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Int'l Business Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Transforming the Drag Scene with Digital Innovation: Colt Ables Bridges Industry Gaps, Ensuring Talented Queens Can Shine
The core of drag has always been clear: to unite communities through humor and artistry. Having survived through decades of skepticism and discrimination, defiance is engraved in its very identity, and the industry continues to dazzle, shock, entertain, and provoke audiences worldwide. However, though societal perception may have largely evolved, transforming the drag scene into a highly competitive, in-demand environment, thousands of queens are still dealing with persistent challenges. Through personal engagement and professional experience in collaborating with drag professionals, Colt Ables realized that industry success, even though often elusive, is never out of reach. "As a performer, the key is knowing your target audience while tapping into new markets," he stresses. "Despite the abundant possibilities of drag, I know so many artists—be it Pageant, Emo/Goth, or Camp Queens—who simply struggle." The ideal-world scenario is simple: passionate and talented queens can make a living with their splits, kicks, dances, or songs, and those who love drag can revel in drag shows whenever they please. The reality, however, is a lot harsher, leaving venues vacant and performers unfulfilled. According to Ables, one of the most pressing obstacles is the sheer lack of reliable, easy-to-use, and effective platforms where drag queens can connect with the right event hosts and vice versa. To alleviate the industry's pain points, Ables created DragSpace , a newly launched platform where hosts can find and book the right artists and where drag queens can showcase their true talent, expand their network, and advertise upcoming shows. This connectivity is Ables' response to another pertinent challenge – the common neglect of marketing efforts. "Far too often, drag queens assume that the venue will promote a show they will perform at. Event hosts fall into the same trap, believing artists will advertise their future endeavors themselves. Result? A drag show attended by three people or a drag trivia with only one team signed up," shares Ables. "Instead of blaming the other for an evening to be forgotten, maybe it's worth asking: What could I have done better?" While Ables recognizes traditional social media platforms as useful tools, he emphasizes that their focus lies in sustaining existing following, not exploring new markets. Through precise geo-location, DragSpace allows artists and hosts to market locally, which is especially crucial when touring or performing at pop-up shows. Tailored for performers, event hosts, and fans, the platform's benefits are multi-faceted. "If you're a bar owner struggling with dead mid-week traffic, DragSpace will help you set up a weekly drag bingo or trivia that will impress patrons. On the other hand, if you're a queen wanting to amplify visibility in a new area, DragSpace will help you target the right people," adds Ables. The founder envisions DragSpace leaving a tangible impact that transcends the industry. By promoting the industry for what it truly is – an art form where rules don't exist and everyone can express themselves freely in a supportive community – the platform aims to shift negative perceptions surrounding drag into appreciation or, at the very least, open-mindedness. "Different people will always have different views, but it's important to let skeptics know what drag kings and queens are truly about," says Ables. "For everyone I know, drag is about freedom, self-expression, and artistry, and to experience even one show—all the acrobatics, twirls, and dances—the emotion behind every word and move synced from a song or track—offering not just a show, but an escape offering a reflection of who we are or may dream to be." One reflection of that magic is seen in the faces that DragSpace sponsored in The Haus of Drag . This video highlights the talent, energy, and artistry that make Houston's drag scene so unforgettable, featuring both local icons and fresh new faces ready to snatch the spotlight. DragSpace, by fueling visibility, consequently raises competitiveness and, therefore, expectations. With a range of vetted profiles, venues can be more selective about their entertainment, ensuring that hired performers truly align with brand visions and customer demands. With a combination of talent, transparency, and digital connectivity, Ables envisions a future where drag is more than an entertainment arena; it's a scene where dreams come true and the artistry of drag is honored. "When you think about it, drag is more than an industry. Every performer has a drag mother, a drag grandmother, and a family they belong to, one they chose and one that chose them," shares Ables. "Deeply engraved in the LGBTQIA+ community, drag is no stranger to feeling unwelcome or unaccepted. But through art, through expressing one's creativity, drag queens can feel at home, and DragSpace helps them find it."
