Why Jonathan Van Ness Wants to Redefine Self-Care As Tuning In, Not Numbing Out

Dec 03, 2020

Why Jonathan Van Ness Wants to Redefine Self-Care As Tuning In, Not Numbing Out

Today's creative human truly needs no introduction — from Queer Eye fame to social advocacy across the board, Jonathan Van Ness is a true force for change, good and, of course, beauty. In this edition of Creative Crushin', JVN shares with us his revelation about redefining self-care as tuning in instead of numbing out, and how his five fur babies have helped ground him in being more present, especially during the pandemic.

Anjelika Temple here, co-founder of Brit + Co, and fellow fan of taking time to tune wayyyy in. I was lucky enough to connect with JVN thanks to his partnership with Purina, and feel like I had several epiphany moments in our 18 Zoom minutes together. Read on to learn more about JVN's journey, why he considers advocacy a form of self-care, and the trials and tribulations of pet parenthood ;)

Anjelika Temple: To kick things off, where did you grow up? What was your career path like before the Queer Eye Reboot?

Jonathan Van Ness: Sure, I'm from Quincy, Illinois, then I briefly went to college, that didn't go well, and then I went to hair school. Fell in love with doing hair, and then I did hair full-time until I did Gay of Thrones, which was my first web series. And was still doing hair full-time throughout the first four years of that. I booked Queer Eye in 2017, it came out in 2018 and my life has changed so much since Queer Eye has come out, and it's almost going to be three years since it's been out, which is really surreal.

Anj: Was there a particular spark moment when you realized that you had struck a chord? You have a different take on skincare and self care, and it's more than just what you put on your face and in your hair and so on. What was it like when you realized that your point of view was really resonating with people?

JVN: I think I had my first experience a little bit with Gay of Thrones, but then the whole time that we were filming season one and two of Queer Eye, it hadn't come out yet, and so I wasn't sure how we would be received or how I would be received, or if it was really sparking. I think pretty soon after it came out in the first season, I was like, "Oh my gosh." I think I did feel like it was sparking and it was resonating, and it's really just been such an honor to be able to be someone who can advocate and give visibility for people that come from experiences like mine.

Anj: How would you define your personal mission and purpose? I know that it's always going to be evolving, so how about in this moment?

JVN: Right now, really, I feel like my mission is to... I want other non-binary HIV positive recovering addicts to know that they can achieve their wildest dreams, and that they can be valued and have worth and contribute. They can contribute and they can really believe that dreams come true. I think outside of that, I just want to get a world with more love and more compassion, and that's so much of what I'm focusing on.

Anj: I love that. I know that for you self-care is about so much more than skincare, beauty and hair. Talk to us about your definition of self-care.

JVN: You know, I used to think that self-care was more about kind of numbing out, and now I'm realizing that my advocacy is self-care, using my voice to stand up for trans and non binary people, using my voice to stand up for black people, using my voice to stand up for the HIV social safety net or lack thereof. I mean, using my voice to talk about all of those things, whether it's on my platform, in my private life — that is self-care. But also, so is yoga, and so can be watching The Undoing last night, because I was up until 11. I couldn't turn it off. And also, so is playing with my cats. So really, so much can be self-care. It's a matter of shifting your perspective, but I think my biggest revelation this year... Well, that's not my biggest, but one of my biggest revelations is that it's not numbing out. It's actually tuning in.

Anj: I think that's so true, the idea of tuning in. It's better for everybody, around you, for yourself, just in everything you do. So on that note, let's talk about your fur family and partnership with Purina. Tell me more about your pets and what you've got planned for the holidays.

JVN: Yes. So I've got five babies. I've got four cats and a dog. I've got Larry who is seven, then I've got Liza who's two and a half, and then Matilda and Lady G are just over a year. And then I've got my dog Pablo, who we think is about two years old, but we just adopted him in June. He's a Texan and he's a feisty little pepper and we love him so much. And yeah, really what we're planning on doing is staying away from people and hanging with each other.

