Juggling it all

Ben Affleck spends time with Jennifer Garner and Lindsay Shookus over Christmas

Ben Affleck is juggling all of the elements in his life pretty well these days!

He's been keeping a balance between going to treatment for alcohol addiction and spending quality time with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, their kids, and his new girlfriend, Lindsay Shookus.

According to People, the "Argo" actor spent the actual Christmas holiday with his ex and their children, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 8 and Samuel, 5, in Los Angeles on Dec. 25.

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Jennifer, 45, filed for divorce in April after being officially separated since late 2015, but the former couple has continued to spend major holidays together with their brood.

The following day, on Dec. 26, Ben switched gears to spend some one-on-one time with his girlfriend, Lindsay Shookus, 45.

Ben and Lindsay were spotted arm in arm, leaving Nobu restaurant in Malibu after a dinner date.

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The new lovebirds allegedly share an apartment together in New York, where Lindsay works as a producer on "Saturday Night Live," though Ben is only there part time.

On top of keeping up with his personal life, Ben is still dedicated to getting treatment for his issues with alcohol and makes it a daily commitment.

"He is continuing after care," a source revealed to People on Dec. 15. "It is part of his daily regimen."

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Ben penned a Facebook letter back in March, openly discussing his drinking problem, his decision to get help and thanking his supportive ex-wife for sticking by him.

"I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do," he wrote. "This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery."

Keep up the good work, Ben.

Sarah Ferguson's nickname hints at future plans

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Sarah Ferguson could come to the U.S. to rebuild her image after her ties to Jeffrey Epstein greatly damaged her reputation.

"I think there would be enough curious people not just here but around the world, and she always had a lot of fans in the United States," royal editor Richard Kay said on "Palace Confidential."

"We used to call her the Duchess of New York because of the amount of time she spent on the East Coast, and they were very forgiving," Kay continued. "They gave her the opportunity, it was there that she became an ambassador [for] WeightWatchers, and it's where she, sort of, on previous occasions, got her life back together again, but I feel this time it's too late and too much has happened."

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Ferguson and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor were kicked out of Royal Lodge due to the ex-duke's ties to Epstein.

On top of losing her royal estate, charities and brands distanced themselves from Ferguson after it was revealed she called Epstein a "supreme friend." Now, the former duchess has to find a source of income to sustain her lavish lifestyle.

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Ferguson has been avoiding the spotlight, but there have been rumors that she is considering writing a memoir. However, journalist Samara Gill believes it would be inappropriate for Ferguson to publish a tell-all.

"I think it's not right that she is going to speak out, but I think she will. Should she? I mean, she needs the money, she needs the cash, it's as simple as that," Gill said. "This is the scenario that I worried about the most for the royal family because both her and Andrew have absolutely nothing to lose at this point."

"Who knows whose dirty laundry they will then air out? I don't know think it'll be their own, but think that because of the big amounts of money, you know, I mean six-figure sums that are being thrown around for this interview, who knows who she'll talk about?" she continued.

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Over the years, Ferguson has been loyal to her ex-husband and the royal family, but she could turn on them.

"Because she probably won't brief about Andrew, she probably won't even really talk about herself unless it's about her struggle, she might talk about other royal family members and throw them under the bus, and that's what I'm worried about," Gill said.

Harry reveals intense first impression of Meghan

Prince Harry is a hopeless romantic.

In the Duke of Sussex's 2023 memoir Spare, he recounted the intense moment he first laid eyes on his future wife, Meghan Markle.

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Connecting via social media

Before the couple married and had two children, Harry recalled being at Nottingham Cottage when he first saw the actress in a social media post shared by their mutual friend Violet von Westenholz.

"I was sitting around Nott Cott, scrolling through Instagram. They [Meghan and von Westenholz] were playing with a new app that put silly filters on your photos," he wrote in the tell-all about the clip.

"Violet and the woman had dog ears, dog noses, long red dog tongues hanging out. This woman with Violet…my god. I watched the video several times, then forced myself to put the phone down," Harry continued. "Then I picked it up, watched the video again. For thirty-two years, I'd watched a conveyor belt of faces pass by and only a handful ever made me look twice. This woman stopped the conveyor belt. This woman smashed the conveyor belt to pieces."

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Harry details Meghan's 'energy'

The father of two went into great detail about the overwhelming feelings he experienced. "I'd never seen anyone so beautiful. There was an energy about her, a wild joy and playfulness," he gushed.

