The Social Distancing Scaries are real, but as weeks of life in insolation tick by, we’re finding fresh ways to stay connected in this uncharted reality. There’s no denying that a lack of IRL interaction can feel alienating, but social media and video call apps are keeping us in touch with friends and family, both around the corner or out of state—and it’s not stopping singles from getting to know potential new love interests. With virtual dating on the rise, could nixing the physical aspect of the early stages of dating lead to deeper emotional connections set to last long after the pandemic is over?
So you just started talking to a new cutie and you’re going to FaceTime. Even if you’re meeting for the first time over a Netflix Party, you’re probably planning on changing out of those days-old sweatpants and pimple patches. But what do you wear? A playful top will spruce up the four-by-four-inch box you’re occupying on your date’s screen—and a hint of highlighter for that dewy glow will definitely help you feel fresh (even if you literally just brushed Cheeto dust off your face). A virtual first impression still counts for something, and though they can’t smell your signature scent through the screen, you can still charm them with a statement sleeve.
From romantic blouses to no-makeup makeup, shop pieces for a winning first (virtual) date look. These will have you feeling confident looking deep into your laptop’s camera—because that’s where we’re at right now. If everything goes well, you can blow them away with perfect-fitting jeans once you finally meet in the flesh.
Whether you’ve been separated from your loved ones, found yourself plunged into self-quarantine with the someone you just met on Bumble, are single and navigating a whole new world of virtual dating, or are ready to call in the divorce lawyers after finding yourself in far too close proximity to your partner, the rapid spread of COVID-19 has reshaped our relationships drastically. So what is it really like to Love in the Time of Coronavirus?
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As for when I’ll fly again, I have allergies, which means at some point I’m likely to experience some of the symptoms (a sore throat and cough) that comes with the virus, so I want to get some confirmation and advice from a healthcare professional. My temperature has been normal, and I’ll continue to monitor that as well.
Meanwhile, colleagues have started a Facebook support group, but as emotional as I’ve been, I don’t want to add to someone else’s level of anxiety. We are caregivers and first responders for our passengers, so it’s a little odd to be the one that needs the comfort. I’ve been relying on my husband and friends more than ever.
But if there’s one thing I take pride in, it’s how the airlines have responded to the pandemic. In addition to extensive cleaning, my airline has been providing hand sanitizer and wipes on the airplane for people, and I also hand out masks to people who request one.
On the planes, most of us are wearing gloves while we’re serving. One of my co-workers is even layering her hands with four sets of gloves. As soon as she’s served someone, she’ll peel that one off and then serve the next person. Then when she’s cleaning up, she’ll use another set of gloves. Maybe it sounds excessive, but we’ll do whatever it takes. Our company just wants to keep our passengers as healthy and safe as possible. That’s why when the coronavirus started spreading, the airline sent recommendations on how our service would change, and that’s continuing to evolve. I know another carrier has removed everything except single serve water bottles on their planes. Everything is changing day by day, hour by hour.
A few days ago, a couple of passengers reached out and hugged me when disembarking and told me to stay safe. I stiffened up and they remembered and said, “Oh sorry, I’m healthy.” Listen, I get it. People are very loving, and it’s hard to flip that switch so quickly. Then there are those who wear masks and gloves and want to be as wrapped up as possible. Take what precautions you need to.
Everyone keeps asking if I’m scared right now, but to be honest, I haven’t been that apprehensive. I’m more sad that I can’t fly. I’ve always been pretty vigilant when it comes to staying healthy, but perhaps now I’m scrubbing my hands as if I’m prepping for surgery. No wonder they feel like sandpaper!
On the flights, I’ve also noticed passengers trying to create more social distance between others. Our gate agents have to be aware of the weight and balance issues on each aircraft, but they’re doing what they can to accommodate social distancing.
