Table of contents for Issue 8, 2026 in WHO

Like many America’s Next Top Model fans, I couldn’t wait to watch the new Netflix series unpacking the noughties juggernaut. But I wasn’t prepared for how shocking some footage would feel through a 2026 lens (page 16). From race swapping to glorifying violence and eating disorders, it’s a disturbing yet compelling look at how far networks went for ratings and what viewers once accepted as ‘normal’. In lighter nostalgic fare, Hilary Duff thrilled fans with news of her impending visit to Oz on her first tour here in almost 20 years (page 26). Meanwhile, if you were one of the millions who took part in the viral trend of posting photos from 2016 on social media or asked ChatGPT to create a caricature of you, you’ll want to read our…

She’s still got one of the hottest bodies in the business and, despite being the co-founder of a billion-dollar company and a busy mum-of-three, Jessica Alba managed to squeeze in a sizzling beach session with her younger man, Danny Ramirez. For the Miami beach day on February 16, Ramirez, 33, wrapped his arms around a bikini-clad Alba, 44, as they stood in the ocean. The pair even exchanged a passionate kiss, completely unfazed by onlookers. Ramirez appeared to agree with fans who are calling him “lucky” online – the Captain America: Brave New World actor had the word emblazoned across his cap during the outing. Although the pair went public with their romance last year, their latest jaunt was the most amorous yet – and it came just days after…

Victoria and David Beckham have kept tight-lipped about the ongoing saga between themselves and their son Brooklyn, but it seems their famous friends may not have gotten the memo about keeping things on the down low. During a recent interview with The Sun, long-time pal Gordon Ramsay gave an insight into the “difficult situation” the former footballer, 50, and the Spice Girls singer, 51, are currently dealing with. “Victoria is upset and [has] every right to be upset,” he divulged to the publication. “I’ve seen first-hand just how good parents they are. David as a dad is just incredible. They’ve both put so much energy into their kids, and I know just how many times they’ve got Brooklyn out of the s--t.” While the celebrity chef, 59, insisted that his…

Love was truly in the air for Stranger Things’ Maya Hawke on Valentine’s Day. The daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman tied the knot on February 14 to musician Christian Lee Hutson at St. George’s Episcopal Church in New York City. Maya, 27, stunned in a classic white high-neck gown as she made her way in and out of the venue, pairing it with an oversized feather-trimmed coat perfect for New York City’s wintry chill. The guest list was star-studded, to say the least, with everyone from her famous parents to her former Stranger Things castmates Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer in attendance. Other celebrities, including Iris Apatow, Sam Nivola and Kathryn Newton, were also present. Many, however, were…

ROYAL COMMENT The Prince and Princess of Wales also spoke out about the latest release of Epstein files shortly before the King, saying they were “deeply concerned”. “Their thoughts remain focused on the victims,” said an official Palace statement. With revelations emerging almost daily from the latest release of the Epstein files, royal households across the world are under increasing scrutiny. And they’re discovering that the old mantra “never complain, never explain” just doesn’t cut it anymore. Following a meet and greet in Lancashire on February 9, when King Charles was publicly heckled about his younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Buckingham Palace moved quickly to respond. “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue to come to light in respect of…

Scan to shop or visit arcmate.com.au When they returned home from a five-week camping trip, Cassandra Kirkland’s husband, Michael, came to her with an idea. “He had this cardboard cutout, and when I asked him what it was, he told me it was a fire pit,” Cassandra, 33, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, tells WHO. “After joking that it wouldn’t last long because it was cardboard, I asked him why [his concept] was a weird shape and he explained it was designed to be stored upside down on the camper trailer’s spare tyre,” she recalls. Given his experience with the flimsy, flat pack fire pit they’d taken on their trip hadn’t been great, Michael had designed something he thought would work better. At first, Cassandra wasn’t convinced. “I told…

