Latest news with #BarbieDreamhouse
Scottish Sun
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Who is Paige Williams (aka P.Louise) and what is the make-up entrepreneur's net worth?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PAIGE WILLIAMS is the founder and CEO of a viral beauty brand and make-up academy. After building her empire from the ground up, she's secured her spot as one of the nation's wealthiest 40-under-40 on this year's Rich List. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Paige Williams is the founder of a viral UK beauty brand Credit: Instagram/plouise1 3 Having grown up on a Manchester council estate, Paige is now worth £100million. Credit: Instagram/plouise1 Who is Paige Williams? Born to a 16-year-old mum and raised on a council estate in Manchester, Paige spent most of her childhood helping her mum care for her five brothers, and left school with no qualifications. Although her brand is now best-known for scroll-stopping products like their bestselling Rumour Base, Paige started at the age of 20 as a side hustle, working as a freelance bridal make-up artist and training others alongside a retail job. As she worked tirelessly building her academy- often spending 17 hours a day working - she started to notice gaps in the beauty industry. "I was using these products each and every day and seeing so many missing items," Paige told Grazia in an interview. "The cost of many of the products was incredibly high, too." "Alongside this, the eye base I was using daily was being discontinued - so I created my own. And that's the base that you see today." Over her nine years in business under the name, she's skyrocketed to success. Since those humble beginnings earning under £600 per month at Selfridges, Paige, now 31, has amassed a net worth of £100million. The story behind the brand Come 2018, Paige - equipped with years of experience as a make-up artist, her recently-created eyeshadow base, and a £20,000 loan from her grandmother - created the brand as we know it today. In their first year of business, the brand brought in an impressive £6million - and in 2024, the brand broke records by making £1.5million in just 12 hours on a TikTok Shop Live. Now, has a home office, cafe, and a shop in Stockport - all done up in the same pastel pink shades and whimsical Barbie Dreamhouse style seen in each product's packaging. 3 is best known for its viral Rumour Base primer Credit: Instagram/plouise1 'I went from council estate to a cosmetic kingdom,' Paige wrote in a post on her Instagram page. With her brand going from strength to strength, Paige has made providing affordable and accessible beauty products and giving back a priority - both to her family, and to those who come from similar underprivileged backgrounds. "'I think that a huge amount of the brand vision came from this place and the things I missed out on," Paige said to Grazia. "On a personal level, I wanted to almost create a childhood for myself that I never had. But above all else, I wanted to create memories for people that I never got to make." In addition to starting a six-week Kids Eat for Free scheme for local families over the summer holidays, Paige has also been able to help her hardworking mum leave her job as an ICU nurse, providing her with a higher salary and flexibility. "I gave her a new salary of £42,000 with the option to work her own hours around my brothers," Paige shared with The Daily Mail. "It was the best decision I've ever made. Being surrounded by a happy family is so important."
Scottish Sun
27-04-2025
- Scottish Sun
The beautiful hotel that's the UK's oldest convent with a secret chapel – and nuns still live there
SECRET STAY The beautiful hotel that's the UK's oldest convent with a secret chapel – and nuns still live there TUCKED away in York is the oldest convent in the UK - and you can spend the night. The Bar Convent has been used as a place of worship, a school for girls, and has since turned into a heritage site, café and guest house, but is still home to 30 nuns. Advertisement 4 Visitors say the chapel is one of the most beautiful places in the convent Credit: Alamy 4 There's also an on-site café for visitors and the guest house offers breakfast Credit: Alamy The Bar Convent first opened in 1686 and is the oldest surviving convent in the British Isles. Interestingly when it opened, the law in England prevented Catholic convents, so it was established and operated in secret. The convent was later set up as a boarding school for girls, and the women working there faced religious discrimination for years. Many years later during World War II, the convent was struck by bomb which destroyed the East Wing. Advertisement You can still see the changes in the brickwork from where the building was repaired later on. The Grade I listed buildings were renovated in 2015, and on-site now is a museum, café, meeting rooms and a guest house. While it operates as a spot for tourists to visit, the Bar Convent is still home to around 30 nuns. For anyone wanting to stay at the Bar Convent Guest