Take a minute. I want you to choose a car that can handle a major city, a motorway and a mountain range all within 90 minutes. Parking on a steep hill is non-negotiable. It's 30-plus degrees, so the aircon needs to be exceptional. The sat-nav must be effortless to follow. You'd like to stop somewhere scenic along the way without taking your hands off the wheel. There are two car seats in the back and a tent in the boot. One of the children has fallen asleep, so you need quiet in the back while you lip-sync, silently and with full commitment, to whatever is playing up front.
If you have an answer, I'd genuinely love to hear it, because I was completely stumped until last week, when that exact scenario played out during a test drive of the Volvo EX60 around Barcelona. A test of the car, yes, but also of my ability to navigate rush-hour traffic in the Spanish capital for the first time. Olé! Nervous drivers need not apply. And yet I'd actually use the word enjoyable, even while weaving between taxis, tourists and more cyclists than you'd find at the Tour de France. Because the new fully electric version of Volvo's bestselling XC60 can, as I discovered, handle just about anything. And not just handle—actively assist.
(Image credit: Future)
"Hey Google, play summer house hits." "Hey Google, what's the most scenic rest stop along this route?" "Hey Google, re-route us to a coffee shop." The AI-powered voice assistant became my default co-pilot for the day, and an exceptionally good one. A feature rolling out to all Volvos shortly, though the EX60 leads the charge. Hey Google can also control all 28 speakers individually, adjusting the volume in each zone of the car independently. Sleeping babies no longer require total silence. Quite the gamechanger.
Add Apple Music, Spotify, 5G, Waze, Google Maps, Apple CarPlay, a wireless charging pad and every in-car entertainment app worth having—displayed across a central iPad-sized screen and a smaller driver-facing panel—and every element of modern in-car technology is accounted for. All of it housed in a compact SUV small enough to squeeze into a narrow mountain monastery car park—with all-round parking sensors, cameras and a bird's-eye view to assist—yet large enough to comfortably fit two car seats, a passenger in the back and a full camping set-up in the boot. Or, more realistically, the weekly shop, a pram and whatever else needs hauling. The hidden under-boot compartment was a personal highlight: additional space and the kind of security that means the days of hiding a handbag under a rogue blanket are firmly over.
(Image credit: Future)
The design is a more minimalist take on the classic Volvo—inspired, lead designer Sara tells me, by "interior design, fashion, craftsmanship and contemporary art and architecture". Available in frost green, ice white, onyx black, heather bronze, aurora silver, sand dune and vapour grey, with four interior options spanning both leather and wool-blend finishes. Sleek is the operative word, if I'm only allowed one.
"The key design features are the aerodynamic exterior design with new door handles, and the airy interior with a lightweight textile dressed dashboard with a curved oled screen," she adds. Noting it was built for modern families in mind. A trait that's easy to spot with the near-never-ending list of mod cons.
(Image credit: Volvo)
Then there's the matter of range—the question that inevitably comes before everything else when it comes to electric. The answer is an 800V battery with a choice of either 660 or 611 km range, with 16 minutes of fast charging adding around 70% charge. Enough to see me through five hours of driving—aircon, music and Hey Google all running at full capacity—with only a marginal drop in battery.
A can-do-anything car, in other words. And one that, rather inconveniently, I now can't stop thinking about (as well as the patatas bravas). Oh, and did I mention you can add the car key to your phone, just like your credit cards? The future of cars is officially here.
I make no secret of my aversion to fake tan. I have never quite understood how anyone can be bothered to undergo the whole arduous application process weekly, and contending with transfer onto bedsheets and needing to wash it off the next morning is far too much admin for me. So when I discovered that the Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Gel promises easy application, zero transfer, and no rinse required, I had to see if this could be the fake tan to cure my affliction.
Aussie brand Bali Body has been gaining serious traction in the tanning world for several years now, and it's quickly shot to the top of most beauty editors' roundups of tanning waters and instant tans that won't disappoint. The latest addition to the collection is the sell-out Clear Self Tanning Gel, which is described as a "clear, zero-transfer self tan gel that delivers a natural-looking glow with a glossy finish."
What makes for the best fake tan will vary depending on your current beauty routine, but I can bet that most of us value ease of use over much else. Considering this formula requires zero rinsing, won't transfer onto clothes, and dries down quickly, it seems to tick that box nicely. But of course, I had to properly put it to the test to see if it could really deliver—and cure my tanning hatred.
Bali Body UK
Clear Self Tanning Gel
How We Test
The Marie Claire UK team takes product testing seriously, with a commitment to delivering accurate, honest and genuinely helpful reviews for our readers. For this piece, I documented my first time testing the Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Gel from start to finish. I assessed the packaging, ease of application, texture, absorption, any residue, drying time, smell, and—of course—the tanning results. I compared this to my natural skin tone, and payed close attention to check for to any harsh lines, orange tints, or dry patches that might crop up.
At 400ml, this is a very generous sized fake tan housed in a sleek plastic pump bottle. The applicator is the first thing that got my seal of approval, as it can be placed on a table and pumped out with zero effort—no holding a big bottle in one hand and trying to force out the product with the other, inevitably resulting in the formula getting everywhere.
As soon as you pump it out, this fake tan feels similar to an aloe vera gel with a slightly more watery consistency. It's very thin and glossy, and I could tell immediately that it wouldn't require much effort to rub in. This also means that a little goes a long way, as you really don't need much for even a large area. It also didn't have much of a smell when first pumped out, which made the application process more pleasant.
