Issue 4: Lessons In The Spotlight
October 31st, 2025
“Always be a little kinder than necessary”
Hi, and welcome to the fourth installment of “Pretty in Print”. Each week, we will explore the headlines, share the critiques, and romanticize our lives. So grab your chai, get comfy, and let’s dive in!
The Scoop
Misty Copeland retires from ABT after a performance at the Fall Gala. (Source)
Kylie Jenner revives ‘King Kylie’ with the launch of a new collection and the release of a song, Fourth Strike. (Source)
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show continues, featuring Adriana Lima, Bella Hadid, Angel Reese, Quen Blackwell, and many more. (Source)
It: Welcome to Derry, a prequel to the It movies, premieres on HBO. (Source)
Alba Baptista and husband Chris Evans welcome their first child together. (Source)
Chic Critique
Did an Angel Gain Her Wings? My Look into the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
On October 15th, the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show returned for the second year after their recent revival. There was a lot of speculation surrounding the show this year, especially after the overwhelming dissatisfaction last year. There were so many opinions about the music, the models, and the methods, and today I’m going to give my opinion on it all.
The Models
A major thing people commented on this year was the models. We saw the return of some of the OG Angels: Adriana Lima, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Barbara Palvin, and many more. But this year, we also saw the introduction of some new Angels; athletes Angel Reese and Suni Lee made history as they walked the runway. Many people on social media didn’t like these decisions, especially regarding Angel Reese. The online opinion was that athletes had no place on the runway and their bodies do not represent that of a VS angel.
This argument came up again with influencers like Quenlin Blackwell and Gabriela Moura. Many people thought they didn’t deserve to be on the runway. In my personal opinion, I think their presence was actually beneficial; it showed that a body other than what’s typical is still beautiful. This moment was empowering, and it was Victoria’s Secret finally moving away from some of the archaic elements of the former shows. I view it as a step in a positive direction.
The Music
This is the part that gets a little controversial for me. I enjoyed the performances by Maddison Beer and Karol G. However, I do believe the latter went on for a bit too long. My main point of confusion was the performance by Twice. K-pop groups in general are held to a high standard of performance, so naturally, I was expecting their performances to be of the best.
I was slightly disappointed that their performance seemed a little choppy. I’m no expert in music or pitch, but this performance undoubtedly wasn’t their best. They had a good choice in songs, and their choreography was good. The vocals, however, just seemed to be slightly lacking.
The Looks
Now for the exciting part, the looks. I know some people did not enjoy the looks from the show. But personally, I enjoyed all the themes, outfits, and makeup. I liked that the makeup and hair team created a hybrid of vintage Victoria’s Secret and modern-day trends. The blowout was still there, but refined and more modern, the makeup was soft but still had that angel ethereality.
Here are some of my favorites from the night:
Victoria’s Secret is always going to have hate and controversy. But I feel like that is always going to be part of the show. I think Gen Z, in general, will always have something to say or to critique. But all in all, I think the show made a comeback for the better. They showed more inclusivity while still staying true to their roots. This show made me excited for what next year will bring.
Pretty in Pink
How to DIY a Salon Quality Manicure
One thing I made sure to master before coming to college was the art of a cheap manicure. College is expensive, and I’m the type of person who doesn’t feel complete unless her nails are done. The best (and most cost-effective) way I learned to do this is with press-on nails. I’m going to give you my tips and tricks for the best manicure at home.
This process begins with getting the right nails. I recommend looking at Target, Amazon, or Shein for nails. For basic French tips, I would recommend KISS, but for more intricate designs, I would look for homemade nails sold on either Shein or Amazon. They may cost a few dollars, but ultimately look better and are higher-quality products. Many small businesses make good-quality press-ons; you can often find them on TikTok or Instagram.
Once you have your nails, the next important step is the application. Start by prepping your natural nails by cutting, filing, and buffing off all of the extra shine. Buffing off the shine allows the press-on and actual nail to stick better. Then prep the press-ons by filing them or using acetone, which helps to “etch” the nail and create a rough surface for the glue to stick to.
