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☆ A UPenn student started a YouTube channel. In weeks, her face was stolen on China's social media.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

That message included a link to a video on Xiaohongshu, a social media platform rapidly gaining steam in China. The student started her self-empowerment channel in November and has so far published eight videos and seven YouTube Shorts. The Xiaohongshu deepfakes of other YouTubers do the same. In a matter of about 10 minutes, BI found deepfake videos of at least five caucasian women on Xiaohongshu. But at least one Chinese deepfake version of Blakely has a different agenda to share on Xiaohongshu.

Persons: —, Olga Loiek, Loiek, Vladimir Putin, Loeik, Weibo, someone's, Lyu Siwei, it's, Haibing Lu, they've, Xiaohongshu, Natasha, she's, Annie, Sophia Elena, Katyusha, China, Lana Blakely, Blakely, Elizabeth Filips, Serbia, Filips, Lyu, Vincent Conitzer, Conitzer, Lu, Lyu who's, he's, Roy, Ari Lightman, she'll Organizations: Service, Business, Kremlin, YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Media, University at Buffalo, Santa Clara University, University of Pennsylvania, BI, Russia, Institute for, Oxford University, Social, Carnegie Mellon University Locations: Munich, China, Moscow, Ukraine, Santa, China's Heilongjiang, Germany, Xiaohongshu, Russian, Russia, Stockholm, Xiaohongshu London, Pakistan

☆ How Spanx founder Sara Blakely makes and spends her $1.1 billion fortune
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Sara Blakely's shapewear brand, Spanx, made her one of the world's youngest self-made female billionaires. Sara Blakely attends the launch of Haute Contour by Spanx at Saks Fifth Avenue in 2009. Two years later, her body-shaping invention went into production and was named one of "Oprah's Favorite Things," making it a favorite of celebrities and everyday customers alike. In 2012, Blakely appeared on the cover of Forbes as the world's then-youngest self-made female billionaire at age 41. Today, at 52 years old, she ranks 22nd on Forbes' list of America's self-made women with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

Persons: Sara Blakely's shapewear, Sara Blakely, Joe Kohen, Blakely Organizations: Spanx, Saks Fifth, Forbes

☆ Am I That Guy? A View From the Front Rows in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Guy Trebay | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Am I that guy? (And truth, Blakely Thornton, Kim Kardashian’s Balenciaga era probably was just high-priced “Power Rangers” cosplay.) Yet it felt important to keep in mind how powerful an economic engine men’s wear remains. By some measures, that growth will increase in the next decade to $988 billion. Another question follows from the first, though, a corollary to whether one is that guy.

Persons: I, Blakely Thornton, Kim Kardashian’s Organizations: Power Rangers, Research Locations: Milan, Paris

ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Led by Simone Biles, the U.S. women won a record seventh consecutive team title at the gymnastics world championships on Wednesday night. The American team of Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely and Leanne Wong combined for a total of 167.729 points to edge Brazil and France. The U.S. women have won gold in the team event at every world championship that included a team competition since 2011. Biles now has 26 world championship medals, 20 of them gold, to go with her seven Olympic medals, including the 2016 Olympic title. Biles capped off a successful night for the U.S team with a spectacular floor routine rewarded by a 15.166.

Persons: Simone Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, Leanne Wong, Biles, Larisa Latynina, Joscelyn Roberson, Wong, Jones, Cheng, Pike, ___ Organizations: American, The U.S, Soviet Union, China, U.S Locations: ANTWERP, Belgium, U.S, Brazil, France, The, Antwerp

While the US women's gymnastics team has already qualified, the stakes remain high. Alongside Simone Biles, the US Women's Gymnastics team includes Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely, and Joscelyn Roberson. The men's team final is up first starting today (October 3), and there's more action to catch each day through the apparatus final on October 8. The first day of competition is October 3, beginning with the men's team final before the women's team takes the floor on the second day. The Men's Team Final starts at 6:30 p.m. BST on October 3, followed by the Women's Team Final at 6:30 p.m. BST on October 4.

Persons: Simone Biles, She's, Biles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely, Joscelyn Roberson, Kayla DiCello, ExpressVPN, Peacock, Peacock Thurs Organizations: United, Women's, BBC, NBC, Google, Insiders Locations: Antwerp, Belgium, United States, USA

☆ Biles to compete in sixth world championships
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 21 (Reuters) - Simone Biles is set to compete in her sixth world championships this month after posting the top all-around score at a U.S. qualifying competition, USA Gymnastics said on Wednesday. Biles, a four-times Olympic champion and 19-times world gold medallist, headlines the five-woman team heading to Antwerp, Belgium, where she won the first of her five world all-around titles in 2013 at the age of 16. Biles will become the first woman to represent the U.S. at six artistic world championships, according to USA Gymnastics, after earning automatic qualification by topping the all-around standings at this week's two-day selection camp in Katy, Texas. She will be joined by Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong and Skye Blakely - all part of the team that won last year's world championships - and 17-year-old Joscelyn Roberson.