THAT’S HOT INSTAGRAM Paris Hilton and Carl’s Jr. reunited two decades after the hotel heiress’ first stint promoting the burger chain. BARBIE GIRL INSTAGRAM Kylie Minogue said it was “really special” to see the new Mattel doll inspired by her ‘Padam Padam’ music video. SPEED RACERS BAHRAIN Keanu Reeves caught up with Max Verstappen at an F1 pre-season testing session. MAN’S BEST FRIEND INSTAGRAM Pedro Pascal made the world collectively swoon with this pic of him cuddling his hairdresser’s pup, Mr Mingo. LEAN ON ME HOLLYWOOD Jennifer Garner and Reese Witherspoon got close at a screening for The Last Thing He Told Me’s second season. GUITAR HERO LONDON Cruz Beckham was out and about with his trusty instrument to promote his latest song, ‘For Your Love’. HOLD ME CLOSER... LOS…

Heading out on a lunch date in New York City on February 15, Pedro Pascal showed off his close bond with Rafael Olarra. The creative director threw his arm around the actor as they made their way through the Lower East Side. The pair’s outing was followed by a trip to the cinema the following day to watch Wuthering Heights. Olarra, 47, previously dated Nine Perfect Strangers star Luke Evans, with the British actor and singer confirming their split in 2021 after 18 months together. Meanwhile, not much is known about the personal life of Pascal, 50, with the star of The Fantastic Four: First Steps never talking about his love-life in interviews. “I’m very unprivate in my private life,” he told Vanity Fair in 2025. “I just know that…

After two decades together, Aussie comedian Celeste Barber, 43, and Api Robin have called it quits. Known to her followers as the star’s “Hot Husband”, Robin shared the news to followers on Instagram with “heavy hearts”. “The past few months have been incredibly challenging and deeply heartbreaking for us both,” Robin, 52, wrote. “After much reflection, the decision has been made to separate.” He went on to say that “there is still love and respect” between the two, but attributed the split to them being “at capacity”, having “come to recognise we may want different things”. “Our priority remains our children and their wellbeing,” added Robin, who also changed his Instagram bio to “Formerly HotHusband” before his announcement. Fans were shocked at the news, as the couple have had a…

KURT COBAIN More than three decades after the shock death of Kurt Cobain, questions continue to be asked about what really happened on that tragic day. Now, a team of independent forensic specialists is calling for a fresh investigation into the Nirvana frontman’s passing. Researcher Michelle Wilkins is part of that team. She revealed to the Daily Mail that, after just three days of reviewing the case, one of the specialists had told her, “This is a homicide. We’ve got to do something about this.” Cobain died at age 27 on April 5, 1994, in a greenhouse above the garage of the Seattle home he shared with his wife, Courtney Love. Love was in a Los Angeles rehab centre when her husband died and their daughter, Frances Bean, was just…

HEY NOW! “Now that I have 10 more years of life experience under my belt, I really feel like I have something to say and that I have a safe space to do it,” she told Vogue of releasing new music. BEAT OF HER HEART Hilary Duff became a household name in the 2000s, a time when Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen cemented themselves as style icons and a new wave of starlets were rising the ranks in the music, TV and film industries. A double threat, she portrayed Lizzie McGuire in the Disney Channel series of the same name from 2001 to 2004 and a big-screen adventure in 2003, and contributed songs to the soundtracks for both. Also in 2003, Duff took the leap into a music career away from…

Just a few short weeks ago, social media feeds were overflowing with side-by-side photos comparing users today with their 2016 selves. Now, the internet has already leapt to its next viral distraction: AI-generated caricatures created from whatever information ChatGPT can gather about a person, paired with a supplied photo. It all feels lighthearted and fun, but do these artificial intelligence trends come with a hidden cost? “There are a couple of these trends floating around right now and they all seem to have one thing in common,” digital wellbeing researcher Dr Joanne Orlando tells WHO. “They entice us to hand over images and information we wouldn’t normally share, which is gold to an AI company.” We’ve seen similar crazes before, such as the 2025 Barbie doll transformations and Ghibli-style Japanese…

CHIC SPRITZ A fragrance that feels transportive always has a place in our makeup bags – and with a single spritz, Diptyque’s Orphéon EDP whisks us off to 1960s Saint-Germain. Inspired by a legendary late-night Parisian jazz bar, it captures the glow of burnished wood, the murmur of melodies and the whispers of friends catching up over cocktails. Notes of juniper berry, tonka bean, cedarwood and jasmine unfold with quiet opulence, offering a nostalgic European warmth – and we didn’t even need to get our passports out. COMPILED BY: MADISON BOGISCH…

