80-Year-Old Grandma Who Learned to Swim at 59 Just Became Oldest Ever Female Ironman Finisher

80-year-old Natalie Grabow becomes oldest female finisher in triathlon competition – Credit: Ironman

With every step toward the finish line, Natalie Grabow was proving it’s never too late to get started.

Earlier this month, the 80-year-old grandmother from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, became the oldest woman to ever finish the punishing Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

She swam 2.4 miles—even though she never learned to swim until she was almost 60—then she pedaled 112 miles on a bicycle and immediately ran a full 26.2-mile marathon to make history. (Watch the video below…)

About 60 other competitors quit before they finished, all of them younger. Grabow did not.

“She’s truly gritty,” Grabow’s coach, Michelle Lake, told NPR. “Natalie is the definition of grit and gratitude: Grateful to make it to the start line, grateful to get to do something she loves everyday, and grateful to inspire so many others.”

Natalie’s story is even more impressive considering when she started.

She grew up in New Jersey long before Title IX vastly expanded the competitive opportunities for female athletes. A part of her that always existed lay dormant, just waiting for a chance.

“When you grow up and you don’t have those options, you know, you just watch the boys doing stuff and you’re just the cheerleader,” she told The Athletic. “It was just thrilling once I could do my first 5K and race and ride a bike with other people.”

As an adult, she worked as a software developer, played some doubles tennis, and eventually found running. The last hobby would prove to be a long-lasting love.

Running helped her form friendships and filled up her free time several days a week. Her friends eventually tried triathlons, but even in her 50s, Natalie didn’t know how to swim. Fortunately, she never once believed it was too late to start.


So, she became a mainstay at her local YMCA pool, using friends and books and videos, along with pure determination to learn some swimming strokes.

She improved enough to try a sprint triathlon and soon had her eyes on longer distances. Grabow worked on stretching and strength training. She cycled on an indoor exercise bike, ran at a nearby high school track, and kept swimming at the same place where she learned the skill late in life.

Twenty years ago, she finished her first half Ironman. A few years later, she graduated to the full-length version. And this past month, Grabow was tackling the famous Ironman triathlon course in Hawaii.

She swam 2.4 miles in Kailua Bay, using the freestyle strokes that escaped her for so long. She biked 112 miles in temperatures that peaked above 80 degrees. Then, came the marathon, 26.2 miles on a road course that gradually climbed more than 1,000 feet.

Just as she had many other times before, she kept moving forward, drawing closer and closer to her latest goal. It was just the latest obstacle in a life that has been searching them out, intent on surpassing them all.

Natalie crossed the finish line in 16 hours, 45 minutes and 26 seconds, becoming the oldest female to ever finish the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. (See the moment below…)

“Absolutely incredible,” the PA announcer said to the spectators in attendance.

The senior is already searching for her next challenge. She signed up for a pair of Ironman races in 2026—and she may even take aim at the record set by Hiromu Inada, who at 85, became the oldest person to finish the Ironman World Championship in 2018.

“The important thing is that people see from my story that they can maybe push themselves a little bit, they can do a little more than they thought they could do,” she told The Athletic. “They can keep going longer than they thought they could go.”
It’s all proof that it doesn’t matter where you start. Or when. It’s about enjoying the journey — and finding your way to the finish line.80-Year-Old Grandma Who Learned to Swim at 59 Just Became Oldest Ever Female Ironman Finisher
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Britain’s Strongest Grandmother Breaks 4 World Records Just Months After Taking Up Powerlifting

Powerlifter Martine Barons competing in Squat at the European Championships – SWNS

‘Britain’s strongest grandmother’ has broken four world records just 18 months after taking up powerlifting “by accident”.

At the age of 65, Martine Barons has become a four-time champion after lifting for Great Britain at the World and European Championships.

The 5-foot 6-inch mother-of-three with four grandchildren started lifting weights for fun back in December 2023 but soon realized she had a natural gift.

She’s since been training five times a week for two hours a day—all while working full-time as an academic researcher at Warwick University.

“I was surprised to find a talent for powerlifting at the age of 63 after being poor at sports all my life.

“I get enormous pleasure from training and competing—and the health benefits of increased strength and mobility are astonishing.”

She first won the European Championships in Finland last June before successfully defending her title again this June in Poland.

