I still think it’s funny to think about the stupid timeline of everything in the past five weeks. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their second pregnancy, then the next day, we learned about the Oprah interview. That jump-started Buckingham Palace’s eager-yet-half-assed formalization of the “one year review,” in which the Queen officially kicked Harry and Meghan off of all of their “royal” patronages. What was especially dumb about that is that the Palace didn’t even inform most of those patronages that they were about to lose their patron. Anyway, all of that to say… all of Meghan and Harry’s private, non-royal patronages are sticking with their patrons and quite happy about it.

Meghan is still the patron of SmartWorks, the charity which helps low-income women get professional clothes for job interviews and their jobs. In 2019, Meghan created the Smart Set capsule collection to fill out the SmartWorks collection with some basic pieces like black trousers, a white button-down blouse, etc. Now Meghan has sent some lucky SmartWorks women personal notes, complete with her beautiful calligraphy penmanship. From SmartWorks’ IG:

In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, our Patron, The Duchess of Sussex took a moment to send some words of encouragement to a few of our clients.

Written by The Duchess, several personal notes were delivered to our centre earlier this week, and then dispatched to our clients, to give them that extra piece of encouragement as they return to the workplace.

The extract below was from a note sent to a client who recently got a job working in the health sector:

“I wanted to offer my personal congratulations on landing a new position in public health – I can’t think of anything more important right now. And I’m so pleased to know that Smart Works supported you in the lead-up to your successful job interview.”

Another of our clients received a little extra lift before her interview later this week;

“I wanted to write personally to wish you every success in your upcoming interview. While any interview can feel daunting, I know that Smart Works has enabled you with the confidence to thrive throughout the process” … “You’ll be amazing in your interview remember deep breath and be yourself.”

Throughout the month of March, Archewell Foundation, created by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is encouraging people around the world to perform acts of compassion for women in their lives and communities.

[From SmartWorks’ IG]

I’m including the IG below so you can see Meghan’s pretty handwriting. What a lovely skill to have! I used to have nice penmanship – even in college, taking notes by hand, I had nice semi-cursive handwriting. But it’s a skill you sort of lose when you aren’t writing by hand all the time. Now my handwriting and my signature are practically illegible. Anyhoodle, Meghan is lovely and she clearly still cares a lot about this patronage. Fingers crossed she drops another capsule collection this year!

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Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid and WENN.

Dolly Parton is a goddess full stop. Dolly is also timeless and trendsetting. Not only did Dolly help get one of the COVID vaccines (Moderna) on the streets (she donated $1 million to its research and development) she has now may started a fashion trend for those getting vaccinated. After posting a video of getting vaccinated, Dolly’s “vaccine shirts” previously known as “cold shoulder shirts” went viral. Cold shoulder tops were very popular back in spring/summer 2019. Since it looks as if we will get to celebrate a late spring and summer in 2021, it is fitting that we would rediscover fashion from more happier times. Here’s more on this story, from People:

Sartorially speaking, 2020 was the year of loungewear, oversized hoodies, and fuzzy slippers. 2021, on the other hand, will inevitably be known as the year of “vaccine shirts,” AKA cold-shoulder tops, which provide prime access to the upper portion of the arm for easy vaccine administration — without having to roll up any sleeves.

Dolly Parton was the first to post the brilliant hack on Twitter, and many replied that they’ve now realized they own the perfect shirt to get vaccinated. But if your closet doesn’t happen to be overflowing with cold-shoulder tops, there are plenty of affordable options on Amazon you’ll want to wear long after you’ve received the vaccine.

[From People]

The other thing that I love about the “vaccine shirt” is it is sexy and it is a signal if you are single, that you are ready to mingle (if the other person has been tested and vaccinated of course). Vaccine shirts also look good on everyone no matter the age or size. You can wear vaccine shirts with jeans, leggings, skirts and shorts. And of course vaccine shirts serve a more practical purpose, they make it easier to get vaccinated without having to roll up your sleeve (look I’ve gotten lazier the last year). Below are a few options that Celebitchy has picked out just in case you wish to get in on the trend.

Dolly gets a dose of her own medicine. @VUMChealth pic.twitter.com/38kJrDzLqC

— Dolly Parton (@DollyParton) March 2, 2021

Note by CB: Reading this article made me want a vaccine top! I looked through People’s listings and most had terrible Fakespot ratings so I found some new tops. I want the first one in the contrasting piping!

