Blackouts - and temperatures - on rise in Cuban capital Havana

Blackouts - and temperatures - on rise in Cuban capital Havana

By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) -Daily blackouts averaging four hours or more have become the new normal across Cuba's capital of Havana, an unsettling sign of a still-unresolved energy crisis as the sultry Caribbean summer sets in. Havana's misfortune follows a string of nationwide blackouts over several months, most recently in March, that plunged the country's frail grid into near-total disarray, stressed by fuel shortages, natural disaster and economic crisis. The major commercial hub on the island and a top tourist destination, Havana has long endured occasional blackouts but until this year had been largely shielded from the worst of the outages by the grid operator. "People are stressed," said Aramis Bueno, a 47-year-old resident of the densely populated Central Havana neighborhood of Dragones, as he sat on his doorstep during an evening blackout this week. "It's not easy living like this. Look at what time it is. We haven't been able to shower, to eat ... because of the blackouts." The worsening power outages in Havana come as the United States has severely tightened sanctions on Cuba, returning the island nation to a list of state sponsors of terrorism and ratcheting up restrictions on remittances, tourism and trade. Blackouts in the capital, unlike in much of the rest of the country, are largely scheduled, and far shorter than in the outlying and more rural provinces, where outages sometimes span 15 hours or more per day. But they are increasingly the talk of the town in Havana. "It's terrible, it's terrible. The electricity system in this country right now just isn't working," said Dayamí Cheri, 52, a resident of cramped Old Havana. "With this heat and no electricity, no one can survive." Recent outages led to school and workplace closures, reinforcing an already deep shortfall in economic output, which fell 1.9% in 2023. The economy did not expand in 2024, when more severe blackouts set in, though the government has not yet released last year's growth figures. There are glimmers of hope, however. Cuba is making progress this year on a China-backed plan to install more than 50 solar parks capable of churning out more than 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Eleven such solar parks have been installed since February, offering the promise of a better future, though most Habaneros say they're still hunkering down for a long summer. "I was born with blackouts," said Yasunay Perez, 46, of central Havana. "This is nothing new." (Reporting by Nelson Acosta; Additional reporting by Anett Rios and Mario Fuentes; Editing by Dave Sherwood and Sonali Paul)

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 15, 2025

Blackouts - and temperatures - on rise in Cuban capital Havana

Blackouts - and temperatures - on rise in Cuban capital Havana By Nelson Acosta HAVANA (Reuters) -Daily blackouts averaging four hours or mo...

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Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown

Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown

Trump offers "an olive branch" and threats to Iran over potential nuclear deal. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings get heated when lawmakers question him on vaccines. And a mountain climber survives a 200-foot fall in Washington state — without breaking a bone. Here's what to know today. A top Iranian official said the country is ready to sign a nuclear deal with the U.S. in exchange for lifting economic sanctions after President Donald Trump offered Iran "an olive branch," as well as threats should the country not accept an agreement. In an interview with NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, Ali Shamkhani, a top political, military and nuclear adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons and get rid of its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, along with other concessions. In exchange, Shamkhani said Iran would want an immediate lifting of all economic sanctions. This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign uphereto get it in your inbox. But Trump's tone in a speech yesterday, in which he threatened crippling economic sanctions if Iran didn't accept an agreement to limit its nuclear program, left leaders on edge. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Trump in comments broadcast on state television. Shamkhani said, "He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It's all barbed wire." The U.S. and Iran have been holding talks over Tehran's nuclear program for weeks, with Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, calling the last round of talks "encouraging." Trump's trip this week to the Middle East includes stops in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Yesterday, he met with Syria's new president Ahmed al-Sharaa, after lifting longstanding sanctions on the country. Today, he's scheduled to give remarks to troops at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Read the full story here. Trump's meeting with al-Sharaa marks an effort to forge a new relationship with the country.But experts say it's too soon to knowif al-Sharaa, who U.S. leaders once called an Al Qaeda terrorist, will fulfill his pledges. Trump has praised the warming Qatar-Saudi Arabia relationship and showered flattery on his hosts. As the Trump Organization's footprint in the Middle East grows,so do the ethical concerns. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearings with the House Appropriations and Senate Education, Labor and Pensions committees were heated at times as Democratic lawmakers pressed him on past statements about vaccines and actions to reduce funding. 💉 During the House Appropriations hearing, Kennedy told Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan that he would "probably" vaccinate his children against the measles today, but added, "I don't think people should be taking medical advice from me." 💉 And during the Senate hearing, Kennedy seemed to suggest that the measles vaccine was unsafe in a heated back-and-forth with Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy. When asked about whether he would recommend the measles vaccine, Kennedy said, "I am not going to just tell people everything is safe and effective if I know that there are issues. I need to respect people's intelligence." 💰 Actually, the purpose of the hearings was to discuss next year's budget for HHS and the recent mass layoffs Kennedy has overseen, but some lawmakers were displeased with him for appearing to be unaware of basic details. For example, Kennedy said they didn't intend to get rid of the childhood lead poisoning department, though those workers were fired. However, he did confirm that 328 DHS employees who faced terminationswere reinstated, including those involved in screening for "black lung" disease in coal miners and for health issues in 9/11 first responders.Read the full story here. Beyond measles and layoffs, facets of Kennedy's "Make America Health Again" agenda — including food regulation efforts that could raise costs for farmers and his anti-fluoride push —are making some Republicans so nervousthat they're conducting polling to see what impact he could have on midterm elections. The Supreme Court today weighs whether to allow Trump's reinterpretation of the Constitution's guarantee of birthright citizenship to go into effect,at least in part, while litigation continues. The Department of Veterans Affairsincorrectly gave veterans about $5 billion morein disability compensation and pension payments than it should have in the last four fiscal years. In an oversight hearing, lawmakers pressed VA officials on how it would address the problem. House Republicans' ongoing standoff over how to tackle "SALT" tax deductions in Trump's agenda bill havereached a boiling point. A House Democratbacked off his threatto force a vote on a resolution to impeach Trump after leaders in his party objected to the effort. Badar Khan Suri, the postdoctoral scholar and professor at Georgetown University, was released from ICE custody after a judge ruled that his detention was in violation of the First Amendment, the right to free speech, and the Fifth Amendment, the right to due process. Khan Suri had been targeted for deportation by the Trump administration and accused by the Department of Homeland Security of "actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media." But Eastern District of Virginia Judge Practicia Giles said in her ruling that the government had failed to provide evidence of its claims or proof that he would be a national security risk. After his release from the Prairieland Detention Center, where he has been since March, Khan Suri spoke out. "There was no charge, there was nothing," he said. "They made a sub human out of me." He also decried the conditions inside the Texas detention center where he had been held since March.Read the full story here. Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist who was arrested at Boston's airport in February, wascharged this week with smuggling biological material into the U.S.The escalation in the case comes after a federal judge questioned the legality of Customs and Border Patrol officers revoking her visa. The drummer of Texas rock band Lord Buffalo was"forcibly" removed from a flightheaded to Europe and detained by immigration officials, the band said. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbardfired two top intelligence officialswho oversaw a recent assessment that contradicted Trump's assertions about the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang and undermined his rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport suspected gang members. FBI field offices around the country have been ordered toassign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement. Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer and model who dated Sean "Diddy" Combs off-and-on for 10 years, returned to the witness stand yesterday in the hip-hop mogul's federal trial, going into excruciating detail about her relationship with Combs and his alleged pattern of violence and sexual abuse. She's expected to be back on the stand today for cross-examination. In Wednesday's testimony, Ventura alleged Combs raped her on her living room floor in 2018, echoing allegations she made in a 2023 civil lawsuit, which she said settled for $20 million — the first time the settlement amount has been publicly revealed. She also recounted the aftermath of Combs' attack on her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016, which was recorded by a security camera and has been played multiple times this week. Ventura also went into more detail about Combs' alleged "freak offs," which she said happened so often that she would get sores on her tongue. Ventura added that she developed "an addiction to opiates" that would help her feel "numb" after marathon sex sessions with male escorts.Read moreabout Ventura's second day of testimony. Sign upfor the "Diddy on Trial" newsletter to receive the latest news daily, including insights and analysis from our team inside the courtroom. A New Jersey 18-year-old's mother and stepfather have been chargedafter the teen escaped captivityand told authorities she was abused over a seven-year span and forced to live in a dog crate. Streaming service Max changed its name back to HBO Max.Here's what's behind the surprise reversal. The strongest solar flare so far this yearhurled streams of plasma and charged particlesinto the cosmos and caused communications blackouts on five continents. Hackers that did damage to large U.K. retailers are nowsetting their sights on American brands, Google's chief analyst warned. Let me start by saying this story is devastating. Three mountain climbers in Washington state died after an apparent anchor failure that sent the group plunging 200 feet onto jagged rock, and then they slid uncontrollably another 200 feet down a chute. But there were four climbers in the group — meaning one survived, somehow, without broken bones, though he did have internal injuries and head trauma. Nonetheless, the lone survivor, a 38-year-old man from Seattle,found his way to his car and drove to safety. His story, as one county official put it, "is miraculous to say the least."—Elizabeth Robinson,newsletter editor NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz tested out theOura ring 4for a few months. In his review, he shares what he likes and doesn't like about the popular smart ring. Plus, whether you're a seasoned gardener or a newbie with a green thumb, here are some ofthe best weeding toolsavailable. Sign up to The Selectionnewsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week. Thanks for reading today's Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you're a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign uphere.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 15, 2025

Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown

Iranian official talks nuclear deal and RFK Jr. pressed on vaccines: Morning Rundown Trump offers "an olive branch" and threats to...

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NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal

NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal

ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — NATO foreign ministers on Thursday debated an American demand to massively ramp up defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product over the next seven years, as the U.S. focuses onsecurity challengesoutside of Europe. At talks in Antalya, Turkey, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that more investment and military equipment are needed to deal with the threat posed by Russia and terrorism, but also by China which has become the focus of U.S. concern. "When it comes to the core defense spending, we need to do much, much more," Rutte told reporters. He underlined that once the war in Ukraine is over, Russia could reconstitute its armed forces within three to five years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underlined that "the alliance is only as strong as its weakest link." He insisted that the U.S. investment demand is about "spending money on the capabilities that are needed for the threats of the 21st century." The debate on defense spending is heating up ahead of a summit of U.S. PresidentDonald Trumpand his NATO counterparts in the Netherlands on June 24-25. It's a high-level gathering that will set the course for future European security, including that of Ukraine. In 2023, as Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed tospend at least 2% of GDPon national defense budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so. The new spending plan under consideration is for all allies to aim for 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets by 2032, plus an extra 1.5% on potentially defense-related things like infrastructure — roads, bridges, airports and seaports. While the two figures add up to 5%, factoring in infrastructure and cybersecurity would change the basis on which NATO traditionally calculates defense spending. The seven-year time frame is also short by the alliance's usual standards. Rutte refused to confirm the numbers under consideration, but he acknowledged that it's important to include infrastructure in the equation, "for example to make sure that bridges, yes, are there for you and me to drive our cars but also if necessary to make sure that the bridge will hold a tank. So all these expenditures have to be taken into account." It's difficult to see how many members would reach a new 3.5% goal. Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are not even spending 2% yet, although Spaindoes expectto reach that goal in 2025, a year past the deadline. The U.S. demand wouldrequire investment at an unprecedented scale, butTrump has cast doubtover whether the U.S. would defend allies that spend too little, and this remains an incentive to do more, even as European allies realize that they must match the threat posed by Russia. Europe-wide, industry leaders and experts have pointed outchallenges the continent must overcometo be a truly self-sufficient military power, chiefly its decades-long reliance on the U.S. as well as its fragmented defense industry. "There is a lot at stake for us," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said. He urged his NATO partners to meet the investment goals faster than the 2032 target "because we see the tempo and the speed, how Russia generates its forces now as we speak." British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said his country should reach 2.5% by 2027, and then 3% by the next U.K. elections planned for 2029. "It's hugely important that we recommit to Europe's defense and that we step up alongside our U.S. partners in this challenging geopolitical moment where there are so many precious across the world, and particularly in the Indo-Pacific," he said. As an organization, NATO plays no direct security role in Asia, and it remains unclear what demands the Trump administration might make of the allies as it turns its attention to China. The last NATO security operation outside the Euro-Atlantic area, its18-year stay in Afghanistan, ended in chaos. ___ Cook reported from Brussels, and Fraser from Ankara, Turkey.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 15, 2025

NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal

NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — NATO foreign min...

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Sean Penn Says Movie Stars ‘Ran Out Around Jennifer Lawrence. She’s Probably the Last Movie Star.’ As for Timothée Chalamet: ‘I Haven’t Seen His Movies Yet’

Sean Penn Says Movie Stars 'Ran Out Around Jennifer Lawrence. She's Probably the Last Movie Star.' As for Timothée Chalamet: 'I Haven't Seen His Movies Yet'

Sean Penn appeared on"The Louis Theroux Podcast"and declared Jennifer Lawrence to be "probably the last movie star." Penn and the eponymous podcast host were discussing an array of different celebrities, with the Oscar winner giving his opinion on each. "I think the movie star manufacturer ran out around Jennifer Lawrence time or something," Penn said about movie stardom. "She's probably the last movie star." More from Variety Sean Penn Says 'I Would Work' With Woody Allen Again in a 'Heartbeat': The Allegations Are 'Told by People I Would Not Trust With a Dime' Sean Penn Says Donald Trump 'Might Try to Destroy the World' Timothée Chalamet to Be Honored at David di Donatello Awards One undisputed movie star in Penn's mind is Tom Cruise, who is back in theaters this month with "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning." Penn praised the A-lister as "a guy who pursues excellence on a very high level." "Certain kind of movies people appreciate more than others… but this is a very good actor who is also an incredibly extraordinary craftsman," Penn said about Cruise. "Those movies don't get made on those level without somebody extraordinary behind them. He's the common link behind many of them. It's no accident. He does his own stunts. He's probably the best stuntman in movie world. He's the most experienced guy." When Penn noted later that "I see some performances from some young actors where I feel like I should quit and become an accountant because they are so good," Theroux wondered who the actor might be talking about. Perhaps Timothée Chalamet? "I haven't seen that movie yet," Penn said, referring to Chalamet's Oscar-nominated turn as Bob Dylan in last year's "A Complete Unknown." The actor added: "I haven't seen his movies yet." But Penn has clearly seen Jennifer Lawrence movies, thus naming her "probably the last movie star." Both Lawrence and Cruise will be attending the Cannes Film Festival this year with new movies. Cruise is bringing the latest "Mission: Impossible" sequel, which is being billed as his final outing as Ethan Hunt, while Lawrence teams with director Lynne Ramsay and co-star Robert Pattinson on the psychological drama "Die My Love." Whether or not movie stars still exist in Hollywood remains an ongoing topic of debate among talent. Some A-list directors like Quentin Tarantinohave claimedthat the rise of Marvel has contributed to the death of the movie star, as actors like Chris Evans are more associated with their superhero characters than they are as movie stars. Actors like Harrison Ford disagree. He was asked about the death of Hollywood movie stars byGQ magazinelast year and responded: "Oh, I think it's rubbish." "I don't think the question is whether or not there are any movie stars. There's wonderful actors coming up every day," Ford said at the time. "Whether or not they become movie stars is really not the point. If movies need stars, they will find them. I've never fucking understood being a movie star. I'm an actor. I tell stories. I'm part of a group of people who work together, collaborate on telling stories. I'm an assistant storyteller. That's what I am." Listen to Penn's full interview on"The Louis Theroux Podcast" here. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival Sign up forVariety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 15, 2025

Sean Penn Says Movie Stars ‘Ran Out Around Jennifer Lawrence. She’s Probably the Last Movie Star.’ As for Timothée Chalamet: ‘I Haven’t Seen His Movies Yet’

Sean Penn Says Movie Stars 'Ran Out Around Jennifer Lawrence. She's Probably the Last Movie Star.' As for Timothée Chalamet: ...

