One of the weirder things about being a human is that we rarely ever get to see our actual selves. Even if we look into a mirror, we’re seeing a backward reflection, a reverse image, not what other people see. (Hence the popularity of the “true mirror,” which sometimes makes people cry when they see what they really look like.)
Photos certainly don’t help. All it takes is one bad angle, some off lighting, a distorting camera lens or an unflattering split-second facial expression to have us wondering, “OMG is that what I really look like?”
No, it’s not. Because the truth is, beauty and body image messaging aside, we are all uniquely gorgeous in our own way and photos rarely captures our true essence. Some of that can’t be helped, but there are ways we can get closer to that goal. After all, photographs of us will last long beyond our bodies, so wouldn’t it be nice if we could confidently say to our descendants, “Yeah, that was me, in all my human glory”?
While a photograph will always fall short of the real you, here are some tips for making pictures that capture your best essence as much as possible, whether you’re taking a selfie or someone else is behind the camera.
1. Relax.
Easier said than done, I know, but most of us tend to stiffen up for photos. Shake your body out. Roll your shoulders. It only takes a couple of seconds to consciously let go of the tension, and it can make a huge difference in how the camera captures you.
2. Think of something genuinely joyful.
If you need to smile for a photo, stop thinking about smiling, and just think of something that always makes you smile. Better yet, think of something hilarious to get yourself smile-laughing. The best smiles are real smiles, and real smiles aren’t poses—they come from within.
3. Turn your head to the right.
It’s hard enough to make a 3D face into a 2D image and do it justice, so might as well take advantage of all the little tricks to capture the best of our faces. Research shows that the left side of our faces is usually the more flattering side, so why not make the most of it? And this isn’t just about looking better on the surface. The left cheek shows more emotion—or in other words, the realer you.
4. Lean in.
Not only does leaning forward create more flattering angles for the camera, it also draws people into your photo. There’s some subtle psychology behind this advice, but it works. It makes your face the focal point of the picture, which is what you want.
5. Look with love—and light—in your eyes
Remember that when you look at the camera, you’re not actually looking at a camera—you’re looking at a person who will someday be looking at you. So take a second to picture them and look at them with love (not talking romantic love, here—human love, philia love, agape love). You’ll be amazed at how much more real you appear in photos with this one simple mindset shift.
Also, try to make sure there’s a light source in front of you, whether it’s a window or a lamp, to catch the twinkle in your eye. We see people’s eyes twinkle all the time in real life, but photos only capture that if there’s a light source.
6. Take lots and lots of photos.
It’s not vain to take lots of photos, it’s smart, since you’ll have a much greater chance of actually getting a pic that represents you if you take a bunch of them. Change poses and expressions in between takes. And don’t be afraid to move around—we look better and more natural when we’re in motion anyway.
7. Don’t be afraid of editing
Too many people believe that editing a photograph somehow makes the photo less real. It’s actually the opposite. The goal is to capture what our eyes see, but no camera captures exactly what our eyes see. Professional photographers almost always edit photos; in fact, it’s a huge part of the art of photography. Even in the old pre-digital days of darkrooms, photographers used various techniques to adjust lighting and exposure as they processed their images, and photo retouching has been around since the mid-1800s.
Obviously, applying a totally unrealistic beauty filter to your face isn’t the ideal here, but adjusting the exposure, brightness, warmth, etc. to make a photo look more like you and not you-in-bad-lighting is 100% okay. Just remember you are editing to make it feel more like you, not look less like the real you.
When people are ready to leave a relationship, many feel pressure to have a compelling reason. There are reasons that no one will disagree with, such as a partner’s abuse, infidelity, or trouble getting along with family.
But what if you just aren’t feeling the relationship anymore, or don’t think they appreciate all you have to offer? Those can be perfectly fine reasons, too. It’s totally fine to break up with someone over reasons that some may find trivial.
It’s your life; you can’t live it with your chosen people.
A Reddit user named Grand_Gate_8836 asked the AskWomen forum, “What is a very underrated reason for breaking up with your significant other?” and many women shared that they broke up with their partners because they just weren’t feeling the relationship. Others brought up reasons that people may not have had in the past, such as pornography addiction, immaturity and spending too much time playing video games.
On a deeper level, the discussion made many women who feel insecure about their reasons for leaving someone feel a lot better about following their hearts.
