Reese Witherspoon Launches Hello Sunshine Sister Brand For Gen Z
Reese Witherspoon is having a busy week. The day after she announced a podcast deal with iHeartMedia for her monthly book club, she pulled back the curtain on Sunnie, a Gen Z-focused sister brand to her media juggernaut Hello Sunshine.
On stage at Cannes Lions on June 18, Witherspoon shared the vision for Sunnie, designed to inspire the next generation of young women through storytelling and experiences to reclaim their time, follow their curiosity and step into their power and guided by an advisory board of 20 teenage girls.
'It's been a dream of mine to build a space where young women can be the truest version of themselves,' said Witherspoon. 'We've discovered that young women are not defined by doom and gloom as they're often portrayed in media – they're complex, creative individuals with incredible agency. Sunnie will be a celebration of that spirit, giving them the tools and community to navigate life's challenges while embracing their authentic selves.'
Part of Candle Media, Hello Sunshine centers women in stories across platforms from scripted and unscripted television, feature films, animated series, podcasts, audio storytelling, and digital series, and is home to Reese's Book Club. Projects include 'The Morning Show,' 'Daisy Jones and the Six,' 'Little Fires Everywhere' and 'Big Little Lies.'
Sunnie, which aspires to 'build a community rooted in joy, curiosity, and real self-expression,' is launching with partner e.l.f. Beauty as its foundational partner and features collaborations out of the gate with Gen Z creators including Lana Condor and Hello Sunshine Collective talent Molly Carlson and Raegan Revord on topics including confidence and creative outlets to culture-driving trends, like fashion, entertainment, sports, STEM, and mental health.
Sunnie also has formed strategic alliances with organizations including AnitaB.org, Child Mind Institute, Être, Lyda Hill Philanthropies' IF/THEN Initiative, Step Up, the Women's Sports Foundation, and Purdue University as the official University Partner. To ground the platform in real insights, Hello Sunshine also partnered with Être and YPulse to commission a national research report titled The Gen Z Rewrite, which surveys 1,000 girls ages 13–18.
'Young women – despite the many pressures they face – are intentionally creating space for joy,' said Maureen polo, head of direct to consumer at Hello Sunshine. 'They're writing their own stories, setting boundaries, finding community, and embracing both digital and real-world connections on their terms. And yet, 75 percent say advertising rarely reflects how they actually talk, dress, or act — a clear signal that the industry still isn't truly seeing them. Sunnie will support and amplify these efforts, providing content, curriculum, and experiences that resonate with how they actually live their lives, not how adults assume they do.'
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Geek Girl Authority
43 minutes ago
- Geek Girl Authority
THE BUCCANEERS Season Premiere Recap: (S02E01) The Duchess of Tintagel
The Buccaneers Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel,' picks up where the Season 1 finale left off. It's a strong start to the season that answers a few questions, ties a couple of loose ends and presents new narrative threads. In true show fashion, it's delightfully messy and chock-full of delicious d-r-a-m-a. Sure, the dialogue is corny. But I wouldn't have it any other way. RELATED: Read our recap of The Buccaneers Season 2 finale, 'Wedding of the Season' The Buccaneers, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' We open with Nan (Kristine Frøseth) and Theo (Guy Remmers) emerging from the church after tying the knot. Patti (Christina Hendricks) and Tracy (Adam James) are in a panic, having learned that Nan's biological mother is there. They told Nan she was dead, but, you know, she's not. Meanwhile, Guy (Matthew Broome) and Jinny (Imogen Waterhouse) are in the carriage, putting as much distance between Jinny and the abusive POS Seadown as possible. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Patti barrels into the reception to find Nell (Leighton Meester), aka Nan's bio mom. You can cut the tension with a knife. Patti urges Nell to meet her outside so they can talk. Elsewhere, Nan, like Patti, is also in panic mode. Conchita (Alisha Boe) comforts her friend. She reassures Nan that she did the right thing, sending Jinny away. They're soon joined by the Elmsworth sisters, Lizzy (Aubri Ibrag) and Mabel (Josie Totah). Our four Buccaneers hold hands as they forge ahead, making a beeline for the wedding reception. The Truth Inside the party, Nan locks eyes with Theo. However, instead of approaching her new husband, she flees. Outside, Nan bursts into tears. It's all too much — the secret of helping Jinny escape, her love for Guy. The Dowager Duchess of Tintagel (Amelia Bullmore) finds Nan among the trees. She reveals that attendees are asking why the bride is MIA. Nan claims she can't live a lie. She must tell Theo the truth about Jinny. RELATED: 10 Questions We Need Answered in The Buccaneers Season 2 The Dowager reminds Nan about their arrangement. She vowed to protect Jinny in exchange for Nan marrying her son. Oh, and she wouldn't disclose Nan's infidelity to Theo, or with whom Nan was in bed. What a thing to hold over someone's head. The Dowager urges Nan to get back to the reception and perform her duchess duties. Meanwhile, Theo asks Lizzy if she's seen Nan. Is it just me, or is there chemistry between these two? I see something brewing. Anyway, Lizzy glances at a man named Hector Robinson (Jacob Ifan), and they get their silent flirt on. Theo tells Lizzy about Hector, playing the matchmaker. We've Had Fun Elsewhere, Lord and Lady Brightlingsea (Anthony Calf and Fenella Woolgar) break away from the wedding party for a spell. Lord Brightlingsea not-so-subtly hints at his desire for some sexy times. However, we know he's terminally ill, and at this moment, he's struck by a wave of weakness. He decides to lie down instead. Lady Brightlingsea cries once he leaves the room. RELATED: 7 Questions We'll Never Get Answered in The Great Season 4 Later, Mabel and Honoria (Mia Threapleton) share a dance outside. Mabel apologizes for Honoria's sick father. They chat about Mabel dropping everything to be with Honoria. She cast aside an engagement for true love. I hope nothing tears these two apart. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Next, Patti introduces Nan to Nell, claiming the latter is the former's aunt. Nell just hasn't been involved with the family for, well, 19 years. Nell and Nan reunite outside during one of Nan's panic attacks. She tells who she believes is her aunt about the Jinny situation. Nan didn't marry for love. Nell essentially advises Nan to accept her situation and move forward. This is the bed she's made. Nan must lie in it. Plus, Jinny is safe now, and Theo loves Nan. Sex on the Beach Then, Theo finds Nan with Nell. The newlyweds walk to the beach, holding hands. Just when we think Nan will divulge the Jinny situation, she pivots, per the Dowager's instructions. She tells Theo the best decision she's made thus far is marrying him. They have sex on the beach. Nan thinks about Guy. Oof. RELATED: Read our Bridgerton recaps Afterward, Nan reveals the truth about Jinny's escape. Theo is supportive. He didn't know Seadown was such an a-hole. Theo still doesn't know about Nan and Guy sleeping together … the night before. Elsewhere, Patti and Nell have it out. Patti tells Nell about her desire to divorce Tracy. We learn that Nell is Patti's sister, so if Nan were Patti's biological daughter, Nell would be her aunt. However, while Patti was nursing baby Jinny, Tracy threw himself on Nell, impregnating her. Nell reminds Patti that she took Nan away from her. She didn't get to spend any time with her daughter. Not to mention, she was younger than Nan when Tracy approached her. Patti asserts they must keep this aspect of the lie in the dark. Nan must not know. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Not Content on the Sidelines Outside, the titular Buccaneers light a lantern for Jinny. The views are stunning. We see Guy staring at the same Moon as Nan. Jinny sleeps beside him in the carriage. The following day, Theo lets Nan sleep in. Patti visits Nell in her room. She apologizes to Nell. She shouldn't have blamed Nell for Tracy's inability to control himself. Patti regrets not protecting her little sister. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: The Buccaneers ' Lizzy Elmsworth Then, Patti invites Nell to Thanksgiving. She should be involved in Nan and Jinny's lives. However, Nell isn't so sure she wants that. She's met Nan. Nan has her smile. Nell doesn't want to be sidelined as the 'aunt.' Perhaps it's best to cut ties. Meester is excellent in these scenes. Meanwhile, Nan's maids greet her with a 'Your Grace' before dressing her for the day. She is the Duchess of Tintagel, after all. At the same time, Conchita and Dicky (Josh Dylan) ride their carriage back to London. Financially, they're in dire straits. Conchita's father gambled away the family fortune, and with Dicky's dying father, they're poised to become Lord and Lady Brightlingsea. This includes ownership of Dicky's mother, sister and all their debts. Conchita vows to look at the books. Perhaps they can trim the financial fat, as it were. Making New Friends Then, a maid fits Nan for her gown for Lady Hadstock's Black-and-White Ball. This will