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CairoScene
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
The Medieval (But Make It MENA) Edit
The trend cycle is dead. Long live medieval fashion. Jul 12, 2025 Fashion is cyclical, but some things are just timeless. While the West looked to Tudors and corsets, the Arab world had already perfected the art of regal dressing centuries earlier. From Abbasid courts to Andalusian gardens, fashion wasn't ornamental, it was architectural. Kaftans with sweeping sleeves, golden embroidery as dense as scripture, leather flats molded for movement, musk oils that didn't just scent the body, but mingled with it, skin and scent indistinguishable. At the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, we've hit a snag in the fashion road. The trend wheel is imploding, taste fatigue is rampant, and the desire for something timeless and established is more prevalent than ever. People want the kind of clothing that speaks in undyed cotton, rich velvety hues, hand-stitched hems, and calligraphy-etched jewellery; something that feels human, in its design and execution. Bardcore is booming on YouTube, Chappell Roan is serving Joan of Arc in armour, and your algorithm is thirsting for knit bonnets and bloomer-style shorts. But this isn't some micro-trend debauchery wreaking havoc on your for-you page, it's medieval, and it's sticking around. Because if men's opinions are going medieval, why shouldn't fashion? In this edition of SceneStyled, we're going back to basics, the 11th-century-Fatimid-dynasty-kind of basics. Think: silk kaftans as statement outerwear, chainmail-inspired bags, gold filigree earrings, leather soles for modern ground, and perfume oil pens perfect for that medieval pouch of yours. Because time isn't real. But taste? Taste endures. Moroccan Touch | Jouri Kaftan This 100% silk velvet kaftan is the epitome of opulence. Rich in texture, deep in hue, and finished with a braided sfifa neckline, this is the perfect piece for wandering bare foot through your palatial garden. Azza Fahmy | Gold Blessings Chain Ring Azza Fahmy knows how to re-embellish history. In this 18kt gold ring, inscribed with 'مودة' (Endearment), 'رحمة' (Mercy), 'بركة' (Blessings), intricacy leads and handcraft take the spotlight. Azza Fahmy | Crescent Chandelier Earrings Crafted in Filigree wirework, these earrings incorporate centuries of symbolism in the swaying crescent moon and stars. Finished with an inscription with 'مودة', they encapsulate the simple intricacy of medieval jewellery. Shahira Lasheen | Ateeq Collection Long White Crepe Dress This sculpted black bustier and flowing slitted skirt cut a striking silhouette. Complete with hand-crafted buttons and intricate embroidery, it's a piece that speaks with a soft power, rooted in heritage and human artistry. Akaoui | Antique Finish Filigree Ring Intricate handcraft finds its proudest celebration in this Filigree ring. Made with traditional Italian craftsmanship, this piece is rooted in tradition and timelessness. Dôen | Ischia Dress Medieval dress gets an unwrapping in this Ischia dress. Lightweight and highly versatile, with a functional centre tie and an adjustable waist tie on a smocked bodice, this dress exudes the pragmatism medieval fashion is rooted in. Double-puffed sleeves, a scoop neckline, and ankle-grazing A-line skirt cultivate a fairytale-esque silhouette, or layer with a sweeping kaftan for the full medieval effect. Okhtein | Mini Dome Embossed Bag Every medieval muse needs her pouch, and this mini dome embossed bag from Okhtein is close enough. Maya Fragrances | Base Perfume Oil This base perfume oil from Maya Fragrances follows the same philosophy as its medieval perfume predecessors: less is more. Amber, musk, and sandalwood make up this intoxicating concoction, which works with your body chemistry and intertwines with your natural scent. In medieval times, even sweat smelt like luxury. Dima Ayad | Knitted Metallic V Neck A decadent take on the classic kaftan, this metallic kaftan from Dima Ayad appears like liquid gold in motion in the sunlight. Structured but also fluid, it's illusive and deceptive: the perfect piece for myth-making . Ettika | Gold Mesh Shoulder Bag Chainmail has always remained in fashion. While it shimmers down red carpets as translucent mini-dresses, this mesh shoulder bag offers a more utilitarian twist on medieval armour-core. It's one of the few pieces you could actually take into battle.
