Latest news with #transformation
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Former Disney Channel child star branded as 'unrecognizable' after shocking transformation
She was once known as the brainy Olive Doyle on Disney Channel's A.N.T. Farm, but Sierra McCormick looks completely unrecognizable today. Now 27, the former child star has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation, swapping her squeaky-clean Disney image for a bold, edgy look that's left fans doing a double take. Sierra, who rose to fame in the early 2010s with her breakout role on A.N.T. Farm, has since pivoted to more serious parts. She has been in indie films like The Vast of Night, the psychological horror We Need to Do Something, and popular TV show American Horror Story. With her career shift has come a striking new image. The actress no longer sports her long blonde locks and the colorful wardrobe that she once did on A.N.T. Farm. Now, in its place is a modern red bob, dramatic eye makeup, and a more mature fashion sense that's a far cry from her Disney roots. Fans were stunned when recent photos of the actress began circulating online, with many admitting they barely recognized her. Sierra, who rose to fame in the early 2010s with her breakout role on A.N.T. Farm, has since pivoted to more serious parts In 2022, the actress shared pictures of her younger self and herself 'cringe' and 'insufferable.' However, some people in the comments didn't agree with her critiques. 'You were such a cute kid,' someone wrote. Others were shocked to see the old pictures and started to connect the dots on who the actress was. 'Is this the girl from A.N.T. Farm or am I crazy?' someone questioned. 'Oh my god, [I] didn't realize who you were at first you look so different! But so gorgeous,' another person commented. 'OLIVE?' multiple users wondered, referring to her character's name. Another said: 'GIRL FROM A.N.T. FARM!? HOLY MOTHER F**KING S**T.' With her career shift has come a striking new image. The actress no longer sports her long blonde locks and the colorful wardrobe that she had during her Disney days Now, in its place is a modern red bob, dramatic eye makeup, and a more mature fashion sense that's far from her Disney roots. She's seen in A.N.T. Farm 'I literally was about to say, "You look like Olive from A.N.T Farm," and then I was like, "Oh, this is Olive from A.N.T. Farm."' 'DID NOT RECOGNIZE YOU,' a different person expressed. 'Bro, I didn't even recognize her,' another wrote. Someone else said: 'It took me a second to realize who this was.' 'I didn't recognize her until the flashbacks [what the f**k],' another person admitted.
Daily Mail
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
1000lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton unveils astonishing new look after 500lb weight loss and major surgery
1000lb Sisters star Tammy Slaton unveiled her astonishing new look following her major weight loss transformation which has been documented alongside sister Amy on the TLC series. The TV personality, 38 - who recently gave a health update after undergoing a procedure - joined her sibling as they both weighed themselves at the same junkyard they went to before starting their health journey. During Tuesday's episode, Tammy showed off her slimmer frame after dropping 500lbs in total - and having successful skin removal surgery. In a short snippet uploaded to TLC's Instagram page, the sisters were seen arriving to the S&S Salvage junkyard - six years after their initial visit. 'Man, last time I've been to this junkyard, I felt like complete trash,' Amy could be heard saying. 'Like the size of a tractor.' The video then jumped back to 2019 when Tammy and Amy were greeted by a supervisor named Ronnie who led them to a nearby scale. Amy had explained at the time that both she and her sister were awaiting to get approval to have gastric bypass surgery and needed to find out how much they weighed. 'We haven't been able to find a scale to weigh us and we heard that you might be able to help us,' Tammy added. Six years earlier, Amy had weighed 406 while Tammy was 605 - which garnered emotional responses from both of the reality stars. 'Seeing that number on the scale, it just made my heart drop,' Amy said in a confessional. 'This is the most I've ever weighed.' It was then Tammy's turn and she admitted, 'I did not want to get onto that scale. Honestly, I just wanted to leave.' Upon seeing 605 flash onto the small screen, Tammy looked over at her sister before breaking down in tears. 