"There was something in the way she smiled, the way she gazed into the camera. Confident. Free. She believed life was one grand adventure, I could see that," Harry continued. "What a privilege it would be, I thought, to join her on that journey. I got all that from her face. Her luminous, angelic face."

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Harry and Meghan's first date

Harry and Meghan had their first date at the Soho House in Los Angeles, Calif., in 2016. However, the two didn't go public with their romance until later that year.

"Red-cheeked, puffing, sweaty, half an hour late, I ran into the restaurant, into the quiet room and found her sitting at a small area on a low velvet sofa in front of a low coffee table," the 41-year-old wrote in the book about their initial romantic outing.

"She was wearing a black sweater, jeans, heels. I knew nothing about clothes, but I knew she was chic. Then again, she could make anything look chic," he said. "I'd seen so many photos of her from fashion shoots and TV sets, all glam and glossy, but here she was, in the flesh, no frills, no filter and even more beautiful. Heart-attack beautiful. I was trying to process this, struggling to understand what was happening to my circulatory and nervous systems and as a result, my brain couldn't handle any more data."

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Happily ever after?

Harry and Meghan got engaged in November 2017 and wed in May 2018 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.

The pair welcomed their son, Prince Archie, in May 2019 and their daughter, Princess Lilibet, in June 2021.

While they began their union as working members of the royal family, the duo left The Firm in 2020 to live in America.

Sarah Ferguson 'needs cash,' has 'nothing left to lose'

Sarah Ferguson might need to spill The Firm's secrets for money.

According to an expert, the former Duchess of York is desperate to find a stream of income after she and her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, were stripped of their titles and evicted from Royal Lodge over their friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.

MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more top news

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Will Ferguson do a bombshell interview?

After being banished from the monarchy, dropped by numerous charities and having her children's book canceled, there might not be much risk in Ferguson speaking to the press.

"She needs the cash. It's as simple as that," royal expert Samara Gill told The Sun's YouTube show Royal Exclusive.

"Both her and Andrew have absolutely nothing to lose at this point," she continued. "Who knows whose dirty laundry they will then air out? I don't think it'll be their own."

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Could Ferguson throw the royal family 'under the bus'?

The 66-year-old's need to earn an income, combined with her public downfall, could make Ferguson say anything, Gill believes.

"I think that because of the big amounts of money, you know, six-figure sums that are being thrown around for this interview, who knows who she'll talk about?" the commentator said.

"She probably won't brief about Andrew," she added of the mother of two's former spouse, whom she split from in 1996.

"She might talk about other royal family members and throw them under the bus," Gill claimed.

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Ferguson wants to clear her name

Ferguson is reportedly fielding hefty bids from media outlets to tell her story for the first time.

"Sarah and her team have had offers from all over the world for a sit-down," one insider told The Sun.

"She's thinking things over very carefully," the source said. "She and her team know a televised interview would be make or break for her in terms of salvaging her reputation. It would also give her the chance to spell out the fact she knew nothing about what Epstein and his associates were doing in terms of abusing girls."

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Ferguson feels wronged by the royals

The decision to sit for a bombshell interview might not be difficult, as Ferguson allegedly wants revenge over her former in-laws.

"Sarah is actually quite keen to answer questions as she strongly believes she's done nothing wrong and been harshly treated," the source claimed.

"She has to find money and somewhere to live next year," the insider continued. "Sarah is bruised like never before by events and things like the book being pulped have damaged her income."

Why critics are up in arms over Meghan's latest move

Meghan Markle cannot catch a break with her business.

Online critics slammed the Duchess of Sussex after she announced her As Ever brand's collaboration with the members-only club Soho House.

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Meghan announces pop-up

Meghan shared a video on Instagram revealing that her As Ever products would be available at the Soho House location in Los Angeles, Calif.

"Talk about a full circle moment! In my old stomping ground of West Hollywood, with a brand, family and friends that have been part of my life for so long," she captioned the clip of herself walking around the installation.

"Also, a part of my love story with H [Prince Harry] (since our very first date was at an SH restaurant)," the Suits actress gushed. "So excited to introduce: As Ever x Soho House. If you find yourself in LA, come visit our As ever pop-up at Soho Home on Melrose Place at 8540 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069. Open to everyone, full collection available (and yummy Urth Caffe just across the street). Sounds like a good day to me!"

