On Wednesday, Prince Harry announced that he would stop by the UK on his way to Dusseldorf for the Invictus Games. He’s stopping by with the sole intention of attending the WellChild Awards, one of his favorite patronages. He’s been patron of WellChild for something like fifteen years, and it wasn’t a royal appointment, meaning the Windsors can’t strip him of this patronage. Still, the Windsors will do anything and everything to infringe on Harry’s brief visit, which is why there are already stories about whether or not Harry will meet with any family members:

Prince Harry is not planning on seeing King Charles or Prince William when he returns to Britain on the eve of the first anniversary of the Queen’s death and will not be accompanied by his wife Meghan Markle, it has been reported. The Duke of Sussex is set to fly out from California to London to make an appearance at an event for the charity WellChild, celebrating the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters.

The awards ceremony will take place just a day before the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s passing on September 8 but the Prince has ‘no intention’ to see his brother or father during his whistle-stop stay, according to insiders.

In contrast to last years global outpouring of grief and days of state events, there are no public or private family gatherings planned for the anniversary of the Queen who died at Balmoral last year, aged 96, during her traditional summer stay at the castle.

Speaking of the Prince’s quick stopover in the UK, an insider told the Mirror: ‘While some may suggest it would be good order for the family to settle their differences, perhaps even in the late queens memory, things are a long way off.’ The source added relationships remain ‘firmly rooted at rock bottom’ following Prince Harry’s criticisms of King Charles, 74, and Prince William, 41, in his tell-all Netlfix documentary and explosive memoir Spare.

[From The Daily Mail]

While the Mail is being squirrelly about their sourcing, if you read closely, it absolutely feels like Harry has made it 100% clear that he’s not interested in spending time with anyone in his family and the Windsors are pathetically screaming “WE REFUSE TO SEE HIM.” Harry’s like… I didn’t ask. So, he won’t see anyone except, perhaps, his York cousins. I bring up Eugenie and Beatrice because I think they’re Harry’s work-around for this other story:

Prince Harry will be forced to ask the Palace for permission if he wants to stay on a royal estate when he returns to the UK early next month – after he and Meghan were evicted from Frogmore Cottage by King Charles.

The Duke of Sussex, 38, is set to fly out from California to London to make an appearance at the WellChild Awards on September 8, which celebrates the achievements and resilience of seriously ill youngsters. He will not be accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle, 42, who will fly straight to Germany for the Invictus Games.

Harry and Meghan were evicted from Frogmore earlier this summer. While in the UK, he now has to request access to an apartment on one of the royal estates, or alternatively stay with friends or at a hotel. The last time he stayed at his former marital home was in June when he was in London to give evidence in a High Court phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers.

[From The Daily Mail]

Keep in mind, by all accounts, Frogmore Cottage is just sitting there vacant, as are so many royal properties. Charles evicted the Sussexes out of the home they paid for, and Charles did it purely out of spite as a way to “control” the Sussexes, so they couldn’t come and go as they pleased. Which is why I kind of think Harry will probably stay overnight with Eugenie, wherever she is staying in the UK. Either that or he’ll just stay with a friend or in a hotel. He’s not going to contact his father just to get “permission” to stay wherever, nor should he.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Netflix.

Kevin Costner and Christine Baumgartner’s messy divorce is the kind of scandalous situation which would be well-suited for a People Magazine cover story. The thing is, I kind of believe that People Mag passed on it because they didn’t want to be dictated to by Costner’s people. Us Weekly does not have similar qualms – their cover story this week is completely Costner’s side of things, taken directly from his team. Costner wants us to know that he’s making an effort to lower the temperature around the divorce (he is not) and that he’s doing really well as his war-time lawyers are taking Christine to the woodshed. Some highlights from Us Weekly’s cover story:

He’s ready to pump the brakes on the drama. “Kevin and his lawyers have made a concerted effort to lower the temperature and stop the tide of bad publicity,” explains the source. “He doesn’t want this to be a drawn-out [divorce.] Kevin feels betrayed by Christine, but he wants to take the high ground,. Kevin doesn’t want to waste more time fighting with Christine.”

