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17 times celebrities totally slayed as bridesmaids

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bridesmaids

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Wedding season means bridesmaid duties — even for celebrities. 
  • Stars like Taylor Swift and Rihanna have been a bridesmaid for their closest friends and family members.
  • Most of them seemed to be enjoying their role, but Jennifer Lawrence said she'll never be a bridesmaid again.


Wedding season is in full swing, and that can only mean only thing — bridesmaid duties! You're not alone, since celebs including the
Olsen twins and Rihanna have been a maid to their besties. Scroll through to see how these A-listers and more rocked the role (and their bridesmaid dresses)!

Rachel Bilson

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The "Nashville" actress served as a bridesmaid, not once, but twice, standing up for friend Geraleh just this past March in a stunning blush dress that appeared to be of her own choosing, and donning a one-shoulder frock of the same color back in June of last year for yet another pal.



Taylor Swift

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Not only was T. Swift the maid of honor in childhood bestie Britany Maack (now LaManna)’s 2016 wedding, but she made a rousing speech on behalf of the bride, saying, “My favorite accomplishment of my entire life is that everything has changed in my life except for me and Britany… She was my partner in crime at Brownies sleep-away camp, and she was my date to the Grammys.” Awww!



Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

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The designers showed off their goth side in head-to-toe blackfor friend Maggie Kayne’s New Zealand nuptials back in March, but went full-on boho for the July nuptials of Golmelsky creative director Cassie Coane. Ashley wore a black, long-sleeved number and Mary-Kate rocked a golden kimono, bright flower crown, and green flats.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

These stunning photos shatter stereotypes of what it means to be beautiful

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barbie burning pic

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Zuly Garcia's photo series "Flores Políticos," is meant to show a different, more inclusive kind of beauty. 
  • Her photos explore the idea of feminism and indigineity existing together. 
  • Gacia wants the photos to say, "I love dismantling beauty standards but I also love my body." 


Zuly Garcia is not here for traditional ideas of womanhood. And with her recent photo series “Flores Políticos,” she is rewriting what it means to be a woman of color in the United States while also representing her indigenous roots.

After watching her friends struggle with the pressures of European beauty standards, she saw a need to show a different kind of beauty, one that was inclusive to those who looked like her.

A diversity in entertainment study conducted by the University of Southern California found that between 2014 and 2015 just 2% of TV and film speaking characters were coded as lesbian, gay or bisexual, while Latinos made up just 5.8% of speaking or named characters. There were no stats at all on the representation of native peoples, specifically. Garcia hopes her work can be a refreshing counter-narrative to these statistics.

“Highlighting indigenous folks is needed in today’s patriarchal society,” she said. “There needs to be recognition/support for those beautiful underestimated souls who are pushed into the shadows.”

So Garcia used photography to express her views on the issue. This is what she created.

 

“I just decided that my project would highlight all of those women that feel that way by having it dismantle European beauty standards,” she said.

To bring this point home, she chose to include ripped and burned barbie dolls in the series. Barbies, while routinely criticized, are in many ways the ultimate symbol of femininity (a term Garcia notes is just a social construct). She wanted the project’s physical distortion of the dolls to represent a doing away with traditional conceptions of beauty.

 

One such rejection of tradition was the expectations placed on women’s bodies. In one of the photo’s captions she mentions how the Slumber Party Barbie, released in 1965, came with a plastic pink scale, a book on how to loose weight, and miniature diet pills.

So when one of Garcia’s models came to the shoot explaining how Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are a part of who she is, despite the shame she gets for eating them, Garcia was “all in” to incorporate them into the shoot. With Flaming Hots and with indigenous flowers — Garcia chose to honor the model’s body as is, Cheetos and all.

“I wanted it to say ‘I love dismantling beauty standards but I also love my body,’” she says.

 

The series goes beyond just the idea of the body and also expresses Garcia’s articulation of feminism. Because she is Oaxaqueña — part of a group of indigenous people from what is now the state of Oaxaca, Mexico — she wanted this project to show feminism and indigineity existing together.

“I feel like the feminism movement brings many interesting issues to the table but it would be nice for once to see a part of feminism that you can relate to,” she said. “The type of feminism that comes from indigenous folk for indigenous folks.”

 

“When I flip through magazines I don’t see Oaxaqueñas,” she said. “It’s such a difficult era that we’re in, where we kinda push them aside to the shadows.”

As a result she chose to include details and signifiers that were native to Oaxaca. A couple of models don Oaxaqueño shirts, the background is decorated with native flowers and each shot includes authentic Mexican cloth. According to Garcia, she made these decisions so that others like her could actually imagine themselves broadly represented.

 

On Saturday Garcia will show her work in an art show organized by Galchemism, a collective built buy and for women of color artists. She hopes her work will both break stereotypes and give representation to a wider idea of indigenous womanhood.

“I’m doing this by the people and for the people,” she said.

 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A fashion designer created a transforming bridesmaid dress that fits every body type

Kylie Jenner says she still feels like an 'outcast'

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kylie jenner

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Kylie Jenner may have a large family and plenty of fans, but she says she's always felt like an outcast. 
  • "I have a soft spot for the outcast because I was the outcast I guess in a lot of ways growing up," Kylie said when talking about a bullied teenage fan. 
  • She also revealed that she still feels like she can't relate to many people.


Despite being surrounded by five siblings, 96 million Instagram followers, and legions of fans who want to be exactly like her, Kylie Jenner still feels like an outcast sometimes. The 19-year-old recently opened up about how her inability to relate to the people around her has caused her to feel like she’s living in her own little bubble.

In a new teaser for her upcoming E! reality series, “Life of Kylie,” the younger Jenner sister got real about how growing up on TV (she started “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” when she was just 10 years old) has caused her to feel alone. In the clip, Kylie is discussing how much she empathizes with Albert, a bullied teenage fan who the E! personality agreed to go to prom with.

