The Saturdays have finally revealed the video for new track Gentleman and they are looking seriously hot.

Taking on the role of Stepford Wives who look like Desperate Housewives,  the girls parade around in in evening gowns whilst doing the laundry and mowing the lawn. The girls also get to dress up as their male alter egos at the end of the video in a confusing scene where they present gifts to themselves.

Gentlemen is probably the best thing to come from a girl group since Girls Aloud released Love Machine. And you know what that means, girls? Another no.1 track!

The track is sponsored by jewellery company Swarovski, who provided the copious amounts of bling for the shoot and who created a special behind-the-scenes video below.

To watch their behind-the-scenes video, see below.

Totally lush London spa, Mandara, have just launched an aces Mandara Spa Island Paradise Revitalising Leg Treatment, which will fix up your legs for summer. It’s lovely, but only available in London. Sooooo we’ve nabbed the spa gurus to give you lucky lot a DIY guide to recreating the Mandara experience at home…

This is like a cool recipe but way more relaxing and helpful in making your legs look well nice. For the DIY Mandara Spa Island Paradise Revitalising Leg Treatment you will need all of the below which you can nab from Sainsburys nationwide:
Mandara Spa Intensive Body Scrub, £8
Mandara Spa Refreshing Cooling Gel, £5
Mandara Spa Moisturising Body Lotion, £5
Mandara Spa Softening Foot Butter, £4.00

Plus these accessories:
Body brush
Cotton sheet
Cotton socks

The method:

*Prepare the legs with several minutes of brisk dry body brushing, starting at the ankles and moving upwards towards the stomach area. This kick starts blood flow and healthy circulation in the legs whilst also gently exfoliating the skin.

*Apply the Island Paradise Intensive Body Scrub for a deeper exfoliation treatment using the crushed peach stone granules and ground coconut shells; depending on how intense you like your exfoliation, add water to skin as needed. Pay extra attention to harder areas of skin on the legs such as the knees and heels of feet.Your legs should feel instantly smoother and refreshed.

*Rinse off scrub and towel dry legs thoroughly. Next, generously apply the Refreshing Cooling Gel and deeply massage into the legs and thighs. The cooling menthol action will further help stimulate blood flow and refresh tired and sluggish legs.

*Leaving the Refreshing Cooling Gel on the legs (which should start to feel very cold now), wrap the legs in a cotton sheet and relax for 10 minutes with legs elevated slightly by resting them on a stool or lie down. This technique enhances the benefits of the cooling gel by restricting the blood flow in the capillaries and reduces puffiness.

*Whilst your legs are wrapped up, focus your attention on your feet – you need these to compliment your great legs! Massage the NEW Softening Foot Butter into your feet then place in cotton socks for an intense moisturising treatment for the skin and nails.

*Once the 10 minutes is up, remove the sheets and cotton socks. Jumping back into the shower to rinse off with cool or the coldest water you can manage, massage your legs and thigh with deep, flowing movements moving upwards towards your stomach. The massage will help further stimulate the lymphatic drainage as well as help detoxify the body of fatty deposits that can contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

*When out of the shower gently pat legs dry and apply Island Paradise Moisturising Body Lotion.  After your DIY Island Paradise Revitalising Leg Treatment in the privacy of your own home (at a fraction of the spa cost!), legs should will feel firmer and contoured whilst also refreshed, super soft and ready to bare this summer.

Pssst wanna know how Lady Timberlake gets such a peachy clean complexion?

Well appaz she’s a fan of Éminence Organic Skincare, two products in particular, FYI. When she’s jet-setting all over the show, Miss Biel doesn’t travel without a certain something. No not Justin, it’s Éminence Eight Greens Youth Serum, £29, theskinsmith.co.uk. “Constant flying dries out my skin, so I make sure I moisturise everything,” Jessica said. “I always have Éminence Eight Greens Youth Serum in my carry on.”

And what about the perf make-up base, a must for a flawless finish like Biel’s? “I never leave the house without slathering on the Éminence Tropical Vanilla Sun Cream SPF 32,” she added. “It’s the perfect non-streaky base for make-up.” Ok, this one is a bit more pricey, £50, theskinsmith.co.uk, but surely looking like that is pretty much priceless, no?

Image: Getty Images

Simon Cowell has today revealed plans for a brand new X Factor musical!

The title of the show is ‘I Can’t Sing!’ and it has been written by TV funny man, Harry Hill. Apparently in the show we’ll find out why Simon wears his trousers so high and there’s also going to be a talking dog. Ok, then.

Simon revealed that the early workshops were the funniest thing he’d ever seen and that the show would “surprise people”. Hopefully in a good way.

I Can’t Sing! will be directed by double Olivier award winning Sean Foley  who is currently casting for the musical. Cowell added that their plan is to find a brand new generation of theatre stars in the process – just like the actual X Factor show.

Tickets are now on sale via Seetickets.com - will you be buying one?

If you’ve just watched the new Man of Steel trailer above, then you will understand that it’s actually quite difficult for us to form full sentences right now.

Man of Steel, if you’ve been another planet, is the latest Warner Bros. re-boot of the Superman franchise. This epic new teaser is the first indication of what’s really in store for Clark Kent and it’s not looking good. Fate Of Your Planet, as it is titled, is focused around sinister villain General Zod as he sets out to find and destroy Superman.

Henry Cavill as Superman. HOT.

With the chiselled Henry Cavill as Clark Kent and Amy Adams as Lois Lane, we can’t help but think that this is going to be the summer blockbuster.

Man of Steel hits cinemas on June 14 2013.

Up for grabs today is a Kobo’ seven-inch 16GB Kobo Arc tablet plus a luxury Ralph Lauren blanket. With Kobo you have access to 3 million eBooks and over 600,000 Google Play apps.

The Kobo Arc comes with front-facing speakers, a durable high-res display, and its unique Tapestries interface to organise and display content. Perfect for reading on your daily commute or snuggled up at home in front of the telly!

For your chance to win the Kobo Arc* and a Ralph Lauren blanket, enter by 11.59pm on June 4.

*(Prize provided as tablet only. For the avoidance of doubt, content not included).

Get a room with Abu

See

Abu Dhabi might seem like a brand-new kind of place, but there’s plenty of old-school culture on offer. Start your day early, as midday temperatures can reach 40°C from May to September, and head to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. If you don’t fancy the guided tour, hop in a cab and drive around the exterior. Then, before the heat takes hold, wander along the gorgeous Corniche beach.

Do

Thrill-seekers should head to the nearby Yas Island to ride the world’s fastest roller coaster at Ferrari World (tickets cost from £40, Ferrariworldabudhabi.com). And be sure to visit the Yas Marina Circuit, where the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is held, before returning to the city to shop for bargains at the Central Market.

Breathtaking Sheikh Zayed Mosque; On track for a great trip

Eat

Most restaurants are in hotels, which gives you the chance to nose around some incredible buildings. Take high tea at the Emirates Palace, nibbling on pretty cakes and supping gold-leaf-topped cappuccinos (£18, Kempinski.com). Dine at Marco Pierre White Steak House & Grill at The Fairmont, where juicy steaks cost from £32 (Fairmont.com).

Drink

Hit open-air Pearls bar at the Shangri-La Hotel for a fruity China Leap, £7.80 (Shangri-la.com). Then head to B-Lounge, where the DJ spins smooth tunes (Sheratonabudhabihotel.com), or get your bikini on for the Immaculate Touch Pool Party at the Al Maya Island Hotel Resort (Almayaislandresorts.com), featuring stilt walkers and fire-eaters. Tickets cost from £18, which includes a shuttle boat.

Fyi

Getting there

Fabulous’ Giselle, sheiks things up in the Emirates

Return flights from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi cost from £440 with British Airways (Ba.com).

Where to stay

The Fairmont – it has a swim-up pool bar. Prices start from £120 per double room (Fairmont.com).

Time zone

GMT + 4 hours

Currency

Arab Emirate Dirham

Top tips

Visit in November to catch the Grand Prix and rub shoulders with celebs such as Kylie Minogue. Don’t forget there are very strict rules about alcohol consumption – drinking in Abu Dhabi is confined to hotels.

Nothing to see here, just a cow having a photoshoot. On a bridge.

No, we haven’t gone mad, it’s an actual real thing. Bluegrass Sergeants Snow Queen has officially been named Cow of the Year 2013.

This novel beauty pageant was dreamt up by yoghurt company The Collective who wanted to find the UK’s prettiest cow. 123 cows were submitted for entry, with a prize of £1,000 up for grabs to the person who submitted the picture plus a donation of  £500 to the winner’s farm of choice.

The winning cow, Bluegrass Sergeants Snow Queen, was chosen by a panel of judges in an X-Factor style. Her owner Mark Davis was the winner and to mark the occasion, he brought her up to London for her very own fab photo-shoot – with the VIP treatment, of course.

The crowning. Or should we say cow-ning?

Cow-ra Dairy-vingne, anyone? Na-moo-mi Campbell? Kate Moo-ss? Elle M00-cpherson? Moo-randa Kerr? Ok, ok, we’ll stop. If you can do better, please tweet us (and put us out of our misery!) @Fabulousmag

Countdown to brown

Before you get your glow on, follow our tan plan to get the most out of your colour…

The day before It’s time to de-fuzz! To avoid irritation, shave or wax at least 24 hours before tanning. Post-hair removal, apply a small amount of baby oil to calm skin.

12 hours before Any rough bits of skin stop self-tan absorbing properly, so apply a body scrub, such as Liz Earle Energising Body Scrub, £14, to dry skin before your shower. Rubbing it in from your feet upwards in a circular motion will boost circulation and improve skin’s appearance.

One hour before Shower to remove all traces of dirt and deodorant, which act as a barrier to the product, resulting in unwanted white bits. Dry skin on the ankles, knees and elbows can also cause patchiness, so apply some oil-free moisturiser, such as L’Oréal Paris Triple Active Fresh Ultra-Hydrating Gel-Cream, £6.99.

5 minutes before Clean your face with Bioré Make-up Removing Wipes, £3.99, to ensure there’s no trace of make-up or lotion. Then smooth Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly, £1.79, on your hairline and brows to stop these areas being coloured.

Post tan Avoid getting dressed for at least 10 minutes after you’ve applied your tan and wear dark, loose clothes to protect your new glow (and your fave outfits). Also, try not to get wet or sweaty for at least six hours, as this can make your tan streaky.

3 days later Exfoliate to remove any loose product and allow your tan to fade naturally. We heart L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Exfotonic Body Polishing Gel, £7.99. It contains AHAs – alpha hydroxy acids – which boost circulation and strip your tan gradually.

Speedy sculpting

Been putting off the gym all year? No worries. We’re big believers in “if you can’t tone it, tan it”. A faux glow will make you look slimmer, especially when you add in some contouring.

Fake toned forearms by applying a gel-based instant tan, such as L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze One Day Glow Tinted & Shimmering Gel, £9, in a line from the collarbone, along your shoulder and down the centre of your arm. To create the illusion of lean legs, use the same gel down the middle of your thighs, miss the knees, then carry on down your shins to draw the attention inwards.

For abs Jess Ennis would be proud of, try using a dark matte wash-off product, such as Soap & Glory One Night Tanned, £9.50, either side of your stomach and down the middle. No sweat.

From all angles

DIY tans can be harder to master than chopsticks, especially if you’ve got no one to help with the tricky bits. But don’t worry, the beauty gods have answered your spray-tanning prayers. A spritzer, such as L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Express Pro Self-Tanning Dry Mist in Medium Tan, £15.49, has a bigger, wider nozzle, which allows you to tan more of your body, but with lighter sprays of product. The result? Better coverage, plus less bending to get to those hard-to-reach places.

Before spritzing, protect your floor with an old towel, and always spray from around 20-30 centimetres away, building up the colour gradually and sparingly. If you want a darker colour on certain areas, like your legs, go back and give them a second spray.

Click here to see your body beautiful diet plan

Photography: Jonas O’Sullivan Hair: Shaniqua Oken using L’Oréal Professionnel Tecni.art Make-up: Afton Radojicic at S Management using L’Oréal Paris Tan: L’Oréal Paris Tanning & Body Expert Charlotte Connoley using L’Oréal Paris Sublime Bronze Model: Chloe Lloyd at Storm Shot on location at Elbow Beach, Bermuda, mandarinoriental.com/bermuda Stockists: Bioré (Superdrug.com), Liz Earle (Lizearle.co.uk), L’Oréal Paris (Boots.com), Soap & Glory (Boots.com), St Tropez (Sttropez.co.uk), Vaseline (Boots.com)

Image: Getty Images

After all the rumour, Tulisa has confirmed that she won’t be coming back as an X Factor judge. Yesterday, she released a statement, where the N-Dubz singer said:

“Just wanted to let you all know that I won’t be part of the X Factor panel this year. I’ve had a great time on the show, but this year it’s time to do something different. I’d like to thank everyone on The X Factor for two amazing years. Stay tuned as I have a very exciting announcement soon!”

Tulisa won the competition with Little Mix in her first year as a judge but last series, she failed to get any of her acts through to the final.

The X Factor have also confirmed the return of Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. HURRAH!

Director Blue Ivy? 

Image: IamBeyonce/Tumblr

How cute is baby Blue? Beyonce posted this pic of her little one in her very own director’s chair. Blue Ivy is currently accompanying her mum on her world tour, although this was taken on her current mini-break in France. We wonder if Harper Beckham has her own director’s chair yet?

Madonna joins the line-up for Chime for Change

Image: Getty Images

Chime for Change is a huge concert (read about it here) for a very worthy cause taking place at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday June 3 2013. The line-up is already stellar with stars like Beyonce and Florence + The Machines performing. Now they have announced some amazing celebrity presenters including James Franco, Zoe Saldana and Blake Lively. And now Madonna. How amazing is this? Tickets are still available, head here to purchase.

J.Lo’s got talent

Image: Vevo/Youtube

BGT is getting the A-List treatment! Monday will see the start of the Britain’s Got Talent live shows and it’s been revealed that Jennifer Lopez will be performing. She’ll be singing her new track, Live It Up (which we loved, FYI) and will join the likes of Ellie Goulding and Olly Murs. Jen is also in town to perform at Chime for Change with Beyonce and Madonna, above.

1) £60, Dune

2) £120, Pied a Terre

3) £30, Next

4) £65, Bertie

5) £45, Office

6) £30, Next

7) £69, Boden

8) £12, George at Asda

9) £18, ASOS

10) £25, ASOS

Photography: Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk Stockists: ASOS (Asos.com), Bertie (0116 284 7800), Boden (0844 873 0000), Dune (0116 284 7800), George at Asda (0800 952 3003), Next (0844 844 8000), Office (0845 058 0777), Pied a Terre (0116 284 7800)

Popping to a British seaside spot or flying to distant shores, it doesn’t matter ’cause either way you get to take this beauty bad boy with you. The Green & Spring‘s Take Flight Set, £35, greenandspring.com,  is cutely packed with Relaxing Shampoo, Relaxing Conditioner, Indulging Shower & Bath Foam, Revitalising Body Lotion and Antibacterial Hand gel. Yep all holiday bases are covered, with natural prods made from plant and flower extracts, which are all airline regulation safe, obvs. We love it so much we might nab two, one for hols and one to use so we can pretend we’re still on holibobs when we get back.

Cushion, £65, Fun Makes Good; Wallpaper, £70 per roll, Mineheart

Wall hanging, £84, Mineheart; Coasters, £7.50 for set of 4, Marks & Spencer

Chair, £150, Alexander & Pearl; Table mat, £1.95, Dotcomgiftshop

Wall decorations, £29.84 for set of two, Prince Design UK; Candleholder, £12, Dobbies

Floor cushion, £145, Alexander & Pearl; Towels, from £10 each, John Lewis

Magazine rack, £12, Matalan; E-reader case, £75, Organise-Us

Bookend, £44.50, Cuckooland; Storage bag, £35, Baker + Bell; Plant pot, £10, House of Fraser

Photography: Getty Images Stockists: Alexander & Pearl (020 8508 0411), Baker + Bell (Bakerandbell.com), Cuckooland (Cuckooland.com), Dobbies (Dobbies.com), Dotcomgiftshop (Dotcomegiftshop.com), Fun Makes Good (Funmakesgood.etsy.com), John Lewis (0845 604 9049), House of Fraser (0845 602 1073), Marks & Spencer (0845 302 1234), Matalan (0845 330 3330), Mineheart (Mineheartstore.com), Organise-Us (Organise-us.com), Prince Design UK (Princedesignuk.etsy.com)

Did someone say boys in bands? Sunshine? And general jumping up and down, beer in hand? Oh yeah, we did…

Why? Well we’ve just been checking out the Ibiza Rocks summer line-up and it’s got us so excited, we thought it was only fair to share. Everyone from Beady Eye to Rizzle Kicks, Tinie Tempah to Chase & Status are taking to the sun drenched stage on everyone’s favourite Balearic Isle.

And it’s super bargainous to see your fave stars at Ibiza Rocks Hotel with tickets from just £36. And simples, book at: ibizarocks.com

Geometric flares

1) Go for an all-out ’70s vibe with a spotty tie, jacket and platforms.

Blazer, £65, Topshop; shirt, £45, Urban Outiftters; trousers, £39.99, Zara; tie, £8, Topman; shoes, £59.99, Zara

2) Add a clashing jumper and shoulder bag for shopping with the girls.

Jumper, £40, Topshop; shirt, £29, Jameela Jamil at Very; trousers, as before; bag, £35, shoes, £28, both River Island

3) Work it out with a tailored checked coat and classic wedges.

Coat, £85, Principles by Ben De Lisi at Debenhams; shirt, £24, Next; trousers, as before; sunglasses, £4, Primark; shoes, £45, Next

Try it! And send us your pictures to theedit@fabulousmag.co.uk

Hot off the high street

If you want to work in fashion, or are just obsessed with it, head down to Graduate Fashion Week for a supersized dose of inspiration. The event, sponsored by George at Asda, is at Earls Court 2, London, June 2-5. Visit Gfw.org.uk for tickets.

Having a moment…

Gladiator boots
Summer’s must-have sandal/boot hybrid is a big hit with celebs, including Selena Gomez. If your bank balance won’t stretch to her £1,200 Brian Atwood pair, head to New Look instead. Stick to classic black and team with an LBD. Gladiators, ready!

Boots, £39.99, New Look

Most wanted

Wearing a jumper over your shirt is practically the uniform here on the Fabulous fashion desk. But with the weather finally heating up, it’s time to ditch the layers. Thankfully, I don’t need to lose the look completely, with this crafty collar from Carven. Just slip it under your chosen top for instant preppy chic.

Organza collar, £110, Carven at Harvey Nichols

Photography: Lancton, Wire Image Hair: James McMahon at Lovely Management Make-up: Lan Nguyen at My Management Stylist’s assistants: Daisy Jupp, Anastasia Filina Model: Sabrina Damachoua at Elite Models Stockists: Carven (Harveynichols.com), Debenhams (0844 561 6161), New Look (0500 454094), Next (0844 844 8939), Primark (0118 9606 300), River Island (0844 576 6444), Topman (0845 121 4519), Topshop (0844 984 0264), Urban Outfitters (0845 330 1288), Very (Very.co.uk), Zara (0800 030 4238)

Image: Getty Images

It’s Jessica Biel who is looking Cannes-tastic today at the French film festival.

