Latest news with #Madi
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Egg-Freezing, Divorce — and More (Unexpected) Reasons to Give a Gift
In this edition of The Gift, we make the case for delighting your loved ones when they least expect it. Say, if they freeze their eggs? Plus, the best gifts for Gen Z and what to give a hobbyist. Last summer, I schlepped to my friend Madi's apartment carrying a tote bag crammed with delicate pressed paper, soft pink ribbon, gold washi tape, and all manner of stickers. Madi and I were on a mission: to craft a present for our friend Courtney, who was preparing to freeze her eggs. Egg-freezing is not exactly a traditional gift-giving occasion. There wasn't an egg party (although that's a really good idea — write that down), and Courtney didn't register for egg-freezing gifts (again, would have been brilliant). But in more than a decade of friendship, Courtney has celebrated Madi and me over and over again: ordering custom confetti to mark our engagements, stuffing gift bags for our bachelorette parties, and even showing up with a pastry-shaped Jellycat after I finished baking every recipe in a cookbook. This occasion certainly felt just as momentous, if not more so, than those. And she was going to need our help getting through 12 days of self-administered shots. What to gift her, though, was a puzzle. Freezer food seemed too dire; flowers too maudlin. Then Madi pitched a perfect plan: We give her 12 treats, one to open after each round of shots, like a wacky, very-much-out-of-season Advent calendar. Taking inspiration from my colleague, editor Catherine Kast, who is on the record as queen of DIY Advent calendars, I retrieved an empty, years-old one to repurpose. Then I went hunting for joyful, tiny treats to fit in each pocket: things like a baby Baggu in the strawberry print, delectable Swedish gummies (Madi did not let me get the egg-shaped ones — apparently too on the nose), glossy lip balms, sample-sized vials of perfume, scrunchies, and micro claw clips. If I were doing this again, I would toss in an adorable fruit-shaped bag charm, too. We tucked each prize into a pocket, taped floral-patterned paper over all the openings, and tied it with a rose-colored bow to finish. You don't need big, celebratory life events to give your friends presents. Sometimes the littler moments — when they're going through something difficult or facing a big change — can be the most meaningful times to show up with a treat. When writer Ivy Elrod's sister was taking the bar, Ivy gave her a big, snack-y care package to fuel her, and 'she ended up being the only lawyer with snacks in the exam.' (This Japanese snack box is a particular favorite of my gift-expert colleagues.) I love the idea of giving a friend who is finalizing a divorce something celebratory, as long as it feels appropriate — writer Alexander Aciman once delighted a recently divorced friend with these vibrant, handblown champagne flutes. And on a sillier note, after newsletters editor Haley Jo Lewis' boyfriend finished putting together their home office, he unveiled it with a mini inflatable tube man on her desk — a sorry-for-the-house-being-a-wreck present. And as for Courtney, after the first few days, she was a total pro at handling the needles, breezily jabbing herself after breakfast or on the couch, mid-Love Island episode. But still she sent pictures of her prizes afterward, grinning, the animal-shaped ice packs that she stuck to her abdomen after each prick peeking out above her waistband. 'Your support was the actual gift, obviously,' Courtney said. 'But the calendar was a small reminder of it every day.' Which is, in my opinion, exactly how a gift should feel — no matter the occasion.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Local NPO addresses Gender Based Violence
Focusing on issues prevalent in the community, Zululand NPO Bajuka recently hosted a workshop to empower victims of gender-based violence (GBV) through education. Held at the Mzingazi community hall, a human rights-based approach and attendee presence highlighted their commitment to addressing GBV and ensuring survivors receive the protection and support they need. NPO founder Dr Mamie Madi said this was not just a legal dialogue, but rather a human rights conversation. 'Every person deserves safety, dignity and justice. Gender-based violence remains a devastating reality in many communities, affecting individuals physically, emotionally and psychologically. 'The statistics are staggering, but behind each number is a life, a person whose rights have been violated, a person searching for safety. Knowledge is power, and legal protection can be life-changing for survivors, which is why we came together to equip ourselves with the knowledge and practical tools needed,' said Madi. Attendees were made to understand that a protection order is more than just a legal document, but rather a shield. 