Kim Kardashian’s Naked Selfie Is Now a 30-Foot Mural

Cortney Clift
Mar 14, 2016

Thought Kim K’s naked selfie debacle was finally over? Well, think again my friends. No, Kim hasn’t taken to social media to share another nude photo. However, the one she did recently post has now been transformed into a giant mural by graffiti artist lushlux in Cremorne, Australia.

The painting is a whopping 30-feet tall and plastered on the side of a print shop. Mashable got in touch with the street artist believed to be behind the racy piece of art who identified him/herself as “Mark Walls” (get it?). Walls told Mashable, he/she was immediately inspired to paint the image after seeing it on Instagram. “Maybe I’m as much of an attention seeker as she is?” Walls writes.

Not surprisingly, some folks are very upset about a larger than life Kim K popping up in their town. Since the mural appeared just two days ago, it has already had paint splashed on it and profanity written in spray paint across the body. Is it the safest piece of art to choose for a 3-story high mural? No, but they say, “art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable,” and this appears to be doing just that.

What are your thoughts on this massive Kim K mural? Share with us on Twitter @BritandCo.

(Feature photo via Vivien Killilea/Getty)

We’re Obsessed With Kourtney Kardashian And Travis Barker’s Blended Family

In the realm of celebrity families, the Kardashians reign supreme. Among them, eldest sister Kourtney Kardashian stands out with her dynamic personality and well-documented (Hello, Keeping Up With The Kardashians!) foray into motherhood. She recently made it known that being a mom is her number one priority, and she won't allow anyone or anything to take her away from that. With that level of dedication, it's clear that Kourtney is an amazing mom with lots of love to give! Here's everything you should know about her sweet kids!

How many biological kids does Kourtney Kardashian have?

Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for MTV/ViacomCBS

Kourtney Kardashian has four biological kids! Their names are Mason, Penelope, Reign, and Rocky. She shares her first three children with ex Scott Disick, and now shares Rocky her current husband, Travis Barker. Kourtney also appears to be very close to her step children, Landon and Alabama Barker.

What is Kourtney Kardashian's new baby's name?

Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images for Tommy Hilfiger

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker announced the birth of their beautiful baby boy on December 22, 2023. His name is Rocky Thirteen Barker, which has a special meaning for Travis' father. Travis told Grazia Magazine that Rocky George was the guitarist for Suicidal Tendencies, and 13 is "just the greatest number of all time."

Will Kourtney Kardashian have a surrogate?

Image via @kourtneykardash/Instagram

According to Daily Mail, Kourtney's pregnancy with Rocky wasn't easy, eventually ending up with a rush to the hospital for urgent fetal surgery. Because of how difficult (and likely traumatizing) that was, Kourtney and Travis have apparently decided to go with a surrogate for any future children they have.

Mason Dash Disick, 14

Images via Instagram/@kimkardashian and Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for Feld Entertainment

Mason Dash Disick, born on December 14, 2009, is Kourtney's first biological child. He's also the first grandchild of the Kardashian family, and his birth was actually filmed for Keeping Up With the Kardashians! His middle name might sound familiar, as it also belongs to the set of stores that Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim previously ran. "Dash" parallels their last name and simultaneously serves as a tribute to their late father's (Robert Kardashian) nickname.

Penelope Scotland Disick, 11

Images via Hulu and Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella

Penelope — often affectionately referred to as "P" — was born on July 8, 2012. She was also born on Keeping Up With the Kardashians and is very close with her famous cousin, North West. They post their hilarious antics all over TikTok, making us miss those childhood mems with our own cousins.

Reign Aston Disick, 9

Image via Instagram/@kourtneykardash

Reign is Kourtney and Scott's youngest child, and he was born on the same day as his older brother Mason! He's nine years old, and seems to bring his big personality wherever he goes. You can find a lot of his goofiness all over Kourt's Instagram.

Rocky Thirteen Barker, 3 months

Image via Instagram/@kourtneykardash

Rocky Thirteen Barker is the latest addition to Kourtney Kardashian's kids! Kourtney was very open about her struggles with conceiving Rocky, as well as the complications that arose during her pregnancy. Thankfully, all worked out well, and now Rocky is living his best life with his parents and siblings!

How many kids does Travis Barker have?

Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Outside of Rocky, Travis Barker shares two biological with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler. He also has a step-daughter named Atiana De La Hoya who he — and Kourtney — are very close with.

