Latest news with #Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Keke Palmer Owns Her Story in New Album ‘Just Keke': 'I Author It Myself'
You'll get every version of Keke Palmer on her new album, Just Keke. There's 'You know it's your girl!' Keke, 'Sorry to that man' Keke, and, yes, even 'Akiki' and the Bee. The multihyphenate is standing on business and fully taking control of her narrative through the project, which comes in the aftermath of her public breakup and falling out with the father of her child, Darius Jackson. In case you somehow missed all the social posts and headlines at the time, allow me to catch you up to speed: During a girls' trip to Vegas in 2023, she was casually serenaded by Usher in a stunning sheer outfit, which prompted a series of social posts from her ex that shamed her version of motherhood. Naturally, it prompted Keke to get some things off her chest in the studio. Days after she graced the steps of the Met Gala, she dropped her side of the story with her Usher-sampled single, 'My Confession.' Dear reader, the song is only an introduction to what she unveils on her latest visual album, which also happens to be the second project under her independent label, Big Boss. Keke shares her deeply personal journey through love, motherhood, fame, and self-discovery across 18 tracks through sharp and vulnerable lyricism and iconic imagery. There are also loads of references laced throughout the project, including Breakfast at Tiffany's, Sex and the City, Issa Rae's inner monologue on Insecure, Whitney Houston's 'It's Not Right but It's Okay,' and, yes, even those of her own. Ahead of the album's release, the artist caught up with Cosmopolitan to chat about basking in the freedom of owning her story and telling it on her terms, how motherhood plays a role in her future endeavors, and, of course, a potential musical collab with her One of Them Days co-star, SZA. You can't stop people from thinking what they want to think from the headlines. Owning it is already a moment of reclamation within itself. It has more power when it becomes a narrative of others to say about you than the narrative you create for yourself. This is my storyline. You don't get to author my story for me—I author it myself. Now, what you do with that is on you, but at least I know where I stand, and I can mark this moment, era, and experience with the tonality that I see fit. That's what this project was for me. 'My Confession' is literally the tip of the iceberg in terms of all the depths to which I go about this whole moment in my life. I've known Tayla since I was nine, and we've been best friends since our families moved to California at the same time to be a support system and help us pursue our dreams. Me, her, Leon Thomas III, and Ariana Grande all grew up together in the child entertainment world. We never worked together on music, and I feel like now was the time because I was ready to go back to those places only she could get me to go. Going to that place with her was very emotional and triggering because we went through a lot, trying to make it in this industry so young. It was tough. I then experienced something very difficult after having my son, with the public fallout and all that drama, which made me not just confront what that meant to me, but the other parts of myself that were fragmented in my life through my trauma. Now, I want to integrate it, and I have to integrate it because I have a son, and he needs me to grow—not just through what happened today, but what happened yesterday. Working with Tayla is a perfect representation of the integration of all of that. I didn't, but I would have loved to share it with her! She's on tour—I'm not gonna be like, 'Yo, listen to my music right now.' When we were working together on One of Them Days, she would share music with me 'cause she was getting ready to come out with her most recent project. I loved hearing it because it was always so amazing, and I felt like I was getting a little inside scoop. There could possibly be a little collab from us, because she has always spoken so highly about my voice. She's like, 'Girl, I'll have you know, I have a vision for you.' Y'all know, not only does she have a voice, but she has a mother-freaking pen. Maybe we'll have something at some point cooking up, 'cause I love her down and we've got One of Them Days 2 coming out. So who it's a song for that. Maybe we make a killer soundtrack. You're a hundred percent dead on, that was the inspiration for it. Underneath the performance, there's a real voice that is trying to be heard, and I wanted to introduce that thematically, because the album is that glitch being exposed. That undercurrent and pressure underneath the intense smile lives the truth and the real person who's performing from a place of survival. Ultimately, at the end of the project, she performs from a place of intentionality that reveals the true her. I'm the dramaturg. This is my story, and I'm no longer a puppet—and, really, I never was. I needed to be seen as that to make my way through. That's where a lot of the references like MGM, VOD-Villain, Disney, or Barbie come from. I did what I had to do, and now I get to be who I want to be. Oh my gosh, yes! Leo, by the way, watches it now. The other day, he was in front of me and he was singing 'Tea, Boo.' When you know that someone is watching you, it pushes you to show up for yourself the way you would want them to show up for themselves. I'm thinking sharper, trying harder, investing greater, and following through more than I even thought I could follow through. I already thought I was at the highest level, but he showed me places where I could grow from, and I owe all of it to him. I've said it in my book, Master of Me, and I feel the same way about Just Keke: he brought me back to myself and taught me how to foster and love that inner child that's been there and waiting for me to say 'hey' again. Listen to 'Just Keke' now Parts of this interview have been edited and condensed for clarity.