It only comes in one shade at the moment—dark—so I proceeded with caution by going for light layers to ensure it didn't stray into unnatural territory on me.
Before applying, I had assumed that I'd need some sort of tanning mitt—as is standard for most fake tans. But to my delight, the bottle suggested just applying with your hands. Although I was slightly sceptical about the results, my preference for low-effort tanning meant that I went ahead with it. I started with a couple of pumps into my palm before rubbing the product into my arms in circular motions and went from there. I loved how quickly it began to sink in and dry right away, without me needing to wait. This meant that I could do a couple of layers in the same area almost instantly to make sure I was fully covered.
Rather than a typical fake tan mousse, it felt much more like skincare to apply. Disappearing like a moisturiser, I only needed several seconds on each area before continuing. Due to the gel nature, it was ever so slightly sticky until fully dried, but not enough to be uncomfortable, rub off on anything, or leave any residue lingering.
I gave it about ten minutes after applying before lying on my white bed sheets, just to be safe, but after that I felt confident carrying on with my evening without fear of any tan wiping off or transferring. I was conscious of the biscuit-y fake tan smell, which did hang around for a few hours after applying, but it wasn't too strong or overwhelming. And by the next day, it was totally gone.
One thing to note is that you don't get any guide colour with the Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Gel—it is totally clear. This did make me slightly nervous as a tan novice, since I'm not used to how much product to use where or how many layers I would need. Given it takes 4-6 hours to fully develop, it was a slightly anxious wait to see how my efforts would turn out.
Plus, this is a no-rinse tan, so the colour you've applied is what you get. Although this might be scary to some, this was music to my low-effort ears. I absolutely loved that I didn't need to factor a shower and scrub into my tanning routine, I could just apply and go with no more thought.
I was with friends the morning after applying the Bali Body Clear Self Tanning Gel, and the first comment from everyone was how tanned I looked—and naturally so.
The difference it had made to my skin became most clear when I took off my ring and could see the dramatic tan line left behind (pictured below) that emulated two weeks lying in the sun.
I had feared waking up looking orange, but a thorough inspection of my skin in daylight showed me that there was no abnormal colour, no harsh lines where I hadn't blended it properly, and no dry areas where it had clung to my skin. Yes, even on my knees and elbows. I have to confess that I didn't even exfoliate my skin before tanning (a cardinal sin, I know), but that didn't even seem to matter. There was no trace of any issues left behind.
Admittedly, there is a small area on my back where I know I didn't do a very good job at blending evenly, and you can slightly see when you look closely. But miraculously, it's such a subtle line that I don't think anyone would notice without staring closely.
I'm now a few days after applying, and my tan is still going strong. It has faded slightly, as to be expected considering I've showered several times and even gone for a swim in the sea, but the glow is still visible.
Considering how quick and easy this was to apply with zero equipment or prep, how speedily it dried, and no rinsing off afterwards, I can say this product alone has made me a fake tan convert. It didn't take more than 20 minutes out of my evening with no more thought required. For me, this is the perfect way to fake tan.
This water-based formula from Isle of Paradise is extra hydrating for dryer skin types that often struggle with streaks and patchiness. Non-sticky, it's another that won't leave uncomfortable residue on the skin.
Tan-Luxe
The Water Hydrating Self-Tan Water
If you hate blending your tan, a mist like this is ideal. Just spray and go with zero rubbing in required. This multi-purpose formula can be used on the body or face, and it can even double up as a makeup setting spray to prevent cakey-ness and provide a natural glow.
Tanologist
Self-Tan Mousse - Dark
Designer for darker skin tones, this Tanologist formula can be washed off after just two hours for a speedy, but noticeable, natural glow that also softens and hydrates the skin.
St. Tropez
Self Tan Purity Face Mist
If you want a clear face tan that won't aggravate your complexion, I swear by this St Tropez formula. It's another that doesn't require any blending, and it's perfect for topping up my body tan on my hands and chest when it starts to fade.
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You know what I find shocking? The fact that, no matter how good I get at lifting barbells, pushing sleds, or stretching resistance bands, nothing humbles me in quite the same way as my own body weight. If you’ve ever done a HIIT workout, HYROX or even a mat Pilates class, you’ll know what I mean. Because between all the complex equipment-based movements, it’s the press-ups, pull-ups and burpees which really stump me. These are the moves that have me shaking by rep four, the ones which most stubbornly resist progress and which are the first to suffer when my routine slips.
It’s why I wasn’t that shocked to read that the number of press-ups we can do in a minute might give some indication of how long, and how healthily, we’ll live. But here’s the catch. The landmark Harvard study published in 2019 was - *shock* - conducted entirely on men. Healthy male firefighters, to be precise. The researchers, who studied the men over a ten-year period, found that those who could do over 40 press-ups had a 96% lower risk of heart disease than those who could do fewer than 10.
It got me thinking: what is it about this simple, free test of full-body strength that so closely connects it to our cardiovascular health? And, given our vast (and underresearched) physiological differences, can the same guidance really be applied to women?
In search of answers, I spoke to two leading female personal trainers about the power of the press-up, and how they use it in their own coaching. Ahead, their reflections.
Can Your Press-Up PB Predict Longevity? It’s Not That Simple, But It is Important
What is the press-up test?
Put simply, the press-up test is a measure of how many full press-ups you can do in one go (with good technique) before you reach the point of fatigue.
