More Brits than ever before are crossing the channel for the sole reason of snow - but where’s the best place for you to ski this season?

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, over 1.8 million of us are trekking our way across the world in pursuit of powder. 52% choose France as their location of choice – mainly due to factors such as distance and cost.

But where should you take yourself this winter? I’ll save you the hassle. I delve into the pros and cons of the three main locations you should be considering before your next ski adventure.

Where would you go? Have you been to any of these resorts? Do you think there are other worthy candidates? Let us know!

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With cheap plane tickets and a flurry of social media attention, more Britons are attempting the ‘extreme day trip’. But, what actually is this new travel trend and is it really a viable way of seeing the world.

It certainly isn’t for everyone. However, for those who perhaps have limited annual leave, can’t afford a week abroad, or simply love to sleep in their own bed, the extreme day trip could be ideal.

The concept is easy. You book the first flight out, taking off before sunrise and land in your location just as the shops and attractions begin to open. From here, it’s a race against the clock to fit in as much sightseeing and activities as possible, before flying home late at night. No expensive hotel needed. Sounds like an adventure, right?

This new way of travelling has certainly taken off, no pun intended. In fact, experts at Confused.com suggest that as many as 3 in 10 Brits (30%) have already been on an extreme day trip, and a further 13% have been on multiple.

Many of these individuals have taken to social media to promote this, posting snaps and videos of glorious beaches, attractive food spots and iconic landmarks, all in one day. But are these social media depictions simply too good to be true?

The members of the ‘extreme day trip’ online groups don’t think so. 24hr travellers and those interested in the trend have formed various communities, particularly on Facebook. One of the largest groups boasts over 354k members, while others are centered around UK departure airports. These groups act as a hub for these daring travellers, providing them with a space to share photos and details of their day trips, offer itineraries, reveal top tips, and post about new flight deals. From joining these groups and connecting with some of the members, it’s fascinating to learn more about the passion and creativity involved in curating the perfect 24 hours abroad.

One member from the ‘Extreme day trips from Bristol Aiport’ group shared their exciting day trip to Monaco, in which they boarded a 7:20am flight to Nice and then got straight on the number 80 bus that took them into the heart of Monte Carlo. Upon arriving they spent the day walking the F1 track, car spotting, visiting casinos and walking around the marina and palace, before arriving back at Nice airport by 7:45pm.

It was interesting to read about this itinerary as I myself recently visited Monte Carlo for the day whilst on a trip in the South of France and recognised how qualities like the walkability and the number of activities made it a good day out.

But what actually motivates these travellers to spend a single day abroad rather than several days or even a week.

I spoke to Rick, creator of extremedaytrips.com, which is a site designed to make the process of booking extreme day trips easier, allowing for users to:

“search several weeks at once and use filters that are specifically useful for day trips”

“People can also save searches, set price alerts, view ready-made itineraries and then book directly with the airline.”

“The main aim is to take away a lot of the repetitive searching and make it easier to find trips that are genuinely achievable in one day.”

When asked about why there has been a rise in this travel trend, he explained that he thinks:

“people have less spare time and less disposable income than they used to, but they still want to travel and have new experiences.”

“An Extreme Day Trip might only require one day off work, or no time off at all if you travel at the weekend.”

“You also avoid the cost of a hotel, and the flights can be very cheap because you are often using less popular services early in the morning and late at night.”

“It allows people to see more places and make their travel budget go further.”

“There is also something nice about regularly having a trip to look forward to. Instead of having one big holiday and then waiting several months for the next one, you could have a different city or experience planned every month or two.”

Cost is clearly a defining motivator for extreme day trippers. According to Luton Airport’s 2024 travel trends report, around 39% of ‘holi-day’ travellers stated that eliminating accommodation costs was one of their main reasons for booking day trips. This doesn’t come as a surprise with hotel and Airbnb stays remaining increasingly expensive, with European accommodation costing an average of €150 - €250 per night.

I also spoke to Dan, an avid extreme day tripper, who believes it is the perfect option for fulfilling his love of travelling whilst not breaking the bank. He has visited Amsterdam, Faro, Malaga, Basel, Ibiza and most recently Prague as day trips. He took the time to discuss his recent trip to Prague:

“A few weeks ago a friend and I wanted to take a day trip to another city in England, but after looking at train prices we realised, as always, that it would be cheaper for us to go and visit a European city for the day.”

“With that in mind, we spent a few days searching for the cheapest and most viable flights on Skyscanner.”

“We considered Prague, Tirana and Rome, but ended up deciding on Prague as it was marginally cheaper than the others at £60. The flight to Tirana was also slightly longer so we would have had less time in the city and Stanstead was the departure airport for the other flights, which was more difficult and expensive to get to than Luton Airport due to the cost of trains.”

“We boarded onto a National Express coach which cost £30 for a return ticket, which ironically is half the price of the plane ticket, despite it only being a 66 mile journey, whilst Prague is 855 miles away!”

“We also laughed at the fact that this was the cheapest option to get to the airport, with the train costing £55 – practically the same cost as the flight!”

“We arrived into Prague at 9am local time, giving us 12 hours before our 9pm flight back home.”

“As soon as we arrived we bought a 24hr unlimited public transport ticket which cost around 152.58 Czech Koruna (£5). This is an all-inclusive ticket, which gave us unlimited travel on bus, train and metro which was great and we both agreed that this was one of the best cities we had been to for public transport.”

“After getting off the bus, we instantly got on a metro that took us into the heart of Prague city centre. When compared to the London Underground, we found it was significantly cleaner, less busy and better managed, with underground trains coming every three minutes.”

“The city itself was incredibly beautiful and we spent the day visiting the main tourist attractions like the Charles Bridge, the Prague Astronomical clock and the Christmas markets, before heading back to the airport to catch our 9pm flight.

“We arrived back into England at 11:45pm and were back home by 1:30am, meaning we had successfully conquered Prague in 24hrs.”

Prague is a popular destination for extreme day trippers, but Rick from extremedaytrips.com has also shared that

“Ireland and Northern Ireland are probably among the easiest. Places such as Dublin, Cork and Belfast have lots of short flights from the UK, there is no language barrier for most British travellers, and the flight schedules can give you a surprisingly long day. For example, it is sometimes possible to have around 14 hours in Cork, which is plenty of time to explore the city properly.”

“Some want a little winter sunshine, so destinations such as Alicante are popular because the airport is close to the city and the beach.”

“Others want to see a famous European landmark or tick somewhere off their list. Trips to see the Colosseum in Rome, the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Sagrada Família in Barcelona are all very achievable in a day with the right flights and a bit of planning.”

However, are extreme day trips really as smooth and exciting as they seem? What happens when things don’t go to plan?

Confused.com found that more than 2 in 5 (43%) day trippers still faced the usual issues that you would on a normal holiday, particularly flight delays which can eat into limited time in the location and cause added stress to the day.

Some people may also worry about the exhaustion of spending the whole day travelling. Do you truly have the energy to wholeheartedly immersive yourself in the culture and experience of the country?

One Tiktoker who has been on several day trips admitted that it is very tiring, which is why she only does them on a Saturday, as knowing that she has the Sunday to recover before work on Monday makes it all worthwhile.

The general consensus is that extreme day trips are absolutely worth it for those who want a quick fix of international travel and are willing to compromise on a lack of sleep and potential stress to enjoy a new country.

Rick agrees, suggesting that day trips are amazing provided you:

“give yourself as much time as possible at the destination”

“I like to make the most of every minute. I normally work out what we want to see, the best route between everything and a few backup options in case something is closed or we have more time than expected.”

“You do not want to spend a large part of a short trip standing around trying to plan the rest of the day on your phone, especially with a poor signal or low battery.”

Check out Rick’s website: extremedaytrips.com to find the best day trips and search for itineraries, which include airport transfer information, essential tips and a walking route designed around the amount of time you are likely to have.”

It is certain that 24 hour day trips are not going anywhere any time soon. So, the question is, will you take the leap and board onto the UK’s latest travel trend? What location for an extreme day trip is at the top of your list?

Panama is located in Central America, bordered by Costa Rica and Colombia. This underrated destination is often overlooked by travellers; however, as you travel from vibrant landscapes to the cultural fusion capital, you will be spoilt for choice, with an optimal balance throughout your journey. The remote rainforest towns are brimming with unmatchable biodiversity. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, then look no further; Panama is the place for you. The capital is brimming with culture and rich in history; this unique destination is the only capital to have a rainforest within its city limits.

Panama is generally considered safe for travellers and is among the safer destinations in Central America. Panama is an extremely welcoming country; its locals are friendly and eager to show you their vibrant culture. Like any destination, Panama has its bad and good; caution remains important. Safety will depend on your location. It is advised that travellers avoid the Darién Gap, a remote border region consisting of dense jungle and higher crime rates. This area has been labelled with do not travel warnings. There are a few high-risk neighbourhoods within Panama City that should be avoided: El Chorrillo, Curundú, Calidonia & Santa Ana. It is advised to avoid these areas after dark and to keep a close eye on your belongings and surroundings. There is a low crime rate; tourists are not targets and are not in serious danger. This peaceful country is tourist-friendly and will welcome you with open arms.

The Capital

Panama City is the capital of Panama. The city is centrally located and a hub for tourism, trade, and culture. Located by the Gulf of Panama, this capital offers urban, coastal and tropical landscapes.

Panama is best known for its canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Panama Canal is a major contributor to global trade. This shortcut between the two oceans simplifies trade and connects markets. Panama is a unique and interesting country, although known for its role in global trade, it is rich in wildlife and nature, with over a thousand bird species. This nature hotspot is full of surprises.

The Panama Canal is definitely worth visiting, with tickets costing only £13 and offering access to the observation deck, where you can watch passing ships enter and exit the canal. This front-row seat to transit between locks is well worth the admission fee: as giant cargo ships pass through, water gushes to fill and empty the lock, making this handmade waterway impressive. This live demonstration of global trade put the canal’s importance into perspective. The sheer size of the ships is incredible, and the complexity and precision of the operations are mesmerising. With access to four exhibition halls that explain the history of the canal and its functions and operations, this immersive experience is both entertaining and educational.

Casco Viejo is a historical district in Panama City; the old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known for its blend of Spanish and French colonial architecture, the cobbled streets are lined with vendors and small shops with an array of unique handcrafted souvenirs, fashion boutiques and local food spots. The colourful streets are perfect for wandering through; square by square, you will be charmed by the city’s atmosphere and history. Make sure to stop by Plaza de la Independencia, known as the heart of the district and home to the Metropolitan Cathedral, which is surrounded by several cafes and restaurants.

The Rainforest

Going beyond the capital, you enter the unknown; the city is surrounded by dense tropical rainforests brimming with biodiversity. As you say goodbye to the capital and hello to panoramic views of a green oasis, you are immersed in the rainforest. With towering trees creating a canopy with thousands of species blooming beside you, you have entered what feels like nature’s paradise. Panama’s rainforest hosts over one thousand bird species that soar through and above the canopy. On the rainforest floor and amongst the trees, hundreds of other animals live and thrive. This biodiversity hotspot is what makes Panama so unique. Its hot and humid climate makes it the perfect place to grow and live.

