Latest news with #Reformer
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jenny Powell, 57, spills the truth behind her age-defying looks
EXCLUSIVE: Jenny Powell has been a fixture on our screens for more than three decades - and she's barely aged a day and now the TV star tells us how she keeps looking so youthful Jenny Powell is the TV face that simply does not age — and now she's finally lifted the lid on exactly how she keeps looking so fresh-faced at 57 (only just!), from high-tech blood treatments to the teen daughter who keeps her feeling twenty years younger. Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, the presenter - who first won hearts on Wheel of Fortune and is now hosting the Rewind Festival - laughs off her reputation as Britain's forever-youthful TV darling. 'People always say to me: 'Oh my God, you haven't aged!'' Jenny giggles. 'I go to a few people for remedies and treatments, and I said to one of them, what should I tell people? He said, 'Well, some of it's your genes, Jenny — but you do look after yourself!' And I suppose I do.' Yoga, a sprinkle of magic vitamins — and a bit of 21st century science, too. Jenny, who lives in South Manchester with fiancé Martin Lowe, 51, and their youngest daughter Pollyanna, 16, says it's a mix of ancient and cutting-edge secrets keeping her glowing. 'I do hot yoga about three times a week and I've just started Reformer too — it really keeps my mind and body in shape,' she says. 'I don't drink much, but I'm taking NAD now — I love it! It basically regenerates your cells after your 40s. I have it intravenously, which is pricey, about £300 a pop, but you feel amazing after. Then you switch to supplements to keep it up. It's fascinating stuff!' And the ultimate fountain of youth? Her teenage daughter Pollyanna. 'My kids keep me young. I've got a 24-year-old, but I had Pollyanna when I was like 40, 41. So I've still got a 16-year-old at 57. I have to keep up with her for a start! So I think it's just a combo of that. Just looking after yourself. Yoga's amazing for me." But behind the glam facade, Jenny admits it hasn't all been plain sailing. Last year, she made headlines when she spoke candidly about her life-changing hysterectomy - an Instagram post about it racked up a whopping two and a half million views in just 24 hours, sparking a wave of support. 'It was awful,' she says honestly. 'Yeah, it was awful. I had really bad symptoms, which I'd put up with for a very long time, like flooding terribly, like really badly. And migraines. I had backache. I had pelvic congestion, basically, because my uterus was the size of being 14 to 16 weeks pregnant. So it was enlarged. And it had fibroids and I had adenomyosis*(corr), which I didn't even know existed, which is sort of on the outer lining of your uterus." Adenomyosis is a condition where the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrium) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus (myometrium). This misplaced tissue continues to behave like normal uterine lining, thickening and bleeding during each menstrual cycle, which can cause heavy, painful periods, and pelvic pain. Today, mental health is top of her list - alongside making time for Martin, who she describes as her rock. 'He's so kind. And I think you're very conscious when you've got kids already. I mean, he hasn't got any kids. I think you're very conscious about who's going to come into the house and the home and get to know your family. 'You're very, very cautious. And he just adores the girls and he always has, Polly was two, three years old when we met and she's now 16. Polly was, she's 24 and she was like nine. I think it's his kindness I fell for. He can't help himself. He just thinks he can fix everyone. He's one of those. And of course, he is gorgeous!" Jenny has learned to prioritise herself as well as her loved ones - and she hopes other women will too. 'If your thoughts get the better of you first thing in the morning, you've had it for the rest of the day. So it's really having your own little mantras or something to the minute you wake up, you set your mindset in the right place. 'So, you know, even if it's singing your favourite song first thing when you wake up, putting frequencies on or repeating something three times, whatever it is that uplifts you, do it. Do it. Don't go on your bloody phone!" As she gears up to take the mic at this summer's Rewind Festival - and maybe even tackle the Strictly ballroom one day if bosses come calling again — Jenny says she's in no rush to slow down even as she turns 60 in three years. "I'm going to own it. Will I still be in a bikini, that's the question! Of course I will be! I think I'll still be in a bikini in my 60s, but if I'm not, I'm just trying to think why I wouldn't be! That's what we're trying to inspire women to do. It doesn't matter what people say, well, it's what is right for you. As long as I can do some yoga on the beach somewhere, I'll be happy," she beams. Cheers to that Jenny!
