When Elliot Costello and a group of other people visited Cambodia, he had an encounter with a young girl named Thea.
Little did Elliot know that this encounter would have an impact so profound on him that it would help start a movement whose goal is to end sexual abuse against children.
Namely, Thea always had nail polish on her tiny nails. One day, as she and Elliot chatted, she asked to paint one of his nails. He agreed and was happy to speak to the chatty girl, but he then learned that she was once a victim of sexual abuse.
“As she painted one of my nails, I assured her I would always keep it that way to remember her, and by extension, her suffering,” Elliot said.
This motivated Elliot to try and make positive change among men so that less and less children fall victims of sexual abuse.
That is when he came up with the movement called #PolishedMan where men put nail polish on one of their nails. That one nail represents the one in five children who will be victims of sexual violence.
Polished Man works towards ending sexual violence against children. According to the organization, “being a Polished Man means challenging violent behavior and language, both locally and globally.”
Elliot believes that since men are responsible for 96% of this type of violence against children globally, they should be catalyst for change if we are ever to see an end to the abuse of innocent children.
The goal with the painted nail isn’t just to remind people of the number of children who are abused every single day, but to serve as a conversation starter about this reality, leading to new ideas about prevention. He also hopes that people will start donating to “support educational programs and resources for child survivors of abuse,” as per APlus.
We hope that more men, including celebrities
Camila Cabello Reveals the Unexpected Inspiration Behind Her Ice Block Purse, and People Can’t Help but Notice One Detail
Camila Cabello caught everyone’s attention at the Met Gala with her unique ice clutch. The event took place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 6, where the 2024 Met Gala showcased some unforgettable looks. Her choice of accessory was especially unusual and came with a unique story.
Camila Cabello explained her unique accessory choice to Extra, saying, “I feel like it is impermanence and things decaying over time and the beauty in that.”
True to its theme, the ice clutch didn’t last the night. The former Fifth Harmony star revealed that the purse had transformed during the event. “It was a purse,” she said, “but then it broke about 5 minutes into being in line, so I called my stylist like, ‘What do I do?’”
With some quick thinking, Cabello decided to hold the remaining piece like a clutch and remarked, “We’re just trying things here.”
The clutch wasn’t just a block of ice. Designed by Jane Wade, it also featured a copper rose, echoing the single flower on the gala’s invitations, tying into the overall theme beautifully.
Cabello’s outfit included more nods to the theme of “beauty in decay.” Her stunning gown, designed by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, weighed 15 pounds and was adorned with 250,000 Swarovski crystals. The dress had intentional rips at the bottom, linking back to her theme of impermanence. To complete her look, she wore iridescent makeup and styled her hair in a “wet” ponytail.
The “Señorita”singer had the gala’s “Garden of Time” theme in mind when assembling her outfit, but she was also inspired by something else — her upcoming album, C,XOXO, set to release on June 28.
“It’s Miami-themed,” she shared with Variety, “so we’re dripping, we’re wet.” This statement not only ties back to her album’s theme, but also cleverly connects with her look and the gala’s overall ambiance.
Fans were quick to react to Camila Cabello’s unique ice purse, noticing that it was actually made from real ice as droplets visibly fell from it. Many initially mistook it for glass until they saw the melting. Concerned comments also emerged, with fans asking about the comfort of her hand, wondering, “Is your hand doing okay?” and even humorously questioning, “How did your hand not fall off?” One fan expressed admiration, exclaiming, “You are incredible! How could you even hold the ice for such a long time?”
The 2024 Met Gala featured the theme “The Garden of Time,” inspired by J.G. Ballard’s 1962 story. Celebrities wore outfits that highlighted the brief and changing nature of beauty and time. Check out more outfits here.
Preview photo credit ANGELA WEISS/AFP/East News, ANGELA WEISS/AFP/East News
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