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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
It's her cup of tea
MANIPUR : As a six-year-old, Pamreiwon Shokwungnao would knead dough to help her parents run a hotel. She went on to do a master's in food technology from the Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences in Prayagraj. Her friends and relatives thought she would strive to land a government job, but she followed her life's calling—entrepreneurship. Today, she is the proud owner of 'Warm Delights' and 'Garden of Eden'—her pastry and herbal tea brands, respectively. This Tangkhul Naga woman runs her businesses from her home in Manipur's Ukhrul town, where she grew up. Her herbal tea has a customer base in Manipur, Nagaland, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc. The pastries are a delight for the locals' taste buds. Pamreiwon, the sixth of nine siblings, was born into a lower middle-class family at Tashar village in Ukhrul district. Her parents raised them by running a modest hotel that served tea and puri. Seeing their struggle to make ends meet, she began making and selling doughnuts and cream buns in early 2018, when she was still in college. Though the locals love cakes and pastries, shops selling such items were few and far between in Ukhrul town back then. Pamreiwon saw an opportunity. She underwent training from Ukhrul's Krishi Vigyan Kendra and began making & selling them. She later also purchased a small oven at `16,000. As time rolled by, her businesses grew steadily, and she spent from her savings to buy another oven, three hand mixers, one Visi cooler and a small generator for a backup. The 25-year-old continues to sell her cakes and pastries in Ukhrul town and its nearby villages. She gets bulk orders when there are events and gatherings. Her cake combos with bouquets from her backyard are high in demand during special occasions. Pamreiwon, who has been a tea lover for long, launched her herbal tea brand last year. She worked as a volunteer at a local church during the Covid pandemic, preparing herbal tea with resources that were locally available—turmeric, herbs, pomegranate leaves, sticky rice and other spices.
Irish Examiner
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Jennifer Horgan: And Just Like That... we lost the right to smell as we wish
Yes, I'm still watching the latest season of And Just Like That (AJLT), the Sex and the City spin off we probably never needed. Yes, it's awful, a step beyond 'so bad it's good,' and still, I persist. My loyalty was forged 30 years ago. Where those women lead, Carrie in particular, I will follow. The strength of the original show was in its ability to spot the zeitgeist, hovering on the horizon, just before it landed. From highlighting the scourge of pornography to celebrating female desire, it pushed the cultural dial to wherever it was heading. In the latest season, in one tiny respect at least, it's still doing it. It relates to one specific freedom – an individual's right to smell. In Ireland, we take it for granted. We splash on perfume or aftershave with abandon, choose our own brand of deodorant, and wander out into the world in a happy cloud of fragrant disregard. The new season of AJLT questions this scent-heavy culture. A recent episode sees Seema, a new character, a sort of Samantha substitute, in the arms of her new lover, a gardener named Adam. It's Lady Chatterley's Lover meets the Garden of Eden, set in a swanky, grossly consumerist New York. Anyway, mid-coitus, Adam nuzzles Seema's armpit with his face. Out for dinner hours later, they see a woman unashamedly applying deodorant at her table. They laugh at her inappropriateness. A shift happens when Adam explains that he doesn't use deodorant anymore, opting instead for rock crystals. Seema says: 'You should have told me about this crystal shit before we even got involved.' Adam laughs but takes a moment to complain about the chemicals he has had to inhale to give her deodorised armpit a good seeing-to. Seema is taken aback – as are we, the show's predominantly middle-aged female viewers. This is what Sex and the City was always good at – through its characters, viewers see the change they're not yet ready for. First, they took away Carrie's (our) right to smoke indoors. Now, they're coming for Seema's (our) perfume. This attack on perfume isn't entirely new. A growing intolerance to scent is already well established in other parts of the world. Logan Marshall Green as Adam and Sarita Choudhury as Seema in HBO Max's 'And Just Like That'. Their conversation about the use of deodorants signals growing intolerance to scent in other parts of the world. My childhood friend is home with her family this summer from Canada. Her two-year-old noticed the cultural difference the minute they landed, her nose twitching; 'It smells here mummy". Ireland smells like Canada doesn't. This is because in many public settings there it is simply not acceptable to wear perfumes or anything else with an obvious scent. To smell distinctly is to infringe upon another person's freedom. Whilst there are no laws yet, policies are commonplace and Canadians abide by them. My friend, born and bred in Cork, saves her perfume for her visits home. She jokes that in Canada only French Québécois persist with it. We are far from experiencing scent as an offence here. Body odour is frowned upon certainly but we still accept it, somebody's right to stink up the place if they so choose. We ignore the bad smells and lean into the nice ones. And nothing is too much for us if it brings back memories. I walked past a new oud-based perfume shop in Cork the other day and was transported back to Abu Dhabi within seconds. My daughter, who was only six when we left, responded instantly. This is all because of the brain's anatomy. Odours take a direct trip to the limbic system, including the amygdala and the hippocampus, regions related to emotion and memory. 