Here are 15 of the best “underrated” reasons for breaking up with one’s significant other.
1. Mental health
“I think bad mental health can be a big reason for splitting from someone. Nobody tells you how lonely it can get to be with someone who has mental health issues. It can take years for you to understand them and then eventually realize that you can’t help them until they choose to help themselves. This is due to severe unawareness around mental health issues I feel.” — Grand_Gate8836
2. They don’t find you attractive
“At the risk of sounding petty: they don’t 100% love the way you look, even if they try to spin it in a positive way. I mean statements like ‘she’s not beautiful but I love her personality and sense of humor”‘or ‘she’s a 5 on a good day but I guess so am I’ or ‘she’s not what I’d consider my type but there’s something about her.’ I appreciate honesty as much as one can, but in my opinion, this is just depressing. Beauty comes in so many different shapes and forms. How can someone not find it in a person they claim to love? To me it basically means your SO is settling for you and will be forever comparing you to some kind of ideal you don’t match.” — JankyRobot42069
3. Not the outdoorsy-type
“I broke up with someone who had very conflicting interests and hobbies to mine and assumed I would just be on board with taking them up with him. I like the outdoors. I do not like devoting every weekend to hiking.” — Justwannaread3
“Imo, this is so underrated. ‘I enjoy X, but I do not enjoy devoting all of my free time to X.’ is absolutely valid in and of itself. And leaving someone who doesn’t grasp that is so much better for mental health in the long run.” — DragonFlySunrise
4. Different goals
“You know, one thing that doesn’t get talked about enough is having different life goals and values as a reason to break up with someone. It’s not just about whether you both like the same movies or enjoy the same hobbies. It’s about where you see yourself going in life and what you believe in. Imagine you’re super into traveling the world and experiencing new cultures, but your partner is more about settling down in one place and building a stable career. It might not seem like a big deal at first, but over time, those differences can really start to wear on the relationship. You might find yourself feeling like you’re not on the same page about the important stuff, like where you want to live or what you want to prioritize in life. So yeah, having different life goals and values might not be the most obvious reason to break up, but it can definitely be a deal-breaker if you’re not aligned in those areas.” — Good1Mufferaw
“It never ceases to amaze me that people ignore compatibility issues. It’s the most important feature in a relationship. And marriages that continue regardless of how whack the lack of compatibility is.” — Savagefluerelis23
5. You’re not happy
“They’re just not making you happy. You’re just not happy with them, and you deep down feel you could be happier elsewhere either alone or with someone else. They’re a good, kind person, a responsible adult, etc, but they’re not “it” for you. This is often considered a trivial reason to end a relationship or marriage but it’s such a BIG DEAL. You should want to be happy and should want them to be happy too! You know when you’re not happy. This idea that you should only leave a partnership or friendship because of something deemed “more serious” doesn’t feel right to me. One of the hardest things is walking away from someone who is not abusing you, is really good on paper but it just NOT doing it for you because society will always shame people and especially women for leaving because of unhappiness. That inkling feeling underneath of ‘they might not be it for me,’ we are taught to just not listen to ourselves.” — The_Philosophied
6. Bros came first
“He prioritized his friends over me. I think prioritizing friends and family are important, but it got to a point where I was miserable. We were both mid-thirties, and he wanted to go to parties and bars all the time to see his friends. We never had quality time together. It reached its breaking point when my aunt suffered cardiac arrest and was airlifted from 700km away to the hospital in my city. Instead of coming to the hospital with me, or even emotionally supporting me when I went to be with her, he went to the bar and got drunk. I didn’t even get a text or call for 24 hrs he just disappeared. When I got upset, he said, ‘Seeing Dave is more important, he’s my friend’ I broke up with him the next day. My aunt died a few hours later.” — MeatCat88
7. Pornography
“Porn addiction. Society has brainwashed people into thinking this is normal behavior.” — 1989sBiggestFan13
“This is what killed my relationship with my ex-fiance after 7 years. I genuinely thought I was asexual — nope. He just watched so much, such intense porn (even when I was putting out) that I stopped having any sexual interest at all.” — Arwynn
8. Conspiracy theories
“There wasn’t an insane conspiracy theory this dude didn’t believe. …The first one he told me: on our second date was around the time of the Miami Mall incident. He truly believed 8ft tall shadow aliens invaded the Miami Mall and the government was keeping hush about it. His further conspiracy was that the government was overrun by ‘replaced people’ basically aliens pretending to be people.” — SinfullySInless
