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<ul class="summary-list"><li>On Tuesday night, Libby Wadle and Olympia Gayot of J.Crew were honored at the 2024 Parsons Benefit.</li><li>Speaking with BI, they shared advice for finding success in fashion careers like theirs.</li></ul>If you've started shopping at <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rise-and-fall-of-jcrew-americas-iconic-preppy-store-2020-5">J.Crew</a> again in recent years, you likely have Libby Wadle and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-fan-club-jcrew-olympia-gayot-style-picks-2023-2">Olympia Gayot</a> to thank.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/j-crew-new-ceo-libby-wadle-madewell-head-ceo-pandemic-2020-11">Wadle was named CEO of J.Crew Group</a> in 2020, and Gayot became the brand's creative director of women's and kids' design that same year.Since then, the two have routinely been credited with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/banana-republic-vs-j-crew-store-tour-2023-12">reviving the legacy label</a> by introducing it to a new generation. And they've made their jobs look easy.So, when Wadle, Gayot, and the J.Crew team attended the annual Parsons Benefit on Tuesday night, Business Insider asked the two executives how they think young fashion creatives can succeed in similar careers."First, I think they need to do what they love," Wadle advised those seeking jobs in the fashion industry.<div type="image" title="Olympia Gayot and Libby Wadle at the 2024 Parsons Benefit." height="2000" width="1333" msid="110341464" hostid="261" sizebytes="173524"></div><h2 id="2f3a39aa-5ce6-4388-9bf9-d0d0821a2b45">Libby Wadle's take: find a job that nurtures your passion</h2>According to Wadle, the first step to a successful fashion career is determining your niche. Maybe you want to design clothes, create marketing campaigns, or lead brands like her.The key is doing what you're passionate about and then finding a work environment that supports you, she said."If you're in design and you're a creative person, you should look to work for people who honor and nurture that," Wadle told BI. "You can find many people in business who will do that and really put creativity first. There's a lot of opportunities out there, and I think people coming out of a place like Parsons should really look for that."Wadle was honored with the Parsons Table Award, which is given to people in the fashion industry who have deeply inspired Parsons students and made a fundamental impact on the design industry at large.<div type="image" title="Libby Wadle at the 2024 Parsons Benefit." height="2000" width="1334" msid="110341467" hostid="261" sizebytes="98644"></div><h2 id="073941e0-d27c-4fab-b232-49ba2a994b5f">Olympia Gayot's take: find inspiration in the mundane</h2>Gayot has led the charge when it comes to modernizing J.Crew's beloved classic pieces. She's done so by balancing "art and commerce," she told BI."That might sound like a less creative answer, but on the design side, it really is about being super creative and trusting your instinct," she said. "Instinct is so important to a designer, and if you don't have that, it's hard."Gayot's fashion instinct is tangible from the moment you meet her. She looked effortlessly cool at the Parsons Benefit, dressed in a black, double-breasted blazer over a beaded skirt. And mid-interview, she was even pulled aside by another J.Crew executive who needed fashion advice.She said those who want to follow in her creative footsteps should start by finding inspiration in everyday life."Get inspiration from travel, friends, books, literature, movies," she told BI. "Really fill your cup up in terms of inspiration so that you have a lot of your own ideas to create from."Those ideas then need to be translated into products that your customers love."Without your customers, you don't have a brand," Gayot said. "So really listen to them and understand what their needs are. So much of my job, which I love, is talking to people. Do you need an outfit for work? Are you a stay-at-home mom? Do you want to look chic on the weekends? Are you going on a trip? It's that real-life perspective of the end use that I think is really important." The Parsons Benefit was hosted at Cipriani Wall Street on Tuesday night. The annual event raises funds for student scholarships, inspires young generations of designers, and celebrates influential creatives in fashion and design.

How to take over the fashion world, according to the women who made J.Crew cool again

An <keyword id="19992067" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force" source="keywords">Indian Air Force</keyword> soldier who was injured in a <keyword id="19899445" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="terrorist-attack" source="keywords">terrorist attack</keyword> in the <keyword id="19905509" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Poonch" source="keywords">Poonch</keyword> sector in <keyword id="19900657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Kashmir" source="keywords">Jammu and Kashmir</keyword> on Saturday has unfortunately passed away, confirmed the Indian Air Force. "An Indian Air Force vehicle convoy was attacked by militants in the Poonch district of J&amp;K, near Shahsitar. Cordon and search operations are underway presently in the area by local military units. The convoy has been secured, and further investigation is under progress," tweeted the <keyword id="19900590" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iaf" source="keywords">IAF</keyword> Media Co-ordination Centre on X. The injured personnel were evacuated to Udhampur for treatment on IAF choppers, where one of them succumbed. Another soldier is reported to be in critical condition, as confirmed by security force officials. "In the ensuing gunfight with terrorists, the Air Warriors fought back by returning fire. In the process, five IAF personnel received bullet injuries, and were evacuated to the nearest military hospital for immediate medical attention. One Air Warrior succumbed to his injuries later. Further operations are on by the local security forces," said the IAF. The soldier who succumbed was undergoing treatment at the command hospital at Udhampur. The remaining three are stable as per the Security Force officials, reported ANI. Following the attack that occurred in the evening around Shah Sitar and Shashidhar areas in the Poonch sector. Security forces initiated a search and cordon operation, as stated by security forces' officials. In response to the attack, forces have increased patrolling and vehicle checks in the area. The convoy was en route to the Sanai Top in the Surankote area of the district. The terrorists are suspected to be belonging to the same group that ambushed Indian troops in the Bufliaz area nearby on December 21, as per the Times of India report. The December attack last year had killed four soldiers and injured three. Earlier, in November 2023, a prolonged gunfight between Indian Army and the terrorists responsible for frequent attack on civilians in the region has resulted in deaths of five army personnel, including two captains. The Poonch sector belongs to the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency which will vote for the Lok Sabha elections on May 25. Congress leaders Malikarjun Kharge and <keyword id="19895780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rahul-gandhi" source="keywords">Rahul Gandhi</keyword> extended condolences over the death of IAF personnel. Condemning the attack by terrorists, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote, "The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful and sad," Rahul Gandhi said. Former Jammu and Kashmir DGP <keyword id="21530697" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shesh-paul-vaid" source="keywords">Shesh Paul Vaid</keyword> slammed Pakistan after the attack, hinting that the neighbouring country will not tolerate seeing people of Jammu and Kashmir exercising their democratic right. "It is not surprising, because the election tempo was building up in this area," said Shesh Paul Vaid in a video message posted on his official social media platform, X. Retired Major General GD Bakshi told ANI, "From the last two-three years, we have seen that the Inter-Services Intelligence and Army of Pakistan is again reviving terrorism in the Rajouri-Poonch area. They are trying to infiltrate. Troops are alert. We have to hit across the border like the Balakot airstrike". (With inputs from agencies)

Poonch Terrorist Attack: One Indian Air Force soldier dies, five injured; Patrolling intensifies across J&K