IOL News
a day ago
- Health
- IOL News
Unlocking pleasure: How to enhance your sexual experience when orgasms feel out of reach
There is some consensus among sex educators, therapists and real people that orgasm is not as simple as it is made out to be. But if you're struggling to get there, you're definitely not alone. In fact, research from the National Library of Medicine estimates 10 to 15 percent of women have never had an orgasm. That's millions of people who feel left out of the supposed fireworks, quietly wondering, 'What's wrong with me?' Let's get real for a second: orgasms are often hyped as the pinnacle of sexual pleasure - those legendary 'big O' moments everyone seems to be chasing. In a post from Cosmopolitan Evie Plumb, certified sex educator and founder of Cliterally the Best, explains that stress, anxiety, fatigue, hormonal fluctuations, relationship issues, medications like SSRIs or certain medical conditions can contribute to difficulties in reaching orgasm. There are ways to get closer to pleasure, no matter where you're starting from. Let's bust a myth right away, orgasms aren't just about physical touch. Sure, stimulation matters, but reaching climax is a complex dance involving your brain, hormones, emotions and even your relationship with yourself. There is some consensus among sex educators, therapists and real people that orgasm is not as simple as it is made out to be. And that's not a failure. It's normal. Your pleasure matters. Whether you've never orgasmed or just want to deepen your connection with your body, you're not alone and you're not failing. Everyone's sexual response is different - there's no single 'right' way. So, if you're not climaxing easily (or at all), please know you're not broken. Your body and mind are just responding to a lot of variables, many of which are outside your control. Why pressure kills pleasure Here's something every sex expert agrees on - the harder you try to force an orgasm, the further away it feels. Kiana Reeves, intimacy educator and chief intimacy officer, told Goop, 'Anytime you're in the thinking mind, the goal-oriented mind, you're latching onto something and it takes you completely out of sensation.' In other words, stop treating orgasm like a finish line you're failing to cross. Instead, get curious. Explore what feels good. Let go of what you think 'should' happen. As certified sexologist Michaela d'Artois suggests, treat it like an experiment. Is a soft touch better? Do you prefer lying down or sitting up? Permit yourself to just feel. Ditch the shame There's a lot of noise out there about the 'orgasm gap', especially for women and non-binary folks. There's so much messaging about how women don't orgasm through sex with men but have an easier time on their own. That self-judgment, 'I didn't come, I failed' just adds to the pressure. Make pleasure a priority, literally! Let's be honest, in our busy lives, we schedule everything that matters. Pilates. Coffee dates. Doctor's appointments. But when was the last time you scheduled, time for your own pleasure? D'Artois argues that putting pleasure on the calendar isn't weird, it's self-care. 'Set the intention and build in time to get comfortable: music, candles, maybe some audio erotica.' Treat solo sex like you would any wellness ritual. Explore erogenous zones and experiment Your body is full of nerve endings waiting to be discovered. Try stimulating lubes or oils, maybe soothing CBD, tingly kava, or warming cinnamon. Notice what your body gravitates toward. 'We need a lot of variety to get all of our erectile tissue full and responsive,' says Reeves. For some, arousal oils help blood flow, making everything more sensitive. Relax, don't clench A lot of us tense up when we feel close to orgasm. But as Reeves points out, deep, full-body orgasms often come from softening and relaxing, not clenching. Try this: Focus on deep, slow breaths Allow your pelvic floor to relax and 'blossom' open Pulse between tensing and relaxing, if that helps you tune in Breathing increases blood flow and relaxes muscles, making it easier to get out of your head and into your body. Get creative with touch Vibrators are amazing, but if you're stuck in a rut, try mixing it up: use your hands, non-vibrating toys or even a cool stone wand. Tune into subtle sensations, temperature, texture and pressure. Remember, pleasure isn't just about orgasm. It's about feeling good, period. If you take nothing else away from this, hear this: Your pleasure matters. Whether you've never orgasmed or just want to deepen your connection with your body, you're not alone and you're not failing. Curiosity, compassion and a willingness to explore are your best tools. And if you need support, talk to a sex therapist or educator, they're there to help.