With husband Justin Timberlake on her arm, the actress disembarked from her boat (naturally) and headed for her hotel in this gorgeous outfit. The graphic block colour shift dress is by designer Roksanda Ilincic. Jess accessorised with a tangerine Fendi clutch bag and black Christian Louboutin June heels.

Jessica is at the festival supporting Justin as he promotes his film, Inside Llewyn Davis. Still, just because you’re the supporting act doesn’t mean you can’t steal the limelight, right Jess?

For a similar dress, try this little bargain from Popcouture.co.uk.

Dress, £9.99, PopCouture.co.uk

For her hot heels minus the expensive price tag, click your way to ASOS for their perfect points.

Heels, £45, ASOS

Faye goes bananas

Sometimes after a hard day at work or looking after the kids, it’s all too easy to put a ready meal in the microwave and wait for the ping, which is why cookware specialists Tefal launched Fresh Week. For the past seven days, we – and thousands of people across the country, including actress Fay Ripley – have pledged to take to the kitchen and cook only fresh, healthy food.

Armed with a yummy box of veg from Riverford Organic and a super-duper chopping machine – otherwise known as the Tefal Fresh Express – to help us along, we set to work.

At first it was easier than we thought: prawn stir-fry full of bean sprouts, peppers and pak choi? Done (and in just 10 minutes)! Vegetarian chilli with carrots, tomatoes and protein-rich kidney beans? Sorted! No sneaky jars of sauce allowed.

But as the week wore on and got busier, going fresh got a bit harder. Knowing we were going to be working late one evening, we had to make dinner the night before. Our pasta and roasted veg was delicious, but making it the evening before took more planning than picking up a sandwich, despite the speedy chopping machine (and less time relaxing in front of the TV!). And on Friday night when what we really fancied was a takeaway and a bottle of wine on the sofa, we had to head to the kitchen to rustle up a home-made green Thai curry. But, it has to be said, it was actually the tastiest curry we’ve ever had (don’t tell our local takeaway though!).

For more information on Fresh Week, visit Tefalfreshexpress.co.uk

Doll Face

This ’60s-inspired style is brilliantly barmy. Once I started layering on the lashes and liner, I just couldn’t stop!

I worked Chanel Le Crayon Khôl Intense Eye Pencil in Clair, £17, along the top and bottom lash lines, running the white kohl right into the corner of my eyes for a Bambi-esque look. For subtle volume, I used Eylure Naturalites Evening Wear Ultra Glam Lashes, £5.35, on my top lash line, followed by the more dramatic Mac 33 Lash false lashes, £10, on the bottom. This unusual falsie technique really opens up the eyes. I finished the look with a slick of YSL Rouge Volupté Shine Lipstick in Coral, £24. It’s more sheer than the lip colour that was used on the Moschino S/S ’13 catwalk (below), but makes the trend more wearable. Hair-wise, I backcombed the roots and pinned it into a half-up-half-down beehive, tonging sections at the front.

This isn’t the best beauty trend if you like to blend in, but it’d look really cool on a big night out. If it’s all a bit much, you could tone the whole thing down with a simple bun.

Try it! And send us your pictures to theedit@fabulousmag.co.uk

Beauty buzzword

No-dry Aka shiny straight locks with natural body and no set parting. After years of loving big blow-dries and tousled beach-babe waves, it’s no wonder the style du jour is a complete contrast. The no-dry works best on mid- to long-length hair with long layers. Think Cara Delevingne and Kristen Stewart’s just-got-out-of-bed ’dos and you’re on the right track.

Having a moment…

Alexa Chung

How does the most stylish Brit gal abroad handle travelling back and forth from London to NYC without a single sign of jet lag? Apparently, she swears by Decléor Hydra Floral Multi-Protection Light Cream, £39.50, and never leaves home without it.

Most wanted

I’m so excited about Nars’ collaboration with Pierre Hardy – how gorgeous is this blusher? The shoe designer’s collection also includes six pairs of nail polishes that come in mini dust bags in shoe boxes, £22 for two – so cute!

Pierre Hardy for Nars Blush Palette in Boys Don’t Cry, £30

Photography: Lancton, Rex Features, Imaxtree, Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk Stockists: Chanel (Debenhams.com), Decléor (Houseoffraser.co.uk), Eylure (Boots.com), Mac (Maccosmetics.co.uk), Nars (Narscosmetics.co.uk), YSL (Yslbeauty.co.uk)

As if we didn’t feel old enough, Youtube celebrate their 8th Birthday this week.

To celebrate, this week is a special week-long event: Youtube Comedy Week. Comedians from around the world will be collaborating and of course several Youtube sensations will be involved.

We’ll be bringing you our favourites throughout the week, starting with these two today. Ricky Gervais is back as cringy office boss, David Brent, giving a guitar lesson and singing a new song, Life on the Road.

Then The Gregory Brothers try to fit 8 years of videos into 3 minutes and 30 seconds.

• Share, like and tell us which videos you’re finding funny @Fabulousmag or over on our Facebook page.

The festival will see performances from Plan B, Rita Ora, Example, Disclosure, Katy B, Rudimental, Sub Focus, Wiley, Carol Cox, Annie Mac, Jamie Jones, Nicky Romero Steve Aoki, Seth Troxler and even more!

With even more acts, two all-new outdoor arenas to take advantage of the (hopefully!) scorching weather and exciting new production still to be announced, it’s gearing up to be a greatest party.

For your chance to win a general admission ticket for two, which includes camping*, enter by 11.59pm on June 3.

Find out more about GlobalGathering at Globalgathering.com

*Tent not included. Travel to and from event not included. Winner and guest must both be 18 or over and will need to provide ID.

Image: Getty Images

Coleen and Wayne Rooney have welcomed their second baby, a son named Klay. Only a day after Marvin & Rochelle announced the birth of baby Alaia-Mai, Wayne and Coleen tweeted that Klay Anthony Rooney was born at 2.11am. Congrats to both sets of parents!

J.Law X-Men pictures revealed

First look: #JenniferLawrence as a vengeful #Mystique. #XMen #DaysOfFuturePast twitter.com/BryanSinger/st…

— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) May 20, 2013

Fresh from winning an Oscar, Jennifer Lawrence is back on set filming the new X-Men movie, Days Of Future Past. Jen is reprising her role as Mystique in the film, which means for the most part of filming she’s basically naked and blue. Even as a shape-shifter, Jennifer looks amazing and clearly director, Bryan Singer thought so as he tweeted this picture. No wonder ex-boyfriend and fellow cast-mate Nicholas Hoult is reportedly trying to win Jen back.

DOI comes to an end

Image: Rex Features

Jane Torvill and Christopher Dean have announced that this year’s Dancing on Ice, will be the final series. The show, which has been running for 8 years, will end with series 9 in February 2014. Torvill and Dean said that they have loved doing the show but February will be 30 years since they first performed their famous Bolero and they felt the show had therefore reached its natural end. ITV have promised plenty of new and exciting twists for the last series but we’ll still be sad to see it go. Presenter, Philip Schofield doesn’t seem to mind, he just wants to go on a winter holiday again…

Enjoy it while you can. Dancing on Ice 2014 will be the final series. And I can take up skiing again!

— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) May 21, 2013

Rooney Mara for Calvin Klein & Cate Blanchett for Giorgio Armani

Images: Getty Images

Rooney Mara, star of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, has been announced as the face of Calvin Klein’s new fragrance, Downtown whilst Aussie actress, Cate Blanchette will be brand ambassador for Giorgio Armani scents. Rooney said: “I am very excited to be included in the group of amazing women that have been featured in the iconic advertising campaigns for Calvin Klein fragrances” and though Cate hasn’t said anything yet, we’re pretty sure she’s chuffed about the new gig too.

Dear Dr Hilary 

A year ago, I noticed a patch of red marbling on the inside of my leg. It’s now the size of a plate, and gets worse if I’ve come in from the cold. Any ideas? Carlie, via email

It’s likely you have a rash called livido reticularis, which gives skin a lacy, purplish discoloration. The condition is caused by sluggish blood flow, which leads to microscopic blood clots and swelling in the small veins. It’s usually harmless and is commonly experienced by young women in cold weather. Occasionally, it’s linked to auto-immune or blood disorders, but a blood test can exclude these. The harmless variety you almost certainly have will improve if you keep your legs warm and massage the area to improve blood flow – but the discoloration can be permanent.

Dear Dr Hilary 

It’s embarrassing but after a night of drinking, I pee in random places around the house, such as my wardrobe. Yet when I wake in the morning, I don’t remember a thing. Ed, via email

You’re sleepwalking, which occurs during deep sleep, so you won’t remember it. Although it’s more common in children, sleepwalking can develop in adulthood, and alcohol is a contributing factor due to its sedative effect. Alcohol also increases the volume of urine you produce, so there are signals telling you to get up and pee while your brain is still asleep and not responsible for where you do it. Cut back on drinking, catch up on shut-eye, stick to a regular sleep routine, and work out if you’re under any stress that you need to address.

Dear Sarah

Every month, I seem to be paying a huge amount for gas, electricity and water. Switching plans continuously seems like such a hassle, but I’m sure I shouldn’t be paying so much. How can I keep my bills under control? Name withheld, via email

You get the most benefit from switching supplier for the first time. If you switch, make sure you know how much energy you use – companies have to send out an annual statement of what you’ve used in the last year, so check yours. To find a new supplier, check at least three price-comparison websites as they can give different results, even with the same information. After you switch, try to use less energy. Turn down the heating by 1°C, fit thermostatic valves to radiators and turn off your TV and PC when not in use. Your energy company may offer discounted insulation to cut heating bills. If not, look for special offers in DIY stores.

Dear Michelle

I would like some advice regarding my identical twin daughters. They are 18, tall, slim and very attractive. People often suggest a career in modelling and both girls have expressed a desire to explore this option. What are the first steps for aspiring models? Amanda, via email

Make sure your daughters are fully aware of what is involved in modelling, and that it can be very competitive industry. It is important to do thorough research and draw up a list of reputable modelling agencies. Then contact them to discuss the next steps. They may ask your daughters to visit the agency to have test shots done, but a reputable agency won’t ask you to pay anything upfront, and you should accompany your daughters at first to support them and ensure that you feel comfortable with the agency.

Dear Susan 

My husband has problems maintaining an erection. He’s too embarrassed to ask a doctor, but it’s upsetting me, too. Should he try Viagra? Is there anything else we can do? Name and address withheld

Please tell your husband to stop being embarrassed and go to the doctor! An unreliable erection can be a sign of diabetes, heart disease or depression, and if that’s the issue, he needs help. If he’s ill, treatment will help his sexual problem, and the doctor will advise if Viagra is appropriate. If he’s healthy, the issue could be anxiety, so try penetration-free love making for a while, such as intimate massage. Fun that doesn’t involve getting an erection will help your husband’s confidence. If there’s still a problem, the counsellors at the College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (Cosrt.org.uk) can help.

HELP! Email our experts at: ateam@fabulousmag.co.uk

Compiled by: Cyan Turan, Kate Langrish Photography: Lancton, Alicia Clarke The A Team regret they cannot answer emails personally. Answers are intended as general guidance only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. Visit Savvywoman.co.uk>/h6>

‘I had to ask my mother if I had a secret twin’

Zoe Pither, 40, an outreach programme manager and hula-hoop teacher, is single and lives in Bristol. She says:

“When I was a child, I’d fantasise I had a secret twin somewhere. It stemmed from one of my favourite books, children’s classic Lottie & Lisa, about two girls who meet, discover they are identical twin sisters and go on to have amazing adventures. It’s the book The Parent Trap was based on, and I thought that if it happened to me, it would be the best thing ever.

And then it did. Well, sort of! When I was first introduced to Tamsin, I was immediately struck by our physical similarities. Then I discovered we also have the same dress sense, mannerisms, interests and the same date of birth. But, despite living practically identical lives for the past 40 years, we only discovered each other’s existence four months ago.

I was in a pub in London in January, meeting up with mates I’d met on the festival circuit, when a man called David came up to me. He was a friend of a friend and asked: ‘You’re not Tamsin, are you?’

Zoe at the Burning Man festival last year

It wasn’t the first time that had happened. Just a few months earlier at a party in London, where I’d been performing my fire-hoop act, several people called me Tamsin, before realising their mistake. I didn’t think anything of it.

David showed me pictures of this mystical ‘Tamsin’ woman by pulling up her Facebook page on his mobile. I stared in disbelief, wondering why she had so many photos of me on her site, before realising they were of her. In one, she had a red military jacket just like mine. In another, she wore a red rose in her hair, just like I did. It was freaky.

A few days later, David sent a Facebook message introducing us both and I nervously typed in: ‘Hi!’ As we got chatting, we discovered just how alike we were. Tamsin is a gardener; I have a vast allotment. Like me, she does trapeze and hula hooping. She has a passion for vintage clothes, as do I. Neither of us are married or have children. Although we live 120 miles apart – with me in Bristol, and her in London – we realised our paths must have crossed at many festivals, but we didn’t know it!

We began messaging each other a couple of times a week, chatting as if we’d known each other for ages. It was after about a month that I noticed Tamsin’s birthday was the same date as mine. The fact that it was also in 1972 stopped me in my tracks. Suddenly, I began to question it all. Could we actually be related? Was I about to open up Pandora’s box and unearth family secrets that had been hushed up for 40 years?

Thankfully my mum, Julia, 59, a social worker, and I have always had an open and honest relationship. Even so, it still took me a few days to find the courage to ask her if I had a secret twin. When I did, Mum just laughed and told me I was being ridiculous!

Intrigued to see if we really were so alike in the flesh, we finally met up in March, in a London pub. Tamsin was sitting on a sofa in the corner of the room and I walked towards her, nervous but excited. When we first set eyes on each other we
burst out laughing – partly because it was so weird, but also because we were both wearing matching stripy outfits!

The evening went by in a haze, as we chatted about how surreal it all was. The bizarre similarities just kept on coming – we’d both been keen dancers until the age of 18 and had sisters who lived in Amsterdam, neither of us owns a telly and it didn’t surprise me when Tamsin told me Amanda Palmer was her favourite singer, as she is also mine!

We’ve met up again since and it feels like we’ve known each another forever. I know we’ll be friends for life.

With my quirky hair, eclectic dress sense and alternative hobbies, I’d always prided myself on being unique but, now I’ve met Tamsin, I’ve realised I’m not so different after all.

Then again, becoming friends with your doppelganger makes us unique anyway!”

‘People used to mistake me for Zoe’

Tamsin Hull, 40, is a landscape gardener and lives in London. She’s in a relationship with Stuart, 45. She says:

“The first time I met Zoe, all I wanted to do was stare at her. It was like looking in a mirror and I couldn’t stop studying her face! With our matching hair, same-shaped eyebrows, identical skin tone and smiles, she was fascinating to look at. Was that how I appeared when I laughed, smiled and frowned?

Tamsin at the Burning Man festival last year

I’d heard of the phenomenon of doppelgangers before, but I never thought there would be someone out there who looked exactly like me. When my friend David showed me Zoe’s pictures on Facebook, I couldn’t believe it. There was even a picture of her posing in the Nevada desert at the Burning Man festival last year, wearing sequinned hot pants. I was at the same festival and had an identical picture, wearing a really similar outfit – they must have been taken hours apart. I was gobsmacked!

The more I thought about it, the more I realised there had been many instances where I must have been mistaken for Zoe. Just a few weeks earlier, a handful of people had come up to me at a party in London to congratulate me on my brilliant fire hoop display. I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about but, not wanting to offend them, I smiled and said thanks. Now I realise they thought they were talking to Zoe!

Discovering we shared exactly the same birthday did unnerve me. I was 99 per cent certain my mum Hazel, 64, an entrepreneur, who was away on holiday at the time, would have told me if I did have a secret twin – but there was still one per cent of me that thought our similarities were just too coincidental. It was a huge relief when Zoe confirmed with her mum that it was all a massive fluke.

It may have taken 40 years, but I’m so glad we met. We keep in touch constantly, and we’ve met each others’ friends, who find our similarities hilarious. My boyfriend, Stuart, a software programmer, says it’s odd when Zoe and I are in a room together, but apart from that, he doesn’t give it much thought. Our families think it’s brilliant.

We try to spend time together when we can. Before we met, we both bought tickets for the Nowhere festival in Spain this summer, so now we’re going together. We’re also discussing doing our own cabaret act, playing on the fact that we’re so alike.

In fact, the only differences we’ve discovered is that I’m four inches taller than Zoe and like beer, while she likes cider. But that doesn’t matter, we’ve both found a friend for life.”

Btw According to folklore, doppelgangers can be a sign of bad luck.

Tell us what you think on Twitter #FabMagDouble or on Facebook: Facebook.com/Fabulous

As told to: Claie Wilson Photography: Liz Gregg Hair & make-up: Caroline Piasecki Styling: Kate Barbour Zoe wears: top and jeans, both River Island; shoes, Melissa for Liberty Tamsin wears: Top, River Island; jeans, Mint Velvet; shoes, New Look

The filming of the second series of Mr Selfridge is well underway, and we were lucky enough to enjoy a sneak preview of the London set, and a chat with the cast and crew last week! Whilst we were totally psyched about setting foot on the same soil as Jeremy Piven (aka Harry Selfridge), it was the set itself that blew us away.

The next series is set in 1914, and focuses on both the fifth anniversary of the store and the impending outbreak of the first world war. We can’t reveal too many of the details just yet as the series won’t air until 2014 (coinciding with the centenary of WWI) but viewers can expect to see their old favourite characters, plus a few new high-profile faces, who are sure to shake things up a bit.

After the first series finished earlier this year, we were left with plenty of burning questions. Will Harry and Rose reconcile? How has Selfridges fared five years on? And what will come of Mr Groves and Doris’s surprise relationship? Look out for interviews with the cast on Fabulousmag.co.uk later this year to find out!

Mama Mio have created three limited edition beauty packs full of mini body products to get you ready for summer.

Perfect as a gift or a travel set Mama Mio Be Firm, £18.50, mamamio.com, contains three skin firming powerhouses to tone you up and smooth you down: an OMega Body Buff Exfoliator, a Skin Tight Toning Serum and Boob Tube Bust and Neck firmer.

You can also nab the ‘Be Smooth’ kit to combat dry skin and ‘Be Ready’ if you’re expecting a baby.

With 24 bed combinations, you can style your snooze-pad to reflect your personality, from urban cool to techno chic. Just follow the instructions at Shop.layezee.co.uk and you’ll be mixing up your new bed’s base, fabric, mattress and headboard in no time.

For your chance to win your personalised bed from Lay-e-zee, enter by 11.59pm on May 26, 2013.

Open to UK residents only. Winner can choose up to a double sized bed only (king sized beds are excluded). Delivery included.

Image: Getty Images

Ascot? Wedding? Christening?

If you’re anything like us then at least one of these events is going to be gracing your social calendar in the not too distant future. Actually, if you really are like us, then several of these things are all happening at once.

Everyone knows that finding the ultimate hat is much more difficult than finding the dress. You want to look good, not like you have a spaceship hovering above your hair.

Fashion World have come up with a solution. Their new hat finder tool, enables you to do just that. Follow the simple instructions to help you find the ideal style that compliments your eye colour too!