As part of my partnership with Purina, I've been learning how to focus more on quality time with my pets. With integrating the dog with the cats, we really had to make a conscientious play time with the cats every day where the dog's not a part of it, and we wear them out. It takes about 30 minutes to an hour, but if we won't do that, they get aggressively mad at each other, not really getting along with the dog very well because it was such a shift for them.

Now they're less stressed, they're visibly more relaxed in the house with each other, and that's really been from I think... I think so many times we think like, "Oh, cats are low maintenance, just scoop the poop and they're fine," but the more I've been able to really get them on a consistent schedule with playing different games, different enrichment activities, whether that's keeping a delivery box, making some of the games that we played, they are just better adjusted. They don't wake me up at four in the morning anymore, meowing ;)

Anj: Pandemic pets are definitely a thing, and a lot of us turn to our animals to help us feel less anxiety, but obviously, they feel anxiety and stress too. Any stress relief tips for pets and humans alike?

JVN: I think really for both of us, it's kind of the same. It's about taking the expectations off. When we think about expectations, they are really the cause of a lot of suffering, and we've got to have healthy boundaries for ourselves and for our pets and people around us. I'm not saying have no expectations, but I think when we're trying to compare this year to previous times, when the holidays can already be stressful and things could already be a lot, we're in uncharted territory now, and I think just taking the expectations off of how something has to be… It's about being patient and compassionate with ourselves and with our puppies, our kittens, our family members, trying to find some compassion for each other. It can be really helpful and healing.

Anj: On that note, how do you strike the balance between your own mental health and the cultural pressure to always be ahead? How do you reset?

JVN: Sometimes, I think I just deal with it easier at times than others. I mean honestly, I think lately I've been feeling really challenged by it, and it's been more challenging lately, but I think that that's part of life and we're going to have moments of growth and moments of discomfort, and it is what it is, and really, I can't change other people's reactions. I can change how I react in situations, so I really am just trying to take that pressure down and take the compassion up. And that's easier said than done, because it's so easy to spiral in negativity, but when I catch myself, I'm just trying to gently, like, "Can you stop? Can you come back over, above that non self destructive line please?" With really self destructive behaviors, ones that are going to really hurt me, I've been able to do that.

Anj: Okay, now totally switching gears to your beauty expertise and how you take care of that gorgeous face yours! What is your skincare routine like at the moment?

JVN: Basically I am a cleanser person. Then after cleanser, eye cream, then a serum. I rub all that in, then I do my moisturizer everywhere, let that soak in, then I cover that with my oil, let that soak in, then I do my sunscreen on top of that. If I'm doing makeup for media, then I'll put that on after all of that. I really only use Biossance for skincare when it comes to those daily things, then I'll bring the moisturizer a little bit on my lips, and then I seal it in with BITE Beauty. Then when it comes to makeup, I like Cover FX and Algenist. I use Algenist Primer, Cover FX concealer. Sometimes I'll use a little bit of Cover FX bronzer on my hairline. Right now, less makeup than I was doing for sure, and probably more masks. More baths, more masks and that's very much kind of what my daily is.

Anj: Now moving to trends; What are a couple recent style and beauty trends that you love?

JVN: I think people are just having fun right now. The really DIY at-home short haircuts, like I'm into Antony's hair growing back out after his buzz, all the boys that quarantine buzz their hair off and now it's kind of mediumly coming back is fun. Maggie Rogers just cut her hair off and it looks amazing, so yeah, I just think bold, fun, new looks are always fun for quarantine, because f*ck it.

Anj: Last question. If you could give your younger self a pep-talk, or get them out of a rut, what would it sound like?

JVN: Love yourself. Don't do hardcore drugs, but then I wouldn't have turned out how I am, so maybe don't butterfly effect yourself. I don't know. You know what I really think it is, and what I would really say to myself? Not everyone is going to like you, not everyone's going to agree with you, but if you know where your heart is and you know what you're putting out, then you really can only do your best, and it's okay to do your best. That's what I would say.

Follow Jonathan Van Ness @jvn on Instagram, and be sure to listen to Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness wherever you listen to podcasts.