9. Video games
“Video games are far more important than spending time with their partner. I‘m a very simple person. I don’t care about gifts or having money spent on me. Let’s go for a walk in the park, just spend some time with me. My ex-husband would find any excuse to not spend time with me. The most common was ‘gas costs money, I’d rather hang out at home.’ His idea of ‘hanging out’ was him playing video games with his online friends while I sat quietly watching TV, but with the volume super low so his friends wouldn’t be ‘distracted.’ God forbid I laughed at all, he’d get so mad at me for it.” — NatAttack89
10. Peter Pan syndrome
“Peter Pan syndrome. When my 60-year-old boyfriend told me (53F) the reason he had not 1 dollar saved for his retirement is because he is a ‘risk taker’ and I’m not, I realized I’d have to support him for the rest of his life while he looked down on me for it and walked away.” — Slosee
11. Domestic burden imbalance
“Incompatible cleaning habits. Seems like an easy thing to remedy but in reality different standards of cleanliness will create an uneven burden of domestic labor for the partner with higher standards, or create a living environment in which that partner is uncomfortable, or create a situation where the partner with lower standards feels constantly berated/nagged to do something they don’t see as benefitting them in any way. I know multiple couples who broke up at or just before the ‘moving in’ stage for this reason, and I think it’s a super valid way to decide you’re not compatible in a long-term domestic relationship.” — Angstyaspen
12. Stuck in a rut
“Disinterest in trying or experiencing new things and only sticking with what they know. If you’re someone who enjoys trying new restaurants, going to events, exploring new cultural experiences, etc and your partner is content to sit at home in their comfort zone, it eventually gets frustrating. I refused to date someone because of this mentality. If it wasn’t happening within a few miles of his house, he wasn’t terribly excited about doing it. Also, men who think basketball or gym shorts are acceptable casual attire.” — Edjennersmilkmaid
13. Fell out of love
“Because you don’t love them anymore. I say this is an underrated reason because so many people think they need a catalyst event in order to justify breaking up. But if you’re not happy and the relationship isn’t fulfilling, that’s a solid enough reason.” — Lydviciousss
14. Immaturity
“It felt like parenting. Like I was hanging out with a kid all the time. I was doing all the work, all the driving, all the planning. Like I was managing a child. ‘This ain’t my job.'” — K19081985
15. Geographically undesirable
“Not agreeing on where you want to live. I’ve seen people start a relationship while one or both was living abroad, thinking ‘We’ll figure it out.’ But actually building a life and having kids somewhere far from your own roots, or just in a place you don’t really like, is a lot.” — Princess Sophia Black
Have you noticed that clouds are looking a bit different than you remember them when you were younger? Less fluffy and more wispy? Fewer billowing clouds against a bold, blue sky and more washed out skies with see-through cloud patterns?
There have always been different kinds of clouds, of course, but people are remarking that something seems to have changed, which has led to all kinds of conspiracy theories. Combined with the debunked theories about contrails being “chemtrails,” a whole new wave of suspicions about our skies is taking hold. Some people say it’s all in their heads, but others are insistent that the sky just isn’t the same.
There is a scientific explanation for why clouds might actually be changing, but not one that conspiracy-minded folks are going to like. It’s most likely due to climate change, as climate scientists predicted that these cloud changes would be coming years ago.
First, let’s look at the different kinds of clouds and where they form in the atmosphere. Those billowy, cartoon-like cumulus clouds we all enjoy are formed at lower altitudes, while the wispy cirrus or spotty cirrocumulus clouds that make the sky look washed out or mottled are formed higher up in the stratosphere. In reality, all different cloud types are common, but climate change is making those higher, wispier ones more common.
In 2016, Dr. Ilissa Ocko explained that models had predicted that climate change would push clouds higher in the sky and scientists were starting to see evidence of it happening. Ocko, who earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at Princeton University, wrote, “A warmer Earth elevates clouds because the troposphere, the lowest layer of our atmosphere where weather occurs, can extend higher with a hotter surface.” As the
Not only are higher cloud formations an effect of climate change, but they also contribute to it. While clouds reflect the sun’s light, higher clouds also trap heat, potentially accelerating the warming of the planet’s surface. As Ocko explained:
“Anything that absorbs energy must also re-emit energy. How much is released depends on the temperature of the object.