“It’s popular because it doesn’t require any equipment, takes just a few minutes and gives a really good snapshot of upper-body strength and overall fitness,” explains Meg Landi, Trainer at Barry’s UK.
Personal trainer, Aimee Victoria Long, agrees. “Although people tend to think it’s just an arm exercise, a good push-up actually requires your whole body to work together. Your chest, shoulders and triceps are doing the pushing, but your core, glutes and hips are all working hard to keep your body stable and aligned.”
That, she says, is why it’s such an interesting marker of fitness. “It gives you an impression of overall functional strength rather than isolating one muscle group.”
Is the press-up test a reliable predictor of longevity?
Here’s the thing: any kind of resistance training is good for longevity. It helps to preserve our muscle mass, supports our metabolic health, is linked to slower cellular ageing and has even been found to reduce the chance of premature death from certain cardiovascular and neurological conditions, such as heart disease and dementia.
But is there anything really that special about press-ups? According to Long, it’s less about the exercise itself and more about what it indicates about our overall lifestyle. “Someone who can perform 40 push-ups is probably also exercising regularly, carrying a healthy amount of muscle, looking after their cardiovascular health and generally living a healthier lifestyle,” she says, in reference to the Harvard firefighters study.
The bigger, more important message here, she explains, is that strength training really matters. “We’re seeing more and more research evidence that maintaining muscle as we age is one of the best things we can do for our long-term health. So rather than chasing a magic push-up number, I’d encourage people to focus on building strength consistently.”
Landi agrees. “It [your press-up PB] is definitely not a crystal ball for how long you’re going to live, but it can tell us a lot about your overall health.”
So, according to Dr. Vonda Wright (I heard her on @melrobbins’ podcast), every woman should be able to do 11 push-ups—not on the knees—as a marker of upper body strength and longevity! I’m testing mine. Try it too and let me know how you did
Does the research on press-ups apply to women as well as men?
Given that the largest study on the press-up test centres exclusively on male participants, I was curious to know how the results translate to women.
“Personally, when I’m working with female clients, I’m looking at strength as a whole rather than one exercise,” says Long, who emphasises that, whilst the general conclusions are useful, we can’t automatically apply the exact numbers from the Harvard study to female bodies.
“Women naturally have less upper body muscle mass than men because of our physiology, so comparing the same push-up numbers doesn’t really give us a fair picture,” she explains.
And while both she and Landi would like to see further research done specifically on women, to give a clearer picture of the way that strength training impacts our longevity, both say we can still apply the current findings to the way we train.
“The questions I’m asking are: are they getting stronger year after year? Can they lift heavier? Can they get up and down off the floor easier? Are they maintaining muscle through perimenopause and menopause?” says Long. “Those things tell me more about long-term health than any specific number.”
How to improve your press-ups, according to a personal trainer:
So, what does all this mean in practice? Well, what it demonstrates is that full-body strength exercises like press-ups are an effective and efficient way to protect and build muscle mass and improve overall fitness; all of which are consistently connected to healthier ageing.
And whilst there isn’t one magical number that you need to hit to guarantee a long and healthy life (wouldn’t it be nice if there was?), gradually chipping away at your own personal best is not only a powerful motivator; it’s also a great way to ensure you’re building strength over time.
It’s why we asked the trainers for their top tips to improve your press-ups at every age - whether you’re in your twenties, your fifties, sixties or beyond.
When it comes to strength training, technique is everything, says Long, who shares her favourite coaching cues.
Brace your core before every rep.
Think about keeping your body in one long straight line.
Lower slowly with control.
Aim to bring your chest close to the floor rather than craning your neck.
Imagine pushing the floor away from you as you press back up.
2. Modify if needed
If a full press-up isn’t manageable yet, Landi says we shouldn’t be afraid to modify. “Start with incline push-ups on a bench or a wall,” she recommends. “It’s a brilliant way to practice the movement pattern and build strength.
Long agrees. “I’d rather someone perform beautiful incline push-ups than struggle through poor-quality reps on the floor.”
3. Practice regularly
“Like any movement, push-ups are a skill as much as they are a strength exercise - the more consistently you practise them, the better they’ll become,” says Long, who reminds us that press-ups should always come as part of a well-rounded strength programme, rather than something we practice in isolation. She recommends “chest presses, rows, shoulder presses and core work,” as good examples of press-up supportive strength training.
As someone with bigger boobs, I know what a nightmare it can be to find a well-fitting sports bra. I also know that a poor-fitting one can genuinely ruin your workout. It's why I'm such a big fan of this one from Free People. The long-line design is both comfy and flattering; there's no bulky wiring or clasps to contend with, and it actually runs true to size. I wouldn't wear it for anything too high intensity, but for a strength session in the gym, it's become my go-to.
TALA Dayflex High-Waisted Flared Yoga Pant No Front Seam
I'm a recent convert from leggings to a flare for a gym workout. Previously, I'd struggled to find something long enough that didn't look as though it was cutting me in half at the waist. In TALA's Dayflex pants, though, I've found it, and now you can't get me out of them. They're super soft, comfy, and come with four different length options. I also love the lack of front seam, which avoids any camel toe issues and discomfort mid-workout.
ON Women's Cloudpulse Black
One of the best pairs of all-rounder trainers for weights or circuit sessions, health editor Ally Head is a big fan. She found them bouncy and flexible, whilst also being stable enough to support her in her lifts. They're a strong purchase for anyone getting serious about the gym.
How many press ups is good for my age?
