Latest news with #Katarina
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Mum-of-six on holiday in Spain slammed for claiming sunbeds for her ‘big family' first thing & then going for a DAY OUT
Plus, experts weigh in on whether you should reserve your sunbed with a towel on holiday POOL DRAMA Mum-of-six on holiday in Spain slammed for claiming sunbeds for her 'big family' first thing & then going for a DAY OUT Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MOTHER-OF-SIX has come under fire after claiming sunbeds for her family first thing in the morning - only to then head out for the day. Mum and TikToker Stephanie was slammed after she revealed she claimed several sunbeds at the pool area for her ''big family''. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Once the sunbeds had been reserved, Stephanie and the brood then went for a day out for the day Credit: TIKTOK/@mummyandmilliemaex 2 As well as having a hearty breakfast, the family also went shopping - and only then returned to the poolside Credit: TIKTOK//@mummyandmilliemaex But rather than chilling outside and soaking up the glorious sunshine by the pool, Stephanie then went for a day out with her bumper brood. The family, her TikTok page revealed, are currently enjoying a holiday in Spain - despite the mum confessing her ''annual leave hasn't been approved''. Once the sunbeds had been claimed by placing their towels on top, Stephanie and her family went on a stroll to find a breakfast spot. ''We have come as a big family, so we have to be there early,'' Stephanie explained her logic behind the move. For brekkie, the mum showed in the clip, the brood opted for pancakes topped with appeared to be scrambled egg, a frittata, toast and baked beans. ''These did not disappoint. We came here every day for breakfast - it's amazing.'' A while later, after the family had devoured the dishes, the sun-soaked Brits headed for a mini shopping trip in the area. It wasn't until Stephanie and the bumper brood had finished shopping for clothes that they returned to the accommodation - and finally enjoyed the poolside, as well as their sun loungers. Since being posted online, the clip has amassed more than 115k views in just two days - and the mum has been shamed for claiming the sunbeds. More than 600 people gave the video a like, as over 560 others flooded to comments to share their thoughts - and criticism. Fuming holidaymakers foil fellow Brits sneaky plans to secure sunbeds seven hours before hotel pool opens One person was baffled, writing: ''I can't believe you claim the sunbeds and then leave.'' Someone else was just as stunned, commenting: ''Why claim sun beds if you're going out for the day?'' A third chimed in with their approach: ''All hotels should do the same thing. Experts weigh in on whether you should reserve your sunbed with a towel on holiday EVERY summer, hotels become the sites of frantic battles, as guests try to reserve the best loungers with their towels first thing in the morning. But etiquette and elegance expert Katarina, who shares her expert opinions about manners on TikTok at @ says people need to be less selfish and more considerate of other hotel guests. In the footage, she said: "If you're staying at a hotel, avoid blocking the sunbeds if you're not planning on staying. It's disrespectful toward other guests. "Unless the hotel has a reservation system in place, only occupy the sunbeds when you're staying by the pool." Renowned etiquette expert, William Hanson, believes there is a 30-minute grace period on poolside reservations. This is where hotel guests can use a towel or a book to reserve a spot for no longer than half an hour. William told the Sun Online Travel: "In the morning, at the start of the day, and you're by the pool after breakfast, then it's fine at 8.30 to put your towel on the bed to reserve your spot. "But later on in the day after you've used the lounger, and go off for a massage, for example, which is going to be an hour, then you can't use a towel to reserve the sun lounger." If you're grabbing some grub at lunchtime, William said holidaymakers are allowed to eat at the hotel bar or restaurant providing you're not gone longer than 30 minutes. He said: "It also gives your towel time to dry off." William said despite the grace period, "You can't hog the sun lounger for the entire day." Meanwhile, Laura Akano, the Principal Coach and Trainer at Polished Manners doesn't believe holidaymakers have a right to reserve a lounger at all. She told the Sun Online Travel: "I think it should be a first come first serve basis - if the resort doesn't have a booking system." ''After 30 mins of not been on sun lounger, towels are removed and other people get them.'' Many eagle-eyed social media users also spotted the sorry state of the sun loungers - which hundreds thought belonged ''in a prison exercise yard''. ''Rather lie on the floor than those beds,'' a person joked. ''I'd have to jet wash them beds 1st,'' a TikToker chimed in. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
Edinburgh Live
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian mum credits online vampire identity for 'boosting her confidence'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian stay-at-home mum who presents as a vampire in her spare time has said her gothic alter ego allows her to be "more confident". Kat, 22, who is originally from Poland, shares videos of her vampire persona 'Katarina' with her 14,000 TikTok followers under the handle @zokatsen. Bullied as a child for being 'weird' and 'different', Kat says her online character has helped her find her identity after feeling 'lost' in early motherhood. Dressing up in corsets, wearing fake fangs and filming videos in graveyards, Kat is able to be a more confident person. Taking inspiration from Victorian-era fabrics, she pairs black and red silk or lace with white linen and cotton pieces that feature Romantic details like flouncy sleeves and layers them with gothic-inspired jewellery adorned with bat motifs. Despite receiving hate online and 'strange looks' in public for her appearance, Kat, who does not wish to disclose her surname for privacy reasons, has found a community of fellow goths and aims to inspire other mothers to pursue their passions. Her dream would be for her online persona to lead to paid acting roles, and she will be going into her second year studying creative writing at university from September 2025. 