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Pageant contestant in Muslim majority nation ousted over pro-Israel video
Miss Indonesia 2025 contestant Merince Kogoya was disqualified after a two-year-old video showing her expressing support for Israel resurfaced. The video, reportedly from her time studying abroad, showed Kogoya holding and waving an Israeli flag while dancing, with a pro-Israel caption. Kogoya faced significant backlash in Indonesia, a majority Muslim nation with strong pro-Palestinian sentiment and no diplomatic relations with Israel. The pageant organisers quietly removed Kogoya from the competition and replaced her with contestant Karmen Anastasya, without issuing an official statement. Kogoya responded to the backlash by stating the video was not political but represented her Christian faith, though her Instagram bio reportedly still displayed 'I stand with Israel'.
Los Angeles Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Hilbert Museum partners with Pageant of the Masters to tell a story of California art
When Diane Challis Davy, director of the Pageant of the Masters, was first invited to tour the Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange last year, she was struck by the many images she knew would be a fit for Laguna Beach's famed living picture show. Mark Hilbert, who co-founded the museum with his late wife Janet, walked Challis Davy through the museum personally and sent her home with art books to look through. She came across a painting in one of those books that she knew had to be included in the Pageant. 'Mark gave me some of his beautiful books and I took them home and right away, I knew that 'Monday at the Crab Cooker' was perfect for a Pageant tableau,' said Challis Davy. The work by local artist Bradford J. Salamon depicted three men having dinner at the iconic Newport Beach restaurant. Challis Davy knew the scene inside the popular seafood eatery fit well with the 2025 Pageant of the Masters theme, 'Gold Coast: Treasures of California,' which is intended to be a tour of some of the most notable works of art on view at California's coastal museums. Unbeknownst to Challis Davy, she had just selected a piece that documents the beginnings of the Hilbert Museum itself. 'I chose it before Bradford told me he is [one of the men] in the picture, Mr. Hilbert is painted in the picture and Gordon McClelland is in the picture,' said Challis Davy. On Monday nights the three art lovers would get together over a fish dinner and discuss the idea of opening a museum that could display the collection amassed by Mark Hilbert and his late wife, Janet. 'We would just get together and talk about art until we were deaf,' Hilbert said. The meeting of the minds was the first imagining of the Hilbert Museum as it stands today and Salamon said he recognized history was being made. 'I felt privileged to be watching the soup being made with Mark and Gordon and the idea of a museum,' said Salamon. 'As we kept going every Monday and talking, I realized I was really dealing with people who could pull this off, I was dealing with a visionary who is going to do this; and I thought I should document it.' Salamon joined Challis Davy, Hilbert and Hilbert Museum director Mary Platt on the evening of June 4 in a panel discussion at the museum discussing the painting and other works selected from the Hilbert Collection that will be featured in this year's pageant. The Pageant of the Masters has been a tradition at Laguna Beach's Festival of Arts since 1932, when a few living pictures were presented as the 'Spirit of the Masters Pageant.' 'It grew over the years,' said Challis Davy. 'Thanks to a fellow by the name of Roy Ropp, who was a builder in town and a painter. He is considered the father of the pageant because he gave us our name, Pageant of the Masters.' Ropp used his expertise to add painted backdrops on a larger stage and incorporated music and narration in the show. He is also responsible for introducing 'The Last Supper,' as the finale, a tradition that continues today. Each year the show follows at theme, such as last year's 'À La Mode: The Art of Fashion,' which put the spotlight on popular styles of dress in various periods. Challis Davy works closely with her team to find the right works of art to present that best represent the theme. 'Proportion of overall canvas to figure is very important to us and how the figures are aligned,' said Challis Davy. 'We are going to take this two dimensional painting and we are going to turn it back into 3D, so it's all about the proportions.' Challis Davy said she also keeps an eye out for works with meaningful narratives, something the Hilbert Museum prides itself on. 