El Valle de Antón

Just three hours outside the capital, in the crater of an extinct volcano, sits El Valle de Antón. This Nature hub is brimming with tourism and adventure, with butterfly gardens, museums, coffee shops and amazing hikes. El Valle de Antón is a perfect escape from the city, offering an up-close experience with nature. As you go on daily walks, you come face to face with earth’s inhabitants, from sloths to monkeys to butterflies and birds, every day in El Valle de Antón will feel like wildlife watching.

Although a small town, it is packed with things to do, surrounded by mountains and rainforest walks on your doorstep, you will never get bored. Full of adventure and biodiversity, it would be a sin to sit indoors when nestled within nature’s crater. The cooler climate makes hiking easier. There are a plethora of hikes to choose from, with the opportunity to see the famous La India Dormida (the Sleeping Indian Girl mountain). On various hikes, you will encounter waterfalls, plunge pools, panoramic crater views and the thick coverage of cloud forests with ocean views in the distance. This hiking hotspot lets you see lush nature whilst getting in a workout, and you can reward yourself with a swim afterwards, either in the waterfalls, plunge pools, or one of El Valle de Antón’s nature pools.

The small town is not only bustling with life from its natural surroundings, but also with its locals, making it warm, friendly and lively. The crater is split in two by the town's main road. At its centre, there is an array of shops, restaurants and markets, brimming with handcrafted souvenirs, fruits, vegetables, nuts and flower stalls. This market is the heart of the town, and a must-visit. The colourful spread is simply eye-catching, with high-quality produce that you must try. The fresh fruits are sweet and juicy, making them the perfect snack after a hike. Spoiled for choice, choosing what to have will be the most difficult part of your day whilst in this paradise.

This authentic, down-to-earth experience will top any commercial tour you have been on. Exploring rural Panama will introduce you to the untouched earth. Hidden from urbanisation and industrialisation, this country prioritises its environmental conservation and its biodiversity. Panama isn’t a country you can visit for a few days; to fully explore and experience its unique and authentic landscapes and culture, you must give yourself time. Take a step back from fast-paced travel and live in the moment, spontaneity will do you wonders whilst in El Valle de Antón. Every day will be different. This small town is brimming with tourism, culture and history.

If you are looking for a whimsical experience and to fully immerse yourself in the beautiful nature around you, then visit Butterfly Haven. This educational butterfly experience allows you to see the process of metamorphosis, from chrysalis to butterfly; you see it all. With educational videos to watch and chrysalis to observe, this is not only immersive but also interactive and educational. When you enter the flight room, you are greeted with hundreds of butterflies fluttering through the rainforest environment. With fruit feeding stations placed around the haven, you can watch the butterflies feed on the nectar; their jewel-toned wings with vibrant colours are mesmerising. Nature is at its peak within this haven; the growing flora and fauna thrive, creating the perfect home and a rich source of nutrients for the butterflies. As the butterflies flutter around you, you are on constant alert, some even landing on you, giving you an immersive wildlife experience.

Panama prioritises and protects its biodiversity; the country's conservation work makes it appealing to tourists for its responsibility and sustainability. This ecotourism destination focuses on preserving untouched nature and protecting endangered species. The Golden Frog Sanctuary is the only place in Panama where you can see the Panamanian Golden frog. Working to breed, raise and rehabilitate, the sanctuary is run by the EVACC foundation; this non-profit organisation relies on donations and tourist visits. For only $3, you can visit the exhibit, where the beautiful Golden frogs reside. In a large, humid enclosure full of plants and soil, the frogs are safe and protected. It is clear how passionate the staff and locals are about this preservation and conservation work. As you tour the sanctuary, you are immersed in the informative guide and the educational signs. Sharing the stories and facts about the Golden Tree frogs, the works offer a personal, unique experience.

Another of Panama’s unique natural wonders awaits behind the Golden Frog Sanctuary. The Square Tree Trail is renowned for the distinctive rectangular shapes of the surrounding trees. Scientists, tourists, and locals are amazed by its peculiar structure, which remains an unsolved mystery. The fertile land creates the perfect conditions for nature to flourish, resulting in this unique natural phenomenon. As you climb through the rainforest, the outside world fades as you are entranced by the natural beauty of Panama. You don’t just observe nature, you step inside it. During the Square Tree Trail, you wind through the rainforest, following the earth’s rhythm, stepping over the overgrown twisted roots, whilst watching out for delicate species and insects. Reaching a viewpoint, you are in awe, overwhelmed with miles of green; you have a clear view of the dense rainforest. Along the journey, you encounter the peculiar square trees; these wild features put this trail on the map.

These contrasting views in Panama offer a range of tourism, giving you the best of both: from the concrete city to the rainforest, you are immersed in culture, history and nature. This unique destination should be added to your bucket list for its natural beauty, authentic and sustainable tourism, and welcoming community.

The Evil Dead franchise started in 1981 with Bruce Campbell reading from the famous Necronomicon and summoning the dead. His second film Evil Dead II, introduced his wielding of the iconic chainsaw. However, following the recent film, Evil Dead Burn, has the franchise lost comedic character since 1981?

(Ignoring the 2013 re-make) The Evil Dead series picked up again with the hit Evil Dead Rise 2023, where we saw slight easter eggs and teasers of the earlier films. However, the film strode away from the comedic horror to prioritise more gore and shock factors.

The contemporary outlook of horror films is to prioritise CGI and heavy editing. However in Evil Dead II, there are several moments where the rawness of editing increases its comedic value. For example, when an eyeball from one of the ghouls travels through the air and lands in one of the character’s mouths. Seeing the eyeball on a stick adds a little more character to the whole film.

Evil Dead Burn encapsulated slightly more comedy than the last two in the newer franchise with small comedic phrases and moments. For example, when Thya takes off the grandma’s false leg. The slight pause of realisation from the deadite was a comedic gem.

Although you will never be able to recreate the iconic Evil Dead franchise, Evil Dead Burn was certainly groovy.

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Brittany Broski was featured in Vanity Fair’s The New Late Night Issue, alongside other rising interviewers such as SubwayTakes’ Kareem Rahma, and Hot Ones’ Sean Evans. Even though they create completely different content, they exist in the same realm: they are the next generation of interviewers, who are changing the game. Brittany established her own channel Royal Court out of her love for Game of Thrones and dragons, Rahma interviews people on the subway, and Evans asks deep and unique questions from celebrities who are trying not to cry while eating spicy wings.

Brittany first appeared on TikTok as ‘kombucha girl’, and the story is quite short on that: she tried kombucha for the first time, filmed her reaction, which then became a meme. The next day she woke up with millions of views and realised that she would try to ‘ride this wave’ and possibly make a career out of this.

She has built her whole brand on the fact that she is a ‘certified fangirl’, which is something that women are usually scrutinized for, however she used it to her advantage. Because being a fan of something/someone means you care, and caring is cool. She created her own unique interview show called Royal Court on YouTube, the tagline of which is: ‘Welcome to Royal Court, where pop culture royalty compete for a spot on my trusted council’, in the words of Brittany.

She divides her episodes into three different parts: starting out with an interrogation with a spotlight on the artist (both figuratively and literally) then comes a part, where guests usually bring some type of gift, which could be food specific to where they’re from, merch, or a one of a kind item, so this is called the ‘Royal Tribute’. Lastly comes the ‘Coat of Arms’, where she makes the guests draw their family crests, while asking them more serious questions about their careers. Also, all guests dress up in a cape and some type of head accessory, which further adds to the interviews not being perfectly polished: they might have a Dior set hiding under that cape, but that’s not what the focus is on.

Brittany has had some of the biggest names across industries on her channel, such as Tony Hawk, Kyle Maclachlan, Anne Hathaway, Charli XCX, Elijah Wood, and many more. The fact that Broski cares so deeply shows in her interviews, as similarly to Sean Evans, celebrities usually get surprised by how deep she goes in her research, and she sometimes even brings up facts that the celebrities themselves don’t even remember. Another thing she does successfully, is bring out the funniest parts of celebrities. She asks whimsical questions which require whimsical answers, and it is so evident, that most of these celebrities don’t even hesitate. Their personalities are right there, it just depends on the questions whether they show those personalities or not.

In a world filled with questions about what actors took from set and what their favourite memory is from filming, Brittany’s interviews are a breath of fresh air. In her ‘realm’, using the example of The House of Dragons’ Matt Smith, the topic of conversation goes more in the direction of how he would greet a dragon whose name he forgot.

So, what really is it about these shows that makes people watch them time and time again? It’s the fact that they’re unpredictable, real, and human. Celebrities are humans just like us, and if Dylan O’Brien says that a pack of 8th grade boys scare him and would make him run as fast as he was in The Maze Runner, then that is as real as it gets, in my opinion.

Cordelia Cullen is an English Literature and Creative Writing student at Oxford Brookes, and also the president of the Media, Journalism, and Publishing Society. Being a fan of Brittany and Royal Court, she said that her favourite thing about the show is the unexpected answers Brittany manages to extrapolate from her guests.

Brittany can so neatly bring up deep cuts of these celebrities’ lives that almost every episode has a ‘How did you know that?’ moment, which just makes the interview work even more. ‘I think by disarming them in that way sometimes works, because you get a more laid-back version of them, and she does that so well’, added Cordelia.

If you grew up in the early 2000s and were a fangirl, fan fiction was not an unknown concept to you, and Brittany is no stranger to it either. She famously wrote one about Cole Sprouse, which, to his complete surprise, she shared with him when he went on Royal Court. This was one of the very first episodes that blew up and completely shocked people, as the thing about fan fiction is that it is mostly anonymous, and private.

However, what Brittany did in this situation is let go of that fear, and show it to Cole. If you really think about it, he is also just human, which is why his reaction was genuine and hilarious: he was giggling while reading it, could not put it down, and even asked Brittany to sign it for him. To this day, this is the second most watched video on Royal Court with 6.8 million views.

One of her recent videos was with Harry Styles. Yes, THE Harry Styles, who Brittany described as THE guest. One thing the public knows about Harry Styles is that we actually don’t know much about him. Other than paparazzi pictures and the following stories that circulate from there, Harry is a very private person, especially since his solo career started when One Direction split up. He doesn’t go on press tours, and only does a few interviews (mostly with Zane Lowe for Apple) upon album releases.

For his new album Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally, he joined Brittany Broski’s Royal Court, making her audience lose their minds, with people in her comment section saying ‘I didn’t know this was an option’, and even the official YouTube channel commented ‘IS THAT HARRY’ we scream in unison’. In short, this was a shock to a lot of people, even to the ones working at YouTube.

In this episode, Harry talked about his favourite English swear words, how he could audition for Britain’s Got Talent with his talent of ‘eating a remarkable amount of yogurt’, and how he made the discovery that the equivalent of girl dinner is eating a rotisserie chicken over the sink, also known as boy dinner.

His chemistry was immediate with Brittany, as he kept up the banter with her, sang bits of Shania Twain’s Honey I’m Home, and he even said that he was getting too comfortable on the show. And as a plus, he mentioned that he watches Mike Tyson’s 10 greatest knockouts on YouTube if he can’t sleep at night. You probably did not think that this was the information you’d find out about Harry Styles in 2026, but there you go.

