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Elle
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
We All Agreed That Diet Culture Was Bad. So Why Is It Back?
Has anyone noticed a shift lately? You open TikTok and sift through videos of 'fit checks, body checks, workout tips, not feeling much of anything at all. Except, of course, that vague sense of dread in the pit of your stomach. Is that influencer so slim because she follows a clean-eating plan, or because she doesn't eat at all? Maybe there's a seismic change in the air. Celebrities are losing weight, even those who branded themselves as body-positive icons. Others are being scrutinised for signs they're taking weight-loss drugs. Lana Del Rey, a star once reviled for no longer looking 25 years old, appeared at Coachella looking 25 years old. The internet's reaction to her reclaimed thinness was 'WE ARE SO BACK'. A stranger's weight loss, it would seem, is a harbinger of hope. Or maybe a testament that fat shaming works. 'I've seen a huge uptick in content online that promotes diet culture, and very often tips over into eating-disorder territory,' says Alex Light, a body-image speaker. 'A lot of it is subtle, disguised as 'wellness', but some of it is blatant – like 'what I eat in a day' videos glorifying extremely low-calorie [diets], or creators encouraging their followers to be 'skinny legends'.' When you start to notice them, the signs are everywhere. Noughties fashion trends are having a revival, along with the idealisation of Noughties-era bodies. Wellness discourse is crossing into alt-right territory. AI is making everyone even more image obsessedwith people asking ChatGPT if they're 'hot enough'. Politics is influencing beauty trends. Unabashed 'skinny influencers' are mainstream. What on earth happened, would be a fair question to ask. Didn't we all agree, around a decade ago, that diet culture was bad? That there's more to life than being thin? 'Arguably what scares me more is the engagement on these posts: thousands of likes and comments applauding the dedication, or asking for tips,' Light continues. 'It shows this isn't happening in a vacuum – there's a wider cultural appetite for this kind of content.' An 'anti-diet advocate', Light is the author of You Are Not a Before Picture and co-host of Should I Delete That?, a podcast she co-hosts with Em Clarkson, which attempts to apply the nuance 'that is often left out of the polarising conversations that take place on social media'. Indeed, these symptoms of our divided times could be linked to diet culture's big comeback. 'The algorithm doesn't tend to reward nuance, compassion or content that doesn't focus on aesthetics or transformation,' Light says. 'What's common is 'wellness' content that ends up reinforcing body ideals: 'gentle' weight-loss goals, 'healthy swaps' or hyper-disciplined routines. It might not look like traditional diet culture on the surface, but it reinforces the idea that your body is a problem to fix.' Dr Johanna Keeler, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, confirms that seemingly benign social-media content can have an insidious effect. She points to a recent study of TikTok algorithms, which found that people with an eating disorder were far more likely to be shown appearance-oriented, dieting and exercise content. ('They were 4343% more likely to be shown toxic eating-disorder videos,' she adds.) The problem is that the algorithm perpetuates a 'vicious circle' – those with eating disorders are more likely to be shown triggering content, and the triggering content exacerbates disordered eating. 'The worrying thing is that, because of smartphones, we're exposed to this content a lot more.' This is made more extreme due to tailored content from the algorithms, causing vulnerable people to get stuck in a harmful echo chamber. It's not the first time social media has sparked these concerns. 'This era echoes pro-anorexia Tumblr, but it has a shinier, more socially acceptable veneer,' Light says. The website was host to a huge number of 'pro-ana' blogs that posted 'thinspiration' in the form of personal pictures and Kate Moss gifs, fostering one-upmanship around users' daily food intake and workout routines. While this phenomenon was more brazen in its promotion of dieting, Light argues that 'the result is the same: we're still being told that our value hinges on how small, controlled and ideal our bodies look'. A lot of today's viral content is more implicit in its promotion of the beauty standard – a cursory glance at Instagram's Explore page will reveal paparazzi pictures of celebrities in bikinis, their figures picked apart in the comments, and fitness influencers sharing weight-loss tips. 'It's dressed up as 'wellness', 'clean living' or 'biohacking',' Light says, referencing the coded terms creators use to avoid being cancelled. But as Keeler's research suggests, this can function as a gateway to more extreme, pro-ana subcultures, and influencers who are less precious about their wording. Liv Schmidt, a 23-year-old former TikTok creator, shared videos telling followers what she eats in a day 'to stay skinny', with slogans including: 'It's not a sin to want to be thin'. After being barred from the app, Schmidt started a membership programme she calls the Skinni Société, where subscribers pay $20 a month to gain access to her 'portion-controlled' food diaries, and group chats where members compare step counts and 'progress pics'. 