There’s no denying that Harry Styles is a style icon. Between rocking a hot pink feather coat on stage and walking the Grammys red carpet in a rainbow jumpsuit, 2023 saw the musician bring disco-themed dressing back for a hot minute. Three years later, as we near the release of his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, groovy, retro-inspired looks are once again set to make a comeback – this time with a modern twist. The vibe? Considered, contemporary dressing with discotheque accents, occasionally. FUR REAL FRINGE BENEFITS SPLURGE! SPLURGE! FOREVER FLARES SHINY SET LIFESTYLE TEAM LOVES COMPILED BY: MADISON BOGISCH…

Rainbow Rolls with Orange and Ginger Satay Dipping Sauce MAKES 15-20 ROLLS INGREDIENTS FOR THE ROLLS ½ cucumber ¼ red cabbage 2 small carrots 1 mango 100g dried rice vermicelli noodles 1 pack of 22cm spring roll (rice paper) wrappers 20g fresh coriander 20g mint leaves FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE 3 tblsps smooth peanut butter 2 tblsps satay sauce (I use Jimmy’s Sate Sauce) 2 tblsps sweet chilli sauce 2 tblsps cold water 1 tsp granulated (white) sugar Small knob of ginger (about 20g), peeled and grated zest Juice of 1 small orange Juice of ½ lime METHOD 1 Halve the piece of cucumber, scrape out and discard the seeds with a teaspoon, then cut into thin matchsticks. Slice the cabbage thinly. Peel the carrots and mango, and cut…

MOVIE SCREAM 7 Sidney (Neve Campbell) hasn’t escaped the wrath of Ghostface just yet. In the seventh instalment of the hit horror franchise, the killer resurfaces in the quiet town where she has fought hard to build a peaceful new life. While Ghostface intends to reopen old wounds, Sidney isn’t the only one in danger – this time, her daughter (Isabel May) has been marked as the slasher’s primary target. Courteney Cox will also reprise her role in the franchise, once again playing reporter Gale Weathers. (In cinemas Thu., Feb. 26) MORE INSIDE! SEYFRIED GETS SPIRITUAL See the star sing her heart out in her latest musical film. EXPLORE THE UNUSUAL In new show Why?, Todd Sampson delves into people’s peculiar lives. PUTTING ON AN ACT! The drag icon takes…

Having made a habit of challenging conventional thinking with previous docuseries like Body Hack and Mirror, Mirror, Todd Sampson is set to shake things up again in Why?, which explores complex human behaviours shaped by belief, obsession and risk. Think everything from donor dads to doomsday preppers, the latter of which he’s had some experience dealing with. “I came home one day, and we live in Sydney by the water, and there were life jackets on the table,” Sampson, 56, explains. “There was a life jacket for [my wife], one for each of our daughters and my dog, Dash. There was no jacket for me and I’m the one that can’t swim. She said, ‘Well get your own life jacket.’ “My wife’s a prepper and she’s preparing for a tsunami,”…

Rolling Stone has called her “one of the most exciting artists in Australian hip-hop right now”, while the ABC praised her for having “ethereal vocals and innovative soundscapes”. So clearly there’s a lot to love about Devaura. A first-generation immigrant who was left homeless at just 16, the queer star has overcome adversity to have the success she’s quickly attained. And it seems this New Zealand-born, Sydney-raised singer is only just getting started. “Devaura’s clearly got a super exciting life in music ahead,” SXSW Sydney music program manager Reg Harris told Rolling Stone Australia after she appeared at the 2025 event. “For an artist that has only been releasing music and performing for just over a year, Devaura came to SXSW Sydney with the songs, the wild performance style and…

DUTY TO WARN by Charlotte Grieve Grieve had a very personal reason to be interested in celebrated orthopaedic surgeon Dr Munjed Al Muderis after he suggested a surgery for her father. She went on to uncover serious concerns about the doctor’s failure to inform patients of the risks of their medical procedures. BEST WOMAN by Rose Dommu When Julia’s brother asks her to be the best woman at his wedding, she can’t say no, even if it means spending a week in her hometown dealing with a bridezilla and her own parents’ divorce. When she finds out her high-school crush, Kim, is going to be the maid of honour, things get complicated. INSIDE MAN by John McMahon FBI agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles.…

