Quantcast
Channel: Refinery29
Viewing all 85669 articles
Browse latest View live

The Vagina Necklace That An Etsy Seller Can't Keep In Stock

$
0
0

Australian jeweler Emily Fitzgerald sells a range of crystals, stones, and other mystical adornments on her Etsy site, Mullummoonflowers. There's one item, however, that she can't keep in stock: a colorful pendant in the shape of female genitalia.

Odds are, you've already seen these vagina pendants on Instagram, even if you weren't familiar with Fitzgerald's work. She first introduced an "all-seeing vageyena" pendant a couple of months ago, according to Instagram. Inspired by the work of Lissa Brown at Tiny Clementine, Fitzgerald decided to post her creation on social media because she thinks yonis — the Sanskrit word for a stylized vagina meant to represent the Hindu goddess Shakti, according to Encyclopædia Britannica — "are great" and that it proves that type of art "is not weird." Soon enough, she started getting inquiries for her "all-seeing vageyna" necklaces — and was selling out of them faster than she could produce them.

Fitzgerald introduced various versions of her yoni pendant: the so-called "galaxy puss" with a glittery center, iridescent rainbow vaginas, and even a crystal collection. Each style retailed for about $34.40 Australian dollars (about $25.75 in the U.S., with current conversion rates.)

Still, the overwhelming response to her creations has totally depleted the jeweler's supply. eEarlier this week, Fitzgerald released a statement about the status of future restocks. "I have received a huge amount of [direct messages] and [Etsy] messages regarding yoni pendants so many so that I can not possibly reply to every body," Fitzgerald wrote on Instagram. "I am working on a shop update where I will have several styles available, it looks as though it will be in a week or so." The holidays have delayed the process a bit, she explained, so she currently has no yonis available for purchase. However, rest assured that more are coming.

The update hit a slight snag — a good one, but a complication nonetheless. The Mullummoonflowers necklaces had gone viral, and Fitzgerald's Etsy shop was momentarily inundated with traffic, according to the Huffington Post. She later noted on Instagram that while the response has been wild, her online store didn't get overloaded, as many outlets reported.

I want to thank you all for your patience while my shop has been closed 🌸 I have been working hard to release a beautiful new collection of vagEYEna and sacred galaxy yoni pendants 🌸 tomorrow I will have a shop update with a limited amount of each style 🌸 I honestly never expected these to be so widely popular and cannot thank you all enough for the support 🌸 there are numerous online articles circulating the world saying that my etsy store broke? It did not break, my children are home for the summer break so focussing on creating, posting and caring for my children becomes a massive job for one mama. I want to thank some of beautiful ladies who have not only provided me part inspiration but support for these creations 🌸 please tap for tags and find some amazing yoni inspired art 🌸 thank you all so much! #yoni#yonipendants#divinefeminine #yonipendant #yoniverse #spirituality #handmade #galaxypuss#vageyena#allseeingeye#sacredportal#galaxy#vaginaart#vulva#goddess#feminine#claypendant#mystical#magical#lightworker #loveandlight

A photo posted by Emily (@mullum_moonflower) on

"I honestly never expected these to be so widely popular and cannot thank you all enough for the support," she wrote. She's been focused on balancing her children with the demands of production, so the shop has been closed. Keep your eyes peeled on her Instagram, though: she'll be announcing restocks there, as well as previewing new yoni styles. Alas, they might not arrive in time for the Women's March on Washington,

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Did You Know That Zara Has A Cheaper Sister Brand?

6 Shops You'll Love As Much As Zara

6 Undies Every Woman Should Own & Why


Emilia Clarke Is Starring In A Horror Movie

$
0
0

Game of Thrones ' Emilia Clarke is starring in a new movie, Entertainment Tonight reports, and it sounds creepy AF.

Based on an Italian novel, Voice From the Stone f eatures a nurse named Verena, who is in charge of a boy possessed by a spirit hiding in the castle where he resides.

"Verena becomes convinced he has fallen under the spell of a powerful and otherworldly persona trapped in the villa's stone walls, one that seems to be rapidly entwining with her own," the synopsis reads. Select theaters will start showing the film on April 28.

Evanescence's Amy Lee, who's still making music and released a new album in September, has contributed to the soundtrack.

Clarke has already shown she's more than a dragon trainer through her role in Me Before You, and it looks like she's continuing to diversity her credits. In addition to this project, the actress is working on a Star Wars movie centered on Han Solo.

With only two more seasons of Game of Thrones left, it'll be hard to say goodbye to Khaleesi. But it might mean we'll be seeing more of Clarke on the big screen.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Sesame Street Cast Offers Oscar Picks

Michael Keaton Offers Full Apology For "Hidden Fences" Gaffe

Meet Ma, The Dance Film That Won't Remind You Of La La Land At All

20 Female Instagram Artists You Should Follow Immediately

$
0
0

Instagram is usually categorized as a social media network. This isn't really incorrect — we do go there to post photos of nights out, see what friends are up to, and stalk exes — but that classification misses a larger role the app fulfills.

Instagram is a cultural institution that is equal parts digital museum, cabinet of curiosities, and nasty woman gallery. If Facebook has become the social media platform we go to for news and Twitter the one we visit for live streams, then Instagram has become the space for finding inspiration, creativity, and, often, a dash of quirkiness. As writer Molly Young said in this week's The New York Times Magazine, Instagram, with its Explore tab, has "ushered in a golden age of personal eccentricity."

There is no better place to find this than the profiles of female illustrators, animators, miniaturists, painters, and jewelers whose masterpieces fill Instagram and expose you to rainbow-filled worlds of fancy. Their feeds are escapes from the ordinary. But often, instead of escaping completely, they make you want to pick up a pen, a paintbrush, a sewing needle, or a piece of paper, and join in.

Ahead, 20 creators you should follow, stat.

@blrothshank

Brooke Rothshank creates a miniaturist's paradise, where tiny bacon, teddy bears, and even a smaller-than-your-thumbnail portrait of RBG happily reside.

Photo: via @blrothshank.

@jessicasorentang

Jessica So Ren Tang explores her identity and cultural heritage through intricate embroidery that is nothing short of stunning.

Photo: via @jessicasorentang.

@burdieddiamond

Martha Moore Porter leads a charmed, rainbow-filled life.

Photo: via @burieddiamond.

