Category Entertainment News

Jennifer Aniston has opened up about her 20-year battle to become a mother, revealing she went through many rounds of IVF – and now she’s explained why she didn’t adopt

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Jennifer Aniston didn’t adopt a child during her struggle to become a mother because she wanted to have her “own DNA in a little person”. The former Friends star, 56, recently opened up about her 20-year battle to start a family – revealing she went through many rounds of unsuccessful IVF treatments – and now she’s explained why she didn’t turned to adoption.

During an appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, Jennifer said: “When people say: ‘But you can adopt’. I don’t want to adopt. I want my own DNA in a little person. That’s the only way, selfish or not, whatever that is, I’ve wanted it.”

Co-host Monica Padman asked the actress if she’s found “peace” after her fertility struggles and Jennifer replied: “It’s so peaceful. But I will say there’s a point where it’s like out of my control. There’s literally nothing I can do about it.”

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Jennifer acknowledged she has had relationships with men and thought they “would have made some good kids” but she admits the thought often passed “within three seconds”.

She went on to add: “It [having kids] just wasn’t in the plan, whatever the plan was. It’s very emotional, especially in the moment when they say ‘that’s it,’ because there is a weird moment when that happens.”

The Morning Show star previously opened up about her fertility battles back in 2022 when she revealed to Allure magazine: “My late 30s, 40s, I’d gone through really hard s***, and if it wasn’t for going through that, I would’ve never become who I was meant to be. I was trying to get pregnant.

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“It was really hard. I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it.

“I would’ve given anything if someone had said to me: ‘Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour.’ You just don’t think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed. But I have zero regrets.”

Jennifer discussed her ordeal once more in a recent chat with Harper’s Bazaar UK, confessing she despised the “false narrative” that she chose not to have children because she’s a “workaholic”.

She revealed: “They didn’t know my story, or what I’d been going through over the past 20 years to try to pursue a family, because I don’t go out there and tell them my medical woes.

“That’s not anybody’s business. But there comes a point when you can’t not hear it – the narrative about how I won’t have a baby, won’t have a family, because I’m selfish, a workaholic.

“It does affect me – I’m just a human being. We’re all human beings. That’s why I thought: ‘What the hell?'”.

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Meghan Markle is said to be preparing for ‘yet another relaunch’ in the world of business following her deals with Netflix, Spotify and her jam business As Ever

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Meghan Markle is said to be preparing for ‘yet another relaunch’ in the world of business. The former actress, 44, famously married Prince Harry in 2018 but they rescinded their royal duties just two years later so they could live out a more private life in LA.

Since then, the pair have fronted multi-million dollar documentaries, and Meghan hosted a short-lived podcast on Spotify. In 2022, the couple starred in Harry & Meghan for Netflix, and she went on to front the lifestyle series With Love, Meghan for the streamer, which has so far ran for two seasons and is yet to be renewed for a third. The couple currently have a ‘multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects’ with Netflix.

What’s more, Meghan also heads up her company As Ever, and famously launched it by sending out samples of her jam to her celebrity pals earlier this year but was said to be feeling ‘lost’ as the whole thing appeared to have not worked out.

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Now, a PR guru has claimed that the former Suits star is gearing up to reinvent herself again. They told the Daily Mail : “It’s Meghan 3.0. She’s on manoeuvres and looking for yet another relaunch.” It all comes as Meghan is set to lecture as a ‘high-profile business founder’ at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women summit in Washington DC, and will feature in a lineup with former US presidential candidate Kamala Harris and actress Selena Gomez.

Since its launch in April, Meghan’s As Ever brand has released a variety of products, including wine, with several collections selling out within minutes. Yet, no official sales figures have ever been disclosed.

A friend close to the Duchess told the Daily Mail: “At the moment she is literally lost because the whole jam-making business did not work out in the way she thought it would.” “Nobody has seen any figures, but I don’t think they are that good. I know they just released a Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s not going to make her lots of money because Netflix owns the business.”

Netflix is a partner in As Ever, with Alison Boshoff from the outlet stating: “This would be disputed by Meghan, but certainly the streamer is an investor and will be taking a big slice of any profits.