Persons: Simone Biles, Kyle Terada, Biles, Shilese Jones, Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely, Joscelyn Roberson, Hritika Sharma, Peter Rutherford Organizations: SAP Center, USA, Paris Games, Thomson Locations: San Jose , California, USA, Antwerp, Belgium, U.S, Katy , Texas, Tokyo, Hyderabad

CNN —It was a familiar sight – Simone Biles twisting though the air, effortlessly and powerfully completing routines no other female gymnast has ever landed in competition. An eighth title for Biles would break the record that she currently shares with Alfred Jochim, who won his seventh title 90 years ago in 1933. Biles is the most decorated gymnast in US history, winning 32 medals across the Olympics and the world championships. Gymnastics Championships begins at 3.30 p.m. PST (6.30 p.m. ET/11.30 p.m. UK time) on Sunday. Biles will begin on vault, before taking on the uneven bars, balance beam and finishing on floor.

Persons: – Simone Biles, Alfred Jochim, “ Beams, ” Biles, “, Ezra Shaw, Biles, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, Peacock Organizations: CNN, US, Reuters, “, Tokyo, U.S, Gymnastics, NBC, USA, YouTube

☆ Brilliant Biles in control at U.S. Championships, eyes eighth title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] August 25, 2023; San Jose, California, USA; Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the 2023 U.S. Gymnastics Championships at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsAug 25 (Reuters) - Simone Biles delivered a stunning performance at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in San Jose, California, on Friday to take the lead with 59.300 points and stay on course for a record eighth national title. Jones, the runner-up at the nationals last year and a three-time world silver medallist in 2022, posted 56.550 points overall, with Blakely third at 55.700.

Persons: Simone Biles, Kyle Terada, Biles, Shilese Jones, Jones, Skye Blakely, Alfred Jochim, Blakely, Leanne Wong, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, Lee, Hritika Sharma, Robert Birsel Organizations: SAP Center, U.S, Gymnastics, Tokyo Games, NBC, Olympic, Thomson Locations: San Jose , California, USA, Chicago, Paris, U.S, Antwerp, Belgium, Hyderabad

☆ Victoria's Secret is getting slammed by Skims fans online. They're accusing the brand of ripping off Kim Kardashian's campaign.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Victoria's Secret launched a new campaign with supermodels Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, and Candice Swanepoel. Their photos in Victoria's Secret catalogs made them household names — the brand even dubbed them "Angels" to further cement their place as modeling royalty. Critics on social media pointed out that the new Victoria's Secret campaign looks eerily similar, even down to the name: It's called "The Icon" while Kardashian's was "Icons." Swanepoel posted about her return to modeling for Victoria's Secret in an Instagram post. "What a wonderful sense of belonging to come home to my VS family for this Iconic campaign!"

Persons: supermodels Gisele Bündchen, Adriana Lima, Candice Swanepoel, Secret, Kim Kardashian, Gisele Bündchen, Kim Kardashian's, Kardashian, Skims, Swanepoel, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, Alessandra Ambrosio —, Kardashian's, Mikael Jansson, SKIMS, —, Blakely Thornton, Ryan Reynolds, Pelton, Justin Long, Ed Razek, Naomi Campbell, Adut Akech, Hailey Bieber, Paloma Elsesser, Sui, Emily Ratajkowski Organizations: Service, Victoria, New York Times Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ 33 non-Prime Day Alternative Sales to Shop from Walmart, Macy’s & More
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Bellamy Richardson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +20 min

For these two days, take 25% off select items as well as 15% off select beauty products by using the code CYBER at checkout. Everlane Best of SaleThe deal: Various discounts sitewideLooking to add some classic summer essentials to your wardrobe for the warmer weather? Lands’ End High-Summer SaleThe deal: 50% offHeading to the beach and need a new swimsuit? Our Place Summer SaleThe deal: 20% off select itemsFrom now through July 12, upgrade your cookware collection and take 20% off select items from Our Place for its Summer Sale. Sephora Top Skincare SaleThe deal: Up to 50% off top skincare itemsYou can save up to 50% off top skincare picks through July 15.