Twelve weeks later, she continued her winning streak in the U.S. at the World Powerlifting championship in Idaho. She previously won the 2024 World Championships in Limerick, Ireland, so all together she’s won four major titles in her division since taking up the sport.

Powerlifter Martine Barons on winners platform at European Championships – SWNS

“It does make me happy and quite emotional to think about what I have managed to achieve. I never thought in the space of 18 months I could have achieved this.

“I have to pinch myself sometimes as I can’t believe it’s me. I’m still in shock, as it all started by chance, really.”

The married woman from Stratford-upon-Avon, in Warkshire, England told SWNS news agency it began as a fun gym session with a work colleague last April.

“I took up powerlifting by complete accident. I went to a gym with a friend of mine who is a physical training instructor and she showed me how to deadlift.

“She was impressed that I could pick up 60kg. Then I picked up 100kg a few weeks later.

“It must be good genetics. I’m unusually strong for my age and gender.”

SWNS

Martine added 10kg to the squat world record to lift 100kg (220 lbs) and 7.5kg to the deadlift world record by lifting 155kg (342 lbs).

She also bench pressed 57.5kg (127 lbs) and added 12.5 kg to the powerlifting total world record by lifting 312.5kg (689 lbs).

Her most recent success was becoming the 2025 world champion in powerlifting, deadlift, and bench press in the Masters 5, Raw, U90kg division.

“I’m a person who needs a goal, so when my friend said you should compete, it was ‘all hands on deck’.

“To be good at a sport for the first time is kind of nice,” she added. “I’ve found I’m good at something, so why not?”

Her next big competition is the British Single Lifts Championship at the Arnold Sports Festival at Birmingham’s NEC in March 2026.“I’m proud to be represent my country. It’s not something I thought I’d ever do!” Britain’s Strongest Grandmother Breaks 4 World Records Just Months After Taking Up Powerlifting
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Best Holiday Light Show in the Sky Wins Guinness World Record With Dazzling 5,000 Drone Christmas Display–LOOK

5000 drones form Santa Claus in the night sky over Mansfield, Texas – Courtesy Sky Elements

To celebrate the holiday season, Sky Elements provided some happy drone news by creating the largest swarming light show ever to have flown in the United States.

Set to music, the light show created massive motion-filled scenes that captured the spirit of the holidays—a Thanksgiving turkey, a winter wonderland scene, a gingerbread village, and, of course, Santa’s sleigh with reindeer.

Making the holiday a little more magical in Mansfield, Texas, 4,981 drones lit up the sky to ring in the season.

Partnering with UVify, a manufacturer of swarm drones for light shows, the team
began the show with a lifelike turkey, full of movement and color, spreading wide its tail feathers. (See the video at the bottom…)
Thanksgiving turkey drone show – Courtesy Sky Elements

A wintery wonderland appeared next, centered around a massive snowman. A surreal gingerbread village also was featured, with candy cane street lamps and gumdrop rooftops. The sun sets on the cozy winter village as lights illuminate the homes and smoke billows out of the chimneys.

For the finale, Santa Claus in his sleigh with two reindeer, waved at the audience.

“We teamed up to create holiday cheer in a new, fun way: by making the largest gingerbread village… made entirely of drones,” said Preston Ward, Chief Pilot of Sky Elements.

“Not only did we spread the holiday spirit, but we also scored our 11th Guinness World Record.”

Flying the nearly 5,000 drones in formation was quite a feat for the private company, and it took 40 people to coordinate the exhibition.
Thousands of drones lift-off for light show in Mansfield, Texas, with crew looking on – Courtesy Sky Elements

“Shout out to our unforgettable pilots, crew leads, animators, and drone crew that made this all possible.”Watch the awesome show below… Best Holiday Light Show in the Sky Wins Guinness World Record With Dazzling 5,000 Drone Christmas Display–LOOK
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World's largest coffee bean painting