Meghan faces backlash

As with anything the With Love, Meghan star does, the online trolls went wild. "If she were smart, she would open an As Ever store/boutique somewhere. Have a real website and actually work at the store," one person wrote on X.

"These pop-ups or renting space in a store or in Soho House are lame and a cop out because she has nothing to do with actually selling these products. She ALWAYS takes the easy way, or she cuts corners or cuts out before the failure is flashing in red lights," a second wrote.

"Is this meant to be her mic drop moment she was banging on about? This is so common in the handmade market that you simply rent shelf space. However, it is often the last resort as everything else you've tried has failed," a third added.

"When you're having to sell in Soho House, you know it's not going well…" a fourth chimed in.

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Some fans defend Meghan

Luckily, some of Meghan's fans came to her defense. "Meghan Sussex, please spare a little thought for your global supporters. Maybe the Soho House in London is going to stock some #AsEver products in time for Christmas?" one requested.

"Meghan's As Ever products are now available at Soho House. A special place for her and Prince Harry. Where they had their first date and even their first kiss. I love how intentional she is," a second said.

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Soho House's sentimental meaning for Meghan and Harry

In the Duke of Sussex's 2023 memoir Spare, he recalled his first date with his future wife at the private club.

"Red-cheeked, puffing, sweaty, half an hour late, I ran into the restaurant, into the quiet room, and found her sitting at a small area on a low velvet sofa in front of a low coffee table," Harry wrote.

"She was wearing a black sweater, jeans, heels. I knew nothing about clothes, but I knew she was chic. Then again, she could make anything look chic," the father of two said. "I'd seen so many photos of her from fashion shoots and TV sets, all glam and glossy, but here she was, in the flesh, no frills, no filter and even more beautiful. Heart-attack beautiful. I was trying to process this, struggling to understand what was happening to my circulatory and nervous systems and as a result, my brain couldn't handle any more data."

'Jersey Shore' cast brings down the house at first-ever roast — Sold out in less than 5 minutes

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The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation crew proved once and for all that nobody can roast them better than… well, themselves.

On December 1, the cast delivered an absolutely electric night of comedy at the first-ever Jersey Shore Roast, filmed live at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The event sold out in less than five minutes as fans packed the venue to watch the beloved cast — who've been roasting themselves for more than a decade — finally take the jabs to a real roast stage.

Nicole Polizzi, Mike Sorrentino, Jenni Farley, Vinny Guadagnino, Sammi Giancola, Deena Nicole Cortese, Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, Angelina Pivarnick and DJ Pauly D went joke-for-joke with special guest comedians including Chris Distefano, Justina Valentine and Rachel Feinstein, delivering a rapid-fire night of unfiltered chaos the crowd couldn't get enough of.

At one point, a fan shouted that they had "died and gone to Jersey Shore heaven," and honestly, the room agreed!

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The most talked-about moments of the night

The roast delivered instant classics including:

-Ronnie reminded Mike that Tax Day is April 15 and "IRS doesn't stand for Italian Reality Star." 

-Angelina, in peak chaotic glory, roasted Vinny for being obsessed with her — then gifting him a framed three-person wedding photo of the two of them… as his mother Paola looked on from the audience.

-Paola, meanwhile, became an unexpected star after she made fresh charcuterie for the crowd.

-Comedian Justina Valentine brought the house down with an original Jersey Shore Roast rap.

-Comedian Chris Distefano delivered the night's sharpest one-liners, joking that "Snooki is here to make Ronnie smart and tall" and that Mike "had time to get a quick lift in today… a face lift!" He added, "Collectively, the nine of you have set Italian Americans back further than Mike's hairline." 

-Comedian Rachel Feinstein joked, "[I] had all these jokes written for each girl, but with your new faces, I couldn't tell who's who. … No one can deny you're the Picassos of trash TV. You walked so Mormon Wives can run." 

-Ronnie thanked Angelina for making him "look like a relationship expert." 

-Snooki was crowned a fashion icon: "You saw a need for 4-foot ladies who need leopard leggings… the Coco Chanel of Seaside Heights." 

-Vinny told Angelina, "You're the Kim Kardashian of Staten Island… because every guy you date goes crazy." 

-Angelina fired back, claiming she "tastes better" than his mom's chicken cutlets, causing Paola to stare on in horror. 

-In a callback to Mike's infamous Trump roast appearance, they joked, "Mike bombed so bad at the Trump roast, but he blamed drugs and alcohol. … Who's he going to blame tonight — Ozempic?" 

