Recent Stories

‘I came out as a trans man when I was 22 – people tell me I look like Tom Hardy’

By Ben Barry

A woman who transitioned to become a man aged 22 says people now tell him he looks like Tom Hardy.

Leo Macallan, 32, was born a female and called Liz but came out as gay to his friends and family in June 2010 - before realising he was transgender in May 2014.

Liz started transitioning a month later - starting on testosterone which gave him body hair and lowered his voice - adopting male pronouns and changing his name to Leo.

He had top surgery a year later in 2015 and has never looked back.

Leo said his friends and family were "happy and relieved" when they saw him for the first time after his surgery.

Leo lives happily with his girlfriend, Rebekah Bauer, 36, in Savannah, Georgia, US, and says he now often gets compared to actor Tom Hardy due to his ripped physique and facial hair.

Leo, a content creator, said: "When people say I look like Tom Hardy, it is very validating and very affirming.

"It feels like a dream come true.

"Coming from a place where I didn't even think it would happen to now it is a really beautiful thing.

"I love getting Tom Hardy, it happens all day long."

Leo said for as long as he can remember he realised he was different.

Throughout high school, Leo said he tried to be "girly" as he was sick of being picked on and wanted to fit in.

He said: "I remember being on a boat looking at my dad with his top off and thinking 'wow, I should be doing that'."

Leo said he came out the day before he graduated high school. He then revealed he was trans in 2014 while undergoing therapy.

He changed his name to Leo straight away which was inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio after his performance in the Titanic.

Leo said: "I was a little kid when Titanic came out.

"I remember looking at Jack and I had a connection to him.

"I knew that he was what I associated myself with and I used to go to bed every night and wish I would wake up as him

"I was walking home after watching Titanic one night and realised I should call myself Leo.

"It was a little gift to my former self to be like 'yes, we finally got here'."

In June 2014, Leo started hormone treatment - where sex hormones and other hormonal medications are administered.

A year later he had top surgery, which was paid for after fans and friends donated $8000 after seeing his story online.

The first time he saw his body post-operation, Leo said he felt "free" adding "it was one of the best days of my life".

Leo said: "Predominately everyone was like 'finally' - it didn't feel like much of a surprise for people.

"I was just like 'I can finally calm down and start living'.

"This was when I was able to really start navigating the world myself and breathe."

Since then, Leo said that life has really picked up for him and he is sharing his journey on social media - @thegravelbro.

Leo said: "Things really started to pick up for me.

"It was a long working progress, I have always known I was going to be a public figure, it was just the path of getting there.

"Things have really changed for me, I feel like I am finally on track.

"I live happily with my girlfriend - who I met a year ago.

He said: "It has taken me a long time to get where I am."

He is "grateful" to his old life and everything he went through as Liz so he could become Leo.

He said: "It does feel like a separate life to the one I am living now but I am very open and not opposed to revisiting her.

"I am very grateful for her and for what she went through to be me."

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

“I had therapy after breaking up with my best friend of 11 years – it’s harder than a romantic split”

By Hannah Van De Peer

A woman says “breaking up” with her best friend was much harder than any relationship split - and it even left her in therapy.

Sabrina Kirberg, 31, had a decade long friendship with her best friend until they finally ended up parting ways after an argument, she claims.

She said she went through the “five stages of grief,” and believes it’s not as easy as “eating ice cream and having time with your girls” - like a typical break-up.

She had to seek therapy to help her "grieve" the friendship and still thinks about her friend everyday.

Sabrina, a mental health co-ordinator from New York City, said: “Breaking up with a friend is like grief. You go through denial. It’s so much worse than relationship break-ups.

“You think you’ll be fine and you just need to get through the rough patch - but then comes the depression and you just find yourself crying all the time.

“When it comes to a romantic relationship you’ll be sad, have your ice cream and go out with your girls.

“But losing my best friend was like having my support system ripped away from me, all at once.”

Sabrina met her ex-best friend at an athletics club when they were 16, she says.

They shared a number of “firsts” together over the years - including first boyfriends, passing their driving tests at the same time, and being allowed to hang out without parents supervision.

But as they got older, they began bickering a lot more Sabrina claims - and she felt left out when her friend started spending time with other people.

After Sabrina met her partner, Nathanial Baker, 29, she says the two grew even further apart.

The pair had one last argument - during which they argued about Nathanial, she claims.

Sabrina didn’t reach out afterwards, and they haven’t spoken since.

She said: “There’s a lot that triggered the break-up - there were a lot of mean words and anger thrown around."