In fitness, we love a metric, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing your numbers to someone else’s. Whilst it’s natural and at times healthy to have a goal in mind, Barry’s UK trainer Meg Landi says, “it’s less about chasing a specific number and more about maintaining your own strength and function as you age.”
“It’s completely normal for push-up performance to change as we get older,” she explains. “Muscle mass and strength naturally begin to decline in our forties, particularly if we’re not doing resistance training.”
The good news, she says, is that this decline can be slowed and even, to an extent, reversed. “I've worked with plenty of people in their fifties and sixties who can still perform excellent push-ups because they've prioritised maintaining their strength,” Landi explains, recommending regular strength training two to three times a week.
Personal trainer, Aimee Victoria Long, agrees. “I actually think we need to move away from comparing ourselves to someone twenty years younger. I’d much rather see someone in their sixties confidently performing five brilliant push-ups than someone in their twenties doing twenty with poor technique. Quality always beats quantity!”
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In an era of fragrance wardrobes, seasonal scent rotations and experimental perfume layering, actor Alisha Boe has decided to do things a little differently when it comes to her scent.
The 13 Reasons Why and Do Revenge star has little interest in switching between endless bottles, firmly in favour of one signature scent. "I'm the signature scent person," she tells Marie Claire UK. "Once you find one, you don't want to. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
It's a refreshingly uncomplicated philosophy in a moment when fragrance has never been more experimental. While beauty lovers increasingly curate perfume wardrobes to suit every mood, Boe prefers one bottle that feels unmistakably like her.
The actor is the new face of Yves Saint Laurent Beauty's Black Opium franchise—a fragrance she knew well long before signing on. "Black Opium is such an iconic fragrance," she says. "I was very familiar with it, and I was so excited to jump on."
The latest interpretation introduces juicy strawberry alongside the fragrance's signature coffee, vanilla and white florals—a combination that initially caught Boe off guard. "What I love about the strawberry is that it's more like a farmer's market strawberry," she says. "It's very fresh and nice. I'm such a big fan of jasmine and vanilla, and I think marrying the two is so interesting. It's very warming and inviting and magnetic."
The Best Fragrances Aren't Worn for Other People
Perfume is often framed as something we wear to make an impression. Not for Boe. "It's more so how it makes me feel," she explains. "If I want to feel very confident and sexy, I'll throw on a really good scent."
Still, she believes fragrance is one of the few beauty choices people actually remember. "You remember if someone smells incredible," she says. "People talk about that for a long time. 'Did you meet that girl? She smelled amazing. What was she wearing?' There's so much mystery around it."
Unlike makeup or fashion, fragrance is invisible, which may be precisely why it feels so personal.
(Image credit: YSL Beauty)
The Scent Memory She'll Never Forget
Despite fragrance's ephemeral nature, scent and memory are inseparable, and Boe is acutely aware of it—how a smell can outlast the moment it belongs to, resurfacing a whole place and time long after the details have blurred.
The fragrances that have stayed with her longest never came from a bottle. She moved from Norway to Los Angeles at seven, landing in an entirely new world—one she still recalls through smell more vividly than anything else.
"I remember the smell of dust and hot concrete, chlorine, because every house, it seemed, had a pool, and that was so, so exotic," she recalls. "Those three smells are my earliest memories because it was such a big change in my life."
Why Some Actors Wear a Different Perfume for Every Character
For actors, fragrance can double as a tool for stepping into character. Plenty of performers assign a different scent to each role, using it as another route into a fictional world. Boe has tried it herself.
"It is a fascinating technique," she says. "It goes back to how smell evokes memories and recall. I have done it once, and I think it just speaks to how important smell is to humans."
She spends much of her working life in the hair and makeup chair, but fragrance is the one step she keeps for herself. "My mornings are pretty different every day," she says. "I'll wash my face, shower, brush my teeth, floss—very important—and because I go into hair and makeup, I kind of leave that to them. Then the last thing I do is put on perfume."
"I've Never Really Cared About the Opinions of Strangers"
That same self-possession is what drew Boe to Yves Saint Laurent Beauty. The brand's message of unapologetic self-expression, she says, has always matched her own outlook.
"I've never really cared much about the opinions of strangers or how I might be perceived by other people," she says. "They really support that, and it felt like such a natural partnership because I believe that wholeheartedly."
It's the same logic that governs her relationship with fragrance. No chasing compliments, no collecting bottles for novelty's sake—just the belief that the right perfume should make the wearer feel good first and foremost.
In a beauty landscape built on chasing the next launch, Boe's approach lands as refreshingly secure and settled: find the scent that feels like home and wear it without wavering. Or as she puts it—if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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Tracee Ellis Ross is famous, of course, for her acting prowess and for being the daughter of the legendary Diana Ross, but her outfits are so good that they've become yet another string to her bow. And last week's wardrobe rotation served as further evidence of that, while also confirming that our spotlighted summer trend—red and blue colour pairings—is absolutely still standing. Ross has simply taken it in an office-friendly direction, with the help of stylist Karla Welch, who also has a hand in the wardrobes of Olivia Wilde, Tessa Thompson, Sarah Paulson and many more Hollywood faces.
While Ross's look was an all-Prada ensemble, the core components can be bought from just about any retailer. Think a blue shirt, a statement skirt—if red isn't your top choice, silver, green or a bold print work just as well—and a classic court shoe, which you may well already own. Simple in structure yet impactful in shade, with a basket bag and silver earrings adding subtle accents.