Photos courtesy of Purina

11 Obvious Signs You’re Actually An Empath, According To A Therapist

You and your friends have likely spent countless hours together, decoding everything from imaginationships to the best comfort shows to watch when you're sad. You've probably even settled into a designated role within the group. Maybe you're the super adventurous one, always suggesting friend date ideas for the group to try, while someone else always knows how to comfort everyone when life gets rough. But, have you ever wondered if you're the most empathetic friend in the group? That's easy, just ask Brianna Paruolo, LCMCH. She's the founder and clinical director of On Par Therapyso she knows how to recognize signs you're an empath, plus how to take care of yourself!

TL;DR

Empathy is when "you feel what others are feeling."
There are physical, emotional, social, and mental signs that you're an empath.
You may be an empath if you get physically exhausted after being in crowds, feel anxious or overwhelmed in emotionally charged environments, feel responsible for other people's happiness, or you find it hard to distinguish your own feelings from someone else's.

Are there really assigned roles in friend groups or am I just imagining things?

Gary Barnes

Like I said before, it can seem like you and your friends unintentionally gravitate toward certain 'roles.' It's not like anyone woke up one day and decided, "I'm going to be the 'mother hen' of the group," but it tends to happen. Why?

Paruolo says, "In my clinical work, I've consistently observed that our friendship roles often mirror our early family dynamics. These patterns show up naturally — think about who in your friend group gets the first crisis call, who plans all the gatherings, or who everyone turns to for emotional support." I'm willing to bet you thought of a name for each scenario — including yours — because I know I did!

"Like in families, we each fall into specific roles that feel familiar to us," Paruolo further explains.

What actually makes someone an empathetic person?

cottonbro studio

There's so many definitions for empathy, but I thought it would be wise to ask a licensed professional for her opinion on the matter. "Empathy means to feel what others are feeling. You do not have to have a personal direct experience with something to feel empathy for another person," shares Paruolo.

For example, your friend could call to tell you she has to have fibroid removal surgery and is feeling scared. You may have never had surgery, but you could find yourself feeling the need to comfort her in spite of this. Paruolo says, "The cool thing about our brains is that we have mirror neurons, which means part of our brain is set up to feel what others feel. The ability to attune to others' emotional states comes naturally to some people, while others may need to develop this capacity more consciously."

Yaroslav Shuraev

To break it down even further, here's signs that Paruolo says point to your empathetic nature.

Physical Signs:

Getting physically exhausted after being in crowds
Feeling drained after social interactions, even enjoyable ones (OMG I feel so seen!)
Needing extra time alone to recharge

Emotional Signs:

Absorbing other people's emotions like a sponge
Feeling anxious or overwhelmed in emotionally charged environments
Finding it hard to watch violence or cruelty in movies/TV

Social Signs:

Feeling responsible for others' happiness
Having trouble saying "no" to people who need help

Mental Signs:

Picking up on subtle changes in others' moods
Being highly attuned to body language and tone
Finding it hard to distinguish your feelings from others' feelings

It sounds like I'm the empathetic friend, but are there any downsides to this?

Mikhail Nilov

I've been an empath for as long as I can remember and I've found that I have to 'recharge' my social batteries at times. I thought it was because I was trying to be superwoman by fixing others' problems, but it turns out theres more to it than that. Paruolo says, "Empathetic friends and people have an uncanny ability to sense others' emotional states even when unspoken, and frequently need recovery time after intense social interactions. They tend to be deeply affected by others' experiences and naturally consider situations from multiple perspectives."

In the long run, she says it can be "distressing" for some people to always feel the feelings of others. Over time, she says, "it can cause you to shut down and retract." This can look like not being as quick to respond to the funny memes your friends send you or not even answering their phone calls right away.

cottonbro studio

But, this doesn't mean you're the only person who tends to go through this. "Many empaths struggle with maintaining boundaries due to their deep emotional attunement," she says. Color me guilty because this sounds so much like me. It got so bad at one point that my sister nicknamed me 'Captain Save-A-Lot,' which is actually the clean version of what she truly meant. Still, empathy fatigue is no laughing matter nor does it mean you're defected. You just have the natural ability to show people their feelings are important to you.

