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When it comes to influencers, some of the settings which are staged for that perfect shot look absolutely effortless. Too effortless, tbh… suspiciously effortless…

An absolutely gas video has been posted online by @TaylorLorenz which sheds light on the environmental factors which influencers endure.

Whether it's freezing cold weather, sunlight blazing in your eyes or just awkward angles, getting the perfect shot isn't as easy as it looks.

The video displays several influencers and bloggers jostling to take the perfect picture at an intersection in New York, 59th and 5th avenue;

They're working hard, to be fair; they've all gotta compete for the best image possible.

Apparently 59th and 5th is some kind of blogger hotspot, an aesthetically pleasing location which influencers have now plagued.

Some witty Twitter users have compared the video to a favourite dystopian show…

It is pretty reminiscent of THAT Bryce Dallas Howard episode, where everyone can rate each other and give points based on their image and personality, similar enough to Instagram.

 Whether you find the video disturbing, hilarious, mediocre or just plain creepy, it says a lot about how different today's social media world is.

We are hugely entertained by the reaction tweets though… keep 'em coming.

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As the former President of the United States, Barack Obama seemingly can do no wrong.

He was golfing in Hawaii recently and met young mother Chelcie Edwards and her adorable seven-week-old daughter Paisleigh, and the cuddling that followed is something special to behold.

Obama takes little Paisleigh into his arms and kisses her on the forehead, and it's fair to say we would have passed out if we witnessed it in person.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Joe Ez (@joeez2) on

Joseph Edwards filmed the meeting and it's attracting the attention of the internet, naturally, because it's TOO DAMN CUTE. 

"I am baffled the President was holding my sweet baby girl. Ever since she entered the world our cup has overflowed with blessings," the overwhelmed father wrote on Instagram. 

Chelcie spoke to Because of them we can about the personal meaning behind the meeting, and said;

"To have the First Black President ever to initiate holding our daughter, let alone kissing her on the forehead, has to be one of the most pivotal moments of any parents life."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Natasha Sasha 44 (@natasha_sasha_44) on

"For our little girl to be in the hands of a man that is so influential, yet still so humble, and allowing her to experience something many will never get to experience is a blessing from God within itself," the mother continued.

"It’s just one of those things that’s just indescribable. This memory is one she will listen to for many years to come, as well as have for the rest of her life," she added, clearly cherishing the meeting wholeheartedly.

"As parents, we plan to share this monumental moment with our daughter through pictures, stories, and instilling in her who exactly he is and was before her time." She's certainly met some influential people for a seven-week-old.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Barack Obama (@barackobama) on

"These are memories for her all while being able to live in a place Barack Obama calls home, Hawaii. Furthermore, I pray one day my daughter appreciates and understands the magnitude of what she was able to experience."

The former president also revealed to Paisleigh's father Joseph that he loved his own parenting experience;

"You can’t beat having daughters!" he said.

Simply wonderful, now someone hand us a newborn baby so we can meet him too please.

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American officials have now told tourists to plan ahead when they’re organising trips to the States, as applications for the ESTA visa are about to get much harder.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a reminder to anyone planning a visit, warning potential visitors to; “Apply for ESTA no later than 72 hours before departing for the United States.”

The ESTA visa grants you access to enter the USA, but now the process is totally changing, maybe not for the better…

It was, until recently, possible to apply for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) until basically the last second, with real-time approvals achievable.

Now, you will need to apply for a visa at least 72 hours before you travel in order to gain the documentation in time. The old service is no longer available.

Without an ESTA visa, you cannot gain entry into the United States;

“Real-time approvals will no longer be available and arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding.”

Just as the Christmas travel rush has started, holidaymakers and business travellers will have to change the way they visit the USA.

US authorities have always advised applicants to carry out the documentation at least three days in advance, most people could get their ESTA almost instantly.

The DHS also warn: “Upon arrival in the United States you will be inspected by a Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry who may determine that you are inadmissible.”

The DHS recently added a query regarding the applicant’s social media activities to the form, but it’s optional.

“If an applicant does not answer the question or simply does not hold a social media account, the ESTA application can still be submitted without a negative interpretation or inference.”

Stronger security measures are expected over Christmas and the New Year, when 41 million passengers are expected to travel through American checkpoints nationwide.

Take note, globetrotters.

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Beauty pageants such as Miss Universe attract a hell of a lot of negative attention daily, especially since Donald Trump owns one. Anything he owns usually turns to ash, TBF.

From those who feel it's concepts are totally outdated for the modern world, to those expressing concern over how problematic the notion of 'swimsuit bodies' is, pageants are often in the spotlight for scandals.

Once again, pageants are in the media after Miss USA, Sarah Rose Summers, was filmed mocking foreign beauty queens and even IMITATING THEIR ACCENTS at the Miss Universe competition.

Can you believe?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Diet Prada ™ (@diet_prada) on

This is beyond clueless. 

The sexism surrounding the pageants is bad enough, without the racism added to the pile of problems. Summers can be heard saying;

"Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English, and not a single other person speaks her language. Could you imagine?"