-In a heartfelt moment, the women congratulated Mike on 10 years of sobriety, promising, "We're drinking for you tonight."

The cast wrapped the night with hugs, tears and a promise: This roast is only the beginning.

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495 Productions weighs in

SallyAnn Salsano, founder and CEO of 495 Productions and executive producer of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, tells Wonderwall.com, "This cast has spent 15 years giving the world unforgettable TV, so putting them on a roast stage felt like destiny. They went harder, funnier and more fearlessly than anyone expected. This is Jersey Shore at its absolute best — unfiltered, unapologetic and wildly entertaining."

When to watch

The roast was filmed for an upcoming episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, with every raw, chaotic and absolutely unmissable moment captured for fans. The special is set to air on MTV in spring 2026.

Meghan accused of stealing

Meghan Markle is defending herself from shocking accusations.

The Duchess of Sussex raised eyebrows when promotional materials for her upcoming Netflix special showed her wearing what appeared to be a pricey designer dress that she previously donned during a 2022 photoshoot. The apparent rewear prompted rumors that Meghan stole the gown — rumors that her representative quickly shut down.

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Meghan's camp slams the claim

In a statement to Daily Express, Meghan's spokesperson shut down the rumor that she stole a $1,695 emerald Galvan Ushaia dress from a photoshoot.

"The insinuation that any items were taken without the full knowledge and agreement of the on-set stylists or their respective teams is not only categorically false, but also highly defamatory," the representative said.

"Any items kept, were done so in total transparency and in accordance with contractual arrangements," the rep further clarified.

Where the rumor originated

During a March appearance on Andrew Gold's "heretics" podcast, journalist Vanessa Grigoriadis said there was speculation the Suits star took items from a 2016 photoshoot.

"I have since heard in a more recent photoshoot of Meghan's there was also a lot of stuff that was not returned after Meghan wore it in a very high-profile photoshoot," she alleged, seemingly referencing the 2022 Variety photoshoot in which Meghan donned the green Galvan Ushaia gown.

"What is shocking about hearing these kinds of alleged stories is that somebody who is living in a $15 million-plus mansion in Montecito, who's just had $100 million deals, would care enough to take home some jewelry and clothes from a photoshoot that she can clearly afford," Grigoriadis continued.

The mother of two was seen wearing what appeared to be the same green Galvan Ushaia gown in promotional materials for her upcoming Netflix special, With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration.

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Royals retain items from photoshoots

Although Meghan and her husband, Prince Harry, are no longer working members of The Firm, the two still adhere to royal protocol in certain situations.

According to a source, members of the royal family typically hold on to clothing from photoshoots to ensure it is not resold or included in future unauthorized auctions.

The practice is reportedly "commonplace and prudent" amongst royals.

George gearing up to face 'intense scrutiny'

Prince George could face backlash over his next phase of education.

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"If the Wales family runs true to form, they will announce Prince George's secondary school at the eleventh hour, possibly as late as September 2026," managing editor of The Good Schools Guide Melanie Sanderson told Hello!.

"They understand that the school itself, as well as George's new peer group, will fall under intense scrutiny as soon as it is revealed and will probably want to minimize this, allowing the young royal to transition to his new school with as little fanfare as possible," Sanderson continued.

Prince William, who is an Eton alum, and Kate Middleton haven't confirmed where they'll send George, but many royal experts think the youngster will follow in his father's footsteps.

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"I believe Eton is the most likely choice for Prince George. In our most recent review, we describe it as 'traditional, radical, expectation-busting and packed with confident boys with nary a hint of entitlement,'" Sanderson said. "To me, this encompasses all the values we are told are important to this generation of royals."

The Waleses have a history of keeping school decisions under wraps until two weeks before the term starts.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have today announced that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will attend Lambrook School in Berkshire from September 2022," the couple's team said at the time. "Their Royal Highnesses are hugely grateful to Thomas's Battersea where George and Charlotte have had a happy start to their education since 2017 and 2019 respectively and are pleased to have found a school for all three of their children which shares a similar ethos and values to Thomas's."

The Prince and Princess of Wales are often applauded for their down-to-earth parenting.

"William and Catherine are more than partners in duty, they are parents in vision with complementary strengths," Jo Frost, who is best known as "Supernanny," wrote in an Instagram post.