@gemmacorrell

Illustrator Gemma Correll creates designs every nasty woman can relate to. See her Menstrual Island and 2016 Commemorative Pillow if you have any doubt.

Photo: via @gemmacorrell.

@rachelryle

Storyteller Rachel Ryle creates magical animations with her own illustrations. A warning: Watching her make a steaming bowl of pho will make you immediately need to go buy said bowl of pho.

Photo: via @rachelryle.

@wanisssa

Bangkok-born Wanissa Somsuphangsri takes the art of lettering to the next level. Also worth checking out: The Letterettes, a women's lettering group that Somsuphangsri is part of.

Photo: via @wanisssa.

@coucousuzette

Boobs, butts, and burgers engraved on enamel pins and sewn on patches fill this Parisian designer's playful feed.

Photo: via @coucousuzette.

@byjenniferruiz

Jennifer Ruiz's stop motion animations set up one-of-a-kind scenes. Will you look at this Essie nail polish lake?

Photo: via @byjenniferruiz.

@maude_alta

If we can do just one thing in life as well as Maude White cuts paper, we'll call it a day. Check out this intricate creature of flight.

Photo: via @maude_alta.

@kinopia

Animation designer Nneka Myers could very well be the next major Disney artist — she's that good.

Photo: via @kinopia.

@anniset

Let architect Anna Devís welcome you to her pastel world of play. Her work with different proportions and shapes will make you look at elements of a room, like the humble doorway, differently.

Photo: via @anniset.

@spielkkind

German illustrator Kerstin Hiestermann pairs pieces of plants and cut-out figurines with tiny ink illustrations for works of art that take us over the rainbow.

Photo: via @spielkkind.

@thefabricloft

Insiyah Shahpurwalla does with textiles what a master baker does with cake design. Her creations aren't edible, but they are unbelievably detailed.

Photo: via @thefabricloft.

@bymariandrew

Quirky illustrator Mari Andrew's January brain is our every-month brain.

Photo: via @bymariandrew.

@katrinwiehle

You might recognize children's book illustrator Katrin Wiehle's animals from note cards and pins at your local stationary store. They're whale-y adorable.

Photo: via @katrinwiehle.

@dcossyle

Desirée De León takes ordinary objects, such as stamps and cinnamon sticks, and makes them extraordinary.

Photo: via @dcossyle.

@colour_me_creative

Kristina Webb is one of the women behind the coloring book craze. Her profile, full of rainbow-hued braids and bowls of fruit that look good enough to eat, proves why she's one of the leading talents.

Photo: via @colour_me_creative.

@shwetamalhotra

Graphic Designer Shweta Malhotra uses simple, geometric shapes to present new takes on fashion, food, and home design, to name just a few.

Photo: via @shwetamalhotra.

@bethdrawsthings

If you think comics are just for kids, you haven't seen Beth Evans' hilariously spot-on illustrations.

Photo: via @bethdrawsthings.

@susan_alexandra

Jeweler Susan Alexandra designs painted cuffs, necklaces, and earrings with colorful flair, and, often, a touch of emoji inspiration.

Photo: via @susan_alexandra.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Tyra Banks Just Launched Emoji That Are Sure To Make You Smize

How To Quit The Distractions & Get Your Attention Span Back This Year

Whoa, Snapchat Just Got A Major Makeover

The 20 Most Popular Porn Performers of 2016

$
0
0

Pornhub's 2016 Year In Review revealed the most popular genres and search terms behind the world's sexual desires. And since more than 4.5 billion hours of porn were watched in 2016, that means that over 4.5 billion hours of hard work were put in by the professionals who make it. Porn performers are responsible for bringing many people's deepest desires to life, thanks to the varied, unique spaces they take in the industry.

We took a look at the 20 most popular porn performers as listed in Pornhub's Year in Review. Each performer's claim to fame is widely different. For some, their popularity hinges on a specific video or character, while others have made a name for themselves either by domineering a certain genre or appearing all over. They're good at what they do, and so time and time again users searched for them and their work.

In addition to their popularity, we found out how each performer got their start and who they are when it comes to their career, passions, and relationships. Ahead is everything you need to know about the most popular porn performers of 2016.

Lisa Ann

Lisa Ann secured the top spot on Pornhub’s list of most searched porn performers, thanks in part to her most iconic role: Sarah Palin. Hustler Video’s Who’s Nailin’ Paylin? Was released on election day 2008. Lisa Ann (as Sarah Palin) has sex with parodies of Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Bill O’Reilly. The role made her a pop culture phenomenon that she’s still recognized for to this day.

In addition to her on-screen work, Ann was also one of the only female talent agents to open her own agency back in 2006, although she shuttered it after four years to focus on her solo efforts. In 2014, she retired from the adult film industry and transitioned to her new role as a fantasy football guru. Now, you can find her hosting the Lisa Ann Does Fantasy show Monday nights on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Mia Khalifa

Mia Khalifa ’s rise to fame was as fast as it was short-lived. The 23-year-old was the first prominent Lebanese porn star, moving to America at the age of 10 and getting a B.A. in history from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her popularity on Pornhub, where she was ranked the most popular porn actress in 2015, caused a stir back in her hometown, in part because she proudly displays her Lebanese tattoos (the opening lines of the Lebanese national anthem on one arm, the Lebanese Forces Cross on the other) while on camera.

“They’re embarrassed I’m ‘claiming’ them,” the performer told Newsweek. “As if I had a choice. I was born there.”

Now, Khalifa has moved away from porn and contributes to Fansided.com. The self-proclaimed “DC Sports Girl” is a social media personality whose current goal is to promote the Maryland and D.C. sports scene.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images.

Kim Kardashian

Unfortunately, Kim Kardashian's name continues to be searched in the porn realm, even though her sex tape with ex-boyfriend and singer Willie “Ray J” Norwood was leaked without her consent in 2007, which was a complete violation of both of their privacy. Kardashian sued the distribution company, Vivid Entertainment, before eventually settling.

“You know, I think that’s how I was definitely introduced to the world,” she later told People. “It was a negative way, so I felt like I really had to work 10 times harder to get people to see the real me.”

Photo: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images.

Riley Reid

After starting as a stripper during her time off in college, Riley Reid entered the adult film industry as an extra for In The VIP for Reality Kings in Miami. In 2011, she shot her first sex scene for Bang Bros in their College Rules section. She quickly made a name for herself, moving to LA and pursuing the industry full time.

