While most of Hollywood has offered nothing but support for the women who have been brave enough in recent months to come forward with their stories of sexual assault and harassment in the entertainment industry Matt Damon instead took the opportunity to make some, um, interesting comments about the current conversation surrounding sexual assault — and naturally, people were less than thrilled.

However, the actor has *finally* issued an apology for those comments (albeit, nearly a month later). During his appearance on the Today show on Tuesday, Damon took the opportunity to go back on his controversial statement in which he said we should be talking more about men that don't assault women.

"I really wish I'd listened a lot more before I weighed in on this," Damon said on the show. "I don’t want to further anybody’s pain with anything that I do or say. So for that I am really sorry."

The actor went on to add that seeing many of his female friends speak out as part of #MeToo and the "Time's Up" movement has given him perspective.

"A lot of those women are my dear friends and I love them and respect them and support what they’re doing and want to be a part of that change. But I should get in the back seat and close my mouth for a while."

ICYMI, back in December, the actor told Business Insider,"We're in this watershed moment, and it's great, but I think one thing that's not being talked about is there are a whole sh*tload of guys — the preponderance of men I've worked with — who don't do this kind of thing and whose lives aren't going to be affected." His comments didn't go unnoticed, and it didn't take long for the Internet to respond by asking why the heck we need to be applauding men for acting like, you know, decent human beings.

While his apology doesn't excuse his previous comments (which, let's be honest, were *unreal* levels of out of touch), we applaud Damon for owning up to the fact that he spoke out about the #MeToo movement without taking the time to fully understand why it's so important — which is something a lot more men need to be doing right now.

Every year when the clock strikes twelve on January 1, I think of all the ways I am going to be better in the upcoming year. Maybe I make a vow to eat healthier, or to spend less time binging Netflix, or maybe something a bit more deep like being kinder to others or volunteering more. And at the end of that year, I look back and notice that I really didn't do a single thing that I thought I was going to. All of those New Years resolutions were just words because I failed to act upon them. 

As I enter 2018 and my final semester of college at NYU, I knew that I wanted to make a resolution that was actually going to stick. One that I had to work hard on every single day. One that was more than just a gym membership or signing up to be a weekly volunteer. I wanted to make a change in my life that would actually impact me in the long run. And I had just the idea. A few weeks ago my resolution hit me while I was sweating through a t-shirt in a hot yoga class because I refused to take my shirt off. I hadn’t shaved my armpits in days and although I didn’t know a single person in that room, I was ashamed of my body.

The relationship that I have had with my body has not always been a kind one. When I was in middle school, the boys in my grade would call me fat, ugly, and my favorite, “Chewbacca,” because of my hairy nature. They would make “hot lists” of all the girls in school and I would always be at the bottom, a number like 45 or 53 forever engrained in my mind next to my name. Although I was not necessarily insecure or shy, being a 14 year old with double Ds and a mustache that was never quite bleached enough, it often times got the best of me. For years I was bullied into believing that unless I was skinny, tall, and perfectly tanned like the Victoria Secret Angels, I would never be good enough.

After years of weight fluctuations between eating and not eating whatever I wanted, I still had an uneasy relationship with how I looked. By the time I got to college, I finally accepted that my body wasn’t going to change so I might as well embrace it. But because of the years of pain I inflicted upon myself to look a certain way, I had some hard habits to beat. The biggest was the internal conversation happening in my head. Whenever I looked at myself next to others in a photograph, the first thing that came to mind was how much better looking all the other people around me were. There was this competition that I was playing in that no matter how hard I tried, I could never win. 

Now, as a senior at NYU, I decided that it is time to act upon a resolution that will actually help me and that involves not just embracing my body for what it is, but loving it full heartedly. But I knew I couldn’t do it alone. A few years ago when I was working as an editorial intern at Cosmopolitan.com, I met Nomi Ellenson. She was working as a photographer for the website and we exchanged info as my internship ended. Over the last few years I have seen Ellenson's work popping up on my feed in a way that always intrigued me. Currently, she is a photographer in New York City who runs her own business called Boudoir by Nomi, NYC's most female-empowered and fashion-forward boudoir photography studio. According to her website, boudoir is "an intimate photographic genre that highlights the beauty of all ages, sizes and genders." This was exactly what I needed.

Nomi Ellenson

To me, this seemed like the perfect way to look at my body head on, in a way I would have for the rest of my life. I reached out to Ellenson about doing my own boudoir shoot and she gladly accepted. As we planned the shoot and the days crept closer, I got nervous. Although I was far from camera shy, for years I hid my stomach whenever I went to the beach and I always stayed away from wearing skin-tight outfits or low cut tops. The idea that my body was going to be on display for the whole world (well at least, my readers) to see, was terrifying yet exhilarating. But I knew that it would help me in the long run and I kept my cool. Thanks to some incredible lingerie companies including Parfait, Fleur’t With Me, and Montelle, I showed up at her studio with a few gorgeous outfits ready to go. 

I sat with Ellenson in her beautiful and bright loft studio in Brooklyn and we discussed how I wanted the shoot to go. I knew that I wanted the pictures to be tasteful yet showed off all my imperfections. As a boudoir photographer, Ellenson's only goal is to make sure her client feels as beautiful as possible. In our current society, young women are constantly surrounded by supermodels or influencers on Instagram and it’s hard not to compare yourself to them when everything is based on likes and views. But with her photography, Ellenson hopes to make every woman who steps into her studio feel as though they are the most beautiful woman in the world. And that is exactly what she did.

