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Whether you’re a seasoned instructor, a sought-after club manager, or a fitness fanatic, at FIBO USA you’ll find what you need to reach your fitness goals. With cutting-edge group fitness classes, future-focused education, electric interactive experiences, and an exhibit hall featuring the freshest innovations shaping the marketplace, you’ll be ready to move to the next level. FIBO USA is an industry summit, education program, and fitness festival all in one heart-pounding experience. Backed by the long-running success of FIBO Global Fitness—one of the world’s leading event for the fitness industry—comes to Miami each year to help you enhance your health and fitness performance, both personally and professionally. When will FIBO USA Miami Beach be held? The event is scheduled to be held on November 6-8, 2020. Where will FIBO USA be held? Miami Beach Convention Center located at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 For more info visit www.fibo-usa.com Words by Miami Living Magazine

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) creators of the popular “Miami Spice Restaurant Months” program, launched the ‘Miami Eats. Order Out, Help Out’ program to support local restaurants suffering from the downturn in business created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched on March 20, 2020, the program now has more than 1000 participating restaurants. ‘Miami Eats’ has now partnered with ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’, a non-profit, donation-based organization, founded by philanthropist and Miami resident Will Osborne and his son, restaurateur Mac Osborne. ‘Meals for Heroes Miami’, also created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, launched on April 1, 2020.  It seeks to meet two complementary objectives; to feed stressed and exhausted first responders risking their lives daily and provide revenue and protect jobs at Miami restaurants. “Miami is a city built on the hospitality industry, which is being crushed by this pandemic.  This is a fight that is going to be won by our healthcare frontline workers, in conjunction with our first responders.  These three constituencies, hospitality, healthcare, and fire/EMS/police need our support.  Purchasing meals to deliver to these stressed professionals is a sign of support from a grateful community” commented Founder Will Osborne. “The GMCVB is proud to align the ‘Miami Eats’ program with the ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ initiative,” said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President & CEO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Miami Eats was born from the Bureau’s commitment to drive demand for the hospitality industry. As the heroes of this community, we could think of no better group than first responders to be recipients of Miami’s best take-out and delivery food providers and with the full force of the bureau’s marketing efforts already in place, there is a great opportunity for ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ to utilize the platform of ‘Miami Eats’ to help drive donations to “Meals for Heals, Miami’ so they can expand their efforts”. HOW IT WORKS ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ reaches out to hospitals and testing centers to determine their needs. In partnership with local restaurants, orders are placed for 50 to 500 meals daily to be delivered to each facility. Restaurant partners take all necessary precautions outlined by the CDC, and working with each facility, ensure a contact-less delivery of the meals. Frontline recipients to date include Mount Sinai Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami Baptist Hospital, Miami Baptist Miami Beach, and the Miami Beach Fire Department among others. In addition to the support of the marketing efforts of the GMCVB through its ‘Miami Eats’ program, ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ will also have the support of the City of Miami Beach, which will promote the initiative to their residents. “As our healthcare workers and first responders work tirelessly to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge the community to consider donating to  ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ —  which allows these essential workers to be fed on the frontlines by our local restaurants while keeping workers employed” said Mayor Dan Gelber. “Giving back to others in this way has another much needed consequence: keeping many of our beloved eateries in business and their staff working.” Additional GMCVB initiatives include; Hotels for Essential Lodgers, a comprehensive list of hotels open for Essential Lodgers during the crisis; Miami Salutes, an initiative calling on restaurants and retailers to extend special offers to heroic frontline and first responders; Help for Tourism, a web page providing the industry and other GMCVB partners a look at how to secure assistance; Virtual Miami, a web portal dedicated to showcasing local virtual events, webcams, video’s showcasing neighborhoods, attractions, museums and experiences that make Greater Miami a world-class destination, as well as unique downloadable backgrounds that capture the beauty and diversity of Greater Miami for remote meetings; and the Miami Pandemic Response Fund, a partnership between the GMCVB, United Way of Miami-Dade, Miami Herald/Nuevo Herald, Health Foundation of South Florida and The Miami Foundation to create a $500,000 fund to support hospitality workers and their families with emergency needs including food, supplies, utilities, rent/mortgage assistance and micro-grants. For more information about all of the following programs put together by the GMCVB in response to the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on hospitality and tourism in Greater Miami and the Beaches, visit www.MiamiandBeaches.com. Words by GMCVB

Recognized as the most striking urban-chic hotel on The Sunset Strip, Andaz West Hollywood fuses Hollywood’s iconic rock history with local, glamorous flair. Designed by Jason Goldstein, the hotel features a simple, modern, open design. Home of Los Angeles’ highest rooftop pool, Andaz West Hollywood also features 239 rooms with breathtaking views of downtown and the Hollywood Hills. Here, you will experience a sophisticated, unforgettable stay. Upon arriving in the hotel’s sleek and modern lobby, you will be greeted by a professional and friendly “Andaz Host,” who provides a speedy check-in and possesses expert knowledge on everything local-culture related. Andaz West Hollywood is walking distance from Los Angeles’ best entertainment venues, including The Roxy, Viper Room, The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, Whisky A Go Go, and more. Numerous restaurants, bars, and shopping are also nearby. HISTORY Andaz West Hollywood has a rich historical record worth stating. Built in 1958 in a poinsettia field, it was opened as a Gene Austry’s Hotel Continental. In 1967, the hotel became the Continental Hyatt House managed by Hyatt Corporation, but in 1976 the named was changed to Hyatt on Sunset, also known as the Riot House or Riot Hyatt due to its infamous rock and roll musicians and celebrity guests. The guest book includes names like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, John Lennon, The Who, Ray Davies, Guns N’ Roses, David Bowie, and Tina Turner. The hotel changed its name to Hyatt West Hollywood in 1997, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. HOTEL FEATURES Rooms feature a modern, open design with elegant furnishings, a flat screen TV, comfortable bedding, complimentary wireless internet, in-room safe, hair dryer, ironing board, and complimentary, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, replenished daily.  