Eater
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
The 7 Most Anticipated Las Vegas Restaurant Openings, Summer 2025
It's been an impressive year for Las Vegas's dining scene. So far, 2025 has introduced restaurants that have immediately soared to must-visit territory, like Jeremy Ford's Michelin-starred Stubborn Seed, a new food hall that not only revitalizes the trend but introduces a slate of big-deal regional fare, the latest in the highly-anticipated James Trees culinary universe, and a lakeside stunner with serious seafood prowess. The back-half of the year is equally exciting, with restaurants on deck attached to famous names, long-awaited restaurants that are finally inching toward openings, and steakhouses with Michelin-recognized talent. Here are seven openings to look forward to this summer in Las Vegas. Projected Opening: July 2025 Major Player: Fabio Viviani Celebrity chef and Top Chef fan favorite Fabio Viviani brings his signature flair to Summerlin this summer with the debut of ai Pazzi, a modern Italian restaurant at JW Marriott Las Vegas. The opening is part of a sweeping culinary revamp at the resort and Rampart Casino in partnership with Fabio Viviani Hospitality. Expect handmade pastas, fresh seafood, indulgent entrees like lobster linguini and bistecca alla Fiorentina, and comforting starters like a crostino topped with roasted woodland mushrooms, gorgonzola fondue, and black truffle prosciutto. On Top Chef , Viviani earned praise for his soulful Italian cooking approach — and meatballs were part of his repertoire. So it's fitting that Fabio's wagyu meatball makes the menu, plated with tomato sauce, whipped ricotta, basil, and grilled bread. Dessert leans decadent — think sticky toffee pudding and roasted white chocolate tiramisu — while the cocktail list leans Italian and lively, with the Montenegro Nights that blends Old Forester 100 bourbon with vanilla and caramel syrups and citrusy Amaro Montenegro, garnished with a toasted marshmallow. Projected Opening: Summer 2025 A dedicated smash burger joint is landing on the Strip this summer. Naughty Patty's will open at the Cosmopolitan just steps from Block 16, serving up crispy-edged burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches fried in mayo, furikake-dusted fries, and over-the-top ice cream concretes. It's the only burger-focused restaurant at the resort, filling the gap left by Holsteins, which closed in 2024 after a 14-year run (thankfully, it later reopened downtown). Expect a tight menu starring thin patties with caramelized edges, yuzu-sesame sauce, and classic toppings — plus chili-style hot dogs and avocado add-ons. Smash burgers are trending across Vegas, from Sorry Not Sorry's packed pop-ups to Yukon Pizza's weekend specials; Naughty Patty's brings that craveable crunch to the heart of the Strip. Cosmopolitan executive chef Mark Crane says they're not just riding a trend: 'The flavor you get — and the speed — is what makes it stick.' Projected Opening: Summer 2025 Major Player: José Andrés José Andrés's acclaimed Bazaar Meat is migrating from the Sahara to a brand-new 10,000-square-foot space at the Venetian's Palazzo tower. Since its 2014 debut, Bazaar Meat has wowed diners with playful small bites — think crispy chicken-bechamel fritters served in a sneaker — and a dining room filled with roaring open-fire grills, jamón ibérico, and dramatic antler chandeliers. Its new home, part of the Venetian's $1.5 billion reinvestment, will sit beneath Lavo in the former restaurant-cum-car museum Dal Toro Ristorante. The new digs decked to impress, meaning it will be a more than suitable home for 15-course tasting menus of Andrés classics like caviar-filled crispy cones, cotton candy-swathed foie gras, and Japanese A5 wagyu beef prepared tableside on an ishiyaki stone. Projected Opening: Summer 2025 Rare Society, the acclaimed live-fire steakhouse from San Diego chef Brad Wise, is bringing its bold take on classic steakhouse fare to southwest Las Vegas. Opening at UnCommons, the 160-seat restaurant will feature signature steak boards loaded with dry-aged, in-house butchered cuts, roasted bone marrow, and homemade sauces — all grilled over American red oak. The menu also branches out with dishes like gochujang-glazed bacon, lamb lollipops, and miso-glazed