Atiana De La Hoya, 24

Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for ABA

Travis Barker's shares his step daughter, Atiana De Le Hoya, with her mother Shanna Moakler. Atiana was born on March 29, 1999, and she's the eldest of the combined Barker-Kardashian clan. Atiana acts, and she recently starred in a thriller called Maya.

Landon Asher Barker, 20

Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Landon Barker was born on October 9, 2003, and is a musician — just like his dad! He's released a number of songs including "Trust" and "Holiday". In June of 2022, Landon began dating Internet celebrity and TikTok star, Charli D'Amelio. Sadly, in February of 2024, the two called it quits. They expressed that they're still friends and still have a lot of love left for one another.

Alabama Luella Barker, 18

Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Spotify

Music must run in the family because Alabama Barker is a budding musician, too! She was born on December 24, 2005, while her family was starring in a reality show called Meet the Barkers. Today, she's still in the spotlight and is very active on TikTok. She posts a lot of her music across her platforms — which have collectively over 3 million followers!

Want to keep up with all your celeb faves better? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter!

Header image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

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George And Amal Clooney's Courtship Included...Letters From His Dog?

George and Amal Clooney are one of the celebrity couples I’d personally be upset over if they ever break up. Like...my heart just wouldn’t be able to handle it because their love story is one for the books — not to mention all the power couple fashion moments we'd miss out on!

I was introduced to George Clooney’s work via Quentin Tarantino’s movieFrom Dusk ‘Til Dawn (thanks, dad) and have always found him to be a force of nature, but I didn’t take him for the ‘settling down’ type. Imagine my surprise when the man who once claimed he’d never get married eventually found himself smitten with Amal Alamuddin, an intelligent Human Rights Lawyer.

Since their fateful first meeting at George’s home years ago, the two have gone on to get married, have children, and even established the Clooney Foundation for Justice together. If you can’t get enough of their relationship either, here’s a full timeline of their love story!

George and Amal Clooney's Full Relationship Timeline

Image via Andrew Goodman/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night

July 2013: George And Amal Clooney’s First Introduction

In 2018, George sat down with David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction to recount various moments from his life, including when he first met Amal. He remembers being at home at Lake Como when one of his friends asked if they could bring a plus one with them.

To make things even wilder, his own agent let him know his bachelor days would soon be over. “I got a call from my agent who called and said, ‘I met this woman who’s coming to your house who you’re gonna marry,’” he said.

Once he met Amal and began talking to her, it was apparent they had chemistry that resulted in them exchanging emails. George told The Hollywood Reporter, “I thought she was beautiful, and I thought she was funny and obviously smart…Then she sent some pictures from when she was here, and we were writing each other, emailing, talking, mostly about what was going on in each other’s lives, and over a period of time it became clear we were more than just friends.”

I’m being dramatic, but I think this dispels the idea that it’s impossible to find love if you don’t leave home.

Image via Cindy Ord/Getty Images

October 2013: George and Amal Have Their First Date

George also told The Hollywood Reporter about how their first official date came to be. He was in London overseeing the music for Monuments Men and decided to invite Amal for a visit. “Then we went for dinner…and when we came out, there were 50 paparazzi there. But she handled it like a champ. And pretty quickly, things escalated once I was in London,” he said

While they dated and got to know each other, they told CBS that they wrote each other letters. While they described that courtship, Amal added that some of the letters George wrote to her came from...his dog? Talk about bringing someone into your inner world! TBH, I'm more than here for it — let your sweet, goofy flag fly, George!

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Turner

April 2014: George and Amal Get Engaged

I always say there’s no denying when you’ve fallen in love with someone, and that couldn’t be more true for George and Amal Clooney who got engaged after six months of dating. Seriously, the way George proposed is something out of a romantic fairytale because he planned it. Not only that, but he cooked for her and sent her on a short scavenger hunt — except she didn’t know she was supposed to be looking for a ring.

He revealed even more details about the moment during his interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I did all the stuff, got down on my knee and did all the things you’re supposed to do. I had a playlist with my Rosemary [Clooney] songs on it, and I was waiting for this song, ‘Why Shouldn’t I,’” he said.

Needless to say, Amal happily accepted his proposal! Ironically,I’m starting to realize there’s not always a set timeline for people to get engaged or married after dating. Some people only date for a few months while others date for years before deciding to get married. It’s all very personal.

Image via Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for BFI

September 2014: George And Amal Clooney Get Married

It wouldn’t be right if the couple didn’t get married in Italy, the country where they first met. Of course they were free to get married wherever they wanted, but leave it to the Clooneys to keep the romance going.