And as we've also dubbed 2026 the year big skirts bring the energy, it feels fitting that the often overlooked wardrobe staple forms the centrepiece of this easy-to-recreate outfit—suitable for even the strictest office environments. Though we'd probably swap the straw tote for something capable of actually holding a laptop, and possibly a spare pair of shoes, should you have a hefty commute.
Below, the building blocks to make this summer-ready workwear look your own.
Shop The Tracee Ellis Ross Look
Best Blue Shirts
ARKET
Oversized Shirt
Crafted from 100% cotton in an oversized cut, this shirt—although crisp when ironed—will add a more relaxed look to any outfit. Think borrowed from the boys.
Toteme
Cotton Summer Shirt Cornflower
Toteme pieces are built to last, as my four-year-old tank tops prove. So consider this organic cotton shirt a wardrobe staple for many years to come.
With Nothing Underneath
The Dress Shirt Curved Bib
The dress shirt detailing of this design adds not only a more formal feel but one that's also more interesting. You can also get it monogrammed with your initials.
Best Statement Skirts
Prada
Satin Skirt With Embroidery
Tracee Elliss Ross opted for this red silk-blend embellished Prada pick plucked straight from the Autumn/Winter 26 runway. It's not yet available online but will be very soon.
TOTEME
Cotton-Poplin Midi Skirt
Toteme's cotton-poplin midi-skirt is a great alternative to Prada, with the same effect.
Shushu/Tong
Sequined Midi Skirt in Green
If red isn't quite your colour, green, orange and pink will all deliver a similarly bold result. This sequin floral Shushu/Tong midi skirt will pair just as well with a blue shirt as it will a simple white tee.
Best Court Shoes
JUDE
Kiss 105 Leather Pumps
You may not be all that familiar with Jude just yet, but despite being just two years old, the brand is already in a huge number of fashion editors' wardrobes.
M&S
Mid Heel Pointed Court Shoes
For a lower heel and higher comfort thanks to the M&S patented Insolia® technology, turn to these faux leather classic court shoes.
JIMMY CHOO
Love 85 Satin Pumps
Jimmy Choo's pumps are crafted to see you through a large portion of your lifetime and the classic shape is truly timeless. Wrapped in satin, not leather, they also feel a touch more formal.
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No relationship is experienced in the same way by the people involved. We can’t know each other’s thoughts; we can’t hear each other’s hearts when they are beating fast. When we fall for someone, when the fact that they exist crushes us, we often don’t know anything about them, but we pretend that we can find out.
I was asked recently about the role that social media plays in our crushes, and what it was like before we had access to the faces, captions and tagged displays of the people we were crushing on. I grew up in the 80s and 90s, and bought my first smartphone in 2009, when I was 25. I feel lucky, because my early crushes were entirely nebulous—there was no way to know anything beyond what I was shown in real life. The yearning was analogue.
These days, we can burrow down into the mystery of someone we might have feelings for, trying to dig up every worm. Some of us believe that this can dilute or intensify the experience, and it can, but not in the ways we imagine.
In my day job as a counsellor and social worker, I have worked with many people addicted to escaping their realities. Humans can’t always cope with what we have been through, and the ongoing effects of trauma and mental illness can lead to addiction. Escape can be found through our phones, the internet and social media, just as it can be found in alcohol, drugs and sex.
When I started to notice my own reliance on my phone, I also started to write a character who was consumed by hers. The phone of my new novel Worry Doll’s protagonist, Heloise, is her best friend and her worst enemy. She picks it up and puts it down, her use unmanageable. She tries to make rules for herself and breaks them. In the same way Heloise is addicted to love, she is addicted to checking and scrolling. She wants love, connection, approval and reassurance, but she is looking for it in places it can’t be found. Interactions with her phone and her crush mimic the experiences she desires, becoming obsessions that take her away from reality.
Like alcohol or drugs, many of us have become addicted to our phones: the scrolling, the notifications, the endless stimuli. Our brains have become reliant on these pops of dopamine. If we put our phone away, we are left with nothing but ourselves. In the throes of a crush, we search for digital intimacy. Perhaps there is no such thing.
When writing Worry Doll, I wanted to explore the way a crush can take over our consciousness and render us insane. The characters abandon themselves for the unknown quantity of another, but the sacrifice plays with their realities, leading the reader to question their own. I wanted the book to read like a horror movie: without the blood and guts but with all of the perversion.
I recently watched Obsession, the new independent horror movie starring Inde Navarrette as the most deliciously unhinged girlfriend I’ve ever witnessed. When Bear (Michael Johnstone) makes a wish using a cursed novelty item, the One Wish Willow, from a woo woo store, he asks for what we have all wanted—requited love. His wish comes true, but it’s not a happy thing. He is cornered and haunted by the very fantasy he indulged for so long.
The movie says, in no uncertain terms, that having a crush on someone is a figment of the imagination. It reminds us that we can’t understand or control the way another person feels about us, or how they see the world. It achieves what I hope to achieve with my book: a blurring of what is possible in order to focus on what is not. The exaggeration of yearning, obsession and forgetting creates a version of the fantasy world we have all lived in.
Perhaps this is why it feels so breathless, so urgent, so delulu, to have a crush on someone—and why we will go out of our way to feel close to them, even if that means rewatching their Instagram story over and over. Our body starts to panic because it doesn’t know what might happen and can’t find out, despite how much we try. We have all gone out of our minds just to see their face again.