be Nan's duchess debut. Nan continues to press about her sister. Is Jinny okay? The Dowager insists she has the situation under control. RELATED: Read our Dickinson recaps Conchita looks through the books and sighs. There's not a lot of monetary wiggle room. After this, Conchita meets Mrs. Merrigan (Amanda Bright) and her daughter, Cora (Maria Almeida). They're here for the London season to snag a lord or duke for Cora. Conchita recognizes the Merrigan surname — it's a well-known store in New York. However, in London, Mrs. Merrigan and her daughter are regarded more like grocers. Side note: I love Conchita's look in this scene. Conchita quickly befriends the Merrigans. Next, Dicky brings his parents and sister together for a chat. It's time to air their grievances. Lady Brightlingsea wishes Seadown were here because he would at least hand her a sherry. Good times. Elsewhere, Lizzy runs into Hector, who's waiting outside the Marable house. Lizzy and Mabel are staying with Conchita and Dicky. Mabel watches her sister get her flirt on with Hector from the window. Hector asks Lizzy if she plans to attend the Black-and-White Ball. And if so, if she'd spare him a dance. My girl Lizzy deserves to be happy. Let her be happy! RELATED: TV Review: The Serpent Queen Season 2 Conchita Saves the Day Then, Conchita rejoins her in-laws with her financial findings. Could they perhaps sell the beach house? Sell the horses? Put some paintings up for auction? Lord and Lady Brightlingsea shoot all these ideas down. Lord Brightlingsea wonders if they could give a few tenants the boot. Conchita and Dicky despise this, but something in her father-in-law's words gives her an idea. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Later, Patti and Nell decide to head back to America. Patti gives Nell Tracy's boat ticket. Oops. She still plans to divorce him. Nan asks Nell about her falling out with Patti. When did they stop talking? As it turns out, 19 years ago. Nan is 19 years old. She silently puts two and two together. After Nell and Patti depart in a carriage, Nan informs her dad that she'll arrange a carriage for him as well and buy him a new boat ticket. Nan definitely knows the truth now. RELATED: 15 Song Covers We Want to Hear on Bridgerton A Suspicious Coat Conchita and Dicky meet with Mrs. Merrigan and Cora. The plan is for Conchita to become Cora's mentor and teacher. Dicky reassures the Merrigans that Cora will find no finer an instructor than Conchita. And since the Merrigans are rich, the Marables are charging them. Perhaps this will help turn the financial tide for them. Meanwhile, Theo finds Guy's coat with his stitched handkerchief in one of the pockets. Suspicious. The Dowager reminds her son that Guy Thwarte has spent more time in this castle than he has. It's also entirely possible that Guy has more than one coat. Theo acknowledges that his mother is right. Girl, all the red flags are waving in front of your face. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Dead or Mad? Nan reads the newspaper and discovers Jinny is the hot topic of discussion. 'Lady Seadown Still Missing: Dead or Mad?' is emblazoned in bold, black letters on the front page. Uh-oh. Outside, Seadown himself (Barney Fishwick) confronts Nan, demanding to know where his wife is. Nan claims ignorance. Seadown threatens her, grabbing Nan's arm. He declares he'll find Jinny and apologize for 'how she felt.' Ew. Oh, and he'll give Jinny Nan's regards. RELATED: TV Review: My Lady Jane Season 1 Nan barges back into the castle and tells the Dowager about Seadown confronting her. He's actively looking for Jinny. And now that she's on the front page of every newspaper, he'll most certainly find her. The Dowager reminds Nan about the news cycle. The media will inevitably forget Jinny and move on to the next newsworthy thing. Speaking of Jinny, she and Guy pose as a couple while checking into a hotel room. A woman, Paloma Ballardino (Grace Ambrose), shows them to their oceanfront room. It looks like paradise. THE BUCCANEERS Season 2 Episode 1, 'The Duchess of Tintagel' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Duchess Dazzles in Red Nan gets ready for the impending ball. Upon her arrival, the Duchess of Tintagel dazzles in deep crimson. She takes Nell's advice, in a way, to paint that castle red. Her gown and makeup are a bit anachronistic, but she still looks stunning. It's enough to draw attention away from Jinny. The next day, we see the headline, 'Duchess Dazzles in Red.' Even Guy reads the paper and smiles. See, kids. Fashion saves! RELATED: Read our recaps of The Buccaneers The Buccaneers drops new episodes every Wednesday on Apple TV+. Hair and Makeup Artist Jacquetta Levon Talks Incorporating Reality and Fantasy for THE SERPENT QUEEN Contact: [email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Fast Company