“I have a soft spot for the outcast because I was the outcast I guess in a lot of ways growing up,” Kylie said. “And I still feel like an outcast in different ways now because I can’t relate to a lot of people so it’s like this little world. I do feel like an outcast.”

Kylie, whose new show airs on Sunday, went on to talk about a FaceTime call with Albert’s mom, who tells the Kylie Cosmetics mogul that her son was “devastated” and “crying” when he learned that no girl wanted to go to prom with him. As someone who’s cyber-bullied on the regular by Twitter and Instagram trolls, Kylie sympathized with Albert and had some harsh words for bullies in general.

“Just seeing Albert’s mom and the emotion she has for her son, I don’t know it’s just not cool,” Kylie said. “Kids are mean these days and it’s not right to treat people like that.”

Though Kylie undoubtedly lives a privileged lifestyle, her upbringing was also one-of-a-kind. Not many people can understand what it’s like to grow up with the whole world criticizing your every move. For that, we appreciate Kylie opening up and hope to see her get vulnerable about more misconceptions about her and her family on her new show.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: There's a 'third' Jenner kid in the Kardashian clan that no one's ever heard of

A Muslim beauty queen made history after wearing a caftan instead of a bikini

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muna jama

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Muslim Miss Universe contestant Muna Jama made history when she chose to wear a kaftan during the swimsuit portion of the competition.
  • Her goal in wearing the kaftan was to stay true to herself.
  • Jama has inspired others by showing tha you can achieve anything without having to change who you are.

Even before participating in the Miss Universe Great Britain pageant this July, Muna Jama, a Muslim woman and the founder of a start-up to address child abuse and issues that force migration, knew that she didn’t want to wear a bikini for the pageant’s infamous swimsuit round.

“I didn’t enter the competition with expectations of inspiring anybody or representing a religion, a race, a country,” Jama said in an interview with Mic. “I went in representing myself and staying true to myself. I didn’t do anything outside my normal life.”

And normal to her, of course, was not wearing a bikini.

While the competition, which is a qualifier for the Miss Universe pageant, hadn’t previously allowed this kind of substitution, the organizers ended up giving Jama the OK. So Jama decided instead to wear something far more covered, and more align with her taste and preferences: a kaftan.

“The kaftan is so beautiful,” Jama said. “It can be worn at the beach, it could be worn in public, it could be worn anywhere to be honest ... It’s an alternative without having to feel out of place or exposed. It is my body and my choice and I believe people should do what they feel is right for them. I wore a kaftan because it was my choice, just as much as the beautiful women that shared the stage with me wore a bikini because it was their choice.”

When Jama took to the stage during the bikini portion of the competition, decked in a multi-colored kaftan, platform heels, a bedazzled choker and hoop earrings, she made history by being the first competitor to ever wear a kaftan during the swimsuit round.

It takes bravery, emotional resilience and most importantly surrounding yourself with strong minded people who are prepared to make great sacrifices to welcome permanent and positive change. I may not be able to unwrite a moment in my life but I know a moment will never define me. I will always rise above your expectations and pushed past your limitations. You are what you say you are, and your imaginations can be your worst enemy unless you overcome your fears. Be careful of what you think of others because it's a reflection of what you are. Work at being a better person, and one day we can welcome a better World. . . This moment has proved that I am capable of almost anything I set my mind to and limitations is a status waiting to be changed. I thank everyone who stood beside me and believed in my vision. 🙏🙌❤😘😙😘😍🙆😊💓 . . #missuniverse #mugb2017 #missuniversegb #fear #migrant #refugee #positive #change #love #modelling #friends #family #girls #pageant #empowerment #inspiration #inspire #aspire #history #munajama #caftan #kaftan #stage #london #dubai #love #indonesia #malaysia @missuniversegb Photographer @leedarephotography

A post shared by Muna Jama🔱 (@ms_munajama) on Jul 18, 2017 at 8:56am PDT on

In choosing to wear a more modest outfit as a swimsuit on stage, Jama joins women like model Halima Aden, who made the history-making decision in 2016 to wear a hijab and a burkini during the Miss Minnesota USA pageant.

“It takes bravery, emotional resilience and most importantly surrounding yourself with strong minded people who are prepared to make great sacrifices to welcome permanent and positive change,” Jama wrote on her Instagram. “This moment has proved that I am capable of almost anything I set my mind to and limitations is a status waiting to be changed. I thank everyone who stood beside me and believed in my vision.”

After the competition, which she did not win, Jama continued to feel the love on Instagram. As one person wrote: “You have inspired many who probably thought they couldn’t.” Another wrote, “Thank you for standing up for what you believe.”

“I think people in general can take from this that you can achieve anything in life without changing,” Jama concluded. “And just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Once upon a time women weren’t allowed to vote. ... Organizations are entitled to say no but behind these organizations are people and I’m confident that these people are understanding beings. It is up to us to make them understand who we are. I hope that if someone has been refused in the past, this doesn’t stop them from trying and continue to be themselves.”

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NOW WATCH: Amazon has an oddly efficient way of storing stuff in its warehouses

The current status of Taylor Swift's 'girl squad'

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Taylor Swift girl squad

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Taylor Swift's "girl squad" was huge during her 1989 World Tour, but we've seen less of them lately.
  • Some of the members, like Selena Gomez and Lorde, are still close friends with Swift. 
  • Others, like Kendall Jenner and Zendaya, seem to have drifted apart.


Throughout
Taylor Swift‘s 1989 World Tour in 2015, the singer made #squadgoals a viral headline as everyone became infatuated with the enviable bond of her huge, glamorous group of friends. Swift’s concerts became a who’s who of A-list models, athletes, and actresses, and her Instagram feed (and her friends’) became albums for the groups’ fun-filled vacations and impromptu baking parties.