'Even though Katarina is a character, she and I are two sides of the same coin,' Kat told PA Real Life. 'She allows me to be more confident, more outwardly somebody that maybe I don't feel so confident being in my own life.' After moving to Scotland from Poland at two-and-a-half years old, Kat's journey into the gothic subculture began in childhood, with a love of the film The Corpse Bride and the musical The Phantom Of The Opera. At school, Kat said she was verbally and physically bullied by other girls for being 'outspoken', as well as for her Minecraft YouTube channel – her first foray into content creation. (Image: Collect/PA Real Life) 'Throughout my childhood, there was definitely a pattern of me being considered weird and different, and people trying to stamp that out,' Kat said. 'In high school, that's when the more physical stuff started – pulling hair, standing on my shoes, walking behind me, following me, and then your usual yelling out abuse.' During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kat began experimenting with her appearance, starting with dramatic eyeliner. Her go-to products include Revolution SFX white base, NYX eyeshadow and Rimmel eyeliner – but she focuses on budget-friendly choices. 'I love Vinted – just these random gems that you find,' she said. 'I also try to alter any clothing that I maybe don't like any more, but I could make something else out of it.' Kat's daughter, who she wishes to keep anonymous, was born in May 2023, and she initially threw herself into motherhood, sidelining other parts of her identity. 'For a long time, I felt really lost in myself, and I didn't really know how to express myself properly, or how to separate me from the mum that I had become,' she said. 'I felt like I had to completely lock away any of my desires, any of my needs, and just put my daughter first, because if I didn't do that, I wouldn't have been able to cope.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. Kat said she was still in a relationship with her daughter's father at the time, but they have since broken up. She said she knows any future partner would need to support her alternative lifestyle. 'I probably would want to date somebody that is also in the subculture, maybe somebody that has also experienced being shunned for what they really enjoyed doing,' she said. 'Just because I wouldn't be able to be with someone that I didn't really relate to in that way, and I wouldn't want to dampen my own personality and how outwardly myself I have become.' It is at night – when vampires typically prowl – that Kat finds time to create her TikTok content. 'Since I've been a teenager, I find it a lot easier to function at night,' Kat said. She creates videos in which her comedic vampire persona Katarina 'navigates the world of human alternative culture'. In one of her most popular videos, which has more than 340,000 views, Katarina visited Frankenstein's Bar in Edinburgh, acting confused by modern human customs. She also films in graveyards, spaces Kat says she has always found 'peaceful'. While Kat does occasionally use fake fangs in her videos, she uses special effects to edit red eyes in after recording, as she 'struggles' with contact lenses, and this also saves time as a busy mum. Kat draws on her childhood experience as a youth theatre member to bring Katarina to life. She also takes inspiration from vampire-themed media including Netflix's animated series Castlevania, and comedy mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows – with TikTokers drawing comparisons between her and Natasia Demetriou's character, Nadja. 'Katarina says that Nadja is one of her best friends from the United States, so they're kind of spiritual sisters in that sense,' explained Kat. Out of some of the more mainstream vampire series, Kat prefers The Vampire Diaries to the Twilight franchise. 'I watched The Vampire Diaries when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that,' said Kat. 'However, Katarina would hate Twilight because she thinks that it is a completely inaccurate representation of vampires and that it spreads a lot of misconceptions about her kind.' She added: 'I really enjoy acting. That love for theatre has stuck with me – it's a core part of who I am. 'Even though I'm playing a character, I try to incorporate my own values, my belief system and who I am.' Despite the growth of the channel leading to opportunities including an advert for ITVX's vampire collection, Kat's appearance – online and in real life – has not been without backlash. 'I don't get many comments (in real life), but I do see disapproval on some people's faces,' Kat said. 'Online, I've had hate comments from 'putting on eyeliner doesn't make you goth' to 'you can't be a good mum looking like that'. 'There is no filter online – people just say the most horrible things, and they have no repercussions for that.' As a young single mum, Kat said she initially turned to the internet for help with her parenting journey but quickly felt 'overwhelmed' by influencer culture. 'When my daughter was born, I really felt a lot of pressure to live up to that outwards appearance of a put-together mum,' she said. 'I had a lot of difficulties with breastfeeding and had to combi-feed… but I eventually realised that every child is so unique, and there is no right way to be a mum.' Kat intends to keep her daughter's life private until she is old enough to make an informed choice about being online – although she would 'love' to make mother-daughter content one day if her daughter wanted to. Her advice to other young or alternative mums is simple: be yourself. 'Nobody should be forced to change who they are to be a good mother – it's not sustainable,' Kat said.