Heat absorbed and then re-emitted by low clouds that are close to the ground is similar to the heat emitted by the surface because the temperature of the ground and the cloud are similar.
But the higher the cloud is in the sky, the colder it is. So when these high clouds absorb Earth’s heat, they re-emit it at a much lower temperature, forming a blanket that traps heat in the climate system similar to how greenhouse gases trap heat.”
So what we end up with, in theory, is a self-perpetuating issue of higher cloud formation both being propelled by and amplifying climate change.
However, the science is still very much in flux when it comes to clouds and climate change. Predictive models aren’t perfect, and some phenomena scientists expected have played out differently in real life, both for better and for worse. For instance, more recent research shows that trade cumulus clouds, which help cool the Earth, are affected less than expected by a warming atmosphere. That’s good news. On the other hand, scientists have also found that mixed-phase clouds, which were predicted to have a dampening effect on climate change, don’t help as much as they thought, especially when temperature rise accelerates. That’s not good news.
There are a lot of cloud-climate change connections and scientists are continuously looking for clues and possibilities for how clouds can help or hinder our efforts to battle the climate crisis.
But what about the contrails that some folks erroneously call “chemtrails”? Despite being a well-known phenomenon of clouds formed from the condensation of a jet’s exhaust, they too play a role in climate change. Contrails form when the humidity and temperature the plane is flying through are right (cold and humid), and the troposphere where modern planes fly provide tend to provide those conditions.
Thankfully, the aviation industry is testing ways to best reduce contrails, including flying at different altitudes. There are tradeoffs with fuel consumption, so a balance has to be struck, but as we learn more there will surely be more innovations that help.
The bottom line is that yes, clouds may actually be different from what we remember in our youth, but it’s not because of anything nefarious or suspicious. It’s most likely what scientists have seen coming for years and we are now seeing the effects of—climate change. All the more reason for us to take action to slow it down now.
Recently a TikTok user who goes by Jahelis went viral for claiming “Saturday Night Live” has never hired “a hot woman” during the entire run of its show.
Well, the ladies of “SNL” caught wind of Jahelis’s insensitive remarks, and let’s just say they’re having the last laugh.
In the nearly four minute video, Jahelis clarifies “I’m not saying that every single woman who has been a cast member on SNL is ugly. It’s just that none of them have ever been, like, hot.… They all just kind of have looks that eventually grow on you.”
She then proposed the “theory” that this is because society can’t accept that “super beautiful women” can also be funny, followed by a slew of out-of-touch observations to seemingly prove this her pseudo-analysis.
Jahelis first pulled up a picture of Heidi Gardner (whom Jahelis couldn’t even name) claiming Gardner often plays the “super hot and super dumb” girl in sketches, even though “no offense, she’s not that pretty.”
Jahelis surmised this must be because “I guess technically the most conventional hot female on this cast.”
To really drive her point home, Jahelis then went on to note that Jimmy Fallon, Andy Sandberg, Jason Sudeikis “even Bowen” Yang as “relatively hot men,” as if to suggest this injustice of hiring average looking people was one-sided.
But hey, at least she conceded that Maya Rudolph was “really beautiful.” Sadly, while Kristin Wiig “very conventionally attractive,” she still didn’t make the cut for “hot,” apparently.
It didn’t take long for the rant to make its way to actual female “SNL” cast members, who responded in rare form.
Sarah Sherman, replied on X with this tongue-in-cheek post: “Just found out I’m not hot. Please give me and my family space to grieve privately and uglily at this time.”
just found out i’m not hot. please give me and my family space to grieve privately and uglily at this time. https://t.co/YXvXMGvbYN
— Macro-Data Refiner #88 (@RadioFreePav) April 2, 2024
“Ego Nwodim is literally drop dead gorgeous,” one person commented.
“Have you SEEN CHLOE FINEMAN?! She’s so gorgeous,” another said.
