Latest news with #Elan
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Love Island USA Season 7: Who is running the social media of contestants Huda Mustafa, Jeremiah Brown, and others
You might think your phone is essential, but not if you are on Love Island USA. A bunch of Islanders kicked off phones before heading to Fiji, but their IGs? Still booming. Here is how their social media is being taken care of, and which voices are filling the void. No phones, no problem: Who's posting? Since the Islanders enter the villa without access to their phones, someone else has to step in. Each jersey comes with a #Team account manager, usually a best friend, sibling, or the power couple that loves to serve dramatic updates. Elan Bibas Elan's younger brother, Tal Bibas, has taken charge of his Instagram and TikTok. The strategy? Strictly content and engagement. Tal boosted Elan's followers from roughly 3,000 to over 63,000 in under two weeks, clever algorithm moves and smart posting earned serious traction. Jeremiah Brown, Cierra Ortega, Huda Mustafa, and others Jeremiah Brown's 'big sis' has stepped up in his absence, delivering affirmations and calling out petitions to support him. Cierra Ortega's posts are handled by friend MJ Hedderman, serving witty updates and personality-packed captions. Huda Mustafa's account has seen emotional messages about her journey and fans rallying around her dramatic moments. Meanwhile, Chelley Bissainthe's family is busy promoting #TeamChelley and countering rumours, one quite heart-breaking post covered her showing emotion after Olandria's exit. Why does it matter? This approach keeps fans connected, and keeps engagement numbers high. Following Islanders while they are on the show turns them into brand-ready prospects post-villa. And with Love Island itself ranking as Peacock's second-most-watched streaming reality show, maintaining an active presence is crucial. With social media now community-managed, fans are split. Some applaud the transparency, knowing that every comment, meme, or interaction is intentional. Others worry the behind-the-scenes teams may be spinning narratives or controlling what's said online. Season 7 Islanders may be offline, but their stars are still shining. From calculated follower boosts to heartfelt captions from loved ones, these social media takeovers are shaping how fans perceive the villa experience. Who are you rooting for?
Business Insider
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
'Love Island USA' star Elan's brother is running his Instagram. He told us he's 'not doing this for the clout.'
Elan Bibas entered the "Love Island USA" villa with a disadvantage: He was added late, as part of a group of hunks sent to stir things up. But he also has an advantage: his younger brother, Tal, who's running his social media while Elan's on the show. I talked to Tal about his experience running Elan's social accounts and the business opportunities that have presented themselves since his brother's time on the huge summer hit for Peacock. (It was the No. 2 most watched original streaming show during its first two weeks, Nielsen said.) Contestants on the show — and if you haven't watched, I must recommend it as great summer fun! — compete to find love, or share part of the $100,000 prize with their partner. Appearing on the show can also be a big business opportunity. Fan favorites from past seasons have gone on to success as influencers with lucrative brand deals or other entertainment appearances. Cast members from last season will reunite for a new show, "Beyond the Villa," starting later this month. As my colleague Callie Ahlgrim observed, the spectre of social media looms large: "The islanders seem hyper-aware of their role as entertainers and competitors, much too preoccupied with how they're being perceived by an invisible audience to be truly honest and vulnerable with each other." Contestants have to give up their phones during their time on the show, which airs five nights a week in near real-time, so some of them have entrusted family or friends to run their social media accounts for that time. Cierra Ortega, an early fan favorite, has her friend MJ Hedderman running her Instagram, who's been delighting fans with her funny perspective and long captions. Business Insider talked to Tal Bibas, 22, who lives in London and has been posting to his older brother Elan's Instagram and TikTok accounts. Elan, 24, grew up in the suburbs of Toronto and now lives in Miami and works in tech. So far, Tal's strategy for managing his brother's Instagram has seemed to work. Elan's followers have gone up from about 3,000 to 63,000 since he first appeared on the show a week and a half ago. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elan Bibas (@ Were you surprised when Elan told you that he was going to be a contestant on "Love Island?" One hundred percent. I think it was a shock to us all. Elan's a very smart guy — it's hard to see that on TV, but he's almost like a nerd. He's always been a super academic guy and always top-of-his-class. He got out of university, did computer science and engineering and entrepreneurship, came out with a job at a consultancy, a tech consultancy, helping them code and advise. He was doing really well with that. I think he hit a ceiling in Toronto and was really craving to move to a new city. Obviously, Miami comes with the beautiful weather, so that's what moved him there. In the past few years, he's just got this virus to want to do these crazy ultramarathons and running. He formed a community of people in Miami doing that kind of stuff, and a lot of them are content creators within the health and wellness niche. He found that that was quite cool, and he's like, You know what? Wow, maybe I should start doing this a bit. So shortly before he got approached to be on the show, he started doing a bit of content around health and wellness, running, self-improvement — things along those lines. I wouldn't say he had any viral posts or anything like that. Then he honestly just got DMed by a casting director, and that's kind of how this whole thing happened. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Elan Bibas (@ So the casting team reached out to him. He didn't apply to be on the show? Exactly. Oh, that's interesting. I didn't realize that's how the casting works. In terms of his day job, obviously, it's hard to take a month or two off to go shoot a reality show. What's the status of his job? His work seemed to be quite fine with it. They basically said, "You can definitely take on this opportunity, but take all paid time off first, and then everything after that would be unpaid leave." Knowing your brother, what's your reaction to what's happening on the show? At first, when I saw him on, I was excited, but I had that weird feeling where it's just like, "Oh my God, you never know how the public's going to perceive someone on TV." Honestly, I was quite surprised by how comfortable he seemed. I thought maybe he would sound a bit different or move in a different way. Right now, the way he's acting inside the villa is the exact same way he acts in real life. Cast members build big social followings during the show, which can lead to all sorts of lucrative opportunities. When Elan asked you to manage his socials, was that something very much at the top of your mind? I think Elan is not doing this for the clout or fame. Honestly, that's the last thing on his mind. He loves saying "yes" to opportunities. For him, it's all about going through this, living through this experience, and just having this bucket-list, once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to say he did this thing. And through that, to form connections, build relationships, and meet a lot of cool people. Elan basically said, "Here's my login details. Do your best to keep things positive and have fun with it. Mostly just let it ride and just see how it goes." I guess I have my own strategy for how I want to manage his Instagram. I don't think he knows exactly that. I definitely see this as not just a business opportunity, but a way to help my brother out. I want to do the most I can to post good content, engage with the audience, and leave him in the best spot for when he comes out to have that seamless transaction of "OK, guys, he's back." And it's kind of that exact brand and audience that he's known for. I was studying a lot of the old contestants and seeing what their experiences were via their social presence, and so I was learning quite a lot from just looking at that. I do have a background also in digital marketing and social media. I worked as an intern at a big influencer-marketing agency in Toronto, so I kind of understand the nuances of how the industry works — I just never thought it would be my brother. It's been an interesting learning curve. Have you been approached by brands or business opportunities for him? How are you fielding these incoming things? I made a separate email account for him for his social accounts. There's a lot of random stuff coming in there. Going through it and figuring out what's legit and what's not takes time. I want to make this process as seamless as possible for Elan so that when he comes out I can say, "Look, I was taking care of everything when you were gone. This is what happened. We've got these brands, these people approaching you for these opportunities," and just go through it with him and see what is the priority right now, what makes the most sense. I wouldn't say there's a long list of brands, but there are talent agencies that want to represent him.
Hindustan Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Weekend Planner (July5-6): Delhi-NCR residents, here's everything you must check out!
FLICK FIX Where: In theatres Looking for films, food fests, fitness and cultural events happening in Delhi-NCR? Find them all in one place! Read HT City's Weekend Planner for July 5 and July 6. Time: All day Metro... In Dino A still from the film, Metro... In Dino. Cast: Aditya Roy Kapur, Sara Ali Khan, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta Jurassic World: Rebirth Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend BITE STOP Saturday A Bold Celebration of Frontier Cuisine This menu aims to bring bold, rustic flavours of the North-West Frontier to the heart of Delhi. Where: Elan, The Lodhi, Lodhi Road Time: 12.30pm to 10pm Canton Spice Trail Where: The Red Brick Room, The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa, Vatika Complex, Karanki Road, Sohna Time: 12.30pm to 10pm PLAY DATE Saturday Aurangzeb Where: Little Theatre Group (LTG) Auditorium, Mandi House Time: 7.20pm Kisi Ko Batana Mat ft Anubhav Singh Bassi Anubhav Singh Bassi Where: Kedarnath Sahni Auditorium, Press Enclave, Ajmeri Gate When: 4.30pm Sunday Circus Festival Where: Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Auditorium, Pocket C, Nehru Nagar II, Ghaziabad Time: 1pm, 4pm & 7pm GROOVE IT Saturday Mika Singh Live Mika Singh will perform in Delhi this weekend.(Photo: PTI) Where: Room Xo, Aipl Joy Central, Sector 65, Gurugram Time: 10pm Suryaveer Live Where: Odella, A-3, Aurobindo Marg, Green Park When: 9pm Danny Live Where: F Bar and Lounge, Gardens Galleria Mall, Sector 38, Noida Time: 9pm Power Hour Saturday Rapid Tourney – Chess Coffee Connect Where: Cafe Roastique, Sector 104, Noida Time: 5.30pm Sunday Pickleball Championship Season 1 Pickleball Championship Season 1 Where: PlayAll MCL, Saraswati Bal Mandir, L-Block, Hari Nagar Time: 11am For more, follow HT City Delhi Junction