“It is also heavily involved in running the business as Meghan, despite her talk of being a ‘female founder’, is entirely inexperienced in commerce.” During an interview with Bloomberg this summer, Meghan stated that Netflix is her only partner and investor in As Ever.

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When asked about her vision for her brand, she responded, “I don’t want it to feel generic, cookie-cutter, or phoned in.” However, a friend of the Duchess told the outlet: “She just wants to make money, she wants to be a billionaire The trouble is, she doesn’t know how.”

The Duchess recently took to her brand’s lifestyle brand’s Instagram page to quietly share that a new wine would be added to the range: a 2024 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.

Meghan subtly announced the new offering with a coded post on social media, with the caption reading: “We heard you missed us. We’re back…and we brought a friend.” With one hidden post about the new tipple shared online, Meghan then jetted to France for her whirlwind appearance at Paris Fashion Week, with her new wine flying under the radar.

Meghan’s two-picture post on Instagram first showcased a gift box of her famous apricot spread and orange marmalade, both of which are already staples in the As Ever range, before another image shows a bottle of the new wine in an ice bucket.

The official As Ever website revealed more about the white wine, which is the third varietal of wine available for sale from the Duchess of Sussex’s brand.

“Our first Sauvignon Blanc is bright and balanced, with citrus aromatics, a smooth finish, and refreshing versatility,” an official description says. “Crafted for everyday dinners and celebratory gatherings alike, this thoughtfully made wine is perfect for sharing, gifting, and savouring in every season.”

Priced at $30 (£22) per bottle and sold in sets of three ($90), half cases ($159) and full cases ($300), As Ever’s new Sauvignon Blanc is priced the same as the line’s 2024 Napa Valley Rosé and the sold-out 2023 Napa Valley Rosé.

The site sells pre-loved items from top high street brands and designer labels, all for a fraction of the original price – but it’s not without its annoyances and writer Sophie Grubb shared her experience

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The second-hand clothing market has experienced a revival in recent years, with shoppers turning to online apps or visiting charity shops and vintage markets. Some are rejecting fast fashion due to its environmental impact, while others are looking to save money amidst the cost of living crisis.

Sophie Grubb’s motivation is a combination of both, along with the excitement of finding a bargain – if she ever goes missing in a shop, you’ll likely find her rummaging through the sale rail without any shame. Bristol boasts some fantastic charity shops, so Sophie prefers browsing in-store rather than scrolling online, having thus far avoided downloading Vinted, Depop or any other second-hand marketplace platforms.

However, targeted advertising on social media seems frighteningly attuned to her tastes these days, and Sophie was drawn in when she saw a clip on Instagram promoting ‘pre-loved’ items from a place called Thrift Plus UK. She’d never heard of it before, but the influencer or model was tearing into a bag of stunning big-brand clothes with tags still attached, all priced at less than a fiver each.

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Sceptically, Sophie first checked out the reviews on TrustPilot, before venturing onto the site to understand why it’s so suspiciously cheap. Apparently, it was launched by its London founder in 2017, who was frustrated with fast fashion but recognised the reputation of second-hand as ‘fusty and dusty’, complete with blurry photos and slow service.

They brand themselves as ‘smartened-up second-hand’ – customers can bag up items to sell and they’ll handle the quality checks, photographing, listing, packaging and dispatch all from their warehouse, also offering free 30-day returns for buyers. They sift through the clothing to favour ‘top high street and designer brands’, adding their own Thrift+ tag so it even feels like buying new, reports Bristol Live.

Any items not accepted for sale will reportedly be donated to charity partners, with £1.5m listed as the amount raised so far. Reassured by this spiel, Sophie began browsing and was impressed to see that you can filter by brand. There’s a long list of familiar high street favourites like Zara, H&M, & Other Stories and Mango as well as high-end designer names including Gucci, YSL, Jimmy Choo and Versace.

There are (overwhelmingly) tens of thousands of items to explore but you can use the search tool if you’re after something specific, although she found that to be a bit glitchy. It was easy though to filter by product category, size and condition – you can even whittle it down to ‘brand new with tags’ if you’re worried about signs of wear.