an hour ago
- Fast Company
‘Lord of the Rings' director Peter Jackson on the storytelling potential of Colossal Biosciences
At first glance, the pairing of Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson and Colossal Biosciences founder and CEO Ben Lamm is a bit odd. When it's onstage at the world's largest gathering of brands and marketers, it gets even more confusing. But Jackson has been a major investor in Colossal since last year, and he and Lamm were at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity to talk to Chaka Sobhani, president and global chief creative officer at ad agency DDB Worldwide, for a conversation that aimed to find common ground in the creative challenge between Middle Earth and IRL. Colossal, of course, made headlines in April for revealing its first de-extinction project, reintroducing the world's first dire wolf in 10,000 years. After the stage presentation, Jackson told Fast Company that Colossal has significant storytelling potential, particularly in sparking interest and engagement on issues like environmental conservation. 'It's stimulating curiosity, that's the most important thing,' says Jackson. I grew up imagining all sorts of things, imagining flying cars, imagining a woolly mammoth. And the phones, social media, and everything else have the danger of deadening imagination. And so I think that this is an opportunity.' Jackson has had some significant input in how Colossal tells its stories. Lamm says that just before the dire wolf announcement, Jackson had a suggestion: 'He told me, 'When you announce this, you need to show the world the dire wolf howls, because it's the first time in 10,000 years anyone's ever heard that.' That just made it so much better.' Lamm says Jackson is an active investor. The director and his wife Fran Walsh invested $10 million into the company in October 2024. 'Peter gives us a lot of advice,' says Lamm. 'Peter connects us to a lot of people in the world, including George RR Martin. Even though he didn't make dire wolves, he made them famous. Peter actually wants to be involved. It's not about writing a check and then move on to the next deal. They're true partners.' Jackson believes the real power is in the company's potential impact on conservation. 'It's not just de-extinction, which is obviously exciting, but it's also conservation,' says Jackson. 'It's saving species that are really endangered now, and using the technology that these guys have developed to create a larger gene pool, for example, the white rhino. There's only two left.' The most common criticism Jackson hears about Colossal is that it should be spending its time and research on currently endangered species instead of de-extinction. 'Well, you can actually do both,' he says. Both Lamm and Jackson say the de-extinction projects are what get people excited and interested in everything else the company does. Come for the dire wolf, stay for the red wolf. In April, Lamm told the Most Innovative Companies podcast that Colossal had cloned four red wolves that will be able to join the 15 left on earth. 'The red wolf project, to me, is as magical as the dire wolf,' he said. Though sometimes even Jackson gets nervous. 'I was nervous about the woolly mouse,' he says. The company spent 2.5 years editing mammoth genes, then applied its work to mice rather than trying to create a creature that has been extinct for thousands of years. 'It's an important part of their research on the way to a mammoth, but I was saying, 'Do you really want to release it to the public?' Because it could play to people's idea of genetic engineering. It's like your Frankenstein. I was nervous about that.' Lamm says the point of the woolly mice was to transparently show the process toward a full woolly mammoth. It's not taking woolly mammoth genes with 200 million years of genetic divergence and ramming it into a mouse. This is part of a gradual road map. 'Peter brought his concerns to me, but we just feel that if we're doing radical things, we still need to be radically transparent,' says Lamm. 'To Peter's point, while some people could be like, 'Oh, why are they making woolly mice?' We thought it was important to educate the public on this is the process of science, and this is also how we ethically get to a mammoth.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Lorde's 'Man Of The Year' TikTok trend and why Gen Z copes with humor