But as time passed, the visibility of Swift’s squad has dwindled tremendously. Her members’ Instagram feeds feature other friends, the high-profile parties have stopped, and Swift has taken a noticeable break from social media.

All this left us wondering: WTF happened, and which women are actually still in Swift’s squad? We took a closer look at each former member in an attempt to analyze where she stands with Swift now. Follow along, ahead.

Kendall Jenner

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Status: Not friends

Despite an appearance at a concert at Swift's 1989 World Tour alongside other supermodel besties like Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, Jenner is not as close to Swift as fans might think.

Kim Kardashian confirmed that when the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star appeared on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live"to admit that Jenner is indeed not in Swift's squad. It might have to do with Kardashian's Snapchat exposure or that Jenner has formed her own supermodel squad, called the Super Natural Friend Group with "It" girls like Hailey Baldwin, who has made public her distaste for the country singer-turned-pop star.



Lorde

Status: Still friends

Amidst her social media hiatus, Swift dedicated one of three recent Instagram posts to Lorde, congratulating her in March when her single, "Green Light," debuted. In July, a Yahoo interview suggested that Lorde and Swift had fallen out based on her saying, "I don't hang out with these people at all."

The singer clarified her comments on Twitter, explaining that she is still good friends with Swift and that her comments were about the squad as a whole. "[The squad] was never some exclusive club or secret society, but a wide circle of people, some of whom I know, and some who I’ve never met, like most wide groups of friends," she tweeted.



Karlie Kloss

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Status: Questionable

For a long time, Kloss was Swift's right-hand woman and the arguable co-captain of her squad. But lately, Kloss's impromptu apartment visits to Swift's downtown Manhattan loft has tremendously dwindled. The duo haven't been photographed together since October 2016.

To add more fuel to the fire, rumors flew that Swift and Kloss had a falling out when Kloss was seen partying with Kendall Jenner (sister of Swift's arch nemesis Kim Kardashian) in Paris last month.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Justin Bieber is 'doing better already' after canceling remaining dates of his world tour

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justin bieberThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Justin Bieber cancelled the remaining dates of his world tour after realizing he needed a break.
  • A source close to the singer says he's doing better already after taking time to rest.
  • Bieber wrote an open letters to fans detailing why he made the decision he did.
  • The singer is taking time to focus on himself and his spiritual journey.

There was quite a bit of speculation surrounding Justin Bieber’s decision to cancel the remainder of his "Purpose" world tour a few weeks ago. So much so, in fact, that other celebrities began chiming in on Bieber’s behalf while the Internet ran with seemingly every rumor that popped up. As it turned out, the global pop star just needed a break after 18 months of touring. So far, he seems to have made the right call.

A source close to Bieber told PEOPLE that the singer is “doing better already” following his decision and open letter to fans.

“Justin is hanging out in L.A. with friends,” the source said. “He feels really bad to disappoint many of his fans. This is why he decided to write the open letter. He still feels he made the right decision.”

At first, Bieber’s camp had said he was canceling the tour due to “unforeseen circumstances” while anonymous sources suggested the 23-year-old was understandably exhausted after a year and a half on the road.

“He started out in the business as a kid, but he is older now,” the source added. “He wants to have control over his life and health. He hasn’t been feeling well mentally for a while. Canceling the tour was the right thing for him.”

In recent months, Bieber has been seen frequently at the Hillsong Church in New York City and is known to be developing a strong sense of spirituality to help him in his career.

“He needed to take a break and just focus on himself. He is doing better already. He is focused on his spiritual journey. He wants to be stronger mentally.”

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here’s what celebrities would look like with symmetrical faces

How Meghan Markle's style has evolved from gifting suites to potential royalty

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meghan markleThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Before Meghan Markle was in talks to become royalty, she was just another up and coming actress.
  • Markle was frequently spotted at gifting suites.
  • Today, she has moved up to the front row of fashion shows as Hollywood royalty.
  • Markle's style has evolved since she started out in Hollywood to the moment she was recognized as Prince Harry's girlfriend.

Before Meghan Markle was poised to become royalty, and ready to replace acting with more philanthropic endeavors, she was just another up and coming actress with a side hustle (her lifestyle blog, obviously). When the Northwestern grad first began attending events, she wasn’t exactly high on the totem pole of Hollywood royalty.

Now, her style has evolved, befitting someone regal, and her fitted A-line dresses wouldn’t look out of place on Kate Middleton. Still, there’s something to be said for her earlier looks and the events she wore them to—instead of attending royal weddings and jetting to Norway like a "Bachelor" contestant, she was most at home in off-brand gifting suites.

Over the years, Markle moved on from going to those NYFW gifting suites to sitting front row at shows. She has been particularly fond of Marchesa (they also design wedding gowns) and Herve Leger’s bandage dresses, and was most often spotted in some variation of hot pink, with a particular affinity for the aforementioned going out dresses.

In honor of her 36th birthday recently, scroll through her photos over the years to see how her many appearances began to change once she was linked to Prince Harry.

Racking up the swag bags at a pre-Emmy gifting lounge in 2009.



Spotted at the Some Kind-a Gorgeous Style and Beauty Lounge at the Chateau Marmont way back in 2010, collecting all of her swag bags.



The Northwestern grad wears a hot pink dress best suited for a high school Homecoming dance to a 2012 ball in Toronto, where she films "Suits."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

A Disney Channel star said that she was body-shamed as a child — and it gave her ‘so many mental issues’

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raven symone getty images

The INSIDER Summary:

  • Raven-Symoné opened up to People magazine about how being body-shamed at a young age impacted her mental health.
  • The star said that having her body criticized on set when she was as young as seven years old gave her "so many mental issues."
  • Now, Raven-Symoné is acting on Disney Channel again and appreciates that the industry  has grown to become more body-positive.


