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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.
Linnea Berthelsen is reprising her role as Kali Prasad, “sister” to Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven, in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. Photos: @linneaberthelsen/Instagram; @mr_moon_85/X
TV shows and streaming video

Meet Linnea Berthelsen, who plays Kali Prasad, aka Eight, on Stranger Things

Now in its fifth season, the Duffer Brothers’ blockbuster sci-fi Netflix original is coming to a close on the last day of 2025.

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Trending in China

China food delivery platform names Jay Chou as brand ambassador, backed by lookalikes

Jewellery

Nadine Ghosn on stacking luxury watches with her Crayola and Toothbrush jewellery

Fame and celebrity

Meet Stranger Things newcomer Nell Fisher, who plays Holly Wheeler

Nell Fisher, playing a pivotal role in season five, is only 14 years old – but she’s already acted alongside Elijah Wood.

Nell Fisher at the Stranger Things premiere in November. Photo: @nellfisher_/Instagram
TV shows and streaming video

Meet British actor Guy Burnet, who plays geologist Charlie Newsom in Landman

The Jonathan Bailey lookalike got his start in UK soap opera Hollyoaks, and also appeared in the Christopher Nolan blockbuster Oppenheimer.

Wellness

Why young people are turning to Gen Z and millennial Christian influencers

Christian influencers in the US are galvanising young people looking for meaning in a culture that lacks it, say those of faith.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet comedian Morgan Jay, who went viral for his auto-tuned musical acts

Jay grew up in a musical family and interned at The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, before going viral on TikTok for his hilarious crowd work.

American comedian Morgan Jay is taking his Goofy Guy Tour around the world. Photo: @morganjay/Instagram
Architecture and design

London-based designer Faye Toogood on her humanist, playful approach

Her multidisciplinary practice designed the commercially successful Roly Poly chair and Baker trousers, now seen as Toogood’s signatures.

Fame and celebrity

Inside Alo, the ‘secret gym’ favoured by Hollywood A-listers

Besides Hailey Bieber, the invitation-only facility counts Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Tate McRae and Glen Powell among its celebrity clients.

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Trending in China

Profile | China actress Mao Xiaotong abandoned by dad, rejects his post-fame cash demands

‘Cute and sweet’ exterior of 37-year-old actress hides an inner strength that saw her stand up to her ‘alcoholic’ father, philandering ex-boyfriend.

Chinese actress Mao Xiaotong, who known for her pure image, has endured severe hardships in her life, including being abandoned at birth by her father and discovering her boyfriend’s affair in 2017. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/QQ.com
Fame and celebrity

Meet Byredo founder Ben Gorham, who’s been hanging out with Kendall Jenner

Gorham’s a former basketball player who built the cult fragrance brand Byredo that branched out into make-up and jewellery – he’s also supposedly married.

Ben Gorham and Kendall Jenner have been seen in Paris and California together. Photos: @bengorham, @kendalljenner/Instagram
Fashion

Hanan Besovic on American Vogue and Duran Lantink’s Jean Paul Gaultier debut

Fashion influencer @ideservecouture doesn’t need your approval: ‘As long as I have Wi-fi, I can talk about fashion. I don’t need the degree’.

Fashion

4 fashion drops to shop this Christmas, from Ferragamo to Jacquemus

Actor Bill Nighy has partnered with knitwear house John Smedley, while Etnodim reinterprets the traditional Ukrainian vyshyvanka.

Food and Drinks

Old-fashioned cookbooks remain popular, including with many professional chefs

Social media may be awash with recipes, but book fans cite their appreciation for high-quality narratives and photography in a tangible form.

Although most people get their recipes online these days, many of us still appreciate a good recipe tome -- like this Le Creuset cookbook, published by Assouline. Photo: Handout
Fame and celebrity

Meet Laura Lynne Jackson, psychic medium to Hollywood celebrities

Meghan Markle and Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson are also reportedly fans of the divinatory arts.

Laura Lynne Jackson is Gwyneth Paltrow’s go-to medium. Photo: @lauralynnejackson/Instagram
Britain

Starmer pressured to intercept Andrew Tate in Dubai over UK rape charges

The self-described misogynist will appear at a Dubai boxing match this weekend, while facing civil action in the UK from four women alleging assault and rape.

Obituaries

In memoriam: 29 beloved celebrities we lost in 2025

We remember stars from the worlds of Hollywood, TV, music, fashion and more, from Jane Goodall to Giorgio Armani and Hulk Hogan.

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Fame and celebrity

Meet Trevor Ballin, fashion designer and tarot reader to the stars

Ballin has worked with brands like Gap, Calvin Klein and Proenza Schouler and has done tarot readings for stars like Sarah Paulson and Emma Corrin.

Trevor Ballin (left) has been reading Jonathan Anderson’s tarot cards for several years. Photos: @trevor.ballin/Instagram
Trending in China

Chinese rookie cop resembling actor Eddie Peng goes viral, attracts a million likes

Newly graduated officer with a canine partner called Fries shuns online fame, wants to focus on work, says he already has a girlfriend.

Trending in China

China influencer aping Blackpink’s Rosé sparks fandom-celebrity grey area debate

Blonde-haired content creator who identifies as ‘Blink’ online appears at event dressed like star, signs postcards bearing image of iconic singer.

Jewellery

More is more: 5 jewellery maximalists making a case for stacking it on

From Chanel to Ralph Lauren, maximalism is back as fashionistas don extra necklaces, armfuls of bracelets and rings on every finger.

Both luxury brands and influencers are leading the trend towards maximalism in jewellery. Photo: Handout
Taylor Swift

Meet Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour choreographer, Mandy Moore

She’s won three Emmys, worked on films including La La Land and Silver Linings Playbook, and choreographed the music video for Swift’s ‘The Fate of Ophelia’.

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Choreographer Mandy Moore was responsible for coming up with routines for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Photo: @nopenother/Instagram; EPA
Fashion

The stars wearing upcycled fashion using everything from watch straps to spoons

Hailey Bieber and Lorde both wore a dress made from watch straps by Marine Serre, while Cate Blanchett was spotted in a Hodakova halter top made of spoons.

Internet

Video | How a block of online text led to a cafe’s viral stardom

Tai Bo Cafe in Yuen Long has gone viral online thanks to a copypasta trend on Threads recommending their meat patties, and have seen customers from as far as Macau.

Kim Kardashian

Explainer | Not so fair: the controversy behind Kim Kardashian’s elephant Hermès Birkin

The All’s Fair star recently sparked social media outrage when she appeared in a Donna Karan look accessorised with a Birkin made from elephant hide.

Kim Kardashian on the set of All’s Fair with another Hermès Birkin. Photo: @kimkardashian/Instagram
Celebrity children

Meet Guess heir Nicolai Marciano – who’s dating Amelia Gray Hamlin

The pair have known each other for years but only hard-launched their relationship in November – Marciano also worked with A$AP Rocky for his first Guess project.

Amelia Gray Hamlin and Nicolai Marciano attend the 2025 GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont, on November 13, in Los Angeles, California. Photo: FilmMagic
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

Johnson’s conclusions after taking magic mushrooms are backed by findings that psychedelics could extend life by rewiring the brain and more.

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