carrots, plus sustainably sourced seafood and throwback desserts like creamy bananas Foster cheesecake. Designed by GTC Design, the space will blend retro glamour and mid-century modern flair with wood paneling, a marble bar, and plush leather accents. With Michelin recognition for his earlier restaurants Trust and Fort Oak, Wise is sure to the light the scene on fire. The country's only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse is headed to the Las Vegas Strip. Cote, the acclaimed New York restaurant known for its A5 wagyu, in-table grills, and 1,200-bottle wine list, will open at the Venetian as part of the resort's $1.5 billion renovation. The Vegas location promises all the signature favorites — like steak-and-egg tartare with caviar — served in a striking, Rockwell Group-designed space with a dry-aging room, DJ booth, and skybox-style private dining rooms overlooking the action. The restaurant will take over more than 10,000 square feet in the resort's waterfall atrium with a design that founder Simon Kim describes as 'stadium-style,' with tiered rows of seating expanding upwards and outwards from the ground-level bar. While the in-table grills evoke Korean barbecue, Cote firmly occupies steakhouse territory, with servers taking over the cooking, meticulously arranging and rotating delicate cuts of American wagyu beef, and ferrying lusciously thick-cut pork belly bacon to tables. Major Player: Gabriela Cámara Chef Gabriela Cámara, celebrated for her acclaimed Mexico City seafood restaurant Contramar, is bringing her celebrated coastal cuisine to Las Vegas with Cantina Contramar at the Fontainebleau. Designed by award-winning architect Frida Escobedo, the restaurant will serve the signature dishes that built Cámara's Mexico City seafood destination into must-visit dining — like tangy tuna tostadas and grilled whole fish splashed with vibrant red and green salsas. Partnering with Bertha González Nieves, founder of Tequila Casa Dragones and the first maestra tequilera, Cantina Contramar will also feature an exclusive tequila tasting room highlighting ultra-premium spirits. The Fontainebleau first announced the restaurant back when it opened in December 2023. While the resort has been stingy with updates, Cantina Contramar is still expected to open this year. Major Player: Happy Lamb Hot Pot Copper Sun, the first fine dining concept from the global Happy Lamb Hot Pot chain, is coming to Resorts World Las Vegas with an upscale hot pot experience that features its signature eight-hour bone marrow broth and a curated selection of premium meats exclusive to the Las Vegas location. With sleek black-and-white interiors and private dining rooms, Copper Sun aims to give a luxurious, communal dining experience that blends Inner-Mongolian tradition with a touch of Vegas grandeur — all poised over simmering and oil-dappled pots of fragrant broth that bubble and boil thin strips of marbled beef and toothsome strands of noodle. A cocktail menu will lean botanical, inspired by the herbal ingredients found in its broths. See More:
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Benito Skinner Joins Cosmo's 'Blind Date' Video Series About Dating
Benito Skinner is a hot commodity these days, in part thanks to his new Prime Video series Overcompensating, which he wrote, created, produced, and starred in. But amid all the mayhem that being a multi-hyphenated icon surely yields, it sounds like Benito still has time to tend to his dating life. No, I'm not referring to Benito's relationship with his partner of nearly 10 years, Terrence O'Connor. I'm talking about his dinner get-together on the latest episode of Blind Date, a video series with none other than Cosmopolitan's editor-in-chief, Willa Bennett. Even though dear Benito was about 32 minutes late (we were counting), he proved to be quite the charming guest. The sparks flew! Throughout their meal, Willa and Benito dove into all things dating and relationships— including Benito's stance on monogamy and the reason he had to dump someone via text once. Some might consider it rude to bring up your long-term relationship on a first date, but regardless, Benito shared where he and Terrence stand in the whole proposal which A-list actor hit on him (by his interpretation). Watch the full episode above and enjoy!