In all seriousness, these mundane moments are what bring us closer to celebrities, and allow audiences to connect with them more, which is why keeping up these interview styles is important for fandom culture as well.

Cordelia added that ‘at the end of the day we put celebrities on such a massive pedestal so it’s kind of nice to take them off it a bit, and just to see them as themselves. It’s just breaking down that barrier’.

At the end of her interviews, Brittany always asks guests whether they would like to promote something, and even though most do, some of them even choose not to bring up their upcoming projects, which justifies the vibe of the interview. The interviews are actually more about getting to know them more as humans, rather than getting to know their projects.

Ever since her success, Brittany has been brought on the red carpet for the House of Dragons, Mickey 17, and Gladiator 2. She also hosted the Global Fan Event for Dune: Part Three, and she continues to wow the industry with her talent, making it to Time Magazine’s TIME100 Creators in 2025. This shows that the industry is opening its eyes to her talent as well, reserving a spot for her in the future of interviewing.

It’s an autumn afternoon on the Central Line. The underground train you’re sat on comes slowly to a halt at Notting Hill Gate, the brakes gently squealing. The doors slide open and off get those wearing Bathing Ape hoodies and overly ripped jeans. On walk those wearing technical Patagonia fleeces and a plethora of brightly coloured Arc’teryx Beta jackets, all being unzipped following a recent rain shower. You notice how nylon begins to sit where denim used to, but someone notices you staring. You look straight back at your own feet, but you live in London in 2026, so you’re wearing a pair of Salomon XT6’s, as well as everyone else on the train.

Gorpcore is (or was) the fashion trend around wearing traditionally technical, functional outdoor clothing in juxtaposing settings, trading the Alps for Aldgate East. I bet you whatever’s in your wallet that you can’t guess where the word ‘Gorp’ actually originates from. Gore-Tex? Great outdoors? Nope. It was coined originally by American writer Jason Chen in 2017, taking its name from trail snacks usually stored in the pockets and eaten by those wearing technical clothing – ‘Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts’, or ‘Gorp’ for short. So, if you’d like to send your wallet contents to our offices that would be greatly appreciated.

Gorpcore has always been present, despite its recognition in 2017. Cities like New York, Copenhagen, Tokyo, as well as London, had begun to see increases in outdoor clothing becoming more of a regular staple. More exposure came from celebrities like Frank Ocean unintentionally becoming the Gorpcore poster boy at Paris Fashion Week in 2019.

Ocean rocked up sporting a Mammut Eigorjoch puffer and Diemme hiking boots, topped off with an Arc’teryx Toque beanie. This casually sent the fashion world into a frenzy, remarking upon the outfits blend of comfort yet readiness for any eventuality.

Lockdown proved to be a rapid accelerator for Gorpcore as well. Remember all those walks and bike rides you were going on whilst big Boris was telling us to stay home? And remember the sheer amount of time you spent on TikTok? Well both of those factors married together quite nicely.

Outerwear became more essential, and TikTok ‘Fit Checks’ and ‘OOTD’ (Outfit of the Day) trends became more frequent on our For You Pages. Gorpcore started to become more of a trendy choice.

When the world finally started getting back to normal, it was evident that Gorpcore was here to stay. People were purchasing technical outerwear without intention of utilising any of the features listed on the website. Brands responded, increasing availability worldwide. However, as the cultural value of certain products rose, so did their financial value. An Arc’teryx shell jacket used to set you back around £300. Nowadays if someone sold one for that price, you’d assume it to be a fake, with new examples being listed currently at over £600.

London has transcended the ‘trendy’ phase of Gorpcore now. In reality, it has actually just become the norm. I challenge anyone spend more than ten minutes in the capital without seeing a vintage The North Face fleece of any description.

Vi, a nineteen-year-old second year art student at UAL, tells us about her discovery of Gorpcore, and how she incorporates it into her everyday life:

“Honestly, my go to pub look is just layering – a corny graphic tee underneath a Columbia shell jacket is all I need.

“I’m also a fan of these baggy Nike ACG trousers I found on Depop, with a pair of Oxblood chunky loafers poking out.

“I found out about Gorp from Mimi Moocher, inspired from her travelling fits. The fact it also stands for Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts as well. I never knew that”

London has become a natural home for Gorpcore, and when you break it down, it’s not hard to see why. The city demands constant movement; vast, overcomplicated stations, busy streets, the inevitability of the Lime Bike. It’s a city that, at times, can require the vast range of different technologies offered by leading brands.

Salomon’s AC Muscle midsole foam comes into its own when walking thousands of steps across town, and Patagonia’s R1 Air breathability is vital on a humid summer’s day in the city.

However, the most important weapon in a London Gorpcore wearers arsenal is the shell jacket, and the best of those utilise Gore-Tex technology. For those that have never visited the UK, or maybe just those that live under pretty massive rocks, you need to know that Britain is wet. Very, very rainy indeed.

For those living in Blighty, Gore-Tex is essential; an ultra-thin membrane developed in the sixties, designed to always keep the wearer dry and protected from the wind, all in a garment that doesn’t compromise on breathability.

The Gore-Tex label is still seen as the ‘gold standard’ waterproof standard in the outdoors world, and ironically finds itself very much at home hanging on the back of a pub chair in Soho. Londoners usually prefer the technology in Arc’teryx Beta form, or maybe in The North Face GTX Mountain Jacket, sometimes even in their Salomon trail shoes. But the shell jacket is always the centrepiece of any Gorpcore outfit, especially to Londoners that are just nipping into the office or jumping on a Lime bike for a drink later. The shell is their natural defence against the city’s unique climate of, well, rain.

To someone visiting London for the day, they may assume everyone around them wearing identical outfits; a waterproof jacket rolled at the waist, a pair of technical, baggy trousers (or loose fit jeans), and some sort of Salomon trail shoe of choice. They may, however, be oblivious to the subtle differences between products, from one Gorper to the next. For example, they may not realise the sheer difference in price from trail shoe to a regular Adidas Samba. Or the nuances between different types of Arc’teryx jacket.

As I hope you are aware at this stage, Arc’teryx jackets are expensive. Like, really expensive. That’s why second-hand marketplaces are crawling with fakes at a fraction of the price. If you were to go directly to the website and order one, however, you could be looking at an £800 bill. Even the humble beanie, a staple of Gorpcore, could set you back as much as £60.

With the immense financial value also comes the weight of cultural value when wearing an Arc’teryx Alpha SV jacket; other Gorpcore wearers in their The North Face shells and Patagonia fleeces would know exactly what they were seeing, and the price paid by the wearer.

Value is often reflected through recognition, not communication when it comes to Gorpcore. The subtle hierarchies are layered just like their technologies, with a vast scale of values between items.

Now, truth be told, I have probably used the term Gorpcore far more than it’s really been used in the past year or so. That’s because it isn’t really a conventional ‘trend’ anymore. It moved into Londoners lives over eight years ago, and has settled in very nicely indeed. The technical jackets and chunky trail shoes that once signalled the beginning of a new movement are now looked upon as ‘normal’. In fact, they are not even looked upon, they just blend into everyday London life.

Miles and Millie move through the city without distinction; no one looks twice as they sift through long queues for the tube. Those attuned to Gorpcore will understand and respect their outfits, as they remain invisible to others. Gorpcore has outgrown definitions. People once took to the streets in technical clothing to stand out, and in 2026, people do the same just to blend in. It absorbed into the rhythms of the city, the weather, the transport, the ‘rat race’ that tens of thousands find themselves in every day. In London, Gorpcore hasn’t disappeared – it has simply become the everyday uniform.

(Image by Nick Magwood from Pixabay)

Obsession was released May 15th 2026, and is a film that has sparked major success. It grossed $403 million worldwide, and is the seventh highest grossing film of 2026. However, it isn’t typically horror, and instead mirrors a much more disturbing picture for its audiences, particularly amongst women.

The film completely blew me away, and not for the reasons you would expect. There were very little jump scares, very little gore that neared the level of horror I had from simply watching a woman be stripped of her autonomy.

The film begins at a diner, with Bear, our seemingly ‘nice guy’ protagonist practising a soppy, obsession riddled confession. Bear quickly becomes frustrated with his inability to confess his feelings face to face with his female friend Nikki. Throughout the beginning of the film, we see Nikki’s complete disinterest with Bear, with the director Steven Curry dropping several hints that she purely sees him platonically. A pivotal scene for me, follows her refusing to let him pay for the tab at a bar, which signals just how little leverage she wanted to prevent him from having over her.

However, the film darkens when Bear makes a one willow wish ( a fictional magical novelty item that grants you one wish), damning them all to a tragic fate. He wishes that Nikki would love him more than anyone in the world, and in doing so strips Nikki of her consent, her right to choose and mostly her autonomy. In the scenes that follow Nikki becomes increasingly deranged, and something far darker than the Nikki we’ve seen previously appears to take the driver’s seat.

‘Nikki’ commits a myriad of atrocious horrifying events; firstly lying about her Dads cancer, which Bear conveniently overlooks and later goes on to murder her best friend through a car window. A scene that is arguably the most horrifying of all, cuts to the pair having sex only to pan on ‘Nikki’ who visibly shows her disinterest and looks scarily vacant, purely existing as an outlet for Bear’s pleasure. Suddenly, our harmless view of Bear transforms and we soon learn who truly is the predator on our screens. In the scenes that follow Bear shows just how much he is willing to overlook, if it means he can keep Nikki’s unrivalled ‘love’ for him.

As the film progresses, the real Nikki breaks through, even begging Bear for death whilst the fake ‘Nikki’ sleeps. Instead of realising just how serious his actions have been, and what he has selfishly taken from Nikki, he simply replies to her desperate plea with “what’s so bad about being with me” in which her response is candidly shocking, “I’ve never been with you Bear” and whilst we are left with hearing her begging to be killed, Bear selfishly leaves the room, once again ignoring her wishes and solidifying his role as the monster.

As time goes on, ‘Nikki’ seems to get more and more agitated, and secludes herself to their decaying apartment. As Bear comes and goes, he realises Nikki has ‘soiled’ herself as she waits for him by the door. An argument could be made that this is the real Nikki, attempting to make herself so unappealing to Bear that he will eventually have to kill her. Throughout the film, Curry litters in easter eggs of the real nikki, with photos she took of her and bears sleeping with the words ‘not me’ written underneath them.

The ending scene is perhaps the saddest realisation I had throughout the whole film. The scene which actually was shot twice, due to the original ending not feeling ‘horrifying’ enough for the director, Curry mirrors a sad truth for women.

The original ending saw Nikki make the same wish as Bear, and they both be damned to an eternity of ‘obsession’ for the rest of their lives. However, the final cut was all the more unsettling. As Bear is driven into disarray by what he’s done, and realises he’ll never have the ‘Nikki’ he wants he attempts to commit suicide in the bathroom. Whilst this is happening, ‘other Nikki’ makes the same wish Bear did, damning them both. As Bear leaves the bathroom, the two share one final look, Bear overtaken with the same fate as Nikki shares one final embrace and a kiss before collapsing and dying in ‘Nikki’s’ arms. As Bear draws his last breath, Nikki visibly wakes up, left utterly horrified at what she’s returned to. As her screams fill the room, shouting ‘what have you done?’ The camera pans and the credits roll.