Imagine spending years preparing for the biggest competition of your life. Every early morning, every training session and every sacrifice leading towards one moment. Then, six weeks before you step onto the start line, your body becomes an opponent you never trained for.
That was the reality of Paralympic champion Charlotte Henshaw in the build-up to the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
A sudden change to her endometriosis medication threw her hormones into turmoil just weeks before the Games. She bled almost constantly for four weeks. Every day became a balancing act between managing debilitating symptoms and preparing for the race she had spent years chasing. Yet almost nobody knew.
"I was in that state of flux, trying different hormone treatments in the last six weeks leading up to the Games. My hormones were completely out of whack. I was pretty much bleeding constantly for four weeks," she says. "Nobody knew what I was having to endure every day. I tried to just get on with it as best I could."
Henshaw went on to make history, becoming the first-ever paracanoe athlete to win double gold at a single Paralympic Games. But behind those medals is a story shared by thousands of women in sport: the invisible effort of competing while managing a condition that many people still misunderstand.
Despite endometriosis affecting an estimated 190 million women worldwide (1 in 10), diagnosis remains painfully slow. In the UK, women wait an average of nine years and four months for a diagnosis, while 82% say they have had their symptoms dismissed. For elite athletes, those years of uncertainty can become another opponent—one that refuses to play fair.
But this story extends far beyond the podium. According to Endometriosis UK, 62% of women have missed out on sport or exercise because of period pain. Behind that statistic are countless moments that rarely make headlines: a girl sitting in a school changing room, hoping that the cramps will pass before PE begins. A teenager quietly dropping out of a club because she cannot explain why she keeps feeling unwell. A talented young athlete begins to believe she lacks discipline when actually she has been trying to compete with a condition no one has the language to recognise.
If elite athletes can spend years learning to push through symptoms they cannot explain, what hope do the next generation of women in sport have of recognising the signs?
For decades, women’s health was the conversation elite sport wasn’t having. Periods, hormones and chronic pain were pushed to the sidelines, quietly endured rather than openly discussed. Luckily, that's finally changing. From Leah Williamson and Bethany England to Elinor Barker and Charlotte Henshaw, more sportswomen are speaking openly about endometriosis and challenging the idea that resilience means suffering in silence.
Their stories arrive at a defining moment for women’s sport. As female athletes step into the spotlight like never before, the curtain is finally lifting on what elite performance really demands, and what it can cost.
For Henshaw, it meant arriving at the biggest competition of her life without knowing what her body would allow. For marathoner Lillie Bleasdale, it meant starting training sessions wondering whether she would be able to finish them. For content creator and Pilates instructor Stef Williams, it meant reaching a point where pushing through was no longer proof of strength. And for Barker, it meant discovering just how powerful she could feel when the pain was no longer standing in her way.
Their stories are different. And so are their sports. But the battle is remarkably similar. These are the stories of what happens when elite athletes stop hiding the battles they have been fighting all along—and what we can all learn from them.
What Training Looks Like When Your Body Won't Cooperate
Elite sport is built on a simple promise: if you put in the work, your body will meet you halfway. Endometriosis breaks that promise. No matter how carefully you train or recover, years of preparation can be undone by a body you cannot predict. The body you’ve spent years relying on can begin to feel like an unreliable teammate.
There is one common thread that links each of these women’s experiences together: every training session begins with the same question. Will my body let me do this today?
For Lillie Bleasdale, the hardest part wasn’t her training. It was never knowing whether her body would allow her to complete it. "I spent a lot of time getting frustrated with not seeing improvement in my running, or not being able to understand why I was so fatigued even though I felt I was doing everything correctly," she says. "On paper, my training week doesn't really change, but the reality is fairly different."
During a flare-up, Bleasdale describes every mile feeling just that little bit heavier than it should. But it isn’t just the pain that follows her onto the pavements. It’s the exhaustion, bloating and the all-encompassing feeling of being unwell.
Some weeks she’d tick off every run. Others, lacing her trainers, felt like a victory. The training plan didn’t disappear. It just became written in pencil instead of ink, rewritten according to whatever her body decided that day. "Even if I complete the sessions, I'm often just trying to get through them, rather than getting the quality out of them."
For marathoner Bleasdale, the hardest part of having endometriosis wasn’t her surgery or the pain—it was never knowing whether her body would allow her to do her job.(Image credit: Ben Tomlinson)
Professor Mark Gillett, Chief Medical Officer at the Professional Footballers' Association, says Bleasdale's story is one he sees time and again. “Athletes can spend months, or even years, being investigated for musculoskeletal injuries or gastrointestinal conditions before anyone considers endometriosis.”
By then, the consequences reach far beyond missed training sessions. “Pain disrupts training and recovery, so key training sessions can be compromised or cancelled," he explains. "I’ve seen embarrassment or pride often lead to a delay in disclosing symptoms, which can be highly debilitating." He adds that persistent abdominal pain can also affect core stability, increasing the risk of back problems in athletes already placing extraordinary demands on their bodies: “Ultimately, understanding an athlete's symptoms and recognising the patterns behind them is just as important as the training plan itself.”
Scroll through Williams' social media feeds, and you’d probably think she was a woman who’d cracked it. A picture of consistency, discipline and resilience. That was the version of herself she allowed the world to see. But behind the carefully planned sessions and polished posts was a reality far harder to see: a body she no longer understood. She’d never heard of endometriosis before being diagnosed. Instead, when her body no longer responded to training as she’d always known it to, she blamed herself.
I could feel my body reaching a limit I just couldn’t push past.
