#Speech: Platform Posture and Appearance

[mst3kgifs]

I will NOT do the knee test!

[literaryvein-reblogs]

A 3-Part Character Profile Template

PART 1: The Present

THE BASICS

Name:

Age:

Place of birth:

Current location:

Nationality:

Education:

Occupation:

Income:

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Height:

Eye color:

Hair color:

Build:

Distinguishing features (tattoos, scars, birthmarks, etc.):

Preferred outfit?

Glasses?

Accessories (cane, pipe, necklace, etc.):

Grooming: Disheveled; Smart, very put together; Untidy but clean; Other

Distinguishing “tics” and mannerisms:

Health? Do they suffer from chronic illnesses?

Handwriting (sloppy, neat, careful, unintelligible, etc.):

Gait: Confident, powerful strides; Lazy stroll; Fast, walks at a clip; Distracted, eyes on the ground; Other

SPEECH & COMMUNICATION

Style of speech (elevated, educated, peppered with slang, etc.):

Tempo of speech (rapid, slow, measured, drawl, etc.):

Health? Do they suffer from chronic illnesses?

Distinguishing “tics” and mannerisms:

Do they have an accent?

Pitch (melodic, gravelly, deep, etc.):

Posture: Stiff, military; Slouching; Casual and relaxed; ‘Turtle’, tired; Other

Gesturing: Only when agitated or eager; Doesn’t gesture; Compulsive “hand-talker”; Controlled, only to make a point; Other?

Level of eye contact (direct, shifty, etc.):

Speech impediments:

Distinguishing speech “tics”:

Preferred curse word:

Catchphrases:

Laughter? What do they tend to find funny?

Describe their smile:

Emotive? Do they wear their emotions on their sleeve? How easily can others read them?

They have a resting ____ face. Angel; Side-eye; Neutral; Confused; Other

PART 2: The Past

This shows how your character is a product of their environment.

BACKSTORY

Hometown:

Type of childhood (sheltered, neglected, etc.):

Education:

Were they involved in organizations and clubs at school: Sports; Debate; Gay/Straight Alliance; Model UN; Drama; Other

At graduation, they were named Most Likely to __ in the yearbook.

Jobs (if applicable)? What would their résumé look like?

Dream job as a child? Why?

Who were their role models growing up? Describe them:

Greatest regret:

Hobbies growing up:

Favourite place to be as a child?

If they could change one thing from their past, what would it be? Why?

Major turning points or “life beats” in childhood:

Earliest memory:

Saddest memory:

Happiest memory:

Clearest memory:

What are their skeletons in the closet?

Three adjectives to describe them as a child?

What advice would they give to their younger self?

Criminal record:

FAMILY

Father

Age (if living):

Occupation:

Briefly describe their relationship with your character:

Mother

Age (if living):

Occupation:

Briefly describe their relationship with your character:

Siblings (if applicable)

How many?

What are their names? Ages?

Briefly describe their relationship(s) with your character:

Children (if applicable)

How many?

What are their names? Ages?

Briefly describe their relationship(s) with your character:

Extended family

Grandparents:

Uncles and aunts:

Cousins:

Other:

Family’s economic status:

How often do they see their family in a year?

RELATIONSHIPS

Closest friends? Describe them:

Other significant friends:

Enemies? Describe them:

How are they perceived by…

Strangers in the street?

Acquaintances at a work function?

Colleagues in the office?

Authority figures?

Friends in their friend circles?

Children?

The opposite sex?

Extended family?

What social media platforms are they on?

How would they use their social media platforms?

How would they fill out an online dating profile for themselves?

What’s their role in a group dynamic? Leader; Joker; Parent; Hype man; Mooch; Other

Who do they depend on for…

Practical advice?

Mentoring?

A wingman?

Emotional support?

Moral support?

What do they want from a relationship?

Who would be their ideal partner?

Do they have a significant other? Describe them:

How many people would attend their funeral?

PART 3: The Core

This shows how your character is deep down.

PSYCHOLOGY

What do they do on rainy days?

Are they: Street-smart; Book-smart; Optimist; Pessimist; Introvert; Extrovert

What is their favorite sound?

Favorite place in the world?

What secrets do they keep? What are they most afraid of people finding out?

What do they want the most?

Biggest flaw:

Biggest strength:

Biggest fear:

What is their biggest accomplishment?

What is their idea of perfect happiness?

Do they want to be remembered? What for?

Favorite quote:

How do they approach…

Power?

Ambition?

Love?

Change?

What is the one object or possession that they would rescue from their burning home?

What (or who) bores them?

What makes them angry?

What do they look for in a person?

How strong is their moral compass? When, specifically, are they willing to compromise their morals?

List the last 10 books that they read:

Which fictional world would they most wish to visit?

If they didn’t have to sleep, what would they do with extra time?

What are their pet peeves?

If they won the lottery, what would they do?

Describe the character’s bucket list at the ages of: 15; 20; 30; 40

List the 10 songs that would occupy their All-Time Most Played playlist on Spotify:

What is the best compliment that someone ever paid them?

In an elevator, do they push the elevator button more than once?

What would they want their tombstone to say?

PRESENT & FUTURE

Story goal:

Story motivation:

Source ⚜ More: Worksheets & Templates ⚜ Notes & References Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Worldbuilding ⚜ Tips & Advice

[rembrandts-neckerchief]

On the conclave scene

Okay, let’s preface this with a disclaimer: I am well aware that all of this could mean nothing. Let’s be honest, it probably does! All of this could just be Roger Hill-isms or caused by a non-permanent injury he acquired before filming instead of acting choices. You don’t need to read anything into this.

The thing about me is, though, that it’s my life’s calling to read more into things, so humour me with this. Let’s make something out of what I’ve found.

So yesterday I made a post about being pretty sure that Cyrus hesitated before climbing up on the wooden structure he held his speech on. I, of course, couldn’t just leave it at ‘pretty sure’, so I rewatched the scene and here’s what I found: He did! … Kinda.

In the video file I have, Cyrus’ first appearance is at 00:08:55, which is what I’ll be basing my timestamps on. This is after the Warriors walked through the crowd at the meeting and found their place. In this shot, he is standing on the ground. Direct contact with the pavement. Like all things should be.

After that, we get a full/wide (I actually can’t tell, forgive me) shot of him and the Riffs around him, showing the crowd in the background (00:09:19). Some interesting dialogue here is that two people, presumably Gramercy Riffs, encourage Cyrus, their lines being “Come on, Cyrus, we’re with you!” and “Go ahead, bro!”.

Cyrus then walks up onto the first platform, which is just a step up from the floor, and over to the ladder, where he hesitates (00:09:25). There, the camera perspective switches between Cyrus and the crowd a few times, which is just common practice (see action and reaction shots), but the next thing that happens is rather interesting: Cyrus blinks a lot while talking and his eyes flick over to the wooden structure once, an action that can be read as nervous. (I am of course aware that this could be Roger Hill’s personal movement relating to making up or remembering blocking, but let us stay in the world where all of these things are acting choices.)

A bit after that (00:10:01), Cyrus actually climbs the ladder. Now, let me tell you: I have no idea how most people climb ladders. I have joint problems and a visual disability, I wasn’t born to climb ladders. This didn’t stop me from noticing that he was way faster at pushing himself up with his right leg than the left, looking more braced on that.

Then, he clings to the ladder (00:10:04), not quite taking the last step. His arms are around the railing on his right side, turned to the crowd, as he starts talking again. The camera then goes to the audience, but when he takes his last step up (00:10:21), he readjusts his stance multiple times before getting settled (00:10:24), his hands staying braced against the handrails whenever he is not gesticulating.

The first time he is seen hands-free, arms up to encourage applause (00:10:46), he is also noticeably further back than in the last shot of him, remaining there for the entire duration of the speech until he is shot.

Also, it is interesting how he immediately starts to stand a bit slanted to the left-hand-side as soon as he is not gesturing (00:11:03), his left hand the first to arrive on the railing again, only standing up straight when gesturing which is expected from an orator. This could hint at this being a protective/relieving posture which he falls into as often as possible to stop pain, discomfort, or instability.