Coffee beans are usually ground for making everyone's favorite morning drink. But they can also be put to other uses. In Russia, one million coffee beans are being used to make a giant painting. The art piece has even been registered in the Russia's Book of Records as the world's biggest. The picture, showing a face of a woman and a cup of coffee, was exhibited in Russia's Gorky Park in Moscow. The artist together withThe several assistants worked 10 days to create the picture measuring 30 square meters. editor-in-chief of Russia's Book of Records measured the painting and registered it as the biggest in the world. The previous one was made in Albania, which was 25 square meters. The creators of the painting said they had already applied to the Guinness Book of Records to register their achievement. Source; Sam Daily Times
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2 winning tickets to share $580 mln lottery jackpot

Powerball лотерея сша
Organizers of US Powerball lottery have said two winning tickets brought in Arizona and Missouri will share a huge jackpot of $580 million. No one has claimed the sweet prize yet.
The lucky numbers were 5, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 6. They were drawn Wednesday night, after 16 consecutive draws failed to produce a winner. The jackpot is the biggest in Powerball history. Some 160 lottery tickets participated in the game. The money heap will be either handed out to this year’s winners in full or paid in installments over the span of 29 years. Mega Millions still holds the record for the biggest win of $656 million, which was divided between three lucky winners in March of 2012. Voice of Russia, RIA, Source: Voice of Russia
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Over a crore bathe in Ganga on day one of Maha Kumbh


Allahabad, Jan 14 (IANS) The world's biggest gathering of people, the 55-day Maha Kumbh congregation, began in this north India town Monday with over a crore people, led by the ash-smeared Naga ascetics, taking a dip at the Sangam - the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati rivers. Officials said the number could go up as the bathing would go on till late night on Makar Sankranti Monday. Divisional Commissioner of Allahabad Devesh Chaturvedi told said that the first day with record devotees passed
off peacefully. About 50 lakh people had bathed in the holy river by noon and the figure was pegged at 82 lakh at 4 p.m. Elaborate arrangements were made on the VIP ghat, where the 13 sects of sadhus lead bathers in a mutually agreed sequence. The fraternity was led by Maha Nirvani Akhada and was followed by Niranjani, Anand, Juna and Bairagi akahadas, among others. As the clock struck five Monday morning, heavily decked-up chariots, some in silver and gold, wound their way to the Sangam, with hundreds following in procession on foot, beating drums and blowing conch shells. There was a mad frenzy in the foreign and national media, with photographers rushing to get winner shots of the naked, ash-smeared Naga sadhus jumping into the chilly waters of the Ganga. Before they did so, the sadhus danced and threw garlands at the press gallery in gay abandon, waving to hundreds of followers on the other side. Carrying silver tridents, maces, axes and swords, some of the sadhus with flowing beards told IANS that they felt on top of the world as they "touched mother Ganges". "This is an electrifying moment," said a visibly elated 75-year-old Mokshanand from Vrindavan, who said he this was his seventh Kumbh in a row. Several rows of sand bags have been piled up on the three-km 'bathing stretch', said Mani Prasad Misra, the 'mela adhikari', in-charge of Kumbh 2013. Misra told IANS that arrangements had been made to ensure that the Ganges flowed "well and clean" during the major bathing days. A special team of 10,000 sweepers have been pressed into service to keep the area clean. "Deep water barricading has been done and an extensive presence of 'jal' police has also been pressed into service to avoid mishaps," Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order Arun Kumar told IANS. Policemen from Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand were on vigil. Many policemen were seen blowing whistles to keep crowds in order, while some were spotted showing lost devotees the way. While some thought of the large crowd as a "spiritual mayhem", there were those who bit their nails as they watched Naga sadhus into the water. For the hundreds who have not been able to reach the bathing sites, 13 huge LED screens, both mobile and stationary, were playing the recording of the bathing sessions. An army of mediapersons is covering the event. Over 100 foreign journalists and more than 500 local and national journalists are present here. Special arrangements have been made for the coverage, likely to be beamed across the globe. Emerging from the cold waters of the Sangam, Indu Rani, a 70-year-old widow from Punjab, said she had arrived here on instructions from her guru who stays in Vrindavan. "I cannot explain the feeling when one takes a dip in the Ganga Maiyya (mother)," an elated Indu said. Chavi Sharma, working with an IT consultancy firm in Kolkata, confessed that she was "amazed to see such a mammoth gathering". "I had heard of it, but to actually be part of something so momentous feels so cool," she said. (Mohit Dubey can be contacted at mohit.d@ians.in), Image: flickr.com Source: News Track India,
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Ruby Dickinson May Be Youngest Tattoo Artist

