Category Archive: Lifestyle

Zhang Xin: Building Her Fortune

To an onlooker, the number of billionaires in the world today – roughly 2,800 – is an eye-popping figure. But in a society where nepotism and generational wealth reign, it is the self-made moguls – those who have risen from nothing to the heights of the socioeconomic totem pole – that are most impressive and whose stories are often most fascinating.

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Preston Mutanga: Brick by Brick

For many young people, LEGOs–the tiny colored building blocks that can be stacked into anything from famous monuments to fantastical film sets–are a central component of childhood. 

From meticulously constructing a LEGO skyscraper to creating short stop-motion videos with LEGO figurines, those little colored bricks bring a youthful magic to whomever wields them.

However, for 16-year-old Preston Mutanga, LEGOs aren’t just stationary. Through advanced animation techniques, Mutanga brings familiar LEGO sets and characters to life. And despite being a teenager, his work was featured in the Oscar-nominated 2023 film "Spiderman: Across the Spider-Verse" because of it.

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Sam Rockwell: On the Big Screen

With 25-year-old Mikey Madison – a largely fresh face amid a sea of A-listers – clinching the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal as “Ani,”a sex worker, in the critically acclaimed indie “Anora” to 51-year-old Adrien Brody – a seasoned Hollywood mainstay – receiving the Best Actor award for his role as László Tóth, an influential architect, in the gargantuan “The Brutalist,” both the latest and the longtime stars were bestowed with the film world’s greatest honors. 

You are unauthorized to view this page.

“Queen Tahj” Williams: Making Cultural History

Of any televised event throughout the year, it can be argued that the Super Bowl is, for Americans, the most ubiquitous. With nearly 130 million viewers, the Feb. 9 Super Bowl LIV saw a record-setting turnout. Most of the attention fell on its stars–the dozens of celebrities, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and his superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift, and the electric halftime performance by Kendrick Lamar.

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Desi Banks: Social Media Star to Comedian

Labeled “Unapologetically ATL” by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and praised as a “next great” talent by Kevin Hart, Comedian Desi Banks has come a long way since his start. The actor, sports enthusiast, and all-around funny person has made a name for himself on social media and in the comedy sphere after beginning his career as an entertainer on the now-defunct app Vine in 2012.

You are unauthorized to view this page.