Latest news with #MightyHoopla
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
G Flip reveals explicit queer terms they had to teach wife Chrishell Stause
Before meeting G Flip, Selling Sunset star Chrishell Stause was clueless about the meaning of 'scissoring'. Three years ago, the actress-turned-reality star hard-launched her relationship with the Australian musician. It was a surprise for many fans of the Netflix series, as well as Chrishell herself, who had never even considered she was queer before meeting G, who is non-binary. At the time they were met with a wave of a support from fans, however also faced shocking homophobia and claims their relationship was simply a 'PR stunt'. But a few years on, the pair are stronger than ever. Speaking to Metro during Pride Month, and after performing at the queer favourite festival Mighty Hoopla in London, G has reflected on their whirlwind rise to fame, their relationship with Chrishell, and what else is in the works music-wise. For those unfamiliar with G, they began playing the drums at the age of nine, initially having plans to pursue a career playing in bands. But after deciding to have a go at going solo, in 2018 they uploaded their debut single About You to the music discovery platform Triple J Unearthed. The song took off and kick-started G's career, with the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist going on to release debut album About Us in 2019. That was followed by Drummer in 2023, which debuted at the top of Australia's ARIA Album Charts and saw G tour it twice across the UK last year. During G's UK shows, they regularly broke down in tears, thanking fans for their support, especially considering their team didn't anticipate just how many fans were in the UK. 'I feel like I didn't know I had any people who knew my music on this side of the world until last year. We put on one show and no-one, including my booking manager and agent, thought we would sell it out and then we did it for three shows. Then we realised, 'oh sh**', we actually have a bigger fan base here than we knew about, so then we came back and played other shows,' they said. 'It's been pretty fun. The shows here are insane – I don't know what's cooking over here, but people be loud and screaming songs! Some of our favourite shows have been in the UK – people really get into it, it's awesome!' A new fan base was undoubtedly introduced to their music when they first appeared on Selling Sunset, a decision G admitted they'd been nervous about. 'I definitely questioned it because reality TV isn't really my bag or my world. I was a little bit anxious, but the thing Chrishell and I spoke about was that it would be so good for queer and nonbinary representation,' they said. 'But I was a bit scared…it's reality TV but there's also eight f***ing cameras in the room…that's still so weird to me.' However, G added: 'It led some people to my music, and I am very lucky to have people who are supportive of us and also my music and dreams.' However, with the newfound attention, G and Chrishell also faced hostility. 'We have a lot of hate online from trolls and keyboard warriors who are always DM'ing us or commenting on our photos. I'm not much of a comment reader to be honest – I never have been – but what people say about me, or my relationship doesn't affect me,' they explained. 'It doesn't make me feel insecure because I feel really secure in my relationship and gender identity and sexuality and who I am, so if people tell me 'you're not non-binary, you're a girl' I just shrug it off.' After meeting at a Halloween party in 2021, G and Chrishell were friends before romance blossomed, with the latter previously speaking about initially rejecting G's advances thinking she was only interested in men. So, when they did start dating, G joked Chrishell, now 43, had a lot to learn. 'What's beautiful about Chrishell is that she was so eager to learn and started asking me so many questions. We had deep talks about pronouns and me being non-binary and she would ask if she should step in if people didn't get my pronouns right. 'Really cute sh** like that, which is why I love and adore her so much. She did ask me what a U-Haul lesbian was. All the queer terms that we use. I told her what a top and bottom were and what scissoring was. It was fun. A few years on she is very up to speed and is now the teacher for other people,' G laughs. Since being catapulted into the spotlight globally through their relationship, G has been inundated with people sharing their own coming out stories. 'I take seriously when people look up to me. I think it's really beautiful and I hold it really close to my heart to be the best representation I can be for the non-binary and queer community. I love the community and living authentically who you are is such a euphoric experience and I want everyone to feel that. If I have in any way helped them discover who they are, then I am doing my job,' they said. Last week G released their latest song Big Ol' Hammer, which they called 'the queerest song I've ever written'. 'It's camp, tongue-in-cheek, fun, and not to be taken too seriously. When I wrote it, I immediately knew I wanted to release it during Pride.' Performing in the UK not long after the Supreme Court's controversial decision on defining what it means to be a woman, G weighed in. 