'The size that I am right now didn't happen overnight. It's my fault that I'm this size,' she said. And in 2025, Amy stepped on the scale once again - with her transformed weight showing 249lbs. 'We haven't been able to find a scale to weigh us and we heard that you might be able to help us,' Tammy added Upon seeing 605 flash onto the small screen, Tammy looked over at her sister before breaking down in tears The star was quiet at first, taking in the results and admitted to her sister - as well as other siblings Amanda and Chris - that she was in 'shock' The star was quiet at first, taking in the results and admitted to her sister - as well as other siblings Amanda and Chris - that she was in 'shock.' Amy later told Tammy that while recently at the junkyard once again, she was struggling through emotions of both 'happiness' and 'pain' due to gaining back some weight. But Tammy offered support to her sister and pointed out, 'You still lost 150lbs. That's great. Like, you still should be proud of yourself. And you can always get back on track.' In the new snippet, Tammy's current weight was revealed to be 216lbs. Back in April, she shared that she had dropped 500lbs after being at her highest weight of 725lbs on the season seven premiere of the TLC show. 'When I was at my heaviest, I was 700 plus lbs. Right now, I'm weighing in at 238. Everybody keeps telling me I'm looking smaller than Amy. That's kind of hard to believe,' she said. Last week, it was revealed that Tammy had finally undergone skin removal surgery as she opened up in a new interview. The TV personality shared that she was approved for the long-awaited surgery amid her incredible weight loss journey. She opened up about the 'overwhelming' emotions she felt after 'working really hard' over the past six years to drop the weight to be able to have the eight-hour procedure. She told People: 'After six years and losing over 500 pounds, I was finally approved for surgery. I was just overwhelmed with excitement. 'I worked really hard for this, and now it's here. I'm pretty sure it was noticeable on my face how immediately shocked and then overwhelmed with joy I was.' Tammy traveled to Pittsburgh for her skin removal with plastic surgeon Dr. J. Peter Rubin at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the reality of the procedure hit her the night before. She said: 'I was really nervous for the skin removal surgery because I was really just kind of afraid of how I'm gonna feel looking at myself without the belly there. 'The night before my surgery, I was, like, seriously freaking terrified. I was even more nervous about having skin removal surgery than I was for the [sleeve gastrectomy] surgery because they're actually cutting the whole belly!' Tammy underwent her skin removal surgery on January 18, and during the 8-hour procedure, doctors removed 'over 15 lbs' of excess skin from her chin, arms and lower stomach. The star's complex surgery was documented on the show and during the season finale, all of her siblings were in awe of her transformation and praised her for how far she's come in her weight loss journey. Speaking on the show, after the surgery, Tammy said: 'It feels so weird not having the ball sack hanging off my face and my bat wings are gone too, I look down and there is nothing there in my lap now. 'It's going to take a little while for me to get use to seeing myself like this'. It comes after Tammy revealed in April that she's in new relationship with a woman. In the seventh season of the much-loved TLC series, pansexual Tammy and her sister Amy are seen catching up their fans on their lives. She spoke about her new budding romance in a confessional preview of the series - and admitted she hasn't told her family yet. Tammy said: 'There's something I haven't told my family. Amy's not the only one that's been seeing somebody new. So have I... 'I have been seeing someone for the past couple months and it's going pretty well. The person I'm dating is a woman. So I haven't told my family because my family's gonna have something to say about it.' She added, 'I think my family probably has more opinions than the world has a**holes because they be farting so much.' This is Tammy's first relationship since the death of her husband, Caleb Willingham, who she married in November 2022. 'A few years ago I came out as pansexual but after Caleb passing, I just don't want to be with men anymore,' Tammy said later in the preview clip. 'I don't know how my family is going to react when I tell them I'm seeing a woman.' Tammy's husband Caleb died from unknown causes at age 40 - just seven months after the couple tied the knot in November 2022.