'Seeing Gen Z engage with his rhetoric has been a big shocker,' says Gina Tonic, senior editor and podcast host at Polyester Zine. 'The worst thing I've seen is SkinnyTok and eating-disorder Twitter accounts making their way into 'normal' algorithms – being seen by many who didn't know they existed prior to that.' Though TikTok has banned the #SkinnyTok hashtag, the community is still active and growing on the app. 'You hope younger generations will be more socially aware but it's not necessarily the case; they make the same mistakes we do, and that's hard to watch.' Tonic notes the responsibility to police this content ultimately lies with social-media platforms, who seem to 'prioritise engagement over wellbeing and social justice'. She says an early sign of the pendulum swing back to diet culture was 'creators who centred their brand on self-love or body positivity or fat liberation shifting to be around weight loss'. Many TikTok users who have undergone transformations opened up about their use of GLP-1s, which have been hailed as miracle drugs while giving rise to ethical concerns. Part of a cultural shift to the pursuit of thinness at all costs, these admissions seem even more jarring to those who remember a time when showcasing diverse bodies on the internet was celebrated. 'In the 2010s, we had a mainstream wave of body positivity,' says Light. In an interview with BeautyMatter, beauty-industry critic Jessica DeFino said that, during this time, 'anti-diet culture limited what beauty standards the media could promote without facing public backlash'. But even if the movement was more about optics than genuine progress, with celebrities cashing in on wokeness for clout, Light claims this was preferable to the situation we find ourselves in. 'A lot of it wasn't perfect, of course, but it cracked open the conversation, gave marginalised bodies visibility and challenged narrow beauty standards.' And though it can seem like progress has been permanently reversed, Tonic believes sometimes things have to get worse before they get better: 'Fat liberation, a lot like feminism, has come in waves of popularity, and the tide seems to be out at the minute. I do think it'll come back full-force soon.' In the meantime, it's important to practise awareness, and to consider safeguarding measures. In a recent study, almost one in five UK women screened positive for a possible eating disorder. The most effective way to break yourself out of negative thinking patterns? Addressing that pesky phone addiction. 'Any sort of intervention to try to limit your exposure should help improve your appearance-satisfaction and wellbeing', Keeler advises. Tonic agrees, but also advocates engaging with online content that makes you feel good. 'I think making an active commitment to following and engaging with accounts that are body positive and seek to decentre and oppose these conversations will help so much,' she says. 'Curate a feed and algorithm that feeds you the right things. Negative things online are unavoidable at this point, but pointedly engaging with content that counteracts it will do wonders.' Light, similarly, has found hope by building a positive online community. 'The messages I get from people who've started to eat more freely, wear the clothes they love, stop punishing themselves… all of it reminds me that change is happening, even if it's gradual and it's not trending,' she says. 'I think a great question to ask yourself is, 'Who benefits from me believing I need to be smaller?' The answer is never you. It's the multi-billion-dollar diet industry. Knowing that I'm fine exactly as I am and that I don't need to be smaller is an act of rebellion. Real joy and confidence come from opting out.' If you're worried about disordered eating or concerned about someone else, there are resources that can help: ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
4 best characters for Why Does the Ocean Sing in Honkai Star Rail
(Image via miHoYo) Why Does the Ocean Sing is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Nihility Light Cones in Honkai Star Rail, rumored to be Hysilens' signature weapon. With a huge Effect Hit Rate boost and a game-changing debuff mechanic called Enthrallment, this Light Cone can amplify Damage-over-Time (DoT) builds like never before. So, who are the best characters to equip it with? Here's what the leaks suggest. 1. Hysilens – The Obvious Perfect Fit No surprises here. Why Does the Ocean Sing was practically made for Hysilens. Her entire kit revolves around stacking debuffs and triggering DoT effects through her Basic Attack, Skill, and Ultimate. With the Light Cone boosting her Effect Hit Rate by 40%, she can easily trigger Enthrallment, stacking DoT amplifiers like clockwork. Pair that with the SPD buff allies get when attacking an Enthralled enemy, and Hysilens becomes a total battlefield manipulator. He's fast, dangerous, and nearly impossible to ignore. 2. Jiaoqiu – DoT Support With Serious Bite Jiaoqiu isn't just a sidekick anymore. This limited-time 5-star Nihility unit thrives in teams built around Acheron and other DoT-focused characters. He's great at stacking debuffs but can sometimes struggle with landing them consistently. Why Does the Ocean Sing fixes that problem. With a 40% Effect Hit Rate bonus and the added Enthrallment effect, Jiaoqiu's debuffs land smoother, hit harder, and amplify overall DoT output. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo It turns him from a background support into a more central damage contributor. 3. Black Swan – Arcana Queen Gets an Upgrade Black Swan, the queen of Arcana stacks, benefits massively from the stats this Light Cone brings. She needs to hit 120% Effect Hit Rate to reliably trigger Arcana on enemies with 30% Effect RES. The 40% boost from Why Does the Ocean Sing gets her much closer to that mark without relying solely on relic stats. On top of that, the SPD bonus when allies hit Enthralled targets means she cycles through her turns faster and leads to more AoE mayhem. 4. Guinaifen – A 4-Star Surprise Contender Leaked tests suggest Why Does the Ocean Sing might also work surprisingly well on Guinaifen. Though she's a 4-star, her kit centers around stacking burns and debuffs with high frequency. This Light Cone lets her stick her burns more reliably while triggering the Enthrallment effect to pump up DoT multipliers. While Why Does the Ocean Sing is clearly tailor-made for Hysilens, it's not limited to her. Characters who thrive on debuffs, stackable DoT, and Effect Hit Rate bonuses stand to gain the most. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Japan Today
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
TeamLab opening amazing outdoor art exhibit at one of Japan's more uniquely beautiful gardens
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 Mifuneyama Rakuen is a fascinating place. 180 years ago, the local samurai lord commissioned a garden to be created near the foot of Mt Mifuneyama in the town of Takeo, Saga Prefecture, but rather than being a closed-off green space, the garden's borders blend seamlessly into the surrounding forest and mountain trails, resulting in the natural and man-made beauty mixing and complementing each other. As such, it's hard to think of a more fitting venue for the artists of TeamLab, who use digital techniques and colorful illumination to craft installations that speak to visitors on a primordial, emotional level. Opening later this month is A Forest Where Gods Live, TeamLab's annual nighttime exhibition held at Mifuneyama Rakuen. Now in its 11th year, the event invites visitors to stroll though the grounds after sundown and experience a number of innovative and breathtaking works of art. Drawing on the Water Surface Created by the Dance of Koi and Boats, for example, turns the surface of Mifuneyama Rakuen Pond into an interactive canvas, projecting koi made of light onto the water. These digital fish have no predetermined paths, but instead react to each other and the boats the skim across the lake, leaving trails of color behind them to create an ever-changing design. Mifuneyama Rakuen's azalea field dates back to the garden's opening in 1845. For the Life is Continuous Light installation, each bush has its own source of light that shines and fades, as though the plants are taking deep breaths. As visitors walk by, their colors change and spread out to other azaleas in the array. The light from the azaleas also resonates with Mt Mifuneyama itself, which stands beyond them and responds visually to what's happening in Life is Continuous Light. The forest's cherry and maple groves will also have reactive illuminations, which are sure to be enchanting whether you're walking beneath the branches or viewing the woods from above. And while this might look like a waterfall… …it's actually a digital projection of light doing an amazing job of recreating the flow of cascading liquid. This is just a portion of what TeamLab has planned for A Forest Where Gods Live, and it's sure to be an unforgettable way to spend a night. Tickets are priced at 1,800 yen for adults and can be reserved online through the TeamLab website here. The event opens on July 18 and runs until November 3, so even if you can't make it this summer, you can double up with two TeamLab events this fall. Source: TeamLab, PR Times Insert images: TeamLab, PR Times Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Japan's beautiful TeamLab art group opening its first permanent immersive museum in Kyoto【Video】 -- Japanese hotel's amazingly beautiful lobby is interactive art that changes with the seasons【Pics】 -- Amazing new exhibits from Japanese art team TeamLab coming to life in the U.S.A. External Link © SoraNews24
Gulf Today
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Museum of the Future launches exclusive summer activations
This summer, the Museum of the Future invites visitors to experience a vibrant new season full of cultural and educational activations, curated to inspire all ages. From July 1 to Sept.30 2025, guests can also enjoy unlimited access to the museum with an all-new exclusive 'Summer Pass'. As part of the museum's special summer activations and for the first time, visitors will be able to enter the museum at any time during operating hours, with Summer Pass holders receiving exclusive access to seasonal events and behind-the-scenes experiences. The initiative reflects the museum's ongoing commitment to education, wellness, creativity, and innovation. Meet an Astronaut Headline activations include 'Meet an Astronaut', scheduled for both 14 July and 21 july, where guests will have the opportunity to interact with members of the UAE Space Programme including real-life astronauts from Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). Visitors will gain insight into the country's evolving space ambitions during the two space-themed days. Capture the Future As part of the summer activations, the museum will also introduce 'Capture the Future,' a guided photography tour starting 14 July, led by in-house experts. Participants will learn creative approaches to visual storytelling through the museum's very own lens, with early-morning sessions offering exclusive access to the museum's most photogenic spaces. Wellness Weekends On weekends from 19 July to 29 August, 'Wellness Weekends' will take place at Al Waha, where yoga and meditation sessions will be offered. These sessions will be delivered in collaboration with renowned yoga instructors providing a reflective and rejuvenating start to the day. Further experiences include 'Light the Future', a one-of-a-kind interactive activation where a handful of guests will have the chance to illuminate the museum's iconic façade. This moment allows participants to quite literally switch on the Museum of the Future lights, allowing visitors to leave their mark and become part of the museum's story in a truly unforgettable way. Behind-the-Scenes Tours During the summer months, visitors can now also book a behind-the-scenes tour where they are offered a rare glimpse into the operational, architectural systems that support the building. For the first time ever, guest will get access to back-of-house places that were not accessible to the public before. Additional Activities: A rotating schedule of additional activations will be confirmed over the coming weeks, including poetry and book readings as well as test drive experiences with Audi's newest cars. Updates will be shared via the museum's official social media channels and website Meanwhile, the 28th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is in full swing across the city, bringing yet another week of unforgettable offers and endless opportunities to win big. Thousands of phenomenal shopping experiences, retail offers, rewarding promotions, and sensational prizes are still up for grabs until 31 August. Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the first wave of Summer Holiday Offers is counting down its final days until 17 July with exclusive deals across more than 800 brands and 3,000 outlets, together with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to obtain staggering prizes across a variety of raffles. Keep a lookout for the mind-blowing deals and exciting offers this week... Summer Holiday Offers Summer Holiday Offers, the first dedicated retail season of DSS 2025, is in full swing with 25 to 75 per cent discounts across hundreds of participating brands citywide, alongside spend-and-win activations at Mercato Mall, Majid Al Futtaim malls, Dubai Festival City Mall and Dubai Outlet Mall, loyalty-programme rewards from Tickit and AURA, as well as the DFRE signature Lucky Receipt promotion. BRAND NEW THIS WEEK Sparkling Jewels Week with Damas .Date: 11-17 July Location: Participating Damas stores citywide. About: Shoppers who spend Dhs 500 or more at Damas stores across the city will be entered into a special raffle for the chance to win stunning Gaia jewellery, with seven lucky winners and one mega prize winner set to walk away with dazzling rewards. Customers can enjoy up to 50% off on a wide selection of exquisite pieces, plus receive gift vouchers worth Dhs 300 with every purchase of Dhs 3,000. Voyage Club at City Centre Mirdif. Date: 17 July to 31 August. Location: City Centre Mirdif. Inspired by the French Riviera, this indoor beach club-style pop-up features summer-themed workshops, a creative art space, exclusive brand showcases, games, and food and drink. Shoppers who spend Dhs 200 or more (excluding Carrefour) can access the Voyage Club by showing their receipts.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia hikes oil prices to 4-month high amid China demand surge
The Kingdom raises crude prices for August, reflecting shifting domestic demand and global export strategy/Image: File TL;DR: Saudi Arabia has raised its August Arab Light crude price to Asia by $2.20 per barrel, its highest in four months. This move aligns with peak domestic energy consumption, increased exports to China, and a broader OPEC+ production reset. Refiners in Asia and Europe are facing higher procurement costs amid changing demand patterns.. Long-term consequences include possible pricing pressure, strategic shifts in refinery sourcing, and accelerated energy diversification within Saudi Arabia. A Price Hike With Global Consequences In a move that has caught both traders and analysts off guard, Saudi Aramco raised the official selling price (OSP) of its Arab Light crude to Asia by $2.20 per barrel above the Oman/Dubai average for August deliveries. This represents the steepest premium since April and far exceeds the forecasted range of $0.50 to $0.80 per barrel. Pricing for European buyers has also risen by $1.40 per barrel for Northwest Europe while other grades such as Arab Medium, Heavy, and Extra Light saw increases between $0.90 and $1.30. This pricing decision comes amid a convergence of domestic and international pressures: a surge in local power demand, rising exports to China, and a coordinated OPEC+ move to unwind production cuts that were initially implemented to stabilise