Over five years ago, in a dopamine-filled moment of gender expression euphoria, I threw away my razor. I was in my early 20s and at the beginning of discovering how my queerness would manifest in my appearance. At the time, it felt rebellious and powerful, it felt like taking a stance. It also felt like a necessity, both physically and mentally. I was struggling with matching my outward gender expression with my inner androgyny and growing out my leg hair felt like a surefire way to plaster some masculinity on my feminine-shaped body. My body hair grew, long and scraggly, most prominently across my legs. It survived bathing suit season and snide comments, it even persisted through trichotillomania (hair pulling) flares that tore through my eyebrows. As my body hair thrived, my queer self felt uplifted; until one day, everything changed.

At his farm in Syria's northeast, Abdullah al-Mohammed adjusts a large solar panel, one of hundreds that have cropped up over the years as farmers seek to stave off...

Team Alpine boss Bruno Famin revealed the team were “very happy” with Mick Schumacher’s performance in a recent 2024 World Endurance Championship test session. Schumacher, son of the seven-time World Champion Michael, had two seasons with Haas on the Formula One grid, but finished in the points on just two occasions in 44 races. He then moved to Mercedes as the team’s reserve driver but had limited opportunities and began to look outside F1 for racing options. In October, Schumacher took part in a multi-day Test event in Spain behind the wheel of Alpine’s Hypercar, with a hope of being signed as one of the available six slots in the WEC 2024. Ahead of the Mexico Grand Prix, Famin said Schumacher’s test was a success. “Mick tested the car in Jerez 10 days ago or eight days ago. We were very happy with his performance, his global performance, how he was with the team and I think he was happy too,” Famin said reported by planetF1.com. “That means that we can still discuss about trying to do something next year together. But here we are only [at this stage].” According to Speedweek, Schumacher said: “It’s a completely different feeling. “The car is relatively big, relatively heavy. The cockpit is completely closed, which felt a bit claustrophobic at the beginning. But I got used to it relatively quickly. “In terms of racing, it’s a bit different because you share the car. That is exciting in a way. The car has to last 24 hours. It’s a different challenge. “You never notice whether the tyre stops or not. You have little lights that indicate that, but nothing else. It was a bit abstract to sit in there in a completely closed cockpit and not get any wind. “But the biggest change for me was the draught in the back. There is a cooling system that blows air in and I was not really prepared for that at the beginning.” Read More Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘thoroughly miserable’ decline which could have consequences F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Max Verstappen gives blunt verdict on Sergio Perez’s Mexican Grand Prix crash Michael Schumacher update: Lawyer explains lack of ‘final report’ on F1 star’s health F1 2023 season race schedule: When is the Brazilian Grand Prix? Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin and a ‘miserable’ decline which could have consequences

Amy Dowden has shared her gratitude for the kind words she’s received from fans after revealing more about her cancer diagnosis. The Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer, 32, told fans she’d been diagnosed with breast cancer in May. She underwent a full mastectomy to treat the disease shortly after. Dowden had been waiting to discover what further treatment she’d need, having noted that chemotherapy would affect whether she’d compete on this year’s Strictly. In an Instagram Live chat with breast cancer survivor and Paralympic gold medallist Erin Kennedy for the charity CoppaFeel! on Friday (21 July), Dowden spoke out about being told she’d need chemotherapy after more tumours were discovered following her mastectomy. “For me my journey everything changed,” she explained. “I was originally going to have a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. But then, after my MRI, they found another tumour so then it changed into a mastectomy and then, after my mastectomy, unfortunately, they found even more tumours. “They found another type of cancer and then they told me I needed chemo – for me that was a massive blow,” she continued. “It wasn’t in the plan, originally – and I know the plan you can’t get fixated on.” Dowden admitted that she had reservations about beginning chemotherapy as she feared it would interfere with her dance practice. “For me, straightaway, it was my dancing – like, you can take away my boob but you can’t take my dancing away from me and that’s what I get really upset about,” she recalled. Though Dowden had hoped to return to Strictly this year, the effects of the chemotherapy mean that she will not return in a competitive capacity for the forthcoming season. She added: “This year, it means I’m not going to be able to dance with a celebrity on Strictly, but I’m in such regular contact with the team – the BBC have just been utterly incredible.” After the live broadcast ended, the performer shared an additional message on her Instagram stories thanking everyone for the “love and support” that has been directed her way. She wrote: “I’ll tackle this next step the best I can and very blessed to have the love and support of my family and friends along with you guys. “The rest of the year looked very different to what was planned but hopefully I’ll enter 2024 cancer free and I’ll never take anything for granted and promise to live life to the full.” Dowden joined Strictly in 2017, and has competed in every series since, reaching the final in 2019 with kids’ TV presenter Karim Zeroual. Read More Tim Shaddock rescue: Ben Fogle offers to pay for Australian sailor and dog to be reunited after emotional separation Father sparks outrage for calling son ‘spoiled’ after 23-year-old said he can’t throw wedding for under $7,000 Fans defend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid breakup rumours Researchers warn after 25 types of toxic flame retardant found in human breast milk Mother calls out ‘double standard’ after husband is praised for doing ‘bare minimum’ Couple praised after sharing intimate bathroom TikTok: ‘The reality of birth’

Asian drugstore products just hit different — and this is a hill I’m 100% willing to die on. Growing up in Macau, China, I’d often visit local drugstores for all manners of beauty supplies and health remedies. The products range from homegrown Chinese inventions to imports from neighboring countries like Japan and Thailand. More often than not, these discoveries come by way of my mom or grandma (aka the strongest word-of-mouth engine you can imagine). One thing these hidden gems all have in common? They are affordable — and they work.

SAVE 36%: This Prime Day, add the Black+Decker 20V Max cordless drill and accessories kit

It seems the world will never tire of the creepy character Wednesday Addams and all of her iterations. That couldn’t be more true for the newest version of the teen psychic in the widely popular Netflix series Wednesday. Both the show and its deadpan leading lady, played by Jenna Ortega, turned a quirky viral dance into a major resurgence for all-black gothic style. And now, you can add some edge to your own style with the new Wednesday x Kitsch collaboration.

Teresa Giudice and her daughter Gia also got called out for keeping their hair open in the kitchen while cooking

SPEND $80, GET $20 OF AMAZON CREDIT: As of August 18, you can get a

Temperatures have peaked at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) the entire month of July in Phoenix and extreme heat stretches across the American South

Want to make sure your kids aren't holding their phones dangerously close to their eyes?

These days, our laptops and phones rattle around in our bags like a set of loose keys. The reverence we once had for our pricey electronics seems to be long gone — now we treat them as if they were the ones responsible for our ever-growing email count. (Who even remembers laptop sleeves anymore?) Maybe it’s time we start considering this crucial three-to-seven pound commute companion with a little more care, starting with purchasing a laptop bag.