Nomi Ellenson

While we sipped champagne and listened to pop hits, Ellenson showed me all the different poses I could do to make me feel my best. She wanted me to be comfortable so she pretty much gave me free reign to do whatever I wanted to. As I stripped down to my first outfit, a sexy one piece by Montelle as seen above, I felt free for the first time since I was a kid. I had worn lingerie before but it was always because there was a man I was trying to impress. I had never really done it for myself and I was surprised by the power of a little lace. In just that bodysuit and my favorite “bitch” necklace from Bulletin Broads, I felt beautiful, sexy, and strong. I wasn’t nervous doing the poses and taking the pictures because I knew that no matter what they looked like, how I felt in that moment was way greater than any measure of beauty. 

As we went through the next two outfits, the feeling didn’t go away. I no longer cared about the rolls on my stomach or if you could see the hair on my legs. As she snapped away on the camera, the words of the bullies calling me “butterface” or “unibrow-mustache girl” faded away. If I had known when I was younger that all I had to do to come to terms with my body was to truly embrace and accept it, I feel as though I could’ve been much happier. Although that seems incredibly simplistic to say, by baring it all on camera and stripping down to what my mother gave me (my body, not the lingerie that is,) I was able to walk away that day with a pep in my step. 

Nomi Ellenson

Now, heading into 2018, the year that I graduate and start my full-time job, I already feel different from last year. I now notice all the time I wasted comparing myself to other people because I didn’t look like them. Or the time I wasted putting myself down because a boy told me he preferred his woman to be tall. The only person that I need validation from regarding my body and how I look is myself, and thanks to a simple photoshoot, I feel as though I have it. 

Deciding which college to attend is one of the biggest decisions we have yet to make, and there are an overwhelming number of factors to consider. Do we want a big school or a small school? Do we want to stay close to home or try to get as far away from it as possibly? And for those of us in relationships, an even bigger (and scarier) question comes to mind--should we go to the same school as our significant other? Contrary to popular belief, doing so may do more harm than good, while the alternate of long distance can have some great silver linings.

1. It’s important to leave your comfort zone

Going to college is a huge transition, and it’s designed to give you exciting and new experiences. It’s important to put yourself out there and try new things, but beginning this chapter of your life with your same high school sweetheart on your arm all the time often casts a safety net around you. And this can keep you from leaving your comfort zone.  Your freshman year at college is the time to make new friends, join unique clubs and do things you wouldn't normally try.

“Without my SO by my side, it was up to me to step up and put myself out there and try new things and meet new people. There was no temptation to fall back on for comfort,” says Ellie, a student at Northeastern University.

All of these exciting events can also make for great conversation with your SO the next time you speak to one another. You can tell them about the guy down the hall who taught you to beatbox or the Nobel-winning professor whose physics class you attended. There's so much more to talk about when you both have news to share. Video chats become all the more special this way!

2. You should learn to be your own person

Following the prior statement, it’s not only important to explore new experiences, but to explore more about yourself as well. You’re your own person, and college equips you with the opportunities to dig into who you are. A healthy separation is necessary and allows you to  develop your own perspective. You have the chance to put your interests first.  Hailey, a student at Simmons College, believes the same experience applies to friendship.

“There’s a healthy separation where I can be with my friends and have classes and then see them [or talk to them] after!” she says.

It’s possible that having your SO at the same college could prevent you from deepening other relationships, especially the one you have with yourself. With all the time you spent with your SO in high school, you might’ve not explored a subject area or formed your own opinion about a topic. Taking the time to be introspective can make conversations with your SO much richer.

3. Long distance can help strengthen your relationship emotionally

While going long distance might seem scary, it can actually help strengthen your relationship in new and exciting ways. By continuing to talk on the phone and video chat often, your emotional relationship will stand alone and grow stronger. Additionally, you’re both growing into yourselves at your different schools, and growing together while watching from the sidelines might be exciting.

“Going long distance gave me the opportunity to get to know my SO on a completely different level. We can’t hold hands or kiss, so we have to find intimacy and express appreciation in unique ways,” says Ellie, a student at Northeastern University.

“We find ourselves having a lot more conversations with each other, where we get to know one another as [more than just a significant other.] It helps strengthen our emotional connection to each other just as individuals rather than relying on physical connection.”

And think about it--the next time you see each other, you’ll be both emotionally and physically ready to see one another.

Related: How to Make a Long-Distance Relationship Work Over the Summer

4. Spending time together becomes a lot more special

When you and your SO are in such close quarters, spending time with one another can become more of just a convenience than an active plan to see each other. Of course, hanging out and watching Netflix is always a fun activity, but planning an adventurous excursion can be much more exciting. If your high school sweetheart attends another university, you can have fun researching activities and waiting for the date to come.

“The fact that they aren’t on campus means there is probably more general planning in order to spend time together,” says Hannah, a student at Maryland Institute College of Art, “which can help ensure that both sides of the relationship are actively trying to spend time together instead of feeling like they have to spend all their free time together. I think in a way it can strengthen a relationship.”

Even if the times you see your SO are few and far between, your reunions may be more special and memorable than the majority of time you spent together in high school.

5. It will make you appreciate what you have

A lot of people say that you don’t realize what you have until it’s gone, and it’s completely true. However, this cliche statement is also accurate to long distance relationships. While the relationship isn’t necessarily gone or over, being far away will definitely lead you to be more grateful for what you have and further continue to strengthen your bond.

“It’s awesome being able to see my SO every day, but seeing them [only occasionally] is also great because it makes me appreciate what I have and absence makes the heart grow fonder. It also gives me something to look forward to!” says Hailey.

Not everyone in college has someone as dedicated and loving as you might have, so you’ll definitely be reminded of this fact if you and your SO attend separate schools.

Going to a different college than your high school SO is a really difficult decision to come to, but things can turn out for the better. Try to stay positive and keep every silver lining in mind!

If you’ve ever accidentally ripped a favorite top or gotten a snag in an otherwise flawless sweater, you know how devastating ruining a go-to piece can be. Unfortunately, it can happen – but that doesn’t mean you have to head straight for the trash! It turns out that there are tons of ways to repurpose broken jewelry and stained shirts – all it takes is a little DIY creativity.