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sarah Rose Summers (@sarahrosesummers) on

Summers then went on to mock yet another contestant, Miss Vietnam, saying:

"She’s so cute and she pretends to know so much English."

Not only did she mock her for her lack of English (as if Summers knows anything about being bilingual), she then made fun of how Miss Vietnam spoke.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Sarah Rose Summers (@sarahrosesummers) on

Summers has since posted an apology after the internet went absolutely mad at her, understandably.

She wrote:

"In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realise can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologise."

I mean, why did she say 'can be perceived' as disrespectful? It's straight up normalised racism, gal.

Own up to it, and check yourself, Regina George. *sigh*

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A 4 night stay for two in the Big Apple for free? Eh, hell to the yes. 

Fancy strolling down 5th Avenue for your big summer adventure? Will NoLIta of George's St are giving you a chance to fulfil your big city dreams this week. 

Inspired by the suaveness and sophistication of New York's Little Italy, NoLIta is throwing Dublin's biggest Fourth of July party.

It's so big, in fact, that they needed a week to spread out all the amazing celebrations they have planned. 

Starting on Monday July 2nd, each night is themed for a different aspect of NYC. We start off with a delicious evening in Little Italy, followed by the Best of Brooklyn, July the 4th party, a Sex and the City night, and Summer in NYC. As well as themed cocktails and menu, the celebration of the 4th will also include a massive Beer Pong Championship.

We are so there. 

To enter the draw for the big trip, all you have to do is sign a NoLIta receipt with your name and number and pop it in their giant Uncle Sam's Hat. 

The lucky winner will be announced on Saturday July 7th with confetti canons, DJs, drinks, dancing and a big fat plane ticket. 

 

A post shared by NoLIta Dublin (@nolitadublin) on

So go on, glam up your week with a little bit of America, right here in Dublin! 

To find out more about NoLIta's 4th of July event series, see the Facebook event page here.

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Donal Skehan has long been a favourite of ours, and he sky-rocketed in the UK after taking part in Saturday Kitchen.

But it seems the Irish chef is set for new sights as he's making his was to America to film a new TV show with his wife.

 

A photo posted by Donal Skehan (@donalskehan) on

Since he got married, Donal told the Irish Sun that the demand for a TV series with his wife has been massive, which he says he's amazed by because his wife, Sofie, is usually behind the camera.

The duo have filmed a pilot for the Food Network in the US, and said Sofie was brilliant with the change.

 

A photo posted by Donal Skehan (@donalskehan) on

“Sofie was great. She has been behind the camera for so long watching me do this and watching me learn, when it came to her turn she knew exactly what she was doing.

“We’ll see what happens after it airs as they’ll make a decision then so you just have to keep your head down and keep working.

“A lot of what we do is based on food and lifestyle, and we’ve been amazed in the interest in us, especially since we got married. I suppose it’s all part and parcel of what we are."

Who else would love to watch this?!

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There have been a LOT of changes in the Geordie Shore house over the last year and it looks like the controversial reality show could be about to lose another original cast member as Holly Hagan is reportedly moving stateside.

According to the Daily Star Online, the 24-year-old television personality is flying to the US this month to meet with TV producers and search for houses in a bid to crack LA.  

A source told the site: “Holly Hagan is off to Los Angeles later this month to meet with a load of TV producers.”

 

 

“She'll also be house-hunting while she's there in West Hollywood.”  Fancy!

After flying first-class across the pond, Holly is apparently going to stay in a penthouse “to get herself in the right frame of mind”.

According to the source, Holly has one major advantage over her MTV co-stars when it comes to making it in the States as because she’s not actually a Geordie, her accent is more subtle than that of her friends.

 

 

One of my favourite photo shoots for my collection @wantthattrend. Black Empress Dress

A photo posted by Holly Hagan (@hollygshore) on

 

They said: “Holly has an advantage over the other Geordie Shore reality stars because of her accent…She's from Middlesbrough, which is a little easier to understand for the Americans.”

The other obvious advantage Holly has is the fact she does not possess a criminal record, something many of her cast mates cannot claim for themselves.

Earlier this year Holly hinted that she could be about to follow in Charlotte Crosby and Vicky Pattison’s footsteps and leave the Geordie Shore house behind her.

 

 

When you're too drunk to pose

A photo posted by Holly Hagan (@hollygshore) on

 

Speaking to The Sun, Holly – who has been part of the MTV reality series since she was just 18 years old – admitted she’d “been thinking about leaving a lot”.

Whether Holly will go through with the move has yet to be seen, but a West Hollywood penthouse apartment sure does sound tempting.

 

 

Miss her

A photo posted by Holly Hagan (@hollygshore) on

 

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It was a rousing speech by any – even his own – standards: Barack Obama implored the USA to make sure that Hillary Clinton becomes the nation's first female president when voters go to the polls in November. 

And, as the current US president is delightfully want to do, Barack veered away from the prepared script somewhat while addressing the Democratic party national conference yesterday.

"Nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office," he said. "But Hillary’s been in the room; she’s been part of those decisions. She knows what’s at stake.

"No matter how daunting the odds; no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits," he added.

