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What Is a Problematic Fave? How the 2010s Defined the Problematic Fave


Notably, the site stopped updating before the #MeToo era, and so the Louis C.K. post, for example, cites his use of the c-word, n-word, and homophobic slurs, but doesn’t mention the fact that multiple women have accused him of sexual misconduct—stories that he himself has admitted to be true.

The realization of this moment—that once-beloved entertainers might be monstrous predators—makes the idea of “problematic faves” somewhat less delightful.

At a certain level of terribleness, some people should not be anyone’s fave—problematic or otherwise. That awareness might explain how the common usage of “problematic fave” in culture has evolved from the blog’s original application—real, live people—towards fictional characters, or entire fictional universes.

With that more expanded definition, the concept has dominated the 2010s, a decade that witnessed both the rise of streaming, making older content more accessible, and a new framework through which to re-evaluate those once-beloved shows and movies. Out with the gendered, self-deprecating “guilty pleasure.” In with the problematic fave.

Take the television series Friends. If you were one of the millions of people who adored Friends at its peak, rewatching it in 2019 can be cringe-inducing. You (yes, you!) laughed at those fatphobic jokes and homophobic plot lines designed for an audience that once found them not just acceptable but hilarious. (Who can forget the entire subplot that rested on Chandler not wanting to invite his transgender father to his wedding because it would be a “distraction”!?) The show premiered in 1994, a different era perhaps. But even now, it remains one of the most popular shows offered on Netflix, with millions of new viewers who never saw it air live tuning in to binge it.

Another example? Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw’s outfits remain as over-the-top as ever and the sex puns still have their charm, but the unbearable whiteness that permeates this brunch foursome might make some wonder whether Carrie met Charlotte at a Reagan fundraiser.



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104 Women Who Defined the Decade in Pop Culture


In January 2010, Avatar was leading the box office. Kesha’s “Tik Tok” was dominating the airwaves. And Tiger Wood’s multiple affairs, which came to light two months before, was the scandal of the moment.

A lot has changed in the decade following, much of it for the better. Frozen II, an animated movie about two sisters saving their kingdom, is one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Kesha has become one of the many faces of the #MeToo movement after she sued her former producer Dr. Luke for emotional and physical abuse. And the scandal of the moment? The Hallmark Channel is being called out for removing an ad that featured two women kissing. The network has already apologized and reinstated the spot.

We wanted to show just how much has changed by reflecting on 100 women who were at the center of pop-culture this decade. Because looking back at the people who brought us the most entertainment and distraction—both good and bad—over the past 10 years helps us better understand where we’ve been as a society and where we still have room to grow.

It wasn’t an easy task. In part because you could make the argument that anybody who played a role in the things we watched, read, listened to, and scrolled for could be considered women of influence in their own way. But this list isn’t about females that had one great year or a single big moment. It’s about the ones whose impact will continue to felt during the next decade, or those who were emblematic of the 2010s because they represented a specific time and place that can never be recaptured.

A few caveats: We ended up with 104 women for reasons you’ll see, and this list is about looking back, not forward, so several women we love didn’t make the cut because we believe they’ll be defining culture in the next decade. (We see you, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge!) Other women—your Oprahs and Dolly Partons, for example—are so legendary that their influence goes well beyond just one decade, even though their contributions to this one have been vast. Not every woman who made the list had a positive impact, either. This isn’t about who we like best or would invite to our dream dinner party. It’s simply 104 women who made a lasting impression in movies, TV, books, and celebrity culture over the past 10 years.



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Nico Tortorella and Bethany C. Meyers Have Finally Defined Their Relationship


Bethany C. Meyers: Now, if we even have a crush or are stalking someone on Instagram—we just have a conversation about it right away. Nobody would be going on a date without the other person knowing. If there’s somebody I see on Instagram, I’m sending them to Nico being like, “What about this person? What do you think?” And vice versa. That’s something that’s part of our daily relationship. Then if I was out with some friends and thought, “Oh, I might be taking this person home,” I would send a text message to Nico right away like, “Hey, heads up this might be happening.” It’s not always some big sit down huge conversation—it’s more always keep the other person in the loop.

Tortorella: It’s important from a practical standpoint, too. Like for having safe sex or getting tested. And logistically, if we’re both in New York and one of us is out and meets somebody, they’ll go to their apartment. We’re not bringing people home and being like, “Hey babe, can you go to the couch tonight?” All power to couples that bring people to their own home, but we have the resource and privilege. We also have a house upstate. We can be like, “Hey, babe I’m going upstate for the weekend,” or, “Hey, babe I’m going to rent a hotel room for a couple nights.”

Help your partner embrace their identity, fully

Tortorella: What’s super special about our relationship is how we’ve transitioned at the same time, in tandem, over the years. We’ve really used fashion and self-expression as a way to indicate who we are on the inside. I always wanted to step out of what was the norm or what was expected of who we were and where we grew up. So when Bethany and I met, we started playing dress up together. Still, to this day, so much of who we are is just two kids playing dress up. Yes, sometimes it completely goes in line with our gender expression. But others it doesn’t. It doesn’t have to be taken so seriously all the time.

One thing Bethany isn’t the biggest fan of is when I put on a heel platform and I’m towering above everyone, but we figure it out. We work it out.

Meyers: It’s been really fun to watch us dress each other up over the years. One of our hobbies has always been going vintage shopping. That’s something we do everywhere we go. I think what’s been kind of interesting more recently, even this year, is watching Nico help me find boys pants that fit me. Or show me how to wear a button up, help me find more masculine-presenting clothing, and show me how to fix my hair. I think for Nico I’ve done the same. Like telling them, “These tights would work better underneath this dress,” or, “Use that makeup.” It’s fun, as Nico said, to play within our own gender expressions but also helping the other person explore other looks.



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13 Curl Gels and Creams for Defined, No-Crunch Curls


There are few things quite like the betrayal of a beauty product, especially one that you love. A few examples: Foundation that looks phenomenal, only to leave your skin a mess. Lipstick that’s the prettiest color you’ve ever seen, but migrates around and leaves you with Joker-face. Or, like we’re here to talk about today, hair gel.

Finding a curl gel that gives you beautiful definition is a triumph—but tons of good, even great curl gels pack a level of alcohol that dries out your hair over time, leaving it dehydrated even as nothing in your routine changes, says Ouidad stylist Jessica O’Brien. The situation is frustrating, so nip it in the bud with a moisturizing curl gel that doesn’t play games. Check out 13 of our all-time favorites ahead.





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