Kate Middleton eat your heart out.  To have a go, head to FashionWorld.co.uk

Charlie Bowring, 20, a textile design student, says: “I love mixing and matching different trends. Alexa Chung’s look is awesome.” Coat and jumper, both Zara; shirt, Topshop Boutique; trousers, Les Chiffoniers; socks, H&M; shoes, Jeffrey Campbell

 Coco Law, 25, a restaurant manager, says: “My style tips come from all over the world, as I love travelling.” Cardigan, Matalan; dress, from a shop in Hong Kong; scarf and belt, both gifts; gloves, H&M; bag, vintage; socks, from an independent boutique; shoes, a gift

Brooklyn Norton, 21, a shop manager, says: “I love Olivia Palermo’s put-together look.” Jacket and shirt, both Reiss; jeans, Topshop; shoes, Kurt Geiger

Gift Yvonne Tembo, 19, a nursing student, says: “I’m all about the ‘80s and ‘90s – I love bright, urban clothes.” Top, charity shop; jeans, earrings and bag, all Primark; trainers, Bank Fashion

Sharon Bu, 18, economics and philosophy student, says: “I take all style tips from my mum, who’s a fashion designer.” Jacket, Topman; shirt BDG; skirt and bag, both from China; earrings, Freedom at Topshop; tights, H&M; shoes, Kurt Geiger

Marita Metelia Robinson, 30, a singer/songwriter, says: “I’m a big fan of retro fashion and have my own quirky style.” Dress, earrings, necklace, tights, all Primark; bag, O’Neill; shoes, Primark

Compiled by: Mira Kozlowska Photography: Alicia Clarke

Zoë found the love of her life on her daily commute

Like most little boys, my sons love seeing the trains whizz past at the station, as we wait for their daddy to return from work. But what my boys don’t know yet is that if it wasn’t for those trains, they wouldn’t be here.

I first saw Mark in 2003, as we waited for the commuter train to London, after he moved to Hitchin to start a new job. A new face among the suits on the platform, he was the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. Olive skin. Dark brown eyes. No wedding ring.

I engineered it so we became carriage buddies, although we never spoke and he rarely looked up from his book. One day, I tried to get his attention by dropping my ticket. He picked it up, and we exchanged our first words: ‘You dropped this,’ he said, looking up at me. ‘Thanks,’ I squeaked, before I blushed and went back to my magazine.

Almost a year passed and, fed up of first dates with guys who weren’t ‘Train Man’, I decided to write him a note. It was my 28th birthday, so I scribbled down that I thought he looked lovely, that everyone should do something silly on their birthday, and he should email me if he’d like to go for a drink.

As the train pulled into King’s Cross, I went to make my move. But my nerves collapsed and I walked straight past him, the note clutched in my hand.

Ten mornings later, with the note a little more crumpled, I finally did it. ‘Excuse me, can I give you this?’ I whimpered. He didn’t hear. ‘Sorry?’ he said, looking confused. When I repeated it, the whole carriage seemed to go silent, all eyes on me. ’Sure,’ he said, baffled, as I scuttled away.

Train Man kept me waiting all day before emailing his rejection. He said how brave I was, but he had a girlfriend. Of course he did. Guys like him do. ‘Have a great birthday,’ he added. It wasn’t my birthday any more. I was gutted.

Zoë and Mark on their big day

The next morning, we exchanged awkward smiles: his out of kindness, mine to let him know I wasn’t a bunny boiler. I was tempted to move to another carriage but, thinking that might make things worse, I continued as before, and we still didn’t speak. I went on first dates that never made it to a second. I hoped to see Train Man tipsy on late trains home so we could talk. But we never did.

Then, one Friday afternoon, eight months later, I received an email. Train Man had split up with his girlfriend and was now single – he had been for a few months – and wondered if I still fancied that drink. ‘Be cool,’ I thought, but replied straight away.

The next night, we met in our local pub. I worried he wouldn’t be the man I’d imagined, but it was the best first date ever. We talked easily and had so much in common: a love of books, music and all things Spanish. Later that evening, I looked at my reflection in the bathroom mirror and said confidently to myself: ‘I love him.’ I knew that night we would spend the rest of our lives together.

Within days, he moved in with me, and I’m lucky that it’s been perfect ever since. Three years later, we quit our jobs to travel the world for 12 months. Halfway through the trip, Mark proposed – fittingly, on a train in the Australian desert. Felix was a honeymoon baby, then the following year we had Max. We still feel like we are on the journey of a lifetime.

Tell us! Do you have an experience to share? Email ithappened@fabulousmag.co.uk

Btw

• The average time to tell your partner you love them is after 14 dates.*
• Couples move in with each other, on average, after 30 weeks or 60 dates.*

Photography: Syriol Jones Hair and make-up: Caroline Piasecki Styling: Kate Barbour Zoë wears: cardigan, New Look; dress, Debenhams Source: *Seekingarrangement.com

Image: Getty Images

We had our suspicions when Rochelle’s Twitter account remained very quiet over the weekend and now Marvin has confirmed it. This morning the popstars welcomed a baby girl, named Alaia-Mai. Marvin just broke the news, telling fans that “mum is doing great” and “we are both overjoyed”.

This morning we welcomed our baby girl Alaia-Mai Humes..Mum is doing great & baby is amazing! We are both overjoyed! Thanks for your love x

— Marvin Humes (@MarvinHumes) May 20, 2013

Little Alaia-Mai is the first for the couple but the second Saturdays baby after Una gave birth to Aoife-Belle in January 2012. Alaia-Mai will also only be a few months older than the next mini-Saturday, with Frankie Sandford’s arrival due later this year. If Frankie has a girl, then the mini-Saturdays group could become a very real possibility.

Now they are actually a Mama and Papa!
Image: Getty Images

By Claie Wilson & Caroline Benjamin

Can you imagine being threatened simply for doing your job, or not having access to education just because you’re a woman? How about if your daily walk to work was filled with shouts of abuse? If this was your life, what would you do?

For a handful of women across the globe, there is only one answer: to stand up for what they believe in, even if it means their life is in danger every single day. Sadly, for some, it’s more than a risky decision – it’s a fatal one.

Just last month, 25-year-old Anne Smedinghoff from Illinois in the USA, was en route to hand out schoolbooks to children desperate to get an education in the underdeveloped province of Zabul, Afghanistan, when she was killed by a Taliban suicide car bomber. An intelligent, vivacious diplomat, Anne was murdered alongside five others, who were all part of a military convoy attacked on the way to the school. It is thought the purpose of the attack was to kill the governor of Zabul, who was attending the same event. He escaped unhurt.

Anne had been a member of the US Foreign Service for three years, and was posted to the Afghan capital of Kabul last July. Her parents, Tom and Mary Beth, explained that their daughter “particularly enjoyed working with the Afghan people, and was always looking for opportunities to help make a difference in the lives of those living in a country ravaged by war”.

Anne may have tragically paid for her bravery with her life, but thankfully for future female generations across the globe, she isn’t alone in her determination to make a difference.

The anti-drugs crusader

Last November, Mexican mum-of-three Maria Santos Gorrostieta Salazar was kidnapped, horrifically burned, beaten and stabbed to death.

During her time as Mayor of Tiquicheo, a small town in the state of Michoacan, which is in the midst of a vicious drugs war, the 39 year old had taken a brave stand against Mexico’s lawless narcotics cartels. After taking up the post in 2008, she publicly spoke out against organised crime, refusing to get involved with the culture of bribery.

Maria survived two attempts on her life while in office, defiantly showing off her scarred body after an attack in January 2010 when she was shot in the stomach, chest and leg. At the time, she said: “I wanted to show you my wounded, mutilated body because I’m not ashamed of it. It’s living testimony that I am a strong and righteous woman, and despite my wounds, I’m still on my feet.”

But when her term as mayor ended in 2011, she was left without her security team and police escort. While taking her young daughter to school in the state capital of Morelia last November, Maria was kidnapped in broad daylight. Witnesses described how she begged the men to leave her child alone, then got into her abductors’ car, leaving her daughter, screaming but unharmed, in the road. Five days later, her body was found by farmers, dumped in a lay-by. Now her incredible bravery in taking a stand has led to her being widely heralded as a “heroine of the 21st century”.

The educator

Afghani Samina Wahidi*, 23, works an hour outside of Kabul, and risks her life to teach young women. While girls are admitted to schools in Afghanistan, education is still not universal – and many militants continue to oppose the idea of educating women. As a university lecturer and project facilitator for the Oxfam charity GREAT IDEA (Girls’ Right to Education in Afghanistan Through Innovation Distance Education Approach), Samina has endured violent threats and suicide bombs. Even so, she says she would never consider giving up her job.

“I love being a teacher and helping my country to develop,” she explains. “Nothing I’ve experienced has made me want to stop.”

Samina works six days a week, driving for over an hour each way on dangerous highways to get to work, where she does an eight-hour day.

In August 2011, six suicide bombers belonging to an armed opposition group attacked the provincial governor’s office. The building was right next to the university where Samina lectures.

“I was in the classroom next to the office where it happened,” she recalls. “Out of nowhere, there were bullets flying outside just a few metres away from us as people tried to stop the attackers.

“At first, I didn’t know what was going on,but then there was the sound of an explosion. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped – but then pupils were screaming and panicking. I couldn’t show how scared I was, so I had to keep calm even though my heart was racing.

“It was 90 minutes before we were rescued by Oxfam. My pupils and I were then taken to a safe house, before finally being allowed home.”

In total, 22 people were killed in the attack. Miraculously, none of the students – who were both male and female – or the teachers were hurt. Even so, Samina was determined not to be intimidated and was back at work the next day. “I had to show the terrorists they hadn’t won,” she says.

Samina chose to help other women get an education after being secretly schooled at home during the Taliban rule of Afghanistan from 1996-2001.

“When I was little, girls weren’t allowed to go to school,” she says. “I went to my neighbours’ house, where a doctor and his wife secretly educated about 20 local girls. Every day we were terrified that the Taliban would find out and storm the class and hit us with whips.”

When the Taliban regime collapsed in December 2001, the Ministry of Education announced they would enrol girls into schools. Samina joined, then went on to Kabul university to study science and maths.

“It ultimately got me my job as a lecturer and the chance to get involved in the GREAT IDEA project.But many people still frown on girls going to school, which is why I need to do all I can,” she explains.

The fearless schoolgirls

The bravery of 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai (top left), from Pakistan, hit the headlines in October 2012 when her beliefs nearly cost her her life. Schoolgirl Malala, from Mingora in the Swat Valley region, had campaigned for the rights and education of women in her country. She was on her way home from classes when she was dragged from her school bus and shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for her actions.

Amazingly, she survived and was brought to the UK, where she was given life-saving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Within weeks of regaining consciousness, Malala declared that she was determined to carry on campaigning and went on to set up the Malala Fund charity to help educate young women around the world. Meanwhile, she has stayed in the UK and now attends the Edgbaston High School For Girls in Birmingham.

But, back in Pakistan, fellow campaigners still live in fear. One is 17-year-old Hina Khan (above), who says she has been identified as the Taliban’s next target because of her work campaigning for women’s rights to education. Like Malala, she lived in Swat Valley, an area that came under Taliban control from 2007-2009 – during which time 400 schools were destroyed to stop girls being educated. This caused Hina and her family  to flee to the Pakistani capital of Islamabad, so she could continue her schooling. These days, she is so frightened she rarely leaves her home.

“Soon after Malala’s shooting, someone spray-painted a red  ‘X’ on our house,” says Hina. “My parents also received a death threat saying I was next on their list, and a stranger called and told my dad that they were watching me.

“What happened to Malala has made me so afraid. Even so, I won’t stop working towards what we want – the right for women to study.”

The abortionist

Like most of us, Diane Derzis, from Virginia, USA, makes sure she takes her handbag when she leaves for work in the morning. But inside hers is a loaded shotgun and a taser.

The 60 year old runs clinics in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Tennessee, providing health care – including abortions – to underprivileged women in areas where pro-life beliefs hold sway. She faces a barrage of abuse from protestors for simply doing her job.

“They shout vicious abuse and tell women who come to us that they are going to hell,” she says. “I’ve had loads of death threats.”

In the 40 years since Diane got her first job at a clinic aged just 18, her determination has never wavered – even after one of her colleagues, physician David Gunn, was shot and killed outside an abortion clinic in Pensacola, Florida, by extreme anti-abortionists in 1993.

“When that happened, I finally understood how serious these people were,” she remembers. “His death made it all very real. I realised there was no compromising and if I died doing this, then it was the best way to go.”

Diane’s clinic in Birmingham, Alabama, also came under serious attack on January 29, 1998, when anti-abortionist Eric Rudolph tried to destroy it with a nail bomb. “I was horrified,” Diane says quietly.“He killed a policeman and wounded one of our nurses, but it just strengthened my resolve.”

These days, whenever she leaves the house, Diane, who’s known as the “Abortion Queen” by both supporters and opposers, makes sure she’s as protected as possible. “I keep a gun in my purse and I’m not afraid to use it – it means I feel I have control over the situation,” she says.

And even though Diane – who is married but has no children with husband Sam, who runs the family cattle farm – fears for her life every single day, she is determined to carry on.

“If someone wants to kill me, they will kill me,” she says matter of factly. “But I don’t let that stop me. A lot of our patients are poor African American women, who have all the children they want. They know one more would push them over the edge financially, physically and mentally.Women always have and always will find a way to terminate an unwanted pregnancy – but it might not always be safe, which is why we need clinics like ours.”

For many of us, it’s inconceivable that in the 21st century, the supposed era of equality and choice, some women still have to fight so hard for their rights. But as long as we have the Saminas, Malalas, Hinas and Dianes of the world who are prepared to fight to make a difference, we will always live in hope that one day it will become a global reality.

Tell us what you think on Twitter #FabMagFearless or at Facebook.com/Fabulous

• 87% of women in Afghanistan are illiterate** – a shockingly high number.
• 34% of children who attend school in Afganistan are girls.†
• 15 women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since the awards were founded in 1901.
• 219 women are estimated to die each day from an unsafe abortion.† †

Brave women who changed the world

1) Emmeline Pankhurst, 1858-1928

A pioneer of women’s rights, Emmeline’s founding role in the British suffragette movement helped to win the vote for women over the age of 30 in 1918.

2) Rosa Parks, 1913–2005

Rosa’s refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man in Alabama in 1955 sparked a huge change in the US Civil Rights movement, which eventually ended racial segregation laws in 1964.

3) Benazir Bhutto, 1953-2007

After becoming the first female prime minister of a Muslim state, Pakistan, in 1988, Benazir helped to change the country from a dictatorship to a democracy. She was assassinated in 2007.

4) Aung San Suu Kyi, 67

General secretary of the National League of Democracy in Burma, Aung was kept under house arrest for over 15 years after speaking out against the military dictatorship and calling for freedom and democracy. She was released in 2010 and her party won a landslide by-election victory in 2012.

*Name has been changed Additional words: Julie Moult, Samira Shackle Photography: Getty Images, Splash News, Reuters, EPA, Corbis, Rex Features, AP Sources: **Afghan Aid †UNICEF ††Abortion Access Project

We’re a bit obsessed with J.Lo. Therefore it would make sense that we’re totally addicted to watching her new video. Not only is it the ultimate feel-good track, it’s full of Jen writhing around on a beach, dancing in the sun and living it up. Which is apt as the single is called Live It Up. It’s basically where we’d rather be than at our desks in cold, grey Wapping.

The new track features rapper, Pitbull, with whom she also collaborated with for hit Get On The Floor – which we personally translated to ‘Get To The Gym’ after seeing her in a bejewelled catsuit in that video.

We’ve also started playing a fun game when watching music videos: How much product placement can you spot? Our faves are below.

1. She’s wearing an ICE watch. And just in case you didn’t notice, Jen helpfully pauses like this for you.

2. Oh look, Pitbull is calling on my Nokia phone.

3. Now he’s video-calling. Looks like he’s at a great party. Thank goodness Jen has her Nokia phone that can show her all this.

4. No, she’s not about to sneeze. But she is being sprayed with L’Oréal Elnett hairspray.

5. Just casually shutting her sunglasses case and pausing. Not obvious at all, Jen.

6. Now everyone is at the party, enjoying some Beluga vodka. We know it’s Beluga because we see it on screen about 5 times.

7. Oh, hold on! Now Jen wants some Beluga vodka!

8. Fine. There’s no product placement here, Jen just looks really, really hot. Now where did we put our yellow lippie?

Image: Getty Images

So Mark Wright might not be the only TOWIE member to visit LA after all. Lucy Mecklenburgh, 22, who recently split from fellow TOWIE cast member, Mario Falcone was apparently invited to film festival Cannes by a top film director. According to The Sun, Lucy caught the director’s eye whilst doing a photoshoot on the French Riviera and then he wined and dined her over a posh lunch. The director, Will Holman, has worked with several A-listers and is currently casting horror flick, The Room.

Wow sometimes dreams do come true #HappyGirl

— Lucy Mecklenburgh (@lucy_meck) May 16, 2013

Put it away your Madgesty

Image: Getty Images

Poor Will.I.Am. Last night at the US Billboard awards (American version of the Brits) Will presented the queen of pop with her award for Top Touring Artist 2013 but he just didn’t know where to look. Madonna decided that it would be too boring to wear trousers or a skirt and instead was happy to pose on stage wearing just her pants and suspenders. Usually we’d say if you’ve got it, flaunt it. But maybe flaunt it wearing more than suspenders?

Gordon Ramsay gives Bradley Cooper cooking lessons?

Images: Getty Images

This is definitely one of the weirdest stories we’ve heard in a while. A-list hottie, Bradley Cooper, 38, will be taking tips in the Kitchen from Brit chef, Gordon Ramsay. The Kitchen Nightmares front-man has been hired as a consultant on Bradley’s new film, where he’ll be playing a drug-addicted chef. The two have been paired as Gordon is signed to the same agency as Bradley and apparently he jumped at the chance. Getting hot and sweaty with Bradley Cooper? We would leap at the chance too.

Time flies: Justin turns up nearly two hours late at London’s O2

1. It’s not all about you

The Biebs is clearly moved to be at The Anne Frank House

On his recent trip to Amsterdam, the Biebs visited The Anne Frank House, where the young Jewish diarist hid from the Nazis for over two years. Good for him, you may think. Well, yes… until he wrote in the visitors’ book: “Anne Frank was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a Belieber.” In 1945, Anne died of typhus aged 15, while in a concentration camp. Miss the point much, Justin?

2. Don’t swing the first punch

Lunging at a pap… Ooh, scary

Picking fights with men twice your size isn’t big or clever – as the pocket-sized pop star proved earlier this year, when he burst out of a car and lunged at a photographer in London. Luckily, his burly bodyguards restrained him, because who knows what, ahem, damage the young whippersnapper could have done to a fully grown man.

3. Pets are for life

Mally was left behind by cheeky monkey JB

Not content with a cuddly toy like other youngsters, JB got a real live baby monkey called Mally for his birthday this year. He then took the primate with him on a world tour without the proper documents only to abandon him when the German authorities confiscated him at Munich airport. Poor Mally is now at an animal shelter.

4. Never keep a lady waiting

It’s a Monday night at London’s O2, and thousands of young girls are giddy with excitement. And they’re waiting. And waiting… For almost two hours, in fact. And by 10.20pm, when Justin finally puts in an appearance, some have fallen asleep, while others have headed home because they have a double-science lesson the next morning. Most are in tears. Tut, tut.

5. Don’t ditch the girl next door

“If I was your boyfriend, I’d never let you go…” Only he did, eh Selena?

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself the subject of a good girl’s affections, don’t go breaking her heart. Justin split from former Disney star Selena Gomez, 20, after two years last November, amid rumours about his fidelity. Or lack of. Worryingly, the pair have been spotted smooching again recently.