So, what did we figure out? It takes Cyrus one minute and 29 seconds to comfortably stand on the structure after he first shows up, he seems nervous and is encouraged by people to do it, and he seems to prefer bracing his left side. One can draw many conclusions from this, mine being pain or instability, but I encourage you to draw your own and tell me! I’d love to hear from you!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Jacob Bacharach at TNR:

A few weeks into 2025, Ross Douthat, The New York Times’ idiosyncratically conservative columnist, interviewed Marc Andreessen: Netscape co-founder, venture capitalist, general Silicon Valley gadabout, and, lately, fixture in Trump-adjacent Washington, where he has reportedly been interviewing candidates for top agency positions and promoting rollbacks of Biden-era cryptocurrency guardrails. O tempora, o mores. In the course of the interview (the audio of which is available in full as an episode of the paper’s Matter of Opinion podcast), Andreessen laments the pressures of a socially conscious press, college students, social media activists, and activist shareholders. He evokes a genuinely paranoid fantasy that tech workers were once on the verge of a violent labor uprising: Workers of the world, you have nothing to lose but your keyboards! He appears to claim that, at some point in the years 2016 to 2020, “the federal government radicalized hard under Hillary.” It’s unclear what he was referring to. The Times, in any case, removed the offending quote in its print edition. Andreessen is far from alone in his embattled posture. A set of increasingly vocal, increasingly right-wing tech billionaires has come to share with some segments of the left (or, as we shall see, the former left) an almost obsessive concern with the hypocrisies and shortcomings of modern liberalism. Some of these figures, like PayPal billionaire Peter Thiel, have long been associated with the political right, and Thiel’s 1998 attack on “multiculturalism” in elite universities, The Diversity Myth (co-written with current Trump “crypto czar” David O. Sacks), presaged today’s great national DEI freak-out. Others were more ambiguous, political agnostics in the vast, squishy center of American politics who have only more recently drifted into the embrace of a newly dynamic right unbound by its stodgy past.

Andreessen himself long supported Democrats, but he grew incensed by the Biden administration’s mild skepticism toward and willingness to regulate cryptocurrency, eventually embracing a belief that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the deep state were engaged in a deliberate program to “debank” conservatives and cryptocurrency investors. Mark Zuckerberg, who had previously cultivated a studiously apolitical public image, killed all DEI initiatives at Meta (blaming them on his departed female COO, Sheryl Sandberg) and went on the Joe Rogan show to propose a need to bring “masculine energy” back to the workplace. Elon Musk was once a darling of liberals and environmentalists, but his various musings on “free speech”; his chummy social media interactions with online Nazis, “race realists,” and other such strange creatures; and, of course, his spectacular embrace of Donald Trump have disabused the center and the left of any notion that he might be on their side.

This rightward turn has drawn noisy criticism. Yet the tech barons, platform operators, and publishers had already found a new set of friendly voices in the media. As it turned out, there was a pool of ready-made scribes, who, like them, had soured on the Democratic Party, on speech codes they perceived as a regime of censorship, and on the perceived excesses of DEI, and who were eager to take advantage of the new, growing platforms that billionaires like Thiel, Musk, and Andreessen acquired or funded.

Owned: How Tech Billionaires on the Right Bought the Loudest Voices on the Left, a new book by the journalist Eoin Higgins, is an attempt to understand how a collection of unimaginably wealthy, increasingly angry titans of technology and finance were able to acquire loud allies among journalists who had, until relatively recently, been largely associated with the political left. Higgins previously covered this beat in his work for Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting and for his own newsletter, The Flashpoint. Some of that work is repurposed here, but the book expands on it, taking a broader look at the sociocultural and political currents that have brought new alignments of writers, audiences, and funders. His two main subjects are the journalists Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, although a number of other new-media all-stars and hangers-on make appearances, most notably Free Press founder and former Times columnist Bari Weiss, who, while lacking Greenwald’s or Taibbi’s superstar-journalist quality, comes across as a much cannier operator with a longer and more strategic view of her project.

Greenwald and Taibbi arrived at their journalistic celebrity through different paths. Greenwald, a civil libertarian and (usually) strident critic of U.S. military and intelligence policy, cut his teeth as a blogger and Guardian columnist before rocketing to international fame by acquiring and publishing the Edward Snowden National Security Agency leaks and founding The Intercept with backing from billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. Taibbi started as a kind of new gonzo journalist—will no one free young men from the curse of Hunter S. Thompson?—but became famous and respectable through excellent and trenchant reporting for Rolling Stone, particularly on the 2008 financial crisis. Neither writer was ever a doctrinaire leftist, but it is fair to say that, even when criticizing Democrats and liberals (for example, for continuing the war on terrorism and the use of drones, or for favoring banks over homeowners during the Obama years), their critiques appeared to emerge from positions further left. But over the course of the first Trump term and subsequent Biden presidency, they gradually, then swiftly, drifted into the inchoate, mercurial world of “heterodox” thinking and writing—a sprawling and capacious complex of pontificators, with tendencies that range from fairly standard Silicon Valley sci-fi libertarianism to fantasy-genre monarchism to hard-right ethnonationalist neofascism.

Both of these main characters became uncomfortable in the liberal media around the time of “Russiagate,” a sprawling, incomprehensible liberal conspiracy theory that blamed Trump’s 2016 victory on Russian state malefactors. Both were deeply skeptical of the theory, while major left-leaning outlets like MSNBC, where Greenwald had once been a greenroom fixture, went particularly big on it. Ironically, however, both Greenwald and Taibbi took an almost conspiratorial view of the media’s commitment to Russiagate, treating the dissemination of the theory as a media conspiracy in and of itself, with Taibbi going so far as to compare it (with caveats, to be fair) in scale to the “WMD affair heading into the Iraq war” rather than as desperate wish-casting by liberals for some explanation, any explanation, for the election of Trump. Both men found friendlier audiences at Fox, where Greenwald became a regular guest of Tucker Carlson, and eventually as far abroad as the hair-sprayed Technicolor studios of Newsmax.

In the years that followed, both men took positions of reflexive hostility to mainstream media and contemporary liberal values. During the pandemic, for example, Taibbi criticized the legacy press for its “censorship of ivermectin news.” In the Biden years, he grew increasingly critical of any attempts to prosecute Trump for various crimes, arguing, as many conservatives did, that such attempts were inherently politically motivated and would set up cycles of revenge prosecution. Both men evinced growing concern with “cancel culture”: Taibbi created a regular feature on his website called Meet the Censored, in which he interviewed supposedly canceled writers and public figures, and Greenwald lamented that one of his own passion projects, a documentary about the tennis player Martina Navratilova, had been derailed at least in part by the unreasonable objections of trans activists.

These positions brought both men into alignment with a tech elite who increasingly saw value in an unfettered, (mostly) uncensored, alternative online media. Both publish primarily on Substack (Taibbi has over 500,000 subscribers, and Greenwald over 300,000), the newsletter platform that received substantial funding from Marc Andreessen’s firm Andreessen Horowitz. Greenwald has also built an impressive audience for his System Update news show on the Thiel-funded, right-wing YouTube alternative, Rumble—a friendly arena for figures with contrarian viewpoints, a maximalist view of free speech, and a reflexive anti-liberalism. Taibbi, along with Bari Weiss and the reporters Lee Fang and Michael Shellenberger, among others, benefited from a more direct relationship with the tech oligarchy.

When did Glenn Greenwald and Matt Taibbi, who both have had lefty credentials at one point, become de facto right-wingers? Sometime in the late 2010s-early 2020s.

Taibbi and Greenwald’s moves to the right mirrored those of Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, and Elon Musk’s moves to the right.

[mariacallous]

With just under two weeks left until former president Donald Trump becomes President Donald Trump, Meta has announced that the company will be fully moving its trust and safety teams—the people responsible for enforcing policies around hate speech and disinformation—to Texas. (It will also be rolling back its fact-checking program.) The decision, said CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a post on Threads, “will help remove the concern that biased employees are overly censoring content.”

Zuckerberg didn’t explain why people who live in Texas would be less prone to bias than those who live in California, but that was perhaps besides the point. This was just the latest in a series of moves—including elevating former Republican operative Joel Kaplan to chief global affairs officer and adding combat-sports promoter Dana White to Meta’s board—that seem to indicate the company is vying to get into the good graces of the new administration. In response, President-elect Trump praised the announcement. “Honestly, I think they’ve come a long way—Meta, Facebook, I think they’ve come a long way,” he said, noting that the change was “probably” made in response to his threats against Zuckerberg.