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"House of Flame and Shadow" by Sarah J. Maas comes out on January 30. </li><li>The "Crescent City" series has a massive cast of characters that can be hard to keep track of.</li></ul>The wait is almost over. On January 30, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-confirmed-working-on-next-acotar-book-2023-9">Sarah J. Maas</a> will release "House of Flame and Shadow," the third book in her best-selling <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-acotar-release-details-2023-9">"Crescent City" series</a>.The series follows Bryce Quinlan, a half-fae living in Lunathion, also known as Crescent City, on the continent Valbara on the planet Midgard. Fans have been anxiously awaiting the third installment, as the second book in the series, "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-books-ranking-most-emotional-2023-10">House of Sky and Breath</a>," ended on a dramatic cliffhanger."Crescent City" has a huge cast of characters, most of which are magical creatures referred to as Vanir. That cast will likely only expand in "House of Flame and Shadow," as the book is set to cross over with Maas' "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-books-reading-order-acotar-crescent-city-2023-3">A Court of Thorns and Roses</a>" series, which has four books and a novella packed with characters.To help prepare you for the third book, Business Insider created a guide to some of the most important characters in the "Crescent City" universe.The rest of this article contains major spoilers for the "Crescent City" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series. And if you want a refresher on the "Crescent City" plot so far, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-details-to-remember-2023-12">check it out here.</a><h2>Bryce Quinlan is the protagonist of the 'Crescent City' series, but her mate Hunt Athalar and brother Ruhn Danaan are key to the plot too</h2>As a half-fae, Bryce has both a human and a fae parent. Her mother is Ember Quinlan, a human, and she considers her stepfather, a human sharpshooter named Randall Silago, her real dad.But her birth father is Einar Danaan, known as the Autumn King to the public. Einar is the ruler of the Valbaran fae, and his son, Ruhn Danaan, Crown Prince of the Valbaran fae, is Bryce's half-brother.Bryce and Ruhn are heirs to the Starborn fae lineage, giving them power over starlight and the ability to wield the Starsword, an ancient sword forged from an actual star. Bryce has more starlight power than Ruhn, though he is a full-blooded fae. Ruhn also has power from his mother's lineage, allowing him to wield shadows and speak into other people's minds — the latter of which he keeps secret from most people.Bryce can blind people with her power and has an eight-pointed star scar on her chest that glows at different times. Bryce's power also allows her to teleport, and she can absorb other Vanir's powers for short bursts of time because she made the Drop through a gate, where Vanir drop their power daily.<div type="image" title="The cover of &quot;House of Flame and Shadow&quot; by Sarah J. Maas." height="3077" width="2000" msid="106940495" hostid="261" sizebytes="428096"></div>In addition to her Starborn abilities, Bryce became a portal after her friend Danika Fendyr (more on her in a bit) inked Luna's Horn, a magical object that creates portals, onto her back, allowing her to travel between worlds.Bryce meets her mate Orion (Hunt) Athalar in "House of Earth and Blood," though they don't recognize themselves as such until "House of Sky and Breath." Hunt is an angel, a species formally referred to as a Malakh on Midgard. Hunt can fly thanks to his wings, and he has power over lightning.Hunt was previously a slave owned by the republic as punishment for rebelling against them, but he was freed at the end of "House of Earth and Blood." However, he still works for the 33rd Legion as a member of the triarii, the private protection for the governor of Crescent City, who is always an archangel.At the end of "House of Sky and Breath," Ruhn and Hunt help Bryce escape to another world to save their planet from the Asteri, evil creatures who have been leeching power from its citizens for centuries.<h2>Bryce's late friend Danika Fendyr and her Pack of Devils move the plot along despite dying in the first book</h2>Bryce met her best friend Danika Fendyr at college, and they were attached at the hip until Danika died at the beginning of "House of Earth and Blood." Danika was a powerful wolf shifter, the Alpha of the Pack of Devils, and the heir apparent to the Valbaran wolves. She was also a bloodhound, allowing her to sniff people's bloodlines.She worked quietly to undermine the Asteri until her death, tattooing the horn on Bryce's back and partnering with a human named Sofie Renast to uncover how the Asteri came to Midgard.<div type="image" title="The cover of &quot;House of Earth and Blood&quot; by Sarah J. Maas." height="3039" width="2000" msid="106940497" hostid="261" sizebytes="302954"></div>Before her death, she also secretly mated the angel Baxian Argos, known to most as the Helhound, and left a luxury apartment to Bryce in her will, where she kept clues about her rebellious activities. Baxian tried to help Bryce and Hunt throughout "House of Sky and Breath," and the Asteri took him prisoner alongside Ruhn and Hunt at the end of the book.Danika's pack included Connor Holstrom, her Second, who was romantically interested in Bryce. The Archangel Micah murdered Danika, Connor, and the rest of the pack after she stole Luna's Horn. Bryce killed Micah when she discovered who murdered her friends.<h2>Bryce and Ruhn's friends back them up throughout the series</h2>Ruhn's best friends are Declan Emmet and Tristan Flynn, two fae with whom he went through his Ordeal, a magical challenge fae must overcome. The trio also work for the Auxiliary, Crescent City's law enforcement agency, and live in a house together.Declan is skilled at cyber security, often hacking into different networks to help his friends, and Flynn, who has earth magic, will inherit the title of lord when his father dies. Declan and Flynn helped Bryce, Hunt, and Ruhn break into the Asteri's palace remotely in "House of Sky and Breath," though it's unclear if the Asteri knew of their involvement.Aside from Danika, Bryce also became good friends with Fury Axtar and Juniper Andromeda in college. Juniper is a faun and professional dancer, while Fury is a Vanir whose species is classified. She works as an assassin for hire. Juniper and Fury also revealed to Bryce they were in a romantic relationship at the end of "House of Earth and Blood."