Christine is divorcing him because he worked too much: “Their marriage seemed solid and like they were in it for the long term, but the time apart clearly took a toll,” says a second source. “Christine just couldn’t cope.”

He’s giving her the silent treatment: The first source says Costner — whose 1994 divorce from his first wife, Cindy Silva, reportedly resulted in an $80 million settlement — is now taking a step back and “letting his lawyers figure it all out” while he and Baumgartner keep their distance. “They are only speaking through intermediaries,” notes the source. “Kevin would rather use the silent treatment than deal with Christine directly anymore.”

Kevin is convinced that he’s classy: “Kevin sees himself as having all the class and integrity in this situation,” says the first source, insisting that “Christine will get a fair deal.” Costner — who owns another property in Santa Barbara and a 160-acre ranch in Colorado, along with a multimillion-dollar art collection — has a “what’s mine is mine” attitude regarding the division of assets, says the source. Adds a third source: “Kevin doesn’t hate Christine, but he does want a clean break. Of course, there are resentments and animosity, but that comes with the territory, and he’s trying not to make it personal.”

He will outplay Christine: While the first source notes there are some concerns that Baumgartner still has ammo “she can throw at Kevin,” the actor feels confident things will work out in his favor. “Kevin is a chess player,” says the source, “and he will outplay Christine.”

His children: As he recovers from the split, Costner’s been leaning on friends and his daughter Lily, 37, from his marriage to Silva. (They also share Annie, 39, and Joe, 35; and Costner shares Liam, 27, with ex Bridget Rooney.) “Lily is the ‘Kevin whisperer’ in the family and the one who keeps him calm and sane,” explains the first source. The second source says Costner’s younger kids with Baumgartner are handling the split “surprisingly well,” adding, “They’re sad, but they’re being very levelheaded and mature about it all.”

Kevin has been through hell, you guys: “Kevin’s been to hell and back, but the feeling you get from people in his circle is that he’s finally coming out the other side,” says the second source. “He’s throwing himself into his work and surrounding himself with people he can trust. Divorce sucks, but he’s toughing it out. Kevin has a lot of confidence in his attorneys, and he’s staying busy with his career and continues to have a very special relationship with his kids. He firmly believes that brighter times are ahead.”

[From Us Weekly]

“The time apart clearly took a toll. Christine just couldn’t cope.” Yiikes. Maybe she couldn’t cope with being financially abused, ignored and treated like a replaceable staffer? Maybe she was alone for so long, basically already a single mother, and she thought “wow, this is fine.” Anyway, I believe this is actually Costner’s perspective – he’s convinced that his behavior is classy and that he’s showing maturity by refusing to speak to Christine and he’s the victim here. Nothing like the bruised ego of a man whose wife charged a forensic accountant to his credit card.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, cover courtesy of Us Weekly.

When Prince Harry traveled to Japan and Singapore, the Windsors were furiously trying to pull focus from him. Hilariously, all they had was “maybe William and Kate will tweet on QEII’s death-anniversary.” Over the course of a week, a “memorial tweet” was upgraded to “no, Will and Kate will actually carry out an event, and make their first public appearance in months!” My theory was that the British media wanted King Charles to make a big deal about the first death-anniversary and actually hold some big family memorial in Scotland or something like that. The king said no, but I’ll send out my heir and his button-slathered wife to make asses out of themselves. Well, Kensington Palace has confirmed the itinerary for Peg & Buttons Death Anniversary Escapade. They’re going to Wales.

On September 8, the Prince and Princess of Wales will lead tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth at St David’s Cathedral. Princess Kate and Prince William are set to visit St David’s Cathedral in south Wales to mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth on September 8.

During the poignant visit it is understood they will lead tributes to the late monarch, before visiting communities in the region as they return to royal work following their summer holiday.

Sources have told the Mirror that William will pay homage to his grandmother’s life and legacy but his message will also “look to the future”.

Although he will not directly address the cathedral’s congregation, William and Kate will be shown around ancient church in St David’s, which is also the smallest city in the UK.

A source said: “It will be an emotional day for all the Royal Family, as well as many people across Britain, recognising this date. But of course for others it will be just another day and life goes on.”

