diet is characterized by a high intake of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats, and has previously been associated with scientifically validated health benefits across a range of physiological metrics. While it has been hypothesized and anecdotally documented to improve menopausal symptoms, systematic investigations of its impact on the comprehensive spectrum of menopausal symptoms have remained underexplored.

    About the Study

    This present cross-sectional study bridges the knowledge gap and informs women, consumers, and clinical practitioners alike by investigating the link between dietary habits and menopausal quality of life.

    The study screened 452 postmenopausal women (confirmed cessation of periods for 12 months or more) aged 40 and above from June 2021 to June 2022, with participants referred to healthcare clinics.

    Of these 149 participants meeting stringent inclusion criteria (e.g., no mental disease or autoimmune conditions, no malignancy or other severe medical conditions, no chronic smoking history, body mass index [BMI 18.5 to 40 kg/m2], no current hormone therapy or dietary supplements, no psychiatric medications, and exclusion of implausible energy intakes <800 or >4000 kcal/day) were identified, and their dietary intake over the preceding year was meticulously assessed using the validated 117-item FFQ.

    The General Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) was used to measure participants’ activity levels, and a 117-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to record and parameterize their dietary intake. From this data, each participant was assigned a modified Mediterranean diet score (mMDS), ranging from 0 to 9, to quantify their adherence to the dietary pattern. In this population, the modified score used the ratio of (MUFA + PUFA) to SFA in place of MUFA alone, reflecting low olive-oil intake.

    Menopausal symptoms and quality of life were evaluated using the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire (29 items) to assess the severity of symptoms across four domains: vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual. A moderate to severe symptom burden was defined as MENQOL item scores of 5 or higher.

    Finally, logistic regression models were leveraged to analyse the association between the mMDS (categorized into tertiles) and the odds of experiencing moderate to severe symptoms in each domain. All models were adjusted for potential confounders, including age, years since menopause, energy intake, BMI, and physical activity, as well as occupation, education, marital status, and underlying disease.

    Study Findings

    The study revealed a strong, statistically significant association between higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet and a lower severity of specific menopausal symptoms. Women in the highest tertile of the mMDS were observed to demonstrate substantially lower risk of moderate to severe vasomotor and sexual symptoms compared to those in the lowest tertile.

    Specifically, logistic regression models revealed that women in the highest adherence group had 80% lower odds of experiencing moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats) compared to those in the lowest adherence group (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.20; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.064–0.658). For sexual symptoms (such as vaginal dryness and low libido), the effect was slightly more pronounced, with 83% lower odds of moderate to severe symptoms in the highest adherence group (OR 0.17; 95% CI 0.068–0.450) compared to their least-adherent counterparts.

    No significant associations were observed for the psychological or physical domains in adjusted models.

    Unexpectedly, mMDS demonstrated a strong ability to discriminate between women with and without poor quality of life, as shown by a high Area Under the Curve (AUC = 0.997) in a Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. These ROC findings were exploratory, the cut-points were derived without internal validation, and should be interpreted cautiously.

    Conclusions

    While the cross-sectional nature of the present study cannot establish causation, its findings support further evaluation of the MedDiet as a promising non-hormonal strategy for managing some of the most disruptive symptoms of menopause, with recognition that the evidence to date is encouraging but inconsistent, and that prospective trials are needed.

    Journal reference:

    • Haghshenas, N., Ghoreishy, S. M., Noormohammadi, M., Hosseini-Baharanchi, F. S., & Shidfar, F. (2025). Association between modified mediterranean diet score and menopause-specific quality of life and symptoms: a cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports, 15(1). DOI – 10.1038/s41598-025-17578-x. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-17578-x

    Continue Reading

  • Zinchenko joins Nottingham Forest on loan | News

    Zinchenko joins Nottingham Forest on loan | News

    Oleksandr Zinchenko has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan.

    The 28-year-old arrived in north London from Manchester City in July 2022 and has made 91 appearances for us in all competitions.

    Alex created an assist on his debut in our opening-day 2-0 win away to Crystal Palace in August 2022. 

    The defender had an impressive debut season, making 33 appearances in total, as well as scoring his first goal for the club in our 4-2 comeback win away to Aston Villa in February 2023.

    Ukraine international Alex became his country’s youngest goalscorer at the age of 19, as well as their youngest captain at the age of 24. A successful international career already, he has represented his country at three European Championships, with a total of 74 caps, scoring 12 goals and assisting seven times. Alex was also named Ukrainian Footballer of the Year in 2019.

    We wish Alex all the best for his loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

    The loan deal is subject to the completion of regulatory processes.

    Read more

    Arsenal transfers: All the ins and outs in 2025/26

    Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.

    Continue Reading