For Nikki, she awoke from one nightmare to another, left behind to piece bits of her life back together whilst paying for Bear’s actions for the rest of her days. The last scene we see of Nikki, is heart breaking, whilst she’s escaped one monster, the nightmare is just beginning as she realises the lives she’s taken and what happened to her whilst she was in a sense ‘possessed’.

Obsession, is a truth telling story for many women, who are often faced with dealing with the consequences of men’s actions. The story unfolds, some men’s inability to understand the word ‘no’ and just how dangerous their obsessions become with pursuing women who wish for purely platonic friendships. Throughout the film, Bear is faced with many decisions which could reverse what he’s done, but instead of doing the right thing, he doubles down and focuses on believing he’s still the ‘good guy’ just looking for someone to love. The film explores the fragility of the male ego, and highlights the horrifying reality of women who suffer at the hands of it, making it the best horror film I’ve ever seen to grace our screens.

(Fergus Greer Leigh Bowery, Session VII, Look 34, June 1994 1994, printed 2025 © Fergus Greer, courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery, London.)

On the 27^{th of} February 2024 The Tate modern opened the Leigh Bowery expedition displaying some of Leighs legendary looks. A stranger to Leigh myself I really had no idea what to expect from the exhibition and was immediately shocked at the outrageous, peculiar nature of the clothes he had created. The exhibition was immersive allowing you to watch Leigh on the screen, view his clothes and see some of his onstage performances. However, what struck me most was that at the end of the exhibition I left with that same sense of confusion, who really was Leigh Bowery? Whilst of course you could pin him down as a performance artist, designer, Club owner or even gay Icon I felt he was so much more than this. Upon deeper research, Leigh Bowery was a person who challenged societal norms and pushed boundaries through his outlandish performances and often flamboyant clothes. Bowery’s defiance against the conservatism rooted in the early 1980’s and 1990’s society inspired people’s courage today in tackling repressive powers existing within our own societies.

In 1985 Leigh inaugurated a new club night in disco bar in Leicester Square known as Taboo. The concept behind the club was that nothing could ever be considered taboo and once inside, you were encouraged to embrace experimental ideas rather than be discouraged. Whilst the club only lasted a year, its impact was enormous, and its ideology shines through in our culture today.

The partygoers were 1980’s stars such as Boy George, John Galliano and of course Bowery. The club turned into a community hotspot for those wanting to rebel and experiment with fashion and culture. This ideology is prominent in controversial stars of today such as Charli XCX, who has recently soared to stardom this past year. Charlis’s performances are often extreme, and the theme of illegal substances are prominent in her songs such as her infamous ‘365’ which features the line ‘bumping that’. Her origins in music date back to early London club life where she recalls her first gig at Hackney Wick; “I’d never been to a party like this before. I didn’t know anything about rave culture, or club-kid culture, or gay culture – everything was a first that night.”[1] Charli, who similarly to Leigh is labelled a ‘queer icon’ credits much of her success to her exposure to the LGBTQ community from as young as 14.

Charli even this year sent shock waves through the music industry by releasing her Brat vinyl, which featured ‘white powder’ seemingly resembling a particular illegal substance. Therefore, whilst Chari has never directly credited Bowery, the ideology behind her brand such as her coined ‘brat summer’ where fans come together to unapologetically be themselves is a prominent credit to Bowery whose legacy of outlandish, flamboyant performances lives on 30 years since his death.

After watching ‘Leighs Lounge’[2] a small documentary all about Leigh, narrated by his friends I soon realised the significance of politics in his performances. In 1980’s Britain, it was the decade of Thatcherism. A time of encouraging conservative values, pushing youths to get back to traditional family ideologies rather than outlandish ideas. However, in 1988 Thatcher’s government introduced section 28, which prohibited the ‘promotion of homosexuality’[3]. This legislation caused immense

problems for the LGBTQ community. It was proposed at the height of AIDS/ HIV cases and was heavily aided by the media who were relentlessly pushing stories of men who were dying from AIDS related deaths to feed the attack against Gay or Lesbian people. Around this time, Thatcher delivered a speech; ‘Children who need to be taught to respect traditional moral values are being taught that they have an inalienable right to be gay. […] All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life – yes, cheated.’[4]

Whilst Leigh never directly spoke out about politics, his close friend Sue Tilley claimed he would do so in an indirect way. An example being, the ‘swash sticker’ which Leigh wore the reverse of to convey its message of peace amongst political unrest happening throughout society. In writing this, I have realised the expression, history repeats itself is astoundingly true. If we turn our attention to American politics where Donald Trump is currently the face of Americas future it is undeniable the uncertain scary times we are currently facing. Within his first four years of office Trump has appointed openly homophobic and Transphobic judges who will hold their positions for life. A 2019 study showed that 36%[5] of Trumps appointees expressed bias or bigotry to queer people. It is in this time of uncertainty that we need to praise and celebrate individuals like Leigh Bowery.

Whilst it’s true that we have come a long way in the development of AIDS and its treatment it’s a shame to see that there are still individuals in power who hold such repressive views. It is in times like this that lives like Leigh Bowery should be celebrated and act as an example of courage to own your individuality. Bowery in all his performances I feel taught us that taking a stand doesn’t equate to being radical its as simple as a putting on a piece of clothing and re designing its meaning.

When considering the influence of Leigh Bowery, it is undeniably present in todays artists. For example, in the melodrama of Ru Pauls drag race, Lady Gaga, Alexander McQueen and Maison Margiela whose crystal hood was directly inspired from one of bowery’s designs and would actually later be worn by Lady Gaga. However, one artist I feel has really drawn inspiration from Bowery is Chapel Roan. Whilst a singer in her own right, she is often seen in maximalist outfits whether it be her infamous transformation into the statue of liberty for the governor’s ball or a medieval ensemble completed with a prosthetic snout at the Grammys after party. The star has often openly praised Ru Pauls drag race and Drag in general for inspiring her looks. Much like Bowery her performances are often to shock and disturb those uncomfortable with her extreme presence. Chapel explains on Jimmy Fallon, the Late-night show “We pull from drag, we pull from horror movies. We pull from burlesque; we pull from theatre. I love looking pretty, and scary, or like pretty and tacky ... or just not pretty! I love that too.” Therefore, Leigh Bowery influence in the world of performance art and fashion today is undeniable and when re-examining Chapels looks the question left to ask is, is Leigh bowery her fairy godmother?

Looking back at Leighs life its hard to imagine what fashion, performance art or even just queer culture in general might of looked like without him in it. Whilst initially I felt frustrated in my inability to understand Leigh and his countless facades I have come to realise perhaps this was Leighs life mission all along. In my research I discovered a quote from Leigh ‘you label me, you negate me.’[6] Therefore, out of respect to Leigh I will refrain from trying to label this truly complex person. Instead, I hope this article gives an insight into the influence Leigh had on society up until his death on the 31^{st of} December 1994. I would deeply encourage you to go and visit Leighs exhibition in the Tate modern which will be running until the end

According to the Guinness World Records, ‘Harry, on stage alongside his tour crew, was presented with his certificate by Guinness World Records Adjudicator Will Munford. And every single member of the crew was also given their own certificate by Harry and his team to commemorate their work on their record-breaking gigs.’

With his new album, ‘Kiss All The Time, Disco Occasionally,’ Styles organised a somewhat unusual tour: instead of going on a world tour to countless cities, he is only playing in a limited number of locations, such as Amsterdam, London, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, New York City, Melbourne, and Sydney.

After six nights in Amsterdam, Styles started his residency at Wembley on the 12th of June, and finished on the 4th of July. The legendary Shania Twain opened every show, putting on an incredible performance night by night. Styles first brought her out as a surprise guest when he was headlining Coachella in 2022, and the two sang Man! I Feel Like A Woman! together.

Before starting his solo career, Styles was a member of One Direction, to whom he still pays homage on his tours. One of the special surprises of the Together, Together tour was his band playing a string quartet of the One Direction songs Night Changes and History. He also picked one song for every night that was not on the setlist, and played it as a surprise song, making every show a little unique.

Flo Crickmore, who attended the Together, Together tour twice in London said that this experience was undeniably a core memory for her. ‘What struck me most both times was the vibe of the whole stadium, everyone there is having so much fun but also wants everyone else to have the best night.’

She added that this would not be possible without Styles creating a joyful environment for fans, as he ‘engages with the audience and puts on a genuinely incredible performance.’

As for merchandise, fans had the opportunity to buy t-shirts with 12 numbers on the back representing the 12 nights, stamping the ones they have attended, which provided a unique experience for them.

Even though Styles frequently credits the One Direction members for where he is at in his career, the last show was extra special, as Styles thanked each member individually. ‘I wanna thank Niall, Louis, Zayn, and my dear friend Liam for these nights and everything that I learned in this time, the friendship, everything . . . none of this would be possible, I wouldn’t be here without you so thank you so much’, said Styles.

The surprise song for the 12th night was Sweet Creature, which Styles wrote about his relationship with his sister, Gemma Styles, and later on in the show she went on stage to give a speech on how proud she was of her brother.

After a well-deserved break, Styles is continuing his tour on the 17th of July in Sao Paulo.

Leigh Bowery still rules the fashion world in one way or another. Being everything from a performance artist to a fashion designer and a club promoter, Bowery did not only leave a one-of-a-kind mark on 80s fashion, but also on the fashion world of the 2000s. He redefined what fashion meant by crossing all possible boundaries and experimenting with such creativity that it ‘challenged the norms of aesthetics, sexuality and gender,’ according to Tate Modern.

His persona shone through every piece of artistry that he created or was a part of, whether that be in nightclubs, galleries, on stage in theatres, or even on television. More than 30 years after his death, Bowery is still talked about, just as loudly as he was expressing himself.

The one, the only – the outrageous Leigh Bowery!

Growing up in Australia in a conservative community, Bowery had it in him from an early age to provoke and shock people. Body distortion became a recurring ethos in his works later in life, but this is actually something he had to face from a young age as he grew really quickly and was already six feet tall by the age of 12.

Bowery, by nature, also experimented with public embarrassment as he discovered that this is something he can weaponise. Instead of being embarrassed, he purposely put himself in situations that would, by the public, be seen as humiliating. But, this is where he thrived.

However extreme Bowery’s designs were, they all screamed freedom and self-expression, which is what today’s designers are also trying to do. Michael Clark’s ‘Yes Manifesto’ perfectly concludes Bowery’s view on not only fashion, but life itself as well, so even though this Manifesto is not about him, it also completely is.

Being inspired by the one and only Vivienne Westwood, Bowery also influenced many designer masterminds of the upcoming generations.

‘Leigh Bowery was part of that force, that force of freedom. It’s that force of delirious depravity, cheerful depravity. I talk about that because I feel like those are the values I need to support because the world can be so harshly condemning and judgmental, and that’s never going away,’ said Rick Owens in an interview with AnOther Magazine. Rick Owens has also famously been influenced by Bowery, recreating the human backpack part of his SS16 collection based on Bowery “giving birth” to Nicole Bateman.

The unconventional yet dramatic Alexander McQueen

Alexander McQueen, being a showstopper in a rather different sense than Leigh Bowery, found himself in the world of fashion through strange expression.