Royal insiders suggested that William and Kate wanted to mark the occasion in Wales, as they have only visited three times in the last year, since they gained their new titles.

[From The Daily Express]

“But of course for others it will be just another day and life goes on” – what kind of messaging is this from KP? Lordy. Once again, it would have been a relatively easy win, but they managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. All Will and Kate have to do is show up somewhere, look appropriately somber and then they can go back to their separate homes and separate vacations. Instead, Kate is preparing her Mourning Wiglet and Somber Buttons and they’ll mope around Wales and hope they don’t get booed. Notably, the few times they have visited Wales in the past year, those events are heavily stage-managed.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images, Backgrid.

Happy Treason Bird Mugshot Day to you! Donald Trump is due to surrender in Fulton County, Georgia today, which means we’re just hours away from getting our hands on his mugshot and his actual weight. In the meantime, a steady stream of Trump’s co-defendants surrendered at the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday, including Rudy Giuliani. Ol’ Ghouliani managed to make the most out of his mug shot, using his witchy Four Season Total Landscaping mojo to render the mug shot impossibly low-res. Honestly, this is far from the worst photo I’ve seen of Rudy in the past five years.

I saw a segment on MSNBC this week where their reporter on the ground in Georgia spelled out the logistics of the MAGA surrenders at the jail. Basically, Fulton County has blocked out a big chunk of the area around the jail, so it would be very easy for these people to simply go through booking and then drive away without interacting with the media. The media scrum has been placed some distance from the jail. Which makes it extra interesting that a few of Trump’s co-defendants are making the effort to go out to the media pen. Total famewhores. Rudy was one of those people – post-booking, Rudy wandered out to the media scrum and tried to answer some questions, all while some hero held a banner reading “Clown Car Coup” behind him. To that banner-maker, bless you and your family. Have a great day!

Nothing is funnier than “if they can do this to me, they can do this to you.” Yes, Rudy – if someone ratf–ks an election and tries to subvert the very foundation of the republic, they will put that person in prison. That’s the fundamental point of the legal system, that no one is above the law. This man used to be one of the nation’s top US attorneys. What a sad, pathetic old fool.

Jenna Ellis’s mugshot — Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. pic.twitter.com/759kUFttuT

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 23, 2023

Sidney Powell’s mugshot — Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. pic.twitter.com/AeJL7ei3aJ

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 23, 2023

Ex-Trump attorney Kenneth Chesebro’s mugshot — Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. pic.twitter.com/pudroCF3Jv

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 23, 2023

The Shady Bunch pic.twitter.com/wThZgRYTAT

— Lakota Man (@LakotaMan1) August 23, 2023

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Fulton County Jail.

Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves have been together since 2006 and married since 2012. They have three children, Levi, 15, Vida, 13 and Livingston, 10. Over the years, we’ve heard a fair amount of stories about his mom, Mary “Kay” McCabe. For instance, early into Matthew’s fame, he stopped speaking to Kay for 8 years in order to set boundaries. Earlier this year, McConaughey shared that during his parents’ second divorce before their third time marrying (a wild bit of trivia in its own right), his mom got her Biblical knowledge on with Woody Harrelson’s dad. And, who can forget that time Kay told everyone about her husband-of-three-times’ climatic death (also written about in MM’s book)?

Well, now we’ve got a new Kay McCabe story to feed on. On a recent episode of the Southern Living’s Biscuits and Jam podcast, Camila revealed that when she first started dating starting Matthew, Ma Mac was not exactly the easiest of in-laws to get along with.

On Tuesday’s episode of Southern Living’s Biscuits & Jam podcast, Camila Alves-McConaughey revealed that she and the Interstellar actor’s mom, Mary Kathleen McCabe (who’s referred to as “Ma Mac” by the family), did not get along when the couple first started dating in 2006.

The Brazilian model recalled, “She did all these things when I first came in the picture, right? She was really testing me. I mean, really testing me.” Alves-McConaughey listed examples, sharing, “She would call me by all of Matthew’s ex-girlfriends’ names; she would start speaking Spanish with me in a very broken way, kind of putting [me] down a bit. I mean, all kinds of stuff.”

