Innholdsfortegnelse for 29 April 2025 i Bella

It has been a quarter of a century since Sandra Bullock portrayed action-comedy heroine Gracie Hart in Miss Congeniality, a celebrated leading performance that earned the star a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress. Noughties film fans will fondly recall how Sandra -then 36, now 60 – did a commendable job of playing a hard-as-nails, unpolished FBI agent who is enlisted to go undercover as a Miss United States pageant contestant when the competition finds itself at risk of a terrorist attack. In one popular scene, precisely five seconds before Gracie takes a tumble in her uncharacteristic high heels, she famously proclaims, ‘I am in a dress, I have gel in my hair, I haven’t slept all night, I’m starved, and I’m armed. Don’t mess with me!’ Then, when quizzed…

Loose Women’s Denise Welch is about to enter a new phase of family life, with her son Matty’s upcoming wedding to his fiancée Gabbriette Bechtel – but such is her nervousness, she is getting the jitters herself. Matty, lead singer of band The 1975 and model Gabbriette shared that they were engaged in June last year and now Denise, 66, is getting fully prepped for the big day. An insider tells us, ‘Denise is already welling up with excitement over the idea of Matty and Gabbriette’s big day. She’s confirmed that plans are well under way now and that the entire family are flying out to LA for it.’ She has wedding jitters for them, she’s actually not sure who is going to be having the worst case of butterflies…

Opening up our wedding presents, I spotted an envelope with unfamiliar handwriting on the front. My husband, Tom, and I had got married in August 2018 and now we were going through gifts and cards before writing thank-you notes. Tom opened the card and told me it contained a cheque for £100 from his step-grandmother, Maureen Renny. ‘That’s so lovely,’ I said. I’d never met her, but I knew she’d married Tom’s grandfather who had died 18 years earlier. She was now in her eighties and very frail, so it was lovely she had thought about us. Although Tom didn’t have a close relationship with Maureen, she’d always kept in touch through Tom’s mum. Sadly, two years later in January 2020, we heard she’d died at the age of 82.…

Teetering on the top rung of the ladder, I reached up to clean the last bit of dirt off the shelf. Suddenly, I lost my balance and before I could grab hold of anything, I’d toppled backwards and hit the floor… Screaming, I called out for my husband, Heath, who came rushing down from the loft where he’d been decorating. ‘I’ve done something to my back!’ I shouted out in pain. Heath called 999 and an ambulance took me to hospital where doctors discovered I’d broken the lumbar 2 vertebra in my spine. It was March 2020 and the country had just gone into lockdown. I was stuck in hospital for eight days and then spent three months in a wheelchair. Bored and unable to move while my back healed,…

If you, or someone you love, are affected, it’s important to try to be forgiving and non-judgemental. ‘For those experiencing gambling harm, both stigma and shame are linked to a belief that gambling problems are a result of their own actions rather than the addictive nature of gambling itself,’ says Clifford. ‘It is important people know that gambling can be addictive, and it can grip anyone. Gambling harm is often described as a “hidden addiction”, but there is a range of support for people across Great Britain through the NHS, as well as the free and confidential National Gambling Helpline and National Gambling Support Network, which provides support for tens of thousands of people each year.’ You can also seek free advice at gambleaware.org or via their free helpline 0808…

Embrace colour, upbeat messages and clashing prints Brighten up with warm yellow light and a cheery smile…

The Assembly Saturday 26 April, ITV1 This inspiring new series features celebrities being questioned by a group of inquisitive interviewers who are autistic, neurodivergent and/or learning disabled. Each episode sees a different celebrity forced to cast aside everything they were ever taught by their media trainers as they each face their most honest, funny, chaotic – and heartwarming – interview to date. Carefully considered PR fluff won’t cut it, because no area is out of bounds and no question is off the table. First up in the hot seat is the one and only Danny Dyer. Other celebrities in later episodes include acting legend David Tennant, footballing icon Gary Lineker, and singer Jade Thirlwall. Not to be missed. KATIE PIPER: LOCKED UP IN LOUISIANA Sunday 27 April, U & W…