How can I protect my peace as the empathetic friend?

Kaboompics.com

You know you need to set boundaries, but what does that mean? Paruolo says, "The key is understanding that empathy needs to be balanced with compassion - it's not just about feeling others' emotions but also knowing how to help without depleting yourself."

One of the things she loves to do is "encourage empaths to set clear boundaries around their emotional availability and make time for regular grounding exercises." As with gratitude journaling, try to focus on an activity that calls for you to be present. Focus on what you can hear, see, touch, taste, and smell.

"Self-care isn't just a luxury; it's essential maintenance for empaths. This might mean scheduling alone time, finding a supportive therapist, or joining communities where you can process your experiences," Paruolo implores.

I know how to be there for others, but how do I ask for emotional support when I need it?

Vitaly Gariev

You may feel like it's impossible to ask others for help since your shoulders are the ones people cry on, but you're only doing yourself a disservice by not speaking up. No one's super resilient or able to handle all of their distressing feelings alone. We're not meant to.

It's the reason Paruolo wants you to speak up about what you need. "The most effective approach I've seen is being direct about your needs rather than hoping others will figure them out," she says. I made this mistake during postpartum and found myself expecting my family & friends to know exactly how I felt, but they're not mind readers. The more I verbally asked for help with little or big tasks, the more my mental and emotional load lightened.

Paruolo wants you to look at "asking for support as strengthening your friendships through trust and vulnerability, instead of waiting until you're overwhelmed." By the time you reach that point, you'll be ready to enter rage or full-blown shut down mode and they're not fun.

Avoid unlocking their proverbial doors by scheduling "regular check-ins with trusted friends," suggests Paruolo. "This creates a sustainable support system and helps prevent emotional crisis points.

We have even more self-care stories for you to dive into if you need a mental and emotional boost!

See Chris Evans And Alba Baptista's Adorable Date Night To Celebrate His New Movie

Chris Evans is one celebrity heartthrob that just about the entire internet loves. He's kind, he's romantic, and he has one of the greatest laughs ever. If you haven't read up on how much of a romantic the actor and director is, let me tell you, it's swoon-worthy. He told ET Online he considers himself “a very romantic guy" and that he's "romantic with [his] love of music or art or nature," and told ELLE that "if you're ever fortunate enough to love someone and have them love you back, it's worth protecting that." Again I say: swoon!

Chris is a pretty private person, but over the years, he's admitted just how much he wanted to settle down. Well, a little over a month ago, he finally tied the knot with fiancée Alba Baptista! 🎉 Here's everything you need to know about the wedding and the star-studded guest list.

The latest news on Chris Evans & Alba Baptista's relationship.

Chris Evans is known for being "a very romantic guy."
He tied the knot with Alba Baptista in September 2023.
The couple reportedly had two "wonderful and beautiful" weddings, one in Massachusetts and one in Portugal.

Was Chris Evans at the Oscars 2024?

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

While Chris Evans and Alba Baptista might not have been at the Oscars, they did make headlines for getting cozy after the pre-Oscars party — and then made their red carpet debut at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party! The couple looked amazing in black, white, and red (very Oscar-appropriate), and simple silhouettes & minimalist accessories gave them an overall romantic, relaxed look.

After a video speculating Alba and Chris might have separated after the actress was seen without her wedding ring, the couple showed up to the premiere of Chris Evans' new movie Red One and shared a hug on the carpet. And at the November 11 NYC premiere of the film, the couple showed up in complementary outfits and had their arms around each other. Don't worry, romantics — this couple doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Where did Chris Evans and Alba Baptista get married?

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Chris Evans and Alba Baptista had a small ceremony on September 9 at their home near Boston, Massachusetts. According to Page Six (who first broke the nuptial news), guests had to sign NDAs and give up their phones throughout the course of the wedding to keep everything private.

Who was at Chris Evans and Alba Baptista's wedding?