pandemic-era oil markets. Why Is Saudi Arabia Raising Prices Now? One of the most immediate drivers behind the price hike is Saudi Arabia's own seasonal energy needs. With air conditioning usage surging across the Kingdom during the intense summer heat, the country has ramped up its crude burn to fuel domestic power stations. Industry sources estimate that Saudi Arabia could be using up to 470,000 barrels per day of crude for electricity generation, especially as fuel oil has become costlier in global markets. Simultaneously, demand from Asia, particularly China is rebounding strongly. In August, Saudi crude exports to China are expected to hit 1.65 million barrels per day, the highest level in over two years. Chinese refiners, particularly state-run Sinopec, have increased orders following maintenance shutdowns in the second quarter. This additional pull from China provides Riyadh with the leverage to set higher price points for its crude. Beyond bilateral trade, the move comes at a time when OPEC+, the alliance of oil-producing nations led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, has decided to raise production by 548,000 barrels per day in August. This is the most significant step yet in a multi-month plan to restore roughly 2.2 million barrels per day of previously withheld output. Absorbing the Shock: Can the Market Handle It? Despite this increase in both price and supply, global oil markets have remained relatively stable. Brent crude futures have hovered around $69–70 per barrel, signalling that demand driven by peak travel season and broader economic recovery is absorbing the additional barrels. Analysts at the International Energy Agency and Saxo Bank suggest that the market remains tight enough in the short term to handle incremental increases without major price collapses. However, this balance could prove fragile. If OPEC+ continues to restore production through September and beyond, it could begin to weigh heavily on prices. Several major investment banks, including Goldman Sachs, have forecasted that Brent could fall into the mid-$60s or even low $60s by the end of 2025 if global demand plateaus or weakens. Implications for Refiners and Global Energy Strategy The pricing decision has strategic implications for refiners in both Asia and Europe. Asian buyers, already operating on thin margins, may look for cost-effective alternatives or adjust refining configurations to accommodate lower-priced crude blends. Some European buyers may explore diversifying away from Gulf supplies toward Atlantic basin producers like Nigeria or Brazil, especially if premiums remain elevated. Saudi Arabia, however, appears willing to accept this trade-off. With spare production capacity estimated at over three million barrels per day, the Kingdom remains the only oil exporter with significant room to manoeuvre. By pricing aggressively, it can crowd out higher-cost competitors particularly in US shale and reassert its dominance in the global supply chain. This aggressive pricing posture also ties into Saudi Arabia's long-term economic transformation plan, Vision 2030. Oil revenues remain the backbone of the country's public spending, and maximising returns from each barrel sold is a fiscal necessity, especially as the government continues to fund megaprojects like NEOM, The Line, and major tourism investments. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Saudi Arabia needs oil prices in the $75–90 range to balance its budget. Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges The long-term consequences of this pricing move will depend on how global markets evolve over the next six to twelve months. A few possibilities stand out: First, if supply continues to rise but demand falters, prices could weaken significantly, putting pressure on both Saudi fiscal health and the broader OPEC+ alliance's unity. Second, US shale producers, many of whom have recently slowed drilling activity due to cost constraints, may see an opening to regain lost ground if prices stabilise above $70. However, they remain highly price-sensitive and unlikely to flood the market as they did in previous years. Third, Saudi Arabia's continued reliance on crude for domestic power generation underlines the need to accelerate its renewable energy goals. The Kingdom has already announced major investments in solar, wind, and nuclear energy to reduce crude burn and meet its climate targets. Successfully implementing these initiatives will allow it to export more oil in the long run and improve environmental sustainability. Finally, rising global oil prices often trigger an acceleration in energy diversification efforts worldwide. For countries heavily reliant on imports, higher prices are a stark reminder of energy insecurity and could push them to fast-track their own transition away from fossil fuels. Verdict: Saudi Arabia's decision to sharply increase crude prices for August marks a pivotal moment in global oil diplomacy. It reflects not only short-term supply and demand dynamics but also a deeper recalibration of the Kingdom's energy and fiscal strategies. Whether this bold move results in sustained revenues or catalyzes new market disruptions will depend on a complex mix of refinery responses, global demand recovery, and policy shifts in energy-importing nations. What is clear, however, is that Saudi Arabia is once again reshaping the rules of the game.
