Cosmopolitan UK July 2019 by Davide

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J U LY 2 0 1 9

FLYING HIGH! HOW THE FASHION SET PREEN & PACK FOR HOLIDAY

LIFE AS A 300lb GYM BUNNY The body journey of a plus-size supermodel

ARE YOU A SUMMER SELL-OUT? Sign No 1: You own an animal float... 07 9 770141 055313 WWW.COSMOPOLITAN.COM/UK

THEBEST AND WORST DATES INOneBRITAIN writer spends the night with both

DEEP INSIDE SEX ISLAND The Gen Z resort ignoring #MeToo BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

CAROLINE FLACK THE MOST INTENSE YEAR OF HER LIFE... EXPLAINED

JULY 2019

✱ On the cover 30 FLYING HIGH! How the fashion set preen & pack for holiday 42 LIFE AS A 300lb GYM BUNNY The body journey of a plus-size supermodel 78 CAROLINE FLACK The most intense year of her life… explained 94 DEEP INSIDE SEX ISLAND The Gen Z resort ignoring #MeToo 100 THE BEST AND WORST DATES IN BRITAIN One writer spends the night with both 106 ARE YOU A SUMMER SELL-OUT? Sign No1: You own an animal float

✱ Know 11 GUILT-FREE SPREE The new way to charity shop 12 SEE YOU AT… Six reasons to get excited about July 15 ANATOMY OF A BRIT FLICK Well, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – eh, Richard Curtis? 17 MAKE CELEBRITY GREAT AGAIN We imagine a world in which The GC and other equally legendary characters run for office because, well, why not? 18 THE NEW ROMANTICS In love? Lovesick? Sick of the sight of your significant other? Whatever your relationship status, here’s what to read 21 MY CULTURED LIFE Queer Eye’s Tan France: can we be you? 22 THE COMPASS This month’s cultural ups and downs

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

ten 114 Eco-friendly swimwear tie-dye for (sorry)

✱ Earn

COVER PHOTOGRAPH RACHELL SMITH. FASHION DIRECTOR AMY BANNERMAN. HAIR CHRISTIAN VERMAAK, USING BEAUTY WORKS HAIR AND KEVIN MURPHY. MAKE-UP AND NAILS KARIN DARNELL AT FRANK AGENCY, USING MAC COSMETICS. CAROLINE WEARS, NEWSSTAND COVER, TOP AND SKIRT, BOTH FREE PEOPLE. EARRINGS, GIRLSCREW. NECKLACE, CAROLINE’S OWN. RINGS, SEOL + GOLD. SUBSCRIBER COVER, BIKINI TOP, ASOS.COM. SHORTS, CAROLINE FLACK X RIVER ISLAND. JEWELLERY, AS BEFORE. PHOTOGRAPHS, THIS SPREAD, SAM COPELAND, DENNIS PEDERSEN, GETTY IMAGES, RACHELL SMITH, AGATA PEC. PROP DESIGN JESSICA DANCE

✱ Glow l 25 PRO-OCEAN LOTION Fishfriendly sunscreens (for you) 26 HOT RIGHT NOW! New products to make life peachy 28 WRAP STARS Meet summer’s hottest hair accessory (no lyrical flow needed) 34 RIPE FOR THE PICKING You know you squeeze your spots. We know you squeeze your spots. Here’s how to do it safely 37 INGE HAS ISSUES… and no time for skin-stripping toners 39 BEAUTY LAB The white stuff: strengthens bones and make-up-removing regimes

69 BADGES OF HONOUR Why we advise adding “Jack of all trades” to your CV 70 DO YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THE NEXT COSMOPOLITAN HOUSE? Find out how to here 71 EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH Tales from the professionally challenged among us 72 HAVE YOU BEEN JOB GHOSTED? Here’s how to sort it (no screaming necessary) 77 SELF MADE Blogger/author/ super-side-hustler Emma Gannon on brand-building

A deep dive into sun- and sea-safe SPF

✱ Read 86 LIFE AFTER LOVE ISLAND Sixteen former Islanders on handling reality after reality TV 114 FEELING GOOD Well, you will be after filling your suitcase with this sustainable swimwear

✱ Lust

✱ Move 41 JUMP TO IT Why keeping fit is as easy as one, two… bungee 46 RUN TO IT How to increase your speed at home (read: run to the kitchen faster during Love Island advert breaks) 49 SKATE MODERN Feeling more Bart Simpson than Tony Hawk on your board? Let us help

Former Love Island stars open up about their mental health

✱ Play

✱ Wear 51 BUCKET LIST This classic Burberry hat = style fulfillment 52 BUSINESS CLASS If “dress how you wish to be addressed” is right, that makes us CEO of excellent workwear, yes? 60 JUST PAID… This month’s must-buy? White jeans 62 EXTRA, EXTRA Why raffia, pastel and tasselled accessories are big news this season

125 BIG, HARD AND… VEGAN Sex: now even more natural 126 MY BEST SEX EVER WAS… with an acrobat 127 WORST DATES EVER 100% real, 900% terrifying 128 FIRST LOVE Thank you, ex?

131 CHEEKY TRIPS So holidays just got a whole lot hotter… 132 HIT REFRESH The wellness breaks we’re well into 138 SUN’S OUT, TOPS OFF …If you’re a convertible car, that is

✱ And the rest…

131

Sex-on-thebeach breaks are here…

6 MEET TEAM COSMOPOLITAN 9 FROM THE EDITOR 146 COSMOPOLITAN CONTRACT The cheap flight contract ◆ C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

RANDOM QUESTION OF THE MONTH FARRAH STORR Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Assistant/Junior Writer DANIELLA SCOTT

“Stroke me and feed me oil. I’m parched.”

If my hair could talk it would say…

Deputy Editor AMY GRIER Creative Director STUART SELNER Special Projects Director LOTTIE LUMSDEN (maternity) Acting Special Projects Director TRACY RAMSDEN

FEAT U R ES

Features Director CATRIONA INNES Features Writer JENNIFER SAVIN Acting Features Intern ZOE KNIGHT

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DESI GN

“I’m ready for a change. It’s been 30 years now.”

Art Director VICTORIA HORN (maternity) Acting Art Director MARTIN IXER Senior Designer JESSICA LOCKETT Junior Designer KATIE WILDE

“After swimming, could you be a little nice to me? I’ve had a workout, too.”

PI CT U R ES

Picture Director CAT COSTELLOE Picture Editor NICOLE HOLCROFT-EMMESS

PR ODU CT I ON

Workﬂow Director CHRISTINA SIMONE Chief Sub-Editor HANNAH JONES Deputy Chief Sub-Editor STEPHANIE JACKSON

BE AU TY

Beauty Director INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN Beauty Editor CASSIE POWNEY (maternity) Acting Beauty Editor LAURA CAPON Beauty Writer KATE PASOLA

FAS HI ON

“This fringe is getting too long; you look like the Dulux dog/ a Scottish Highland cow. Trim me.”

“If you stopped washing me every day maybe you wouldn’t look like Nic Cage in Con Air.”

Fashion Director AMY BANNERMAN Senior Fashion Editor SAIREY STEMP Bookings Editor SOPHIE LEEN Senior Fashion Assistant MADDY ALFORD

“Thank you for finally discovering curl products, even if it did take you 35 years.” got2b Twist e Curlin d Mous g se £4.07 ,

COS MOPO LI TA N .COM / U K

Group Digital Director CLAIRE HODGSON Editor JESS EDWARDS Beauty Director VICTORIA JOWETT Entertainment Editor ANNA LEWIS Fashion Editor NATASHA HARDING Features Editor CATRIONA HARVEY-JENNER Sex & Relationships Editor PAISLEY GILMOUR Senior Entertainment & Lifestyle Writer DUSTY BAXTER-WRIGHT Acting Senior Beauty Writer GABRIELLE DYER Social Media Manager SOPHIE BOYDEN Video Lead ALEX HERING Snapchat Motion Graphics Designer & Animator ALICE COWLING

“Wash me. Yesterday!”

CON TR I B U TO RS

SPONSORED BY

AMANDA STATHAM (Travel) LAURA SILVERMAN (Features) NATALIE ZANNIKOS (Fashion) Group Managing Editor CONNIE OSBORNE Finance Business Partner STACEY TOMLIN

ACTI NG MA N AGI N G DI RE CTOR

ALUN WILLIAMS

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H E A RST MAGAZ I NE S U K

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I N TE RN AT I ON A L EDI TI ONS

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· C O S M O P O L I TA N

PHOTOGRAPH SARAH BRICK. HAIR AND MAKE-UP JOLANDA COETZER AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING URBAN DECAY AND PAUL MITCHELL. STYLING MADDY ALFORD. DRESS, MOTHER OF PEARL

FROM THE EDITOR hich do you prefer: the first page of a good book… or the last page? The sun rising over your home town or the sun setting behind it? The bristling expectation of a holiday about to be enjoyed? Or the warm nostalgic memory of a perfect trip taken? For the longest time I always believed a promise-laden beginning was better than a satisfying ending. But now, as I look back on almost four years of editing this magazine, I wonder if that theory was wrong. Beginnings are undoubtedly glorious things. The first “official” date with someone you really like. The first morning of a two-week break away. The first day of summer when the sun touches your face like a returning lover. The whole thing a wonderful blank canvas onto which you can throw every wistful fantasy and lofty expectation. Beginnings are a perfect moment in time because they are, as yet, undone by it. I started editing Cosmopolitan on the morning of the 12th June 2015 and I wanted that moment to stand still forever. Untested by experience and unsullied by failure, I could only fantasise about what sort of magazine my team and I could make. And, more importantly, what sort of editor I would become. I sat in a small corner room

WHAT I’VE LOVED MOST ABOUT EDITING THIS MAGAZINE

Representing real bodies This cover sparked a global dialogue about body image.

with a blank notebook in front of me and the heavy weight of expectation on my shoulders. It is almost four years since that day. In that time I have been tested and have tested others. I have both flunked at parts of the job and slam-dunked others. I have failed some and succeeded some. And I have laughed as much as I have cried. All in all, it has been a thundering, delightful ride in which the peaks have assuaged the troughs. An editorship in which the sweetness lies in the very fact it has an ending. Because that is the thing about endings – their value lies in the fact they must, at some point, come to an end. And yet… the world has become very bad at endings. Bars are now open 24 hours. First loves can be tracked down with a simple Instagram search. The vogue for boxset bingeing means we need never say goodbye to our favourite TV protagonist, while a pert cleavage or a youthful pout can now accompany you into your dotage. Is this success? Is managing to hang on to something we truly love an achievement? Or in never letting go do we rob the entire experience of its true worth? Endings are sweet in many ways – some of them even beyond our conscious reckoning. Endings give us perspective. They endow us with a sense of achievement. But, above all, endings give us closure and closure is essential for new beginnings. And so I close the door on editing Cosmopolitan not with a heavy heart, but with a soaring sense of triumph – for this is my last issue. It has been a privilege creating this magazine for you. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed editing it. 4 Keep in touch by following me on Twitter @Farrah_Storr and Instagram @farrahstorr

Supporting true talent Our new scholarships with Spare Room pay and house the creative brains of tomorrow.

Saluting sustainability Cosmo’s May cover star wore headto-toe Oxfam.

FARRAH STORR Editor-in-Chief Educating Gen Z Our sex-ed classes are taught in schools across the UK. C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

WORDS LAURA SILVERMAN. PHOTOGRAPH JAMIE CHUNG/TRUNK ARCHIVE. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPH GETTY IMAGES. *MOST RETAILERS DONATE 1P TO 10P. VISIT GIVEASYOULIVE.COM AND LETSBAB.COM

I F I T ’ S H O T A N D H A P P E N I N G , I T ’ S I N H E R E ...

GUILT-FREE SPREE Online shopping brings up a range of mixed emotions. There’s confusion (what’s my CVV number again?), rage (the delivery charge is what?!) and then the inevitable pang of buyer’s remorse. Thankfully, a range of apps has been invented to ease the niggling worry that your cash would be better-placed elsewhere. On Give As You Live, a proportion* of what you spend at Expedia, ASOS, Boots and thousands of other sites will go to a charity of your choice, with the retailers donating on your behalf. Or you could download LetsBab, where, if you recommend a brand to a friend and they make a purchase, you’ll earn 5% of the sale (which you can choose to spend or donate). An app that tells you exactly where you left your bank card is, sadly, still to be developed. C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

SEEYOUAT... Because your work-life balance should always tip to one side

12th-14th July

TRNSMT Festival 2019, Glasgow

What is it? Don your space buns and glitter: TRNSMT is back, with headliners including Jess Glynne and Stormzy. This year sees a new VIP entrance so pass holders can avoid the crowds and head straight to the “chill-out zone” for catering and free fizz. Trnsmtt stt.ccom om

Book Now

What is it? It’s 25 years since the gang first rocked up to Central Perk. If you fancy gracing Gunther’s place to celebrate, FriendsFest runs nationwide from 2nd August to 29th September – with new Instagrammable photo opportunities for fans. Remember the Thanksgiving floating head scene or the th iconic i i ttriple-wedding-d i l ddi dress shot? Grab Gra b a sofa and repeat after u us: PIVOT. Frien Fri e sf sfest. s co.uk

Jubilee Pool, Penzance

What is it? After a huge “geothermal” renovation, the Arrt Deco lido opens itts doors for the first time in three years. It’s now heated yearrround so there’s zero riskk of hypothermia. Not nearby? Hathersage pool in Derbyshire or Scotland’s The Gourock Outdoor Pool are also perfect for an al-fresco swim fix. Jubileepool.co.uk

6th July

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

On Now Secret Cinema Presents Casino Royale, London

JULY The Bottomless Singing Cinema, LiLiverpooll Ci

What is it? Karaoke meets film screening meets bottomless brunch, all to the soundtrack of Mamma Mia! Lose yourself (and quite possibly your voice) singing along to ABBA’s classics and recreating Pierce Brosnan’s dubious dad dancing, with endless popcorn and drinks throughout the film. My my, how can we resist you? Thesingingcinema.com/ liverpool

FriendsFest, UK tour

y B eautiful Diversit y On The Catwalk, Edinburgh Th What is it? As fashion embraces body positivity, the National Museum Of Scotland is celebrating inclusivity through size, gender and sexuality, exhibiting groundbreaking looks from the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood till 20th October. The ticket price isn’t designer – admission is free. Nms.ac.uk/ bodybeautiful

What is it? The covert pop-up cinema has gone all 007, opening at a top-secret London location, on certain dates till 22nd September. Transform yourself into a lead role through costumes and MI6 training. See you at the martini bar. Secretcinema.org

Open Now

WORDS ZOE KNIGHT, ANNABELLE PENHALIGON, ELLIE ABRAHAM. PHOTOGRAPHS APHS ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES, SIMPLY BE CURVE CATWALK A/W 17, NADINE IJEWERE

From 6th July

START

Anatomy of a Brit flick Richard Curtis’s new film, Yesterday – about a struggling musician ripping oﬀ The Beatles – pan his filmogrraphy hits screens this month. We decode the stock characters that sp

PO MA

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WORDS DANIELLA SCOTT. PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY, MOVIESTILLSDB, INSTAGRAM/@TEDDYSPHOTOS, GETTY IMAGES

Character synopsis: Bumbling, awkward and usually late, he is incomprehensibly wealthy despite appearing not to work. Intense, often to the point of creepy, yet manages to charm everyone he encounters. Defining attributes: Flo ir array of badly fitting shi Most likely to say: “See, thing is, er, [insert wom I really, er, do quite, er, love you.” Typical prop: The chasmic void where his personality should be.

“K BE

IC FEMA Character synopsis: She’s in London for work (job specifics not necessary) and, despite being successful and beautiful, she falls for the spindly, dopey-faced British guy with no aspirations, qualities or interests other than himself. g attributes: Blow- r r at would blind the ely to say: “I’m just nding in front of a b asking him… to get me a visa.” Typ pical prop: wfee , and a ccollection of hideous hats..

AFFING GTON

SEMATE

Charac er synopsis: Typically calle something like Rollo, Bobbin or Docko, they are the comedic crutch and pop up (often accidentally undressed) with pithy and outrageous commentary. Defining attributes: Out-there hair that looks like Boris Johnson dipped his head into a pot of C a physical aversion to tr Most likely to say: “Blo let’s call it a day and ha Typical prop: A droopi hanging from their cho

r synopsi rag doll, brought in as the “caring” (read: put upon) wife/girlfriend/sister/ mother of a more significant character. Has usually been, or will be, screwed over by the men in her life. Defining attributes: A chunky cardigan, even chunkier earrings and a rl sensible skirt. Most likely to say: (Through teeth): “A problem shared is a problem halved.” Typical pical prop: A cup of tea with the bag left in.

, i all their lines in 45 seconds, collect the equivalent of your annual salary and get straight back on the plane. Defining attributes: They’re just very, very famous. Most likely to say: “Sorry, I’m eivably b s take lon l prop: N e glowing rrounds all s people.

r synopsi e the ma hip advic a panel fridge-magnet titbits from the kitchen of a five-floor Georgian townhouse. Defining attributes: Terrible jumpers,

Typical prop: An old hardback book and a large glass of Merlot.

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

WORDS DANIELLA SCOTT. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES

This month, debates kick off ahead of next year’s US Primaries and Charlize Theron plays a presidential candidate in The Long Shot. Imagine The White House with a very different incumbent… Here’s who we’d like to see run for office

VOTE

CARDI B

JONATHAN VAN NESS

GEMMA COLLINS

NOEL & SANDI

SLOGAN: “Be a ballot boss bitch.” VOTE SAMPLE POLICY: BOSS BITCH “Twerk your best while pregnant” classes will be offered to all women at least eight months gone. CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Kris Jenner. It’s only a matter of time before the momager’s world-domination plan fully comes into effect. TYPICAL PHOTO OPP: Cardi making a speech at a tattoo shop, where 20 of her constituents will be getting images of her face inked onto their limbs. PREDICTED RESULT: Within a year of winning, world happiness ratings will be through the roof, the gender pay gap will be eliminated and wearing a bikini top and jeans year-round will be considered normal.

SLOGAN: “A vote for me is a vote VOTE for pomade.” POMADE SAMPLE POLICY: Lip syncing will become compulsory education for nursery-school kids and up. CAMPAIGN MANAGER: RuPaul. Expect many brightly coloured patterned suits, much runwaystyle strutting and sassy tough-love pep-talks. TYPICAL PHOTO OPP: Catch JVN making his way through a crowd of adoring fans while Ru walks two feet in front at all times holding a wind machine #fierce. PREDICTED RESULT: Just missing out on the top spot, JVN will go on to become Chief Justice and therefore Chief Judge of the Supreme Court. Shamazing.

SLOGAN: “For a nation where we can all get this candy.” SAMPLE POLICY: Free vajazzles and spray tans provided by the state. CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Alan Carr, who absolutely insists on dressing up as a Gemma Collins tribute act for the entirety of the campaign. TYPICAL PHOTO I OPP: Gemma VOTE CANDY hugging and crying at a Tan-aholics Anonymous meet-up. PREDICTED RESULT: Pipped to the post by Cardi B, Gemma will end up being made Treasury Secretary alongside running her own very successful political-consultancy firm called The Strong Tan & Stable Lashes Collective.

SLOGAN: “Make bottoms un-soggy again!” SAMPLE POLICY: It will become illegal for weekly working hours to VOTE exceed 45 minutes CAKE per person. CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Ellen DeGeneres, who will not only write all their speeches, but also introduce pranks to the campaign circuit (much to the fury of the Republicans). TYPICAL PHOTO OPP: A charity cake sale. Noel will bake through the medium of interpretive dance and Sandi will make a model of Emmeline Pankhurst out of ganache. PREDICTED RESULT: The pair will become senior political advisors throughout Cardi B’s presidency before returning to their passion-project: bringing an end to shop-bought fondant. C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

I thought they said this was a “graphic” novel

The new romantics

THE FIRST LOVE

THE TRYST

THE HOLIDAY FLING

THE UNIVERSITY CRUSH

THE LOST LOVE

CITY OF GIRLS

SWEET SORROW *

TRUST EXERCISE

ACROSS THE VOID

Who’s falling? Vivian – the 19-year-old’s been banished to work in her Aunt Peg’s New York theatre after failing college. Who with? Drinkers at the Red Rooster, Yale boys at The Ritz and socialists at Webster Hall… After becoming a seamstress, Vivian finds herself embroiled in pages and pages of sensational sex and sensationalist scandal. Your passport to: All-day and all-night parties in the bygone days of ’40s New York. Dancing shoes at the ready. The author: Eat, Pray, Love novelist Elizabeth Gilbert.

Who’s falling? Sixteenyear-old Charlie – he’s about to embark on a long, boring summer working in a petrol station by night and caring for his emotionally unwell dad by day. Who with? Fran, who loves Shakespeare so much she’s spending the summer in an am-dram production of Romeo & Juliet. Your passport to: The quaintest of Englands, featuring the Cottage Loaf Tea Rooms and Thomas Hardy Avenue (oddly, not on Google Maps – we’ve checked). The author: Best-selling writer David Nicholls. And just when we’d finally stopped bawling over One Day.

ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?

Who’s falling? Sarah, during her first term at an elite, highly competitive performing arts college in the US. Who with? David, a fellow drama student, who is super-charged with creative passion and animal magnetism. Over the next year, they embark on an intense and passionate relationship. “But what’s the role of their charismatic teacher, Mr Kingsley?” you may find yourself asking halfway in… Your passport to: An American suburb in the early ’80s. The author: Pulitzer Prize finalist Susan Choi, who teaches creative writing at Yale University.

Who’s falling? Mary, the only survivor of a disastrous mission to Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. Who with? The one person who can rescue her: Stephen, a NASA scientist back on Earth... and her ex-husband. Awkward. Your passport to: Outer space, 2067… (until Richard Branson lowers his prices, that is). The author: “SK Vaughn” (not their real name) has written three best-selling thrillers. They also have writer-director credits on a host of Hollywood films (but they’re being very modest and not letting anyone know which ones). They live in San Francisco, Earth.

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

Who’s falling? Alice, who’s single, turning 30 and surrounded by friends who are all settling down. She breaks out of her rut by heading off on a round-theworld adventure. Who with? Uberdriver Dom, a onenight stand who ends up becoming a several-nights stand. Your passport to: Well, everywhere – Alice hits up all the bucket-list destinations (and embarrasses herself in most of them). The author: Lucy Vine, whose hit debut Hot Mess turned the romcom genre on its head (making it much more com-com and much less rom-vom).

WORDS LAURA SILVERMAN. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES. *OUT 11TH JULY

Forget Mills & Boon, the romantic read has had a reboot and now there’s one for you – whatever your relationship status. Pick a book up for every stage of love…

MY LIFE Queer Eye’s Tan France shares what’s keeping him entertained this month

AS TOLD TO DANIELLA SCOTT. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, INSTAGRAM/@RENEE BARGH, MOVIESTILLSDB.COM

First thing you read in the morning? I’d love to say something like The Guardian but I have to say Twitter. No, you know what? Why am I lying? It’s Instagram. Book on your bedside table? Honestly? It’s mine [Naturally Tan]. People are going to think I’m so lame, but I was checking the edits. I’m a sassy bitch in it, but it’ll give you a good giggle. Last thing you b bought? I should be a b better liar, but I’m not… it was about 10pm last night. I went out and got a chocolate-chip cookie, a lemon bar and a large pistachio macaron. Sugar is my favourite food group. Most recent film that made you cry? Bohemian Rhapsody. There’s a scene with [Freddie Mercury’s] dad that made me weep.

Last podcast you listened to? Amy Schumer’s 3 Girls, 1 Keith. App you can’t live without? Instagram. According to my battery time, I’m on there eight hours a day, which is disgusting. But when we have downtime in between scenes, we’re all on our phones. Favourite emoji? F T The winky face sticking out its tongue. I wish I was professional enough to just send it to my friends, but I’ll happily put it in emails to my lawyer. Last person you followed on Instagram? Renée Bargh – she’s my friend Glen Powell’s girlfriend. Ever been starstruck? Literally every time I go to an event. But I don’t act crazy, I smile and give the Queen’s wave and nod my head when, really, inside I’m screaming. Song that gets you dancing? Ariana Grande’s No Tears Left To Cry. It’s not a dancefloor jam but it does get me moving. Last thing you do before bed? Check Instagram for memes or videos of people falling over. I know, it’s terrible. Last Google search? “Givenchy men’s black boots”. I was trying to find them after I saw Timothée Chalamet wearing them. Tan’s book, Naturally Tan, is out 6th June C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

S S A P M O the C UR O G TIN A O L F

B L O C O T I G H TS

L I V E R E N T-F R E E

BLACK MIRROR

Fancy saving a packet? SpareRoom* is running a competition for one person to have their rent paid for them for one whole month (Spareroom. co.uk/liverentfree).

Everyone’s favourite dystopian (and, at times, eerily accurate) series is back. Now with added star power in the form of Miley Cyrus. It hits Netflix on 7th June.

P E TA L P U S H E R S Fare thee well, tacky plastic flower crowns: festival hair is now next-level horticulture-inspired. Rodarte (above) and Dolce & Gabbana worked with florists to curate their S/S 19 offering.

While we wouldn’t want to handle a dirty one, this very uct real cleaning produ (£12.99, by a brand d called Boners, no leess) is just plain silly.

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

Ease your legs into British summertime ummertime with som me brighterthanbright hosiery. From ’80s dotted numbers over at Saint Laurent to Versace’s floral-print pins (righ ht), it’s all go.

KING

P E T VO O D O O D O L L S Toys for your furry friend, in the form of Theresa May, JJeremy Corbyn, Donald Trump or Boris Johnson. Well worth £16.99† – and extremely satisfying to watch being torn apart. Sadistic, us?

HIP S R OU

W H AT T H E FO N C?

C OW H U G G I N G

PENIS CLEANER

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th …

A farm in upstate New York offers 90-minute cuddling therapy sessions with cows, because their higher body temperatures can help people feel calmer. No, thanks.

“Anyone for a Malted Milk?”

TO P-TO -TO E B E I G E Cool for a hot minute, but it’s time to inject some colour back into our summer wardrobes pronto, before the bus driver starts asking where our Freedom Pass is.

This new acronym (believed to have originated on the podcast That’s So Retrograde) stands for “fear of not chilling”. So we’re fearful of missing out (FOMO) and fearful of the opposite? Exhausting.

H E AV Y M E TA L Earlobe-wrenchingly heavy body jewellery was spotted on the runway at Gareth Pugh, Loewe and Mugler (above). Good luck getting that humongous new septum ring through airport security…

WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, PETHATESTOYS.COM. *SPAREROOM HAS ALSO PARTNERED WITH HOMELESS CHARITY CRISIS TO MATCH EVERY MONTHLY AND ANNUAL LIVE-RENT-FREE PRIZE, DONATING THE SAME SUM TO SUPPORT CRISIS’S “EVERYBODY IN” CAMPAIGN, AIMING TO END HOMELESSNESS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS. †PETHATESTOYS.COM

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WORDS INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN. PHOTOGRAPH DENNIS PEDERSEN, GETTY IMAGES. SOLEIL TOUJOURS, SPACENK.COM

YOUR NO–BS GUIDE TO ALL THINGS BEAUTY

PRO-OCEAN LOTION Turns out some of the ingredients in our sun cream that keep us safe are busily bleaching coral reefs. So much so that countries like Mexico have taken to barring sunseekers wearing the wrong sunscreens from taking a dip in their marine parks. Removing the most offending filters (as suntan lotions such as Caudalie Beautifying Suncare Oil SPF30, £21, and Soleil Toujours Organic Sheer Sunscreen Mist SPF30, £32, do) sorts out the coral. But as that still leaves plenty of additional ingredients that other reef creatures wouldn’t choose to dine on, “reef-safe” claims are, frankly, overstated. Being “reef-friendly”, the (more truthful) term REN uses for its Clean Screen Mineral SPF30, £30, is the best we can hope for – and for now, that’s pretty terreefic. (Sorry.) C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Trepadora Papaya Slip Taming Potion, £18 You might not have managed to adopt a vegan diet, but your hair can with this 96% natural curl-tamer.

LOVES + 2019 + Alex x Steinherr Stein x Primark P Pollution Solution Dual D Texture Exfoliating g Pads, £6 Gentle, effective, brilliant vallue.

Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Targeted Spot Brightener, £45 Has one of the few vitamin C compounds that will genuinely fade pigment spots. Worth dabbing.

ucci Bloom Body ream, £58 Until ou can afford that double-G G belt, console yourself with this tuberose and jasmine delight.

Hot right now!

+ 2 01 9 +

When you see beauty products with this logo anywhere, you can be guaranteed they are Cosmopolitan-beautyteam-approved.

Marc Jacobs Daisy Love Eau So Sweet EDT, £57 (50ml) If sweet scents are your thing, this whiteraspberry-loaded potion is enough to give you a cavity.

Forget millennial pink, the latest beauty drops are strictly generation peach

Daniel Sandler Watercolour Liquid Illumi or Gra

LOVES

Mugler Co gne in Take T, £55 (100ml) Me Out EDT One spritzz transports you r, orange-filled We ended up in Italy h George Clooney.

Isle Of Paradise Glow Clear Self-Tanning Mousse, £19.95 Zero streaks, smells, or orange e tones – fake tan or witchcraft?

r suitcase now – this looks divine against tans and dark skin tones.

Glossier Play Colorslide in Candyland, £13 According to John Mayer, our bodies are a wonderland, but thanks to this metallic peach liner, our eyelids are now a playground.

ken Frizz Dismiss Instant Deflate Oil-In-Serum, £29.29 Apparently babassu oil defrizzes r better than coconut oil. If only Monica had this in Barbados…

WORDS ORDS INGEB INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN, L LAURA CAPON. PHOTOGRAPHS LUCKY IF SHARP

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash, £27.48 Finally, a shampoo with no parabens, silicones and sulfates that comes in a bottle we want to display.

WRAP STARS

Tie your summer look together with this season’s must-have hair accessories

1 & Other Stories Restore Hair Serum, £15

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

DIOR S/S 19

DIFFICULTY 2/3

L’Oréal TecniArt Air Fix Extra Strong Fixing Spray, £12.80

Redken Dry Shampoo Powder, £15

ELASTIC FANTASTIC

Percy & Reed Tame That Mane Smoothing Styling Cream, £16

DIFFICULTY 3/3

Ghd Flight Travel Hair Dryer, £59

3 BURBERRY S/S 19

Dior’s dancer-inspired ’do will have you hopping on the headband wagon in no time. “At home, I’d start by blow-drying the hair straight with a smoothing styling cream, then spray it with a gritty texturising spray,” says Palau. At the show, the back of the hair was then separated into two low ponytails using styling clips. But, as the focus here is on your elastic at the

front, you can make do with a very slick, neat low bun behind. Then just add two stretchy headbands on top. It’s show time.

SILKY SLICKER DIFFICULTY 1/3

If you’re after a speedy way to upgrade your work look, then this simple Burberry style has you covered. To recreate it, Palau says, “Run a smoothing cream through the hair and blow-dry it straight using a round brush – this will give the roots some volume. Then brush shine serum through the lengths and use your fingers to scrape the hair back into a low ponytail, twisting it into a bun and securing it with an elastic.” Finish it all off by knotting a small silk scarf around the bun. Et voila.

WORDS JOANNA TAYLOR. PHOTOGRAPH JASON LLOYD-EVANS

BOW DOWN

Can’t let go of the messy bun? You’re in luck, because Dolce & Gabbana’s catwalk hair takes your usual mop from crazy cat lady to creative chic in no time. Lead hair stylist at the show, Guido Palau, says the key to pulling it off is… confidence: “You need to be able to twist your hair up, tie a bow, and roll with it.” To get the look, “Start by pulling clean, dry hair (don’t worry about the texture) into a ponytail at the crown of the head and twisting it into a knot, securing it loosely with an elastic,” says Palau. Add a few large kirby grips to keep the bun in place, then rub your fingers around the hairline to create some fly-aways. To finish, tie a large bow around your head and dig out your red lippy.

DOLCE & GABBANA S/S 19

TRY THE TREND

O T OW

P U H C U O TTILL N W O D H C U O T

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BEFORE LEAVING NG THE HOUSE…

Comb through a light, leave-in hair serum (Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum, £36) and let it dry as you head to the airport. Moisture evaporates much faster on a plane than on land, decimating the water reserves in your skin and hair.

07 ONE HOUR IN WHEN THE DRINKS TROLLEY COMES ROUND, ask the crew to fill up your reusable water bottle – to which you’ve cunningly added grated ginger or fresh mint leaves – with hot water. So much more tasty and energising than airline coffee.

AFTER SECURITY

BEFORE TAKE-OFF

ONCE YOU’VE CLEARED LUGGAGE CHECK… HEAD STRAIGHT TO BOOTS for a bottle of Vicks First Defence Nasal Spray, £6.55. A recent study showed that any person full of cold seated within a metre of you on the plane is 80% likely to infect you. Spritz this up your nose to kill the bugs (which breed in your nasal passages) dead.

TWO HOURS IN

Your best meal option? A thai curry or something spicy, says nutritionist Ian Marber: “Dry conditions sap your ability to taste, so plane food is packed with salt.” That drains your body of more moisture, but spices “often mean too much salt in a dish can be avoided”.

Plane-cabin air pressure can expand intestinal gas by up to 30%, so choose your food wisely in Departures. Load up on lean protein – like Pret’s crayfish and avocado salad – and skip anything salty. The extra sodium will only exacerbate water retention.

PICK UP AN OJ. The air on any plane has less than 20% humidity – almost half of what you’re used to, which means you can end up feeling as dry as an old flip-flop. Thankfully orange juice is packed with potassium to restore your fluid balance. (So is coconut water or a ripe banana.)

09 10 NAP TIME CRUISSE CONNTROL Regular moisture oisture top top-ups are of the essence. Clinique Moisture Surge Eye 96-Hour HydroFiller Concentrate, £27.50, is a genius gel packing tiny lipid spheres that can be dabbed under eyes or anywhere for serious quenching. Givenchy L’Intemporel Blossom Beautifying Cream-In-Mist, £48, is just that (very handy) and its cherry blossom aroma will fix the rancid cabin-air situation.

A CONTOURED SLEEPING MASK is SO much better than a flat one that crushes your lashes and always lets light stream in around the sides. We swear by a total-blackout, lightas-air Orihea Contoured Eye £7 99.

WORDS INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN. PHOTOGRAPHS LACEY/TRUNKARCHIVE.COM, GETTY IMAGES. MURAD, MURAD.CO.UK. ORIHEA, SLEEPEYEMASK.CO.UK. WESTMAN ATELIER, NET-A-PORTER.COM

06 TEN MINUTES

IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKE-OFF

Turn off the air vent – it makes dry conditions even drier. While everyone is inspecting the inflight entertainment, take your make-up off (a pocket pack of Simple Micellar Make-Up Remover Eye Pads, £4.99, will

do the trick) and multi-layer your face with moisture for maximum hydration. Try a soothing face mist topped with a plumping serum AND moisturiser. Unless your skin is quite oily, avoid relying on just serum and jelly textures: these humectant-based hydrators attract moisture from the air – of which there is none on a plane. We like Murad Prebiotic 3-in-1 MultiMist, £30 + Vichy Minéral 89 Booster, £22.50 + Elizabeth Arden Great 8 Daily Defense Moisturizer SPF35, £36 (all 100ml or less, of course). And yes, we said SPF – UVA radiation is higher at altitude, so apply this regularly, especially if you’re in a window seat with light reflecting off clouds and snowfields.

Can’t bear bare skin? Westman Atelier Vital Skin Foundation Sticks, £62, are so full of caring ingredients they may as well be skincare – and they double as concealers lers.

13 12 TEN MINUTES TO LANDING

TWENTY MINUTES TO LANDING

Time to perk up your visage with a teeny make-up kit that can fit in the palm of your hand. Laura Mercier Glacé Touch, £23 (four shades), is a non-sticky, hydrating gloss for eyes, lips and cheeks. Code Beautiful Code VLM Mini Mascara, £10.50, is the baby

AFTER TAKE-OFF

version of one of our favourite big-lash, smudge-free mascaras (only the wand is regular-sized). And Benefit Gimme Brow+ Mini, £11 (eight shades), teams all the tinting, shaping volumising power of the original brow mascara with the dinkiest precision brush.

Dabbed along your hairline and parting, Styledry Dry Shampoo Blotting Papers, £9, get rid of any encroaching oiliness. If parched, frizzy or crunchy curls are your problem, a small dab of compact Rahua Smoothing Hair Balm, £26.50, melted between fingers and squeezed into your waves, will give th them a new lleasse of life.

ONCE OFF THE PLANE A QUICK SQUIRT OF Modern Botany Travel Deodorant, £15, packs a lemony-woodyminty punch that doubles as a chic unisex perfume and a way to stave off imminent jetlag. (The frankincense, eucalyptus and vetiver oils improve memory, concentration and your mood.) Happy holidays! ◆

for RIPE the We know you’re popping your spots on the sly, so you might as well do it right. Here’s how…

Blackheads WHAT ARE THEY?

Not dirt! These are open pores filled with dead skin cells and oil that “oxidise on exposure to air, turning black”, explains Dr Justine Kluk, a dermatologist who specialises in the treatment of acne. WHEN TO PICK

While Dr Kluk would like me to say never (due to the risk of infection and scarring), she knows that 90% of spot sufferers go against this advice. So, as blackheads don’t have a life cycle, they’re always ripe for the picking. HOW TO DEAL

Prep the skin “Apply a product containing salicylic acid, like Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Lotion Exfoliant, £26, regularly for a few weeks to help reduce oil production and loosen the plug of trapped dead skin cells,” says Dr Kluk.

Squeeze smart Find a pore with a wide opening and black material inside and, for the love of god, cleanse your hands and face first. Wrap your fingertips in tissue and gently

squeeze the edges of the pore, without digging your nails in. If the blackhead won’t budge, don’t force it. If it does, Dr Kluk advises wiping away the debris with a cotton pad soaked in micellar water. Then dab the area with antibacterial tea tree oil.

Stop them from rebounding We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but even after the most careful of extractions, your pores will eventually fill back up… it’s just their thing. If you’re particularly prone to blackheads, keep products with salicylic acid in your daily routine, like Medik8’s Blemish Control Pads, £27.

Whiteheads WHAT ARE THEY?

A mix of dead skin cells and oil that accumulates in closed pores. Without exposure to air, the mixture doesn’t oxidise like a blackhead but becomes a white bump (which, as we all know, is virtually impossible not to want to pop). WHEN TO PICK

If there’s a visible white tip on the blemish, it’s ready to be squeezed.

Cysts WHAT ARE THEY?

These angry red bumps are an inflammatory response to pores that have been overloaded with oil, ruptured into surrounding tissue and formed an infection. They often pop up around the chin and jawline (a result of hormones) and can linger for weeks or even months. WHEN TO PICK

Cysts don’t come to a head, so “picking” should be left to the pros (seriously) to avoid major scarring and a way bigger, angrier bump – trust us.

Treat the surface While there’s not much you can do about the infection below the skin, it’s important to keep the surface area clean by applying a gentle anti-inflammatory treatment (we like Disciple’s What Spot?, £15, which helps speed up the life cycle of cystic acne and soothes inflammation with its blend of linoleic acid and black seed oil). Anything harsh will just dry your skin out, creating those unbearable flakes.

2 (If not, wait a day or two for the full volcano to appear.) HOW TO DEAL

1 2

Warm it up After a hot shower, apply a layer of thick moisturiser to the top of the whitehead. It’ll trap the heat, which you need to soften things up for a clean extraction. Grab a tool A metal extractor like Tweezerman No Slip Skincare Tool, £12.50 (right), will give you precision – just disinfect it first with a little surgical spirit. Place the smaller wire loop side (not the flat end) around the

whitehead and push down gently to avoid any permanent scarring.

Keep it clean Once the whitehead has been extracted, ice it for a few minutes to soothe inflammation, then apply a ZitSticka Killa Spot Clarifying Microdart Patch, £27 (for eight). These spot patches will hydrate and reduce the angry red bump, thanks to their dissolvable micro-darts that penetrate the skin with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide.

Reduce inflammation It may seem tempting, but whatever you do, don’t try to dry the bugger out. Instead, fight inflammation with blue LED light, which helps combat acnecausing bacteria, and red LED light, which penetrates deeper into the skin, reducing redness and inflammation. Luckily, you don’t have to book in for a pricey facial to get this medicalgrade treatment – the pocket-sized Dr Dennis Gross DRx SpotLite Acne Treatment Device, £58, does the job.

Seek a pro If you’re suffering with an especially painful or reoccurring cyst, we really mean it when we say you should leave it to the professionals. Dr Kluk explains: “A consultant dermatologist may be able to reduce the swelling and discomfort by administering a cortisone injection into the cyst. This helps to speed up the resolution, but carries its own risks. It should be done as part of a treatment programme so that it doesn’t have to be repeated frequently.”

WORDS MADDIE ABERMAN, LAURA CAPON. PHOTOGRAPH LOUISA PARRY. FOOD STYLIST LOIC PARISOT. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES

HOW TO DEAL

INGE HAS ISSUES

Cosmopolitan’s beauty director INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN gets some things off her chest PERSONAL SHOPPER

What’s the deal with …

OBSESSED

PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK. DAYTOX AT WAITROSE.COM

Toners?

With wash-off cleansers and micellar waters the face purifiers of choice for Generation Time-Poor, what’s the point of using a toner any more? But cleanse, tone, moisturise is the gospel, no? Not if your toner is an alcohol- or witch-hazel-based lotion meant to remove oily cleanser residue, like so many are. You don’t need them and they strip skin. So I’ll ditch toners? No, buy a new-gen one instead. Cleanser surfactants and even water raise your skin’s pH and upset its protective acid mantle, meaning it’ll struggle to reset itself to a calm, healthy state for about an hour. A good toner, featuring ingredients such as probiotics, low-dose gentle acids and humectants, fixes the situation in a flash, balancing and hydrating skin and making it super-receptive to actives. But it’s another step in my regime… Many are full of added skin boosters (think antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, vitamins), making them almost like

✱ Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly, £10 Slap on wet limbs to lock in moisturee and infuse your body with topnotch skincare ingredients.