People reported the lovely couple wed at the Aman Canal Grande resort and guests like Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and John Krasinski were in attendance.

Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images

January 2015: George and Amal Grace the Red Carpet Together

For the first time ever, George and Amal Clooney made an appearance on the red carpet at the beginning of 2015. They attended the Golden Globes together where George received the famed lifetime achievement award.

Towards the end of his speech, George praised Amal in only a way that a man truly in love with his wife could. He said, "You make every single day — every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — feel as special as tonight..."

Image via Duncan McGlynn/Getty Images

Late 2016: George and Amal Found the Clooney Foundation for Justice

By 2016, George and Amal Clooney decided to found the Clooney Foundation for Justice — an organization that aims to shed light around social injustices found across the globe. They've prioritized spending their own money to help those in need without a second thought and have even donated to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Image via Clemens Bilan/Getty Images

February 2017: PEOPLE confirms George and Amal are expecting twins

Almost three years after getting married, a source close to George and Amal Clooney revealed the two were expecting a baby together. They told People, "They’re all very happy," referring to the couple's family.

George later revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that he was shocked when he discovered the couple would actually become parents to twins. He recalled their experience in the ultrasound room. "He goes, 'Well, there's one.' And I said, 'Great.' And then he goes, 'And there's the second one.' And I was like, 'What?' We just sat there, staring at that piece of paper they give you, and I kept thinking there was a mistake," he said of the exchange between the doctor and the couple.

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

June 2017: George and Amal Clooney Welcome Their Twins

People also reported the birth of George and Amal Clooney's twins — Alexander and Ella — during the summer of 2017. "This morning Amal and George welcomed Ella and Alexander Clooney into their lives. Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and doing fine. George is sedated and should recover in a few days," they revealed in lighthearted joint statement.

September 2017: George and Amal Clooney Make Their First Appearance After Becoming Parents

Later that year, George and Amal Clooney graced the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival in support of George's film Suburbicon. George — an ever dapper gentleman — wore a classic black tuxedo while Amal wore a lilac Versace gown.

Image via Gareth Fuller - WPA Pool/Getty Images

May 2018: George and Amal attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding

Things were quiet for the couple until the spring of 2018. They attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's highly publicized wedding. They were just a few of the celebrities that were seen in the crowd.

Image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

February 2022: George and Amal accept the Catalyst Award together

A couple of years later, George and Amal Clooney were the proud recipients of the joint Catalyst Award from the Elevate Prize Foundation. The amazing work they'd been doing in connection with the Clooney Foundation for Justice hadn't gone unnoticed and they were praised for their amazing philanthropic work.

While accepting the award, George gave a moving speech about their foundation's purpose. "One of the Elevate Prize Foundation's core values is human safety and freedom...Our goal at the foundation is to free the innocent and punish the guilty. I think we're both inspired by the young people out there challenging injustice in their communities, a new generation that won't accept the status quo," he said.

Image via Joe Maher/Getty Images

September 2022: George and Amal attend London premiere of Ticket to Paradise

The couple then attended the London premiere of Ticket to Paradise where they looked refreshed and glowy. This is my attempt to be appropriate, but they truly looked smoking h-o-t!This time George wore a three-piece suit while Amal stunned in beautiful slip dress.

Image via Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

October 17, 2022: George and Amal attend Ticket to Paradise Los Angeles premiere

They then attended the L.A. premiere of Ticket to Paradise where George looked debonair in a grey suit. Amal wore a gorgeous Alexander McQueen number that was an appropriate nod to the film's paradise theme.

Image via Mike Coppola/Getty Images

December 3, 2022: George and Amal Attend The Kennedy Center Honors

George and Amal Clooney attended the Kennedy Center Honors where he, along with honorees, received a nod for lifetime achievements. They were a picture of perfection on the red carpet, especially Amal. She dazzled in a lovely Valentino gown that looked amazing on her frame.

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images


August 31, 2023: The Couple Attend The DVF Awards in Venice

While attending the DVF Awards in Venice, Amal received the DVF Leadership Award. During her acceptance speech, Amal thanked George for being by her side. People reports she said, "Venice is the place where almost nine years ago we were married. I just wanted to say, you, my love, like this city, take my breath away, and you make our lives magical. It is sometimes hard to believe you exist, so thank you for being the brightest light in my life.”

September 28, 2023: George and Amal host The Albies

Before the end of 2023, People reported George and Amal Clooney hosted their foundation's second annual Albies at the New York Public Library to continue highlighting the importance of securing human rights for all.