The next important step is the glue you use. I use this glue; I think it is best because my nails normally last for 2+ weeks using it, and it comes with a lot of product. Make sure to apply glue to both your natural nail and the press-on. This way, the glue sticks even better. After the glue is applied, allow it to dry completely, then you're done! Top it off with some cuticle oil, and you have a salon-quality manicure at home. And a tip is to apply your nails after you’ve showered, before going to bed, which allows the nails to bond without interacting with water. If this is not possible, just try to avoid contact with water for at least one hour after applying the nail.
Good luck with your DIY manicure. It saves time, money, and is fun! If you're feeling extra creative, you can even try making your own nails. Remember, you don’t have to be rich to treat yourself right.
Sof’s Edit
So I Watched Waves…
Since Waves came out in 2019, I feel like it has been everybody’s favorite movie. I never understood the hype and put off watching it. A few days ago, I forced myself to sit down and watch the movie straight finally. I can say it was, without a doubt, one of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
The movie is definitely more complex in a way I’m not wired to explain, but I am going to give my totally unsolicited review of the movie. And a warning to anyone who hasn’t seen it (you totally should), spoilers ahead!
The film stars Taylor Russel as Emily, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Tyler, Alexa Demie as Alexis, and Sterling K. Brown as Ronald. The 2019 movie, written and directed by Trey Edward Shults, received 14 awards and 42 nominations. To sum it up, it’s a story about a family navigating love, grief, and forgiveness.
One of the main character’s Tyler, is a wrestler in high school who was pushed by his Dad to be the best. After sustaining an injury and hiding it from his family, it eventually causes permanent damage. Facing this career-ending injury, combined with the sudden pregnancy of his girlfriend Alexis, causes a spiral. He turns to drugs, alcohol, and impulsivity, and snaps in the climax, where he pushes and kills his pregnant girlfriend.
The second half of the story follows the aftermath of Tyler’s imprisonment. It focuses on Emily and how she continues her life, finding a healthy love, discovering herself, and how she and her family deal with the consequences of Tyler’s actions.
What I loved about this movie was the storytelling; It began by making you attached to Tyler. Showing his aspirations, his friends, and his love for his girlfriend. You begin to root for him, and when he decides to hide the injury, it’s like you want to tell him it’s not worth it. Then the way the tone of the movie shifts in the second half from chaos to calm. It’s almost as if the second half is an apology for the first.
I think it’s brilliant how the cinematography matches. While in the first half we see bright colors, sharp lights, the music is louder and more aggressive. It matches the chaos of the events. The second half is softer, the lighting is not as harsh, and the music is gentle. All of the elements of the story are cohesive to convey the same message throughout.
The script was also heartbreaking. The conversation between Emily and her father is healing because they both shed the mask of “I’m fine” and release all of their emotions. It’s like that one conversation opens up the rest of the movie for them to truly move on and forgive Tyler for how his actions hurt the family.
One thing I specifically want to touch on is the connotation that Tyler’s dad is the villain of the story. I feel like this is a complex argument. Many fathers, especially in Black culture, push their children to be better than they are. And they can only teach what is taught to them. Yes, he wasn’t as gentle to Tyler as he was to Emily, and yes, sometimes he was too hard on Tyler. But at the end of the day, you can see that he really did love his son. Even if he didn’t know the best way to express it. His pushing Tyler was an extension of his love. It’s complex and not perfect, but it certainly does not make him the villain. I think the true villain of the story is just a lack of willingness to express. If someone had just told them it’s okay to say how they are feeling, it’s okay to be sad, it’s okay to not be perfect.
There is definitely so much more I could talk about for this movie, but at the end of the day, it was definitely 5 stars. I walked away feeling touched and impacted. It’s one of those movies you can only watch once. It was gut-wrenching but also healing to my soul at the same time. I think it teaches an important lesson about the importance of mental health and the power of love.
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s issue of Pretty in Print. This week’s Pretty Playlist Pick is Call on Me by Daniel Caesar.