Amanda Holden Wearing a gorgeous spring ensemble, Amanda, 54, paired her long cream coat with matching accessories, gold jewellery and the perfect pair of oversized sunnies. Naomi Campbell Supermodel Naomi, 54, looked elegant at the Olivier Awards in a semi-sheer dress paired with statement silver jewellery. We love the feather detailing at the hem! Jessica Chastain The actress, 48, was a vision in an embellished Gucci dress with cut outs, complete with a matching mirrored silver clutch. Beautiful! Florence Pugh Florence, 29, paired her ’80s-style Stella McCartney mini dress with trendy cowboy boots at CinemaCon. An unexpected, but perfect, combination! Mel B The America’s Got Talent judge, 49, hit the red carpet wearing a long-sleeve lace mini dress. In true Scary Spice fashion, she paired the dress with her iconic…

Football mad Prince William, 42, and son Prince George, 11, enjoyed some father-son time in Paris as they watched Aston Villa vs Paris St-Germain in the Champions League quarter final. George has certainly inherited his dad’s love of the team as he didn’t take his eyes off the game! Katy lifts off! Pop star Katy Perry headed into space as part of the all-female flight crew on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. During the 11-minute spaceflight, Katy, 40, sang What a Wonderful World, and kissed the ground upon her return. Soak up the sun Denise van Outen looked amazing as she posed in a rainbow, striped bikini on a beach in the Maldives. The 50-year-old called the place ‘paradise’ as she shared she’d been ‘beaching, DJing (beach party) and hanging…

As I carefully snipped away at a client’s hair, I heard a voice at the reception desk say, ‘The big girl who cut my hair last time did a great job.’ My heart sank. I knew they were talking about me, but I pretended I hadn’t heard. Inside, though, I was crushed. My weight had yo-yo’d over the years and now I was a size 24 and severely overweight. As a teenager, I’d been bigger than most of my friends. My mum reassured me it was just puppy fat and that I’d slim down once I left school and started working, just like she had, but that didn’t happen. I went straight into hairdressing after school, training as an apprentice. It was a busy job and on my lunch-breaks, I’d…

Has the 2025 TCS London Marathon inspired you to start running? Or maybe Jamie Laing’s ultra challenge left you thinking, ‘If he can do it, so can I!’ While it’s great to dream big, success comes from taking small, consistent steps. And who better to help you get there than Fenton Hancock, strength and conditioning coach at HUB Fitness, and marathon runner, who’s here to share his pro tips for perfecting your form, building endurance, and reaching your running goals, whether it’s your first 5k or something even bigger. ‘Rest days are just as important as training’ If you’re lacing up your trainers for the first time or getting back into it, there’s no time like the present. This guide is packed with everything you need to get started, stay…

FILM The Friend After Iris’s friend and mentor Walter dies, her comfortable and solitary life is no more when she adopts his Great Dane, Apollo. Navigating living in a small NYC apartment with the huge animal (which includes furniture destruction and eviction notices) and coming to terms with her loss, Iris has a journey ahead of her. Based on Sigrid Nunez’s bestselling novel, this is a story of love, friendship, grief and healing. DVD A Complete Unknown In case you missed the much-celebrated Bob Dylan biopic on the big screen, the film is now available to purchase and watch at home. In the early ’60s, 19-year-old Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionarily talent. As the singer-songwriter embarks on his rise to fame, he changes the course…

Just when you think there’s no fresh take to be had on a TV relationship show, along comes Cheat: Unfinished Business, where sun, scandal and second chances collide. Presented by Amanda Holden, the show reunites eight couples who spilt up because of cheating and, over nine action-packed episodes, explores whether these broken relationships can be rebuilt, with Celebs Go Dating’s expert Paul C. Brunson overseeing proceedings. And the drama really ramps up when the couples are in the Reckoning Room – a place where scores are settled and tears and tantrums are guaranteed. Here, Amanda dishes the dirt on what viewers can expect and what it was like working with Paul. What can you tell us about your new series? Eight ex couples come to a retreat in the sunshine…