<h2>Mer Tharion Ketos and wolf shifter Ithan Holstrom worked with Bryce, Ruhn, and Hunt in 'House of Sky and Breath'</h2>Tharion and Ithan were introduced in "House of Earth and Blood," but their plots became more involved in the second book in the "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-shut-down-fan-theories-about-crescent-city-2023-9">Crescent City</a>" series. They also both move into Ruhn's house during the second book.As a mer, Tharion lived in an underwater city ruled by the River Queen, and he was her Captain of Intelligence at the start of the series. He was also betrothed to her daughter after being intimate with her years ago, though he doesn't want to be with her. Tharion works with Bryce and Hunt to discover the whereabouts of Sofie Renast's brother Emile, though he backs off when he finds out Emile lacks magical powers.Tharion also leaves the River Queen's court in "HOSAB," offering himself to the Viper Queen instead so he doesn't have to live underwater. A snake shifter, the Viper Queen rules over the Meat Market in Crescent City, where seedy dealings often go down. Those working for her often become addicted to her venom.Ithan is Connor's younger brother, and he had a promising career as a sunball player, though he quit after his brother's death. Sabine Fendyr, Danika's mother, kicks him out of his wolf pack at the beginning of "House of Sky and Breath" for defending Bryce in the press, making him a lone wolf. Danika's father is Mordoc, a cruel dreadwolf who works for the Asteri.Ithan also loved Bryce, which he always kept to himself because of Connor and Bryce's connection. In "HOSAB," he goes with Bryce to a mystic, discovering a wolf shifter separated from her family. The Prime of the wolves reveals to him the wolf is likely the lost Fendyr heir who could challenge Sabine for the Prime position when he dies. At the end of the book, Ithan steals the unnamed wolf from the mystic, hoping to protect her from Sabine.<h2>The estranged half-sisters the Hind, aka Lidia Cervos, and Hypaxia Enador were major players in 'HOSAB'</h2><div type="image" title="&quot;House of Sky and Breath&quot; by Sarah J. Maas." height="3004" width="2000" msid="106940500" hostid="261" sizebytes="315644"></div>Hypaxia Enador became Queen of the Valbaran Witches in "House of Earth and Blood" after her mother died. She is both a witch and a necromancer, allowing her to speak to the dead. She inherited her necromancy gifts from her father.When she became queen, the Autumn King arranged a marriage between Ruhn and Hypaxia, hoping to increase the fae's power in Valbara. Ruhn and Hypaxia have friendly interactions in "House of Earth and Blood," but unbeknownst to him, the witch has a secret lover. She is involved with Celestina, the archangel who replaces Micah as Crescent City's governor after his death. Their relationship is a secret to all but Bryce and Hunt, who walk in on them being intimate at a ball.Lidia Cervos and Hypaxia share a mother, but Lidia's father's family raised her because she inherited his deer shifter gifts instead of her mother's witch powers. Lidia was recruited by the evil archangel Sandriel (who is killed by Hunt in "House of Earth and Blood") to join her triarii, and she became not only her spymaster but spymaster for the Asteri. She is also the cruel angel Pollux Antonius' lover, seeming to thrive among the evil.But unbeknownst to everyone, Lidia is a spy for the rebel group Ophion, going undercover as Agent Daybright with no one knowing she hates the Asteri and Pollux. Ruhn, as Agent Night, connects with Day using his mind-speaking powers while helping Bryce search for Emile, and they fall in love without knowing who the other is.Lidia won't tell Ruhn who she is even after discovering his identity, only revealing herself to save him and Bryce when they are captured after breaking into the Asteri's Archives at the end of "House of Sky and Breath."<h2>Aidas, a Hel prince, is trying to free Midgard of the Asteri, which includes Rigelus</h2>In "Crescent City," Bryce has contact with Aidas, one of the seven princes of Hel. Rather than being a place of punishment for the dead, Hel is another planet in the "Crescent City" universe. It's considered an evil place to the public, particularly because demons can be called to Midgard from it. But Bryce discovered in "HOSAB" that Hel has been trying to help Midgard's citizens fight against the Asteri for thousands of years. The Asteri tried to conquer Hel before coming to Midgard, and the princes killed Sirius, one of the Asteri, while pushing them out.Aidas visited Bryce when she was a child in the form of a cat, and he later appeared to her as a handsome blond man when she called on him as an adult. Aidas is invested in Bryce's Starborn power, as he previously fought against the Asteri alongside the last Starborn Queen, Theia.Six members of the Asteri still exist on Midgard, and they're led by Rigelus, known as the Bright Hand of the Asteri. The Asteri's power is described as almost god-like in "Crescent City," and unbeknownst to the world, they feed off of the firstlight Vanir release when they make the Drop, where they come into their magical power and become immortal, and the secondlight they release after they die.Rigelus intends to use the horn on Bryce's back to get to the planet her breed of fae originated from, as he wants to feed on them again. She escapes him thanks to assistance from Ruhn and Hunt, intending to open a portal to Hel in the hopes she can find Aidas and get his help ridding her planet of the Asteri.<h2>The cast of 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' will also be important in 'House of Flame and Shadow'</h2><div type="image" title="A side-by-side of the cover of &quot;A Court of Thorns and Roses&quot; and a headshot of Sarah J. Maas." height="1080" width="1440" msid="106940503" hostid="261" sizebytes="100572"></div>To her dismay, Bryce doesn't reach Hel, instead finding herself in a strange, idyllic land. That land is Prythian, where the "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series is set.Bryce is only formally introduced to Rhysand in "House of Sky and Breath," though she appears to interact with Feyre Archeron, Nesta Archeron, Amren, Cassian, and Azriel. Feyre and Rhysand are the High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court, and the others serve in their court. Nesta is also one of Feyre's sisters, and she is mated to Cassian.All the court members are fae, though Amren used to be another more powerful creature before she sacrificed that part of herself during a war in "A Court of Wings and Ruin."Bryce's interactions with the Night Court are brief in "HOSAB," but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-halloween-costumes-acotar-throne-of-glass-2023-10">Maas</a> revealed several connections between "Crescent City" and the "ACOTAR" universe in the chapter. First, Bryce thinks Rhysand is her brother when she first sees him because he looks nearly identical to Ruhn. In addition, the Starsword lights up when placed next to Azriel's knife, Truth-Teller, indicating it is Truth-Teller's long-lost twin weapon, Gwydion, which is mentioned several times in "ACOTAR." Likewise, Bryce discovers she can communicate with Rhysand and Amren by speaking the ancient language of the fae.Maas hasn't revealed what role the cast of "ACOTAR" will play in "House of Flame and Shadow," but she <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-acotar-release-details-2023-9">teased</a> an interaction between Bryce, Nesta, and Azriel in an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-acotar-release-details-2023-9">excerpt from the book</a> that she shared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C17hDhju94-/?hl=en">Instagram</a>."Bryce began running again, hurtling through the cave. Back toward Nesta and Azriel. And prayed there was something left for her to save," it read.