6. Just say no to drugs

After a picture emerged of Just smoking a suspicious cigarette at a party earlier this year, he gave a third-person apology in a sketch on US show Saturday Night Live, saying: “[Justin Bieber] got busted for smoking weed and he’s really sorry.” Then, last month, his tour bus was searched in Stockholm when officers smelled marijuana. A small amount of drugs was reportedly found, along with a stun gun, but nobody was charged.

7. Sometimes the slow lane is best

Justin in that Lambo

He’s hardly Lewis Hamilton, but that didn’t stop the Biebs renting a super-deluxe Lamborghini while in Dubai earlier this month and setting off six speed cameras along one road. Yep, that’s six! The Baby singer was on his way to perform at the Sevens Stadium where, later on, a man managed to get up on stage and attack him. Maybe the teen had cut him up on the way to the gig…

Photography: Retna, Rex Features, Flynet, OIC

Home might be where the heart is, but if you have a pet pooch it’s also where the mountains of dog hair is – and rather than apologising for it, embrace it with this nifty sign. Guests will be far less likely to brush it gingerly off their trousers if you’re marketing it as a fashion statement, making this sign both fun and functional.

‘Home is where the dog hair sticks to everything but the dog’ sign, £5.99, pspettags.com.

She’s part of an enduring partnership, both on and off-screen, and Tess Daly’s not about to give up on either any time soon

Keeping any marriage going for 10 years is hard enough. Never mind doing it in the public eye, while maintaining a long and distinguished career in the fiercely competitive and famously disloyal world of television. Yet Tess Daly has managed to pull it off. And survive with her sanity intact.

All marriages are going to have their fair share of ups and downs, and any woman who juggles a husband, children and career will appreciate life isn’t always easy. But right now, Tess has everything exactly where she wants it.

In fact, as she’s reminded that her 10th wedding anniversary is just around the corner, it seems it’s the first time she’s had a chance to even think about it.

“Oh my God,” she gasps. “So it is! Wow. I swear I’ve not even thought about it… but I think I deserve something for that, let’s be honest.

“Vernon, if you’re reading, it’s got to be a diamond or a ticket to somewhere exotic!”

Much has happened in the decade since Tess married Vernon Kay. Back then, they were both former models just breaking into TV presenting. Today, they are two of the most famous faces on the box, and parents to Phoebe, eight, and Amber, who turns four later this month.

Strictly Come Dancing host Tess, now 44, vividly remembers the instant sexual chemistry when she first met Vernon back in 2000.

“It was all quite immediate, really, because we instantly had such a blast together,” she says. “I couldn’t imagine having more fun with anyone else. It was pretty explosive, I tell you…”

And is it still as explosive?

“Ha! Well, it can never be the same as when you first meet, those giddy stomach flips. It’s never going to be and anyone who says that it is, is lying. Either that or they need to write the book on it.

“But you keep the fire burning, you keep stoking that fire. We’ve got a great relationship, it’s very strong. He’s a good guy with a heart of gold. He’s full of love and there’s never a dull moment around him. He still makes me laugh, so I can’t complain too much, can I?”

Vernon came into Tess’ life at exactly the right time. She’d just turned 30, was living in New York and was ready to move on from the wild time she’d enjoyed in her 20s as a jet-setting model.

on the red carpet with Vernon

“It was perfect timing,” she says. “I’d seen the world and all it had to offer. I adored kids but had been too busy working and travelling to think about having my own. But when I met Vernon, it changed everything. My body clock started going: ‘Tick tock, tick tock’. The alarm bells went off and I knew it was time to make babies.

“Meeting him meant everything just seemed to click into place.”

Of the two of them, it’s Vernon, who at 39 is five years younger than Tess, who has changed the most since those early carefree days.

“He was so young back then – only 25 or 26 when we met,” says Tess. “It’s very young isn’t it? For men, anyway. So I think he has grown up an awful lot.

“Is he the same Vernon? I guess he is the same, but more mature. You know what men are like, they never really grow up, do they? Do they ever catch us up mentally? I don’t think so.”

He’s grown up physically, too. The whippet-thin floppy-haired boy that Tess fell in love with has been replaced with a triathlon-loving beefcake who she barely recognises.

“I look at pictures from years ago where he’s got this long hair and he’s so skinny and now he’s got short hair and he’s the size of a house!” she says.

“He’s built himself up, he’s got lats [back muscles] like you wouldn’t believe. He eats steak for breakfast – I’m telling him it’s going to give him a heart attack! He’s completely committed to being fit and it’s unbelievable, he’s so huge. I was saying to him the other day: ‘Where’s Vernon and what have you done with him?’”

Vernon once said that he’d quite like a son to even things up in “a house full of girls”, but Tess has declared that particular chapter closed. Her two daughters are already enough of a handful.

“Phoebe is eight, going on 13,” she says. “We keep getting glimpses of the future and how it’s going to be. She’s very grown-up all of a sudden, and it’s getting to the stage now where she can argue her point very reasonably and leave you struggling for a comeback. It terrifies me. They’re going into the big wide world.”

She stops and looks momentarily aghast.

“She FaceTimes! Can you believe it? I hear her talking so I go in to see what she’s doing, realise she’s FaceTiming and go: ‘Oh God, get me off, I’m in my dressing gown!’

“I don’t want to encourage them to grow up too quickly. We kidproof the tablets and computers at home so that they can’t use Google. If Phoebe wants to Google something, then she’s going to have to do it with supervision.

“I’m trying to keep them young for as long as possible because once they’ve grown up, that’s it. You’ve got to treasure every moment because they’re fleeting.”

Funnily enough, Tess likens writing her second novel to having another child. It’s Up To You, New York, the follow-up to her debut The Camera Never Lies is out this week.

“It’s like having a second baby in that you know the ropes a little bit more. It’s not quite as intimidating a process!” she jokes.

The bulk of the book is set in New York and the story follows the glamorous adventures of aspiring model Holly Collins. It’s chick lit in its purest form; sexy, fun, wittily written and very easy to zip through. Putting it together took Tess right back to the years she spent in the Big Apple.

“I spent my final stint as a model in New York and definitely went out on a high. Actually, I might still be there if I hadn’t met Vernon,” she says.

“I had the whole thing, a network of friends, a great apartment and I was working regularly as a model. I was living in NoHo, on Lafayette Street, parallel with Broadway and a few blocks from [a bar called] EastBridge. I had some great times. New York is just the city that never stops, the ultimate rock and roll city. I miss it now just talking about it.

“I wanted Holly, my heroine, to walk in those footsteps a little bit. A lot of my own adventures, or misadventures if you like, are in there. You know, the lecherous movie stars in nightclubs.”

Name and shame, Tess!

“Oh my God, I can’t. But when you’re in the fashion industry you get invited to lots of parties and nightclubs and you tend to bump into people who you might not ordinarily meet, people from that world.

“I’ll do the autobiography if I get around to it. That’ll be a good one to write. And I will name names!”

She’s clearly wistful when remembering New York.

“That was then and this is now, and I wouldn’t be without my kids. I’m happy with my memories,” she says. “But I’d love a long weekend to take Vernon and revisit my old haunts. No kids, a bottle of wine at lunchtime and no consequences, disco dancing all night and a lie-in in the morning. Now the girls are a little bit older maybe we’ll be tapping Grandma up for a favour.”

In the more immediate future, Tess is looking forward to the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, which will kick off this autumn. And she’s pretty adamant that at the grand old age of 85, Sir Bruce Forsyth will be joining her again for what will be the 11th series.

“I’ll tell you the secret to his longevity. It’s spending the entire winter in a sunny, warm climate in Puerto Rico. He’s been away every British winter for years and it’s definitely beneficial for the health. He’s remarkable,” Tess says.

“Bruce never says if he’ll definitely be back because he sees how he feels at the time. But I’d say he’ll be there because I know how much he loves the show and I know that showbiz is what keeps him young. It’s what makes him tick. When he’s in the studio with a shiny floor he’s in his element – that’s what he’s all about.

“Can you imagine him sitting at home with his feet up watching it on TV? He’d be chomping at the bit. Where there’s a will…”

Since series eight, Claudia Winkleman, 41, has hosted the Sunday night results show alongside Tess to give Brucie a break. Seeing two 40-something women presenting a flagship show is a refreshing change, and it’s a partnership of which Tess is rightly proud.

“It’s quite unusual to see two women standing side by side on prime-time TV. When can you last remember it happening? I can’t. It’s very forward-thinking of the BBC and I admire them for that,” she says.

“And it’s great for me because I adore Claudia. I hang on her every word so that I actually forget to speak sometimes. I’ll be too busy watching her like a fan.

“She’s exactly the same off-screen, only a lot ruder. She’s got the most hilarious potty mouth – she swears like a trooper. She has us all like: ‘Did she really just say that?’ She’s as witty and as warm as they come.”

For someone with such a high public profile, Tess manages to slip under the radar and largely keep hold of a private life. She’s not on Twitter and picks her projects outside of Strictly very carefully to ensure she’s not too “everywhere”.

“Each to their own, but it’s not for me. I couldn’t tweet every single aspect of my day. I just need to retain some private life. I wouldn’t like every aspect of my life to be public fodder,” says Tess.

On their wedding day in 2003; with Strictly co-host Claudia Winkleman

“I just think people who want to be famous should be careful what they wish for, because it’s not always what it’s made out to be. I can’t imagine starring on a reality show – it’s my idea of hell, everybody seeing you warts and all.

“I don’t align myself with stuff that I don’t genuinely believe in, and I don’t believe in hiring myself out to every Tom, Dick and Harry. That has been a conscious choice.

“Doing a show like Strictly for half of the year means I can’t do anything that conflicts with the show, so I have to be choosy. And obviously I don’t want people to be sick of the sight of me! So you don’t want to be on TV every day of the year.”

Future plans include more writing and developing her award-winning Daly Beauty range, and she’s just signed a huge deal with L’Oréal Paris as their new spokesmodel in the UK and Ireland, alongside Cheryl Cole.

“I’ve been using L’Oréal since I was old enough to buy make up,” she says, thrilled at her new role. “I’ll never forget buying my first can of Elnett hairspray, it felt like an initiation into womanhood! I can’t wait to say: ‘because you’re worth it’. They celebrate empowerment and accessible glamour for women everywhere.”

But Tess can’t envisage ever wanting to give up her presenting day job.

“When I get a few spare hours to myself, I Google property on the beach and I visualise myself sitting there writing, so I guess that’s the dream. But I enjoy live television, especially the adrenalin, the thrill of being part of a big entertainment show. It’s a complete gift and I look forward to it so much. It takes up a big chunk of my year, but the rest of the time I can concentrate on my writing, my kids and I’ve got big plans for my beauty line.”

And, presumably, making even bigger plans for her upcoming wedding anniversary?

“Well, here’s to the next 10 years,” she says. “I’ll definitely deserve a really big diamond by then…”

Tell us what you think on Twitter #FabMagTess or at Facebook.com/Fabulous

● Tess Daly’s second novel, It’s Up To You New York, is out May 23 (£7.99, Coronet).

CV

1969 Born in Derbyshire.
1993 Stars in The Beloved’s music video for Sweet Harmony.
2000 Presents Find Me A Model on The Big Breakfast.
2002 Takes over from Ant and Dec as host of SM:TV with Brian Dowling.
2004 Named as host of Strictly Come Dancing.
2006 Presents Just The Two of Us alongside Vernon.
2008 Fronts Children In Need with Terry Wogan and Fearne Cotton.
2012 Releases her debut novel, The Camera Never Lies.
2013 Second book It’s Up To You, New York is published.

Behind the shoot

Clockwise from top left: Tess has a quick cuppa before going on model duty; Pausing mid-shoot so hairstylist Sheridan can perfect her ‘do; Sheridan and make-up artist Aimee make Tess look flawless; Striking a pose while photographer Pete checks the shots

Additional photography: Getty Images, Goff Photo, Rex Features Hair: Sheridan Ward Make-up: Aimee Adams using L’Oreal Paris Nails: Linh Nham using OPI Styling: Lynne McKenna Stylist’s assistants: Kate Barbour, Anastasia Filina Ring by Sylvia Toledano at Caratime.com

Image: Eurovision/Dennis Stachel

You can keep your The Killings and Borgens – the best TV show to come out of Scandinavia for the last few years has to be last night’s Eurovision Song Contest, hosted in Malmo, Sweden. Fabulous went to watch it in a Brighton cinema, with a cross-dressing compere, and here’s what happened.

Hosted by hilarious Petra Mede, who was cloaked in what looked like billowing fuschia bedsheets, this Eurovision was sweet, aware of its own ridiculousness, and finally revelled in its own camp value. Like the first time you go into Ikea, thinking: “This is the future!” Eurovision 2013 highlighted how tedious the old style of presenting was – the system that insisted on two presenters anchoring the show, one male, one female, making stilted conversation and cracking unfunny jokes. 2013 was different – the jokes were actually pretty funny! There was a song-and-dance routine that championed gay rights! And, OK, there were rather a lot of ABBA references, but loads of dancers dressed up in the Ikea colours for a big performance while the votes were being counted!

Just in case you weren’t sure, there is no better place to watch it than at the annual Eurovision Song Party in Brighton. Really. It’s hosted by camp comedian Boogaloo Stu. He was wearing a gold thong leotard and a Marie Antoinette wig and encouraged die-hard, non-ironic Euro fans to dance onstage. People in the audience had dressed up as their favourite acts and were already word-perfect in all 26 songs. Eurovision is Brighton’s Woodstock.

From the off, the crowd in the Komedia were pretty into the whole thing, but then, they always are. However, the first few acts, boring Amandine Bourgeois from France wearing a shredded leather dress, Lithuania’s petrified male solo singer, and Moldova’s insane projector-screen ballgown didn’t go down well. But then – Finland kicked in, with the Katy Perry Hot And Cold wedding theme and a lesbian snog, and the contest started in earnest. This is plainly the greatest television programme on earth, and the audience in Brighton went berserk for it. A woman in the exact same wedding dress as Finnish singer Krista Siegfrids stood onstage in from of a wind machine and sang every single word. The lesbian kiss was an important reminder of how far we’ve come after Tatu were banned from kissing onstage in 2003. When it’s good, Eurovision is just brilliant.

Dishy Maltese doctors came and went, and no one was fussed by Dutch Louise Mensch lookalike Anouk or her Very Serious Song that had been dubbed “too good for Eurovision”. The votes showed that no one was particularly fussed by Bonnie Tyler belting Believe In Me while wearing leggings/hankies, either – poor old Bonnie finished in 19th place, which was at least better than Engelbert Humperdink’s 12 points last year. When she took the stage, though, the crowd in Komedia leapt to their feet, and a sea of people put on blonde Tyler-esque wigs, waved Union Jacks and sang along with real pride. Lots of people whinge about the loss of patriotism – it hasn’t died, they might just be looking for it in the wrong places.

Norway had a very cool singer who was a bit like cool singer Robyn dressed up to look like gorgeous Hollyoaks girl Jorgie Porter, and she should have done much better than she did. Greece’s barnstorming song Alcohol Is Free was loudly praised by the camp Brighton crowd as: “Should win, but how on earth will they pay to host it?” In the end, Diana Vickers impersonator (she had bare feet and everything!) Emmelie de Forest romped home with her middle-lane tune Only Teardrops, which just goes to show that it’s never the best singer or best song or best performance that wins, but there you have it.

The only true sadness of last night? That Sweden didn’t win again. Their programme proved that family-friendly, unedgy TV can be really fun, and that progressive television doesn’t have to be exclusive. Let’s hope it puts people off ever voting UKIP again – it’s not cool at all, but Eurovision may be too precious for us to ever lose.

Fabulous’ Laura and Lee play ball

Where Green Park, London

You’ve got pretty good ball skills, Lee. Is football your hidden talent?

I love it. My little brother, Casey, and I would use the lounge curtains as a goal before our parents woke up!

Naughty! But your real talent is obviously singing – tell us about your new show, The West End Men.

It’s full of songs from the West End and Broadway and more. There are numbers from Les Misérables, The Phantom Of The Opera and some Stevie Wonder hits.

Since winning BBC1’s Any Dream Will Do in 2007, you’ve been in loads of musicals. Which was your favourite?

Wicked. It was in 2010, the year my daughter, Betsy [now three] was born, so it was special.

Have you ever had any embarrassing moments on stage?

Once, when I was playing Joseph, my loincloth fell off! I was onstage in my white boxer shorts. I finished my song, waved to the audience – who cheered – and ran off!

As well as appearing in the West End, you’ve been spending a lot of time in LA recently…

I’d love to work in the US, and am on hold for a couple of comedy pilots, which is exciting.

If you did get a part there, how would that work with spending time with Denise and Betsy?

It’d be great, but I take each job as it comes. Both Denise and I got asked to be in Legally Blonde after Betsy was born, but it wasn’t possible. So Den did the show first, while I was at home, then we switched.

Lee with Denise and Betsy

Would you all move out to the States temporarily?

Possibly, but home is here so I can’t see us relocating. I’m lucky I’ve got a very supportive wife.

Do you find it difficult being apart?

I miss my family, but it’s what I do. I want to provide for them and do what I love. It’s about finding a balance.

How does the recent speculation about you and Denise splitting up make you feel?

Initially, it annoyed me, but now I ignore it. It’s not very nice and it’s obviously very personal. We don’t do the red carpet thing or give weekly interviews on our relationship, so I was surprised the press decided to write stuff.

Would you like to set the record straight?

There’s nothing to say, really. We’re fine, and this is normal for us. It’s been a busy period.

Denise recently told Fabulous she’d like another baby, what about you?

It would be nice to have another one at some point, but we’ll have to wait and see!

• The West End Men will be at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, from May 25-June 22. Visit Thewestendmen.com for tickets.

Btw

After our shoot, Chelsea fan Lee took both balls home with him for Betsy’s birthday the next day.

Mid-interview, two French exchange students popped over to ask Lee for help with a treasure hunt.

Words: Laura Bond Photography: Sonja Horsman, Rex Features

Crab with Shaoxing rice wine and black beans

Serves 2

Preparation time 5 minutes

Cooking time 10 minutes

• Vegetable oil
• 3 chillies, finely sliced
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2tbsp chopped garlic
• 8 button mushrooms, quartered
• 4tsp black beans, soaked in 100ml salted water, then drained
• 50ml Shaoxing rice wine (available from large supermarkets)
• 4tbsp light soy sauce
• 2tbsp oyster sauce
• 1 whole crab, cooked and chopped into pieces (ask your fishmonger to do this for you)
• Handful Thai basil leaves
• Fresh coriander
• Steamed jasmine rice

Heat a little vegetable oil in a frying pan. Add the chilli, shallot, garlic, mushrooms and black beans, and fry for a couple of minutes. Pour in the Shaoxing wine to glaze, and reduce the heat slightly. Stir in the soy sauce and oyster sauce, and continue to heat gently. Add the crab pieces and Thai basil leaves, then cook for a further 4 minutes until the meat is heated through. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Calories: 178 Fat: 6g

Crab and prawn open-top dumplings

Serves 4

Preparation time 15 minutes, plus 2 hours standing time

Cooking time 4 minutes

• 200g tiger prawns, peeled, de-veined and chopped
• 250g pork mince
• 50g fresh crabmeat
• 20g vegetable shortening (such as Trex)
• 130ml light soy sauce
• 1/2 chicken stock cube
• 2tbsp chopped coriander
• 2 spring onions, finely chopped
• 1tsp sugar
• 12 wonton wrappers (from larger supermarkets)
• 1 clove garlic, chopped

Place the prawns and pork mince in a bowl. Add the crab, vegetable shortening, 2tbsp soy sauce, the stock cube, coriander, half the spring onion and the sugar, then use your hands to combine. Stir in half a cup of warm water, then leave to stand for 2 hours.

