Steven Smith was born in Coatbridge in Scotland. He was brought up in Whitley Bay, before briefly moving to London. He then moved to the seaside town of Brighton, where he was first receiver recognition for his hairdressing skills. Steven moved to America for eight years, working in Beverly Hills, and on his return to London in the late 90s, rose to fame working in fashionable Knightsbridge. He has styled model Katie Price, actress Denise Welch, David Hasselhoff and the cast of Baywatch. Steven had his own column in The Sun newspaper advising on hair and beauty, and was a regular on the Lorraine Kelly show, transforming GMTV viewers into their favourite stars. He made over Lorraine herself, transforming her into movie legend, Elizabeth Taylor.
Steven has been a freelance writer for the last ten years, combining showbiz interviews and travel with his eye for styling. He has written two books: Powder Boy, looking at the dark side of showbiz, and an autobiography: It shouldn't happen to a hairdresser, offering a witty and sad look at his life. He is currently penning a third book to be titled Happy in Chennai.
He has a monthly column, Tales of a single middle-aged gay man that looks at not only the light side of gay life, but also darker aspects such as rape, addiction, and chem-sex. Steven also runs his own beauty/aesthetic blog and is a patron of Anna Kennedy online; a charity that not only supports the autism community but educates the public about those that live with autism.
Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner at their book launch, 'Of Mice And Women'
Steven Smith scampers along to the book launch of “Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon “by Wendy Turner Webster and Anthea Turner.
Steven Smith with Anthea Turner and Wendy Turner
In 1937 John Steinbeck classic American novel “Of Mice and Men” debuted.
Not quite in the same genre, this year animal activist and glamours television presenter 57-year-old, Wendy Turner and her sister legendary presenter turned businesswoman 64-year-old, Anthea Turner have become children’s authors and share their mice.
Last year saw the publication of their first joint book “The King’s Coronation and the Kohinoor Diamond. Published by Splendid Publications https://www.splendidpublications.co.uk
The tale features mice that live in the Underground station. The book has become a run-away success and received mass critical acclaim.
Last night saw the launch of their second book “Raining Strawberries at Wimbledon “Held at the stylish Kings Road boutique “White Coco”
Despite it feeling like the hottest day of the year fans of their books, friend’s and celebrities joined the ladies for an evening of Fizz, strawberries and treats and the ladies were happy to sign books. On hand was award winning journalist and ‘Loose Women’, Jane Moore.
Anthea Turner with friend award winning journalist and ‘Loose Woman’ Jane Moore
Girl about town Lizzie Cundy, presenter Vanessa Feltz, screen writer celebrity author Samantha Lee Howe plus, celebrity hairstylist Nicky Clarke debonair Gary Webster were among the crowd.
Making a special appearance was the mice themselves hand crafted by Smelly cat design. They were a huge hit and there was no need to call for pest control for these crocheted replaces of the book’s mice. Designer Kaela owner of Smelly Cat Design tells me it takes a day to make each mouse.
The latest book tells the story of huge excitement at Buckingham Palace when King Charles and Queen Camilla receive a surprise invite from Princess Kate; to watch her and Prince William play Andy Murray and Heather Watson at a charity match on Wimbledon’s famous Centre Court!
Meanwhile, Underneath the Underground, little Elly Archer is a mouse on a mission – to sneak over to Wimbledon for the Ladies’ Final without the adults finding out.
And Harry the Hero Rat has a secret plan too… he’s heard that juicy red strawberries are eaten there by the tonne, a perfect opportunity to gather up the leftovers and make strawberry jam for all the mice on the London Underground!
But things go messily wrong when Kate and William discover Harry’s stash of strawberries… and Charles and Camilla find themselves serving for the match instead! But will they win…?!
I, for one am a huge fan of the books and cannot wait to see it transferred to the screen.
Just back from winning at the Cannes Film Festival, Samantha Lee Howe
ABBA 'Thank You For The Music' a celebration at Spiritland Royal Festival Hall, London
Steven Smith gets his dancing shoes on and reviews ABBA Voyage
Yes, we certainly need a tonic right now for all. Prices are going through the roof and with a summer of elections it is going to be season of discontent.
What we need to take our minds off things is something that, long after you watched it, leaves you with a smile and lifts you. That is why entertainment was so important during the war and let’s face it, we are all battling every day.
“If you can make people laugh you give them a little vacation.” Winston Churchill.