'I would want to know more so I could get my wording right on what the ruling was, but gender is a spectrum. I am non-binary and that is who I am. How you feel in your gender is how you feel in your gender. 'When people say 'there is two genders and nothing else' that is just not the case. The world is evolving, and gender and sexuality is. It's forever changing and it's beautiful. 'There are sh** times happening but it's also making us as a community come together and fight and be united, so it's really beautiful in that sense that it's bringing us closer.' More Trending Speaking about living in the US at a time when the rights of queer and transgender people are under threat, G said it was unsettling but was also feeling hopeful. 'I am feeling for my trans brothers and sisters out there, and it is such a hard time, but I feel the community is coming together and holding each other closer and Pride events happening this month, we have each other's backs which is really beautiful for see,' they said. 'I think in times and years to come we will look back and it will obviously be a sad and a hard time, but we will also remember how we had each other's backs, which I think is beautiful in dark times.' G-Flip's latest singles Disco Cowgirl and Big Ol' Hammer are out now, with an album and planned UK tour dates on the way. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Chris Brown returns to Manchester for first show in city since prison release MORE: Gwyneth Paltrow goes topless as she dishes up 'boyfriend breakfast' MORE: Cher 'doing everything she can' after son rushed to hospital with drug overdose
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans Mistake 2000s Pop Star, 34, for Shania Twain: ‘Absolute Body Goals'
Fans Mistake 2000s Pop Star, 34, for Shania Twain: 'Absolute Body Goals' originally appeared on Parade. JoJo is not looking back, but a recent appearance at the Mighty Hoopla pop music festival had fans mistaking the Too Little, Too Late songstress for another music legend. The comparison is certainly a compliment—a testament to both singers' lasting careers (and timeless appearance!).In a video shared to social media of JoJo's performance at the London-based music festival, she can be seen wearing a two-piece sheer sequin outfit, resembling a pitch-perfect mermaid. With her blonde hair cut just below her shoulders and light bangs framing her face, fans were quick to comment on her striking resemblance to Canada's own Shania Twain. On a TikTok video, one fan wrote, 'Thought this was Shania Twain!' while another commented, 'Thought this was Shania Twain in her prime.' When not mistaking JoJo for Shania (a compliment to both, don't you think?), fans were overwhelmingly supportive of the 34-year-old. One wrote, 'She is beautiful,' and another noted, 'She looks fantastic.'One commenter summed up what so many were thinking while watching the video: 'ABSOLUTE BODY GOALS.' Compliments—and all caps—well deserved. JoJo, whose real name is Joanna Noëlle Levesque, is currently performing both new and classic hits on her Too Much To Say Tour. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Fans Mistake 2000s Pop Star, 34, for Shania Twain: 'Absolute Body Goals' first appeared on Parade on Jun 10, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Metro
14-06-2025
- Metro
I partied in the most LGBT-friendly country in Europe — it puts the UK to shame
When I asked my tour guide what he loved most about Malta, his answer caught me off guard. After boasting about the island's rich history and the fact that its litany of enthralling attractions are all within an hour's drive, he casually added: 'And it's been voted the world's safest place for LGBTQ+ travellers.' Now, gays love to travel. The only thing they love more than travelling is letting everyone who will listen know that they love travelling. But I don't think I've ever seen any of the LGBTQ+ people I follow on social media posting thirst traps from Malta. Of course, that will all change when the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ festival Mighty Hoopla makes its international debut there later this year. The location is a clever choice. For the 10th year running, Malta is top of the Rainbow Map, an annual chart that ranks European countries on their respective legal and policy practises for LGBTQ+ people. I spent four days in Malta last summer, and I can see why it consistently takes the crown, while the UK continues to plummet. We're currently 22nd on the list; just over a decade ago, we were number one. Granted, I was in Malta at a particularly gay time of year. It was Malta Pride 2024 and, despite marching at many British Pride events, this was the first time I'd ever branched out and flown overseas to celebrate our brave and magical community. Everyone was welcome everywhere, which no longer feels the case here in the UK. At home, every Pride march I've attended comes with banners telling us we're going to hell. In Malta, there wasn't a single protester in sight. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! In the lead-up to Malta Pride, though, I wasn't sensing much hype. With less than 24 hours to go until the big day, walking through the capital, Valletta, I didn't see a single rainbow flag. Strange, I thought, for the safest place for LGBTQ+ travellers. I also noticed a surprising lack of gay bars. According to Google, there was only one on the whole island, but 'we don't need them' was the consensus from people I spoke to in Malta. Everywhere is LGBTQ+ friendly. There were, of course, bars where LGBTQ+ people seemed to hang out, but there was no clear advertising. I spent longer than I should have, drinking more Margaritas than I ever thought possible, at Café Society – clearly one of the most popular bars in the city. Customers poured out onto the steps and the neighbourhood felt more alive than I've ever seen Soho. Once the most thriving LGBTQ+ hub in the world, it's now on its knees. Still, I was intrigued by how Malta would celebrate Pride. Would anyone even turn up? In fact, very inch of Valletta was full to the brim. It felt like everyone on the island and then some were there to take part, LGBTQ+ or not. The streets were lined with dancers, Cher's Believe blasted from speakers and I've never experienced a Pride filled with so much joy. I haven't danced or laughed as hard in years. Drag queens from all over the world entertained locals with a free show right in the centre of the island, which was open to anyone (and drinks were half the price you'd find at a UK Pride). Birmingham-based drag star Miss Penny, a legend in the UK and a regular at London's Admiral Duncan, brought her absolute filth to Valletta, dragging her adoring crowd with lines that for legal (and moral) reasons cannot be repeated here. @ Yesterday, Malta Pride painted the town in vibrant colours as thousands gathered for the Malta Pride March 2024 in Valletta, organised by Malta Pride and Allied Rainbow Communities (ARC). The march, a highlight of the annual Malta Pride festivities, kicked off at the iconic Triton Fountain at 6:00 PM with an inspiring opening ceremony that set the tone for an evening of celebration, unity, and advocacy. The parade made its way through the bustling streets of Valletta, with participants proudly waving rainbow flags, holding banners, and dancing to music from colourful floats. DJs kept the energy high as the procession moved towards the historic St. George's Square, where the festivities culminated in a spectacular concert. The march celebrated 20 years of Malta Pride, marking two decades of progress in the fight for equality and inclusion for the LGBTIQ+ community. #MaltaDaily ♬ original sound – She kept us on our feet until 11pm, for free, before the party starters descended on Marrakesh nightclub – an astonishing open-air venue with floating trees and seven stages that feel like they're plonked right in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. It was spectacular, packed with hes, shes, theys and everything in between — the friendliest crowd I've ever met on a night out. My face was dripping with sweat, but that didn't put anyone off having a chinwag about the one thing that united everyone there, no matter what country we came from or the language we spoke. But what makes Malta the best place for LGBTQ+ travellers? I wondered why locals felt so much safer here than in other parts of the world. Jelle, 63, moved to Malta from Amsterdam and said the island's size goes a long way to help. 'It's such a small country, you can't be anonymous and so there can't be any harassment,' she says. 'If I mention my husband's name, everybody knows him. That's why it's so tolerant and fantastic for LGBTQ+ people.' Perhaps that's the secret: community. Everyone LGBTQ+ is recognised as someone's child, a sibling, or their neighbour; they're untouchable. I can't begin to imagine living with that level of empowerment, but for four days, I got to experience it first-hand. More Trending In the brief time I spent in Malta, that sense of community was abundantly clear at every turn. It breaks my heart that I live in a city that feels ever more fractured, with animosity towards LGBTQ+ people only increasing. Mighty Hoopla will be launching its first overseas festival in Malta this September. If the line-up hasn't yet convinced you to buy a ticket, I would jump at the chance to experience Malta when it's bursting with love for the LGBTQ+ community — especially at a time when it sometimes feels so lacking back home. MORE: The sunniest city in Europe is an 'underrated gem' — with return flights for £44 MORE: Europe's 'fairytale' country is so tiny it could fit into the UK 1,521 times MORE: Ryanair shares warning over 'unfair' issue making holidaymakers miss their flights
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Drag Race UK star on incredible weight loss and poignant The Vivienne message
Kitty Scott-Claus, who appeared in the third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, has lost eight pounds after making some radical lifestyle changes Pride month is in full swing, and drag queens, the so-called 'ambassadors' of the LGBTQIA+ community, are already busy entertaining crowds. In fact, today, I'm sitting with Kitty Scott-Claus who has just spent the weekend 'shouting in a mic' at Mighty Hoopla. 'I love to be the loudest person in the room,' Kitty jokes. She adds: "It's so annoying, I hate myself.' Being an entertainer is just one of the many hats Kitty wears. She was a finalist on 2022's Celebrity MasterChef and is now gearing up for a return to the West End this summer with her upcoming role in The Diana Mixtape, embodying once again Lady Di, a character with which she won the notably difficult 'snatch game' challenge on RuPaul's Drag Race. With her honest humour and infectious charisma, it didn't take long for Kitty to earn her place as one of the UK's most beloved Drag Queens. But her journey started from 'real humble beginnings', she reveals. Kitty says: 'I feel like, especially this year, this pride month, I feel so reflective of my journey, and how far I've come, and thinking 'oh my god' from where I started. 