Alves-McConaughey admirably didn’t let the hostility deter her from trying to forge a more friendly bond with her future mother-in-law. She continued, “I got a job to go to Istanbul to go do a fashion show there, and that job comes with the perks of you get another first-class ticket, you get another night’s hotel room, you get this, you get the driver. And I was like, ‘Ma Mac, you’re gonna come with me.’”

“The whole way there, the whole plane ride to Istanbul, she was telling me all these stories and putting all these things in my head,” the model shared. “When we landed, I was like, ‘Okay, all right. Let me buckle up. Let me get ready for this situation.’”

Alves-McConaughey recounted, “About day three, I was taking her to her room, and she got into this whole other thing that it’s not my place to share, and she starts crying, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ You know, ‘Ma Mac!’ and feeling so sorry. And as I put her to bed, I look at her and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh. She’s full of [expletive].’”

Deciding to give McCabe a taste of her own medicine, the model shared, “I just [flipped] it on her and brought my spicy Brazilian, Latin side, and I let her have it. So I went back at her, and we had it back and forth, back and forth.” And finally: “She just looked at me and she was like, ‘Okay. Now you’re in.’ All she wanted was for me to fight back,” Alves-McConaughey revealed.

The model’s determination paid off — she explained, “From that day on, that night on, we have the most amazing relationship, and I have so much respect for her. She has so much respect for me.” Alves-McConaughey may have had to dig her feet in and grab the bull by the horns, but it sure did pay off.

[From Yahoo]

Every family dynamic is different, and judging from Matthew’s autobiography, Greenlights, his family was truly one-of-a-kind, off-the-charts-in-a-gross-way unconventional. It can be difficult to enter or bring someone into a new dynamic, let alone one as bonkers as that one. I know she was never going to be your average mother-in-law, but Ma Mac’s approach feels somewhat abusive. When I first started dating Mr. Rosie, his entire family told me up front that teasing was their way of showing affection, and if they teased me, it meant I was in. I appreciated that head’s up. Do any of you have any good in-law stories? Maybe I’m being sensitive, but I don’t see how calling someone by their partner’s exes’ names, putting them down, or using broken dialect to speak to them in their native tongue is endearing at all. It’s pretty f—ked up. Ha, maybe telling this story is Camila’s lowkey way of getting revenge.

Photos credit: Thibault Monnier/LCD, Max DeAngelo, PacificCoastNews / Avalon, Backgrid

As many suspected, Prince Harry does plan to make a brief stop in England before the Invictus Games. Part of me wonders if Buckingham Palace was informed of Harry’s plans weeks ago, and that was the reason for the Windsors’ chaotic messaging as they tried to impose themselves on Harry. The reason for Harry’s visit is the same reason why he was in the UK when his grandmother died last year: he plans to make an in-person appearance at the WellChild Awards. What outrageous stunt will the Windsors unveil in an attempt to pull focus from Harry visiting one of his patronages?

Prince Harry is returning to the U.K. next month for a special event close to his heart. The Duke of Sussex, 38, will attend the annual awards event for WellChild, a charity for seriously ill kids, in London on September 7. Harry has been patron of WellChild for 15 years — and it is one of the few organizations he has retained from his royal life after stepping back from his working royal role in 2020.

Prince Harry is attending the WellChild event in England ahead of traveling on to Germany for the sixth iteration of his Invictus Games competition.

There is no word yet on whether Prince Harry will see any members of his family while he is in the U.K.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Prince Harry said, “For nearly 20 years, WellChild has been transforming the lives of children and young people across the U.K., providing critical care that prioritizes the physical, mental and emotional well-being of these individuals and their families.”

“The courage and strength embodied by these young people — and the tireless devotion of those who support them — never cease to inspire me,” he continued. “I’m honored to attend this year’s awards ceremony and celebrate their incredible work.”