'We specialize in what we call California narrative art, which is art that tells a story, ' Platt said of the Hilbert. 'You can also call it representational art or figurative art. It certainly has people in it, or the work of people. You might see a boat, or a pier or ranch or road.' In addition to 'Monday at the Crab Cooker,' the pageant has also selected Phil Dike's 'Afternoon at Diver's Cove,' Lee Blair's 'Mary by the Sea,' and another of Salamon's oil works, 'Seal Beach Nighthawks,' which depicts a cold night at a seaside corn dog shack. The Millard Sheets mosaic 'Pleasures Along the Beach,' which is the crown jewel of the expanded Hilbert Museum and was relocated from a Home Savings & Loan building in Santa Monica, will also be featured in the pageant along with a third Salamon painting, commissioned by the pageant. Since the segment on Salamon will include the Crab Cooker and the corn dog stand, Davy was hoping to include a third work that depicted a restaurant or bar. 'I thought there is got to be a third one and I look and looked and I couldn't find one that was suitable for our stage, so I thought 'OK, let's take a leap of faith and let's commission an artwork' and that painting is now in the Festival of Arts' permanent collection.' Salamon was given a choice of painting the landmark Sandpiper lounge in Laguna Beach — affectionately called the 'Dirty Bird' by locals — the Swallows Inn or the Marine Room Tavern on Ocean Avenue in Downtown Laguna Beach. The artist went with the Marine Room, painting a scene of patrons at the bar and in front of the fireplace. 'I put different little Easter eggs in there regarding art history; on the far left there is 'Folies-Bergère' by Monet, there is Winslow Homer's 'Breezing Up,' which they have done at the pageant for many years,' Salamon pointed during the panel discussion. There is also a small cat peeking out from behind a bar stool, a reference to the 'McSorley's Cats' by John Sloan, and a balloon dog on one patron's hat, a nod to Jeff Koons. 'These were all little things that I thought would be fun to put in,' Salamon said. Mark Hilbert will also get in on the fun this summer, joining the cast of volunteers at the pageant on 'Hilbert Museum Night at the Pageant' on July 9 to play himself in the 'Monday at the Crab Cooker' painting. 'We are not going to ask him to shave for this but he will have to be subjected to the make up application process,' Davy said. The 2025 Pageant of the Masters opens July 5 and recipients of the Hilbert Museum e-newsletter will receive a 20% ticket discount. For more information on the 2025 Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters, visit For details on the Hilbert Museum exhibitions and the five works selected from the Hilbert Museum collection go to
LBCI
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- LBCI
Miss Lebanon qualifies among the Top 20 at Miss World 2025, ranks among Top 5 in Asia & Oceania
Miss Lebanon Nada Koussa advanced to the Top 20 finalists at the Miss World 2025 pageant held in India. In addition to securing a spot among the global contenders, Koussa also ranked in the Top 5 for the Asia & Oceania region, standing out among contestants from across the continent.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Eating worms, laxative-laced teas & unlimited red wine… how celebrities lost weight before fat jabs
IT'S no secret that Hollywood stars are under a lot of pressure to look their best at all times. And a new generation of A-listers are now taking drastic measures to achieve their dream body - whether that's by fat jabs or going under the knife. 18 But long before Mounjaro and Ozempic were a thing, celebrities were trying a wealth of different diets, with N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos eating lentils every day and fashion designer Carolina Herrera enjoying scrambled eggs with truffle to maintain her svelte figure at 86. However, some famous faces have used extreme and very strange means to shed the pounds and attain what they consider - or used to see - the elusive 'perfect' figure. From tapeworms to detox teas and lots of red wine, here we take a look at some of the craziest celeb diets through the year. ''A lot of these diets came from much less digital, less informed eras,'' wellness expert Jamie Love told Fabulous. '' Gen Z grew up with information at their fingertips, and it's made them much smarter customers. They can Google the ingredients in your "detox tea" in seconds — and call out the nonsense just as fast. ''There's a consistent thread running through these diets: extreme measures in service of outdated beauty ideals. ''Whether it's tapeworms or raw eggs, there's often a darker undertone — the pressure to shrink, conform, or