1. DIY layering piece

Wearing any kind of nice, solid-colored collared shirt can be hazardous (read: easily stainable), but you don’t need to resort to throwing it out when stain remover just doesn’t cut it. Instead, cut off the uppermost part of the shirt, including the collar, and use it as a layering piece under shirts and sweaters. You’ll achieve that classic layered look without the extra bulk of wearing an actual shirt underneath. Pro tip: You can also easily turn it into a statement piece by adding beads or embellishment, which practically makes it a piece of jewelry – this tutorial shows you how.

2. Turn sweater sleeves into boot socks

We’ve all experienced that major uh-oh moment upon realizing a fave sweater has been snagged. Since life happens, you can at least salvage some of your sweater by turning the sleeves into another cozy piece: boot socks! They’ll keep your legs warm and look super chic tucked into knee-high boots over leggings or tights. Simply cut off each sleeve of the ruined sweater, and wear them with the uncut side peeking out of your boots.

3. Re-cover a throw pillow with a T-shirt

Especially if you’ve gone Greek, chances are good that you have plenty of T-shirts laying around – and maybe even some that have gone unworn. If it’s too cute to part with but isn’t necessarily the first thing you reach for in your closet, try DIY-ing it into a pillowcase!

While this DIY is particularly easy if you have some prior sewing skills, fear not if you don’t have access to a sewing machine – you can also create the pillowcase by “sewing” it with a cool knotted fringe, as shown in this no-sew tutorial.

4. Make hair ties out of old tights

If you manage to rip your tights as often as we do (seriously, is there anyone who somehow doesn’t end up with a run after only a few wears?), you’ll never need to buy hair ties again. Simply take the parts that haven’t been ruined by the run and cut them horizontally in one or two inch sections, and voila – hair ties. Bonus: they won’t break and create exposed sections of elastic and rubber, meaning they’ll be much healthier for your hair.

5. Use broken jewelry as embellishment

It’s easy to be tempted to throw out a statement necklace with a broken clasp and give it up for dead – but it turns out that it might actually make for some super pretty embellishment on another piece! You can easily use it to spruce up a plain beanie and make it new again. While this DIY involves a little needle and thread, it’s not anything super complicated. Simply remove any extra chain from the piece of jewelry with pliers. Then, use a needle and thread to attach the gemstone part of the necklace to the hat, threading your needle through the remaining metal loops on the piece.

Accidentally ruining a piece of clothing doesn’t have to ruin your day – stash these DIY ideas for the next time you have anything broken, ripped, stained or unworn lying around!

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

Steve Bannon Has Been Subpoenaed in Mueller's Russia Investigation

After refusing to answer questions for 10 hours in a closed-door meeting with the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, the New York Times reports that Steve Bannon has been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury as part of the investigation into the Trump administration's possible ties to Russian meddling in the 2016 election. According to the Times, legal experts believe that the subpoena could be a sign that the investigation is intensifying. However, it could also just be a tactic to force Trump's former chief strategist to answer the questions he refused in the meeting on Tuesday by citing "executive privilege." 

Either way, as TIME reports, it appears the House Intelligence Committee will conclude the interviews in the investigation soon — meaning we could have some answers in the coming weeks.

The White House Doctor Says Trump Received a Perfect Score on His Mental Health Test

According to White House Doctor Ronny Jackson, President Trump (somehow) scored a 30/30 on his mental health test, refuting many Americans' questions in recent weeks as to whether or not the president is mentally fit to serve.

"He has absolutely no cognitive or mental issues whatsoever," Jackson said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Though he didn't go as far as to confirm or deny that the president is a "very stable genius,"Jackson did add that Trump should probably try to maintain, "a diet that is lower and fat and carbohydrates." Go figure.

This Woman Staged a 'Maternity' Photo Shoot With Her New Kitten

You may think you love cats — but I have some difficult news, because you probably don't love them as much as this woman who staged a "maternity" shoot with her new kitten— seriously. Denver-based photographer Lucy Schultz's photo shoot with her new 5-month-old kitten, which includes photos of Schultz "birthing" her kitten and sharing some "first-time parent" moments with her boyfriend, went viral after she posted it to Facebook on Friday.

"I’m totally a crazy cat lady who didn’t have any cats," Schultz told the Huffington Post. "So, I decided as soon as I got a cat, it’s a big milestone for me and sort of like the hallmark of me settling down and starting my menagerie of future cats, and so the first one is pretty special."

The photos have been viewed 73,000 times and you just can't make this stuff up.

Meme of the day:

New year, not-so-new me in 2018, TBH.

After Lena Dunham confirmed that her and boyfriend of five years Jack Antonoff split earlier this month, rumors began that he had already moved on — but Antonoff took to Twitter this morning to deny them.

Despite only being three weeks into Arie’s season on The Bachelor, dedicated fans are already thrilled to know the latest spin-off, The Bachelor Winter Games, is set to premiere February 13. The cast includes some of America’s favorites, including season 20 Bachelor Ben Higgins and heartthrob Dean Unglert from Rachel Lindsay’s season of The Bachelorette. 

In addition to Ashley Iaconetti, former contestant on Chris Soules’ season and current co-host of the I Don’t Get It podcast series, Bibiana Julian will be making an appearance as a last-minute cast add-on. The newest series promo shows both girls having mini-meltdowns, and we wouldn’t expect anything less. A much more unknown Lauren G. will also be competing, but what’s her claim to fame? She was one of four Laurens vying for Arie’s heart this season.

Of course, Chris Harrison will return to host the four-part series featuring 26 former contestants from across the globe. They will face head-to-head in low-key versions of events from The Winter Olympics. Where do date cards come into play? The winners of each event will receive one.