But the move to Texas may have more advantages than just political posturing. Texas is one of two states—the other is Florida—with a law essentially forbidding moderation of a great deal of content on social media platforms. It also has a regulatory system that’s exceptionally friendly to companies. And, as usual, X owner and centibillionaire Elon Musk has led the way.

In September, Musk officially moved X’s headquarters from San Francisco to Texas, where his other companies, Starlink and the Boring Company, are also based. At the time, Musk cited California’s gender identity law as the reason for the move. (Meta’s new policy changes now appear to allow users to assert that gay and trans people have mental illnesses.)

“They're obviously following Elon Musk's lead,” says Nicole Gill, executive director of Accountable Tech. “Just by the signal [sent by] moving their base of operations from what is perceived to be a liberally biased state—it's not—to what’s perceived to be a Republican or conservative-coded state.”

In 2021, following the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, the state passed a law that banned social media companies from removing or moderating content based on the user’s political views. State officials could then mandate that platforms keep certain content up in the name of free speech.

Lawsuits challenging the legislation and Florida’s similar law made it to the Supreme Court in 2024, in Moody v. Netchoice. The case has since been returned back to the lower courts, where an appellate court previously ruled that social media companies don’t have the right to censor speech under the First Amendment. But Nora Benavidez, senior counsel at the free speech nonprofit Free Press, says that this environment could be favorable for companies as they roll back content moderation, and could form the legal basis of a challenge similar to Netchoice.

“Executives are doing everything they can to create an environment conducive for actions they want to take, absent review or accountability from actors like our courts or legislators or others,” she says.

Since taking over X, formerly Twitter, Musk has become one of Trump’s most important allies, backing his campaign financially and lending the full weight of his own platform to promoting Trump’s talking points during the campaign. He has since sat in on meetings with foreign leaders with the president-elect, and weighed in on staffing choices for the new administration. Other tech leaders have taken note, cozying up to Trump and donating to his inauguration fund. But even before the election, other tech companies were following X’s lead in rolling back policies and protections that had previously been in place.

For his part, David Greene, senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, says that Meta and other social platforms would likely have to comply with state laws regardless of location. And relocating staff to Texas doesn’t mean all its supposed moderation problems will be fixed. Bias, he says, can cut both ways.

“Misinformation is really one of many, many, many issues that social media platforms have to deal with,” he says. “Having a moderation team in Texas might raise concerns about bias as well. For example, Texas has laws on the books that make the publication of certain information about the availability of abortion services illegal.”

But Benavidez says Texas’ social media law may not be the state’s only appeal. “Once a company is either headquartered or is doing significant business in a state, that allows them to use that state for jurisdiction in whatever future filings they have,” she says.

In 2023, X filed a lawsuit in Texas against the nonprofit watchdog Media Matters for America, alleging that the group had disparaged the company by pointing out that hate speech and disinformation on the platform ran next to ads. At the time, Texas attorney general Ken Paxton also announced his office was opening an investigation into the organization. A federal judge in Texas refused to throw out the case in August 2024. X has since changed its terms of service so that any lawsuits against the company must be brought in Texas. Federal ones must be brought in the Northern District of Texas, widely viewed as friendly to Musk’s interests. (The judge in the Media Matters case, for example, reportedly bought and sold stock in Musk’s Tesla company earlier in the year, before the suit was brought.)

Meta’s terms of service, unlike its community guidelines, so far remain the same, mandating disputes be settled either in the Northern District of California or, at the state level, in San Mateo County. But that could change.

“The legislative environment, the judicial environment, the gubernatorial environment in Texas is incredibly favorable to executives like Musk, and now Zuckerberg,” says Benavidez.

Gill posits that the regulatory environment in Texas may resemble what companies believe the national regulatory environment will come to look like under a new Trump administration.

“I think that they are looking ahead and seeing an environment that is going to be dominated by a conservative-leaning and kind of extremist administration,” she says. “So they are moving to places where that’s the norm so they can pre-comply.”

Gill also notes that Meta is facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission, which a friendly administration could see fit to toss. “By preemptively making these changes that they hope will appease the administration, they may be hoping for a friendly decision in return,” she says.

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

[ayaanbaksh]

Takesh Singh – India’s Leading Camera Confidence Coach Helping You Own the Screen

In an era where screens have replaced stages and cameras are the new face-to-face, confidence in front of the lens has become a critical skill for professionals across industries. Whether you’re an executive addressing stakeholders over Zoom, a YouTuber building an audience, a teacher delivering online courses, or a startup founder pitching via video, your ability to speak on camera can directly impact your influence, credibility, and results.

If you’ve ever felt awkward, unsure, or unnatural when facing the camera, you are not alone. The good news? It’s a skill that can be learned—and mastered. And that’s exactly what Takesh Singh, a seasoned communication trainer and one of the most respected camera confidence coaches in India, helps individuals achieve.

With over two decades of experience spanning acting, filmmaking, voiceover artistry, and public speaking training, Takesh brings a unique blend of creative insight and performance technique to the world of camera-facing coaching. Through his platform “Let’s Talkesh,” he offers personalized and group-based programs that are designed to help professionals build authenticity, clarity, and connection on screen.

Who is Takesh Singh?

Takesh Singh is not your typical coach. His foundation lies in storytelling and stagecraft. As a trained actor and voice artist, he has performed in films, ads, and digital content. He has also worked behind the scenes in film direction and branded content, giving him a comprehensive understanding of how people communicate and perform in front of the lens.

What sets him apart as a camera confidence coach is his ability to translate deep creative knowledge into practical tools that anyone—regardless of experience—can apply. From CEOs and corporate teams to content creators and educators, his clients walk away with stronger on-screen presence and the ability to speak with purpose and poise.

Why Camera Confidence Matters Today

In today’s digital world, being camera-shy is more than just a personal limitation—it’s a professional barrier. Online meetings, live webinars, marketing videos, job interviews, content creation, and investor presentations have made video communication a norm across sectors.

Unfortunately, many capable professionals lose their edge when placed in front of a camera. They either over-perform, under-deliver, or freeze completely. That’s where a dedicated camera confidence coach like Takesh Singh steps in—not just to make you look good on camera, but to make you feel good, sound compelling, and engage your audience with ease.

What Takesh Singh’s Coaching Offers

On-Camera Presence Building Learn how to appear natural and composed on screen. This includes posture, gestures, expression, and energy management techniques.

Voice & Speech Training Master tone modulation, articulation, and breathing exercises to project a confident voice that resonates through the screen.

Scripted and Spontaneous Delivery Whether you're reading a teleprompter, speaking from notes, or improvising, you’ll learn how to maintain fluidity and engagement.

Performance Confidence Techniques to overcome camera shyness, nervousness, and self-doubt—empowering you to deliver messages clearly and persuasively.

Technical Tips for Better Framing Get guidance on camera angles, lighting, and eye contact so you appear professional in every video or virtual meeting.

Custom Practice and Feedback Personalized feedback based on mock recordings, simulations, and real-time performance reviews that help track progress effectively.

Who Can Benefit from a Camera Confidence Coach?

Corporate Executives preparing for video presentations, investor calls, or leadership webinars

Entrepreneurs promoting their brand, pitching to investors, or running webinars

Content Creators looking to grow their presence on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, or other platforms

Educators and Coaches delivering online courses, tutorials, or masterclasses

Students and Job Seekers preparing for virtual interviews, internships, or digital portfolios

Testimonials & Success Stories

Many of Takesh’s clients come from India’s top corporations, including Google, YouTube, Amazon, Ericsson, and others. They often report rapid improvements in clarity, presence, and overall performance within a few sessions. His friendly yet structured coaching approach makes people feel safe while challenging them to reach higher standards.

One client said: "I used to dread recording videos for our team meetings. After just a few sessions with Takesh, I now look forward to them. I sound more confident, and I’ve even received compliments from my colleagues."

How to Get Started

Takesh Singh offers both in-person and virtual coaching, making his sessions accessible to professionals across India and abroad. Whether you want to work one-on-one or enroll in a group workshop, each session is tailored to your personal comfort level and communication goals.

His coaching is ideal for professionals who are serious about elevating their visibility and credibility in a world that increasingly relies on screen-based interaction.

