< PreviousTHE GAME I COULD PLAY EVERY DAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE IS… It would definitely be Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Dhs66 from Playstation Store. Ever since I was young I loved horror games and was inevitably shown the original Resident Evil series. I’ve played every single one since I can remember but 7 has a special place in my heart as the best. The story and visuals are out of this world, but it’s also super creepy and spine tingling. WHEN I’M GAMING I ALWAYS WEAR… Socks. I know it’s kinda silly, huh? My feet tend to get cold super easily while gaming, so having a nice pair of socks on really makes a difference. MY GO-TO GAMING FOOD IS… Strawberries and matcha milk tea with boba. Literally the best duo to have while playing an intense match! Once I feel like I’m gaming too hard I take a small break and instantly relax after sipping a nice cold matcha milk tea and snacking on sweet strawberries. THE BOOK I RECOMMEND TO ALL MY FRIENDS: I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, Dhs71 from amazon.ae. It really hits you in the feels and reveals things we never really saw about our favourite child actors from popular shows. THE LAST THING I SPLURGED ON THAT WAS ACTUALLY WORTH IT: The Hazel handbag from Vivienne Westwood, Dhs2,143 I bought it in the perfect perfect shade of pink. It looks amazing with any outfit, plus rhinestones make everything 10x better. 21-year-old broadcasting student by day, avid horror gamer by night, Tala Radwan (known online as Rex) has ramped up over millions of followers on TikTok, Twitch and IG thanks to her plethora of technicolor wigs, Hello Kitty gaming setup, and unique cosplay outfits. How to do TALA RADWAN LIKE TWITCH STREAMER TALA RADWAN DOES TALA RADWAN 20 WatchTHIS HOME DECOR ITEM IS SIMPLY NON-NEGOTIABLE My Neonfreek LED UwU Light, Dhs286 from neonfreak.com. It’s so bright and really grabs people’s attention. It fits right in with my aesthetic and doesn’t take up too much space on my wall. I START EVERY MORNING WITH THIS ONE PRODUCT Juicy Kitten purifying Power- Green Serum by I Dew Care, Dhs70 from Iherb.ae. This serum helps soothe and purify my complexion, and as someone with oily skin this is literally my holy grail. WHEN IT COMES TO WORKOUTS, I’M ALL ABOUT… Making a banger playlist to jam to. Music makes a huge difference when working out and having the right songs to keep you focused and motivated really helps. THIS ALBUM IS HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE RIGHT NOW Moodswings In To Order by DPR IAN. This album is a masterpiece and is basically a part-two to his previous album: Moodswings In This Order. He tells the story of a man named Mito, who is basically his alter ego, and through each song shows us part of his psyche. It’s super interesting and definitely worth a listen. I’D FEEL TOTALLY LOST (LIKE, LITERALLY) IF I LEFT MY HOUSE WITHOUT… My iPhone! As a content creator and gamer my phone stores a ton of my important videos and documents. 21 WatchIndian Matchmaking: Where are they now? WO R D S BY B L A N C H E D M E L LO Sima Taparia has returned for another season of Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking, where India’s leading love doctor is on the mission to help singletons find their ideal partners. Like all reality TV dating shows, we’re all left wondering what the cast is currently up to, so Cosmo Middle East caught up with our faves and we’ve got the exclusive intel right this way... p d their ideal partners. Like VV ddaattiinngg sshhoowwss,, wwee’rree aallll dering what the cast is up to, so Cosmo Middle ght up with our faves ve got the exclusive l right this way... Viral Joshi Sima Taparia After *that* furniture store date, 31-year-old Viral Joshi finally meets Aashay Shah and he pretty much was everything she’d been looking for. “We are happy together and it’s been quite a ride,” she tells Cosmo Middle East. Having our story unfold in front of the cameras has brought such an outpouring of love and investment in our relationship and we’re happy things are working out for us. On top of the complexities of long distance, we are now juggling our relationship in a public light. It’s tough navigating it all but for me, I have no regrets because without the show and Sima Aunty, I would not have found him and for that, I’m forever thankful.” The magic of Sima really works, ya’ll. 22 WatchBig things have happened for Pradhyuman since Indian Matchmaking Season 1 and his breakup with Rushali. In some major life updates, Pradhyuman is married to now-wife Ashima Chauhaan Maloo in Udaipur. Speaking on how they first met, “He respected my beliefs, is hard-working, passionate, fun-loving, and within no time we became best friends. And, that’s when I knew he was