Something interesting to note is the monitoring of drinks during the taping of Winter Games. After the controversy surrounding Bachelor in Paradise last summer, it’s only right the producers would be more careful. In fact, a source told People that contestants had could only have two drinks per hour and had to limit their alcohol intake before all competitions.

Between the amazing cast and the knowledge about alcohol safety, I’m sure many of us will be tuning in on February 13 for some mid-Olympics entertainment.

Aziz Ansari has responded to the controversial Babe.net article published late Saturday night that has prompted a slew of tweets, think pieces and other responses surrounding issues of consent, celebrity and how to best report on sexual misconduct.

The article/essay-hybrid describes an evening of dinner, drinks, and eventually, Ansari's apartment. A woman (going by the alias "Grace") said the date left her feeling "violated" after Ansari allegedly repeatedly pursued sexual acts after she said she tried to slow down and communicate (verbally and non-verbally) her disinterest in having a sexual encounter. The story included details (from the woman's wine preferences to her outfit to a nickname for a gesture Ansari allegedly made with his hands) that many critics said trivialized the account and were inappropriate for a report meant to tackle such a complicated and sensitive issue. 

Babe's editors said they stand by their reporting, as Joshi Herrmann, editor-in-chief of Tab Media (Babe's parent company), told CNN after the story went viral. 

Herrmann said his team believed they "reported this whole thing out" and verified the information given. However, as Ansari and his camp did not respond to their requests for comments by their deadline, they published the account without including a statement from him (and reportedly only gave just over five hours for him to respond, as The Guardian noted.)

On Sunday, Ansari issued a statement, responding to the story: “In September of last year, I met a woman at a party. We exchanged numbers. We texted back and forth and eventually went on a date. We went out to dinner, and afterwards we ended up engaging in sexual activity, which by all indications was completely consensual. The next day, I got a text from her saying that although ‘it may have seemed okay,’ upon further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything did seem okay to me, so when I heard that it was not the case for her, I was surprised and concerned. I took her words to heart and responded privately after taking the time to process what she had said. I continue to support the movement that is happening in our culture. It is necessary and long overdue."

According to Babe, Ansari and Grace met at an after-party for the 2017 Emmy's and ended up exchanging numbers. She alleged that after their date, they returned to Ansari's apartment where, despite giving verbal (saying “Let’s relax for a moment, let’s chill,” when she felt he went to get a condom too soon) and nonverbal cues that she wasn't interested in having sex at that moment, Ansari repeatedly tried to have sex with her. She also said that he ignored more cues, saying she "stopped moving [her] lips and turned cold," and that she "felt forced" to perform and receive oral sex.

After the discomfort of the night, Grace took an Uber home and told her friends about her experience. Grace said she planned on texting Ansari the next day, but he reached out first saying "It was fun meeting you last night," as shown in a screenshot featured in the Babe article. 

“Last night might’ve been fun for you, but it wasn’t for me,” Grace responded. “You ignored clear non-verbal cues; you kept going with advances. I want to make sure you’re aware so maybe the next girl doesn’t have to cry on the ride home.”

"I’m so sad to hear this," Ansari responded. "All I can say is, it would never be my intention to make you or anyone feel the way you described. Clearly, I misread things in the moment and I’m truly sorry."

If at some point today, you looked at Twitter's trending topics and saw Betty White trending, you probably freaked out (unless of course you're a superfan who knows the real reason people were talking about her). To everyone's relief, she was not the latest celebrity to tragically pass away.

Nope, she's alive! And it's her birthday, making her 96 years old.  

Glossier, the cool girl brand of skincare and makeup, has proven time and time again that it's more than just pretty packaging. Glossier's newest product, mysteriously named "Solution," is no exception, since it's basically a holy grail for babes that suffer from acne, redness and discoloration.   

Solution is a liquid exfoliator that promises to be the solutionto your acne and blackheads, including reducing redness, improving pores, and helping you achieve a dewy AF glow. This skin perfecter contains lactic, glycolic, salicylic acid and polyhydroxy acid to help aid your skin. In case you’re not a science major, these ingredients are designed to exfoliate and unclog without irritating us ladies that have sensitive skin. Shereene Idriss, a cosmetic dermatologist, told Cosmopolitan that “AHAs can work wonders for those with acne or hyperpigmentation, since they dissolve the glue that holds the superficial skin cells together, making them powerful exfoliators. They also help reduce photodamage and can help clear acne-causing bacteria deep within your pores."

The best way to approach a liquid exfoliator, especially since it contains acid actives, is to use only it two or three times a week, ideally at night to clean up your skin after a long day of gunk buildup. But hey, a skincare product that works and sounds incredibly easy to use? We can't say "add to cart" fast enough. 

Glossier also shared a before-and-after shot on Instagram that has us convinced Solution is magic bottled.

It seems like 2018 could actually be the year of uncomplicated skincare and perfect skin! Pick your bottle of Solution for $24 at Glossier now. 

Sarah Hollowell, an established essayist, poet and young adult author found herself at the center of a complicated scandal late last week after it was revealed that organizers at the Midwest Writer's Workshop (an organization she'd belonged to for five years) made fatphobic remarks about her when they were determining if she was qualified to be appointed to the organizational committee. The incident dates back to last fall, but was brought to light early last week when former MWW faculty member Roxane Gay took to her own personal Twitter account to detail what occurred. The established feminist writer posted a series of tweets early last week explaining in detail the story and expressed her complete disgust for the organization and their remarks.

Midwest Writers Workshop issued a public apology and explanation of what occurred, but the issue of fatphobia and belittling women to their appearance is an issue that is not new and is deep rooted in intersections of body shaming and misogyny. In light of the recent events, Hollowell was gracious to enough to share with Her Campus via Email her own thoughts on this particular breed of discrimination that continues to plague women everywhere and how fatphobia is an issue we can no longer ignore. 