Bathrooms are elegantly designed with Calcutta marble mosaics, delivering a modern look. Enjoy LATHER bath and body products, and a range of guest services: dry cleaning, laundry, and delivery services. Enjoy the 24-hour fitness center and valet. Click to launch slideshow > DINING Overlooking The Sunset Strip, Riot House Restaurant offers farm-to-table, Californian cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients. Enjoy a comprehensive wine list featuring handcrafted vintage Napa Valley and French wines.  AMENITIES Andaz West Hollywood offers the perfect accommodations and setting for weddings and special events. Fully staffed and equipped, The Panorama Ballroom, Mezzanine Lounge, and Sundeck Rooftop are ideal sites for personalized event. Plus, Andaz West Hollywood is known for their quality and involvement with the LGBT community, hosting a range of prestigious equality events. For event planning information, email wehoevents@andaz.com Andaz West Hollywood is located at 8401 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 For more information, call 323-656-1234 or visit www.andazwesthollywood.com. Words by Markin Abras. Images courtesy of Andaz

The human microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microorganisms that live in and on the human body. Over the last 15 years, scientists have discovered that this ecosystem plays a huge role in our overall health. And of particular importance is the gut microbiome, which is the community of symbiotic bacteria and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. Recent research has revealed that the gut microbiome affects almost every system in the body, including the digestive system, immune system, and cardiovascular system. There have also been studies that specifically link gut health to a number of human diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon cancer. You’ve probably noticed that TV doctors and natural health bloggers like to recommend all sorts of foods, beverages, and probiotic products that supposedly improve gut health. Unfortunately, while the science behind gut health is legitimate, a lot of these recommendations are not. To put it simply, Viome’s Gut Intelligence Test is currently the most advanced gut microbiome test in the world. It uses sophisticated metatranscriptomic sequencing technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to map the strains and species of bacteria, fungi, phages, yeast, and viruses that make up your unique gut microbiome. With this information, Viome can recommend the right foods you should be eating more of and the ones you should be avoiding right now. Viome’s analysis also includes comprehensive scores based on the health of your gut. In fact, it’s pretty amazing what they can see from your poop. Curious to know some things your microbiome can reveal about you? 1. Spinach Isn’t a Superfood For Everyone You’ve been told to eat your greens and that greens and nuts are anti-inflammatory, but this is not always true. Spinach, bran, rhubarb, beets, nuts, and nut butters all contain oxalates. Oxalate-containing foods can be harmful unless your microbes are producing the chemicals that can metabolize oxalate into non-harmful substances or nutrients. ⅓ of Viome customers are unable to metabolize oxalates properly. For these people, healthy foods like spinach could actually be doing more harm than good. 2. Foods Containing Antioxidants Aren’t Always Good for Everyone Polyphenol antioxidants in foods are usually considered very healthy, but unless you have microbes that convert specific polyphenols into nutrients that your body can absorb, you may not get their full benefit. One example is a polyphenol called ellagic acid. Viome can detect if your microbiome is metabolizing ellagic acid and converting it into urolithin A. It is only the urolithin A that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Without the microbes to do this conversion, you will not benefit from the ellagic acid in foods such as walnuts, raspberries, or pomegranate, Only about 50% of Viome customers actually receive the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits from eating foods that contain ellagic acid. 3. Eating Too Much Protein Can Cause Inflammation Protein helps you build muscle and provides energy, but if you eat too much, it can cause some serious inflammation. Viome’s technology can see if you are eating too much protein that feeds protein-fermenting bacteria like Alistipes putredinis and Tannerella forsythia. Viome can also see if your gut microbiome is producing harmful substances such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, p-cresol, or putrescine. These substances can damage your gut lining and lead to health issues like leaky gut. 4. Your Gut Microbiome Can Reveal If You're Depressed Your gut and brain are connected via the vagus nerve. A large majority of neurotransmitters are either produced or consumed by your gut microbiome. In fact, some 90% of all serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter) is produced by your gut microbiome and not by your brain. Viome can analyze if your gut microbiome is producing harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide, which causes the lining of your gut to start to deteriorate, resulting in leaky gut. Leaky gut has also been identified as a potential source of depression and higher levels of anxiety, in addition to many other chronic diseases. 5. Carbs Can Be Protein Precursors Rejoice! Perhaps carbs aren’t as bad as you thought (as long as your gut microbiome is up to the task). Viome can see if you’re metabolizing some of the starches you are eating and converting them into amino acids that are precursors to protein. Think about it for a second. Your gut microbiome can convert CARBS into amino acids that are precursors to building protein. The microbiome is excellent at adapting and pivoting based on the food you feed it and the environment that it’s in. Viome’s at-home Gut Intelligence kit and personalized recommendations Once you place your order, Viome will send you an easy to use at-home kit to collect your sample. After you return your sample by mail, Viome analyzes it to determine what organisms are active in your gut are, and what specific nutrients and toxins they produce from the food you’re eating. Then they use an advanced artificial intelligence system called Vie, which uses a massive (and continually growing) database of information to generate customized dietary recommendations based on your unique results. These dietary recommendations are designed to: • Increase microbial species associated with overall wellness • Minimize microbial species associated with poor health • Create the ideal ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for your diet • Encourage foods that are most compatible with your metabolism • Help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight • Increase your energy, focus and well-being. With the new year just around the corner, you owe it to yourself to get the customized, designer diet you’ve been looking for. Order your test kit today at Viome.com.

