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Olivia Petter

Senior Lifestyle Writer@oliviapetter1

Olivia Petter is an award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster based in London. She is a columnist at The Independent and has also written for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, British Vogue, Stylist, and Grazia, among others. She hosted The Independent’s chart-topping Millennial Love podcast (later renamed Love Lives) for six years. In 2023, she was named one of Forbes’ ‘30 under 30’. She wrote her first book, Millennial Love, in 2021, which was followed by her debut novel, Gold Rush, in 2024. Both books were published by 4th Estate. Olivia is represented by Emma Leong at Janklow & Nesbit.

<p>The threats that Instagram poses to teenagers are the same as the ones they pose to us. They’re just magnified</p>
Lifestyle

Instagram would’ve ruined my childhood if I’d had it as a teen

<p>‘The French president sprays ‘industrial amounts’ of Dior’s Eau Sauvage each day as some sort of deliberate assertion of power’</p>
Voices

Tone it down, Macron – men drowning in fragrance is a total turnoff

<p>Reserved for someone important: restaurants are increasingly holding back tables for VIPs and influencers – sometimes at the expense of regular diners</p>
Food & Drink

Inside the covert restaurant booking system ranking guests every day

<p>Hot ’n’ cold: contrast therapy involves shuttling between saunas and icy plunges</p>
Lifestyle

Before shelling out for contrast therapy, try this first

<p> Sofia Carson as Alex and Kyle Allen as Brad in Netflix’s ‘The Life List’</p>
Lifestyle

Four questions to ask yourself if you think you’re in love

<p>Contrast therapy involves alternating between an icy plunge pool and a sauna</p>
Lifestyle

Is costly ‘contrast therapy’ worth it?

<p>‘The burden is definitely not lost on me – the gumption of some English lad turned up to play the quintessential Welsh hero’</p>
Features

Harry Lawtey on playing Richard Burton: ‘Acting embarrassed him’

<p>Monogamy is no longer a superior relationship, according to a new study</p>
Voices

Ever thought about a throuple? Here’s why you might want to try it

<p>Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury of ‘Love Island’ had a very public breakup last year</p>
Lifestyle

The answer to your messy love life may be the ‘quiet breakup’

<p>Gwyneth Paltrow</p>
Voices

Gwyneth Paltrow’s views on intimacy coordinators betray her kind

<p>Why are women without children encouraged to resent those with them?</p>
Lifestyle

Babies shouldn’t be ruining your friendships

<p>Research shows that Gen Z is more divided than any other generation on gender equality</p>
Lifestyle

Why Gen Z is less woke than you think

<p>‘Working from home also means not having to commute so frequently, and rarely during rush hour – a real bonus that allows me to skip suffocating Tube carriages’</p>
Voices

Why I’d never be able to return to full-time office working

Voices

Why I’d never be able to return to full-time office working

<p>‘Working from home also means not having to commute so frequently, and rarely during rush hour – a real bonus that allows me to skip suffocating Tube carriages’</p>
<p></p>
Lifestyle

Why it’s time to rethink cheating

<p>The prosecution told the court on Thursday how Kyle Clifford searched for an Andrew Tate podcast less than 24 hours before the attack in Bushey</p>
Voices

The ‘manosphere’ goes beyond Andrew Tate – Kyle Clifford proves it

<p></p>
Lifestyle

Are female celebrities feeding a culture of secrecy around tweakments?

<p>Paying for porn legitimises the industry, giving it a set of standards to abide by that moderate what can and cannot be shown</p>
Voices

Why it’s time we banned free porn

<p>Paying for porn legitimises the industry, giving it a set of standards to abide by that moderate what can and cannot be shown</p>
Voices

Why it’s time we banned free porn

<p>The belle of the gall: real narcissistic traits can be hard to spot in a world of increasing self-interest</p>
Lifestyle

Have we misunderstood narcissists?