House, there are 22 rooms to choose from. Advertisement Each is very modern, and they vary in size from a single room to doubles, family room, and superior rooms. Prices for a stay start from £77 for bed and breakfast. The family-friendly hotel in south east England with five pools and 200 activities 4 Visitors often pop in for coffee and cake Credit: Barconvent The on-site cafe is open to visitors and they offer a fresh daily selection of homemade soup, cakes and scones, with sandwiches made to order and a specials board. Advertisement The Bar Convent's close proximity to the centre of York and rich history means it's popular with visitors for an overnight stay or just a flying visit. On Tripadvisor, one guest wrote: "The secret chapel is a beautiful retreat" with others saying it's a "real hidden gem" and "extraordinary". Another added: "The nuns who don't wear habits are around but in no way intrusive. But do remember that it's their home as well." With such a rich history the convent also has exhibitions where visitors can see artefacts of previous convent residents. Advertisement They also have a tour every Wednesday and Friday with a guide who will explain the story of the sisters. Here are some of the cheapest five-star hotels around the world where rooms are as little as £22. Plus, some of the world's craziest hotel from Flintstones-caves to a Barbie Dreamhouse. Where To Go On A Trip To York Sun Travel took a trip to York - and here's where you should visit when you go to the ancient city... At 233ft tall and dating back to the 7th century, York Minster is an absolute must-see. It's so beautiful, it's no surprise Ellie Goulding got married here in 2019. Be sure to climb the 275 steps of the tower's super-narrow spiral staircase for 360-degree views of the city. Minster and tower entry costs £22 ( Meanwhile, no one can visit York's Roman streets and Viking alleyways without wandering down The Shambles, the 14th-century, shop-lined, cobblestoned street with striking similarities to Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. You'll likely see at least one person brandishing a wand and casting spells. Later, hop on a self-drive boat along the river Ouse to admire the city from the water, from £35 an hour for up to eight people ( York has a whopping 365 pubs, which may be a few too many for one weekend (we tried). But House of Trembling Madness should be high up your hit list. Expect a huge collection of beers – seek out the Northern Monk Eternal IPA, £4.50 – and mega sharing boards of local treats, such as pork pies, smoked ham, cheeses, chutney and artisan bread, from £8.50 ( Cocktail addict? Stop by The Fossgate Social – by day, a cute coffee shop; come evening, a bar serving top-notch espresso martinis, £8, and an excellent playlist ( Walking the full loop of the city's medieval ramparts takes two hours, but hidden gems lie just outside them. For beautiful and sustainable homeware, hit Snow Home ( and Heima ( on Gillygate. Sun shining? Hunt out Love Cheese's secret garden with its delectable selections served alongside wine ( Melton's serves up the likes of Orkney scallop with Crown Prince squash and venison loin in an intimate setting with the friendliest staff. Meanwhile, sustainable restaurant Forage has a huge array of delicious small plates, and nothing goes to waste. 4 The Bar Convent is on the outskirts of York city centre Credit: Alamy
The Sun
27-04-2025
- The Sun
The beautiful hotel that's the UK's oldest convent with a secret chapel – and nuns still live there
TUCKED away in York is the oldest convent in the UK - and you can spend the night. The Bar Convent has been used as a place of worship, a school for girls, and has since turned into a heritage site, café and guest house, but is still home to 30 nuns. 4 4 The Bar Convent first opened in 1686 and is the oldest surviving convent in the British Isles. Interestingly when it opened, the law in England prevented Catholic convents, so it was established and operated in secret. The convent was later set up as a boarding school for girls, and the women working there faced religious discrimination for years. Many years later during World War II, the convent was struck by bomb which destroyed the East Wing. You can still see the changes in the brickwork from where the building was repaired later on. The Grade I listed buildings were renovated in 2015, and on-site now is a museum, café, meeting rooms and a guest house. While it operates as a spot for tourists to visit, the Bar Convent is still home to around 30 nuns. For anyone wanting to stay at the Bar Convent Guest House, there are 22 rooms to choose from. Each is very modern, and they vary in size from a single room to doubles, family room, and superior rooms. Prices for a stay start from £77 for bed and breakfast. The family-friendly hotel in south east England with five pools and 200 activities 4 The on-site cafe is open to visitors and they offer a fresh daily selection of homemade soup, cakes and scones, with sandwiches made to order and a specials board. The