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Miami Herald
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
China's Single Men Turn to ‘Dating Camps' To Find Love
The growing popularity of dating coaches in the U.S. has taken root in China, where men from humble beginnings are trying a new way to improve their odds as marriage rates plummet nationwide. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry with an emailed request for comment outside of office hours. China has an enormous gender imbalance, with roughly 30 million more men than women-a legacy of the decades-long one-child policy and long-standing cultural preference for sons. Meanwhile, many young workers face grueling hours, stagnant wages and fierce jobs competition, leaving little time or energy for family life. Marriage registrations last year were down over 20 percent from 2023 and 54 percent from 2013. Marriages are a strong predictor of births in China, where few children are born out of wedlock-prompting concern over the long-term economic impacts as the birth rate trends downward. Chinese men are traditionally expected to provide a dowry, and often to own their own home and vehicle, before securing a marriage. As women achieve higher levels of education and professional success, the bar continues to rise-leaving many men feeling they simply cannot compete. The challenge is even greater for rural men who move to the cities, according to the dating coach known as Hao, who has become one of the country's most popular advisers on the topic. Hao claims to have worked with more than 3,000 clients, and says as many as 500 have successfully married after participating in his programs. Hao leads students through weeklong "dating camps," a practice highlighted in Dating Game, a documentary by Emmy-winning filmmaker Violet Du Feng released earlier this year. The film follows three students-Li, 24, Zhou, 36, and Wu, 27-all born during the one-child policy era, which ended in 2016. The men undergo "glow ups" under Hao's tutelage, receiving not only new haircuts and optimized social media personas but also strategies for connecting with women both off and online. Not every participant is comfortable with this curated approach. "I feel guilty deceiving others," Hao says in the film. Director Du Feng told the BBC that while Dating Game takes place in China, it reflects a universal struggle: "In this digital landscape, we're all struggling and wrestling with the price of being fake in the digital world, and then the cost that we have to pay to be authentic and honest." Filmmaker VioletDu Feng told Variety: "This generation of young men are being punished again and again and again at the cost of the country's development... They grew up without proper parenting. They grew up without access to girls." Zheng Mu, a sociology professor at the National University of Singapore, told the BBC: "In China, marriage or the ability, financially and socially, to get married as the primary breadwinner, is still largely expected from men." She said that failing to meet these expectations "can be a social stigma, indicating they're not capable and deserving of the role, which leads to great pressures and mental strains." Xiujian Peng, a senior research fellow at Victoria University's Centre of Policy Studies in Melbourne, previously told Newsweek: "Younger generations work so hard, they have little flexibility to raise a large family. Attitudes about having children or even marrying have changed. Women's education levels are now higher than men's on average, and many women prioritize career development over starting larger families." The United Nations projects that China's population-now about 1.4 billion-could shrink to less than 800 million by 2100 if current trends persist. Central and local governments continue to introduce new measures aimed at encouraging young people to start families. Related Articles China Reveals Encounter With Western Aircraft Carrier in Contested WatersChina and US Ally in Maritime Confrontation Near Disputed TerritoryUS Ally Calls China Greatest ThreatChina Reacts As Russia Floats New Geopolitical Power Bloc With India 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
China's Single Men Turn to 'Dating Camps' To Find Love