Sabrina says she’s still coming to terms with her friendship break-up, five years later - and has gone through the five stages of grief in order to accept it.

She denied the break-up was happening at first, thinking the pair would make up just like they’d done before.

Then, she became angry - as well as depressed, and says she “cried all the time”.

Sabrina said: “All you do is ruminate.

“You go through the memories all over again.

“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the catalyst for our breakup - everything I could’ve done better.

“I just got angry and ashamed of myself for seeing the red flags in the relationship and ignoring them - and why didn’t I end the friendship earlier?

“You go into bargaining a lot when you’re reliving the memories, which is just like the third stage of grief. I kept thinking, ‘if I’d done things this way, it would’ve happened differently in this way’ - and it spirals out of control.”

Sabrina still thinks about the friend on a daily basis - but she has worked through her feelings in therapy.

She said: “Years after, I still think about her every day.

“But, I think acceptance happens.

“Therapy was how I coped with it - I learnt to love myself so much, I don’t feel like I need another person to feel complete.

“I just allowed myself to feel everything - anger, rage and sadness. I realised, the more you push it away, the longer it’ll stay.”

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

Meet the kids’ favourite teacher – a 70kg St. Bernard

By Jonathan Coles

Welcome to the school where a 70kg St. Bernard roams the corridors - acting as a canine counsellor.

Headteacher Vicki Joyce started bringing her pet Missy to Exeter's Isca Academy in September 2022.

The two-year-old dog has since become a firm favourite with pupils, parents and teachers alike - and is helping with mental health.

One mum even described Missy as a "Godsend" and said she had helped her daughter settle into 'big school'.

Headteacher Vicki said: "Missy has been an absolute star.

"First thing in the morning she will greet and meet children and parents.

"She then has break and lunch duty enjoying time with many of our children.

"We have reading and literacy sessions, so she is able to develop children's literacy skills. There is also a lot of sleeping that goes on as well.

"Missy is a big dog with a massive heart, making a huge positive impact across the school with calmness off the scale that makes everyone feel relaxed.

"As a school we take our scholars' mental wellbeing very seriously and she is boosting wellbeing in so many ways."

A 2022 research paper into therapy dogs concluded that dog-assisted interventions can reduce stress levels in school children, with effects lasting over the school term.

Ellie, 11, started at the school - which has around 1,000 pupils - in September last year.

She said: “It makes me want to come into school even more and then sit with her, stroke her, and give her treats and Missy helps a lot

"I think more people should have that too”.

Ellie’s mum, Eadaoin, said: “Actually, if it wasn’t for Missy, half the time Ellie wouldn’t come in.

"She struggles quite a bit with it and has done for a while so Missy has been an absolute Godsend.

“As soon as she gets through the door and sees Missy her whole demeanour changes and she says ‘I want to go in and see Missy.’”

This week (February 5 to February 11) is Children's Mental Health Week.

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust, which runs Isca Academy, said: "We take children’s mental health seriously all year round and it’s brilliant to hear about everything Isca Academy is doing to support students in this area.

“School dogs are a wonderful addition across a number of our schools and we have found their presence to be hugely beneficial.”

Now in its 10th year, Place2Be, the children’s mental health charity, launched the first ever Children’s Mental Health Week back in 2015 to highlight the importance of young people’s mental health.

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

Toddler fails to recognise dad after he shaved his beard

By Leo Black This is the hilarious moment a toddler failed to recognise his dad - after seeing him without his beard for the first time.

Dad Aditya Aggarwal, 36, had had a beard since 2020 so when he shaved it off Arivan Aggarwal, two, didn't recognise him.

A funny video shows the pair playing peekaboo and Arivan confused to see his dad clean-shaven.

Aditya, a regional operations manager from Surrey, B.C., Canada, said: "I did it just to see my kid's reaction.

"He was just amazed for a couple of hours then all was OK when mom explained.

"He accepted me after couple of hours due to my voice."

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

Hero ‘gorilla’ helps direct traffic

By Fintan McGuinness

Perplexed drivers couldn't believe their eyes when a "gorilla" began directing traffic.

Lee Chapman donned the costume of the large ape in an attempt to ease traffic on gridlocked roads in Watford, Herts, and cheer up frustrated drivers stuck in their cars.

Roadworks in the area meant temporary traffic lights had to be set up in the area, but motorists began getting aggravated as they caused 'havoc' on local roads.

However, what the angry motorists hadn't been expecting once they'd freed themselves from the traffic was a man in a full-body gorilla costume directing them around the lane closures.