A guide to the most important characters in Sarah J. Maas' 'Crescent City' series

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Sarah J. Maas' latest book, "House of Flame and Shadow," was published on Tuesday.</li><li>Her fan base has become massive thanks to social media. </li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/i-went-to-the-ripped-bodice-romance-only-bookstore-nyc-2023-8">The Ripped Bodice</a> in Brooklyn, New York, teemed with excitement on Monday night. Groups of women (and a handful of men) squeezed by each other through the store's colorful aisles, carrying drink pouches filled with specialty cocktails like the "Juniper Fizz" and "Synth." Some shopped for novelty products, including a "Shadow Daddy" candle and stickers with the phrase "Through love, all is possible" on them. A handful of people dressed in tiaras and pointed ears posed for photos in front of bookshelves.But as they chatted and shopped, every person in the room had one thing on their mind: the new copies of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-throne-of-glass-reading-order-2023-8">Sarah J. Maas'</a> much-awaited book "House of Flame and Shadow" sitting in neat rows behind the cash register, ready to be distributed at midnight.<div type="image" title="A side-by-side of a candle called &quot;Shadow Daddy&quot; and a chalk board with drink names on it." height="1080" width="1440" msid="107388218" hostid="261" sizebytes="197118"></div>The Ripped Bodice hosted one of three midnight release parties in New York in honor of the book, harkening back to the events stores held for "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nostalgia-key-to-happiness-creativity-innovation-future-change-progress-2024-1">Harry Potter</a>" and "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/twilight-movies-interesting-details-you-never-got-and-fun-facts">Twilight</a>" releases in the early 2000s.As one of the most popular authors publishing today, it's no surprise readers wanted to celebrate Maas' latest book in person. But this release was even more special for fans, as "House of Flame and Shadow" brings to life a long-awaited crossover between "Crescent City" and her beloved "A Court of Thorns and Roses" series.One trio at the event — each dressed to honor one of three protagonists from Maas' series — had traveled from Connecticut and Florida to be in New York so they could celebrate at the release party. They planned to spend the night and wee hours of the morning reading together in a hotel room.<div type="image" title="Three women wearing tiaras and colorful dresses in a bookstore." height="1500" width="2000" msid="107388220" hostid="261" sizebytes="352432"></div>As the group chatted about their excitement for the next book, they repeatedly brought up the friendships they had found through Maas' works, with one even calling it a "sisterhood." It became clear that not only has Maas become a once-in-a-generation author, but her fandom is also a full-fledged community.<h2>The 'Maasiverse'</h2>Like many fantasy and romance authors, Maas dabbled in self-publishing her works before Bloomsbury released her first novel, "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-throne-of-glass-reading-order-2023-8">Throne of Glass</a>," in 2012.Mass went on to publish eight books in the series about a teenage assassin through 2018, and she started writing her second series, "A Court of Thorns and Roses," before it was even finished, weaving another fictional world for her growing readership.<div type="image" title="A side-by-side of &quot;The Assassin's Blade&quot; and &quot;A Court of Thorns and Roses&quot; by Sarah J. Maas." height="1080" width="1440" msid="107388221" hostid="261" sizebytes="99626"></div>The first "ACOTAR," which follows Feyre Archeron, a human pulled into a cursed fae land, was published in 2015. There have been five books in the series, including one novella, and Maas <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-confirmed-working-on-next-acotar-book-2023-9">confirmed she's working on the next installment</a>.And in 2020, Maas released the first book in her third series, "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-character-guide-2024-1">Crescent City</a>." The third book in the series about half-fae Bryce Quinlan came out on Tuesday, ending two years of anticipation for the story to continue.While most of Maas' books are filled with shocking moments, many fans would likely agree no plot twist was quite as gasp-worthy as the final few pages of the second "Crescent City" book, "House of Sky and Breath," which confirmed readers' suspicions that the author was creating a Marvel-esque multiverse — or "Maasiverse," as fans call it — with her books.The cliffhanger ending served as a thrilling plot device and a genius way for Maas to gain even more popularity, as readers who started with "Crescent City" realized they'd need to revisit all the author's previous works to fully understand the world she's building.<h2>Maas helped make 'romantasy' mainstream</h2>Maas' works are often categorized as "romantasy," as they combine tropes of romance books — as well as plenty of sex scenes — with the magical elements you expect to find in a fantasy series.Works like Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" and Cassandra Clare's "Mortal Instruments" series offered young-adult takes on the genre throughout the 2010s to much fanfare.But Maas tapped into adult readers' desire for more mature content, which has led some naysayers on social media to write off her work as "faerie porn," despite other fantasy series like "Game of Thrones" including depictions of intimacy as well.Skeptics aside, readers were clearly hungry for Maas' works. According to her <a target="_blank" href="https://sarahjmaas.com/about/">website</a>, her books have sold over 38 million copies worldwide in English alone, and her works have been distributed in 38 languages. Each of her series is a New York Times bestseller; videos related to "acotar" have over 2 billion views on TikTok; and Maas has won over a dozen Goodreads Choice Awards, including best fantasy book in 2020, 2021, and 2022.Bloomsbury <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/harry-potter-publisher-bloomsbury-forecasts-annual-profit-ahead-estimates-2023-12-07/">told Reuters</a> in December 2023 that it predicted its annual profit and revenue would surpass its expectations for the year, primarily because of its sales of fantasy works like Maas' series. The publisher also announced in January that it would release <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-crescent-city-acotar-release-details-2023-9">six more Maas books</a> after "House of Flame and Shadow."<div type="image" title="A bookshelf with Sarah J. Maas books on it." height="1500" width="2000" msid="107388222" hostid="261" sizebytes="258246"></div>Increased demand for romantasy books in the industry has followed Maas' ever-rising success, shifting the landscape of adult publishing. Publishers are prioritizing romantasy, with Entangled creating Red Tower, an imprint focused on sci-fi and fantasy romance books in 2022. Tor also debuted its own romance imprint, Bramble, in September 2023, as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/new-titles/adult-announcements/article/93647-how-tiktok-has-transformed-romance-publishing.html">Publisher's Weekly</a> reported.The investment also seems to be working. Red Tower published Rebecca Yarros' "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fourth-wing-details-you-missed-rebecca-yarros-empyrean-series-2023-12">Fourth Wing</a>" and its sequel "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fourth-wing-sequel-iron-flame-release-misprints-2023-11">Iron Flame</a>" in 2023, and both dominated <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/">The New York Times bestseller list</a> throughout the year; the former had been on the list for 37 weeks as of Saturday. Likewise, Bramble hit The New York Times bestseller list with Carissa Broadbent's "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0z5QbGrTkV/">The Serpent and the Wings of Night</a>" and Jennifer L. Armentrout's "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxbbiMALBPa/">Fall of Ruin and Wrath</a>" last year.The connection between readers' hunger for romantasy books and Maas' rise to fame is hard to miss, particularly when you look at how BookTok has helped to grow her audience organically.<h2>The author's readership boomed in part thanks to TikTok</h2>Despite her blockbuster success, Maas typically chats with other writers through live chats or shares sporadic updates on her Instagram instead of sitting for traditional interviews.But an organic community of Maas readers formed on social media recently, making her even more widely loved. Maas' books have been popular since 2012, but <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/89614-bloomsbury-has-a-record-year.html">Publisher's Weekly reported</a> that sales of her new titles and backlist increased 86% in the 2022 fiscal year amid <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-got-more-traffic-than-google-in-2021-ranking-2021-12">TikTok's massive growth</a>.Many of Maas' superfans found her books by stumbling across them on TikTok in 2020 or 2021, as was the case for Rosie Dent, 28."It felt like going back to my roots," Dent, known as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@acourtofthornsandrosie?lang=en">@acourtofthornsandrosie</a> on TikTok, said of diving into Maas' works after starting with "House of Earth and Blood" in 2020. She loved fantasy as a kid but spent her early 20s reading contemporary fiction."I started reading her entire back catalog and just fell in love with everything," Dent added.Similarly, Lili, 27, who goes by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ahappyhermit?lang=en">@ahappyhermit </a>on social media, had been reading fan fiction almost exclusively before she gave "ACOTAR" a try at the beginning of 2020 after seeing it on TikTok."I did not sleep," she said of how consumed she became by the novels. "I have this really particular memory of having my phone propped up in front of me as I was doing the dishes reading 'A Court of Wings and Ruin,' and I would stop doing the dishes, take my gloves off, click the next page, put my gloves back on, and continue reading."Now, those readers who discovered Maas on BookTok have helped to create a bustling online community centered on her work.In the Maas TikTok world, spoiler warnings are taken seriously, and the author is almost always referred to as SJM. Some BookTokers post videos <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sarah-j-maas-halloween-costumes-acotar-throne-of-glass-2023-10">cosplaying as Maas characters</a>; others share their reactions to sections of her books (looking at you, chapter 54 of "A Court of Mist and Fury").Dent and Lili fall into one of the most involved sections of Maas' fandom: the theorizers. The pair, who are good friends thanks to BookTok, post videos breaking down the smallest details of Maas' works. They use heavily annotated texts to keep track of their findings, and Lili even whips out a whiteboard and spatula on occasion to help fellow readers follow her down a rabbit hole.Dent and Lili told BI they don't care if their theories are right or wrong. They share them because they're able to connect to people over something they love. "I had no one to talk about these books with, and now I have all of these people listening to me rant about this very niche thing that's going on that I care so much about," Dent said."I really do feel like it's like a FaceTime with friends," Lili said of her videos. "I'm just so excited that I call my best friend and go on for 30 minutes on my hyper-fixation."Other BookTokers turned their love of Maas' works into full-time jobs, selling apparel inspired by the author's works through companies like <a target="_blank" href="https://houseofjupitershop.com/">House of Jupiter </a>and <a target="_blank" href="https://shopmcstudios.com/">M.C. Studios</a>. House of Jupiter's founder, Jaclyn Wooten, 35, told BI that Maas' books even inspired her to open a romance bookstore, <a target="_blank" href="https://theblushbookstore.com/">Blush Bookstore,</a> and found the event company <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/bookishevents/">Bookish Events</a>. "You don't think picking up a book would change not just my life but my partner's too," Wooten said. "He now works with me full-time, and we have a couple of employees."Likewise, M.C. Studios founder Molly Werts, 26, runs her shop full-time and met her roommate because they connected over one of Maas' books. "I think that that's kind of invaluable almost because how do you make friends these days? I don't even know as an adult," she said. "It's so hard, and I really think that community is another reason it's doing so well."<h2>Maas' success proves romantasy is here to stay</h2>When the clock finally struck midnight, there were cheers at The Ripped Bodice as readers eagerly moved toward the books waiting for them at the front and back of the store. When a reader wearing pointed ears screamed "Light it up," a phrase packed with meaning in "Crescent City," nearly the whole store joined in.People posed with their books outside the store before running off to start their marathon reading sessions, desperate to discover how Maas would continue her tale. Many told BI they took Tuesday off of work to read without interruption.<div type="image" title="The &quot;Crescent City&quot; series by Sarah J. Maas." height="1442" width="1922" msid="107388223" hostid="261" sizebytes="244090"></div>Whether you're attending a Maas-themed event, scrolling on TikTok, or even just asking your friends what they've read lately, the author seems to be everywhere.It's not an illusion, as romance continues to boom overall. According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/92735-book-sales-continue-to-slow-down-in-first-half-of-2023.html">Publisher's Weekly</a>, sales of romance titles grew 52.4% from 2021 to 2022. The outlet also reported that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/92735-book-sales-continue-to-slow-down-in-first-half-of-2023.html">romance books grew faster than</a> other genres in the first half of 2023. In addition, 82% of romance readers are women, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.rwa.org/Online/Romance_Genre/About_Romance_Genre.aspx">Romance Writers of America</a>."As women have grown into adults and now have adult money, and we can spend adult money on adult things, we are a force to be reckoned with," Lili said. "They have to cater to us now because we have the money to make them cater to us.""Romance readers always got a bad rap," Dent added. "But now I think everyone is a bit more honest about the things that they like."And on Tuesday, millions of people worldwide made it clear that they like Maas' fictional worlds.