I feel like the OP is just looking for GIFS of hot SNL ladies so I’m happy to oblige because I too like looking at hilarious, gorgeous ladies … who else should be here, folks? https://t.co/6WLaN3p47vpic.twitter.com/bAz7Lk96Q3
— Aislinn O’Loughlin – BIG BAD ME is out now!!! (@AshiLockie) April 1, 2024
Other perplexed reactions include:
“Kate McKinnon??!!! Melissa Villasenor?! Amy Poehler?!?? Kristen Wig?!!! helloOoOo.”
“Kate McKinnon is unironically one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever seen.”
“Julia Louis Dreyfus is one of the hottest women of all time?”
“back to my theory where people don’t like it when super beautiful women are funny”
— Kristi Yamaguccimane (@TheWapplehouse) April 2, 2024
And perhaps this comment really sums it all up: “normalize journaling.”
Sure, we want to be able to express ourselves, and part of TikTok’s charm is being able to give those raw, unfiltered opinions. But degrading other people to make a point is probably not the best use of the platform. Luckily, nobody took this “hot take” too seriously.
Drake held a recent concert at the Prudential Center in New Jersey and had some interesting words for a woman in the crowd after spotting her. According to Complex, it is still unclear how Drake got his sights on her, whether she had a poster or not — but he wanted to help out with her love life.
“I’m going to get you a good lawyer, and we gon’ pay for your divorce tonight,” he said as she flashed on the jumbotron responding back. “You gon’ be single and ready to mingle.”
The Toronto rapper went on to make it very clear he was interested once she is separated because he described her as “fine as hell” and thought she needed “to be single out here.” Even if he wasn’t the one to be with her, he offered to play cupid with anyone else in the crowd.
“Aye, and while you at it, you need to find you somebody to take you out on a date, too,” he added. “I’ll pay for the date, too.”
For those heading to an upcoming stop at Drake’s It’s All A Blur – Big As the What? Tour, the odds of him setting you up for a date next have just increased by a lot.
Check out the viral clip of Drake offering to help with a fan’s divorce fees and getting her back out on the dating scene below.
Taylor Swift took to social media tonight to remind fans that it’s only a “fortnight” (two weeks) until her new album The Tortured Poets Department drops on April 19. Earlier today in celebration, she also released some special playlists to Apple Music that divide her previous music into the different stages of heartbreak.
These include “I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life” (Denial), “You Don’t Get to Tell Me About Sad” (Anger), “Am I Allowed To Cry?” (Bargaining), “Old Habits Die Screaming” (Depression), and “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” (Acceptance).
In each playlist to set the tone of what Swift’s upcoming album will detail, seemingly in the loss of her relationship with Joe Alwyn, she also included some voice notes that provide more insight into her mindset.
“I wrote them while feeling anger,” Swift said about the group of songs in her “You Don’t Get To Tell Me About Sad” playlist. “Over the years I’ve learned that anger can manifest itself in a lot of different ways, but the healthiest way that it manifests itself in my life is when I can write a song about it and then oftentimes that helps me get past it.”
Check out Taylor Swift’s five voice notes for her new Apple Music playlists below.
| ALL 5 voice memos from Taylor Swift for her Apple Music playlists! #TSTTPD
Despite going through much of the second half of the season without OG Anunoby and Julius Randle, the New York Knicks are still in the hunt for the 2-seed in the Eastern Conference. While Jalen Brunson is the driving force behind the team’s success, a major contributor is Josh Hart, whose defense, rebounding, and playmaking have provided a much-needed lift.
New York went to Chicago on Friday night hoping to pick up a win over a team that has already clinched a spot in the Play-In Tournament, and as an added boost, Anunoby is back for the first time since mid-March. But with a little more than 30 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Hart had to leave the game after he flailed his left leg out and caught Javonte Green in the side of the head.
While it definitely looked like it hurt, Green was fortunately able to stay in the game and knock down a pair of free throws after this. As for Hart, he got hit with a Flagrant 2, and even though it did not seem like he was intentionally trying to kick Green’s head, that ended up not mattering in the eyes of the officials.
At the time of his ejection, Hart had a rebound and an assist in 11 minutes of work.
St. Vincent recently appeared on BBC Radio 2, where she shared her strong thoughts about the fact that people shouldn’t cover a favorite song of hers — especially if you’re auditioning for American Idol.
“Leonard Cohen‘s ‘Hallelujah’ is one of the best songs ever written, period,” St. Vincent shared. “It’s an absolute masterpiece, it took them however many years to write. The song itself is about the complication that it is to be alive, and the agony and the ecstasy and all of the inherent conflict therein.”