It's not easy to grow up in the spotlight.

In an interview with People magazine, actress Raven-Symoné shared how being shamed for her weight and appearance at a young age had a negative impact on her.

The former Disney Channel star known for "That's So Raven" told the magazine that she would have preferred to be a young actress in today's more body-positive world rather than in the early 2000s, when body-shaming was considered normal.

"I wish I was living now as a younger person. I probably wouldn’t have so many mental issues," she told People.

Growing up, Raven-Symoné said she faced some upsetting situations because of people criticizing her body. 

As a teen, she was told that she was "too big" to go on tour.

"[They said] I was too big to be doing an hour and a half concert. 'I don't know how she can dance being that big.' And I was like, 'I still did it!'" Raven-Symoné told People. "I was on tour forever because it’s not about your size, it's about what you have to say, if you can sing or dance, and performing. It's not about your size."

That wasn't the first time the actress encountered body-shaming.

On a 2015 episode of "The View," the actress recalled that at the age of seven she was told to eat less while on set for "The Cosby Show." She played the character of Olivia.

A post shared by Raven-Symoné (@ravensymone) on

"I remember not being able to have the bagel or anything at — we would call it crafty, where it’s just a table of food, ready for you to eat whatever you want," she said. "And I remember people would be like, ‘You can’t eat that. You’re getting fat!' I’m like, 'I’m 7! I’m hungry!'"

Thankfully, things have gotten better — not only for Raven-Symoné, but also for the entertainment industry.

Nowadays, the actress is back on the Disney Channel, starring in "Raven's Home," a "That's so Raven" spin-off that revisits Raven Baxter as a single mother.

A post shared by Raven-Symoné (@ravensymone) on

Raven-Symoné's charachter Raven Baxter is back to her usual hijinks. 

This time around, Raven-Symoné noted that there has been a widespread acceptance of body-positivity and diversity in the entertainment industry — and she loves it.

"I love embracing your body. In this day and age you have all kinds, and it’s funny, it’s serious, it’s every color, it’s every head shape, it’s every hair. And there’s androgyny, and there’s LGBT coming in, and it feels good," she told the magazine. "We didn’t have it enough last time and I guess that’s what the past is for — to make sure the present is what it needs to be."

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here are 22 Easter eggs that link Disney's animated films together


Gigi Hadid's mom looks just like her in this throwback photo

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Gigi and Yolanda Hadid

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Gigi Hadid posted a throwback photo of her mom from her modeling days.
  • Her mom, Yolanda Hadid, looks very similar to Gigi in the photo. 
  • Yolanda used to strut down the runway for Ford Models in Europe.


In our many years as *serious*
journalists, we’ve come across several Gigi Hadid lookalikes. There was the Danish model in June who shared Gigi’s beach-blonde hair and sumptuous blue eyes. Then there was the Dutch model last week, who people confusingly labeled as “plus-size.” And while these doppelgängers came pretty darn close, no one’s looked more identical to the 22-year-old supermodel than her own mama, Yolanda Hadid.

The oldest Hadid sister made that especially clear on Monday when she shared an epic throwback picture of her mom from her modeling heyday. For those unaware of the Hadid family history, before Bella and Gigi were a thing, Yolanda was the family’s premier model. Before the mom of three birthed two fashion “It” girls, she was strutting her own stuff down the runway as a top face for Ford Models in Europe.

Given that runway-walking runs in the Hadids’ blood, it would make sense that Yolanda would look eerily similar to Gigi back in the day. In the picture, Yolanda can be seen sporting a voluminous updo, side-swept bangs, and dangly gold earrings. As far as similarities, we can see where Gigi got her signature supermodel pout, golden-blonde hair color, and envy-worthy bone structure.

gigi yolanda hadid

While we frequently see Yolanda as Gigi’s No. 1 cheerleader behind-the-scenes on photoshoots and in the audience of runway shows, it was the supermodel offspring’s turn to fangirl over her mom. Along with bringing us another lookalike photo to fawn over, Gigi also hashtagged the word “MOM” in big red font to show her mama some love. And though Yolanda hasn’t stepped foot on the runway in years, we would love to see her come out of retirement for a final catwalk with her daughters.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This Victoria's Secret model could knock you out

Here's how easy it is to become a fake Instagram influencer

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woman headphones phone

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Marketing agency Mediakix set up two fake Instagram accounts to test how easy it was to become an Instagram influencer.
  • One of the accounts consisted of photos of a hired model, while the other was comprised entirely of stock images.
  • They were then able to purchase followers, likes, and comments for both accounts — ultimately leading to paid brand deals.


After reporting how Instagram influencer marketing was now a billion dollar industry, marketing agency Mediakix has conducted an investigation into the murky world of online fakers.

The website created two phony Instagram influencer accounts: 1) a lifestyle and fashion-centric Instagram model and 2) a travel photographer. For the first account, Mediakix hired a model and populated content through a one-day photo shoot; meet Santa Monica local, “calibeachgirl310.”

fake instagram influencer 02

The second account, wanderingggirl, went one step further and was composed entirely of free stock photos. Amid snaps of the Eiffel Tower and whatever other picturesque vistas they could find, Mediakix peppered the feed with vague stock photos of blonde girls that showed only the back of their heads.

fake instagram influencer 03

Their fabricated personalities now ready to rock, Mediakix set about acquiring followers. Instagram is able to flag accounts which it suspects of gaining followers by foul play — i.e., buying them — so they initially numbered their purchases to “only” 1,000 per day. Soon, however, Mediakix found they could buy up to 15,000 per pop without being suspected of wrongdoing. And the cost per 1,000 followers? Between $3-$8.