Put a steamer on to boil. Place 2tbsp of the prawn mix in the middle of a wonton wrapper. Lift up the sides of the wrapper and gently push them against the mixture, rotating the parcel until you have a small dumpling with an open top. Press the base down to flatten. Repeat this process to make 12 dumplings. Place them in the steamer and cook for 4-6 minutes, until the meat is cooked through.

Mix the remaining soy sauce and spring onion with the garlic and serve alongside the dumplings.

Calories: 291 Fat: 12g

Drink

Flower power

Tesco Finest Steillage Riesling 2011, £7.49, combines light floral aromas and zesty citrus flavours. It will fuse perfectly with spicy Asian dishes, without drowning out the delicate crab and prawn.

Fab night out

The Blue Bicycle, York

It might be set on a pretty cobbled street, but don’t let The Blue Bicycle’s quaint exterior fool you – this restaurant is actually a former brothel! Feast on gin-and-tonic-cured salmon and chargrilled fillet of locally sourced beef, and hear about the building’s salacious history from the charming waiters. Saucy! Thebluebicycle.com. Dinner for two: £45

Photography: Jean Cazals Prop styling: Jenny Hodges Stockist: Tesco (Tesco.com) Ian Pengelley is executive chef at Gilgamesh restaurant, London. For information, visit Gilgameshbar.com or follow @GilgameshBar on Twitter

Our exclusive protein diet will help you drop almost a stone in just six weeks. That’s your bikini body sorted!

Just the word “diet” can make us break out in a cold sweat (which, we’re told, doesn’t count as exercise). And we’re not the only ones – half of all dieters give up within a month*.

But don’t start comfort eating just yet. Steven Mavrou, Richard Klein and Sunny Kudhail of London health cafe Gyms Kitchen have created a pain-free protein plan, exclusively for Fabulous, with seven days of meals and snacks. And they’re all so scrummy you won’t want to give up!

While a protein plan may sound like it’s for muscly men, it’s actually the secret to a svelte summer silhouette. Experts say if you up your daily protein intake, it’ll help you build muscle which in turns helps to burn more fat. Plus, if you team our diet with exercise, you can lose up to 2lb a week – cue one hot summer body. Forget boring fads (no mung-bean lattes here – sorry, Gwyneth) this is one diet you’ll actually enjoy!

Protein Plan Rules

• Choose your meals Pick one breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two snacks (one to be eaten between 10-11am and one between 3-5pm), each day.
• Drink plenty of water Sugarless tea and coffee with skimmed milk are fine, but swap one cup per day for green tea, as it boosts your metabolism and helps you burn off calories quicker.
• Get your heart pumping Teaming your diet with an exercise regime is essential for toning up, as well as losing weight. Check out next week’s issue for our exclusive workout.

Bang-on-it Breakfasts

Fruity eggs Slice 1 grapefruit and serve alongside 2 scrambled eggs. Grapefruit speeds up your metabolism, plus, it’s digested slowly to keeps your blood-sugar levels steady and you fuller for longer.

Top toast Spread 2tsp of peanut butter on 2 slices of wholemeal toast and top with 1 sliced banana.

Berry crunch Mix as many blueberries as you fancy with a handful of granola and add to 4tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt.

Melon bowl Slice a cantaloupe melon in half, scoop out the seeds and fill with 4tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt. Drizzle with 1tsp honey and sprinkle over 4 or 5 crushed almonds.

Loaded egg whites Whisk 3 egg whites with a handful of spinach leaves. Fry a handful of chopped onions, peppers and broccoli in low-calorie oil spray, then add the egg mixture and cook, as you would an omelette.

Ham and eggs Poach 2 eggs and steam a handful of spinach. Serve the eggs on top of 4 slices ham with 4 cherry tomatoes and the spinach on the side. Season and add an optional squeeze of lemon juice.

Protein pancakes Whisk 3 egg whites with a handful of oats, add 1/2 scoop flavoured 100 per cent whey protein (sold in most health food stores), a handful of mixed berries, a pinch of cinnamon and 1tsp low-fat probiotic yoghurt. Fry in low calorie oil spray, flipping once. Top with 1tsp peanut butter or drizzle with 1tsp honey and as many berries as you like.

Lean Lunches

Chicken salad Mix a handful of salad leaves with unlimited sliced peppers, carrots and cucumber. Top with 2 strawberries and 1 grilled skinless chicken breast. To dress, combine 1tsp white wine vinegar with 1tbsp olive oil and a blob of mustard.

Trim tuna Mix a can of tuna with some chopped spring onions and 1tsp light soy sauce. Serve with salad leaves, mixed peppers and some chopped coriander.

Spicy salmon Serve 3 slices smoked salmon and serve with 1 avocado, 1/2 thinly sliced red onion, some finely sliced chilli (how much depends on your preference, but don’t hold back, as it’s a great metabolism booster), a large handful of spinach leaves and some coriander. Dress with grapefruit segments and a squeeze of lime.

Leafy taco Fill large lettuce leaves with salsa made from 1tbsp olive oil, 1 chopped garlic clove, 1 diced tomato, some coriander, 1tsp sliced onion and 1 chopped, deseeded chilli. Top with peppers, 1tbsp brown rice and slices of grilled chicken breast.

Buff bean cuisine Drain 1 x 400g can kidney beans, 1 x 400g can black-eyed peas and 1 x 400g can chickpeas then mix. Add one diced cucumber, three mixed peppers, a dash of olive oil, some fresh parsley and a pinch of oregano. Serve 4tbsp of the mixture on a bed of rocket leaves with 4 cherry tomatoes. Makes 3-4 portions – perfect for another lunch, side dish or snack.

Tasty tofu Lightly coat 4 x 1in cubes of tofu in soy sauce. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4 and bake for around 20 minutes. Once cooked, serve in a warmed wholemeal wrap with a handful of lettuce, 1tsp crushed, unsalted peanuts, some pickled ginger and an extra drizzle of soy.

Wrap up Slice a grilled chicken breast, then wrap it in a warmed wholemeal wrap with 1tbsp houmous and salad. Drizzle with lemon juice.

Dynamic Dinners

Mediterranean medley Chop 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, 1 red onion, 3 tomatoes and 1/2 courgette, then pop on a baking tray. Add some squashed garlic cloves, skin on, and a few sprigs rosemary. Coat lightly with olive oil, then cook for 45 minutes on 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4. Dice a chicken breast, then coat in 1tsp olive oil, 1 crushed garlic clove and some thyme. Cook on a griddle pan and serve with the roasted veg.

Delish fish Marinate a tuna steak with crushed garlic, a pinch of pepper, a drop of olive oil and 1tsp chopped fresh coriander. Add 1tsp light soy sauce, then grill. Serve with broccoli and 3tbsp steamed brown rice.

Greek lamb chops Marinate a fat-trimmed lamb chop with 3 cloves crushed garlic and 3-4 sprigs fresh oregano, then grill. Mix 1tbsp fat-free Greek yoghurt with 1tsp chopped mint, a squeeze of lemon and 1tbsp olive oil. Serve the lamb with asparagus and salad leaves, with the dressing over the top.

Super stir-fry Chop 2 asparagus spears and 1/4 onion, then add to a wok with 1tsp chopped garlic, 2-3 broccoli florets and 1/2 cup water. Add 1/2tsp oyster sauce, then stir-fry on a high heat, until the water has evaporated. Coat 5 tiger prawns in olive oil, then cook on a griddle pan. Toss it all together with a squeeze of lemon juice.

Saucy salmon Mix 1/2tsp chilli powder and 1tbsp olive oil with some chopped dill and rub into the salmon. Place on tin foil with 1 slice lemon, then wrap up into a parcel. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes on 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4 and serve with steamed broccoli.

Kickin’ chicken Blend 2 cloves garlic with 1 pepper, 1/2tsp turmeric, 2tbsp oyster sauce, 2-3 sprigs coriander and 1tbsp olive oil. Cut a skinless chicken breast in half lengthways, then pour over the marinade and leave for at least an hour before grilling. Chop 1/2 pepper, 1/4 onion and 1tsp coriander, then mix with a handful of cooked quinoa and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve with steamed French beans.

Sweet steak Remove the skin from a baked sweet potato and mash the potato with 1tsp cayenne pepper. Rub 200g lean steak with 1tbsp olive oil and 2-3 crushed cloves garlic. Fry to your liking, and serve with the mash and a handful of raw baby spinach.

Get-Slim Snacks

• Handful of almonds
• 2 x 25g packs of raisins, or any other dried fruit
• 2-3tbsp houmous with unlimited sticks of carrot, celery and cucumber
• Handful of pumpkin or sunflower seeds
• 200g edamame beans (boil or steam, season, then toss in chilli flakes and garlic)
• 10-15 marinated olives

Did you know? You can both eat and train with the guys from Gyms Kitchen. For more details, visit Gymskitchen.com.

Next week: The Summer Shape-up PART 2 THE WORKOUT

Compiled by: Jo Usmar Photography: Jonas O’Sullivan Additional photography: Getty Images Hair: Shaniqua Oken Make-up: Afton Radojicic at S Management Model: Chloe Lloyd at Storm Consult your doctor before you start any new diet Source: *Slimsticks

Top, £35, skirt, £39.50, bag, £29.50, all Marks & Spencer

Left: Jacket, £55, trousers, £35, both River Island; shirt, £40, Georgia Hardinge at River Island; shoes, £19.99, New Look

Right: Jacket, £50, shirt, £30, shorts, £28, all River Island; glasses, £4.99, Daisy Street; necklace, £14, Freedom at Topshop; shoes, £38, ASOS

Left: Top, £32, shorts, £38, sunglasses, £18, all Topshop; clutch, £20, ASOS; shoes, £24.99, New Look

Right: Jacket, £28, trousers, £18, both Dorothy Perkins; shirt, £69, Hawes & Curtis; sunglasses, £13, Daisy Street; necklace, £9.99, trainers, £19.99, both New Look

Left: Jacket, £50, shorts, £35, both Lipsy; shirt, £30, River Island; necklace, £14.50, Freedom at Topshop

Right: Top, £14.99, trousers, £24.99, both H&M; necklace, £12.50, Dorothy Perkins; shoes, £25, Linzi Shoes

Photography Henry Dawes Hair James McMahon at Lovely Management using Paul Mitchell Make-up Bethan Owens using Bare Minerals Model Ali at Select Photographer’s assistant Gary Conway Stylist’s assistants Daisy Jupp 
and Amanda Bull

Stockists ASOS Asos.com Daisy Street Daisystreet.co.uk Dorothy Perkins 0845 121 4515 Freedom at Topshop 01277 844476 H&M 0844 736 9000 Hawes & Curtis 0844 693 0111 Linzi Shoes Linzishoes.com Lipsy 0844 844 0088 Marks & Spencer 0845 302 1234 New Look 0500 454094 River Island 0844 576 6444 Topshop 0844 984 0264

1) The Hangover Part III (15)

Yep, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Mr Chow (Ken Jeong) are back for the final film in the comedy trilogy, and this time there’s not a wedding or stag do in sight. Which means that surely nothing can go wrong… In cinemas from Friday

2) Glasgow Summer Sessions

Win tickets to see Kings of Leon as part of Glasgow Summer Sessions on August 15. We have five pairs to give away! Click here for your chance to win a pair. Glasgowsummersessions.com

3) Broadchurch (15)

If you missed ITV’s acclaimed whodunnit, here’syour chance to see what the fuss was aboutwith the DVD box set. Just don’t ask anyone whothe killer is… £18.50, out tomorrow

4) And the mountains echoed by Khaled Hosseini

From the author of The Kite Runner comes this story of a family in Afghanistan during the 1950s. Out Tuesday (£18.99, Bloomsbury). For your chance to win a copy, click here.

5) The British Soap Awards

Presented by Phillip Schofield, this is a must-watch for soap lovers. Expect jaw-dropping red-carpet outfits and more fake tan than you’d see backstage at Strictly. Tonight, 8pm, ITV

6) The english: a field guide by Matt Rudd

Taking us on a trip around the English psyche, Matt dissects everything from the nation’s love of ready meals to the importance of football chants. Comic brilliance.

7) Texas: The Conversation

It’s the Glaswegian rockers’ 25th anniversary this year (yup, we feel old, too) and singer Sharleen Spiteri is still one cool chick. This is their eighth album and it’s just as good as White On Blonde. Out tomorrow. For your chance to win a copy, click here.

8) Epic (U)

A young girl (voiced by Amanda Seyfried) finds herself in a strange forest where she must save the world from evil. From the creators of Ice Age, this family flick also features the voices of Colin Farrell, Steve Tyler and Beyoncé. In cinemas from Wednesday

9) The Last Days of Anne Boleyn

Looking at the centuries-old controversy around the beheading of Henry VIII’s second wife, this drama documentary features history boffins Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory, and lots of gorgeous period costumes. Thursday, 9pm, BBC2

10) Daft Punk: Random Access Memories

After last month’s release of summer smash single Get Lucky(featuring Pharrell Williams), we’ve been getting ridiculously excited about the French electro duo’s fourth album – their first in 12 years. It’s like a big spinning disco ball. We love. Out tomorrow

PS: We Want To Be… Agnetha Fältskog

You’ll know her as the blonde one from ABBA, but seeing as it was Eurovision last night, let’s take a moment to remember that nobody will be a  better winner than the Dancing Queen] (and her bandmates).

Words: Laura Bond, Helen Nianias and Claire Frost Photography: Rex Features *To enter and for T&Cs, visit Fabulousmag.co.uk by 11.59pm, June 1

Dungarees,  £25, Boohoo; Top, £16, Vero Moda

Scarf, £12.99, H&M

Jumper, £19.99, Tokyo Laundry; Necklace, £22.50, Freedom at Topshop

Headphones, £89.90, Urban Ears

Bag, £28, ASOS; dress, £50, River Island

Lamp, £78, Butterfly Home by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams

Bag, £25, Cherry Cherry

Shoes, £80, Dune

Sunglasses, £12, Accessorize

Bow, £8.50, Diva at Miss Selfridge; shirt, £45, Urban Outfitters

Teapot, £10, Next

Photography: Derek Lomas, Lancton Stockists: Accessorize (0844 811 0068), ASOS (Asos.com), Boohoo (Boohoo.com), Cherry Cherry (Cherrycherry.com), Debenhams (0844 561 6161), Diva at Miss Selfridge (01277 844160), Dune (0116 284 7800), Freedom at Topshop (01277 844476), H&M (0844 736 9000), Next (0844 844 8000), River Island (0844 576 6444), Tokyo Laundry (Tokyolaundry.com), Urban Ears (Urbanears.com), Urban Outfitters (0845 330 1288), Vero Moda (Veromoda.com)

Honestly, Tess is such an agreeable, gorgeous, all-round lovely that we didn’t actually have to do that much. Go on set with Tess and see how we created her gorgeous pictures below.

Like it? Tell us about it @Fabulousmag

The greatest!

1) She’s ace in Gatsby, stars in FBI flick Now You See Me, out in July, and she has utterly lust-worthy hair. Isla Fisher, we salute you!

Totally great

2) You know that horrible feeling when you’re at a festival but can’t quite remember where you pitched your tent? Genius app Boutique Camping Tent Finder will guide you back to it. Pitch perfect!

3) Forget Beyoncé, the standout stars of her Mrs Carter Show tour are French dancing duo Les Twins, who are out of this world. YouTube them now.

4) The Charlie And The Chocolate Factory musical opened in the West End last week. Wonka Bars? Oompa Loompas? We’re there.

5) How did Alice Eve stay so low-profile for so long? She totally steals the new Star Trek film and is possibly the hottest person ever.

6) Prince looks set to play a string of low-key UK gigs this year. All together now: “I just want your extra time and your… kiss!”

Great

7) Vivienne Westwood has redesigned Virgin Atlantic’s crew uniforms. The sketch looks fab, but we were hoping for platform heels and corsets, Viv!

8) Move over Max Branning, Albert Square’s original womaniser, David Wicks, will be back in EastEnders later this year! Our bets are on him and Kat Moon becoming Walford’s answer to Posh ’n’ Becks.

9) Queen of reinvention Madonna took the punk theme of this year’s Met Ball literally, and we loved it. Go, Madge!

10) They’re your favourite ice creams, but in chocolate-bar form, with no freezer required – genius! There are three versions: Magnum, Mini Milk and Cornetto. We’ll have one of each, please.

Not that great

11) We do chuckle at the Going Home Song on Greg James’ Radio 1 show, but why is it on at 4pm? Who goes home at that time?

12) He’s not exactly Delia, but MIC‘s Jamie Laing isn’t letting that stop him publishing a Candy Kittens cookbook. No thanks, boi.

13) We’ve just realised that if we’re ever going to be even vaguely beach ready, we’d better hit the gym pronto… *groan*.

14) Remember The Voice series one winner Leanne Mitchell? Nor do we. But her album is out on May 27.

15) We love RiRi and we love Mac, so we were psyched about their collaboration on a remix of cult lippy Ruby Woo… But now we’ve got it, it doesn’t seem very different to us. #Confused.

Compiled by: Cyan Turan Photography: Getty Images, Wireimage, Simon Wisbey, Joel Ryan/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP

March 21 to April 20

April 21 to May 21

May 22 to June 21

June 22 to July 22

July 23 to August 23

August 24 to September 22

September 23 to October 23

October 24 to November 22

November 23 to December 21

December 22 to January 20

January 21 to February 18

February 19 to March 20

Glasgow Summer Sessions is a brand new series of outdoor concerts taking place in Scotland’s hippest city, presenting some of the biggest names in music. Taking place throughout August in the city’s leafy Bellahouston Park, the first in the Summer Session series will see rock legends Kings of Leon take to the stage on August 15th… and we have 5 pairs of tickets to win!

The Tennessee rockers – aka Caleb, Jared, Nathan and Matthew – have sold over 11 million albums world-wide since they burst onto the music scene and this is your chance to catch them live. In 2010, the boys bagged a hat-trick of Grammy Awards for stadium anthem Use Somebody and they’ve since joined the ranks of Rock Royalty thanks to platinum selling album, Only by the Night.

From King Tuts to T in the Park and everything in between, event promoters DF Concerts are at the very heart of Scotland’s vibrant music scene. Glasgow is one of only four cities in the world with UNESCO city of music status and this brand new, epic summer event is the perfect reason to take a trip north of the border.

After rockin’ out at Kings of Leon with the 25,000-strong crowd, winners will have an awesome time exploring the city of Glasgow; as well as its superb music scene, Scotland’s biggest city is also famed for its unrivalled shopping, vibrant nightlife, unique atmosphere and style.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets enter before 11.59pm on June 1, 2013.

If you are not lucky enough to win tickets are on sale now from www.glasgowsummersessions.com, www.gigsinscotland.com or by calling 0844 847 1582.

Glasgow is just a short flight or train ride away and the city offers a range of accommodation to suit your budget – log onto www.seeglasgow.com for details.

T&C’s

• Over 18s only (both winner and guest)

• Tickets are non-transferable. No cash alternative.