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The growing popularity of dating coaches in the U.S. has taken root in China, where men from humble beginnings are trying a new way to improve their odds as marriage rates plummet nationwide. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese foreign ministry with an emailed request for comment outside of office hours. Why It Matters China has an enormous gender imbalance, with roughly 30 million more men than women—a legacy of the decades-long one-child policy and long-standing cultural preference for sons. Meanwhile, many young workers face grueling hours, stagnant wages and fierce jobs competition, leaving little time or energy for family life. Marriage registrations last year were down over 20 percent from 2023 and 54 percent from 2013. Marriages are a strong predictor of births in China, where few children are born out of wedlock—prompting concern over the long-term economic impacts as the birth rate trends downward. Two young men sit on a staircase beneath Chinese national flags during the National Day Golden Week holiday on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, China. Two young men sit on a staircase beneath Chinese national flags during the National Day Golden Week holiday on October 5, 2024, in Chongqing, To Know Chinese men are traditionally expected to provide a dowry, and often to own their own home and vehicle, before securing a marriage. As women achieve higher levels of education and professional success, the bar continues to rise—leaving many men feeling they simply cannot compete. The challenge is even greater for rural men who move to the cities, according to the dating coach known as Hao, who has become one of the country's most popular advisers on the topic. Hao claims to have worked with more than 3,000 clients, and says as many as 500 have successfully married after participating in his programs. Hao leads students through weeklong "dating camps," a practice highlighted in Dating Game, a documentary by Emmy-winning filmmaker Violet Du Feng released earlier this year. The film follows three students—Li, 24, Zhou, 36, and Wu, 27—all born during the one-child policy era, which ended in 2016. The men undergo "glow ups" under Hao's tutelage, receiving not only new haircuts and optimized social media personas but also strategies for connecting with women both off and online. Not every participant is comfortable with this curated approach. "I feel guilty deceiving others," Hao says in the film. Director Du Feng told the BBC that while Dating Game takes place in China, it reflects a universal struggle: "In this digital landscape, we're all struggling and wrestling with the price of being fake in the digital world, and then the cost that we have to pay to be authentic and honest." What People Are Saying Filmmaker Violet Du Feng told Variety: "This generation of young men are being punished again and again and again at the cost of the country's development... They grew up without proper parenting. They grew up without access to girls." Zheng Mu, a sociology professor at the National University of Singapore, told the BBC: "In China, marriage or the ability, financially and socially, to get married as the primary breadwinner, is still largely expected from men." She said that failing to meet these expectations "can be a social stigma, indicating they're not capable and deserving of the role, which leads to great pressures and mental strains." Xiujian Peng, a senior research fellow at Victoria University's Centre of Policy Studies in Melbourne, previously told Newsweek: "Younger generations work so hard, they have little flexibility to raise a large family. Attitudes about having children or even marrying have changed. Women's education levels are now higher than men's on average, and many women prioritize career development over starting larger families." What Happens Next The United Nations projects that China's population—now about 1.4 billion—could shrink to less than 800 million by 2100 if current trends persist. Central and local governments continue to introduce new measures aimed at encouraging young people to start families.
Elle
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Exclusive: Lindsay Lohan Fronts Her First Old Navy Campaign
Like any good millennial, Lindsay Lohan has an Old Navy commercial that's permanently wedged into her subconscious. That would be the Dating Game parody promoting the brand's low-rise jeans. (For some of us, it was Carrie Donovan in owlish glasses making us aware that 'fashion editor' could be a job.) Now, our Summer Issue cover star has her very own moment sure to implant in the memory bank of Gen Alpha: she's starring as an '80s-style aerobics queen in the 'Old Navy, New Moves' activewear campaign, shot by Ethan James Green, styled by Dara, and costarring Dylan Efron, Quen Blackwell, and Charo. Lohan, whose leg extension in the clip is nothing less than impressive, has many warm and fuzzy memories of back-to-school shopping at the retailer growing up. 'It's such a family-friendly place,' she says. 