Of course, it’s all very well having followers, but kind of pointless if none of them are engaging with your content. Mediakix paid around 12 cents per comment, and between $4-9 per 1,000 likes. For each photo, they purchased 500 to 2,500 likes and 10 to 50 comments. Mostly, the paid accounts would leave prosaic compliments like “good job” or “nice!”

Chasing rainbows 🌈

A post shared by Alexa Rae (@calibeachgirl310) on May 10, 2017 at 12:00am PDT on

After a while, the accounts hit the holy-grail 10,000 followers threshold, meaning Mediakix could sign them up for various influencer marketing platforms. Applying for new campaigns daily, the accounts secured four paid brand deals in total between them — two each.  The fashion account secured one deal with a swimsuit company and one with a national food and beverage company, while the travel account secured brand deals with an alcohol brand and the same national food and beverage company. Both accounts were reimbursed with monetary compensation or free product.

Good morning 💛#travelawesome #traveling #travelgram #exploretocreate #instagood #vacations #canon #instatraveler #trip #featuremeofh #travelinspo #inspo #travel

A post shared by Amanda Smith (@wanderingggirl) on Jul 26, 2017 at 11:04am PDT on

The experiment will come as a worrying development for those spending money on influencer marketing programs, with accounts boasting anything over 5,000 + followers known to be targeted by companies. As Mediakix concludes: “Instagrammers with completely or partially fake followings and/or engagement present advertisers with a unique form of ad fraud that’s becoming more and more commonplace and could be siphoning tens of millions of dollars from brands.”

For further in depth reading, head on over to Mediakix.

 

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NOW WATCH: This 21-year-old henna artist is blowing up on Instagram

Ashley Graham opens up about how past relationships influenced her journey as a body activist

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ashley grahamThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Ashley Graham revealed that her first relationship spurred her journey as a body activist.
  • Her first boyfriend broke up with her because he was afraid she would someday match his mom's weight.
  • This moment made the model "hyperaware" of her size.
  • Graham says she handles the brunt work so the next generation of girls can "sail on through."

There’s a reason why people say you never forget your first relationship. For Ashley Graham, that reason unfortunately happens to be an upsetting fat-shaming comment. In a recent interview with New York magazine, the 29-year-old opened up about her first relationship and how her ex-boyfriend’s remarks spurred her journey as a body activist.

In the interview, the supermodel recalled the time her first-ever boyfriend broke up with her in high school—because he was afraid she would someday match his mom’s weight. Graham noted the moment as the first time she was ever “hyperaware” of her size.

“That really made me hyperaware that I am a big girl, and that’s how people see me,” she said.

After the breakup, Graham revealed that she entered in an abusive relationship with a man for many years. She admitted she excused his behavior because he was the first man who seemed to appreciate her curves.

A post shared by New York Magazine (@nymag) on

Along with her relationship history, Graham also opened up about being discriminated against for her weight. Though Graham (who prefers the term “curvy” over “plus-size”) earned praise for her 2017 Met Gala look (especially from Rihanna, who “said I looked ‘hot as f--k,'” Graham said), the model chose not to attend the gala the year before because no designer would dress her.

The model faced a similar experience on her January cover of British Vogue. Though Coach eventually agreed to dress her, the model and Vogue U.K. editor in chief Alexandra Shulman admitted that many fashion houses “flatly refused” to lend their clothes.

However, since her profile has skyrocketed, Graham has had a better time earning respect from the fashion industry. These days, she said she borrows most things for A-list events, with the designers fully aware that her team adds slits, tears off sleeves, or performs other major adjustments to ensure that the outfit is flattering to her body. It’s a small milestone that Graham hopes will make it easier for models with her body type to break into the fashion industry.

“This is the thing: I know I’m paving the way for the next generation of girls, and they’re not going to have to do this,” she said. “That’s what I hope. I’ll take the brunt work and just handle it, and then you guys can just sail right on through.”

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The viral Tinder couple who messaged each other for 3 years went on their epic first date in Maui

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tinder couple first date in mauiThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Josh Avsec and Michelle Arendas' online dating story has gone viral for the best reason.
  • The two college students messaged one another on Tinder for three years without ever meeting. 
  • Avsec shared his story on Twitter and when Tinder saw it, they offered to send the couple anywhere for their first date.
  • After the couple met on "Good Morning America," they packed their bags for Maui. 
  • They've been enjoying each other's company for the past week at a stunning resort. 


To say Josh Avsec, 22, and Michelle Arendas, 21, are taking online dating to a new level would be an understatement.

It all began for the pair when they matched on Tinder way back in 2014 when Avsec sent the first message that simply read, “Hey Michelle.” It took Arendas two months to finally respond writing “Hey, sorry my phone died!”

Over the next few years the duo would send intermittent messages keeping their Tinder joke alive, all the while never running into one another despite the fact that they both attend Kent State University in Ohio.

That all changed when Avsec shared their inside joke on Twitter in July. When Tinder caught wind of the story they offered to send the couple on a very special first date anywhere in the world. Of course, the pair said yes and got their bags packed for Maui.

“It’s been a crazy adventure so far,” Arendas told Good Morning America about her unconventional meet cute with Avsec. Prior to heading off into the Hawaiian sunset together she added, “My only expectation is to enjoy our trip and enjoy getting to know each other. I can absolutely not wait to be on the beach.”

Now, photos have emerged of the charming on their date, hitting the beach and drinking cocktails as one does while on summer break in Hawaii. And, according to the Daily Mail, the Tinder match spent a full week together soaking up the sun and looking enamored with one another the entire time.

"On this trip I have learned about Josh's incredible energy. He is just always excited and always energetic, even on like a hot day like today, he's always ready to go," Arendas told ABC.

 

Avsec added of his date, "You should hear her talk about her dreams and her passions and her career path ... [her] determination and perseverance, it's really rare and awesome to be a part of.”