• Tickets cannot be re-sold or gifted to anyone but the winner, who must provide ID on the night

• Travel and accommodation are not included

• Promoter reserves the right to refuse entry

Listen up, festival lovers! Grab your wellies and dry shampoo, because we’ve got an amazing competition for you. One lucky reader will win a VIP experience for four people at the first ever Alcatel One Touch Isle Of Man Festival, in association with MTV, on Saturday July 6.

If this sounds like the purrrrfect evening to you, get yourself signed up with London Zoo’s Streak for Tigers event on 15 August at 6.30pm, where you will get the chance to run round the zoo completely starkers – expect for tiger ears and mask, natch!

LZS zookeeper Grant Kother shows us how it’s done!

Plus, it’s all in the name of charidee raising much needed funds for the Zoological Society London (ZSL) as well as increasing awareness of the rapidly diminishing number of Sumatran tigers left in the world (just 300, FYI).

Registration is £20 and there are only 300 places available, so if you’re ready to unleash your inner tigress click on www.zsl.org/streakfortigers

Cropped top, £28, Topshop; shorts, £4, Primark; backpack, £39.99, Eastpack at Blue Banana; trainers, £45, Schuh; headphones, £49, Urban ears

And if you need some inspiration to get up and moving, re-live one of our fave songs ever with Olivia Newton-John.

• What are you wearing this weekend? Tweet us @Fabmagfashion

This week I’ve been reading:

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini (£18.99, Bloomsbury) Out Tuesday

This story begins in Afghanistan and is about Saboor and his son Abdullah and small daughter Pari, who he loves fiercely. But they are poor and winters in the village they live in are harsh. After losing his first wife and then his newborn son by his second wife, Saboor knows he has to do something or none of them will survive. So when his brother-in-law Nabi, who works for a wealthy man called Mr Wahdati in the capital Kabul, suggests he makes a terrible choice in exchange for money, Saboor feels he has no choice but to agree. He sets off with his precious Pari for Kabul, and returns without her. And so sets in motion a chain of events that change a huge number of people’s lives forever.

The verdict:

Utterly beautiful and captivating, And The Mountains Echoed is the kind of book that will stay with you for ever. Khaled Hosseini not only brings alive Afghanistan and its people and culture over a 50-year period, but also weaves a story so real and important, you feel like the characters must have once actually lived. I love the way each chapter of the book looks at how a different character is affected by Saboor’s decision, whether it’s Abdullah and his anger and sense of loss at the time, or Pari when she’s in her 50s and starts to find out the truth. I have never read The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns (I am probably the last person on earth who hasn’t, though!), but in a way I’m glad. I came to this book with no expectations or assumptions – and it has made me want to spend a week reading nothing but Khaled Hosseini’s work . So soon I WILL have read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns! This author is a storyteller like no other. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

We have 10 copies of And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini to give away. Enter by 11.59pm June 1, 2013.

I’ve also been reading:

The English: A Field Guide by Matt Rudd (£11.99, HarperCollins) Out now

Split into chapters, such as The Sofa, The Commuter Train and The Beach, this funny (and altogther too real!) book takes a look at what it is to be English (or, as author Matt Rudd says, British really, as our behaviour and characteristics are similar across the British Isles). Reading it is less like reading a book, and more like reading a series of brilliantly written, well-observed magazine features – it’s perfect for dipping in and out of on, say, your commute to work, as each chapter is pretty self-contained. But be prepared to laugh out loud. And start nodding and thinking: “yep, I SO know that person,” every few seconds when Matt is describing certain types of people, whether down the pub, at a cringeworthy dinner party where the husband is trying to show off some “chef-fy” food and it all goes wrong, or that couple in the middle of DFS. And don’t forget the final chapter, all about the bedroom… Clever and witty, but oh-so true, you’ll love this fab look at our nation.

We have 10 copies of The English: A Field Guide by Matt Rudd to give away. Enter by 11.59pm June 1, 2013.

I’ve also been reading:

Chaplin & Company by Mave Fellowes (£16.99, Jonathan Cape)

Odeline Milk arrives in London to find fame as a mime artist. And in a a very Odeline way, she is of course very organised. After her mother’s death, she has come into her inheritance, so she’s bought herself a houseboat called Chaplin & Company (the name is no coincidence). Armed with tins and cans so she doesn’t have to use extra power using a fridge or cooker, an A-Z to help her find her way around London’s streets, a money belt around her waist and a case full of her mime artist costumes and props, she is full of optimism for her new life. But what she finds along the canals and who she meets, surprises both her – and the reader. What sets this debut novel apart is its quirky story and setting. It’s at its heart a coming-of-age novel about a girl who has a lot to learn about the world and a world that has a lot to learn about a girl. Intiguing and interesting – don’t miss.

We have 10 copies of  Chaplin & Company by Mave Fellowes to give away. Enter by 11.59pm June 1, 2013.

• What are you reading this week? Tell me on Twitter @FabFrosty – and see you next week for a summer read special!

The Great Gatsby, nationwide

In all honestly, it’s not the spectacular feast for the eyes that Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet was. But we are very pleased to report that Mr Leonardo DiCaprio is looking as hot as he did back in 1996. Playing mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby, the film is based upon F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel set in 1920s New York, and it’s comment on the supposed American Dream. Carey Mulligan plays Daisy Buchannan, Gatsby’s long-lost love and Toby McGuire takes the role of Nick Carraway, who’s story this is. It’s definitely worth a trip to the picture house, if only for some casual perving on lovely Leo, who we’ve fallen in love with all over again.

Nina Conti: Dolly Mixtures, London

The brilliant comedian and ventriloquist is in London with her clever show, Dolly Mixtures. If you ask us, Nina’s a bit of a genius as she takes us on a journey about love and life, using her dark humour. She introduces us to new characters like her daughter, her handyman and a stray pitbull called Killer. You’ll be pleased to hear her old fave Monk, the monkey (obviously), is back and you can catch her at the Soho Theatre until May 25. For tickets, visit sohotheatre.

Look/13, Liverpool

With the subtitle ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, this photography exhibition around Liverpool is a real treat for the weekend. Taking place across loads of venues, including the Walker Art Gallery, the Open Eye Gallery and the Museum of Liverpool, you can see portraits by Rankin, as well as the work of Eva Stenram, one of the leading female photographers at the fest, who uses old pin-up shoots as her inspiration. The exhibition opened yesterday and it runs until June 15. For more information, head to Lookphotofestival.com.

Museums at Night

Go all nocturnal tonight as lots of houses, castles, museums and places of interest around the country open their doors after hours. See the Chapman Brothers’ work at the Jerwood Gallery in Hastings, take part in a wartime blackout in Yorkshire’s Brodsworth Hall, put your gladrags on for a regency ball at Coughton Court in Warwickshire, or if Wordsworth is more your thing, Dove Cottage in the Lake District, where the poet once lived, is having a sleepover. To find out what’s happening near you, visit Museumsatnight.org.uk

Kite Festival, Leeds

If you cast your eyes up to the sky at Harewood House today and tomorrow, you’ll find it filled with an array of colours and shapes as the seventh annual kite festival takes place. There will be pros from The Northern Kite Group showing you how it’s done, or bring your own and give it a go yourself. Be warned: kiting is never as easy as it looks! There’ll also be kite-making workshops and the rather impressive house has 100 acres of gardens for you to wander around if you want to make a day of it. For more info, head to visitleeds.co.uk

Get the Great Gatsby look with just the click of a mouse over at rockmyvintage.co.uk!

Whether you are looking for the perfect dress for your prom, a wedding or just a big night out, you’re sure to find the dress you’ve been dreaming of.

There’s also a huge range of accessories, from earrings and watches to purses and handbags if you’re just looking to add a bit of timeless pizazz to a favourite outfit.

The site has a range of styles from the 1920s to the 1970s, as well as one-off vintage pieces which are sure to make you the talk of the party.

To claim your 15% discount*, just enter FAB15 at the checkout.

* Discount excludes P&P

With big hits like Don’t You Worry Child and Miami 2 Ibiza the Swedish House Mafia boys had us dancing for years, well until Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso went their separate DJ ways last year…

…well good news, they’re back. Kinda. Jetting in from their sell out world tour as two thirds of Swedish House Mafia, Axwell and Sebastain have just announced some very summery news. Together they’ve created a brand spanking new night at Ushuaia in Ibiza that will get us dancing again every Wednesday. All hail DEP/\RT\/RES, which us all about the euphoria of leaving behind the everyday and letting go…  according to the superstar DJ it’s a vacation, an adventure, a story for your friends not yet told. Err. Sign. Us. Up.

These escapism antics kick off on 19 June and run all the way through until 11 September. Tickets are 45 euros (about £40) and you can nab ‘em now at: ushuaiaibiza.com.

It’s summer – almost – hurray! To celebrate, we’ve got a cool monochrome look and a grass-effect design for you to try out this weekend.

We’re loving Jenny’s eye-popping park-perfect look. She says: “Seeing as the sun has finally started to come out – well, a bit! – I wanted to create a sky-blue/green-grass effect on my nails. I did this by painting my talons with two coats of Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish in Blue Eyed Girl. When this was properly dry, I dipped a piece of sponge in the green half of Revlon Nail Art Neon in Fluorescent and dabbed it on to the top of my nails. A slick of Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Anti Chip Top Coat sealed the look.”

Our Shopping Ed Lucie was treated to a great new-season mani by Claire Kirby at Claire K Nails. Not only is this look monochrome, which is the huge trend for S/S’13 and beyond, it’s also a cool graphic design, which is bang on trend. We reckon it would be easy to copy at home with a white nail polish and an Andrea Fulerton Nail Art Pen. Happy painting!

Think you can do better? Email us helen.nianias@fabulousmag.co.uk or jennifer.woods-blee@fabulousmag.co.uk

Image: Rex Features

Rita Ora, 22 and Calvin Harris, 29, last night confirmed their couple status by heading out in London. Looking super hot in a slinky red dress, the pair were seen heading to swanky restaurant Nobu before making their way to Proud in Camden, for their friend’s birthday. Rita could also have been celebrating her new rumoured role as the face of Material Girl, the range designed by Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes. The brand, already previously fronted by Kelly Osbourne and Taylor Momsen, apparently shelled out £500,000 to bring Rita on board. Rita is already the face of Superga and has graced the covers of several fashion mags this year.

Miley has an accident

Image: Getty Images

She was named Maxim’s hottest girl and honoured at their party last night but Miley Cyrus, 20, made a make-up mistake on the red carpet last night. The twenty-year-old was caught out by the camera flashes, which showed visible white powder around her mouth. It unfortunately completely detracted from her her Valentino jumpsuit (which we really want, FYI) and her ‘hottest’ title. Miley was also alone on the carpet and without her engagement ring, fuelling even more split rumours. Sad face.

Cheryl Cole compliments Kim Kardashian

Image: Rex Features

With her tour over, the solo career on hold and less work with L’Oréal (now our cover star, Tess Daly has taken over) Cheryl Cole, 29, appears to have a lot of time on her hands. The singer, who is reported to be relocating to LA with boyfriend Tre Holloway before her 30th birthday in June, took the time yesterday to send a drawn out but sweet message to Kim Kardashian on Twitter yesterday. Cheryl gushed about Kim being “beautiful, inside and out” and said she admired her tenacity. Is someone trying a little too hard to make friends in LA or are they secret BFFs?

Cheryl’s message:
May 16, 2013: Dear @kimkardashian. Hi Gorgeous lady! Just wanted to send you a tweet to say I think you are an incredibly beautiful woman inside and out.. I can only imagine how tough it is to be heavily pregnant and feeling extremely vulnerable on top of some of the daily criticism you take! I admire your tenacity and send you my best wishes with the rest of your pregnancy #enjoyyourblessing x

In a nutshell….

Claim 20% off at Ruby Prom by entering RUBYFAB20 at the checkout

Get 20% off at McBerry by entering FAB20 at the checkout

You can get 10% off at QUIZ by entering FAB10 at the checkout

Get 30% off at Browhaus when you visit their Covent Garden store

Check back tomorrow for details about how to claim 15% off at Rock My Vintage!

*See individual links for terms and conditions.

* Prize excludes travel to/from Browhaus and/or any overnight accommodation  in London. Prize must be booked by 30 June and taken by 31 July.

We’ve been counting down for six days and finally we were at Wembley stadium today to hear about 1D’s huge new venture! The boys, who are already on a world tour, will be taking on the mammoth task of a world stadium tour, entitled the Where We Are Tour 2014. Tour. Have we said tour enough yet?

With Niall taking centre stage, he explained that One Direction will be visiting new countries and performing in some iconic stadiums which Niall explained was amazing for him, as a huge football fan.

Today’s big reveal was simply the first stage. 1D will begin the tour in Latin America on April 25 2014 including performances in Columbia, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil. The next stop will be Dublin (which was met by huge cheers from everyone including Niall) and then Sunderland, Manchester, Edinburgh and Wembley Stadium in London. Hurrah! They will disclose more dates in due course, which will definitely include US venues amongst others. The boys swore on that.

Louis said “We’re not really feeling the pressure, we don’t really know what’s going on. We just go with it, we’re pretty relaxed.” whilst Liam revealed he was just “really excited” to meet all the fans in new countries. Harry implied that he would definitely “appreciate the food and enjoy the women” in Brazil. Poor Zayn seemed quite shy and kept quiet.

One Direction also confirmed that there will definitely be a new album before the end of the year and it will be in a slightly different direction. Louis told us that it will be “rockier” with a bit more edge. We’re secretly hoping that it will include Niall’s version of Circle of Life from the Lion King which apparently, he can sing in Spanish. Thanks for letting us know that, Louis. Lolz.

The boys taking their tops off. SWOON.

After the press conference the boys were allowed onto the pitch at Wembley where they took photos in various national football shirts.

Tickets for Latin America, UK and Ireland go on sale 10am on Saturday May 25. 

Rex Features

Carey Mulligan looked smokin’ hot last night at the Cannes premiere of The Great Gatsby (which is actually already out in the States – weird.) – an admirable feat considering it was chucking it down with rain. There were no soggy sulky celebs though, which is a bit of a shame (we love grumpy famous folk). Everyone looked lovely – especially Miss Mulligan/Mrs Mumford.

While you can’t steal Carey’s face you can steal her make-up look. At the top of your list for a wet glam face is Maybelline New York Waterproof Rocket Mascara, £7.99, boots.com. HAVE THAT, RAIN.

And then grab yourself a bottle of Mark Hill MiracOILicious Moroccan Argan Oil, £9.99 (available from Boots from 3 June) for sleeky soft locks. 14 essential oils will nourish and rehydrate styled hair.

Customers of Topshop could be lucky the next time they are shopping online or in-store by receiving invitations to ‘secret pop-up gigs’ around the world.

This is part of their new interactive campaign promoting the British festival season. The gigs will take place at secret locations all over the world and will include well- known bands as well as up and coming artists. There will also be a series of online competitions and clues that customers can follow to win tickets.

Their new campaign sees Kate Bosworth modeling the trendy festival range. There are signature pieces based on Kate’s style as well as iconic festival trendy clothes that celebrate the British attitude and energy towards festival style.

Topshop creative director, Kate Phelan said about Ms. Bosworth’s signature range “Kate and I were discussing the summer trends and how she had been one of our inspirations, the next day Kate came in with all these incredible images and references and shared what her ultimate festival outfits look like”.

Kate was pictured at this month’s Coachella festival in California sporting the new range.

Words: Emma O’Rourke 

The TV Queen and mum-of-two is our smokin’ hot cover star this weekend!

READ Why she’s making her modelling comeback for L’Oréal Paris at 44, SEE our exclusive photos from the shoot and WATCH our behind-the-scenes video, only in Fabulous, free inside The Sun this Sunday!

Don’t forget to download the Aurasma app to your phone to watch the video straight from the cover.

What do you think of our stunning Tess cover? Tell us on Facebook and Twitter #FabMagTess

Well what can we say? Red lips, black lace dress, the best eyebrows ever and we have Cara Delevingne on the red carpet at Cannes last night.

The 20-year old (we still can’t believe she is still under 21) looked stunning wearing a Burberry dress at the Great Gatsby premiere last night. She had matching red nails and lips teamed with smoky eyes. She donned silver blinging jewellery to add to her fabulous look.

Cara hasn’t been in the limelight for the best reasons lately when recently she tweeted a picture of her new small tattoo of a lion on her right fore finger. Instead of the tattoo catching all the attention, it was a green substance underneath her nail which her twitter followers were distracted by.

She also dropped a mysterious bag containing a white substance last week which she has yet to comment on. H&M whom she models for have a no drugs policy and are reportedly ‘investigating’ it.

However on the flip side, last year Cara won model of the year and from last nights’ photos she is certainly living up to expectations.

To get Cara’s fabulous look-

Smokey eyes- ‘Smoked’ £26.70 Urban Decay; Her red lips- ‘Russian Red lipstick’ £14.00 MAC

Words: Emma O’Rourke

Photography: Wire Image

Table, £65, Oliver Bonas; Sign, £8.50, Sainsbury’s

Light, £100, Alexander & Pearl; Espresso cups, £14.50 for set of four, Berry Re

Cake stand, £29.95, Dotcomgift shop.com; Clock, £39, Unique Chic

Chair, £59, Oliver Bonas; Delonghi espresso machine, £170, Debenhams

Carafe and glasses, £18.50, Pedlars; Tray, £38.50,  House Envy

Photography: Getty Images Stockists: Alexander & Pearl (020 8508 0411), Berry Red (0845 450 3937), Debenhams (0844 561 6161), House Envy (Houseenvy.co.uk), Oliver Bonas (020 8974 1200), Pedlars (01330 850400), Sainsbury’s (0800 636262), Unique Chic (Uniquechicfurniture.co.uk)

Although it had the potential to be very ironic, the rain just about held off for the “official” launch of summer at the Made in Chelsea hangout Bluebird last night. In association with posh fizz brand Moet and Chandon, the event was chock full of Chelsea’s glossiest blondes and, er, us!

Even though we were a few diamonds short of most of the other guests, we proceeded to have a rather lovely time indeed. Waiters weaved around the Bluebird’s courtyard, keeping the champagne flowing and mini-burgers distributed. There was an oyster bar, popcorn machine, dessert table (thanks to which our jeans are feeling pretty tight this morning), and even a doughnut station, serving the most delish cinnamon doughnuts we’ve ever tasted.

If we’re treated to maybe one, or perhaps two, sunny days this summer, there’s nowhere we’d rather be than the Bluebird’s courtyard. The venue is also home to a beaut shop, selling clothes, accessories, and books, and a luxe food store, so make sure you save some pennies before you visit.

www.bluebird-restaurant.co.uk

When you arrive at your prom wearing a dress from Quiz, the burning question on everybody’s lips is sure to be, ‘You look fab, where did you get that frock?’

Three winners will win a Quiz gown worth £80 as part of our Prom Week competitions. Choose between one of three styles, pale blue, coral or light pink. All of the dresses feature gorgeous silver detailing that will definitely boost your glam factor! Enter by 11.59pm on May 30.

You can also get 10% off at www.quizclothing.co.uk by using FAB10 at the checkout.*

* Discount code valid May 15 – May 21 2013 at 23.59pm. 1 use per customer.

When fabulous follicle fella Richard Ward says something’s great then chances are it really is great – and his new Glamoriser Digital Autocurler, £74.99, boots.com, hasn’t let us down.

Its motorized rotating barrel means it rolls the hair round the wand for you. It’s all completely automatically – and it rotates both left and right (depending on what side of your head you’re doing or if you want to curl up the hair or down – clever, eh?). The tong remembers the last temperature selected when you turn it back on and heats up faster than you can say, “Woah! Those tongs are pretty fast.”

