Sydney fine-diner moves up in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist
Woods, a Bundjalung woman, was the first Indigenous woman to appear on MasterChef Australia. She was named a Champion of Change for using her platform to blend cultures and empower the community, and cultivate a more inclusive food industry that supports minority voices.
Meanwhile, Central Otago destination diner Amisfield became the first New Zealand restaurant to appear on the World's 50 Best list in its 23-year-history, scraping in at 99th.
It is unlikely any other Australian venues will feature on the list, which last year crowned Barcelona's Disfrutar as the 'world's best restaurant'. (A four-hour tasting menu at Disfrutar costs around $500 before drinks and may feature a dish called 'Fear: The Prawn', where guests are asked to hunt through dry-ice vapour with bare hands to retrieve the shellfish.)
The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 longlist
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7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
OnlyFans Annie Knight: Is having sex with 583 men in six hours a public service or a dangerous dopamine trap?
OnlyFans stars are banking more in a week than most Aussies earn each year from performing extreme sexual acts, which they say simultaneously fulfils their wildest 'fantasies'. But experts have revealed the 'alarming race' to become young OnlyFans millionaires by performing increasingly shocking sex stunts for subscribers can have long-term consequences. Even super-successful Australian social media star Annie Knight recently had to 'up the ante' in order to cut through the saturated adult content market. Last month, she slept with 583 men in six hours to make content for her OnlyFans audience. Ms Knight told The Nightly that when she decided to host the Gold Coast gang-bang, she expected about 200 men to show up. Instead, almost 600 Aussie blokes — wearing joggers and gym clothes — lined up around the block for just 30 seconds of intimacy with the glamorous porn star. The tightly-orchestrated event, which a 'grateful' Ms Knight described as 'the best day of my life', tripled her income, which skyrocketed to more than $7 million a year. 'It was such an amazing experience. I had a lot of fun,' she said. 'It was definitely sexually arousing and satisfying. Obviously not every guy made me finish, but six guys did, which I think is pretty good considering they didn't have much time. 'It was my biggest fantasy but also great publicity and marketing. It really was a win win win.' Ms Knight calls these challenges, and her OnlyFans career, 'empowering'. 'I'm doing what I want to do with my body. I choose to do this. I'm going to earn money from it. I'm not being forced into it. I enjoy what I'm doing,' she said. 'It's been a lot of fun stepping into my sexuality and living out all these fantasies. It's my body and my choice, and I'm doing what I love. 'It makes me feel really special that so many people would show up to have an experience with me.' Ms Knight's rage-bait event followed similar stunts by other famous OnlyFans stars. In January, British porn star Bonnie Blue broke a world record when she slept with 1057 men in 12 hours. Last year, Lily Phillips, 23, filmed her 'fantasy' of having sex with 101 men in one day. These women represent a new breed of sex workers achieving fame and financial freedom by selling sexually explicit videos of themselves through OnlyFans. But experts have raised the alarm about the impacts these increasingly extreme challenges have on the performers, young women's perceptions of sex work and men's brains. Relationship counsellor Amanda Lambros said the 'sensational stunts', aimed at maximising attention and profit, are problematic 'in many ways'. 'While they're undeniably headline-grabbing, they also reflect an alarming race to the bottom in pursuit of virality and income,' she said. 'These challenges . . . commodify intimacy, often in ways that desensitise viewers and reduce human connection to a spectacle. 'It also distorts ideas around consent, boundaries and relational sex. 'When women's bodies become battlegrounds for attention economies, we're treading in dehumanising waters.' Ms Lambros — a therapist, author and academic — said these sex challenges formed part of a rapidly shifting sexual landscape in which ever-increasingly extreme sexual acts created an unsustainable 'dopamine trap'. 'What was once shocking becomes standard and creators are forced to escalate in order to stay relevant,' she said. 'That cycle is mentally and physically exhausting, and rarely sustainable. 'It also distorts reality in a major way. When men consume these stunts without context, they may develop unrealistic expectations of women's sexual availability, stamina, and enthusiasm.' And the medical, physical and psychological risks are real. 'Physically, repetitive or extreme sexual activity can lead to injury, infections, and trauma,' the popular PerthNow columnist said. 'Psychologically, the constant need to escalate for attention can feed anxiety, burnout, body dysmorphia, or dissociation. 'Not to mention the pressure of maintaining a hypersexual persona 24/7.' Ms Knight said she was conscious of, and tried to mitigate, the risks. 'If I was filming with 583 porn stars, I would say, yes, there's a large risk involved,' she said. 'But these guys weren't porn stars, so they didn't have huge dicks. 'The only time I really haven't made the guys get an STI test was for the challenge, but they all used condoms, of course. 'Thankfully I've been tested twice since then and everything's all good.' The Gold Coast sex worker also insists that her content is 'educational' and emphasises respect and consent. Ms Lambros said that despite this, the 'Instagram-ification of sex work' was filtered, lucrative-looking, and potentially misleading. 