Lorde's 'Man Of The Year' TikTok trend and why Gen Z copes with humor Lorde's 'Man Of The Year,' a song about gender identity, is trending on TikTok for an unexpected reason: Gen Z creators are posting videos sharing their negative experiences with their ex-boyfriends over the track. Thousands of videos listed under the song ironically make fun of something a man did wrong over the song from Lorde's upcoming album, 'Virgin.' 'Got me pregnant at freshly 20 yrs old. Promised me everything. Left me a month after finding out. Blocked me and everyone I know on everything. Got with a new girl. And still doesn't care how it all affects me or his baby,' one user wrote over a viral June 7 video posted to the song. More than 63,000 posts are listed under the hashtag #manoftheyear. Many feature photo sliders of screenshotted text messages from relationships gone wrong. Creators shared videos about pregnancy horror stories, infidelity and threats of domestic violence, opening up a conversation about how young people use humor as a coping mechanism to talk about traumatic events. The trend's popularity eventually led Lorde herself to respond. 'These messages...' she captioned a June 11 TikTok video of her eyes widening in reference to the trend. Is Gen Z sad? Study shows they're more open about struggles with mental health Gen Z is more open about mental health than past generations When asked to describe their current mental health or well-being, just 15% of members of Gen Z polled said it was excellent in a 2023 study by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation. Gen Zers report having experienced negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and loneliness, the study said, and 47% of those polled said they are thriving in their lives right now – a figure among the lowest across all generations in the U.S. today. That's a big decline compared to a decade ago, when 52% of millennials in that same age range said their mental health was excellent, the study noted. And in 2004, 55% of people aged 18 to 26, including both millennials and Gen X respondents, reported excellent mental health. Ryan Jenkins, a bestselling author who has written extensively on Gen Z and millennials, previously told USA TODAY that social media for better or worse has given Gen Z "a platform for their voices from day one to be heard and outspoken." He says technology has in many ways given Gen Z "an overstimulation" that no other generation has had to deal with. Gen Z uses humor to cope The trend provides insight into how young people use social media and humor to cope with relationship trauma. Creators used the trend to share their experiences with racism, unwanted attention or aggressive voicemails and inappropriate responses from men regarding family deaths. 'Get over yourself. I never loved you. Never have, never will,' one screenshot of texts from the trend read. Another featured a man yelling at his girlfriend of three years regarding her recent miscarriage. Variants of the trend also touched on body shaming. One woman shared, 'I was sleeping at my boyfriend's house and it got hot so I took my clothes off and he told me to put them back on cus my body is gross.' In a May 15 Rolling Stone cover story interview, Lorde opened up how recovering from an eating disorder, healing from a break up and reflecting on her gender identity inspired the song. Users were quick to point out the paradox of straight women using a song about gender fluidity to talk about their ex boyfriends. 'I'm so sick and tired of the man of the year trend where straight women dunk on their ex cishet bfs when the song is literally about being nonbinary/gnc and it's directed to the self,' one user posted on TikTok. 'Sometimes a song is not about you!' But songs have all kinds of meanings for people, and evidently this struck a chord. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok have changed the way young people talk about their mental health. And whereas the cultural norm on Instagram is a more polished aesthetic, TikTok's trend-driven community feels more informal and prioritizes user engagement, creating a fertile environment for personal moments to go viral. When the comment sections on users' videos are filled with support, it builds a sense of solidarity and peer connection. Humor is an extremely useful and common coping strategy that can help some process such a heavy and traumatic event, according to Marni Amsellem, a licensed psychologist. For others, it can lighten the emotional severity of the trauma as well. According to Jean Twenge, author of "iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood," Gen Z is more pessimistic than millennials, which might explain their inclination toward dark humor, a "type of humor you have when you're feeling negative emotions." For Gen Z, it's another example of using online spaces to widen the conversation about mental health. And mental health experts agree that's a good thing. Terry Collins and Jenna Ryu contributed to this report. Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at rhale@ and @rachelleighhale on X.