“One of the worst things about fatphobia is that it's insidious. It's everywhere, but it can't always be proven, and sometimes it's nothing more than a bad feeling in your gut. Sometimes the people who make decisions based on the fatness of someone don't fully realize that's what they're doing. 

We've simply been trained to see fatness as a sign of laziness, sloppiness, poor self-control, gluttony, evil. In a professional environment, this translates into people thinking you probably have a poor work ethic. In their mind, you'll take up too much space and you'll be messy and you won't get the work done.

Which is ridiculous. Anyone of any size can be messy or lazy or not get work done. You can't tell that by weight. But it gets put on fat people, and that's why we also find ourselves having to be Extra Presentable. Our clothes have to be perfect, but also, good luck finding more than a couple pieces of plus-size work appropriate clothing that you can afford. Women better wear makeup, too. Can't look lazy (even though, again, these things have nothing to do with each other).

I can't speak for every other fat person who has ever done a job interview, but for me, my big fear is not noticing there's a stain somewhere on my clothing. It could be a stain from anything, but I know what the people who see me will thing: Food stain. Because I'm fat, so I must do a lot of eating, and I must be sloppy about it. A little stain could confirm all the biases that are already there. 

Of course, still, in the end, we can rarely prove that we weren't hired because of our fatness. Sometimes we can sense it. Sometimes we can know it. When you have any kind of marginalization, you learn what certain looks and inflections of voice mean, and they can't be explained to anyone else outside that marginalization. We can't use it to prove discrimination. 

Even in my case, when I have a witness account of someone on the Midwest Writers committee calling me fat and disgusting, it still can't be proven because MWW is changing the story and it wasn't in email or in minutes. As easily as I can believe the person who told me, they can call her a liar.

I'm lucky. I had a decent platform of my own before this. I'm friends with Roxane Gay. I could email her in tears and tell her what happened, and she stood up for me. People rallied around me. I'm lucky because I had a support system in place, and it's grown.

Not every fat person has that. Most fat people who face discrimination at best have a friend to vent to. Maybe not even that. Maybe they just have friends who tell them they're paranoid. Maybe they just have a family who tells them to lose weight if they don't want to be judged.

It gets worse with every intersection. If they're fat and a woman, it's worse. If they're fat and a woman and a person of color, add on more difficulty. We live in a country where anti-blackness is especially violent and pervasive, so being a fat black woman? And what if you then add being trans onto that? Getting support when you're fat is hard enough, but when you're battling other kinds of oppression on top of it, that's just more unfair walls you have to get through.

This all sounds pretty hopeless, huh? What do you do when it's everywhere?

If you're a young fat writer who's feeling (understandably) scared and hopeless, know that there's a bright side. It's not absolutely everywhere. There are good people out there. There are other fat people out there.

If you write short stories, look for markets that specifically look for diversity and marginalized voices. They tend to be safer spaces. Same for if you're writing a novel and seeking agent representation — do your research and see what they have to say about diversity and marginalization. Many agents now put up-front that they want to hear from marginalized voices.

But you can submit anywhere, and I encourage you to do so! They're not looking at pictures of you when you submit your story (though that isn't to say that ends discrimination — people with names that don't sound white enough are less likely to be chosen for many things even if their face is never seen), they're looking at your words.

Even if you're doing something where they do see you, I encourage you to try. It's scary. You might get hurt. Might be discriminated against. Trust your gut on if you think a place isn't safe, but also be willing to take chances. People will surprise you with cruelty but they'll also surprise you with goodness. Yes, I discovered that there were people I worked with at Midwest Writers who saw me as disgusting, but dozens more have come out to defend me and support me. 

Being a fat person in this world is hard and it is scary and, if you're fat, you already know the kind of hate that comes your way because of your body. But here's the truth: It's okay to be fat. You are worthy and deserving, you are loved, and you got this."

When giving advice to women about what birth control method is best for them, the advice giver wants to be 99-100 percent sure that it will work. Natural Cycles, an app that tells you when you’re fertile and should use protection (ostensibly to avoid an unwanted pregnancy), missed the mark this time around. Although Natural Cycles is certified by the EU, with 37 Swedish users having unwanted pregnancies, as Jezebel reported, something definitely went wrong.

A midwife at the Södersjukhuset hospital in Stockholm said “It’s a new method and we see a number of unwanted pregnancies, so we are reporting this to the Medical Products Agency.”

If the Fertility Awareness: Natural Family Planning (NFP) method of birth control is perfect for you, there are a few way more accurate way to do that than using an app. One is to use an ovulation kit. An ovulation kit is super easy to use and will tell you whether or not you need to use protection that day. Because this isn’t recommended as the only source of birth control, use your best judgment when it comes to this method!

Natural Cycles is conducting an internal investigation regarding the 37 pregnancies and released this statement to the public:

“At first sight, the numbers mentioned in the media are not surprising given the popularity of the app and in line with our efficacy rates. As our user base increases, so will the amount of unintended pregnancies coming from Natural Cycles app users, which is an inevitable reality.”

An inevitable reality that’s certified? Maybe the EU should rethink this one.

The Shonda Rhimes hit Grey's Anatomy is 15 seasons in and will have a 16th season in the works, thanks to its recent renewal contract. The fact that the show has been on-air for nearly 13 years is a pleasant surprise, just like the agreement Dr. Meredith Grey just signed. The contract makes Ellen Pompeo the highest paid actress in dramatic television, where she will be making over $20 million per year and about $575,000 per episode.