Forbes
16 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Private Equity Is Coming For Casual Dining
Arlington Heights, IL, USA - August 14, 2024: Olive Garden is a popular American casual dining ... More restaurant chain specializing in Italian-American cuisine. You can't charge $18 for a mediocre burger anymore and expect to survive, especially with private equity circling. The era of casual dining has come to an end. Nostalgia isn't enough to keep the doors open, and the cracks are turning into collapses. TGI Fridays just filed for bankruptcy. Jack in the Box is flailing. Others are quietly shrinking, stuck between rising costs, outdated models, and changing consumer expectations. To most, it looks like an industry in terminal decline. However, investors who are paying attention perceive a sector that is poised for transformation. Behind the failing units and flatlined comps lie brands with real equity, untapped assets, and inefficient structures screaming for reinvention. For private equity, activist investors, and special situation specialists, this isn't a graveyard, it's a treasure map. The restaurant industry is being repriced. And those who know how to restructure from the inside out are already sharpening their knives. Restaurant chains can be highly profitable when managed with discipline. Many operate on asset-light, franchise-heavy models that throw off steady income with minimal capital intensity. Others sit on under-monetized real estate or legacy leases that, if unlocked, can reshape the balance sheet. And while their operations may be stale, their brand equity still carries psychological weight with consumers. That's a dream set up for private equity and special situation investors. Why? The sector is overflowing with fragmentation, inefficiency, and strategic bloat, which are the very traits that smart capital seeks when hunting for mispriced opportunities. Most public restaurant chains today are overly complex, mismanaged, or stuck in a strategic identity crisis. The stock prices reflect that. But behind the scenes, there's real potential not for a revival of the old model, but for a reinvention of what these businesses could be with the right financial structure and operational reset. The gap between public market valuations and private market potential is again widening, and for those with the tools to execute it, the upside is being served right now. Our previous idea with the Cheesecake Factory was a winner. Once a cornerstone of American casual dining, TGI Fridays now faces bankruptcy. Private ownership wasn't enough to save it. Why? The reasons include a stale concept, slow innovation, and operational complacency. The brand didn't evolve, and the market moved on. Jack in the Box isn't faring much better. Despite decades of existence, Jack in the Box's sales remain stagnant, its strategy appears confused, and investors are becoming increasingly uneasy. The problem extends beyond performance; it also involves a vacuum in leadership and identity. Then there's Red Lobster. Red Lobster's recent bankruptcy serves as a prime example of financial engineering gone wrong. But look closer: it still has name recognition, real estate value, and a loyal customer base. Mismanagement, not irrelevance, sank the ship. The pattern is clear. These aren't businesses that failed because dining is dead. Leadership stagnated, complexity escalated, and there was no accountability. None of these collapses were inevitable. With aligned incentives and operational clarity, many of these names could have been restructured, not written off. A view of TGI Fridays on the New Mersey Retail Park, in Speke, Liverpool, one of 35 of the chains ... More restaurants to close with immediate affect with the loss of 1,000 jobs. TGI Fridays will remain on UK high streets following a rescue deal for the chain. Breal Capital and Calveton UK have acquired 51 restaurants after the group's previous operator fell into administration. Picture date: Monday October 7, 2024. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images) Red Lobster's recent bankruptcy serves as a prime example of not wanting things to be flawless. They seek undervalued assets, scalable operations, and straightforward revenue streams. The restaurant industry currently possesses all three of these characteristics. Many of these chains still have strong brand awareness, large franchise networks, and even hidden real estate value. However, high costs, outdated menus, and unclear strategic priorities conceal these strengths. A typical playbook shows the same problems: inadequate capital allocation, too many buybacks while innovation slows down, and franchising plans that aren't consistent or scalable. The chance? You don't have to come up with a new way to do things. You merely need to clean up the model, make operations more efficient, and put growth ahead of financial engineering. That includes changing the prices on the menu to match what customers want and to show how much money the business can really make with better management. This is not a consumer collapse, which is beneficial. The restaurant industry currently possesses all three of these characteristics. desire a clear, high-quality experience. Brands that simplify their operations, maintain focus, and deliver quality services will succeed in the future. They should refrain from trying to cater to everyone's needs. In summary, the restaurant business remains intact. It just needs someone with the willpower to fix it. Ottawa, Canada - May 12, 2024: Red Lobster location on Merivale Rd. The casual dining restaurant ... More chain, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, announced in April that it was searching for a new buyer or a possible bankruptcy filing. 