Good Morning, it’s Sunday, 26 January. Same-sex marriages are legal in Thailand, John Legend is headlining a tour in Lagos and you can finally recreate Pat McGrath’s viral glass skin from your bedroom. Also, take style notes from Arab women and maybe it’s time to start thinking about curating your 2025 hair calendar. Btw, in spite of TikTok advice, expert advice is not to rely on adrenal mocktails 🍊πŸ₯₯

  • Mass LGBTQ+ Wedding in Thailand: Over 200 couples have gotten married after Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriages.

  • Buff Bridesmaids at a Chinese Wedding: Shi Fan is a world-acclaimed fit model whose wedding has gone viral for her muscle-bound bridesmaids.

  • Oscar Nominations are Out: Emilia Perez leads the list with 13 nominations and Cynthia Erivo is just one award away from EGOT status.Β 

  • 95-year-old Marathon Runner in India: Jayant Soni has been in the Tata Mumbai Marathon since he was 85, and he is not stopping anytime soon.Β 

  • First Black Actor to Play Broadway Elphaba: Off the record success of the β€˜Wicked’ film, Lencia Kebede is now the first Black actress to play Elphaba on Broadway.

  • Pat McGrath’s Glass Skin Mask: Recreate Pat McGrath’s iconic Maison Margiela glass skin with her newly-released Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask.

  • EADEM’s Mami Wata Rescue Mist: This ultra-calming face mist is inspired by the Mami Wata and combines ectoin, cica and aloe vera to calm irritated or sensitive skin.Β 

  • Sereko’s Hydra-Creme: This oily skin-friendly moisturizer contains ceramides and peptides and promises up to 100 hours of hydration.

  • Fixderma’s Brightening Lip Balm: This lip balm contains SPF 50+, alpha arbutin, and kojic acid to help treat lip pigmentation.Β 

  • Lotus Herbals’ Tinted & Sheen Lip Balms: Add shine to your lips with Lotus Herbals’ new range of lip balms in three variants: cafe mocha, peptide, and sugar delight.Β 

  • Curate a Hair Calendar: TikTokers are taking anxiety out of hairstyle decisions by creating hair calendars for 2025. Learn to make yours with tips from hairstylists.Β 

  • Best Curl-defining Shampoos: From Curlsmith’s Frizz Control Cleanser to Pattern Beauty’s Hydration Shampoo, these shampoos will give your hair a guaranteed bounce.Β 

  • Best Curl-defining brushes: Work your shampoo through your strands and detangle with a brush from this list of the best ones for your curls.

  • No Natural Hair Anxiety: If you’ve ever felt pressure to have your natural hair look and behave a certain way, beauty writer Cierra Black has been there too, and she’s writing about how and why she’s letting go of those expectations.Β Β Β 

  • Style Lessons from Arab Women: Take notes by accessorising to the fullest, tailoring your clothes, and pairing elegance with modesty.Β 

  • Denim Tote bags by Anamika Khanna: In honour of its 100th store in Mumbai, Starbucks and Anamika Khanna have collabed on limited-edition graffiti-laden denim totes.Β 

  • Jisoo’s Miss Dior x Hello Kitty: We’re in love with bag charms, and so is K-Pop icon Jisoo who paired her monogram Christian Dior bag with two Hello Kitty Plushies.Β 

  • Leg Warmers and Heels: We’re taking inspo from Doechii’s dance rehearsal style with leg warmers, kitten heels, bayonetta glasses, and sweat pants.Β 

From the trauma dumper and the love bomber to several unsuccessful talking stages on Hinge and Raya, people are now dealing with dating burnout, with many even deleting the apps. Editor Ruhama Wolle is talking about how black women are feeling it the most 🀎

  • Korean Spot in Hackney: Miga, a new Korean multigenerational restaurant in Hackney, London, serves up amazing beef short rib and king prawns.

  • Vegan Bakery in San Antonio: Southern Roots Vegan is a Black-owned bakery serving up indulgent vegan dessert options.Β 

  • Cocktails at Dali & Gala in Bangalore: Dali & Gala is the spot for great cocktails, surreal art, and incredible Burmese food.Β 

  • Rwanda’s Wilderness Bisate Reserve: This magical lodge has incredible views, gorilla treks and garden walks with a resident horticulturist.

  • Zo Trips: If group trips are a nightmare for you, Zo Trips is taking the work away with curated travel experiences around India for up to 9 days.

  • Japan on a Budget: Japan is one of our dream destinations, but it can be an expensive country to visit. If you’re on a tight budget, here are some tips.

  • The Regent Bali Canggu Hotel: The latest beachfront hotel in Bali sits right on the Indian Ocean and contains up to 150 suites.Β Β Β 

  • No Pink In A Rainbow: In this intercontinental fiction, Angel Patricks Amegbe writes on Jan and Naomi who must fight to keep their connection alive after a long-distance romance.Β 

  • Comfort Reads: From Satoshi Yagisawa’s Days at The Morasaki Bookshop to Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen, here are our favourite comfort reads for this season.

  • A-Z of Chinese Food: In Jenny Lau’s latest anthology, we see food as a way to unpack identity, culture and the history of Chinese cuisine. And no, it is not a cookbook.

  • Mio The Beautiful: Inspired by her daughter’s experiences, Kinota Braithwaite’s children’s novel explores Mio, a biracial child of African-Canadian and Japanese heritage who faces racial bullying.Β 

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  • 🎧 Can’t Rush Greatness: Central Cee’s debut album is finally out, with β€˜GBP’ featuring 21 Savage and β€˜CRG’ with Dave.

  • 🎧 Phone Me: Mereba sings of sisterhood and friendships in Phone Me.

  • Qing Madi is January’s EQUAL Africa Artist: The Nigerian singer has made great strides in music, and we’re still streaming her latest release β€˜Akanchawa’.

  • πŸ“Ί Harlem: Season 3 has just started and the Camille-Ian drama continues. This is the last season but rumours are swirling about a movie.

  • πŸ“Ί β€˜Children of Blood and Bone’: Zelie and Inan will be played by Thuso Mbedu and Damson Idris. But the book’s fandom is not impressed.

  • πŸ“Ί β€˜The Bachelor’: Find out who will be Mrs. Grant Ellis on season 29 of The Bachelor, which premieres tomorrow on ABC and Hulu.

  • John Legend to Headline Move Afrika: Global Citizen’s Move Afrika Tour is holding in Kigali and Lagos on 21 & 25 February respectively. Get tickets here.

  • Bad Bunny’s Residency in Puerto Rico: The 30-show residency will be held from July to August at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico.Β