The contract was empowering for Pompeo, who had to demand what she wanted. The actress opened up about this process in her interview with The Hollywood Reporter. Rhimes was more than encouraging. "As a woman, what I know is you can't approach anything from a point of view of 'I don't deserve' or 'I'm not going to ask for because I don't want other people to get upset,'" Rhimes said. "And I know for a fact that when men go into these negotiations, they go in hard and ask for the world."

She told Pompeo to go for what she wants. "Decide what you think you're worth and then ask for what you think you're worth," she remembered telling Pompeo. "Nobody's just going to give it to you."

The request for a $20 million dollar deal wasn't super hard for Ellen. "I'm 48 now, so I've finally gotten to the place where I'm OK asking for what I deserve, which is something that comes only with age," Pompeo said. "Because I'm not the most 'relevant' actress out there. I know that's the industry perception because I've been this character for 14 years. But the truth is, anybody can be good on a show season one and two. Can you be good 14 years later? Now, that's a f**kin' skill." Get it, girl. 

In the past, when Patrick Dempsey was still on the show, Pompeo might not have had it as easy when it comes to asking for more money. "For me, Patrick [Dempsey] leaving the show [in 2015] was a defining moment, deal-wise," Pompeo said. "They could always use him as leverage against me — 'We don't need you; we have Patrick'— which they did for years. I don't know if they also did that to him, because he and I never discussed our deals. There were many times where I reached out about joining together to negotiate, but he was never interested in that. At one point, I asked for $5,000 more than him just on principle, because the show is Grey's Anatomy and I'm Meredith Grey. They wouldn't give it to me."

Okay, what?

Thankfully, this didn't last after Dempsey left. "Things have changed, though. In Shonda finding her power and becoming more comfortable with her power, she has empowered me," Pompeo said. "And that took her a while to get to, too. It was part of her evolution. It's also why our relationship is so special. I was always loyal to her, and she responds well to loyalty. So, she got to a place where she was so empowered that she was generous with her power. Now, what did that look like? It looked like her letting me be the highest-paid woman on television, letting me be a producer on this show, letting me be a co-executive producer on the spinoff and signing off on the deal that the studio gave me, which is unprecedented." Aw, how sweet!

Pompeo ended the interview expressing her hope for the future of Hollywood if the industry follows in Shonda's footsteps.

"I should also say this: I don't believe the only solution is more women in power, because power corrupts. It's not necessarily a man or a woman thing. But there should be more of us women in power, and not just on Shonda Rhimes' sets," Pompeo said. 

I couldn't agree more!

World-renowned fashion photographers Mario Testino and Bruce Weber are the newest names to add to the (horrendously) long list of influential men who have abused their power and harassed others. The #MeToo and Time's Up movements have picked up steam in the entertainment industry, but Testino and Weber's sexual misconduct allegations are a brute reminder that this behavior is not just exclusive to Hollywood. In a recent New York Times expose, 28 former and current male models and assistants told of their disturbing experiences with Testino and Weber, describing the sexual harassment and coercion they endured.

15 of the male models who worked under Weber recounted their "private sessions" with him, where he urged them to undress and coerced them through "energy" exercises. These exercises were actually Weber's attempts to touch the models inappropriately, guiding the models' hands to wherever he desired, including private parts. One of the models, Robyn Sinclair, said in the New York Timesreport, "We [Sinclair and Weber] never had sex or anything, but a lot of things happened. A lot of touching. A lot of molestation." 

Meanwhile, 13 male models and assistants to Testino revealed that he tried to grope and masturbate to them on several occasions. Hugo Tillman, one of Testino's former assistants, recalled Testino pushing him onto a bed and pinning him down without consent. Tillman managed to get out of the situation but soon quit his job a weekend after the incident, according to The New York Times.

Testino and Weber have photographed for international fashion brands such as Calvin Klein and Gucci for years, earning their titles as the best of the best to work with. As we've realized though, working with the most powerful men in any career field puts immense pressure on employees to follow orders, no matter how extreme. When men like Testino and Weber use their high stature to sexually molest those working for them, employees and clients are reluctant to defy them for fear of losing their jobs and/or ending their careers completely.

Many of the models who got the opportunity to work with Testino and Weber felt that they had to put up with the abuse since these photographers are so influential, and nailing a gig with them meant long-standing success. Also, many male models endure a number of disadvantages within the modeling industry, from lower pay to constant disrespect for their profession. So, in a rough industry like this, it makes sense why they'll do what they can to keep their jobs.

With startlingly similar accounts between all 28 men, it seems extremely unlikely that they could be fabricating these allegations. However, Testino and Weber were quick to defend themselves.

"I’m completely shocked and saddened by the outrageous claims being made against me, which I absolutely deny,"Weber said in a statement from his lawyer. Testino went on to discredit his accusers, and also claimed that many of his former employees were "shocked by the allegations" as well and couldn't confirm any of the models' claims. 

Many strong women continue to speak up about the ways they've been abused by men in power, but let's not forget some of the men who have also faced horrific instances of sexual harassment as well. This issue goes way beyond any one industry, and while it's continuously devastating to hear more and more horrific accounts like these, keeping the #MeToo Movement is what needs to be done to hold men like Testino and Weber accountable for their inexcusable actions. 

It's been about six years since the Today Show co-host Ann Curry left the network. It was rumored that now ex-host Matt Lauer was thereason behind her departure, which plays into Curry's stance on the recent sexual assault allegations made against Lauer resulting in his termination in November 2017. 

The former co-host said she actually wasn't that surprised by the allegations. After going on CBS This Morning on Wednesday, Curry didn't hold back on expressing how she felt.

"I can tell you that I'm not surprised by the allegations," she said. "I would be surprised if many women did not understand that there was a climate of verbal harassment that existed. I think it would be surprising if someone said they didn't see that," she said. "The verbal sexual harassment was [pervasive] … It was, period." Yikes. 