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Some of the higher-end items Sophie spotted still seemed expensive, like £600 for a Chanel top, but she sorted price low-high and was met with literally thousands of items listed at £3.50. The photo quality was far better than you’d see on the likes of eBay, although with really dark or really light fabrics it was hard to make out the detail.

The descriptions she read didn’t provide much information, but Sophie had some success using Google Lens to search the photo and locate the original listing on the brand’s actual website, where she found the full description and even reviews (in the case of H&M). The Thrift listings do include the size, but she recommends checking against the pictures of the label, as some UK sizes seemed to be confused with US sizes.

Some items were also mislabelled, such as a playsuit listed as a dress or a mini skirt listed as a maxi skirt. Nonetheless, there were some incredible bargains. Sophie stumbled upon a dusky pink H&M maxi dress that looked like it was from their bridesmaid or occasion range, priced at just £4.30, or a lemon-yellow ASOS jacket perfect for spring at £3.50.

Sophie ended up ordering a £5 New Balance sports top, a £5 coatigan from Native Youth, a £5 playsuit from Next, a £4 Oasis shirt, a stunning beaded Zara dress for just £4, a Monki dress for £5 and a New Look playsuit for £3.50, plus £3.95 for delivery via Evri.

Funny enough, she admits that she got a bit carried away with the prices. Normally, Sophie would limit herself to just two or three items if she was buying new, as she’s not one for going on a big shopping spree.

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However, given that the clothes were second-hand and so affordable, Sophie felt less guilty about purchasing them. Her package arrived in the post after four days, and she was delighted to find all the neatly-folded clothes unpackaged inside when she opened it. Sophie absolutely detests the unnecessary plastic wrap you typically get with online clothing orders.

She was eager to try everything on but noticed a few disappointing details even as she was unpacking. Some of the beading was coming undone on the Zara dress, despite it being described as ‘like new’, and the coatigan felt bobbly rather than soft to the touch.

The gym top, however, was in pristine condition – she would have been over the moon if she’d found that in a charity shop for a fiver, considering that the brand’s tops usually sell new for around £30-£50. That was definitely a keeper, as was the Next playsuit which was also like-new and featured beautiful broderie embroidery perfect for summer, along with handy pockets. If she saw that new in store, she’d expect it to be priced at about £35-£40 given the quality of the fabric.

Sophie was fond of the Monki dress, but it didn’t quite fit her right, and the same went for the New Look playsuit, which also had a faulty adjuster on one of the straps. Sophie almost kept the shirt as well, but one of the button fastenings was slightly gaping due to wear – an issue that could easily be overlooked during quality checks unless you actually tried it on.

The returns process was straightforward enough, simply requiring a QR code download and a trip to a Post Office or Evri point, with the refund appearing in her bank account a few days later. While Sophie can’t speak for the experience as a seller, she’d certainly consider returning as a buyer if she wanted to update her wardrobe without resorting to the high street.

Although her choices were a bit of a mixed bag, this is a risk with any online purchase, given that you’re relying on a digital photo rather than something you can see, touch, and try on. Sophie still has a soft spot for charity shop trips for this reason, and she appreciates knowing that her money is going towards a good cause, but the vast selection means she’ll likely be tempted to go ‘thrifting’ more frequently. Primark shoppers are raving about the ‘retro’ pyjama range that is ‘very 70s’.

30 Rock actor Alec Baldwin reassured fans in an Instagram video that he’s doing okay after he and his brother Stephen crashed his wife’s car into a tree in the Hamptons

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Alec Baldwin told fans he was doing fine after he and his brother Stephen Baldwin crashed Hilaria’s car into a tree during their trip to the Hamptons. Fans rushed to share their concerns after it photos emerged of a white Range Rover that had driven front-on into a tree on the side of a highway in East Hampton, New York.

The 67-year-old 30 Rock actor and his 59-year-old brother were in town attending the Chairman’s Brunch at the 33rd Hamptons International Film Festival on Sunday evening. Alec and Stephen were seen chatting to police, with Stephen later taking pictures of the crash site.