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Stars Who Love Their Plastic Surgery

Stars Who Love Their Plastic Surgery

Presley Ann/Getty for Spotify; Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Body confidence can come in many forms — whether it's "I woke up like this" total acceptance, the endorphins you feel after hitting the gym, highlighting a favorite feature with clothing choices or, for some, making the decision to undergo plastic surgery to augment (or de-emphasize) certain features. Celebrities are no stranger to cosmetic procedures, but for these stars — including Meghan Trainor, Jessie James Decker, Kaley Cuoco and more — they're so happy with the results, they're sharing that joy with the world, encouraging others to do whatever they need to do to feel like the best version of themselves. Presley Ann/Getty for Spotify; Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty How much does Meghan Trainor love her new implants? Shechanged the lyrics of her song "All About That Bass"to be "I guess it's pretty clear, I got some new boobs!" The singer flaunted her body at the Wango Tango concert in May 2025, after revealing earlier in the year that, after having her two children, she had beenlosing weight with the help of Mounjaro, andhad gotten a breast lift and implants. "I feel so girly and I love it, and it makes me so much more confident and it's like the best decision I ever made," she told PEOPLE after the surgery. "I smile every time I shower." Lindsay Arnold/TikTok In January 2025, the formerDancing with the Starpro shared that she had undergone a breast lift and augmentation and was "sooo happy with the results already," showing fans the before and after shots. "I appreciate the respect that this is something that I wanted to do for myself," she added. Michael Loccisano/Getty; kaitlynbristowe/Instagram FormerBacheloretteKaitlyn Bristowe is an open book to fans, sharing the before and after details of all her procedures (includinga recent blepharoplasty that had an unfortunate encounter with her dog, torecently welcoming "twins" — breast implants – and telling all her friends). And most of all, she's open about the fact that she's doing it for herself, and not looking for any input from the internet. "Believe it or not I've done more work on the inside. You can't physically see that, but I've never felt it more,"she said on Instagram in December 2024. "To the people who always wanna comment, 'You were so much prettier before all the work you've had done,' I suggest you do the important work on the inside before judging what's on the outside." samisheen/Instagram The eldest daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards cried tears of happiness upon seeing the results of her nose job,as captured onDenise Richards & Her Wild Thingsin March 2025. "I've wanted this for so long. Oh, my God, it looks so good," she said. "I feel so pretty now. Now I feel like I can finally get my headshots done to start modeling. This was the one thing holding me back. Now I got a good nose." In March, the singer shared that she was going to get a breast augmentation "because I want to,"she said, adding, "bottom line, I'm choosing myself, I'm choosing my size, I'm doing what's right for me. I know a woman's body is beautiful no matter what shape or size but I want this." Months later, the starposted another Instagramconfirming that she was thrilled with the choice and the way she feels in her body now. "Since my breast augmentation I have felt more empowered about my decision. I'm proud that I have made choices for me." Jim Spellman/Getty; Teresa Giudice/Instagram TheReal Housewives of New Jerseystar got a nose job in February 2021 and "no one even noticed,"she said onWatch What Happens Live.According toThe Sun, she had previously discussed the procedure at an event in New Jersey, saying fiancé Luis Ruelas supported her decision. "I asked Louie, I'm, like, 'Babe, should I get my nose done?' " she said. "And he's like, 'Is it going to make you feel better?' And I said, 'Yes.' So he said, 'Do it.'" The singer and Kittenish designershared with fansthat she decided to "go big or go home" after she and husband Eric Decker were done having kids, opting for a breast augmentation. "They were so big and perky before children and I wanted them back ... plus some,"she explained."I feel great; I'm super happy with them." The star, whooften shuts down critics on her Instagram, went on to say "it's not for everybody but it was certainly for me! I always say, you do you and do what makes you feel confident and sexy." Johnny Nunez/WireImage; Denise Truscello/WireImage "It s hard to be a woman in 2015 with social media … There's a lot more pressure to look beautiful," the rappertoldSeventeenat the time about