Temporary lights on Hagden Lane in the town were said to have been poorly synchronised - with other lights nearby causing long queues to back up past a nearby junction during the multi-week works.

Although he's now revealed his identity as the mystery ape, 55-year-old Mr Chapman had initially asked to remain anonymous, quipping that there are so many roadworks in the area that his services would be in such high demand that 'everyone would want a gorilla'.

Puzzled but sufficiently amused drivers responded to the stunt by cheering as they passed and honking their horns - with some even turning back to get a second view.

Electrician Lee's wife, full-time carer Sally Chapman, said her husband had donned the gorilla suit to bring some cheer to the miserable drivers stuck in traffic.

The 47-year-old mum-of-two said: "Lee put it on because the traffic was bad and everyone kept beeping at each other and getting angry.

"So he thought he would make it a little more fun and put the gorilla outfit on - everyone loved it.

"Cars where honking their horns and people were turning around to come through the lights again to video him.

"People walking were taking videos and selfies with him… It definitely cheered up the day."

One local who witnessed the bizarre scene commented that it's 'not every day you get a gorilla in Watford'.

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

“I’ve found $2m worth of treasure dumpster diving”

By Amy Reast

A dumpster diver says she’s found $2MILLION worth of thrown-away goods – including a $500 Dyson hairdryer, a $400 Le Creuset cookware and a $500 robot vacuum.

Jennifer Lleras, 40, started digging around in the dumpsters 20 years ago at college.

And while she’s now a full time marketing agency owner with enough money to live on, she enjoys “rescuing” goods thrown away by stores so they don’t go to waste.

She sorts and donates most of what she finds to charities, schools, women’s shelters and libraries, but sometimes keeps “treasures”.

Jennifer said she once found a $500 Dyson air wrap hairdryer, complete with all the attachments – in perfect condition – as well as a $500 Roomba vacuum cleaner.

She’s also saved a $400 Le Creuset Dutch oven, designer handbags and pricey jewellery.

Jennifer’s home is now kitted out with a full home security system, robot vacuums on every floor, a voice-activated bin and high-end cookware – all sourced from dumpsters.

She often finds giant bags full of unworn clothes, beauty supplies, non-perishable food packages, books and school supplies.

Jennifer said “nothing makes me happier than when I’m finding things I can donate” – but loves to find the odd luxury item that she’d never buy for herself, too.

She sometimes ends up in tears at how wasteful big retail suppliers can be.

Mum-of-two Jennifer, from Baltimore, Maryland, US, said: “I find it fun – it’s like treasure hunting.

“I go maybe once a week – I just go whenever I’m out running an errand, I’ll go check out the dumpsters.

“I have even gifted dumpster finds to family before – my sister loves when I find decorations and kitchenware to go in her home.

“I don’t think it saves me a ton of money because I keep things I like, not things I need.

“But thinking of everything I’ve found, it works out about $100k a year.”

Jennifer first started the hobby after an art professor suggested she have a hunt through a dumpster for materials.

Now married with a house, two teenage children and a successful marketing business, she still likes to have a rummage when she sees a dumpster.

When she finds a haul of goods, she loads them into her truck before taking them back to her home to sort through.

Even if items have sustained a bit of damage in the dumpster, she’ll do DIY to make them useable again before she distributes them.

Jennifer said: “I do keep a bit for myself but I’m not a hoarder.

“My house isn’t cluttered but if I find things I need or can use, I will hold onto them.

“You can’t dumpster dive anywhere – Maryland has quite relaxed laws around this so it’s OK for me to do here.

“I do get asked if I’m poor and that’s why I do it – but it’s just a hobby for me.

“I do it more because I can help others than myself.”

Jennifer said: “It is really fun but sometimes it does make me sad – once I found a dumpster full of kids art supplies. That really affected me.

“I get a lot of feedback from the places I donate to. They’re very thankful.”

While she has often benefitted from her finds, she wishes she didn’t have to.

She said: “I wish I had the capacity to make legislation that would change things.

“It’s really sad that the stores could take this stuff and donate them somewhere they will be used but they don’t.

“Sometimes the stores even destroy things before they dump then, with paint or bleach, and it breaks my heart.

“I find that even worse than throwing it away.”

by Jess Young

Grandparents drive 86 miles to bring snow to their great-grandbaby – who had never seen it before

By Leo Black

A couple drove 86 miles with snow in the back for their truck to show it to their great-grandchild for the first time.

Russ Furse and Carol Nelson filled their pickup truck and drove almost two hours so the tot could see snow.