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I'm a citizen,' clarifies Minnesota Democrat after saying she came to the U.S. illegally
Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, DFL-St. Paul, speaks on the House floor in 2024. (Photo by Andrew VonBank/Minnesota House Info) Rep. Kaohly Her, DFL-St. Paul, revealed a stunning detail about herself during a debate on the Minnesota House floor Monday: She came to the United States illegally as a child. 'I am illegal in this country. My parents are illegal here in this country,' Her said on the floor. Her was trying to inspire empathy in her Republican colleagues, who were about to vote to take away state-funded health care for undocumented adults in Minnesota. 'I tell you this story because I want you to think about who it is that you are calling illegal,' Her told House Republicans on the floor. 'My family was just smarter in how we illegally came here. We had more privileges and more ability, which is why we came here in that way.' The fourth-term lawmaker's remarks quickly ignited a firestorm in right-wing media, who are questioning her legal status and her ability to cast a vote in U.S. elections. One of her Republican colleagues, Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, called for her to be investigated and she's already receiving threats and insults on social media. In an interview with the Reformer, Her clarified that she and her parents are U.S. citizens. Her is a refugee from Laos, and moved to the U.S. when she was three. Her's parents took their U.S. citizenship test, and Her became a citizen as a minor when she was in middle school, she said. Her said her father technically broke the law when he filled out paperwork for the family to come to the U.S. as refugees. He did so to expedite the process to come to the U.S., though they would have come to America anyway. Her came to America along with a wave of Hmong refugees, who were critical allies to the United States in the Vietnam War and the 'secret war' in Laos, assisting in intelligence operations, disrupting north Vietnamese supply routes and combating communism's spread through Southeast Asia. Her's grandfather was a colonel in the war, she said. Her's father worked at the U.S. consulate, and he processed their family's paperwork in a way to expedite their timeline to immigrate to the U.S. as refugees. People who were set to come to the U.S. as refugees could do so quicker if they had family connections to the military, CIA or USAID. Her said her family didn't qualify for those pipelines, but one of her family's friends worked for USAID. When Her's father processed the refugee paperwork, he claimed familial connection to the friend that worked for USAID, which wasn't true. 'Technically, you would say my father broke the law, right? But we would have come anyway,' Her said. Minnesota House Republicans, alongside DFL House caucus leader Melissa Hortman, voted Monday to strip MinnesotaCare from undocumented adults. The Senate later voted to do the same. Her said she wishes she would have been more clear about her citizenship status on the House floor, but she doesn't regret telling her story. 'The truth is until people see a face with somebody and a situation, it is really easy for us to other each other, and as somebody who's been marginalized because of who I am my whole life, I never want to do that to somebody else,' Her said.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Topline: The end of the line?
Get a load of these guys. I wrote a lot about wolves, apparently. (Getty Images) Welcome to The Topline, a weekly roundup of the big numbers driving the Minnesota news cycle, as well as the smaller ones that you might have missed. This week: the bottom line. Well Reformers, this is it: the final Topline. Call it the Bottom Line? As this is my last day here, I thought I'd do something a little more self-indulgent than usual and look back at my time at the Reformer, by the numbers. I started at the Reformer on July 18, 2022, making my tenure just a hair under three years. My first story was about wolf attacks, and how they benefit far-right politicians. I published 309 stories in total, including this one, which works out to about one byline every 3.4 calendar days. The most widely-read story I worked on was this one from March about then-Sen. Justin Eichorn's arrest in an underage prostitution sting, although if I recall correctly Michelle Griffith actually did most of the work on it. My most-read solo piece was a November 2023 story about how wolves weren't responsible for that year's disappointing deer hunt. Judging by the state of my inbox at the time, many of those pageviews were hate-clicks from angry guys looking for any excuse to go shoot a wolf. Journalism's not just about the hate-clicks, of course: You're also trying to change things for the better. To that end, my stories inspired three pieces of legislation in St. Paul this year. The first was a bill providing grant money to help solve non-fatal shootings in the state. This came about after I wrote last year about data showing more than half of violent crimes in Minnesota go unsolved. The second would have reformed how so-called 'drug free zones' can be policed after I reported on the aggressive and frankly bizarre drug charging practices used by a prosecutor in Polk County (and basically nowhere