A few hours after the shock incident, Alec took to his Instagram page to confirm the family were safe.

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“This morning, I was in a car accident. A guy cut me off in a truck, a big garbage truck, the size of a whale. It must have been commercial, to take away material from construction sites” he said.

“It was the biggest garbage truck I’ve ever seen… Anyways, to avoid hitting him, I hit a tree. I hit a big, fat tree. It crushed my wife’s car. I crushed my wife’s car; I feel bad about that. It’s all fine; I’m fine. My brother’s fine.”

He went on to thank the local police department for “coming to my aid”, adding: “My wife’s car is pretty smashed up. Big tree, big fat tree and I’m going to Los Angeles to see my family. Can’t wait.”

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Fans rushed to the comment section to share their support, with one writing: “Glad all is okay. Thanks to Officer Gerken. Better get that smoke detector battery changed!” and another posting: “I’m very happy you and your brother are alright.”

One fan commented: “Very happy to see you are fine. Glad as well that your brother is fine, too,” and another added: “Love you, Man! So glad you and Stephen are not hurt! It’ll get better, pal. Trust me.”

“Thank god, they had guardian angels watching over them,” one said.

His wife Hilaria took to her own page when fans bombarded her with worried messages to reassure them that everyone is okay.

“He’s O.K., Stephen’s O.K. Everybody is O.K., nobody was hurt, and that is the most important thing. So, I love you and thank you, thank you, thank you for caring,” she told fans

Meanwhile, Hilaria was recently eliminated from US dance series, Dancing With The Stars.

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YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester released a 47-minute-long video on their channel explaining why they kept their romantic relationship away from the spotlight

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YouTubers Dan and Phil have finally confirmed their relationship after 16 years of speculation. Dan Howell and Phil Lester. The internet duo have been collaborating on YouTube since meeting in 2009, with them going on to work on films, books, television, radio and tours together.

They have a shared channel where they share fun reaction videos, skits and stories. The couple, who have lived together for 14 years, separately came out as gay via their channels in 2019. They later confirmed they were romantically linked at the beginning of their relationship but didn’t share any further information.

And in a bombshell 47-minute-long video shared on Monday, the duo finally confirmed they’ve been in a romantic relationship for 16 years.

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“Alright, let’s get this over with. Are Dan and Phil in a relationship?” Dan started the video as they both sat down on a bed. Phil said: “Yes,” before Dan joked: “Alright, bye.”

“We fell into it hard and fast in 2009,” Dan said. “It was so fast that we never labeled it. We just ended up living together and here we are!”

Phil continued: “We’re partners in everything. And no, it’s not always perfect. Don’t get into your head that we are the ideal of human partnerships.”

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Dan then admitted he was so ‘deep in the closet’ when he was in his mid-20s that he felt like they “had to hide the relationship because I was still hiding who I was to my friends, family, myself.

“A big reason why I’ve been like I never wanna talk about this is I wouldn’t handle people’s reactions.”

Phil said he “felt like I’d gone back in a mini closet in a way, which was weird. I knew this was all very sensitive, uncomfortable and scary for you. So I kind of just wanted to give you time to figure out what you wanted to do.”

Dan and Phil shared that they kept their relationship away from the public as they wanted to be known as a comedy duo rather than boyfriends.

“It hits different,” Dan said. “Who’s to say there’s anything wrong with having the cute gay couple show? It’s just that we wanted the focus to be on what we were doing.”

Phil continued: “Being funny, entertaining. Let’s be honest, there’s a lot of homophobia out there,” before Dan added: “There’s a lot of straight guys that would simply have never watched us on YouTube because it made them uncomfortable.”

They also wanted to avoid the ‘dystopian nightmare’ of ‘couple vlogging’.

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Trouble Maker, from Revolution Beauty founder Adam Minto, is available at Superdrug – and I put it through its paces

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With plenty of exciting new launches in the beauty world right now, it can seem like there’s a lot of noise to cut through in order to decipher just what’s worth splashing the cash on. As someone with combination skin who only rarely wears makeup these days, I’m often on the lookout for products that do the job without fail – and the first time around.