'It's like Mushrif Mall,' my now 13-year-old daughter enthused. Throughout the Middle East perfume is hugely, culturally significant. Men and women may be covered from head to foot in floor length robes, but they absolutely luxuriate in scent. Stepping into a lift in an Abu Dhabi mall was like finding yourself at the very centre of a bath bomb. It was overwhelming – but not unpleasantly so. Scent is wrapped up in identity there, and a certain kind of 'under the covers' sensuality. There is a dark side to our adoration of smellies, however. In a certain respect Seema's lover is right - many of the things we rub and spray on ourselves are toxic. Australia's University of Melbourne conducted research on long-term exposure to fragranced consumer products. It found that 12% of people reported experiencing migraines and 7% reported experiencing asthma attacks after exposure to the likes of air fresheners and laundry products. Other studies suggest a link between common ingredients and infertility. So, our own fragrances can hurt us, especially when we are getting them from all directions, even things like soap, clothes detergents, and air fresheners. Then there's the impact on other people. Workplaces often ban things like peanut butter and seafood because anaphylactic reactions can be triggered by a smell across a room. When we breathe in fragrances, we breathe in particles small enough to cross the lining of our blood vessels and make their way into our bloodstream. Reactions to different scents can go from surface level stuff like itchy/watery eyes, congestion, runny nose, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing to something deeper, especially for people with lung diseases like asthma or COPD. Such people can experience shortness of breath around our latest luxury concoction. And this brings me to that word, "luxury". I still can't quite understand how shops get away with sticking the word luxury on a scented candle that is a collection of toxins in a glass jar. I am a full-on candle snob having learned to examine the small print closely, checking for lead in the wick, and to make certain the wax is natural. A gift of a cheaply made scented candle is like sending a toxic bomb into someone's home, "luxury" or not. And yet, all of that said, I'm not ready for us to go the way of Canada. I'm with Seema – an exceptionally long way from accepting rock crystals. Scent-free sounds a little fun-free to me. I think I'd rather the wild west of smells you experience on a hot day in any Irish city. You know what I mean – the pencil-sharpener-scent of a sagging T-shirt, the Chanel-dripping waft of a designer dress. Our smell is part of us; it's who we are – in all our difference and glory. Alas, if AJLT is right on this issue as Sex and the City was on so many others, mine is a voice from a future past. Soon enough I'll be like the guy on a bar stool reminiscing about the years of smoking indoors, recalling the romance of a grey cloud suspended above us. The happy middle ground is to be a little more aware of how many smellies we can handle on our bodies at any one time. And how much we're 'putting out there' when we enter a public space. But I'm not ready to let my deodorant or my perfume go entirely. Just like I'm not ready to let Sex and The City go – whatever the critics say.
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Lady Gaga in Singapore 2025: Concert highlights, official setlist and more
Where do we even begin? Ever since Lady Gaga announced her return to Singapore, excitement has been building to fever pitch – in the Time Out Singapore office, on social media, and practically across the entire island. Finally, Mother Monster is back in full force, and fans – or little monsters – are here for it. The energy was electric even before the show began. Despite the rainy weather, spirits stayed high as devoted fans turned up in full costume: think lace, leather, latex and everything in between. There was no opening act for the concert, so the anticipation only grew as the crowd waited for the main event – Lady Gaga. Once the pop icon finally took the stage, it was clear that this wasn't just a concert – it was a full-blown theatrical spectacle. Gaga's show was divided into several acts, each with its own elaborate set and costume changes. From giant Greek-style columns to a sand pit and a skull-covered piano, the stage design was bold and immersive. Her choreography was powerful and razor-sharp, made even more impressive considering the star lives with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes muscle and joint pain. Her fierce, expressive performance style might surprise newcomers, but it's all part of her artistic flair. In between numbers, Gaga also took time to speak to the crowd saying, ' You are so very special to me. My little monsters in Singapore, thank you for coming to our show.' Supporting her were equally magnetic dancers who held their own with stunning routines that made the interludes engaging for us to watch, as we waited for Gaga to switch hairstyles and costumes. Lady Gaga will be performing for three more nights at the National Stadium in Singapore. Time Out tip: If you need a quick toilet break, duck out during the video interludes between Acts One and Two, and again between Acts Three and Four. Official Lady Gaga Singapore setlist from day one, May 18: Act One: Of Velvet and Vice Bloody Mary Abracadabra Judas Scheiße Garden of Eden Poker Face Act Two: And She Fell Into a Gothic Dream Perfect Celebrity Disease Paparazzi Alejandro The Beast Act Three: The Beautiful Nightmare That Knows Her Name Killah Zombieboy Die With a Smile How Bad Do U Want Me Act Four: To Wake Her Is to Lose Her Shadow of a Man Born This Way Blade of Grass Shallow Vanish Into You Finale: Eternal Aria of the Monster Heart Bad Romance
