Beautiful

A social media post saying "I didn't realize how beautiful she was until she took her head thing off" is drawing heavy engagement, with thousands of likes. The post apparently refers to a woman removing a head covering, such as a hijab or other headwear, prompting reactions about her appearance. No further details about who she is or where the moment took place were given.

A circulating 2025 ranking of countries with the most beautiful women, based on Reddit users' upvotes, puts Colombia first with 345, followed by Poland with 324 and Greece with 311. Russia, Czechia, Sweden, Iceland, the United States, Brazil and Japan round out the top ten. The lighthearted list is drawing attention and debate about the usual pitfalls of ranking people's looks by nationality.

Reports say major beauty retailers Mecca and Sephora are being outpaced by online marketplaces in the global beauty market. Coverage across finance outlets suggests marketplace platforms are growing faster than traditional beauty chains, reshaping where shoppers buy cosmetics and skincare. Industry watchers are weighing what the shift means for brick-and-mortar beauty retail and store-based brands.

South Korean retail giant Shinsegae is preparing to enter the United States beauty market with a dedicated retail platform focused on K-Beauty products. The move would bring Korean skincare and cosmetics brands to American shoppers through a Shinsegae-run channel, extending the group's retail reach beyond Asia and tapping into sustained global demand for Korean beauty products.

Formula 1 resumes this weekend with the Singapore Grand Prix, run in a sprint format. Max Verstappen, racing for Red Bull, set the sixth-fastest time in the only free practice session, having briefly been fifth, while George Russell was quickest. Coverage also notes Red Bull leadership watching Verstappen's driving, with one pundit praising it as a beautiful piece of car control. Sprint qualifying is scheduled later on Friday.

Sally Rooney's novels are no longer to be published in the UK after the author's public support for Palestine Action, according to an Irish Times report. The Irish writer's books, including Normal People and Beautiful World, Where Are You, have drawn widespread attention, with debate focusing on free expression, the proscribed status of Palestine Action, and the consequences for one of Britain's bestselling literary authors.

Russian singer Nikolai Baskov is drawing attention after sharing photos of his mother in honour of her birthday, with media calling her a beauty. In separate coverage, Baskov recalled testing a so-called 'elixir of youth' on himself, adding to the buzz around the pop star.

Donald Trump has announced that 'massive' oil and gas exploration is set to begin in Greenland, which he described as 'our beautiful' territory. The declaration again raises the question of the island's status, as Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark and its government has repeatedly insisted it is not for sale. The prospect of drilling in the Arctic island has drawn attention given its untapped resources and strategic importance.

Walmart and Ulta Beauty are competing more aggressively in the beauty category, with analysts asking whether the beauty aisle is becoming retail's next major battleground. The question centers on how Walmart's expanding beauty offerings and Ulta's specialist positioning will shape market share in a high-margin category that both retailers see as a growth driver.

Swiss dermatology company Galderma has agreed to acquire skincare brand ZO Skin Health in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal. The acquisition would expand Galderma's portfolio in the fast-growing professional skincare market, and the size of the transaction is drawing attention across the health and beauty industries.

Nightwish and vocalist Floor Jansen have parted ways after more than a decade together. The Finnish symphonic metal band and the Dutch singer, who joined in 2012 and fronted albums including 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' and 'Human. :II: Nature.', are separating, prompting reactions from fans across the metal scene about the band's future line-up and direction.

María Pombo, the Spanish influencer and businesswoman, is again in the headlines in Spain after an aesthetics doctor publicly assessed her look alongside fellow influencers Lola Lolita and Marta Díaz. The doctor said the three women have had cosmetic touch-ups, comments picked up by OkDiario and circulating widely on Spanish social media. The remarks are feeding an ongoing debate about beauty standards and transparency among top influencers about cosmetic procedures.

Gloria Camila Ortega has revealed the viral serum she bought on Amazon to slow her hair loss, priced at under 30 euros. The Spanish media coverage of her recommendation is driving interest in the affordable beauty product, with readers searching for details about the item she says she uses.

An urban exploration photographer has pushed back at accusations that their images are AI-generated, sharing a 2019 photo of themselves with a Catbus figure in Japan. They say the world is full of unusual treasures and beautiful abandoned places, and that they are too busy exploring and adventuring to bother with AI fakes.

Director Dan Trachtenberg is developing an original film inspired by 'Sleeping Beauty' for Disney, according to Deadline. The project marks another fairy tale-adjacent undertaking for the filmmaker, best known for 'Prey' and the 'Predator' franchise entries. No plot details, cast or release date have been announced, and the story is described as an original take rather than a direct remake of the 1959 animated classic.

A writer is sharing a new essay titled 'Beauty and Celebration in the Creation in the Dismissal of Unclaimed Art', published on the Subspace Wagon site and linked alongside Exeunt, a performing arts publication. The piece is being circulated in poetry and writing community circles, including disabled artist tags, and is drawing modest engagement from readers discussing art that goes unrecognized.

Marcel Veenendaal, the 44-year-old lead singer of Dutch band DI-RECT, says he turns down invitations to take part in The Passion every year, telling Het Parool he dismissively calls the event 'Depression'. In a separate interview with VPRO 3voor12, he reflects on his turbulent past, describing it as 'hell, but beautiful'. The interviews paint a picture of a rock frontman wary of mainstream TV spectacle.

Spoilers for The Bold and the Beautiful's October 12-18 episodes have been published by Il Messaggero. They show Carter taking control of Forrester Creations, while Steffy accuses Hope, escalating the ongoing power struggle and personal conflict between the two women. Italian viewers are searching for the weekly previews ahead of the new episodes airing.