Innholdsfortegnelse for June 23, 2025 i Woman's Own

This issue officially marks the countdown to summer, here in the Woman’s Own office! We’re all very invested in the weather apps, checking the amount of sunshine – and hopefully lack of rain – that’s to come, and holidays are the talk of the place. We’ve got 101 brilliant beach buys (from p20), your summer body blitz to help you tan, tone and smooth (p46) plus an exclusive offer from Slimming World (p43). But there’s nothing I appreciate more than a woman telling it like it is and, on p64, writer Lindsay Smith does just that – proclaiming what is music to many of our ears: yes, you can improve your pelvic floor! Her feature made me laugh out loud, because she writes with such honesty, you feel like you’re…

WILD THING Try styling this as a wall hanging. Leopard throw, £22, George Home FANCY FRINGE Never misplace your phone again. Bag, £24, Next GO NUTS FOR… Chunky pistachio layered with gooey caramel. The Big Daddy, £7.50, M&S CROCHET COOL Add some texture to your wardrobe with this top. £18, sizes 8-24, Tu Clothing SECOND SKIN Great for workouts. Leggings, £80, sizes xxs-xxl, Sweaty Betty TABLESCAPE Serve up a Mediterranean-inspired feast. Small plates, £6.99 each, long serving plate, £9.99, serving bowl, £14.99, and serving plate, £12.99, all H&M SIDE KICK Pretty on-trend scallops with a handy shelf at the bottom. Remi side table, £59, Dunelm GET IN LINE Designer-inspired lighting. Avalon table lamp, £24.99, The Range KHAKI TONES Smudge, blend and go! NYX Epic Wear Liner Stick in Olive, £7,…

Stylish sarongs A timeless beach staple that delivers instant movie star glamour – don’t hit the sand without one of these cover-ups. Chic sunglasses Sun, sand and style – protect your peepers with these affordable on-trend shades. Printed swimsuits Playful patterns are the easiest way to inject some personality into your poolside look. Bold prints cleverly keep the eye moving, rather than settling on any one point of the body. TOP TIP For a natural slimming illusion, choose a print with a darker base – it can help contour your silhouette. Beautiful bikinis Turn heads with our pick of designer-look bikinis. Larger-bust bikini shopping just got easier, thanks to a wave of cup-sized swimwear hitting the high street. Beach bags From colourful woven styles to playful printed fabrics, the right beach…

Flicking my phone screen into selfie mode, my two sons and I squeezed together to share the little rectangle in the corner of the screen. ‘It’s ever so dark your end, we can hardly see you,’ I bellowed through the phone to my husband – but I don’t think he could hear me against the sound of Big Ben bonging on the TV and the cheers and celebrations that filled the room. Then, as the final stroke of midnight rang out, we all yelled, ‘Happy New Year!’ We held out one hand each, two halves of a heart joining 5,000 miles apart, and when the boys shouted, ‘I love you, Daddy. I miss you’, my heart ached with guilt. I yearned for us to be able to hug and hold…

CAN HRT HELP MY FATIGUE? Q As a result of the menopause, I’m struggling with my energy levels. I have always thrived on being busy, but now all I want to do is sleep, and I’m finding it difficult to concentrate at work. I had decided that I didn’t want to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but this is getting me down. Would HRT help? A There are so many symptoms associated with the menopause, and lacking energy can be one of them. If you were my patient, I’d want to run some blood tests to check for other causes of fatigue, such as anaemia or thyroid, liver or kidney problems. If all of these are normal, it may be worth trying HRT. What will cure my thirst? Q For…

Letting myself in through Mum’s front door, I called out my news: ‘Guess what? I’ve just got my 7st award!’ My mum, Christine, and sister, Holly, both ran to congratulate me, which they always did when I reached a weight-loss milestone. But Holly had news of her own. ‘I’ve been meaning to tell you… you’ve inspired me so much, I’m going to join Slimming World, too,’ she said. ‘That’s brilliant!’ I replied. ‘Although I don’t think I’ve done very much to inspire anyone.’ Holly shook her head. ‘I DECIDED TO FULLY COMMIT THIS TIME’ ‘You look great, and you’re always so encouraging – if you ask me, you’d make a good Slimming World Consultant.’ I laughed at that. It seemed ridiculous to think I could ever stand up in front…

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 Only one actor has won an Oscar for playing any of these fictional detectives: for which role? The answer is missing from the grid. BLANC CLOUSEAU CROSS GITTES HOLMES MARLOWE MARPLE MONK POIROT RAWLINS SHAFT SOMERSET SPADE STARLING TRACY CROSSWORD ACROSS 6 Lily __, actor who played Elizabeth Bennett in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (5)7 Open clothing (8)10 Hasty (7)11 and 24Dn. 2024 wrestling film starring 6 Across, 27 Across, 6 Down and 8 Down (3,4,4) 12 Wet (7)13 Ruth __, the crime writer who created Inspector Wexford (7)14 National park in Arizona…