else). The third, and the only signed into law this term, was the bill that finally decriminalized bong water in the state. It was inspired by my reporting on Jessica Beske of Fargo, who was staring down the barrel of a 30-year prison term after cops alleged they'd found a bong used to smoke methamphetamine in her car. That case, incidentally, also came out of Polk County. Some very strange things happening up there! It's also worth noting that these stories didn't just arise out of a vacuum. The Reformer had done extensive work on violent crime clearance rates long before I showed up. And Jessica Beske reached out to us only because she had read Deena Winter's prior reporting on drug paraphernalia reform at the legislature. One of the things that drew me to the Reformer in the first place was editor Patrick Coolican's characterization of it as a newsroom that would tell the stories other news organizations can't or won't tell. I got a first-hand taste of this shortly after I started, with a piece about former Republican Rep. Donald Raleigh of Blaine, whose name had turned up on a leaked membership roster of the Oath Keepers, a far-right extremist group. Raleigh's defense was that he never actually agreed with the Oath Keepers' ideology, and had only signed up for their email list as part of 'market research' he was doing for a veteran's organization he founded. He also told us that other news outlets, like the Star Tribune and Buzzfeed, had looked into his ties to the group and decided they weren't worth doing a story on. The implication was that we shouldn't be reporting on it either. I strongly disagreed, and Patrick backed me up on this. Raleigh's story was plausible enough, and that's how we framed our piece. But by the time Raleigh had signed up for their newsletter, the Oath Keepers had a well-established reputation as a fringe group with violent tendencies, and they had been the subject of countless media stories. As a voter, I'd want to know if one of my elected officials was signing up to receive communications from extremist groups, for 'market research' or any other purposes. Especially in the post-January 6 era. We ran the story, and Raleigh lost his seat two months later (although that was due more to the effects of the state's recent redistricting than anything else). I'm delighted with my reporting on Senate President Bobby Joe Champion's ethically questionable ties to the Rev. Jerry McAfee for two reasons. The first, and most journalistically obvious reason, is that it shined a light on Minnesota's extremely lax conflict-of-interest laws, and it got a number of lawmakers to acknowledge that they should maybe try to avoid funneling boatloads of grant money to individuals they have professional relationships with outside of the Legislature. It also sparked a Senate ethics inquiry into Champion's actions, which went nowhere given the even balance of power in that body. But the other reason I love this story is how I stumbled across it in the first place: by wasting time on social media. I was hanging out one morning on Twitter (I will never call it 'X'), avoiding whatever story I was supposed to be working on, when I saw some Minneapolis folks making offhand comments about Champion being McAfee's lawyer. It was a jarring moment, as these people were casually discussing the fact as if it were common knowledge, despite it not having been reported anywhere. A quick visit to Minnesota's court records system confirmed what they were saying, and we were off to the races from there. There are two reporting lessons here, I think. The first is that what passes for common knowledge in some communities will come as a shocking revelation to others. The second: Never log off.
Cosmopolitan
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
5 Athleisure Fashion Trends We're Seeing Everywhere Right Now
We're living in the golden age of activewear, besties. Pilates has become a religion, group workouts are basically social events now, and athleisure is the new everyday uniform. Truly, you can't step out for a matcha run without seeing the same bra and leggings set that was in your heated Reformer class earlier that morning. I'm not complaining though. They're! All! So! Cute!!! I've been deep in the research trenches: doomscrolling TikTok and Reels, people-watching in NYC, and tracking the latest brand drops—all to know what the current athleisure fashion trends are. Here's what's coming in hot: wrap tops, espresso brown everything, double-layered sports bras, capri leggings, and bold contrast detailing. It's the kind of stuff that's practical, cool, and comfortable—aka pieces you'll want to wear even when you don't have exercise on the agenda. Keep scrolling to discover the five hottest athleisure trends—complete with my favorite (read: affordable!) picks—that are about to take over! Get ready for all the compliments about to come your way… Inspired by classic ballet style, wrap tops are the ideal lightweight layer to throw over a sports bra or tank, perfect for rounding out a look and adding just enough warmth on breezy days or in over-air-conditioned studios. Breathable and easy to move in, they keep you cozy without causing a mid-workout sweat fest. Last year, we saw this delicious hue take over everyday wardrobes—and now, it's officially made its way into your activewear drawer. (Maybe we have