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
BBC viewers praise 'sublime' period drama featuring 'greatest living actor'
Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, and fans are already raving about the historical drama, which delves into the final years of Thomas Cromwell's life Audiences are enamoured with the "astounding" historical drama set in the era of the Tudors, commending its adherence to historical detail and the "sublime" quality of the acting. BBC's Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light brings to life the novels of Hilary Mantel, chronicling the intriguing latter years of Thomas Cromwell as the lawyer and principal secretary to King Henry VIII. Viewers find themselves captivated by Cromwell's complex life that ultimately leads to his execution by order of the monarch. Taking place in the 1500s, the initial six-part series showcases the zenith of Cromwell's clout before his subsequent disgrace, delving into the fraught tensions between him, the king, and the Royal court. Following Anne Boleyn's infamous execution, the drama unfurls without holding back on the intense intrigue of the era. Having premiered in 2015, the series still garners high praise from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. A fan commented, "Absolutely astounding! This show was incredible, and the performances from the cast made me feel like I was witnessing the actual events that were depicted in the show. All period pieces should use this show as a template because it was amazing in every way. I definitely recommend this for mediaeval and history fans!". A recent Vogue review read: "Rylance is one of our greatest living actors, and the emotions he holds in his face are manifold. His delivery of Mantel's dialogue-modern, intelligent, bristling with implication and subterfuge-is mesmerisingly clear", reports the Express. Mark Rylance's spellbinding portrayal of Thomas Cromwell has profoundly resonated with audiences. His co-star Damian Lewis takes on the role of Henry VIII, with both actors receiving widespread acclaim for their depictions of the storied characters. Echoing this sentiment, a critic said: "An utterly sublime performance by Rylance and Lewis. The whole programme is beautiful." Serving as a second season to the critically acclaimed Wolf Hall, based on Hilary Mantel's novels, there's a consensus that this season may surpass its predecessor. While season one covered Mantel's first two books, 'Wolf Hall' and 'Bring Up the Bodies', the current series adapts her final book and shares its title. Another review reads: "Season 2 of Wolf Hall still has many of the things going for it that made season 1 so good. First and foremost, that would be the strong source material in Hilary Mantel's literature and excellent acting. There is also a strong sense of historical accuracy in some regards, down to the finer details of costume design." Adding to the accolades, a viewer said: "Season 2 is arguably greater than its acclaimed predecessor. Cromwell's middle-aged regrets build poignantly, while brisker pacing and some levity lend the proceedings a teeming liveliness." For those keen on delving into the life of Thomas Cromwell and the reign of King Henry VIII, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light is now ready for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'I found priceless treasure on a muddy riverbank - and there's more out there'
A treasure trove of rare artefacts unearthed by mudlarkers on the River Thames on display at London Museum Docklands reveals fascinating stories about London's ordinary people through the centuries A tiny piece of leather poking out of the shore and fluttering in the warm evening air turned out to be the find of a lifetime for a mudlarker on the banks of the Thames. Unsure of what he'd seen, Tom Coghlan got down on his knees in the mud at Wapping in East London to have a closer look. 'It was an incredibly fragile looking little piece of leather with what looked like an etching of a flower. I thought maybe it was a purse.' Knowing leather survives in the anaerobic clay of the Thames, Tom cut out a block of mud around the object, and took it home in a plastic bag to keep in the fridge until he could have it identified by Stuart Wyatt, the finds officer at the Museum of London. 'When I got home, I started to wash the mud off it. And as I did, this knight in armour appeared. That was just a really kind of extraordinary moment. This was the stuff I dreamed of as a six-year old boy obsessed with treasure hunting. 'As I washed, two knights appeared, one of whom was standing on a dragon. I thought, 'Oh, maybe that's St. George.' By that time, my heart was pounding.' Next morning Tom, 49, who lives in Kennington, South London, found a very excited Stuart waiting for him at the front door of the museum. 'The museum was able to learn a lot about the book from the wooden binding inside it. They discovered it was a cheap, mass-produced little tiny book of hours from when Caxton was starting to crank out books in real numbers during the reign of Henry VIII.' 