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images for Miu Miu

Guests included family and close friends of the couple. When I saw that list included Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, and Jeremy Renner, who all costarred with Chris Evans in the MCU, I genuinely had to fight the tears. See a photo here!

It also appears that Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenburg, as well as John Krasinki and Emily Blunt, attended the wedding as well.

What has Chris Evans said about his marriage to Alba Baptista?

Craig Barritt/Getty Images for ReedPop

Over the weekend, Peoplereported that Chris finally opened up about his marriage during New York Comic Con! Not only did the lucky audience get to see his wedding band but they also learned Chis and Alba hadtwo weddings. The second one was in Portugal which makes perfect sense given the fact Alba is from Lisbon, Portugal.

Happily gushing about both ceremonies, Chris said they were "wonderful and beautiful." He also mentioned he and Alba have been focusing on embracing this new season in their lives while gearing up to enjoy all fall has to offer. He truly is a dreamy and romantic man.

How did Chris Evans meet Alba Baptista?

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for European Shooting Stars

Fans have speculated that the actors met in the summer of 2021, when they were both in Europe filming (he was filming Netflix action flick The Gray Man opposite Ana de Armas and she was filming Warrior Nun). After interacting with each other on social media, People reported in November 2022 the couple had been dating "for over a year and it's serious...They are in love and Chris has never been happier. His family and friends all adore her."

Throughout 2022, Chris posted jump-scare videos on Instagram (where he would scare his family members, and then they'd scare him), and at the beginning of 2023, he made his relationship with Alba Instagram official by posting a compilation of videos where the couple scared each other!

Who is Alba Baptista?

Manolo Pavón/Netflix

Alba Baptista is an award-winning actress who we've seen in titles like Warrior Nun and Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris. She won the Berlin Film Festival's European Shooting Star Award and the award for Best Actress at the Festival Iberico de Cine, and on top her awards, she was also named one of IMDb’s Top 10 Breakout Stars of 2020!

We hope we get to see Chris Evans and Alba Baptista together in a movie soon ;).

This post has been updated.

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5 Easy Journal Prompts To Turn Your Day Around

Last night I realized I was pregnant during the height of the pandemic and the 2020 election cycle, but I didn't have any self-care practices in sight. I was chronically stressed and spent way too much time on social media when I should've been finding ways to ground myself. After a tough four years of navigating everything from motherhood to starting my career, I've finally started utilizing gratitude journaling as a tool to get through tough days.

I don't know how you may be feeling today, but I've created journal prompts you can refer to when you're scared, anxious, unsure of the future, and more. They're not meant to replace meditation or seeking therapy, but they are here for moments you need to check in with yourself.

A Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You're Worried About The Future

Arina Krasnikova

Write Down 5 Things You're Grateful You Can See, Touch, Hear, And Smell

This is actually a practice I picked up in therapy to help redirect my anxious thoughts. It's something I often refer to when I'm fixated on the future and things that might happen. Any time you feel yourself not being present because you're worried about what's next, focus on things that are immediately in front of you or around you.

For example, here's what's reminding me to be present:

I can hear one of my favorite gospel songs playing and the subtle humming I'm doing.
I can see two lime green books on my desk.
I can smell the clean laundry my fiancé took out of the dryer.
I'm touching the keys on my keyboard as I type this.

Although they seem small, I'm grateful they're helping to keep me rooted in the present moment. So, what are you grateful you can see, touch, hear, and smell today?

Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You're Experiencing Sadness

Darina Belonogova

Write Down 3 Things You're Grateful For Today

Practicing gratitude when you're sad isn't so you can pretend the sadness doesn't exist. It's a very real emotion that calls for us to be curious about why we're feeling that way. However, if you feel like you're 'stuck' in your sadness, you can try writing down 3 things you're grateful for right now. Again, they don't have to be grandiose. They just have to make sense to you.

You could be grateful for:

Eating a delicious meal
Having a good night's sleep
Hearing your favorite song at the right moment
Morning snuggles with your pet or toddler
Having access to binge watch your favorite TV show when you need to escape reality for a bit

Antoni Shkraba

Write Down The People You're Grateful You Can Rely On

My hope is that everyone has at least one person they can rely on during difficult moments in life. I know everyone doesn't have huge villages for different reasons, but I'd rather focus on who is there.