Sabrina Carpenter to thank?) Either way, it's safe to say this colorway is the new go-to neutral—step aside, black—and honestly, I'm not mad about it. It adds an element of richness and warmth that makes even your simplest gym ensemble feel more elevated. Layering has become a trend in its own right over the past few years, and now, it's showing up in activewear staples like sports bras. The double-bra look (yes, two stacked styles!) is officially A Thing that brings a playful, unexpected twist to your workout 'fit. Plus, a little extra support for the girls? No complaints here. Yes, they're back, and we're fully embracing it. They're the perfect length for warmer days when full-length leggings start to feel too much. Also, they can be quite versatile! Swap your sneakers for kitten heels and your sports bra for a simple cami, and you've got an easy outfit ready for whatever the day (or night) throws at you. With so many styles out there—reversible, butt-lifting, high-waisted, and more—there's something for whatever vibe (or workout) you're going for. As someone who tends to shy away from bold sporty looks, I love a good contrast trim that incorporates dimension and visual structure without pushing me out of my comfort zone. If you want to take it up a notch, go for styles with bright colorways. Or, if you're like me and tend to stick to earth tones, look for pieces that play with subtle accents in a more muted palette. Megan Uy is an associate shopping editor at Cosmopolitan, where she searches for the best products in all things fashion, home, beauty, sex, gifts, and more, so you don't have to. When she's not writing for the site, she's whipping up some cool and trendy content for the fashion section of the print magazine. She's been with the brand since 2019 (when she was an itty-bitty editorial fellow), and she's also written for Delish, House Beautiful, and People. Follow her on Instagram to get some BTS of the editor life and chaotic NYC content. Also, feel free to hit her up if you ever wanna discuss the madness that is TikTok.
Elle
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
ELLE Editors Share Their Ultimate Workout Clothes And Accessories
There's a lot of stuff out there, and not all fashion pieces are created equal. Luckily, the ELLE editors know their way around a shopping rail, and when it comes to helping you find those perfect wardrobe building blocks, they're up to the task. From the new and niche brands worth knowing to high-street hits of quality, and a few vintage treasures too, our ELLE Edits showcase the very best of the season. The best activewear clothes and accessories will adapt to an array of activities, whether you're pursuing a PB in your local run club or perfecting a pose in Barre. But beyond the gym floor, the rise of WFH has seen many of us adopt athleisure as everyday wear. We now rely on sculpting leggings that wash well and will look as good when worn for Reformer as meeting friends for a weekend brunch, and trainers that deliver as highly in the style stakes as they do on a mixed trail run. The rapid growth of the UK wellness industry (said to be worth over $223 billion in 2024) has also seen a plethora of new brands enter the market since 2010. The likes of Tala, Sporty and Rich, Adanola, Varley and On have quickly amassed loyal fan bases and impressive social media followings, while LA starlets Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid are often seen wearing athleisure separates to run errands. With many Gen Z and Millennials now choosing a run club over a debauched night out, there exists a wealth of fitness product whether you're seeking to level up in Soul Cycle, F45, Barrecore or strength training. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE Lululemon is loved for its leggings, On counts Zendaya and Mia Regan as fans, and Adanola enlisted Kendall Jenner for an edit having seen gross profits surge by 124% in 2024. We've also witnessed the rise of the Fashion Trainer, spearheaded by Wales Bonner for Adidas, whose cult designs can reach resale prices exceeding $500. But how to choose the correct kit? When seeking separates for high intensity workouts, yoga or Pilates, look for polyester, nylon, elastane and spandex, which are known for their moisture-wicking, breathability, and stretch. More eco-conscious blends of cotton and bamboo will feel soft against the skin and suit lighter movement. Running shoes should offer flexibility and support to cushion your feet, and styles differ for trail running versus flat roads or shorter, more casual runs. As a rule, look for waterproof trainers with mesh vents on the upper to boost airflow and allow any moisture to escape, keeping your feet cooler and reducing the risk of blisters. Gait analysis is often offered free as part of the fitting service in running shoe stores and will help you choose the shoe spec best suited to your foot type, terrain and running motion. Many brands now offer multiple lengths in leggings, whether you're petite, tall, or just fancy the extra coverage, and most gymwear doesn't need to be hand-washed – just use a gentle spin at 30 degrees for a minimal time then air dry. To power up your next workout, we've enlisted a selection of seasoned ELLE editors (who favour a variety of sporting pursuits) to share their favourite gym kit and accessories. 