What needs to be prescribed is ABBA Voyage at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. For weeks before I went to see this immersive experience, terribly gifted writers and those in the arts seemed to struggle to vocalise what they had seen.
But whatever it was, rave reviews and statements like “The best night of my life” were being posted all over social media.
As I walked the fifteen minutes from Stratford station through the Olympic Park certainly no one ruined the surprise.
On your journey you are confronted by a sea of people steeped in ABBA Hysteria, many dressed as their heroes: Agnetha Falskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-FridLyngstad.
Approaching the actual arena (specially made for the show), even if you’re not an ABBA fan, you’re not human if you’re not starting to smile a little. It is as if everyone has taken a happy pill. Even the security and arena staff are very friendly.
Safely inside, the excitement and energy was accelerating to the level of an explosion, as if your eyes were not able to take any more of this visual feast of the actual arena and those that paid to come see the show.
Your brain goes straight into explode mode when the lights dim and the Swedish forest screen lifts and four virtual ABBAtars take to the stage. So convincing is the entire thing I was left breathless for a moment as I was not sure what was real and what was not. A little like the “The Houses of Parliament”.
ABBA last played in London for seven nights in 1979. I promise you truly it could not have been better than this. Stunning light affects dazzle the 3000 capacity room. A very much real 10-piece band dazzle the filled room.
This is so real they even have short interlude videos for the band to change. Andersson, Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad danced across the giant stage, embraced each other.
They laughed about their 1974 Eurovision outfits and the UK giving them zero points. When they appeared in huge proportions on the big screens they had the mildest plasticine quality, but otherwise they were astonishingly real.
They did most of the hits, of course, and the best two from last year’s surprise comeback album. As you would expect, the arena erupted when “Dancing Queen” was performed.
Just as you thought there were no more surprises left, ABBA walks on as they are now, as they did on opening night. I think it might have been holograms a few weeks in.
For days afterwards this extraordinary experience had me smiling. God knows we all need that right now. There is only one problem with prescribing ABBA Voyage to everyone. The price this venture needs to rake in is £140 million to break even, with some tickets at £195.
“Money, Money, Money” it is rich man’s show. Dance floor tickets at £50 are more affordable but sell like hot seats. To be honest I never sat down for long enough that night, being a real “Dancing Queen”.
It is fast becoming a world of advanced technology. Just think, with the ABBA voyage, we can not only tell our grand kids how good some bands were, we can actually show them, and dear old dame Elton can take a rest.
A five-star quality experience you will never want to leave
A Steven Smith travel feature
From the moment you walk into majestic lobby of the Rixos Sharm El Sheikh, you feel the stress flow from your body.
In fact, it’s just like coming home, with guests greeted by the smiling, multi-national reception team as though they were favourite family members.
Rixos is a five star resort and well deserves its rating. It’s more like a town than a hotel, and is run with military precision. But the precision with which it’s run belies the warmth of the staff.
It’s a family hotel, but there’s an adult-only buffet if kids are not your thing. The main pool is for families but there are several beautiful pools for adults although, sadly, they are not heated (unlike the main pool).
At this time of year there are not many children and those who were there seemed very well behaved. And there are plenty of organised activities to keep them occupied if Mum and Dad want a little time together.
The bar snacks are great and nothing seems too much bother for the attentive staff, who seem to know what you want before you know yourself. Their attention to detail cannot be faulted.
We all know that the buffet can be a real disappointment in many Egyptian hotels – my personal tip is to avoid salads unless drowned in lemon juice.
But the Rixos Nefertiti buffet is truly the best I have ever experienced. This is how five star food should be: I never once hesitated about eating anything that was served. And there are screens to see just how clean the kitchens are.
With Addiction Therapist and my best friend, Mike Power
The service is outstanding although there was one little niggle – waiters in a top hotel should not greet customers with “Alright mate” or “lovely jubbly.” Of course they were only trying to be friendly but not all their British guests are characters from Only Fools and Horses.
It was no doubt well-intentioned, but it grated. That apart, staff at the Nefertiti buffet could not be faulted, nor at the Zodiac buffet for families, which has great barbecued food.
On the beach, there’s a snack bar that turns into a seafood restaurant at night. Here you can get great salads and pizza but my tip is to avoid the burgers and chicken, as they were served lukewarm both times we tried them. Once again, though, the service was faultless.
There are seven A’ la carte restaurants, although, sadly, I will not have time to try them all. But you get to visit each one as part of your all-inclusive tariff. The food in the Italian Callainia really was of the highest standard, as was the service.
