Latest news with #Rexona
Courier-Mail
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Royal Wimbledon moment that changed everything
Don't miss out on the headlines from Royals. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ahhh, Wimbledon. The quintessence of British summer - strawberries and Pimms and Little Britain's David Walliams inexplicably being invited to the Royal box. But it was right there in the SW19 that a particularly disastrous chapter in the short and definitely not sweet story of Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, jobbing HRH and trooper paid to rep the crown, played out. Only six months after it happened, Meghan's royal career and that of her husband Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex - would come a cropper. It was, ironically, US Independence Day, July 4 in 2019 and if ever there was someone who needed a day out at that time, it was new mother Meghan. Barely a year after the Sussexes' wedding the dizzying high of public adoration had plunged to a certain sour tenor with the fault lines between them and William and Kate, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, coming into view. So, on the day, Meghan arrived at the tournament with her university friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth to watch Serena Williams play. It should have just been a nice bit of sunshine with maybe a sneaky G&T squeezed in - instead it would be a PR debacle exhaustively dissected in the UK press. What played out was this. Arriving at court one (not centre court where the royal box is) for a reason that has never been explained, the duchess, her friends and a few staffers were not just given good spots but watched the match from the middle of about 30 empty seats. There were a whole heap of empty seats around Megan. Picture: James Veysey/Shutterstock It was a conspicuous difference to when Kate, The Princess of Wales, had attended Wimbledon only a couple of days beforehand, happily sitting in the back row of court 14 surrounded by tennis fans all hopefully wearing enough Rexona to handle the heat. The contrast between the two royal WAGS could not have come at a worse time. Then, things got more controversial during the match when Meghan's security were seen to approach people nearby who raised their phones in her vicinity, 'ordering them,' according to the Telegraph, to not take photos as she was there in a 'private capacity'. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Pippa Middleton attend Wimbledon 2019. Picture:The catch - Buckingham Palace itself had reportedly earlier sent out an operational note confirming the Duchess of Susex was going and how much privacy, the press would later argue, could Meghan expect, when she had chosen to sit in a stadium with 12,000 other spectators and live BBC cameras? It all looked heavy-handed, especially when some of the people spoken to by royal bodyguards then started popping up in the papers. Grandfather Hasan Hasanov was 'warned off' by the duchess' protection officers, The Sun reported at the time, only for it to turn out Hasanove had 'no idea' the duchess was theremand had actually been taking a selfie. Kate and Meghan pictured together at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. Picture: Ben Curtis / POOL / AFP Also in the crowd was Sally Jones, a former sports presenter for the BBC, who was left 'utterly confused,' per The Daily Mail. 'I felt this tap on my shoulder and was asked not to take pictures of the Duchess – but I had no idea she was there until then,' Jones has said. 'There were around 200 photographers snapping away at her but security were sent to warn an old biddy like me.' Let's be clear. As far as royal disasters go, we aren't exactly talking about Tampongate here or Squidgygate or Nazi uniform-gate or naked billiards in Las Vegas-gate or any time a certain young HRH managed to make a bit of a tit of themselves exiting a nightclub. But the thing about the Wimbledon mess was that it added fuel to the already crackling fire around the Sussexes and for months the press had reported the Duchess of Sussex was 'demanding'. We now know that behind the scenes, in 2019, Meghan was privately going through the most extreme mental suffering, later telling Oprah Winfrey that royal life had left her suicidal and that she 'didn't want to be alive anymore'. Things were different back then. Picture: Ben Curtis / POOL / AFP During one royal engagement earlier in January 2019, the duchess told Winfrey, 'every time that those lights went down in that Royal Box, I was just weeping, and he was gripping my hand.' At one stage the Duchess of Sussex said she had only ' left the house twice in four months' and 'I could not [have felt] lonelier'. She told Winfrey of royal life, 'It's nothing like what it looks like.' But no one knew any of this back in 2019, only that the public love-in with the Sussexes had gone off the rails as they were buffeted by a series of public relations messes. There had been months of stories about things being not so very merry between Meghan and Kate; a media circus after Meghan flew to New York to be feted by friends with an A-list baby shower; and the ongoing drama of her estrangement with her father Thomas Markle. Meghan's move sparked controversy. Picture: Ben STANSALL / AFP In April the Sussexes moved away from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage, with a stream of stories about the $4 million plus of taxpayer money used to renovate their new home. (Side note- years before, William and Kate spent $9 million of public cash to do up their apartment at Kensington Palace.) In May came the clumsy handling of son Archie (now Prince Archie's) birth, the Palace announcing that the duchess had gone into labour - only