The 2023 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest triumphantly happened after reports came out that it would be canceled. Here's who won.Torrential downpours and flash flooding put the annual Fourth of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in jeopardy for several hours on Tuesday. The conte...

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Like many now working in the video game industry, Bailey McCann considers herself a lifelong gamer, but, growing up, gaming was mostly just a fun hobby that spoke to her competitive side. It wasn’t until she got to college that she discovered the esports scene. A friend found out that she played Overwatch, invited her to join their University of Maryland esports team, and the rest is history. McCann fell in love with esports and soon started working with grassroots-level organizations on planning and hosting related events and competitions.

Caribbean households are known for obscure nicknames. Growing up, mine was (and still is) Longers. My dad says I was given this name because it took me ages to start doing anything and I was so forgetful as a child. My parents being separated meant that I would move from house to house every weekend, spending some with my grandparents. Between these moves, I’d always forget my phone, keys, purses, clothes, devices. Halfway through driving home I’d inevitably remember some important item I’d left behind. Eventually my dad implemented a system of checking things before I left the house. He’d shout the item and I’d check it off my mental list. “PHONE?” “CHECK!” “KEYS?” “CHECK!” until I was certain I had everything.

If there’s something to know about me, it’s that I love anything customized, personalized, monogrammed — you name it. If I can put an initial on it, you know that I will. And when it comes to beauty products, I’m the same; and while customizable skincare and made-to-order makeup have made some waves in the mainstream beautysphere, compared to the world of bespoke hair products? They have a long way to go. One such brand, Function of Beauty, was virtually inescapable at its peak — and I’ll admit, I was a fan myself. However, after a 2021 scandal involving customers claiming to have suffered hair loss as a result of using the brand’s products, the future of Function seemed uncertain. (Writer’s note: I personally did not experience any issues using Function of Beauty products, including the line offered at Target, which was also mentioned in VICE’s reporting.)

There’s a reason the French look is held to the highest standard in beauty. Everyone wants a piece of that effortlessly cool aesthetic, and French beauty products are some of the best in the world. Dr Marine Vincent, founder of The French Pharmacy, notes the French approach favours “a more minimalistic and effortless look”. She says: “French women lean towards a more natural aesthetic, prioritising a prevention-focused and holistic approach to beauty. “French women value taking care of their skin as a form of self-care and overall wellbeing. They understand that healthy skin is a reflection of a healthy lifestyle.” Plus, Vincent says “embracing your individuality and cultivating self-confidence are key elements of French beauty”. If you want to get more of a Parisian glow, take a look at some of these French skincare secrets… 1. Adopt positive habits early on “In French culture, skincare is indeed ingrained from a young age, and I believe it comes again from the wellbeing and holistic approach to beauty,” Vincent reflects. “We see it as part of our self-care, not as an option.” She says she learned the “significance of using quality products” growing up, and her mother “taught me to cleanse, moisturise and protect my skin from an early age” – with her first moisturiser from classic French pharmacy brand Avène. “Time has passed and I now gave the same advice to my 12-year-old daughter,” Vincent adds – now adding sunscreen into that list, which is “one of the most effective anti-ageing skincare tools”. Part of forming these positive habits is consistency, which Vincent says is “key in skincare, as it helps to maintain the skin’s balance and prevents common issues such as acne or premature ageing, so starting early will allow you to establish good habits early on, making it easier to maintain them in the long-term”. 2. Use French pharmacy products “If you’re looking for effective skincare without all the fancy marketing and high price tags, French pharmacy beauty products are definitely worth exploring,” says Vincent. “They’ve got a solid reputation for a reason.” One of the reasons they’re so good is they “focus on simplicity”, Vincent suggests. “French skincare brands often prioritise using key active ingredients that are known to work wonders for the skin. It’s all about delivering visible results without any fuss.” Look out for brands like La Roche-Posay, Avène, Caudalie and Bioderma – helping you get science-based, effective products without breaking the bank. Bioderma Hydrabio Serum, £20, Escentual Caudalie Vinopure Moisturizing Mattifying Fluid, £25 3. Try endermologie This secret is a bit pricier than pharmacy skincare products, but many French women swear by it. Endermologie is a treatment where a therapist uses a machine with various settings on your body or face. “It is very renowned for its amazing results, primarily on cellulite, sagging skin [and] body contouring,” suggests LPG Endermologie ambassador Nathalie Paradis. She says it’s “powerful” in “increasing firmness, but at the same time very respectful of the skin, especially when it’s fragile”. Endermologie isn’t quite a household name in the UK, but is much more prominent in France where there’s a more holistic approach to beauty. Paradis says: “We are facing a new era where beauty cannot be separated from health, and where people can benefit from this technology to reach their goals of wellbeing in an increasingly stressful environment.” Becoming increasingly popular in UK salons, it can also be used to treat scars or scar tissue. 4. Get the ‘French touch’ Vincent says thermal water spray is the extra “French touch” you can add to your beauty bag and use “all year long”. According to Vincent, some of the best uses of thermal water spray are before applying hyaluronic acid serums (you “need moisture to be effective”, she says), to “fix your make-up”, to refresh your face in summer and “to layer in between your skincare steps and add an extra layer of hydration”. Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray for Sensitive Skin, £15.50, Boots Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Spa Water, £9, Look Fantastic 5. Use a secret weapon Is cica cream in your routine? This is the nickname for centella asiatica creams and “long before [it was a] TikTok trend, all French women have one in their beauty bag”, Vincent says. According to Vincent, it’s useful for any skin irritation (cracked lips, burns, baby rashes, etc), dry areas (like elbows or knees), after sun, as a skin recovery mask and as a moisturiser. La Roche Posay Cicaplast Balm, £10, Boots Bioderma Cicabio Pommade – Repairing Ointment, £8, Escentual Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What happens if you don’t wash your water bottle often enough? Prince George visits Eton with parents Prince William and Kate Middleton King Charles and Queen Camilla ecstatic after getting their first Royal Ascot winner

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A YouTube prank at New York Fashion Week has gone viral after one man confidently walked the runway – and no one batted an eyelid. Fred Beyer's stunt was captured during an event held by social media agency Creators Inc. It shows the 21-year-old wearing a transparent bin bag, complete with vibrant shorts and a shower cap as he struts down the ramp. Beyer manages to make it to the end of the catwalk, with no suspicion from the audience. Moments later, a member of security runs up and escorts him off. The clip has since made waves online, with many in hysterics over the harmless prank. "I thought that was the new summer release," one person joked, while another added: "I need confirmation that this wasn't part of the show bc they are weird like this lol." "He probably had one of the most normal fits in there," a third joked. Pranking Fashion Week www.youtube.com Meanwhile, one person commented: "And nobody suspected anything despite that drip. Goes to show how trash these shows be." Another suggested: "There was no reason to rush him off, bro already done damage and completed the mission." The YouTuber has grown popular online, with one of his most clicked videos racking up almost a million views. Titled 'Pulling Fire Alarm Prank,' the clip shows Beyer approaching people in public places telling them he is going to set the fire alarm off and repeatedly being told not to. He later tells staff that his alarms are fakes. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Something is different on the comics pages this week