It lacked a little in atmosphere, though – more like eating in a conference room at an airport hotel.The Japanese sushi -bar was one of the eating highlights of the trip just fabulous .
The Chinese was Feng Shui restaurant, in a lovely room with equally lovely staff. Having had Chinese food around the world, my verdict is that it was OK, rather than 5 star.
To book the restaurants, you need to make a reservation each day at reception. It’s advisable to book early but be warned – there is a fee if you fail to turn up. The dress code is smart casual.
I’ve come here for a rest with a friend but here are plenty of activities and the animation team have kept us informed of evening activities. The one night we did attend the show was very professional.
The gym is really well run and there’s a steam sauna and jacuzzi, although the jacuzzi was lukewarm both times I tried it. The gentleman running the gym was very attentive.
There’s also a spa, and I fancied a massage, but their hard-sell techniques really put me off. You are quoted one price at reception but when you’re on the beach sales staff approach you quoting another price and try to make deals.
The hard-sell spa people are really the only downside of this lovely hotel and they do let it down. It’s just not appropriate in a five star hotel to have guests hassled on the beach – let’s face it, there are enough non-hotel boat tour people to do that. You expect it in Naama Bay, but not here. And it’s bad business for the hotel – I wanted a massage, but I didn’t have one because of the hassle.
Rooms are spacious and of a high standard. Again, the staff were outstanding – the cleaner took such care and was so professional, he should be trained up as a manager.There is internet every where in the hotel and room unlike many hotels in the area
One tip is to avoid the so-called “Express” transfer to the hotel. It’s anything but. We had a long drive, dropping five people off on the edge of Naama Bay before coming back past the airport. Then we were hassled heavily to tip the driver, even after being treated like cattle on a journey that was far too long. So, my strong advice is to book a private car transfer; it only costs £10 more and is well worth it.
Once you get to the hotel, though, that all fades away. At Rixos, all-inclusive means all-inclusive and, as you wrap yourself in the fluffy blue beach towels, protected by windbreakers and soaking up the rays, you may decide that you never want to leave this paradise of a hotel.
Meet the woman with the magic touch: Iryna O’Kelly ! Iryna is not just a skincare expert; she is an aesthetic artist.
Unusually, along with her degree in medicine, Iryna also has a degree in fine art. She views her clients as a blank canvas on which she creates a totally natural look that will never reveal the secret that any work has been done.
It’s this unique and individually tailored approach to anti-ageing skin treatments that has the who’s who of London clamouring to see her.
Steven Smith chats to her and gets her top five beauty tips.
1. What would you say was the most important beauty tip you would maybe pass on to your daughter?
Inner beauty is important. Surround yourself with positive people and a strong core of family and friends. Just look at happy people—they have a sparkle in their eyes. If you go looking for trouble or drama, it will always find you, and it will show in your looks too.
2. Your aesthetic treatments are varied, but you are a huge proponent of PRP that uses the client’s own blood. Can you tell us a little about it?
PRP can be used to treat everything from skin rejuvenation, hair loss, arthritis, injuries, and it will help enhance fillers.
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma; it’s a substance that’s thought to promote healing when injected. Plasma is a component of your blood that contains special “factors,” or proteins, that help your blood to clot. It also contains proteins that support cell growth. Researchers have produced PRP by isolating plasma from blood and concentrating it.
Blood is taken from the client, and then it is placed in a machine called the Camlab Clinical Centrifuge. It is spun around at 300-4500 miles per hour, and the blood is separated, leaving the clear plasma. It is also a good indication as to how your health is: the clearer it is, the better your health.
The PRP is then injected into the area needed. Most of my clients have it for hair loss or many into the face area. The results are often instant, giving them a fresher look, and it gets better over the next few weeks. It is also a very natural look.
3. What would you suggest is the most overrated bit of advice on the market?
Make sure you moisturise your skin; use a sunblock instead. Too much moisturiser can leave skin looking tired, so use a factor 20 sunscreen in the morning; you’ll see a difference quite quickly.
4. You have been in the news for your mesotherapy treatments for hands. Do you still use this method, or has something new come on the market for ageing hands?
I still use mesotherapy, but more in combination with stem cells and fillers. It gives an amazing long-lasting result.