'I imagine that somebody was reading it while being rowed back and forth across the Thames, and it went overboard and lay in the mud for 500 years until I happened along.' The Thames has been a rich source of history from the first settlers and the Romans, to the Normans and Tudors, then London in the time of the Frost Fayres, The Great Stink and The Great Fire of London. Tom's primer along with a medieval gold ring revealing a centuries-old love and a menacing Viking dagger engraved with the name of its owner are some of the beautiful yet macabre finds that have been unearthed in what is England's longest archaeological site. Poor Victorian mudlarks once scraped a living scavenging on the capital's shingle beaches, but now a treasure trove of 350 objects found by 21st century mudlarks, including a rare Tudor headdress, 16th century ivory sundial and Iron Age Battersea Shield, have gone on display at the new Secrets of the Thames exhibition at the London Museum Docklands. 'Mudlarks have made a huge contribution to archeology,' says the museum's curator Kate Sumnall. 'We are lucky in London to have this amazing tidal river environment that has preserved so much of our past.' So much of history books is about kings and queens and people with money and power but mudlarked items found at low tide on the muddy banks of the Thames tidal foreshore – which runs from Teddington in Richmond to the Thames Barrier – tell us about the ordinary people who lived in the city through the centuries. 'All the finds give us little clues about their lives,' says Kate. 'It's the potential for time travel knowing that you are the first person to pick up and touch an object since the person lost it, whether they're Roman, medieval or Victorian. 'By studying Tom's artefact we know that the leather is a cheaper leather – either coarse sheep or goat – so it's not from a library in a monastery but possibly from a home of a merchant as it was found near to the docks. 'For many merchants, it was the women who did the finances and the books for their husbands. So this primer gives a little insight into the literacy level among women in their role of teaching children how to read.' And mudlarking doesn't seem to happen anywhere else in the world. 'It does seem to be specifically a London thing because the Thames is tidal, so twice a day it exposes its own banks, and those banks are stable enough to be walked on,' explains Kate. 'The Severn in Bristol is also tidal but its banks are thick mud, so you get mired in. And at a site in the River Tees near Darlington in County Durham they are having to dive to find Roman artefacts. 'Paris has displayed its finds from the Seine but it's not tidal so they don't have mudlarking. And Amsterdam has dredged its canals and found some fantastic items, but it's all about that movement of the water and how you discover the finds.' Unlike detectorists who hunt hoards of priceless Anglo-Saxon gold and silver, mudlarkers certainly don't do it for the money. 'Mudlarking has yet to make me a single penny,' laughs Tom, 'But it's given me great spiritual riches and lots of intellectual stimulation.' Tom started mudlarking when walking along the South Bank back in 2015. 'I saw a bloke sort of grubbing around on the beach. He gave me a few pointers, saying, 'Look, that's a clay pipe from the 17th century. This is medieval pottery and this is a bit of Staffordshire slipware from 1700. 'I thought, 'This is unbelievable. It's stuff from a museum lying in front of you. Although you do have to have a fairly powerful imagination to get it. It is essentially other people's rubbish, you know, the antiquated version of cigarette butts.' Among all the rare secrets given up by the 8,500-year-old river are also many everyday objects such as clay pipes, 18th century false teeth, medieval spectacles, 16th century wig curlers, and a Roman badge – naturally decorated with a phallus. Artist and writer Marie-Louise Plum, who has also been mudlarking since 2015, posts her finds and the stories behind them on TikTok at @oldfatherthamesmudlark. The 43-year-old who lives in West Hampstead, London, says, 'I like to find stories through alternative ways. At the time I was searching history and trying to find a more hands-on approach, which is how I came to mudlarking. 'It's a hobby but also another artistic practice for me and the three strands of writing, art and mudlarking all intertwine and inform each other. 'One of my favourite finds is a lump of old clay that has a fingerprint in it. But I have also dug up silver coins, Henry VIII coins and a medieval cauldron, and I discovered a pilgrim badge known as the Vernicle – or the Veil of Veronica – that had been bought at the shrine at the Holy See in Rome and it had ended up thousands of miles away in the Thames. 'We used to assume people just dropped things in the river by accident, but then as I started to research more about spiritual connections to the river, it could have been thrown in as an offering.' Rivers have always been considered sacred. 'Human life settles close to rivers because they're transport, fresh water and food,' explains Kate. 'Places of worship will be built near that water source, and so objects, like pilgrim badges, would have been put there at the end of their use.' Another mystery curator Kate is exploring is why there are so many prehistoric swords in the Thames. 'We don't exactly know why, but I love exploring the possibilities, and the connection with myth and legend that goes back to King Arthur and the Lady in the Lake. 