[From People]

So the timeline is as follows: Harry will attend the WellChild Awards on September 7, a Thursday. On the 8th, the death-anniversary of QEII, William and Kate will do an “event” to memorialize the late queen, an event which likely started out as just as a tweet, but now they definitely have to do something and be seen together. Then the Invictus Games opening ceremony is on the 9th, a Saturday. And just FYI: Meghan will reportedly not appear anywhere in those three days. Harry is going solo at WellChild and at the opening ceremony, and Meghan is flying in separately to Dusseldorf mid-Games. Anyway, I’m glad Harry is making time for WellChild and I hope he stays safe.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, WENN and WellChild.

For years, Prince Albert of Monaco had a relationship with Nicole Coste, who was then a stewardess. Twenty years ago, they welcomed a son together, Alexandre. Over the years, Albert has made an effort (??) to embrace Alexandre, and the kid lives part-time in Monaco and he’s being included at some of the royal functions. Nicole gave a couple of interviews in 2021 and she served up some tea: she claimed that Princess Charlene doesn’t like Alexandre and Charlene had him moved into the “servant’s quarters” of the Prince’s Palace. Albert denied that, but Nicole went even further and said that Charlene’s health issues (in 2021) were “karma.” Well, ahead of his twentieth birthday, Alexandre chatted with the French outlet Point de Vue about his half-royal life, taking his father’s name and his relations with his stepmother and half-siblings. Some highlights:

He’s a business major: He feels he’s arriving at “the age when you make choices. These can be good or bad depending on the background you have and those around you. I think I’m certainly a reasonable person. The commitment which takes precedence in my life today is finishing my university studies.” When pressed by the interviewer on precisely what role he hopes to play in Monaco’s future, Alexandre shows a sign of his father’s wit: “I’m only 20. Let me get my diploma, and we’ll talk about it.”

He lives at home in England: Studying business management at an English university, Alexandre says he still lives at home with his mother and two older half-brothers from her past marriage — a situation he likes. “It’s a chance when you study and you don’t have to worry about anything,” he says.

Whether he would pursue modeling: “As a teenager, I thought about it. The idea of being photographed in nice clothes and looking elegant amused me. But COVID happened, and I ended up losing interest. I was also a minor. My father is a prince and head of state — I personally cannot imagine myself marching on a podium. On the other hand, if a prestigious brand asks me to be its ambassador and its image suits me, why not?”

The son of a prince: “I’ve had some rather happy times, to tell the truth, and I’ve never had the feeling that the way others, my friends in particular, change their views of me and who I am. But maybe I’m still too young to discern this. I appreciate my friends very much, and I hope they’ll never disappoint me.”

Adopting the Grimaldi name: Since 2022, with his father’s encouragement, he has publicly gone by the family name of Grimaldi, refusing the hyphenated version of his last name that the press imposed on him since childhood. His decision, he maintains, was significant, and he bristles at those — especially online — continuing to call him Grimaldi-Coste or challenging his legitimacy. “My father’s name is Grimaldi. It makes sense that I bear his name. I would have been called Dochomel if my father had been Mr. Dochomel! Besides, I never called myself Coste or Coste-Grimaldi. On no ID, at school or on my diplomas. Those who call me that have a malicious attitude.”

He doesn’t want to be called “illegitimate” either: “Nor am I ‘illegitimate’ since when I was born, neither of my parents was in another marriage, and they did not commit adultery. Using that word is insulting! I hope no one believes the lies conveyed on the internet. One bears the name of one’s father when one has been recognized since birth. I had voluntary recognition from my father when I was a baby. Not from a judge or the press who have forced him to,” he says. “My mother, whom I adore is my rock, and she is not jealous at all of my choice. If she never said anything about my surname, it’s been to protect our privacy. I was 2 years old when I was revealed in the press. One thing is certain: Today, I am a happy man being open and honest with you.”

His relationships with his half-siblings: Without hesitation, Alexandre says Jazmin Grace “is my big sister, and I love her like I love my two big brothers on my mother’s side. We all get along very well, and Jazmin is also very close to one of my two brothers with whom she shares the same birthday. We’ve a good relationship despite the fact that we live in distant countries.” As for Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, Alexandre acknowledges approaching his role with caution. Asked what he shares with the 8-year-old royals, he suggests “tenderness.” He adds with a smile, “Not their toys. That’s for sure given our age difference.”