Our cleaning crews have always been really wonderful, but I’ve never seen such a large formidable team come onto our airplanes and clean them so diligently. My mouth dropped open when I saw that the cleaning crew take up a third of the jet way. There’s probably a group of 10 to 15 people now that vacuum, clean every surface, wipe down every tablet ray, overhead bin, air vents, armrest, seatbelt, etc. You name it, every surface is being disinfected. That’s just how we have to operate during this crazy time.
I’ve heard people say planes have never been cleaner, and it’s probably true. Still, if you’re nervous to fly, take hand sanitizers and a face mask with you if that makes you feel more confident. And talk to the flight crew when you board. Tell them you’re nervous, and they can probably tell you all the different steps the airlines are taking to make you safe and keep things clean.
Last week my flights were still two-thirds or more full, but the flight I just missed was at around 50%, due to cancellations. Going forward, I think there’s a lot of uncertainty still on how that’s going to play out, but the only thing constant in our industry is change. And now, because of what’s going on as a result of the pandemic, there are going to be major changes. But eventually we will build back up. We always do.
I’ve been so proud of the work that my coworkers and our leadership and everybody’s been doing. We’re all in this together and we’re doing everything we can to make you feel safe. We’re delivering loved ones to see the people that they love, and that crosses my mind a lot these days. Even though the travel industry is a business, we’re going to do everything in our power to get through this together. 9/11 was a stunning time in history and I think we’re in another stunning time in history. You can let it overwhelm you, or you can focus on how these difficult times help build character and strength. I’m doing the latter.
Jessica Radloff is the West Coast editor at Glamour.
After all that speculation about Hannah Brown take two, the 2020 Bachelorette has been announced: It’s Clare Crawley, who you may remember from Juan Pablo’s season of The Bachelor in 2014 and the Bachelor Winter Games. She’s s ready to try the franchise again, and says her experience with the show and 38 years on this Earth are going to be her secret weapons.
“A lot of people put it out there as this negative thing, but for me, it just is more years under my belt, more learning and knowing what I want, what I don’t want and what I won’t settle for,” she said on Good Morning America.
However, age is ultimately just a number when it comes to the guys she’s looking forward to meeting. “I have been known to date younger guys, so that’s not a problem for me,” she said. “The thing is I’m wondering if they’re ready for me, for my age. I feel like that would be more of an issue, than me with them, because I feel so much younger at heart than my actual age.”
“I’m proud of my age, but I just feel younger and I feel like that to me is what’s important,” she added.
Hopefully Crawley* won’ face the ageist backlash she seems to be expecting. Bachelor Nation fans have become more vocal during recent seasons—Pete Weber’s in particular—about the super-young age of some of the contestants.
After walking away from Pablo when she was about 32 years old, Clare Crawley appeared on seasons one and two of Bachelor in Paradise, with no luck in the love department. In 2018, she fell in love with Benoit Beauséjour-Savard on The Bachelor: Winter Games, and even got engaged. Unfortunately, the couple has since split (which you already knew because…she’s The Bachelorette). Hopefully, the fifth time is the charm.
In May 2019, lawmakers in Alabama passed a wide-ranging abortion ban that would, among other things, punish doctors who performed the procedure on women at any stage of pregnancy with up to 99 years in prison. (A federal judge blocked the ban from taking effect in October 2019 until the matter is settled in the courts.)
Now, in response, a Democratic state representative in Alabama has introduced a bill that would require men to get vasectomies within a month of turning 50, or after their third child is born—whichever happens first. Per HuffPost, Rep. Rolanda Hollis acknowledges the bill is not a serious proposal, but rather a symbol meant to “send a message that men should not be legislating what women do with their bodies”—either through a straightforward abortion ban or through smaller incursions into women’s reproductive freedom.