'Swords are valuable items – you don't throw them away – so there is something deliberate happening. We've always had climate change – are these swords in the Thames a metaphorical attempt to fight back the waters?' Before modern plumbing, the Thames would have been an open sewer which made it a very dangerous place to scavenge. Early records of mudlarking date back to the early 1800s when London's poor would sift the foreshore for metal, rope and coal to make their living. Some of the stories of these characters are what drew writer Marie-Louise to the capital's muddy shores. 'You're constantly rubbing shoulders with the ghosts of the past. The Thames is a never-ending vault of stories and two who interest me are Billy and Charley and their Shadwell Shams – a pair of Victorian mudlarks who created forged antiquities. 'Antiques dealers paid good money for finds, but suspicions were aroused when Billy and Charley's forgeries had errors – they were illiterate so for example a legend around a coin didn't make any sense. 'But the dealers didn't want egg on their faces, so they backed the pair and they got away with it for years.' Another famous mudlarker was Peggy Jones who foraged at Blackfriars for coal dropped from barges. Kate explains, 'It would have been a very dangerous job in unclean water and in all sorts of weather feeling her way over the foreshore with bare feet for round lumps of coal which she'd gather up into a sort of special apron around her waist.' Happily the Thames is much cleaner now than in Peggy's time, and anyone with a fascination for digging up old clay pipes can join them by paying the £35 mudlark permit charge from the Port Of London Authority. Although numbers have been capped since it grew in popularity during Covid. The museum is also getting a glimpse of what people hundreds of years from now will be unearthing in the river banks. 'Many of the city's hire bikes end up in places they shouldn't,' says curator Kate. 'And if you go down to the water's edge on New Year's Day, you'll find all the champagne bottles and corks bobbing about.' • Visit Secrets of the Thames, London Docklands Museum, until March 2026
Emirates Woman
02-06-2025
- Business
- Emirates Woman
How I got my job as… Founder of this UAE-based resortwear label
This week, we speak to Lucy Redfern, Founder of the UAE-based fashion label Scorpio Rizing. Welcome to the Emirates Woman weekly series 'How I got my job as…' where we speak to some incredible entrepreneurs and businesswomen both based in the UAE and globally to find out about their career paths that led them to where they are now; what their daily routines look like; the advice they'd give to those starting out; and the hurdles they've had to overcome. It's in a Scorpio's nature to be passionate about their art, and at Scorpio Rizing, the brand embodies this. All products are designed and made in the UAE, where designs will be launched in exclusive collections to advocate sustainability and will feature around stand out pieces. With resortwear pieces taking centre stage, these piece are exactly what you need to pack for your next holiday. To delve into her journey as a creative lead and founder, Emirates Woman spoke to Redfern to see how it began for her in the fashion world. What was your favourite subject at school? My favourite subject was History, right from an early age I had a huge interest in the history of the world from the Ancient Greeks up to the Tudors. My grandmother was a history and Latin teacher so she would teach me both subjects on a weekend as a child. Our house was full of old history books that my grandfather picked up as he travelled the world after he served in the Gurkhas during WW2 and subsequently then after for his work. I also loved English Literature, I am a very creative person who doesn't have the ability to draw, so English Literature allowed me to be creative through writing. What was your first job? I got my first job working in a perfume shop in a shopping centre in Yorkshire, England (where I was born and raised) on my 16th birthday. I would get my weekly salary and then go straight into the stores to spend it. I have always been obsessed with clothes. What brought you to Dubai? I was working as fashion buyer for a fast fashion company in Manchester, England when I was contacted by a recruiter for an opening at the e-commerce brant that is Namshi. I had never even been to Dubai before, but 4 weeks later I was packing my bags and saying goodbye to my family, ready to move to Dubai. I remember being amazed as I drove down SZR for the first time ever after leaving the airport. I owe alot to Namshi, not only were they responsible for me moving to Dubai, but I gained so much valuable experience from them that absolutely helped me start my own business. What inspired you to enter the space and launch your brand? I had been a fashion buyer for 10 years and always had the dream of having my own brand but I really had no idea where to start. I have always been told that I have a 'good eye' for fashion and I could pick on and source pieces/prints/trends that nobody else would see, so I always knew that I wanted to channel this into something of my own, something that didn't necessarily have the restrictions that can come from buying for a large company. Then in 2022, my best friend suddenly passed away and it made me realize that life really is too short not to chase your dreams and that Dubai was really missing a 'cool girl' brand. So after some hesitation, and alot of doubt, one of my closest