What does it feel like to be in one of the most iconic cities in the world during Covid19? Welcome to Miami Beach under quarantine: once busy streets flocking with lively tourists alongside congested traffic jams are no longer to be seen or heard. Instead, an eerie feeling of being watched amidst copious crow and parrot sounds becomes a prevalent experience as you walk through the bizarrely empty streets of Miami Beach. We will remember these days as an unprecedented historical moment -- for some, precious time to rediscover and self-reflect; for others an annoyance, despair and biting desire to have life go back to normal. In this picture essay, Miami Living captures Miami Beach during Covid19. "It is 4:46 pm...where is everyone?" Words and images by Markin Abras

"The first couple of weeks just went mad with the training and nothing else to do. And was like…over did it I think and was exhausted," Hemsworth shared. "So, I've sort of found a balance now." Of course, the 36-year-old Marvel star has his three children with Elsa Pataky to keep entertained. "You know, keeping my kids entertained is like training, it's a physical challenge in itself," he quipped. Unlike in other parts of the world, Hemsworth and his family are able to go out and about in the Australian beach town they reside in. "We're under different sort of restrictions here and we're still allowed to surf and exercise outside," the Extraction star (out now on Netflix) explained. "I'm thankful to be in a small coastal town like this and I feel for you, and anyone in a big city that's isolated at moment and locked in an apartment." Speaking of surfing, Tweedie asked Hemsworth to reveal the best surfer in his household. Unsurprisingly, this gave director Sam Hargrave, who joined Hemsworth for the E! News interview, a chuckle. Rather than name names, Hemsworth teased that "one of my sons is creeping up there" and about to surpass him. How cute! Be sure to catch Tweedie's chat with Hemsworth and Hargrave in the clip above. For the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic and for tips on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, please visit The Center for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov. By Ayssa Ray, Courtesy of E! News, Image by Gage Skidmore

The new Dior High Jewellery Collection marks the Department’s twentieth anniversary. Without interruption, its creativity is embodied by Victoire de Castellane who, since 1999, draws her inspiration from the Dior spirit to nourish her imagination with coloured stones, poetic jewellery-making and whimsical stories. “Gem Dior” announces the collection with a play on words between gem in English and j’aime in French meaning, of course, ‘I love’...” Whether the gem is a diamond, ruby, purple or spessartite garnet, pink sapphire and yellow sapphire, emerald, tsavorite, grenadine or cobalt blue spinel, tanzanite, rubellite or Paraiba-type tourmaline, Gem Dior is a declaration of love to stones and their infinite variety of hues, glorified by intense monochromes and subtle shadings or by virtuoso visual impact. Click below to launch slideshow > By Miami Living Magazine. Images courtesy of DIOR

Melanie Brown aka Mel B has reigned supreme as the spiciest of her bandmates since bursting onto the entertainment scene as Scary Spice in 1996 with the group’s #1 hit Wannabe. With her wild hair, piercings and a raucous personality to match, she instantly began making headlines, and she never stopped. Her tempestuous marriages and some romantic near misses, including her split from Eddie Murphy heard ‘round the world, have at times overshadowed her on-camera talent on hit shows like UK’s X Factor and America’s Got Talent. By Allison Kugel For years, rumors swirled about drug use and a party girl image cultivated during her marriage to ex-husband Stephen Belafonte. What few knew was the house of horrors that existed behind closed doors that Melanie’s oldest daughter, nineteen-year-old Phoenix, and Melanie’s mother, Andrea, both attest to in great and excruciating detail in Melanie’s recently released memoir, Brutally Honest. Brutally honest it is, as the outspoken girl from Leeds, England, with the heavy Yorkshire accent (her most charming quality) recalls everything from growing up of mixed-race heritage during a time when it was anything but the norm, to Spice Girls fame, drugs, bisexuality, and a ten year marriage that she claims was so abusive that it drove her to attempt suicide in 2014. Four years after that horrific episode which left her with organ damage and a lot of bruised pride, Melanie slowly rebuilt her strength, finally filing for divorce from Belafonte in 2017. The two remain embroiled in a bitter legal battle, but Melanie takes solace in spreading her message about domestic abuse and domestic violence. Along with promoting her book, she is advocating for others who have experienced various forms of intimate or domestic partner abuse as a part of her daily work with UK’s Women’s Aid, along with motherhood and preparing to hit the road in 2019 with the Spice Girls. After getting to know Melanie, I feel compelled to add that despite some reports associated with her recent fall and subsequent rib and hand injuries, she insists that she is now substance-free, and I believe her. Allison Kugel: How are your spirits these days? Mel B: Obviously, I’m still on my healing path and it’s going to be an ongoing thing. Just taking care of myself, meditating, doing my reiki and eating well. I actually couldn’t be happier right now. I know there are more happier times to come, but right now I’m in a really good place and it’s taken me a long time to even get to this place, so I’m thankful. Allison Kugel: Let’s go back a bit so people can get the big picture. What did the Spice Girls fame and hysteria of the 1990s feel like at the nucleus of it, from the inside looking out? Mel B: It was tiring, but we really didn’t care because it was five girls together who all had each other, living our dream life. We were living in England, struggling financially, not having much to eat, convincing people to let us borrow their recording studios so that we could sit down and write and [record] our music. There was a phase of a couple of years where it was really, really tough. When we got to release our first single, Wannabe, and we signed with a record company and got Simon Fuller involved to manage us, it was really good, happy times that all five of us had dreamt of, and we were actually living that life. We were traveling the world, singing, performing, dancing, writing music and making a movie. It was a really beautiful few years. Of course, we were tired, because we didn’t allow ourselves any time off. But we were in control of what we did and when we did it, and we knew that we had to soar through life like a big tornado and strike while the iron was hot. Allison Kugel: What do you feel you came into this life as Melanie Brown to learn? Mel B: Well, I think the number one thing is that I come from a white mother and a black father. Back in the 1970s when they got together and had me, that was seen as something that wasn’t really done. They had a lot of things that they had to overcome in bringing me into the world and raising me