the one as we started accepting and liking each other. What’s better than marrying your best friend?” Aparna Shewakramani Aparna is still living her best single life. While she was optimistic about Jay in Season 1, they’ve decided to be just friends. She also wrote a novel titled She’s Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down, released in March 2022, that was inspired by the show. Soon after, Aparna makes her return to the show but this time, she’s looking for love without Sima’s help. “While Indian Matchmaking didn’t conclude with me finding a partner, I believe the larger and more enriching story for myself was of a woman who stood her ground while also living her ultimate love story of building a life she loved for herself. My goal remains to find a man that is my teammate and ultimate companion, but it will always be on my terms. The show has shown me the importance of reclaiming my own narrative and living life outside of societal milestones and expectations,” she told Cosmo Middle East. Even though she hasn’t met ‘the one’, Aparna has remained good friends with cast members Ankita and Shital. Shital Patel Next up is Shital Patel, who had quite a list of things she’s looking for in a guy. Although she did go on two dates set up by Sima, Shital didn’t feel a connection with either of them. We later find out that she met someone on her own (aka Niraj Mehta, the oncologist) and the two really hit it off. “I am in a fulfilling, soul-connected relationship. I have met my best friend and the love of my life. Life has been a whirlwind since the show aired but we are continuing to build our bond and friendship and look forward to our future together,” Shital told us. Pradhyuman Maloo and Ashima Chauhaan Nadia Jagessar After Nadia and Vinay Chadha’s short-lived love story in the debut season, Nadia meets up with Shekhar and the two decide to remain just friends. In Season 2, she meets Vishal and the two start dating but unfortunately, he breaks up with Nadia after he felt there wasn’t a romantic connection between the pair. Nadia shared, “I’m currently not dating but I know that my person is out there somewhere. Life has been a roller coaster in the best way possible since Season 2 aired. I love all of the meaningful conversations I’ve been a part of and I hope we can continue to openly discuss “tough topics” in a respectful way. Jay and Dilip continue to be two of my closest castmates from Indian Matchmaking; we hang out in real life quite regularly. I have also maintained a friendship with both Vyasar and Rashi.” IMA GE S : NETFLIX 23 WatchThe Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley With Jess looking to leave her past behind, she decides to move into with her step-brother Ben in his Paris Apartment. However, when Ben doesn’t pick up her calls and is nowhere to be found, she’s left all alone in the house. On the hunt to know where he is, more questions arise about his situation and the neighbours’ suspicious behaviour makes things worse. This mystery novel is set to keep you on the edge of your set as secrets continue to unravel with every page. Dhs80, virginmegastore.ae Twisted Lies by Ana Huang If a slow-burn romance is what you’re looking for, this is it. The series revolves around Stella Alonso, who works two jobs and barely has time for herself or love. Then, she meets the dangerous Christian Harper and as the title suggests, things get twisted. It’s the fourth novel of the Twisted series so you’ve clearly got a lot to catch up on. Dhs139, bookdepository.com Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood ‘The Love Hypothesis’ has long been our prized possession and her 2022 novel is no different. This STEMinist rom-com follows a scientist who is forced to work with her nemesis for a project. An enemies-to- lovers plot FTW. Dhs42, amazon.ae Book Lovers by Emily Henry Meet Nora, a fierce literary agent, who believes that she’s the one men date right before they find their soulmate. To help her find her happily-ever-after, Nora’s sister recommends taking a vacation in Sunshine Falls where she runs into book editor Charlie Lastra. From the author of ‘Beach Read’ and ‘People We Meet on Vacation’, you already know that Emily Henry is not here to disappoint. Dhs54, kinokuniya.com gggggggg ers enry that their ora’s Falls From et on s not oint.oint a.com PHO TOGRAPHY B Y EFRAIM EVIDOR | S T YLING B Y T WINKLE S TANL Y 24 WatchBOOKTOK If you’re a bibliophile, there’s a v high chance you’re familiar with #BookTok. Whether you’re looking for the classic friends-to-lovers trope or thrillers that are absolute page-turners, leave it to TikTok users to share their favourite reads to add to our pile. To save you from the endless scrolling, let us present you with the best books of 2022, as decided by our fave social media platform. Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid This August release has already been creating all the hype you need to go pick up a copy STAT. It follows former tennis star Carrie Soto and her comeback after someone breaks her record. Will she be able to reclaim her old title? Read to find out. Dhs135, bookdepository.com Hook, Line, and Sinker by Tessa Bailey Thanks to the author’s hilarious TikToks, you’ve probably seen this novel on your FYP for the longest time. Meet the sequel to ‘It Happened One Summer’, Hook, Line, and Sinker, which is about Piper’s sister Hannah and her quest to find love. Upon moving back to Westport, she moves in with the flirty Fox Thornton. Will romance be on the cards for them? Dhs72, kinokuniya.com Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover From one of BookTok’s favourite authors, this heartbreaking romance novel revolves around Kenna Rowan who returns home after serving a five-year sentence with the hopes of reuniting with her four-year-old daughter. While almost everyone’s turned their back on her, bar owner Ledger Ward helps Kenna put her life back on track. Dhs84, bookdepository.com The Maid by Nita Prose Ever since the recent death of her grandmother, 25-year-old Molly Gray has been left to survive all on her own while working as a maid at the Regency Grand Hotel. Things soon take a turn for the worse when she finds hotel guest Charles Black dead in his room and she’s accused by the police to be the lead suspect. Dhs130, bookdepository.com WO R D S BY B L A N C H E D M E L LO e r re e e hs72Dhs72, kinokuniu ya.commm ME LLOME LLO 25 WatchTHE MOST ANTICIPATED GAME RELEASES en route right now There’s a whole lotta upcoming drops set to hit the market any day now, so, without further ado, here are nine new games to add to your wish-list FIFA 2023 Release date: September 30, 2022 Synopsis: FIFA 23 is the 30th and final installation within the FIFA series so it’s a no-brainer on why it needs to be on your radar. FIFA 23 will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia. Ready to compete at the FIFA World Cup? God of War: Ragnarok Release date: November 9, 2022 Synopsis: Kratos and Atreus will be reuniting again to contest in this action-packed adventure to put a stop to their enemies. Taking place across the nine realms, we’ll finally be getting the chance to explore Vanaheim, Svartalfheim, and Asgard. Overwatch 2 Release date: October 4, 2022 Synopsis: Overwatch players have waited long enough since its initial announcement in 2019. The sequel to Blizzard’s team-based shooter will see new maps, modes, heroes, as all as individuals having their own battle pass in each season. Dragon Ball: The Breakers Release date: October 14, 2022 Synopsis: Players will be split into two teams - Survivor and Raider. If you’re a survivor, you will be put through the obstacle of surviving the Raider and complete tasks to win. On the other side, the Raider needs to put an end to the survivors and destroy their hiding spots. Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Release date: October 18, 2022 Synopsis: You and your friends can either team up to hunt ghosts together or you can choose to haunt as one. We’ll leave that choice up to you. Dead Island 2 Release date: February 3, 2023 Synopsis: Dead Island is back and better than ever. Sign up for the ultimate zombie land mode with this much-awaited release coming to PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Google Stadia. Evil West Release date: November 22, 2022 Synopsis: Bringing an alternate twist to the Wild West, this action game puts you right in the middle of this horror setting to defeat vampires coming your way. The world’s counting on you, agent. Hogwarts Legacy Release date: February 10, 2023 Synopsis: An open-world RPG game that allows you to experience the world of Hogwarts. To make it even more interesting, your character is the key to solving a magical mystery that haunts the hallways of Hogwarts. Resident Evil 4 Release date: March 24, 2023 Synopsis: As a remake of the original Resident Evil 4, this game holds onto everything we treasure about the OG game with modern touches and new characters added to the mix. Consider us obsessed. 