friends Elle (who owns Posture Pilates Studio), finally gave me the pep talk I needed to get up and go for it, and Scorpio Rizing was officially born. Talk us through the concept? I always knew that if I started a brand, it would be called Scorpio Rizing (as I am, of course, a Scorpio rising!). I have always been into fashion, right from a young age as my mum would make a lot of my clothes for me (she too has a great eye!) and my interest in history from a young age also lead me to explore things such as astrology as I would read about this and spirituality in many of the old, worldly books we had at home. I always had a vision of combining fashion with astrology. I ultimately want women to wear the pieces and to know that she stands out because of her femininity. We avoid any sort of mainstream trend and design pieces which are eye catching and original but can be worn again and again. I very much position the brand as a part of the 'slow fashion' movement, meaning that we limit consumption by releasing limited collections each year. What are the key elements of your role? As well as being the owner of Scorpio Rizing – I am also the social media manager, customer service manager, and occasional logistics and finance manager! I am heavily involved in all aspects of the business as we grow but mainly I focus on the creative direction of the brand by creating moodboards and design ideas which I then share with my incredible designer who will then takes care of the actual sketching/CAD'ing process.. I also oversee all content and creative shoots as well as managing the day-to-day communication with my suppliers and fulfilment partners to ensure everything runs smoothly and on time. I do however hire people for the design and digital marketing side of the business. Talk us through your daily routine. I am an early riser so this means starting emails at 6am, I will respond to any customer service enquiries at this time. I then check over all orders received the day before to ensure our fulfilment centers in the UAE and UK have packed and shipped on time. I then start one of my favorite parts of the job which is checking the daily analytics of the store, which countries are people looking at the website from (it blows my mind that people all around the world know about Scorpio Rizing!), have we acquired new customers, what product are people buying/looking at the most etc. Then I will work on social media posts and ensure these are scheduled through the week (I'm really trying to build TikTok so try and document what I can but I keep forgetting!). I have regular catch ups with the wonderful freelancer, Beth, who manages all my digital marketing as I will approve all ad and email messaging as well as analysing the performance of our paid ads. I also have regular calls with my suppliers to ensure there are no issues or delays – they will regularly send me samples and fabrics to fit and approve as well (the average time from design to going online is around 8 months as I like to make sure everything is done to a high standard and as we are a 'slow fashion' brand, we don't rush the process). And then we have the general admin side of the business. What advice do you have for anyone looking to follow in the same footsteps? Be passionate. Many people say they want to start a business or a brand but they don't know what business or what space they want to be in – I think if you don't already have that business/niche idea in your head, then you're not passionate enough to get started. Also ensure you do your research on suppliers, logistics, and the tech and AI needed to go into building a website. Make sure you have a target audience in mind and design everything for them. I always knew I wanted to capture the 'cool girl' who spends summers in Ibiza and winters in Dubai (with a little bit of Thailand and Bali thrown in!) so I build my branding to appeal to them. Tell us more about the pieces? Our pieces are limited, meaning we only initially buy 50-80 pieces per style and then repeat what works well (our Orange Tie Dye Soleil Maxi Skirt has been a best seller since day 1 so we always try to keep this in stock). I always start the design process by thinking 'where is the Scorpio Rizing girl going this summer?' and then I design based on that. Last summer it was the South of France, the summer before that when we launched was Coachella and this summer it is a full Euro Summer vibe! Each piece is designed with feminine fits (think backless, fishtail hems, flared sleeves) and stand out prints. We have released our first ever few pieces of swimwear this season and it has been amazing to see the reaction to this (pre-sales were crazy!). Our newest collection 'Celestial Waves' is really inspired by the magical island of Ibiza and the beautiful crystal waters that surround it. We develop our pieces using left over plain fabric which we then dye to our specific print, meaning we keep consumption as low as possible. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? ALWAYS TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT. Nobody knows your vision and goals like you do, so if you feel that something isn't aligning with them, remove it. I have had a few instances where external parties have tried to strong arm me into things that haven't felt right, so I have always followed my gut. Also a few occasions where I have felt that a particular style wasn't perhaps right and they have ended up being my worst sellers. Your instinct is a very powerful thing. And what is the worst? 