Inside the rise of Sarah J. Maas, the best-selling author who's taking the 'romantasy' genre to the next level

<keyword id="20021374" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sriharikota" source="keywords">Sriharikota</keyword> (Andhra Pradesh), India on Monday ushered in the New Year in a grand manner by orbiting its X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (<keyword id="18080438" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="xposat" source="Orion">XPoSat</keyword>). At about 9.10 a.m. on the first day of the calendar year 2024, India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C58 (PSLV-C58) standing 44.4-metre tall, with a lift off mass of 260 ton blasted off from the first launch pad at the <keyword id="6356967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="satish-dhawan-space-centre" source="Orion">Satish Dhawan Space Centre</keyword>, here. The rocket carried XPoSat and 10 other experimental payloads on its fourth stage. Slowly rising up towards the skies with a thick orange flame at its tail, the rocket gained speed with a sound resembling rolling thunder and went up and up leaving a thick plume while the people assembled at the viewing gallery clapped their hands with pride. Interestingly, this is the first space mission for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 1. At about 21 minutes into its flight, the rocket ejected XPoSat at an altitude of about 650 km. Speaking after the launch ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said: "The orbit accomplished for XPoSat is excellent as the deviation is just three kilometres. The solar panels of the satellite have been deployed." In its normal configuration, the PSLV is a four-stage/engine expendable rocket powered by solid and liquid fuels, alternatively, with six booster motors strapped onto the first stage to give higher thrust during the initial flight moments. The ISRO has five types of PSLV rockets -- Standard, Core Alone, XL, DL, and QL. The major difference between them is the use of strap-on boosters which, in turn, largely depends on the weight of the satellites to be orbited. The PSLV uses 6,4,2 solid rocket strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first stage in PSLV-XL, QL &amp; DL variants, respectively. However, strap-ons are not used in the core-alone version (PSLV-CA). The XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from the ISRO to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources. The satellite configuration is modified from the IMS-2 bus platform. The configuration of the mainframe systems is derived based on the heritage of IRS satellites. It carries two payloads, namely POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing). The POLIX is realised by the Raman Research Institute and XSPECT is by the <keyword id="20021857" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="space-astronomy-group" source="keywords">Space Astronomy Group</keyword> of the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). According to the ISRO, the three objectives of XPoSat are: (a) To measure polarisation of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV emanating from about 50 potential cosmic sources through <keyword id="20021856" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="thomson-scattering" source="keywords">Thomson Scattering</keyword> by POLIX payload. (b) To carry out long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy band 0.8-15keV by XSPECT payload and (c) To carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources by POLIX and XSPECT payloads, respectively, in the common energy band. After orbiting the XPoSat in 650km, the rocket's fourth stage -- PS4 stage -- will be lowered to 350km, about 9.6 deg orbit, by restarting it twice. The left-out propellant in the PS4 will be disposed of through the main engines as a precursor to enabling the safety of the PS4 stage in atmosphere reentry experiments planned in future. The oxidiser will be let out first followed by fuel in a predetermined sequence of operations. The existing scheme of spent stage passivation by venting the tank pressure will also be active. Post passivation of PS4, the control of the stage is transferred to the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) avionics, the ISRO said. The POEM is configured as a 3-axis stabilised orbital platform for conducting experiments to space qualify systems with novel ideas. The orbital platform's electrical power requirements are catered by a Flexible Solar Panel in conjunction with 50Ah Li-Ion battery in battery tied configuration. The orbital platform consists of avionic systems to take care of navigation, guidance, control and telecommands and Orbital Platform Attitude Control System to cater to control of the platform to test the payloads, the ISRO added. The 10 payloads are from TakeMe2Space, LBS Institute Technology for Women, K J Somaiya Institute of Technology, Inspecity Space Labs Private Ltd, Dhruva Space Private Ltd, Bellatrix Aerospace Private Ltd (two payloads) and three payloads from the ISRO.