“I have this very weird energy about myself,” she said in an interview. “I have this high sexual drive, and it brings it out of other people, too.”

In 2016, she brought home a record-breaking number of awards from the Adult Video News awards, including Performer of the Year. She was also the newest 2016 Fleshlight Girl, having her very own sex toy modeled off her genitalia.

Photo: Renard Garr/WireImage.

Sunny Leone

Sunny Leone began her career in 2001, starting as an erotic model. She officially transitioned to hardcore pornography in 2005. She was the first Vivid Girl of Indian descent and began working with Vivid Entertainment. In 2008, she announced the launch of her very own studio, SunLust Pictures, along with her partner Daniel Weber.

"We are releasing Vivid type quality films, so everyone who is watching will get something that is high quality but created by myself and my partner,” she explained. “I plan to direct, create, write and produce all the movies we make.”

In 2013 she announced her retirement from adult films, instead choosing to focus on mainstream acting.

Photo: Waseem Gashroo/Hindustan Times/Getty Images.

Brandi Love

Brandi Love is best known for her work in MILF- and Hot Wife-branded videos, but she actually got her start in the wine business. While designing her website, she met two adult webmasters who asked if she’d be interested in learning more about the adult entertainment industry.

“We literally decided to abandon ship on where we were going with the wine labeling,” she said in an interview. “We went 100% on the adult side and the rest is history!”

She and her husband, Chris Potoski, also created Parents In Adult, an organization that provided resources for parents in the adult entertainment industry, from chatrooms to lawyers. Love also authored the 2008 book Getting Wild Sex from Your Conservative Woman.

Photo: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images.

Asa Akira

Asa Akira’s Twitter bio begins with “I have an award-winning asshole,” and that’s just the beginning. She’s also the author of two books, co-host of KFC Radio, works for Barstool Sports, and has her own line of candles (“Daddy Issues” and “Strip Club Locker Room” are some of the scents). The 30-year-old got her start as a dominatrix when she was 19, moved onto stripping, and then shot her first sex scene with Gina Lynn’s production company.

In 2013, she signed a contract with Wicked Pictures to appear exclusively in their movies, and in 2015, she became host of The Sex Factor, a TV show where eight men and eight women compete for one million dollars and a three-year porn contract.

Photo: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images.

Madison Ivy

Madison Ivy got into the business when she was 18 after adult film performer Shy Love “took her under her wing.” Since then, she’s worked for companies like Hustler, Pure Play Media, Brazzers, Elegant Angel, and Bang Productions. She interacts with her fans most frequently on Snapchat (MadisonIvySnaps) as well as Instagram.

Ivy grew up in a religious household and struggled not just with the taboo of porn, but also her sexuality. The actress is openly attracted to women and is in a relationship with fellow porn actress Heather Starlet. The two have been together since 2013, and currently live together.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Alexis Texas

“I was a college student in Texas, where I grew up and a company called Shane’s World contacted me about a scene,” Alexis Texas says of her start in the industry. “I didn’t even know it was porn at first. I thought it was a TV dating show.”

The actress then moved to LA to pursue porn full-time and has gained a significant fan following that she calls Team Texass. In 2015, she signed her first directing contract with Elegant Angel, and she has her own radio show called Alexis Texas: Booty Talk on Vivid Radio.

Photo: David Livingston/Getty Images.

Dillion Harper

While working multiple jobs, Dillion Harper decided to start webcamming on the side to help make rent. On the advice of commenters, she starting thinking about porn, and after doing research, it was decided.

“I really just felt a gut feeling and something telling me I should do this,” she said in an interview.

She sent her photos out to AMA Adult Modeling in Fort Lauderdale, and after they expressed interest, she headed to south Florida and dove right in. The 25-year-old is active with her fans on Twitter, and produces exclusive content for her website.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Mia Malkova

This California native made the leap to porn on the encouragement of her best friend and fellow performer Natasha Malkova.

“I really had no idea what it was going to be like,” she confessed in an interview. “It's a lot more professional than I thought it would be, though.”

“After my first scene went well, I thought this is something I can do,” she continued.

In 2014, she married fellow performer Danny Mountain.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

August Ames

August Ames burst onto the scene in 2014, later winning the AVN Cutest Newcomer in 2015. Her reason for getting into the industry? “I was honestly bored,” she said in an interview. “I'm a very impulsive person, and I decided to try out the industry, just to see what it's like, in Canada.”

Now, she’s based in LA, working in the industry full time and staying in touch with her fans on Instagram and Twitter.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Nicole Aniston

"I had never watched porn before the industry,” Nicole Aniston told Fleshbot.com. “I was a very inexperienced person sexually."

However, that didn’t stop her from amassing over 340,000 Twitter followers and becoming a Fleshlight Girl. According to the brand, Aniston ditched her nine-to-five in 2010 to pursue the adult film industry. Now, she has her own website where she posts exclusive content, and was named the Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2015.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Sasha Grey

Sasha Grey moved to LA with the intent of becoming an adult film actress, and just after she turned 18, she appeared in the film Fashionistas Safado: The Challenge. Her standout performance in the 12-person orgy made waves, and she was booked that summer.

After her success in the porn industry, she began branching out into more mainstream acting. She starred in Steven Soderbergh’s The Girlfriend Experience, and the New York Times writes that Grey’s “career in pornography has been distinguished both by the extremity of what she is willing to do and an unusual degree of intellectual seriousness about doing it.”

Photo: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images.

Sara Jay

“I have been in the adult business since I was 18 when I started dancing in the Midwest,” Sarah Jay writes on her website. After moving to Las Vegas at 23 years old, she participated in her first hardcore scene through connections with photographers.

Since then, the performer has appeared in over 300 DVDs and hundreds of different websites. She is also the CEO of Wyde Syde Productions, and regularly performs live shows on her website.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Dani Daniels

Dani Daniels came up with her stage name as an act of revenge against her ex-boyfriend, which sets the tone for the playful way she approaches her work. Her first scene was with three other women for Reality Kings, and she says it took a year of being in the industry for her to develop her confidence.