Kat Burki pH+ Enzyme Essence, £92 A recalibrating face elixir.

+ 2019 +

IMPRESSED

a liquid serum. I often skip the latter and just do toner then SPF! Right. I’m buying an acid toner. Hold up! Those “glow tonics” or “resurfacing toners” are primarily alpha hydroxy acids and function as a liquid peel rather than a pH-resetting hydrator. They’re good, but often too much for daily use, especially if you use other acid-based skincare as well.

THESE HIT THE RIGHT TONE

It Cosmetics Miracle Water 3-In-1 Tonic, £28 Full of probiotics.

LOVES

Garnier Organic Thyme Perfecting Toner, £5.99 Freshness for oily skin.

Daytox D t Facial F i l Tonic, T i £10 Quenching hyaluronic acid with calming panthenol.

✱ Cosmetics A La Carte Glow Highlighting Powder in Beach, £40 At last! A highlighter that doesn’t make me look like a rose-gold glitter ball. Luminous and subtle.

NON-PLUSSED

✱ Solait Bronzing Sun Lotion SPF50, £7.99 The DHA (sself-tanning lf i agent) in thiis breaks down n sun filters, people. Pick k an alternativve Superdrug sunscreen instead. C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Garnier Micelllar Milky Cleansing g Water, £5.99 Consistency-wise e this was less like a gree en top and more like a Jersey gold. It took extra cotton pads, bu ut it did eventually remove all my make-up. Howev ver, the texture gave me flashbacks of my teen skincare routine using my y mum’s cream cleanser and a cotton ball. *Shudder*

BEAUTY LAB

OGRAPHS JENN COLLINS

LICENSINGPROJECT.COM, LUCKY IF SHARP, ANTONIO PETRONZIO

Pixi Hydra ydrating at Milky Makeup Remover, £24 This dual-phase cleanser, infused with coconut to moisturise, willow bark to soothe and probiotics to protect skin, did gently (and calmly) remove my lashings of mascara and foundation. But it seems a pretty pricey alternative to my regular £4.99 micellar water.

Ree Micella Milk, £17 new range of gan skincare migh at teens and young u but despite not bein , I’m officially converted. The e fig extract helps to hydrate and soothe sensitive complexions, while the lightweight formul my skin feelin and not i least bit y.

This month... nt to strip your make-up, not yoour skin? Acting beauty editor LAURA A CAPON ied the new removers that mix micella w th t the gentleness of the whit ite stuﬀ

Editor’s pick.

losol Lait, £9. s cult cleanser became iconic after Karl Lagerfeld admit bathed in it daily ly. y Now, when I th f the po tailed fa o on legend, magine is that e m t have smelt like e Nesquik. Too heavily vi scented for me.

Glossier Milky Oil, £10 A combination of micella ar water a and weightless oil mean nt this s the quickest remo over of all issolving my ma ascara wit t abrasive ubb . Bonus points p for not leavin y eyess cloudier than a Bo R painting. The he brand m e milky a serss cool has one-upp pped itself.

WORDS ZOE KNIGHT. PHOTOGRAPH ROWAN FEE. *TRY UPSWING FOR AERIAL DANCE IN LONDON, BUNGEEFIT IN NOTTINGHAM, OR SWAP THE POLE FOR A ROPE AT POLE SESSIONS IN MANCHESTER

STRE

Y AND YOUR MIND...

JUMP TO IT Bungee jumping: no longer that impressive as an “adventure” sport (as soon as you could start flinging yourself off a crane at your local fair it kind of lost its appeal). But now it’s gaining traction as the latest fitness craze, with bungee exercise classes popping up across the UK.* The sessions see you fastened into a harness and attached to a bungee rope from the ceiling, floating just off the ground for a cardio and strength workout. Benefits include toning your core, legs and back muscles. But the real perk? Being able to shut up your bragging Bumble date who bungeed on their gap year, by telling them you do it every week.

Strong, fitand 300lb Model, activist and now... unlikely fitness icon. Tess Holliday opens up about her wellness journey

Psst… When you see this badge it means the content we’re running is part of Hearst’s commitment to transform the way we talk about our bodies.

he thwack of battle ropes as they hit the floor, sending dust flying into the air. A Lycra-clad woman raising hand weights above her head, before racing across ladders laid down on the floor. These – along with the steady pump of Calvin Harris tracks – are the sights and sounds that you’ll hear in any gym across the country, so par for the course that they’re unremarkable. And yet when model Tess Holliday is the woman in this scenario, it is remarkable. People pay

attention. They comment on her Instagram; they discuss her on panel shows; they write articles about her. This is what happened when, last year, Tess first began sharing her workouts on her social-media pages. Her loyal fans feared she was turning her back on her self-love philosophy, while her trolls told her that she didn’t belong on the gym floor. A war broke out in her comments section. She had, unwittingly, stirred up a global debate about what happens when a size-26 woman works out. Here’s what she learned along the way. › C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

YOU DO FIT IN

“My first thought when Massy – the woman who became my personal trainer – left a comment on one of my photos was, ‘Is she trolling me?’ But then I began to scroll through her page and saw that we shared the same philosophies when it comes to health and fitness. She was using the right language. She’s not about looking good, she’s about what is going to help you with your mindset. When we first started working out, I was worried that everyone else in the gym was going to judge me. That they’d roll their eyes and think, ‘What is someone who weighs 300lb [around 21st] doing here?’ But it’s actually been the opposite. There’s one trainer who even schedules workouts with his clients at times he knows I’m going to be there. He loves watching how strong and determined I am. I know that gyms can be intimidating, but I think it’s about reminding yourself that you’re not

there for anyone else, you’re there for you. And if you do have a bad experience, tell the gym. Our current climate is changing all the time and there’s zero tolerance for exclusion any more.”

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT

“I’m aware that I’m fat – but part of the reason why fat people don’t work out, or feel comfortable sharing it, is because others can be so judgemental. They make assumptions about our bodies and our health that just aren’t true. People say things like ‘You’re finally working out’ or ‘getting healthy’ – but if I went to see my doctor right now, they’d tell me I am healthy. And I worked out before! All those comments are just perpetuating the stereotype that the only reason to work out is weight loss, when there are many reasons to work out. Weight Tess with her loss is not why trainer, Massy I’m working out. Will it happen? Maybe. But this is for my mental health, above all. When I started working with Massy I found it hard to push myself to commit to her, and I cancelled a couple of times. But she looked at my

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

Instagram feed, pointed out that I had time to get my nails and hair done – and reminded me that fitness was going to help with the feelings I was having about my mental health and profession. [Now I’m exercising] I am sleeping better and I have so much more energy than ever before.”

STRENGTH IS INSIDE

“When we started training, Massy said she wanted to work on my core. I was like, ‘I’m super-fat. My core doesn’t matter as you’ll never see it.’ I heard the word ‘core’ and thought of sixpacks. But she explained that the core is the centre of everything – it’s how I achieve what I do. When I said I wanted to be a model, everyone told me I couldn’t do it, and that’s what made me want to. I apply that same energy and mindset to obstacles on the gym floor. I love p*ssing people off. But it’s more than that: I love getting strong and seeing what I can do. I’ve now quadrupled the weight that I can lift.”

“Weight loss is not why I’m working out”

WE NEED TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS

“There are so many barriers to fat people working out – and a lot of it begins at school. I get really depressed thinking about PE because I was a fat teenager in a Mississippi school where it

Exercising her right to self-love

was all about football and cheerleaders. What we all did was so focused on that idea of fitness, which isn’t for everyone. I’d love to see a curriculum built around loving yourself and everything that entails. Fitness brands need to get on board, in the way that Nike did, by launching a plus-size workout line (which was actually plus-size!) and using plus-size models in their campaigns. We need clothes that we can work out in.”

Working out and working it

THIS IS LOVING MYSELF

THE BEST PLUS-SIZE ACTIVEWEAR Fed up of “large” sizes actually being “small”? Check out these hero brands…

Simply Be Already a cult favourite for its fashion range, it also has an activewear section that goes up to a size 32.

Lane Bryant One of Tess’s favourite brands, this US store specialises in fun colours and prints, up to a US size 28 (a UK size 32). Lanebryant.com

Fabletics The monthly fitness subscription service, which constantly evolves its range of designs, goes up to a size 30. Fabletics.co.uk

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

AS TOLD TO CATRIONA INNES. PHOTOGRAPHS RAUL ROMO RAULROMO.COM, INSTAGRAM/@TESSHOLLIDAY

“There have been so many people who have said, ‘Well, if you love yourself, then why are you working out?’ It makes me feel guilty about what I’m doing because I don’t want anyone to feel bad about themselves. I know it’s not for everyone. Not everyone is able-bodied and can work out. But I can be fat, I can work out and I can still love myself. I’m not abandoning my philosophy or betraying anyone. I also try to remember that some people need to see this. I’ve been getting messages from those thanking me as well. I can’t please everyone but I can please myself. And seeing my strength in the gym only adds to all the self-love I have. ◆ ● Hearst titles, including Red, Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, want to change the language surrounding fitness. That’s why we’ve launched Project Body Love, which aims to transform the way we speak about our bodies.

WORDS LAURA SILVERMAN. PHOTOGRAPH SHUTTERSTOCK. ILLUSTRATION KAGAN MCLEOD

oo hot. Too cold. Too windy. Calling all Goldilocks-style runners: you can improve your technique without leaving the house. Sports medicine physician Dr Jordan Metzl recommends adding explosive movements to your routine. “Powerful jumps train your fast-twitch muscle fibres, which you need for speed,” he says. “Even better, they strengthen the muscles around your joints, so they’ll be more protected when you run.” Do two sets of this circuit at least twice a week, performing each move for a minute, with as little rest as possible between.

Make it to the finish line with this at-home workout designed to increase your speed

TO IT

RUN EXPRESS WORKOUT

TARGETS: Biceps, abs 1 Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a dumbbell above your right shoulder. 2 Rotate your torso to the left and bend your hips to swing the dumbbell down past the left knee. 3 Reverse to go back to the start, then repeat. Switch sides halfway in.

STEP 2 DUMBBELL CHOP

TARGETS: Lats, chest, abs 1 Start in a push-up position, hands directly under shoulders. 2 Brace your core and bend your elbows to lower your body as you lift your right leg eight to 10 inches off the floor. 3 Return to the start, then repeat with your left leg. Continue alternating.

STEP 1 SINGLE-LEG PUSH-UP

TARGETS: Biceps, shoulders, core, abs 1 Lie on your back, right arm by your side and left hand holding a weight above your chest. 2 Bend your left knee, roll onto your right side and sit up on your right leg. 3 Stand, then reverse back to the start. Repeat, switching sides halfway.

STEP 4 TURKISH GET-UP

TARGETS: Thighs, glutes 1 Stand on your right foot with your knee slightly bent, and your left foot behind your right ankle. 2 Bend your right knee and lower into a partial squat, then bound to the left by jumping off your right foot, landing on your left, lowering your arm for balance. 3 Switch sides, and continue alternating.

STEP 3 SKATER HOP

Build up your base strength first by working on your push-ups, pull-ups and squats.

TIP!

TARGETS: Glutes, thighs, core 1 Stand, then push your hips down and back to lower into a squat, touching the floor with both hands and keeping your arms straight. 2 Jump up, raising your knees as high as theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go. 3 Land and immediately begin the next jump. Continue jumping, touching the floor when you land back down if you can.

STEP 5 FROG JUMP

FARRAH FAWCETT

Dungarees, £125, Carhartt WIP

Wheels, £29.95 for four, Welcome skateboards. co.uk Shirt, £85, Carhartt WIP

Hat, £38, Obey Sunglasses, £127, Ray-Ban

Socks, £13, Burlington

Earbuds, £139, Samsun ng

Top, £45, Ellesse

COMPILED BY SOPHIE LEEN. FILM STILL FROM CHARLIE’S ANGELS 1977/ALAMY/COLUMBIA

Heaven is a half pipe – but it’s also ﬁlled w with th he very latest boarder-inspired style Hat, £25, Volcom at Surfdome.com

Badge, £8, Obey

Bag, £23, Eastpak Grip tape, £12, Rip N Dip

Trainers, £80, Vans Top, £30, Santa Cruz

Skateboard, £99, Penny Skateboards

Bumbag, £35, Champion

Socks, £12.99, Stance

Trainers, £70, Palladium

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

WORDS AMY BANNERMAN. PHOTOGRAPH LOUISA PARRY. WITH THANKS TO SIGNATUREBRICKS.COM

SOMETIMES IT’S WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS

BUCKET LIST The Burberry print was once the preserve of rudeboys and Danniella Westbrook, but thankfully everyone has got over that. (Just.) Bucket hats are big news for winter, so invest in one now to be ahead of the game. The key accessory for Glastonbury, Latitude or Wilderness, it’s the ideal cover-all for “festival” hair. Or wear about town in a white summer dress for an “I’ve just shrugged off my parka and that massive chip on my shoulder” look. Hat, £230, Burberry at Mytheresa.com

Jacket, £79, M&S Collection. T-shirt, £16.95, Gap. Skirt, £69, Ghost. Earrings, £6, Claire’s. Bag, £110, Matt & Nat. Shoes, £195, Miista

Business

CLASS Want to nail summer workwear in style? Here’s how to keep cool while you’re bringing the heat at the office Styling MADDY ALFORD Photographer P O L LY H A N R A H A N

SHOP ME NOW

Skirt, £135, Reiss Sandals, £32, Topshop

Jacket, £30, Boohoo Skirt, £29.99, Lindex

Dress, £119, John Lewis & Partners

Blouse, £95, J Crew

Jacket, £119, Jigsaw

Sunglasses, £6, Peacocks Skirt, £28, Bonmarché Jacket, £69.99, Mango

The do-it-all blazer

Dress, £49.50, Marks & Spencer

Has there ever been a harder-working office hero than the humble jacket? (Honourable mention to Pam from facilities.) Pair with a midi skirt or dress to make it “summer”

Shoe, £70, Red Or Dead at Schuh Jacket, £38, Next

Shoes, £62, Office

Psst... Cropped, nipped-waist styles are as dated as the fax – the modern power shape is broad-shouldered and poker-straight, with a hem that sits at your hips.

Skirt, £45, Monsoon Skirt, £150, Samsoe & Samsoe

Skirt, £26, Edit by Mark Heyes at Bonmarché Jacket, £221, J Crew

Skirt, £88, Free People Skirt, £13 30, Samsoe e& Samso oe Shoes, £150, Dune London

Bag, £32, Next

Sandals, £125, LK Bennett i

Bracelet, £12, Asos.com

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Skirt, £18, Boohoo

Top, £275, Beulah

Shoes, £49.99, Mango

Bag, £24.99, Bershka

Earring ngs, £40, Pandora Trousers, £199, Hobbs

Dress, £299, Jigsaw

Jumpsuit, £180, Karen Millen

Skirt, £29, Topshop

The power colour-block

Trousers, £89, J Crew

Shoes, £45.99, Bershka

Yep, layers are chic, but not when you’re sweating through four of them in 28ºC heat. Pair separates creatively in summer – we’re wearing fruity brights with white accessories Psst... Make hot pink look conﬁdent rather than childish by choosing an architectural cut – like this Topshop shirt. Colour-blocking works best when you clash your textures.

Top, £90, Karen Millen

Trousers, £98, Jigsaw

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

Top, £22, F&F at Tesco Trousers, £20, Miss Selfridge

Bag, £45, Oasis

Skirt, £149, Hobbs

Skirt, £70, Free People

Bag, £99, Karen Millen

Top, £30, Miss Selfridge

Skirt, £125, Topshop

Scrunchie, £8 for two, ASOS Design at Asos.com

Shirt, £85, Topshop Boutique. Skirt, £120, Gestuz at Urban Outfitters. Rings, £10 for a pack of 10, Claire’s i

Coat, £169, John Lewis & Partners. Jumpsuit, £49, Miss Selfridge. Earrings, £19.95, Seol + Gold. Necklace, £170, Katie Mullally. Bag, £25, Dorothy Perkins. Shoes, £65, Office

Coat, £79, Find at Amazon Fashion Sandals, £35, Oasis

Coat, £49.99, Stradivarius Bag, £49.99, Mango Jumpsuit, £55, Oasis

Coat, £24, Boohoo

Sandals, £175, LK Bennett

Jumpsuit, £154, J Crew

Sunglasses, £12.50, Marks & Spencer

The lightweight trench

Scarf, £7.99, Lindex

Bag, £135, Karen Millen

Bag, £99, Karen Millen

Style out summer downpours with a fluid, never-not-chic raincoat. Design details like balloon sleeves make even the perennially dishevelled look pulled-together

Earrings, £4, Peacocks

Psst... Not a morning person? Pair your beige mac with a sandy, one-stop-shop boilersuit for faff-free dressing. The high street’s awash with these immaculately stylish timesavers.

Jumpsuit, £42, Dorothy Perkins

Coat, £99.99, Lindex Jumpsuit, £50, Next

Ring, £289, Phira London Sandals, £65, Dune London

Boots, £160, Dune London

Jumpsuit, £59.99, Mango

Playsuit, £140, Samsoe & Samsoe

Sandals, £22.99, New Look Jumpsuit, £69, Autograph at Marks & Spencer i

Coat, £65, Principles at Debenhams

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Jacket, £79, Marks & Spencer Top, £24, Dorothy Perkins

Shorts, £14, Matalan

Jacket, £265, Reiss

Jacket, £45, Miss Selfridge

Sunglasses, £2, Primark

Top, £20, Peacocks

The shorts suit

Shorts, £35, Marks & Spencer

Sandals, £55, River Island

Shorts? At work? Smart co-ords make it acceptable. Dress down with a cool tee and trainers in a relaxed office, or polish up with Victoriana blouses and block heels

Jacket, £79, Marks & Spencer

Shorts, £130, Reiss

Psst... Keep shorts looser-ﬁtting, and ensure the inseam extends at least 4-5 inches from your crotch. No Daisy Dukes at the photocopier, please (between the hours of 9-5).

Shoes, £52, Office

Shorts, £35, Marks & Spencer

Jacket, £199, Jigsaw

Jacket, £20, Matalan

Jacket, £49.50, Marks & Spencer

Shorts, £28, Miss Selfridge

Shirt, £29, £ Monsoo on Hair clip, £12 for a pack of two, ASOS Design at Asos.com

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

Sandals, £62, Office

Jacket, £140; shorts, £60, both Iris & Ink. Shirt, £79, Finery. Earrings, £19.95, Seol + Gold ◆ Model Jessica Fuhrmann at Linden Staub. Hair Sven Bayerbach at Carol Hayes Management, using Bumble And Bumble. Make-up Sara Hill at S Management, using Nars. Fashion assistant Claudia Gould. Photographer’s assistant Jamie Eke

One new payday treat, plus three ways to wear it. *Adds to basket*

Alessandra Ambrosio

Â· C O S M O P O L I TA N

For... first dates

For... work

For... play

Pastels and white are a winning combination – whatever your date location. Just swerve the negronis/red wine/blue WKDs…

The easiest way to a chic and summery nine-to-five? Monochrome. Smarten up the denim with a crisp white blazer and sharp ankle boots or heeled mules.

It’s time to hang loose – dress for weekend adventures in West Coast Cali-inspired surf tees and beachy rope sandals. Right on, dude.

TIP: Pastels play especially well with white in the summer and tick a big trend box. Mix them all together and pair with silver or diamante jewellery.

TIP: White skinnies don’t exude the same polish that stiff straight-legs do. The best pairs? Fitted at the hip, loose at the calf and hemmed at the ankle.

TIP: Succumbed to grass stains? Soak the patch in a 2:1 mixture of cold water and white vinegar before washing, or try Ecover Stain Remover, £3.

Jacket, £58, Oasis

T-shirt, £26, Urban Outﬁtters

Earrings, £45, Pandora

Top, £16, Asos.com

Bag, £34, Next Bracelet, £6.99, H&M

Belt, £24.99, Reserved

Bag, £38, Head Over Heels

Shirt, £395, M Mother Of Pearl

WORDS AND STYLING MADDY ALFORD. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, PIXELATE IMAGING

JEANS £85, Levi’s (501 Crop) – used throughout

Bag, £22, Topshop

Sandals, £72, Office Shoes, £69.99, Zara

Sandals, £58.99, Nomadic State Of Mind at Office

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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· C O S M O P O L I TA N

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OPOL

BEAUTY BUFF Want long-lasting, salon-smooth skin without leaving the house? Braun’s new devices make it easy, says blogger Gabrielle Wears Denim SLEEK AS SILK

The only thing better than professional salon results? Getting them in the comfort of your own home. “I wanted to try something that was easy,” says Gabrielle. “I liked the idea that epilating removes the hair by the root, but without all the mess of waxing.” With the Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa, you can exfoliate, epilate, shave, trim and massage; different attachments will leave your skin hair-free and silky smooth. And, as Gabrielle says, “You can use it wet or dry – it’s so convenient.”