<p>Harris Reed</p>
Lifestyle

What London Fashion Week turning to black says about our national mood

<p>Sinead Gorey’s AW2025 collection is a homage to the morning after the night before</p>
Fashion

Cigarettes and KFC on the catwalk: London Fashion Week’s hangover chic

<p>Richard Quinn’s AW25 show took place on a snow-filled runway</p>
Fashion

London Fashion Week reflects dystopic doom with notable lack of colour

<p>‘The case surrounding Mangione is, in many ways, the most brazen display of misogyny anyone could ask for’</p>
Voices

Luigi Mangione highlights our fetishisation of ‘dangerous’ men

<p>Will we soon see the rise of the £10 sandwich?</p>
Features

The rise of the ludicrously expensive sandwich

<p>Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan star in ‘The White Lotus’ season three</p>
Lifestyle

The most relatable thing in The White Lotus is toxic female friendship

<p>‘My biggest concern was that my colleagues thought I was a good actress’: Marisa Abela is nominated for a Bafta Rising Star</p>
Features

Marisa Abela ‘wasn’t at all prepared for the reaction to playing Amy’

<p>Will we soon see the rise of the £10 sandwich?</p>
Features

The rise of the ludicrously expensive sandwich

<p>Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan star in ‘The White Lotus’ season three</p>
Lifestyle

The most relatable thing in The White Lotus is toxic female friendship

<p>‘My biggest concern was that my colleagues thought I was a good actress’: Marisa Abela is nominated for a Bafta Rising Star</p>
Features

Marisa Abela ‘wasn’t at all prepared for the reaction to playing Amy’

<p></p>
Voices

This outrageous new ad is proof that body positivity was a lie

Voices

This outrageous new ad is proof that body positivity was a lie

<p></p>
<p>With romcoms and advertising hounding our idea of Valentine’s Day, it can be hard to know how to show your partner you care</p>
Lifestyle

Eight date ideas for couples who hate Valentine’s Day

<p>Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson in time-traveller romcom ‘About Time’</p>
Lifestyle

9 things you’re doing wrong in dating – you will be guilty of one

<p>Renée Zellweger in ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’<a href="https://www.universalpictures.co.uk/micro/bridget-jones"></a></p>
Lifestyle

The realities of diving back into dating as a widow

<p>The bakery chain sparked backlash when it made changes to a grade II-listed building in Lewes</p>
Voices

Gail’s has done far worse than tamper with an old building – trust me

<p>The bakery chain sparked backlash when it made changes to a grade II-listed building in Lewes</p>
Voices

Gail’s has done far worse than tamper with an old building – trust me

<p>Common types of pigmentation are melasma, post-acne marks and solar lentigines from UV exposure </p>
Skincare

Best skincare products for hyperpigmentation 2025, tried and tested

<p>Bianca Censori and Ye at the Grammy Awards on Sunday</p>
Lifestyle

How far does Bianca Censori have to go for someone to intervene?

<p>‘These are minor incidents but put together they cultivate an unsafe environment’</p>
Voices

Of course women suffer ‘gym-phobia’ – has anyone been in one lately?

<p>Some are calling Blue’s stunt a bizarre cash grab while others have called it a trauma response</p>
Women

Bonnie Blue isn’t the problem: it’s the men who want to sleep with her

<p>‘Carpenter, with her awards and record-breaking industry achievements, is the one having the last laugh’</p>
Voices

I love it when older guys tell younger women what to wear – don’t you?

Lifestyle

Blue Monday is rubbish: Why January is the best month of the year

<p>‘I can see the appeal of a boyfriend who behaves exactly as you’ve programmed him to. They’d never let you down. What’s not to love?’ </p>
Voices

I understand why people are falling for ChatGPT boyfriends

<p>It’s common to hear stories of recovering bulimics, as well as those with anorexia, accessing Ozempic through back channels</p>
Lifestyle

How Ozempic is being misused and worsening eating disorders

<p>Bedroom ayes: being present can help couples increase their pleasure </p>
Lifestyle

5 things you’re doing wrong in the bedroom

<p>Social media has taken over weddings </p>
Voices

Weddings shouldn’t be just another social media post

<p>The inventor of pilates famously said: ‘In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a new body’ </p>
Lifestyle

Did one month of reformer pilates cure my back pain?