In addition to performing, Daniels has directed for studios like Brazzers and partnered with Doc Johnson for a line of sex toys. Outside of the industry, Daniels is an artist of pointillism portraits.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Christy Mack

“I started modeling at 18, then moved into fetish films at 19,” Christy Mack explained in an interview with Barelist. This opened the door for opportunities in the adult film industry, where she made a name for herself with her unique and bold tattoos. She opened up about the designs and what they mean to her in a profile for InkedMag.

Mack's official website offers exclusive content, while her side website offers her very own Emojis, MackMoji.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Piper Perri

Piper Perri joined the industry in 2015, first living in New Orleans before making the switch to LA. She decided to pursue pornography after a woman who worked for an agency messaged her on OKCupid. She sent pictures and was contacted before deciding on a whim to go down to Miami. “I just had a ‘fuck it’ in me,” she said. She stays in touch with her fans on Twitter.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic.

Ava Addams

Ava Addams began her career as a Playboy Playmate before becoming a fetish model and then a performer. “It was definitely gradual for me,” she told Mens Mag Daily. “I did Playboy. I did fetish. I do solo and girl/girl. And then a year later, I did boy/girl so I kind of eased my way into hardcore.”

When she’s not working on her films, Addams is maintaining her website and interacting with her fans through camming.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Rachel Starr

Rachel Starr is a one-woman brand. When she’s not performing in adult videos, like her DVD Rachel Starr Is Bad Ass, she’s live-streaming, talking and texting one-on-one with her fans using a public phone number. The star is also selling access to her Snapchat for one year ($99) or forever ($199) where she’ll be posting more content.

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Here's A Goop-Approved Rose Quartz Egg For Your Vagina

Untouchable

23 Sexts To Send To Your Partner Now

Woman Asks Stepmom To Adopt Her In Viral Video

$
0
0

Marissa Thamann, 21, lost her biological mother when she was very young, and Heather Thamann, 40, has basically been her mom for 17 years. But, as Today.com reported, for financial and personal reasons, they never pursued a legal adoption.

On Christmas morning, though, Marissa decided to "pop the question." And she did it in the most creative way: with a handmade ornament. Written on it? "Will you adopt me?" She also presented Heather with a picture book filled with special letters and photos.

The rest of the family was in on the surprise, and it was captured in the sweet video below. "I've been waiting for so long!" Heather says in it. After being picked up by the site Love What Matters, the video went viral, with over 78,000 likes and 2.6 million views so far.

Heather told Today that she's since received messages from women all over the world, many of them asking for advice on how to unite their own families. “I have not been the perfect parent by any means," she said. "We’ve had our downs and ups and craziness and arguments and love, just like any family. You just have to stick with it and hope that it turns out the way that you want.”

After all, said her newly adopted daughter, love isn't about signing on a dotted line. “Love comes in all forms,” Marissa said. “You don’t need a piece of paper.”

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

20 Female Instagram Artists You Should Follow Immediately

These Adorable Foam Animals Make For Latte Art Like You've Never Seen

Why These Trendy Lamps Are Being Recalled

The Scariest Real-Life Things That Have Happened On Friday The 13th

$
0
0

This story was originally published on Friday March 13, 2016.

Did you know that Friday the 13th all started with one man, William Fowler?

Fowler was your stereotypical superstitious 19th-century man. He was transfixed with the number 13. He attended P.S. 13, fought in 13 battles during the Civil War, built 13 structures in New York City, belonged to 13 secret clubs, and tried to coordinate all other significant events with the 13th date of each month. Then, one cold Friday the 13th in January of 1882 — at 8:13 p.m. — Fowler rented out room 13 of Knickerbocker Cottage and made his personal obsession public. This would be the first meeting of The Thirteen Club.

The New York Historical Society reports that the event included 13 courses eaten underneath a banner reading “Morituri te Salutamus.” The dark message translates to, “We who are about to die salute you.” What would become a regularly scheduled supper club was headed by Fowler until his death in 1897. He believed that 13 was not just a significant number in his life, but that it was his own lucky number. The mysterious cult eventually dismantled, but the legacy of Friday the 13th lives on.

Fowler loved the number 13 because it brought him unparalleled and unexplainable luck. Today, his fondness of the number has been reimagined as fear. Most people believe the number is haunted and can only result in adverse happenings, not supper clubs. That fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia.

Whether Friday the 13th makes you want to hide under the covers or have your friends over for dinner, like Fowler, these freaky events may prove that there is some truth to those Friday the 13th superstitions.

Andes Flight Disaster

Many people are reluctant to fly on Friday the 13th, but the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) debunked the superstition by researching the rate of fatal plane crashes on the date and found it was actually lower than the average of the other days of the month. Still, a number of mysterious and tragic plane crashes have occurred on the infamous date.

On Friday, October 13th, 1972, two major plane crashes occurred. One was a large plane was carrying a Uruguayan rugby team. The other, a larger plane flying from Paris to Moscow. The death toll from both crashes was more than 200.

While the Moscow-bound plane resulted in the death of everyone on board, 28 people survived the initial plane crash in the Andes. But they truly had to survive. The plane went down October 13, but the sole 16 survivors were rescued 72 days after the crash. To endure the harsh climate of the mountains, the men did everything they could to survive. This included turning to cannibalism and eating the bodies of the their dead teammates. Their tragic and harrowing story was eventually retold in a book and film, Alive.

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

The Black Friday Bush Fires

Weird natural disasters are also known to occur on the 13th. In October of 2006, a blizzard hit Buffalo, NY, leaving 22 inches of snow on the ground. In 1970, a deadly cyclone struck Bangladesh and killed at least 300,000 people.

One particular disaster is remembered in Australia as Black Friday. Over a dozen towns were destroyed and 71 people died from an uncontrollable bush fire in Victoria on Friday, January 13, 1939. The day is memorialized as Black Friday to honor those who died. It is considered the worst bush fire in Australia's history. Over 4 million acres of land in Victoria was burnt.

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

Friday The 13th Saga

Our manifested fear of Friday the 13th could easily be traced back to a movie of the same name, which was first released in 1980.

Today, the film franchise has a near cult following dedicated to the murderous plot lines which take place over the course of 24 hours on a fictionalized Friday. A dozen films later, the series is worth $465 million, which can also be converted to an infinite amount of screams and gasps.

