Meet the Galway designer bringing African fashion to Brown Thomas – ‘I want to show the beauty that comes from the continent
For Galway fashion designer Virtue Shine, it all started with a rooftop party in New York.
The Barna-based designer moved to the Big Apple from Ghana in 1987, when she was 16, to live with her mother. 'It's very normal where I'm from that parents will move overseas and work hard and save money to bring their children over. It's the belief that a better education will set us up for life.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Harry Styles spotted enjoying Rome and Vatican with Belgian designer as ex-1D star continues love affair with Italy
HE has made no secret of his love for Italy – and now it seems Harry Styles is enjoying showing off his favourite spots there. The former One Direction singer was seen wandering through Vatican City and Rome with Belgian-Congolese designer Kim Mupangilai last Friday. 8 Harry Styles was seen wandering through Vatican City and Rome with Kim Mupangilai Credit: Instagram 8 Former 1D singer Harry has made no secret of his love for Italy Credit: Getty 8 Belgian-Congolese designer Kim Mupangilai Credit: Instagram Harry was seen walking in front of St Peter's Basilica with New York-based designer Kim, who has appeared on the cover of high-end interior mags. The pair were also spotted wandering through the back streets of Rome — with Harry carrying a bottle of wine. A source said: 'Harry loves nothing more than showing people his favourite spots in Italy. 'He also loves art and Kim has been a great source of inspiration.' Read more on Harry Styles Kim, who grew up in Antwerp, She also posted snaps of red peppers drying on a rooftop in Ravello on Italy's Amalfi Coast. It comes as Harry is rumoured to have fallen in love with the small Italian village of Civita di Bagnoregio. The Watermelon Sugar hitmaker spent the pandemic learning Italian and sign language. Most read in Bizarre During his final Love On Tour show in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in 2023, Harry thanked 120,000 fans in Italian. Speaking in their language, he said: 'The last two years of my life have been a wonderful gift and it is truly very special to end my tour here, in a country that has a special place in my heart.' Harry Styles' mystery woman revealed after Glastonbury snog - and she's VERY different to the women he's dated before In June, the singer was seen sharing a passionate kiss with producer Ella Kenny at Glastonbury Festival. It came after his relationship with actress Taylor Russell ended in May last year. He was seen kissing model Emily Ratajkowski on a night out in 2023 and has previously dated model Kendall Jenner, singer Taylor Swift and actress Olivia Wilde. Last month, Harry launched his own vibrating sex toy and lubricant through his lifestyle brand, Pleasing. Alongside his new passion as a tour guide, it seems that Harry has many strings to his bow. DUA RULES AT FEST 8 Dua Lipa performs at Sunny Hill Festival in Kosovo Credit: Supplied The annual event, which she organises with her family, also saw her sing on stage with her dad Dukagjin. Posting on Instagram, she wrote: 'This festival is something my family and I created with so much love for our city Pristina. 'And to see it come to life like this is beyond anything I could've dreamed of.' The New Rules hitmaker also revealed that she has been granted Kosovan citizenship. The singer was born in London to Kosovo-Albanian parents and briefly lived in Pristina when she was a child. Posting a number of snaps from the weekend, including a selfie with her certificate, she wrote: 'Got my Kosovo citizenship the night before then partied hard at Sunny Hill Festival the night after!!!' HEIDI READY FOR SUGA HIT ON TV 8 Heidi Range will recount her days in the pop group Sugababes Credit: Getty HEIDI RANGE is set to lift the lid on her tumultuous time in the Sugababes in explosive BBC documentary Girlbands Forever. The singer will sit down with interviewer A source close to the project, which follows last year's Boybands Forever, said: 'Heidi has never spoken about what went on. 'Louis reached out to her directly and she finally agreed to take part a couple of weeks ago. It was an emotional interview and one that viewers will want to watch.' Last year, the Sugababes were handed a gong at the Mobo Awards, but Heidi's mum hit out after her daughter was 'white-washed' from the nomination video. She wrote on Instagram: 'I can't believe the cheek of it. Sugababes didn't have a hit till Heidi joined. It is so false and disrespectful the way they are carrying on.' Mutya hit back: 'When I wasn't in the group and the girls was doing big things without me, do you think I was getting upset about not being mentioned?' A spokesman for the original trio declined to comment. Forget the Suga – things might be about to turn very sour again. GENT IS IN LOVE 8 Tom Rhys Harries and songwriter Amy Allen Credit: Getty THE Gentlemen actor Tom Rhys Harries has just landed the starring role in DC Studios' Clayface, the villain and ally of Batman. But I can reveal the Welsh hunk is also a leading man in American songwriter Amy Allen's life. The pair soft-launched their relationship on Instagram, with Grammy-winning songwriter Amy sharing snaps of their holiday to Spain. A source told me: 'Tom and Amy are in the honey-moon phase and are the new power couple in town. 