Lifestyle Barometer: Your guide to what’s hot and what’s not this week from Barbie to gluten-free bread

From International Women’s Day to transgender athletes and micro-plastics, this is our guide to what’s hot and what’s not

Barbie in her various incarnations at Leuralla NSW toy and railway museum in Sydney, Australia. Barbie first debuted to the public on 9 March 1959 (Getty)

Going up:

International Women’s Day

Campaigners hold placards during a rally marking the day in Manila (EPA)

On Friday 8 March, International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated around the world, as people came together to champion women’s rights, female empowerment and gender equality.

To mark the occasion, a number of celebrities shared heartfelt posts on social media including the likes of actor Emma Watson and singer Miley Cyrus.

Alongside a photograph of herself wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Marching”, Watson wrote: “Whether you’re marching, dancing, rising, resisting, protesting, striking, uniting or celebrating, wishing you all a wonderful #internationalwomensday!”

Cyrus also marked the occasion by sharing a series of photographs of herself on Instagram with some of her “favourite bad a*s bitches”, who include Jane Fonda, Beyonce, Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper and Ariana Grande.

Meanwhile, actor and activist Jameela Jamil, wished her Twitter followers a happy International Women’s Day by reminding them to “protect [themselves] and one another”.

See our pick of the best International Women’s Day social media posts here.

Model diversity

Catrin Pugh is the face of Avon’s latest campaign (Avon)

The fashion and beauty industries have been making strides in recent years to become more inclusive and this week showcased two examples of the progress that’s being made.

On Monday, Veronica Pomee was announced as a finalist in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s annual model search, making her the first Polynesian woman to appear in the magazine.

The 29-year-old plus-size model is one of six women to beat more than 10,000 others as part of the open-call competition.

Sharing her excitement on Instagram, Pomee posted a photograph from her photo shoot for the magazine alongside an inspiring caption about body positivity.

“Everyone knows I’m not the smallest girl, I don’t have the biggest boobs, I wouldn’t mind having a bigger a*s and I have scars and stretch marks all over my body,” she wrote.

“My flaws have become what strengthens me the most as a model. As an underdog it’s crucial for me to highlight inner beauty qualities because for so long I didn’t feel like I measured up to society’s expectations of beauty.”

Cosmetics company Avon also revealed Catrin Pugh as the face of its latest campaign.

The 25-year-old, who is an ambassador for visible differences charity Changing Faces, suffered 96 per cent burns in a coach accident six years ago.

She was left with only the soles of her feet unburned after a coach she was travelling on in the French Alps crashed and burst into flames.

Barbie

Adwoa Aboah has been made into a doll (Mattel) (Ryan Schude / Mattel)

Ahead of Barbie’s 60th birthday on 9 March and International Women’s Day 8 March, toy company Mattel honoured 20 women – from scientists and chefs to journalists – who actively inspire the next generation by turning them into dolls.

Aptly dubbed “Sheroes”, the line-up includes tennis player Naomi Osaka, Nasa scientists Eleni Antoniadou and activist and model Adwoa Aboah.

Aboah’s doll comes with two looks that represent both fashion and activism.

The first outfit is based on the look she wore when accepting the British Fashion Council Model of the Year 2017 Award – a Halpern dress, Stephen Jones turban and Christian Louboutin platform sandals.

The second outfit comprises of a Gurls Talk T-shirt and leopard print skirt.

“I love that Barbie offers so much choice now, but to see my own doll that has my freckled skin, skin colour, shaved head and my tattoos is so meaningful to me,” said Aboah.

World Book Day

Willy Wonka (@Matthew18498919) and the Mad Hatter (@byrnephoto_uk) were among the characters chosen by children (Twitter)

On Thursday, people around the world celebrated World Book Day – an event that encourages children to dress up as their favourite characters for a day.

The aim of the day is to “celebrate stories” and encourage children to “love reading”, while raising money for charity by having each child who dresses up in celebration of the occasion bring £1 into school.

This year saw a host of creative looks from young book-lovers including Hermione Granger, Pippi Longstocking and Alice in Wonderland.

Authors, meanwhile, were urged to include more characters with disabilities in their stories.

Oscar-winner Rachel Shenton and Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, called for children’s books to contain more diversity, explaining that it’s important for children to “see themselves in the programmes and movies they watch and in the books they read”.

Transgender athlete debate

Martina Navratilova has criticised trans women who compete in women’s sports (PA)

The debate about whether transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sport or not peaked this week as a number of sportspeople weighed in.

The discussion first began on 17 February when tennis player Martina Navratilova claimed that allowing trans women to compete in professional sport is “insane and cheating”.

Navratilova’s comments were derided by many on social media, however a number of fellow-athletes have since come to her defence.

Olympian Sharron Davies agreed with the tennis player, writing: “I have nothing against anyone who wishes 2be transgender [sic]”, she wrote on Twitter.

