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Icons and Influencers

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Icons and Influencers
Who's making headlines and creating trends? Meet the social media icons and influencers who shape the world as we know it.
Self-styled social media influencer Gun Jompalang with Thai officers. Photo: Handout
Thailand

Asian Angle | The Thai influencer bringing viral warfare to Cambodia’s border

Gun Jompalang is a self-styled ‘justice crusader’ with over 9 million followers but no commander. He’s not a soldier, but he is waging war.

Wellness

Could magic mushrooms help us live longer? What Bryan Johnson’s test showed

Singapore

Singapore ‘sharenting’: where does openness end and overexposure begin?

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Wellness

How to make 2026 the best year of your life? YouTuber Ali Abdaal has answers

An entrepreneur with 7.6 million followers across social media, Abdaal will share tips on subjects from careers to love at a Hong Kong talk.

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Ali Abdaal, a former doctor who is now a digital creator, entrepreneur and YouTube star, sits at a cafe in Causeway Bay. Abdaal will speak at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre on December 8 to explain how to make 2026 “the best year of your life”. Photo: Nora Tam
Fashion

8 viral tote bags: Emily Ratajkowski’s Daunt Books tote and more

Trader Joe’s micro bags have brought totes into the conversation again – here are a few that have taken off and are gaining cult status.

Americas and the Caribbean

Jimmy Cliff, reggae icon and ‘cultural giant’, dies at 81

The Jamaican singer, along with Bob Marley, popularised reggae, ska and rocksteady. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

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Fashion

Legacy of Vogue Italia’s Franca Sozzani honoured at inaugural Franca Fund Gala

Co-hosted by Anna Wintour, the event included a fundraising auction and drew guests including Gisele Bündchen and Miuccia Prada.

Francesco Carrozzini and Anna Wintour co-hosted a gala to pay homage to the legacy of Carrozzini’s mother, the late Franca Sozzani. Carrozzini is also Wintour’s son-in-law. Photo: Getty Images
Fashion

Fashion Trust Arabia 2025: which emerging designers won at this year’s awards?

The awards honoured MENA designers, drew celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, and were hosted by Queen Latifah.

Food and Drinks

Food influencer Jaeki Cho brings New York-Seoul vibes to Hong Kong pop-up

Pineapple bun sandwiches with char siu and honey butter were one star of Shop B’s event with Cho, who champions community via food and music.

Malaysia

‘Forgotten by everyone’: Namewee blasted for job hunt amid Iris Hsieh probe

Taiwanese model Sprite Fang accused Namewee of lacking sincerity in the social media star’s death.

Malaysian rapper Namewee. Photo: EPA
France

Princess Diana enters Paris waxwork museum in ‘revenge dress’

Princess Diana wore the dazzling off-the-shoulder outfit shortly after the infidelity of her then-husband, Prince Charles, was publicly revealed.

A wax effigy of Britain’s late Princess Diana “Lady Di” during its unveiling at the Grevin wax museum in Paris on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Luxury Spend It

Meet billionaire heir Sammy Nussdorf, founder of Meadow Lane

The heir to a billionaire New York family, Nussdorf studied at NYU and went to culinary school before opening his luxury grocery store.

Trending in China

Brawny man, dubbed China’s ‘hottest village cadre’, promotes local produce

28-year-old former professional kayaker attracts millions of mostly women online with his physique; teases with tank tops, fitness shirts.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry

Who is Meghan Markle’s astrologer, Angela Pearl?

She was at The Albies event hosted by Amal and George Clooney – and she’s been pictured with Lauren Sánchez and Meryl Streep.

Meet Angela Pearl, the celebrity astrologer who just posted a letter from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Photo: @lovebegini/Instagram
US-China relations

Hasan Piker’s China tour draws fire after viral Tiananmen police encounter

Critics say Piker’s praise for China and on-camera run-in highlight risks for Western creators in a sensitive media environment.

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American political commentator and live-streamer Hasan Piker was stopped by a police officer while waiting to watch the daily sunset flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square. Photo: Screenshot from Twitch
Trending in China

Fame for China food vendor who resembles Japan animator, offers free meals to needy

Visitors to wonton street shop say owner looks like he ‘stepped out of a fairy tale’ and often pay over the odds to thank him for his generosity.

Malaysia

‘I saw her die before my eyes’: Namewee breaks silence on Iris Hsieh’s death

Rapper, released after a probe into Iris Hsieh’s death, recounts efforts to save her, urging public to stop cyberbullying deceased influencer.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Willa Fitzgerald, the Reacher star rumoured to have dated Maya Hawke

As Reacher gears up for season 4, attention turns back to a breakout favourite from season 1 – Willa Fitzgerald, the actress behind Roscoe.

Willa Fitzgerald at the premiere for the film Regretting You in Los Angeles, California, last month. Photo: Reuters
US Politics

How Maga women like Erika Kirk show support for Trump with big lips and Botox

Among the likes of Karoline Leavitt and Kristi Noem, coiffed hair and contoured cheeks have become symbols of allegiance to the US president.

Malaysia

Malaysian rapper Namewee released over probe into Taiwanese influencer’s death

Police say Namewee’s release on police bail is effective until November 26 while investigations into Iris Hsieh’s death are ongoing.

Malaysia

Rapper Namewee and influencer Iris Hsieh had ‘special relationship’: police

The rapper is in custody amid an ongoing investigation into the death of the Taiwanese social media star.

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Malaysian rapper Namewee (right) and influencer Iris Hsieh. Photos: Handout
South Korea

South Korea gets tough on hate-spewing influencers, weighs travel ban

Under the proposed clampdown, an influencer who posts derogatory content on South Korea could face more than public backlash.

US influencer Johnny Somali harassing pedestrians on the street in South Korea. Photo: TikTok/JohnnySomali
Fashion

Q&A | Charlotte de Fayet on transforming fine knitwear brand Molli

Founded in 1886 as a purveyor of knitted underwear, the French brand was making clothing for babies when de Fayet bought it in 2014.

Fashion

Style according to … fashion designer to the stars, Tamara Ralph

The London-based, Sydney-born designer has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Angelina Jolie, Amal Clooney and Gemma Chan.

Fame and celebrity

Who is Michelle Obama’s long-time personal stylist, Meredith Koop?

Barack Obama’s wife has been rocking Chanel, Loewe and Simone Rocha fits during the press tour for the release of her latest book, The Look.

Stylist Meredith Koop has been working with Michelle Obama for over a decade. Photo: @meredithkoop/Instagram
TikTok

Meet French TikTok star Bách Buquen, who’s normalising make-up for men

Buquen may be only 19, but he’s already attending events with A-listers like Rihanna and A$AP Rocky, and going to Tod’s and Gucci shows.

French influencer Bách Buquen at a fashion event. Photo: @bachbuquen/Instagram
Jewellery

From Coco Chanel to Dua Lipa, how costume jewellery came of age

A new book by jewellery editor Carol Woolton explores how accessible jewels changed both tastes and how women adorned themselves.

South Korea

Oh my gat! South Korean idols G-Dragon, Cha Eun-woo steal show at Apec gala

Fans praised the showmanship of the K-pop singer and K-drama actor as ‘the perfect display of Hallyu pride’.

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