THE O.K. LIST #19 / Melania takes tips from Martha for the perfect Christmas "It's all in the mini haddock meal!"

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Welcome to the worst hangover!

Last week we woke up to a world that was not as Brat as we wanted it to be, and we all fell off the coconut tree heads on the ground with another full-term of Trump as the US president.

But it is not all bad news for Brat, which has been nominated for album of the year at the Grammy's, together with Queen B, Sabrina, and Chappel. There's still hope for a win for green!

And as bad as we all have, it is important we focus our thoughts and prayers on Melania, who will have to organize the White House Christmas for another 4 years.

You can do it, First Lady! Just don't think about the children!

FLY FOR ANCIENT BREAD

Some people say a trip starts before you even arrive at your destination. Turkish Airlines is taking the saying by heart by offering its business class customers a very unique experience.

They can taste the world's oldest bread, made with wheat sourced from Taş Tepeler in Southeastern Anatolia, one of the first regions where humans cultivated grain and baked bread some 12,000 years ago.

The initiative is connected directly to the airline's sponsorship of archaeological excavations at the region, where recent findings show early agricultural communities transitioned from gathering wild seeds to establishing the foundations of farming.

Airlines know better than most businesses how to leverage local identity and culture to differentiate themselves from competitors while surprising and delighting customers.

KLM has the gin houses, Singapore Airlines grills satay in the air, and now you can taste pre-historic bread above the cloud.

Which airline are you booking on your next business trip?

SPICY AND HARD (COVERED)

As both a reader and a writer (aspiring author over here), there is nothing like having a physical book in your hands: the smell, the ruffle of the pages, the sliding dust cover. It is just pure magic.

TikTok's parent company ByteDance knows it well. Physical copies remain also booktokers favorite formats to hold and show on camera. That is why 8th Note, ByteDance's digital publishing company (operating since 2023), is launching itself into book printing through a partnership with US publisher Zando.

Reports mention over 30 titles have already been optioned, with 10-15 novels hitting the market as early as 2025

But what is the fuss with books and TikTok? Well, #BookTok is just simply too big to ignore, with 38 million posts tagged under the hashtag and a growth of nearly 15 percent in the first nine months of this year compared to 2023.

The New York Times reports that authors with large followings reached 41 million units printed in 2024, a 23% increase compared to last year.

People are reading more, especially Young Adult and New Adult books, with a considerable amount of "spice" in them.

Have you added any spicy books to your TBR?

SHE'S ALL THAT AND A MINI HADDOCK MEAL

Small businesses are the beating heart of TikTok, but every once in a while a social media manager or a spokesperson rises above the many wannabes and is catapulted to social stardom.

This is the case of the "Merchants Fish & Chips Girl", who has become the new sensation of the web, even being touted as the perfect contender for the next Love Island or even to be a British Airways hostess.

Destiny Harolld has drawn massive attention on and off the platform snagging articles on the Sun, Daily Mail, and many other newspapers, The reason? As one TikTok user puts it best in a comment "How does she give off an unfriendly vibe and yet also be helpful and friendly?"

Proof that you only need to be yourself to hook the audience's attention on social. Next thing we know, Destiny will be advertising for your brand.

THE RETURN OF MARTHA AND HER POTATO

Martha Steward never really went anywhere but with the launch of her new documentary on Netflix, the world is once again basking in the iconicity of this generation's thirst trap Grandma.

With the newly found attention from your audiences, Martha's Baked Potato with Caviar has resurfaced again on social media and has become people's favorite "world's-most-expensive-dish" to replicate at home on a budget.

From household names such as Bethenny Frankel to aspiring influencers, you're sure to come across this trend sooner or later. So better start saving up!

THE PUSSYCAT IN THE HAT

Another (gay) icon dies. In the turmoil of the US elections, Nicole Scherzinger pushed the button to comment on a post of right-wing actor Russel Brand; "Where do I get this hat?".

The hat in question was a red cap in the style of "Make America Great Again", but with the words "Make Jesus First Again", one of the many Christian-conservator shows of support to Trump's campaign.

And with that, those years of rebuilding her persona as a theater actress, with an actual shot at the Tony's this year, have been laid to waste.

Not only she is now a meme, but she has also had to issue a public apology to her wide LGBTQ+ fanbase. I'm sure she was hating this part right here:

This a valid reminder that we should always think before commenting, that is what my Grandmother taught me...

THE PLAYLIST

There’s always something new to listen to. And although this week hasn’t been the most exciting when it comes to new releases, we’re still treated to good music from Karol G, Maluma, Griff, Jessie Murph, Myles Smith, Tyler, The Creator, and Jeremy Zucher. So pair your earphones, close the laptop, and get ready to commute your way to the weekend!

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