in an area of England, four hours outside of London, where there weren’t any other mixed-race girls. That was one thing I had to find, was my own identity. Apart from the likes of Neneh Cherry and maybe Tracy Chapman, there really wasn’t anybody that I could look up to where I felt like I belonged, or anyone who I felt like I even looked like. For me, it was all about creating a path where hopefully other mixed-race girls, and other mixed-race kids could actually follow. For example, I never had my hair braided. I always wore my hair out. I’m very opinionated, but for the right reasons; not just to cause a ruckus. I do believe that I am here, somewhat, to make it okay to be in the skin that you’re in and the color that you are. Allison Kugel: My next question was going to be, what are you here to teach? But I think you answered it. Mel B: Yes, that is definitely a part of it, but I am here to learn, of course. One thing that is an ongoing thread in my life since I’ve been very young, like 2 or 3 years old, is being very honest. Kids are very honest, and they’re not sidetracked by their surroundings. They say exactly what they feel. That’s one of my things that I stick by and swear by, which is being completely transparent and honest. It’s not to offend or intimidate anybody. It comes from a good place and I have good intentions, but it is an ongoing thread in my life. Allison Kugel: I always say that none of us are so fallible that we have nothing to teach, and even the wisest among us are also here to learn. We are all students, and we are all teachers. Mel B: Sure. We can’t know everything, and knowledge is power. I wasn’t very educated when it comes to schooling or on paper. I’ve experienced more education through life’s experiences, through traveling, and through getting myself into certain situations, whether it be through work and dealing with contracts or from talking to the man down the street who’s waiting for his bus. Allison Kugel: Obviously, the situation with your most recent ex, Stephen Belafonte is extremely contentious. But in general, how are you navigating co-parenting with three different fathers in the picture? Mel B: My oldest is nineteen, so I had to do every other weekend and certain weekdays for eighteen years, and there’s a point where your fourteen or fifteen year old doesn’t want to go to her father and that’s a difficult task. I’ve never said a bad word about any of their fathers to my daughters. Angel’s eleven years old and she sees her dad (Eddie Murphy) on a regular basis. She’s actually going to his house next week to do the family Christmas card, which is really lovely. My seven-year-old, Madison, that’s all happening through the court, so that is kind of out of my hands. One thing I do with all my three girls, is I make sure they know that they’re loved, and that they came from a place of a loving relationship. Even though they didn’t quite work out, and me and their dads didn’t stay together, they all know that they came from a lot of love. One thing that is mandatory is that I always make it a very exciting thing when I send them off to their fathers. Angel is different, because me and her dad don’t have any problems with each other. With Madison (Brown’s seven-year-old daughter with ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte), they take everything in, so I try to make it exciting for her, even though I obviously have huge issues with her father. Click below to launch slideshow > Allison Kugel: Are you frightened for Madison when you send her off to see Stephen? Based on the abuse you’ve described in your book, aren’t you frightened for her to be around her father? Mel B: I don’t think it’s fair for me to say that. All I can say is that I fought through the courts for her to have mandatory therapy every Saturday with a specialized therapist who is very aware of the situation. If there was anything for the therapist to be concerned about she would be able to flag it, based on the kind of intense therapy that she is doing with Madison. I have to trust and believe that if there was anything that I should be majorly concerned about, I’ve got a professional right there that can spot it before I do. Allison Kugel: I would imagine it took courage to keep a lot of these passages in the book. What was the hardest part, not just to write, but to keep in the final draft of the book? Mel B: Everything that is out there now is pretty salacious, and I know it seems so random about the sex and the drugs. The physical and emotional abuse had already kind of been out there, whether it be just a journalist presuming or whether it be my ex getting a story out there somehow. I just wanted to make sure that I clarified and made my puzzle understandable. When you read my book, you do understand that certain things were due to coping mechanisms, which are very common with somebody that’s in an abusive relationship. The book addresses things like why it took me so long to leave. It’s because you’re trapped, and you don’t have friends and family because you’ve been isolated due to how your abuser does things. That’s why in the back of my book, I put the 15 warning signs of what an abusive relationship looks like. Sometimes we don’t know until it is too late, and you’re heavily in it. In my book, I address an array of points and situations that hopefully make the reader understand everything that I’ve been through. There are certain things I did leave out due to legal reasons. I didn’t want it to be a legal war. I wanted my book to be more of an education and insight into what it looks like to be in an abusive relationship. Allison Kugel: You paint a picture of a wide range of abusive behaviors that you experienced. Mel B: Right, because abuse isn’t just physical. It can be verbal, it can be emotional. It’s a broad spectrum. And usually an abuser doesn’t just do one type of abuse. They get you on every single level, eventually. Allison Kugel: I hear everything you’re saying, but here is the piece I don’t quite understand. From reading your book, I got the impression that even after everything that went on, your parents remained steadfast in their support of you as their child. I got the impression that at any time you could have flown home for refuge and you would have been met with open arms. Mel B: No way. How could I do that? How could I book a flight when he had my credit cards and my phone? I’m not allowed to leave the house, I don’t have a front door key. I’m working 24 hours. I didn’t even have a holiday. And your every move is being monitored by your abuser. Every phone call, every text message. Allison Kugel: How about from work? Even a phone call from work? Mel B: I wasn’t allowed to take my phone to work. And like I said, this doesn’t just happen overnight. They chip away at you, so you wind up going, “Oh, he took my phone because he wanted to get it fixed for me, or he’s going to put a new app on there.” It’s all done in a very controlling, obvious, yet un-obvious way. That’s the part that you don’t want to believe is happening. You still want to believe that they love you. It’s like, “Oh, I’ll go see the accountant because you’re working today.” You think, “Oh, that’s really nice,” when they’re actually going behind your