'Tom is a rising star in the film industry and Amy has fast become the first person pop stars want to work with.' Earlier this year, Amy scooped the Grammy Award for Songwriter Of The Year – the first woman to win the gong since its introduction in 2023. Amy penned Sabrina Carpenter hit tracks Espresso and Please Please Please as well as co-writing Adore You and Matilda for Harry Styles. Sounds like Tom and Amy will make sweet music together. OLIVIA SHOWS METAL 8 Olivia Rodrigo dazzles in a sparkly silver halter neck corset and mini skirt Credit: Getty OLIVIA RODRIGO pulled off a dazzling performance at the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. The Good 4 U hitmaker wore a sparkly silver halter neck corset and mini skirt as she took to the stage on Friday. Sabrina Carpenter and A$AP ROCKY are set to top the bill at the festival tonight. In June, Olivia headlined Glastonbury, describing it as the 'best weekend there ever was'. I was there and can vouch for that. PUB JOB FOR SAM BEFORE rising to fame on Eurovision in 2022, Sam Ryder started out singing in boozers – and now he has been appointed Head of Gigs for Greene King Pubs to help support up-and-coming artists. Sam, who dropped new single The Feeling Never Went Away from his upcoming album Heartland on Friday, said: 'Pubs provided a place for me to actually learn how to play in front of people. 'Before the pub stage, you just played guitar in your bedroom as loud as it could go. 'At pubs, you got the chance to hone your craft and learn different songs, create a little catalogue, get the expertise of actually playing in front of people.' I couldn't agree more, Sam. CRUZ BECKHAM is taking his new band on tour next month, branding his indie music style as 'nepo rock'. Having assembled a group of musicians, David and Victoria's youngest son will start with a series of gigs in London pubs. 8 Cruz Beckham is taking his new band on tour next month Credit: Getty Confirming the news on Instagram, Cruz posted a video of him crooning to a Tom Petty cover, but added, 'Originals are coming soon', and 'Nepo rock is the new genre'. A source said: 'Cruz is determined to prove he can earn his crust on his own merit.' With the amount of celeb offspring in music, nepo rock could be here to stay . . .
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
MAFS star Shona Manderson, 32, shows off natural grey hair transformation as she embraces ‘her reality'
MARRIED At First Sight favourite Shona Manderson has revealed she's embraced her natural grey locks in a new hair transformation. The E4 star, who worked as a yoga teacher before finding fame on the matchmaking show, told how she was "trying to work with it & not against it" with regard to her silver shade. Advertisement 7 MAFS star Shona Manderson, 32, has showed off her natural grey hair transformation Credit: Instagram 7 The yoga teacher styled her shoulder locks poker straght Credit: Instagram 7 During her time on MAFS, she showcased caramel-coloured hair Credit: Instagram 7 During her time on the E4 series she styled her hair into natural waves Credit: Instagram , 32, married Brad Skelly on the reality series but their partnership was branded "unhealthy" by the Married At First Sight relationship experts. The on the show caused domestic abuse charity Women's Aid to speak out about . During her time on the show, she showcased caramel-coloured locks with blonde dipped highlights. Off air, Shona then found love with fellow MAFS UK star and 's TV husband Matt Pilmoor. Advertisement READ MORE MAFS On the reunion show earlier this year, she sported a lighter ashy blonde shade as Now she has revealed her full grey shoulder-length style. An Instagram post showcased her poker-straight locks from different angles, and in the caption she wrote: "24 hours getting used to my new hair eeek!! "Swipe all the way to the end for the before. @alicealiciahair. Advertisement Most read in Reality Exclusive Exclusive "This is my reality I have sooo many greys so I'm really trying to work with it & not against it. "We decided to go for the chop to get rid of the warmth and go more ashy then leaving my greys to blend." MAFS star rushes herself to hospital after pus begins oozing from her very puffed up eye Staying candid, she added: "It's taking me a while to get used to because I've never been this short or cool toned before but I love my little grey bits at the front sparkling through! Xoxo." Earlier this month, shew gave fans an update on her hair journey and said: "8 months of embracing being a grey haired girlie." Advertisement OPENING UP It came a year after she opted for a more natural look and dissolved her face fillers. The Nottingham-based screen star has kept fans in the loop with her journey and recently confided