for it turn out that the bub had actually already been born hours earlier. In June, Harry and Meghan formally split from the charity foundation he had set up with brother Prince William a decade earlier. Less than two weeks after that came Wimbledon and then a day after that, the Palace would announce that, contrary to usual royal form, the Sussexes would not reveal their son's godparents. In August they would take four private jet flights in ten days despite Harry publicly banging the drum about the climate crisis. Kate stunned at Wimbledon back in 2019. Picture: Ella Pellegrini Kate pictured at Wimbledon in July 2025. Picture: AP Photo/Kin Cheung However, the benefit of hindsight and six hours of the Sussexes' talking to camera and the 400 pages of Harry's book, is that we now know that actually in 2019, they were having a horrible time of it. They were struggling to strike some sort of bargain between the competing forces of their mental health, the public demands of royalty, living in the captivity of the monarchy and struggling with a deeply hierarchical Firm that believed in only the stiffest of upper lips at all times. It is now clear, the centre could not hold. The crescendo came months later when 'Megxit' would become a noun and a verb. If you really want some heavy-handed symbolism, six years later, on July 4 2025, the Duchess of Sussex proudly marked what is American Independence Day. Daniela Elser is writer, editor and commentator with more than 15 years' experience working with a number of Australia's leading media titles Originally published as Meghan's Royal Wimbledon moment that changed everything
Int'l Cricket Council
08-03-2025
- Business
- Int'l Cricket Council
ICC and Unilever announce groundbreaking partnership on International Women's Day to strengthen the future of women's cricket
Unilever personal care brands including Rexona and Dove become ICC's first dedicated partner for women's cricket in two-year partnership until the end of 2027 Partnership announced through a vibrant criiio cricket festival in Dubai coinciding with International Women's Day Rights-free images of the launch event are available to download from the ICC's Online Media Zone here The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced a landmark two-year deal with Unilever's personal care brands including Rexona and Dove, marking the ICC's first dedicated commercial partner for women's cricket through until the end of 2027. Announced through a criiio cricket festival event in Dubai featuring 100 girls and coinciding with International Women's Day, the first-of-its-kind partnership marks a significant milestone for the sport, with two pioneering forces teaming up to boost the games' promising trajectory. Women's cricket continues to witness transformative growth at all levels, notably with the expansion of ICC events. This partnership strengthens the ICC's ambition to accelerate the development of women's cricket on a global scale, kicking off at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 in India. The partnership will include other major events in the international calendar including Women's T20 World Cups, U19 Women's T20 World Cups and the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in 2027. Rexona is the world's leading deodorant brand, with a purpose to inspire people to move more and give them confidence to break their limits. Ranging from the Flag Bearers programme to digital initiatives and experiences during event-time, ICC and Rexona will work across a range of activities that aims to break barriers and give confidence to women and girls on the world stage. Beyond major events, Rexona will play a pivotal role in enabling participation through a series of women's criiio festivals while also using its expertise in science and technology to lend support and collaborate on education programmes around women's hygiene. ICC Chairman, Jay Shah said: "This International Women's Day we are proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Unilever, which signifies a pivotal moment for women's cricket. By aligning with a global leader like Unilever and its personal care brands for the ICC's first ever women's partnership, we are not only securing valuable commercial support but also reinforcing the growing importance of women's sport on the world stage. 'This collaboration will empower female cricketers, inspire future generations, and contribute significantly to the continued growth and success of women's cricket globally." ICC Chief Commercial Officer, Anurag Dahiya said: "We are delighted to welcome Unilever's personal care brands, including Rexona and Dove to the ICC Commercial Partner Programme in this breakthrough partnership.' 'The ICC has taken the forward-thinking approach to pursue more partnerships with a focus on the women's game, and we are delighted to see this come to fruition through this exciting deal, which not only highlights the growing commercial appeal of women's cricket but also underlines ICC's position as one of the pioneers of the women's sport movement.' Rohit Jawa, CEO & Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever said: "This is an exciting opportunity for Rexona, one of our biggest Personal Care brands, to tap into a cultural moment, connect with new audiences, and importantly help drive women's cricket further. The partnership is an ideal fit for the brand, which aims to empower millions with the confidence to move more by delivering superior sweat and odour protection benefits.'' The partnership with ICC is forged by Unilever International – Unilever's whitespace partner and global business unit. ENDS
Campaign ME
31-01-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Rexona, ‿and us highlight ‘unstoppable spirit' of Saudi women's football team