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

38 Witnesses

The murder of Susan "Kitty" Genovese has gone down as one of the most shocking crimes in history, not only cause it involved the rape and murder of a young girl, but because there were a lot of witnesses. The New York Times reported a total of 38. The crime occurred on March 13, 1964, in Kew Gardens, Brooklyn.

Genovese, 28, was attacked by Winston Moseley, 29, in the middle of a road that was surrounded by apartment buildings with windows overlooking the area. No one called the police or intervened. Interviewed after the fact, the neighbors gave a myriad of excuses as to why they didn't call the police or try to stop the attacker.

These included "I was tired," "I didn't want to get involved," and, "We thought it was a lover's quarrel." The police said that based on the timeline of Genovese's attack (she escaped from him twice, but he returned to stab her twice), there was a chance for her to have been saved.

Moseley recently died in prison at age 81, creating a sort of closure to a case that would later become the center of many psychology classes regarding the perplexing idea of the “bystander effect.”

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

Death Of Tupac Shakur

On September 7, 1996, a white Cadillac pulled up alongside rapper Tupac Shakur's car and opened fire into it. He was shot four times and was immediately taken to the hospital, where he quickly lost consciousness. He underwent a few surgeries and was placed in a medically induced coma.

He died on Friday, September 13, 1996.

The last words he said, according to the cop sitting next to him, were, "Fuck you."

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

Wall Street Mini Crash

Another freaky Friday in October. In 1989, Wall Street had a mini freak-out following a mini crash. Referred to as Black Friday (again), the Dow Jones market fell nearly 7% in one afternoon.

This particular Black Friday crash is often seen as the start of the recession of that occurred in the early 1990s. The market seems to have had an adverse reactions to Friday the 13th for multiple years, however.

CNBC reports, "There have been five Friday [the] 13ths in March and they have been pretty negative for the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Index, according to Kensho, a quantitative analysis tool used by hedge funds."

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

Freaky Friday

Never forget that the idea of spooky things happening on Friday the 13th also gave us Freaky Friday. Since the others were actually freaky, I thought it best to end this on a positive note.

Freaky Friday, starring none other than Lindsay Lohan, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Chad Michael Murray on a motorcycle, was a pretty terrifying portrayal of the freakiness of Friday the 13th (Who wants to be their mom at 13?!), but also pretty uplifting. (Appreciate your family, y'all.) A quick synopsis for anyone who hasn't seen it: Mother and daughter are polar opposites, until they switch bodies and lives. They walk a mile in each other's shoes and gather a newfound appreciation for one another.

The original Freaky Friday was released in 1976 and starred a young Jodie Foster as the daughter and Barbara Harris as the mother. The takeaway? Don't get in a fight with your mom on Friday the 13th and say, "I wish I could switch places with her for just one day."

Illustrated by: Norah Stone.

Like this post? There's more. Get tons of celebrity news, fun takes on pop culture, and trending stories on the Refinery29 Entertainment Facebook page.

Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Jessica Biel Always Knew She Was Going To Marry Justin Timberlake

Kirsten Dunst Is Engaged To Her Fargo Co-Star Jesse Plemons

Katy Perry Produces Powerful Pro-Muslim American PSA

THIS Is How To Make Chrome Lipstick Work In Your Everyday Life

$
0
0

When you're in a beauty rut, it's a little like looking in your closet and seeing absolutely nothing to wear. Sure, you have the bones to create a killer look — a bold liner here, a bottle of texture spray there — but sometimes you just need a boost of inspiration. That's why we created Short Cuts, a series of quick, easy-to-follow videos meant to educate, empower, and excite the beauty nerds in all of us. Whether you're looking to learn something new or to refresh your current routine, there's a Short Cut for you.

If Pat McGrath's insanely-popular metallic lip kits taught us anything last year, it's that chrome was the color trend of 2016. It shows no signs of slowing down, which is good news, because we stocked up on metallic lipsticks last year and really need to get some mileage out of 'em. Rather than going for major statement shades — like blue, gold, even red — we find that reaching for nude or brown makes the style that much more wearable. Still on the fence? Check out the video above, then tell us you don't want to try lips that look like precious molten metal.

Like what you see? Follow Short Cuts on Facebook for more videos.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Unicorn Manicures Are Here & They're Just As Magical As You Imagine

Powerpuff Girls-Themed Makeup Is The Collection We Never Knew We Needed

GlamGlow’s New Lip Treatments Are The Definition Of Tasteful Nudes

Kylie Jenner Just Debuted Her First Major Hair Change Of 2017

$
0
0

Between launching The Kylie Shop, opening the brick-and-mortar doors to her first-ever pop-up, and releasing a slew of new makeup and merchandise, Kylie Jenner has been pretty damn busy these past few weeks. So busy, in fact, that she hasn’t had any time at all for her usual blink-and-you’ll-miss-it hair changes. But just when we were starting to get used to the beauty mogul’s long, natural-looking waves, she threw us a major curveball last night. To wit: She debuted a blunt-cut platinum bob.

You may recall that Jenner only returned to her brunette roots a few months ago, after briefly flirting with a silvery-white shade. And the thought of going from blonde to dark to blonde yet again — in such a short time frame — is giving us sympathy scalp pain. Of course, that’s assuming the hair transformation is real...and we’re not entirely convinced.

Consider the evidence: Not only is Jenner’s passion for wigs is well-documented — as in, she has an entire room in her house dedicated to her collection — but the stylist behind her most recent switch-up was none other than Touched By Tokyo. If you're not familiar, he's the man behind most of Jenner's wigged-out styles, so it’s entirely possible that her new look is just a fun, temporary fling. That said, we’ve always loved the platinum look on Jenner, even if her double-processed strands tell a different story.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Selena Gomez Has Gone Shorter Than Ever Before

Bella Hadid Is Too Busy Slaying To Worry About The Weeknd Drama

Kendall Jenner Finally Addresses Those Plastic Surgery Rumors


Jessica Biel Always Knew She Was Going To Marry Justin Timberlake

$
0
0

Jessica Biel had a good feeling about husband Justin Timberlake right from the start. And it had a little something to do with his telephone etiquette.

When Biel appeared on the Late Late Show with James Corden, she revealed that she and Timberlake didn't kiss for a long time because he was on tour.

Despite all that non-kissing, however, they still managed to put their mouths to good use. "We were talking on the phone, like normal pre-teens do," Biel said. "We were just chatting on the phone for hours."