5. There is a lot of buzz around stem cell therapy these days. Is it something you would recommend?
I am a huge supporter of stem cell therapies and believe that they are the future of aesthetics. Stem cell treatment aesthetics involves the injection of stem cells into the skin, through IV, or applied to the skin after laser or micro-needling procedures. The injection contains stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, hyaluronic acid, exosomes, and other cellular products which are involved in the body’s regenerative functions. Stem cells are there the future of aesthetics.
Fans of Iryna include EatEnders actress Nicola Duffett and beauty expert Steven Smith , Danielle Carly Mason .
Designed for babies’ bottoms to ward off infection, sores and to keep skin smooth, the wonder cream has to be one of the best anti-ageing moisturisers I have ever tried. At just £2.54 a pot, it is a must have in your beauty cabinet. Baby Bottom Butter by Waitrose is my Number One skin care product. I apply it in the evening before bed and I wake up with my skin looking fresh and feeling moist. It can be used during the day but use only a small amount as it can make you skin look waxy, particularly if you have Botox, when it can make your face look like a mask! But apply liberally before bed. You won’t believe how good Baby Bottom Butter is. It flies off the shelves so when you find it in stock, buy several pots at a time to ensure your supply.
Best shower gel I’m Plant Based original source body wash
If you cannot afford Jo Malone or Molton Brown shower gel then try a gel packed full of Original Source plant based good stuff & consciously sourced natural ingredients. Pop the top for a lavish lather of lush, blooming lavender, harvested fresh from the field, along with evergreen sprigs of just-plucked rosemary. Naturally gentle, animal-loving, and oh-so-foamy. Immerse yourself in nature with their 96% Natural Origin body washes created to stimulate your skin & senses for a fresh, sensorial shower experience. I carry this in my gym bag and it is a must have at home. At around two pounds you cannot go wrong. https://www.originalsource.co.uk/products/im-plant-based/lavender-rosemary-body-wash/
Baking Soda gives body to the hair
Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with your favourite shampoo, apply to wet hair, then rub in well and leave for a minute. Rinse and condition then style. This will add body and shine and give your hair a new lease of life. Repeat every two weeks. It’s also better than most deodorants – just apply a teaspoon under each arm. But be careful not to use baking powder as it’s not the same as baking soda….
There are so many expensive hair loss treatments out there. Hair transplants can break the bank. At the first sight of hair loss, or if you just want to thicken the hair, try Watermans Grow me. Watermans was founded by Gail and Matt Waterman, who both suffered for many years with different variations of hair loss problems. In 2012 Watermans was launched and now today they sell a product every 30 seconds across their network of distributors around the globe. The company’s main focus is making products that actually help others in some way, by using the finest ingredients and putting customer results first before profits.
They donate their hair growth shampoo called ‘Grow Me’ to chemo wards across the UK and other Waterman’s products to the NHS and Ukraine, also supporting many grassroots and football teams across the country along the way. Matt & Gail Waterman pride themselves on giving back to the community through charity or when someone needs that helping hand.
“Unbreakable” 2022 is a reality TV show that claims to have given six celebrity couples the “ultimate test” to prove they are the perfect pair. It’s “funny, relatable and occasionally terrifying”. Rob Beckett coaxes and cringes as six celeb couples compete to prove they’re the perfect pair.
Ra Ra’s now fiancee Charlie Mullin OBE proposed to her live on the reality TV show Unbreakable, back in October 2022.
On “Unbreakable” most people I know fell for the bubbly, delightful Reno right away. At first glance, Mullin and Reno may seem like a chalk and cheese pairing, however the reality is that they are a great match. They certainly made for addictive viewing, and in my humble opinion, they went out of the show far too early
On one of the show dinners, Ra Ra (That’s my favourite name for Raquel because it makes her sound like the star I believe she is!) was in conversation with Lincoln Townley ( artist and husband to Loose Women Star, Denise Welch – this pair incidentally won the show), and she announced that she was a singer who had recently travelled all the way to Nashville, Tennessee to record her first album.
Someone piped in “Go on” and RaRa promptly demonstrated her vocal talents, impressing the celebrity couples and us, the audience at home.
However, it was an improv taste of RaRa and by no means her best performance. Raquel has a rare quality and personality wise reminds me a little of ‘Barbara Windsor meets Amanda Barrie’.
There is something about the Cheltenham-born brunette that screams “Gay Icon” right away; she is adorable and makes you want to know more.
There is something about the Cheltenham-born brunette that screams “Gay Icon” right away; she is adorable and makes you want to know more.