'And it made fashion accessible without compromising style and comfort.' Since Zac Posen began his creative takeover of Gap Inc., the whole portfolio of brands has gotten a fresh coat of paint. Posen and Lohan have known each other for some time, and he even dressed her for the 2007 Met Gala. This project was 'so nostalgic for me,' Lohan tells ELLE, 'because Zac and I have always been close. To work together in this capacity is a really nice moment for us both to have, and to see what he's doing and how great he's doing in this space is just wonderful....I always feel like life comes full circle.' The sporty red set and throwback leg warmers Lohan wears in the campaign also took things full circle, back to the days when her mom did those famous Jane Fonda workout videos. 'It was such a movement then, of women in the exercise space and spotlight,' she says. Lohan is an activewear fan, but not necessarily a stay-in-your-gym-clothes-all-day type. She's back and forth between Dubai, L.A., and New York, and says, 'Depending on where I am, that also kind of [determines] what I'm going to be [dressed] like. If I'm in L.A., everyone's in athleisure all day every day. When I'm home, I get ready in my workout clothes, do my workout, and then they're in the hamper. You know what I mean?' 'But I'm a leggings girl,' she says, (as if anyone who once yearned for a pair of her 6126 designs could ever forget.) 'I've always been, since forever. I like to be able to have a good pair of comfortable high-waisted leggings always on hand. Especially now, having a kid, you always want to have comfort. I have days where I'm in leggings all day.' She continues: 'I've always been comfort-focused. If I'm not comfortable in it, I'm not going to put it on. That's always been a big thing for me. With time, maybe I've become a bit more modest. I'm not as comfortable risking certain things. But it depends. If it's a nice dinner date with my husband, I want to feel sexy and look nice. And then my daywear is more casual, usually. But when I'm in New York, I like to dress because I'm in New York.' Speaking of millennial touchstones, the fashion of her '90s and 2000s films is still all over our Pinterest boards. And she is not immune to their lure. 'I loved Annie's play on Chanel tweed in The Parent Trap. That's got to be my favorite favorite,' Lohan says. 'Even down to Hallie's Hard Candy nail polish; that was such a big thing then.' She also cites Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, where she got to be involved with the costume design, and of course the iconic looks from Mean Girls. With Freaky Friday sequel Freakier Friday hitting theaters in August, she also indulges in some nostalgia for the fashion of her character Anna: 'I remember I was like, 'I want her to be like Avril Lavigne!' [Director] Mark Waters was like, 'Why Avril Lavigne?' I'm like, 'Because she's a teenager with angst.'' Lohan has still hung onto much of her wardrobe from that time in her life, though that doesn't mean she's going to revisit every single fashion moment. 'You have your favorite things you never want to get rid of, and you hoard them. Will I wear low-rise jeans? Will I do it? I don't know. I look back at pictures and I'm like, 'I think I'm good.'' As for the beauty moment she's unlikely to revisit, 'I don't think I would ever put those blonde streaks in my hair again. Just because I know it will damage my hair.' One throwback moment she's more enthusiastic about is her '80s turn in the new campaign. 'It was a really nice vibe and energy on set, and everyone was laughing and having fun,' Lohan says. 'That's kind of the best, when work doesn't really feel like work—and you're getting a workout in.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida teen tortured, killed by couple after dating app meetup: police
A Florida couple is behind bars for allegedly using an online dating app to lure a 16-year-old girl to their home, brutally torturing and murdering her before dismembering her remains. The body of Miranda Corsette was discarded in a dumpster days after she was reported missing on Feb. 24, according to the St. Petersburg Police Department. Authorities allege that Steven Gress, 35, used the online dating app Grindr to lure Corsette to his house, located approximately 20 miles southwest of Tampa, on Feb. 14. "After meeting him the first time, [Corsette] went home and then the next day she returned to [Gress'] home," police said. Valentine's Day Dangers: Dating App Killers Lure Love-seekers In Unsuspecting Ways Grindr did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Read On The Fox News App Police believe that the teen, who was a frequent runaway and the mother to an 11-month-old baby, was staying at the home with Gress and his domestic partner, 37-year-old Michelle Brandes. Ten days after she initially met the couple, Corsette's grandmother, her primary caregiver, reported her missing to the Gulfport Police. "[Her grandmother] said she normally comes home, so she doesn't report her missing every time she leaves," Commander Mary Farrand, acting police chief for the city of Gulfport, said in a press conference. "[Corsette] just didn't come back in a timely manner this time." On Feb. 20, Corsette, Gress and Brandes got into an argument over a missing ring that the couple believed Corsette had stolen, according to police. 