Ruby Dickinson is only three years old but she is already marking her mark in the world – with tattoos. The ink-credible Welsh toddler could become the world's youngest tattoo artist, according to published reports.
Ruby "really loves" learning tattoo art, according to proud papa Blane Dickinson. Mr. Dickinson has ordered an American-made ink gun specifically designed for small hands. The kit will be a present for Ruby's fourth birthday in October. That's when Dickinson hopes to break Canadian Emilie Darrigade's record of tattooing part of a butterfly on her father's arm at the tender age of five. Dickinson told the North Wales Pioneer newspaper : "Ruby is well aware she is getting the kit, she cannot wait. She wants to be aAt an age when most kids only think about playground swings, Ruby takes tattoo lessons after nursery school. She also practices with a toy kit in her father's tattoo shop.
tattoo artist when she grows up." Right now, Ruby is weeks away from being able to draw a complete spider on his right leg, The Sun reported. "The aim is to get her to tattoo my leg with a birthday message for my 40th birthday," Dickinson told the North Wales Pioneer. However, Dickinson, who has tattoos over
70 percent of his body, doesn't expect a very elaborate design. Blane, 36, said, "I'm under no illusions that she'll do a Van Gogh, after all she's only three-and-a-half." Although he hopes Ruby will make tattoo art her career, he told the North Wales Pioneer he will allow the little girl to make her own choices. Source: icePice
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World's largest flower blossoms in Switzerland

World's largest flower blossoms in Switzerland
The world’s biggest flower – Titan Arum – has bloomed in the Swiss botanical garden in Basel. Online cameras have helped to capture the remarkable event.
The world’s largest flower is 2.27 meters tall and it normally blooms for just a couple of days once every few years. The last time Titan Arum blossomed in the Swiss botanical garden was in April 2011. Before that, the plant blossomed in Switzerland only in 1936. Titan Arum originates in the jungles of Sumatra. Apart from being the biggest flower in the world, it is also one of the stinkiest. It has an odor reminiscent of decomposing flesh. Voice of Russia, RT, Surce: Voice of Russia
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CNNGo lists world's best Chinatowns



CNN's travel site, CNNGo, recently published an article titled "World's Best Chinatowns."
There is a Chinatown in almost every major city in the world, and such is the huge footprint of overseas Chinese. CNN's travel site, CNNGo, recently published an article titled "World's Best Chinatowns." The following are some of the best Chinatowns in the world, according to CNNGo. Havana, Cuba – Havana's Chinatown is called "Barrio Chino" in Spanish by locals. It was started by coolies brought in from Guangdong in the 1840s to work on the sugar plantations, and was once Latin America's largest Chinatown. There are about 150 native Cuban Chinese left in Havana. Kolkata, India – Many Chinese people, predominately from South China, fled early 19th-century war and famine in their homeland, and found their way to Kolkata. There are still some Taoist temples in the city, and Chinese food is the most popular cuisine there. Bangkok, Thailand – At night, Bangkok's Chinatown resembles Hong Kong in 1960s. The main attraction is the food. One of the easiest ways to enjoy it is to sign up for a tour with Bangkok Food Tours' Chinatown Foodie Walk. Manila, Philippines – Binondo in Manila is the world's oldest Chinatown, established in the 1590s by the Spanish colonists as a settlement for Catholic Chinese. One can find some of the best Chinese food there. Johannesburg, South Africa – Transvaal was found in the 1880s to lay the largest deposits of gold in the world, which attracted many Chinese gold diggers. Johannesburg is actually home to two Chinatowns. Most residents of the Chinatown in the suburbs are recent Mandarin-speaking immigrants. A growing number of Chinese people have moved to South Africa either for work or study in recent years. One can find authentic Shanghainese and Sichuan food in the city. Melbourne, Australia – The first batch of Chinese migrants went there mainly due to gold rush. Beginning in 1851, ships laden with gold diggers began to set sail from Hong Kong for Melbourne. Today, the historic three-story brick buildings in Melbourne's Chinatown remain home to various Chinese restaurants, groceries, and herbal medicine shops. It holds the world's largest dragon boat race every year. Vancouver, Canada – Chinese people account for nearly 50 percent of the residents of Richmond, modern-day Chinatown in Vancouver. In recent years, a reverse brain drain has seen Canadian-born Chinese moving back to Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland in search of better job opportunities. San Francisco, United States – After more than 150 years in San Francisco, Chinese have become an integral part of the rich fabric of the city. In the late 1880s, San Francisco's Chinatown was the city's sleaziest area, and was best known for authentic Cantonese food. London, England – London is home to Europe's largest Chinatown, which attracts 300,000 people for the Lunar New Year celebrations every year. The Chinese community in the city is mainly made up of migrants from Hong Kong. Attracted by cheap rents and short leases on offer, many of them have opened restaurants, teahouses, Chinese medicine clinics, and supermarkets in the city. Source: China.org.cn
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Japan wins its first Miss International title