Daily Record
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Scots vampire TikToker's goth alter ego 'helped her confidence after motherhood'
'For a long time, I felt really lost in myself, and I didn't really know how to express myself properly, or how to separate me from the mum that I had become.' A young stay-at-home mum who presents as a vampire in her spare time, wearing corsets and fake fangs and filming in graveyards, has said this alter ego allows her to be 'more confident'. Kat, 22, who is originally from Poland but now lives in West Lothian shares videos of her vampire alter ego 'Katarina' with her 14,000 TikTok followers under the handle @zokatsen. Having been bullied as a child for being 'weird' and 'different', Kat says her online alter ego has helped her find her identity after feeling 'lost' in early motherhood. She takes inspiration from Victorian-era fabrics, pairing black and red silk or lace with white linen and cotton pieces that feature Romantic details like flouncy sleeves, layering them with gothic-inspired jewellery adorned with bat motifs. Despite receiving hate online and 'strange looks' in public for her appearance, Kat, who does not wish to disclose her surname for privacy reasons, has found a community of fellow goths and aims to inspire other mothers to pursue their passions. Her dream would be for her online persona to lead to paid acting roles, and she will be going into her second year studying creative writing at university from September 2025. 'Even though Katarina is a character, she and I are two sides of the same coin,' Kat told PA Real Life. 'She allows me to be more confident, more outwardly somebody that maybe I don't feel so confident being in my own life.' After moving to Scotland from Poland aged two-and-a-half, Kat's journey into the gothic subculture began in childhood, with a love of the film The Corpse Bride and the musical The Phantom Of The Opera. At school, Kat said she was verbally and physically bullied by other girls for being 'outspoken', as well as for her Minecraft YouTube channel – her first foray into content creation. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. 'Throughout my childhood, there was definitely a pattern of me being considered weird and different, and people trying to stamp that out,' Kat said. 'In high school, that's when the more physical stuff started – pulling hair, standing on my shoes, walking behind me, following me, and then your usual yelling out abuse.' During the Covid-19 pandemic, Kat began experimenting with her appearance, starting with dramatic eyeliner. Her go-to products include Revolution SFX white base, NYX eyeshadow and Rimmel eyeliner – but she focuses on budget-friendly choices. 'I love Vinted – just these random gems that you find,' she said. 'I also try to alter any clothing that I maybe don't like any more, but I could make something else out of it.' Kat's daughter, who she wishes to keep anonymous, was born in May 2023, and she initially threw herself into motherhood, sidelining other parts of her identity. 'For a long time, I felt really lost in myself, and I didn't really know how to express myself properly, or how to separate me from the mum that I had become,' she said. 'I felt like I had to completely lock away any of my desires, any of my needs, and just put my daughter first, because if I didn't do that, I wouldn't have been able to cope.' Kat said she was still in a relationship with her daughter's father at the time, but they have since broken up. She said she knows any future partner would need to support her alternative lifestyle. 'I probably would want to date somebody that is also in the subculture, maybe somebody that has also experienced being shunned for what they really enjoyed doing,' she said. 'Just because I wouldn't be able to be with someone that I didn't really relate to in that way, and I wouldn't want to dampen my own personality and how outwardly myself I have become.' It is at night – when vampires typically prowl – that Kat finds time to create her TikTok content. 'Since I've been a teenager, I find it a lot easier to function at night,' Kat said. She creates videos in which her comedic vampire persona Katarina 'navigates the world of human alternative culture'. In one of her most popular videos, which has more than 340,000 views, Katarina visited Frankenstein's Bar in Edinburgh, acting confused by modern human customs. She also films in graveyards, spaces Kat says she has always found 'peaceful'. While Kat does occasionally use fake fangs in her videos, she uses special effects to edit red eyes in after recording, as she 'struggles' with contact lenses, and this also saves time as a busy mum. Kat draws on her childhood experience as a youth theatre member to bring Katarina to life. She also takes inspiration from vampire-themed media including Netflix's animated series Castlevania, and comedy mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows – with TikTokers drawing comparisons between her and Natasia Demetriou's character, Nadja. 