Lifestyle

Did one month of reformer pilates cure my back pain?

<p>The inventor of pilates famously said: ‘In 10 sessions you’ll feel the difference, in 20 you’ll see the difference, and in 30 you’ll have a new body’ </p>
<p>The Beverly Hills Hotel has played host to many stars </p>
California

The gilded life of a legendary movie-star hotel

<p>The Duchess of Sussex shared the trailer for her new Netflix show ‘With Love, Meghan’ on Instagram </p>
Voices

Oh, Meghan – we expected more from you than ‘trad wife’

Women

The real reason why Demi Moore’s Golden Globes speech is going viral

<p>How can you tell if someone you’re dating reciprocates your interest rather than simply keeping you as an option, or using you to boost their ego?</p>
Love & Sex

How to tell if someone you’re dating actually likes you

<p>How can you tell if someone you’re dating reciprocates your interest rather than simply keeping you as an option, or using you to boost their ego?</p>
Love & Sex

How to tell if someone you’re dating actually likes you

<p>Justin Baldoni has denied allegations outlined in a lawsuit filed by his ‘It Ends With Us’ co-star, Blake Lively</p>
Voices

Baldoni has built a career on feminism – but does it all mean nothing?

<p>They say that every romantic interaction can be meaningful, however fleeting it may be</p>
Lifestyle

This is how you’ll be dating in 2025

<p>Tired all the time: there’s a range of reasons you may feel constantly sleepy, but it’s important to identify the cause and try to counteract it </p>
Health & Families

This is the reason you feel tired all of the time

<p>Electrolytes ‘help maintain fluid balance, support nerve transmission, and aid muscle function, including heart contractions’ </p>
Lifestyle

Electrolytes are everywhere. But do they actually work?

<p>‘Wicked’ star Ethan Slater and Dr Lilly Jay (left), and Ariana Grande (right), who is now dating Slater </p>
Voices

The hidden message in Lilly Jay’s essay about Ethan Slater

<p>‘Eclectic, cool and creative people have always appreciated Guinness’ </p>
Features

How Guinness became the drink of the year – and the pubs ran dry

<p>A trip to Selfridges took a sinister turn, yet no one seemed to care </p>
Voices

A man walked into my changing room – what happened next was shocking

<p>Festive food expectations can be triggering for those with eating disorders </p>
Lifestyle

The relentless struggle of Christmas with an eating disorder

<p>‘A quarter-zip is an afterthought, something you sling on because it’s the first thing you spotted in your wardrobe’ </p>
Lifestyle

Quarter-zip jumpers are fashion’s greatest sin

<p>Olivia Petter fears the slippery slope of Botox </p>
Voices

All the things I’m doing to my face to avoid Botox

Women

Fertility is two-tier system, and single women are paying the price

Women

Fertility is two-tier system, and single women are paying the price

<p>Let’s get digital: sales of digital cameras are up 50 per cent this year </p>
Fashion

How 20-year-old digital cameras became a night-out necessity

Fashion

Sequins at a Christmas party? I wouldn’t be caught dead in them

<p>‘When we are exploring the possibilities of how we might connect, sexually, and romantically, it can often be a complex, ongoing navigation towards finding common ground’ </p>
Lifestyle

There is a difference between consent and enthusiastic consent

Voices

Is OnlyFans really ‘female empowerment’ – or is it damaging to women?

Voices

Is OnlyFans really ‘female empowerment’ – or is it damaging to women?