“However I believe there is a fundamental difference between the binary sex u r born with & the gender u may identify as.

“To protect women’s sport those with a male sex advantage should not be able 2compete in women’s sport.”

The 56-year-old’s comments were supported by many, including Olympic track winner Sally Gunnell, gold medallist boxer Nicola Adams and long-distance runner Paula Radcliffe.

However, others criticised Davies, with some even calling for her to be stripped of her MBE.

Going down:

Gluten-free bread

Some products contain up to 27 different ingredients (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This week, researchers warned that free-from products, such as gluten-free bread might not be as nutritious as shoppers are led to believe.

In a new Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of Your Supermarket Food, experts revealed that some gluten-free breads can contain up to 27 different ingredients, some of which are “not strictly speaking food substances”.

Chris Young, a spokesperson for the Real Bread Campaign, revealed that one supermarket’s own-brand product contained an alarming number of ingredients, including xanthan gum – a substance used in the oil drilling industry as a lubricant – and glycerine – which you find in makeup.

“I’m not sure if I want to be feeding that to myself or my kids,” he added.

In response to the claims, the Gluten Free Industry Association said: “All food additives are assessed for safety and approved by the European Food Safety Authority.

“The gluten-free diet is the only treatment for coeliac disease and within a balanced and healthy diet, gluten-free products play a role alongside naturally gluten-free foods.”

Calvin Klein


 The label is closing its ready-to-wear business (AFP/Getty)
 (AFP/Getty Images)

American brand Calvin Klein shocked the fashion world this week by announcing that it will no longer be showing at fashion week.

The firm said it will be closing its ready-to-wear business entirely, instead focusing on existing categories, including denim and underwear.

In addition to the closure of the brand’s runway category, Michelle Kessler-Sanders, president of Calvin Klein 205W39NYC and Calvin Klein by Appointment, will be leaving the company.

However, Kessler-Sanders will stay on through June to help close down the business and may continue to work in an advisory capacity.

Steve Shiffman, chief executive of Calvin Klein Inc, will remain in his position and will oversee the changes.

The news follows the unexpected departure of Calvin Klein’s creative director Raf Simons at the end of 2018.

Microplastics

Researchers want it defined as ‘emergency contaminant’ (Getty/iStock) (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

New research has revealed that Britain’s waterways are filled with plastic pollution, with up to 1,000 microplastics – pieces of small plastic – found per litre in the most polluted rivers.

The team behind the study say its results show microplastics should be considered an “emergency contaminant” like pharmaceutical waste and pesticides.

“As with all emerging contaminants we don’t yet fully know the dangers they present to wildlife and ecosystems, or even human health, and to what levels they occur in all our water systems,” said Dr Christian Dunn, a wetlands researcher at Bangor University.

While many of us are becoming more conscious about the amount of plastic we use, it turns out that far more day-to-day products contain it than you might realise, from glitter to sanitary products and tea bags.

You can find out more about the surprising products that contain plastic here.

Cadbury’s Freddo

Each bar contains 10g of sugar (PA)

Adverts promoting Cadbury’s Freddo chocolate bar have been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for targeting children.

An investigation was launched by the regulator after a Freddo poster was spotted within 100m of a primary school.

The ASA also received complaints about two YouTube videos featuring the anthropomorphic character, in addition to a downloadable comic and audiobook featuring the frog on the Freddo website.

The complainants argued that the advertisements for the product, which contains 10g of sugar and 0.04g of salt per 18g bar, were being inappropriately directed at children.

Following the investigation, the ASA ruled that the placement of the poster near the school breached its guidelines.

The advertising watchdog also found that while the majority of the visitors on the Freddo website would likely be adults, the content on the website was designed specifically with children in mind.

However, with regards to the two YouTube videos that were investigated, the ASA stated that it was not possible to determine what ratio of the audience was under the age of 18 and so the advertisements did not breach the advertising code.

Body-shamers

Atack received hurtful comments on social media (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images)

I’m A Celebrity star Emily Atack has hit out at body-shaming trolls, saying she would care more if people insulted her personality than her appearance.

The actor, best known for her role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners, was faced with a number of derogatory comments following her appearance at the Brit Awards last month.

Atack wore a one-shoulder, floor-length white gown by Solace London for the star-studded occasion.

While many praised Atack’s outfit on social media, others left unkind comments.

“People were saying the dress was unflattering, but I really liked it,” she said in this week’s issue of OK! magazine.

“Sometimes you have to tell people to f**k off. I get fat-shamed a lot, but I don’t give a s**t.

“I’d be more upset about comments on my personality.”

The 29-year-old has spoken about body-shaming in the past, discussing the issue with her quarter of a million Twitter followers on the night of the Brits.

“To all the lovely comments lots of you say to me, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” the actor tweeted.

“To those who continue to call me fat... have a wonderful evening, and then go and f**k yourself. All the best.”