'That's life' – my wonderful mum said this to me after I once complained that I didn't want to work a corporate job for the rest of my life! That isn't life for me, life for me is building something of your own that gives you freedom. I love my mum more than anything, but she was wrong just this once. What's the biggest challenge you have had to overcome? It has been my own mindset when things haven't gone to plan or I've faced setbacks. As a Scorpio, we do have the tendency to be maybe just a little overdramatic sometimes, so when I have faced setbacks I have initially seen this as the end or a sign to give up, but each time I have persevered and always pulled through to resolve the issue at hand. What's lies ahead for the brand? Growth! We have some exciting partnerships coming up with 3rd party e-commerce platforms, we are already partnered with Wolf and Badger and Silk Fred in the UK and are now expanding with our UAE partnerships which is so exciting. On top of this we are also strengthening our D2C (Direct to Consumer) business through our website by really improving the functionalities. Due my experience in e-commerce, I have been able to build really strong foundations which will support growth. I am also attempting to build a TikTok audience (when I find time to document everything) on top of growing our overall social presence through Instagram. And as always, designing really great pieces with a big focus on strong creatives. – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Instagram @scorpiorizing
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘I went viral on TikTok for talking about the most scandalous parts of history'
TikTok sensation Katie Kennedy – aka The History Gossip – is bringing history to life in her new Sky TV show History Crush after going viral with her bawdy social media videos Queen Elizabeth I was 'fuggers', Henry VIII 'clapped' and it's debatable whether Anne Of Cleeves was a 'minger'. Katie Kennedy, better known as The History Gossip, uses this colourful language to bring alive famous historical characters in her bawdy social media posts, which have earned millions of likes on TikTok. Most people take years to get noticed, but Katie became famous practically overnight. One minute she was writing her 12,000-word dissertation on Women in Pompeii in her final year at Durham University, the next she'd posted a few quirky history videos on TikTok and gone viral. Like most students, she'd happily wile away hours of study time on social media, but for Katie, it led to greater things. 'I was on TikTok all the time anyway, so I posted some stuff about the Tudors and I got a couple of thousand followers Then I did a video with the caption – why were the Tudes clapped?' she says. Seeing my blank expression, she translates: 'Why were they really ugly? That did really well. It got onto this really big meme page called Great British Memes and they've got loads of followers. People were screenshotting it and asking, 'Is that you?' Earthy and funny, Katie's history videos are the right side of sweary, with a sprinkling of Gen Z language. 'Some of the slang that I've picked up through the years was originally just to get around TikTok guidelines,' she explains. Half a million followers later, Katie got a book deal and published The History Gossip – Was Anne Of Cleeves A Minger? And she will now be appearing on our screens on Sky TV's History Crush, where she'll be rummaging through the underwear drawers of historical figures like Lord Byron, Charles Dickens or Marie-Antoinette – and asking the big questions like was Henry VIII clapped? 'Yes he was,' she giggles. And was Lord Byron a crush or a burn? 'Definitely a crush.' The speed at which Katie got a book deal will have many seasoned writers gnashing at the bit. 'I had a message from my now agent in February last year when things were going off,' she says. 'And she was like, 'Have you ever thought about writing a book?' And I thought, 'Yeah maybe in the future.' But as soon as I handed in my dissertation, I started writing it and finished it during Freshers Week at Oxford – when I was hungover! 'We got it out for November for Christmas, because it was more of a gifty book. It's still really weird seeing it in the book shops.' When we meet outside on a sunny afternoon in pretty Vaults and Gardens Cafe by Radcliffe Camera in Oxford, where 25-year-old Katie's now studying for her masters, I have to ask, 'Was Anne of Cleeves a minger?' 'Well I don't think so,' she replies. 'Henry VIII gave her a castle and they had a brother and sister type of relationship. Of all his wives, she came out of it quite well. She wasn't really minging, like her portraits said, but she was 'mid'.' What about Elizabeth 1? 'Her teeth were fuggers because she ate so much sugar,' says Katie. 'And it's so funny that even when she looks a bit minging in her portrait, that's probably her best photoshopped version.' Katie has just returned from a holiday abroad, but her skin remains the colour of porcelain. 'I don't like to sit in the sun because I get scared of getting sunburned,' she says in her sing-song Geordie accent. 