Ready to Become Confident on Camera?

If you’re ready to develop a strong on-screen presence, speak with impact, and finally feel comfortable in front of the camera, then it's time to work with a proven camera confidence coach like Takesh Singh.

[adventureactivities07]

The Role of Behavioral AI in Online Mock Interviews: Can a Bot Help You Ace Your Job Interview?

In today's highly competitive job market, interview preparations have become more crucial than ever. While traditional mock interviews with career coaches and mentors have been the norm, the rise of Behavioral AI has changed the game. AI-powered platforms like Interview Axis now offer advanced mock interview practice by analyzing your responses, tone, and even body language. But can a bot truly help you land your dream job? Let’s explore how Behavioral AI in online interview practice is revolutionizing job preparation.

What is Behavioral AI in Mock Interviews?

Behavioral AI is a technology that analyzes human behavior, communication patterns, and emotions to provide personalized feedback. In the context of an AI mock interview, platforms assess your:

✅ Speech clarity and tone – Are you speaking confidently or too fast? ✅ Word choice – Are you using strong, impactful language? ✅ Facial expressions – Do you appear engaged and confident? ✅ Body language – Are you making proper eye contact? ✅ Response structure – Are you answering questions concisely and effectively?

By evaluating these aspects, AI can mimic the role of a human interviewer and provide real-time feedback to help you improve.

How AI-Powered Mock Interviews Work

AI-driven mock interview online platforms like InterviewAxis use Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to understand and analyze your answers. Here’s how the process typically works:

1️⃣ You Select a Job Role – The AI adapts questions based on the industry and job position. 2️⃣ You Answer in Real-Time – The system records your responses via audio or video. 3️⃣ Instant Feedback is Provided – AI analyzes your tone, confidence, and content structure. 4️⃣ Personalized Improvement Tips – You get detailed insights on what to improve.

Some advanced AI mock interview tools even allow multiple practice rounds, helping users refine their answers over time.

Benefits of Using Behavioral AI in Online Mock Interviews

Objective and Unbiased Feedback AI-powered mock interview practice eliminates biases and provides data-driven feedback, helping candidates get an honest assessment of their strengths and weaknesses.

24/7 Availability for Practice AI-powered platforms like InterviewAxis are available anytime, allowing job seekers to engage in interview preparations at their convenience.

Tailored Feedback for Individual Growth AI doesn’t just rate your performance; it gives personalized recommendations on how to improve specific areas like confidence, articulation, or structuring your responses.

Enhancing Non-Verbal Communication One of the biggest challenges in online interview practice is body language and eye contact. Behavioral AI tracks facial expressions and posture, helping candidates improve their on-screen presence.

Reducing Interview Anxiety Regular practice with AI-driven mock interviews helps reduce nervousness and fear, making candidates more comfortable and confident for real interviews.

Can AI Replace Human Mock Interviews?

While Behavioral AI is an excellent tool for mock interview online practice and self-improvement, it still lacks the human touch and adaptability of a real interviewer. AI can provide technical and structural feedback, but it may not fully capture nuances like cultural fit, spontaneous discussions, or industry-specific expectations.

A combination of AI mock interview platforms and real human mock interviews is the best approach for well-rounded preparation.

Final Thoughts: Is AI the Future of Interview Preparation?

The integration of Behavioral AI in online mock interviews has undoubtedly made mock interview practice more accessible, effective, and data-driven. While AI cannot replace human intuition, it is an excellent tool for self-assessment, practice, and skill-building.

If you're looking to boost your confidence, improve communication, and ace your next job interview, AI-powered mock interviews on platforms like InterviewAxis could be your secret weapon! 🚀

Would you try an AI mock interview before your next big job opportunity? Let us know in the comments!

[reddanceragain]

JOE ROGAN: THE IDIOT KING OF "JUST ASKING QUESTIONS"

In his 2003 book, Kingdom of Fear, Thompson wrote:

“We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world — bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully,” Thompson wrote. “We are not just whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts.”

Rogan’s podcast thrives on that hate and fear — a constant drip-feed of paranoia disguised as wisdom. He’s not a rebel, he’s a coward — a man too afraid to stand for anything, so he embraces everything. Vaccine conspiracies, trans panic, climate denial, election fraud nonsense — Rogan doesn’t care whether it's true. He just knows it sells

When Bill Murray appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience recently, he ended up in an unexpectedly emotional moment. While discussing Hunter S. Thompson, Rogan played a clip from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas — Johnny Depp’s mesmerizing portrayal of Thompson, rambling away at his typewriter, laying out the fractured spirit of the 1960s. Murray, who played Thompson in Where the Buffalo Roam and knew the man personally, teared up.

“Thinking of Hunter and the words he said, but seeing Johnny and how close Johnny and Hunter became... It’s a really beautiful piece,” Murray said, his voice cracking.

For a brief moment, it felt like something rare happened on Rogan’s podcast: authenticity. A real emotional crack in the usual posturing and bluster. But like clockwork, Rogan pivoted from that genuine moment back into his favorite subject — his endless obsession with division, conspiracies, and his own self-importance.

“We don’t get a break,” Rogan complained, launching into his tired sermon about media manipulation, social decay, and the supposed threat of liberal dominance. “We don’t get a break from these people.”

Rogan’s performance was predictable, but what really stood out was his reverence for Hunter S. Thompson — an obsession that’s as misguided as it is embarrassing.

THE IDOL WORSHIP THAT MISSES THE POINT

Rogan has spent years mythologizing Thompson. He talks about Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail like it's the Rosetta Stone of anti-establishment rebellion, name-drops Thompson’s drug use as if it's a personality trait, and treats gonzo journalism as if it’s just a license to ramble without consequence. But here’s the problem: Rogan fundamentally misunderstands what made Thompson great.

Thompson’s writing was chaotic, but never directionless. He was a journalist first — a writer obsessed with exposing corruption, power, and the grotesque machinery of American politics. His wildest rants always had a purpose, and beneath the drugs and profanity was someone fiercely dedicated to telling the truth. Thompson didn’t wallow in paranoia — he identified real threats and tore them to shreds with brutal precision.

Rogan, on the other hand, is the antithesis of that. His version of “truth-telling” is lazy skepticism wrapped in faux-rebellion. Rogan’s whole persona is built around “just asking questions,” a phrase that has become a poisoned well for conspiracy theorists, reactionaries, and charlatans. He doesn’t investigate corruption — he just platforms lunatics who shout about it the loudest.

While Thompson burned his anger at corrupt politicians, Nixon’s treachery, and the war machine, Rogan funnels his rage downward. He amplifies resentment toward marginalized groups, stokes fear about imaginary threats, and sells his audience on the idea that they’re the ones being victimized. Where Thompson attacked power, Rogan cozies up to it — giving reactionary grifters, tech billionaires, and neo-authoritarians a warm, welcoming platform under the banner of “free speech.”

If Thompson were alive today, Rogan’s podcast would be his personal hell — a swamp of half-baked ideas and bad-faith arguments, all wrapped in the lazy illusion of intellectual curiosity.

WHY PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO JOE ROGAN

To be fair, Rogan’s popularity isn’t just about gullibility or reactionary politics. There’s a reason millions of people flock to his podcast, and it's not all bad.

Rogan has a rare gift for conversation. His style is loose and unscripted, and in an era where soundbites dominate, that’s refreshing. He’s approachable — more like a buddy at the bar than a polished interviewer. He’s genuinely curious, and when that curiosity is focused on worthwhile subjects — fitness, comedy, mental health — he can create engaging conversations that feel honest and personal. Rogan’s long-form format gives guests space to expand on ideas, something you rarely get in traditional media.

The problem is Rogan doesn’t know where curiosity ends and recklessness begins. He gives the same attention to credible scientists as he does to conspiracy cranks and grifters. He wants to act like a neutral observer — a guy who’s “just asking questions” — but there’s no such thing as neutrality when you’re amplifying bad ideas to millions of listeners. Rogan’s platform has power, and instead of wielding it responsibly, he throws gasoline on the dumbest fires imaginable.

His strength — his conversational style — becomes his greatest weakness when he starts nodding along to lunatics who say vaccines are a mind-control plot or that trans people are destroying civilization. Rogan’s format works best when he's out of his depth, asking real experts to explain complex topics. But when he's in his comfort zone — endless rants about censorship, "cancel culture," and Elon Musk’s billionaire wisdom — he’s insufferable.