26 WatchCandy Crush, Doodle Jump, Subway Surfers, and even Wordle, we are all, at the very least, casual gamers. In fact, I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve wiled away building out my parallel universe on The Sims – but is it as much as a pro e-sports athlete? According to Intel, an e-sports player’s daily regime includes “six to eight hours of structured team practice.” That’s almost 40 hours of gaming in front of a screen. And although that may sounds daunting to us noobs, Galaxy Racer’s Madiha Naz conrmed that actually “for us gamers, 10 hours is really easy.” So, all in the name of journalism, I took up the challenge, and here’s what happened… I gamed for 10 hours like a pro e-sports athlete and here’s what happened Spoiler alert: My eye-sight was not built for this. 10:00 am. I was prepped and ready in the morning wearing my comfy L’Couture set, as per Madiha’s advice. I bought an embarrassing amount of caffeine and sugar-filled sweets, and had my blue-light glasses on standby. It was time to begin my journey on Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, on PS5. 11:00 am. I used to play Crash Bandicoot on the PlayStation Portable when I was younger, so the first few hours were full of nostalgia and optimism. 1:00 pm. By hour four, I had finished two cups of coffee, and got up for a little stretch. My body felt lazy and lethargic, but my brain wouldn’t stop plotting out my route to winning the entire multi-dimensional map and collecting all the diamonds. 4:00 pm. POV: You’ve been stuck on a bonus round for almost two hours now and died *literally* 39 times, thrown the control on the floor - not once but thrice -, and have already downed a whole bag of Jolly Ranchers. *Record scratch, freeze frame* - yep, that’s me! At this point I was getting tilted. I kept dying at a level that would earn me the Wumpa fruits that I needed to collect in order to score another diamond. My blue-light glasses were firmly on, my focus unwavering. 6:00 pm. My eyes were stinging and felt drowsy. Fun fact of the day: turns out, after two cups of coffee and two Red Bulls, your body will betray you. A sugar crash was definitely coming my way, but I still had four hours left to reach peak pro-gamer territory. 7:30 pm. Sleep is starting to sound really great right now. 8:00 pm. Although I was ready to pass out by this point, I realised why e-sports players love doing what they do. I actually really enjoyed being away from my phone and ~life~ in general. I am a firm believer that if you love what you do, you’ll do it well, and be happy to face any obstacles in your way. Gaming for 10 hours was sorta like that. It was a great way to detach from reality for a bit and I can see how gamers find a sense of community online. The only thing I’d change? Healthier snacks. Goodnight, friends. 27 WatchBEA UTY The future of fragrance BY S A R A A L H U M I R I PHO TOGRAPHY B Y EFRAIM EVIDOR | S T YLING B Y T WINKLE S TANL Y Where shelves were once split into rich ouds for men and powdery petals in pink bottles for women, today’s more progressive perfume houses are thinking beyond the binary. Unisex fragrance are on the rise, and leading the charge are Celine, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, and luxe UAE-based brand House of Victor. Yup, your next signature scent could already be sitting in your bathroom cabinet. The only disadvantage? You may find your partner swiping your spritz. From left: Maison Francis Kurkdjian 724, Dhs1,880. Domina by Viktor, Dhs700. Celine Bois Dormant, Dhs1,450. 28SumiCosplay BY NUMBERS B Y L AU R EN O ’ C O NNEL L Arab Cosplay star, Sumi, knows a thing or two when it comes to fantasy. This breakout Cosplayer, actress, and singer has worked with the most in-demand gaming platforms, starred in numerous competitions, and has a closet full of the dreamiest costumes. We chatted with creative behind the characters to nd out the deets (and digits) on her life, career, and beauty regimen. 4 skincare products are what you’ll find on Sumi’s bathroom shelf: a face wash, an eye cream, and a complexion cream. 2,600,000 views (and counting) on Sumi’s rendition of Sally, Princess Sara 40 Cosplay outfits are sitting in Sumi’s wardrobe at home - and she makes them all herself 12 hours is the longest she has ever worn a costume at once. 200 minutes is how long it takes on average for Sumi to get into her Cosplay character (including makeup!). On the flipside, it takes her a full 60 minutes just to remove her Cosplay makeup, too. 3 months is the longest time Sumi has taken to create an outfit 20 pairs of coloured contacts 15 awards received and counting Dhs 4,000 spent on makeup. Dhs 10,000 is the most expensive Cosplay outfit she has ever splurged on – Sona from League of Legends 5 big gaming collabs under her belt, including Riot Games and Bandai Namco. 15 was the age Sumi started Cosplaying 45,700 TikTok fans 4 countries – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Switzerland – have seen Sumi cosplay live. 45,000 subscribers on YouTube NN EL L 0 ver m skincare products are what you’ll find on Sumi’s bathroom shelf: a face wash, an eye cream, and a complexion cream. countries – UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Switzerland – have seen Sumi cosplay live. 29 Beauty 29Next >