Only time will tell if this is a true love connection but one thing is for sure, the entire world is rooting for these two to work out. "She's so much fun I know once we get back home we're gonna want to meet up again,” Asvec said.

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10 times Kim and Kourtney Kardashian were mommy-shamed

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Kourtney and Kim Kardashian

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Kim and Kourtney Kardashian have had quite a few mommy-shamers criticize their parenting.
  • Kim has been mommy-shamed for reasons such as posting nude selfies and using a surrogate.
  • Kourtney has been mommy-shamed for kissing her kids on the lips and allowing her daughter to wear a lip ring.

As the eldest two Kardashians-Jenners, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian have a lot of experience helping their mom raise their younger siblings: Khloe, Rob, Kendall, and Kylie. This experience is likely what prepared them for motherhood when it came time to raise kids of their own.

Kourtney is currently mom to 7-year-old son Mason, 5-year-old daughter Penelope, and 2-year-old son Reign with ex Scott Disick. With husband Kanye West, Kim is a parent to 4-year-old daughter North and 1-year-old son Saint.

Judging from their Instagrams, the kids seem happy and healthy, and Kourt and Kim look like they know what they’re doing. Still, as moms in the public eye, Kourtney and Kim are subject to one of the most disgusting sides of the Internet, no matter how good they are as moms.

We’re talking about the mommy-shamers — a.k.a. annoying trolls on the Internet who somehow find something wrong in everything a celebrity mom does. (Side note: You don’t ever see the children’s fathers facing the same scrutiny.) To call attention to ridiculousness of the shamers, we’ve rounded up 10 dumb AF reasons Kourtney and Kim were mommy-shamed. See them, ahead.

 

Kourtney going on vacation

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In May, Kourtney was taking a well-needed break to go on vacation when mommy-shamers had to ruin her fun by butting in their noses. Once Kourtney posted a photo of her bottom, the mommy-shamers couldn't help but criticize her for setting a bad example to her daughter, Penelope. They also accused her of negligent parenting for going on a vacation when she should be taking care of her kids. (Who said her kids weren't with her?).



Kim owning a marble table

Last month, Kim was casually snapchatting her new children's line when a viewer noticed a mysterious white substance on a table in the back of her video. The mommy-shamer immediately accused her of snorting cocaine and things spiraled out of control. Not letting the rumors fester, Kim immediately shut them down by explaining that it was sugar dust from a  recent candy party. Realizing she gave the wrong information, Kim then clarified and said the white substance was just a white streak on her marble table.



Kim putting North in a corset

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In July, Kim felt the wrath of mommy-shamers when she dressed her 4-year-old daughter, North, in what appeared to be a corset. The mommy-shamers accused Kim of putting North in danger by fastening such a tight article of clothing around her body. Also, critics slammed Kim for dressing her daughter more mature than she is. Kim responded on Snapchat where she showed that the "corset" was only in the front of a dress, which it was sewn onto, so North's body wasn't actually cinched in.



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This is why Kate Middleton and Prince William never show PDA

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prince william kate middletonThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Kate Middleton and Prince William never seem to show any public displays of affection.
  • This is because the couple is technically working as representatives of the British Monarchy.
  • They must remain professional while on official business for Her Majesty.
  • Queen Elizabeth II follows the same rules when in public.

When it comes to beloved couples, Prince William and Kate Middleton are in a league of their own. Not only are they young, attractive, and stylish, but they also perform their family duties flawlessly—and still find some time to advocate for charitable causes in between. Plus, having two super cute kiddos around doesn’t hurt, either. (By the way, don’t miss these unbearably cute moments of the adorable Princess Charlotte!)

But when this couple is photographed while out and about, fans might notice that there’s one important thing missing: handholding. Or any public displays of affection at all, really. What gives?

No need to worry; their relationship isn’t on the rocks. The real reason is way simpler—and more practical!—than you think. According to Myka Meier, a royal etiquette expert, it’s what any person would do when they’re on the job.

“The likely reasoning is more that while traveling on a tour such as the India trip, technically the couple are working representatives of British Monarchy,” she told PEOPLE. “The couple are likely to show very little PDA, if any, to remain professional during their designated roles abroad.”

While there’s no bona fide restriction on PDA, royal family members tend to refrain while on official business for Her Majesty. Plus, our favorite royal pair is not the first to follow this unspoken rule. Queen Elizabeth II rarely holds hands with her husband Prince Philip in public, either, and for the same reason. (And here’s why the Queen wears so many bright outfits.)

Still, that doesn’t mean Prince William and Kate don’t like to let loose every once in awhile. They just choose to do so sparingly and at the right moments, such as during a soccer game or while on a hike. As longtime royals writer Judy Wade told PEOPLE, “Different types of occasions call for different types of behavior.”

Makes sense! So, William and Kate admirers, lay your fears to rest; this couple’s marriage is solid.

Join the conversation about this story »

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Donald Glover on the Han Solo movie drama: 'I feel like I was the baby in the divorce'

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Donald Glover Neilson Barnard Getty final

Donald Glover is the latest star from the untitled "Star Wars" Han Solo movie to speak out about the sudden firing of its directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, just weeks before production wrapped. 

In a profile on the actor in The Hollywood Reporter, Glover — who plays a young Lando Calrissian in the Han Solo movie, and is making the press rounds following his best lead actor in a comedy series Emmy nomination for "Atlanta"— opened up a little about the "Star Wars" drama, and working with the new director, Ron Howard.

"Ron is such a legend, and he knows exactly what the vision for what he is doing is … [but Phil and Chris] hired us, so you sort of feel like, 'I know I'm not your first choice …' And you worry about that," Glover said. "To be honest, I don't know exactly what happened. I feel like I was the baby in the divorce, or the youngest child. The oldest child is like, 'We know what's happening, but we are keeping you out of it.' And I'm just like, [Glover's voice rises several octaves] 'Was that scene good? How did you feel?'"