It was these talks that inspired Biel to write a very telling email to her producing partner Michelle Purple.

"It's literally, like, 'OK, I can't make that meeting so I have to cancel,'" Biel explained. "'Also I know I'm gonna marry this man, you can't tell anybody but your husband.'"

Basically, Biel knew she was going to marry Timberlake after one particularly amazing conversation. But don't try to ask her what it was about.

"I have no idea why I wrote that email," she said. "I don't know what he did that day, but I have this hilarious email."

We hope Timberlake, who Biel married in 2012, is more amused by that note than he was by her recent baby news.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Scariest Real-Life Things That Have Happened On Friday The 13th

Kirsten Dunst Is Engaged To Her Fargo Co-Star Jesse Plemons

Katy Perry Produces Powerful Pro-Muslim American PSA

Why The Women's March On Washington May Be More Popular Than Trump's Inauguration

$
0
0

Watch out, Donald Trump: The Women's March On Washington may outshine the presidential inauguration next weekend and that probably won't make you happy.

To date, far more buses have applied to secure parking in D.C. on the day of the march than for the day of the inauguration, The Washington Post reported.

Only 200 buses have requested parking on January 20, while an astounding 1,200 buses have done so for January 21, according to D.C. Council member Charles Allen.

Pretty crazy, right?

The march got off to a rocky start, but is now expected to be one of the biggest events of the inauguration weekend. More than 400,000 people have said they're going to attend, according to the event's Facebook page. It doesn't hurt that organizers are getting support from the likes of Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, and a bunch of celebrities.

It's still unclear whether the number of buses will translate to record-breaking attendance numbers at the march and the inauguration. We'll just have to wait and see.

If you're interested in finding out more about the Women's March on Washington, click here. And if you want to know how to financial supporting the event or how to register, click here and here.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

President Obama Just Gave Joe Biden The Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Joe Biden Says It’s On Men To End Rape Culture

What You Need To Know About That Senate Vote To Repeal Obamacare

Beyoncé Sends Sweet B-Day Gift To Olivia Wilde's Kid, We Are Now Jealous Of A Toddler

$
0
0

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure all I got for my second birthday were some neon '80s onesies and tiny Hammer pants. I guess we can't all be as lucky as Otis Sudeikis. Because Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis' adorable tot just turned 2 — and all he got to show for it was a signed Beyoncé photo. Man, what a life.

Okay, maybe the kid got some other presents, too. But how could anything purchased by Mom and Dad compete with a missive from Queen Bey? And this was no random gifting occurrence, either: According to Entertainment Tonight, Otis is arguably Beyoncé's biggest smallest fan.

On Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen this week, papa Sudeikis told Cohen that Otis' entire second birthday was "Beyoncé-themed...it was great."

It's clear Otis' well-chosen fandom has been carrying on for awhile; Wilde told Ellen DeGeneres last year that her son is "absolutely in love" with Beyoncé and has even — mysteriously, yet aptly? — nicknamed her "Beyoncé Boobies." I mean, I doubt I could even say "boobies" when I was 2, let alone "Beyoncé." Color us impressed, Otis.

The fact that Wilde nearly gave birth at a Beyoncé concert just makes so much more sense now.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Justin Bieber Sent Mark Wahlberg His Calvin Klein Ads

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Is The Happiest Dad Alive In New Photo

Jaden Smith Suggests That He's Leaving L.A.

Here's A Goop-Approved Rose Quartz Egg For Your Vagina

$
0
0

Already totally over your $15,000 gold vibrator? Finally sick of getting your (totally unnecessary) vaginal steaming appointments? Well, then 2017 is already very lucky for you, because the latest Gwyneth Paltrow-approved, below-the-belt trend is here: $55-66 crystal eggs that go inside your vagina.

As explained in a Goop interview with "beauty guru/healer/inspiration/friend" Shiva Rose, the eggs have a vast array of supposed benefits: "Jade eggs can help cultivate sexual energy, increase orgasm... develop and clear chi pathways in the body, intensify feminine energy, and invigorate our life force," says Rose.

Where to even begin here, huh? We'll put the whole "life force" thing on hold for a minute to talk about the more, uh, grounded claims. Essentially, the eggs seem to work like ben wa balls, which are inserted into the vagina to help with your pelvic floor-strengthening Kegel exercises. Working those muscles can definitely make sex even more pleasurable (as well as make your core workouts more effective and encourage a better childbirth experience).

So there is some reason to think that the eggs could help out in the bedroom, but there are definitely easier and cheaper ways to do those exercises. In fact, you don't really need anything inside of you to do them at all.

In terms of safety, it's a little hard to know what's up. Rose suggests boiling the egg before putting it inside you to make sure it's clean (we would also suggest letting it cool down). Chakrubs, the company that makes the eggs, also suggests cleansing them with vodka or brandy, but we'd like to remind you that alcohol often burns the sensitive vaginal walls.

If you want to work on your pelvic floor muscles and your chi at the same time, then sure, these eggs sound like fun. But if your life force isn't such a concern, maybe take a look at toys made from more traditional body-safe materials, like silicone. We promise they're still very pretty.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The 20 Most Popular Porn Performers of 2016

Untouchable

23 Sexts To Send To Your Partner Now

Does Your State Make The Grade When It Comes To Reproductive Health?

$
0
0

It looks like America is going to have to hit the books a little harder. According to a new report released by the Population Institute, the United States gets a D grade when it comes to reproductive health. Some more bad news? Last year, the U.S. got a D+. In addition to looking at the nation as a whole, the Population Institute gave each state a letter grade, too, and that news is a little more positive: a total of five states earned an A.

In its analysis, the Population Institute looked at four different factors of reproductive health: effectiveness, which takes into account the number of teen pregnancies and percentage of unintended pregnancies; prevention, such as education programs, access to emergency contraception, and allowing minors to have access to contraception; affordability, including access to birth control for those without insurance and low-income individuals; and access, which looks at how "burdensome" it is to seek family planning and abortion services.

The Population Institute adds that "the political outlook for 2017 is bleak," so things may not get better anytime soon. It cites the general atmosphere around reproductive health being "hostile" and adds that well as the nation's teen pregnancy rate, which is the highest in the developed world.