Don’t believe us? Watch Richard Ward himself explain how they work below and then nab a pair to get salon-worthy curls.

1) Maybelline Dream Terra Sun Bronzing Powder in 03S Tiger, £5.99 2) No7 Perfectly Bronzed Dual Bronzer, £11.50 3) Fake Bake Beauty Bronzer, £20 4) Clarins Splendours Summer Bronzing Compact, £30 5) Guerlain Terracotta Light Bronzer in 05 Sun Brunettes, £34

Compiled by: Lauren Ezekiel Maybelline (Boots.com), No7 (Boots.com), Fake Bake (Fakebake.co.uk), Clarins (Clarins.co.uk), Guerlain (Debenhams.com)

Surely a week-long, affordable holiday could never be Australia… could it? Seven days and 10,000 miles later, I figure out it can! I managed to see the sights, enjoy amazing food and stay at some fab youth hostels – all while having a blast. Here’s how I ooh-ed and aah-ed my way around four incredible Aussie hot spots.

Amazing Adelaide

Kate admires the view of Melbourne

Day 1 This super-cool city boasts parklands and vineyards, but first things first – the beach. I take a short tram ride to Glenelg to dip my feet in the sea, snooze away my jet lag in the sand, and grab some tasty salt-and-pepper squid, £12, at the Kings Head Hotel (Thekingsbardining.com).

Day 2 I hit Adelaide Central Market, aka foodie heaven, and take an official tour with one of the stall owners. It costs £55, but includes tasty treats from more than 80 stands – yum! Next, I venture out of the city in search of fine Aussie wine, and head to The Coriole Winery (Coriole.com) in the McLaren Vale wine region, just 35km from Adelaide. Here, I taste the vineyard’s exclusive Old Barn Shiraz at the Cellar Door wine-tasting bar. Sipping is free and the wine so good, I pick up a few bottles for later. Hic! Wine in tow, I then take the 90-minute drive to the pretty seaside town of Port Elliot.

Port Elliot & Port Lincoln

Day 3 An exhilarating Big Duck Boat Tour, £23 (Thebigduck.com.au), is the perfect way to start the day. I zoom around tiny islands near the Port

Star-struck on the set of Neighbours!

Elliot coast to spy seals, then squeeze in a quick surfing lesson, £32 (Surfandsun.com.au). Next, I head back to Adelaide to jump on a 45-minute flight to Port Lincoln (from £66 with Qantas). There, I tuck into Coffin Bay oysters, £9 for six, fresh from the Pacific Ocean at top seafood restaurant Del Giorno’s (Delgiornos.com.au).

Day 4 Bracing myself for a shark dive, I set sail from Port Lincoln to the South Neptune Islands, chuck tuna overboard and wait. When fins start to circle the boat, it’s time for me to get in the cage. My first reaction is: “panic!” but trained professionals are on hand to put me at ease. Prices start from £334.50 with Calypso Tours (Sharkcagediving.com.au) – and it’s absolutely worth saving up for! If the idea of coming face to face with a shark is too scary, pick up a snorkel and swim with starfish and spider crabs nearer to the coast of Port Lincoln instead.

Marv Melbourne

Meeting Kanga and Roo

Day 5 I rise and shine early for the three-hour flight to cultural capital Melbourne (Qantas flights cost from £132). Heading to Eureka Skydeck 88, the highest viewing platform in the southern hemisphere, I check out the panoramic views from the 88th floor (£12), before getting my fashion fix at Fitzroy, a district full of vintage shops. At night, I follow the hipsters for a schooner (or a beer to you and me) and indie music at The Workers Club (Theworkersclub.com.au).

Day 6 While in Melbourne, it would be rude not to visit Ramsay Street, where Neighbours is set, just outside the city. I’m picked up in a minibus and given a rundown of the soap’s history before the tour itself (from £33, visit Neighbourstour.com.au). After I’ve posed outside the Robinsons’ gaff, it’s time to tackle a national sport. No, not Aussie rules football, but barefoot lawn bowls. In the suburb of St Kilda, the game has become trendy with a younger crowd, so I slip off my shoes off and lob a few balls down the green (£13, visit Stkildasportsclub.com.au).

Great Ocean Road

Veg out in Adelaide Central Market

Day 7 The only way to finish the week is to take a drive along the gorgeous Surf Coast, taking in the The 12 Apostles, an awe-inspiring collection of limestone stacks, and miles of crashing waves. Four hours later, I arrive at Otway National Park, where I go kangaroo and koala spotting with Wildlife Tours Australia, £66 (Wildlifetours.com.au). The following morning, I return to Melbourne to catch my plane home, with enough sunny memories to last all year. Strewth!

● For more details, visit Australia.com

Fyi

Bargain beds Kate stayed at Adelaide Central YHA, Port Elliot YHA, Port Lincoln YHA, Melbourne Central YHA and Apollo Bay YHA. Dorms cost from £17 a night, private rooms, £47 (Yha.com.au).
Fly times Qantas flights from London-Adelaide-Melbourne-London cost from £1,180 for departure dates until June 20 2013. (Qantas.com).

Photography: Getty Images Illustration: Melissa Bailey Thanks to Olympus Cameras

Last night we had an on pointe night at Saddlers Wells Theatre in London Town with Darcey Bussell, Ben Kingsley, Gok Wan AND the swoonsome Eddie Redmayne.

All these celebs were flexing their good toes, naughty toes for Northern Ballet’s  The Great Gatsby performance, which was rather awesome. Think flapper dresses, scandal and some serious moves. And all the dancers, like the two below with that fitty Redmayn, were looking rather hot, body-wise. And we know why.

All the performers have been using Sanctuary Spa‘s brand, spanking new – so new in fact that it’s not even out until August – range Active Reverse Body. With wonder body blitzers like Resurface & Refine Ultra Body Polish, £12, and Tight & Tone Body Serum, £12, it’s no wonder that they were looking lithe. Well that and years of hardcore training, but you get our point. Plus it all makes good dance sense as the Sanctuary Spa was built by a man for his ballerina wife so she could relax nearby the theatre where she performed in Covent Garden. Now that’s what we call romantic.

Sanctuary Spa’s Active Reverse Body range is coming soon, keep an eye out on sanctuary.com to nab ‘em.

Dear Dr Hilary 

I stopped taking the Pill six months ago and I still haven’t had a period. I’m 30 – is it possible it’s damaged my fertility? Jacey, via email

Some women who stop taking the Pill miss their periods for a while, but this usually settles within three months. Other causes could be being underweight, an eating disorder, an underactive thyroid or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). After six months, it would be reasonable to have tests done, which should include a pregnancy test and blood tests to check hormone levels. An ultrasound scan would also help if PCOS is suspected. Missing periods doesn’t mean you’re infertile, but if you’re worried, try a home ovulation test.

Dear Dr Hilary 

About three years ago, I felt a pop in my right groin as I was running. An X-ray showed I have arthritis in both hips, but the pain only goes down my right leg. Painkillers aren’t helping – what can I do? Graeme, via email

Arthritis may not be causing the pain. It could be due to chronic groin strain, caused by a tear in the muscle on the inside of the thigh, and you may need surgery. Inflammation of the tissue surrounding your thigh bone socket could also be responsible for your pain, as could irritation of nerves in your lower back. Referral to a sports injury expert is a good idea. You may need an MRI scan, or could have a local anaesthetic and cortisone injection into the joint which, if it temporarily gets rid of your pain, at least tells you where the problem lies.

Dear Sarah 

I’m graduating this year and have been offered a three-month unpaid internship at a high-profile institution in London. It’s a great opportunity, but it’s too far for me to commute so I’m going to have to pay for rent and travel. What can I do to support myself? Francesca, via email

Your internship sounds like a great opportunity, but the cost is hefty. By law, you should be paid if you’re a “worker” – this means, among other things, you have to be there for set hours and you’re doing work of value. If that’s the case, you should get the minimum wage. A high-profile institution will be aware of the law and should pay accordingly, unless you’re working for a charity, shadowing someone, or interning as part of your degree. If you aren’t eligible to be paid, see if you can get an evening or weekend job or, if you have a skill, try offering it on Peopleperhour.com.

Dear Susan 

Does my friend fancy me? We’re both female and she says she’s straight, but sometimes she rubs my thighs, holds my hand at college and says she finds me attractive. Recently she asked me to kiss our other friend. I took it as a joke, but what if it wasn’t? I’m worried saying something may ruin our friendship. Debbie, via email

My bet is that even your friend isn’t sure what’s going on – she may think she’s straight, but her body language is giving mixed messages. One thing’s for sure, keeping quiet won’t help, as you’ll become so uncomfortable that your friendship will suffer. Don’t be negative, but point out what she’s doing, and help her think through why she’s doing it. Be clear that, while you have no problem if she’s gay or bisexual, you’d rather she held back with you. But reassure her you still care.

Dear Michelle 

Since having my second child, I’ve decided to start blogging in order to top up my income. I have an idea for a mum-and-baby blog, but how can I run it to make money? It seems like some blogs earn enough to pay a full-time salary, while others don’t. How do I make mine a success? Cora, via email

Becoming a successful blogger with a loyal following can take a long time. The first thing to do is research other blogs, especially ones that specialise in similar topics. Try to find a niche – the more unusual your idea and the more work you put in, the more money you can expect to make in advertising revenue. But before you think about profit, you should focus on being passionate about your subject. You’ll then need to dedicate time and effort to establish your blog. You might make money in time, but you won’t see results overnight. Good luck!

Compiled by: Cyan Turan, Kate Langrish Photography: Lancton, Alicia Clarke The A Team regret they cannot answer emails personally. Answers are intended as general guidance only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. Visit Savvywoman.co.uk

What a night! Dubious outfits, questionable lyrics and plenty of glitter made for a classic start to Eurovision 2013. Especially with commentators Scott Mills and Ana Matronic from Scissor Sisters. If you missed it, do not fear because the second semis are tomorrow night, with our act Bonnie Tyler performing too. Today though, we’re re-living this amazeballs performance by Montenegrin group Who See?, who unfortunately didn’t make it through to the finals – we’re very annoyed about this.

To celebrate the release of The Big Wedding (in cinemas May 29th) Fabulous Mag are giving four lucky readers the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Gala Screening of The Big Wedding on May 23 in London and a bumper DVD Prize Pack*.

With an all-star cast led by Robert DeNiro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried and Topher Grace, with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, The Big Wedding is an uproarious romantic comedy about a charmingly modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding celebration that has the potential to become a full blown family fiasco.

Four winners will win a pair of tickets to the Gala Screening of The Big Wedding on May 23 in London and a bumper DVD Prize Pack*. Enter by 23:59 on 20 May 2013.

T&CS

Competition open to UK residents aged 18 or over only. Winner’s guest must also be 18 or over. Travel, accommodation and other costs are not included.

* Please note, DVD prize pack contains 1 x Magic Mike DVD, 1 x Friend’s With Kids DVD, 1 x What To Expect When You’re Expecting DVD, 1 x Dirty Dancing DVD and 1 x Salmon Fishing in the Yemen DVD, 1 x bottle of champagne and 1 x box of chocolates.

© 2013 Lions Gate Films. Inc and 2929 Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved

Thom Evans for D.HEDRAL in AngleFit Underwear photographed by Daniel Jaems

These ridiculously hot pictures of Thom were shot on the rocky volcanic Greek Island of Milos for the S/S 2013 collection. Isn’t Thom Evans the perfect Greek god?

The Gigolo Joe briefs which Thom is sporting are designed to enhance a man’s bottom with ‘enhanced figure-hugging definition and comfort’.  There is a Y-Shape at the back of the pants that are designed to give better shape to the buttocks. We won’t complain. We think he looks delicious.

We like him even more after seeing this shoot and how lucky is Jessica Lowndes getting to cuddle up to him at night? The pair have been together since January after he met her in a coffee shop in L.A where there was an “instant connection”.

Attending the Blue Cross Tea Party together

If we were Jessica, we would be grinning like a cheshire cat too.

1) £39, Miss Selfridge, 2) £29, Jameela Jamil at Very

3) £22, MeeMee, 4) £15.99, Daisy Street, 5) £35, Miss Selfridge

6) £38, Topshop, 7) £22.99, New Look

Miss Selfridge (0845 121 4517), Very (Very.co.uk), MeeMee (Meemee.com), Daisy Street (Daisystreet.co.uk), Topshop (0844 984 0264), New Look (0500 454094)

Image: Getty Images

Chantelle Houghton has a brand new venture. The single mum is looking for love again after her widely-publicised split from Alex Reid, and she wants to help other mums do the same!  DatewithChantelle.com will hold unique events to introduce singletons and you can sign up for free. Would you trust Chantelle to help find you a man? Err, no.

Nicole Kidman for Jimmy Choo

Image: FilmMagic/Getty Images

Remember Nicole Kidman? She’s been pretty quiet due to recent filming but when she stepped onto the Cannes red carpet yesterday, Nicole revealed she is the new ambassador for Jimmy Choo. The 45-year-old mum was appointed by the new Creative Director of Jimmy Choo, Sandra Choi, who said,  ’Nicole is one of the finest actresses in the world, who I knew could convey the empowered glamour of the brand.’

Beyonce cancels show

Image: Getty Images

Rumours have been swirling since Beyonce mentioned on a US chat show that she would love another sibling for Blue Ivy. The stories became more convincing after tour photos seemed to show her with a tiny bump and then last night she cancelled her gig in Antwerp, Belgium. Her publicist claimed she’s suffering from dehydration and exhaustion whilst Bey post a hand-written apology on her site, saying “I have never postponed a show in my life. It was very hard for me” . Pfft. Could there be another mini-B on the way?

Kim crushes Kanye’s car

Image: Splash Images

It really hasn’t been a good week for Kanye West. First he walks into a sign, bumping his head and it’s all caught on camera. Then, as his $750,000 Lamborghini was delivered to Kims house, her security gates crushed it! The car was only just coming back from being serviced when it happened, so Kanye had to call a repair man out immediately. Bet date night was awkward after that.

Lush are launching a limited edition Mermaid Bath Ballistic, £2.50, lush.co.uk, to coincide with the release of The Mermaid Song – part of the Coldwater Project by musician and composer Ysanne. All proceeds from the mermaid will go to Sea Shepherd – the global non-profit marine conservation charity.

Containing lavender oil to relax, lemon oil to clear the mind and seaweed and sea salt to cleanse and soften the skin this mermaid will blow your rubber duck out of the water (which sounds a bit weird, but you get the idea). And, you won’t only be doing a good deed and smelling lush (see what we did there?) once you buy one online you’ll receive an email letting you download the song for free. It’s a bath time bonanza.

Three winners will each get to choose the pair of shoes they want from the styles pictured above. There’s the block heeled Office Shoe in a gorgeous deep purple; the studded Heat stilettos in scorching lipstick red; or Alien, another spikey number in intergalactic mauve.

Three winners will get to choose which pair of shoes, each worth £80, that they would like. For a chance to win, enter by 23:59 on 29 May 2013.

Eek! Rihanna’s second collection for River Island has just been revealed! The summer campaign images starring model, Jourdan Dunn, are bold bright affairs revealing clothes that we’re already desperate for. The new collection features pretty swimwear, string vests, tie-dye and feminine gowns. Rihanna said, “I just want to design clothes that I want to wear” and she’s done just that.

To see the campaign slide show, click on any image below.

If you want to see what it’s really like designing with Rihanna, check out River Island’s behind the scenes video below and check back tomorrow when our fashion team will reveal their favourite items from the new collection.

£6, Daisy Street; £10, Boohoo

£9.99, Missguided; £2, Primark

£5, Daisy Street; £13, Chelsea Doll

£3, Primark; £6, Daisy Street

Daisy Street (Daisystreet.co.uk), Boohoo (Boohoo.com), Missguided (Missguided.co.uk), Primark (0118 960 6300), Chelsea Doll (Chelseadoll.co.uk)

Facials are pretty awesome. But this super duper facial is a whole other level of facial/awesome-ness….

If you pop down West London way, right into Acton to be precise, you will find Prohands Hair and Beauty Haven. And it’s worth going all that way. At this family business, with experts recruited along the way,  the Prohands beauties believe everyone, not just celebs or VIPs, deserve an amazing experience. In fact their philosophy is that beauty is for everyone.

There are so many amazing treatments on offer here, but our fave is The Avatar, from £50, a Murad facial that starts with emotional freedom techniques – we chose tapping, to release our tension pre-treatment and to ensure we felt good inside and out by the end of the session. The amazing products (including cleansers, exfoliators and masks) are combined with a head-to-toe holistic massage by two talented therapists. It’s a two person job that targets the mind, body and face. You leave with instantly brighter skin and  a spring to your step, both of which last long after you’ve left Prohands. We’re checking our diary so we can book another appointment asap.

For more info and your own beauty therapy experience check out prohands.co.uk

Image: Rex Features

The skies are grey from where we’re sitting, but Myleene Klass did her best to banish the less than impressive weather with an outfit dedicated to flora and fauna at last night’s Sony Radio Awards. The bash, which was held at London’s Grosvenor House, celebrates the best of UK radio. Myleene walked the, er, paisley carpet dressed in a beautiful floral skirt and a white sheer top with lace embroidery, giving us all a lesson in how to wear this season’s notoriously tricky sheer trend. Her glowing skin and rosy make-up finished of the look perfectly. THIS, dear readers, is how to dress for a summer garden party.

To get Myleene’s super summery look, try this top, £35, and skirt, £22, both Dorothy Perkins.

Grey eyes

I’m terrified of going grey. No, not my hair – I’m talking about my eyes. Too subtle a grey shadow can make skin look green, and anything too heavy screams fancy dress. Yet I fell in love with Armani S/S ’13’s take on grey (below). It’s a total contrast to the usual spring brights and is perfect for my dark wardrobe.

To recreate the look, I swept Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Phenomena, £17.50, across my lid with a brush, working the colour into the eye corners, under the eye and up to the brow. I then added Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Holy Smokes, £15.50, to the socket line and outer corner, blending the shades together. I finished with a flick of my normal mascara, and I teamed the look with the warm, orange-toned Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Het Loo, £17.50.

I parted my hair at the side, then swept it into a low, tight bun. A final slick of Bumble And Bumble Sumotech, £21.50, gave a super-polished finish.

This look is intense, but fab – it definitely says you mean business!

Try it! And send us your pictures to theedit@fabulousmag.co.uk

Beauty buzzword

Micellar Water This clear liquid may look like simple H20, but it’s actually the latest miracle cleanser. It dissolves make-up, unclogs pores, removes dirt and soothes skin, meaning you can skip the toner. Microscopic oil particles suspended in water attract dirt and impurities, but not moisture, so skin is left hydrated. Clever. L’Oréal, Lancôme and Bioderm all have micellar water products in their ranges, prices start from £4.99.

Having a moment…

Kelly Brook

Kel’s a fan of posting selfies on Twitter, and it’s little wonder when she has such glossy locks to show off. Her secret? The Organic Detox Treatment, £45, at the Daniel Galvin Jr salon in London, which contains keratin, vitamin C and cider vinegar. But now you too can get Kelly-esque results at home, with Daniel Galvin Jr Organic Head Detox Masque, £4. Bargain.