Though she wasn't afraid to hit us all with the truth about Lauer, her intentions aren't to hurt anyone, and she wanted to make that clear, which she explained in her interview with PEOPLEmagazine.

"I’m not a vengeful person,” she said. "I know what it’s like to be humiliated. I just don’t want to play a part in anyone else’s humiliation."

She went on to express her sorrow for the victims of Lauer's misconduct. "I wish I could say that I was celebrating,” she said.“But actually I immediately checked myself. Because I knew women had suffered."

Curry was quick to agree that sexism was the cause of her departure from the Today Show. "The women’s movement got us into the workplace, but it didn’t make us safe once we got there,” she said.“The battle lines are now clear.”

As for Lauer's dismissal from the show and the popular #metoo movement, Curry is happy people are using their voices. "I think the fact that people are speaking out is important and the fact that we are moving against this imbalance of power is absolutely overdue."

Curry is now on her own path to raise awareness of allegations like Lauer's in her upcoming docuseries, We'll Meet Again, which will air on PBS on Jan. 23.

LGBTQ celebrities and allies have teamed up to speak out against the Trump administration's reported censorship of seven terms, including "transgender" and "diversity," in official documents for the 2018 budget. 

Gigi Gorgeous, Transparent's Trace Lysette, Survivor's Zeke Smith, Younger's Nico Tortorella, musician Wrabel, transgender athlete Chris Mosier, Karamo Brown, and actress Arielle Kebbel all appear in "SayThe7," a video produced by GLAAD and HuffPost. 

If you were obsessed with One Direction in middle school, the idea of dating Zayn Malik is enough to make you shook––so can you even imagine dating Zayn long enough for him to get a tattoo in your honor? *faints* Obv for model Gigi Hadid, your teenage dream is her reality. After dating for just over two years, the duo has done everything from starring in music videos to appearing in Vogue together. 

For Zayn’s 25 birthday last week, it seems like the couple hit another relationship “milestone.” After Hadid posted an Instagram video of Malik doing a shirtless “birthday boogie,” many fans were quick to look past the abs––and right to his chest. 

Do you SEE it? 

Take a sec to spot the new ink in Zayn’s ever-growing tattoo collection: a pair of eyes on the center of his chest. But it seems as though these aren’t just a random pair of eyes, with many making the obvious comparison to Gigi's own smokey stare. Tbh, it's a logical conclusion! Zayn has been known to get meaningful tattoos with many tied to important people in his life, such as the tattoo of his father’s name behind his ear, or the portrait that he had of his ex, Perrie Edwards, that has since been covered up. Operating on the basis that the eyes and gorgeous lashes are Gigi's, we've got to say this is one ~romantic~ tribute.  

Header Image: Zayn Malik / Instagram

If you count Zac Efron as one of your OG celebrity crushes, the past month or so has probably been enjoyable for you. Efron starred alongside Hugh Jackman and Zendaya in the holiday hit The Greatest Showman, once again proving that he's succeeded beyond his baby-faced High School Musical days. Although Efron's return to musical entertainment pleased my Disney-loving heart, his next big role won't exactly be a cheery one. Refinery29 reports that he'll play serial murderer Ted Bundy in the film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, and Efron just provided a startling sneak peek at his character's look. 

Posting a shot of him in costume on Instagram on Wednesday, Efron wrote, "Meet Ted." The movie is set to officially begin production this week and will take place from the perspective of Bundy's girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, played by Lily Collins.

Bundy was known for committing the murders of at least 30 women between 1973 and 1978. He was arrested and imprisoned for murder charges but escaped twice, eventually being executed via the electric chair in 1989. Needless to say, portraying one of the twentieth century's most infamous killers is a major gamechanger for Efron's career, and although his Instagram photo is a distant shot, the internet is already comparing it to old photos of Bundy. If you ask me, the looks aren't an exact match, but I'll bet Efron will totally surprise us with delivery of the role. 

In a recent BuzzFeed feature, Efron spoke with Zendaya about the new role, which he hopes will be his most challenging. "I think it’s going to be different and it’s going to be fun," he said. "I’m super stoked." 

He's not the only one eager for the different experience. Collins also shared photos from the set, first posting a shot of a sign saying "Ted and Liz" from camera testing. Like Efron, she uploaded a picture of herself in costume as Kloepfer. 

Based on these photos alone, it seems that this movie will show totally unique skillsets of both Efron and Collins. It's too early to tell, but perhaps this role will kick off a more serious chapter in Efron's work. 

After initiating an all-black dress code at Jan. 7's Golden Globes in protest of sexual harassment, actresses now plan to further their support of the Time's Up defense fund and auction off some of their ceremony gowns through eBay. Money secured through the selling of the dresses will help support the defense fund's goal of covering legal fees for those who have experienced sexual harassment or abuse in the workplace. Celebrity fashion for a great cause? Sign me up!

HelloGiggles reports that eBay will partner with media company Condé Nast to run the auction of 39 dresses and tuxedos and assure that its proceeds will directly benefit Time's Up. Designers are known to have donated the Globes outfits of Viola Davis, Sarah Paulson, Elisabeth Moss, Emma Stone, Michelle Williams, Greta Gerwig, Shailene Woodley and Saoirse Ronan. Not only does that list include some of the women who attended the Globes with activists, it also mentions the victorious Ronan, who won for her role in Lady Bird, and Gerwig, the director of the Best Musical or Comedy-winning film. 

Fashion industry icon and Condé Nast artistic director Anna Wintour shared that the decision reflected the company's belief in inspiring social change. "Through this auction powered by eBay, and harnessing the compelling pull of both fashion and activism, we're hopeful that the black dresses worn at this year's historic Golden Globe Awards will raise funds for the Time's Up initiative," she said, "and serve to support the stories and voices of those who have been victims of sexual misconduct."