FAST RESULTS

The Braun Silk-épil 9 captures hairs as short as 0.5mm, giving you instantly smooth skin for up to four weeks. Want even longer-lasting smoothness? Then try Braun Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL. Use the “gliding mode” to trigger more ﬂashes for larger areas, or the “stamp mode” for precise treatments in smaller or sensitive areas (bikini line and upper lip, we’re looking at you).

BIKINI BEAUTY

Had enough of sticky wax strips? The Braun Bikini Styler, or Braun Silk-épil with shaver attachment, are both perfect for keeping your bikini line in check. For the braver, use the epilator head with the massage rollers. It will remove even the shortest hairs, which wax can’t catch, for up to four weeks of salon-smooth skin – so you’ll never have to wait for your body hair to grow long enough for a waxing appointment again.

COSMOPOLITAN PROMOTION

FACE FACTS

Want to remove pesky hairs on your chin, upper lip or forehead and keep your brows in check? With the Braun FaceSpa Pro, it’s easy. On these delicate areas, precision is key and this device lets you handle it like a mascara wand for absolute control. With 200 plucking motions per second it’s more thorough and much faster than a manual tweezer.

*EFFICIENCY BASED ON THE COMBINATION OF WINDOW SIZE, SPEED AND ENERGY. SAFETY TECHNOLOGY SHARED WITH CYDEN. GABRIELLE’S MAKE-UP: ESTHEDERM, ARMANI BEAUTY

LAST-MINUTE DATE

That Bumble match has ﬁnally got back to you and wants to meet tonight – result! But the salon’s closed and your legs are seriously hairy. No problem when you have a cordless, 100% waterproof epilator. Whether you’re having a quick shower (before dashing out to meet your future spouse) or an indulgent bath, the warm water will soothe your skin, making epilation even gentler.

WHY IT WORKS

Braun Silk-épil 9 SkinSpa makes hair removal simple – use it to exfoliate, epilate, shave and trim. With its compact design, it’s perfect for popping into your overnight bag or suitcase, too. For more permanent hair removal, the Silk-expert Pro 5 IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) treats both legs in just ﬁve minutes, and it’s clinically proven and safe to use on your face, too. It automatically adjusts to any skin tone and it’s the fastest, safest, most efficient* IPL technology.

GETTING-READY GOALS

We all know that looking effortlessly gorgeous isn’t exactly effortless and requires a little forward-planning. Here’s how to swap the rough for the smooth like a pro… Firstly, timing is everything. Epilate the night before you bust out your look-at-my-silky-legs little black dress or date outﬁt. This gives 24 hours for any irritation to reduce. Evenings are the best time for an epilation rendezvous – you’re more relaxed and any minor bumps will be gone by the morning. When you wake up, take a warm shower, relax and exfoliate your skin to avoid those dreaded ingrown hairs. Baby-soft skin for the permanently time-poor: now possible.

Discover what the Braun range has to offer in-store at Boots and online at uk.braun.com

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER…

WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. ILLUSTRATIONS MARTIN IXER DESIGN. *£20, PAN MACMILLAN, OUT 27TH JUNE

BADGES OF HHONOUR Heard the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none”? Well, it’s time to embrace it. The key to career success is now making your skill set as broad as possible. That’s according to new book Range* by David Epstein (who studied athletes, musicians and scientists as part of his research). It says that harnessing a multitude of skills, rather than specialising in one, is the way to get ahead – and you don’t have to quit your job to do it. “Ask to shadow someone, or grab lunch with a colleague you don’t really know, to learn about their role,” says Epstein. That knitting badge you picked up at Brownies? It may be due a comeback…

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

HOUSE? S truggling to afford rent in London, or need to move there to boost your career? Want to live with other women who share your goals? As part of our Home, Made campaign, we’ve rehoused 12 women as property guardians and – you’ve guessed it – we want to do it again. Working with Dot Dot Dot, who utilise disused buildings to help people rent for up to a third of the typical price, we’re looking for new applicants. So, if you’ve got a friend you’re happy to live with, or want to find one, we’ve got the answer. Just fill out the form (link below), telling us about yourself and why you need help with housing.

If you’re fed up of pricey rent or need help finding a flatshare with like-minded women, we have the solution

Cosmopolitan guardians Mitali and Kayleigh in their central-London home

G O TO CO S M O P O L I TA N .CO M / U K / H O M E M A D E - 2 0 1 9

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

WORDS AMY GRIER. PHOTOGRAPHS MARK HARRISON. ILLUSTRATION SHUTTERSTOCK. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

Do you want to live in the next

Screwed up on the job? You’re not alonee…

STICKY SITUATION As a shop assistant, I was strictly forbidden from chewing gum on the shop floor. Clocking the store manager on the approach, I panicked and chucked my gum out of the third-floor window. It landed on the area manager’s head.

COMPILED BY KATE PASOLA AND LAURA SILVERMAN. PHOTOGRAPHS HITANDRUN/HITANDRUNMEDIA.COM

LIANNE, 26, ESSEX

SECRET’S OUT It was my job to organise the collection for my boss’s leaving present. I dutifully passed round an envelope and sent a group email, asking people to donate. At the last minute, a colleague distracted me, and I copied in the boss. I haven’t been in charge of a collection since. NADIA, 25, LONDON

DOCTOR WHO?

FAKING IT

I pulled a sickie to go to a music festival and wanted another day to recover. On being told I’d need to provide a sick note, I downloaded a fake one for bronchitis from a doctor based in my town. When I gave it to my boss, he spotted the doctor was actually based in Rochester, New York, rather than Kent. Busted. JESSICA, 25, KENT

I was a sales advisor at a high-end boutique and had just smashed my target. When I was called into the manager’s office, I was expecting a reward, but instead saw a pile of badly printed fake £20 notes stacked on the table. Apparently, con artists had been targeting the shop, and I’d been swindled to the tune of £600. ROBYN, 24, LEEDS

SLIP OF THE… I was just out of university and in my first job as a personal assistant. I mistyped my boss Alan’s name as “Anal” in an email to three executive members of staff. That was the end of my career as a PA. SOFIA, 26, LONDON

FULL STREAM AHEAD After a few wines, I started a livestream on my phone. “What’s up, party people!” I cried. Soon n thousands were watching! I was delighted… until I realised I’d logged into my work account: Glasgow City Council, which has 130k followers. I deleted the video, but the story made the papers. Amazingly, I only got a warning. SAMANTHA, 26, LONDON

ON THE SLUSH PILE At the end of my first day as a cinema usher, I was asked to turn off the air-con before leaving. The controls were right above the switch for the gigantic ice-cream freezer. I returned the next morning to gallons of melted Ben & Jerry’s. JENNA, 22, NEWCASTLE

LOCKED OUT I was at a fancy work event, and a celebrity had come along. Desperate for a picture, I grabbed my iPad. But my passcode didn’t work. I typed it in again and again until it locked me out. Turns out, it was the celebrity’s iPad – and they couldn’t get into it for the next 24 hours. ANGELYQUE, 23, WORCESTER

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Have you

Laptop anti-glare screen: essential

been job

ghosted? It used to just haunt our dating lives but now ghosting is something employers do, too. Here’s how to deal with it… PHANTOM PHASE 1:

WHEN THEY GHOST YOUR APPLICATION

Yes, there are the potential CV errors (spelling mistakes, poor grammar, including a photo when it wasn’t requested), but if you’ve checked through your application with a hawk eye and you’ve still heard nothing, it could be down to sheer volume. “The reality is that, on average, companies receive 250 applications per job advert – far more than an HR manager could possibly review by hand,” explains Amanda Augustine, a career advice expert at TopCV – the world’s largest CV writing service. “Which is why nearly all large organisations use software known as an applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan CVs and eliminate the least-qualified candidates for a role.” Leaving it to the robots, however, can result in up to 75% of CVs being rejected before a recruiter even sees them. Yikes.

So if your CV isn’t written with this electronic net in mind, the chances of your application being binned – regardless of your suitability for the role – is painfully high. GHOSTBUST IT

Beat those bots by gathering three to five job adverts similar to the role you’ve applied for and identify the keywords that repeatedly appear. Incorporate the terms two to three times throughout your CV, particularly in the “key skills” and “work history” sections. If you’ve already applied, do some sleuthing and find the contact information for the HR manager or the manager of the role you’re pursuing. Find out if anyone you know works there, scroll the company website and check LinkedIn. You could also type the organisation name into Twitter, then click on “people”, to see who has mentioned the company in their bio. As for what to say once you’ve found them? “Keep your note short when › C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

PHANTOM PHASE 2:

WHEN THEY GHOST YOU POST-INTERVIEW More than one third of job-seekers say a prospective employer rejected them by never actually responding at all, according to a recent study by career data firm Clutch. But why? It could be that the update is there simply isn’t an update, an internal reorganisation may be taking place, and the job you applied for may have just… vanished. It’s also not uncommon to come runner-up to an internal candidate. Unfortunately, there are no laws requiring employers to offer feedback after an interview (trust us, we’ve checked – so ditch those triumphant courtroom-scene daydreams). “There’s also every chance that the interviewer, just like a cowardly right-swipe, simply doesn’t want to deal with any awkwardness, says Susan Vitale, a workplace expert and chief marketing officer at recruitment company iCIMS. “Frankly, employers could want to avoid having those uncomfortable conversations.” GHOSTBUST IT

There is a fine line between being “tenacious” and “aggressive” – and it’s one you don’t want to cross. During your interview, ask specifically when you can expect to hear about next steps. If you don’t get word by then, send an email reminder that reiterates your interest and the fact that you’re hoping for an update. To make sure your message stands out, be specific. Try something in the region of “Can we hop on the phone? I have one more question about the position”. Direct asks are more likely to get responses.

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

PHANTOM PHASE 3:

WHEN YOU KNOW THEY’VE GHOSTED... BUT YOU’RE STILL INTERESTED Not sure if you’ve been ghosted? Augustine says you should cut your losses five weeks after the interview. You could take it as a good sign – after all, how a prospective employer treats you during the interview process is reflective of how they’d treat you as an employee: if it’s not great now, it’s unlikely to improve later. But what if you still want to work there? GHOSTBUST IT

“Wait for a new reason to reach out to your primary contact at the company later down the line,” says Augustine. “Follow the business on social media or set up Google News Alerts, so, say, if they win an award, land a big contract or expand into a new area, you can reach out and congratulate them.”

PHANTOM PHASE 4:

WHEN YOU WANT TO GHOST

So you go for the interview and then you realise the position might not be for you. What then? No matter how fed up you get with job ghosters, don’t turn the tables – surprisingly 41% of job applicants say they feel just fine screening a company during the recruiting process.* Not a great idea,

says psychologist and workplace expert Amy Cooper Hakim. “Job ghosting, on either side, is not respectful practice. You could end up burning major bridges you’ll need later in your career.” GHOSTBUST IT

If you decide you’re not into a job (unsure? try rereading the job description and really visualising whether or not you could see yourself doing it for five days a week), just send a response: “Thank you for your time, but I don’t think this position is the best fit for me. Good luck with your search!” There, not so scary after all. ◆

DECODING FEEDBACK Rejection emails often need a little reading between the lines. Let us lend a hand... THEY SAY: “We have decided to go with a candidate who has more relevant experience for the role.” THEY MEAN: Wow. Seeing as you’ve just finished an internship at an accounting firm, being the CEO of a tech company is quite the leap. Donna in HR must be back on her “drowsy” antihistamines to have set up that particular interview. THEY SAY: “Unfortunately, your key skills weren’t a match for the role.” THEY MEAN: While it’s undeniably impressive that you can beatbox, juggle knives and once won a hotwing-eating contest, we’re not sure how it’s relevant to being a legal secretary. THEY SAY: “We’ll keep your application on file for future consideration.” THEY MEAN: To be honest, I forgot your name the moment you walked out of the door. What is it again? Sharon? Karen? Ah, Gemma. Close enough. THEY SAY: “Best of luck in your future endeavours.” THEY MEAN: Please stop emailing me. Go somewhere else. Anywhere else. I mean it.

WORDS CAITLIN CARLSON. ADDITIONAL WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. PHOTOGRAPHS JEFFREY WESTBROOK/STUDIO D, GETTY IMAGES. *ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY BY CAREER DATA FIRM CLUTCH. LINKEDIN, THE LINKEDIN LOGO, THE IN LOGO AND INMAIL ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OR TRADEMARKS OF LINKEDIN CORPORATION AND ITS AFFILIATES IN THE UNITED STATES AND/OR OTHER COUNTRIES

you do – only say enough to reaffirm [your enthusiasm] and quickly summarise your relevant qualifications,” suggests Augustine. Take that, recruitment Dalek.

COSMOPOLITAN PROMOTION

SWIMWEAR CHEAT SHEET

Holiday fast approaching? Take the hassle out of swimwear shopping, whatever your body shape, with our top tips

ADD ANIMAL PRINT

Looking for a non-scary way to liven up your all-black-everything swimwear drawer? Jump on Instagram’s most hashtagged trend by adding an animal print kimono to your packing list. Perfect for beach-tobar drinks, this is one staple you’ll find yourself wearing again and again.

GO HIGHWAISTED

A high-waisted brief is always a winner. It plays up your curves and nips in your waist; what’s not to love? For bonus support, look for bikini bottoms in a tummy-smoothing fabric, like Simply Be’s magisculpt powermesh.

EMBRACE THE BEACH DRESS

Because not everyone feels comfortable flashing all of the flesh as soon as they step off the plane. If you’d rather leave a little more to the imagination, layer a sheer beach maxi dress, like this embellished beauty from Simply Be, over your swimsuit. Now go forth and shimmer.

BIG UP THAT BOOTY

Proud of your peach? Flaunt it. There are two tricks to bumflattering swimwear: a high leg cut and less fabric (yes, even if you’re blessed with more to love down there). They’ll give your bum shape and elongate your legs.

SWIMSUITS FOR THE WIN

The world’s obsession with the one-piece is showing no signs of abating, so get on board and go for a swimsuit with built-in bust support or a ruched or belted waist. This summer it’s all about outrageously extra accessories, so a supersized sun hat is a must.

Shop the bikinis, swimsuits and cover-ups your curves deserve in sizes 12-32 and cup sizes A-L at Simplybe.co.uk

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

COMEAND LEARN WITHUS Cosmopolitan and Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts will pay for your education and you’ll get a placement with our digital team. Interested? Here’s the lowdown ee yourself as the next Cosmopolitan Snapchat animator, Pixar creative or tech mogul? Then we have the course for you. We’re giving one person a paid scholarship on an Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production & Technology course at Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts…

THE BEST BIT: EVERYTHING IS PAID FOR The fees for the full-time, two-year course (starting September 2019), as well as on-site accommodation in Cambridge, will be fully funded for one lucky winner. AND you also get a guaranteed unpaid internship on our digital team, involving anything from design, animation and motion graphics to video editing and production, depending on your skills and interests, with travel expenses paid for the duration of the placement.

SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Download an application form at

Csvpa.com/apply/Scholarships.htm

TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Open to UK residents aged 16 to 18 with a minimum of four GCSEs at grade C or above (at least one of which is in a media or art and design subject), or the equivalent overseas qualification. *Demonstration that you do not have the means to fully self-fund through your own savings or funding from a parent or guardian will also need to be provided. At the Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts, we believe that creativity can start from anywhere and our scholarships are intended to promote accessibility and diversity within their respective field of study for students who could not otherwise afford further education. Students can contact the student recruitment team for more info at studentadvice@ceg-uk.com. The winner will receive free tuition to study at CSVPA, along with free accommodation and meals at the school, plus a four-week unpaid internship within Cosmopolitan’s digital team, including travel expenses up to £700 between Cambridge and London. The course begins in September 2019. Entries will be shortlisted by relevant CSVPA course leaders and the school’s dean and rector. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel of representatives from Cosmopolitan and CSVPA. The competition will run from 30th January 2019 (the “opening date”) to midnight on 30th June 2019 (the “closing date”) inclusive. Entries for the scholarship opened on 30th January 2019 and close on 30th June 2019. Once the closing date has passed, CSVPA will contact successful candidates who will be invited to interview. After the final candidates have been interviewed, all applicants will be contacted and notified if they have been successful. The winner must claim the scholarship by confirming with the student recruitment team within five days of the offer. Hearst and CSVPA’s decision is final. For full terms and conditions, go to Csvpa.com/apply/terms-and-conditions.htm

PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES

and email it to studentadvice@ceg-uk.com, along with a 500word personal statement outlining why you are the passionate new talent we’re looking for. Closing date 30th June 2019. Applicants must be able to prove they cannot self-fund.*

“Personal brands are built on being genuine”

SELF MADE

AS TOLD TO JENNIFER SAVIN. PHOTOGRAPH HOLLY GLYNN

Award-winning broadcaster and best-selling author EMMA GANNON, 29, on how to get ahead in a modern world ³ Anything is possible with determination I started my career at PR and marketing agencies before becoming a social-media manager for a magazine. But I always had a side hustle, such as the blog I set up in 2010, and I launched my podcast in 2016. I often write about having multiple career interests and how that’s OK, but at the same time, there’s a quote that says,“You can do anything, but you can’t do everything,” and it’s true. Even when you have a multihyphen career, you have to prioritise. I’d had the blog for about five years when I began making money from it, but by then, I was in my dream job. It was scary quitting that role three years ago to focus on blogging, speaking at events and the podcast – which has now reached over four million listeners. It’s a really individual decision, but if anything, I wish I’d made the leap sooner. ³ Turn nerves into excitement There came a point while promoting my book, The Multi-Hyphen Method, where I was on stage more than I was off it, but even then, I’d get nervous about public speaking. Nerves and excitement are pretty much the same emotion though, so if I’m ever feeling really apprehensive, I try to switch gear and tell myself I only feel that way because I’m so eager to do whatever it is.

E M M A’ S BUSINESS ESSENTIALS FAVOURITE APP: Slack. My team and I used to WhatsApp each other at night saying, “Don’t read this now,” but you always do. Slack allows you to snooze notifications.

BOOK: Unsubscribe by Jocelyn K Glei – one of the best books on how to deal with being overwhelmed by the internet. It has practical tips for setting boundaries and saying no to people. PODCAST: Monocle’s Meet The Writers is great. I binge-listen to interviewbased podcasts, even though I have my own one.

³ Expect to be rubbish at first I didn’t do a business degree and I’ve got dyslexia, yet I’m running my own company and have written two books. It’s about giving it a go and not being afraid if you’re rubbish. For the podcast, I bought two microphones from Amazon for £30 and pooled the contacts I’d made by blogging and working in magazines to secure guests. It’s easy to create a podcast, it’s just about finding a good topic. And upload regularly – I haven’t missed a week in three years, as I pre-record and schedule the content. ³ Don’t fake a personal brand As clichéd as it sounds, don’t copy anyone else. A solid personal brand is built on genuinely being yourself. When figuring out your USP, it can help to ask questions such as,“Does this excite me?”,“Does this make me stand out?” and “What am I curious about?” Consistency is key, too. For me, that meant going mad with yellow – not only on my book cover but across all my social platforms – and near-daily posts. Emma’s book, The Multi-Hyphen Method, is out in paperback now C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

CELEBRITY

‘I FEEL MORE POWERFUL ON MY OWN’ After a tumultuous year, Caroline Flack is back on our screens and smiling again. Here, she talks about how hypnotherapy, horror movies and a partyloving mannequin called Gladys helped put her back together › Words T R A C Y R A M S D E N

Photographs R A C H E L L S M I T H

CELEBRITY

10.30am I have a theory about Flack, 39 and rarely out of the headlines: people don’t like that she behaves the way a man would. She plays hard (though works harder), and is wholly unapologetic about enjoying sex and dating. I tell her I suspect that people were largely jealous when she slept with Harry Styles – I know I was. There’s that cackle again. “I always feel a bit like [sticks middle fingers up], but you can’t do that because you’d just look awful, so instead you smile, close the door, and I have a good giggle about it around the dinner table with my family. You can’t take it seriously. There’s actually a lot more that goes on, and if people knew the truth it’d be a lot worse.” Running her hands through the rails of clothes at the cover shoot, she pulls things out at random. “I’d look like a granny in this!” she hoots. “Does this one make me look a bit pregnant?” she asks, pulling on a floral-print mini dress and sizing herself up in the mirror. She doesn’t mince her words. And it is powerfully refreshing.

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

A week after said shoot, we’re sitting in her local pub in north London, sharing a bowl of fish goujons and some chips, and she’s showing me a topless picture of her personal trainer, Bradley Simmonds, on Instagram. “Have you seen him?! That is my trainer,” she says proudly. “As soon as I came out of my relationship, I needed to get my head focused again, so I contacted him online. He started training me the following week. Everyone keeps saying I’m dating him, but I’m not. I wouldn’t want to ruin it because he’s the best thing. He’s the only constant in my life right now.” She’s referring, of course, to the messy split six months ago from her ex-fiancé, former Apprentice contestant Andrew Brady. Now, she’s finally ready to “get back on the horse”, as she puts it, laughing loudly over the noise of the pub’s lunch service. “I’ve been dating and really enjoying it. I’ve decided to give people a chance, go on dates and have some fun with it. There doesn’t always have to be an end-goal.” She’s ›

PREVIOUS SPREAD: SHIRT, CITIZENS OF HUMANITY. “LODI” TAN AND BLACK BARSTOOL, £99, MADE.COM. THIS SPREAD: DRESS, GHOST. NECKLACE (WORN THROUGHOUT), CAROLINE’S OWN. SIGNET RING, SEOL + GOLD. NARROW RING, PANDORA

Caroline Flack and half of our cover-shoot crew are huddled around a phone screen watching Kim Kardashian’s sex tape. “Credit where it’s due, she gives a good performance!” Flack cackles loudly. “I can’t believe I haven’t seen this before.”