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Header image via Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

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Timothée Chalamet And Kylie Jenner Shared A Sweet Kiss At The 2024 Golden Globes

Of all the rumors that emerged this year, Timothée Chalamet x Kylie Jenner dating rumor was one that got us going. Her, a highly-decorated makeup and reality TV mogul, and him, an award-winning and frequently thirsted-over actor – it was just too far fetched!

But, my longstanding suspicions were proven so terribly wrong when the duo went public with a slew of steamy kisses. Where it all took place? None other than Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, which is equally iconic and confusing. Since then, the couple has been seen together in public from the stands at Coco Gauff's US Open Finals game to a Saturday Night Live afterparty, and most recently, the 2024 Golden Globes.

Though I love relishing in this pair's love, I can't help but wonder: How did this unlikely couple come together? What *exactly* led up to the hard launch? Well, question no more – below, a comprehensive timeline of Timothée and Kylie’s relationship, which some are calling a “hot romance,” and others deeming it more “fun and uncomplicated.”

January 2023

Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner reportedly met for the first time in January 2023. The pair was spotted together at a John Paul Gaultier fashion show during Paris Couture Week, and their interaction was published (and subsequently amplified) by blind items outlet, Deuxmoi, via Instagram Stories.

This came not long after Jenner had made her official break with longtime boyfriend, Travis Scott. They still share two children, Stormi, 5, and Aire Webster, 1.

April 2023

The aforementioned dating rumors began after a few instances between the couple went public. First, one of Jenner’s cars was photographed parked outside of Chalamet’s home in Beverly Hills.

Later in April, the pair also allegedly grabbed tacos from a stand together in Santa Monica, enjoying them in the backseat of Jenner’s Range Rover.

At the time, an insider told Peoplethat the two were “getting to know each other.” Another told Us Weekly that they had only hung out “a couple of times” and “things [weren’t] that serious.” Despite it all, Jenner reportedly “[liked] what she [saw]” and her and Timmy had “good chemistry.”

Between April, May, and June of 2023, the couple were simply enjoying “casually seeing each other,” according to Entertainment Tonight.

August 2023

Gasp!

Timothée and Kylie supposedly broke up – though sources covering the news were contradicting one another.

While Life & Stylereported their alleged breakup, TMZ dispelled the claims, with one insider affirming that “everything is cool between the two [and] they're still an item.”

Throughout the fall, their relationship remained very casual and the duo was staying out of the public eye.

September 2023

All of that brings us to Labor Day 2023, when Timmy and Kylie popped up extremely publicly at the Beyoncé concert. This was the first time we saw some PDA from the two, and it sent the internet into a spiral.

Many a social media post was made, documenting the couple’s kissing and hugging escapades in a VIP area.

Photo by Mike Stobe / Stringer / Getty Images Sport

The weekend after the concert, Timmy and Kylie were spotted sitting in the stands at the US Open Finals in New York. Pictures taken of the two included shots of them with their arms around the other, them kissing, and taking pictures of each other in the stands.

November 2023

In November, Timothée hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live alongside musical guest boygenius. While fans expected to see Kylie in the audience, she actually joined him for the afterparty to celebrate his performance.

December 2023

Kylie and Timmy have been happy ever since. According to a source that spoke with People, Kylie has confidently declared Timothée as her boyfriend.

The pair is "incredibly happy" as they both show support to one another's careers and endeavors.

“He is very supportive of her career and she of his,” the source said. “They both try to attend important events for each other.”

The inside source also noted that Timothée is “in awe of everything [Kylie] is accomplishing” and “especially thinks she is an amazing mom.” So sweet!

January 2024

Timothée and Kylie attended the 81st Golden Globes (their first awards show as a couple) on January 7. Timmy was nominated for Best Leading Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his role in the chart-toppingWonka. The two didn't step out together on the red carpet, but Kylie was there to support Timothée during the rest of the ceremony.

The pair was spotted getting real comfortable together, even sharing a quick kiss that ended up on screen. So cute!

Are Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner dating?

Yes, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner are officially dating as of September 2023.

How old are Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner?

Timothée Chalamet is 27 years old and Kylie Jenner is 26 years old.

What do you think about this unexpected pairing? Let us know @BritandCo!

Lead photos by Amy Sussman and Ethan Miller / Getty Images.

This post has been updated.