The Sun
26-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I was so bloated I looked 5 months pregnant – then a sharp pain like cold metal scrapping my insides revealed the truth
WHEN Tamsyn Gerrits woke up one morning with a swollen belly, she assumed it was just bloating. But what started as mild discomfort quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal that would change the 28-year-old's life forever. 7 7 At first, Tamsyn looked like she was about four of five months pregnant - but she wasn't. She also thought it didn't feel like regular bloating. 'Every morning, my stomach looked round and hard. Not soft or squishy like normal bloating. I just knew something wasn't right,' she said. Tamsyn, whose son Elan is only a year old, had ultrasounds but doctors struggled to pinpoint the problem. 'All they could see was a large fluid-filled mass pressing on my bladder,' she said. 'They weren't sure if it was a cyst, a hernia, or something else entirely.' They also made her take five pregnancy tests - all of which came back negative. 'I knew it wasn't a baby, but it was frustrating having to constantly prove it,' she added. Then, over Easter weekend, Tamsyn's condition took a dramatic turn for the worse. At 4am she was woken by a sharp, shooting pain in her lower back and left abdomen. I was on the brink of death with litre of blood in my stomach after sex - if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone 'It felt like cold metal scraping the inside of my body. I was nauseous and scared,' she said. 'It was a public holiday and my medical aid wouldn't approve a scan or surgery. No one answered their phones. I was lying there in pain, knowing something was growing inside me, and I couldn't do a thing about it.' Eventually a gynaecologist examined her and made a chilling discovery, an ovarian tumour growing very rapidly. 'I went in on Friday, and the mass was 12cm. By Monday, it was 17cm. That's how fast it grew,' Tamsyn, from Cape Town, South Africa, said. 'The doctor said we had to operate immediately or I could lose my ovary.' 'Extremely lucky' Surgeons found a massive dermoid cyst - a type of tumour that can contain tissue like hair, skin, and even teeth. 'It was right on the verge of bursting,' Tamsyn said. 'In fact, it did burst the moment they removed it. 'This was extremely lucky, because if it had burst inside my body, I likely would have progressed straight to Stage 3 or 4 cancer. The fact that it was intact when removed played a crucial role in catching it early.' Doctors were able to save her ovary and used her C-section scar to minimise additional scarring. But the real shock came days later, when her biopsy results confirmed the tumour was Grade 2 – high-grade and cancerous. 'I went numb,' Tamsyn admitted. 'You never think it's going to be you. Especially when your blood work was all clear. 'Especially when you're young and healthy, and have a child to raise.' Tamsyn has had aggressive chemotherapy, which has left her physically and emotionally drained. 'I gained 1st 8lbs (10 kilos) in just five days from all the steroids, fluids, and hormones they pumped into me,' she said. 'Then I dropped 1st 12lbs (12kg) in a weekend. My body didn't recognise itself. I didn't recognise myself. 'My hair started falling out in clumps by day 16. So I decided to take back some control and shaved it all off. A bold chop. My way of saying: 'You don't get to take this from me too.'' 'This is a rollercoaster' Just as Tamsyn began to find a rhythm in her treatment regime, she was rushed to hospital with an infected chemo port and dangerously low white blood cells. 'My body was shaking uncontrollably. I was freezing, nauseous, and scared. The infection was winning because my immune system was too weak to fight it," she said. Doctors paused her chemo and began IV antibiotics, plus painful injections to stimulate her bone marrow. 'I've been told I'll probably be in hospital for another 10 days,' she says. 'It feels excessive, but they want to be sure I'm strong enough to continue treatment.' Despite it all, Tamsyn remains defiant. 'This is a rollercoaster, but I'm holding on,' she said. 'I'm grateful we caught it early. I'm grateful for my support system - my husband, Jaco, who's my best friend, and our beautiful one-year-old son, Elan, who gives me a reason to keep going.' 7 7 7 She hopes her story will encourage other women to trust their instincts. 'We're told we're overreacting, being dramatic, or hormonal. But if your body is screaming that something is wrong, listen. There are no medals for being tough,' she said. Tamsyn, an entrepreneur and beauty queen who is a former Miss South Africa Top 5 finalist, shares her experiences on social media @tamsyn_gerrits and through her own marketing agency Jane Doe Media. 'I've been discharged from hospital, and my body has miraculously and thankfully managed to overcome the infection,' she said. 'I'm scheduled to resume chemotherapy – just two more rounds to go. 'I'm not hiding. This is part of my life now. And if I can help one woman avoid being dismissed, if I can make one mum feel seen – then it's worth every post, every chemo drip, every tear.'