her decision to get a nose job, shortly after admitting toVogueshe'dgotten breast implants. But her number one rule for cosmetic surgery: come clean. "I'm not denying it. Denying it is lame," she said. In 2023,Azalea revisited the conversation around plastic surgery on Emily Ratajkowski's podcast, saying she was happy to show off her body because she was in control of the narrative — and proud of the way she looked. "I like my breasts. They're fake and they look f---ing good and I like them. I'm happy with them and I like my body," she said. "I liked my body before. I liked my face before and I like it now. I like myself, I never didn't. I never hated myself." Dolores Catania/Instagram FellowReal Housewives of New Jerseystar Delores Catania said that another procedure of Teresa's, her breast implants,inspired her to go under the knife herself. "I was looking around at boobs all the time, to see which ones I liked best, and I really felt thatTeresa Giudice's were best," shesaid. "My breasts weren't really on my priority list until I saw how good hers looked and realized how much of an improvement I could have. It really lit a fire under my ass because I knew that I could get a better result with different implants." Two weeks after sharing a photo of herself about to undergo breast augmentation surgery, theSouthern Charmstarshowed off the results in a baby-blue crop top, captioning the Instagram post "blooming." The star had opened up about her desire for a bust boost before the surgery, writing "If life gives you lemons 🍋 , Dr O'Neill can turn them to melons. Thanks to his excellent team for making this momma feel like herself again," and then clarifying, "Just because I'm having an implant does not mean that I'm coming with boobs as big as my head ... we are going to stay as natural as possible." Just how happy was the formerJersey Shorestar withher decision to get a breast augmentation? So happy, it warranted an Instagram post and several Instagram Stories segments about her new look. "My boobies are my fave part of my body now," she wrote. "I never had one surgery in my life until this and let me tell you I would do it again because [Dr. John Paul Tutela] is that amazing." The multi-hyphenate star always keeps it real, and that includes uncovering the "big secret" that celebrities get liposuction in their armpits. But she only has good things to say about that now decade-old decision. "I had an armpit sucked out, which was one of the best things,"the model told Refinery 29 in 2017. "It was so easy. It made me feel better in dresses; I felt more confident. It was the dumbest, stupidest thing I've ever done. The dumbest, but I like it, whatever. I have no regrets, honestly." While Zolciak-Biermann and her daughterBrielle Biermann'slip injectionsare a frequent topic of discussion, Biermann revealed a different type of injections that her mom has gotten:ear lobe fillers. The 21-year-old startweetedabout her mom's treatment on on Twitter, "My mom gets filler in her ears because her diamond earrings are too heavy….. #richpeopleproblems." The actress initially thought that getting a breast augmentation would be "caving into the man," but was delighted with the "f---ing awesome" results after deciding to undergo the procedure after her 30th birthday,she told Women's Health."It came down to a really simple thing: I wanted to fill out a bikini." To celebrate her 10th season on theReal Housewives of Orange County, the 49-year-old TV star revealed that she got a lower facelift and eye tuck - and showed off the results just two weeks after undergoing surgeryonWatch What Happens Live.She wrote onInstagramthat she got an "overwhelming amount of messages" after the news broke and decided to share photos of the healing process. "I'm open and honest about it because I want women to know that everyone gets old even people on TV and there is nothing wrong with growing old gracefully if that's what you want...... It's jut not for me! 😂. I like to keep it real!" She's keeping it so real, she even provided her email address for women to reach out to her directly with questions. TheReal Housewives of New Jerseystar revealedexclusively to PeopleStyle in Februarythat she got her fourth boob job - a cup size reduction and breast tissue reduction in December 2016. She opted for Ideal Implants, which she explained to us were safer than silicone, and two months later, she confirmed on aBest Products Facebook livethat she'sstillthrilled with the results. "They have the softness and naturalness of silicone but don't ripple or slosh around," she told PeopleStyle. "You don't have to do MRIs anymore, and if it ruptures you know immediately because it will collapse." Andrei Jackamets/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Real Housewives