I recently tried a new brand that launched just this summer and found myself with some new go-to products. Trouble Maker, from Revolution Beauty founder Adam Minto, and Sally Minto, is aimed at Gen Zalpha – a new cross-generational demographic they’re coining themselves – and includes lip, eye and face products with impressively low price points.

Trouble Maker “celebrates being playful, adorable, and good trouble,” and is currently available at Superdrug. The average price point for the brand is £5, with nothing costing more than £10.

I put several products from the new range through its paces, applying it early in the morning and checking how well my makeup had lasted throughout the day. Read on for the results.

Pros

• Lower price point than some others on the market
• Feels refreshing to apply
• Doesn’t have a strong smell
• Wide shade range in concealer products

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Cons

• Limited shade options are currently available online, though the range is said to be extensive
• Button foundation can be drying for anyone with dry/combination skin
• Setting spray needs to be topped up during the day

Trouble Maker product review

There are a lot of different products to choose from when it comes to Trouble Maker, but it’s all about making sure you pick the right ones for your skin and your needs. When it comes to foundation, primer and setting spray, there are options for a matte or dewy look, an option which keeps your makeup in place when breaking a sweat and even one which minimises the appearance of pores.

Below, I’ve taken a look at the different options I used and shared my thoughts on each – and even named my favourite, must-have Trouble Maker product.

Genius Grip Hydrating Primer – £5

Anyone with dry or combination skin will know the importance of a hydrating primer – and this might be one of the best I’ve tried. A dewy texture that glides on without being sticky and keeps your makeup in place all day? It’s a winner in my book.

The primer contains hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, making it feel like a skincare product at the same time. I’ve used it as a smooth base for makeup and had it last the whole day, and worn it alone to give my skin an extra glow when I’ve needed it. For £5, you can’t go wrong.

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The Button Pusher Cushion Foundation – £10

This cushion K-beauty inspired foundation is ideal for anyone wanting a lightweight, buildable coverage that lasts all day. I found the product applies smoothly onto the skin with the cushion, but needed an extra hand with a brush to get the perfect finish.

You only need a little bit to achieve a flattering, face-brightening look – and there are 20 shades available to choose from. It is said to be infused with “hydrating ingredients” like niacinamide, blueberry extract, ginger root extract, and aloe juice, though I found it somewhat drying on my combination skin, particularly around the nose and mouth, so it’s worth keeping this in mind.

Genius Grip Hydrating Setting Spray – £5

Another lightweight and breathable product infused with hydrating ingredients, this setting spray is ideal for those with skin on the drier side. It’s also great for if you’re on the go, as it’s small enough to pop in your handbag and keep it close all day if you need a top up.

The product felt smooth and lightweight on the skin, and not sticky like you find with some products. However, I did need to top up during the day, though this was easy enough to do as I could carry it with me at all times.

I wouldn’t say I’m ready to switch out my go-to Morphe Continuous Setting Mist for this Trouble Maker version just yet, but I’m more than happy to use it as an extra, on-the-go helping hand to keep my makeup perfect throughout the day.

Ditto Radiant Concealer – £4

One of my favourite products to try, the Ditto concealer proved perfect for brightening my under eyes and covering some stubborn blemishes. While only offering medium coverage, the product is buildable and lasts all day. I’m certainly as pleased with it as I am with my tried-and-true Lasting Perfection Ultra Cover Concealer from Collection.

The product is creamy and easy to blend – and available in 20 shades. It also contains ginger root extract, which aims to soothe inflamed or irritated skin, making it ideal for anyone with sensitive or spot-prone complexions.

Feral Brow Blade Pen – £4

By far my favourite Trouble Maker product, the Feral Brow Blade Pen features an angled tip that helps create super-fine, hair-like strokes. The applicator has be adjusted and there’s also a spoolie on the other end.

The wax-based formula helps give your brows definition and shape – and ensures they don’t move, smudge or transfer. Each time I’ve used the product, my brows stayed perfect all day. I get the feeling I’ll be sticking with this one for a long time.