Some months after “Unbreakable”, I was privy to her upcoming EP (due out this June). It told a different story. The songs were brilliantly catchy, her voice was incredible and she brought the sixties (my favourite era) bang back to life with a twist.
You can just imagine the pet shop boys calling out to work with Reno.
With the current trend of basic singers being made to sound like Divas by technology, I did wonder how Ra Ra would stand up to a live performance. Did it really matter? We had all fallen for Ra Ra anyway.
I was lucky enough to be invited to her first London concert of 2023, at the intimate and delightful QT bar at Middle Eight Hotel in Covent Garden, where everything about the venue screamed 60’s.
I felt sure the Kray boys and Danny la Rue were going to walk in any minute.
Ra Ra’s first EP is coming out in June. Watch this space!
Ra Ra was supported by her three backing singers and a band worthy of the London Palladium. Not being unkind, but initially I did think that this might be to cover up the fact that she is not as strong vocally. Certainly, when she came on stage you rooted for her, but nerves kicked in and the first number was not as amazing as I think the perfectionist that is Raquel would have wanted it to be. However, as she warmed up, the audience began to realise that we were looking at a real super star in the making. We were all brought to our feet in applause. Her vocal range was an unstoppable powerhouse that could bring the roof down.
What is so endearing is how humble Ra-Ra is about her own talent. She is a team player with her band, and she is a writer and an incredible singer, but there is something about her that says she still wonders “How did I get here?!” despite already performing in China and Dubai. It is this vulnerability that Raquel channels to her audience that will make her a huge hit amongst the LGBTQ community. She has fought to get where she is now and just like Judy, Liza and Amy, she has a story to tell, and she is not afraid to show how it feels to believe in who she is.
Certainly, she evokes the feeling of icons like Dusty Springfield and Cilla Back, without imitating them.
Ra-Ra takes time to talk to her audience and that adds to the charm of the evening, thanking her grandmother and apologising for being a hurricane when she comes round. Her grandmother, who was staying at the Savoy Hotel for the night, almost burst with pride, “Raquel brings happiness wherever she goes”, and you really believe her.
Raquel is worthy of the Palladium next time.
Let’s hope she sees what we all saw tonight: a true star who still looks like she would pop the kettle on for her gran or anyone else that she met.
If there was any criticism to a flawless show, I would say Raquel, you’re the star: get that hair out of your beautiful face, channel your inner Pricilla Presley or another 60’s icon of your choice. I cannot wait to see what you do next.
It was hard not to snigger briefly at the sign on the old faithful London Underground, “DO NOT STARE”.
How can you possibly avoid making eye contact (no matter how hard you try) with that man who is picking his nose so hard his finger is almost coming out his eyeball?! Or that couple that are so engaged in kissing it is hard to know where to look, especially as they break contact for a second and she moves her tongue into his ear.
Let’s not forget the joy of living in London’s cosmopolitan city; the amazing, stylish people travelling through or living here. The Tube can be a reality show with a new episode every time you travel or change lines on your journey.
I personally loved going to the airport early for the joy of ‘people watching’ as they were just fascinating. I loved it in the days when the loudspeaker would call out, “Mrs Jones, please come to desk seven. You have an urgent message,” much as I stopped short of going to see who she was.
My mind was filled with plots that maybe she was running away with a lover and he had changed his mind, or the likes. Yes, I am sure it was something dull and simple but having an active imagination has got me through the best and worst of times.
The joy of observing life and its cast of characters is something that keeps me going. After all, Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts.”
But back to the London underground that has been with us since 1863. Of course, I did not immediately notice the smaller print: “INTRUSIVE STARING OF A SEXUAL NATURE IS SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND IS NOT TOLERATED”.
I get the point now. Ten years ago, I interviewed twelve page three models about dating and sex. Not one had not been sexually assaulted on the tube one way or another, from being brushed up against to actually being touched, especially in rush hour. Certainly people should feel free to travel without any fear of sexual assault of any kind.
It is time, however, that we had some other signs put up and very clear announcements for travelling to remind people to make their journey easier, safer and better for others. Much as staring can be unpleasant, it is not as dangerous as some of the common practices I observe daily.
Here is my list for London Underground to add to NO STARING:
Please uncross your legs when travelling. No one wants your footprint on their clothes when the train comes to an abrupt stop.
Please take your backpack off and place between your legs. We do not want an eye taken out as you swing around, especially during rush hour.