'A survivor declares that their safety matters, their voice deserves to be heard, and their dignity will not be diminished. But many victims do not know how to access this protection, or they feel discouraged by barriers in the legal system. That is what prompted this workshop to empower, educate, and equip individuals with the understanding they need to seek justice and safety,' said Madi. The session • Explored the purpose and process of obtaining a protection order • Understood the role of law enforcement in protection orders • Learnt about the role of the South African Human Rights Commission in protecting victims of GBV • Shared strategies for supporting those in need within communities Among the stakeholders who presented at the workshop were Professor Kanagie Naidoo from the University of Zululand, who shared insights on the purpose, process and consequences of obtaining a protection order, while from the SAPS, Warrant Officer Zweli Mhlongo presented the role of law enforcement in enforcing a protection order. Other stakeholders included the Department of Justice, South African Human Rights Commission, Department of Social Development, IEC, and uMfolozi Municipality. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bride Masters Samoan Dance in Just 5 Days to Honor Husband's Family at Wedding: 'I Wanted to Make Them Proud' (Exclusive)
Just days before her wedding, Madi decided to learn a traditional Samoan dance to honor her husband Samu's heritage With only five days to prepare, she practiced between wedding events and even during a trip out of state — capturing the journey on TikTok Her surprise performance moved Samu's family to tears and went viral, becoming a powerful symbol of love, respect and cultural connectionWhen Madi decided to learn a traditional Samoan dance just five days before her wedding, she didn't expect the world to be watching. But a TikTok video capturing her journey — complete with hotel-room rehearsals and joyful nerves — quickly touched millions. 'I always knew deep down that I wanted to do it, even early on in our relationship,' Madi exclusively tells PEOPLE, remembering the moment the idea took hold. Inspired by videos she'd seen of brides embracing Samoan traditions, she felt a quiet pull to do the same for her future husband, Samu, and the family she was about to join. Their love story began years earlier at the University of Utah, where Madi played softball and Samu was on the football team. They met through a campus ministry group and bonded over faith, friendship and eventually, something more. 'Some of our friends started putting the bug in our ear about how we would be a cute couple,' Samu tells PEOPLE with a grin. That playful encouragement turned into a connection that grew steadily over time. Their first date, complete with matching knee injuries, still makes them laugh. 'He did not want to reschedule. He was very adamant about making sure it happened,' Madi recalls, remembering how they hobbled into an arcade together; she was on crutches, he was fresh out of surgery. Four years later, after countless FaceTime calls and long-distance stretches while Madi worked as a nurse, Samu proposed by a lake with the help of his family. 'I've waited my whole life for her,' he says. Wedding planning brought excitement and emotion, but also a surprise challenge Madi didn't see coming. 'The five days thing wasn't ideal,' she says, laughing. Originally, she tried to teach herself a dance from YouTube, unsure what would resonate. 'Then he said his cousin was going to choreograph a dance,' she explains. But when that choreography finally arrived, Madi was in Georgia for a funeral, practicing alone in her hotel room and sending videos back to Samu's sisters for feedback. 'There's no way I'm going to know if I'm doing this right,' she remembers thinking, unsure but determined. The pressure didn't let up as the wedding approached. 'The odds were really kind of stacked,' Samu says, noting that even his mom, who'd planned to help, had to leave town unexpectedly. Still, his sisters stepped in, squeezing in a last-minute rehearsal just two days before the ceremony. 'It was a family effort for sure,' Samu adds. 'Everybody pitched in.' By the time the moment arrived, Madi had barely caught her breath from the whirlwind of the week but she stepped onto the dance floor with everything she had. 'I felt all of the emotions,' she shares. 'The biggest thing I wanted to do was make them proud and also show them that I really value their culture.' For Samu, the moment landed like a dream. 'There's just this sense of awe,' he says. 'I always dreamed about my wife doing [the dance] … and to see her step in and accept it in that way was so powerful and beautiful to me at that moment.' He saw something deeper than choreography. 'In marriage, you're saying yes to this person, but not just to everything — also to the culture,' Samu explains. 