completely overhaul your body to be seen as desirable or successful.'' Raw eggs for breakfast - Marilyn Monroe 18 By the 1950s, fuller-figured women were heralded as the beauty standard - yet the extreme diets continued. Celebrated as one of the most beautiful women in the history, even actress Marilyn Monroe - who was a healthy 8.5 stone in her prime - was not immune to the pressure to stay in what she deemed shape. The Hollywood icon resorted to having raw eggs whisked in milk as the first meal of the day to maintain her figure. In a September 1952 edition of the now-defunct Pageant magazine the Some Like It Hot star spoke of her ''bizarre'' choice for breakfast. She said: ''I have been told my eating habits are absolutely I don't think so. ''I doubt if any doctor could recommend a more nourishing breakfast for a working girl in a hurry.'' Marylin wasn't wrong, as Jo warned that ''raw eggs for breakfast aren't actually a way to lose weight''. She explained: ''They may help you lose weight if you are swapping out sugary pastries but that's about it. ''Most eggs are salmonella-free now as chickens are routinely treated with antibiotics, but there is a bigger risk if the eggs are organic as they won't have been treated.'' Tapeworm diet - Maria Callas 18 18 Growing in popularity around the 1940s, the tapeworm diet involved swallowing a live tapeworm in the hopes that it would absorb the food consumed - and thus, would lead to weight loss. In her quest to achieve a slimmer frame, New York soprano and food lover Maria Callas shed almost 90lbs within a year by apparently swallowing a tapeworm. When Maria first entered the opera world in 1947, she had embraced her 390-pound figure - which in today's world is considered to be obese - because opera singers were generally known to be on the heavier side. She soon felt the pressure to look thin after a cinema director Luchino Visconti said he would not work until she shed about 70lbs. The opera star also sensed the urgency to drop the weight when she realised her figure was getting in the way of performing. In an interview with English conductor Edward Downes, Maria revealed: ''I was getting so heavy that even my vocalising was getting heavy. ''I was tiring myself, I was perspiring too much, and I was really working too hard. And I wasn't really well, as in health; I couldn't move freely. ''And then I was tired of playing a game, for instance playing this beautiful young woman, and I was heavy and uncomfortable to move around.'' Callas shed a huge chunk of weight in such a short space of time that rumours began to swirl she had ingested a tapeworm to achieve the figure. However, the performer rejected these rumours and insisted her weight loss was due to healthy eating. Nutritionist and Registered Dietitian Jo Travers explained how ingesting a tapeworm has serious health implications on the body. She told The Sun: '' Tapeworms are parasites and can deplete micronutrients as well as energy.'' Speaking about the parasite found in the undercooked meat of infected animals, she said: ''They can also cause blockages in the gut and even potentially migrate to other parts of the body. ''While 90lbs in a year isn't necessarily a dangerous amount to lose in a year, doing it this way could be.'' Callas - who would collect recipes of her favourite meals but never eat them - clung to her healthy lifestyle up until her death in Paris aged 53 in 1977. 1,000kcal a day with lots of red wine - Matthew McConaughey 18 It's arguably one of the most shocking weight loss transformations an actor has taken to achieve drastic results for a role - Matthew McConaughey, now 55, lived on just 1,000 calories a day in preparation for Dallas Buyers Club in 2013. The Hollywood hunk was playing Texan rodeo-riding electrician Ron Woodroof who was given just a month to live after being diagnosed with HIV. "Through pure rage and by any means necessary this guy did what he had to do to self-preserve and stay alive," says Matthew, who shed nearly 3st 7lb for the Oscar -nominated role. His unusual approach involved eating nothing but fish, egg whites, tapioca pudding — and "as much wine as I wanted to drink'', the dad-of-three said on an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience. "I did not torture myself. I was militant. The hardest part was making the damn choice. The actor told Rogan he wanted to lose all the weight to show the reality of living with advanced stages of HIV as he paid homage to Woodroof's life and legacy in detail. "It was my responsibility," the 55-year-old said. "If I looked how I look now and played Ron Woodroof from 'Dallas Buyers Club,' you are out of the movie the first frame." In just five months, he went from his usual 13 stone 