Rexona, in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), has unveiled a bold debut campaign, We're Coming, crafted by creative agency ‿and us, celebrating the unstoppable determination of the Saudi Arabia Women's National Football Team. The campaign showcases the team's grit, resilience and relentless pursuit of their goals as they continue to break boundaries and inspire a new generation of athletes in the Kingdom. 'We're immensely proud to support the Saudi Women's National Team on their journey to greatness,' said Karl Nehmeh, Marketing Manager at Rexona. 'This campaign captures their spirit and determination perfectly. At Rexona, we believe
Sport360
28-01-2025
- Business
- Sport360
Saudi Arabian Women's National Team and Rexona unveil 'We're Coming' campaign
The Women's National Team of Saudi Arabia and Rexona are teaming up to champion a new era for women's football in the Kingdom, unveiling the 'We're Coming' campaign set to inspire a new generation of Saudi football stars through a historic partnership. As a ground-breaking first campaign delivered in collaboration between the women's national programme and its first exclusive partner, the 'We're Coming' campaign featuring stars from the women's national first team and upcoming starlets from across the Kingdom will highlight the record-breaking growth of women's football in Saudi Arabia in recent seasons. The campaign follows the official announcement of Rexona as an exclusive partner to the Saudi Arabian Women's National Programme in October and builds on the remarkable momentum behind women's football in the Kingdom. The new campaign launching this month comes after a historic year in which the women's national first team reached its highest ever FIFA World Ranking in December. Head Coach Lluis Cortes' side begin 2025 with an eye on further records with the team's first AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification campaign beginning in May, aiming to compete in the 2026 event in Australia. Aalia AlRasheed, Head of Women's Football Department at SAFF, said: 'We are delighted to announce this new campaign for our Women's National Programme with Rexona and Unilever, a key figure in the global growth of women's football. 'This campaign to highlight the exceptional growth and trajectory that our game is following comes with perfect timing as our senior squad gears up to break new ground in 2025 with our first official qualification campaign. Along with our ongoing work with Rexona, this campaign is the next step in continuing to reach new heights for women's football and shining a light on the incredible efforts of our national team programme.' Shazia Syed, Unilever Personal Care General Manager (GCC, Turkey, Pakistan & Bangladesh) and Head of Unilever Arabia (GCC) added: 'It is a privilege for Unilever and Rexona to partner with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its Women's National Team Programme on this innovative campaign as we kick off this exciting collaboration with the aim to help the development of the women's game in the Kingdom. 'As an extension of Rexona's international efforts to support the growth of women's sports, this new chapter is a major milestone for Rexona in becoming an official sponsor for the Saudi Arabian Women's National Teams and we look forward to breaking new ground in developing the women's game here nationwide.' This three-year collaboration marks the first official partnership for Saudi Arabia's Women's National Programme, a testament to the incredible strides made since the team's historic launch in 2021. Beyond football, this partnership is a celebration of movement, confidence, and breaking barriers—on and off the pitch. Rexona has long been a passionate supporter of women's sports globally, with major partnerships including FIFA and the Women's World Cup. Now, this game-changing alliance with Saudi Arabia aims to inspire a new generation of female athletes across the Kingdom. Spearheaded by the launch of the national team programme launch in 2021 and the introduction of the SAFF Women's Premier League in 2022, women's football has grown immensely with more than 77,000 school girls participating in national schools leagues while the professional domestic game has expanded to three top flight leagues with international stars from 20 countries playing their trade in the Kingdom. As the third season of the SAFF Women's Premier League lights up stadiums across the Kingdom, this collaboration is poised to encourage girls to chase their dreams. Aligned with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's roadmap for empowering youth through sports, this partnership is more than just a milestone for football—it's a symbol of progress, unity, and the unstoppable spirit of Saudi women. Fans can follow all the action with live updates from the Saudi Arabian Women's National Programme on Instagram, TikTok and X. For more information on the women's domestic game in Saudi Arabia, visit:
Zawya
28-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabian Women's National Team and Rexona unveil 'We're Coming' campaign to kick off historic partnership