EDITORIAL Editor Lyndsey Rodrigues, Deputy Editor Sara Tapia, Art Director Emma Tocchet, Picture Editor Linda Franks ARE MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Jane Huxley, Director of Sales Anna Quinn, Director of Content Sally Eagle, General Manager Entertainment Susan Armstrong, Commercial Brand Manager Jessica Ashworth, Director of Marketing Carly Bowra Subscription enquiries: Customer Service 136 116 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm AEST) International +61 2 9692 3535 Email magshop@magshop.com.au Website www.magshop.com.au Advertising enquiries: advertising@aremedia.com.au Published by Are Media Pty Limited (ABN 18 053 273 546), 54-58 Park Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. ©2024. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without prior written permission. WHO is a registered trade mark of Are Media. Use of trademark strictly prohibited. Licensing Inquiries: www.contentshop.com.au / syndication@aremedia.com.au Printed by IVE Building D,…

Robert Duvall has died at the age of 95. The actor, who starred in legendary films such as The Godfather and its sequels, Apocalypse Now and Days of Thunder, passed away at home, his wife, Luciana Pedraza, said in a statement. “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller,” the Argentine actress, 54, shared. “To me, he was simply everything.” Adam Sandler, who worked with Duvall on 2022’s Hustle, called him “one of the greatest actors we ever had”. Other former co-stars, including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Viola Davis, shared similar sentiments.…

Much to the excitement of Home and Away fans everywhere, James Stewart and Ada Nicodemou, 48, have announced they will be tying the knot in real life. The happy news came via Instagram, where Stewart, 50, shared a clip of the moment he got down on one knee in public on Valentine’s Day, surrounded by friends and family. “She said yes,” he captioned the video. The fan favourites have played husband and wife on screen since early 2024, around the time their love blossomed behind the scenes. They made their couple debut at the TV Week Logie Awards the same year, almost three decades after they first connected. “We were always really, really good friends,” Stewart told TV Week of his lady love last year. “And I have not stopped…

BRIDAL BLITZ Joining Frame Fitness as co-founder and chief creative officer last September, Lipa extolled the virtues of reformer Pilates. “I love that I see such instant results [from the workout],” she told Vogue. “It’s like some of the best forms of strength training for me.” Her Radical Optimism world tour wrapped late last year and he’s about to shoot one more film before he’s able to take a well-deserved break, which can only mean one thing: wedding bells! Indeed, Dua Lipa and Callum Turner are expected to say “I do” later this year, with the loved-up duo recently seen in Paris, where they were rumoured to be doing some wedding planning. The pair had what Lipa described on Instagram as a “perfect week” in the City of Love, during…

POINT OF DIFFERENCE Bieber has set Rhode apart from other brands. “We go really left when others are going right,” she said at Forces of Fashion. “That’s really impactful – it comes from a place of trusting yourself. When you tap into that, you do something really special.” O n February 12, a quiet frenzy descended Down Under with the local launch of Rhode. The arrival of Hailey Bieber’s beauty brand in Australia sparked a pilgrimage of the skincare-obsessed, with hundreds of fans coiling around city blocks in Sydney and Melbourne to get their hands on the coveted products as soon as they hit shelves in Mecca stores. While many queued up in person, even more had their fingers poised on the purchase button from home – with the Mecca…

FIRST LOOK Keoghan was the spitting image of band member Ringo Starr when he was snapped on the set of The Beatles: A Four Film Cinematic Event in London on February 3 (left), complete with the drummer’s signature shaggy hair. TROLL TOLL Keoghan deactivated his Instagram account after his split from Carpenter, slamming the “absolute lies, hatred, disgusting commentary about my appearance, character, how I am as a parent and every other inhumane thing.” For his big-screen adaptation of author Don Winslow’s thriller novella Crime 101, writer-director Bart Layton assembled a star-stacked cast. Alongside A-listers like Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry and Mark Ruffalo, Layton carved out a pivotal role for Barry Keoghan, tailoring the part of volatile punk thief Ormon specifically for the Irish actor. “I wrote it for Barry…

