The Slutwalk business has had repercussions. Men and women have been squaring up to each other all over the place. At a literary salon on Saturday night, a young woman whom I'd never met before waved her cigarette at me and said: "Why do you wear all those rings? Are you gay or something?" to which I replied, "No, I just like personal adornment."

A couple of years ago, my friend and dramaturg Tilman Raabke asked me to write a play for Theatre Oberhausen in the Ruhr region of German. The idea was to commission five European playwrights with each of us handling a particular section of the Odyssey. I had read the Odyssey as a boy and was always interested in Penelope's suitors. These are the despicable men who hung around her house eating her food, drinking her wine and all the time trying to win her love while her husband, Odysseus, took the long road home. They felt perfect for the stage.

Daisy Lowe has created an affordable range of vintage swimwear.

In 1957, Miss Maryland, Leona Gage was chosen as Miss USA.

Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez says it's clear in her mind who'll replace her as the world's top beauty queen.

Part Two of the ready-to-wear series dedicated to hair: hair removal and, in particular, the removal of hair on the legs.

Australian labour Party strategists regard Tony Abbott – the mercurial, gaffe-prone Opposition leader – as one of their greatest assets. Indeed, as the election campaign has gathered pace here, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has repeatedly sought to frighten voters by raising the spectre of Mr Abbott running the country.

If you ask me, it is about time someone told the truth about dogs and this "unconditional love" business. In fact, let me tell you a story about a woman who knows a bit about it, and even though this woman is me, let's pretend it isn't, because it would just be too distressing otherwise.