‘Beauty can come from the strangest of places, even the most disgusting of places’ – Alexander McQueen, The Times

Before Bowery’s death, Alexander McQueen actually attended his last performance in 1994 which foreshadows the influence he will have on McQueen, especially in his Horns of Plenty AW09 Collection which was his last Autumn/Winter show before his death.

Alexander McQueen, being the most influential designer of his generation, inspired many, but was also inspired by many. Similarly to Bowery, he incorporated distortion into his designs in many ways, whether that be facial or bodily.

As Sally Gray has perfectly stated in her review of the Savage Beauty exhibition: ‘In Alexander McQueen’s approximately two decades in fashion, he stunned, shocked, delighted, amazed, and often emotionally overwhelmed the fashion world.’ Just like Bowery.

In this collection, McQueen played around with extensive, almost ridiculous over-lining of lips, which could even be referred to as clownish. But it worked. Not only did he draw the attention to the face, but also to the mix-matched use of prints with the pairing of skirts and jackets, which further create a sense of deformity.

McQueen, similarly to Bowery, amalgamated the bizarre and the fascinating, creating a work of art. The models walked down the runway with painted porcelain-like white skin with the contrast of the heavily overdrawn red lips.

In an interview with Penny Martin for SHOWstudio, McQueen said, ‘it’s good to leave the audience in bewilderment,’ which he definitely did.

When it comes to McQueen’s works, it is all about influence on influence. While taking inspiration from Bowery, historical eras also made either subtle or explicit appearances in his shows, like Flemish, more specifically Hans Memling or the van Eyck brothers, and so did the gothic era.

It can definitely be said that Leigh Bowery and Alexander McQueen were completely different when it comes to their lives and journeys throughout art, yet somehow, they were connected by fashion, culture, and history.

Martin Margiela – The mystery man behind the haute couture mask

Martin Margiela, in nature being the complete opposite of Bowery, could be described as ‘the most mysterious fashion designer ever,’ as James Anderson wrote in his article in i-D. As mentioned, the complete opposite. Bowery, even if he tried, could not have been a mystery to the world.

Margiela went against traditional beauty standards when it came to his shows; he would intentionally cast models who were a little bit ‘diverse and unconventional-looking,’ added Anderson.

At his Fall Artisanal 2013 Couture Show however, the models’ features could not even be seen. From the haute couture flower face mask, through the iconic latex jeans and T-shirt look, to Bowery’s inked dripping egghead look-alike, this collection had everything and more in it.

The theme is reoccurring – fetishism appears in almost all of these pieces, with a lot of specific examples being a nod to Bowery’s works.

‘Masks have long formed a signature part of the Margiela brand, an extension of the incognito nature of the design house’s notoriously private founder,’ said Daisy Woodward in AnOther Magazine.

As Margiela never took part in interviews, and whenever he was asked questions it was him with his team who answered – only via e-mail – the fashion industry started rumours. ‘The daftest rumour was that he didn’t really exist at all!’ wrote James Anderson in i-D.

While Bowery was finding himself in the process of expressing himself and experimenting with masks and covering his face, Margiela did the same in a completely different sense.

For him, the masks were in relation to his personal views on privacy and anonymity, but during his shows it also became about the anonymity of the models as well. In this sense, he was overstepping conventional fashion boundaries, just like Bowery.

If you really think about it, it was never just about fashion, it was about everything else that surrounds it. Culture, history, art, freedom, and lastly, self-expression. This is why Leigh Bowery still sparks up conversations and inspires other designers. Though Leigh Bowery, Alexander McQueen, and Martin Margiela all had fashion in common, they also brought different aspects of their lives to their works.

By all of them being different, they created different collections, yet they had many similarities as at the end of the day this is what fashion is about. Inspiration.

If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this: Do not be afraid to inspire, and do not be afraid to be inspired.

Industry Insight

Famous musicians such as Sam Fender, Tom Misch and Adele have publicly discussed how the cost of equipment, studio time and unpaid labour influence who is able to build and sustain a career in music. It is no secret that emerging artists are struggling to find the money, time, equipment or industry connections to get their music heard.

Youth Music, a charity supporting grassroots music-making projects, revealed a telling statistic within their 2025 Diversity Report titled ‘Just the Way It Is?’. They found that 70% of young people in music industries cite insufficient funding and earnings as the main barrier to pursuing a career in the industry.

Sam Fender exclaimed the music industry is “rigged” against the working class, stating the industry is “80 percent, 90 percent kids who are privately educated” who are likely to have access to so much more. Access to industry connections, recording equipment, music studios, audio interfaces, DAWs, studio monitors etc. and the additional support needed to produce professional sounding music.

Echoing Sam Fender’s concern, The Guardian 2025 analysis found that almost a third (30%) of artistic directors and other creative leaders were privately educated, compared to a national average of 7%.

Over the last four decades, a string of academic reports entail how the arts have become increasingly elitist, with the music industry standing centre in this change. One piece of research reveals that the proportion of working-class actors, writers and musicians has shrunk by half since 1970.

However, emerging singer-songwriter, Lily Marsland, does not fall into this category.

Student Singer-Songwriter, Lily Marsland

As a full-time student herself, Marsland still releases well-produced folk, indie music on streaming platforms such as Spotify. Alongside this, she regularly plays gigs at live music venues such as The Exchange or The Louisiana in the city of Bristol. But her success is not pot luck, yet more a linear product of her love for music, hard work, grit and determination.

Marsland opened up about the financial setbacks that occurred during the making of her debut single ‘Butterfly Effect’, stating that “if you do not have the facilities at your fingertips, it is incredibly hard to record”. She goes on to say ,”it is hard to start because even just starting out is a big investment and you have to have a lot of trust in yourself”.

‘Butterfly Effect’ was released on Spotify February 1st 2026. Marsland detailed how “you have to pay to get your song on a streaming platform (like Spotify) and then pay more to promote it” which alongside the cost of equipment and studio time “does build up for an independent artist”.

This begs the question - is this sustainable?

Another setback today’s emerging artists face is the density of the music industry. Without industry connections, it is significantly harder to get your voice heard. Yet in Marsland’s professional and personal opinion she believes, “experience is probably more valuable - getting to work alongside other artists and putting your music out there even if it is in the form of unpaid gigs”.

Talent vs Love

Talent alone may not be enough but the most evident common denominator that runs through both student artists like Lily Marsland and professional musicians like Sam Fender, is the pure passion and love for the art.

The softly spoken opening lyrics of Tom Misch’s song ‘Before Paris’, released in 2018, exemplify the importance of this pure love.

He sings:

“If you’re starting to be a musician or artist”

“Or something like that”

“Because you want to make money”

“Because you wanna do a job”

“That’s the wrong way”

“You have to do this because you love it”

“You have to love it and breathe it”.

Sustainability and the Future

The Guardian 2025 analysis found that fewer than 1 in 10 arts workers in the UK had working-class roots. One major cause for this is the cost to keep producing music; in reference to both money and time.

Unless you’re a commercially successful artist, it is not a financially secure or sustainable career. Music charities such as Help Musicians provide funding for emerging independent musicians to help bridge this gap.

Patrick Fennelly, Ambassador and Media Relations Manager, at Help Musicians states:

Ultimately, the future of music depends on whether the industry can become more accessible to those without financial privilege. It is also dependent on ensuring passion, rather than privilege, continues to determine who gets heard.

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Growing up, I always struggled with spelling and grammar. I labelled myself as dumb and incapable, but soon realised my brain didn’t work the same as others. As a perfectionist, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t proofread, why I couldn’t spot spelling or grammar mistakes, or comprehend grammar rules. When doing creative assignments, I would excel; My attention to detail was impeccable, and my ability to create an idea was endless. My imagination had no limits. Yet writing it all down was where I struggled. I felt defeated and controlled by my learning difficulties.

From mixing up my ‘B’s’ and ‘D’s’ to using the wrong their, there, and they’re, it felt impossible to keep up with my peers. I began to hate everything about writing and reading. I started to believe that there was no right job for me. Who would hire someone that can’t spell? It wasn’t laziness or lack of passion. I would re-read work multiple times, but the simplest spelling mistakes would go unnoticed to me.

My hatred for literacy later developed into a hatred for reading. In my early years, I was obsessed with storytelling, from books to films to plays, and I loved escaping into a new reality. As I grew up, I let my learning difficulties control my passions. I stopped reading and writing for fun and turned to other creative outlets. From singing and dancing to theatre and art, I distracted myself with the arts to fulfil my passion for storytelling.

From buff paper to blue-tinted glasses, I was provided with the tools to battle dyslexia. What I thought would be a quick fix was actually a temporary solution. Although my reading improved, my spelling was still atrocious. The buff paper throughout primary and secondary school made me feel alienated. It was then that I had written off a career involving literacy, though my passion for storytelling lingered in the back of my mind.

When lockdown hit the UK in 2020, following the outbreak of COVID-19, I was bored out of my mind, and having to do online independent learning felt impossible. Stuck in my room on Zoom calls, I truly felt I had reached academic rock bottom. Struggling with isolation and boredom, I watched hundreds of films. Longing to escape reality further, I picked up a book for the first time in years. Over primary and secondary school, I was forced to read. My learning difficulties made it feel like a task rather than entertainment, which I finally reversed in lockdown.

It was then that my love for literature flooded back to me. My passion for storytelling was reignited, and I had hope. Although I still struggled with reading and writing, it no longer felt like a chore to pick up a book. Throughout my English literature lessons, I was entranced by the plots, the characters, and the worlds built. Escaping into new stories each lesson, analysing the language, tone, and its impact felt blissful. Yet this passion was never reflected in my grades. The analysis was detailed and accurate, but the quality of writing and spelling weighed my marks down.

Over time, practice and hard work improved my writing, and continuing to read strengthened my language and grammar. From F Scott Fitzgerald to Jane Austen to George Orwell, I worked my way through literature. I revisited books from my childhood that I loved to read, like those from Enid Blyton and Eva Ibbitson. I read for pleasure, not purpose.

I went on to get a 5 in English GCSE in both language and literature. To some this may seem low, but for me, this was a great achievement. My hard work and countless hours of revising had finally paid off. I, however, still had no clue what I wanted to do with my future. With A levels pending, I had a decision to make. Do I pick passion over passing or take the safe route that would guarantee my grades?

I took a gamble and took English literature at A level, along with media and fine art. It was then that I was introduced to journalism. I took media A level for fun, thinking it would be an easy subject that I would enjoy. It was then that my love for all things media began. From magazine design to newspaper analysis, I loved everything communication. It combined my love for English literature with my creative side, without the stress and pressure of grammar or spelling. Although this was still important, it wasn’t as looming and daunting as English literature.

I coasted my way through my first year loving art, loving media, and loving English. My grades in art and media reflected this, but my English was still behind. As the second year approached and studying became more serious, it came time to decide what to prioritise. Should I choose a subject I have a love for, but can’t guarantee my grade in, or a subject so new to me, that I know I can do well in?

I filled my spare time in college with extracurriculars to pad my university application. From marketing enrichments to completing an EPQ on visual marketing, everything that I did started to be encompassed by media. For two years, I was the editor-in-chief for our student art magazine and fell in love with magazine creation. The magazine was then entered into the Shine Media Awards, where it received a highly commended award. This alone made my decision final: Although I love literature, it wasn’t my future. Storytelling is such a broad concept that could be expressed in many ways, so I had decided that this is what I wanted to explore.