1. Stale Stock Price With Strong Brand Recognition → A lagging share price doesn't mean the brand is dead. If it still resonates with consumers, there's room for a strategic reset. 2. Franchise-Focused Model That's Mismanaged → Franchises generate recurring, high-margin cash flows. Poor oversight or inconsistent execution is a fixable flaw—one activist's love. 3. Insider Ownership Trends Or Quiet Accumulation → Watch for insider buying or outside investors quietly building a position. It often signals someone sees untapped value. 4. Declining Same-Store Sales Without Structural Decline → A short-term sales dip is a red flag—but only if it's a trend. If the concept still works, operational fixes can drive a rebound. 5. Inefficient Capital Allocation Or Corporate Bloat → If cash is flowing into buybacks or debt service instead of innovation, it's an open invitation for change. Even across the Atlantic, activist investor Irenic Capital has taken a 2% stake in SSP Group, the operator of Upper Crust and other travel food outlets. The hedge fund is pressuring management to improve margins, suggesting the stock could be worth twice its current valuation. The move sets the stage for a potential private equity takeover, echoing a broader trend: undervalued consumer-facing brands with operational inefficiencies are now prime targets for strategic resets. The market hasn't fully considered the value of many of these struggling restaurant brands yet. But that window won't stay open for long. When private equity and activist investors start circling again, multiples will change, and the chance to buy before restructuring starts will go away rapidly. Smart investors are already looking for inefficiencies, poorly allocated cash, too many layers in a company, and assets that aren't being used to their full potential. Only the most disciplined or forward-thinking capital will respond quickly when interest rates are high. Everyone else will be late and must pay more for something they could have had for less. What will happen to the businesses that refuse to change? They won't simply vanish; instead, they'll undergo dismantling, sale, or render useless. This sector is already starting to change shape. The only question to consider is who will enter the market early enough to take advantage of it?
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People Who Physically Peaked In High School Are Sharing What They Look Like Now, And It's The Most Honest Trend Ever
A few years ago, women were participating in a "glow down" challenge where they shared how much their looks had changed since high school. The trend was started by TikTok user @gabslife99, who explained, "I physically peaked in high school. Like, the hottest I've ever been was when I was 18. I look nothing like that now." And while @gabslife99 didn't share what she used to look like in high school, she did challenge other women to share their pics in a #glowdownchallenge — and the women delivered! Like TikToker @anitatrzebunia: Related: I'm Gonna Have To Log Off For A Bit After Learning About These Terrible, Shocking, And Horrifying Things TikTok user @aylor_liiight shared several of her before and after high school "glow down" pics: @taylormounttidwell / Related: 40 Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Creepy Wikipedia Pages Tbh, she still looks amazing: @taylormounttidwell / @carolinekraemer33 also had a pretty good glow down to share: @carolinekraemer_ / In all the glow-down photos, the women still look fantastic — and a little more comfy in their own skin: So, we want to celebrate our BuzzFeed readers' glow-down photos! If you physically peaked in high school — no matter your gender! — we want to see your before and after high school pics. Upload them via the dropbox below, and you could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed post! Also in Internet Finds: People Are Sharing "The Most Believable Conspiracy Theories," And Now I'm Questioning Everything I Thought I Knew Also in Internet Finds: Holy Crap, I Can't Stop Laughing At These 28 Painfully Awkward And Embarrassing Conversations Also in Internet Finds: 23 Cute, Happy, And Wholesome Posts I Saw On The Internet This Week That You Absolutely Need To See
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Systems Of Execution Offer The Highest Potential Return From AI