Stef Williams
Then, during a routine workout her husband was helping her film, everything unravelled. Halfway through a plank, she hit a wall: “I could feel my body reaching a limit I just couldn’t push past. I just remember collapsing and crying—I was trying to get through enough reps to be able to upload the video."
It was a moment that stayed with her, not because she couldn’t finish a workout, but because she realised this was no longer something she could simply overcome through willpower.
Bleasdale thought she wasn't training hard enough. Williams thought she wasn't doing enough. Neither realised their bodies had been trying to tell them the same thing all along.
Williams had never heard of endometriosis before her diagnosis. She blamed herself for her body no longer responding to training as she always had.(Image credit: Sarah Ellen Treacher Photography)
The Hidden Mental Load of Competing With Endometriosis
Pain makes up only half of this story. The other half happens inside your head. Maybe I’m imagining it. Maybe I should try harder. Maybe I’m making a fuss.
For these athletes, whose identities are often built around discipline, resilience and pushing beyond their limits, those doubts can become almost as debilitating as the condition itself.
"When your body is your job and your livelihood—and it relies on you feeling at your best at any given moment—it's really, really difficult to get your head around. Some days, my body just didn't want to do what I wanted it to, and I didn't have a reason for that," says Henshaw.
When your body is your job and your livelihood, it's really, really difficult.
Charlotte Henshaw
For Olympic cyclist Elinor Barker, the mental burden became inseparable from the physical one. During long periods of abdominal pain and relentless fatigue, she found herself expending as much energy hiding her symptoms as managing them: "The fatigue got worse the longer the pain lasted: I was making such a huge effort to hide the pain I was in from my coaches and teammates," she says. "On the worst days, it affected my ability to do basic things around training, like cooking and eating enough."
For Williams, that pressure didn’t just come from sport. It came from millions of followers expecting the strongest version of her every day. As she struggled, she found herself worrying she wasn’t doing enough. "It felt like a constant battle," she says. "With the constant thought in my head being ‘there’s got to be something wrong with you’. And then there's shame around it. It's quite a heavy emotion to feel."
For Olympian Barker, the mental burden became inseparable from the physical one. But discovering just how powerful she could feel when the pain was no longer standing in her way is a feeling she'll never forget.(Image credit: Getty Images)
Online, the pressure was even harder to escape. As her symptoms caused her body to fluctuate, followers criticised her training. "I would get thousands of hate comments like, 'You're not lifting heavy enough,'" she recalls. What they couldn’t see was that strength no longer looked like adding more weight to the bar. It looked like learning what her body could carry that day and having the courage to honour it.
Health psychologist Dr Sula Windgassen says this self-doubt is no coincidence. "Elite athletes can become trapped because the very qualities that make them successful, pushing through pain, suppressing discomfort and prioritising performance, are reinforced by a culture that often dismisses women's symptoms," she explains. "Over time, this erodes trust in their own body, making it harder to recognise when something is wrong and seek help."
On the worst days, it affected my ability to do basic things, like cooking and eating.
Elinor Barker
When Elite Athletes Speak Out, Everyone Listens
When elite athletes speak openly about this condition, and many others for that matter, they don’t just tell their own story—their vulnerability becomes a catalyst for others to seek answers.
To Barker, simply being able to name what she was experiencing was transformative: “The first I'd heard of endometriosis was my diagnosis,” she says. “Since then, it seems that awareness and knowledge have improved massively. I'll gladly speak to anybody about it and don't hide anything from my teammates or coaches anymore. It's a tough thing to have to deal with, but I believe a big part of that is down to being able to talk openly about it with those around me.”
Every athlete who chooses to speak out chips away at the silence surrounding endometriosis. As Windgassen notes, “Visibility of the disease is paramount to raise awareness and reduce stigma. Those with public profiles, who are admired and respected, can change the course for others who are experiencing self-doubt, shame and isolation with their symptoms.”
For Henshaw, some days, her endometriosis meant her body just didn't want to do what she wanted it to—but it's taught her that change starts by redefining resilience. (Image credit: Getty Images)
In lighter news, shifts are beginning to happen. Endometriosis UK found that 63% of people have now heard of the condition, up from 38% of 18-24-year-olds in 2020. But awareness is only the first step. For far too many women, recognition still isn’t followed by timely diagnosis or specialist care. The challenge now is turning powerful personal stories like these into lasting systemic change.
This is why every story matters. Every athlete who speaks out gives someone else permission to trust their own experience. And for the next generation of girls in sport, that could mean learning that resilience isn’t ignoring pain - it’s recognising when your body is asking to be heard.
What Still Needs to Happen?
Women’s sport is thankfully starting to change the narrative. Conversations that were once confined to whispered dressing-room chats are now taking place on podiums, in press conferences and across social media. But this newfound visibility is only the first step. "Awareness about the basics is key. Endometriosis doesn't just give you bad period pain," says Gillett, who believes education across sport and healthcare still has a long way to go.
General Practitioner, Dr Leah Austin, agrees that momentum is building. “Women's sport is becoming more open about discussing menstrual health. The next step is ensuring that awareness translates into meaningful support."
That support, from coaches, clinicians and governing bodies, is exactly what campaigners at Endometriosis UK say must come next if every athlete is to reach their full potential.
Henshaw makes the point that change also starts by redefining resilience: “Some days, 50% of my usual is more than enough if that's all I have on that day. It's so important to listen to your body and learn what works best for you."