HUNTER WOULDN’T JUST LOATHE ROGAN — HE’D RIP HIM TO PIECES

The idea that Thompson would admire Joe Rogan is laughable. Rogan’s constant fearmongering, his bizarre love affair with Elon Musk, and his endless complaints about liberal oppression are everything Thompson despised. Thompson saw paranoia as a weapon of control — something wielded by authoritarians to keep the masses scared and confused. Rogan, ironically, has become one of those tools — a willing pawn in the same machinery of power he claims to resist.

If Thompson had ever found himself on Rogan’s show, the result wouldn’t have been some meeting of two great minds. It would have been a bloodbath — a verbal dissection of Rogan’s lazy thinking, cowardly fence-sitting, and obsession with shallow contrarianism. Thompson didn’t respect people who entertained bad ideas for sport — he tore into them. In his 2003 book, Kingdom of Fear, Thompson wrote:

“We have become a Nazi monster in the eyes of the whole world — bullies and bastards who would rather kill than live peacefully,” Thompson wrote. “We are not just whores for power and oil, but killer whores with hate and fear in our hearts.”

Rogan’s podcast thrives on that hate and fear — a constant drip-feed of paranoia disguised as wisdom. He’s not a rebel, he’s a coward — a man too afraid to stand for anything, so he embraces everything. Vaccine conspiracies, trans panic, climate denial, election fraud nonsense — Rogan doesn’t care whether it's true. He just knows it sells.

JOE ROGAN: THE KING OF COWARDLY CONFUSION

Rogan’s most devoted defenders will insist that he’s not endorsing these ideas — he’s just platforming them. But that’s the problem. Rogan wants the cultural currency of rebellion without the responsibility that comes with it. He wants to play the role of an outsider, all while collecting Spotify’s $200 million paycheck and schmoozing with Trump’s inner circle. He’s a pseudo-outsider, a rich man’s idea of a working-class hero.

For someone so obsessed with Thompson’s legacy, Rogan has learned nothing from it. Thompson understood that the real enemy wasn’t some vague notion of “the establishment” — it was the cynical operators who manipulate fear and anger to keep people distracted while the powerful consolidate control. Rogan, for all his performative rage against mainstream media, has become a key part of that system. He doesn’t challenge power — he launders it, putting a rebellious face on regressive politics.

Joe Rogan thinks he’s Hunter S. Thompson, but he's closer to one of Thompson’s grotesque caricatures — a bloated hustler, peddling paranoia to an audience desperate to feel like they’re part of something bigger. Thompson called out that type in 1972: the carnival barkers and empty-headed tough guys selling rebellion in exchange for a buck.

If Thompson were here today, he'd see Joe Rogan for what he is — a rich fool with a microphone, fumbling through half-baked ideas while pretending to be a prophet.

[simarjeet12]

Pageant Grooming Redefined with Virtual Crown Prep

Beauty pageants have long served as a platform for exhibiting not only physical attractiveness but also skill, self-assurance, and composure in the world of glitz and glamour. The need for creative preparation techniques has grown as the competition gets more intense every year. Online grooming sessions for beauty pageants are one such innovative technique that has completely changed how competitors get ready for their big stage moment.

The Development of Pageant Grooming

Beauty pageant grooming has always entailed in-person training sessions led by knowledgeable coaches and trainers. These intense training included everything from makeup skills and dress selection to speech delivery and runway walks. Despite their great effectiveness, these conventional approaches frequently included significant time, travel, and cost outlays.

Presenting the age of virtual grooming sessions. A larger audience may now get professional coaching thanks to these virtual training programs, which have completely changed the scene. All you need to join a session is a device and an internet connection, regardless of whether you're in a busy city or a distant village. In addition to expanding the pool of talent, this democratization of access has made it possible for competitors to train with world-class professionals without ever leaving their homes.

Online Grooming Sessions' Advantages

Online grooming sessions provide a number of benefits that meet the demands of contemporary beauty pageant competitors. This is how they contribute:

Flexibility and Convenience

The ease of online grooming sessions is unmatched. In order to accommodate their personal and professional obligations, contestants can arrange sessions at their convenience. Those who are balancing employment, school, or other obligations would particularly benefit from this flexibility.

Getting to Know Leading Coaches

Geographical boundaries are no longer an obstacle thanks to online platforms. No matter where they live, contestants can receive instruction from some of the top pageant trainers in the business. Numerous seasoned professionals provide specialized programs that focus on particular facets of pageant preparation.

Economicalness

Traditional grooming frequently entails high expenses, such as course fees, travel, and lodging. Professional training becomes more inexpensive when these extra costs are eliminated through online sessions.

Tailored Instruction

Numerous online grooming programs provide one-on-one coaching, which enables trainers to concentrate on each competitor's unique skills and areas for development. A more successful learning process is guaranteed with personalized feedback.

All-inclusive Learning Modules

Online grooming lessons address every important facet of pageant preparation, from perfecting the catwalk to honing public speaking abilities. In order to succeed, many programs also incorporate modules on stress management, self-confidence, and mental wellbeing.

Important Elements of a Virtual Grooming Session

Every aspect of pageant preparation is covered in online grooming sessions. The following are some of the main topics usually discussed:

Training on the Runway: For any candidate in a beauty pageant, the ability to walk the ramp with poise and confidence is essential. Participants receive instruction from trainers on how to improve their stage presence, balance, and posture.

Advice on Clothing and Style: A contestant's entire appearance can be made or broken by their choice of clothing and accessories. Online professionals offer tailored guidance on choosing clothing that goes well with skin tones, body shapes, and the pageant's theme.

Tutorials for Hair and Makeup: A crucial component of pageant preparation is mastering the techniques of faultless hairstyling and makeup application. Live demonstrations and detailed instructions for attaining expert results are frequently included in online sessions.

Interviewing and Public Speaking Techniques: A successful pageant participant is characterized by their ability to communicate with confidence. Trainers assist participants in honing their speech delivery, managing interviews with poise, and effectively expressing their ideas.

Nutrition and Exercise: Beauty pageants frequently demand contestants to have a healthy body. To help candidates maintain in peak condition, online sessions frequently incorporate yoga courses, workout regimens, and dietary guidance.

Mental Readiness: It might be mentally exhausting to compete in a beauty contest. Sessions on boosting self-esteem, handling stress, and maintaining motivation are common in grooming programs.

Selecting the Best Online Grooming Course

It can be difficult to choose the best online grooming program with so many possibilities. The following advice will assist you in making an informed choice:

Examine the Trainers: Seek out courses taught by seasoned experts that have a track record of success in the beauty pageant business. Reviews and testimonials might offer insightful information about their level of experience.

Examine the curriculum: Make sure the curriculum addresses every facet of grooming, from public speaking and mental wellness to runway skills and styling.

Verify Customization: To meet your specific requirements and objectives, a quality program should include individualized coaching.

Examine prices: Affordability is crucial, but don't sacrifice quality. To determine which program provides the best return on your investment, compare them.

Seek Out Other Resources: Additional tools like practice activities, e-books, and recorded videos are offered by a lot of online grooming sessions. These resources can improve your educational journey.

Success Stories: How Internet Grooming Affects

The success stories of many participants demonstrate the efficacy of online grooming sessions for beauty pageants. For example, a lot of regional and nationwide pageant champions credit their victories to the abilities and self-assurance they acquired from online training courses. Participants have gained the confidence to conquer their fears, hone their skills, and perform brilliantly on stage thanks to these lessons.

Pageant Preparation's Future

It is anticipated that online grooming sessions will advance in sophistication as technology develops further. Contestants may soon be able to replicate pageant settings using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, providing realistic and engaging training experiences. Artificial intelligence (AI) may also be useful for tracking advancement and giving tailored feedback.

Conclusion

The way participants get ready for the stage has been completely transformed by online grooming sessions for beauty pageants. These programs have improved the efficiency and inclusivity of pageant preparation by providing accessibility to top-notch coaches, cost, and convenience.

[nicole14yolo]

Have You Ever Heard of an AI Beauty Pageant?--AI Girl Generator

The World’s First AI Beauty Pageant, WAICA, kicked off this April, attracting over 1,500 AI creators. Recently, the competition crowned its first-ever "Miss AI." The event drew global participation, with 1,500 AI beauties competing. Judging criteria included beauty, technical skills, and social media influence. The focus was on hands and eyes, common challenges in AI-generated images. Social media influence was assessed based on online following.