Persons: Bellamy Richardson, Alex Mill, “, Cabeau, Peter Thomas Roth, Huckberry, Ripstop, Macy’s, Michael Kors, you’ve, Samsonite, Spinner —, —, LUNA, Pearl Pink, Kate Somerville, grillers, Gray Organizations: Amazon, Amazon Prime, USA, GOLS, Stainless Steel, Macbook, Walmart, Target, Samsung, LG, Sony, LG Smart, Brooklinen, Cabeau, Soho, Rockies, Black, Nike, Nike Air Max, Saks, Saks Fifth, Sale, Sun, Dyson, Lenovo, Thermoworks, Savings, Urban, Big Deal, Urban Outfitters, Party Locations: California, Kalamata, Bone, Zion, Black, Caribbean, Tres, Wayfair, White

☆ What it's like to work with a billionaire, according to ex-colleagues of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Sara Blakely
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Jack Sommers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Past colleagues discussed working with Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Sara Blakely. Here, people who've worked alongside Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Sara Blakely talk about what it was like. After buying their company, Gates interrogated Williams and his colleagues about why their product was better than its Microsoft rival's. Reuters 'Girl next door' Sara Blakely was a 'creative genius'Lisa Magazine and Kenya Graham were personal and executive assistants, respectively, to Blakely, the Spanx founder. Read more: Elon Musk was a 'fun' boss but fired people on the spot if they disagreed with him, former Tesla manager says

Persons: Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Sara Blakely, they'd, —, who've, Gates, Alex Wong, Chris Williams, Williams, aul Ellis, Colin Bryar, Bryar, Bezos, I've, Blakely, Lisa, Kenya Graham, Graham, Read, Sara Blakely's, Musk, Dimitrios Kambouris, Elon, Carl Medlock, he'll, Medlock, didn't Organizations: Service, Elon, Microsoft, Amazon, Amazon VP, Reuters, Lisa Magazine, Kenya, Nordic Business, Getty Locations: Blakely, Atlanta, Medlock

☆ Newsletter publisher TheSkimm has laid off 13%, its second layoff this year as cuts ripple across media
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Newsletter publisher TheSkimm laid off 13%, or about 22 people. It's the second layoff this year for the once-buzzy millennial media outlet. Layoffs hit newsletter publisher TheSkimm for the second time this year as it continues to face a punishing advertising market. The cuts came amid a tough economic environment in which a wide range of media, entertainment, and tech companies have laid off staff. The company faced tough times in the pandemic when advertisers were spending less and reassessing which media outlets were truly essential, and TheSkimm's lighthearted tone felt out of step with the times.

☆ Fact Check-Georgia schools’ cardiac arrest awareness form predates the COVID-19 pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A “Student/Parent Cardiac Arrest Awareness Form” from the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) was first issued in 2019 to educate parents about the risk of cardiac arrest in young athletes and in keeping with a state law enacted that year, a spokesperson for the organization told Reuters. Widely-shared social media posts feature a photo of the current year’s school form alongside comments suggesting that it was issued following a recent increase in cardiac deaths (here ) , (here), and (here). Bylaw 2.68-b indicates that the policy is in accordance with Georgia’s SB 60, the Jeremy Nelson and Rick Blakely Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act. In addition to distributing an information sheet about sudden cardiac arrest to “every athlete and his/her parent/guardian,” the policy calls for twice-yearly informational sessions to be held. The Georgia High School Association first issued its Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Form for student athletes and their parents in 2019, not in relation to cardiovascular deaths during the pandemic.

☆ US women’s gymnastics team wins historic gold medal at world championships in Liverpool
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US women’s gymnastics team has claimed a record-breaking sixth world championships gold medal in a row – even without Simone Biles. The victory automatically qualifies team USA, along with fellow medalists Great Britain (163.363 points) and Canada (160.563 points), for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite coming off the beam and failing to complete one her routines, she recovered to score second in the team, only behind Jordan Chiles. Jordan Chiles took center stage as the star of Team USA. Performing in front of a boisterous crowd, the home team put out its best ever team performance at a major gymnastics event.

☆ Billionaire Sara Blakely's 2 assistants detail all the work that goes into keeping her life running smoothly — and how there's no room for egos
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Elle Hardy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They worked together to support Sara Blakely, the Spanx founder and CEO, in all areas of her life. Sara Blakely began researching and developing what would become the popular intimates company Spanx in 1998, with just $5,000 in savings. Behind the scenes, Magazine and Kenya Graham, Blakely's executive assistant for six years in total across two stints, called themselves Blakely's "hype crew." "It's sharing of information, setting up a cadence of meetings, making sure that no one's hoarding information." Kenya and Jamie, the editorial strategist, are in the venue making sure this is the side she likes to sit on.

☆ Spanx CEO Sara Blakely: People who 'achieve their dreams' have this trait–'it's not about having brains, money or experience'
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-24 | by ( Taylor Locke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"The difference between people who achieve their dreams and those who don't is simple," according to Spanx founder and CEO Sara Blakely. "It's not about having a ton of brains or ton of money or a ton of experience," according to Blakely. Indeed, Blakely started Spanx in 1998 with just $5,000 she had in savings from selling fax machines door-to-door. Without having any background in design, business or manufacturing, Blakely ultimately built Spanx into a billion-dollar brand. "In the middle of my meeting with [the Neiman Marcus rep], I could tell I was losing her.

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