When looking for university courses, I was spoilt for choice in English, journalism, media, and communication, but nothing seemed to fit. Everything was either too creative or too much writing until I discovered Media, Journalism, and Publishing at Oxford Brookes. It truly felt like this course was made for me, with magazine design, storytelling, essential journalism, and children’s publishing. This was my kind of heaven. I eagerly applied, and when I received my reduced offer, I was over the moon. A flip switched, and I was determined to get these grades.

I shook off the thought of getting a high English grade; it loomed over me, causing copious amounts of stress and anxiety. I put blood, sweat, and tears into my media coursework, doing everything in my power to get the highest grade possible. I studied endlessly for the exams, knowing the content all by memory. From theorists to case studies to analysis, I knew the media papers like the back of my hand. I came out of the media exams confident in my answers, and as I exited my English exams, I knew I did my best with what I could do.

When I arrived at my college on results day, I didn’t know what to expect. I had mentally prepared myself for every outcome. I was told to wait for my media teacher to arrive, my nerves were through the roof, but knowing I did everything and anything to get the highest grade I would be happy with my outcome. On the day, the college had news outlets recording people opening their exams. As it was my turn to open the envelope, a camera approached and started recording.

It was here that I learnt my first rule of journalism: No swearing on camera! Overjoyed with my grades, I let a few profanities slip out as I rejoiced with excitement. Unfortunately, the footage never made it anywhere due to my choice of language.

So here I am, three years later, about to graduate, and finally telling my story. My story of struggle and passion, the battles I faced with dyslexia and the obstacles I overcame. To anyone out there doubting themselves or unsure of what to do, everyone has been there. Don’t let a learning disability take away from your hobbies and enjoyments. To many more years of writing. I look forward to sharing my stories and others’ stories.

3 Heads Agency is a family-run video production and social media agency.

On working with established names such as Chelsea FC, Champneys and Lego, Ross is ‘proud of the work we deliver, the clients we work with, and where we’re going’, and says what continues to motivate him is the team that comes in everyday.

Ross Testa is the Founder of 3 Heads. The name of the business reflects the family and their Italian culture. Their origins are in Italy, and there are three members of the Testa family who are a part of the company - Roy, Jodie, and Ross. Jodie is Ross’s sister, and Roy is their dad. Their surname, when translated into English, means ‘Head’, creating 3 Heads Agency.

Ross says: ‘there is a lot of respect between my sister and my dad, just like any other business partnership.’ Family is an integral part of Italian culture. ‘You get to answers quicker because families are direct and honest. They will tell you when something could be done better. I feel very lucky to have that, and there is a lot of mutual respect.’ When talking about Roy, who is managing director, Ross says ‘he brings huge value to the team and the dynamic of the business’, and is a ‘great asset’.

Whilst starting up the business, Ross was balancing university with a full time job. When reflecting on his journey, he said: ‘we started at a time when social media was really taking off. Back then it was Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and Instagram didn’t even have video yet. What we discovered was the huge demand for content, especially video.’

‘Companies were struggling to produce high volumes of video for social media and websites, so we positioned ourselves as the partner to do that.’ Looking at social media platforms now, there are apps such as TikTok that have taken over, and you can see that 3 Heads have moved with the times.

The business stays in touch with evolving trends and landscapes ‘through industry events, training, and relationships with the platforms themselves.’ Additionally, ‘spending time with platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn helps us understand what’s coming.’ They stay at the forefront of video production through ongoing industry training.

An example of a case study success story taken from the 3 Heads Agency website, is Bebeto. Bebeto is a popular Turkish sweet brand. Their aim was to grow brand awareness in support of the first UK store launch. In a year, 3 Heads Agency had grown the TikTok from 0 to 43,300 followers and reached over three million people with the content they produced.

In addition to video production and social media, the business also offers other services such as podcast production, live streaming, and personal branding.

3 Heads have worked on personal branding for clients such as Touker Suleyman (Dragon on Dragons’ Den), David Haye (Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion) and Charlie Sloth (DJ and TV presenter).

Robin Deller, Founder and CEO of Imagine Cruising has previously said, ‘the quality of the product from any video agency is obviously vital to us. You’ll clearly see and very quickly see from the interaction we have with 3 Heads Agency that they take extensive personal pride in all the work that they deliver.’ ‘That need for them to deliver you with the most amazing outcome is definitely something that they strive for every single time and we find that makes a significant impact on the final results that we see.’ Imagine Cruising have found over time that customers want to know more about the holiday they are going to travel on, before they go ahead with the booking.

‘If you’re serious about getting great results from your video content I cannot recommend 3 Heads Agency enough.’ A fine example of a happy client, and work that 3 Heads have delivered on.

There was a campaign with Simba Sleep that Ross’s other family members took part in. ‘My niece and older sister were involved, and we’re a very close family. Seeing my niece involved in that campaign made me really proud.’ This shows just how much Italian culture revolves around family and the importance that is placed on it.

Combining business and family have created an incredible force. ‘We’re partners to some of the biggest brands in the UK, including Lego, TUI, and others.’ Supported by their clients’ testimonials, this is a testament to the repertoire that 3 Heads Agency have built.

Ross says: ‘I’m most proud of the fact that I genuinely love going to work every day. It doesn’t feel like work, and my team says the same.’

There is a growing epidemic of loneliness worldwide with recent reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting the severe health risks associated with human disconnection. We looked at this dilemma closer, a dilemma in which you might find yourself right now.

You’re reading this on a screen. You’re talking to your friends through a screen. We can access the whole world through our screens, and connect with anyone around the globe.

And yet, young people are feeling lonely. “I knew lots of people, but I didn’t feel close to anyone,” is what an international student from India told Cassandra San Carlos for our lead story:

But being alone doesn’t necessarily mean being lonely. Increasingly, some travellers are deciding to go solo. And thus, solo travelling has developed into a business for influencers, as Anna Savage explores:

No matter where you travel, people are not only struggling to connect with each other but also with our mother nature. Our writer Jon Miller tried to reconnect to the wild:

Human Connection goes so much further than our daily interactions, it touches all areas of our lives. Caitlin Tkach considers how women are navigating the arts as an area of Balancing Gender Inequality.

Fran Seabrook talks about how fangirls feel like it’s an act of rebellion to find belonging through a mobile when many claim it takes away from human connection.

Sungmin Ahn shows us how it’s ok to fall in front of others and keep persisting. Further afield we see how Japanese cinema is received in the West and creating connection between cultures.

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‘What was that?’ I ask, spinning around, binoculars at the ready, expecting to spot whatever creature made that shrill cry.

‘That’s a tree,’ says Neil Bucknell, a lifelong birder who has spent most of his sixty-nine years honing the craft.

He nods toward the wind, which has set a pair of willow branches rubbing together. ‘That’s the problem when you’ve got weather like this.’

We continue along the muddy path. Our Wellingtons sink to mid-calf as we search for birds brave enough to face the winter storm.

‘That noise you hear is a redwing. And that’s a magpie,’ says Neil, reeling off identifications like a human Merlin app. ‘You’ll probably recognise magpies — I think that’s one both we and you get.’

‘Actually, we don’t have them,’ I say with certainty.

I later learn — via Google — that Magpies do inhabit my home country of Canada.

Whoops.

A recent University of Derby study found that Britain — where my father was born and where I’m currently based — and Canada — where I’ve lived most of my life — rank among the least nature-connected nations in the world.

How could this be?

I’d seen enough David Attenborough documentaries to know the UK isn’t exactly short on wildlife. The same goes for Canada, particularly British Columbia, where I’m from, with its towering pines and orcas peppering the coast.

Also, in both countries, I know plenty of people who spend time outdoors, whether running trails, cycling up mountains, or paddling in kayaks.

But instead of dismissing the findings outright, I decided to see just how connected to nature I am.

‘Sounds like a bunch of something,’ I say, trying to take the birdspotting burden off Neil.

I ask what the secret to recognising them is. He says it’s all about matching the bird to the sound — but our lesson is interrupted by a barbed-wire fence across our path.

We climb over it gingerly and carry on.

Eventually, we come across a redwing — by ‘we’ I mean Neil — perched high in a tree.

Like an eager student trying to impress a sommelier at a wine tasting workshop, I offer: ‘It’s almost like a chestnut brown,’ surprised by how little red there is in a bird named after the colour.

Perhaps in an attempt to build my confidence, Neil points to a group of birds settled in an open field.

‘You’ll probably recognise these boys,’ he says.

‘Canada geese!’ I cry, relieved to see a reminder of home — and to finally get something right.

Neil explains that Canada geese are an introduced species, so these are likely UK-born.

I’m thankful for the clarification. I was about to ask if this might be the very same flock I’d seen flying in a V formation back home, some 5,000 miles away.

Watching Neil move so effortlessly through the landscape, I couldn’t help wondering how our relationship with nature in this county has changed — and when we first began to appreciate it.

A little online digging seemed in order.

In 1889, Lancaster-born Emily Williamson was appalled by the slaughter of birds to feed a fashionable trend: feathers adorning hats, clothes, and accessories.

In response, she gathered a group of women to discuss how to stop the plumage trade and had them sign a pledge to ‘wear no feathers.’

That small meeting grew into what is now the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, while the pledge became the Importation of Plumage (Prohibition) Act, which banned the trade in exotic feathers.

Attitudes were also shifting elsewhere.

A decade after Williamson’s campaign began, British ornithologist Edmund Selous — who was then in the habit of shooting birds for study — had his own epiphany.

While observing what he first took to be a piece of tree bark, he realised it was a nightjar, perfectly camouflaged.

Astonished, he wrote in his journal:

‘Let anyone who has an eye and a brain (but especially the latter), lay down the gun and take up the glasses for a week, a day, even for an hour, if he is lucky, and he will never wish to change back again.’

‘So where would most of the birds be hanging out?’ I ask as the landscape grows eerily quiet.

Neil explains that most birds hunker down in vegetation when it’s cold and windy to avoid heat loss, though those in open country — like geese and ducks — don’t have that luxury.

‘I see them on really cold days,’ I reply. ‘They always look so miserable just hanging out on the water.’

Even so, if you lined up a row of mallards, I doubt I could tell the content from the unhappy.

‘I can hear another kingfisher,’ Neil says, picking out a faint, high-pitched call nearly lost beneath the rush of the river and the rain beginning to fall.

‘Really? You can hear it through the water?’ I ask.

‘Well, I might be nearly seventy,’ he says, laughing. ‘But I’ve still got my hearing.’

If my birdwatching debacle was any indication, the gap between me and the natural world was only growing.

At a loss, I turned to Miles Richardson, the University of Derby professor behind the nature connectedness study, to see where I was going wrong.

‘Being “in” nature can be passive,’ he says. ‘Nature as a backdrop while doing other things.’

Nature connectedness, on the other hand, is a measurable psychological relationship with the natural world.

‘So it’s possible to be connected to nature when you’re not in nature,’ he adds.

The good news? Getting started, Richardson says, is easy:

‘Simply taking a moment each day to note the good things in nature.’

‘We don’t want you being swept away,’ says Neil, guiding me along a stretch of towpath not yet swallowed by the rain-swollen river.