The winner received $5,000 (approx. 6.88 million KRW) and $15,000 (approx. 20.47 million KRW) in commercial benefits, earning the title of the world's first Miss AI.

Fanvue, the organizer of the inaugural Miss AI pageant, stated that the competition aims to expand AI’s influence and help creators monetize their content. Many contestants have indeed become internet celebrities, bringing economic benefits to their creators. Human beauty pageant winners have historically generated significant commercial returns for TV, film, advertising, and media industries. In today’s mobile internet era, even live-streaming someone sleeping can attract payments. So, what kind of business is it to create and manage an AI beauty queen?

Specific content of AI beauty pageant

Let's start with the technical aspects. The first criterion is the creator's proficiency with AIGC tools, including the effectiveness of prompts, output quality, and details like hands, eyes, and backgrounds. According to public reports, creators primarily use text-to-image models such as OpenAI (DALLE), Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. Additionally, they incorporate multimodal and voice models to give contestants conversational abilities. For instance, the winner, Kenza Layli, can interact with fans in seven languages on Instagram and TikTok.

Next is appearance. As in traditional beauty pageants, looks are extremely important. Most candidates for "Miss AI" are slim white women, with the top ten winners fitting conventional beauty stereotypes and having high realism. Some less successful entries, though adhering to the golden ratio, appear stiff, often triggering the "uncanny valley" effect.

Interestingly, the competition also adapted human pageant elements like posture, composure (personality), and speech (Q&A) for AI contestants. They were asked questions such as, "If you could have one dream to make the world a better place, what would it be?" Kenza Layli said her goal is to empower women in Morocco and the Middle East through artificial intelligence.

Finally, social media influence is evaluated. WAICA officials assess AI contestants' social media presence based on fan engagement and audience growth. Many AI contestants are managed by tech companies as commercial influencers. For example, Lu do Magalu from Brazil, a major Facebook influencer with millions of followers, appears in product reviews, promos, ads, and music videos, making her one of the most lucrative AIs globally. Kenza Layli, the winner, has over 200,000 followers on Instagram and works primarily as a life coach.

Who Profits from This Beauty Pageant?

The biggest difference between an AI beauty pageant and a human one is the distribution of benefits. Human beauty pageants are highly centralized and authoritative, with human expert judges holding the power and the hosting TV stations, platforms, and sponsors reaping significant commercial rewards, such as traffic and advertising revenue. In contrast, the direct beneficiaries of AI beauty pageants are the general creators. Why does this “benefit decentralization” occur? I believe it is due to three changes in the times:

Diverse Aesthetics

Public aesthetics are no longer confined to the single standard set by expert judges. With the widespread use of social media and short video platforms, people can easily find influencers who match their personal tastes. Traditional, centralized beauty pageants struggle to please everyone and have lost their authoritative appeal, often sparking controversy. AIGC's open and diverse generative capabilities can cater to various aesthetic preferences. For instance, AI contestants like the cool-girl Lil Miquela or ocean conservation advocate Anne Kerdi break stereotypes, signaling a shift toward a decentralized, personalized aesthetic era in beauty pageants and the entertainment industry as a whole.

Technological Democratization

Technological democratization is a prominent concept in the AI era. It aims to break the monopoly of technology by a few elites or giants, lowering the barriers to access tools, platforms, and resources so more people can participate in developing and using new technologies. Large models and AIGC have ushered in an unprecedented era of "technological democratization," significantly lowering the creativity threshold. Whether or not someone has professional skills in painting or video editing, they can use large models and AIGC tools to bring their ideas to life simply by writing prompts and speaking natural language. For example, the text-to-image and text-to-video tools used by WAICA contestants allow individuals and small teams to create "AI influencers" at a low cost, which was previously hard to achieve.

Human-like AI

Unlike previous virtual idols, "AI influencers" possess higher degrees of human-likeness. This is due to continuous advancements in NLP, voice synthesis, and multimodal technologies. Over the past year, numerous impressive AI models like GPT-4 and others have emerged. These models enable "AI influencers" to not only speak but also interact with humans in real-time, without relying on manual dubbing and post-editing, making them more realistic and immersive. For instance, "Miss AI" champion Kenza Layli shares her daily life with her brother and sister, enriching her character and enhancing emotional connections with her fans.

An AI creator, Furkan Sahin, stated, "When we look at real influencers, they appear perfect, just like AI." From this perspective, AI has significantly unleashed the productivity of beauty, decentralizing creative power and aesthetic benefits to ordinary people. Everyone can create beauty, signaling the end of centralized aesthetic dominance. In the future, customized "AI beauties" tailored to individual preferences might even surpass human idols and stars in market potential.

AI Image Generator

Picit.AI is an AI Powered Vision Create & design platform where you can bloom your inspiration. Here are some specific tutorials:

1. Enter the website: Open Picit.AI and select the AI image generator.

2. Enter prompt words: Enter relevant prompt words to describe the idea according to your own ideas. After entering, click to generate the waiting result.

3. Result check: In this step, you need to check whether the style, details, elements, etc. of the generated picture meet your needs. If there is anything that needs to be added or changed, it can be modified on the basis of the input.

4. Enjoy your work: After adjustment, you get the artwork that matches your imagination. Next, you can enjoy your works and share them with others or social networking sites.

By following these steps, you can effectively use the artificial intelligence image generator to create a unique and visually attractive artificial intelligence girl tailored to your preferences. Enjoy the creative process and explore the infinite possibilities of art generated by artificial intelligence!

Conclusion

This competition not only shows the application potential of artificial intelligence technology in aesthetic creation, but also provides a platform for global AI creators to display and communicate. With the continuous progress of AI technology, we can foresee that there will be more similar innovation events in the future to further promote the development and application of AI technology. The artificial intelligence beauty pageant makes us rethink the definition of beauty and the boundaries of creation. As Will Monanchi, co-founder of Fanview, said: "This is not just a game, but also an exploration of the creative potential of AI."

[mrsindiaworldwideofficial]

Mastering the Art of Elegance: Unveiling the Grace of Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide

In the plight of Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide, elegance isn't just a superficial attribute; it's a combination of poise, refinement, and sophistication that resonates both on and off the stage. As contestants grace the platform with their presence, they exemplify the epitome of grace and elegance, captivating audiences with their charm and sophistication. 

Let's explore the art of elegance within Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide, where contestants embrace grace as a timeless virtue, leaving an indelible mark on the pageant world.

The Essence of Elegance:

Elegance is always beyond mere appearances; it's an essence that always comes from within, reflecting one's inner beauty and personality. In Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide, contestants are not only judged on their physical appearance but also on their ability to exude grace and sophistication in every aspect of their being.

From their walk on the ramp to their interactions with others, contestants embody elegance in their every gesture, setting the stage on fire with their understated allure.

The Importance of Poise:

Poise is the cornerstone of elegance, embodying a sense of composure, confidence, and dignity in every situation. Within the realm of Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide, contestants are trained to maintain their composure and grace under the spotlight, regardless of the challenges they may face.

Through rigorous training sessions and mentorship programs, contestants learn the art of poised deportment, carrying themselves with grace and confidence both on and off the stage.

Refinement in Action:

Refinement is not merely a superficial quality; it's a reflection of one's inner character and sophistication. In Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide, contestants epitomize refinement in their demeanour, speech, and conduct, showcasing a level of sophistication that sets them apart from the rest.

 Whether it's through their impeccable fashion sense, articulate speech, or gracious interactions with others, contestants exude refinement in every aspect of their presence, leaving a lasting impression on judges and audiences alike.

The Graceful Journey:

The journey to mastering the art of elegance in Haut Monde Mrs India Worldwide is not merely about outward appearances; it's a transformative experience that nurtures personal growth and self-discovery.

Through intensive grooming sessions, contestants transform, refining their skills, honing their talents, and cultivating a sense of grace and sophistication that sets them apart as true queens. 

From learning the nuances of etiquette to perfecting their posture and deportment, contestants embark on a graceful journey of self-improvement, emerging as poised and elegant individuals ready to conquer the world.