'Katarina says that Nadja is one of her best friends from the United States, so they're kind of spiritual sisters in that sense,' explained Kat. Out of some of the more mainstream vampire series, Kat prefers The Vampire Diaries to the Twilight franchise. 'I watched The Vampire Diaries when I was younger, and I really enjoyed that,' said Kat. 'However, Katarina would hate Twilight because she thinks that it is a completely inaccurate representation of vampires and that it spreads a lot of misconceptions about her kind.' She added: 'I really enjoy acting. That love for theatre has stuck with me – it's a core part of who I am. 'Even though I'm playing a character, I try to incorporate my own values, my belief system and who I am.' Despite the growth of the channel leading to opportunities including an advert for ITVX's vampire collection, Kat's appearance – online and in real life – has not been without backlash. 'I don't get many comments (in real life), but I do see disapproval on some people's faces,' Kat said. 'Online, I've had hate comments from 'putting on eyeliner doesn't make you goth' to 'you can't be a good mum looking like that'. 'There is no filter online – people just say the most horrible things, and they have no repercussions for that.' As a young single mum, Kat said she initially turned to the internet for help with her parenting journey but quickly felt 'overwhelmed' by influencer culture. 'When my daughter was born, I really felt a lot of pressure to live up to that outwards appearance of a put-together mum,' she said. 'I had a lot of difficulties with breastfeeding and had to combi-feed… but I eventually realised that every child is so unique, and there is no right way to be a mum.' Kat intends to keep her daughter's life private until she is old enough to make an informed choice about being online – although she would 'love' to make mother-daughter content one day if her daughter wanted to. Her advice to other young or alternative mums is simple: be yourself. 'Nobody should be forced to change who they are to be a good mother – it's not sustainable,' Kat said.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Cunard set to launch its first ever Wellness at Sea cruise
Cunard is setting sail with its first-ever Wellness at Sea voyage. The seven-night cruise will depart from Southampton on July 5, 2026, aboard the Queen Anne. World champion heptathlete and Olympic silver medallist Katarina Johnson-Thompson will headline the voyage, delivering a Cunard Insights talk in the Royal Court Theatre. Katie McAlister, president of Cunard, said: "Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful surroundings – it's about feeling your best, both inside and out. "We know our guests are increasingly seeking moments of calm, balance and personal wellbeing as part of their travel experience. "At Cunard, we're proud to offer experiences that combine the restorative power of ocean travel with opportunities to unwind and reconnect. "That's why we're so thrilled to be partnering with our Queen Anne Icon, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, for our very first Wellness at Sea voyage." Curated in partnership with Harper's Bazaar, the cruise will feature wellness classes, tailored spa treatments and talks by expert speakers. READ MORE: Popular summer festival boasting independent traders returns Katarina will share stories from her athletics career, explain her approach to wellness and offer tips on maintaining mental and physical wellbeing ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games. She will be joined on board by Harper's Bazaar editors and other wellness experts. Katarina added: "I'm so excited to be partnering with Cunard once again, and as a Queen Anne Icon I have so much love for this ship and for a brand that means so much to Liverpool. "Wellness has always been a huge part of my life, both professionally and personally, and I'm really looking forward to sharing my experiences with guests on board and hopefully inspiring people to prioritise their own wellness journeys." Cunard's Harper's Bazaar Wellness at Sea packages are available to book on My Cunard or while on board. Priced at $629 (£466) per guest, the packages include curated spa treatments, ELEMIS products, and nutritionally balanced dining. The Pavilion Wellness Café on Queen Anne will offer plant-powered meals and sustainably sourced options. The ship also features the widest selection of low and no-alcohol drinks in the Cunard fleet.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Missing nanny reveals sinister secrets: discover the dark side of wealth in 'Secrets We Keep'
Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen) with her neighbour and best friend Katarina in a scene from 'Secrets We Keep'. Image: Netflix I know that not everyone is a fan of subtitled offerings. However, sometimes it's worth putting aside such peeves when you are guaranteed a phenomenal watch. One such show is the Danish whodunit, 'Secrets We Keep', which is among SA's Top 10 shows streaming on Netflix. The six-part series is set in an affluent suburb in Copenhagen, where Filipino au pairs live their best life, too. It centres on the close-knit friendship between Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen) and her lawyer husband, Mike (Simon Sears), and their neighbours Katarina (Danica Curcic) and her tycoon husband Rasmus (Lars Ranthe). The dynamic changes when the latter couples nanny, Ruby (Donna Levkovski), goes missing. Cecilie grapples with guilt after dismissing Ruby's plea for help during dinner at her home on the night of the incident. The event also affects Cecilie's au pair, Angel (Excel Busano), and other local babysitters from the Philippines. Viewers streaming the first episode are captivated by the lavish lives of the featured individuals. Cecilie, a working mother, enjoys an ideal balance between her career and family life, a privilege made possible by Angel. These opulent homes, filled with top-of-the-line decor and high-tech gadgets, appear worthy of a feature in a sophisticated home magazine. Despite their seemingly flawless lives, wealthy families often have hidden complexities. And that is certainly unpacked in the unfolding episodes. Although Cecilie shows kindness and support for Angel, encouraging her to finally start her own business, her well-heeled lifestyle sharply contrasts with the personal hardships faced by her nanny. Katarina and Rasmus are more inconvenienced than concerned by Ruby's disappearance, even though all her belongings, including her passport, are in her room. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Rasmus (Lars Ranthe), Cecilie (Marie Bach Hansen), Katarina (Danica Curcic) and Mike (Simon Sears) in a scene from 'Secrets We Keep'. Image: Netflix Meanwhile, Cecilie urges Katarina to report Ruby as a missing person. The case is assigned to a police officer named Aicha (Sara Fanta Traore), who appears to be more emotionally invested in solving it. Cecilie initiates her own investigation into the matter, occurring concurrently with Aicha's inquiry. Amid this, she stumbles across information that looks damning for her husband, who, when he was younger, was charged with rape. During this time, she discovers potentially incriminating information about her husband, it is compounded by her knowledge of a rape charge when he was a young adult. This incident has haunted him his entire life, as there were mitigating circumstances surrounding the charge. But he isn't the only suspect on her list, especially after realising that Ruby was pregnant. Rasmus has a chequered history with their au pairs, who are never around for a very long time. The strain of Ruby's disappearance weighs heavily on everyone, and the cracks in their relationships as well as friendships start surfacing. However, the distracted parents remain oblivious to their teenage sons' activities: secretly filming their au pairs and sharing the pornographic material. While Katarina's son Oscar (Frode Bilde Rønsholt) is the ringleader of this group, Cecilie's son Viggo (Lukas Zuperka) is more of an observer until he is shown troubling footage of Ruby. At school, a teacher stumbles across what the boys have been up to, and it opens a can of worms, especially when Ruby's body is found. "Secrets We Keep" reveals the evolving moral compass of the affluent as they attempt to resolve issues with financial resources. The narrative dissects their transformation from lenient to neglectful parenting styles. Through detailed settings and complex challenges, the script highlights the contrasting realities of nannies and their employers. Overall, this stylishly directed series offers a bird's-eye view into the deficient morals of the rich, who have no qualms turning a blind eye to injustice when it comes to protecting one of their own. Rating: 4/5 **** a standout series with exceptional qualities. Below are similar must-see offerings: "Sirens" In this Netflix dark comedy, Devon is worried about her sister Simone's unsettling connection with her wealthy new employer, Michaela, prompting her to plan an intervention. It has a star-studded cast of Meghann Fahy, Milly Alcock, Kevin Bacon and Julianne Moore. "The Perfect Couple" A Nantucket setting provides the backdrop for a story about a lavish wedding thrown into chaos by a sudden murder. It stars an ensemble cast of Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Meghann Fahy, Donna Lynne Champlin, Jack Reynor, Michael Beach, Ishaan Khatter, Sam Nivola, Mia Isaac and Dakota Fanning.