'It was such a beautiful thing.' The experience also deepened his own connection to his Samoan roots. 'It definitely helped me, encouraged me to learn more, but also just rekindled this love that I have for where I come from,' he says. Madi, too, walked away transformed. 'Before, the way that I viewed his culture was, I thought it was cool,' she says. 'But now after learning it and seeing the love that his family has for the culture, I think it's made me appreciate it more.' 'Now I would describe it as beautiful,' she continues. 'I think doing the dance, seeing their reaction, it's made me not only love him more, but his family more.' There were bumps along the way — moments where the blending of two cultures felt overwhelming. 'At first we had a conversation where there were other aspects of the Samoan culture that were kind of creeping into the wedding and that weren't necessarily planned,' Samu shares. But the couple chose to approach it all with grace and patience, staying grounded in communication. 'We had to just talk through how we felt,' Madi says. That patience was tested again during the wedding itself, when Madi was pulled into a third unexpected dance by Samu's aunts. 'I was already overwhelmed 'cause I'd just finished the dance,' she remembers. 'But then a lot of his aunts were getting me ready. I was so confused.' Samu quickly stepped in to reassure her. 'He was understanding, he was like, 'Just do what you were doing in your dance,' ' Madi says. 'And then I think seeing him dance, it made me happy again.' Madi's family heritage wasn't left behind, either. 'In the Filipino culture, we also do a money dance,' she says. 'A lot of my uncles wore a traditional Filipino shirt as their formal attire. I feel like that was welcomed pretty well.' The TikTok, which began as a way to share her personal journey, soon turned into something much bigger. 'I think the most common thing that I saw was people being like, they were able to see when two people get married, they see true love in action when the spouse is willing to learn things of their culture,' Madi says. The comments from Samoan viewers in particular meant the world to her. 'There were a few Samoans that commented and they're like, 'You did great. We appreciate you sharing our culture.' And it's really cool to see,' she says. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Samu, who doesn't use TikTok himself, was stunned by the wave of encouragement. 'It was just cool to see the positive side of social media, people rallying around this idea of two people coming together, loving one another and representing a culture and representing it well,' he tells PEOPLE. Through it all, the couple say their love only deepened. 'There was a lot of patience, kindness, graciousness, compassion toward one another in that time,' Samu says. 'To have her come in and basically embrace my family, my culture, us with open arms was so amazing.' The day was also grounded in their shared faith, with a communion ceremony and worship led by close friends. 'We attest our relationship and everything that we have to God,' Samu says. 'We wouldn't be here without Him.' As the views keep climbing and the comments pour in, Madi and Samu are still soaking in the impact of it all. 'We learned that it's okay to feel overwhelmed,' Madi says. 'But what matters is walking through it together, giving each other grace and embracing the beauty of both our backgrounds.' Read the original article on People
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Reality star opens up on her masturbation addiction struggle and reveals ‘shame' over porn habit
BACHELOR beauty Madison Prewett has confessed she battled a secret addiction to porn and masturbation and says it left her feeling ashamed. The Christian influencer revealed she was "enslaved" by "sin" and claimed God helped her overcome her addiction. 5 Bachelor star Madi Prewett revealed she was 'enslaved' by 'sin Credit: YouTube/@StayTruePodcast 5 Madison is now a Christian influencer after finding fame on The Bachelor Credit: Getty The US reality star, 29, made the shock confession on her Stay True podcast. She opened up about her private struggle, which she says began when she was a teenager. 'That was something that enslaved me and marked me for so long,' Madi said. 'Thankfully, by the grace of God and by the power of Godly community and people around me, I have been free from porn and masturbation for, I don't even know, 10 years.' Madi said the habit took root after she was exposed to sexual content as a teen. She said: 'I had already had moments of being curious about things and having certain feelings or wondering certain things or fantasizing about certain things. 'I had not told that to anyone. 