Beyond the Stage:

Elegance isn't confined to the stage; it's a way of life that permeates every aspect of a contestant's journey in Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide. Beyond the glitz and glamour of the pageant world, contestants carry themselves with grace and sophistication in their everyday lives, serving as ambassadors of elegance and refinement in their communities. 

Whether it's through their philanthropic endeavours, professional pursuits, or personal interactions, contestants continue to embody the timeless virtues of elegance, leaving a legacy of grace and sophistication wherever they go.

In Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide, elegance isn't just a fleeting attribute; it's a way of life that defines the essence of womanhood. As contestants grace the stage with their presence, they exemplify the timeless virtues of grace, poise, and refinement, captivating audiences with their understated allure and sophistication.

Through their journey of self-discovery and personal growth, contestants emerge as true queens, embodying the art of elegance in its purest form. In Haut Monde Mrs. India Worldwide, elegance isn't just a quality to be admired; it's a legacy to be cherished, celebrated, and passed on to future generations of empowered women.

[mst3kgifs]

Be sure to get a brand new chin.

[alecsv]

[nikz-artea]

Rent-a-Bug

Alya came back to their table with a wide grin on her face after announcing the awaited hero will be with them shortly, sending the kids abuzz with excitement. She kissed sleeping Celestine’s forehead and Nino’s cheek. “So, how did I do?”

“Great.” Adrien replied with a bright smile. Her speech made him lost track of time. It was like she was made for public speaking. “So, how did you find a replacement?”

“It’s a secret.” She winked.

The children’s excited squeals brought his attention back to the stage just in time for the familiar figure to land on the platform in a perfect stance. It’s like the world stopped moving. Ladybug smiled, brushed her hair over her shoulders then wielded the yo-yo with unbelievable expertise. All breath got caught up in his lungs, his heart pounded against his chest. That posture. The almost smug smile.

Could it be? He swallowed the lump on his throat. Maybe he was just seeing things. Maybe, he’s too just desperate. Maybe he’s just projecting his partner in her. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to crush the budding hope despite knowing that it would only make the pain of disappointment worse. It had to be her. Slowly, ever so slowly, he released a shaky breath and unclenched his grip on the side of the table. She had to be the real Ladybug.

He watched her move with surprising ease. Smiling and waving at the people. Fighting invisible Akuma with her usual moves. Most guests clapped and cheered her on.

They couldn’t see the slight trembling of her hands. The subtle biting of her lower lip and doubt behind her amazing bluebell eyes. Those eyes he dreamed a thousand nights to see again. They couldn’t see her like he could.

In a briefest moment, their gaze met across the room and he got struck with the utmost yearning to keep it on him for more than five seconds, though he tamped it down. He didn’t know whether she recognized him as Chat Noir or not, so he flashed her the most supportive smile he could ever muster instead. She returned the gesture then stood a little straighter.

The quick performance ended with a flourish of her bow. His eyes never strayed from her even after she exited through a room. He stood to follow her but someone gripped his arm.

“Are you okay, Adrien? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Alya looked at him, brows knitted in concern.

Great kwamis. The appearance of Ladybug almost made him forget where he was.

“I’m fine. I just need some fresh air, I guess.” He needed to know whether she was indeed the real one. In order to do that, he had to hurry and catch her before she changed back. Before she could disappear for the second time. He couldn’t bear to lose her again. Not again. Never again.

“Don’t take too long, okay?”

Nodding, he turned away from them. He thought about the ways to ask her without sounding rude or creepy. The questions he wanted to ask were quite personal and would probably overstep a boundary, and unless someone she knew ask it, he’d doubt she would answer. A sudden realization froze him mid-step. Of course! Alya must know her! She was the one who asked her to perform. It would be easier if she could introduce him to her. They would be spared from any awkward conversations and he’d be able to learn the truth.

He almost ran back to their table. “Hey, Alya?”

She turned to him with a questioning gaze. “You’re back so quick.”

“Did… did you know her? The girl you asked to be a Ladybug sub?” He rubbed the nape of his neck, heat rose to his cheek.

Doubt flickered on her eyes. She glanced at her husband but he was focused on calming the sobbing Celestine. “I… think so? Why?”

“M-may I know her whole name?” His brain scrambled to find a not-so-weird excuse though it felt like his ability to think left him. What can his civilian self say that wasn’t related to his superhero one? School? Colleague? Or friend! Right. It’d be the safest answer to avoid any suspicions. “It’s just… my friend in the agency is searching for a girl. He told me her descriptions and I thought… I thought, she might be the one.”

The doubt, albeit lesser than before, was still visible behind her glasses. Her fingers drummed on the table, a look of contemplation on her face. Finally, she stopped then typed something on her phone. “I don’t think I can tell you.”

His shoulders sagged. Maybe if he run, he’d be able to catch her? It’d be his best hope-

“But, I can let you and your friend meet her. She’ll still be wearing the suit for the sake of anonymity. However, you should come too. For support.” She gave him a small, understanding smile. “You can probably change her mind if you tell her about your friend’s situation.”

“I will.”

Her phone buzzed. “Alright. She’s okay with it. When will you meet her?”

“Now, actually. If that’s okay.”

“Woah. Aren’t we in a hurry, Sunshine Boy? Well, not that I blame you. I’ll probably do the same in your situation.” She laughed then sent a text. “She’s in the room at the end of the hallway on the right. It’s the guest room we don’t use often so you can have some privacy.”

“Thank you, Alya.” His lips curled up in a grateful smile despite the embarrassment coloring her cheeks. “I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, and Adrien?” Alya called after him. All humor disappeared from her face, replaced with concern, protectiveness and even hope. “Be patient with her, okay? She’s been waiting for something like this to happen for years.”

Previous | Next

Again, the prompt belongs to @ladyofthenoodle and can be found here.

It's now on AO3! Thank you so much for your support. You can read this on Rent-a-Bug.

Again, thank you, thank you so much for the likes, reblogs and kind comments. I can never thank you all enough. T_T

Tags: @mochegato @toodaloo-kangaroo

[purple-stuck]

Hi It's me again! I hope my excessive rambling in the tags wasn't too annoying I just really loved that drabble you wrote

If it's not too much can I request something with Sollux and Gamzee meeting in the subjugglator training ranks after Ascension?

I'd really love to hear what your headcanons might be or what fics you take inspiration from about subjugglators off-planet

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Gamzee's breath was perfectly steady, his heartbeat perfectly level, his mind completely calm. Even as he hopped from platform to platform, moving at speeds imperceivable to the naked eye, his body remained impossibly calm. Such was the Messiahs' gift to him and all purplebloods like him. With training, they could command their body to do the impossible.

Gamzee stopped atop a thin pole, claws digging into his perch as he got his barings. A sea of bloodied spikes spread out around him, ensuring him a slow death should he miss even a single pole or platform. But beyond that, lie his goal. His target. The horned outline of which was a mere speck in his vision.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Gamzee felt the wood begin to give way beneath his weight and lept to another perch, hoping between poles and bouncing away before the could bend against him. Thoughtlessly, he reasoned out the closest platform in between leaps. Automatically, he twisted his body to reach them. His body twisted in ways that crack and snap the bones of any other caste. If the graveyard full of mangled bones below him was any indication, even other purples struggled to make such moves.

Soon, Gamzee's shadow was cast over his prey. A club appeared in his hand, upraised so as to crack open his target's skull in one swing.

For the first time since this lesson began, his breath hitched.

Gamzee's feet hit the ground, his momentum stopped dead. His club hung over his target's shoulder.

Breathe. In.

Breathe. Out.

At this distance, Gamzee could see that his target wasn't even a troll at all. Rather, he'd been tasked with assassinating a mannequin, a hard plastic replica of his would be victim. Gamzee felt his posture relax before he pulled his club back and cracked the target's head of with one swing.

Purple paint sprayed over Gamzee as the body hit the floor and he turned to his audience and bowed.

The audience cheered as the lights flashed on, a cacophony of honks, whoops, and cheers as the stage was revealed in full. If he bothered to look towards the pit, Gamzee could see all the remains of the clowns who came before him and failed. He did not look.

"well, would you look at that."

"HE ACTUALLY MANAGED TO PASS."

Two ropes descended down around him, carrying the Twin Instructors, clad in their iconic matching masks. Comedy's voice was sing song, contrasting Tragedy's melancholy just as their half masks contrasted their mood. Gamzee looked up to see half of Tragedy's face grinning down at him.