JACKET, BEC + BRIDGE. T-SHIRT, UNIQLO. BRIEFS, WACOAL. SHOES, ALDO. STOOL, AS BEFORE. RINGS, RIGHT HAND, PANDORA (TOP); RACHEL JACKSON LONDON (BOTTOM). RINGS, LEFT HAND, AS BEFORE

CELEBRITY

still a hopeless romantic though. “It takes me a while to find it, but when I do I’m like, ‘Uh-oh, here we go again.’ I’m a sucker for somebody who tries really hard. I’ll say like, ‘No, I’m not interested,’ and then they bombard me and I’m all, ‘OK, I like your style.’ I enjoy being wooed. It’s sexy if someone wants to chase me for a bit. A guy once turned up outside my house and sent me a text saying, ‘I’m outside in the car, let’s go for a drink.’” And did she go? “Hell, yeah!” Throughout the tumult of her personal life, Flack’s professional one – her career and work ethic – has never faltered. As well as fronting the BAFTA-award-winning Love Island, she’s just launched her second 22-piece collection with River Island and wrapped on filming a new Channel 4 show, The Surjury, where contestants pitch to have cosmetic surgery for emotional or physical reasons, and a jury decides whether they should have it.“I like to think of it as a modern-day Stars In Their Eyes,” she deadpans. “You walk through a door looking one way and walk out looking the way you want to. It is about vanity, I suppose, but also those inner issues that we all have. For example, I have a thing with my nostrils because they’re different shapes,” she says, throwing her head back for me to inspect. They look perfectly nostril-like to me. “It’s no different to getting your hair coloured or your teeth done. If it makes you feel better, do it.” Would she ever go under the knife? “I dunno, maybe.” Has she? There’s a pause.“Not really [laughs]. I’ve had a little, um, facial here and there, but I’m definitely not averse to it. I might get to an age where I want to pin it all back and have a facelift, some nips and tucks. But I’m not scared of ageing. In my teens and twenties I was like, ‘Arrrgh!’ but I’m much more chilled now.” OK, so Flack might not do judgement, but she sure as hell receives it.“Yeah, men don’t get

treated like that. But I don’t read it or live by it. You do in the beginning, then after a while you stop caring what people think. That happens when you start to love yourself. The only person that can define you is you. Nobody else can. And, quite frankly, I have a great life.” She still wears her heart with endearing honesty, but there’s a steeliness about Flack that wasn’t there when we last met a year ago. She’s learning how to be more private, she tells me, and surrounding herself with friends she can trust. Refusing to get sucked in by social media, she’s started putting her phone down at weekends and only using Instagram for work. “Don’t put your love life on Instagram! I don’t regret it, but I’ve definitely learned from it,” she says, referring to the engagement photo she and Brady posted on Instagram last year, now since deleted from her profile, along with all other traces of him.“It’s nice to celebrate how you feel at a particular time, but don’t get carried away. This time last year I was planning a wedding. Did it happen? No. Sometimes you think things are going to be forever and then… of course they’re not. It’s happened a few times, so you get used to the feeling…” she trails off. The silence that follows speaks volumes. Because Flack is a onewoman rallying cry against the prevailing narrative of love in the public eye. You know the one: where a woman aged 35 or older decides to end a relationship and is then doomed to a lifetime of endless speculation around her marital status and reproductive health (see also: Jennifer Aniston). But Flack refuses to be a sob story.“Poor her [Aniston]? She was married to Brad Pitt and dated John Mayer!” she laughs. “I hope I’m helping to break that

narrative because I’m not the only woman in this position. There’s this pressure when you’re younger to be at a certain stage by a certain time in your life. By 28, I thought I was going to have two kids and this and that, but you can’t plan anything. You also can’t look on broken relationships as failures. Being engaged was the best feeling in the world – that someone wants to spend the rest of their life with you is deeply flattering. We had a wonderful year but it didn’t work out. I don’t want anything bad to happen to Andrew, I wish nothing but good things for him. But I feel a lot more powerful when I’m on my own.” She credits that power to a number of things. Firstly, her time on stage playing Roxie Hart in Chicago last December (a role that coincided with the breakdown of her relationship with Brady). Similar to the all-consuming nature of live TV, she likens the gruelling rehearsals and pressure to perform night after night to a form of escapism, namely from raw heartbreak. She became Roxie Hart as a way to no longer be Caroline Flack for a while. “The first couple of nights I felt physically quite upset but I could feel myself getting stronger every day I was on stage. It became such a good distraction – learning this part and becoming this character who ended up shooting her lover on stage every night.” After work, she’d go home and watch horror films because being scared was the only emotion that overtook sadness. But when distraction no longer worked and she decided to tackle her mental health head-on, it was hypnotherapy that she turned to. “When you’re impatient to feel better, you want an instant fix. I don’t really know what my hypnotherapist, Tim, did because he puts you under, like going into a deep sleep. I would ›

“The only person that can define you is you”

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

CELEBRITY

for the first time since we started chatting an hour ago. “It’s dangerous and I’m really, really angry. It’s not just that you’re blaming a TV show. You’re blaming people and their jobs. In life we all have a duty of care to look out for each other, but I don’t think it’s fair to point fingers of blame. This is a much bigger issue than just a reality-TV show, and when something this bad happens – and I’m talking about Mike – when something this horrible and sad occurs, it’s so dangerous to point fingers within hours and minutes of it happening. None of us know what’s going through someone’s mind and we can’t sit there and speculate. It’s time to think about the bigger picture, about what’s going on with young men and young people and the pressures of modern life. It’s just too sad and too sensitive to talk about. He was always a total gentleman to me and I’m going to be a total lady back.” She is proud of the show, now in its fifth series, and the tight-knit team

that she’s been an integral part of. “I feel quite chuffed that we’ve made it this far and I never take it for granted – I feel really lucky to have that job. I never take my private life into work. As soon as I step on set, that’s it, I’m in work mode. That’s hard for people sometimes because they see or hear that stuff is going on and they really want to mention it. But I’m like, come on, we’ve got a job to do. You’re never more important than anyone else on the team.” The Caroline you’ll see on your TV screens this month is undoubtedly Caroline 2.0. A tougher one, yes, but with a veneer of steel that is impressive to behold. We say our goodbyes and she picks up her boxing gloves, already moving towards another couple of hours of cardio catharsis. “It’s not someone else’s responsibility to make me happy, that responsibility is all mine,” she says, as the pub door swings shut behind us. And she’s doing a damn fine job of it. ◆ Love Island starts on ITV2 in June

“We all have a duty of care to each other”

CAROLINE FLACK, WOULD YOU RATHER..? Saturday night or Sunday morning? “Saturday night. After the pub it’s all back to mine. I have a mannequin called Gladys (Olly Murs bought it for me, it’s a long story…) who is great for a party. We dress her up and dance around with her.” Good guy or bad boy? “A mix. Everyone’s got a past and I’m not going to avoid dating someone because they’ve got a bad reputation. People could think the same thing about me.” Head or heart? “Heart tends to win. I will always go with my gut

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

feeling. I’m not an overthinker, until afterwards. I tend to jump in before thinking things through.” Dancefloor or cosy corner? “Dancefloor, always, right till the very end. We all go back to my place after a night out and put music on – usually musical theatre – and dance around the lounge until my neighbour makes a complaint. Then we switch to ballads and do karaoke until they complain again and everyone goes home.” Drama or quiet life? “Everyone prefers the quiet life, right? I nearly

moved out of London last year but all my friends are here. It would be good to have the best of both worlds – keep my flat in London and have a place in the countryside.” Give up cheese or give up sex? “Well, I’ve given up cheese already, so that’s an easy one. I lost weight after the break-up because of that anxious feeling – you look your best when you feel your worst. But I started training with Bradley and doing non-dairy and no sugar and so far I’m keeping it up. I feel good.”

Nipples for eyelids or eyelids for nipples? “Oh my god, eyelids for nipples would be great. Would I have to swap? So I’d either have eyes or nipples? I’ll have two sets of eyes please. I don’t really care about my nips.” Naughty or nice? “Well, I’ve been arrested before so I guess… Naughty? When I was 17 I tap-danced on someone’s van out in the street. My mum had to come and get me and told me I wasn’t allowed out of the house any more. Now, though, I only really get in trouble for parking tickets.”

FASHION DIRECTOR AMY BANNERMAN. HAIR CHRISTIAN VERMAAK, USING BEAUTY WORKS AND KEVIN MURPHY. MAKE-UP AND NAILS KARIN DARNELL AT FRANK AGENCY, USING MAC COSMETICS. FASHION ASSISTANTS MADDY ALFORD, VALERIA WIWINIUS. T-SHIRT, GAP

sit in a chair, with music playing and a blanket over me. He sorted me out and rejigged my thoughts in about four sessions. I know that whenever I hit a bad patch, I can turn to Tim and say I’m due a session and he’ll say come in on Monday. I still listen back to the tapes in bed and it sends me to sleep.” Flack has been a vocal advocate of therapy since trying NLP (neurolinguistic programming, a form of psychotherapy) nearly 10 years ago, when she turned 30, as a way to deal with the intense work pressure she heaped on herself. She talks knowingly about the differences between archaeological therapy (digging deep into your past) and architectural (building on who you are to make positive change). After working with the latter, she feels mentally healthier the older she gets. That resilience has been tested of late. In fact, our cover shoot falls the day before the funeral of former Love Island contestant Mike Thalassitis. I ask her about this, and the subsequent press criticisms levelled at Love Island for its supposed failure to support the mental health of the show’s contestants. She pauses

“MY LOWS ARE REALLY LOW” “I GET ANXIETY ALL THE TIME”

LIFEAFTERL When Mike Thalassitis took his own life in March, it galvanised ised a national conversation

SAMIRA MIGHTY “On my down days, I lay in bed until 3pm thinking, ‘What am I doing? I hate my life. I miss having a routine.’ But talking helps – you often find other people are feeling the same way as you.” AS TO L D T O J E N N I F E R S A V I N P HOT O GR APH S R A C H E L L S M I T H

READ

“PEOPLE DON’T ASK FOR HELP”

“I HAVE REGULAR THERAPY”

OVEISLAND about mental health post-reality TV. Here, 16 former Love Island contestants weigh in

DR ALEX GEORGE “Mental health issues aren’t isolated to reality shows – any life-changing event or disruption can be a trigger. If you have a cold, you see a doctor, yet people wait until they’re crippled with depression before asking for help. That’s why I have therapy regularly.” › C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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eneath the filtered perfection of sundrenched Instagram feeds, we are a nation in the grip of a crisis. Hidden, just out of view, often only visible when it’s far too late, is a particular strain of mentalhealth epidemic affecting those you’d least expect: those who seemingly “have it all” – status, money, social power and fame. Following a wave of high-profile suicides – including former Love Island contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon – the call to end the stigma that surrounds talking about your mental health has been heard everywhere from pub gardens to parliament. But have we reached a tipping point? There are many, like Jane Caro – the Mental Health Foundation’s Programme Lead for Families, Children and Young People – who believe so. “There’s this tendency for people to post the happy, shiny, functional side of themselves and leave out the fact that they’re human,” she explains. “When someone’s in the public eye, that comes with increased weight.” There is, she says, a solution. And it’s as simple – and, at the same time, loaded – as speaking out. “There’s something powerful about high-profile people sharing their vulnerability – the more we normalise it, the more we encourage others to speak openly.” With that in mind, we invited 16 former Love Island contestants to tell us how they’re really feeling, and what more can be done to ensure that tragedies like Mike’s and Sophie’s don’t happen again. Visit Cosmopolitan.com/uk to watch the full interviews

· C O S M O P O L I TA N

MARCEL SOMERVILLE “I hit a low last year [after splitting from fellow reality-TV star Gabby Allen] and if you don’t get what’s bothering you off your chest, it weighs you down. I talk to my mum or write music to deal with negative energy.”

MALIN ANDERSSON “I have fought back from being in a dark place [Malin’s four-week-old daughter died in January], but when you’re in a suicidal mindset, you feel you have nowhere else to go. Please just text a friend, or find a way to divert your mind.”

JOSH DENZEL “We sometimes ask people how they’re feeling without really listening to the response. After Mike passed away, I had a phone call with Jack Fowler and Wes Nelson and we said, ‘Boys, let’s never let it get to this stage. Let’s talk to each other.’”

SAM BIRD “Before Love Island, I had a regular job and routine. Now, I’m constantly put in situations outside my comfort zone and it’s the first time I’ve experienced anything akin to anxiety.”

LAURA ANDERSON “I’ve always been confident and happy with my appearance, but now I sometimes think, ‘Should I put make-up on to walk the dog?’ which is ridiculous. Luckily, I have good friends who keep me grounded.” ›

THEO CAMPBELL

ZARA McDERMOTT

“If you judge yourself by your bank balance or Instagram ‘likes’ you’ll never feel satisfied. I experienced depression when my athletics career hit turbulence – it felt like having a yearlong hangover.”

“It’s easy to get caught up in the self-obsessed world we live in – we’ve lost touch with basic joys because we outsource our happiness online. It’s important to have a passion or purpose other than yourself.”

GRACE WARDLE

ALEX MILLER

“When I left the Love Island villa, I hated the attention and shied away from it, instead taking stock of what’s really important to me – my hairdressing career and loved ones.”

“I spiralled into depression when the work offers dried up after last year’s show. I thought about driving off a bridge, but I hid how I felt. Often there are no signs that someone is struggling, so check in on your friends.”

READ

ADAM COLLARD “I was portrayed as a similar ‘character’ to Mike on the show – macho, a bit of a bad boy. Feeling like you have to live up to that can make it difficult to ask for help. I’ve started writing a daily journal, where you list what you’re happy or grateful for, or worried about.” ›

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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LAURA CRANE “I was bulimic for five years. As a professional surfer and model, I wanted to be skinny like other models, but needed to be strong for sport. Talking about mental illness can feel like admitting failure – when really, it’s the opposite.”

TYNE-LEXY CLARSON “I recently went on holiday and the comments [online] about how I looked in a bikini were horrible. You have to let it go over your head, otherwise it will shatter you.”

CHARLIE BRAKE “What happened with Mike was a horrendous tragedy. Reality-TV stars like Tommy Mallet (from The Only Way Is Essex) speaking about their experiences [of depression] is helping to end the stigma.”

CHARLIE FREDERICK “Often it’s easier to say you’re fine even when you’re not. When you come out of a reality-TV show, your life changes, and not everybody deals well with that.” ◆

ASK TWICE Spearheaded by Time To Change (the mental-health anti-stigma campaign from Mind and Rethink Mental Illness), Ask Twice is a new initiative encouraging us to discuss our feelings: good and bad. Instead of asking a friend how they are once, ask them twice. For more information or support with mental health, visit Time-to-change.org. uk/asktwice.

Hair and make-up Camilla Akehurst at LHA Represents, using Urban Decay and Wella; Jolanda Coetzer at LHA Represents, using Urban Decay and Oribe Hair Styling Maddy Alford. Fashion assistant Natalie Zannikos. All clothes, models’ own

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lls e s x e ,s e ns t e n p a p Z a f o th d a n h a ee w l r s t f i u e e B l h ru es. y o l On t g g g n i E, em thin e y G s n A a a P in INt and L n K e s C to con IERAN MA as K rs e ? y t m e i m › u s soc … e s v nt fi , explain e p s who ep there ar

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As told to J O S I E C O P S O N Photographs A N T O N I O P E T R O N Z I O

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‘

I was surrounded by my colleagues as we all waited in anticipation to see who was going to scoop the top prize we all wanted. I was feeling quietly confident. I was new to the job, but I’d put in the hours, all summer long, and my numbers were looking good. I knew I had some tough competition – especially from my friend Richard,* who could perhaps beat me to it, but I doubted it. Not many others had achieved what I had. They’d come close… but weren’t quite there. As predicted, it was my name they called. I snaked my way through a crowd of people, none of whom would remember this moment in the morning, and eventually arrived at the stage. There, I was handed the silver trophy, which shimmered blue and purple under the disco lights. Engraved on it, in tiny cursive script, were the words TOP SHAGGER. I swaggered off the stage and celebrated the only way I knew how – by drinking dangerous amounts and adding another conquest to that number. It was September 2013, I was 19 years old and I’d just completed my first season as a promoter in Zante. By that point – and the thing that won me this most coveted prize – I’d slept with over 100 women, all during that wild, hazy and hot summer. I was constantly trying to beat my personal best of four women in one night. We all were. Each morning, around midday, I’d meet up with my fellow workers over breakfast and compare conquests from the night before. Most of the boys kept all the names listed on their phone, like some kind of shopping list. Zante has changed so much since then. The island has gone from a

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no-holds-barred party town to a budget Ibiza: all pool parties, day beds, bottle service and tourists grappling to get the perfect photo for their Instagram. I’ve also grown up. I’m 25 now and in a long-term relationship. I lost that trophy – and my pride over what it represents – a long time ago. Age has brought some perspective and I look back on my past behaviour, particularly in light of the #MeToo movement, and question myself. Did I ever cross a line? And in a place where anything goes, would I even know if I had? One thing is for sure: I’m no longer that fresh-faced, floppy haired lad who landed on the hot tarmac, my suitcase full of condoms, with no idea of just how far I was going to push my newfound freedom.

car-less road. The Laganas strip in Zante was like nothing I’d ever seen before. I’d bought a one-way ticket from my tiny village, Gillingham, in Norfolk, where absolutely nothing ever happened. My mum used to do everything for me and I wasn’t exactly fighting women off with a stick. Then suddenly I was in this place where hundreds of beautiful women walked past me every day wearing next-tonothing, and it was my job to speak to them. I simply had to persuade as many people as possible to come into the bar I worked for. I was a natural flirt, and took to the role easily. On my first night, I pulled a girl, took her home and we shagged until the sun came up, splitting the condom in the process, and it just went on from there. I shared a grotty apartment with my friend Richard. It had a TV that produced green squiggles when I tried to watch my dodgy DVDs, and a single brown-stained pillow on each bed. You were more likely to find a bowl of sick as decoration than a scented candle. It was seriously grim, but we didn’t care. It was our first taste of freedom, and all the other workers lived close by in their identical twin bedrooms. After losing my phone in the first week, my only contact with home was when I borrowed a mate’s mobile to ring my mum to tell her I was still alive. Zante became my whole life. A typical day began at noon, when I’d get up and head straight to town for a couple of beers before starting my shift. I’d work until around 3am – but it was fine to drink on the job, so by the time I finished I was more than ready to hit the late-night haunts frequented by my fellow workers and the hardcore tourists. I never missed a boat party. There’s ›

“My personal best was four women in one night”

PARTY PARADISE

Neon lights, clubs lined up neatly like a row of terraced houses and David Guetta soundtracking the staggering tourists’ descent down the almost

PREVIOUS SPREAD: SUIT, FARAH. SHIRT, ASOS.COM. SUNGLASSES, RAG AND BONE. TRAINERS, REEBOK. OPPOSITE: SUIT, TOPMAN. SHIRT, NEW LOOK. SUNGLASSES, VERSACE

AND THE ‘WINNER IS…

READ Just another day at the office for Kieran

something about that moment you leave the dock – the music starts blaring and there’s nothing but sea ahead of you. It’s magical. They were also a great place for pulling – I was always shagging in the toilets, with other couples going at it in the cubicle next to me. This was considered a relatively private place to go, as by the end of the night there would often be someone going at it – usually doggy style – on the deck for all to see. Sights like this weren’t shocking. Sex was everywhere. All the nightclub booths were full of people groping each other, or you’d see girls going down on each other on the dancefloor because they were so drunk. Every bar crawl would initiate a sex-position game where they’d ask competitors to pair up with strangers and recreate as many bedroom moves as possible. I’d regularly get chatting to girls on the strip and then weave my way through the club, while I was on my shift, and we’d have a quickie in the toilets. I didn’t get in trouble with my bosses – they told me to do anything I could to get people through the door. They were in competition with the other bars, and I was in competition with my fellow promoters. I’d panic if I hadn’t slept with someone in two days. I didn’t want to lag behind. We also never used protection. It wasn’t a discussion, as we’d both be wasted. I just bought chlamydia tablets from the pharmacy and took them constantly as a precaution. We all wanted to get with the hottest girls and I’d screw Richard over by saying he had a girlfriend when he didn’t. Some nights we’d play games to see who could pull the girls we deemed the ugliest. It was shameful. If I ever did make it home with someone, there was another hurdle – the fact we all shared bedrooms. I’d lock my friends out, but most of the time, they’d have someone with them too, so we’d just turn the lights off and try to zone out what was going on in the next bed. I’d had a few threesomes,

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and even one foursome – well, kind of. A man came over to me and said, “My girlfriend wants to f*ck you.” I thought he was going to beat me up, but then he brought her and her mate over. We went back to their hotel and he watched as I shagged them. I did have one long-term relationship in between all this… for three weeks. It ended badly – she punched me in the face when she found out I’d cheated. I returned home after that first season a little bit broken, bruised and in desperate need of some vegetables, and discovered that life away from Zante was grey and bland. I got a winter job – at an optician’s – where my only form of entertainment was annoying the senior members of staff.