4lbs to pounds to just 9 stone 6lbs. The actor said he would eat 140g of fish for lunch and dinner, small amounts of vegetables with each meal, and egg whites for breakfast. His daily treat would be a small amount of tapioca pudding. "I found tapioca pudding, and I found the tiniest little antique spoon in New Orleans, a little-bitty sugar spoon, and I would eat it with that so it would last longer," the actor told a crowd of reporters at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Sharing her thoughts on the low-calorie diet, Jo warned it's ''very difficult to get all the micronutrients you need a day with only 1,000kcals of food''. Not only does restricting yourself much ''lead to hunger and deficiencies'', but ''adding copious amounts of red wine adds calories without useful nutrients so is not a sensible way to lose weight at all''. Steak slathered with peanut butter - Elizabeth Taylor 18 18 The protein-heavy diet has long been the classic regimen sworn by celebrities as the perfect diet, with our very own Holly Willoughby, now 44, limiting her carb intake before joining I'm A Celeb in 2018. At her time, Elizabeth Taylor was the Hollywood icon who every woman dreamed to be and every man wished to be with. But in the last 20 years of her life, she weighed over 12 stone 8lbs after an injury left her bedridden and made her prone to ''stuffing'' herself with fried chicken and fancy desserts. In the 1960s, when Taylor weighed 8 stone 5lbs, her eating habits were more so absurd than they were unhealthy. For breakfast, the legendary actress would down scrambled eggs, bacon, and a mimosa as a refreshment. Hollowed-out French bread filled with peanut butter and bacon was her go-to lunch meal - while her dinner consisted of fried chicken, peas, biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes, corn bread, homemade potato chips, trifle, and a tumbler full of Jack Daniels. The London -born star - who married eight times - decided to take control of her diet after her seventh marriage failed and resorted to extreme diets, such as having cottage cheese and sour cream as well as steak and peanut butter for dinner. The Cleopatra icon even detailed the bizarre recipes in her book, Elizabeth Takes Off. Describing the book which was published in 1988, she said: ''It is more than a specific program for weight loss; it's a chance for you to throw away old self-destructive habits and embrace a more positive way of life.'' She would maintain her diet until she passed away aged 79 in 2011. Although celebrities boast of their adherence to such extreme diets, Jo said these approaches can turn into a ''disaster''. ''I'm guessing this was a low-carb diet which actually isn't too bad a way to lose weight in the short term. ''However it's really important to get low-carb vegetables in as well for those essential water-soluble vitamins and fibre. ''Without the veg it can be a disaster for your gut health,'' she explained. Getting help for an eating disorder If you think you may have an eating disorder, see a GP as soon as you can. A GP will ask about your eating habits and how you're feeling, plus check your overall health and weight. They may refer you to an eating disorder specialist or team of specialists. It can be very hard to admit you have a problem and ask for help. It may make things easier if you bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment. You can also talk in confidence to an adviser from eating disorders charity Beat by calling the Beat helpline on 0808 801 0677. Source: The NHS Trendy 'detox teas' - Ferne McCann and the Kardashian-Jenner clan 18 If you were on Instagram around 2015, you'll remember what felt like countless celebs praising detox teas to achieve a toned body - Kylie Jenner, Ferne McCann and Vicky Pattison to name a few. The Jenner mogul confused fans in 2018 by posting an ad for a Teami Blends detox programme on social media, claiming it got rid of her tummy bloat like 'magic''. The brand doesn't exactly have the best reputation. In 2017, Demi Lovato came under fire for promoting the same 30-day Detox Challenge that Kylie, 27, posted. Detox teas in general are often criticised for containing a tonne of caffeine and even traces of laxatives to help you 'lose weight'. Some teas, experts have warned, also come with unwanted side effects, such as cramping, headaches, and increased anxiety. Obviously, celebrities are paid to endorse any product on social media, even the controversial ones — and according to the Daily Mail, the reality star scored an astronomical £751k for the lone post. The Kardashians are notorious for promoting diet teas, as are reality TV stars from programmes like TOWIE - including Lauren Goodger and Love Island's