This gratitude journaling idea doesn't require you to go in depth about why you're grateful for the people in your corner unless you want to. You can simply write their names down if that's all you have the bandwidth for.

Pavel Danilyuk

Recount A Memory That Always Makes You Smile

When in doubt, think about a moment that was hilarious or filled you with joy. It can be from your childhood, first year in college, or even your wedding day! The one memory that always makes me smile is from an interesting moment I told one of my uncles he looked like Santa Claus. I was around 5 or 6 years old, so it was a super innocent comment, but still it was hilarious nonetheless. No one in my family has let my uncle or me forget that moment. It's small, but it's one of the memories I'm grateful I can remember when I'm feeling sad.

A Gratitude Journaling Idea For When You Feel You're Not Doing Enough

Antoni Shkraba

Write Down 1 Thing You've Grateful You've Accomplished

I know some journal prompts ask you to list multiple things you've recently accomplished, but I've found that makes me a little more anxious that necessary. If this sounds like you, I see you and think it's just as impactful to be grateful for one thing you've done that you're proud of. It could be as simple as:

"I had the strength to get out of bed today after wanting to do nothing more than hide under the covers."
"I did laundry and put everything away."
"I made myself a meal instead of ordering lunch like I usually do."
"I stuck to my budget this week."
"My presentation at work or school went really well."
"I made that scary phone call I've been putting off."
"I went for a walk around my neighborhood or local park."

Follow us on Instagram for more seasonal and daily inspo!

journal prompts self-care gratitude journaling

Your First Look At 'The Handmaid’s Tale' Season 6, Plus When You Can Watch New Episodes

There are a few dystopian stories that feel so relevant, they almost feel like nonfiction, and readers have always considered Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale to be one of those stories. The book was published in 1985 to rave reviews, and when Hulu adapted the novel into a TV show in 2017, it became the first streaming series to win the Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. No big deal!

Fans have been waiting for news on the show ever since the season 5 finale aired in November of 2022, and after a nearly two-year wait, The Handmaid's Tale season 6 is finally in production. Here's everything you need to know about the final installment of the hit series, including a sneak peek from the upcoming season.

Is there a season 6 of Handmaid's Tale release date?

Elisabeth Moss/Instagram

We don't have an exact release date for The Handmaid's Tale season 6 yet, but we do know it'll premiere in the spring of 2025, according to Disney+'s first look in their Coming In 2025 teaser video. That ideally means we could see it anywhere from March to May!

The eligibility period for the Emmys ends in May, meaning the show will be eligible for 2025 Emmys consideration! The Handmaid's Tale season 6 was scheduled to film in 2023 but was delayed due to last summer's Hollywood strikes.

On September 7, actress Elisabeth Moss posted an image from set. "Guess who's back? Production on the final season has officially started," the caption reads. In addition to starring as June, Moss will direct the first episode of season 6.

Your First Look At Season 6

Disney+/YouTube

Of the clips shown in Disney+'s sneak peek of The Handmaid's Tale in their Coming In 2025 teaser video, the first shows Serena saying: "Something big is about to happen." 👀

Disney+/YouTube

The next clip shows a wide shot of June walking with a backpack down a long dirt road.

Disney+/YouTube

The final clip from the most recent season 6 sneak peek shows June with a look of stern determination on her face, saying: "Let's bring them home." Oh, we are so pumped.

What is The Handmaid's Tale season 6 about?

Sophie Giraud/Hulu

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 is sure to pick up right where season 5 left off: June and Nichole board a train for Vancouver (to later transfer to a boat bound for Hawaii), while Luke stays behind at the train station and is arrested for the death of a truck driver who attempted to assassinate June. On the train, June is reunited with Serena and Noah.

Who's in the cast of The Handmaid's Tale season 6?