More than 60 women competed for the title of Miss International Beauty 2012 in Okinawa, Japan. Nearly 200,000 people from around the world tuned in to the live six hour broadcast on Ustream as Ikumi Yoshimatsu (Japan), was crowned Miss International Beauty 2012. Yoshimatsu is the first woman from Japan to win the title which is produced and organized by the Japanese. Yoshimatsu's court includes from L-R: 4th runner-up, Nicole Huber (Paraguay), 2nd runner-up, Madusa Mayadunne (Sri Lanka), 1st runner-up Viivi Suominen (Finland), Yoshimatsu, and 3rd runner-up, Melody Mir (Dominican Republic). The Miss International Beauty Pageant prides itself on having contestants who serve as “Ambassadors of Peace and Beauty.” According to the history of the competition, contestants are expected to “show tenderness, benevolence, friendship, beauty, intelligence, ability to take action, and a great international sensibility.” The goal of the international beauty pageant is to, “promote world peace, goodwill, and understanding.” Completing the top 15 were the delegates from the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Namibia, United Kingdom, Venezuela, USA, India and Haiti. Source: Critical Beauty
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Miss World 2012 at the Singing Dunesurce


Four AM alarm calls didn’t fluster the Miss World representatives one bit, and as they approached the Singing Dunes (so called because the river that runs alongside them ‘sings’ as it flows) and took to the chairlifts they were all animation. As if the scenery wasn’t dramatic enough, the ladies were then ushered to their transport for the day – what can only be described as sand ships! These enormous vehicles, carved to look like sea-faring vessels, surfed through the sands at high speed and the contestants waved hands in the air and loved every second of it. Upon arrival at the summit of the rolling sands, a hearty breakfast awaited them, served by ladies in traditional blue Mongolian costume. As the sun advanced through the sky the contestants took the chance to snap some stunning photographs. The next ‘vehicle’ they got to try was no less exciting! Lined up to greet the girls were a line of camels! There were a lot of squeals as the animals got to their feet with the contestants on their backs. Then they were off and it made a lovely sight to see the procession make its way across the side of a dune and off into the sun. In the meantime, some of the ladies got an extra-special treat when they were invited to try on some elaborate local costumes. Set against a towering dune, the jewel colours, metallic brocades and fantastical headdresses made a captivating sight. Despite long skirts and trailing fabric the contestants still managed to scale the dune and the sight of them against the skyline was incredibly dramatic. They also took to the camels in the costume and managed to look elegant and accomplished riders as they did so, no mean feat! Source: Travelfwd,
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2012 Mrs. International Pageant: married and beautiful

Конкурс красоты «Мисс Татарстан - 2010»
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By Vasily Sushko: It was a festive two days during the 2012 Mrs. International Pageant, which took place over the weekend at the Northshore Center for the Performing Arts in Chicago. Now it’s 23rd year when the competition continues to be one of the few beauty pageants that is open to only married women. After two days of activities that included dancing, answering questions and showing off clothing, ranging from sportswear to formalwear, the competition narrowed down to just 16 contestants out of 55. Among them was the Russian native from Kazan, Alisa Tulinina. Alisa Tulinina spoke to the Voice of Russia prior to the competition, and explained what this competition meant for her."First and foremost, I am very proud to be representing Russia in the 23rd Annual Mrs. International Beauty Pageant. It means so much for me to represent Russia and my hometown of Kazan, to be here and to participate. I am having so much fun despite the difficulty of the language barrier, as no one here speaks Russian. I appreciate support I have gotten from my family and my country. It is truly an honor". Tags: beauty, beauty contest, World, Russia, Society, Opinion & Analysis, Читать далее, Source: Voice of Russia. 
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World's largest family in India