Why Systems of Execution Offer the Highest Potential Return from AI What if the true value of AI lies not in incremental improvement, but in bold reinvention? Two and a half years since ChatGPT's commercial debut, enterprises have charged ahead with AI implementations. We've seen rapid adoption, particularly in areas like customer service, marketing, and sales. These functions have embraced AI tools to automate responses, personalize content, and augment human activity. But despite the enthusiasm and activity, most of these efforts have failed to deliver a material step-change in productivity. The reason? We are using AI to optimize what already exists rather than to reinvent how work gets done. Contact centers are filled with conversational bots. Marketing departments deploy AI to fine-tune campaigns and generate content at speed. In sales, platforms like Salesforce's Einstein now layer predictive analytics on top of traditional CRM systems to improve lead prioritization and forecast accuracy. Similarly, vendors are enhancing their software by embedding AI directly into their offerings or providing AI layers that sit on top of existing workflows. In each case, the result is a smarter, more efficient version of the current system. These are clear wins, and enterprises should continue to pursue them. But let's be honest, they are not transformational. The real potential of AI lies in disrupting, not extending, how we operate. To realize this, companies must be willing to rethink their core processes. This is where the notion of Systems of Execution becomes essential. Historically, enterprise technology has been organized around two categories. First, we had Systems of Record, databases like ERP, CRM, and claims systems that emerged during the Internet era to store and manage information. Next came Systems of Engagement, web interfaces and portals that facilitated interaction between users and these data repositories. Both types of systems remain essential, but they are fundamentally reactive. They rely on humans to interpret data and take action. They are built to support decision-making, not to drive it. Systems of Execution represent a third architectural layer. These are intelligent systems that don't just house data or provide access to it, they actually execute work. They ingest information from both Systems of Record and Systems of Engagement, and then use AI agents to drive processes forward with limited human intervention. To build a System of Execution, we must begin not with the tools, but with a top-down reimagining of the process. This is not about improving how humans currently perform a task. It's about asking: If AI were at the center of this process, how would we design it from scratch? At this point, most Systems of Execution are hybrid in nature. They combine AI agents and human workers. But as the technology matures, the human component will shrink while the AI footprint expands. This transition promises not only significant cost efficiencies, but entirely new levels of speed, consistency, and accuracy. Too often, enterprises confuse improvement with transformation. To avoid this trap, we must start by clearly categorizing our AI initiatives. Are we enhancing an existing system? Are we layering AI onto a current stack? Or are we attempting to create a new system that fundamentally changes how work is done? Many proof-of-concept projects fail not because the technology doesn't work, but because the level of investment required to overcome data debt and system complexity is vastly underestimated. By explicitly framing the nature of the change, we can allocate resources more effectively and build toward meaningful returns. Employees are already using AI. Whether through sanctioned tools or unsanctioned experimentation, they are applying AI to streamline work and improve outcomes. Leaders should stop trying to contain this behavior and instead find ways to guide and amplify it. That means offering structured training, curating approved toolkits, and putting lightweight governance in place. We've seen this before with the adoption of personal computers, the spreadsheet, and the public internet. Each of those technologies was initially disruptive, but over time they became foundational. AI will follow the same path. The relevant question is not 'Does this AI tool work?' The better question is 'Is the juice worth the squeeze?' Enterprises must assess whether the investment of time, money, and effort justifies the outcomes. When enhancing legacy systems, the return will often be marginal. When building a new System of Execution, the return can be exponential. This is not a theoretical exercise. It is a strategic imperative. AI is no longer a future-state capability. It is an immediate force reshaping how we think about productivity, process, and value. Systems of Execution represent a new order of things. As Machiavelli famously observed, there is nothing more difficult or dangerous than introducing a new order of things. It is fraught with resistance, uncertainty, and risk. But it also offers unmatched potential. Enhancing what we already have will take us only so far. To lead in the AI era, enterprises must build the systems of tomorrow, systems that do, not just support. This is where the real return lies.