Space success: India ushers in 2024 by orbiting XPoSat successfully

<ul class="summary-list"><li>J. Marion Sims has gone down in history as the "Father of Modern Gynecology."</li><li>Many of his medical achievements came at the cost of the health and well-being of enslaved Black women.</li></ul>In 2018, after a series of protests, New York City's Public Design Commission <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/historical-signs/listings?id=13315">voted</a> unanimously to remove a statue of J. Marion Sims from Central Park.Sims has gone down in history as the "Father of Modern Gynecology." He <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29474277/">developed</a> a surgical technique for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula, a severe complication of obstructed childbirth. He also invented the Sims speculum, a surgical instrument used for examining the vagina and cervix, the Sims sigmoid catheter, a thin tube used to aid the removal of uterine tissue among other functions, and the Sims position, a posture used for rectal examination, treatments, enemas, and examining women for vaginal wall prolapse.But many of his achievements came at the cost of the health and well-being of Black women. In recent years, his troubling history of medical experimentation on enslaved Black women has come into question.<div type="image" title="A statue of J. Marion Sims is loaded onto a Parks Department truck after being taken down from its pedestal at Central Park and East 103rd Street on April 17, 2018 in New York City." height="2000" width="3000" msid="106840114" hostid="261" sizebytes="900444"></div><h2>Procedures performed without anesthesia</h2>While Sims occasionally conducted experimental surgery on white women, his main subjects were a group of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2563360/">enslaved Black women with fistulas</a> (an opening between the vagina and the bladder or rectum) who were offered by their slave owners under intentionally loose contracts in the 1840s.These procedures were performed without anesthesia, often repeated several times, and never involved consent from the patients — stripping these women of any freedom to govern their own bodies. One subject, a woman by the name of Anarcha, was <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33249851/">operated on 30 times</a> before the repair of her fistulas was declared a success.During some occasions, <a target="_blank" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17082217/">Sims would administer opium</a> to his enslaved subjects after their surgical procedures to immobilize them and keep them from resisting, which may have been seen as an acceptable therapeutic practice at the time.In the 19th century, many men of medicine held the <a target="_blank" href="https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/02/17/historian-uncovers-gynecologys-brutal-roots-in-slavery">racist belief</a> that Black people held a higher pain threshold than white people. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.history.com/news/the-father-of-modern-gynecology-performed-shocking-experiments-on-slaves">Some believe</a> that may have been the basis for Sims' experimentation on enslaved Black women, however others point out that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1376165/pdf/jmedeth00286-0030.pdf">Sims was aware</a> that his patients were in pain. When recounting one of his procedures on Lucy, an enslaved Black woman who was operated on without anesthesia, Sims wrote in his autobiography, "I thought she was going to die … it took Lucy two or three months to recover entirely." Historian Julia Axelrod <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1376165/pdf/jmedeth00286-0030.pdf">wrote</a>, "'Sims failed utterly to recognise his patients as autonomous persons."<h2>A history of unequal reproductive medical care</h2>Race-based physiological myths have long influenced medical practice. In fact, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1516047113">2016 study</a> involving 222 white medical students and residents found that half held false physiological beliefs about African American patients. Nearly 60% thought their skin was thicker, and 12% thought their nerve endings were less sensitive than those of white people. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2576060/#:~:text=In%20both%20the%20bivariate%20and,to%20all%20other%20ethnicities%20combined.">2007 study</a> found that relative to other racial groups, physicians are twice as likely to underestimate Black patients' pain. Perhaps as a consequence, Black patients receive <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17187552">less pain treatment</a> than their white counterparts.Sims' influence on modern gynecology has contributed to a history of unequal reproductive medical care for Black women. After his death, researchers used the cervical cancer cells of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/henrietta-lacks">Henrietta Lacks</a> without permission or compensation. In 1961, a doctor performed a hysterectomy, known then as a "Mississippi appendectomy," on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/fannie-lou-hamer">Fannie Lou Hamer</a>, sterilizing her without her knowledge or consent.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8170721/">2021 Health Equity study</a> found that Black women in the US are more than three times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women, even when controlling for education and income – a stat that has remained consistent since national tracking for maternal mortality began.Black women also have higher rates of preterm birth, Black infants have a mortality rate two times that of white infants, and Black women suffer disproportionately more morbidity and mortality rates from cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers with worse overall survival in all major gynecological malignancies compared with their white counterparts.<h2>Black women were experimented on to improve health care for white women</h2>Societal, institutional, and systemic racism has endangered the lives of Black women for centuries. The implications of racist experimentations, like those conducted by Sims, continue to be felt by victims of medical racism today. In a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/respectful-maternity-care/index.html#:~:text=Mistreatment%20by%20maternity%20care%20providers,discrimination%20while%20receiving%20maternity%20care.">2023 CDC study</a>, Black women reported experiences of mistreatment during maternity care at the highest rate of women surveyed. Another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843483/">study</a> found that three out of four Black participants believe there is bias in how their pain is diagnosed.Prior to Sims' exploration, the study of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586862/">gynecology did not exist</a>. Medical students were not instructed on pregnancy, childbirth, or gynecological diseases, and resident doctors were often trained to deliver babies using dummies. Sims recognized an untapped area in treating vesicovaginal fistulas, a condition that had been attempted by several previous generations of surgeons without significant success.As enslaved Black women were considered to be the property pf their owners, and therefore did not have their own rights of refusal, Sims' experimented on Black women in order to improve gynecological outcomes for white women.In his personal memoir, "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.loc.gov/item/13017881/">The Story of My Life</a>," Sims wrote that without the ability to perfect his techniques on Black women, whom he describes as being "the very bottom," he could not have later ascended his practice to the aristocratic families, "the upper crust," of Montgomery.Black women created opportunities for Sims, granting him access to a higher class of clientele, solidifying his medical reputation, and opening the door to career opportunities in the field of medicine. Yet the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/women-crossing-state-lines-give-birth-black-maternal-mortality-crisis-2023-9">health</a> and well-being of Black women continues to be systematically <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/problem-unconscious-bias-analysis-black-women-maternal-mortality-2023-12">neglected</a>, today just as it was then.

'Father of Modern Gynecology' J. Marion Sims performed dangerous 'experiments' on enslaved Black women without the use of anesthesia