Cosmopolitan
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
The Buccaneers: Kristine Frøseth and Aubri Ibrag Talk Season 2
Season 1 of The Buccaneers left us on the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. Having just walked down the aisle with (seemingly) the wrong man, Nan St. George is about to face another challenge: her mother, up until this point anonymous, has come to her wedding. It sets up a delicious season 2 premiere episode that puts viewers right back in the action. Our four buccaneers are up against some of their biggest challenges yet, which makes the season as a whole dramatic, messy, and devastating. Cosmopolitan hopped on Zoom with Kristine Frøseth and Aubri Ibrag, who play Nan and Lizzy Elmsworth, to break down the premiere episode and the season at large. This is part one of our conversation. We'll be publishing part two when the finale airs in August. You're definitely going to want to come back for that, because having seen the whole season, there are major, major plot points to talk about. No spoilers here, though! Kristine: There's a lot of adrenaline and the cortisol is quite high. She's just said goodbye to her sister and someone she deeply loves, and she's now about to enter the life that she never wanted. I don't think she wanted to get married. I definitely don't think she wanted to be a duchess. She doesn't like the traditions of how society makes women feel. She's in a predicament. Aubri: At the end of season 1, she was going through a lot with Lord Seadown, feeling quite alone and vulnerable because she was taken advantage of. The shame she felt, she's built up these walls. There is a scene in season 1 where she says, I don't want a husband anymore, I just want to be by myself. That was an empowering statement. But I think it actually came from a place of her being absolutely terrified of something like that ever happening to her again. She's very closed off at the beginning of season 2. Aubri: Ginny has the baby. Nan is going through this marriage with Theo, and she's got her entanglements with Guy. Mabel's in love with Honoria. Conchita, she's got a child. Lizzy is the only one who hasn't found love. Due to the circumstances of everything that happened to them when they came to London, the girls have been sort of separated. I think Lizzy, she misses the the sort of the girlhood that was the nature of their relationship in Saratoga. She feels like she's running behind on things. But at heart, all the girls are always going to be there for each other no matter what happens. Aubri: You hit the nail on the head. The first scene that they interact, Hector's playing with the kids, and a dream of Lizzy's is to have a ton of children. She craves that wholesome life. But I also think she's under that time pressure. She's the only one left in London who's like, I don't have a man. It's heartbreaking, because you don't really need a man nowadays to thrive, but back in the day, that was absolutely the case. She yearns for love, she yearns for connection, and she yearns for everything that the other girls are experiencing. Aubri: It takes a lot for Lizzy to open up. With Hector, even though he's lovely and they have great banter, and he's a very eligible bachelor, she's afraid to trust him. She always keeps him at an arm's length. They never really have very deep conversations. Kristine: I mean, you know, she cheats with Theo's best friend. No judgement, I love Nan. I'll always protect her, but she definitely could have taken a beat before doing that. I think the stakes with her sister were different, and that required more urgency. There were probably other solutions so she didn't have to send her sister away and have to be stuck in this marriage. But it was a beautiful sacrifice. Kristine: She still has love for Theo. She always did. The circumstances for everything that went down in season 1 were very rushed. If everyone met under different circumstances, different relationships would thrive and for different reasons. Theo's title is quite limiting. And Guy initially feels more adventurous. But Theo and Nan fall in love because they want freedom. It wasn't Theo's choice to be the Duke. I thought there was beautiful common ground for both relationships. Guy left Nan when Nan told him the truth about her birth. People forget about that. Kristine: She does the best with what with what her position is, and she tries to change what she feels is a prison into something empowering. She starts trying to use any agency she has, which she does with, you know, the red dress that's in the trailer at this event, where no one would would ever dare to do such a thing. The power for females was so limiting, so that was a big statement. She's trying to continue to use her title and in a good way, rather than the traditional sense that Theo's mother is advocating for.
