Hasta La Gadget!

A picture says a thousand words, but on social media, they don’t always tell the whole story. 

It’s a point Carys Gray just proved on her Instagram account, busybeefitness. Her posts typically show off the results of her booty-focused fitness routine and reflect a body positive outlook, but a recent post that has nothing to do with her workouts really struck a chord with followers.

Gray posted two side-by-side photos on of her face last week, calling the post a reality check. The first image, she wrote, is “how you see me when my eczema is under control, I’ve done my makeup and I’m feeling sassy.” The second, she said, was taken “when my eczema isn’t under control, it’s very blotchy, sore and I can’t wear any makeup.”

The photos are “both me, both real and both totally acceptable,” she wrote. 

Gray acknowledged that social media is a great way to show “the good parts of people and their lives,” but she wanted to use this image to remind her 139,000 followers that what you see on social media is “not the full story, it’s not how that person will look or be alllllll the time!”

Indeed. Eczema is common skin condition that affects over 30 million Americans. Symptoms can include redness, itching, inflammation, oozing and swelling of the skin. Promising trials show that relief may be on the way for some, and there are dermatologist-approved remedies and products that help people with eczema cope. Still, there’s currently no cure. 

The condition is still “a big insecurity” for Gray, she admits, but she said she’s “learning to accept myself knowing that everyone has their own struggles and insecurities and that’s what makes us unique and special.”

Indeed. 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

New York Fashion Week wasn’t just about clothes this year ― it was also about the message. 

This February, designers finally began making some bold moves toward inclusivity and diversity. But other shows also became political acts of resistance, like when LSR sent models down the runway in clothes denouncing President Trump’s Muslim travel ban and proposed wall between Mexico and the U.S. Or when designers and models wore white bandanas to signal they were part of the opposition, and pink Planned Parenthood pins to show their support. 

No matter the action, however big or small, the fashion world made it clear it won’t tolerate the intolerance found in the current political climate. 

1. “F**k Your Wall” clothing. 

Mexican-born designer Raul Solis had a clear-cut message for Donald Trump in his LSR NYFW show. He printed “No Ban, No Wall” and “F**k Your Wall” on models’ underwear. Solis told Dazed Digital he opposed Trump’s wall because the designer’s family is “first generation Mexican and some had to migrate to the U.S., [so] this issue is something extremely personal to me.” 

2. Trolling Trump with his signature slogan.

Public School New York put a fun spin on Donald Trump’s campaign hat and made it their own. They put the slogan on a cropped sweatshirt and hats for the show.  

3. White bandanas for solidarity, unity and inclusiveness.

The news site Business of Fashion started the bandana movement to show solidarity during a time of turmoil. Designers like Tommy Hilfiger, Prabal Gurung, Tommy Hilfiger, Thakoon, Phillip Lim, and Diane von Furstenberg either incorporated the bandanas into their shows or simply wore them.  

4. “This Is Not America” music. 

Raf Simons’ Calvin Klein debut included a mix of David Bowie’s 1985 song, “This Is Not America.” Attendees were also given white bandanas to wear before the show started. 

5. Fashion’s Planned Parenthood stance. 

Thanks to a partnership between the CFDA and Planned Parenthood, over 40 designers joined forces to include PP pins at their shows. The pins were also given out to PR people, modeling agencies, influencers and press throughout NYFW, along with a pamphlet outlining all the services Planned Parenthood offers.

The HuffPost Lifestyle newsletter will make you happier and healthier, one email at a time. Sign up here.

type=type=RelatedArticlesblockTitle=Related… + articlesList=58a72043e4b037d17d273d83,58a4ae84e4b0ab2d2b1b9f35,58a5d1a4e4b045cd34bf625f

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – The British government on Monday defended its decision to offer U.S. President Donald Trump a lavish state visit and an audience with the queen this year, defying protests outside parliament and dissent from lawmakers.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s government wants to reaffirm the “special relationship” with the United States and secure a trade deal as Britain prepares to leave the European Union.

“In the light of America’s absolutely pivotal role we believe it entirely right that we should use all the tools at our disposal to build common ground with President Trump,” junior foreign minister Alan Duncan told parliament.

He described state visits as Britain’s “most important diplomatic tool,” saying Trump’s trip would go ahead as planned.

The visit has spurred 1.8 million people in Britain to sign a petition saying he should not be given a state visit because it could embarrass Queen Elizabeth.