'Dating Game' Serial Killer's Rise To Fame Was Key To His Downfall, Arresting Officer Reveals For First Time Gress and Brandes allegedly tortured Corsette repeatedly over the course of several days, eventually causing her to suffocate by stuffing a billiard ball in her mouth and wrapping her face with plastic wrap, according to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital. "From the 20th through the 24th, she was beaten and tortured, because they could not find this piece of jewelry," St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway said. Authorities believe that Corsette was killed between Feb. 20 and Feb. 24. Following Corsette's murder, authorities allege that Gress transported her body to a house owned by Brandes' mother in nearby Largo, Florida. Evidence found at the home indicated that Corsette's body had been dismembered before Gress drove the remains to Hillsborough County and disposed of them in a dumpster, police said. On March 6, a witness reached out to police to report a possible kidnapping and homicide involving a missing teen, according to authorities. Trans Killer Sentenced For Murder Of Nyc Antiques Dealer, Decapitated Oklahoma Man In Separate Slaying "Detectives located the dumpster and are working to find the body," St. Petersburg police said in a statement. A representative from the St. Petersburg Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that the investigation into Corsette's murder remains ongoing. Gress was already in police custody for weapons and drug offenses when police charged him with first-degree murder and kidnapping on March 7. The next day, Brandes turned herself in to police and was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. "This is a classic case of a vulnerable young lady who most likely sought attention online," Patrick McCall, a security expert at McCall Risk Group, told Fox News Digital. "This attention came from a man who easily preyed on her and who told her the right things, and she fell into his trap." Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Gress' and Brandes' attorney did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. "This is a horrific crime," Holloway said. "We want to ensure that we bring justice to Miranda. I want to say that we want to hold all of the responsible parties accountable." Corsette's murder comes as predators continue to use online dating apps to lure victims to their deaths. In July 2024, a Pennsylvania man was arrested, having allegedly used Grindr to meet a 14-year-old transgender teenager. DaShawn Watkins, 29, is currently facing murder charges after Pauly Likens' dismembered remains were found at Shenango River Lake in Clark Borough, Pennsylvania. Earlier this year, a Virginia man was found guilty of using dating apps to kill two women in 2021. Anthony Robinson is awaiting sentencing for the murders of Beth Redmon and Tonita Smith, after a jury convicted him of killing both women and dumping their bodies in a nearby wooded area. Personal safety experts are warning parents to keep an eye on their kids' social media usage and look for warning signs that could indicate that they are talking to strangers online. "A lot of times teens are preyed upon by people who will portray themselves as someone their age or express similarities to them to gain their trust," McCall said. "[Some signs include] being secretive with the phone, taking phone calls outside, hiding the phone, talking about a new friend or sudden interest in something they normally wouldn't be interested in that could relate to the person they are talking to. Usually, there is a tale or sign the child will slip out in conversation or in a behavior which deviates from their normal routine."Original article source: Florida teen tortured, killed by couple after dating app meetup: police
Yahoo
26-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Officer Who Arrested ‘Dating Game Killer' Says This 1 Thing Is What Led to Rodney Alcala's Downfall
Rodney Alcala's infamous appearance on The Dating Game may not have resulted in an actual date, but it did set him up for a date with destiny. The retired police officer who led the investigation that ultimately took 'The Dating Game Killer" off of the streets is reflecting on the convicted serial killer and sex offender's case — and the TV show appearance that led to his downfall. Craig Robison, a retired detective with the Huntington Beach Police Department, headed the investigation into Alcala before his 1979 arrest. Now, he is giving an exclusive look into the mind of the notorious California serial killer, whose real-life case inspired the recent Netflix special Woman of the Hour. Alcala — who is confirmed to have murdered at least seven women and girls and