"still, you haven't quite managed to beat our record."

"MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE HIM GO AGAIN."

The two broke into giggles, with the rest of the tent following. Gamzee heard a few voices call out for an encore and quietly hoped they wouldn't be heard. He didn't have it in him to go another round. He didn't know how Sollux did it so easily, controlling his body they way he did.

Tragedy leaned down and gave him an encouraging pat on the back, causing Gamzee to grin at him tiredly in between pants. Comedy leaned down to his other side, handing him a faygo and a rag.

"OH, BUT HE'S SO WORN OUT. WE WOULDN'T WANT TO BREAK OUR NEW FAVORITE."

"we'd love to share notes, but this isn't your show anymore. head to the lounge, it's time for the next act."

Gamzee chugged the bottle, nearly emptying it in two gulps as he walked off stage. He waved his thanks, to tired to talk, as he shoved his way through the curtains and into the lounge.

Gamzee finished his faygo as he lazily scanned the room. Normally, throwing a bunch of clowns into one room would be a recipe for disaster, but all was strangely quiet. It seemed like the others who passed the test were just as warn out from it as he was. It made him feel better to see his brothers and sisters laying around exhausted, half collapsed against walls or the couch. It made him proud to still be standing.

And then he saw Sollux, looking none the worse for wear as he hogged the couch. He smirked smugly as Gamzee made his way over, scooting over to let the shorter clown collapse next to him. "Jegus, you look like shit."

Gamzee flipped him off, causing Sollux to snort. "And you're acting like shit too. Maybe I'm a bad influence on you."

Gamzee snorted. "Shit man, I thought you didn't want me to be so friendly and clingy around you anymore." He wiped the sweat off his forehead, stopping to look at the facepaint that had melted onto his hand. "Although, a brother's got a point about. I ain't much to look at right now."

Sollux slid his half empty faygo down the table, which Gamzee guzzled happily. "Yeah, body control is hard. I've been doing it ever sense I grew hands and I still eat my swords sometimes. Nevermind the more advanced stuff."

Gamzee slammed the faygo bottle on the table. "Shit, man, my bones hurt. And my veins... and lungs. Fuck."

Sollux grunted and handed him a spare Nintendie Dualscream. "How about something to take your mind of it? It's been awhile sense I kicked your ass in Fiduspawn anyways."

It was Gamzee's turn to snort. "All right, you are on, motherfucker."

~

They were eight rounds in when the new clowns stopped coming in. Gamzee counted only five had made it in after him, but he was more focused on beating Sollux than keeping count. Either he'd gotten better or Sollux had gotten worse. The taller troll used to be able to kick his ass, now they were tied four to four. But, their fifth round was interrupted as two familar shadows were cast over them.

"DID YOU TWO BRING TOYS FROM BACK ON ALTERNIA ALONG?"

"just between the four of us, I've heard that's against the rules."

Gamzee and Sollux froze as the Twin Instructors leaned over them. Even Gamzee could feel everyone in the room staring at them. Gamzee had seen this set up before. Comedy and Tragedy learing over a helpless troll or two. Acting like they were just disappointed, like they were just going to give the rule breaker a stern talking to before they decapitated the mischief maker.

Instead, the twins doubled over into a giggling fit the spread through the room. The trolls around them joined in, some more nervously than others.

"JuSt KiDdInG!"

"WE KNOW OUR HIGHEST SCORERS..."

"....know better than to break the rules."

"AsSuMiNg YoU dId'T cHeAt!"

Sollux and Gamzee pushed themselves to their feet, hands moving to ask about their progress, but the duo pushed their hands aside.

"DON'T BOTHER WITH THAT."

"you're subjugulators now."

"YoU'rE oFfIcIaLlY fUnNy EnOuGh To LiStEn To!"

Gamzee let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He heard Sollux do the same before the cheers erupted around them. Tragedy grabbed his arm and hoisted him into the air with it to bare before the crowd, leaving him and Sollux to gaze at their audience.

"GIVE OUR BOYS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE."

"well, those of you who still have hands anyways."

Gamzee looked over at Sollux, himself being held up for all to see by comedy. It was strange to see Sollux actually look nervous, even if they were seemingly in the Twin's good graces. Sweeps of living according to their capricious whims was enough to instill a lasting fear in anyone.

Even when granted verbal permission to speak, the two didn't make a peep as the twins hefted them over their shoulders. The twins cheerfully waved off the crowd as they carried the two ascendants to their office.

Gamzee grunted as he was dropped into a chair to small for him, hearing Sollux swear off to the right as the same happened to him. Comedy and Tragedy flopped into their chairs on the opposite end of the desk, kicking their feet up on it.

"normally, we'd take the time to talk about boring business shit with you."

"PREP YOUR ASCENSION SPEECH AND ALL THAT BLAH BLAH BLAH."

"BuT lIkE wE sAiD, wE hAvE nOtEs."

Sollux and Gamzee shared a nervous look, before Sollux straightened up and spoke. "What, uh, about exactly?"

Comedy shook a chidding finger in their faces.

"WHY, YOU BOTH HESITATED."

"tripped at the finish line."

"DeRaIlEd A pErFeCtLy GoOd ShOw."

Gamzee looked over at Sollux in suprise. Sollux... hesitated? But he was used to killing shit. Hell, that was his idea of a date night. Gamzee hardly had time to consider it before Tragedy leaned in his direction.

"now you we perfectly understand. you've never dabbled with fresh paint before."

"YOU'VE ONLY BEEN OFF THE SLIME FOR JUST THREE SWEEPS AT THAT."

"BuT iT's YoUr BuDdY wE'rE cUrIoUs AbOuT."

They both turned to Sollux expectantly. He scratched the back of hia head. "I... well. Something made me reconsider." He rested his hands in his head. "There was.... a kill I'd been planning for a really long time. Something... big. Special. And, when I landed that kill, when I did kill her and savor killing her... it just felt empty?"

Gamzee knew what he meant. The image of a cart drenched in Cerulean blood flashes in his mind. "I'd... rather not get any more into it than that."

The Twins tented their hands as they nodded sympathetically. Comedy even reached over to pat him on the shoulder.

"oh, we've both been there before."

"I DID ESPECIALLY."

Tragedy bent down and fished around beneath the desk, nearly banging his golden mask on it in the process.

"I STILL REMEMBER MY FIRST KILL."

He placed a white horned skull on the desk, carefully preserved and cleaned even though it seemed to have been centuries old. Still, the more Gamzee looked at it, the more it looked slightly off. The horns seemed to be... fake somehow. Like they were made of some kind of old plastic. And the skull's facial structure was all wrong. Too thin, too light, too delicate looking. It looked like a troll but not quite. If Karkat were here, he'd call it a mockery of troll kind.

"you'd think he'd be honored."

"MY VERY FIRST KILL. SHE WAS SO CLEVER AND BRUTAL THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I'D PULL IT OFF."

He rubbed the skull fondly, clearly nostalgic. Part of him sounded almost remorseful over it too, strangely enough. Like talking about a long dead friend or a beloved canceled show.

"BuT iT fElT sO eMpTy."

Sollux cleared his throat, clearly annoyed, even if he couldn't outright say it. Gamzee couldn't blame him. The twins liked to talk about their first two kills a lot. "So, what's your point?"

Tragedy sighed wistfully and Comedy playfully roled her eyes and elbowed him to get him back on topic.

"THE POINT IS, I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO IT."

"and when it's over, it always feels...."

"AnTiClImAcTiC."

Sollux hummed and considered this, but Gamzee could tell he wasn't quite buying it. Gamzee could tell that something else was needling away at him. Something deeper than just that.

"you'll probably get that feeling too."

Gamzee straightened up as he realized they were addressing him again.

"HERE'S A TIP. DON'T LOOK INTO THEIR EYES. IT'LL ONLY MAKE YOU MISS THEM MORE."

Comedy slid two communicators across the desk.

"YOU CAN TALK IT OUT WITH YOU QUADS, NOW THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SEE THEM AGAIN. YOUR BRONZE HEART AND RUST DIAMOND PROBABLY MISS YOU."

They nodded at Sollux.

"and the Empress will be happy to see her favorite clown is safe."