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Jennifer Lopez's "This Is Me...Now" is an extravagant movie inspired by real-life heartbreak.</li><li>It includes indulgent flourishes like a cameo-packed "Zodiac Council" and a literal heart factory.</li></ul>In her three-decade career, Jennifer Lopez has topped the charts and the box office — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/artists-number-1-movie-box-office-billboard-album-song-chart-2022-9">sometimes simultaneously</a>. She's done almost everything, from garnering <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jennifer-lopez-oscar-buzz-for-hustlers-is-deserved-2019-9">Oscar buzz</a> to performing at the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jlo-shakira-super-bowl-halftime-show-latinx-spanish-fans-reactions-2020-2">Super Bowl halftime show</a> with Shakira. But along the way, she also weathered pain and rejection from several high-profile breakups.Lopez's romantic and emotional transformation is the subject of "This Is Me…Now," her new album and accompanying film of the same name. Inspired by real heartbreaks, hangups, and the healing that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-relationship-timeline-photos">led her back to now-husband Ben Affleck</a>, the hourlong musical, out now on Prime Video, is nothing short of an ambitious spectacle.That's exactly what director Dave Meyers was going for. The veteran music video director, who met Lopez in 2001 when he directed her video for "I'm Real" as well as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjx9oSJDAVQ">the remix featuring Ja Rule</a>, wanted to pitch Lopez something splashy. The plan, he says, was to tell an "abstract, Pink Floyd-like story" that functions as a "loose biopic that captures the essence of Jen."The result is a deliberately self-indulgent opus packed with fantastical dreamscapes and choreography-laden musical numbers. It's all woven together by Lopez's narration, which is largely told via sessions with her therapist, played by Fat Joe (yes, really — and that's just one of many celebrity cameos). If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is. And that was on purpose.Below, Meyers unpacks the key moments from his and Lopez's maximalist creative vision.<h2>The original script was much longer, but the project was scaled back after they 'cut the budget in half'</h2>Meyers and Lopez conceived of the idea for "This Is Me…Now: A Love Story," without considering potential budgetary or creative limitations. "The original conception really was two kids in a candy store," Meyers said. "Once I got her into the sphere of wildness, we brainstormed out a full-length, 150-page script."Once they began shopping the film to different distributors, however, they were forced to "cut the budget in half." (Lopez recently told Variety <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2024/film/features/jennifer-lopez-this-is-me-now-musical-film-ben-affleck-love-story-1235908364/">she kicked in $20 million of her own money</a> to complete the project.)"When we got consolidated, yeah, we had to have the tough conversation of, 'What goes, what stays?' And so she was very involved in that," Meyers said.<h2>Every remaining scene, no matter how surreal, serves a metaphorical purpose</h2><div type="image" title="jlo this is me now motorcycle scene trailer" height="1214" width="2845" msid="107759541" hostid="261" sizebytes="72608"></div>Despite the pared-down script, the movie's final cut includes an array of sets, songs, and elaborate metaphors. For Meyers, Lopez's "emotional journey" is the connective thread, transforming a series of eclectic events into a complete story arc.After a storybook-style introduction, Lopez appears onscreen riding on the back of a motorcycle, gripping Affleck's waist. They zoom over a tranquil, sunset-dappled lake before Affleck loses control; they suffer a spectacular crash."Heartbreak is huge stakes. It's life or death," Meyers explained. "Riding the motorcycle through the waters of Bolivia was really about the dreaminess of love, of course, and then what happens."Another scene, set to the song "Rebound," shows Lopez wrestling with a violent partner who traps her in a glass house. It represents love's "fragility," Meyers said, especially when combined with toxic relationship cycles.<div type="image" title="jennifer lopez embraces a man in a blue space that looks like a tech simulation of a nice bedroom" height="1265" width="3000" msid="107759544" hostid="261" sizebytes="199780"></div>Later, Lopez attends a Love Addicts Anonymous meeting in a nondescript gymnasium, where she makes confessions about her own "restless heart." She also performs the song "Broken Like Me" with choreography that resembles interpretative dance."Love AA is really about being stripped away — no CG, no effects. It's just... raw Jen,'" Meyers said. "And also to change the dance style there, to not be hip-hop or to be a traditional Jen-style movement, to have it be something that was a little more abstracted and a little more uncomfortable for her as a character."<div type="image" title="jlo this is me now movie promo love aa" height="1265" width="3000" msid="107759545" hostid="261" sizebytes="115540"></div><h2>The 'heart factory' was directly inspired by Lopez and Affleck's breakup</h2>Directly after the motorcycle crash, we find Lopez in a postapocalyptic world where she labors to keep a massive mechanical heart operational. Other workers harvest red flower petals — but the flowers are dying, and the heart is failing.Lopez dons protective gear, determined to fix the mighty machine. But once she gets inside, she blacks out and wakes up in her therapist's office."So that's when the dreams started, you think? With that heartbreak?" he asks."Yeah, I think so. I had never felt anything like that before," she replies. "Honestly, I thought I was gonna die."<div type="image" title="jlo this is me now trailer heart factory 2" height="600" width="1200" msid="107759547" hostid="261" sizebytes="58762"></div>According to Meyers, the scene was directly inspired by Lopez and Affleck's broken engagement 20 years ago."It stemmed from Jen telling me, quite emotionally told me about — I don't even know how resolved it is — but how their first breakup was very, very heavy on her," he explained. "She opened up more than I thought she would about what that was for her, and I could see that there's a lot of pain there still."Lopez and Affleck, nicknamed "Bennifer," were the subject of intense media scrutiny during their nascent relationship. This included "sexist, racist" vitriol directed toward Lopez, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/awards-chatter-podcast-ben-affleck-the-way-back-4115884/">Affleck said</a>.The couple announced the postponement of their wedding in 2003 due to "excessive media attention." They confirmed their split in 2004.Meyers decided to depict the breakup as a high-stakes action sequence, full of danger and drama: blaring alarms, panicked crowds, fiery explosions.<div type="image" title="jlo this is me now movie heart factory" height="1265" width="3000" msid="107759549" hostid="261" sizebytes="163722"></div>"This heartbreak that she went through is very real, and how do we tell an audience that couldn't give a shit?" Meyers explained. "A Jen fan would give a shit, but I mean, a calloused audience that would be like, 'Oh, who cares. You've got it all,' kind of thing. How do we show the stakes and the magnitude and the volume of what heartbreak feels like for everyone, but also for her?"To visualize the heart factory, Meyers drew inspiration from films like "Titanic" and "Howl's Moving Castle" to capture the sheer scale of romantic peril."Jen's got this raw toughness to her, and so I wanted to figure out how to exploit that," he said. "I just thought, 'She would be someone who would work her fucking ass off to make sure the heart doesn't die' — and she has in real life."<h2>Every cameo for the Zodiac Council was filmed separately</h2><div type="image" title="jlo this is me now trailer zodiac council" height="1174" width="2819" msid="107759550" hostid="261" sizebytes="93446"></div>As we follow Lopez in her relentless pursuit of true love, we're occasionally treated to commentary from her "Zodiac Council."The group functions as a celestial peanut gallery, observing Lopez's mistakes from above and offering theories to help her. Each actor portrays a different zodiac sign, and it's a star-studded bunch — no pun intended. Keke Palmer (Scorpio) frets, "What's with her and all the bad boys?" Post Malone (Leo) quips, "Maybe it's daddy issues." Later, Jane Fonda (Sagittarius) compares Lopez's love life to a 4 a.m. "Vanderpump Rules" marathon.In addition to being comedic relief, Meyers said the council is meant to represent social media — a bunch of strangers weighing in on celebrity affairs with no real stake in the game.But these onlookers are wiser, and more empathetic than tabloids and meme-makers online. They root for Lopez and defend her honor, acting as a guide for the audience amid the chaos. Trevor Noah (Libra) warns against indulging in sexist labels like "maneater." Neil deGrasse Tyson (Taurus) tells us to trust the flow of the universe.But coordinating these scenes with 12 different schedules was no small feat. In the end, each actor filmed their cameo separately, so the dialogue was constantly tweaked."That was the hardest scene to do because we probably rewrote the script 50 times," Meyers said. "The tonality of that conversation changes based on who's in it.""It was all an effort to just try to make it feel effortless," he added.<h2>The ex-husband characters were cast to intentionally avoid resembling real-life people</h2><div type="image" title="jlo this is me now movie can't get enough" height="1265" width="3000" msid="107759552" hostid="261" sizebytes="213206"></div>Before Lopez goes to Love AA and looks inward to solve her problems, there's a memorable marriage montage set to her single "Can't Get Enough."In this scene, Lopez ties the knot with three different men at identical wedding ceremonies. Her guests scoff and take bets about how long each union is going to last. (The answer? Not very long.)None of these men are named in the movie. They're credited simply as "Husband No. 1" (Tony Bellissimo), "Husband No. 2" (Derek Hough), and "Husband No. 3" (Trevor Jackson).In fact, Meyers said he and Lopez were careful to cast actors who didn't "accidentally depict" a real person from Lopez's life."We tried to make the film not really about those specific people because it isn't," Meyers explained. "She could have married any three people.""What we need to show is the overbearing enthusiasm that this character has, that maybe marriage will lead her to love," he continued. "Maybe the second marriage will. Well, maybe the third marriage — ah, fuck it. None of these marriages. Love and marriage have nothing to do with each other."The anonymity of each husband drives home the movie's thesis: Lopez is the star of her own life.This isn't a story about failed relationships, or even about reuniting with Affleck in the end. It's about finding the strength to look inward, confront the past, and learn from those patterns."She is speaking a truth that she went through," Meyers said. "She's not gossiping or shitting on anybody. This is her journey. She's unapologetic about what she's been through, and she's very happy where she is now."This is her, after all.