As soon as I could I booked a flight out for the following summer. I hated behaving “normally” again. There’s no reprimand for your behaviour over there. It’s purely about having fun.

SOBERING EXPERIENCE I now realise that an anything-goes life is not always a good thing. Areas like Zante are always bringing out new rules to manage the chaos, but they never last long and no one listens. Laughing gas was banned… but now people get it in back rooms. There is an increased police presence during busy periods, but they can’t control anything. The authorities just fine bars randomly for noise violations – they’ll

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say, “It’s your turn.” If the bars make money, they want to make money, too. When it comes to sex, it’s hard to have a conversation about consent in somewhere like Zante, not in the same way you could in the UK. Everyone is so intoxicated all the time – in my first year there wasn’t a single day when I didn’t get drunk. Last year, the Foreign Office issued an alert that warned those visiting Greece to be wary of attacks, including sexual assaults. In it they said that excessive drinking by either the victims or the offenders had often preceded the incidents. Police also say they have women coming to them who are so drunk they can’t remember if they’ve had sex or not. Back then, I never

BEHIND THE SCENES

JJosie Copson “I met Kieran in Zante when I was 19 and on a girls’ trip. He badgered us to come into his bar – it was the start of a holiday friendship (nothing more, I promise). I was even there when he won his ‘award’. Who’d have thought that, years later, I’d be asking him to tell me his dirty secrets?”

THE FLIP SIDE Two women share very different experiences of working in Zante…

Amber* worked as a club rep in Zante from 2010 to 2012 “There’s definitely a ‘sex sells’ culture. My main job was to throw myself at men and get them into the clubs – our uniform was hot pants and a bandeau top. You can’t be sensitive. It was completely normal for your boss to grab your arse. Zante’s like Geordie Shore on acid. Everyone had banging tallies and I’d say the girls gave the boys a run for their money. It felt empowering. I was sexually assaulted as a teenager and developing a more relaxed attitude to sex helped me a lot. But I did worry that young female tourists didn’t know what they were getting themselves into with the workers. If anything can change the behaviour on the island, it’s the threat of ending up on social media. What happens in Zante no longer stays in Zante.”

Rebecca* worked in Zante as a bar promoter in 2018

SUIT, ASOS.COM. SHIRT, RIVER ISLAND. SUNGLASSES, RAY-BAN. STYLING ITUNU OKE. GROOMING MUZHDAH LONE AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING MAC AND WELLA. *NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED

Kieran: either in the pool or on the pull

would have thought that it might be crossing some sort of line having sex when we’re both hammered. I never forced myself on anyone, or anything like that, and I hope that no one ever felt regretful in the morning… but there’s no way I can ever know that. And that’s terrifying. My girlfriend, Hannah, who I met last year in Zante, doesn’t find my stories even slightly funny. And I know I wouldn’t want my mum or sisters to be spoken about in the way I used to talk about women. I’d treat girls as instantly replaceable – a number on my list, or out of 10. Mum absolutely hated it when I rated women. I tagged her in a selfie I posted with my trophy and she commented, “This is nothing to do with how I raised you.” Women weren’t just victims of my behaviour, though – they were very much an active part of the culture. In that way, the sexes are much more equal. Out there women have the same privileges as men in terms of racking up the numbers. At home, girls who sleep with lots of different people often get talked about in a negative way, but there, anything goes. Thomas Cook Club 18-30 holidays came to an end last year, but I don’t think Zante, or any other party islands, will be affected. We always keep going one way or another. People are still heading over there to get pissed – it’s a rite of passage. I often wonder who I’d be if I’d never boarded that flight: I’d be much quieter, I think, and I’d definitely have a mortgage. But – whether it’s for better or for worse – Zante’s made me exactly who I am. ◆

“On my first day, I was told by my manager that I was ‘pretty but not “wow”’. The entire culture was based on sex, and how I looked. I hated it. At another bar, the boss said I could kiss guys to get them to come in, and it was heavily implied that that’s what I should have been doing. One time, I pulled a guy and all his friends came in while we were having sex and started chanting. I had to throw a towel over myself and run out, naked, in front of them. I was really upset. If you ever called any of them out on it they’d just say you were uptight. #MeToo hasn’t had any impact. Guys who might have been nice at home adopt completely different morals out there. They called women ‘slags’ and guys ‘top shaggers’. I left after three weeks.”

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

Are these men the

best best&wor & wor A new app is being hailed as the theâ&#x20AC;&#x153;TripAdvisor â&#x20AC;&#x153;TripAdvisor

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st dat ? Photographs B E N R I G G O T T

of datingâ&#x20AC;?. But can five-star ratings really be applied to people? Kate Pasola finds out â&#x20AC;ş

I’m about to hide under the table to preserve not only my eyesight, but also my pride, when the man I’m with yells my name, exasperated.“Are you kidding?!” he belts across the table, his eyebrows mocking.“You’re rubbish.” I’m doubled over, tears welling in my eyes, trying to catch my breath before breaking into hysterics. He shoots me a kind grin through a moustache and picks up my stray ping-pong ball, patiently serving it back. “Now this,” I think,“is a good date.” Before that rainy Saturday spent swigging beers in a neon-lit bar, I hadn’t had a good date in a very long time. There was the motorcyclist in Barcelona whose romantic suggestion of zooming up to a castle turned into a blood-curdling brush with death. There was the teacher who turned up in cycling Lycra, inexplicably rapped at me all night and threw a tantrum when I didn’t fancy a snog. There was the carpenter who wept about his absent dad on a second date. There was the man who turned out to have a secret girlfriend, the man who turned out to have a secret child and the man who turned out to live illegally in a yoga studio. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Seven years ago, when apps began colonising our romantic desires, it was easier to separate the wheat from the, well, arseholes. Nobody had learned how to present their “six pictures”. Tedious men hadn’t yet realised the potent trickery of dachshund selfies. And the word “catfish” was something associated with Extreme Fishing With

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Robson Green. But we have evolved. These days, dating profiles are just another way we carefully curate the way the world sees us, and not all that glitters is romantic gold. After five years of doing it, I’m left exasperated, jaded and, quite frankly, chronically disinterested in dating altogether. What I want is a guarantee, just once, that a first date will provide return on the investment for my efforts. In pursuit of just that, I do what any thirsty millennial might do and take to the iOS App Store. I can, at the click of a button, find out from reviews if a product is worth my cash – shouldn’t I be able to do the same for men and my time? One human reviewing another might sound bizarre, but slapping star-ratings on others has been around for a while. Take Uber, where both rider and driver are locked into a contract of civility by the fear of negative reviews. Or Airbnb, where dreams of nabbing that villa rental in Ibiza can be dashed by just one poor rating. We’ve TripAdvisored our whole lives – and, unsurprisingly, it’s reached our romantic interactions. There’s The Grade, which assigns school grades to daters and bans “failing” singles. Hinge has also rolled out an extra feature that asks users whether they’ve met up with matches in real life and whether they’d consider doing so again. Then there’s the TripAdvisor of dating, Do I Date, which allows you to review the people you’ve met up with. Just as you would

“Dating apps have left me jaded and exasperated”

Bailey, who hails from Manchester, is one of the most consistently low-rated Brits, averaging at 2.5 out ›

BAILEY WEARS JACKET AND T-SHIRT, BOTH BURTON. KATE WEARS DRESS, TOPSHOP. EARRINGS, PANDORA. OTHER JEWELLERY, HER OWN. BEN WEARS SUIT AND SHIRT, BOTH TOPMAN. HANDKERCHIEF, WATCH AND RING, HIS OWN

Ping-pong balls hurtle towards my face at a frightening velocity.

with a naff hotel, you can also search for those you’ve met on other apps, by typing in their full name, to check out what others have said about them. The app’s founders, Terry Amsbury and Jamie Forsyth, created it to tackle fake profiles and even hope to equip users against abusive or violent dates. Every review is created by real people who have met your potential matches, and the company has a zero-tolerance policy towards “fake” content. It’s easy to see Do I Date’s appeal. Scrolling through, you get a clear idea of who people really are – the disappointed daters certainly don’t hold back. The app has a smaller presence in the UK, but as I look over its Australian and Stateside branches, I’m met with a deluge of disastrous reviews, from the bitter (“Amazing kisser, amazing with words, amazing at lying”) to the wounded (“Tall, beautiful, hung and Kiwi – neglected to tell me about his secret girlfriend”) to the bizarre (“Has parrots that roam freely around the house”), and even the downright horrifying (“He lies about everything, including the death of his mother (she’s alive)”). It’s a mixed bag – there are some glowing reviews – but could any of it be trusted? After all, a single person scorned isn’t exactly a fountain of objective news. Amazon and TripAdvisor have both come under fire for reviews posted by authors and hotel owners, so what’s to stop someone getting their mates to gush about them, leaving a trail of fake reviews all over to contradict the others? So I set out to see for myself: I would date the men behind the best and worst reviews on the site, from crème de la crème to bottom of the barrel, and find out whether dater-ratings really work.

READ Kate marks Ben’s banter out of 10…

Do I Date’s bestrated man: Ben

The app’s worstrated man: Bailey

Chances of Bailey buying you a fishbowl?

of five. In his reviews, he’s referred to as everything from “a lightweight” to “rude”, and there’s reports he’s turned up to dates with lovebites on his neck. More generous comments suggest he’s perhaps just shy, while others refer to him quite simply as “a bellend”. My Romeo, I assume, he is not. At the other end of the spectrum, there’s the charming, refined and well-travelled Ben, who is CEO of his own start-up. He has sandstone hair, blue eyes and is one of the app’s overachievers, with reviews telling me he’s smart, hot and, encouragingly, “awesome”. Bailey insists that we communicate over Snapchat, and it takes six hours of swapped selfies plastered with captions before plans to meet up materialise. Ben, ever the gentleman, wants to talk on the phone, despite being on business in the South African bush. “Literally,” he sing-songs through a crackled line. “I’m on a hill in the only place I can get a signal.” I tell him it can wait, but he insists, so I ask him out. “I’m not back in the UK for a couple of weeks, sadly. But let me see what I can do for you, Kate.” What Ben can do for me is fly me out to South Africa to join him on an allexpenses-paid safari. Work commitments (and the fact that he is a bona-fide stranger) stop me, so I turn him down. Meanwhile, my phone pings with more selfies from Bailey, who wants to go for a drink with me this weekend. I agree, wanting to get it out of the way before Ben gets back. He’s taking me for cocktails in London’s West End when he’s in the UK. Perhaps it’s Ben’s accommodating nature, or hearing my name spoken so warmly, but it begins to feel like my insides have turned to glitter. But first: Bailey. It’s a Saturday and he meets me off the train in Reading, picking at the collar of his grey T-shirt. “I made a bit of an effort for ya!” he grins, a nervous judder in his voice.

As we walk together, he relaxes into a conversation about football, his studies as a mathematician and his seemingly illustrious stint at karate as a teen. Panic sets in that we could run out of things to talk about, but a game of ping-pong saves the day. He’s hilarious, shimmying around the table and throwing out trick-shots with a smirk. Afterwards, Bailey takes me for drinks – he’s a bartender at Vodka Revs, and with the promise of a hefty staff discount, he picks my poison. It’s 4pm and any potential romance is sterilised by the smell of just-mopped floors, but we’re having a blast. He’s got a commanding Northern drawl, and a quiet confidence that allows for self-deprecating quips. He orders me a fishbowl of pink gin and his discount card fails. He tries it again. Nothing. It’s tense for a second, but Bailey brings it round, using his underdog charm to carry off the blow with aplomb. And when I return from the loo to see Bailey being chastised by his manager for bringing in a date before a shift, he just shrugs, offering me the glacé cherry from his drink with a twinkle in his eye. It isn’t the smoothest date I’ve been on, but it’s far from the worst. And if my worst-rated date could go this brilliantly, what was in store for me when it came to Mr Five Out Of Five? A couple of weeks later, I’m on my way to meet Ben at a luxurioussounding London bar, butterflies in my belly. I’d been sceptical, but as I check his profile one last time and reapply my lipstick, my mind starts spinning a kaleidoscope of what-ifs. I turn a corner in my heels, and he’s leaning by the entrance in a camel coat. He holds open the heavy brass door and tells the waiter that we’d like to sit in the corner. The music is fauxclassy and the lighting is ostentatiously blue. Ben reads my mind. “Sorry about the location – I was so busy, it was the

“One review refers to him simply as ‘a bellend’”

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“Finally, a decent connection,” thought Kate

first place I thought of. It looks like the kind of place people pick up prostitutes, doesn’t it?” He orders a £50 whisky on the rocks (the first of three), and next come the cheese-covered bar snacks, which I decline, explaining that I’m vegan. “Interesting!” he chimes, baring his white molars. “I love to hunt! Literally nothing better than shooting a live target.” Ben’s allure dwindles faster than the amber tealights flickering on the tables. Over the next two hours, my whatifs are crushed like daisies underfoot. We disagree on everything. While Bailey spent 15 minutes walking me through Vodka Revs’ new diversity and inclusion training, some of Ben’s more conservative soliloquies leave me having to hold my tongue. And while Bailey did everything he could to keep the conversation flowing, Ben feels…

distracted. Halfway through the night, he attends to some emails on his phone, and instructs me to think up a question I’d like to ask him when he’s finished. It also transpires that his fairytale invite to South Africa came about after several other invitees dropped out, which dampens the sentiment somewhat. He then drops a bombshell: he was involved in Do I Date’s development stages. Given how the date was going, I start to wonder whether that’s why he has such glowing reviews. So I asked Do I Date. They tell me that isn’t the reason. They insist that while Ben has now left the company, employees aren’t banned from using the app and, just like everyone else, must agree to their terms. They say Ben is responsible for his own profile and has been reviewed by people he knows. After drinks, as

I walk to the station alone, I suddenly understand the deeply human impulse to write outraged reviews after disappointing dates. It’s natural to seek an outlet following negative experiences, and when leaving feedback, anger’s a better motivator than contentment. As Amazon and TripAdvisor have demonstrated, no matter how hard a company tries to stop them, fake or exaggerated reviews remain. Could this, in future, infiltrate dating apps? Meaning other singles could be swayed by algorithms that may not be quite what they seem? With hindsight, Ben isn’t that bad a date. He’s courteous, intelligent and witty. But we are entirely different people, and too incompatible to spark a connection. After all, attraction isn’t objective – it’s a messy bundle of pheromones, matching moods and

compatible lives. And that’s the great downfall of an app like Do I Date: one person’s Ben is another person’s Bailey. The prickly truth is it’s human psychology to use ratings as a road map through social interactions. But, while it’s helpful to have tools to make sure hotels are habitable, taxi drivers are trustworthy and dates aren’t dangerous, it is worrying to imagine a future in which an Uber-style rating might hang over our heads. In China, that fear is a reality. There, so-called “reputation system” apps like Sesame Credit govern the way people live their lives. More worrying still, in 2020 China plans to finish testing a “social credit system”, which rewards and punishes citizens based on their scores, taking into account everything from health history to shopping habits, online gaming to dating behaviour. Punishments include flight bans, slower Wi-Fi and exclusion from certain schools, hotels and jobs. I delete Do I Date. While being informed before investing in someone seems like a good idea on paper, in reality, what we save in time and emotional outlay, we will lose in equality of opportunity. Yes, in a world obsessed with instant gratification, likes and status, it’s tempting to crave a Which?-style manual to help navigate the perils of dating. But people are not either “good” or “bad”. To reduce dates to a few hastily typed sentences to the tune of their worst parts is to bypass everything that makes us human. Ratings may be able to help us buy a sofa or save us from a terrible holiday. But when it comes to love? That, I’ll leave to the stars – for the CEOs, the bellends and everything in between. ◆ BEHIND THE SCENES

Kate Pasola “The photoshoot with Ben and Bailey [which happened weeks after the dates] was predictably awkward, but eventually, after being directed to stare into one another’s eyes, they ended up shrieking with laughter. It was pretty heartwarming.”

C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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HAIR AND MAKE-UP CAMILLA AKEHURST AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING KIEHL’S, URBAN DECAY AND PAUL MITCHELL. STYLING SAIREY STEMP. SET DESIGN NICOLE HOLCROFT-EMMESS. SCORE-PADDLE PROP STYLIST LOU BLACKSHAW. KITSCH DINING CHAIR IN BLUE AND COPPER, £79; GABBY SET OF THREE JELLY MOULD CANDLE HOLDERS IN BRASS, £9; EMERTON 16-PIECE CUTLERY SET IN GOLD, £129, ALL MADE.COM. SEE BEN CAREY’S PHOTOGRAPHY AT INSTAGRAM.COM/FINEENGLISHGENTLEMAN

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SIGHTSOF SUMMER COMING SOON TO A SUN LOUNGER NEAR YOU...

Every year they come out. The bum cheeks! The ill-advised accessories! The novelty pool floats! These are the seven things you’re guaranteed to see this season… › Words L A U R E N B R A V O C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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ut of office on, suitcase packed, tiny toiletries purchased – you’re going on holiday! Holibobs! Vay-cay yay! And repeat, until every friend ignores you. Of course, wherever you head, every summer is defined by certain trends, tropes and stuff that appears as if from nowhere. Just like those errant pubic hairs that always grow faster in the heat, so our collective summer obsessions sprout magically overnight – and before you know it, they’re everywhere. Here’s the lowdown on the sights you’ll (unfortunately) lay eyes on this year. Tick them all off on your holiday bingo card to win an imaginary bottle of ouzo.

THE ALPACA POOL FLOAT

Unicorns are over, flamingoes are finished, and nobody’s getting on an inflatable pizza slice in 2019 unless it’s certified 100% vegan. But the water-based whimsy ain’t over yet. There it is, drifting into your poolside field of vision while you’re failing to read Normal People: the alpaca float! It’s rainbow. It’s glitter. It’s wearing cute tasselled accessories. It somehow has longer eyelashes than you do. Who it belongs to: Lindsée, a 12-yearold influencer with considerably more followers than you. She shot to fame livestreaming the mindful beauty routine that got her through her yearsix SAT exams, and is now taking some time out to switch off, practise

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kindfulness and really reconnect with her most authentic self. On a holiday #gifted by Visit Cyprus. Where you’ll see it: In the pool, on the beach, biffing you in the head in the queue for the water park, and finally, being punctured between the eyes by her professional photographer/agent/ mum, who’s just secured a sponsorship deal with a company that makes “angel wing” armbands. Which is lucky because Lindsée can’t actually swim. See also: Mermaid tails, floppy sun hats that never actually get worn on

a head, and a drone to capture that perfect bird’s-eye pool shot. Hope you signed the health and safety waiver!

THE BUMBAG

A staple favourite among the tourguide crowd, these have finally made the leap from ironic throwback to bona-fide trend item – but only if worn diagonally between your shoulder and opposite armpit

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bra into your suitcase – but that’s not as big a mystery as why anyone would want to exercise on holiday that badly. Especially when those massive goblets of Aperol spritz are already quite a tricep workout. Who it belongs to: Alexia, a highly strung hedge-fund manager with a passion for #fitspo, who is always wearing luxe athleisurewear in shades of greige. She goes for a run on the beach at sunrise every morning. She was into paddle-boarding before Orlando Bloom got his penis out. She signed up for a complimentary PT session at the hotel and then actually went. You are obsessed with her. Where you’ll see it: An overpriced spa hotel in Cancún. You booked it on a Groupon deal. Alexia did not. See also: Personalised water bottles, wearable fitness trackers made from actual gold, single wireless earbuds bobbing around at the bottom of the infinity pool. Bikini? Check. Sunbed? Check. Inflatable giraffe? Er, check

like you got off the coach still wearing your seatbelt. Who it belongs to: Arlo, a “digital nomad” with a man bun and backless loafers, who’s taking a break from his hectic schedule of photographing street art and begging Barcelona bar owners for their Wi-Fi password to hit on you. He’s wearing his bumbag across his chest for fashion, yeah, and definitely not because he’s just paranoid about getting pickpocketed on Las Ramblas.

Where you’ll see it: Any European

city with oat milk. See also: Teeny-tiny sunglasses; Dad trainers on the beach; oversized white sweatshirts living up to the name “sweatshirt”.