Family members of Ziona (R) pose for group photograph outside their residence in Baktawng village in Mizoram. Ziona has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren. He lives in his 4 storey 100-room house with 181 members of his family. (Reuters)
A view of Ziona's 4 storey house in Baktawng village in Mizoram. (Reuters)
Ziona's family members eat breakfast at their residence in Baktawng village in Mizoram. (Reuters)
Ziona takes a break at the construction site of a church in Baktawng village in Mizoram. Source: The Way I See It
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10,000 diamonds go on display at Buckingham Palace to mark the Jubilee


Queen Mary wears the Delhi Durbar Tiara set with Cullinan III and IV, 1912, Thomson. Photo: The Royal Collection © 2012, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. LONDON.
More than 10,000 diamonds set in works acquired by six monarchs over three centuries go on display at Buckingham Palace to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s 60-year reign. The special exhibition Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration (30 June – 8 July & 31 July – 7 October) includes a number of The Queen’s personal jewels and works from the Royal Collection chosen for their artistic significance and their historic importance, and for the supreme skill in diamond cutting and mounting they embody. Several pieces of jewellery, such as the Delhi Durbar Tiara, Queen Victoria’s Fringe Brooch and the Kokoshnik Tiara, are on display for the first time. The exhibition also includes jewellery made from the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan Diamond, which weighed 3,106 carats as an uncut stone. Pieces containing seven of the nine principal stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond are reunited for t  Source: Beattie's Book Blog
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World's Most Expensive Burger

New York's Serendipity 3 restaurant has invented the world's most expensive burger according the Guinness Book of World Records, clocking in at a shocking $295. The burger, invented in honor of National Hamburger Month (otherwise known as May), features a patty of Japanese Waygu beef infused with 10-herb white truffle butter and seasoned with Salish Alderwood smoked Pacific sea salt. It's topped with cheddar cheese, hand-
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Teenager, 16, enjoys her first prom after a series of operations to correct her face shape and give her a smile

Pretty in pink: Katie Meehan, 16, has enjoyed her first school prom after a lifetime of operations to give her a smile
A teenage girl who was born with a severely disfigured face was the belle of the ball at her first school prom after a lifetime of operations to give her a stunning smile. Katie Meehan, 16, was born with cystic hygroma, a condition where fluid forms a mass on the head and neck, which left her with a mis-shapen face and an enlarged tongue. Doctors feared Katie, from Fellgate, Jarrow, would never talk and £60,000 was raised by well-wishers for a series of operations to change her life. Katie wore a pink dress to celebrate the end of school with her friends from St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School at a prom at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead. Her mother, Dawn McIntyre, 49, who waved her off said: 'Katie looked absolutely beautiful, it was such a proud moment for the family and I. 'When you look back to how she was when she was a little baby, to now, the transformation is amazing. She just looked stunning. She’s come such a long way.' Gown: Katie wore a stunning pink dress to celebrate the end of school with her friends from St Joseph’s RC Comprehensive School’s at a prom at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead
Katie's condition was also life-threatening as whenever she contracted a cold or infection her face would swell to twice its normal size, potentially meaning her airways could close and she could stop breathing. Katie had her first operation in 2000 at Guys and St Thomas’s Hospital in London carried out by Professor Ian Brave: Katie was born with cystic hygroma, where fluid forms a mass on the head and neck. The condition left her with a mis-shapen face and an enlarged tongue
Jackson. Her left cheek and tongue were cut open during the five-hour surgery, and cysts were removed. In spring 2001 she had her second at the Portland Hospital in London, and two years later, she had a third operation.Although Professor Jackson has now retired, Katie still needs one more operation to her tongue Surgery: In 2000 Katie's left cheek and tongue were cut open during the five-hour surgery, and cysts were removed. In spring 2001 she had her second at the Portland Hospital in London, andtwo years later, she had a third operation
and the lower inside of her mouth. Dawn said: 'We’re not dashing in to it. Katie is a happy and confident girl, so there’s no rush. 'We’re going to concentrate on her education first, because this time we will be able to get surgery on the NHS, and while that’s great, we will have to start at the beginning with scans, as the NHS doesn’t have any medical records. 'We will always be grateful to the community for all of their help over the years, and we now feel like they are part of our family because so many people ask how she’s doing.'Although her surgeon has now retired, Katie still needs one more operation to her tongue and the lower inside of her mouth.
Katie, who is waiting for her GCSE results, will be staying on at her school to start sixth form, where she will study A-levels in English language, photography, business studies, and philosophy and ethics.
She said: 'The prom was fantastic, it was great to see all my friends dressed up and looking lovely. We had a delicious three-course meal too. I couldn’t eat all of it, but I had a good go.'I have one GCSE exam left, and then I’ll just have to wait for the results. Fingers crossed, I’ll get good ones.'Source: Travelfwd
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World's largest art car parade rolls through Houston

