Innholdsfortegnelse for May 26, 2025 i Woman's Own

The countdown to summer is on, and this bumper issue is packed to the brim – there’s everything from tummy toners (p40) and how to get A-list arms (p44) to shock confessions. Be sure to check out p62, where one mum admits the cardinal sin of having a favourite child! On p7, Posh Spice reminds us all why she really is the queen of one-liners (and a very lucky lady, too!), on p22, we’ve got all you need to show off your shape with some must-have fashion buys (love that little brown dress!) and on p50, we meet the woman who lives with her partner and her ex and explains why three really is the magic number! On p8, there’s an exclusive interview with Alison Hammond, too – who spills…

The top Elevate your denim with a fun striped tee. We’ll always love the classic Breton, but this fresh green and white palette creates an uplifting feel. Try switching jersey tops for a lightweight, short-sleeved knit. It’s perfect for the British climate and a great between-seasons piece. Total outfit cost £48 TOP TIP Don’t be afraid to mix prints. Stripes and leopard are a perfect match. The swimsuit Look chic at the beach in a classic nautical-inspired costume. The crinkled fabric allows for a flattering fit, as it’s designed to stretch with your body. Make your holiday wardrobe work harder by treating swimwear as a top and layering it with a skirt, shorts, or pair of trousers. Total outfit cost £47.98 TOP TIP Switch the skirt for a sarong on…

How would you rate your overall health? If the answer is, ‘I haven’t a clue’ or it’s been a while since you saw a doctor, it may be time for action. The good news is DIY screening can help put you in the know. ‘Regular health checks play a key role in preventing illness by way of early detection,’ says senior pharmacist Duncan Reid from Pharmacy2U. ‘They can give you peace of mind and help to put you in control of your healthcare.’ Here are the quick and easy self-tests that can make a difference. BOWEL HEALTH More than nine in 10 people survive bowel cancer if it is diagnosed at the earliest stage, which is why the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme provides home-testing kits, designed to identify hidden…

CLUES & ARROWS Fill in the clues in the direction of the arrows. Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3 x 3 box, each column and each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Wordsearch Which of these women’s names used in well known songs is shared by the patron saint of music? The answer is the one missing from the grid. ANGIECAROLINECECILIADELILAHEILEENELEANORJOLENELOLALUCILLEMANDYMARYROXANNESALLYSUSIEVALERIE CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Wagner __, star of film Sergio and TV series Narcos (5)7Walk Like an __, 1986 single by The Bangles (8)10 Dispositions (7)11 Adam __, star of films Happy Gilmore and Little Nicky (7)12 Haydn Gwynne’s role in The Windsors (7)13 Without fear (7)14 Meant (11)19 Malady (7)21 Port in Morocco (7)23 1987 No 1 single by the Pet Shop Boys (3,1,3)25 Ad-__, actors speaking without a script (7)26…

Film LILO & STITCH In cinemas 23 May Disney’s latest live action film hits the big screen this May and it’s a new adaptation of classic animation Lilo & Stitch. Hannah Waddingham (Ted Lasso) stars in the film, which sees a young girl, Lilo, build a bond with loveable, blue koala-like creature, Stitch. Show THE FIFTH STEP 20 May-26 July, Soho Place, Charing Cross Road, London, tickets from £25 Award-winning British actor Martin Freeman treads the boards at Soho Place in a moving new play about an alcoholic’s journey to sobriety. Jack Lowden (Slow Horses, Dunkirk) also stars. Event MIGHTY HOOPLA FESTIVAL 31 May-1 June, Brockwell Park, London, tickets from £64.50 Spend the weekend partying in London’s Brockwell Park at this year’s Mighty Hoopla Festival. Ciara and Kesha headline, while…

Harry ‘WON’T STOP’ The Duke of Sussex’s bombshell interview with BBC News after losing his court case on UK security no doubt ruffled feathers at Buckingham Palace. But despite his loss and own admission that his family will ‘never forgive’ him, royal expert Ingrid Seward believes the prince, 40, won’t give up on his fight for taxpayer-funded UK security. ‘Determined to say it’s not his fault that he wants full-time, top-notch security, and it’s not his fault that he’s had it taken away, Harry is incapable of taking any blame, and he seemed very contradictory and very stubborn,’ explained Ingrid. She continued, ‘He said himself that he is stubborn, but he really is,’ before adding, ‘He just keeps on and on and on, and I think people get very tired…