THE KETTLEBELL

Nobody understands how it got past the airline baggage restrictions when you couldn’t even squeeze a second

THE IPAD SCREEN

While some of us will try to use our downtime to escape the digital onslaught this summer, others will fully embrace tech’s potential to take everyone they love who’s currently back home on holiday with them. After all, why settle for boring your friends and family with a 60-strong Facebook album when you can show them the delights of your hotel bathroom in real time on your iPad, beautifully complemented by a view straight up your own nostrils? “Wish you were here?” Surprise – now you are! › C O S M O P O L I TA N ·

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Who it belongs to: Marjorie and

Derek, a very nice retired couple engaged in a passive-aggressive war with their grandchildren’s other grandparents over who can stay in closer contact with the little darlings during the summer. Sure, they’re missing GCSE results day for this cruise, but look everyone – it’s your gran with a funny hat on! Pop-Pop’s having a piña colada! What’s the weather like back home? Rain, is it? Never mind the bill for the wireless dongle, other Nana and Granddad are NOT winning this time. Where you’ll see it: Every well-known tourist attraction between here and Kathmandu. Ancient temples, leaning towers, stately cathedrals, fancy statues – you name it, there will be a sea of tablets waving in the breeze as a nearby tourist pretends to hold the monument in their hand. (Hang on, Marjorie, do it again, his thumb was over the lens.) See also: Portable chargers, portable chargers FOR the portable chargers, selfie-stick injuries, semi-serious collisions with rental bikes.

THE SHELL BRACELET

After “Costa Del Sol chic” was embraced so unexpectedly by the fash pack last year, summer 2019 is when it really goes mainstream. Across the world, souvenir shops are eagerly restocking their twirly carousels with the kind of tacky €2 beach tat previously dismissed by your six-yearold niece as being too on-the-nose. Queen of them all? The shell bracelet. Who it belongs to: Savannah, a free-spirited traveller whose main outlet for her wanderlust is posting “Take me back” photos 50 weeks a year from her desk at the insurance company. She will keep the shell bracelet on until November, when it will get so grubby and frayed that it falls off during a Keynote presentation.

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This year’s holiday romance was definitely going to last

READ

Ibiza, the Canaries, the Adriatic coast and Devon. Also your own wrist, once you inevitably succumb to their lure. Of course, while others’ shell bracelets are 24-carat gold, yours is quite literally money for old rope. And shells. And is that… a maggot? See also: Bamboo clutch bags; lacetrimmed fans; extreme over-sized kaftans (read: mumus).

ARSE CHEEK

Somebody alert Sisqó – the thong is back, baby! And it was inevitable, as those high-leg swimsuits got higher and higher, that eventually we’d be left with a Jenner-approved slip of fabric where the sun don’t shine. People have somehow managed to find them in denim, too. Turns out jorts were just the thin end of the wedg(ie). Who it belongs to: Suzanne, a trainee dentist from Tring, who is too busy recording her Love Island audition tape to reapply the SPF30 to her bum. She’ll spend the next week wincing every time she sits down, followed by an awkward trip to the chemist where she discovers the Portuguese for “Canestan” is “Canestan”. Where you’ll see it: Every single beach in the Algarve. In lieu of

a super-yacht to pose on, she’ll be lying across a rented pedalo. See also: Boobs crusted in a glitter “bra”. Eco-friendly, of course.

THE INSTAX CAMERA

Pastel-coloured chunky plastic, spewing out over-exposed mini Polaroids in which everyone looks like a pair of floating eyes. OMG so flattering! And so cool to embrace oldschool methods! Although obviously you will need to snap each Polaroid on your phone to put it on Instagram. Who it belongs to: The Teens On Tour, on their first holiday without parental supervision. Or maybe their first holiday full stop, judging by the terror in their eyes and the fact that one of them just Googled “does calamari have chicken in it”. We were all the Teens On Tour once, and yet there’s nothing like seeing the little cherubs going wild and navigating the uncertainties of international travel to make us feel 132 years old. Don’t tell them how much you wanted a Spice Cam circa 1997. They won’t know what that means. Where you’ll see it: The very cheap Bulgarian coastal resort that Lonely Planet said was just like Santorini… See also: Disposable cameras; ironic Walkmans; jelly shoes; belly chains. ◆

R.I.P. TO THESE HOLIDAY STAPLES CURRENCY

Now that we all use Monzo or Apple Pay to buy everything and Uber to book our airport transfers, the old money switcheroo just isn’t the holiday entertainment it used to be. Exotic notes that run into the thousands and make you feel like you’re finally rich enough to live the life you deserve are a thing of the past. Although it’s still a thrill to encounter a coin with a hole in the middle.

KELLOGG’S VARIETY PACKS

Once upon a time you could measure out your self-catering holiday in tiny cereal boxes – Coco Pops first, obviously, followed by a gradual decline in excitement until the misery of the “going home day” Cornflakes. Not in 2019. Your Airbnb host has left you a comprehensive list of the best spots for shakshuka and açaí bowls, ranked by TripAdvisor.

POSTCARDS

You still see them, of course – it’s just we don’t really know who’s buying them these days, or why. Now that you can spam the family WhatsApp with smug photos and send your parents a personalised TouchNote off your phone, there’s really no need for a photo of a generic sunset with “Having a lovely time!” scrawled on the back. Which is a shame.

STRAW DONKEYS

Every good holiday used to end with one of these poor brutes tethered to your (non-wheelie) suitcase as proof you’d been “abroad”. They haven’t made a comeback yet – but with wicker furniture and string shopping bags back on the style agenda, they could be hot for summer 2020. The ultimate interiors statement for a post-Brexit world? We’re calling it.

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WORDS LAUREN BRAVO. PHOTOGRAPHS BLAUBLUT-EDITION.COM/ JAMIE NELSON, TRUNK ARCHIVE/MIERSWA-KLUSKA

Where you’ll see it: Mallorca, Menorca,

COSMOPOLITAN PROMOTION

SHAKE UP

THE ORDINARY Live life on your terms and boost your mood with a few small steps, including new Tetley Cold Infusions

ife can get pretty hectic – which means we sometimes forget to take time out to refresh and inject some fun back into the daily grind. But that doesn’t have to mean major changes; sometimes it’s the small things that can go a long way to making the everyday not quite so regular. Switch up your routine with these easy mood-boosters for a life that’s a little less ordinary…

STAY HYDRATED It’s been proven that drinking water boosts skin health and promotes hair growth. Drinking plenty of water will top up your energy levels too – and with Tetley Cold Infusions, increasing your daily fluid intake never tasted so good.

CALL THE SHOTS Something as simple as picking up the phone and calling a friend can be all you need to gain a little perspective. Ditch the WhatsApp chats and go back to basics – because sometimes there’s nothing better than hearing a favourite voice at the other end of the line.

GGO O OFFLINE If your y phone is taking over your life and you ou’re re struggling to keep on top of your notiﬁcations, it’s time to switch off and give your brain time to recharge. Take a break from scrolling, even if it’s only for one night, and watch your favourite ﬁlm or take a tech-free soak in the bath.

WASTENOT WORK IT OUT Try a new activity like early-morning rooftop yoga or boxercise to put some fun back into your workout. Exercise is not only good for the body, but also releases feelgood chemicals that help reduce stress and keep you feeling happy.

Save your cash for a serious payday purchase (beauty-hall spree, anyone?) by ditching the singleuse plastic drink bottles for a Tetley Cold Infusions number (below). It’s the easy and convenient way to carry your water around and you’re helping to save the planet – what’s not to love?

BEALTERNATIVE Swap your usual fizzy-drink fix for Tetley Cold Infusions. Free from caffeine, sugars and artificial flavours, it’s a refreshing twist on your everyday drink. Add one Tetley infuser to 500ml of water and shake to release the flavour (we love the Raspberry & Cranberry). Try popping one into your water bottle before you leave home to infuse on the go.

Shake to unlock the four new Tetley Cold Infusions ﬂavours

Feeling

GOOD Fill your holiday suitcase with eco-friendly, sustainable swimwear, because the only thing cooler than clear skies? A clear conscience S E N I O R

F A S H I O N

E D I T O R

Sairey Stemp P H O T O G R A P H E R

Sam Copeland

Bikini, £67, Tide + Seek ❊ Psst… All Tide + Seek products are handmade in Bali using Repreve – a fabric that’s created from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Win.

Swimsuit, around £150, Natasha Tonić at Reve-en-vert.com. Earrings, £12, People Tree ❊ Psst… This swimwear is made not from non-biodegradable polyester, but soft, comfortable hemp. Tonić also donates 5% of profits from each piece to 5 Gyres, which campaigns against plastic pollution.

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Bikini top, £130; bottoms, £130, both Carolina K. Bags, around £15, handwoven from 100% recycled plastics by local artisan Jayranee Buleeram, available at the Salt Of Palmar gift shop ❊ Psst… Latin-American brand Carolina K’s S/S 19 swimwear is made with a recycled, sustainable nylon.

Swimsuit, £225, Stella McCartney. Earrings, £165, Chalk ❊ Psst… Stella McCartney has ploughed resources into creating sustainable fabrics throughout her ranges, from vegan footwear to bio-acetate sunglasses made from wood pulp (who knew?). There’s even swimwear and sportswear created using Econyl, a fibre made from regenerated nylon and ocean waste. We’re impressed.

T-shirt, £30, We Are Nativ. Bikini bottoms, £16, Wolf & Whistle. Hat, £230, Yosuzi ❊ Psst… We Are Nativ is an anti-fast-fashion brand whose motto is “Buy less, wear more”. Where possible, their pieces are made using recycled or sustainable fabrics. Meanwhile, London brand Yosuzi creates its hats and bags with indigenous Latin American tribes and donates a percentage of profits to charity.

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Bikini top, £45; bottoms, £40, both Marble Swimwear at Suntribeswimwear.com ❊ Psst… Want a minimalist approach and carefully tailored swimwear made from 78% recycled plastics? Course you do. This bikini is reversible so it works twice as hard.

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Top, around £300, Ros Duke. Hat, £230, Yosuzi ❊ Psst… Need an eco-friendly coverup? Ros Duke uses cashmere from Italian brand Loro Piana, whose wool is fully sustainable. Duke works with local knitters in her home town of Dublin.

T-shirt, £25, Vivienne Westwood for Cool Earth. Bikini bottoms, £42, Seafolly. Sunglasses, £55, Matt & Nat. Flipflops, £20, Havaianas ❊ Psst… Cool Earth works alongside rainforest communities to halt deforestation. All profits from this T-shirt, designed by their patron Vivienne Westwood, go to the organisation. Seafolly’s Inka Gypsy range is a new collection made out of upcycled consumer materials. Havaianas donates 7% of the revenue from these flip-flops to the Environmental Research Institute, which seeks to address contemporary environmental issues.

Swimsuit, £144, Solid & Striped. Earrings (just seen), £150, Chalk ❊ Psst… The material for this swimwear is made from recycled fishing nets, industrial plastic and offcuts. It makes up 78% of the garment – reducing its carbon footprint by 80%. Science we can get on board with.

Model Rae Rodriguez at IMG Models. Hair and make-up Lou Box at S Management, using Kjaer Weis and Kevin Murphy. Fashion assistant Maddy Alford. Photographer’s assistant Alaric Macdonald. Shot on location at Le Morne Beach, Mauritius. With thanks to Salt Of Palmar (Saltresorts.com, Instagram/@saltresorts) and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority

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SINGLE? SETTLED?

OT YOU COVERED

BIG, HARD AND… VEGAN?

WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. PHOTOGRAPH LOUISA PARRY. FOOD STYLIST LOIC PARISOT

Sausage rolls. Your mascara. Will.I.Am. Everything (and everyone) is going vegan. Including sex. As lots of our current lubes and condoms are either tested on animals or contain dairy products, a slew of plant-based alternatives are popping up in their place. Try Bioglide, Uberlube or Sliquid for lube, and switch to Hanx or Glyde for condoms. Using biodegradable sex-toy wipes is another way of ticking the eco-friendly box, too. Now, back to going at it like rabbits… (without harming any in the process).

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A D U LT N O N - F I C T I O N

MY BEST SEX EVERWAS… with an acrobat

Mared ran away with the circus (for one night only)

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numbers. He invited me to watch him perform the next day, but then he didn’t text. Still, I went along anyway with a friend as it was a chance to see him again – even from afar, swinging around on some ropes. As soon as we arrived for the show, he came running out to meet us at the entrance, sweaty from his rehearsals, and took us backstage to meet everyone – from the clowns to the ringmaster. We had another chat and he asked me if I was excited to see him in action. I played it cool, but I was obviously incredibly excited. He then gave us free drinks and showed us to the most expensive seats. My faith was restored. His performance was possibly the sexiest thing I’ve ever witnessed. He was topless and his body looked like it had been carved by the gods. Seeing him fly around in the air using his rippling muscles just made me want him to throw me around. After the show, we met up with him and the others and went on a night out together. Throughout the evening, Ayaz and I talked, slowly

moving closer to each other as we queued to buy drinks at the bar. By the time we got to a club, we were all over each other. We headed back to mine and barely made it past the front door before ripping each other’s clothes off. We stumbled into the kitchen, where I climbed up onto the table and he began to go down on me. I lived with nine other people who could have walked in at any point, but that only added to the excitement. I came before he had even entered me, and when he did, I’d never felt anything like it. He was huge. We moved to the bedroom and carried on. That’s where he really took charge – flipping me upside down and into positions I never knew existed. I was upside down, hanging off the edge of my bed at one point, and my body went into contortions I had no idea were humanly possible. I woke up the next morning to find a note on my pillow thanking me for a wonderful night. We never saw each other again, but I’m really glad my friends and I accepted that round of drinks.

“He put me in positions I never knew existed”

WORDS MARED PERRY. *NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED

I was out with some friends celebrating a dissertation deadline when a group of guys came over. They were all dressed quite eccentrically, an assortment of bright short-sleeved shirts, bootcut jeans, chains and Timberlands. Still, they were hot – so we accepted when they offered to buy us a round of drinks. We all ended up squeezed in a booth together and I found myself locking eyes with one of them. Ayaz* was at least six-foot tall, had the most insanely ripped body, dark hair, dark eyes and a jawline so sharp it could cut diamonds. I sensed a vibe almost straight away, but we were sitting at opposite ends of the group, so initially I didn’t get a chance to act on it. From their varying accents and partly broken English, I’d assumed they were international students. But then they revealed they actually worked for the circus as acrobats, fire-breathers and so on – which, I guess, explained the wild clothes. A few shots in, Ayaz and I ended up chatting about his life. He travelled the world for his job and, as a result, he missed his family. He was so sweet and we flirted a bit before exchanging

WORST DATES EVER Hey, we’ve all been there…

We had sex back at my place. Afterwards, even though I told him not to as other people were at home, he wandered around my flat stark naked holding a wine glass. A few housemates were scarred during the making of this story.

We went halves on all our dates and I noticed he always wanted a receipt (even if it was just £8). When I asked about it, he explained he’d been claiming everything back through his expenses at work. My money included. LARA, 27

HE ARRIVEDANHOURLATE DUE TO A “BEARD EMERGENCY”, BRAGGED ABOUT BEING RICH AND SINCERELY REFERRED TO LESS WEALTHY PEOPLE AS “PEASANTS”. HE ROUNDED THE NIGHT OFF WITH, “I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR BOTH OF US WHEN I SAY WE SHOULD DO THISAGAIN.” CHLOE, 25 5

AS TOLD TO JENNIFER SAVIN, HANNAH CONNOLLY. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES. *NAME HAS BEEN CHANGED

LIBBY,* 29 LIB

I told my friend about a guy I’d been seeing. Turns out he’d been trying to date her for years.

HE CONFESSED HE WAS STILL “ I HTLY” IN LOVE WITH HIS EX, PRAISED ME FOR BEING MARRIAGE MATERIAL BUT EXPLAINED HE “WASN’T READY FOR THAT YET”. OH, AND ASKED IF HE COULD CALL ME IN THREE YEARS’ TIME. PIPPA, 27

AMY, 22

He wanted to ve to “check he didn’t have an STI” – his theory being that I could then get tested and report back, as he “hates going to the clinic”. SAM, 22

At his, he presented me with a “gift”: two birds he’d shot and strung up himself. He asked if I’d prefer him to “cook one now” or “take both home” myself. As I’m a vegetarian, I declined. He then left them sitting next to me for the entire meal. LAUREN, 30

He arriveddrunk, then received a call and disappeared outside. After a while, I went to see where he’d gone and found him throwing up in a bin.

After two months of dating, he asked to introduce me to a friend. She turned out to be an ex-fling – he’d “brought us together in the hope of a threesome”. ROSIE, 30

URZULA, 24

✱ Got a dating nightmare to share? Email worstdatesever @cosmopolitan.co.uk @

FERAL FACTOR ST ANGE FISH

CRAZY FROG

OTTER LOSER

HOLD YOUR HORSES

TOTAL PIG

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ced Mollie A fresh-fa in 2013 and David

“I cried d all the way home” Mollie, 22 2, is a hotel manager from Swan nage I waas in the queue for the bumper cars when n I first met Davve. I was 15 years old and the local fair haad come to to own so I went along with a group of frieends. Being from m a girls’ school made seeing him – so taall and handsome – even more exciting. We started talking aand by the time we reached the front we had decided to share a car together. He took the wheel, whizzing us about so fast that I was bumping around all over the place. Once the ride was over we added each other on Facebook and started messaging straight away. A couple of weeks later we went to a beach party together. As the night began to fizzle out, we slipped off behind some beach huts to talk. He convinced me to camp there all night with him. I lied to my mum and told her I was staying at a friend’s house. That’s when we had our first kiss. Nothing else happened, we just stayed up chatting – we shared a love of soul music and both really wanted to travel. He was all I could think about… yet I broke up with him a few months later. I told him it was because I was bored, but that wasn’t true. I was young and it scared me how fast things were moving. But we kept in touch and got back together really quickly. Then, a year into our relationship, it was Dave’s turn to dump me. It was the day after prom and he said he didn’t like the people I had been hanging out with. I cried the whole bus journey home. There were no hard feelings seeing him again; it all happened a long time ago. We were both very upbeat and there were no awkward pauses. He’s still exactly the same Dave I always knew. In the years that have passed, we’ve both travelled the world. I told him that I’m moving Would you see him again? to Canada for two years, “Definitely – he’s great. But it’d and he’s off to study in never be a relationship again as Hong Kong. I’m happy I don’t think either of us would we’re both doing what compromise on what we want.” we always wanted to.

Each month, th we send two former lovers on a date to see what happens

“T The break-up crusheed me” IIt was Mollie’s quirkiness that first caugh ht my a attention. I was in line at the fair and thiis bundle o energy came over to speak to me. I rem of member t thinking she was easy to chat to. I’d neveer really met anyone lik ke her before. She seemed very comfortab ble in herself and I liked d that. After the fair we started speaking o on Facebook and decided to go to a local beach party for our first date. I managed to persuade her to camp out under the stars with me. It was very innocent; we just talked all night, asking each other about our favourite songs, films, festivals, everything. I first knew I really liked Mollie when I shared a Spotify playlist with her – she listened to it and told me I’d missed off Aretha Franklin. That’s when I knew she was a cool girl. I thought everything was good but then Mollie broke up with me out of nowhere. It crushed me. I think she realised it was a mistake because we got back together pretty quickly. After that, our relationship was great – it was relaxed and we lived in a bubble. But later down the line things started to sour and I used the fact that I didn’t like her friendship group as an excuse to call it quits. Things were moving quickly with us and I needed an out. Looking back, I’d have done things differently. I was quite intense and could have chilled out more. Going on the date with Mollie was surreal. It was great to catch up and share our travelling stories. We spoke about our relationship and aired everything out. We both apologised for ending things and for not being honest about our reasons. We definitely flirted, but only Would you see her again? in a jokey way. We got on “Yes, I think we will stay in just as well as we used to. 4 Want to be reunited with your ﬁrst love? Email us at ﬁrst.love@cosmopolitan.co.uk

touch. We just always seem to be on the opposite side of the world to each other.”

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AS TOLD TO ZOE KNIGHT. PHOTOGRAPHS ANTONIO PETRONZIO. HAIR & MAKE-UP CAMILLA AKEHURST AT LHA REPRESENTS. MOLLIE AND DAVID DINED AT KAHANI LONDON, KAHANIRESTAURANTS.COM, @KAHANILONDON

David, 23, is a student and carer from Brighton

COSMOPOLITAN PROMOTION

AVEENO® Daily Moisurising Body Wash, RRP £9.82 The classic body wash is perfect for all skin types, especially sensitive ones. The creamy formula contains finely milled colloidal oatmeal and helps protect your skin from feeling dry.

AVEENO® Daily Moisturising Yogurt Body Wash Apricot & Honey Scented RRP, £7.35 With yogurt and colloidal oatmeal, this sweet-smelling wash will leave you feeling velvety soft, as well as being a treat for your senses.