back taking your credit cards and changing the name on the accounts to their name. When you’re in an abusive relationship, everyone is isolated from you, and they’re scared to call you. They’re scared to get in contact with you, because they too have been verbally abused by your abuser. You end up walking around going, “Why hasn’t my mom called?” Or “Why is my friend being really strange with me?” You don’t really know why, but now looking back, I know exactly why. Allison Kugel: I get what you’re saying, but I know that I could literally go to my mother at any time. I could go to a police station and call her if I had to. Mel B: How could I when I’m only allowed to be driven by him, or a driver that is one of his friends? And all I did was work-come home; work-come home. Allison Kugel: It’s good to gain this deeper understanding from you, because people will think, she’s not your average Jane. She has all the resources in the world. Mel B: It’s like having everything and nothing. And on the flip side, you’re not ready to admit anything to anyone else. If I were to call my mom up and say, “Mom, I’m being abused,” she’ll go, “What?!” You don’t want to admit to anybody and have to explain, because there is an element of no one’s going to believe you, which is what the abuser will put into your head, “No one’s going to believe you. You’re just fat and ugly. If you leave, I’m going to expose you on this level and that level. And even if you said anything to anybody, no one’s going to believe you because you’re full of shit,” kind of thing. Allison Kugel: Your self-esteem is in the gutter and you stop believing in yourself. It becomes a mental prison, is what you’re saying. Mel B: When I was at work, I did believe in myself, because he couldn’t get to me at work. Nobody wanted to see him. They wanted to see me on camera. I’m very experienced and I’m very confident in what I say, so that was actually my savior, going to work. It was coming home that I dreaded, because I didn’t know what I was going to be experiencing that night. Allison Kugel: You spent a decade walking on eggshells. Mel B: Yeah, basically. Having spoken to a lot of these women who are in [shelters], and that are essentially in hiding from their abuser, they have exactly the same story that I have. They’re controlled, they’re captured, they’re abused on many different levels, they’re embarrassed and ashamed, and they don’t want anyone to know. Allison Kugel: Your oldest daughter, Phoenix, who is nineteen, is obviously old enough to understand the full scope of the situation. I am assuming she read your book cover to cover… Mel B: Oh yeah. She is the one who pushed me to write it, along with my friend who wrote it with me, Louise Gannon, because this story is bigger than just me. I’m just a voice that happens to be yelling about it right now. It happens to many hundreds of thousands of women, and men. It doesn’t matter if you have no money, or if you live in a mansion with servants. It can happen to anyone. When you’re in this situation, you think it’s only happening to you. It’s only when you get out and get to safety that you realize how bad this relationship was, how wrong it was. These abusers, they’re very smart and you don’t find them, they find you. They find women like me, who were in a vulnerable situation, and they latch onto you like Prince Charming, making you believe they are going to give you everything you need. Allison Kugel: My takeaway from your book was, do not go into a new relationship when you are feeling depleted, because you’re likely not going to make empowering choices. Mel B: But sometimes you may think that you’re over your ex, or you’re over the drama of having a baby with somebody and then breaking up; you think that you do feel fine. Sometimes it’s the kind of thing where you say, “I’m just going to smile, because the more I smile, the more I feel good.” And you’re thinking that you do feel good. There is no set time as to when you definitely feel at your most confident, or your vulnerability is gone. We’re women. We’re always going to have that little bit of self-doubt or that moment where before our period we feel a bit bloated and a bit frumpy. Women are very emotional, so there’s no set rule as to whether an abuser can come into your life. They don’t show up and go, “I’m an abuser. I’m going to do this and that to you.” No. They gaslight you. They make you feel like a princess one day, and then they make you feel like you’re a fat, ugly, unworthy cow the next day. And like I said, they find you, you don’t find them. Allison Kugel: As a parent, knowing how difficult certain conversations can be between parent and child, I have to ask, how do you have a conversation with your teenage daughter about some of the more explicit things in your book? In your book, you’re talking about cocaine use, about threesomes and Phoenix read all of this. What does that conversation even look like? Mel B: It’s not like I said, “Let’s sit down and talk about cocaine.” Allison Kugel: But Melanie, how could that stuff not come up? Mel B: I’m very, very open. I sit down with her and have a conversation with her in a way that’s relatable and understandable. I’ll let her know that if she wants to be sexually active or if she is sexually active, number one is to be safe. And if you want to experiment with a girl, or if you want to experiment with, let’s say, a threesome, make sure it’s consensual and make sure you actually feel safe. It is a conversation that you need to have. I’ll always say to her, “Why do you want to do this?” and “If you do that, how do you think it’s going to make you feel?” Because you never want to encourage your kids to go out there and try everything and anything; there’s always a reason. Some kids, they don’t need to try that kind of stuff. They don’t need to try anything sexually, apart from just to be with one person. They may not need to try lots of drugs, even though their friends [are doing it] or they’re around it. Luckily, I’ve got a good, solid nineteen-year-old that has seen a lot and been around a lot. She knows, morally, what she feels comfortable with, and her morals are solid. She isn’t one of those teenagers running around, up to no good. Allison Kugel: She didn’t express any disappointment, that you, her role model, fell from grace in terms of the drug use? Mel B: No, if anything I’m a hero that got out alive and I’m eloquent enough to be able to speak about my story without too much pain in my voice, even though there is a lot of pain. She’s very proud of me. She’s encouraging me to talk more about it. That is why she, along with my mother, wrote a passage in the book. Allison Kugel: Are you clean and sober today? Mel B: Yeah. I haven’t taken a drug since the day I left him (ex-husband, Stephen Belafonte). What you’ll find in these abusive relationships is that the abuser is the one that provides you with all your alcohol and all your drugs. I’ve never had an addictive personality. I’m addicted to loving life, but that’s about it. Allison Kugel: In a recent interview your daughter Phoenix gave about your marriage to Stephen, she describes walking halfway up the stairs one night and witnessing a rape in progress, and then running back downstairs