Glover's Han Solo castmate Woody Harrelson looked at the director change this way when talking about it in July: “Oh, you can relax, man – because obviously the Force is with us,” he said with a laugh. 

Leave it to Woody to put things in perspective. 

Lord and Miller were reportedly fired due to "creative differences." Howard came on the movie in July. It will be released in May 2018.

SEE ALSO: The 50 best-selling albums of all time

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Ashley Graham couldn't get a designer to dress her for the Met Gala

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Ashley Graham Met Gala 2017

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Ashley Graham said that she didn't go to the 2016 Met Gala because she couldn't get a designer to dress her.
  • She faced problems with timing, lack of connections, and not fitting into the sample size range.
  • Graham attended this year's Met Gala in a stunning H&M Couture dress.


It’s been quite the year for the fashion industry with regard to body positivity. Not only have we seen retailers 
forgoing Photoshop on campaigns, Michael Kors put his first curvy model, Ashley Graham, on the runway. For as many strides as we’ve taken, however, there’s still a long way to go: a fact Graham made all too clear recently in an interview with The Cut, where she revealed the REAL reason why she stayed home from the 2016 Met Gala.

“I couldn’t get a designer to dress me,” Graham said. “You can’t just show up in jeans and a t-shirt.” While the 29-year-old model said it was largely due in part to the timing (she had been on hold for a ticket) and that she wasn’t well connected to many designers. The Cut points out that her size was also likely a factor, as she was out of sample range, and designers would’ve had to scramble to make something from scratch.

It’s certainly not the first time designers have turned their noses up at dressing a curvier star under a time crunch: Leslie Jones was only able to find a fashion guru to outfit her for her big "Ghostbusters" premiere after she Tweeted about the difficulty she was experiencing finding someone to dress her, at which point Christian Siriano came to her aid.

But sometimes there are brands who refuse to lend their clothes for shoots, simply because Graham doesn’t fit the conventional model sizes. When the brunette beauty covered British Vogue back in January, EIC Alexandra Shulman wrote in the issue’s editor’s letter, “Sadly there were other houses that flatly refused to lend us their clothes.”

Still, like Jones, it was Graham who had the last laugh, showing up the following year to the 2017 Met Gala looking like a total knockout in H&M Couture. Even Rihanna thought she was a total babe, telling Graham that she looked ‘hot as f*ck.” It was quite a compliment coming from the Queen of the Met Gala herself. “I had no idea what to say to her,” Graham admitted. “I was just like, ‘You slay every Met Gala, Rihanna!”

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NOW WATCH: Barbie made an Ashley Graham doll that promotes body positivity

11 science-backed ways to look and feel more attractive

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woman standing

Most people will admit that they don't feel 100% at all times. Even the most beautiful and successful people have off days, but if you're feeling bad about yourself more than you feel good, you might need a shift in perspective. 

Despite common thinking, feeling more attractive and desirable may have little to do with your outward appearance.

We consulted scientific studies and spoke to relationship and dating experts to find simple lifestyle changes that you can make to appear more attractive both to yourself and others.

These tips can help you begin to see yourself in a more positive light.

Get your sweat on.

You might dread exercise but it can play a big factor in helping yourself feel more attractive.

We're not just talking about exercise's effect on your body physically — exercise is a great way to take some time to get out your aggression, have some time for yourself, and release endorphins, a chemical that can improve your mood. A 2015 study by the University of Turku found that people who exercised reported an increase in confidence.

"Exercise is a great way to feel more attractive,"April Masini, a relationship and etiquette expert, told INSIDER. "Not only are you giving yourself a gift of fitness, but you’re releasing endorphins and balancing work, play and self-care."



Give some compliments.

Getting some love from others might seem like the easiest way to boost your self image, but actually you might want to practice giving some love first.

Talking up good traits about others will help you seem more appealing in their eyes and make you realize the good things about yourself, too. Researchers at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China suggested in a 2016 study that men who used metaphors to compliment women were found to be more attractive.

"Learning how to properly compliment may just be the key to a second date," matchmaker Denise Levy told INSIDER. "Making other people feel good about themselves increases your attractiveness. People put effort into getting ready for a date so take the time to compliment the other person and mean it!"



Put a smile on.

It's no secret that smiling makes you seem warm and inviting to other people, which can help how they see you. But it turns out you may even get the same benefits by looking in a mirror and smiling at yourself.

"As social creatures, we are programmed to notice the body language of others and scan for cues of safety and welcome," relationship therapist, educator, and author Shadeen Francis told INSIDER. "Smiling is a universal signal for warmth, approachability, and attractiveness." 

"But this also works for yourself; if you smile at yourself in the mirror, you receive very similar neural cues as you would if a familiar friend smiled at you," she said.

Researchers at the University of Cardiff in Wales in 2009 studied how facial expressions can affect a person's mood and found evidence that suggests people who smile more can actually feel happier.



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Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian both just debuted super-short bobs

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Khloe Kardashian and Kendall Jenner

The INSIDER Summary: 

  • Khloé Kardashian and Kendall Jenner have debuted super-short bobs for the summer.
  • Kendall Jenner went for a 1920s-style bob with straight-across bangs.
  • Khloé Kardashian now has a choppy bob with tons of texture. 


Anyone who has a little sister is well-versed in the art of the copycat. No joke, every single time I got a haircut as a child, my
younger sister made her way to the salon that very week to get the same chop. So, this morning, I couldn’t help but laugh when I discovered that both Khloé Kardashian and Kendall Jenner got super-short, chin-grazing bobs in the same day.