IN-SHOWER BENEFITS Struggling with dry sensitive skin? With the right products, healthy hydrations starts during your morning routine

New AVEENO® Skin Relief Moisturising Body Wash, RRP £9.99 The unique formula is suitable for very dry skin, fragrance-free and contains prebiotic oat. Expect your skin to feel soothed and look healthier.

ou take care of your body post- shower, coating your legs in moisturiser and slathering on SPF. But what if you’re missing a crucial step in your routine? “Daily showering is the ideal time to nourish your skin,” says AVEENO® skincare expert Rebecca Bennett. “Choose products that don’t strip skin of its natural oils and choose soothing, moisturising cleansers with ingredients such as finely milled oatmeal, which help to restore the skin’s natural barrier and prevent moisture loss,

which can lead to dryness.” While many shower products strip out moisture, the new Skin Relief Moisturising Body Wash doesn’t, thanks to its unique formula, which also contains prebiotic oats. Like all AVEENO® body washes, it’s soap-free and suitable for sensitive skin. So what are you waiting for? Your kind-to-skin shower routine starts now. New AVEENO® Skin Relief Moisturising Body Wash is available in Boots, Waitrose and pharmacies. Find out more at aveeno.co.uk

WORDS JENNIFER SAVIN. PHOTOGRAPH AGATA PEC. PROP DESIGN JESSICA DANCE. *TEMPTATIONHOLIDAYS.COM

’S ALL ABOUT THE 5-9

CHEEKY TRIPS Picking a getaway to best suit your needs used to mean choosing between half-board or all-inclusive. Now? It’s about matching your break to your sexual needs. Temptation Holidays* offers three packages of varying degrees of naughtiness: there’s “party” (pool raves where you can go topless), “nude” (self-explanatory) and “play” (where there are designated zones for you to get it on with your partner or other open-minded guests). The venues include sleek Mediterranean cruise ships and Miami hotels. We imagine the queue for the breakfast buffet will be interesting to say the least… Sausage sandwich, anyone?

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Imagine coming back from holiday ﬁtter, healthier and without a mean case of the blues. That’s what a new raft of wellness breaks promises. Do they deliver? There’s only one way to ﬁnd out…

THE

LUXURY ONE Palace Merano Espace Henri Chenot Italy

WHAT’S THE USP? People flock from across the world to be here. There are Russian women as slim as grissini who nibble fruit at breakfast, and hearty European men as round as a barrel of Châteauneufdu-Pape who slurp their black spaghetti over lunch. Most have been before, understanding as they do the life-changing ability of this place. You see Merano is less a spa and more a hospital for the broken-souled. It is a place where benevolent staff in white lab coats will pummel your body, baste you in warm seaweed and hose your buttocks until they glisten red. They will assess your meridians, dose you up with magnesium powder and treat you with all the care of a freshly hatched quail’s egg. A stay here is as close to a rebirth as any of us will experience. WHAT EXACTLY GOES ON THERE? To learn this, you must first understand the “Chenot” philosophy. Henri Chenot (who you will see from time to time pootling around the place) is one of the world’s most distinguished naturopaths, a man Even the chairs wear white coats

Basically paradise with bonus quinoa

who regards except in the pretty much evening when all ailments guests sit in the as coming beautiful lounges from the gut. sipping fruit tea, That means the playing board Chenot Method games or simply is big on nutrition. staring out at the Less a bath, more of a shrine Meals here are small Tyrolean landscape. but perfectly formed – YOU’LL COME a fruit salad for breakfast BACK FEELING… that’s as intricately put together Addicted to the Chenot way of as a couture gown, quinoa and life. Given everyone undergoing vegetables for lunch and a simple, treatments is meat/sugar/dairy/ exquisite piece of fish for dinner. alcohol-free throughout their stay There is a 48-hour fast for those who (and barely notices), most guests end can bear it (the vegetable broth is up ditching at least one vice for life. delicious) and as much water with But you will also feel mended, and lemon or cider vinegar as you can prepared to face the world again. stomach. Most people come for the tailor-made six-day detox – though guests on all programmes get daily massages and punishing hydrotherapy, Seven nights including accommodation, which becomes masochistically meals and six-day programme with delightful after day three. There is consultations and treatments, around £3,986; Palace.it/en/detox-programme.htm › little time for rest, marshalled as you are from appointment to appointment,

Get me there

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THE

FITNESS RETREAT The Body Camp Ibiza

WHAT EXACTLY GOES ON THERE? On day one, 12 to 15 of you fill a luxury villa deep in the Ibizan countryside. Days start early, with a 45-minute workout from 7.15am. From there, it’s breakfast, and then three to five hours of exercise per day, broken up into bite-sized chunks that feel like far too much fun to actually be hard graft. Think Baywatch-style beach workouts soundtracked by ’80s power tunes, beautiful clifftop hikes, outdoor circuits and beach-side meditations with loads of other surprises thrown in. Full body measurements are taken on day one, as is a fitness test that comprises sit-ups, burpees and push-ups. Do not be daunted – mixed abilities are their speciality, and this way of measuring means that it’s easy to see the real progress you will make in just one week.

WHAT’S THE USP? A week-long reset of your body, mind and soul. We’re not kidding. The Body Camp is as famous for getting serious, life-changing results as it is for its cult following among the celebrity classes (look on Instagram and you’ll see what we mean). The emphasis here is not on how many burpees you can do or how long you can hold a squat (although you will push yourself to the limits of both), but on your attitude to health, fitness, food and how that informs your behaviour back home. At Body Camp, the mind is every bit as important as the body and looked Fact: salad tastes better on holiday after just as carefully. From yoga to breathwork sessions, daily behaviour-reset workshops and the constant and attentive care from every single member of staff, no goal is too big or too small.

To be fair, the bag did start it

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One last thing: the food – wow. It’s entirely plant-based and just. So. Bloody. Delicious thanks to the considerable efforts of head chef Ben Whale. Do not worry about feeling hungry – with three meals a day plus two snacks, even the most carnivorous had zero complaints. YOU’LL COME BACK FEELING… Stronger, physically and mentally. Yes, you’ll tighten up and feel like a rock-solid ninja. But that is only part of the story. The Body Camp’s biggest success lies in the inner resilience it builds in those who need it most.

Get me there From £1,500 per week, including the programme, accommodation, all food and drink, an hour-long full-body massage and a mini manicure or pedicure; Thebodycamp.com

Your best ever pool selfies: incoming

Diving from balcony to foaming tub? Not OK

THE

CITY ESCAPE The Oriental Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

WHAT’S THE USP? Blissed-out pampering with a considerable side order of culture and nightlife. Situated in its own pavilion across the Chao Phraya river in the heart of Bangkok, you reach it via a little shuttle ferry from the Mandarin Oriental hotel, turning every visit into a journey to the land of Zen. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill massage-and-facial kind of place, it’s a destination in its own right.

cooking classes. Or venture into the WHAT EXACTLY GOES ON THERE? heat and bustle of the city: landmarks World-exclusive Thai signature like the Temple of Dawn and the treatments. The 90-minute Muay Old Town are a tuk-tuk ride away. Thai massage (about £95) is not for There are six wonderful restaurants, wimps. Designed to be a “passive” but breakfast by the river, with its version of traditional Thai boxing mountains of tropical fruit (Muay Thai), expect your and frankly anything else little-of-stature but you fancy, is the best deceptively strong meal of the day. therapist to fold you YOU’LL COME into a pretzel, elbow BACK FEELING… and knee you in your Restored. Each night tight muscles, and garlands, local sweets do yoga poses while and affirmations are balancing on you. The Mandarin left in your room, and Relaxing it isn’t, and at dusk it’s the staff’s mission to you can expect to yelp, but know what you want before we came out feeling liberated you do. La Grande Dame, as the hotel and wildly energised. Less daunting is lovingly known, is a bubble of options, featuring Thai herbs, tradition, class, Thai hospitality rhythmic acupressure, “tapping” and ritual: in short, it’s spa utopia. massage and a gentle rocking type of body manipulation, are available too. The spa gym also offers one-on-one Thai boxing classes, so you get to kick and punch your steel-framed teacher Rooms are priced from £360 per night; while he tries not to laugh. We left Mandarinoriental.com/bangkok. Flights soaked in sweat and feeling like from Heathrow to Bangkok with Eva Air Rambo. Other things to try include from £510; Evaair.com › sunrise yoga, mantra chanting or Thai

Get me there

Of course a chandelier over the bath

THE

DETOX

Vilalara Longevity Thalassa & Medical Spa Portugal WHAT’S THE USP? Vilalara’s four-night detox package is about way more than fasting. It’s basically an MOT for your body, including a personal health check, lymphatic drainage, body exfoliation, a jet bath, osteopathy session and a biophysical evaluation (discovering if your fat and muscle percentage are appropriate for your age, height and weight and, if not, what you can do about it).

Maybe leave your unicorn inflatable at home

it in the privacy of your room, so it’s WHAT EXACTLY GOES ON THERE? not embarrassing, just… tricky. After a medical examination to make When you’re not padding around sure the strict regime is suitable, you’re in a white robe sipping soup, the rest put on a programme that means no of the resort is gorgeous and would solid food or caffeine (headaches kicked in on day two). The detox starts make a great holiday even without the spa and fast. It’s on a stunning at 8am with a “Longevity” shot – stretch of Algarve coast with a concoction of cider vinegar a private sandy beach, five and lemon – and daily pools across the resort, super shake (genuinely manicured gardens, tasty, made with açaí tea, tennis courts and coastal blueberries and sesame walks with wow views. seeds). You have soup YOU’LL COME BACK at lunchtime – the Looks like a FEELING… lentil was delicious, the handy vac. Brilliant. The results were, cabbage… less so – juices Probably isn’t frankly, remarkable. Better mid-afternoon and at 5pm, skin, a flat stomach, a general with another soup at 7pm before feeling of being lighter and happier in a final herbal drink at 9pm. You can yourself and able to reset and take on also sip alkaline water (pH 9.5) and whatever challenges face you at home. herbal tea throughout the day. Remarkably, all this somehow manages to stop you lying in bed hallucinating doughnuts: every time our stomachs rumbled, staff magically Healing Holidays can arrange a four-night appeared with a juice or soup so we Longevity Juice Fasting Detox programme had the energy to get on with all the from £1,719 per person, including flights, fun (free) stuff like meditation, yoga, transfers, all activities and full-board accommodation; Healingholidays.co.uk Pilates and even crystal healing. The only dodgy bit was an enema. You do

Get me there

A shake and a shot: breakfast at Vilalara

THE

WEEKEND GETAWAY

Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa Lake District

WORDS FARRAH STORR, AMY GRIER, INGEBORG VAN LOTRINGEN, AMANDA STATHAM, STUART SELNER. PHOTOGRAPHS GILLES BENSIMON/TRUNK ARCHIVE, ADRIAN HOUSTON, JOHN COBHAM

WHAT’S THE USP? If we told you the 100m walk from hotel to spa includes a footbridge over a waterfall (OK, we’re not talking Niagara, but still), you’ll get some idea of just how special this place is. The superbly designed new spa suites at this glorious country-house hotel have state-of-the-art facilities, and there’s a fantastic range of treatments including the Akwaterra massage (where a ceramic tool is used to rub oils into your skin). Not enough USPs for you? There’s also a champagne bar and one of the country’s longest outdoor infinity pools.

WHAT EXACTLY GOES ON THERE? When you’re not busy having Major pampering. We tried the treatments, head outside and soak up Journey Of The Senses Rasul Ritual the beauty of the surrounding area. (the spa blurb says it’s “an ancient It’s a fairly short and easy hike up Arabian wellness ritual which fuses the Cat Bells fell, which overlooks the power of purifying mineral-rich Derwent Water (it came fourth in clay from the Atlas Mountains with a National Trust poll of Britain’s restorative heat and steam”) and can favourite walks last year and it’s got confirm it’s better than a a great name, right?). Or take Saturday morning spent a bus to nearby Keswick, pounding the aisles a pretty market town in Tesco. A member that is closely of staff shows you associated with to a private room Romantic poets where you Samuel Taylor massage black Coleridge soap into your and William skin with a mitt, Wordsworth. shower and paint Back at the hotel, Bed to fresh air in yourself head-to-toe eat at Mizu, the 1.3 seconds with mud (actually hotel’s recently opened rasul lava clay). And then pan-Asian restaurant. the best bit: sitting in a sauna for The Sizzling Sweet And Sour Black 10 minutes as the heat and mud work Tiger Prawns are a must, alongside their magic, before overhead showers the tasting menu, which shows off come on to wash you clean. A little all their best dishes. moisturiser and, voilà, any problems YOU’LL COME BACK FEELING… or stress suddenly feel very far away. Invigorated. Whether your body is a temple or an ancient ruin, a couple of days spent at Lodore Falls is true bliss. Peace and quiet, fresh air, a superb hotel and spa set amid stunning scenery: what’s not to like? Let off some, er, steam

Get me there Presenting your new phone wallpaper

From £190 per night, new spa suites from £460 per night; Lakedistricthotels.net/ lodorefalls. Virgin Trains travel from London Euston to Penrith; Virgintrains.co.uk ◆

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SUN’S OUT Not all car adventures can be like Crossroads, but they can feature

FOR RETRO RIDERS WHY YOU’LL WANT IT The Mazda MX-5 celebrates its 30th birthday this year, so you know it’s reliable, with its heady partying days and bad-decision-making times behind it. Although it doesn’t come with party bags, just air ones, which is disappointing. BLOW-OUT FEATURE The RF model (it stands for Retractable Fastback) has a metal folding roof, rather than the standard soft-top, making it a little warmer in the winter, so you can drive it and hibernate in it. Bye-bye, social obligations. BREEZE FACTOR What’s that? What did you u say?! The wind makes

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· C O S M O P O L I TA N

the drive a little noisy on motorways. Nothing a directional headscarf won’t cover, though. BOOT-Y HAUL The boot holds up to 127 litres. That means two weekend bags and approximately 12 packets of chocolate digestives. TAKE IT TO… The New Forest Film Festival Drive-in Movies in Dorset, featuring a run of ’80s films like Back To The Future and Dirty Dancing (14th-16th June; Driveinmovies.co). COST From £19,495, or £319 per calendar month (PCM) for 24 months.*

FOR REFINED RAVERS WHY YOU’LL WANT IT It’s slick, it’s nifty and it’s loud... the Citroën C1 Airscape is basically a city boy without arrogance, AKA the dream. BLOW-OUT FEATURE This car almost parks itself – steering is light and consistent, so you can U-turn smoother than any politician. You can even get optional parking sensors, so the bollard community is finally safe. BREEZE FACTOR Hold onto your eyebrows, this car is swift at speed. BOOT-Y HAUL For serious luggage capacity (780 litres), fold down the rear seats. (With

the seats up, the boot is a more modest 196 litres.) This car gets a round of applause for the generously proportioned, snack-appropriate door pockets. TAKE IT TO… Houghton Festival in Norfolk, where electro meets art in the grounds of a stately home (8th11th August; Houghton festival.co.uk). Curated by techno royalty Craig Richards, it has a 24hour music licence. Glow sticks all night long. COST From £12,820, or £165.96 PCM for 36 months.

FOR FANCY FE WHY YOU’LL WANT IT The Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet gets into more parties than Kylie Jenner, and has almost as many curves. Hey, if it’s good enough for Rihanna, it’s good enough for us. BLOW-OUT FEATURE Speed. It can get from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds, making that satisfying growl as it goes. Sunday drivers need not apply. BREEZE FACTOR The wind deflector allows you to monologue away on the motorway with the roof down. The big wheels and wide tyres make it pretty noisy over rough surfaces – all the better for drowning out the world and getting a bit zen (albeit loud zen). BOOT-Y HAUL This car is party in the front, not so

T,TOPS OFF a convertible. Here’s our pick of the best ways to travel topless…

much in the back, so you can squeeze a soft holdall in the 115-litre nose, or use friends and family as luggage racks on the back seats. Teamwork makes the dream work… TAKE IT TO… Henley Festival (10th-14th July; Henley-festival.co.uk). Take a regular music festival, but swap out the Strongbow Dark Fruits and muddy wellies for Moët and black tie – and you’ve got Henley. Highlights include Jessie J, Tom Odell and coloured chinos galore. COST From £104,090, or £858.62 PCM for 36 months.

FOR CROWD-SURFERS WHY YOU’LL WANT IT Complete with navy and silver design inspired by Italian yacht brand Riva, the Abarth 695 Rivale is one smooth operator. Riva’s yachts go into the millions… so consider this your fast-track to getting a Monaco glow. BLOW-OUT FEATURE It’s almost too goodlooking. This car has rich leather seats and a rippling mahogany dashboard. You can even personalise the badge – with the name of your (fantasy) yacht, obviously. Honestly, we’ve lost sight of whether it’s a car or o an EL James novel. BREEZE FACTOR A little bit breezy and a little bit bouncy, too – just

pretend you’re riding the waves. Ahoy! BOOT-Y HAUL Squash in a couple of small cases or soft bags in the 185-litre boot. No space for life jackets, sadly. TAKE IT TO… Surfing festival Boardmasters, in Cornwall, where the line-up includes Wu-Tang Clan, Florence + The Machine and Foals (7th-11th August; Boardmasters.com). Look out for the beach yoga, gong baths and surf school, too. COST From £23,380, or £257 PCM for 48 months.†

FOR FUN-LOVERS WHY YOU’LL WANT IT The Mini Convertible is the country’s best-selling convertible. Enough said. BLOW-OUT FEATURE That retro dashboard? A ruse. You can link your iPhone to the 6.5-inch colour screen to chat hands-free or entertain the whole of the M6 with your exceptional taste in music. Thank U, Next. BREEZE FACTOR Roof down, windows up, the Mini copes well with blustery conditions. There’s even an optional wind deflector, so you can save your teeth from all those bugs. BOOT-Y HAUL The 215-litre boot takes three small suitcases, and there’s generous space in the

front. Enough room for all baggage – emotional and otherwise. TAKE IT TO… The Big Feastival, exBlur-bassist-turnedcheesemaker (yes, really) Alex James’s food and music extravaganza on his Oxfordshire farm (23rd-25th August; Thebigfeastival.com). It has a vintage funfair, while acts include Jess Glynne and Raymond Blanc (not in duet – unfortunately). COST From £20,085, or £275 PCM for 48 months.‡

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WORDS DANIELLA DA SCOTT. PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES, JUSTINE TRICKETT, ALEX RAWSON, MOVIESTILLSDB.COM. *FINANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AT MAZDA.CO.UK. †FINANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AT WHATCAR.COM. ‡FINANCE OPTION AVAILABLE AT OFFERS.MINI.CO.UK. ALL FINANCE OPTIONS AVAILABLE AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY

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THE

C H E A P F LI G H T

COSMOPOLITAN CONTRACT This is an agreement made by A Person Flying On A Budget Airline, __________________ (hereafter referred to as The Flyer) The Flyer will wake up in the dark after 2.5 hours’ sleep because the early flight was by far the cheapest, and she was still packing at midnight. She and her travel companions will get to the airport late and not speaking, after falling out over at least one of the following: who booked the cab, which terminal they fly from, or what qualifies as “a sensible place” to keep a passport. They will run wildly through the airport. The flight will be delayed.

2 LIQUID COURAGE

The Flyer will get into an argument with a security officer about whether cleansing balm counts as a liquid. She will pretend it is a matter of physics, but really it is a matter of her cleansing balm costing £24. It will be confiscated. To cheer herself up, The Flyer will drink shots of cream liqueur in duty-free and spray herself with perfume testers. She will regret this when she has to sit in Departures for two hours in a toxic cloud of her own creation.

3 EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE

Thirty seconds before boarding, The Flyer will remember that she needs to cram her handbag into her carry-on suitcase. It won’t fit. Nor will her Toblerone, neck pillow or brand-new Lancôme gift set. Her friends will sit on her suitcase eating the Toblerone while the flight attendant tries to charge The Flyer a £40 baggage fee. Finally, The Flyer will board the plane wearing three jackets, two m maxi dresses and a beach towel.

4 REALLY TAKING OFF

While her friends have all magically got seats together, The Flyer will end up sitting between a screaming toddler and a stag party drinking sambuca through a funnel. As soon as the “fasten seatbelt” sign goes on, The Flyer will suddenly become desperate for the loo. She will get more desperate while the plane sits on the tarmac, drives around for a bit, and sits some more. She will consider asking the stags to borrow their funnel.

5 A SPOT OF TURBULENCE

The Flyer will pull out that novel she’s been looking forward to reading, then leave it in her lap and mess around on her phone for three hours. Her legs will go dead. She will uncross them, then cross them again, then end up with her feet on the headrest. The person in front will retaliate by reclining so far back that The Flyer spills her €11 gin all over her €8 panini. She will ask a flight attendant for a napkin. They will charge her €3.95.

6 NOTHING TO DECLARE

Because she knows that flights dehydrate skin, The Flyer will slather herself in moisturiser. Her sticky limbs will end up covered in crumbs and fluff from the seat. Finally The Flyer will fall asleep, using her soggy panini wrapped in a towel as a makeshift pillow. She will be woken up by a flight attendant telling her the plane has landed and everyone has already got off. Also, would she like to buy a prize-draw scratchcard? The Flyer would not.

Signed: (Th Flyer) (The Fl )

WORDS LAUREN BRAVO. PHOTOGRAPHS AGATA PEC. ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS GETTY IMAGES. CLIPBOARD AND HEADPHONES, BOTH HEMA. PASSPORT COVER AND LUGGAGE TAG, BOTH KIKKI.K. NECK PILLOW, AMAZON

1 THE DEPARTED