“Year after year the majority party continues to introduce new legislation that tries to dictate [rules for] a woman’s body and her reproductive rights. We should view this as the same outrageous overstep in authority,” she said in a statement.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded to the proposed legislation on Twitter—and was then summarily mocked for his hypocrisy, given his support of limiting women’s reproductive rights. “Yikes. A government big enough to give you everything is big enough to take everything…literally!” he wrote. “Alabama Democrat proposes bill mandating all men have vasectomy at age 50 or after third child.”
“Yes, the government shouldn’t be involved in private reproductive health choices, yes, that’s a great point you made, yes,” historian and author Kevin Kruse replied to his tweet. The actor Patricia Arquette wrote, “Thought you wanted to stop unwanted pregnancies.”
“Wow how awful that the government is trying to interfere with bodily autonomy! What’s that feel like?” another Twitter user said.
And just in case the irony was lost on Cruz, one person laid it out super clearly for him. “This bill was not meant to pass; it was introduced to demonstrate how wrong it is to restrict people’s reproductive rights. In other words, the argument you’re applying to this bill shows how your own views on women’s reproductive rights are indefensible!” he wrote.
Cruz, unsurprisingly, has not responded to those calling out his double standard. Meanwhile, the assault on women’s reproductive rights continues.
Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt were so universally disliked in the mid-aughts that Chelsea Handler referred to them as “Herpes 1 and 2” on her late-night talk show. The platinum blond villains of Lauren Conrad’s The Hills were the poster children, of sorts, for society’s overall perception of reality TV back then: that it was shallow, unintelligent, and stacked with fame-hungry ego-maniacs who didn’t have talent so much as they had tenacity.
With their penchant for attracting the paparazzi, stars like Montag, Pratt, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian spun straw into gold—earning checks by appearing in nightclubs, pushing products, and releasing heavily Auto-Tuned music. They were, quite frankly, our culture’s first major reality TV stars, and they paved the way for the shows of the 2010s. But their pursuits, no matter how successful, were mocked. Reality TV, and the players who inhabited it, were labeled “guilty pleasures”—not something to be taken seriously or discussed without some level of embarrassment. Please see: The time Pink released a whole song in 2006 dedicated to dissing stars like Hilton and Jessica Simpson. Its name? “Stupid Girls.”
The tides turned in the 2010s, though, especially in the latter half. After the 2016 election, and all the feelings of apocalyptic dread that came with it, entertainment became less focused on prestige and more about finding joy wherever you could. The romantic comedy experienced a resurgence on Netflix. Holiday movies on Hallmark and Lifetime were consumed in mass quantities. People took off work to stay home and watch Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding. Deflection and distraction was suddenly the name of the game.
Camila Morrone is getting serious acclaim for her breakout role in the independent film Mickey and the Bear—her performance has even led people to compare her to Jennifer Lawrence. It has also helped shift Hollywood’s gross reduction of her as simply “Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriend,” although there’s been new attention applied to their relationship, specifically their 23-year age difference. (She’s 22; he’s 45.) Speaking to the Los Angeles Times this week, Morrone made it clear she’s not too concerned about the gap or what people think of it.
“There’s so many relationships in Hollywood—and in the history of the world—where people have large age gaps,” she said, adding, “I just think anyone should be able to date who they want to date.” She did admit she kind of understands the fascination with the relationship, which seems to have started sometime in 2017 when they were first spotted together. “I probably would be curious about it too,” she said.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone.
Getty Images
Morrone is right that there are tons of relationships with large age gaps in Hollywood, but consistently it seems to be men dating much younger women. This is so prevalent that the internet was surprised when actor Keanu Reeves stepped onto the red carpet with a woman closer to his age (she’s eight years younger).
Camila Morrone didn’t go into other details about dating DiCaprio, focusing instead on how Mickey and the Bear has opened up new opportunities for her and established who she is outside of her boyfriend. “I think more and more now that people are seeing the film, I’m slowly getting an identity outside of that,” she said. “Which is frustrating, because I feel like there should always be an identity besides who you’re dating.” She continued, “I understand the association, but I’m confident that will continue to slip away and be less of a conversation.”
