CATEGORIES

Should You Text Your Ex?

Or should we hold your phone till tomorrow?

Your 30-Day Fiesta

Inspired by cooks from around the world, these crowd-pleasers are made for sharing.

Plant-Based

These meat-free meals are so fresh and delicious, you’ll want to eat green every day!

Is This The Future Of The Influencer Industry?

These women have millions of Instagram followers, front-row seats at fashion weeks and the latest designer clothes … but they’re not real. This new social-media trend is the most futuristic yet: computer-generated avatars that look, talk and behave like real people. But, asks Hannah-Rose Yee, is this really how the influencer world is going to evolve?

What Throws Your Vag Out Of Whack

Aas the proud owner of a vagina, you’re probably familiar with common down-there issues like STIs, UTIs and yeast infections. But it’s time you started paying closer attention to a more complicated factor in your below-the-belt wellbeing: your vagina’s ph level.

When You Coach Him To Be A Great Bf (…for His Next Gf)

Raise your hand if this has happened to you: you dated a guy when he still had his relationship training wheels on. But after spending months – or years! – with you, he learnt a bunch of important stuff, like how to share his feelings, buy his newborn niece a cute #OOTD, and chase his dreams. And then … he left, only to take his fresh skills (and the clothes you helped him pick out) straight into a rock-solid bond with someone else.

Screen Kweens

Nadia, Mihlali and Jessica are three of the most recognisable names on South African YouTube. More than just filling our feeds with pretty pictures, our cover stars are also video editors, producers and entrepreneurs. COSMO editor Holly Meadows chats vlogs, beauty and building a business with the new A-list of social-media influence.

Why You Can't Let That F-Boy Go

We always want what we don’t have. It might have been Confucius who said that. Or Yoda. Or was it Tiffany Haddish?

5 Calls That Save You Big Bucks

As the saying goes, money talks. And it turns out that using your phone’s calling function (ask a 30-something for a demo) could literally score you extra cash, says Kristin Wong, author of Get Money. Once you have a live person on the line, use these expert-backed openers.

Do You Love Yourself Yet?

Checking in on how the body-positivity movement is impacting women.

4 Out Of 5 Women Will Get HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause genital warts and cervical cancer, and there are more than 200 different types. Two of these strains (16 and 18) cause 70% of cervical cancers and precancerous cervical lesions. I t is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women, and 570 000 new cases were documented worldwide in 2018 (representing 6,6% of all female cancers). Dr S’Vuyile Mayosi and our team of expert doctors answer all your burning questions.

The Real Reason Why Women Quit Pumping

With World Breastfeeding Week celebrated across more than 120 countries at the beginning of August, Holly Meadows investigates why so many young moms quit early on

Keeping Up With The Koreans

Beauty is a religion in South Korea, a place where ‘good’ skin can accelerate your career and off - the -shelf nose jobs are part of growing up. Ingeborg van Lotringen jets in

Are You Dating A Narcissist?

Here’s how to know for sure, because you deserve better

Ask Zipho

COSMO’s senior beauty editor Zipho Ntloko breaks down this month’s most-hyped beauty products and trends

Unapologetically Nadia

Fierce and determined, Nadia Nakai is embracing her musical rebirth. From major fashion moves to shaking up the female hip-hop scene, Nadia (aka Bragga) is here to own her moment.

Your Official Guide To Cancelling Plans

Home is where your heart (and sweatpants and Netflix) is

Smmer According To Thando

Thando Thabethe, aka Thabooty,is our ultimate celeb girl crush. This yearalone she bagged a gripping lead role on Mzansi MagicsHousekeepers, walked at Milan Fashion Weekfor Moschino (GTFO, girl!) and launched her own talk show on TLC.The time is now for Thando, and there isno stopping her hustle. COSMO deputy editor Noxolo Mafu gets thetea on this mega-babes year and an insideguide to the seasons hottest hang-outs, highlights and thecoolest summer-ready wardrobe by Guess.READY, SET,SUMMER!

Gaslighting 101

Plot twists are great. Theres nothing like getting to the end of a movie or book (think The Girl On The Train) and discovering that the doting, charming husband is, in fact, a deceptive psychological abuser. Makes for enthralling TV but IRL, not so much.

Express Workout: Energy HIIT

Feeling sluggish? Try this workout by the man who keeps A-listers on their A-game.

Buh-Bye, Belly Bloat!

Serious SwellingA persistent distended stomach, especially with abdominal pain,vomiting, or rectal or vaginal bleeding, can be a sign of issuessuch as inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers or a bowelobstruction, says gastroenterologist Sophie Balzora. In rare cases,it may even signal cancer so see a doc ASAP.

Gynae Info - The Scary Truth About Holiday Sex

When Margaret * , a 28-year-old nursing student,travelledthrough Europe a few years ago, she did many things outside of her comfort zone like eat hash brownies, skinny-dip in an Italian river and bang a guy she barely knew on the bonnet of a parked car in Switzerland, sans condom. She now blames that last move and the case of chlamydia it led to on #VacationVibes. At home, Id never have unprotected sex with someone Im not in a relationship with, she says.

The Habits That Hold You Back

Heres a memo you need toget:a few seemingly innocuous and totally common workplace behaviours (e.g., being indirect, or hitting the ! key one too many times) can straight-up sabotage your stellar employee status and your potential to get ahead. Women often act a certain way because they dont want to be called aggressive or a bitch, says leadership and communication coach Peggy Klaus, author of Brag! The Art Of Tooting Your Own Horn Without Blowing It. Sadly, having a less assertive or too enthusiastic MO can cause colleagues to view you as unreliable or unprofessional. Breaking these three small habits can help put you on track for long term success.

Shifting Gears

Actress Nomzamo Mbatha has turned her celebrity status into a platform for powerful activism, from humanitarian work with refugees across Africa to tackling mental health, #MeToo and everyday sexism.

WTF Is Mercury Retrograde?

If you’ve heard the term ‘Mercury Retrograde’ but are totally in the dark as to what it actually means, keep reading, girl. We chatted to astrologer Dianne Garven about what it is, and what you should be doing about it

Your Squad Search Ends Here

Anyone can make a #SquadGoals pic look cute on Insta (oh hey, Tay-Tay) – but building a real-life ride-or-die crew can be tricky, especially if you’ve just moved to a new town.

Is Keeping An ‘Ex Box' Ever Okay?

Tucked away somewhere in Kim Kardashian West’s mansion right now is a box that contains an old chicken-nugget carton – just one of the many items that she’s saved from memorable dates and experiences … with guys other than Kanye. ‘Everyone has an ex box,’ she said on an episode of the family’s reality show.

How To Survive A Nasty Hangover At Work

you’re feeling festive and your favourite rooftop party had to be on a week night. you try to leave early but the beat keeps calling you back. here is how you’re going to survive your 9-5 grind the next day

Why You Need An F-You Fund

Top stress sources for South African women? Poverty and social inequality, according to the Ipsos ‘What Worries the World’ 2018 survey. More specifically, it’s not having enough money to avoid poverty. According to a 10X Investments survey, only 35% of South African Millennials are saving for the long term.

The Yacht Girls Of Summer

They’re the 20-something girls who travel firstclass, party like rock stars and showcase their five-star lifestyle on social media. But who’s paying? Jennifer Savin investigates