Russ and Carol had recently become great-grandparents for the third time after their grandson Alex Chavers, 31, and his fiancé Jesse Rood, 25, had their third child.

They had planned to visit their grandson and his family so when it snowed they decided to bring it to them.

Russ, a retired police lieutenant, drove from Lake Arrowhead in California, USA, to Huntington Beach in California with their pickup truck full of snow.

Jesse, a stay-at-home mum, said: : "It filled about 75% of the bed of the pickup truck, so we guess about 600-700lbs of snow.

"The baby had never seen the snow before and they were coming to visit us anyways so they brought it down for all the kids to play."

Carter, then one, and his siblings Jacob and Adam Chavers, then 10 and 9, had a blast.

Jesse added: "All the kids absolutely loved it.

"They all were playing snowball fight, running around we even built a mini snowman. Carter was feeling the snow and was amazed by it.

"He was laughing and ended up even throwing a little snowball at his big brothers."

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young

Dog lodged inside car engine after chasing a cat

By Samuel Wightwick

A dog was rescued after getting lodged inside a car engine.

Nova, a two-year-old weimaraner, had wedged herself deep into the engine area of a ’67 Chevy Nova after chasing a cat into the cramped space.

The American Humane Society (AHS) were called to the scene near 67th Ave. and Camelback Rd. in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

After about 15 minutes of working to ensure her limbs were free, the rescuers were able to gently pull the 49-pound dog to safety.

AHS Field Operations Manager Ruthie Jesus said that during her 10 years working in the field, only one other dog had been stuck in a car engine but never a full-sized dog like Nova.

Straight after being released, the initially scared dog instantly became happy, wagging her tail in appreciation of her rescuers.

After a few days of medical observation, Nova received her spay surgery and is now up for adoption.

by Jess Young

Moment couple found out they were expecting twins – for the second time!

By Samuel Wightwick

A couple did a double take after an ultrasound revealed they were expecting twins - for the second time.

Jessica, 34, and Victor Ortega, 36, are already parents to fraternal twin girls and they are now expecting another pair - a boy and a girl.

As she went into her ultrasound appointment Jessica decided she wanted to record the moment.

Jessica, an HR manager in Houston, Texas, USA, said: "I took the video to have as a memory but I actually felt a bit bad when I saw mine and my husband's reaction.

"It was more shock than overjoyed, but I think that was more natural than anything else. We were just so surprised."

According to Multiples of America, a non-profit organization supporting families of multiple birth children, once you have had fraternal twins, the chances of having another set are three to four times higher.

Jessica always wanted a third child and knew the risks of a second set of twins whilst trying.

She said: "I wanted one more baby after we had our first set of twins.

"Victor used to joke around and say that knowing our luck we would end up having twins again!

"Sure enough he was right and we did!"

Jessica didn't find the news easy to come to terms with at first, and her feelings were mixed about the situation.

She said: "When we found out I just cried a lot. I went through every emotion.

"I called my mum and sister on facetime and basically said 'why would god send me more twins?'

"They were, of course, super excited and they said to me that I'm such a great mum and did such a great job with first twins that God decided to send me two more."

Despite her initial fears and trepidation about going through the twins experience again, Jessica said that her family reminded her of just how lucky she is.

She said: "Shortly after we got the news, my brother-in-law and sister came over and said 'lets go and have dinner to celebrate'

"I didn't feel like celebrating at all. They were saying how lucky I was but I didn't feel lucky.

"But they reminded me that there were so many people out there that can't have kids at all and I'd been blessed with four.

"Thinking about that completely got me over being scared and made me realise I have what so many people want. It really is a blessing.

"I had so many comments on TikTok too saying 'you're so lucky I wanted twins this whole time."

The couple's four-year-old twin girls Camilla and Victoria are both very excited and they even seemed to know about the pregnancy before their parents.

Jessica said: "So we found out on labour day that I was pregnant.

"When I dropped the girls off at daycare, the teacher came to me and said 'Congrats! I heard you’re having a baby'.

"So I said 'Thanks we only found out yesterday' and the teacher said 'Yesterday? The girls have been telling me for two weeks straight that you're pregnant!"

Jessica says that the girls even managed to guess the gender of the babies.

She explained: "We asked them do they think the babies will be two girls, two boys or a boy and a girl and they constantly said a boy and a girl and never changed their minds."

The twins, who are going to be named Vincent and Carolina, are due on May 13 but Jessica has a c-section booked for 29th April.

This is Premium Licensed Content. Would you like to publish this article? Please contact our licensing team.

by Jess Young