To the left there’s a Princess Peach cosplayer bitching about her ex, to the right a rosy-cheeked grandma decorating frog cakes while belting out the lyrics to UK Hun? TikTok Live is like waking up in a randomly generated world from The Sims 3 (who the fuck are these people?!); but no matter how hard you resist, these strangers and their unexpected storylines are delectably addictive.

Created by 19-year-old Irish student, Thea Von Engelbrechten, TikTok account, @sylvaniandrama was inspired by cult classics including Cruel Intentions and Gossip Girl (the OG, not the remake obvs), fabricating bizarre and overly dramatic scenes, set to our favourite ‘00s bangers and emotional Taylor Swift ballads.

Creative duo Alix Bortoli and Arnaud Lin collaborated with London-based emerging jewellers Rebekah Bide and Matilda Little to challenge the physicality of drawing by creating a visual universe embracing the spirit of their work. The organic quality of these pieces entering Alix Bortoli’s hand-crafted worlds composes a dreamlike lost island for the subjects to explore.

Daddy Bears is the 2-year-old, London-based, handmade alt-teddy bear brand - run by a person who goes by the name of Daddy. Exploring our need for physical connection, Daddy’s pieces were designed “to soak up your tears and sadness forever.”

The outfits worn by some of our favourite ‘00s Disney Channel characters have lived rent-free in my head ever since my fashion-hungry 8-year-old self first feasted her eyes on them. They’ve been the subject of much ridicule, but I always admired their audacity. The clash. The jangle. The sheer number of layers. Could it be that we’re finally reaching the peak of this big old y2k renaissance?

Hailing from America’s heartland, Ave is the 22-year-old’s make-up artist whose signature drag traverses every notable reference of the last century – tracking through Jean Cocteau’s hallucinatory art of the ‘30s; to 1950s old Hollywood glamour; ‘70s psychedelia; a quick pit-stop at the 1980s heavy metal bands, before landing in the present day with an added flourish of facial hair.

Speaking to performers Tete Bang, The MX Fit and Lucy Fizz, we discuss the important role the dance floor and night life play in the empowerment and creation of queer safe spaces, spotlighted in the new documentary, ‘Where Love Lives’ by Glitterbox.

Like many countries around the world, Brazil may be governed by intolerant, harmful politics, but its queer community is defiant in the face of adversity. Photographer Rodrigo Oliveira documents the courage of the thriving queer culture.

For 22-year-old poet and model, Theo Gayle, substance abuse quickly became the door to his creativity; the buffer between numbness and exploring the emotions that he wanted to put onto paper.

As the bombshell of a D&G vs Diet Prada lawsuit was revealed, this week’s pop culture round-up saw the revival of Hood By Air à la Naomi Campbell, the formation of Charli XCX’s new pop supergroup, a Royal PR disaster and more.

As we waited impatiently for Billie Eilish’s new documentary, the world of pop culture saw a Daft Punk split, a ‘Mean Girls’ reboot (sort of), a crowning from the Queen and a meme-worthy shoot from Juergen Teller.

As Kimye announce their divorce, Supreme brands its own cereal, Paris Hilton dons some Christian Cowan and Collina Strada morphs her models into animals. This week’s pop culture round-up was just full or surprises.

It’s been scientifically proven that nostalgia can help us cope with uncertainty. So when you need to escape, travel or get out of your head, but there’s nowhere to go, live vicariously through costume fantasies, it’s the cheapest frill you can get right now.

Finding your people is a theme that runs straight through the bleeding heart of ‘It’s A Sin’, Russell T Davies’ 5-part drama that follows a group of friends over a decade as AIDS ravages Britain. Sophie Wilson speaks to Omari Douglas on his role in the series and the importance of the arts and queer community spaces in the UK.

From momentous rulings in the #FreeBritney movement to 69’ing with Ari, Meg and Doja, this week’s pop culture round-up was a slice of a sizzling, sexy and scandalous pie.

During the first lockdown last year, London-based artist Theo Bardsley took up painting. His portraits immortalise the noise and vibrancy of the social interactions we crave as he invites you in, from the solitude of your living room, into the bustling setting behind his brushstrokes.

Gen Z are reclaiming the bimbo, using TikTok as their base in defining the core principles of modern bimboism: self-love, looking hot and, more often than not, leftist politics.

Your beloved pint-sized East London dwelling, Jacquemus bag toting, prolific sh*t chatting fashion journalist is here to solve all your quibbles and qualms.

Fair to say, 2020 was the year of the online 70’s revival and well and truly welcomed it. Though a new era has dawned with the turn of 2021 - a year that already feels like a lifetime - the ethereal, velveteen vibes of the 1970’s don’t appear to be going their own way anytime soon.

This week’s pop culture round-up includes tales of ghosting and governing, teeth bling and couture.