“You know how, for a period of time, it became a song that people would cover on American Idol?” she added. “They’d sing it and just be like ‘hallelujah, hallelujah.’ It’s just the worst thing in the world.”
“That is the worst thing in the world” Safe to say St Vincent isn’t a fan of people covering Hallelujah Listen to St Vincent’s chat with Jo Whiley on BBC Sounds #stvincent#hallelujah#hallelujahcover#jowhiley
Later in the interview, she talked to the show’s host about her upcoming album, All Born Screaming, which she announced back in February with a lead single. Her tour tied to it also kicks off next month with the release, and after this, she likely won’t be putting a cover of “Hallelujah” on the setlist. (Just in case any fans had been hoping to hear a crossover.)
Check out the clip of St. Vincent talking about Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” above.
All Born Screaming is out 4/26 via Virgin Music Group. Find more information here.
French Polynesia is one of the most spectacular places on the planet. Yes, it’s well-known for honeymooners, but forget all that. Speaking personally, I find it empowering to achieve your travel bucket list purely because it’s what your heart desires.
Among the many bungalows-on-stilts options found in French Polynesia — and there are tons — The Brando stands out due to its dedication to environmental stewardship through a partnership with an on-site ecological nonprofit. It doesn’t hurt that some of our favorite celebritie love visiting the remote luxurious private island in the South Pacific (30 miles north of Tahiti)… or that it’s mosquito-free due to a sterilization program.
I recently spent a week lapping in luxury with daily cultural and wildlife excursions around the Tetiaroa Atoll where The Brando is based and loved every moment — even the rainy ones, which I made the most of in my private outdoor bubble bath. Read my full review of the property below.
WHY IT’S AWESOME
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
Since its opening a decade ago, Beyoncé, Leonardo DiCaprio, Britney Spears, President Barack Obama, Margot Robbie, Pete Davidson, and more have visited The Brando. But this resort is so much more than an A-List celebrity’s favorite private island resort in French Polynesia — it’s one of the most luxurious eco-resorts on Earth. The Brando showcases how luxury tourism can foster research programs to protect endangered species without negatively impacting an opulent experience for guests.
Late actor Marlon Brando, who shot scenes for “Mutiny on the Bounty” in French Polynesia, leased the atoll for 99 years to create a sustainable haven. The property, named in his honor, opened in 2014 and does exactly that, with a core mission of sustainable hospitality. The Brando has a long list of eco-achievements including being the first resort in the world to obtain LEED Platinum certification. Other eco projects include airstrip solar panels for energy and hot water heating, as well as the Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) system which pulls frigid deep sea water from 3,000 feet below the surface for cooling purposes. These efforts have reduced the energy demand by nearly 70%. Wastewater is used for sustainable irrigation.
And there’s no room for greenwashing — the hotel’s efforts are verified by third parties such as Beyond Green, a global portfolio of planet Earth’s most sustainable properties.
Guests can join the complimentary Green Tour to see first-hand all of the green projects that make The Brando a global leader in sustainable accommodations. The tour is led by guides from the on-site Ecostation operated by the Tetiaroa Society — a non-profit with conservation, research, educational, and guided programs. Scientific scholars conduct research programs on the atoll including coral reef ecology, a green sea turtle conservation program, coral and fish replenishment in the on-site lagoon, an ocean acidification program, and mosquito population control. The Tetiaroa Atoll Restoration Program is an ongoing initiative focusing on the removal of invasive species, such as rats, to restore seabird populations in turn establishing the Tetiaroa Atoll as a sanctuary for seabirds, green sea turtles, and coconut crabs.
IN HOUSE FOOD + DRINK
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
As expected, the world-class resort has an exceptional food and beverage program. French Chef Jean Imbert fuses Polynesian and French flavors. There’s also a traditional Japanese teppanyaki grill at Nami, which also serves sushi. It’s a tiny restaurant with only select seats available around the grill so be sure to reserve your dinner here in advance.
Les Mutinés is a unique dining experience — the restaurant is set inside a ship-like building to bring to life the “Mutiny on the Bounty ” maritime adventure that Brando starred in. The fine dining tasting menu is inspired by the famed ship’s travels and is a multi-dimensional sensory experience. I loved the dessert of chocolates in a treasure trove. Have an after-dinner drink at the elevated Te Manu Bar.
