Saturday Star 2024-12-14

South African media personality Lalla Hirayama has always been honest with her fans. Recently, she has made headlines for her candid revelations about her recent health scare and subsequent personal transformation. Hirayama’s story serves as a reminder for women to prioritise their health and rethink society’s obsession with beauty and perfection. A health scare that hit close to home Last week Hirayama took to Instagram to share her diagnosis of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia, Grade 3 (CIN III) – the most severe precancerous stage of cervical abnormalities. In her heartfelt post, she urged women to prioritise their health, saying: “Ladies, if you haven’t gone for your Pap smear recently, please don’t leave it for too long.” CIN III is a condition that, if left untreated, can progress to cervical cancer.…

Weight loss medications like Ozempic (semaglutide), Wegovy and Mounjaro are making waves — not just for their dramatic effects on weight loss but also for their unexpected impact on behaviours like drinking alcohol and substance use. Recent studies suggest these drugs may do more than help people shed pounds. They might also play a role in curbing addictions to alcohol, nicotine, or even opioids. What the research studies say A groundbreaking study published in the journal Addiction on October 17 found that people taking Ozempic or similar medications were significantly less likely to engage in substance misuse. Here are the key findings: Alcohol use: Participants taking these medications were 50% less likely to experience alcohol intoxication. Opioid use: This group was also 40% less likely to overdose on opioids.…

As the year winds down and we reflect on everything 2024 brought us, one thing is clear: South Africans showed up when it came to fitness. From gruelling challenges to social running clubs, this year’s fitness trends weren’t just about getting fit – they were about having fun, connecting with others and embracing wellness in all its sweaty glory. Whether it was intense challenges for the hardcore gym junkies or casual jogs, 2024 was a year of movement. Here are five fitness trends that dominated gyms, parks and Instagram feeds across the country: The 75 Hard Challenge: where mental toughness meets physical strength If you’ve spent any time on social media this year, you’ve probably seen someone documenting their 75 Hard Challenge journey. This viral fitness craze isn’t your average…

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are engaged. The 32-year-old singer and actress has taken the next step in her relationship with the 36-year-old producer. She took to Instagram to share the amazing news, posting photos of her engagement ring, while other pictures show her beaming on a picnic after the proposal, and celebrating with her fiancé. She captioned the romantic post: “Forever begins now..” Blanco commented: "Hey wait… that’s my wife." The Only Murders In The Building star’s fans and famous friends were quick to send their congratulations. Friends actress Jennifer Aniston wrote: “HONEY!! Congratulations sweet mama!” And Lil Nas X added: “OMMGGGGG CONGRATSSS AHHH (sic).” In Gomez’s Instagram Stories, she shared a mirror selfie holding her ring closer to the camera. Earlier this year, Blanco admitted he saw…

When you first watch Spellbound, it might seem like another princess flick. But you’ll soon realise that this movie has more to offer than just talking animals and happily-ever-afters. Spellbound explores emotions that we overlook in traditional fairytales, tackling the real-life struggles kids face, such as that no one really talks about like divorce and family breakdowns. The film takes an honest look at those tough, messy feelings that can overwhelm young minds, helping kids understand that they aren’t alone in dealing with loss and change. The film follows Princess Ellian, voiced by Rachel Zegler, a young girl who unexpectedly finds herself in charge of a kingdom after her parents are cursed and turned into terrifying monsters. While most princess stories revolve around finding love or saving the day, Ellian’s…

Death is a heavy subject matter to tackle in a film, especially for a directorial debut feature. But Quanita Adams has not only taken on the challenge with Hier.Na (Hereafter), which premiered at the 12th kykNET Silwerskerm Festival for film and TV a few months back, but she pulled it off with aplomb. It also took home the honours for Best Cinematography in a Feature Film – Ebrahim Hajee, Best Costumes in a Feature Film – Ayesha Khatieb, Best Supporting Actress in a Feature Film – Trudy van Rooy and Best Actress in a Feature Film – June van Merch. Aside from the cultural insight into the practices of a close-knit Muslim community in Cape Town, she enlightens viewers about an Islamic burial (Janazah), which is conducted within 24 hours,…