There was a time when, if you were stranded at sea or lost deep in the bush, John Friedrich was the man you wanted to see. In 1988, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for transforming the Victorian division of the National Safety Council of Australia into a multimilliondollar land, air and ocean rescue organisation unlike anything else in the world. “Before John, it was just this sleepy little organisation that had been around for years and mostly made safety posters,” says Marc Fennell, whose new SBS series, Australia’s Greatest Conman?, investigates Friedrich’s extraordinary rise and fall. “And then it basically became Thunderbirds. They had a submarine, men were jumping out of helicopters with dogs, there were pigeons guiding search operations…” But behind the spectacle was…

What’s that saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Case in point: wellness apps. While it may sound like an oxymoron to seek out wellness on a device we so often feel the need to put down, apps designed to improve our lives, track our health, and guide us through fitness and meditation may be the rare exception. Existing in the in-between space where real life meets the digital world, these top-rated apps suggest that maybe our phones can, in fact, be used for good. Or, at the very least, make tracking our monthly cycles more manageable. For now, at least, think of this as your comprehensive guide to the best apps for improving your health and wellness – one download at a time. FLO For those not…

For the uninitiated, allow us to bring you up to speed with Hollywood’s hottest It girl, Odessa A’zion. Steadily garnering attention through parts in Nashville and Fam, last year, the 25-year-old actress’ trajectory skyrocketed thanks to starring roles in HBO Max comedy I Love LA and box office hit Marty Supreme. Undeniable talent aside, A’zion is making just as much noise as a cultural and sartorial force off screen – and it’s easy to see why. Effortless, relaxed and unmistakably her own, A’zion’s muse-worthy style is proof that when it comes to fashion, there are no rules – other than, of course, being authentically you. Here’s to bringing out the It girl inside us all… SOFT POWER SPLURGE! PREPPED TO PERFECTION MODERN MUSE SPLURGE! SHARP SIMPLICITY COMPILED BY: ELAINE OBRAN…

Unless you’ve been living under the biggest beauty rock imaginable, Nina Park is a name you’re guaranteed to know. As the artist behind iconic makeup looks for celebrities like Emma Stone, Mia Goth and Sadie Sink, Park has quickly become synonymous with soft, subtle makeup – so much so that her signature blurred lip look has been dubbed the “Nina Park Lip”. Here, we dive into the must-have products she swears by, so you don’t have to spend more time doomscrolling TikTok than you need to. HYDRATION HERO At the heart of every makeup look by Park lies a rich and hydrated base. Milky toners and creamy sheet masks are always great options, and, as demonstrated in her TikTok prepping Greta Lee for the Academy Museum Gala, Park likes to…

ARIES MAR. 20–APR. 18 Right now, there’s never a dull moment for you but resist the temptation to rush into new things. With such big changes happening you’re going to have to take time out to catch your breath. Luckily, with your patron planet moving into your hidden zone, you’ll finally be able to chill. Give meditation a go! CANCER JUN. 21–JUL. 21 During this time between eclipses you’re more sensitive than ever! Your finances, especially the money you share or owe, are under review. New beginnings are possible – but only if you address any elephants in the room. True success can happen if you embrace a fresh approach to money. LIBRA SEP. 23–OCT. 22 Facts and fantasy are not always easy to decipher. It’s one thing to see…

Good Hang with Amy Poehler In the 11 months since her podcast debuted, Poehler has held intimate, humorous conversations with an amazing array of guests, such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Dakota Johnson, Paul Rudd, Ariana Grande, Idris Elba, Jennifer Lawrence, Tina Fey and many more. The Parks and Recreation star received the inaugural Golden Globe for Best Podcast in January, and shared that she had “great respect” for the form. Poehler said of her pod: “This is an attempt to try to make a very rough and unkind world filled with a little bit more love and laughter – and laughing with people, not at them.” Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus Now in the fourth season of her podcast, the actress and comedian, 65, has just one rule: the women…

In her bold and darkly funny new novel, How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder, Nina McConigley dives deep into family and the stories we inherit. “At its heart, this is a book about being a young girl in the 1980s,” she tells WHO. Growing up as an Indian American in the rural American West, McConigley was shaped by “teen magazines, the music on the radio, mall culture and movies”. These details all pulse throughout her story. The author is also fascinated by the ways we tell stories, including family lore, folktales, songs, cheerleading chants and penpal letters, with these forms pushing her narrative along as she follows Georgie and Agatha, two sisters who decide it’s time for their uncle to die “Sisterhood is forever,” she explains. “But how do we…