Daily Record
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Real meaning behind Lady Gaga alter-ego and why she ditched unique birth name
Lady Gaga has been the reigning queen of pop for over a decade now, but many fans still don't know the true meaning behind her unique stage name and why she ditched her birth name Lady Gaga has got everyone's attention at the moment. Not only did she headline at Coachella festival, she's also released a new album and fans are scrambling to see her on tour. We can't stop listening to her new tracks – 'Abracadabra,' 'Disease,' and 'Garden of Eden' – and to celebrate Gaga's huge success, we've been reading up on her career journey. It turns out, there's some trivia people are only just learning about the star. They've been interested to learn how she got her stage name. She was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta but later embraced the moniker Lady Gaga. While there's some debate over the exact story, it's thought that the name was born out of an autocorrect mishap by her ex-partner and music producer, Rob Fusari. He reportedly began calling her 'Gaga' after she reminded him of the 1984 Queen song 'Radio Gaga'. Later, when he tried to text 'Radio Gaga,' autocorrect changed it to 'Lady Gaga'. Since then, she's adopted the name with pride, and in a 2010 tell-all, she revealed her desire to "reinvent" herself. In that interview, she reportedly stated: "So I said, 'What about Lady Gaga?' because Gaga is sort of crazy and Lady has such connotations." So why not stick with her distinctive real name? Gaga grew up in a strict Catholic household and started playing piano at age four. She attended the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University but dropped out to focus on her music career. Early in her career, she performed in small clubs and as a songwriter for other artists. But people initially didn't get her vision – and picked on her for standing out from the crowd. When she finally realised it was her differences that made her special, the true persona was born. She left her old life behind and fully embraced being herself. She said: "I've always been Gaga... I suppressed all those eccentricities about myself so I could fit in. Once I was free, I was able to be myself." Being herself has paid off – she's won 14 Grammy Awards and sold an estimated 170 million records worldwide. It's seriously impressive!
Daily Mirror
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Real meaning behind Lady Gaga alter-ego and why she ditched unique birth name
Lady Gaga has been the reigning queen of pop for over a decade now, but many fans still don't know the true meaning behind her unique stage name and why she ditched her birth name Lady Gaga is once again the talk of the town following the release of her latest album, Mayhem. She's also been hitting headlines due to her accompanying tour, which saw fans desperately scrambling for tickets. Her new tracks 'Abracadabra,' 'Disease,' and 'Garden of Eden' have been a hit with her fanbase, affectionately known as Little Monsters. Her performance at Coachella was another highlight, despite technical difficulties with her microphone. The incident led to the festival being humorously dubbed 'Gagachella', as she dominated conversations. When her mic failed, she simply quipped: "At least you know I sing live." But despite everyone going gaga for Gaga recently – there's some trivia people are only just learning about the star. They've been interested to learn how she got her stage name. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Lady Gaga shot to fame in 2008 with her debut album 'The Fame,' featuring hits like 'Just Dance,' 'Poker Face,' and 'LoveGame. ' Her popularity has only grown since then. She further cemented her status in pop culture with 'Born This Way,' an anthem for the LGBTQIA+ community, using its lyrics to foster inclusivity. But where did the stage name 'Lady Gaga' originate? While there's some debate over the exact story, it's thought that the name was born out of an autocorrect mishap by her ex-partner and music producer, Rob Fusari. He reportedly began calling her 'Gaga' after she reminded him of the 1984 Queen song 'Radio Gaga'. Later, when he tried to text 'Radio Gaga,' autocorrect changed it to 'Lady Gaga'. Since then, she's adopted the name with pride, and in a 2010 tell-all, she revealed her desire to "reinvent" herself. In that interview, she reportedly stated: "So I said, 'What about Lady Gaga?' because Gaga is sort of crazy and Lady has such connotations." So why not stick with her distinctive real name, Stefani Germanotta? Speaking with Rolling Stone, Gaga expressed a deep connection to her stage persona, admitting her childhood wasn't a walk in the park. She confessed: "I've always been Gaga... I suppressed all those eccentricities about myself so I could fit in. Once I was free, I was able to be myself." It was at the tender age of four that Lady Gaga, displaying early signs of her musical genius, self-taught piano by ear and composed 'Dollar Bills' using " Mickey Mouse staff paper". In another heartfelt admission during an interview, she recounted: "I used to get made fun of for being either too provocative or too eccentric, so I started to tone it down. I didn't fit in, and I felt like a freak." However, it's precisely these quirks that have crowned her as one of the most iconic artists of our time.