<p>New research suggests Gen Z daters are falling out of love with dating apps </p>
Voices

Why dating apps are just no match for a real life meet cute

<p>Launched in 2015, Simone’s eponymous nostalgia-fuelled outerwear brand has acquired cult status among A-list stars</p>
Features

Why this ‘it girl’ winter coat has taken the fashion world by storm

<p>Have you been ‘sledged’? Or are you the ‘sledger’? </p>
Voices

Dating is already treacherous – let’s not add ‘sledging’ to the mix

<p>‘For women, the festive season often means fear. Or at least, more fear than that which we already carry around in our daily lives’ </p>
Lifestyle

Christmas means women have to spend more time and money to stay safe

<p>Ho-ho-how much? The mark-up on seasonal cups is astonishing </p>
Features

Inside the big Christmas coffee rip-off

<p>British Vogue’s Chioma Nnadi recently spoke up about runway fashion’s return to skinniness </p>
Voices

Why fashion is going backwards when it comes to women’s bodies

<p>Olivia Rodrigo asks her dates an oddly specific question </p>
Voices

I’m with Olivia Rodrigo: men who dream of space travel are red flags

<p>Dua Lipa was named the second-weathiest Brit under 30 in Heat magazine’s annual list</p>
Voices

Young people who make it big have won life’s lottery

Food and Drink

The symbolic foods eaten during the festival of Diwali

<p>Liam Payne and Maya Henry photographed in 2019</p>
Lifestyle

Grief is complex – but why are people targeting Liam Payne’s ex?

<p>‘There’s a reason the internet’s golden non-couple has us all in a digital chokehold’ </p>
Voices

If you want to flirt, you need to watch this video of Andrew Garfield

<p>The most common issues are housemates who don’t clean up after themselves and those who steal food without asking or replacing it, according to a survey</p>
Lifestyle

The everyday horror of living with a housemate who hates you

<p>Sexual harassment cases haven’t relented in the wake of #MeToo </p>
Women

Why have we stopped talking about sexual harassment?

<p>Whatever the contraceptive method, birth control usually feels like a woman’s responsibility</p>
Voices

Contraceptive side effects have put women like me off the pill forever

<p>There’s a reason you ought to wash your bedsheets once a week</p>
Lifestyle

What happens when you don’t wash your bedsheets

<p>Watch out: ticks about</p>
Health & Families

What is Lyme disease, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated?

<p>Whatever the contraceptive method, birth control usually feels like a woman’s responsibility</p>
Voices

Contraceptive side effects have put women like me off the pill forever

<p>There’s a reason you ought to wash your bedsheets once a week</p>
Lifestyle

What happens when you don’t wash your bedsheets

<p>Watch out: ticks about</p>
Health & Families

What is Lyme disease, what are the symptoms and how can it be treated?

<p>Young women shouldn’t need to provide ‘proof’ of period pain </p>
Women

The proof that medical misogyny starts in school

<p>Noah is basically the ideal man – but what about the show’s Jewish women? </p>
Voices

Nobody Wants This is sexist and disrespectful to Jewish women like me

<p>Alice Webb died after a suspected ‘cosmetic procedure’</p>
Voices

Our obsession with beauty is becoming fatal

<p>It’s easy to see how safety-informed surveillance could slip into something more toxic, eliciting paranoia and mistrust from a partner</p>
Lifestyle

The dark side of tracking your partner’s phone

News

Phillip Schofield breaks silence over ‘disgraceful’ TV return

Fashion

Bella Hadid has made a fashion comeback

<p>Former Harrods owner Mohamed al-Fayed has been accused of raping five women and sexually abusing at least 15 others</p>
Voices

Women are finally speaking out. Is this the second coming of Me Too?

<p>Ban this bike!: a woman is photographed riding a Lime bike, presumably annoying many in the process</p>
Lifestyle

I can’t imagine anything worse than riding a Lime bike – here’s why

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