Chopping up a line of cocaine with my bank card, I inhaled it and smiled with relief as I felt the drug surge through my body, all my stress and anxiety fading away. I wasn’t at a party or in a nightclub, though. I was in my bedroom at home in Essex, with my baby fast asleep in his cot in the room next to me. In the grip of addiction, it had become normal for me to mix motherhood with cocaine – in fact, I couldn’t imagine functioning without it. ‘I’D PARTY FOR THREE NIGHTS ON NO SLEEP’ A single, working mum in my late 30s, the drug had become my crutch. Now, five years on, I look back and am staggered at how lost I was at that…

Flaunt your bust A complementary neckline for both small and large chests, V shapes draw the eye inward, giving the illusion of a longer neck and torso. Flatter your arms The statement sleeve, whether fluted or balloon, adds an element of ease while covering your upper arms without restriction. Emphasise your waist Show off the curves of your body or create the illusion of an hourglass silhouette with a belted waist or clever ruching around the midriff. Balance your hips Pear shapes look great in fit-and-flare styles that highlight a small midsection and skim over fuller hips. Create the same effect with high-waisted, wide-leg trousers worn with a tucked-in top.…

‘Dreams can come true’ Amy Frain, 41, lives with her husband Rob, 41, and their children Lily, seven, and George, three. When I was a child, most other kids chose the USA or Africa for school geography projects, but I always chose Australia. I was fascinated by this far-off land that had incredible wildlife and barbecues on a sunny beach at Christmas. I often returned to that image during my hour-long commute from my home in Southport to work in Manchester, in the cold and dark at 7am. As high school teachers, Rob and I were spending increasingly less time with our own children. We were arriving home at 6.30pm and spending 30 minutes with the kids before putting them to bed. We were also working at home in the…

HOW DO I SORT OUT MY SLEEP PATTERNS? Q Our family had a big fall-out a few months ago and it kept me awake at night with worry. We have since resolved our differences, but I seem to have got into a bad pattern of sleep. I’m up a lot of the night and then so exhausted during the day that I end up living off coffee. How might I break the cycle? A It can take anything up to 9.5 hours for half a dose of caffeine to be eliminated from your body so, given it’s a stimulant, try cutting it out after midday. Set yourself a night-time routine, making sure that your bedroom is dark and at the right temperature – between 16-18C. Check out sleepfoundation.org to get…

Ace your base Who wants to spend summer smothered in heavy gunk? Choose a tinted moisturiser or skin tint to give just enough coverage, with the bonus of moisturising ingredients that keep everything quenched. Lumene CC Color Correcting Cream SPF20, £14.90, Boots, evens out your complexion, melting into skin, and feels virtually weightless with a flattering glowy finish. Another option is NYX Buttermelt Glaze Soft Glow Skin Tint, £13.99, Boots, for a no-make-up made-up look that nourishes skin with niacinamide plus shea and mango butters. Set for success Fixing your make-up is good practice at any time of year, but in the heat, powders can feel heavy and dry. Once you’re happy with your finished look, spritz E.l.f. Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray, £10, Boots, in order to fully lock…

Lamb and lentil burgers PREP TIME: 20 MINS, PLUS CHILLING COOK TIME: 6 MINS CALS: 390 FAT: 14G SAT FAT: 7G CARBS: 35G SERVES 6 Lightened up with lentils, these Greek-inspired patties are lower in fat than regular burgers. YOU WILL NEED 450g lean lamb mince200g cooked green or puy lentils, rinsed in a sieve and drained well1 garlic clove, crushed1tsp dried oregano1 medium egg, beaten2 courgettes, thinly sliced lengthwaysOlive oil for cooking6 burger buns or baps, halved50g little gem lettuce leaves2 cooked beetroot, thinly sliced For the sauce: ½ cucumber, seeds removed75g feta, crumbled125g Greek-style yogurt1 small garlic clove, crushed2tbsp finely-chopped mint leaves HOW TO DO IT 1 Put the lamb mince, lentils, garlic, oregano and egg in a bowl and season well, then mix to combine. Shape into…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr Saturn moves into your sign on 26 May for the first time since 1999. It’s time to get serious about what you really want and work steadily towards your goals. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May Mercury moves out of Taurus on 26 May, so make the most of the last few days of this transit by creating a practical plan for the rest of spring. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun With the Sun, Mercury and New Moon all in your sign this week, find fresh ways of achieving your goals. Trust new ideas and believe in your dreams. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul You may feel you need to rest this week while you contemplate your options. If nothing is floating…