Please remove your bags from the seat next to you and allow others to sit down.
It never goes out of fashion to offer an elderly person a seat or a lady who is expecting. Do not just look at your Iphone or newspaper and pretend you have not seen them. BUT DO NOT STARE.
Refrain from bringing fast food or any eatables on the tube. This is not the Orient Express; there is no dining carriage and people travelling do not want to arrive at their destination smelling like a KFC, MacDonalds or a number 12 meal from Mr Wok.
Please use the escalators safely. DO NOT STOP AT THE TOP to look at your phone because you now have a good signal, or to rearrange your shopping bags, forcing the unfortunate person behind you to either jump past you or be pushed back. MOVE CLEAR.
If someone touches you in a sexual manner report immediately.
We are SO lucky to enjoy one of the best undergrounds that is legendary around the world. Please let’s love it and travel safely with a little consideration for others.
If Sadiq Khan does not hike the prices to that of the Orient Express, it is still an affordable way to travel. But remember, DO NOT STARE, even if that Colin Farrell lookalike wearing rugby shorts gets on.
As I was complaining to a regular theatre going friend about the West End prices of some shows and my need to see one show, he replied “It’s twice as good as it is hyped, The Choir of Man, easily the best show in the West End and does not cost a King’s ransom to see.”
Truth be told it was a show that was not on my radar and hadn’t appealed to me. One rainy Saturday we took a chance and managed to grab the last two seats with my room- mate. The atmosphere seemed exciting enough on arrival with an eclectic audience. Many were repeat viewers; sitting next to me was an excited lady who had seen the show 12 times and was there with her friend, who was quoted as a “virgin” to the whole thing.
This is the second time around in the West End for “The Choir of Man” and playing at one of my favourite theatres, The Arts. There is something about this show that makes you smile from the minute you sit down. Audience members are even asked pre-show to join the 9 cast members on the stage set, a pub called “The Jungle”.
There is no complicated plot to the “The Choir of man “. It is this simple: 9 of the regular customers come together to tell stores and sing songs.
I know, it does not sound like my cup of tea (or pint of bitter) either.
However, there is a lot more to this gem of a show that will have you shouting “no” to closing time. It challenges stereo-types and pulls you into a really feel-good show that will have you not only smiling but wanting to go back for more. In fact, my roommate went back a few weeks later.
The 9 man cast of Choir of Man
Each of the 9 cast members has a story to tell and as the show goes on, they unravel more of their tales with names like the Romantic and the Beast; you quickly identify with them. This gives a sense of intimacy which allows you to enjoy the show but also get to know the real people behind the roles and champion them.
The Choir of Man title might be a little misleading as it not religious or that type of music. It is the very best of vocal talent brought together.
It is hard to sit in your seat as you want to jump up and join in with numbers such as Queen’s “Somebody to love” and Paul Simon’s “5O Ways to Leave your Lover”.
The song and dance number will simply blow you away. The absolute highlight was the ‘a cappella’ rendition of Adele’s “Hello”. If there was ever a reason to go back this was it. It even has a feel of immersed theatre with audience members pulled up to join in.
What makes this show so special is that it challenges what we may think a man is which I really appreciated, having written a lot recently about breaking the “Boys do not cry” mould. This is a show that presents all aspects of men and serves it up in a pint glass for all to see. For sure I will be getting another round in at “The Jungle “soon,
Dying to be beautiful the downside and the ups of the Aesthetic – Cosmetic world.
Now trust me I am a big believer on looking after yourself. If you start to look a little withered and that moisturiser or body contouring cream is not helping turn the hands of time back the way you want them to.
Then by all means it might be time to pay a visit to a qualified doctor to have a sensible treatment that might just hold age back or make you look that little fresher.
It is not vain -if your house starts to crumble, or the walls look like they need a coat of paint. No one will lift and eyebrow as you call the decorators or builders
The incredible Pete Burns RIP
But tread carefully for every master of the craft of aesthetics or cosmetic surgery There is a con person or the unqualified want to be -waiting to take your money. Unfortunately, the aesthetics world is still unregulated.
Despite campaigners such as Antonia Mariconda who heads Safety in Beauty campaigning to outlaw those who have not trained in the craft or let standards slip in a business that after all comes under the medical umbrella. We live in world where we are drowning in information while starving for wisdom?
