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Ivanka Trump faces backlash for Audrey Hepburn-inspired ball gown

Ivanka Trump at the Liberty Ball. Credit / Getty Images

Ivanka Trump fielded criticism from some quarters for her choice of dress at the 2025 Liberty Inaugural Ball in Washington on Monday.

Unless you’ve been living under the largest rock known to mankind, you’ll know that Ivanka’s father, the ever entertaining, ever controversial Donald Trump, was officially sworn in as president earlier this week. The day marked the beginning of Trump’s second stint as President of the United States, with the real-estate mogul having held the office from 2017 to 2021.

As was always going to be the case, almost every facet of Trump’s big day was scrutinized and examined by internet denizens around the world. In the days following the presidential inauguration, we’ve had focus on Elon Musk’s supposed “Nazi salute”, there’s been talk about the choice of hat donned by Melania Trump, and wanna-be lip-readers have flexed their muscles in an attempt to discern what Barron Trump may or may not have said to Joe Biden.

To put it in simple terms, there wasn’t much that flew under the radar on inauguration day, and it seems as though even something as harmless as a dress is enough to cause fierce debate online.

The dress in question was worn by Donald Trump‘s daughter, Ivanka, who served as an advisor to her father during his first term in office.

Now, we’ll take the opportunity at this point to go on record publicly airing our view that no one should ever be criticized or called out for something they choose to wear (within reason, of course).

That said, the internet will always do what the internet does best; provide a breeding ground for comments that care very little for morality, decency, or just about anything else. In other words, people are always going to remark on hairstyles, clothing choices, behavioral patterns, speech patterns etc, etc, etc related to celebrities.

And, as stated above, it was Ivanka Trump who appeared to evoke the ire of some online users for her choice of dress to the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day. Taking inspiration from one of the most influential female icons of the last century, Ivanka wore a recreated version of the gown that Audrey Hepburn donned in the 1954 film Sabrina.

The dress, originally designed by Hubert de Givenchy, is unmistakable, and all the more eye-catching for it. According to reports, Ivanka’s version, a white dress featuring black floral embroidery and a brief train, was crafted by French fashion house Givenchy.

Ivanka also wore a pair of elbow-length black opera gloves, stiletto heels, a diamond choker, and a chignon — complements that almost exactly mirrored Hepburn’s original.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President DonaldTrump attends some of the inaugural balls after taking the oath as the 47th president. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Yet, as is so often the case these days, though Ivanka cut a strikingly beautiful figure in the dress, there were those who took it upon themselves to criticize.

“The longer I look at the details, the more laughable this becomes,” wrote one particularly harsh internet user.

Another added: “The texture and the embroidery on Ivanka’s version look cartoonish, and it lacks the same finesse. Hepburn is incomparable.”

A third chose to hit out at the supposed connection to Hepburn, writing: “audrey hepburn would curse them all. she didn’t survive ww2 and fought against all of what the trump family represents just for her dress to be used like ~this~. so fucking disgraceful.“

It appears that Ivanka Trump is wearing Givenchy tonight. This is a recreation of the iconic 1954 Haute Couture black and white gown that was originally designed for Audrey Hepburn, for the movie Sabrina pic.twitter.com/lUPONCkKCk

— Remoulade Sauce (@Remisagoodboy) January 21, 2025

“Audrey would have despised Ivanka and her family,” another opined.

Naturally, this only supports one half of the argument, and it must be said that there were plenty of people hailing Ivanka’s beauty and decision to wear the dress on the night.

Meanwhile, Hepburn’s son, Sean Hepburn Ferrer, said it was ‘no wonder’ Ivanka chose to pay tribute to his late mother due to their long-standing family ties.

“It is no wonder that growing up in a family which knew our mother as a household name she chose to draw inspiration from her, to seek the ultimate elegance and class reference, for an occasion such as this one – the inauguration and the 32nd anniversary of our mother’s passing and, most of all, Martin Luther King’s day,” he told DailyMail. “What a cocktail!”

Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, have made it clear that they will not be returning to jobs in the White House for Donald’s second term.

What did you make of Ivanka’s dress? Let us know thoughts in the comments.

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Man’s sudden makeover leaves wife in tears

We’ve all dreamed of having that perfect makeover moment, and for one lucky man, that dream became a jaw-dropping reality when Rachael Ray plucked him from the audience for a glow-up that left him, and his wife in tears.

One audience member on the Rachael Ray Show was treated to a shocking makeover by Queer Eye star Kyan Douglas.

The man, who looked like he was fresh of the set of Duck Dynasty, stepped on stage in denim overalls, shaggy long hair and a scruffy beard to match.

Despite his gruff exterior, the hardworking man had a huge heart and admitted that he let his appearance slip through the cracks.

“How far are you willing to go, my friend?” asked the host of the man, who stood on the stage with his wife alongside Douglas – the stylist – and Elena Lizares, the founder of Razzle Dazzle Barbershop.

“Are you willing to go naked up here,” Ray asked, referring to his shaggy hair. “You want a little beard left, or what?”

Without hesitating, the man responded, “She married me with nothing on my face I’m willing to go that far,” he said as the audience erupted in “awes,” and supported his willingness to go all the way.

The big reveal

When he finally stepped back out on stage for the big reveal of his makeover, he had completely transformed from rugged and ready to stylish and sophisticated.

The man was freshly shaven with sleek short hair, and was wearing black pants, and a gray sweater that was paired with a black leather jacket.

When he was asked to turn around and look at the big screen that projected his image behind him, he first felt his smooth face and then wiped away his tears.

The camera panned over to his wife, who at the time was watching the jaw-dropping moment from the audience.

After wiping the tears from her eyes, she raced up to the stage and embraced her handsome husband following his makeover.

“You got sexy back,” Lizares said to the man, who was still clutching his wife in his arms.

“I’ve been razzle dazzled,” he joked.

Meanwhile, online fans expressed their absolute shock over his drab to fab transformation, gushing over his amazing reveal.

One netizen writes in the comments section of the YouTube clip, “You cannot imagine it is the same person… wow… sooo handsome, so beautiful…”

“Wow! There was a handsome man hiding under all that hair! And about 10 years younger!” shares another. A third adds, “Wow, he looks so much younger!! Hubba Hubba!! Handsome guy.”

This was such a great clip to watch! The gentleman’s confidence seemed so much greater after seeing his makeover! Please let us know what you think of his transformation and then share this story so we can hear from others!

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Married World Champion skaters killed in DC plane crash

The tragic plane crash in Washington, D.C., involving a passenger plane and a military helicopter, has shaken the entire nation.

The U.S. Figure Skating Association confirmed that skaters, officials, and their family members were on board the flight.

Among those reportedly involved, according to the Russian news agency Tass, were former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

No survivors in tragic the collision

Authorities have stated that no survivors are expected after a tragic midair collision between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter near D.C.’s Reagan National Airport.

On Thursday, the fire and EMS chief confirmed that crews have transitioned to a recovery operation. So far, 28 bodies have been recovered, including 27 from the plane and one from the Black Hawk helicopter, according to ABC News.

Washington Fire Chief John Donnelly referred to the situation as “highly complex,” noting the challenging conditions, including strong winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility in the dark waters.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that around 9:00 PM local time, a passenger plane collided with a U.S. Army helicopter as it was approaching Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Reports indicate that the commercial passenger jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew members, while the military helicopter had three soldiers aboard, reportedly on a training mission.

Disturbing CCTV footage from a nearby building has emerged online, capturing the moment of the collision. A massive explosion of flames erupts on impact, with both aircraft plunging into the Potomac River shortly afterward.

Skaters and coaches among victims

As more details emerge about the tragic crash, pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place regarding who was aboard the plane.