By day enjoy some of Marlon Brando’s favorite cocktails at Bob’s Bar — named after the bar where Marlon used to throw a few back. The ‘Dirty Old Bob’ is the signature cocktail made with whiskey, honey, pineapple, lime, mint, and egg whites. I loved the Polynesian Old Fashioned with rum, ginger, spicy honey, and chocolate bitters. The cocktails are included in your stay so make your way through the whole menu during your time at The Brando. As it’s a humid destination, stay hydrated with a daily fresh coconut.
You can have lunch at the bar or by the pool enjoying dishes like sandwiches, curries, and burgers. The casual Beachcomber Cafe is also open for lunch and serves South Pacific culinary staples. Additionally, you can order room service any time of day — I enjoyed breakfast in my private outdoor dining area each morning.
If you feel peckish during the day don’t worry, your room mini bar, which is included in the price, is restocked frequently with everything from coconut chips to mini bottles of Champagne.
AMENITIES
Courtesy of The Brando
The Brando is the epitome of barefoot luxury. I truly left my shoes behind while staying here — you can get anywhere on the motu (local word for islet) on foot by following the paved paths or walking on the sandy shore. But if you’re going to take one of the beach cruiser bicycles that come with each guest room, be smart and wear closed-toe shoes. Accidents happen, even in paradise!
Varua, meaning “soul,” perpetuates the wellness tradition established on the island by the royal family who would vacation here and undergo beauty and relaxation rituals. Varau Spa is surrounded by a tranquil lagoon and brings nature into all elements of the treatment experience from birds-nest-shaped changing rooms to open-air shalas and natural local ingredients to traditional Polynesian wellness experiences.
Treat yourself to a spa treatment in a private villa. It is as close to life-changing as spa treatments get.
ROOM TYPES
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
The all-inclusive resort features 36 villas equipped with a private beach area, a private plunge pool, a private outdoor tub, and a beach hammock tied between the palms making The Brando the epitome of luxurious exclusivity. Encircled by a coral reef, all villas are ocean-facing and have a house reef.
I stayed in a one-room villa that was larger than any apartment I’ve ever lived in. I honestly didn’t even utilize the separate living room, complete with a sitting area, a large desk, and a TV. I tried to be outside enjoying the beach and sunshine as much as possible. The massive one-bedroom has a dining area, a couch, and a separate bedroom with a walk-through dressing area that adjoins the bedroom to the massive bathroom with a waterfall shower, two sinks, and an outdoor private bathtub.
Throughout the villa, decor elements are rooted in nature from the dark wood bed frame to the exposed thatch roof.
BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A 15-MINUTE WALK
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
There’s an extensive program of complimentary Polynesian cultural experiences at The Brando and I strongly suggest folding as many of them as you can into your itinerary as it helps deepen the understanding and connection of this special part of the world. The cultural exchange program includes a hybrid Ori Tahiti dance and To’ere, and Pahu drum classes.
Prefer to use your hands? Book the ancestral coconut palm weaving demonstration or learn how to dye and tie a pareo.
Try to pull yourself away from your private dipping pool to get out in the ocean — you can snorkel right from the beach outside of your villa. Paddleboards and canoes are also available. Book the Archeological Tour to zip around the island by bicycle with a naturalist guide who will tell you about French Polynesia’s history as they show you sacred ancestral sites around the island including places of worship.
THE BEST THING TO DO/EAT/DRINK WITHIN AN HOURS DRIVE
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
Tahitian royalty used to vacation on the Tetiaroa Atoll which is easy to understand as the atoll still retains its pristine white sand beaches and crystalline waters. Included in your stay are several aquatic adventures. Don’t miss the Tetiaroa Ultimate Tour which stops at a natural bay where Polynesian queens once bathed and scrubbed their skin with the ultra-soft white sand — dubbed the “Billionaire’s Pool” by DiCaprio. There are also snorkeling tours to see marine life including black-tip reef sharks.
Most trips to the luxury resort include an overnight at the InterContinental Tahiti Resort & Spa due to the timings of international flights. Make the most of your stopover and stay in the only overwater bungalows on the island of Tahiti and attend the dinner show — you’ll be mesmerized by the cultural performance. Dinner is a buffet and not all that exciting but the performance is spectacular and it would be a shame to visit Polynesia without seeing traditional Polynesian dance.