'I've lived in Durham my whole life. I grew up there, went to a local comprehensive school, did sixth form. And then a journalism apprenticeship with BBC,' she says. This explains why Katie's so good at finding a hook in a story – and she has a journalism certificate to prove it. 'In my posts, I have to get a three second intro to get people interested – that takes a lot of research,' she explains. 'I don't really script them though, I just press record!' The secret of Katie's success is clearly an authentic voice on the platform, which is backed up by years of hard academic study. 'I did journalism for two years, but I felt like I'd missed out on university, so I applied to Durham to do Ancient History and Archeology – and got in!' she says. While she seems surprised by her 'luck,' it strikes me that both Durham and Oxford are lucky to have someone with such a knack for bringing history to life. Although she has a bit of imposter syndrome, the university social life has made up for it. 'I loved being at Durham – all the traditions and stuff and that's partly why I wanted to come to Oxford,' she admits. 'It's fun and you don't get that in every university.' A quick peek at her socials and you can see Katie has settled in well since arriving last September. She laughs: 'Yeah the balls are so nice. I love wearing the gowns. I went to a Balioll College ball last week. I can't lie – the balls here are better than Durham!' Katie's first taste of history came when her parents dragged her around National Trust properties every Sunday. 'I remember when I was seven being like, I don't want to go to Wellington and Cragside, I just want to sit on my little Nintendo,'' she admits. But the experience left an impression, because she fell in love with immersive history - even becoming part of a Beamish Living Museum of the North exhibit. 'It's just down the road from where I liv,e so I did work experience there twice,' she recalls. 'Once dressed up as a Victorian school child and then as a Second World War evacuée and I had my little cardboard gas mask box. 'Did you know during rationing, instead of ice lollies little kids would have frozen carrots?' Inspired by TV historians such as Lucy Worsley and Ruth Goodman, Katie admits that Horrible Histories - which has probably done more to make history popular than all the dusty old academic institutions put together - inspired her. 'Horrible Histories doesn't make you feel like you're learning. The author of the books, Terry Deary, is from Sunderland, which is not far from where I'm from,' she adds proudly. 'I used to love Ruth when she would do Victorian Farm on TV and she would be like, 'I'm going to make bread from scratch.' She doesn't make you feel you're being lectured to – she's living history and talking about normal people, who I think get overlooked sometimes. 'It definitely sparked the way I like to present history in a fun, doesn't-feel-like-you're-learning type of way.' I do wonder what Katie's more traditional tutors think of her style of bringing history to the masses. 'When I first started on TikTok, I blocked everyone at Durham and friends and family, because I was embarrassed about posting a video that might get three views,' she reveals. 'It was only later when I did a series on the Victorians, that I stopped caring what people thought. 'My supervisor at Oxford's really supportive. I told him it's like Horrible History but for adults, and he thinks it's great that I'm making history more accessible.' Social media burn out is real for influencers. I ask how she's managing her time with so much on her plate. 'My masters is on British and European 18th-century history, and I'm doing my dissertation on the fan-making industry and how women used fans. But I've gone part-time now, so I've got another year to get my arse in gear and sort it': she says. 'I used to post every single day on TikTok, but I've learned to take a step back from it and know that if I don't post today, it's not like the end of everything.' And history clearly attracts a decent social media crowd. 'I just get Americans not being able to understand my accent, or they're like 'what's a minger?'' she laughs. In Durham she lives with her mum, dad and brother, who's just started studying politics at university. 'He was debating history or politics, but he likes arguments, so it's politics,' she says. While she's keen to ask if historical figures are worth dating, she sidesteps when asked if she's single. 'Depends on who's asking?' she smiles. But she gushes when talking about one of her great loves back in Durham. 'We've just got a King Charles Spaniel puppy called Millie – I love to sit and cuddle her in the garden,' she says. 'I miss her so much when I'm not there.' Devoting a lot of time to studying women in history Katie continues: 'I especially like the Brontes and also Mary Antoinette, because I feel like she was very misunderstood.' The arts have been losing out in the push for more maths and engineering, but Katie is making history cool again and reminds us the importance of knowing about our past. 'History keeps repeating itself,' she says. 'People aren't so different to us today. The Tudors put belladonna in their eyes to make them sparkle. Victorian women would eat arsenic wafers to give their skin a pale complexion and wore dresses dyed with a green pigment made from arsenic. Women died wearing them.' So, forget Brazilian butt lifts, or excessive tanning - when it comes to dying for beauty, the Tudors and Victorians got there first.