Film 28 YEARS LATER In cinemas 20 June A group of survivors of the rage virus lives on a small island. But when one of the group leaves the island on a mission to the mainland, what horrors will he discover? Starring Alfie Williams, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes. Music VAN MORRISON Remembering Now (Virgin Records), 13 June The legendary musician’s new album marks his return to original music with a rich blend of soul, jazz, blues, folk and country, following the huge success of 2023’s covers album Accentuate the Positive. Tour DEAR EVAN HANSEN UK TOUR Until 5 July, multiple locations including Birmingham, York and Edinburgh, tickets from £15 The award-winning musical comes to a stage near you in the UK tour of Dear Evan Hansen. When a classmate…

THE STRANGER IN ROOM SIX by Jane Corry (£9.99, PB, Penguin) Some secrets refuse to stay buried. Fifteen years ago, Belinda made a shocking discovery about her husband. She has only now been released from prison for his murder. Beginning a new chapter at Sunnyside Home for the Young at Heart, she forms a special bond with the elderly owner, Mabel, who has lived here for as long as she can remember. Mabel knows more secrets about the care home than anyone. As the two women open up about their extraordinary life stories, neither realises that a mysterious resident in room six has been listening in and will stop at nothing to expose the truth. No one is who they seem in this captivating thriller. BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES by…

Doon Mackichan ‘IT’S OFFBEAT, FUNNY AND SILLY!’ The Two Doors Down star is appearing in a new sitcom… If you’ve ever wondered what happens at your local supermarket after the doors shut at night, workplace comedy Transaction might give you an idea… Set during the night shift at fictional store Pellocks, the six-parter centres around egocentric new transgender employee Liv, played by the show’s writer and creator Jordan Gray. Liv’s been hired by boss Simon (Nick Frost) following an ill-conceived marketing campaign that landed him in trouble with the LGBTQ+ community. Realising she’s unsackable, Liv unleashes havoc and chaos on everyone and everything around her. The other workers on the graveyard shift are assistant night manager Tom (Thomas Gray), enthusiastic colleague Millie (Francesca Mills) and deli counter worker Beefy Linda…

Billie’s £9M CAREER HIGH She’s been a regular on our screens for almost 30 years, but amid growing speculation she will be the next Doctor Who and landing a series of huge TV roles, Billie Piper’s career is looking brighter than ever. Billie, 42, shot to fame as a singer at just 15 with the No 1 single Because We Want To before turning to acting and is now believed to be worth around a cool £9 million thanks to a recent career resurgence. Having starred previously as Doctor Who’s companion Rose Tyler, and in shows such as Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Penny Dreadful, Billie has seen her profile hit new heights in the last few years. She has wowed fans and critics alike in shows such…

EMMA STONE Actor Emma, 36, looked stunning when she wore a vintage-style, knee-length Louis Vuitton dress to the 2022 Met Gala. This was actually an upcycled version of the wedding reception dress she wore when she married TV writer Dave McCary in September 2020. Chic and sustainable! VICTORIA BECKHAM To mark their 25th wedding anniversary last July, Posh and Becks dug out their iconic purple outfits from their nuptials. Victoria, 51, shared, ‘Yep, still got it!’ STACEY SOLOMON Last month Sort Your Life Out star Stacey was up for a BAFTA and needed to wear a special dress for the glitzy awards ceremony. And while she didn’t win, the presenter, 35, looked amazing in her repurposed wedding gown. Stacey, who wore the dress in 2022 when she and Joe Swash…

Standing in the kitchen in my short-sleeved yellow satin blouse as the Spice Girls blared from the stereo, I saw my friends sipping White Lightning cider and reached for a can. ‘Try it, you’ll soon get used to the taste,’ my friend laughed. As the bitterness reached my tastebuds I winced, but I carried on, keen to fit in. It was 1997 and I was 15 years old and at a house party with school friends. Quiet, studious and hard-working, I longed to be accepted, and I felt like joining in with the drinking was one way to do that. Later, stumbling back to my friend’s house tipsy, giggly and totally carefree, I felt so happy. I knew my dad and stepmum, who I lived with, would be furious at…