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Desperate For Long Nails? How To Finally Make Your Nails Grow Faster

Nails breaking constantly? Wishing you didn't have to rely on tips at the salon? Desperate for that long nail look? You’re not alone. Despite it being used as an annoying and vapid phrase women would say in TV shows, breaking a nail is very painful and can ruin a (usually expensive) manicure. But don’t fret — we’ve rounded up five simple ways to get your nails to grow longer and stronger.

What causes weak fingernails?

Photo by cottonbro studio/PEXELS

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

  • Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
  • Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
  • Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
  • Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Photo by Karolina Grabowska/PEXELS

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

  • Cuticle oil
  • Biotin
  • Diet
  • Nail protection
  • Avoid picking and peeling
Here's why each factor is important, plus how you can go about successfully achieving them.

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

Photo via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

“Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Photo via Daniella Cappellari/Dupe

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Photo via Sash Gabriel/Dupe

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

Looking for more beauty tips and inspo? Be sure to sign up for our weekly email newsletter for more!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Laura Walt/Dupe

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Yulin Kuang’s Debut Novel “How To End A Love Story” Is Summer's Hottest Book Club Pick

I've got a thing for Reese Witherspoon's book club which is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on Yulin Kuang's debut novel How to End a Love Story. Chosen as Reese's Book Club's May Pick, it features a romance that almost shouldn't make sense. I mean, when's the last time you realized you trauma bonded with someone? Except Helen Zhang and Grant Shepard's character arcs as well as the entire plot of How to End a Love Story doesn't even feel like that.

Instead, Yulin uncannily peels back the layers of what it means to be a layered human being who happens to be carrying trauma, talent, success, imposter syndrome, and burning desire in their hearts. Even that doesn't scratch the surface of who Helen and Grant are. Trying to capture their essence feels like I'm stumbling over my words which points to how great this novel is and that means Yulin's goal has been accomplished.

Though she loves perfectly executed rom-coms and is fortunate to be working on them in the filmmaking space, she doesn't consider How to End a Love Story as one. "...I was searching for something more aligned with the Brontë sensibility of romance in the writing of this book. Less warmth and charm, more id-level storytelling and unchecked carnal desire," she explains.

Yulin Kuang's Journey To "How To End A Love Story"

Image via Zach Wallnau

Some people seem to be born knowing they're destined to right, but some of us stumble into it and realize, "Hey, I'm pretty good at this." For Yulin, her journey to her debut novel How to End a Love Story takes the latter route. Her first dream, you make ask? To be an Olympic figure skater.

"...that didn't pan out so I turned to storytelling," Yulin admits. That pivot led her to set her sights on becoming an author as she began honing her creative writing skills via your classic marble composition notebooks. If you're still wondering if she kept some of them, the answer is yes!

The screenwriter and author then found herself drawn to other aspects of writing and film. She says, "I eventually fell in love with screenwriting and directing while in undergrad at Carnegie Mellon, and I spent my first decade post-grad concentrating on my filmmaking career."

Yulin Kuang's Approach To Filmmaking

It's a reason why her hard work and the stars aligned for her to adapt Emily Henry's Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation.

When I ask what helps her approach the book-to-film trajectory, she credits writing fan fiction. This feels similar to Christina Lauren's own experience, further proving that fan fiction deserves the utmost praise for helping some of the best literary and film minds who ultimately birth what I could only describe as masterpieces.

Yulin says, "Fan fiction is where I first learned you could play with characters originated by someone else to discover what you’d make them do in your own version." Although it would be easy for anyone to snap their fingers and have their first pitches accepted by everyone, she learned to lean on what writing fan fiction taught her.

"Early in my career, I would pitch on book-to-film adaptations and I’d be like, 'Change nothing, just shoot the book!' And I wouldn’t get those jobs, because I didn’t have a clear “take” and because you can’t actually just shoot a book – adaptation is an art form unto itself. So onceI started approaching adaptation with more of a fan fiction mindset – 'What is my take on these characters and this world?' – that helped me approach the book-to-screen trajectory more successfully," she proudly says.

However, this doesn't mean she never questioned if she could still find ways to create new ideas. "...in 2021, at a time when everything else I was working on was an adaptation, I found myself wondering if I had anything original left within me," she remembers.

It's natural for creatives to experience moments of doubt, but Yulin has been able to turn the tide and discover untapped ideas in her mind. Just don't expect her to set her own expectations about any adaptations she's working on.

She says, "Know that I am an avid reader of romance and a frequent consumer of this genre across mediums, and I will be bringing everything I know going into these adaptations. But more specifically to Beach Read, which I have more creative ownership over as the writer/director."