The saying goes that it takes seven years to train to be a doctor, and twenty seconds for a receptionist to think they are one I have observed this phenomenon myself standing in an aesthetic doctor’s reception room, listening to the doctor’s wife practically screaming at patient that “she did the consultations in the clinic” – and in fact, provided some of the treatments. Her medical qualifications? She was simply the doctor’s wife.
It is quite terrifying to realise the sheer number of people who now think they are medical experts, despite zero training. There is nothing wrong seeing what they call an advisor but let’s make it clear that’s not a doctor and all they should be sharing is their own experience the price and booking the appointment to see the doctor.
Under no circumstances should they be suggesting treatments A good clinic will offer a consultation with the doctor sometimes there is a charge often taken off the procedure you choose. The high end you simply pay for the doctor’s advice These rules out time wasters and after all a private gp costs for advice.
One Sunday after a wonderful afternoon celebrating the life of my dear friend actress Sally Farmiloe Neville who has passed on three years to the day. Sally was a woman who embraced all that you could when it came to beauty.
I came home to a shock there plastered over the papers and the internet was a picture of a man I knew well. “MIRCALE HAIR LOSS “cure. It went on to claim that a treatment that he had many months ago had given him a new head of hair. My issue was that six months ago he had been abroad to have a hair transplant and the picture was of the results of that.
We have spoken about the treatment he had at the clinic, and he thought though widely expensive he had little or no results maybe as he said little fuzz, he rang me when he was abroad having the hair transplant. I won’t go into why he agreed to do the article.
But it was very misleading, and lotion and potions and snake oils have no room in the aesthetic business and for sure it should be criminal to mislead the public like this particularly as the clinic new he had been abroad. Sliming treatments is a billion-pound business.
Apart from sensible exercise, and diet truly I am yet to see one that really does what it claims. Sure, many may give temporary feel of weight loss. Certainly, the technician who has measured will marvel after your first treatment that you are now so skinny they can hardly see you.
One woman who telling everyone a treatment had done what Liposuction could not or exercise looked fab in the magazine she appeared in. Just three weeks late however at an event the room was a buzz about how photo shopped the pictures were. One friend asked if she was pregnant.
Another who was selling courses of Fat Freeze was extremely overweight “I am allergic to the cold “she defensively pointed out and apparently the other treatments on offer too.
Sure, many people have thyroid issues and other conditions leading to weight gain, but they do not need aesthetics slimming they need a proper doctor dealing with those issues.
The truth is no slimming treatment will work long term unless you eat. healthily and exercise. Some are downright dangerous Linda Evangelista had a rection to one treatment that caused her to be physically deformed.
Many who have adventured abroad (cosmetic tourism) have lost their lives in the pursuit of beauty. Aesthetics and cosmetic surgery in the right hand is a beautiful science that can boast self-esteem correct many physical deformities and make you look your very best.
Providing that it does not become an addiction (that we have seen in so many cases amongst some celebrities in the news and glossy magazines) aesthetics can be a real plus. Good doctors I have to say keep an eye on client’s healthy aesthetics treatments turning into an addiction.
If you are considering aesthetics or a cosmetic treatment check 1 Check qualifications A useful way to narrow your search down is to compare the credentials of the surgeons you have found to the list below.
You should look for a surgeon who is:
• Working for the NHS
• Registered with the General Medical Council (GMC)
• Listed on the GMC’s the area of practice relevant to your procedure
• A member of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
• A member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
• An expert in the part of the body you want operated on.
This is when the receptionist comes into play, she can help provide you with evidence or direct you how to find the proof. Get recommendations.
You may want to speak to friends and family members who have undergone the procedure in question or visit online forums to get their recommendations.
Other sources of valuable information include:
• Your GP
• The General Medical Council’s (GMC) specialist register
• British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS)
• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)
• Royal College of Surgeons Go to see several doctors and do not rush into a treatment unless you are a hundred precent confident.
Even something that sounds as simple as Botox The wrong practitioner can cause damage lasting months. Do your homework And have a safe aesthetic cosmetic treatment.
Me at Freeze London where the cream of the Art world meet each year. https://www.frieze.com/fairs/frieze-london. Physical art at its finest.
Steven’s Smith looks at NFT
“Stop the world I need to get off!” I hear many of you say that in this bizarre and often crazy time.
You could be forgiven for wondering if the great God (if you believe in such an entity) would reach down and reply “Sure will you be paying for that in crypto, bitcoins or the old-fashioned pound?”