‘She’s always been a fighter’ Denise Young, 62, lives in Falmouth with her husband, David, 68. In all the excitement of bringing our baby daughter Kelly home, my husband David and I didn’t notice anything of concern. We introduced her to her brother Ryan, then 18 months, and settled into family life. But when Kelly was six weeks old, the health visitor spotted yellowing in her eyes. After numerous tests, Kelly was referred to King’s College Hospital in London, where she was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare disease of the liver and bile ducts. As Kelly’s bile ducts weren’t working, her liver was being poisoned. After a failed operation at 10 weeks old, she was put on the transplant list. Despite our complete faith in Kelly’s medical team, we…

Buy of the week Boost your wellbeing in two minutes or less by reading Micro Meditation: Moments of Calm for a Happier, Healthier Life by Nicci Roscoe (£14.99, Ryland Peters & Small Ltd). HEALTH MATHS 3 steps to protect feet this summer If you do one thing Beat excess gas on a f light Heading abroad? Don’t let tummy troubles put a dampener on that pre-holiday excitement. Choosing an aisle seat can make a big difference to your journey, says nutrition expert Ashleigh Tosh. ‘This way you’ll be able to get up and take regular, short walks. Moving your body is a great way to ease the pressure felt in the stomach from bloating, something really important if you’re on a long-haul flight.’ And if you usually chew gum to…

I feel cheated Q My partner has two children from a previous relationship. When we first got together, we talked about having children, but he later said he didn’t want any more. I hoped he’d change his mind. He didn’t, but I’ve never stopped wanting a baby. Now, at 46, it’s too late, and I feel cheated. My feelings are making me question everything between us. A Your anger is valid: you compromised even though he’d been honest, and now you feel a huge loss. You have to process this anger and grief. Talk to your partner honestly about how his change of heart has impacted you – not to change his mind, but so that he understands what you have been going through. You can’t change the past, but…

1 Find a clever workaround If you have a tricky-shaped room to get storage for and standard-sized furniture isn’t cutting it, look to modular pieces for a tailor-made solution. Available in single cubes or larger sections, units can be used alone or configured in an arrangement to suit your space and setup. Mix colours and add doors, shelves and insets to customise as you please. 2 Find a clever workaround If you’re in need of occasional desktop space but don’t have room for a full-sized set-up, then a fold-out option like this is a great workaround. Extrashallow when closed so it won’t obstruct passers by, there’s plenty of desk space for a laptop, plus shelving for extra storage. 3 Get set for a sleepover If you don’t…

ARIES 21 Mar – 20 Apr The Moon in your sign on 20 June helps you to gain a fresh perspective on a recent challenge. Channel your energy into something new for the best results. TAURUS 21 Apr – 20 May On 22 June, the Moon makes its monthly return, bringing a feeling of calm and stability. Make the most of this by spending time with close family and friends. GEMINI 21 May – 20 Jun If you have been in conflict with someone, try to see the situation from their perspective. This will help you both to find an alternative way forward. Be brave. CANCER 21 Jun – 22 Jul As the Sun arrives on 22 June, you feel much more optimistic. With Jupiter and Mercury both in Cancer,…

PERRIE EDWARDS Footballers and pop stars go hand in hand. After Posh and Cheryl, Little Mix singer Perrie, 31, has followed in their footsteps by dating Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The couple were first linked in November 2016 and by January 2017 they were ‘Instagram official’. In August 2021, the pair welcomed their first child, Axel, and in June the following year Alex got down on one knee. However, they’re not in a rush to get married, with Perrie revealing, ‘We’ve said about waiting for Axel to be older and then he can be a pageboy… It makes more sense.’ MAYA JAMA Presenter Maya is relatively new to the WAG gang, only confirming her relationship with Man City’s Ruben Dias last month. The couple are thought to have been secretly dating for…

SUE’S BEHIND YOU! After 25 years on the Cobbles, later this year pal Sue Cleaver will grace the stage in panto as Mrs Potts in Beauty and the Beast in Hull. But it’s a run at the Octagon in Bolton, starring in Alan Ayckbourn’s play Snake in the Grass, that will flex her acting chops. ‘I’m terrified,’ she admits of the creepy tale of a middle-aged sister coming home to roost. ‘But I can’t wait. I’m hardly offstage and the play itself is really scary.’ WORTH THE WEIGHT Turns out to be heavy to hold! In all the years I’ve been covering Eurovision, I’ve never once got my mitts on the trophy. It may not be a Wimbledon Plate or the Ryder Cup, but for me it was a win…

It’s been almost two years since Chloe Madeley and James Haskell announced their split after five years of marriage. And now, in a new interview, the former rugby pro, who shares two-year-old daughter Bodhi with Chloe, has revealed the real reason they called time on their relationship, admitting that the final year of their marriage was a ‘difficult period’. Here we look into what went wrong and what Chloe’s parents, Richard and Judy, think of the split… BOOZE CONFESSION Up until recently James, 40, has remained tight-lipped on what went down during the final months of his and Chloe’s relationship, which unravelled while they were filming their reality show, Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair. However, now the DJ has admitted that his love of drinking contributed to their demise. ‘If…