The world's largest art car parade rolled through the fourth-largest U.S. city of Houston on Saturday, attracting an estimated more than 300,000 spectators. The parade, now in its 25th year, gave art car-lovers a rare chance to view more than 300 cars of every shape and design imaginable, from a giant Radio Flyer wagon, a rolling banana, to a giant metal dragon. Parade entries include anything on wheels from unicycles, lawnmowers, to cars and go-carts. Participants are community groups, public and private schools, professional organizations, as well as individuals. "The Houston Art Car Parade captures the essence of Houston's eclectic and fun culture,"said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. "It is among my favorite events and one of the most unique treasures our great city offer." Kerri Kepler, who built her miniature ship out of a shopping cart, said her art car was "a super fun project to work on." The parade
The world's largest art car parade rolled through the fourth-largest U.S. city of Houston on Saturday, attracting an estimated more than 300,000 spectators.
day "is probably my most favorite day of the entire year," she said. The Earth, Wind and Fire car was built by art students at a local high school in collaboration with the robotics class. Participants were not only enjoying the process of transforming an ordinary car into a great peace of art, they also were participating to deliver the message that art is an integral part of everyday life. For the spectators, they were taking a day off from their busy work as well as sharing the fun of the art cars made out of their creators' limitless imagination. A mother who took her two children to the parade said though they have lived in the city for years, it's the first time for them to view the parade, because she is always very busy and have too many things to do. "I think it's big fun today. I have not expected so many cars. It's a surprise to me," she said. For her two kids, she said the parade is good experience for the children's imagination. The children's favorite entry is the giant metal dragon which rolled down the streets as the last car of the parade. The Houston Art Car Parade was born in April, 1988, with a 40- car parade seen by an estimated 2,000 spectators. Participants in this year's parade came from across the country as well as from Canada and Mexico. Source: China.org.cn
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Woman becomes world’s oldest yoga teacher at 93

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Deccan Chronicle, ANI, London: A 93-year-old woman has been named as the oldest yoga teacher in the world by Guinness World Records.Tao Porchon-Lynch’s age isn’t keeping her from striking a perfect pose. The yoga instructor and dance competitor is vibrant as ever and proves that age really is just a number. She has lived a full life that includes marriage, acting, modelling, performing burlesque and even marching twice with Gandhi. Now, she has another feather in her cap – Guinness World Records has declared her the world’s oldest yoga teacher, and she has no plans to stop anytime soon. “I’m going to teach yoga until I can’t breathe anymore then I’ll just fly away to the next planet ... I just, I love yoga, it brightens my day and makes everybody smile,” the Telegraph quoted Porchon-Lynch as saying. On Mondays, Tao teaches classes to a dedicated group of students at a dance studio in Harstdale, a suburb 25 miles outside of New York City. She pushes her students to find their deepest range in asanas and said she holds herself to the same standards. “My doctor when he did the hip replacement said you won’t be able to do this, you won’t be able to do that. I said I don’t want to know what I won’t be able to do because I don’t believe it." “So I sent him a photograph in lotus lifting off the ground and he called me the miracle woman. I said it’s no miracle, a miracle means only to see that which is inside of you. If it’s inside, I can do it,” she said. Tao became interested in yoga when she was eight years old. She observed a group of young boys practicing yoga on the beach in her hometown of Pondicherry in southern India. She said she decided then that she could do anything a boy could do. She has been teaching professionally for 61 years, although it was only at age 73 that she decided to focus solely on being an instructor.Source: Deccan Chronicle
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Miss Universe China: A brainy beauty