For example, U.S. Figure Skating previously confirmed that several skaters, coaches, and family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp that followed the national championships, which wrapped up Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.

“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”

Later in the day, more details emerged. Two young figure skaters, two of their parents, and two highly-regarded Russian figure skating coaches were among those killed, according to Doug Zeghibe, the chief executive at the Skating Club of Boston.

According to AP, Zeghibe said that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among those killed, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

“This will have long-reaching impacts for our community,” he said during a news conference where he was visibly emotional.

Russian skating legends confirmed dead

Russian news sources also confirmed the tragic loss of former world champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov. The Kremlin confirmed that the renowned pair were aboard the flight. Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov were celebrated skaters in their own right, having won the pairs world title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan.

After their competitive careers, they relocated to the U.S. to pursue coaching, initially at the International Skating Center in Connecticut, and, since 2017, at the Skating Club of Boston.

Reports have indicated that their son, Maxim Naumov, a competitive skater who recently competed in the U.S. Championships in Wichita, might have been on the flight. Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion, has placed fourth at senior nationals for the past three years, just missing the podium this past Sunday while his parents were in the stands at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.

Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, a pair of Russian-born figure skating coaches, had made the U.S. their home since at least 1998.

The couple, who married on August 7, 1995, not only had a personal relationship but also competed together on the ice until 1998.

Both hailing from Soviet Leningrad, Naumov, who was three years older than Shishkova, began skating at the age of 10 in 1979. Shishkova, on the other hand, started skating at 8 and initially trained as a singles skater for three years before switching to pairs and partnering with Naumov, according to Daily Mail.

The figure skating community and fans have expressed their shock and sorrow over the tragic news. One person shared on social media, “I remember them competing. What a tragedy.” Another wrote, “May they all rest in peace.”

Ludmila Velikova, their childhood coach, expressed her deep sorrow at the tragic loss. ”They were my favorite sports people,” Velikova shared with Daily Mail.

”They were part of my first attempt at the world championships and became champions in 1994. They were talented and beautiful people.”

She continued, ”Apart from anything else, they were like my children. Zhenya (Shishkova) trained with me from the age of 11, and Vladik (Naumov) from age 14. What’s happened is awful. The best people have been taken away from us.”

Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragedy. In times like these, it’s the love and support of those around us that help us navigate through unimaginable pain. Let’s hold their memory close and keep their families in our thoughts as we await more updates on this heartbreaking story.

Best Of

When Susan Boyle sang “I Dreamed A Dream,” hearts stopped

Susan Boyle once said she wanted to be as successful as Elaine Paige. As of today, Susan Boyle and Elaine Paige both have the same net worth of $40,000,000. Dreams do come true!

There was no doubt that Susan Boyle was an amazing person. She still lives in the same village she grew up in, and sometimes she casually walk around like she isnt’t famous, even waving to everyone and having friendly conversations. Susan is just as down-to-earth off-camera as she is on.

Now, let’s take a moment to return to a truly memorable event.

On an unforgettable evening in Newcastle, England, Susan Boyle stole the spotlight at the premiere of a musical celebrating her incredible journey.

Dressed in a stunning red outfit

The production, inspired by the Scottish singer’s meteoric rise to fame in her late 50s, transported audiences back to that unforgettable moment in 2009 when Susan’s jaw-dropping performance on a radio talent show left the world in awe.

Though she didn’t play herself in the show, Susan made a heartwarming surprise appearance at the end, performing two songs that left everyone breathless—one of which was her legendary hit, “I Dreamed a Dream.” Dressed in a stunning red outfit and radiating confidence, Susan looked every bit the superstar she is, with the crowd showering her with love and admiration. The cheers rang out, “Susan, we love you,” as tears and smiles filled the room.

This was more than just a performance — it was a testament to her strength, resilience, and the power of following your dreams, no matter your age. It’s moments like these that remind us all that it’s never too late to shine.