'I alternate between Spin and Reformer classes so need flattering, comfortable leggings that suit both pastimes. With Adanola having achieved cult status (and endorsement from Kaia Gerber, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Emily Ratajkowski) I bought a pair of its Ultimate Leggings and can attest to the product name's bold promise. With a four-way stretch fabric, they have a higher waistline for extra support and contour and come in three lengths – ankle, cropped, and tall. They wash brilliantly and I've been known to pair them with slingbacks and an oversized blazer at weekends. As well as the core collection of neutral colourways like black, navy and brown, there are seasonal drops of new shades. I'll soon be adding the Wrap Over style to basket to tap into the balletcore trend.' - Esther Coombes, Senior Ecommerce Editor, Luxury 'My workouts would be nothing without my Panache sports bra. The underwired style sees me through all sorts of gym activities from rebounding to weights, Pilates to Barre. I appreciate the way it has total coverage to ensure that I am held in place throughout. I was advised during its initial fitting to size up in the band and down in the cup and would recommend you do the same.' - Naomi Pike, Commissioning Editor Paid content 'As a city dweller who travels mostly on foot, I'm keen to track my step count and sleep cycles, so the new Watch Fit 4 Pro from Huawei is high on my wish list. Akin to having a personal wellness coach on your wrist, this stylish new wearable tech tracks your sleep duration and stage chart, and offers real-time monitoring of your ECG, heart rate and oxygen levels. Ranking as one of the lightest smart watch models on the market and with up to 10 days battery time after a full charge, you can choose from three sleek colour ways (I'd opt for Titanium Blue). The Trail Running Mode, with offline contour maps, GPS guidance and terrain-specific stats may influence me to be a little more daring on a weekend run, too.' - Esther Coombes, Senior Ecommerce Editor, Luxury 'My performances in Reformer classes would be nothing without the support of my Lululemon Align tank top; it unwaveringly hoists and hugs in all of the right places so that no matter the contortion of my body, I'm supported. I couldn't be without it (and the Align leggings are fantastic too).' - Naomi May, Deputy Site Editor 'Peloton leggings are a hidden gem. The plain black pair I have are my favourites by far – no underwear visible, they never fall down, hug you the perfect amount and don't fade or bobble (and I've worn them a lot). Their sizing is inclusive (it runs from XS to 3X) and they have an amazing range of patterns and colours. They also now collab with Lululemon. I've loved lots of the sportswear I've tried from the brand, but their leggings need to be tried to be believed. You'll be converted.' - Rhiannon Evans, Site Director 'As someone who sticks mainly to heeled boots or ballet flats, I loathe to wear trainers. But when Lululemon debuted the surprisingly stylish Chargefeel 3 – with their breathable mesh upper, silhouette-smoothing sock upper and featherweight sole – I found myself wanting to wear them outside of the gym, too.' - Abigail Southan, Senior Ecommerce Editor, Fashion and Beauty 'As a Wimbledon native, I like to nod to my heritage and Ralph Lauren's collaboration with the Championships is just the ticket. As Official Outfitter of Wimbledon, Ralph Lauren launches new merch ahead of each year's tennis competition, and this preppy-inspired crew neck jumper will be perfect pre and post workout.' - Esther Coombes, Senior Ecommerce Editor, Luxury 'I never normally read too much into the name of a trainer but the On Cloudmonster 2s really do live up to theirs. Bouncy and beautifully cushioned, I can spring around the park in these and then also wear them to the office.' - Hannah Nathanson, Features Director 'You might know Spanx for its shapewear, but the legendary lingerie brand also does the most amazing activewear, too. As well as the collection's control leggings, I like to slip into this half-zip top which is ludicrously comfy. It's sweat-wicking, so you can workout in it, but I might have been known to wear it with the matching trackies to the pub too...' - Abigail Southan, Senior Ecommerce Editor, Fashion and Beauty Esther Coombes is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing luxury shopping content across fashion, beauty, travel and homes. She graduated from London College of Fashion with a First Class BA in Fashion Journalism in 2010, and has since worked at Marie-Claire, Easy Living, GLAMOUR and Women's Health. She held positions as Senior Fashion and Beauty Executive, Senior Lifestyle Executive and Content Lead during her nine years at HELLO! and HELLO! Fashion, creating editorial and branded content across the lifestyle sector and interviewing talent and experts including Lisa Eldridge, Jo Malone and Katie Jane Hughes for print and digital features. With exacting standards and a critical eye for editing new launches, she enjoys recommending readers best in class products and experiences, be that a glow-giving skin tint, a boutique hotel stay or the perfect slingback stiletto. In her spare time you can find her at a spin or reformer class or streaming the latest zeitgeisty podcast or television drama. You can follow Esther on Instagram at @esthercoombes.