No ‘Stop projecting and start protecting’ Emma Hawes Taylor, 50, writer I know we’re a nation of animal lovers, but the humanisation of animals – and dogs in particular – needs to stop. A responsible pet owner makes sure they are healthy. If Fido piles on the pounds it’s up to us to make sure they lose the excess weight and stop scarfing the digestives, not get offended on their behalf if someone points out they are – gasp! – fat. Your puppy is not your ‘fur baby’, it’s an animal, and it can’t understand the vet when they say it needs to lose weight, let alone get upset or offended. It’s time to accept that if Rover looks like a barrel with legs and gets out of breath walking…

Brush Up If washed weekly, make-up brushes can last up to three years. However, if you’ve noticed your bristles looking misshapen or they’re falling out, it’s most likely time for a new set. This kit features nine vegan brushes for your face and eyes. Real Techniques Au Naturale Complete Brush Kit, £29.99 Ditch Dark Circles Awaken your appearance with Morphe’s new concealer that makes under-eyes look instantly brighter. Liquid concealers are safe to use for up to a year – the product will start to separate once it has expired. Morphe Wakeup Artist Under Eye Complexion Concealer, £12 Plump Lips Lip balms and glosses are good for about six-to-12 months. Max Factor’s tinted balm delivers a gorgeous shiny finish and is enriched with hydrating jojoba oil and collagen-boosting peptides to…

As a child, I was always active. I loved taking part in ballet and tap dancing competitions, but when I hit 13, my body started to develop. I became self-conscious and started comparing myself to the other girls. By the time I was 16, I’d stopped dancing altogether and that’s when my unhealthy relationship with food and my body began. I started to gain weight, going on crash diets, losing a couple of stone, and then put it back on. It was a vicious cycle. When I was 23, I met my partner, Josh. I was a size 14 and as we settled into living together, my weight climbed. We got into the habit of ordering takeaways and relying on quick, convenient meals. Working as a primary school teacher, I’d…

Standing in my aunt’s kitchen, she eyed me up and down. ‘That top’s too tight on you, Denise,’ she said. ‘You’ve put on some serious weight.’ Although it stung, I just tugged the clingy black sports top down over my tummy and changed the subject. Growing up I’d been slim, walking down the aisle aged 24 as a size 12. Even after having my son Blaine, now 27, I’d had no trouble getting my figure back. Throughout my thirties I went to aerobics, saw a personal trainer and climbed mountains. But gradually life had taken over and, by my mid-forties, looking after myself had taken a back seat. Working as a carer, I’d snack on crisps on my tea break, before nipping to the chippy for lunch, and, by the…

When you picture a gambling addict, what do you see? Someone at the bookies, endlessly feeding coins into a fruit machine, placing a bet on a horse, or perhaps leaving a casino in the small hours? Actually, gambling these days is a more subtle vice than you might think. Its ability to be carried out discreetly on a phone, anywhere, any time -from last thing at night to during the school run – and the seemingly innocuous forms it can take (including games marketed at children), mean more of us than ever are having issues. Research from the Gambling Commission last year found that as many as one in 40 Brits might be a problem gambler – eight times higher than previous surveys. ‘Almost half of us have gambled in…

Everyone is different, but I can’t see why it matters in 2025. Carly Novak, via Facebook I’m not sure I quite understand what Meghan Markle/Sussex/ Mountbatten-Windsor’s surname is in reality!? It seems very confusing. But I do get her point. Lizzie Riordan, via Facebook I can’t imagine not having the same surname as my children. But I can imagine it might be difficult if you have stepchildren and had multiple marriages. Cath Harper, via Facebook I have an adopted son and surnames have become very important to him, understandably. So in that instance, I think it’s key for creating a family unit. Anonymous, via Facebook…

Chester Zoo Reserve Opening in August, Chester Zoo is now offering overnight lodge stays that boast impressive views across a private savannah overlooking the giraffe habitat. The perfect blend of luxury and adventure, these lodges have been sustainably built and each stay directly funds vital wildlife conservation projects. The lodges sleep between two and six people, making them ideal for everything from a couples getaway to a family break with the kids. Enjoy the perk of early access to the zoo, and you can book extra activities, which include a giraffe feeding experience and an evening safari tour, at an extra cost. ⚫ The Savannah Explorer package with a one-night stay in a Lakeside Lodge starts at £237pp. Book at chesterzoo.org Taste of Kenya For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, TUI holidays…