Rexona joined forces with the Kingdom's national women's team in October, becoming the side's first exclusive partner to the women national programme The campaign sets the stage for a big year as the nation's top female side prepares for first ever AFC Asian Women's Cup qualification campaign Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Women's National Team of Saudi Arabia and Rexona are teaming up to champion a new era for women's football in the Kingdom, unveiling the 'We're Coming' campaign set to inspire a new generation of Saudi football stars through a historic partnership. As a ground-breaking first campaign delivered in collaboration between the women's national programme and its first exclusive partner, the 'We're Coming' campaign featuring stars from the women's national first team and upcoming starlets from across the Kingdom will highlight the record-breaking growth of women's football in Saudi Arabia in recent seasons. The campaign follows the official announcement of Rexona as an exclusive partner to the Saudi Arabian Women's National Programme in October and builds on the remarkable momentum behind women's football in the Kingdom. The new campaign launching this month comes after a historic year in which the women's national first team reached its highest ever FIFA World Ranking in December. Head Coach Lluis Cortes' side begin 2025 with an eye on further records with the team's first AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification campaign beginning in May, aiming to compete in the 2026 event in Australia. Aalia AlRasheed, Head of Women's Football Department at SAFF, said: 'We are delighted to announce this new campaign for our Women's National Programme with Rexona and Unilever, a key figure in the global growth of women's football. 'This campaign to highlight the exceptional growth and trajectory that our game is following comes with perfect timing as our senior squad gears up to break new ground in 2025 with our first official qualification campaign. Along with our ongoing work with Rexona, this campaign is the next step in continuing to reach new heights for women's football and shining a light on the incredible efforts of our national team programme.' Shazia Syed, Unilever Personal Care General Manager (GCC, Turkey, Pakistan & Bangladesh) and Head of Unilever Arabia (GCC) added: 'It is a privilege for Unilever and Rexona to partner with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and its Women's National Team Programme on this innovative campaign as we kick off this exciting collaboration with the aim to help the development of the women's game in the Kingdom. 'As an extension of Rexona's international efforts to support the growth of women's sports, this new chapter is a major milestone for Rexona in becoming an official sponsor for the Saudi Arabian Women's National Teams and we look forward to breaking new ground in developing the women's game here nationwide.' This three-year collaboration marks the first official partnership for Saudi Arabia's Women's National Programme, a testament to the incredible strides made since the team's historic launch in 2021. Beyond football, this partnership is a celebration of movement, confidence, and breaking barriers—on and off the pitch. Rexona has long been a passionate supporter of women's sports globally, with major partnerships including FIFA and the Women's World Cup. Now, this game-changing alliance with Saudi Arabia aims to inspire a new generation of female athletes across the Kingdom. Spearheaded by the launch of the national team programme launch in 2021 and the introduction of the SAFF Women's Premier League in 2022, women's football has grown immensely with more than 77,000 school girls participating in national schools leagues while the professional domestic game has expanded to three top flight leagues with international stars from 20 countries playing their trade in the Kingdom. As the third season of the SAFF Women's Premier League lights up stadiums across the Kingdom, this collaboration is poised to encourage girls to chase their dreams. Aligned with Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's roadmap for empowering youth through sports, this partnership is more than just a milestone for football—it's a symbol of progress, unity, and the unstoppable spirit of Saudi women. Fans can follow all the action with live updates from the Saudi Arabian Women's National Programme on Instagram, TikTok and X. For more information on the women's domestic game in Saudi Arabia, visit: -Ends- ABOUT THE SAUDI ARABIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION (SAFF) Established in 1956, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) is a member of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the governing body for football in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responsible for overseeing grassroots development and all aspects of the amateur and professional game. SAFF is in charge of elevating Saudi football to new heights, offering new opportunities across the ecosystem and inspiring the nation to participate and become an influential force for good within world football. SAFF currently administers 28 competitions across various age groups, most notably the annual King's Cup and Saudi Super Cup. SAFF manages nine national teams ranging from the U15 age group all the way to the first team, all of which compete in 23 regional and international competitions. As part of its significant investment in women's football, the SAFF currently manages the senior national team as well as the U17, U20, and national futsal teams. SAFF is also responsible for the organisation of the SAFF Women's Premier League, the SAFF Women's First Division league, the SAFF Women's Cup, and the SAFF Women's U-17 Tournament. SAFF is responsible for the development and upskilling of over 3,000 national coaches and 1,700 referees across the Kingdom. ABOUT REXONA Rexona is now the world's No.1 antiperspirant and deodorant brand (verified by NielsenIQ), sold in more than 100 countries, with turnover of more than €2 billion a year. Rexona believes in the power of movement to transform lives and it's on a mission to inspire everyone to move more. As part of this, the brand is challenging society's narrow limits of what an acceptable mover looks like, to make movement inclusive for all.