It’s been almost three years since Kelly Holmes first made her mark on Loose Women. Since joining the panel, she has bravely discussed finding love with a woman after years of hiding her sexuality due to her military background – until 2000 it was illegal to be openly gay in the British armed forces. Kelly left the Army in 1997 to pursue a career in athletics, which saw her win two gold medals at the Athens Olympics, and receive a prestigious damehood from the late Queen in 2005 for her services to sport. Despite having breakdowns and admitting to almost taking her own life at one point, Dame Kelly, 55, now reveals she finally understands how it feels to be happy. ‘I WAS IN AN ABSOLUTE MESS’ It’s been over…

WHERE’S THE JUSTICE? On 14 June 2017 a fire broke out in a 24-storey block of flats in west London. It burned for 60 hours and killed 72 people, with 223 escaping. It was the deadliest residential fire in the UK since the Blitz of World War II. The fire, started by an electrical fault in a fridge-freezer on the fourth floor, became an inferno because of the cladding and insulation. That tower block was, of course, Grenfell Tower and eight years on, despite numerous inquiries and investigations, the victims’ loved ones still suffer and the guilty still walk free. Indeed, due to the complexity of the case, investigations are due to continue until 2026. Any trials are not expected to begin until 2027. That’s 10 years. Not good enough.…

278,000 The number of British tourists who visited Tunisia in 2024. To any onlooker, Seifeddine Rezgui, then 23, was just a man with a parasol slung over his shoulder, walking along the beach in the holiday resort of Sousse, Tunisia, in June 2015. But dressed all in black in the 30C midday heat, Rezgui had a sinister and shocking plan. Walking from the beach to the pool area of the Riu Imperial Marhaba Hotel, he pulled out a rifle and opened fire on people as they lay on sunloungers. Laughing as he went, he continued into the hotel, chasing people as they ran for cover. Shooting people indiscriminately, throwing a grenade in the corridors, forcing his way into rooms, before walking out the way he’d come. The devastating attack,…

Longevity is the latest health buzzword, with so-called biohackers (those changing their lifestyle with a DIY approach) adopting countless tweaks in their quest for eternal youth. Biohacking influencers are on the rise, preaching on social media about how to live healthier lifestyles and look and feel younger, reducing our biological age (the age we feel physically and mentally). And as a slightly exhausted working mum of two in her 40s, I’m curious to see what it’s all about and if, in just seven days, I can improve my health… DAY ONE Research begins and I’m immediately overwhelmed by the sheer volume of hacks. Some biohackers sleep in cages to block damaging electromagnetic frequencies from our phones, while others wear castor oil packs, meant to aid digestion. To cut through the…

READER QUESTION Q How do you calculate the rebuild cost of your house for building insurance? A The rebuild cost is the amount it would cost to completely rebuild your home if it was destroyed beyond repair, including the price of labour and materials, says the Association of British Insurers. This cost is usually – but not always – lower than your home’s sale price or market value. You can find out how to calculate your rebuild cost at abi.org.uk. Go green for less You can save money by taking your own cup to cafés and coffee shops. Stores will accept any brand of cup. Pret gives 50p off, while Starbucks offers 25p off. Costa offers an extra ‘bean’ to use towards free drinks. 3 easy ways to... Save on…

Asda Morrisons Sainsbury’s…

1 LANGUAGE BUFF Prince William often has to travel to royal engagements and handily he can speak several languages, though not all fluently. He was reportedly taught French from a young age and can speak it well, and German, along with Welsh – which is useful for his role as the Prince of Wales. It’s also thought he can speak some Gaelic and Spanish and, while at university, the prince was thought to have taught himself Swahili – the most widely spoken language in Africa. 2 FAKE NAME During his time at St Andrews University, the prince was allowed to live as normal a student life as possible, thanks to the UK press agreeing to stay away so long as he shared regular official photos. But his friends,…

Standing in the toilets at work, staring at the positive pregnancy test, I felt a hot sweat creep up my neck. I’d gone on holiday the month before to get over a break-up and I’d just discovered that I’d come home with the most unexpected souvenir. My mum Wendy, 53, had invited me to join the family holiday to Turkey in July 2018, hoping it would cheer me up. They’d been going to the same resort for years, but this was the first time I’d tagged along and I’d spent most of the first week moping on a sunlounger. Even attention from the handsome barman couldn’t lift my spirits. Hakan, then 26, kept asking me out, but I just wanted to be alone. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t go out with…