[From People]

He sounds like an intelligent young man, but I can tell that his mother has coached him. She was apparently part of the interview too, and I would imagine the unpublished “outtakes” were probably the most interesting parts. It’s clear that Nicole wants Alexandre to have an attachment to Monaco and to be close to Albert. I think it’s refreshing that Albert hasn’t hidden Alexandre away and that the kid is being inducted into royal life in some kind of way. I also think that what Nicole said about Charlene is probably the truth, and that Charlene isn’t jazzed about her husband’s other children hanging around.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, cover courtesy of Paris Match.

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Dolly Parton is doing the rounds in advance of her new album Rockstar that comes out in November. I love that Dolly is promoting this thing so far in advance–it’s old school, just like she is. Plus, with the Hollywood strikes continuing, it’s not a bad press strategy to take advantage of the relative quiet. She recently appeared on TalkShopLive which is like a home shopping channel, but on the Internet, and during her segment you could pre-order signed copies of her upcoming album as well as her new book Behind the Seams. Those signed copies are all sold out now–I checked! TV host Nancy O’Dell interviewed Dolly and they talked about the new album and its roster of guest stars, including Elton John, Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Paul McCartney. They also talked about how Dolly handles emotions like anger. Her answer was textbook Dolly: “I’ll tell ya where to put it if I don’t like where you got it!”

The odds of seeing Dolly Parton get angry are low — but it happens.

The country superstar, known for her sweet and bubbly personality, recently opened up about how she deals with anger in a new interview with Nancy O’Dell on TalkShopLive and revealed that she’ll tell somebody off when it’s necessary.

“Well, you ain’t going to see [my anger],” said Parton, 77. “I’m just a regular person. I’m not one where I’m one person out here and another [in private]. I’m a businessperson. Sometimes you’ve just kind of gotta pitch a fit to get it done or get it done right.”

The “Jolene” singer-songwriter noted that she gets angry if “someone’s messing with my family or messing with my work,” and at a certain point, the people around her will know how she’s feeling.

“Like I’ve always said, I’ll tell ya where to put it if I don’t like where you got it. I think anybody’s like that. You can’t just go through life just floating around getting anything done,” continued Parton.

“I don’t lose my temper, but I use my temper. Of course, I’ve lost it a few times but it’s not that I’m losing my temper, I’m trying to use it because sometimes there are just some people you have to speak up to,” she said. “Because if they don’t know, especially as a shock, for somebody like me to raise my voice to people, that’s not what they’re used to.”

[From People]

I believe that Dolly has a backbone of steel and that if anyone pushes far enough, she’ll give them what for. It’s also refreshing to hear her talk about this because women are often taught to suppress their anger. Dolly had to deal with people trying to push her around early in her career, including her duet partner Porter Wagoner. When she says “I don’t lose my temper, I use it,” it’s not just a cute turn of phrase, it’s also wise. My therapist told me that anger is often a kind of warning–it tells us that someone is trying to violate our boundaries or rights, or being dishonest. Sometimes we overreact but most of the time, anger is a useful thing to pay attention to. I love that Dolly is authentic when she talks about difficult emotions. It would be easier for her to gloss over it all, but it’s validating to know that even saintly Dolly gets mad sometimes. I wonder who is dumb enough to trifle with Dolly.

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Back in March, Cara Delevingne revealed that she had gone to rehab and been sober for months. She was obviously drinking and drugging for years, until she came to a point where she didn’t recognize herself or what she had become. Since she got sober in the fall of 2022, she’s been going to AA meetings and working her 12-step program. I am happy for her, and I’m saying that as someone who never cared for Cara whatsoever. I think her story and journey are helpful for people her age, people who might not realize they have a problem, people who believe that they’re managing their addictions just fine. Anyway, Cara covers the latest issue of Elle UK and it’s a lot like her Vogue cover story months ago. Cara is still bracingly sober and figuring how to enjoy her new sober life. Some highlights:

Sober activities: ‘I’m able to live in a way that I never thought I would be able to, where I can really experience things and engage with them. I never thought I would be able to enjoy anything this much…. It’s been worth every second. I just don’t know what it would take for me to give it up. I am stable. I’m calmer.’ She has learned a lot, she says. ‘That I’m resilient as hell. That anything is possible. I think I used to say that and not believe it. But now I really believe it.’