'It promises fast money, autonomy, and fame . . . but without showing the full cost,' she said. 'The top earners present a curated highlight reel. 'What's rarely shown is the emotional toll, safety risks, platform instability, or long-term financial planning.' Psychologist Shannon Webb, from The Banyans Healthcare in Brisbane, said the nature of these sex challenges means the women portrayed are often dehumanised by their viewers. 'Intimacy and sex are complex experiences, and pornography, particularly to this extreme, can desensitise people to what sex and intimacy means for them,' she said. 'As viewers become desensitised over time, there is demand for more extreme styles of porn content (putting) pressure on content creators … to do extreme acts they wouldn't ordinarily entertain.' Ms Webb, who treats clients with porn addiction at the luxury rehab clinic, said that in addition to the intensity of these challenges, OnlyFans creators were exposing themselves to the para-social relationships and the perceived intimacy their subscribers expect from them. 'OnlyFans not only makes pornography easily accessible but creates a personalised experience between creators and viewers, which can exist healthily but can easily be abused, resulting in unhealthy dependence and addiction,' she said. 'OnlyFans also promotes 'live' content viewing, which can encourage a greater sense of perceived intimacy, with followers believing they share a personal connection with their content creators.' Ms Knight admits subscribers expect constant attention and interaction. 'It's like a friendship as we do talk every day,' she said. 'I look at it more as if I'm providing them with company. 'A lot of these people work really high-powered jobs and don't have a lot of time to date, so I'm just kind of giving them that company and girlfriend experience.' Due to her fans' dependence, she cannot afford to disconnect. 'At the end of the day, a lot of the subs want to chat to you . . . and if you don't respond, they can often get quite offended, feel that you've ghosted them or ask 'what am I paying for?'' she said. 'So I think people will unsubscribe (if I take a break) and you're just not making as much money from doing video calls, sexting sessions and stuff like that.' The 28-year-old insists her success is 'definitely worth' the sacrifices but 'is not the easy way out'. 'You have to work really hard,' she said. 'I think you've just got to be 100 per cent sure that you want to do it (long-term) and that it's going to be worth it in the end.' Jenna Love, president of Scarlet Alliance, said the Australian Sex Workers Association supports 'sex workers to be able to work in whatever way best suits them' but cautions that most OnlyFans creators cannot survive on that income alone. 'Most OnlyFans content creators earn well under the poverty line,' she said. 'There are a number of big tech companies involved, taking a cut from OnlyFans creators, but the ability to have that level of flexibility and control over your own work is broadly a positive thing.' As for sex challenges, Ms Love rejects the outrage. 'I think most people are switched on enough to know that it's just a stunt and that is not the standard and not what's expected (from women),' she said. Ms Love said she hosted a 30-man gang bang for her 30th birthday which was work-related but also for her own pleasure. 'It was a bit of a stunt, but it was also something I really wanted to do. Sexually, that really appealed to me,' she said. 'I think what's missing from a lot of that conversation is that some people are into that, and that's OK.' For Ms Knight, there is no turning back, and she is now contemplating 'what to do next'. 'I would like to do, not necessarily a numbers challenge, but maybe a different angle, like single dads or virgins,' she said. 'Giving them the opportunity (to be with me) would be cool.' That almost makes it sound like a form of public service. 'Yes, that's exactly how I see it,' she quipped.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
The worst things about living in Perth according to expats
A pair of British expats have shared a list of things they believe are the 'worst parts' about living in Perth. The couple, Sarah and Jamie Bolson, moved to Perth from Scotland in December last year and have decided to settle here, but said there were a few 'less glamorous' sides to their new home that would take some getting used to. 'We love living here, we are so grateful to live here,' Ms Bolson said. 'However, we also feel like it's our responsibility to give the full picture of what it's actually like to live here. Mr Bolson added, 'You've got to be realistic, it's not perfect anywhere, I'm not saying that I preferred it back in the UK — I think it's better here, I do prefer it. 'But let's be honest, nowhere's perfect, so let's be real about it.' The duo listed seven different factors in a detailed video. Here's what they had to say: The Bolson's said they had been warned that WA could also be abbreviated to 'windy always,' and just weeks after arriving, they found the acronym to be true when they embarked on a road trip to Jurien Bay. 'As we were getting north, the wind was picking up and the Jimney was being thrown all over the road,' Mrs Bolson said. 'I checked my phone and there was a marine wind warning, and it was gusting at like 50km per hour.' They tried to check out the Pinnacles, but the wind was so intense, Ms Bolson said the attraction looked like the 'apocalypse.' So, it comes as no surprise that Barrow Island, off the Pilbara Coast, continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the fastest wind speed ever recorded on Earth that was not associated with a tornado. The Pinnacles desert at Nambung National Park, Cervantes. Credit: Mogens Johansen / WA News Part of being a true-blue Aussie is learning to accept that flies, especially in summer, are everywhere. All the time. Australia is actually home to about 30,000 fly species — a fact that would likely send Mr Bolson reeling. 