He may even offer you one of his NFT signed art posters that he promises, once you re-join Earth, will have quadrupled in value making you arrive back with a bang and most certainly a millionaire…well in crypto land for sure just as Alice drops through a hole in search of it.
Well, I found myself asking what NFT is last year. I am hearing it mentioned all around at events and parties. A friend visiting LA called me and said, “Darling you are no one if you’re not doing NFT or Crypto here”. Then came the sinking feeling a bit like when someone’s trying to sell me a multi-level marketing scheme. “People felt the same about stamps when they started”, she went onto to add.
Well fair point. Great grans used to keep their money under the mattress after not trusting banks during the great depression back in 1929. Let’s not talk about Lehman Brothers, back in 2008, filing for bankruptcy leaving people penniless, robbed of their life savings. NFT (Non-Fungible Token) is a record on a blockchain which is associated with a particular digital or physical asset.
Paris Hilton worked with the artist Blake Kathryn to create a digital tribute to her chihuahua Tinkerbell. Photograph: Paris Hilton/Blake Kathryn
The ownership of an NFT is recorded in the blockchain, and can be transferred by the owner, allowing NFTs to be sold and traded. What is NFT in relation to art? An NFT is a digital asset that exists completely in the digital universe: you can’t touch it, but you can own it. An NFT can be any type of digital file, an artwork, an article, music or even a meme such as “Disaster Girl”, the original photo of which sold for $500k earlier this year. But is it the emperor’s new clothes? For every artist who champions NFT art equally there are those that just won’t touch the new way of trading. Boy George has opened his own digital platform
Though George has not sold at the auction houses such as Sotheby’s or Christies, his work has sold at charity events for large sums and he certainly has a talent.
Tracey Emin has joined the NFT arts champion digital platform as have several well-known artists, but many are totally against NFT. With Artists against NFT recently penned in Business of Business, Zilch, an Atlanta based artist is quoted as saying, “Personally, I’m against NFTs.
However we do have to acknowledge that it as a system does exist, and that system still requires regulation and is not a free-4-all, unmoderated system where all hell breaks loose. Systems get made, systems get abused then they get regulated.”
London has seen its first NFT Gallery opening early this year, the Quantus Gallery, and the star-studded opening saw the likes of Ant Middleton, model make-up artist Jodie Kidd and dashing Callum Best all mix with socialites, city boys and what looked like would-be Kray brothers. It was certainly an eclectic group and an exciting night, so, there is certainly great excitement around the concept.
Art is objective and we must remember where the words con artist came from. Get a brilliant salesman and he can sell snow to the Eskimo’s. It is the same with a painting; remember ART the award-winning play? Serge, indulging his penchant for modern art, buys a large, expensive, completely white painting.
Marc is horrified, and their relationship suffers considerable strain because of their differing opinions about what constitutes “art”. Yvan, caught in the middle of the conflict, tries to please, and mollify both. Art is what you decide it is.
Every wise boy seems to be dipping into crypto. I am absolutely 100 percent convinced that, just like in multi-level marketing, there will be those that make a mint out of it and equally there will be those that end up burnt. There was a time when my inbox was full of get rich crypto or bitcoin invitations.
I considered joining one as the cream of business were involved. However, sitting in on the meeting it became clear people were investing in something that was not there. “We are looking for the likes of Adelle, Tom Cruise joining this”.
Apparently people will pay to sit in front of a computer with NFT sunglasses on, paying thousands for the pleasure. I guess people have spent fortunes on dressing characters up on virtual games for years. Certainly, it helped the Kardashian portfolio.
But on asking what these A listers agents felt about this, their answers were vague. It was clear it was a wish list. Following my instinct, it was “No from me.” Checking a year on despite the credentials of its founders it is no further along.
Certainly, there is a strong element of the hard sell when it comes to the NFT from those that champion it. For me, I would still go with my financial advisors and stay away from something that has element of gambling attached to it, particularly if you have an addictive personality and really can´t afford to lose.
Most serious investors in high end art use highly qualified ART advisors for advice and buy at reputable auction houses or gallery’s that mentor their artist. They ask if resold to get first refusal. NFT Art is certainly something worth keeping an eye on and if you have money to spare then, as they say, fill your boots.
But in a volatile market with bitcoins and crypto up and down, for me it is not something that would make me sleep well at night. I asked a woman who is very busy promoting NFT (and doing an amazing job) how she was paid.
As she knocked back a glass of champagne, she replied “God, money darling!” That said it all to me.
2Shades Magazine 