How Yulin Kuang Relates To Her Main Characters In "How To End A Love Story"

And since How to End a Love Story is truly Yulin's own creative body of work, it makes sense that main characters Helen and Grant have pieces of her personality as well as her characteristics.

"I gave Helen all my hopes and insecurities from high school and gave her the alternate universe path where I had pursued publishing instead of Hollywood. I examined what might have happened if I’d grown into certain qualities I’ve actively tried to grow away from," she says of Helen Zhang.

Right away, readers get the sense that Helen is a whip-smart and hardworking, but her penchant for being cautious about her success also peeks through. Though she's written highly successful YA (read: young adult) novels, Helen waits with bated breath for the moment people will call her bluff. She's relatable because many of us wonder if we're simply cosplaying as versions of ourselves who've reached any level of success.

On the other hand, there's Grant Shepard. He's seemingly this cool, calm, and collected screenwriter who has a complicated past with Helen. Yulin says, "I gave Grant a lot of the qualities I’m proud of and/or have coveted as a working screenwriter, and I certainly relate to many of his thoughts on screenwriting and the current state of our industry."

The more the reader learns about Helen and Grant, the more it becomes obvious that there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they are complicated...but who isn't?

"At their core, Helen and Grant are just two kids from Jersey trying to make it in Hollywood, and of course I relate deeply to that," she says.

Yulin Kuang's View Of Rom-Coms

Based on Yulin's genuine interest in romance novels and the fact she's well-versed in adapting them, she knows what it takes to make rom-coms flourish. Her first take? "Romantic tension is key to any romance – I always need to know why our couple can’t be together now. The second that tension is gone, so is audience interest," she points out.

This explains why we can't get enough of reading books about it, listening to albums dedicated to it, or watching films that depict all levels of romance. Still, there are some people who approach the genre with a side eye.

"There seems to be a natural human suspicion of things that make us feel too good – like, 'That can’t possibly be good for us, that’s just candy!' I wonder if it’s something evolutionary at work," she says before doubling down. "You can’t argue with the fact that people absolutely fucking love rom-coms, and I will die on the hill that a well-earned happily ever after is both harder to achieve and more narratively satisfying when it’s pulled off successfully."

She's the type of writer who really appreciates a big kiss that's handled correctly onscreen, but she's also not afraid to "groan every time it's fumbled." But, she knows everyone still won't see romance the way she and so many others view it, but she doesn't really care.

"Ultimately, I don’t concern myself too much with changing minds that don’t want to be changed.There are enough smart people who recognize the power and value of rom-coms, and I’d rather spend my precious time creating art to surprise and delight the people with good taste."

Need I say that this is yet another reason why How to End a Love Story works so well?

How Yulin Kuang Wishes The World Would Celebrate AAPI Month

As much as she's vocal about screenwriting and rom-coms, Yulin also has thoughts about the way society-at-large talks about BIPOC creative artists. "There’s a real, 'This is important, eat your vegetables,' vibe to things. And while that might be true, it’s not the most appealing way to market or discover art," she says.

She admits this could be due to how many diversity-in-film panels she's attended. As a Black woman, the conversations I see every year during Black History Month seem to have a certain "Let's check this box so everyone can be happy" vibe, so I can imagine attending panels about diversity and inclusion can start to sound repetitive after awhile.

Yulin doesn't hold back when she says, "I’m a little jaded when people ask me diversity questions at this point. I don’t want to attract the kind of readers who are only showing up to be supportive of my Asian-ness. It’s a bit like showing up to a date where someone says, 'I’m so excited that you’re Asian!!!'" This is an analogy I can so get behind because it makes a lot of sense!

It's one thing to have representation, but I like to think it's always obvious when people are approaching the conversation in a way that 'others' BIPOC people. We're literally not asking for a trophy, but more so an acknowledgement that we shouldn't be excluded from conversations, spaces, and careers or treated differently.

This sentiment is shared by Yulin who says, "That’s the thing about me that I didn’t do on purpose, and while I’m glad you’re excited, I hope there are things that I did do on purpose that you find exciting, too" and feels there is a way to be a genuine ally.

"...support AAPI creatives by all means, and perhaps begin by celebrating us as individual artists even after the designated month ends. And where applicable, talk about our work like it’s candy, not vegetables. I’d rather be irresistible than important," she states.

Take a page from Yulin Kuang's book and pick up a copy of How to End a Love Story today! You won't regret it!

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