A total of 20 states failed. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia had some of the lowest scores. The five states at the top of the class? California, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington state. Interested in seeing exactly how your home state measured up? Check out all 50 report cards at the Population Institute.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

These Side-By-Side Photos Make A Powerful Point About "Bikini Bodies"

This School Assignment Included A Question About Sexual Assault

This Mom Just Opened Up About Post-Miscarriage Pregnancy

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Is The Happiest Dad Alive In New Photo

$
0
0

On January 4, Dancing With the Stars alums Maksim Chmerkovskiy and wife Peta Murgatroyd quietly welcomed a baby boy into the world. Papa Chmerkovskiy, 36, announced the arrival of his new son, Shai Aleksander, on Twitter. However, don't expect the new family to share close-ups of baby Shai any time soon.

Today, Chmerkovskiy posted a precious photo of himself and the new baby and an excited message about his new dad status. "It's been one week plus one day of my fatherhood and I'm the happiest person that's ever lived," he said. In the hazy photo, you see what looks like Chmerkovskiy's back to the camera while cradling Shai.

"I'm also feeling very protective and now understand what every parent in history have been going through for as long as humans have been giving birth," he continued before making another surprising but important announcement. "I don't let too many people come see my son and I don't want to put any of him on social media just yet."

Read the rest of the sweet message below. Looks like dad is taking a page from another notoriously private papa, Chance The Rapper.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

20 Female Instagram Artists You Should Follow Immediately

Justin Bieber Sent Mark Wahlberg His Calvin Klein Ads

These Adorable Foam Animals Make For Latte Art Like You've Never Seen

Queen Latifah Just Confirmed She's Working On A Living Single Reboot

$
0
0

Queen Latifah has redeemed herself from the 27-piece hairdo she sports on Wednesday night's Star. During Latifah’s appearance on Andy Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live, a caller asked the question all Black '80s babies want to know: Is Living Single joining the gaggle of other shows from yesteryear being revived?

The answer is yes. “Funny you should ask,” Latifah responded. “We’re actually working on it.” From the sound of things, the reboot isn’t set in stone. “It’s not there yet. But hopefully we can get it happening.” But Latifah is on board, and that is enough for me to get the theme song stuck in my head and send a mass text about it to all of my friends.

Living Single was a hugely popular Black sitcom on Fox in the '90s, chronicling the lives of six friends in their 20s living in Brooklyn. If this sounds like another popular '90s sitcom, that's no coincidence. During the WWHL segment, there was some necessary shade to Friends, which completely ripped off Living Single for its premise.

Jason Sudeikis, who was also a guest on the show, interjected, “I thought Friends was the reboot?” much to the delight of Latifah. She spoke very candidly about the NBC executive who explicitly stated that he wanted to make a show like Living Single for his network. The result was a very whitewashed Friends. "We knew we had already been doing this," she told Cohen. Get into this early-'90s tea.

With shows like Girls and Broad City dominating the "friendship" genre, we need shows about Black joy and relationships more than ever. In Donald Trump kind of world, I'm glad I got my girls.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Bachelor's Becca Explains Why We Need To Destigmatize Abstinence

A Bachelor Contestant Puked In Zero-Gravity On Date With Nick Viall

Sorry, But There Won't Be A Katy Perry & Taylor Swift Feud


Why These Trendy Lamps Are Being Recalled

$
0
0

If you have a himalayan rock-salt lamp at home, this is for you. Thousands of these lamps, beloved for their air-purifying and mood-boosting properties, are being recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the dimmer switch or outlet plug is prone to overheating. This could cause a fire, so the CPSC warns to stop using them immediately.

The three styles of lamps in question were sold under the brand Lumière at Michaels between July and November 2016, though some were also on Amazon, Good Housekeeping reported. The product names are Basket of Rocks, Rock of Gibraltar, and Carnival of Lights. The CPSC says you can return them to Michaels for a full refund. You can call Michaels at 800-642-4235 or visit its website and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more details.

Spot your lamp in the pictures below? Then it's time to return it. (Don't worry, you can find plenty more decor ideas in our inspiration guide.)

Basket of RocksPhoto: Courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Rock of GibraltarPhoto: Courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Carnival of LightsPhoto: Courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This House's Secret Bookcase Door Will Blow Your Mind

You Can Buy Bikes At Ikea Now

You Can Redecorate Your Home From The Comfort Of...Your Home

This Is The Strangest Miley Cyrus News Today

$
0
0

Miley Cyrus is an open book, but every now and then, we learn something we never knew about her — and never could have imagined. Because there are some things that only the brain of Miley Cyrus can think up.

Cyrus's friend Wayne Coyne, the lead singer of The Flaming Lips, revealed to The Guardian that he and Cyrus have a very unique relationship.

"I tweeted her back my phone number and said, 'Text me,'" he said. "Since then, we've texted each other every day. I'll say, 'What are you doing?' and she'll send me pictures of herself peeing. Sometimes it's 1,000 times a day, sometimes it's a couple of times a day, but we're always in each other's lives."

He also shared a hilarious story about Cyrus calling out A$AP Rocky while he was talking about taking acid.

"In between, Miley was whispering, 'He's never really taken acid. He's just saying that because he wants to write music about taking acid,'" he remembers. "He would keep talking and she would go, 'He doesn’t know anything about acid.' She'd know. Cyrus has done acid plenty."

Cyrus and Coyne have collaborated several times, including on The Flaming Lips' latest album OCZY MLODY, and he said they're working on another album together. "I think she likes it when it’s like: 'You guys do some of the work, and then I get to come in and do something really cool."

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

These Are The Most Popular Songs Of The Week

Taylor Swift Posts First Shot Of Her Music Video With Zayn Malik

These Are The Best Karaoke Songs Of All Time

These Adorable Foam Animals Make For Latte Art Like You've Never Seen

$
0
0

It may be a little embarrassing, but we're probably all guilty of snapping photos of our morning lattes. If your Instagram feed is filled with pictures of beautiful foam leaves and hearts, we're about to tell you something that's going to make you want to jump on a plane to Hong Kong, ASAP. That's because Hong Kong is the location of Leo's Espresso Bar where the most adorable and artistic foam creations are made.

With some help from Cosmopolitan, we discovered that Leo's serves up lattes topped with 3D foam sculptures of all sorts of different kinds of animals. Order a coffee there, and you could get a pig peeking out of your cup or two cats taking a bath in your drink. You may also find characters you love like Hello Kitty or the aliens from Toy Story.