Most wanted

If nail polish has ever upset your skin, you’ll be as excited as me about Clinique’s new range of skin-friendly varnishes. Six years in the making, the hypoallergenic formula is suitable for even the most sensitive skin types – plus it’s long lasting and available in 12 summery shades. My fave is this bright blue, aptly named Splish Splash.

Clinique A Different Nail Enamel in Splish Splash, £12

Photography: Lancton, Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk, Catwalking.com, Xposure Stockists: Benefit (Benefitcosmetics.co.uk), Bumble And Bumble (Boots.com), Clinique (Clinique.co.uk), Daniel Galvin Jr (Danielgalvinjunior.com), Illamasqua (Illamasqua.com), Nars (Narscosmetics.co.uk)

As it starts getting closer to Prom its time to start planning those outfits! But don’t fear we’ve teamed up with luxury online boutique McBerry.co.uk to celebrate the launch of their new collection, Flounce.

When Emma Watson literally swanned up the red carpet in a feathered dress, she had everybody talking. Thanks to McBerry, you can have asimilar effect at your special event in one of their feathered prom dresses.

The short frocks, featuring lace bodies and elaborate feathered hems, are a favourite of stars such as TOWIE’s Lucy Mecklenburgh, and Jess Wright, and will make sure that you are the centre of attention for all the right reasons.

You can also make the most of 20% off the gorgeous dresses at McBerry.co.uk, simply enter FAB20 at the checkout*

*20% off promotional offer valid  until 23:59 on 28 May only. Offer may be used once per customer only. Discount does not apply to postage or packing.

Left: Jacket, £35, skirt, £20, both F&F; shirt, £20, BHS; sunglasses, £6, Boohoo; brooch, £6, Freedom at Topshop

Middle: Jacket, £30, F&F; top,£49, French Connection;skirt, £20, River Island; earrings, £10, Freedom at Topshop: bag, £85, French Connection; shoes, £60, Schuh

Right: Jumpsuit, £50, ASOS

Left: Jacket, £79.99, Zara; shirt, £29.50, Hawes & Curtis; trousers, £35, Betty Jackson.Black at Debenhams; tie, £34.50, Hawes & Curtis

Middle: Shirt, £46, Goldie London; trousers, £40, Topshop; sunglasses, £99, Calvin Klein Jeans at Marchon; necklace, £35, Freedom at Topshop; shoes (part of a set with matching bag), £99, Dune

Right: Suede and leather dress, £120, ASOS; sunglasses, £10, Boohoo; necklace, £45, Freedom at Topshop; bracelet, £10, Wallis; suede bag, £35, ASOS

Photography: Ophelia Rose, Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk Hair: Katie Pettigrew using Kevin Murphy Make-up: Bethan Owens using Mac Model: Rachel Joy at Nevs Stylist’s assistants: Daisy Jupp and Casey Devine

Stockists: ASOS (Asos.com), BHS (0844 411 6000), Boohoo (Boohoo.com), Debenhams (0844 561 6161), Dune (0116 284 7800), F&F (0800 505555), Freedom at Topshop (01277 844476), French Connection (0844 557 3285), Goldie London (Goldielondon.com), Hawes & Curtis (Hawesandcurtis.com), Marchon (Marchon.com), River Island (0844 576 6444), Schuh (0845 307 2484), Topshop (0844 984 0264), Wallis (0844 984 0266), Zara (0800 030 4238)

1) Fab for bronzer: Clinique Bronzer Brush, £22.50 2) Fab for cover-ups: Nars Flat Concealer Brush, £22 3) Fab for brows: Japonesque Pro Angled Brow Definer, £10.50 4) Fab for blush: Makeup Works Angle Blusher Brush, £8.95 5) Fab for your base: The Body Shop Foundation Brush, £10.50 6) Fab for eyeliner: Laura Mercier Flat Eye Liner Brush, £22.50 7) Fab for eyeshadow: Paul & Joe Eye Colour Brush S, £8.50 8) Fab for lippy: Mac Retractable Lip Brush, £17 9) Fab for highlighting: Stila 24 Double-ended Illuminating Powder Brush, £32 10) Fab for décolletage: Ecotools Face & Body Sculpting Brush, £5.99 

Compiled by: Lauren Ezekiel Photography: Pixeleyesphotography.co.uk Stockists: Clarins (Clarins.co.uk), Clinique (Houseoffraser.co.uk), Ecotools (Boots.com), Fake Bake (Fakebake.co.uk), Guerlain (Debenhams.com), Japonesque (Hqhair.co.uk), Laura Mercier (Houseoffraser.co.uk), Mac (Maccosmetics.co.uk), Makeup Works (Lookfantastic.co.uk), Maybelline (Boots.com), Nars (Narscosmetics.co.uk), No7 (Boots.com), Paul & Joe (Asos.com), Stila (Stila.co.uk), The Body Shop (Thebodyshop.co.uk)

Honey Boo Boo* lands on UK shores tonight, 10pm on new channel TLC. To celebrate, Honey Boo Boo and Mama June have recorded a message for their UK fans ahead of tonight’s show. You’d better redneckognise!

*If you have absolutely no idea who this is, where have you been? Luckily, we’ve got your guide right here.

Judo jacket

Bored of blazers? Try this kick-ass alternative

Left: Team with tracksuit bottoms and high-tops for a laid-back weekend vibe.

Jacket, £39.99, top, £24.99, both H&M; tracksuit bottoms, £75, Twist & Tango; trainers, £24.99, New Look

Middle: Want a chic office look? Play with proportions and add a pair of wide-legged palazzo pants.

Jacket, as before; shirt, £12.99, New Look; trousers, £44.99, Mango; shoes, £40, Stylistpick

Right: Keep your silhouette long and lean with a midi-length pencil skirt – perfect for a first date.

Jacket, as before; top, £17.99, Mango; skirt, £24.99,  H&M; shoes, £12, Primark

Try it! And send us your pictures to theedit@fabulousmag.co.uk

Hot off the high street

I’m loving Clements Ribeiro’s latest collection for Evans. The seaside-inspired “kiss me quick” dresses and surrealist lobster prints are worn by plus-size fashion bloggers for the store’s latest campaign, and they’re kooky, cute and completely Clements!

Having a moment…

Basketball tops

My style crush on Rita Ora is so big I’m drawing love hearts around her pictures! She rocks a basketball vest like no one else. If you’re not brave enough to wear one with bare legs à la Rita, then add boyfriend jeans and a baseball cap for an LA-cool look.

Top, £6, Primark

Most wanted

Designer bags have gone way down my gotta-buy list since having two kids, but I still like to look for a mid-price piece of arm candy. I’ll be wearing this Whistles mock-croc shoulder bag to work all summer long!

Bag, £195, Whistles

Photography: Lancton, Planet Photos Hair: Darren Hau at Lovely Management Make-up: Aimee Adams using Mac Model: Gesche Thoennes at Bookings Stylist’s assistant: Hayley Mitchell Stockists: Evans (0845 121 4516), H&M (0844 736 9000), Mango (0845 082 2448), New Look (0500 454094), Primark (0118 9606 300), Stylistpick (Stylistpick.com), Twist & Tango (Twisttango.com), Whistles (Asos.com)

Image: Getty Images

In an open letter to the New York Times, Angelina Jolie, has revealed that she has had a double mastectomy and reconstruction. The thirty-seven year old said that she had been prompted to have the surgery after finding out she had the BRCA1 gene, which means she had an 87% risk of breast cancer and a 50% risk of ovarian cancer. Angelina had her first surgery back in February but suprisingly continued with her charity work in the public eye. She even attended and spoke at the recent G8 summit.

Angelina explained that she had revealed her situation in the hope that it would raise awareness and went on to say “”I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity,”

For more information about the BRCA1 gene and testing, visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk

Big Brother announces new presenters

Image: Getty Images

Recently, Emma Willis was announced as the presenter for Big Brother’s main show but now the hosts of BBBOTS have been revealed. Enter Rylan Clark and AJ Odudu. Rylan “Drop me out!” Clark was the winner of the last celeb version whilst AJ has appeared on the show before as a panellist. The guys will join Emma for plenty of new additions to the BB line-up, including a new Bit On The Psych show on Saturday night and a regular Sunday lunchtime programme. Both boys are obviously hyped about the new show with Rylan saying:

“I have followed the show since the very beginning.  It was a dream come true to enter the Celebrity Big Brother house this year, let alone win it!   Being offered the job to present Big Brother’s Bit On The Side was amazing.”

Prepare to hear “Shut up” over and over and over again.

Zayn gets a manicure

Image: Twitter/LittleMixOffic

Poor Zayn. When he gets a break from his world tour with One Direction, all he can think about is sleeping but when you have a naughty Little Mixer for a girlfriend, you have to watch out. An unsuspecting Zayn was set upon by Perrie whilst deep in slumber, resulting in a very pretty but probably unwanted manicure for the 1D star. Perrie posted this picture on the Little Mix Official Twitter account with the caption:

The perks of your boyfriend not waking up through anything. Pretty LM nails Zayn (; Perrie <3 twitter.com/LittleMixOffic…

— Little Mix (@LittleMixOffic) May 13, 2013

And if you’re wondering how she managed to do those detailed designs, we’re pretty sure that she’s using her very own press on nails. Which makes a lot more sense.

Kardashian Beauty

The Kardashian girls recently lost the right to keep the name Khroma for their beauty line, after a cosmetic range with the same name filed a lawsuit. Khroma which means colour in Greek, was the original title of the collection but Kim announced yesterday that with immediate effect the range will be called Kardashian Beauty. Kim said, “Kardashian Beauty is a fresh new name for products we are proud to call our own!”

We can’t help but think this would have been the easiest option all along, girls?

No one wants to look their age, right? We meet the women who wish they did

By Eimear O’Hagan

‘I act older because people expect me to’

Alison Ishmael is a 25-year-old sales rep. She lives in west London with her husband Ash, 27, an IT worker, her stepdaughter Tia, four, and son Xavier, nine months. She says: 

“No woman likes to be told she looks older than her age, but I’ve developed a thick skin – if I got upset every time it happened, I’d never leave the house. I’m not blind, I know I don’t look 25. I look closer to 35; it would be silly to pretend I don’t.

However, it can get tiresome seeing people’s shocked faces when they discover I’m not in my late 30s.

I’m always surprised at how insensitive people can be. Would they comment so bluntly if someone had a disability or had lost all of their hair, for example? I don’t think so. Yet age seems to be considered something people can remark on freely, with no thought for how it might hurt someone’s feelings.

Like the woman in the street who, while cooing over newborn Xavier in his pram, looked at me and said: ‘You’ve left it quite late to have your first baby, haven’t you?’ She was very apologetic when I told her I was only 24, but it was the last thing a sleep-deprived, hormonal new mum needed to hear!

With husband Ash

Other mums have asked if Ash, who I married two years ago, is my first husband because they’ve thought I’m too old to be a newly-wed!

There are few advantages to looking older. In a society obsessed with staying youthful – through surgery, creams and diet – who wants to age faster than they should?

But, as a teenager, it was great. My body developed quicker than other girls my age, I was taller and I had a more grown-up face. By the time I was 13, older kids at school were asking me to buy them cigarettes because they knew l’d get served, something which made me very popular. And, when I was just 14, I remember someone asking what university I went to, as she thought I was a student!

I enjoyed the attention and relished feeling older and more mature than my friends. Looking older encourages people to see you differently, and my parents and teachers always treated me like I was more trustworthy than my peers.

I started going to bars and clubs before I was 18, as no one asked me for ID, and older guys in their 20s would chat me up, making me the envy of my friends. I loved it but, when I hit my 20s, the novelty quickly wore off.

Recently, my 52-year-old mother was asked for ID going into a bar, but I wasn’t! I try not to let these moments upset me, and rather, see the funny side. We had a giggle with the bouncer when we told him we were mother and daughter, and she was almost 30 years older than me.

Alison at 13

I have a brother who is eight years my senior, and he’s regularly mistaken for being older than he is, too. It’s clearly in our genes, so there isn’t an awful lot I can do about it.

I do try, though. To counteract people’s assumptions, I dye my hair vibrant colours and have nine ear piercings to give off a more youthful impression.

I look after my skin and quit smoking two and a half years ago to keep my complexion as clear as possible.

As a new mum, I’m still carrying some baby weight and am a size 18, but I’ve been slimmer and it hasn’t made me look any younger.

My wardrobe doesn’t help. If I dress like a 20-something, I worry that people, assuming I’m older, will think I’m mutton dressed as lamb. And young fashions just don’t suit me, which means I’m inclined to cover up in comfortable clothes. It’s a vicious circle.

Looking older than I am made me grow up more quickly. And many of my female friends are older than me because I feel I have more in common with them than other women my age.

As for my husband, Ash, he doesn’t care that I look older than him, but he likes to wind me up saying people will think he’s my toyboy. I know he loves me so I don’t mind his teasing. Anyway, it’s cool to look like a cougar nowadays, isn’t it?”

‘Colleagues question my capability’

Elizabeth Doherty is a 26-year-old PR executive from Loughton, Essex. 
She says: 

“It’s ironic that I live in a time when Botox, fillers and anti-ageing treatments are so common, yet I’m doing everything I can to look older. People think looking young must be amazing and, while it does have advantages, it’s annoying to be constantly mistaken for a teenager when you’re a professional woman in your 20s.

On a night out, I always bring my ID. Without it, I haven’t got a hope of getting into a bar or club. Bouncers, convinced I’m a schoolgirl, never fail to do a double take when they see my driver’s licence.

It’s not just door staff who think I’m underage. I get asked for ID at the cinema buying tickets for an ‘18’ film, and in shops when buying a ‘15’ DVD! Recently, I spent a few days in hospital for a skin infection, with no make-up on and my hair scraped back. The day I was discharged, I asked the doctor for a sick note. He thought it was for my teacher and was stunned when I said it was for my boss!

Elizabeth, age 16, with a friend

I’ve always looked younger than I am. At school, other girls’ bodies changed, while I still had a baby face and flat chest. When I was 17, I discovered straighteners and make-up, and I’d copy older girls to look more grown-up, but I could still have passed for 14.

Today, I’m 5ft 4in, a size 10 and a 32D, but my face has stayed the same. Even with smoky eyes, mascara and eyeliner, I still look 18. Of course I feel smug when my friends moan about lines and wrinkles, but I don’t take my smooth skin for granted and use a good moisturiser and suncream. When I see how expensive some anti-wrinkle creams are, I feel relieved that I don’t need to buy them. My mum Suzanne, 54, and nan Jean, 75, both have youthful skin, so I must have inherited their genes.

Although my face is childish, my body isn’t, so I shop in normal high-street stores. Even so, shop assistants look startled when I produce a credit card. They assume I’m a teen spending her pocket money!

Elizabeth, with boyfriend Luke

Despite the positives, my youthful looks are definitely a disadvantage in my career. Sometimes I feel that colleagues underestimate my intelligence and skills. And if I ever complain in a shop or restaurant, staff often think I’m too young to be taken seriously.

I have been with my boyfriend Luke, 30, a mature student, for a year but, when I was single, men my age rarely chatted me up because they thought I was too young to date. Even now, I get approached by cocky 17-year old boys and have to knock them back by revealing my real age.

If you think I’m lucky to look far younger than my years and should be grateful, think again!”

There’s nothing quite like a fancy-pants table lamp to brighten up a room and they don’t get more fancy-pants than this Bloomsbury Table Lamp, £60, bhs.co.uk.

With four tiers of different coloured jewels hanging from an antique brass-style frame this beauty is guaranteed to draw the eye – and when it does you can say, “What – that old thing? I picked it up in an Arabian street market and found the jewels myself from all over the world.” No one will question it for a second.

Ok, we’re slightly obsessed with Commander Chris Hadfield. The Canadian astronaut has been on our radar for the last five months as he’s tweeted live from space. Accumulating 740,000 Twitter followers by posting images and tweets about his journey, yesterday he posted the first ever music video from the International Space Station, an acoustic cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity.

The video is to mark the end of his mission as he is due to return to Earth tomorrow. We think it’s absolutely brilliant. It just shows, there’s no need for fancy video editing when there is no gravity.

Cape Town, South Africa, the glinting sun highlighting the water. twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield/…

— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) April 25, 2013

According to the calendar summer is round the corner (while according to the weather the Apocalypse isn’t far off) which can only mean one thing: IT’S FESTIVAL TIME.

Get things off to a fabulous start with As One In The Park – a glorious shindig on Sunday 26 May in Victoria Park, London, with Rita Ora, Conor Maynard, Katy B and Union J headlining.

Run by Orange Nation, the UK’s biggest gay clubbing promotions company this is guaranteed to be a damn good knees-up.

Check out asoneinthepark.co.uk for tickets and more info.

As the speedometer moves towards 200mph, the force of the acceleration is so strong it feels as though the pressure could take your head off.

When I first experienced the sensation last April, I pulled my car into the pits, heart pumping, convinced my helmet wasn’t on tightly enough. Afterwards, I mentioned it to a colleague, but he just smiled and said: “No, that’s what it’s like!”

There’s no feeling in the world that beats driving a Formula 1 car. Vibrations soar through your body, while the adrenalin rush is phenomenal. I have to do circuit training and Pilates every day to keep my arms, neck and core strong enough to cope with the force.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get anxious before I climb into the car but, once in, there’s no time for nerves. If you let fear in, bad things can happen because you start doubting yourself.

On a typical day, most of my time is spent in a simulator car. As a development driver for the Williams Formula 1 team, I test the cars and help improve their technology to make them the best they can be. The simulator is vital for this, as each F1 team is only allowed to test on a track for up to 20 days a year. So, it’s essential I have the skills to reach the same high speeds as the competing drivers.

I’ve loved racing since I was a child. My dad, John, now 62, owned a motorcycle shop and would race bikes himself. My older brother, David, now a film director, 31, and I would go to watch him with our mum, Sally, 58, who works with Dad. We’d beg our parents for £5 to go on the kart track nearby.

Thankfully, my mum and dad supported my passion and, when I was 11, I started racing karts every weekend. As I hit my teens, I had no time for cinema trips or shopping with friends, but I didn’t care.

Susie loves the adrenalin rush of F1

At 14, I was named British Woman Kart Racing Driver Of The Year and went on to win Top Female Kart Driver In The World in 2000. I’d promised my parents that I’d go to uni so, when I was 18, I went to Edinburgh to study international business. I lasted a year before confessing to Dad that I wanted to give it up to race full-time. He collected me that day.

I moved to a rented house in Silverstone, home of the famous racetrack, and got a job earning £5 an hour working as a marshal and selling kit in the shop.

I carried on racing professionally and gradually worked my way up the ranks from karts to driving for Formula Renault, Formula 3 and the German touring car series, DTM. Then, last April, I joined the Williams Formula 1 team, which was a dream come true.

I’m the only female driver in F1, but thankfully everyone at Williams has treated me as part of the team. That doesn’t mean I behave like a man to fit in – despite shapeless jumpsuits and messy helmet hair, I always have my nails painted and wear earrings.

When I used to race in DTM and Formula 3, I know male egos were dented by racing against – and getting beaten by – a woman. But I’ve never wanted to give up. Knowing some people think I shouldn’t be in racing because I’m female spurs me on. I don’t know when I’ll get to race in the highly competitive world of F1  but when that chance comes, I’ll grab it with both hands.

Btw

As a child, Susie used to race karts against Lewis Hamilton.

The only other female driver in F1, Maria de Villota, was forced to retire last year when she lost an eye after crashing in a test drive.

Tell us!

Do you have an experience to share? Email ithappened@fabulousmag.co.uk