Kady McDermott. The former TOWIE legend and mum-of-one Lauren has openly battled with her weight for some time, and in 2018 posted a body transformation saying that it was entirely down to drinking Skinny Coffee. "I lost 6lbs in just SEVEN days," she wrote. ''It was insane! It's been the only diet product I've found that's worked for me." Skinny Coffee say that "92 per cent of customers looked visibly thinner in just one week". GP Dr Jarvis said: "Garcinia cambogia is widely marketed for weight loss, but the few studies there have been show minimal (maximum 2lb) benefit, and even this may well have been for reasons other than the supplement.' Ruth Kander, Consultant Dietician at Fleet Street Clinic, stated that coffee itself can have a laxative effect on some people but interestingly, some of the ingredients in Skinny Coffee are quite decent. Although there is 'no evidence in the medical literature and medical scientific trial to show that this helps to lose weight''. ''None of the ingredients are reported to scientifically or clinically cause weight loss', she said. Sharing her thoughts on the tea-tox craze, Jo told Fabulous: ''These are not good for your body. ''You can end up with vitamin and mineral deficiencies and in the worst case your bowel can become dependent on them so you can end up with chronic constipation.'' She added: ''Also a nightmare for the delicate balance of the gut microbiome which we rely on to keep our immune system functioning as well as producing fuel for our cells.'' Marilyn Monroe dress diet - Kim Kardashian 18 18 Just like the rest of the billionaire clan, SKIMS mogul Kim Kardashian, 44, is no stranger to shocking restrictions to achieve her figure - most notoriously, losing ''16lbs on strict diet'' to fit into Marilyn Monroe's dress at Met Gala in 2022. The reality star stepped out in Marilyn Monroe's gown, which she famously wore as she sang Happy Birthday, Mr. President in 1962, with former partner Pete Davidson on her arm. At first, the dress didn't fit the mum-of-four's signature curves, but that didn't stop her from wearing it to the Met Gala. "I had to lose 16 pounds,'' said Kim - who said she would've skipped the star-studded event if she hadn't been able to squeeze into the frock. Kim went on: "It was such a challenge. It was like a [movie] role. I was determined to fit [into] it. I haven't had carbs or sugar in about three weeks.'' Although Jo reckons Kim's low-carb approach wasn't necessarily ''the worst as she made sure to get vegetables and protein while cutting out sugar'', the sheer amount of weight dropped was alarming. ''However she did lose a lot of weight very quickly which is likely to be unsustainable.'' All-liquid diet - Melissa McCarthy 18 18 Extreme diets can be dangerous - and they don't help you to build sustainable healthy habits. While talking with People in 2011, actress Melissa McCarthy, now 54, recalled an all-liquid diet a doctor put her on in 2003 when she scored her role on Gilmore Girls. Describing how she'd consume only 500 calories a day, the mum-of-two said she ended up dropping a whopping 5 stone in just four months. I felt starved and crazy half the time Melissa McCarthy54 Looking back at the shocking diet, the Bridesmaids legend said: 'I'd never do that again. 'I felt starved and crazy half the time.' While the meal replacement plan provided Melissa with ''all the micronutrients and protein she needed while restricting calories'', Jo said this approach was not suitable for everyone. ''This can help with quick weight loss and she did hers under the supervision of a doctor but i't's very hard to do if you a) like food and b) ever feel hungry. ''The rate of weight loss wasn't too bad (about 3lbs/week on average) but I don't really recommend these diets for as long as she did hers for. They're generally not great for the gut microbiome.'' Over the next decade her weight tended to fluctuate, but you've probably noticed the brunette beauty looking much trimmer again lately. But her weight loss secret has nothing to do with crazy diets, intense calorie restriction, or sweaty gym sessions – and she's still reportedly lost more than 5 stone. While upping her protein and getting more exercise have played a key role in the past, it's been a simple shift in outlook that has ultimately helped her shed — and keep off — the pounds. While speaking with CBS This Morning, Melissa revealed her surprisingly simple weight loss secret. 'I finally said [to myself], 'Oh for God sakes, stop worrying about it, and it may be the best thing I've ever done.' It might sound too easy to be true, but stress can definitely be a factor in weight gain and there's no denying turning off the weight stress worked for the mum-of-two. 18