Officially launching the morning of this Friday, Jan. 19, the auction also includes a cheaper opportunity to support the Time's Up cause and score a fashionable look. Another sweepstakes will offer up the outfits of Mandy Moore, The Crown's Claire Foy and Orange Is The New Black's Madeline Brewer for at least $25 donations each. The fundraising cause will stay open until Jan. 26, only a few days after the Oscar nominations are announced. 

Maintaining such publicized support of sexual abuse victims' needs is an amazing sign of how invested the women of Hollywood are in Time's Up. Props to designers and actresses for creating this auction!

Valentine’s Day means a lot of different things to different people. For some, it is a holiday in celebration of love in our lives, and a time to show those we care about our affection for them. For others, it’s an excuse to binge-watch romantic comedies with our friends over cheap wine. And still, for some, Valentine’s Day has an overarching negative connotation. Whether you’re single, casually dating, or in a serious relationship, sometimes Valentine’s Day just gets you down.

It can be a reminder of love lost or absent from our lives, or can send us spiraling into an existential crisis about the meaning of love, if we have it now, or if we’ll ever find it. When it comes to love, lines are always blurry and there’s no clear, universal answer to the many questions the concept triggers. Not to mention, the popular culture focus on romantic love, soulmates, destiny, and other romance clichés can certainly isolate a large portion of the population. So, when you create a whole day centered around love, it’s no surprise that it can seem less like a cause for celebration and more like a reason to crawl under the covers.

“Occasionally, Valentine’s Day gets me down because the constant couple posts/Instagrams/Snapchat stories are an in-your-face reminder that you’re not sharing that day with that ‘special someone,’” explains Kat Mediavilla, a sophomore at Kansas State University.

Addie Donaher, a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame, agrees that social media and society as a whole can sometimes exaggerate the prominence of the holiday and make some people feel isolated.

“Literally every store has valentines deals and couples tend to make a big deal of the holiday on social media so it can make you feel really alone,” Addie says.

However, focusing on the grand romantic gestures that only happen in movies detracts from your present happiness, and from the actual reason behind Valentine’s Day. According to creator of Self Love Beauty blog and founder of the Beautiful Me campaign Lisa Thompson, Valentine’s Day can lose its significance if we limit our concept of love to only the romantic variety.

“Sometimes Valentine's Day looks negative to people because there is a standard that this is a day for people only in relationships when, in reality, it is about love,” says Thompson.

At its core, it is a day about love—and if we’re lucky enough to have that strong human connection with anyone in our lives, from a parent, to a roommate, to a best friend, to a significant other, it deserves to be acknowledged.

If the very mention of Valentine’s Day brings you down in the dumps, it’s time to take charge of the holiday and celebrate on your own terms.

“[People who view Valentine’s Day negatively] can take control of the holiday and plan something or learn the why behind they are feeling down,” says Thompson. “More times than not, everyone just is down because they think they should be or because they are single… make the day something new to celebrate for yourself.”

Taking control can mean starting new holiday traditions with your friends and having a night out on the town, or a night in where your gang can exchange positive words of affirmation to empower one another.

“You could also use the day to show your friends how much you care for them by having a special girls’ night or just getting a little treat for those in your life who are close to you,” suggests Kat.  

Or, you could take the time to write love notes to your family members you don’t talk to as often as you should. A surprise letter in the mail could brighten a grandparent’s or parent’s day more than you realize.

“Show kindness through giving whether that is through words, friendships or affirmations,” advises Thompson. “Everyone needs to hear it.”

Maybe the holiday dedicated to love is a perfect time to enact small acts of thoughtfulness that can go a long way.

“Spending time with friends and showing you love them or even like getting flowers for yourself as a form of self-love is a good way to celebrate it,” suggests Addie.

Valentine’s Day can be a celebration of these different forms of love in our lives, but also a time to show ourselves some love, too. It can be an introspective opportunity to examine if we are giving the same love to ourselves as we give everyone else in our lives. Think about your relationship with yourself, and if you find that there’s a serious deficit in self-esteem, Thompson advises to examine the root causes of our lack of self-love. Sometimes we flat out deprive ourselves of love, and maybe at other times we recognize our worth but do not do enough to care for ourselves.

“[People can] learn to understand why they don't love themselves currently to start and build from there,” explains Thompson. “I truly think when you understand the why behind not loving yourself, you then know where to go from there. Spend time getting to know yourself.”

Not to mention, Valentine’s Day can be a great excuse to treat yo’self, in the words of the ever-inspiring Tom Haverford from Parks and Rec. Spoil yourself a little and splurge on that new makeup palette you’ve been eyeing for months, or take some “you” time at the nail salon.

“To make the day brighter, I like to treat myself to a special dinner or candy and pretend that I’m my own Valentine,” says Kat.

Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate you and all you have to offer. Showing yourself love enables you to show love to others and live your life more completely. It is more important than many realize, and it can be beneficial to designate Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to grow in love for everything you are, were and can be.

“Self-love is exactly that—love for yourself and when you have that I can honestly say so many other things come together,” says Thompson. “It isn't easy...honestly not at all but it is really amazing when you start to believe in yourself.”

In the end, Valentine’s Day is really what you make of it. You can wallow in misery and mourn your singleness, you can ignore the holiday altogether, or you could use it as an excuse to spoil yourself and loved ones with a little extra love and attention.

“Valentine's Day is a day about love so share it and don't be negative toward the people that are in relationships,” says Thompson. “Let them enjoy it the way they want to and you enjoy it the way you can as well. It is all what you make of it!”   

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a cause for spiraling into questioning if you’ll ever find love, or a cause for stress about defining the relationship with that repeated hookup, or a questioning time about how serious your current relationship is and where it is going. As a whole, the day is about love, and, as Hugh Grant so astutely points out in the modern classic movie Love Actually, “If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.”