But unlike my childhood experience, Jenner and Kardashian opted for fairly different variations of this summer’s major haircut. Jenner, who debuted the prettiest, vintage-looking fringe last month, went for a 1920s-style bob with straight-across, blunt bangs. Jen Atkin, who works regularly with the family (as well as Chrissy Teigen) posted a collage of Polaroid shots to show off Jenner’s new look. “I call her ‘Vixen Vivianne’,” Atkin captioned the photo, paying homage to "Pretty Woman."

As for Kardashian, Atkin transformed the 33-year-old’s medium-length hair into a choppy bob with hella texture. She captioned the Instagram photo, “Fresh  for my little pink starburst @khloekardashian  If anyone knows our love affair it took years to get Khloé to go short and now look at her!! Owning her beauty and changing it up!.”

But more often than not, our favorite celebrity hair transformations turn out to be the work of extensions. According to a series of Snapchats (which showed Kylie Jenner pretending to cut Kardashian’s hair), Atkin braided Kardashian’s long hair, attached clip-ins, and trimmed the faux hair. “I have waited far too long to grow out my hair to cut it, so this is all changeable,” Kardashian said in the video.

A post shared by Kendall (@kendalljenner) on

Jenner hasn’t confirmed whether her hair is temporary or the real deal, but the 21-year-old’s cool, casual Instagram of her new look leads us to believe (see: hope) that her new look might stick. Anyone want to bet whether Kim Kardashian or Kylie Jenner will get a bob next? Our money is on the latter.

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Malia Obama is being criticized for acting like a normal teenager at a music festival

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malia obamaThe INSIDER Summary:

  • Malia Obama attended Lollapalooza again this year.
  • People have been quick to criticize after new footage showed Obama being carted away from the festival.
  • Previous First Daughter's Barbara and Jenna Bush told the Obama's to enjoy their college years and seems Malia is taking that advice to heart.

A former drug dealer turned rapper turned businessman by the name of Jay Z once posed a simple question: can I live? The phrase has since been co-opted by everyone, from those in the industry, like J. Cole, who eventually signed with Hov's label Roc Nation, to your friends on the internet who like to present the inquiry to their timelines, in jest or in seriousness. 

I'm co-opting it now, to make a very serious request: Can we let Malia Obama live? 

While Barack was busy with the Democratic National Convention last year, Malia was at Lollapalooza, enjoying her young life. She danced, she had a good time, the world freaked out—and she moved on.

If you haven't heard the latest, the eldest daughter of our forever First Family attended Lollapalooza again this past weekend. (The Obamas do rep Chicago, so no big surprise there.) At one point, attendees recorded Malia dancing excitedly with a friend to the Killers. She even started rolling around on the ground, which I personally thought was lit. Express yourself, I say.

In a newly released TMZ video, however, Malia is seen being carted away from the festival, looking either super tired or super faded, or both.

Enter yet another wave of criticism of the young girl. But let's try to put things into perspective. The Obama daughters have never really been allowed to wild out. The upbringing of Sasha (who was just spotted making out with a bro earlier this week) and Malia reminds me of the way preachers' daughters are raised: to be quiet, ladylike, and respectable, and to be a good example of an upstanding citizen to literally everyone around you.

But that's not how personal growth and development works. Living a restricted adolescent life can lead to a sheltered adult life, or more likely, a phase of extreme acting out. (Or you might just end up falling in the boring middle of the road, but sit down, this conversation isn't about you.) My point is, if you don't know your limits, you can't push your limits. It's harder to take responsibility for your own actions when you've never had the chance to act.

In an open letter featured in Time in January of this year, Barbara and Jenna Bush, former First Daughters themselves, very sweetly praised the Obama girls for being poised and gracious throughout their eight years in the White House. And then, they gave some very sound advice about how they can and should move forward—into their teenage years, and beyond.

"Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did. And you won’t have the weight of the world on your young shoulders anymore. Explore your passions. Learn who you are. Make mistakes—you are allowed to. Continue to surround yourself with loyal friends who know you, adore you and will fiercely protect you. Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight. Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter."

We watched them grow up, so we feel like we're entitled to an opinion about them. Newsflash: we're not. Their lives are not our business. I think we should follow the Bushes' lead. Let's let the girls grow into women. Let's let them live.

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14 celebrities who are smarter than all of us

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ashton KutcherThe INSIDER Summary:

  • There are celebrities whose intelligence and academic achievements may blow your mind.
  • Just because someone is a talented actor or model, doesn't mean they don't come with an impressive degree.
  • From Emma Watson to Ashton Kutcher, these are the celebrities who may actually be smarter than us all.

Are you smarter than a celebrity? Probably some of them, but there are definitely a group of actors whose intelligence and academic achievements would blow your mind. Here are some of the smartest celebrities around.

You can’t judge a book by its cover! Just because someone is a talented actor, model or singer doesn’t mean they can’t have other traits — like crazy IQs and impressive degrees. In fact some of our favorite stars are super geniuses! Check out the list to see which celebs are probably smarter than you. Some of them might seriously surprise you!

1. Emma Watson

"The Beauty and the Beast" star definitely has some brains to go with her looks! Emma graduated from Brown University in 2014 with a bachelor’s in English literature, studied at Oxford during undergrad, and is a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.



2. James Franco

James picks up college degrees like they are going out of style. Though he dropped out of UCLA during his freshman year, he went back 10 years later and graduated in two years, then attended NYU for filmmaking, Columbia University and Brooklyn College for fiction writing, Warren Wilson College in North Carolina for poetry, and earned his Ph.D. in English from Yale. Dayum, son!



3. Mayim Bialik

The "Big Bang Theory" star was accepted to Harvard and Yale, but chose to attend UCLA, where she received bachelor’s degrees in neuroscience and Hebrew and Jewish studies. Mayim put her studies on hold to pursue acting, but finished her Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2007.



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