'I started doing drag at a bar in Camden and we were playing to like three people.' Kitty has since put her Bachelor's Degree from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, in musical theater to good use. Keeping herself booked and busy, the media personality has not tired yet from the wigs and make up. 'Drag gives you the opportunity to be beautiful on the days where you don't necessarily feel beautiful,' she reveals. She further shares: 'Drag for me, I feel like I'm Barbie and I feel like it doesn't matter what the situation is, I just put on the outfit, and then I become that thing. So when I was in Masterchef, I put on my Masterchef's outfit, I feel like it's a good analogy for life.' And while many drag artists keep their art completely separate from their real lives, Kitty embodies her real personality in and out of her work attire. 'I don't really have a drag persona, I'm the same in drag or out of drag, it doesn't matter if I've got a wig on or not, I'm always going to be an attention seeker,' she says. Nevertheless, Kitty also enjoys being able to enter public spaces as herself, or rather, himself - Louie Westwood, even though 'the gays know'. She explains: 'It's fabulous, because you get to do that double life thing. 'In the words of Hannah Montana, you get the best of both worlds.' While being confident and admitting to always being happy with their appearance, Kitty also acknowledges the pressure of being scrutinised by TV views. But that wasn't the motivation for Kitty to lose an impressive eight stone. She recalls: 'I was so happy with the size I was and I never thought, because I'd grown up being a bigger individual, I'd grown up being plus size, I never thought in a million years I could be the size I am now, that just never crossed my mind. 'I'd grown up being bigger, I just didn't think that it was possible.' Upon starting working out with a personal trainer suggested by her Drag Race castmate, Ella Vaday, Kitty got a taste for a healthier lifestyle. Kitty further shared her weight loss journey, revealing how she achieved her transformation: 'The biggest thing for me was finding an exercise routine that works for you and that you enjoy. I think if you enjoy it, you don't feel like 'all right, I've got go and work out now'.' The drag artist admitted that going to the gym has become her 'zen time', a place where she can be by herself and listen to her music. In addition to the gym, Kitty also goes swimming. 'I really love swimming and that's completely disconnected from everything, I don't have a phone, I don't have music with me, I don't have any distractions,' Kitty says. 'It's me and the pool.' Diet and making radical changes to her lifestyle have also contributed to Kitty's transformation. She further debunked rumours accusing her of relying on diabetes medications that have been made popular by celebrities in recent years. 'A lot of it is diet, and I feel like especially losing weight in 2025, the world is so hot on Ozempic and Mounjaro, and everyone is so quick to say you've just done Ozempic, you're in the public eye, you have a blue tick, this is how you've done it,' Kitty admits. 'And it's like no, I'm in the gym every single day, and I love it, and I've changed my diet, I don't drink anymore, I'm sober.' She adds: 'Completely 180 of what my life was and I'm eight stone down and I've never been happier. I've never felt more confident.' Running is another activity Kitty 'absolutely loves' doing. In fact, she loved it so much, she ran this year's London Marathon, dedicating the 26.2 mile race to the late The Vivienne. 'Vive has left such a lasting legacy and it's such a powerful message that she's left behind, and it's going to inspire queens from now for generations to come,' Kitty says. 'She's so missed by everyone and I love her.' James Lee Williams, known professionally as The Vivienne, was the winner of the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK. She tragically passed in January at the age of 32 from a cardiac arrest. Despite the joy and colour brought by a month promising rainbows and acceptance, the versatile drag artist acknowledges more unfortunate events that have impacted the community this year. This includes the UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of "woman" under the Equality Act 2010 is based on biological sex, excluding transgender women. 'It just reiterates how important it is to have pride and to have pride month,' Kitty reacts. 'And I mean, I'm coming to this speaking as a cisgender man about the legislation rules about trans and what is a woman. 'I think it's ridiculous and it's so stupid, like, mind your own business let live, let people live their truth, protect the dolls, that's what the most important thing is.' Kitty competed on the third series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, in addition to competing on RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars. She is now set to set to star in the world premiere of The Diana Mixtape from 28 th July at HERE at Outernet alongside an equally star-studded cast.