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Love Island USA Season 7 Casa Amor: New bombshell Elan Bibas with Israeli roots sparks outrage after kissing Palestinian Huda Mustafa
Love Island Season 7 Casa Amor: Casa Amor season has officially arrived in Love Island USA Season 7, and with it comes a whole new batch of bombshells ready to flip the villa upside down. But while most new arrivals brought the usual drama, one particular has stirred up a full-on social media storm — Elan Bibas. The Jewish influencer caused a buzz after locking lips with Huda Mustafa, a Palestinian contestant, just moments after walking into Casa Amor. And as expected, the internet had a lot to say. Love Island USA Season 7: Who is Elan Bibas? Elan Bibas hails from Canada, born to Shlomo Bibas (who has roots in Caracas, Venezuela) and Heather Bibas, his Canadian mom. He grew up in Richmond Hill, Ontario, alongside his younger sister Dahlia and brother Tal — the latter now runs Elan's socials. Aside from being a reality TV face, Elan has been in his tech and wellness bag for a while. A computer engineering grad from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, he made the Dean's List every semester and even raced for the school's varsity mountain biking team. Before showing up on our screens, Elan co-founded Cycle AI, a startup using artificial intelligence to help brands understand their users. The company was acquired in 2024. These days, he works as a consultant at Slalom, where he builds AI tools for government projects. He and his siblings joined Toronto's Temple Har Zion synagogue in late 2023, but by the following year, Elan had packed up for Miami, declaring 2023 was 'his last winter'. Now, he's busy crafting a lifestyle brand built on fitness, skincare, marathon training, and travel. He currently has over 14,000 followers on TikTok and posts everything from cold plunges to race prep to protein smoothies. His travel game is solid, too — with recent trips to the Philippines, Greece, Singapore, Spain, and more. Elan's IG looks like part tech bro, part wellness guru, part international wanderer. Elan Bibas's connection to Israel A self-confessed Nice Jewish Boy (NJB), Elan's connection to Israel is both cultural and personal. His first name, Elan, means 'oak tree' in Hebrew, and the surname Bibas is a common Sephardic Jewish last name, especially in Israel. In 2014, Elan celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. He's visited Israel multiple times, including a 2022 trip with friends where they hiked Masada, partied in Tel Aviv, explored the Old City, visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, and shared plenty of footage along the way. He also follows pro-Israel accounts like Stand With Us on Instagram, which has sparked further online debate given current global tensions. Who is Love Island Season 7 'villain' Huda Mustafa? Huda Mustafa might be one of the most talked-about contestants Love Island USA has had in a while, and we're only a few weeks in. With drama trailing her from the start, she's gained both haters and fans alike. Her complicated (and at times toxic) relationship with Jeremiah Brown, who was recently dumped from the villa, has made her a standout name this season. Huda revealed on the show that she's of Palestinian descent and also a mother. Her ex and baby's father, Noah Sheline, has been cheering her on from the sidelines, showing support online. Huda Mustafa our Palestinian princess 🇵🇸🇵🇸 Why has Elan and Huda's interaction become controversial? The internet was stunned when Elan, who has been labelled a Zionist, kissed Huda, a Palestinian woman, during Casa Amor. Of all the possible pairings in the villa, this one instantly sparked backlash online, with many viewers finding it deeply uncomfortable given their political and cultural backgrounds. Since Love Island operates in real time, it's unclear if Huda was aware of his Israeli roots, but it would be a shocker if Elan was unaware of her background. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, "THE WAY THE PRODUCTION IS ALLOWING ELAN AND HUDA TO KISS??? A ZIONIST AND A PALESTINE WOMAN – ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!! #LoveIslandUSA" THE WAY THE PRODUCTION IS ALLOWING ELAN AND HUDA TO KISS??? A ZIONIST AND A PALESTINE WOMAN ARE U KIDDING ME!!!! #LoveIslandUSA Another added, "Elan and Huda kissing. And he's IDF, and she's Palestinian. I am about to vomit." Elan and Huda kissing. And he's IDF and she's Palestinian. I am about to vomit. #LoveIslandUSA "Huda and Elan kissing has me sooooo mad omg. Free my Palestinian queen #LoveIslandUSA," one post read. Huda and Elan kissing has me sooooo mad omg 😭😭😭😭😭😭 free my palestinian queen #LoveIsandUSA One more user shared, "Huda—a Palestinian woman—in the same villa as Elan, who allegedly served in the IDF & supports Zionist views, is unsettling. He's aligned with an agenda that's displaced her people, & with politics off-limits on the show, she could be completely blindsided if they start talking." In the end, JD Dodard picked Huda Mustafa, while Elan Bibas paired up with Cierra Ortega. Catch new episodes of Love Island USA Season 7 every night (except Wednesdays) at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, streaming exclusively on Peacock.