BED GAME
Courtesy of The Brando
Would I sound too dramatic if I said it’s the best bed I’ve ever slept in? Comparing it to a cloud wouldn’t even do this bed justice — it was if it was specifically formulated for my body. You shouldn’t expect less for a bed that costs several thousand dollars a night to sleep in. I loved that when I woke up in the morning I could simply press a button to automatically raise the curtains and see directly out into the lagoon without getting out of the king-sized bed.
Rating: 10/10
SEXINESS FACTOR
People Magazine
Let’s just say that Britney Spears tends to get naked and frolic around The Brando and share pictures of herself enjoying the luxe hideout in her birthday suit on her currently defunct Instagram account. She also shot a recent People Magazine cover there. That’s how seriously they take privacy here. During my stay, there was only one time that someone walked past my villa on a beach stroll. French legislation is applied in the French territories so laying out topless is essentially legal and I felt comfortable doing so at my private pool. French laws being in effect in French Polynesia is also why the destination is considered queer-friendly as same-sex marriage is legal in France, and therefore in French Polynesia as well.
There’s also a private outdoor tub (that is fenced in) which is très sexy, if I may say so myself.
Rating: 10/10
THE VIEWS & PICS SPOTS
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
With endless stretches of aquamarine waters and silky soft white sand there aren’t many parts of the private island paradise that aren’t photogenic. I enjoyed capturing moments of the cultural exchange experiences mentioned above and the day tours. As the queens once did, I scrubbed myself with the silky white scrub — and asked my guide to take a picture of me doing so. I didn’t do as Kim Kardashian did and climb the tree that’s somehow stuck in the middle of the bay — it’s covered in aquatic life so it’s best to avoid touching it.
Rating: 10/10
BEST SEASON TO VISIT
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
I regretted not planning my trip around one of my dream bucket list experiences — to swim with humpback whales!
French Polynesia is one of the only places in the world where it’s legal to do so and I trust that The Brando would lead a tour that prioritizes the whale’s wellbeing. Learn from my mistake, if you dream of swimming with whales plan your visit between August and October. For a chance to see sea turtles nesting and the release of sea turtle hatchlings visit between September and May. I got to partake in a dawn release of sea turtles — something I’ve done dozens of times and still fills me with delight. Beyond wildlife, the best season to visit for the best weather is in the summer from July to October.
IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING
Courtesy of Lola Méndez
The food options are going to feel pretty repetitive if you have dietary restrictions like I do. For such a hefty-priced resort, it’s a shame they don’t provide more variety for plant-based eaters. But the dishes I did have were fantastic, even if I ended up eating some of the same things every day, a bit of a bummer when you’re on vacation.
BOOK HERE
Rates start at $4,910 per night for two guests and are all-inclusive. I know that seems astronomical but when you break it down per person and consider the ultra-luxury accommodation, all of the included tours, and the endless cocktails $2,455 a night per person seems understandable. There’s a two-night minimum and currently, if you book four nights, the fifth night is free.
Months after Nicki Minaj and Sexyy Red collaborated on the latter’s “Pound Town 2” song, Minaj hopped onto social media today with the hopes of getting back in the studio for the remix of “FTCU.”
“You got your verse for #FTCU?” Minaj tweeted. “Finna drop the remix @SexyyRed314_ Left #PoundTown to go #FTCU a remix for a remix.” Sexyy Red then responded a few hours later: “Song + Video.”
Here’s what to know about when fans can expect it to come out.
When Will Nicki Minaj & Sexyy Red’s ‘FTCU’ Remix Come Out?
Right now, there is not a clear release date for Nicki Minaj’s remix of “FTCU” with Sexyy Red. Now that Minaj and Sexyy Red are on the same page about doing a song and a music video together, it shouldn’t be too long until fans will be able to hear it.
“Miss lady, bring the kids & the stroller that’s all I got to offer right now. a play date,” Nicki shared. “Let somebody film us b*$h sexy know DANG well we on tour in #gagcity Barbz. send me that verse right away pls ma’am. It’s a superstar (or 2) on there as well. GET IT SEXY!!!!!!”
Check out Nicki Minaj and Sexyy Red’s Twitter convo.
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