J.Lo's director breaks down the wildest details in 'This Is Me...Now,' from casting actors as her exes to that cameo-laden 'zodiac council' 

<ul><li><keyword id="501707" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="PV-Sindhu">PV Sindhu</keyword> started her campaign in Tokyo without breaking a sweat, cantering to a comprehensive 21-7, 21-10 win over <keyword id="1492093" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ksenia-Polikarpova">Ksenia Polikarpova</keyword> of Israel in a women's singles <keyword id="11670222" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="group-j">Group J</keyword> match on Sunday.</li><li>India's biggest hope for a medal in badminton competitions at the <keyword id="395647" type="SPORT" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tokyo-Olympics">Tokyo Olympics</keyword>, raced to a straight games victory in just 29 minutes, not allowing her opponent any chance in the match.</li><li>Ksenia is ranked 58th on the <keyword id="46496" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="BWF">BWF</keyword> World Rankings, while <keyword id="18127" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sindhu">Sindhu</keyword> is seventh.</li></ul>India's Rio Olympics silver medallist PV Sindhu started her campaign in Tokyo without breaking a sweat, cantering to a comprehensive 21-7, 21-10 win over Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel in a women's singles Group J match on Sunday. Sindhu, India's biggest hope for a medal in badminton competitions at the Tokyo Olympics, raced to a straight games victory in just 29 minutes, not allowing her opponent any chance in the match. In the first game, Sindhu won 13 consecutive points from six to build a big lead that was enough to overwhelm Ksenia. In the second game too, Sindhu maintained the pressure, winning points at a steady rate as she started her campaign on a winning note. Ksenia is ranked 58th on the BWF World Rankings, while Sindhu is seventh. And the gulf was evident in the final outcome of the match. Such encounters against lower-ranked players tend to be a bit laborious for the higher-ranked players if they take things too easy and become a bit complacent. As the lower-ranked players do not have anything to lose, they come well prepared, thus causing problems for the higher-ranked player. Such a thing had happened for India's B Sai Praneeth in the men's singles Group D match on Saturday as he lost to Misha Zilberman of Israel. However, Sindhu went into the match very focused and played her usual game. "Even though my opponent was lower-ranked, I didn't want to assume it would be easy. It is important to be focused. I made sure we had some rallies and I got used to the court," Sindhu was quoted as saying in flash quotes provided by <keyword id="66015" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Badminton-World-Federation">Badminton World Federation</keyword> (BWF). Sindhu said she used the match as preparation for tougher opponents that she will encounter in the knockout stage. "It's important to make sure you play all your strokes and get used to them on the court because you can't play them all of a sudden against a stronger opponent, you can't do that. It's important to know that your strokes are going well," she said. Sindhu said she will continue with the same approach in the next match against Cheung Ngan Yi of Hong Kong in the three-player group from which the winner will qualify for the pre-quarterfinals. "Each match is important, and it's one match at a time. I'm thinking about my next opponent (Cheung Ngan Yi). I will miss the spectators, but everyone is supporting me virtually." Asked about the pressure as she is hoping to add to the silver medal she won in 2016 Rio, Sindhu said she is taking the Tokyo Olympics as a fresh tournament and not thinking much about the past. "Tokyo is a fresh start, and it's important to be ready every day. Everybody will be in top form. I came with that mindset, and I'm not thinking of the past, but what's ahead." If she wins her second Group J match, Sindhu has some tough opponents lined up in the knockout stage as she is scheduled to play third seed Mia Blichfeldt of Denmark in the pre-quarter finals. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/mirabai-chanu-becomes-the-first-indian-weightlifter-to-win-a-silver-medal-at-olympics/articleshow/84701680.cms">Mirabai Chanu becomes the first Indian weightlifter to win a silver medal at Olympics</a>

Tokyo Olympics: PV Sindhu wins opening match against Ksenia Polikarpova

The board of clean energy solution provider <keyword id="46212" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suzlon-Energy" source="Orion">Suzlon Energy</keyword> has appointed J P <keyword id="149791" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="chalasani" source="Orion">Chalasani</keyword> as the company's Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of <keyword id="6372540" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashwani-Kumar" source="Orion">Ashwani Kumar</keyword> from the post. Ashwani Kumar has resigned as the CEO with effect from 5th April 2023 on account of personal reasons, a BSE filing stated. The Board of Directors, at its meeting held on 4th April 2023 has, inter alia, approved the appointment of J P Chalasani as the Chief Executive Officer and one of the key managerial personnel of the Company, to act as the Group Chief Executive Officer, with immediate effect, i.e. from 5th April 2023, the filing said. Chalasani had been Group CEO of Suzlon for the period from April 2016 to July 2020 and continued as Strategic Advisor to the Suzlon Group thereafter. Chalasani has over 40 years of experience in the public and private sector across the entire gamut of the power sector (power generation projects, transmission, distribution, trading and coal mining). Prior to his earlier stint as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chalasani was the Group CEO and Managing Director of Punj Lloyd since January 2014 and was responsible for the energy, infrastructure and defence business for the group globally, which is close to USD 1.8 Billion. Prior to joining Punj Lloyd, Chalasani had spent over 18 years with the Reliance Group. He joined Reliance Group (undivided) as a Vice President in 1995 and worked on a number of assignments for the group. He also served as the first Chief Executive Officer and the Director on the Board of BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd. In 2003, along with Anil Ambani, he was appointed to the Board of Reliance Infrastructure as Director Business Development. Post demerger of the Reliance Group, Chalasani was with the ADAG group. He took over as CEO of Reliance Power in March 2008, soon after the company completed its big initial public offer. Chalasani created a 10 people team to start Reliance Power and grew it to a 30,000 MW (generating, under construction and under development) company in 2013. Prior to Reliance Group, Chalasani started his career at NTPC and worked there for 15 years in various capacities, including Special Technical Assistant to the Chairman and Managing Director.

Suzlon board appoints J P Chalasani as Chief Executive Officer

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japanese pop star Kauan Okamoto alleges he was sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa as a teenager.</li><li>Okamoto said he was abused up to 20 times from 2012 to 2016, starting when he was 15.</li></ul>A Japanese pop star has claimed he was sexually abused by Johnny Kitagawa, an American-Japanese music producer and talent manager who died in 2019.Kauan Okamoto, a former member of Kitagawa's talent group for young teens, Johnny's Juniors, alleged he was abused up to 20 times from 2012 to 2016, with the first instance occurring when he was 15, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-65259427">BBC reported</a>.Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Okamoto said that Kitagawa would come into his bedroom, remove his clothes, and perform oral sex on him. Okamoto added that he would pretend to be asleep whilst he endured the alleged abuse.Okamoto, who came forward following the publication of the BBC's new documentary "Predator: The Secret Scandal of J-Pop," is not the first person to have accused Kitagawa of sexual abuse.Koji Kita — a former member of the J-Pop band Four Leaves, which was managed by Kitagawa — had <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/21/popandrock3">made allegations of sexual abuse against Kitagawa in 1988</a>. Okamoto said he believes Kitagawa may have abused as many as 100 boys, per the BBC report.But Kitagawa consistently denied all accusations of assault and abuse.He attempted to sue the Japanese media outlet Shukan Bunshun for publishing six boys' accounts of sexual abuse at his hands. Kitagawa initially won the defamation case, and was awarded ¥8.8 million, which would now be around $65,750, in damages, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/aug/21/popandrock3">The Guardian</a>.But the magazine appealed the decision, and in 2004 the Tokyo High Court ruled that the magazine had sufficient reason to publish the allegations of sexual assault.Kitagawa was one of the biggest names in J-pop before his death, having established "a monopoly on the creation of boy bands in Japan for 43 years," The Guardian said.Teruzane Utada, a Japanese music executive producer and father of J-pop star Hikaru Utada, told The Guardian that Kitagawa was "one of the pioneers of the entertainment business in Japan.""But he only handles boys, and that's very special," Utada added.Kitagawa died from a stroke at the age of 87.His funeral was attended by hundreds of celebrities — many of whom he managed, the <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2019/09/04/entertainment-news/celebrities-mourn-death-johnny-kitagawa-tokyo-dome-memorial-event/">Japan Times reported</a>, with then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe even sending a telegram of condolence to the event.

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