to her room. Mel B: I’ve always had houses where my bedroom is at the top of the house away from the family rooms, the kids’ rooms, everything. I guess one time she snuck up[stairs] because she heard me screaming or crying. She jutted the door open a little bit and she witnessed that, which I didn’t even know she’d witnessed until after I’d left him two years ago and started writing the book. She was adamant about that story going in the book. That story didn’t go in the book, but it actually went into an interview that she did, and she was adamant to talk about it. I did say to her at the time, “Are you sure about that?” She said, “Well, yeah mom, it’s important, because when you’re in an abusive relationship mom it doesn’t just effect you. It effects your kids, your friends and your family.” She said, “I want to talk about it.” Allison Kugel: Do you pray? And who or what do you pray to? Mel B: I meditate. I became a reiki master at nineteen. I’m all about affirmations and meditation, and just being mindful and thoughtful. I do go to church. I go to the Agape Church which is very spiritual. I go there two or three times a month with my kids, and it’s very uplifting. Allison Kugel: Why make a public declaration that Eddie Murphy is the love of your life? Mel B: It wasn’t really a public declaration. Don’t forget that when I started writing the book with my friend, there was no contract between me and my friend, there was no book publishing deal; there was nothing. I was writing it for self-healing; just for me kind of a thing. The more we researched, the more we learned that it didn’t just happen to me. It happened to many, many women, and we realized we needed to get this story out. We decided to delve deeply into all of the issues that people don’t talk about. I’m very much a source of information when it comes to coercive behavior and abuse, because I’ve lived it for ten years. Allison Kugel: But what was the connection to speaking about how you still feel about Eddie? Mel B: Oh yeah, back to that (laughs)! Allison Kugel: (Laughs) Minor detail. Mel B: One of the parts of the book that my friend couldn’t quite piece together was… why was I at my most vulnerable when my abuser came into my life. I’d just had Angel. She was two months old and then the monster came into my life. My friend and co-writer, Louise, was trying to figure out why I was feeling so vulnerable. Then it became, “Oh, you felt vulnerable because of the Eddie situation, so let’s talk about that.” I wanted to be able to talk about it and express it. I didn’t even fully understand it when we started talking about it; what went wrong and how it all kind of fell apart. It was important for me to put it all down on paper and do it from my recollection, to remind myself that I do know what a loving, respectful relationship is, because I had that and much more with Eddie. It was so important for me to put pen to paper with that, because I also had never spoken about it. I wanted people to know, and I wanted my daughter to know that it wasn’t just a wham, bam, thank you ma’am, and let’s move on to the next. It was a very loving courtship. It didn’t end well, but it was a major love story that was one of the biggest love stories of my life. Allison Kugel: And your mom is, of course, back in your life… Mel B: Yes, and she’s actually just about to drop the kids off at school now. Allison Kugel: You guys are totally back on track again with your relationship? Mel B: Yes. When my dad died, even though those circumstances were horrendous, and it was heartbreaking… my dad was at the point of no return. He was going to die and that was that. His death brought my whole entire family and my friends back together again. It was quite a serendipitous time, because it brought us all back together in a way that was sad, but really happy in the fact that we could all be in the same room together. For my mom, it’s been very healing. She, like my nineteen -year-old, wanted to write her own chapter in my book. And they both did the audio for my book. My mom and my daughter both really wanted to be a part of this. Allison Kugel: You’re about to run off to a Spice Girls meeting later. Can you share? Mel B: It’s about the tour. We put six shows up for grabs and we ended up doing thirteen because they sold out. We’re going to be talking about staging, choreography and our dancers. It will be all of us on tour, but without Victoria. She sends all of us her blessing, but she has always been adamant that performing is not really her thing. She’s busy with her family and her fashion empire. I still have hope that at some point she joins us, but as of right now she’s not. Allison Kugel: The Scary Spice of twenty years ago was brash and bold, and very tell it like it is. You were the tough girl. After everything you’ve been through so publicly with heartbreak and abuse and people seeing that you are quite vulnerable, now who will Scary Spice be as you head out on the road in 2019? Mel B: I’m still the same. A little more educated and more aware, and I would say more honest which could be misinterpreted as being even more brash and even more loud (laughs). Allison Kugel: What qualities will you now look for at some point when you want to find love again? Mel B: I don’t even want to think about that! It’s not on my radar. I’m very happy being single. I’m raising three kids, I’m on my own healing journey and I’m busy with work. I’m the only one paying my bills, and I’m paying the monster’s bills also every month and the lawyer’s bills. I’m focusing on the time I have off from work, just being with my kids. I’ve just put up the Christmas tree two days ago and I’m putting decorations all over the house, and it’s nice. Allison Kugel: What is the rainbow or silver lining in the cloud for you? Mel B: It would have to be my kids. They’re the ones that I wake up to every morning and I go to sleep with every night. It’s reassuring for me that they’re happy, they’re on track academically, they’re on track with me as far as our mother/daughter relationships goes. I’m so very, very proud of them. Also, what has been eye opening and reassuring for me is the fact that Women’s Aid (https://www.womensaid.org.uk/) had made me a Patron of their federation. They deal with these kinds of abusive relationships. They find you help, they find you refuge, they help you get educated, they help you if you need help through the legal system. They reassure you that you are not alone, that this happens a lot, and they make you feel safe. If you or someone you care about is currently in an abusive relationship, and in need of assistance, please contact https://www.womensaid.org.uk/ in the UK or The National Domestic Violence Hotline at https://www.thehotline.org/ in the U.S. for help and resources. Photo Credits: Courtesy of Melanie Brown/Hardie Grant Publishing Brutally Honest by Melanie Brown with Louise Gannon is available in bookstores and on Amazon. Download the audible version of Melanie’s book exclusively through Audible.com. Allison Kugel is a syndicated entertainment columnist, and author of the book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record available on Amazon. Follow her on Instagram @theallisonkugel and at AllisonKugel.com.

