TALKING POINTS
There’s nothing like controversy and current events to kickstart conversation. Seize the day and get talking with your kids about these recent news stories…
1
Introducing Grace Richardson: The First Openly Gay “Miss England” (Go Mag, 25/11/25)
“Grace Richardson, age 20, of Leicester is the first openly gay woman to be crowned Miss England. She endured years of homophobic abuse in school and came out age 15. It was ‘a bit of a scary experience. My parents have been the support beams through everything I’ve done. I truly wouldn’t be the confident woman I am today without them. Knowing I’m able to share my story is really special – I haven’t seen anyone in pageantry talk about sexuality the way I have. It’s important for young people in the LGBTQ community to see people representing them in all walks of life and to feel seen.’ Next stop: Miss World in 2026”
TALKING POINT Why might this win be a big step for LGBT+ people? Read the article >
2
Tom Daley opens up about his body dysmorphia issues and shares past traumatic eating disorder struggles (Radio Times, 27/10/25)
“Ex diver Tom Daley – who now hosts a TV show, The Game of Wool: Britain’s Best Knitter – says about training for the 2012 Olympic Games: ‘I got told I was overweight by people in British diving. I had no idea what I was doing, so I just cut out food. I wasn’t fuelling myself properly. I’d get so hungry I’d binge, then I’d feel so bad that I was bulimic. It was a dark time because I didn’t have anyone to talk to about it. Back then weren’t meant to talk about their eating disorders. Or their feelings at all. With body dysmorphia, my husband’s been a huge support. In the gay world, some people have very unrealistic body expectations’”
TALKING POINT Is it easier for men to talk more openly now? If so, why? Read the article >
3
Ore Oduba says he is in treatment for pornography addiction he's battled since age of 9
(Daily Record, 4/11/25)
“TV presenter Ore Oduba, age 39 and a dad of 2, was shown adult images on a computer when he was 9 by a friend’s older brother. For decades he felt shame about it: ‘It’s isolating. Something I would always go to to feel. Now I need to speak about this because I want to be able to guide my own children when it comes to them seeing stuff. Porn is one of the biggest problems we have societally. I want to save my children and guide anybody else’s children going into a world where, at their fingertips, they can fall into something they never asked to’”
TALKING POINT Have you talked at school or with your family about porn? Read the piece >
4
Shay Mitchell Has Launched a Skincare Brand for Kids – and It’s Sparking A Backlash Online (Marie Claire, 7/11/25)
“The recent ’Sephora kids’ trend saw tweens buying expensive beauty products meant for adults. Now actor Shay Mitchell, mum of 2 young girls, has launched skincare products for kids as young as 3, saying it’s about self-care and that girls want to do ‘what Mommy does with her face masks. Kids are naturally curious.’ One social media user asked: ‘Because why should your body dysmorphia start in your teens when it can start way earlier?’ But, as this article points out, you can teach kids about basic skin health without ‘selling them a sheet-mask ritual packaged in the language of commercial wellness and aspiration’”
TALKING POINT Should young kids be using products like face masks? Read the article >
5
Teenagers launch legal challenge over Australia’s ban on social media for children (Sky News, 26/11/25)
“Two weeks before Australia bans social media for under-16s – the first such law in the world – Macy Neyland and Noah Jones, both 15, have started a challenge against the law via the Digital Freedom Project campaign group. Over 1 million accounts are set to be deactivated when the ban on YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram and other plaforms starts on 10 December. Neyland said: ‘Young people like me are the voters of tomorrow. We shouldn’t be silenced. It’s like George Orwell’s book 1984, and that scares me.’ The Australian government says it ‘remains steadfastly on the side of parents and not of platforms’”
TALKING POINT What are the pros & cons of kids being on social media? Read the article >
And finally: to discuss…
US royal MEGHAN MARKLE – age 44, wife of Prince Harry and mum of Lilibet, 4, and Archie, 6 – is pictured makeup-free on the December/January cover of Harper’s Bazaar magazine, “opting for a natural, authentic look that is meant to allow her radiant personality to shine through.
The cover shows Meghan embracing a more understated aesthetic, a step away from some of her more glamorous appearances.
Following in the footsteps of other celebs going makeup-free like Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys, it’s a bold statement in the often highly curated world of celebrity covers.
As with most things involving Markle, the internet has been buzzing with mixed reactions. Some are absolutely loving it, applauding her for her bravery and for challenging conventional beauty standards, while others have nothing good to say about.
@Sussex5525 posted on X: ‘It is everything! It enhances Meghan’s beauty! One sees Meghan in all her natural beauty,
a soulful portrait!’
On the flipside @TheFabBookLover commented: ‘This is the ugliest picture I’ve ever seen on a mag cover.’
The decision to go sans-makeup seems to align with the themes explored in her interview, where Markle delves into authenticity, her journey and of course her strong bond with Prince Harry”
TALKING POINTS What do you think when you look at this magazine cover? Did you notice that Meghan Markle isn’t wearing makeup? Are you usually aware of whether women or girls are wearing makeup or not? Why do women and girls like to wear makeup? Why do women and girls feel they need to wear makeup? What are the pros and cons of makeup – in terms of what it says about the person wearing it, how it makes the person looking at it feel, the money it costs, the effects it might have on someone’s skin or anything else? What do you think the cover line “meets her moment” means – and could it refer in part to her going makeup-free in this photo?