'I am not one that is known for dealing well with flying insects,' he said. 'Any flying insect that comes in the vicinity of me, I go into some sort of weird panic. 'I can't handle it, it makes me hate being outside.' Perth is well known for its picturesque outdoor spaces and abundance of free and accessible activities; however, when it comes to nightlife, the Bolson's said there was much to be desired. 'We are definitely not bored. There is always something we can do, you're never far from a beach or an outdoor adventure,' Mrs Bolson said. 'I think what we've yet to find is a thriving, vibrant nightlife. 'When I was in Melbourne, for example, there's just something on every corner. 'There is just so much going on you can just stumble upon, whereas here it takes a bit more research.' The Perth city skyline as seen from Kings Park. Credit: Kelsey Reid / The West Australian Unlike most tourists and Australian immigrants, Mrs Bolson was not particularly concerned by sharks. Until she hit WA's sandy beaches. 'I think they are a bigger deal than I was anticipating,' she said. 'The thing that kind of puts it all into perspective is the amount of infrastructure around keeping people shark safe. 'Especially during the busy times of summer, we've got the shark spotting helicopter that goes up and down the beaches, tagged sharks, shark barriers and the Shark Smart app. 'We have been on Cottesloe Beach when a shark sighting helicopter has spotted something.' When Mr Bolson required a procedure, the pair began researching where he could go and discovered one doctor's practice was charging $800 with a $400 rebate, and another clinic offered bulk billing, so he wouldn't pay a cent. The couple said they found navigating forms of payment (bulk billing, mixed billing and private billing) confusing compared to the National Health Service back home. 'We're just not used to having that extra layer of thought of 'how much is this going to cost, how much am I going to get back through Medicare'.' 'We are going to have to get our heads around it.' One cannot engage in a conversation about WA's sweltering summer temperatures without the mention of 'dry heat.' Mr Bolson said that he found himself drinking 2.5L of water every day since arriving, as the scorching conditions left him overly parched. 'It's probably all to do with the dry heat, but I've really noticed it.' WA's housing crisis is well documented and defined by crippling costs which make renting or owning a home almost impossible for many. Perth is the second most expensive city to rent in Australia — second to NSW — according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Having overheard rental horror stories from friends, Mrs Bolson said property viewings that were packed with dozens of people contributed to a feeling of scarcity. 'You go to these viewings where there are 60 to 100 people and it's just creating this kind of hype and feeling of scarcity amongst the rental market,' she said. Most real estate agents require prospective renters to attend the viewing before they apply, but Mrs Bolson's friend noticed the application portal was open before the viewing, decided to apply and was accepted before even attending. 'I think that's criminal.'
Courier-Mail
8 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
Nostalgic reason Aussies are heading to Japan
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. If you haven't been to Japan this year, chances are you know someone who has. According to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, the first few months of 2025 saw 429,000 Australian arrivals in Japan - a 28.6% increase from the same period in 2024. And, there are plenty of reasons for this. Japan has delicious food, a unique blend of modern and traditional experiences, and a great exchange rate. But, it turns out there's one more nostalgic aspect drawing Aussies there - and honestly, it might convince me. Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. Image: TikTok / @maybemackenzie RELATED: Aussies sick of frustrating act targeting bushland 'They have the cheese toast!' Aussie TikTok creator @maybemackenzie shared his experience this week heading to a Sizzler in Japan. 'When I saw there was a Sizzler in Japan, I thought, I have to go in,' he said. 'And, they have the cheese toast!' An absolute Aussie icon - despite first opening in the US back in 1958 - Sizzler was open Down Under from 1985 until November 2020, when it was unfortunately a victim of the pandemic. 'I'm pretty sure every Australian has been to Sizzler, and I really miss it,' he said. A Sizzler restaurant in Brookside, QLD before its closure in 2017. Image: Josh Woning. 'I think I need to go to Japan now' Aussies in the comments were shocked to see a Sizzler in Japan. 'I'm beyond jealous, you win at life,' said one person. 'THE CHEESE TOAST,' another said. 'I miss Sizzler so much,' said a third (and don't we all). 'MY CHILDHOOD,' another commenter said. Others said they hoped they'd be able to incorporate it into their own Japan trips. 'Excuse me sir WHERE IS THIS - research purposes obvi,' one person said. 'I think I need to go to Japan now,' said another. 'That's it, I'm going to Japan for Sizzler,' another person said. They're everywhere! In (kinda) good news for Aussies, it's not just in Japan that you can find a Sizzler. Once upon a time, you could find Sizzlers in Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, and China - in addition to Australia. However, all of these have now closed. Now, there remain locations in Japan, Thailand, and across the United States. Originally published as Nostalgic reason Aussies are heading to Japan