For the spring-summer 2020 ready-to-wear collection, the starring role once goes to nature once again, in light of contemporary challenges. This celebration of diversity flourishes both in the show’s set as well as in the lush creativity of the silhouettes. Maria Grazia Chiuri paid poetic homage to this passion for her latest Haute Couture collection, through to the show’s set, creating a lush rose garden, like a secret garden and a “refuge of the marvelous”, inside the iconic salons of 30 Avenue Montaigne, the House’s vibrant and historic heart. Click below to view larger image > By Miami Living, Images by Dior

Whenever Florida's COVID-19 quarantine ends, Miami Living brings you some great products for this Spring and Summer. Wilson Clash Racket Made by: Wilson Sporting Goods Price: $249 Where to Buy: www.Wilson.com Two new technologies comprise Clash rackets. The first is the brand’s patent-pending FreeFlex™ technology, which is a carbon mapping system that unifies carbon at unconventional angles throughout the rackets’ frame for a higher degree of flexibility both vertically and horizontally. This system allows the rackets to bend with any swing style to better pocket a tennis ball and control the release of the ball as a player follows through with their swing. StableSmart™, a new frame geometry that provides stability and power to these flexible frames, complements FreeFlex technology. The combined effect of FreeFlex and StableSmart gives a player the opportunity to control the directional accuracy and depth of a shot, giving them more confidence throughout every swing. The Clash collection carries forward the minimalistic product design DNA that Wilson previously introduced, with an evolved, bold, three-part colorway. The matte black finish of each frame features gray accents at the three and nine o’clock positions. The twelve o’clock position of the racket, the fastest point of the racket, carries a pop of modern infrared. This element of vibrant color creates a streak of infrared as the rackets move through the air, giving the design a sense of motion. The new Wilson Clash collection includes the Clash 100, Clash 100 Tour, Clash 98, Clash 100L and Clash 108. D7 Irons Made by: Wilson Sporting Goods Price: $699.00 (Graphite); $599.00 (Steel) Where to Buy: www.Wilson.com With the “D” in D7 standing for distance, the new line of irons integrates Wilson’s RE-AKT technology to provide golfers power where it is needed most. Featuring three rows of Power Holes in the long irons (4-7) and Wilson’s thinnest club face ever, the D7 irons ensure golfers get maximum distance due to the greater responsiveness off the club face. Long irons feature three rows of Power Holes and a thinner, more responsive face for maximum distance. Fewer Power Holes combine with optimal weighting and extreme feel in the shorter irons for the most precise distance control. Progressive Power Holes: Long irons have three rows of Power Holes for maximum distance. Shorter irons have fewer Power Holes with optimized weighting for maximum feel and precision. Ultra-Thin Face: Hot, responsive face for longer shots and better feel. Performance Iron Aesthetic: With straighter lines, a cleaner top line and improved weighting, D7 combines the look of a player's iron with the benefits of Super Game Improvement Technology. Bushnell Pro XE Made By: Bushnell Golf, the industry leader in high-performance sports optics Price: $549.99 Where to Buy: www.bushnellgolf.com The Pro XE will set the industry standard with the development of a new “Slope” Algorithm. The improved “Slope” takes into account the most updated ball flight measures giving a much sharper angle of descent over the previous algorithm. Bushnell provides the only compensated “Play As” distance that takes actual ball flight into account, whereas competitors use simple geometry, which is easy to calculate, but not nearly as accurate. Bushnell prides itself on providing trustworthy and accurate distances to all golfers. TRX HOME2 SYSTEM Made By: TRX Training, all in one suspension training system Price: $199.95 Where to Buy: Exclusive at www.TRXTraining.com This Suspension Trainer takes functional training to the next level with adjustable foot cradles, a new sleek design and one-year subscription to the dynamic TRX app, which features dynamic in-ear audio coaching and cueing for the ultimate gym in a box. The state-of-the-art dynamic TRX app works with popular wearables and features 80+ workouts across a wide breadth of modalities, including Suspension Training, Cycling, Running, Yoga and High Intensity Interval Training(HIIT). The TRX App acts as a fitness tracker and uses biometric data, audio coaching and cueing to actually listen, adapt and interact with the individual user, providing a truly personalized fitness experience.

As South Florida moves towards its “new normal” during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Miami Beach is beginning its phased approach with the reopening of many parks and recreational amenities. The revised Declaration of Emergency Measures, effective Wednesday, April 29, 2020, specifies the facilities that will be reopened subject to the restrictions in Miami-Dade County Emergency Order 21-20 and any other applicable State, County or City Emergency Order. PARKS & GREEN SPACES Click here for a full listing of open parks and recreational facilities, including the Flamingo Park track, the batting cages at North Shore Park, neighborhood tennis courts and more. Hours of operation for any Parks and Recreation facilities permitted to remain open are as follows: Park Hours: 7 AM to 7 PM Boat Ramp Hours: 6 AM to 8 PM Golf Course Hours: 7 AM to 8 PM Tennis Center Hours: 7:30 AM to 7 PM Parking in municipal parking lots located at city parks will be restricted to Miami Beach residents who are registered with the city’s residential parking program ONLY.  The following Parks and Recreational facilities will remain CLOSED: Beach View Park | 5301 Collins Avenue Collins Canal Park | 2100 Washington Avenue Pride Park | 1800 Convention Center Drive Scott Rakow Youth Center | 2700 Sheridan Avenue 20 Street Pocket Park | 2001 North Bay Road Indian Beach Park | 4621 Collins Avenue LaGorce Park | 6421 Alton Road 82 Street Skate Park | 8200 Collins Avenue 35 Street/Pancoast Park | 13 35 Street Washington Dog Park | 225 Washington Avenue Washington Park Annex | 210 2 Street Additionally, the following facilities will also remain CLOSED or are subject to the following restrictions: All park restrooms will remain closed, except for restrooms at the golf courses and tennis centers, which shall be subject to the following restrictions: (1) an attendant shall be provided for each restroom; (2) restrooms shall be cleaned no less than once every two hours with CDC approved products; and (3) restroom use shall be limited to one person or one family at a time. All basketball and volleyball courts will remain closed South Pointe Park Pier and the fishing pier at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park will remain closed Indoor four-walled racquetball courts, football bleachers, baseball stadium, and soccer cage at Flamingo Park will remain closed The stadium and track at Flamingo Park will have a maximum occupancy not to exceed 30 people at any given time. While the city’s beaches will continue to remain CLOSED, the beachwalks and baywalks remain OPEN. Use of the city’s beachwalks and baywalks continue to be limited to pedestrians ONLY prior to 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. each day. Bicycles, scooters, skateboarding, in-line skating, roller skating, motorized means of transportation, and any other mobility devices (except for wheelchairs and other motorized means of transportation used by disabled persons) are PROHIBITED on the city’s beachwalks and baywalks prior to 9 a.m. and after 5 p.m. each day. Facial coverings must be worn on the beachwalk and baywalk, except by children under the age of 2, persons who have trouble breathing due to a chronic pre-existing condition, or persons engaged in strenuous physical activity or exercise. Any violation of these emergency measures shall subject the individual, operator, business entity, or organization to arrest and criminal prosecution pursuant to Section 26-36 and Section 1-14 of the City Code. By The City of Miami Beach