Her early success as a model: ‘It didn’t feel real. I didn’t feel like I deserved it. I didn’t feel worthy. I was still stuck in this mindset of not being good enough. I was doing the best I could, but I wasn’t really appreciating every moment. Inside, I felt very different to how I looked.’

Her recovery: She started with Alcoholics Anonymous’ 12-steps programme and has a sponsor, as well as support from ‘friends who have been down this path before who have been instrumental in guiding me’. But traditional therapy has never worked for her, she says. Instead, she sees Colin Dunsmuir, her yoga teacher since she was 18, three times a week, over FaceTime. Sometimes they talk, or they might do breathing or chanting: ‘Whatever my body needs. He knows me so well. But honestly, feeding myself creatively is probably the best self-care I can do. I feel like art is therapy to me.’

She didn’t have queer icons to look up to when she was a kid: ‘Not really. Like Billie Jean King, but not until I was older. And Elton and George Michael. And men who pushed the gender boundary like David Bowie and Prince, but not women.’ Representation is important, ‘especially for young people, who feel like they’re alone, to see people who are like them – and to see anyone in the umbrella of the LGBTQIA+ flag. It’s all family.’

Queer joy is important: ‘Now more than ever, in England and in the US. It’s a scary time for queer people. But the more that we’re met with fear, the more joy we have to bring. Because no one can take that joy away, no matter what. We’re not going anywhere.’

[From Elle]

The only thing I’m a little bit “eh” about is “traditional therapy has never worked for her, she says.” Not a red flag, but maybe some kind of flag. I suspect that Cara simply doesn’t want to do the work in therapy and unpack a lot of her bullsh-t and her family’s bullsh-t. I was going to criticize the whole “there weren’t gay icons around when I was growing up,” but I think she’s specifically talking about queer women in the public eye, in the UK in the 1990s and early 2000s. Is that the case? I don’t know. Maybe she’s right. Also: I find it hilarious when nepo babies talk about their imposter syndrome. They’ve gotten whole-ass careers from their names, family connections and privilege and once they get to the top of the mountain, they’re like “oh no, this was too easy!”

Covers courtesy of Elle UK, additional photo courtesy of Avalon Red.

To me, Irina Shayk is refreshingly straight-forward. Maybe it’s a Russian thing, but she doesn’t seem to have secret motives or some hidden agenda. What you see is what you get and she doesn’t appear to play games. She’s not coy, she doesn’t play hard to get. She sees an interesting guy, she brazenly flirts with him. She gets asked to fly out for a date, she’s on the plane. She’s also pretty straight-forward with how she approaches her media and PR – oftentimes, I get the sense that Irina is just calling up some People Magazine editor, telling the person how she’s feeling about this or that, and that’s it. Well, I think that’s what happened here. People Mag wanted an update so Irina gave them an update – she considers Tom Brady to be her “dream guy.”

Tom Brady and Irina Shayk’s romance is going strong. Shayk, 37, is “impressed with Tom,” a source tells PEOPLE, adding, “He is her dream guy. She loves dating him.”

As the summer winds down, the romance between the former NFL quarterback, 46, and the model is seemingly heating up.

“They work around their schedules and meet up wherever they can,” the source tells PEOPLE. “Irina doesn’t mind traveling to see him. She is very excited about their relationship.”

Last week, the couple were spotted together at a boutique London hotel. Brady and Shayk spent two days together at Twenty Two Hotel in London’s Mayfair area before leaving the hotel separately last Tuesday, with the retired athlete photographed leaving through a side entrance at 7:20 a.m., and Shayk departing from a different side entrance five minutes earlier.

[From People]

Only a beautiful Russian model could come on this strong and not scare a guy away. But I get it – I’d love it if more celebrities would approach relationships this way. I wish more regular people would too. Irina is like, yes, I adore him, he is my dream guy, I will fly anywhere he wants. Are her girlfriends like “honey, you should play hard to get” and Irina is like “no, don’t play hard to get with a man who is hard to get?”

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.