suspected of more — had 'a very high IQ,' Robison told Fox News in a new interview, 'but the problem with a guy like that, I think, is most of his IQ isn't focused on developing personal relationships … it's all focused on my next victim and how to exploit women and girls.' Related: Woman of the Hour Ending Explained: What Happened After Rodney Alcala's Arrest — and Where Did the Real Cheryl Bradshaw End Up? Despite his intelligence, however, Robison was able to pin the convicted murderer down, and it was all thanks to his appearance on The Dating Game. In the episode, contestant Cheryl Bradshaw selected Alcala out of a lineup of three for a date, though it was later revealed that she opted out of the commitment, reportedly telling the producers that he was 'very strange' and had 'weird vibes.' Regardless of the episode's outcome, however, investigators were able to find Alcala — who already had a record of arrests and had served time for child molestation for the rape of then-8-year-old Tali Shapiro — because of his appearance on the popular '60s and '70s TV program, according to Robison. The breadcrumb trail that led to the serial killer's capture can be traced back to the June 1979 disappearance of one of his victims, 8-year-old Robin Samsoe. Investigators had Bridget Wilvurt — Samsoe's friend who was on the beach with her when she disappeared — sit with a sketch artist, Robison recalled to Fox News. She got a good look at Alcala as he had approached her and Samsoe and asked to take their picture. The composite drawing that resulted from Wilvert's description was subsequently released to the public, and a tip line was established, the retired detective explained. Soon after, detectives received a fateful call from someone who had seen Alcala in a very unexpected place: his television. A parole officer who had seen the sketch told detectives that he believed the man they were looking for may be a contestant he spotted during a reality TV show re-run from the previous year. 'He's reading the newspaper,' the retired detective recalled of the officer, 'and you hear [Dating Game host] Jim Lange come on ... he says, 'And now let me tell you a little bit about your date … he's this, he's that, he's a photographer, he's all of these great things … meet your date — Rodney Alcala.' ' "If you believe in divine guidance … that certainly would be a good clue,' he later added. 'The finger of God comes down and says, 'Hey, you should look at this guy.' ' Related: 2 Women Who Survived the Same Serial Killer Speak Out: 'I Didn't Pray to Live, I Prayed to Die' The detectives had also 'just identified [Alcala] as a potential suspect' because of another rape case that occurred months before Samsoe's disappearance. In February 1979, the serial killer was arrested — and later released on bail — for the rape of a 15-year-old hitchhiking girl. She escaped him by pretending to enjoy their time together and running away at a gas station. With his long rap sheet and most recent rape case, all signs pointed to Alcala. Then, with her friend still missing, Wilvert confirmed that he was the man they met on the beach. Detectives brought the elementary student into the police station, and when she saw Alcala's face, 'You could see a complete change in her demeanor,' Robison told Fox News. 'It was like her blood ran cold,' the retired cop added. The month after she disappeared, authorities discovered Samsoe's remains in a mountain ravine, per Fox News. Weeks later, Robison arrested Alcala for her murder. But the investigation into the now-convicted killer didn't stop there, and Robison and his team soon uncovered a Seattle storage locker brimming with 'boxes and boxes' of implicating evidence like photographs and jewelry. 'Trophies,' according to Robinson — including earrings that Samsoe's mom recognized as her daughter's. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In 1980, Alcala was sentenced to death for Samsoe's murder; the judgment was reversed in 1984, though, and he was granted a new trial. He was sentenced to death again in 1986, only for that judgment to be overturned in 2003. However, prosecutors soon discovered that Alcala's DNA matched evidence connected to four other women murdered between 1977 and 1979: Jill Barcomb, 18; Jill Parenteau, 21; Georgia Wixted, 27; and Charlotte Lamb, 31. In 2010, a jury convicted Alcala on five counts of first-degree murder, for which he was sentenced to death again. Following his conviction, Alcala faced more murder charges in other states and continued to be the subject of active investigations in unsolved murders until his death. On July 24, 2021, he died of natural causes at age 77 while on death row in California. And though the true death toll remains unknown, authorities believe he may have killed up to 130 people, per the Associated Press. Read the original article on People