Sitting proudly in the audience of thousands was, of course, Bill Clinton, Hillary's husband of 40-odd years and a former POTUS himself. 

"That’s the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire,"  Barack continued to applause.

"And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman – not me, not Bill, nobody – more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America.

Significantly, when Mr Obama offered up the "not me, not Bill" line – which wasn't actually in his speech – Mr Clinton's face broke into a sheepish grin.

And when the cheers had died down, Obama added: "I hope you don't mind, Bill, I was just telling the truth!"

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Today, The United States counts its lucky stars (and stripes) while it celebrates its independence.

The holiday that Americans adore usually entails parades, flying flags and a few beers. Picture scenes similar to Paddy's Day, but with fewer shamrocks and more fireworks.  

In celebration of this day, we have listed our top 10 favourite American exports. 

Victoria Secret

Our favourite underwear brand hails from the US along with the beautiful people that model it! 

Reese's Peanut butter cups

Simply the most delicious treat on earth. 

Disney

No matter your age, none of us can deny the place in our heart we keep all things Disney. Hands up if you still cry during The Lion King!

Beyonce

Bow down to the Queen of Texas! 

Google

Without it, none of would know our own address. FACT. 

Friends

The most popular show of the 90s, and our favourite American show EVER. 

Channing Tatum

No explanation needed. GOD BLESS America. 

Swivel Chairs

Office life would not be the same without these bad boys…

Cupcakes 

Invented in America, and an absolute winner on an international level. 

To all our friends Stateside, enjoy the day! 

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A pro-arms American mum has inadvertently become an example of why guns are not a good idea after her 4-year-old son shot her in the back. 

The mother, who happens to be an advocate for pro-arms in America, consistantly posts positive gun propaganda to her Facebook page. 

But it seems that all her fighting talk has back-fired (after a bullet was literally fired into her back…geddit?) 

Jamie Gilt was casually driving with her son in Florida when the child picked up the loaded .45 semi-automatic handgun that was casually sitting in the back seat and fired it at his mother. 

"As the deputy slowed to check on the vehicle, he observed an adult female in the driver's seat motioning to him as if she needed assistance," said a spokesperson for the local police department. 

"The deputy ran to the vehicle and quickly determined that the driver had been shot.

"The only other occupant of the vehicle was the victim's four-year-old son, who was unharmed.

"We're satisfied that this is not a criminal shooting."

Nope definitely not criminal, just a 4-year-old who really didn't know any better. 

The 35-year-old runs a pro-gun Facebook page called Jamie Gilt for Gun Sense and is reportedly in a stable condition apart from having literally zero sense. 

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A J1 summer is considered a rite of passage for many Irish students, but new changes could mean far fewer people will be granted a visa.

The J1 programme currently allows full-time third-level students studying in Ireland to travel to the US, where they can legally work for a period of four months.

This year alone, more than 8,000 Irish students applied for the visa, with California, Boston, Chicago and New York among the popular destinations.

Now though, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he fears an "abrupt end" to the system could be ahead, thanks to a new requirement for pre-employment which has been proposed.

If implemented, students would only be granted the visa if they had already had a job lined up in the US.

Though no official reason has been given for this dramatic proposal, it's thought a number of high-profile incidents involving property damage by J1 students to rental accommodation could be the cause.

"Because of a series of issues that have arisen, the authorities that issue J1 visas seem to be bent on introducing a requirement for pre-employment for young people before they go," the Taoiseach said yesterday in the Dáil.

By his estimation, the new pre-employment requirement would mean a 60-80 percent drop in the number of Irish J1 students.

This is not the first threat to the future of the J1 programme, however.

Back in August, US Presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to scrap the system entirely if he was elected, replacing it with a programme giving jobs to inner city youths in the US.

Following the death of five J1 students and one US citizen after a balcony collapse in Berkeley back in June, the New York Times was roundly criticised for "victim-blaming" in an opinion piece about the accident.

The paper, who later issued an apology, appeared to make links between the deaths and tales of Irish students damaging US property.

Defending the students, former Irish president Mary McAleese said the paper "rushed to judgement" on the victims "without the remotest evidence."

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They've been in LA for a week for a series of exciting meetings – but that didn't stop Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright from maintaining their tough fitness regimes. 

As they wrapped up their Californian stay, Ms Keegan took to Instagram to share a video of her husband of two-and-a-half months going for a gruelling run in the LA heat.

The actress is also well-known for her own intense gym schedule, however, she evidently didn't quite feel that she'd be able to keep up with super-fit Mark. 

Instead, she wisely chose to travel by bicycle – also taking the opportunity to capture the exercise efforts of her spouse on film.

In the resulting video she shared with her 2million followers, the 28-year-old said she was putting Mark "through his paces". She also set the clip to Eighties classic, Eye Of The Tiger, by US band, Survivor

And despite having a sweet tooth, Mark, 28, looks in incredible shape as he runs topless on a residential road in LA.

The duo have spent the week at the five star Mondrian hotel on the Sunset Strip. It is believed that they will now spend some down-time travelling across America before returning to their home in England.

 

Putting him through his paces!! @wrighty_

A video posted by michkeegan (@michkeegan) on

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