China: Miss Universe China Luo Zilin captures hearts whether she smiles or not. Procrastination is Luo Zilin's "strength" and it has worked to her advantage. Looking back, the Miss China 2011 and the fourth runner-up of Miss Universe 2011 in Brazil is glad she took her own sweet time to think through before deciding to join the world's most watched beauty pageant. For someone "who would shilly-shally between vanilla-flavored ice cream and chocolate for hours", "her own sweet time" means several months until six hours before the flight took off to Beijing for the nationwide finals. "Although there was nothing to weigh against the month-long contest, I needed time to think before deciding. And, it turned out to be an ugly duckling-to-a black swan experience for me," says the 24-year-old Shanghai native. Luo is blessed with a perfectly-tanned skin, Angelina Jolie-like lips and an officially-taped height of 1.82 meters. The former model has been a frequent face on the catwalk for nine years. Despite that, the contest turned out to be a lot tougher than Luo could ever imagined. "I am glad I gave enough thought and did my homework before the contest. If I had missed the contest, it would have been the greatest regret of my life watching on television how other girls made it." Among the challenges Luo faced at the San Paulo finals in September 2011, were smiling and walking simultaneously, to competing with the other 80 contestants from around the world in answering the questions asked by the judges. "I always forget to smile because as a model, I can be or must be as cool as possible on stage. While for the contest, I had to hold my smile for two hours. But before that, I needed to find the most natural looking smile first," Luo says. No contestant from China has ever been crowned Miss Universe, since the contest kicked off in 1951. The best record was Zhuo Ling, also a Shanghai native, who was crowned second runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant in 2002. All eyes were on Luo in 2011 as her popularity rose, partly because of the explosion in social networking such as Sina Weibo and the successful media publicity arranged by Yue-Sai Kan. The latter, a famous Chinese-American television host and a beauty guru, was appointed the director of Miss Universe China, an annual national beauty pageant that selects China's representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 2002. A typical pre-contest training day for Luo starts with morning exercises at 5 am and the day does not end till midnight. The last few weeks were spent in New York, where Luo was coached by a galaxy of experts including five-year Miss Universe trainer Akiko Shimizu, who is also the author of Hello, Elegant; chief fashion stylist Lizzette Kattan, who used to be fashion director and editor-in-chief for Harper's Bazaar France; and make-up artist Yuko Takahashi, who has worked with pop divas Lady Gaga and Beyonce. Despite the punishing schedule, which included practicing how to answer 500 questions a day, Luo described those days as "sweet memories like an all girls' boarding school", although there were nasty occasions such as gossip and jealousies among the girls.  "Jealousy could also mean you are getting the attention and that you are a threat to others, which could be confidence-boosting," says Luo, adding that she has also learned to "hold a smile offstage, when faced with challenges."  Lu Kun, one of China's most celebrated and innovative fashion designers, when asked about his first impression of Zilin said: "It has to be her overwhelming height. Even when she is among a forest of models, Zilin stands out," he says. Having known each other for nearly a decade, Lu, a Shanghai-based designer who shot to stardom after his first fashion show in 2003 at the age of 23, has been a supportive partner of Luo on stage and also her close friend offstage.  "But a second meeting with her will make you forget all about her height, which is overshadowed by her high EQ (emotion quality) and her professionalism," says Lu. "Her becoming Miss China doesn't come as a surprise to me at all because success rewards girls as smart as her."  Staff from Kan's promotion team shared a similar view: "Luo is smart and diligent. 'Brainless beauty' can no longer walk that far in the global arena."  But Luo says she is fine with stereotypes like "beauty is only skin deep".  "There is nothing wrong with being beautiful and attracting attention with looks. If we use the attention the right way, like for charity, it is good," she adds, having been devoting much of her time, both during and after the contest, to helping others.  A brainless beauty she certainly is not. After handing over the crown to the Miss China of 2012, Luo says she will continue devoting her life to charity and hopes to start her own fashion accessory store - a plan she nurtured even before applying for the contest. Source: China.org.cn
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