It turns out the bravest performances don’t always happen on a start line. Sometimes they begin with three words: “I have endometriosis.”
Visibility isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting gun. Every athlete who chooses to speak openly makes it a little easier for the next girl to speak up, trust her body and seek help sooner. Because perhaps the greatest legacy these women will leave won’t be measured in medals or records, but in a generation of girls who grow up knowing that pain should never be the price of participation.
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Shorts should, by all intents and purposes, be a no-brainer during the summer months. And yet, they're one of the trickiest things to wear in a way that feels suitably grown-up. A pair of track shorts might work well for a park meet-up, or some denim cut-offs for a muddy festival weekend. But what does one reach for when the temperatures soar and you're heading somewhere that requires a smart-casual dress code? Bermuda shorts are becoming the answer for multiple generations. The elongated short has been gaining popularity over the past few summers, mostly in denim or tailored form to add polish. Now, Bermudas are multiplying and showing up in different iterations that are more wearable than you think. This will be music to your ears if cotton boxers and denim cut-offs no longer feel like "you", but you're in the market for something more practical and casual than a dress or skirt for late summer.
With a knee-length silhouette and a relaxed cut on the leg, Bermuda shorts should generally be styled so you can see their waist, meaning a tucked-in shirt or tank top. A heel is another good idea, although a closed-toe mule or leather flip-flop can work if a flat is one of your non-negotiables.
With several variations to choose from in the world of Bermudas, we've broken down the shorts trend into three crucial categories: denim, tailored and holiday. And we've considered exactly what goes with each of them to allow you fuss-free styling and to delve into your wardrobe for existing options.
Denim Bermudas
(Image credit: Future)
Marilyn Nwawulor-Kazemaks dedicated a whole carousel to what she called "long shorts". It's her take on how to wear the denim version—with a checked shirt, leather belt and mule sandals—that we're bookmarking for how to feel grown-up in Bermudas. (See also, a windbreaker jacket with heeled ballet pumps or a crew-neck cardigan with closed-toe slippers, either of which would dress up the denim—but not too much).
Miu Miu
Striped Cropped Cotton Poplin Shirt in Blue
This striped shirt is a brilliant partner for Bermudas—and makes the perfect summer over layer.
AGOLDE
Nolan Short
AGOLDE's Bermudas have a pressed front pleat, giving them a naturally smart mood that means you can easily wear them to work.
MANGO
Metallic Frame Sunglasses
A metal frame can add a feminine touch to tougher looks.
VERAFIED
Interchangeable-Strap Leather Clutch Bag
The Verafied Vera bag has 2 interchangeable straps—one to carry it as a shoulder bag and one as a hand-held evening bag. Perfect for switching from desk to dinner.
CARTIER
Ballon Bleu De Cartier Automatic 18-Karat Gold and Stainless Steel Watch, Ref. Crw2bb0037
A timeless investment watch elevates even the most casual of outfits, and the Cartier Ballon Bleu is hard to beat.
AEYDE
Roose Wedge Sandals
These T-bar sandals will help to further elevate your Bermudas.
Tailored Bermudas
(Image credit: Future)
A Bermuda short lends itself naturally to a tailored cut (just think of them like a loose suit trouser that's cropped at the knee). And while you could style them with a shirt that's cotton-crisp rather than linen-crumpled, a relaxed T-shirt, one that's long enough to just tuck in, will register as slightly more effortless.
ÉTERNE
Boyfriend Cotton And Modal-Blend Jersey T-Shirt
ÉTERNE's T-shirt is not too long, not too short and perfect for tailored Bermudas.
COS
Longline Tailored Shorts
These COS tailored shorts can be teamed with the matching round-neck waistcoat, but might look cooler with either a tee or shirt.
ZARA
Geometric Rhinestone Earrings
Zara is so great for statement jewellery that looks designer.
Vagabond
Louisiana Bag
Vagabond might be known for its shoes, but the label's bags are just as worthy of a browse.
MANOLO BLAHNIK
Haribalmu 50 Leather Mules
Switch up neutral tailoring with a delicate pair of bright mules.
THISTLES
The Al Square-Frame Tortoiseshell Acetate Sunglasses
Tortoiseshell is a forever classic.
Holiday Bermudas
(Image credit: Future)
Bermuda shorts with a stretch waist—and maybe a hint of fluidity to their fabric composition—will make the best (and certainly most comfortable) bottom half for seafood dinners or poolside cocktails. Follow Marianne Smyth's playbook by styling yours with the lightest of lighter-than-air camis.
DISSH
Elisa White Cotton Sheer Top
This cami will fit in the fullest of suitcases and make holiday dressing that much easier.
Lescarf
Satin Shorts
Lescarf's satin shorts are available in red, white, black or tiger-print, which feels suitably "out-of-office".
Bimba Y Lola
Crochet And Beads Heeled Sandal
These crocheted sandals can be worn long after you've switched off your out-of-office.
Dragon Diffusion
Bamboo Triple Jump Small Woven Leather Tote
Dragon Diffusion's woven tote in tomato might be the best summer holiday bag of all time.
CAROLINA BUCCI
Forte Beads Rainbow 18-Karat Gold and Lurex Multi-Stone Necklace Kit
Carolina Bucci's Forte Rainbow Beads are the ideal accessory if you want to pack light and keep your ear lobes and neckline uncluttered.
BOTTEGA VENETA
Shield Mask-Frame Sunglasses
Shield sunglasses continue to be our go-to for making every outfit feel a whole lot cooler.
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