Liza Minnelli ‘I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE I HAD A PROBLEM’ The superstar opens up about the highs and lows of her showbiz life… As the daughter of Hollywood legend Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli spent her early life in the shadow of their success. But her life changed forever in 1969, when Judy died of a drug overdose at the age of 47. ‘I started to cry and I didn’t stop for about eight days,’ says Liza, 79. ‘I WAS UNDER STRESS’ Following her mum’s death, the singer, actor and dancer reinvented herself to become one of the world’s biggest stars, with the help of friends including French crooner Charles Aznavour and choreographer Bob Fosse. ‘I was really good at picking the people to be around,’ says…

RICH PAUL AND ADELE After years of engagement rumours, Adele finally confirmed last summer that her sports agent boyfriend Rich Paul had put a ring on it. During a concert in Munich, when a fan held up a sign asking the singer to marry them, Adele, 37, who shares son Angelo with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, flashed her diamond ring and said, ‘I can’t marry you because I’m already getting married.’ So could they be tying the knot this year? We’ll have to wait and see! MICHAEL POLANSKY AND LADY GAGA After getting engaged in 2024, could singing sensation Lady Gaga – real name Stefani Germanotta – be set to wed her entrepreneur fiancé Michael Polansky this year? The star, 39, has made no secret about wanting to settle down,…

BOSSY? I DON’T THINK SO! Sorry men, but us women are just more organised Ladies, I have some news for you. Afraid to say that we all owe Stacey Solomon a vote of thanks. Because telly’s latest national sweetheart has brought to the fore an issue that afflicts pretty much every woman. Indeed it ‘afflicted’ me so much while out shopping the other day I nearly shoved the husband into the freezer cabinet. Which would have given a totally different meaning to the chumps (of meat) on sale. This curse of female-hood according to the male of the species? Bossiness! Stacey is now working on a second series of Stacey & Joe, the BBC reality TV show she stars in with her husband Joe Swash. But after seeing viewers’ comments…

As I lay on our double bed, another contraction surged and I groaned in agony. ‘The baby is coming,’ I cried to my husband, Jamie, then 33. It was just before 4am on 23 September 2006, and I hadn’t planned a home birth for my second child. But after being sent home from the hospital a few hours earlier as my labour wasn’t advanced enough, it looked like the baby was coming a lot quicker than we first thought. Jamie phoned an ambulance and paramedics arrived just in time to deliver our daughter, Miranda, at our home in Ealing, London. ‘She’s beautiful,’ one said, handing her to me. Taking in her gorgeous big eyes and tiny fingers, of course I agreed. Weighing 6lb 10oz, she was much smaller than her…

Buy of the week Going for a dip? Protect your ears with Zoggs Aqua Plugz (£7.25, zoggs.com). They’re specially shaped to fit the outer ear. HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to care for your dentures SOAK DAILY AND USE A DENTURE CLEANSER + REMOVE AT NIGHT + SEE A DENTIST AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR = Reduced risk of infection and inflammation. 23 % OF BRITISH ADULTS BELIEVE YOU CAN’T GET SUNBURNT ON A CLOUDY DAY**. If you do one thing Learn a new language Practise your grammar and vocab for better brain health Whether you’re jetting off abroad or want to add another string to your bow, learning a new language has many benefits – both to your brain and the smooth running of future holidays! In fact, people…

Anxiety at work Q I’ve done my job for five years but feel like I don’t know anyone well or have anything to offer the team. I often get into a panic over even the simplest things. This worries me as some redundancies are coming up. How do I stay calm? A It sounds like you’re suffering from imposter syndrome, and your brain is fixating on gaps (real or imagined) and dismissing your skills, competence and experience at work. You need to talk to someone – a trusted colleague, a mentor, or a therapist – who can help reflect on your strengths and offer you strategies to manage your anxiety. IT ALL REVOLVES AROUND HER Q Our 72-year-old mother is totally exhausting to deal with. She has always made everything…