Charles Darwin popularized the concept of survival of the fittest as a mechanism underlying the natural selection that drives the evolution of life. Organisms with genes better suited to the environment are selected for survival and pass them to the next generation. Thus, when a new infection that the world has never seen before erupts, the process of natural selection starts all over again. In the context of the coronavirus pandemic, who is the “fittest”? This is a challenging question. But as immunology researchers at the University of South Carolina, we can say one thing is clear: With no effective treatment options, survival against the coronavirus infection depends completely on the patient’s immune response. We have been working on how the immune response is a double-edged sword – on one hand helping the host to fight infections, while on the other hand causing significant damage in the form of autoimmune diseases. The two phases of the immune response The immune response is like a car. To reach a destination safely, you need both an accelerator (phase 1) and a brake (phase 2) that are functioning well. Failure in either can have significant consequences. An effective immune response against an infectious agent rests in the delicate balance of two phases of action. When an infectious agent attacks, the body begins phase 1, which promotes inflammation – a state in which a variety of immune cells gather at the site of infection to destroy the pathogen. This is followed by phase 2, during which immune cells called regulatory T cells suppress inflammation so that the infected tissues can completely heal. A deficiency in the first phase can allow uncontrolled growth of the infectious agent, such as a virus or bacteria. A defect in the second phase can trigger massive inflammation, tissue damage and death. The coronavirus infects cells by attaching to a receptor called the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is present in many tissues throughout the body, including the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system. This infection triggers a phase 1 immune response, in which the antibody-producing B-cells pump out neutralizing antibodies that can bind to the virus and prevent it from attaching to ACE2. This inhibits the virus from infecting more cells. During phase 1, the immune cells also produce cytokines, a group of proteins that recruit other immune cells as well as fight infection. Also joining the fight are killer T cells that destroy the virus-infected cells, preventing the virus from replicating. If the immune system is compromised and works poorly during phase 1, the virus can replicate rapidly. People with compromised immune systems include the elderly, organ transplant recipients, patients with autoimmune diseases, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and individuals who are born with immunodeficiency diseases. Many of these individuals may not produce enough antibodies or killer T cells to counter the virus, which allows the virus to multiply unchecked and cause a severe infection. Molecular model of a coronavirus spike (S) protein (red) bound to an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor (blue) on a human cell. Once inside the cell, the virus uses the cells’ machinery to make more copies of itself. Image by Juan Gaertner, Science Photo Library Lung injury resulting from inflammation Increased replication of SARS-CoV-2 triggers additional complications in the lungs and other organs. Normally, there is a wide range of microorganisms, both harmful and benign, that live in harmony in the lungs. However, as the coronavirus spreads, it is likely that the infection and the inflammation that ensues will disrupt this balance, allowing harmful bacteria present in the lungs to dominate. This leads to development of pneumonia, in which the lungs’ air sacs, called alveoli, get filled with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe. When the alveoli, the location where oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is expelled, is filled with liquid there is less space to absorb oxygen. Image by ttsz, Getty Images This triggers additional inflammation in the lungs, leading to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), which is seen in a third of COVID-19 patients. The immune system, unable to control viral infection and other emerging pathogens in the lungs, mounts an even stronger inflammatory response by releasing more cytokines, a condition known as “cytokine storm.” At this stage, it is also likely that the phase 2 immune response aimed at suppressing inflammation fails and can’t control the cytokine storm. Such cytokine storms can trigger friendly fire – destructive, corrosive chemicals meant to destroy infected cells that are released by the body’s immune cells which can lead to severe damage to the lungs and other organs. Also, because ACE2 is present throughout the body, the killer T cells from phase 1 can destroy virus-infected cells across multiple organs, causing more widespread destruction. Thus, patients that produce excessive cytokines and T cells can die from injury not only to the lungs but also to other organs such as the heart and kidneys. The immune system’s balancing act The above scenario raises several questions regarding prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Because the majority of people recover from coronavirus infection, it is likely that a vaccine that triggers neutralizing antibodies and T cells to block the virus from getting into the cells and replicate is likely to be successful. The key to an effective vaccine is that it doesn’t trigger excessive inflammation. Additionally, in patients who transition to a more severe form such as ARDS and cytokine storm, which is often lethal, there is an urgent need for novel anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs can broadly suppress the cytokine storm without causing excessive suppression of immune response, thereby enabling the patients to clear the coronavirus without damage to the lung and other tissues. There may be only a narrow window of opportunity during which these immunosuppressive agents can be effectively used. Such agents should not be started at an early stage of infection when the patient needs the immune system to fight the infection, but it cannot be delayed too long after ARDS development, when the massive inflammation is uncontrollable. This window of anti-inflammatory treatment can be determined by monitoring the antibody and cytokine levels in patients. With COVID-19, then, the “fittest” are individuals who mount a normal phase 1 and phase 2 immune response. This means a strong immune response in phase 1 to clear the primary coronavirus infection and inhibit its spread in the lungs. Then this should be followed by an optimum phase 2 response to prevent excessive inflammation in the form of “cytokine storm.” Vaccines and anti-inflammatory treatments need to carefully manage this delicate balancing act to be successful. With this coronavirus, it isn’t easy to know who are the fittest individuals. It isn’t necessarily the youngest, strongest or most athletic individuals who are guaranteed to survive this coronavirus. The fittest are those with the “right” immune response who can clear the infection rapidly without mounting excessive inflammation, which can be deadly. Words by Prakash Nagarkatti Vice President for Research and Carolina Distinguished Professor, University of South Carolina and Mitzi Nagarkatti SmartState Endowed Chair of Center for Cancer Drug Discovery, Carolina Distinguished Professor and Chair, Dept. of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today