As we head back, the darkening sky drawing our day to a close, I take comfort in knowing that if I were to tumble into the Thames, he could relay my location to rescuers, distinguishing my distant hollers from the Canada geese squawking in the field beyond.

There is something counterintuitive about skateboarding. It asks you, again and again, to fail in full view of others, to fall awkwardly and visibly with no easy way to disguise it, and to persist where progress is slow, uncertain, and often painful. By most measures, it makes little sense to get on a piece of wood and go on a war against the g-force.

Yet, it endures, not just as a sport, but as a culture that takes shape in public, carrying traces of resistance to structure, authority, and the expectation of staying in designated places.

For Nicholas, an artist and coach within the Melanine Skate Gals and Pals(MSGP) community, the process itself is central. “Skateboarding is mostly failure. It’s about falling, getting back up, and trying again - over and over,” he says.

Once internalised, he adds, the logic extends beyond the board. “What I liked was the process: figuring things out, making micro-adjustments, reflecting on what you’re doing right or wrong. You can repeat something endlessly, but unless you reflect, you won’t improve. It forces you to think. It’s almost like a creative process.”

Where keeping your head down is culturally rewarded, skateboarding runs directly against that logic. It is less a matter of noise than exposure. To step onto the board is to accept being seen, even in failure.

“To skateboard, you have to take up space. You can’t shrink. You make noise. You fall. You get back up. In a world where people of colour are often told to blend in, especially in the UK culture of ‘keep calm and carry on,’ skateboarding forces you to be visible.” Says Marie-Ermelinda Mayassi, the founder of MSGP skate collective, known as ‘Maz’ within the community.

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MSGP began simply, with a Facebook post and a few informal meet-ups in London’s Olympic Park. At first, it was merely flat ground skating. No infrastructure nor formal structure. People showing up, trying, and staying.

Then it quickly became clear why it mattered. Many who came had never felt comfortable in traditional spaces. Not because they lacked spaces, but because they lacked a space within them.

“Skateboarding became a way to create joy and emancipation for black people and people of colour. It’s about play, creativity, and meeting others outside the 9-to-5. It challenges limiting beliefs and the everyday impact of racism. It builds solidarity,” says Maz.

Even though that purpose took shape, it went largely unrecognised. “For a long time, the wider skate scene didn’t fully recognise our work,” she adds.

Whereas, on the ground, something was already building up. “When National Geographic listed the Olympic Park among the top ten skate spots in the UK - even though it wasn’t technically a skate park, just flat ground we activated - it showed the power of community.”

“Later, working with partners, we helped build an actual skate space in Olympic Park. That gave us a safer, more permanent home. Adult beginners, especially, can feel exposed in traditional skate spaces. Having our own space changed that.”

As more people showed up, informal sessions turned into lessons. Those who stayed were encouraged to teach. After enough sessions, potential coaches were supported through formal Skateboard GB qualifications, creating pathways that hadn't been spotlighted before.

Over time, the community expanded beyond the sessions themselves. Workshops, creative projects, and paid opportunities began to take shape, often led by members of the group. What began as a gathering became more deliberate. Visibility turned into structure. And structure into opportunity.

“Since we started, we’ve worked with around 3,000 to 4,000 people. We’ve provided over 400 paid opportunities - coaching, DJing, creative roles - often hiring directly from our community.”

That presence now carries into other spaces. At 33 Manor Place, a free indoor skate space developed with Nike and Palace, weekly Sunday sessions continue, drawing in new skaters and first attempts.

What keeps them there is not simply access, but the process of the struggle itself. As Nick puts it, “Being unafraid to scrutinise yourself, to reflect deeply; that’s essential in both skating and art. Skateboarding taught me how to deal with failure. Nothing else feels as overwhelming. You understand that struggle is just part of the process of getting better.”

Skateboarding, today, is no longer confined to the margins. Olympic inclusion, global brands, and commercial growth have brought it into wider view. But not everyone has been brought into that visibility equally. The gap is not always explicit. It exists in who is seen, who is supported, and who is expected to belong. In that context, spaces like MSGP do more than create access. They shift the terms of visibility itself.

Meanwhile, the question of who gets to be seen extends beyond London. In other parts of the world, skateboarding continues to grow under different conditions. MSGP’s work across African countries reveals a landscape rich with talent and energy, yet less visible within the global conversation.

For Maz, the aim is not simply to diversify skateboarding but to shift awareness. By 2030, she hopes that skaters in the UK will know their counterparts in places like Senegal, Ghana, and South Africa. Not as distant scenes, but as part of the same culture.

Back on the concrete, the rhythm is familiar. A board slips forward. Someone hesitates, steps on anyway, then either falls or rolls away.

Here, to stay is to learn. To learn is to be seen.

Perhaps this is because the arts tends to be discussed as a softer and more feminine feild compared to other sectors, like business or science, that are often stereotyped as serious and a man’s domain.

Nonetheless the Making their Mark Forum, created by Komal Shah and Gaurav Garg, brought inequality facing women in the arts to the forefront.

The forum hosted a panelist of guests from an array of backgrounds. A mixture of CEOs, artists, journalists and academics all speaking on the inequality currently facing women - the consensus that the art world was still falling short on equity for women artists.

Shocking facts were discussed at the forum illustrating massive inequality in the rate of womens share of the art market. If it continues at the rate it is currently increasing, parity with men will not be reached until 2053. In terms of 21st centuary feminism, this seems outrageously arachiac.

Anecdotely, I asked Isobel Parry, third year Fine Arts student at Oxford Brookes’ University, about her exposure to female artists in her studies. She smiled and said, “Although our class is almost all girls, a lot of the artists we are taught about over the course are predominantly male.”

On The Current Landscape

As an attempt to understand the data behind this inequality, I spoke to one of the Making Their Mark panelists, and professor of finance at Oxford Univcersity, Dr. Renee Adams. Dr. Adams explores topics of gender inequality and stereotypes in both her work as an artist and as an academic.

In her art work, she investigates power structures that control our society. Dr. Adams jokes that she is the longest serving student at her school, Warehouse Art School, and that she ‘will probably never graduate.’

Last year, Dr. Adams’ end of year project looked at ‘men of action or men of inaction.’ She explained that to make this piece she placed small paper mache figurines of men infront of concave mirrors so they appear to themselves as being larger than they are in reality. Dr. Adams anecdotes this project by joking:

“So basically it was about the guys thinking that they’re much bigger than they actually are…so I was a bit worried that it was too obvious…but I just had to do it you know?”

Are these the power dynamics at play in the art world? I wondered. Systemic economic oppression of women, accumulating in men obtaining spending power in the art market and supporting male artists over females? I have seen reports by large art platforms, and messaging on social media that more women are entering the market and will attract a new wave of feminism and equality.

When I asked Dr. Adams about these trends that I perceived she responded, “There is a story out there…suggesting that women are now going to come in and solve all of the womens problems…which is problematic in some sense because that means that there is no responsibility.”

Dr. Adams is an expert in data analysisation in her academic career - until there is transparent data from a concrete methodology the idea that women will come in and solve womens inequality in art may just be, as she puts it, ‘a nice story.’

This is made me question, how are young women in art navigating through this world of gender inequality?

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On Changing The Narrative

Female art collectors have a specefic relationship to gendering within the art world. By profession, art collectors have power to control a narrative. So how do women navigate this power in a world that undervalues and underrepresents womens work?

I spoke to Tia Tanna, 25 year old founder of the Tia Art Colllection, on how she views the industry, and social responsibility, as a young woman collector. Tanna is not naive to the power and responsibility that comes with her reach and impact. She effortlessly synopsises her role as a young woman collector by stating,

“Access doesn’t just validate the work; it creates visibility and shapes what gets historicised.”

Tanna agrees that there are few women in the collecting space, but mentions that the most exciting young collectors she is currently encountering - who are thinking seriously about meaning and community rather than just market value of a piece - are women!

“The boundaries between fashion, design, and fine art, which have often been policed in ways that neatly map onto gender, start to feel less fixed. That feels like genuine progress to me, not just for women but for the field.”

On Making The System Work For You

The value based gendering that Tanna discussed between fine arts and couture, was mirrored when I talked to 22 year old Oxfordshire artist, Freya Mizen. I asked Mizen if she saw the arts as being a financially viable option for her career, her answer was succinct and spoke volume:

“To be honest, no. That is why I chose to do physiotherapy instead, so I could have a stable income and do art on the side.”

Mizen says she see’s the most value in using her art to make creative art campaigns in global health and to communicate new research and innovations.

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As the age-old saying claims: where there will be musicians, there will be a flurry of fangirls following. Whilst ‘beatlemania’ could be considered the birth of the modern fangirl, the term was first used in 1943 by A.P Herbert, and fangirl behaviour was labelled in 1844 as ‘lisztomania’, in reference to composer Franz Liszt.

Yet, despite this consistency, being a fangirl has transformed from a solo endeavour, with fan clubs prioritising keeping fangirls informed rather than connected, to a welcoming group experience, thanks to the rise of social media. And whilst concerns about social media and a potential ban for under 16s has been raised in the UK, it is difficult to not see the appeal of what this generation of fangirls has to offer.

‘Stan’ Twitter (now ‘X’) and TikTok in particular, named to differentiate the casual fan from the true, dedicated ‘stan’, has become a home for many to openly share their intense love for an artist without fear of being labelled strange. Online fandoms come in all sizes with wide diversity, yet a sense of belonging is inevitable through having a debatably insignificant thing in common.

Online listening parties and planning how many dates you absolutely need to be at for your favourite artists’ next tour are essential fangirl bonding experiences. Making ‘mutuals’, a term used to describe when two accounts mutually follow each other, grows to being a part of groupchats, allowing fans to discover similarities beyond their love for the same artist and grow a genuine friendship.

Posts are swapped for messages, messages for long facetimes, until the friendship transitions to real life, where fangirls can barely imagine their life without the people they would not have known existed, if it weren’t for social media.

This is the case for Lara Mountford, a proud fangirl who entered online fandom spaces at the age of 12, and is now 21. She explained to me that while getting into fandoms young, “at the time, I thought, this is just what I need. And to be fair, it was.”

She stated how group chats are born out of fans going to the same tour date, propelling online connections straight into the real life sphere.

“I’ve seen The 1975 in Birmingham, with some people from a group chat who we’d never met before the show, and we just met up and went together, and it was great. It felt like I’d known them for ages, and I literally never met them until that day.”

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In an age of loneliness, for many fangirls it feels like an act of rebellion to find belonging through a device that many claim are taking away from the value of human connection.

With the distance from real life, fangirls become a safe space for each other to both share any worries, and escape the baggage of real life. Finding successful, long-surviving friendships can feel easier online too, due to the instant filtering of people through interests and the lack of location as a barrier.

Lara found this aspect of fangirl spaces invaluable, due to her living far away from London, where a lot of concerts, thus fangirl activity, take place.

“There’s not a lot going on [in Devon]. So in the evenings, especially when I was younger as well, before I could drive, I didn’t have much to do, so I would either watch films and listen to music or talk about films and music.

“When I was younger, it was definitely an escape from school. And when you’re a teenager, you need to escape somehow.”