A one shoulder cutout short sleeve top
4.1 stars, 310 ratings, A on Fakespot

A long sleeve halter neck tunic with a draped waist
4.1 stars, 498 ratings, C on Fakespot

A modern look cutout top with bell sleeves
4.2 stars, 823 ratings, B on Fakespot

A scoop neck 3/4 sleeve form fitting cold shoulder top
4 stars, 742 ratings, C on Fakespot

A cold shoulder scoop neck top with thumb holes
4.4 stars, 270 ratings, B on Fakespot

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Ashely Benson has been in the industry for almost 20 years. Her big break came at the age of 14 when she landed the role of Abby Devereaux on Days of Our Lives. Following Days, Ashley worked steadily, but in one-off parts until Eastwick, which only lasted a year. Her biggest role to date has been Pretty Little Liars, which lasted seven seasons. Ashely did have two very high-profile relationships, one with Cara Delevingne and one with G-Eazy that just ended, but she said she tries very hard to keep her private life private. The reason I am summarizing all this for you in because most of us know Ashley’s name, but we accept that she is not a huge star, certainly not one we would expect to be targeted by paparazzi. But, according to Ashley, they pursue her so ferociously, there are days she doesn’t want to leave her house. While on Paris Hilton’s new podcast, This is Paris, Ashley said there’s nothing she can do about it and it’s making her hate the industry.

Ashley Benson is all too familiar with the downside of being in the public eye. After watching the Framing Britney Spears documentary, the actor said she relates to how the singer has been harassed by the paparazzi.

“That’s the one reason why I hate being in this industry because you get unwanted attention,” she told Paris Hilton on her podcast, This Is Paris.

“It’s funny because when people see [you] in photos, living a normal life, being outside a restaurant or whatever, [they think,] ‘Oh, they called the paparazzi [on themselves] ’cause they want to be photographed,’” she explained.

“It’s like dude, I’m actually one of the ones who does not, will never [do that,]” Benson continued. “I always look horrible in these photos.”

“It almost causes car wrecks,” she explained. “They go through stoplights and all this stuff. They scream all this horrible stuff at you, and they just bother you to get a reaction. It gives me so much anxiety.”

“There [are] times [when] I just don’t even want to leave my house or feel like I can go on a hike or do whatever because for whatever reason, they just follow me and want to take my photo,” Benson continued.

[From Buzzfeed]

I remember seeing a video of a group of paparazzi photographing Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake as they walked to their car in a parking garage after seeing a movie. At the time the video was taken, there was no scandal in the Diaz/Timberlake relationship. But the photographers’ pursuit of them as they walked was relentless and I couldn’t imagine how anyone could live like that. So when a celebrity says they don’t want to go about their daily activity because of the paps waiting for them, I get it. We’ve heard the horrible things paps say or how they try to scare them, mostly women, (i.e. Rebecca Romijn and Hilary Duff) just to get a reaction. It’s horrible. Yes, celebrity photos are part of the industry. We need them, the celebrities need them, the studios need them. But not like that. Not the paparazzi photos that endanger anyone or induce anxiety. We could make do with a few candid photos taken in safe spots and letting celebrities otherwise live their lives.

Ashley brought up the fact that she would never call the paps. I’ll admit that when I see pages of pap shots of B or C listers doing mundane things, my first thought is that they called the photographers themselves. But a lot of the celebrities who are constantly photographed complain about the paps. I wonder if their team contacts the press without their knowledge? I like Ashley just fine. And I understand that she and Cara made good gossip for a short time. But it surprises me she can’t even buy milk without being chased down. I believe she’s not calling the paparazzi but how do they know how to find her? Maybe she needs to weed through her friend list because I’m worried someone is making some money off going through her Day Planner.

Photo credit: Instagram

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The Hollywood Foreign Press commits to adding 13 Black members by next year’s Golden Globes ceremony. [JustJared]
President Biden can’t wait until gay folks can make out in public again! [Towleroad]
I love Bad Bunny’s Grammys look, only those look like mouse ears. [Dlisted]
More cute photos of Megan Thee Stallion at the Grammys. [GFY]
Another review of Justice League, sigh… [Pajiba]
This is one of the dumbest ideas Boris Johnson has ever had, and that’s saying a lot. He wants undercover cops to go to clubs & bars to “protect” women. UNSAFE. [Jezebel]
BTS delivered a pre-taped performance at the Grammys. [LaineyGossip]
Deb Haaland is the first Native American woman to head the Interior. [Buzzfeed]
We’re getting two new Bachelorettes. [Seriously OMG]