'I went over to a friend's house and her parents weren't around and she turned on this show that was extremely inappropriate.' Most read in Reality She described feeling 'desire' for the first time and said the experience triggered years of shame, even as she tried to stay true to her faith. 'No matter how much I loved Jesus, I could not shake that sin,' she said. Bachelor star Madi Prewett sells Texas mansion for $1.1m & moves to Nashville with husband before arrival of first child 'I questioned my worth and my identity. Every time I gave into sexual sin, I didn't know my purpose.' Madi came second on The Bachelor in 2020 after Peter ditched fiancée Hannah Ann Sluss, and briefly reunited with him before things fizzled out. She's since found love with speaker and minister Grant Troutt, tying the knot in 2022. The pair welcomed their first child, daughter Hosanna Rose, in January. The Sun revealed she sold her Texas mansion shortly before the birth. According to real estate records obtained by The U.S. Sun, Madi and her husband Grant officially sold their home on December 11, 2024. The pair scored $1.125 million for the 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom Tudor-style house - which was their very first home as a married couple. The move comes as a surprise after The Bachelor alum closely documented her personally designing every detail of the 4,738 square-foot abode. Read more on the Irish Sun Madi and Grant purchased the property shortly after getting married in late 2022. While it seemed like a forever home, Madi revealed in an Instagram video in September 2024 that she and Grant were moving to Nashville. 5 She gave birth to her first child earlier this year Credit: Getty 5 Madi and Grant pose inside their Waco home shortly after moving in Credit: Instagram/madiprew 5 Madi and Grant announced their move to Nashville in late 2024 Credit: Instagram/madiprew
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Reality star opens up on her masturbation addiction struggle and reveals ‘shame' over porn habit
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BACHELOR beauty Madison Prewett has confessed she battled a secret addiction to porn and masturbation and says it left her feeling ashamed. The Christian influencer revealed she was "enslaved" by "sin" and claimed God helped her overcome her addiction. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Bachelor star Madi Prewett revealed she was 'enslaved' by 'sin Credit: YouTube/@StayTruePodcast 5 Madison is now a Christian influencer after finding fame on The Bachelor Credit: Getty The US reality star, 29, made the shock confession on her Stay True podcast. She opened up about her private struggle, which she says began when she was a teenager. 'That was something that enslaved me and marked me for so long,' Madi said. 'Thankfully, by the grace of God and by the power of Godly community and people around me, I have been free from porn and masturbation for, I don't even know, 10 years.' Madi said the habit took root after she was exposed to sexual content as a teen. She said: 'I had already had moments of being curious about things and having certain feelings or wondering certain things or fantasizing about certain things. 'I had not told that to anyone. 'I went over to a friend's house and her parents weren't around and she turned on this show that was extremely inappropriate.' She described feeling 'desire' for the first time and said the experience triggered years of shame, even as she tried to stay true to her faith. 'No matter how much I loved Jesus, I could not shake that sin,' she said. Bachelor star Madi Prewett sells Texas mansion for $1.1m & moves to Nashville with husband before arrival of first child 'I questioned my worth and my identity. Every time I gave into sexual sin, I didn't know my purpose.' Madi came second on The Bachelor in 2020 after Peter ditched fiancée Hannah Ann Sluss, and briefly reunited with him before things fizzled out. She's since found love with speaker and minister Grant Troutt, tying the knot in 2022. The pair welcomed their first child, daughter Hosanna Rose, in January. The Sun revealed she sold her Texas mansion shortly before the birth. According to real estate records obtained by The U.S. Sun, Madi and her husband Grant officially sold their home on December 11, 2024. The pair scored $1.125 million for the 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom Tudor-style house - which was their very first home as a married couple. The move comes as a surprise after The Bachelor alum closely documented her personally designing every detail of the 4,738 square-foot abode. Madi and Grant purchased the property shortly after getting married in late 2022. While it seemed like a forever home, Madi revealed in an Instagram video in September 2024 that she and Grant were moving to Nashville. 5 She gave birth to her first child earlier this year Credit: Getty 5 Madi and Grant pose inside their Waco home shortly after moving in Credit: Instagram/madiprew