When we think about sunbeds, most of us immediately think back to the 80s and 90s, when it wasn’t unusual for people to walk around sporting perma-tans, courtesy of a few minutes cooking under powerful UV bulbs in a salon. But since then, with more education, you might assume the numbers have dwindled, especially with so many good fake tans on the market. But the sad reality is that, in recent years, the number of tanning salons has not only increased, but younger people seem even keener to get a sun-kissed glow year-round. A recent survey* found 28% of adults in the UK use sunbeds. More shockingly, among 18 to 25-year-olds, that number increases to almost half (43%), influenced by terrifying TikTok trends that attempt to link sunbed use to…

Fabulous foam Sundae Cherry On Top Whipped Shower Foam, £12.95, Boots, is infused with kakadu plum, lime, cherry blossom and honey to give your skin and senses a tropical treat each morning. It also includes AHAs, which gently exfoliate, soften and smooth skin. Merlot mani Berry hues aren’t just for winter! This plummy Nail Polish in True Tyrian, £3.99, H&M, will keep your fingertips on trend this summer. You only need one coat of this rich polish to achieve a high-shine, salon-worthy manicure. Pigmented pout Bursting with antioxidant-rich cherry extracts and calming lanolin, Lanolips Fruity JellyBalm in Cherry, £8.99, cultbeauty.co.uk, is a must-have for chapped lips craving hydration. Providing both care and a pop of colour, this balm is a handbag essential. Polished pins A must-have for the upcoming warmer…

I grew up in Bristol so, after a few years of living in London, my husband, Joel, and I decided to move back to be closer to my mum. We wanted to put down roots and start a family. I didn’t see this house before we made our offer because it was during Covid-19 when the property market was fast-moving, plus it was hard to visit places because of lockdown restrictions, so Joel came to view the house by himself. But we knew the location was perfect, and the images online showed a house that didn’t need too much work, which suited us because at the time neither of us had DIY skills. EARLY LEARNING When we moved in, the walls and carpet were white, which wasn’t suitable for us,…

THE SECOND WIFE by Alex Kane (£18.99, HB, Canelo) With her gorgeous looks and fiery charm, Danica Campbell could have her choice of men. But the only one she is interested in is her fiancé, Ricky Fyfe, a wealthy Glasgow club owner. Although he is several decades older than Danica, Ricky’s hot-shot status and flashy lifestyle draw her in. It’s clear he has a complicated history (including an adult daughter, Teigan) but Danica knows he would do anything to protect her. That is, until a shadowy figure from the past comes back into their lives, and everything crumbles. Ricky isn’t the only one keeping secrets in this twisty, breathless crime thriller. SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins (£20, HB, Headline) Three generations of women, one quest for belonging.…

TV presenter Gloria Hunniford is a panellist on Loose Women and hosts Rip Off Britain. She began her career as a singer and her acclaimed album A Taste of Hunni has recently been re-released. Gloria, 85, who lives in Kent, chats to us about what makes her happy. 1 Item in your wardrobe I have a multicoloured coat – I look a bit like Joseph’s sister when I wear it! It’s my go-to if I have to stand up and talk to people, because it’s comfortable, it stands out and people love it. I just have to remember where I wore it before! 2 Holiday destination The south of France. Some years back, my family and myself bought a house in a medieval village called Saint-Paul de Vence. I love…

DIRTY HARRY Famed for winning The Traitors in 2024 with his treacherous tactics, Harry Clark regaled me with tales of his recent trek on BBC2’s Pilgrimage. ‘The best part was sharing a bed with Jeff Brazier and a bath with Jay McGuiness,’ he joked. Harry is as stoked as all of us about the upcoming celebrity version of The Traitors featuring GMB’s own Kate Garraway, saying, ‘I’m looking forward to them realising just how hard it is.’ ON THE ROAD AGAIN! Back on Apple TV+ with their fourth road trip, Long Way Home, Ewan McGregor and best pal Charlie Boorman tell me they haven’t ruled out straddling their bikes again for another adventure, despite the jeopardy of their latest tour. ‘We said, “Let’s go on rusty old bikes because we’ll…

Fully focussing on the flaming baton in my hand, I manoeuvred it to just the right angle in time for the camera flash. In that moment, I realised that for the first time in my adult life I was posing for a picture without even thinking about how my arms or tummy looked – and it felt so freeing! I’d always felt like a very confident person, but looking back now, it was really just a mask to try to cover my insecurities. I was hyper-aware of how I looked in any photos, and would worry about hiding bits of my body I felt self-conscious about. THE RIGHT MINDSET It hadn’t always been that way. I’d been an active child and a keen dancer, before a knee injury forced me…