Bar Convent's close proximity to the centre of York and rich history means it's popular with visitors for an overnight stay or just a flying visit. On Tripadvisor, one guest wrote: "The secret chapel is a beautiful retreat" with others saying it's a "real hidden gem" and "extraordinary". Another added: "The nuns who don't wear habits are around but in no way intrusive. But do remember that it's their home as well." With such a rich history the convent also has exhibitions where visitors can see artefacts of previous convent residents. They also have a tour every Wednesday and Friday with a guide who will explain the story of the sisters. Here are some of the cheapest five-star hotels around the world where rooms are as little as £22. Plus, some of the world's craziest hotel from Flintstones-caves to a Barbie Dreamhouse. Where To Go On A Trip To York Sun Travel took a trip to York - and here's where you should visit when you go to the ancient city... At 233ft tall and dating back to the 7th century, York Minster is an absolute must-see. It's so beautiful, it's no surprise Ellie Goulding got married here in 2019. Be sure to climb the 275 steps of the tower's super-narrow spiral staircase for 360-degree views of the city. Minster and tower entry costs £22 ( Meanwhile, no one can visit York's Roman streets and Viking alleyways without wandering down The Shambles, the 14th-century, shop-lined, cobblestoned street with striking similarities to Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. You'll likely see at least one person brandishing a wand and casting spells. Later, hop on a self-drive boat along the river Ouse to admire the city from the water, from £35 an hour for up to eight people ( York has a whopping 365 pubs, which may be a few too many for one weekend (we tried). But House of Trembling Madness should be high up your hit list. Expect a huge collection of beers – seek out the Northern Monk Eternal IPA, £4.50 – and mega sharing boards of local treats, such as pork pies, smoked ham, cheeses, chutney and artisan bread, from £8.50 ( Cocktail addict? Stop by The Fossgate Social – by day, a cute coffee shop; come evening, a bar serving top-notch espresso martinis, £8, and an excellent playlist ( Walking the full loop of the city's medieval ramparts takes two hours, but hidden gems lie just outside them. For beautiful and sustainable homeware, hit Snow Home ( and Heima ( on Gillygate. Sun shining? Hunt out Love Cheese's secret garden with its delectable selections served alongside wine ( Melton's serves up the likes of Orkney scallop with Crown Prince squash and venison loin in an intimate setting with the friendliest staff. Meanwhile, sustainable restaurant Forage has a huge array of delicious small plates, and nothing goes to waste. 4
Axios
09-04-2025
- Business
- Axios
Google touts AI's real-world business model
Google used its Cloud Next conference in Las Vegas this week to show how its AI tools are helping customers make faster, smarter decisions at a time when many companies are still struggling to figure out how to use the tech effectively. Why it matters: Tech companies have poured billions into generative AI while many of their enterprise customers have yet to identify problems the technology is ready to solve today. Driving the news: In addition to introducing a bevy of new products and services, Google is detailing its work with more than 500 customers as part of a push to show that AI is ready to do real work. Zoom in: One of those companies is Mattel, which last year used Google's BigQuery AI tool to quickly understand why its latest Barbie Dreamhouse was getting negative feedback. Google's AI tools helped Mattel solve a problem involving Barbie's elevator door getting stuck. The toy was already on store shelves, but thanks to the AI, Mattel was able to fix things within the same production run by tweaking the way the product was packaged, handled and assembled. "By the time we had to replenish [store shelves], we had already made the change," Joseph Vinhais, Mattel senior VP of quality, safety and sustainability, told Axios. The star rating went up, and customers could see that the company was listening, Vinhais said. Zoom out: Google also used its Cloud Next conference to announce a variety of new products and updates, including its latest AI chip — the TPUv7 — and debuted A2A, its proposal for a protocol that would help AI agents from different companies talk to one another. In Google Workspace, businesses will be able to get natural-sounding AI-generated audio summaries from Google Docs and insights from Sheets without using prompts. Google DeepMind also released the latest version of AlphaFold for broader research use, though it's still limited to noncommercial applications. Among Google's many partner announcements was that Gemini will be a part of Samsung's Ballie, a home robot due out this summer. The big picture: Google and rivals such as Microsoft and OpenAI are eager to prove that their AI tools are not just powerful, but can deliver real business value today.