As parliament debated that petition on Monday – a symbolic discussion which has no power to force the government to withdraw its invitation – around 7,000 protesters gathered outside with placards bearing slogans such as “Dump Trump, Fight Bigotry.”

“It’s about the rise of hate and extremism, which is personified by Trump. It’s not just about him, but he represents what’s happening in the world at the moment,” protester Alison Dale, 61, told Reuters.

“The invitation was kneejerk, and made us look desperate. Now we’re leaving the European Union, it’s clear we’re just desperate for trade deals, and we look weak.”

Since taking office in January, Trump has sparked global protests over plans to ban migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, and from women activists who call him misogynistic.

Trump says his immigration orders are aimed at protecting the United States and that his opponents have misrepresented his intentions.

Prime Minister May has said she will not consider canceling the visit. Managing the backlash adds to her diplomatic “to-do” list as she sets about reuniting a country divided over Brexit and negotiating a divorce with European trading partners.

RALLYING POINT

The debate, hosted in a packed side room of parliament rather than the main debating chamber, gave lawmakers a platform to air a wide range of views on Trump.

“It’s difficult to know whether to be appalled at the morality of this invitation, or just astonished at the stupidity of the invitation,” said Scottish National Party lawmaker Alex Salmond. Previously Trump has clashed with Salmond over his investments in Scotland.

Critics focused on accusations of sexism and referred to his immigration policies, while other lawmakers argued Trump should come to Britain, but should not be given the high honor of a state visit, which would involve lavish displays of royal pageantry and a banquet hosted by the queen.

Crispin Blunt, head of parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said a head-of-government visit by Trump would be appropriate this year but a full state visit should wait until 2020, the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers’ settlement in New England.

“If we don’t take the hype out of this debate, with all the people who signed this petition, there is every possibility that of course this visit is then going to become a rallying point for everybody who is unhappy both with the direction of American policy, or British policy or anything else,” he said.

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

A Texas girl got a lot more than fotos y recuerdos after her parents threw her a Selena-themed birthday bash that’s gone viral. 

Ayvah Vega celebrated her sixth birthday with a party inspired by the Queen of Tejano music. The celebration went viral after her father, Alex, and mother, Belinda, uploaded photos of the event on Facebook last week. 

Alex Vega told The Huffington Post that his daughter’s love for Selena began last fall when she found a video of the singer on YouTube.

“She saw a couple of videos and she just got really intrigued by her music,” Vega said. “But I think what caught her eye the most was the way Selena was dancing. The moves that Selena did, back in the day, they don’t do that today.” 

Ayvah, who has always loved to sing and dance, then began to search for more videos of Selena and started blasting “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and other hits at home. When it came time to plan her birthday party, on Feb. 12, she told her parents she wanted the theme to be Selena. 

“She just fell in love with Selena,” Vega told HuffPost. 

The 6-year-old’s bash included a concert stage, a custom-made Selena piñata, themed cookies and a three-tier cake topped with a Selena figurine. Ayvah even wore a replica of Selena’s famous purple jumpsuit to her party.  

Vega said he and his wife knew putting together the event would be a “huge challenge” but they had plenty of help from family and friends. Still, many of the decorations had to be custom-made for the event, including a piñata he believes his wife ordered from Mexico.

But her father said the “one unfortunate thing” Ayvah doesn’t know because she’s six is that Selena is dead. Despite the fact the ‘90s biopic “Selena” is one of Ayvah’s favorite films, Vega says his little girl thinks Selena’s death in the movie is fake.  

“We still think she believes that Selena is alive,” he told HuffPost. “We haven’t told her the truth yet because she assumes movies are movies and they aren’t real sometimes.” 

Even before the singer’s death, Ayvah’s parents were fans of Selena and Belinda even saw her perform once. Vega said he’s glad to see that more than two decades after the Tejano singer’s death, new generations are discovering and falling in love with her music and legacy.

“I just think the new generation of Selena fans that are about to start is amazing,” Vega said. “To see the music carry on, it’s been 20 years [since Selena’s death] and it’s still being played today. I hear it on the radio from time to time. To kind of envision and imagine future birthday parties happening like this, I think it’s awesome.” 

— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Adult Swim Australia promised the first look at the opening for season 3 of Rick and Morty. I got excited, because this has been a long time coming, and I was pumped to see what happens next. And then it rick rolled me.

Read more…