of New JerseystarMelissa Gorgacame clean about getting a nose job after co-star Jacqueline Laurita called her out for having the procedure done four times. "Let's be honest, it's the worst-kept secret that I've had a nose job, but it's my secret to tell, not hers," Gorga toldThe Daily Dish. But she's not ashamed of the procedure - and she'd like to set the record straight about Laurita's accusation while she's at it: "Four nose jobs? I would look pretty deranged." John Lamparski/WireImage; Snooki/Instagram The formerJersey Storestar has a reputation for being totally candid with fans about her weight, personal life and more - and that extends to any facial modifications she might undergo, including her lips, which she wrote abouton Instagramin August. "First session of lip plumps and it's just fabulous. I've always hated my thin lips and never thought I had the balls to get needles in my lip to perfect them but I did! Trust me girls, I was terrified to get my first 'procedure' ever done, but it wasn't terrible at all! And I hate needles! I love my 'natural beauty' but being able to enhance my lips to make me feel better about myself is life." Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic The actress has called the implants she got during her run on8 Simple Rules"the best decision I ever made," and shetoldRedbookwhy: "I had no boobs! I always felt ill-proportioned. My implants made me feel more confident in my body. It wasn't about trying to be a porn star or wanting to look hot and sexy." Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Gregg DeGuire/WireImage The star got a breast augmentation in 2008 after really thinking about the decision - and she never looked back. "I'm so happy. I feel complete," she told PEOPLE. "I was hesitant about talking about it … I was sick of not fitting into my tops … It is a decision I made for myself. I like it, and that's all that counts." Justin Lloyd/Newspix/Getty At 16, the trainer decided to undergo rhinoplasty after being bullied for her nose in her youth. "I'll be honest, it did change my life," shetold PEOPLE. "Not to say you should let your physicality define you, but there are some things that can make people feel really insecure. So, if there is something you want to fix that allows you to feel a little bit more confident, I support it." Eugene Gologursky/WireImage for Niche Media; Alexander Tamargo/Getty for SOBEWFF Another star who learned the art of being super-candid from her reality show, Bethennyopened up on her short-lived talk showabout her fluctuating cup size, which she said stemmed from implants she didn't like and had removed. "I went again like a couple of years ago when I could afford it to get them taken out and then lifted and I did feel much better," she said. "I felt like I was a little hotter, you know, a little perkier." Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage; Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty TheReal Housewives of Atlantastar told PEOPLE in 2010 that she used time off between seasons to undergo a breast lift, liposuction and nose job. "I'm very comfortable and confident in myself. I just wanted a tune up,"she said. "I still wanted to look like NeNe, the black woman that I am, but a better version." Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Another star who tweaked her nose as a teen, Kudrow says she's thrilled with the decision. "I went from, in my mind, hideous, to not hideous," shehas said. "I did it the summer before going to a new high school. So there were plenty of people who wouldn't know how hideous I looked before. That was a good, good, good change." Jim Spellman/WireImage; JWoww/Facebook; JWoww was never one to try to hide her breast augmentation (literally or figuratively), and a few months after having her daughter, the star wasback on social mediato discuss her new implants. "Ten years later and with the birth of my angel baby Meilani, [my implants] had changed a bit, especially with breastfeeding. I wanted them really badly," she wrote. "They are so amazing right now and still have a soft, natural look to them thanks to my amazing doctor." Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty; Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage for Turner TheMiddleactress opted for a breast reduction and tummy tuck in 2002, andtold PEOPLEit all came down to one thing: "Vanity. I mean it. Vanity," she said. "I had four C-sections and my stomach looked like the map of the world. My breasts were hanging down to here from breastfeeding those babies, and my nipples were like platters. I wanted to fit into the gowns that I finally got to wear." Read the original article onPeople

byKonstantin Pynzar

in

May 15, 2025

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