"William carries the weight of history and responsibility but also the empathy of a man shaped by loss and scrutiny, wanting to get it right for his children. He places emotional safety and stability at the heart of his parenting," Frost continued. "Catherine pairs this with calm, centered, hands-on practicality. Her championing of early childhood development echoes my own mission, deeply personal and reflective of her home life."

Charles enrages neighbors with plans for 'manure lagoon'

King Charles III's neighbors aren't happy with his plans for his land.

His Majesty reportedly wants to construct a large manure pit in the fields near his Sandringham Estate.

However, the backlash to the project could interfere with his vision.

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Residents voice concern

Multiple residents wrote letters to the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council to oppose the planned slurry lagoon, which will reportedly be the size of four Olympic swimming pools.

A final decision about the project — which would see the grounds being used to store manure until it is repurposed to fertilize the surrounding fields — will be made on December 15.

Health concerns

In one plea to the council, a neighbor emphasized that the manure lagoon could put the public's health at risk.

"I am extremely concerned about the close proximity of the proposed slurry pit. The village has a primary school as well as a high proportion of elderly residents whose health could well be affected," the neighbor wrote in a letter obtained by Daily Express.

"Protecting the physical and mental health and emotional well-being of all residents and those who work or attend school in the village is paramount. I am strongly opposed to the plans," they added.

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The pit might devalue people's homes

Another concern residents voiced is whether the pit could devalue their homes.

"We strongly object to this proposal for the following reasons: health concerns, extreme smell nuisance, a serious risk of home devaluation, decrease in enjoyment of your house (living enjoyment), which will impact mental health, decrease in tourists visiting the area, which will impact local business and therefore the local economy," a second person said.

How Will and Kate are affected

Prince William and Kate Middleton's vacation home, Anmer Hall, also sits on the land close to Charles' Norfolk home.

"It's going to be a huge manure lagoon and bound to be very smelly, which would not be great for Prince William and his family when they go to their country home for a relaxing stay," local Tim Harewood said.

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Why is Charles constructing it?

According to a statement provided to the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, along with the planning application, His Majesty's plans are fueled by his conservation efforts.

"The proposals involve the formation of a fertilizer storage lagoon to serve an extensive, established land holding of approximately 2,700 hectares," the statement reads. "This is farmed to grow crops, including modern and traditional wheat, barley, beans and oat varieties, plus a range of heritage grains. The agricultural holding includes a substantial flock of Aberfield sheep and beef shorthorn cattle which produce organic, 100% grass-fed meat."

"As part of the estate's ongoing conservation management, an area of arable land has been converted to agroforestry which involved the integration of crops and livestock in woodland, or among trees, to improve biodiversity. A variety of trees, including cider apple, perry pear, plum, quince, mulberry and walnut, have since been planted in addition to wildflower strips," the statement continues.

"The proposed development will deliver a new fertilizer storage lagoon to provide fertilizer storage capacity to serve the network of fields surrounding the application site," the document concludes.

Meghan's 'final straw' revealed

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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's move to Frogmore Cottage might have pushed them out of the royal fold.

Royal author Tom Quinn claimed in Kensington Palace that Frogmore Cottage was "the perfect retreat from what they saw as an unsympathetic, unfair world of media speculation and criticism."

"Meghan realized that living [at Frogmore Cottage] would be like living in the Russian steppe," Quinn continued. "Its remoteness made Kensington seem like the centre of the universe."

Experts continue to speculate over why Meghan and Prince Harry moved to the U.S. in the first place. The Sussexes previously claimed they felt unprotected by The Firm.

"I tried so hard," Meghan tearfully said about her short-lived royal career in Harry & Meghan. "That's the piece that's so triggering, because … it still wasn't good enough, and you still don't fit in."

Meghan and Harry's move to the U.S. was branded as "Megxit," but the duke stressed that it was his "decision."

"She never asked to leave. I had to see it for myself," Harry said in the couple's Netflix series. He later claimed there was "no other option" after Meghan was criticized by the British press and public.

In another episode, the Suits star hinted at clashing with Prince William and Kate Middleton.

"I was a hugger and have always been a hugger. I didn't realize that that was really jarring for a lot of Brits," Meghan said, referring to her first time meeting the Waleses. "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside."

"There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and you are like, 'Oh, great. We can relax now.' But that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me," Meghan continued. "It's so funny when I look back now because now I know so much, I'm so glad I didn't then because I could just authentically be myself without so much preparedness."