3D Cappuccino 🤗

A photo posted by 蛋木 王子 (@eggyto) on

These 3D foam figures' faces are intricately drawn on with different colored dyes, and the tiny details on their bodies are seriously impressive — almost too impressive to drink? Instagram videos shared by the Leo's Espresso Instagram account show off how the foam characters do a little jiggly dance when you shake your cup, giving them even more personality. Seriously, these foam animals make the little spirals you get on your lattes from the cafe around the corner look just plain boring.

A video posted by FOOOODIEEE (@foooodieee) on

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Here's Every Avocado Hack You'll EVER Need

Is A Bagel Really A Bagel If It Isn't In NYC?

33 Grown-Up Ways To Drink Tequila

Justin Bieber Sent Mark Wahlberg His Calvin Klein Ads

$
0
0

Mark Wahlberg did not appreciate getting these photos from Justin Bieber.

Wahlberg revealed on Conan Wednesday that Bieber sent him the images from his Calvin Klein ads — without warning.

"He did send me the pictures and I was like, 'You don't send a guy pictures like this in your underwear,'" Wahlberg told Conan O'Brien. He also stressed, though, that Bieber is "a very nice young man." (Apparently, though, not nice enough to date Wahlberg's daughter. The star recently told Ellen DeGeneres that when his daughter suggested she'd marry Bieber one day, his response was "over both your dead bodies." Harsh.)

"People give him flack for growing up in the spotlight and they say he has a bit of an attitude, but look at the look on my face, I mean, I was the biggest punk in the world," Wahlberg said of Bieber. "He's very nice and young and polite compared to what I was."

It's no surprise that Bieber would want Wahlberg's approval. Wahlberg became a legend in his own right for his Calvin Klein ads, so it makes sense that Bieber would want to emulate his iconic brooding look.

And if you're wondering about the expression Wahlberg made in those iconic photos, your guesses might be closer than you think. O'Brien suggested that Wahlberg was making "the face you make when you squeeze your sack."

"That was not one of my proudest moments," Wahlberg admitted. Check out the Conan clip below.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Maksim Chmerkovskiy Is The Happiest Dad Alive In New Photo

Beyoncé Sends Sweet B-Day Gift To Olivia Wilde's Kid, We Are Now Jealous Of A Toddler

Jaden Smith Suggests That He's Leaving L.A.

What You Need To Know About Syphilis

$
0
0
Photographed by Rockie Nolan.

If you thought we were basically done with syphilis as a society, you're not the only one. Back in the early 2000s, the disease was considered to be quite rare. But we've seen a steep and troubling increase in cases over the past decade.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. was at its lowest level of syphilis cases since 1941 just over a decade ago. But that rate has risen pretty much every year since 2001. And between 2014 and 2015, the rate rose 19% (from 6.3 to 7.5 cases per 100,000).

The CDC attributes the overall rise primarily to new cases of syphilis among men, and men still account for about 90% of all syphilis cases. But the rate among women is rising swiftly as well — it increased by 27.3% between 2014 and 2015.

So now is definitely the time for everyone to reacquaint themselves with this disease. The symptoms of syphilis are often surprisingly subtle, making it hard to catch early without regular testing. But, if left untreated, it can cause some serious complications and can even increase your risk for HIV. So preventing it (with all those extremely hot safe sex habits) is key, but so is knowing what to watch out for. Here's what you should know:

What is syphilis?

It's a sexually-transmitted infection caused by the Treponema pallidum bacteria. The infection causes small sores, and contact with these sores is the primary way by which the infection spreads. That bacteria can then enter your system in a bunch of different ways, including via small cuts on your skin or through a mucus membrane, such as your vagina. The CDC also notes that pregnant women can spread the infection to their fetuses, which can cause stillbirth.

In some rare cases, a person with syphilis sores in their mouth may spread the bacteria to someone else while kissing. But it's important to remember that you cannot get it by sharing utensils, bathtubs, doorknobs, that kind of thing, with someone who is infected — it's not like catching a cold.

What are the symptoms of syphilis?

The symptoms of syphilis show up in a few distinct stages, explains the CDC. At first, you'll develop a few small, painless sores on the part of your body where you were initially exposed to the bacteria. Some people only have one barely-noticeable sore at this stage.

In the second stage, you'll develop a rash. That might start with wart-like bumps around your genitals, but then it might show up on other areas of your body (including your hands and feet) as rough, red or reddish brown spots. The rash won't itch and may be so faint you don't even notice it. But you may also have flu- or cold-like symptoms, including a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, fever, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue.

The symptoms of the first two stages will go away on their own. But if you don't get treatment, the infection can stay latent in your body for decades. Most people don't have symptoms later on, but up to 30% of people go on to develop late-stage syphilis, which comes with very serious symptoms even 30 years after the initial infection. At that point, the infection can cause paralysis, dementia, blindness, and potentially-fatal damage to your internal organs.

How is it treated?

Your doctor will first test your blood (or, in some cases, the fluid from a sore) to make sure you actually have syphilis. If you do and you've had the infection for less than a year, you'll get antibiotics and that'll be that. If you've had syphilis for more than a year, you may need more than one dose of antibiotics.

Sometimes, treating syphilis in pregnant women can be a challenge because the only recommended treatment for this scenario is penicillin. Women who are allergic to penicillin (the most common drug allergy) have to go through a desensitization process that allows them to take it. But there aren't any other options, according to the Mayo Clinic.

After you've been treated, your doctor will want you to come in for routine blood tests to make sure the antibiotic is working. You'll also have to avoid sexual contact until the blood tests confirm that you're infection-free. And, because many of the symptoms of syphilis can easily go unnoticed, it's extremely important that you tell your sexual partners that you had the infection. (Your local health department has a whole "partner services" section to make that as easy as possible.)

From there, it's important to remember that you can get syphilis again — having it once doesn't make you immune. So definitely use safe sex practices to reduce your risk for being infected. That means using a condom (correctly!) every time you have sex, especially if you're not in a monogamous relationship with someone who's tested negative for STIs.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This Is Who You're More Likely To Swipe Right On As You Age

Here's A Goop-Approved Rose Quartz Egg For Your Vagina

The 20 Most Popular Porn Performers of 2016

Viewing all 85669 articles
Browse latest View live


<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>