she was "stripping it all back so I can heal." Mafs couples that have stood the test of time Loved-up Tayah Victoria and Adam Aveling of series six fame had the first Mafs baby. The pair couldn't keep their hands off each other on the programme and quickly found their feet in the outside world, moving into Adam's Doncaster home. Just 18 months after meeting, the couple welcomed their daughter Beau. Season five couple Michelle Walder and Owen Jenkins also managed to make their marriage work away from the cameras and had their first child in December. Teacher Michelle, 29, has no regrets about taking part in the experiment. She told us: 'I just feel very lucky and thankful that it has worked out - and excited for everything to come.' Michelle and Owen were both sick of dating apps when they applied in 2019. Owen recalled: 'I had been out for some drinks with a friend after work. "While he was out for a cigarette I was scrolling on Instagram waiting for him to come back in. 'The MAFS advert was the last thing I saw, and I joked, 'Wouldn't it be funny if I signed up?' 'A few beers later when I was back at home I sent in the application, and the rest is history.' Another couple to make Mafs UK history is Zoe Clifton and Jenna Robinson. Despite a slight rocky start, where they clashed over Jenna's vegan lifestyle, the show's first same sex pairing are still going strong. They even have a successful podcast together called Life With a Pod. Jenna shed light on being involved in the show earlier this year when she told us: "We're not legally married, and I never felt like we were. I definitely feel the process makes you take the relationship a lot more seriously and having the help of the experts… if you can survive that process it sets a firm foundation for a long-lasting relationship." Shona added: "The no make-up thing as I've got older hasn't been a big thing for me because I'm not actually that good at make up to make myself look that different but no fake tan??? "I find that the hardest. It's how I felt at first when I dissolved my over done filler last year & got rid of my hair extensions. Advertisement "Sooo naked. But you're not naked, you're just you. It's about loving yourself through all stages. "I haven't even plucked my eyebrows or waxed my upper lip & it's not about letting myself go, it's about letting myself be. "It's all part of the healing. Unfiltered, unedited, unafraid with my lil greys, eczema & acne spots. We just keep on riding the wave." Her body confident approach comes after Advertisement 7 Shona has been on a mission to embrace her greys for the past year Credit: Instagram 7 Shona told how she was embracing 'her reality' Credit: Instagram 7 She has now found fame with fellow MAFS alum Matt Pilmoor Credit: Instagram
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Extra.ie
Woman who spent over €1m to shrink waist to 18 inches says she's 'not done yet'
A woman who admits to spending over a million pounds to get the smallest possible waist, says she is not finished yet, after spending the past two decades cinching her waist down to just 18 inches. Aleira Avendano, who is 33, says she has other plans for her body, adding that as well as managing to get her waist down to a tiny size, she has also had seven boob jobs. The Florida-based yoga instructor says she managed to achieve her tiny waist by wearing a corset, and is determined to beat the current record held by 86-year-old Cathie Yung, whose waist incredibly measures just 15 inches. Aleira's says her controversial methods have caused her internal organs to 'shift and adjust' to new spots within her body, but even with this, she says she is not ready to quit. She admits to finding clothes shopping a challenge as nothing fits properly, adding 'My sizes are unique, and I have naturally wide hips' – 'I have to have clothes custom-made '. Speaking to The Sun Newspaper Aleira says 'It's been a major investment – enhancements, treatments and healthy food, a huge commitment. Honestly, my body should be insured.' As well as spending over €1 million on achieving her tiny waist, Aleira has also spent almost half a million pounds sterling on cosmetic procedures and surgeries, including seven boob jobs, four nose jobs and getting new smile with veneers. She believes all women should have plastic surgery to become 'truly beautiful'. At the start of her journey to minimise her waist, Aleira wore a corset six hours a day, but she has now ramped this up to 23 hours, and admits that wearing a corset for that long every day comes with a host of issues, like breathing difficulties organ compression and muscle atrophy. However, the Venuzuelan-born model hasn't let any of this deter her and has launched her own brand of shapewear which she claims will help people to achieve her 'one of a kind look', and says her shapewear line will change many lives. Speaking about the reaction of the world to her story Aleira says, 'some follow me, some feel nervous, and others admire me or see my body as something crazy'. But she added that men 'can't get enough' of her 'exotic' figure.