The Independent
07-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
I had gender reassignment surgery – then the Supreme Court said I wasn't a woman
On 16 April this year, I held my phone in one hand as a kindly nurse, Sofia, removed my surgical dressings. 'Huh,' I said. ' The Supreme Court has just ruled that I'm a man, apparently.' 'Well, you have a lovely new vagina,' Sofia replied. The timing was so on-the-nose I wouldn't dare include it in a script. It would be naff. Sometimes, I guess, life is naff. Why on earth would I share something so personal? It seems that politely asking for a dignified life has fallen on deaf ears, so I'll be undignified for a second. I was filled with hope when Labour came to power, but it's now clear that the party is happy to throw trans people under the bus for a quiet life. So while politicians certainly aren't welcome at Pride this year, I think Pride month is important. In fact, I think it's more important than ever that we dig out our Asos mesh tops and denim cut-offs. Why? Because this is how we've always done it, and this is how we win. Joy triumphs hate, and it seems to me we have two choices: we can either sit on X, spewing increasingly unhinged tweets, or we can go dance to Jade at Mighty Hoopla. I know which looks more fun. It's hard, though. What I want to do is panic. If one uses the word 'fascism', people accuse you of hysteria – but isn't this precisely what fascism looks like? A minority group is unfairly demonised until public opinion sours sufficiently for lawmakers to impose restrictions on said group. Well, that's where we're at right now. While some may find trans people icky or weird, we overwhelmingly haven't actually done anything wrong. It's a mess. While so far, nothing has changed in law, there's sufficient confusion that lesbians are being challenged in Boston restrooms, hate crimes against trans people are soaring, and health secretary Wes Streeting seems to have a personal vendetta against trans youth. I share in the confusion: I changed my passport in 2015, but now I can't get a visa to the USA for my book tour unless I say I'm male? Will I get detained at JFK? My birth certificate was lawfully reissued in 2018 as a female birth certificate, but now I'm not a woman legally? My view is that despite the law being very clear, actually, a few very determined transphobes have crawled their way to the heart of the law like maggots in an apple. A system that has been working perfectly well since 2010 has now been unnecessarily tampered with – and Starmer has capitulated because he's spineless. Look, I can't speak for all trans women, but I just want to live my life the way I always imagined it. I have become the version of myself I wanted to be when I was four. This is who I wanted to be. I wear what I want, and eat what I want. I have two dogs and spend my money on expensive cocktails and rare Bratz dolls from 2001. Choices. I have the same choices over my life and body that I would want for every single person on earth. I'm not trying to make a statement about what a woman is, I just want to be one. I don't really care if someone thinks that is biologically impossible; I've got near enough to be wholly satisfied. I am happy. My friends and family are happy for me. To anyone opposed to gender transition, I would ask, why can't you be happy for me too? Why does this boil your p*** so much? So even though I am scared, genuinely, I will celebrate and protest at Pride this year – my cis friends have rallied around me and my trans sisters to ensure we're protected. The celebration IS the protest. This is my invite to readers: join us! Queer people are really, really fun. We were dealt a weird curveball in a straight society, but we come together once a year and rejoice at how we overcame the myriad obstacles that were placed in front of us. We got over them, and now we dance and sing. Those unimaginative, mean-hearted bigots don't want to see us revel in joy, so we absolutely have to.