The appeal of escape in online fandoms can be especially true for those in minority communities, for example people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community and neurodivergent people, who may struggle to relate to those in their real lives.

Dr. Eva Cheuk Yin Li, a media and cultural studies researcher at Kings College London, explained:

“These spaces often feel safer because they allow people to experiment with identity and desires, find validation, and build relationships around shared passions rather than conforming to social norms.

“While online platforms and intra-group fan dynamics can be far from perfect, the ability to curate community and participate can make fandom a profoundly affirming space for those who don’t always find that recognition offline.”

Minority communities within fandoms are embraced through hashtags to celebrate particular groups of fans within communities, from black women to autistic people. Pride flags appear in profile pictures, and the complete normalisation of featuring pronouns in profiles reduces fear of being misgendered.

Fangirls’ support grows by coming together to fundraise, aiming to make a larger impact beyond their community. For example, Harry Styles fans fundraise to celebrate his birthday every year, for non-profit organisations such as Black Girls Rock, Transline and Islamic Relief.

This generosity extends to fellow fangirls, with Lara explaining how one of her online friends “had a house fire and she tweeted about it, and she ends up getting a lot of money in a GoFundMe, because all of her merchandise and everything’s obviously destroyed.”

Being a fangirl is no longer something to indulge in by yourself. Social media has become an integral part to the fangirl experience, allowing many to feel loved, accepted and develop a strong identity of who they are even outside of being a fangirl.

Lara continued that without this 9 year experience, she thinks her life “would be really boring.

“I think I would just act completely different. I think I would be a lot more introverted, a lot more quiet and keep myself to myself.”

No matter how loud a fangirl may scream when their favourite artist comes on stage, or how many tissues they use when listening to a new album, it is safe to say being a fangirl means so much more than love for an artist. It means being truly part of something, and whilst there are valid concerns surrounding social media, it is important to not forget its value.

What comes to your mind when you hear a Japanese film?

Perhaps it is not easy to define exactly, since manga and anime culture have been deeply ingrained in people’s minds.

Regarding Japanese artifacts, there was a boom of Japanese art in Western culture in the late 19th century, when Ukiyoe was exported.

After that, Japanese cinema suddenly emerged into Western consciousness in the 1950s, according to Dr.Alexander Jacoby, Senior Lecturer in Japanese studies at Brookes University.

Such cinema was considered an elite and prestigious pastime at that time.

“There is definitely a new populism to the way in which Japanese arts are received in the West, especially among the young people” he said.

He told Hybrid Magazine how students react to Japanese artifacts.

“Perhaps engage with the image of Japan that’s created by manga and anime, and maybe they’re less certain about what the reality holds for, if they go there.”

The Japan Film Tour Programme 2026

Then what is the reality of Japanese culture through films?

Changing such a uniform image of Japanese films, the Japan Foundation started a project called “The Japan Film Tour Programme “.

This project has been continued for 23 years, and this year’s theme is “Knowing Me, Knowing You”.

In a divided world, the self-image is easily distorted by others and social media, so having one’s true self is crucial. Junko Takekawa, Senior Arts Programme Officer of the Japan Foundation London, carefully selected films that fit the theme.

She raised one of the selected comedy films, “Strangers in Kyoto ぶぶ漬けいかがどす” to explain the core theme of this programme.

Kyoto city is one of the traditional and popular tourist destinations, located on the island of Honshu.

One of their culture is not speaking directly, and the famous phrases is “Would you like some bubuzuke?” actually means “Please go home early” when the guest is not favourable. This phrase is used for this Japanese film title as well.

“This illustrates the gap between the surface and the true intent”, she added.

“This film also shows the gap between the ‘image’ of Kyoto held by outsiders and the reality of the residents who might find it difficult to live in. Ultimately, there is a gap between ‘the constructed image’ of Kyoto and the reality of those who inhabit it.” she explained.

In this programme, one of the notable comedy films is “The Hotel of my Dream 私にふさわしいホテル”, whose original work was Yuzuki Asako, who is famously known as the author of “BUTTER”.

The Japan Foundation once teamed up with her at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, so that she contributed the text from program notes.

BUTTER is famously known as one of the translated Japanese novels successfully in the UK, for example, this crime and culinary fiction won the Waterstone prize in 2024.

Polly Silk, Senior Lecturer in Publishing at Brookes University, shared why BUTTER got popular with Hybrid Magazine because it was clever marketing, such as book covers and positioning of genre.

“The feminist satire angle is also likely to have played a role as this is a theme that UK readers seem to look to East Asian voices for — the recent growth in UK sales of Japanese and Korean fiction has seemed to favour female authors and feminist perspectives. In the past, this area was dominated by male voices.” She analysed the reasons.

The Japan Foundation is also putting effort into introducing Japanese literature as well.

“Today, many exceptional films are being made based on novels, much like in the past. Given the current boom in translated Japanese fiction, we are passionate about introducing diverse authors alongside their cinematic adaptations.”

She also shared the unchangeable goal to reach new audiences who have not seen Japanese films before.

“We value those regional venues even if the audience numbers fluctuate. As long as the venue is willing to take a risk and collaborate, we want to continue” she added.

The commitment by the local cinema

The Ultimate Picture Palace (The UPP), one of the independent and community-owned cinemas in Oxford, makes it possible to achieve it.

This theatre screens unconventional films, including international films, so that it nurtures the bond between audience and theatre.

“Our audiences in particular love being exposed to different cultures, filmmaking, and storytelling as well.” Tom Jowett, a Head of Programmes and Partnerships of the UPP, spoke with the Hybrid Magazine.

With only around a dozen Japanese films shown in the UK per year, the UPP tries to encourage audiences to take a chance on films which they might not otherwise see.

The partnership between the Japan Foundation was established three years ago out of a commitment to screening a broader range of Japanese films.

Over the last two years, they organised Q&A sessions with the director as well.

Furthermore, they have started teaming up with Japanese film club which screens mainly 1980’s and 90’s classical films over the last summer.

Will, having eight years of experience as a filmmaker in Japan, was selected for the screenings.

Both Tom and Will empathise with the same core values: the importance of building community and the power of cinema as a medium for artistic expression.

The UPP is undoubtedly to say that it is one of the few cinemas dedicated to bringing a wide variety of Japanese films to the audience; however, it has faced closure.

This leads to losing one of the places for social connections and hubs for not only Japanese films but also international films.

Cinemas are key cultural institutions that keep art accessible while playing a crucial role in strengthening community bonds.

It is time for us to stop and reflect on what we are losing.

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“I really hope that it opens up everyone’s eyes to travel, and makes them fall in love with it, the way I did.” These are Briana Morger’s hopes for her first group trip to Costa Rica.

Briana is a content creator who documents her solo travels on Instagram. Social media is awash with travel influencers sharing the highs and lows of solo travel, their favourite destinations, and recommendations with their followers.

AirBnB described solo travel as experiencing a renaissance in their travel predictions for 2026. Solo travellers are focusing on self-discovery and prioritising “me time”, using their holiday as an opportunity to slow down.

But solo travel doesn’t always mean travelling alone. Group travel operators have offered solo-friendly options for a while. Intrepid Travel launched their first tours designed for those travelling alone back in 2018 due to an uptick in solo bookings.

Influencers are presenting a new offering to would-be solo travellers and invite you to take that trip with them. Instead of joining an anonymous group trip, here is a guarantee that there’ll be a familiar face - one you’ve seen all over your socials.

Caroline Edwards reports on online trends for CORQ, an influencer intelligence service. She thinks that influencers are using group trips as a way to diversify their revenue stream.

“Creating a community and having an offline community has been really key, especially that they don’t have to rely on algorithms,” she observed.

Travel solo, but not alone

Whatever their motivations, the trend seems to be resonating.

One of the reasons is that there is still hesitancy to travel alone. Almost a third of Americans are afraid of solo travel according to a survey by Talker Research - and among those who haven’t tried solo travel yet, safety concerns were the top reason.

Laura Ericson runs her own travel company and takes small groups to destinations all over the world. Interest is growing so much that she predicts she will no longer be able to attend every trip herself.

“I realised I could kind of fill my own need and desire of wanting to travel to more off- the-beaten-path destinations and not have to go alone,” she said.

Combined with a reluctance to travel alone, there’s strong demand for long-haul travel destinations. The ABTA Travel Trends 2025 survey suggested that over a third of UK adults planned to visit locations outside of Europe.

Long-haul trips require more planning, and for some, this is off-putting. If you’re travelling alone, there’s additional pressure to get it right.

Caroline Edwards at CORQ thinks it’s no coincidence that influencer trips are often to far-flung destinations, “places that… you potentially wouldn’t want to go to alone because the culture is so different and there might be safety concerns.”

Group trips come with an itinerary and the reassurance that someone else is organising everything on your behalf.

“There’s that ease … and that peace of mind. Like, okay, everything’s taken care of. I don’t have to lift a finger,” says Briana Morger.

Find someone you trust

Briana thinks it’s sensible that some might be doubtful about trusting an influencer they’ve never met in real life.

“You’re trusting a stranger on the internet, essentially, to go across the world and meet up with them. I fully understand it,” she said.

However, most influencers are working with a reputable travel agency like TrovaTrip or, as in Briana’s case, Worldpackers. These companies are doing the planning, while the influencer-host brings the group together and takes the lead while you’re actually there.

Briana’s advice is to ask for a call with the influencer for reassurance. She thinks that reputable creators should make the time to meet and discuss if you request it.

She adds, “If they’re just all about the sale, or just don’t feel reputable, follow that intuition.”

Krystina Smith has lost count of how many trips she has taken with Laura Ericson. She likes that Laura always visits a destination before, which is not always the case with influencer-led trips.

“I feel like, when I travel with Laura, I’m going to be in good hands,” she said.

Find your niche

Another common concern is that influencer-led trips will be hyper-focused on getting content for social media feeds. And these trips do exist. Some travel influencers organise trips that are a crash course on how to make engaging content and become a successful content creator.

Laura Ericson said “You’re bringing people that have the same interests… who won’t be annoyed by everyone having their phones out, filming their dinner.”

She continues, “You know you’re all in the same place and you have this common goal.”

But there’s other types of trips, such as wellness retreats, and it’s about finding something you identify with. For example, Lindsey Holland (@marnierays_) hosts women’s surf retreats, which welcome women with all levels of surfing skills.

Find new friendship

You might instinctively look for a trip with people in your age bracket. However, intergenerational trips do exist, and they can be a surprising way to connect with people.

Laura Ericson’s group trips generally attract travellers in their 30s and 40s. But her oldest traveller was 77 years old.

She said “I’ve just seen a lot of friendships form between different generations, and I haven’t found that it [age] matters.”

The online relationship between influencers and followers is one-sided, a type of parasocial relationship according to experts.

Dr Hannah Yelin has written extensively about women in the public eye. Her research into parasocial relationships suggests we should be doubtful about whether influencers, always accessible online, can form genuine friendships with followers. This online exposure can be dangerous, according to Dr Yelin.

She says “This is a fantasy of absolute access that is inevitably impossible to deliver on.”

Briana Morger is more optimistic.

“I think that it’s so special, and I think that’s why most people go on these trips to have that connection and friendships. It’s like built-in friendships… it’s just going to happen naturally.”