Sophie Giraud/Hulu

The Handmaid's Tale stars Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Yvonne Strahovski, Max Minghella, O-T Fagbenle, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Madeline Brewer, Amanda Brugel, and Sam Jaeger. Sydney Sweeney, Alexis Bledel, and McKenna Grace have also had roles on the show.

Alexis Bledel won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 2018!

Is The Handmaid's Tale done?

Sophie Giraud/Hulu

The show is almost done! The Handmaid's Tale season 6 will be the last installment of the series.

Is The Testaments going to be a series?

Amazon

Yes, Margaret Atwood's 2019 novel The Testamentswill be a Hulu TV show. The book revolves around Aunt Lydia from The Handmaid's Tale (played by Ann Dowd in both series), Agnes, who lives in Gilead, and Daisy, who lives in Canada. Bruce Miller, who was the showrunner for the first five seasons of The Handmaid's Tale, will be showrunner for The Testaments.

Are you excited for The Handmaid's Tale season 6? Check back here for the latest news on the series.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

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We Just Got A Major 'White Lotus' Season 3 Update

I'll never stop daydreaming about the sunny, all-inclusive resorts popping up on Instagram (including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's dreamy Bahamas vacation). And now that The White Lotus season 3 is officially on its way, I'm daydreaming about a beach vacay even more! (Well, just without the drama, please.)

Even though we won't be getting season 3 until 2025, there's still plenty to be excited about. Keep checking back here for all the most important White Lotus theories, plot, cast, and release date details. Until then, check out our best new TV shows of 2024!

Keep reading for the latest news on HBO's The White Lotus season 3.

The White Lotus season 3 is coming to HBO and Max in 2025.
This year, we're headed to Thailand.
The cast includes Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Dom Hetrakul, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Aimee Lou Wood.

Check Out The First Look At 'The White Lotus' Season 3

Max

Max's latest preview for the 2024-2025 season gives us a look at Dune: Prophecy, The Last of Us season 2, and The White Lotus season 3. This season, we're headed to Thailand and this first look is beautiful. However, if past seasons are any indication these carefree vacation vibes won't last long...but we'll enjoy them while they're here.

Max

We also get a look at Natasha Rothwell's return as Belinda, who's the character we've been waiting to see! I need this floral 'fit for my next vacation.

When can I watch The White Lotus season 3?

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Max confirmed on August 5 that we'd see The White Lotus season 3 in 2025. Stay tuned for an official release date!

Your First Look At The White Lotus Season 3

Sam Nivola/Instagram

Cast member Sam Nivola shared some photos from the set of The White Lotus season 3 set featuring Sarah Catherine Hook and Patrick Schwarzenegger (along with their friend Iris Apatow) hanging out on a boat together. Talk about a dreamy work day!

"The pookinator is looking absolutely FIRE tonight," Sam says on Instagram. "LOML," Sarah Catherine commented, while Patrick added a bunch of heart-eye smiles.

Who's in The White Lotus season 3 cast?

Fabio Lovino/HBO

The White Lotus season 3 cast is slowly rolling in, with characters which range from 18 years old to 80-something, and include a patriarch, a corporate executive, an actress, two mothers, a misfit, and a yogi. Naturally, the internet immediately started fan casting who'd get to be in the new season. Fans have tagged everyone from Dianna Agron (by far the most popular fan cast) to Keke Palmer and Harry Styles. I feel like it's only a matter of time before we see Madelyn Cline. 👀

So far, The White Lotus season 3 cast includes Leslie Bibb, Miloš Biković, Carrie Coon, Christian Friedel, Walton Goggins, Dom Hetrakul, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Morgana O’Reilly, Lek Patravadi, Shalini Peiris, Parker Posey, Natasha Rothwell, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong, and Aimee Lou Wood.

On February 12, it was announced the BLACKPINK's Lisa would join The White Lotus season 3, but her role has yet to be disclosed. It will be the singer's acting debut, and she'll be credited under her given name Lalisa Manobal. Since the season begins filming this month, we're sure to get updates soon! Jennie from BLACKPINK also made her acting debut recently in HBO's The Idol!

What is The White Lotus season 3 about?

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“It’s going to be a supersized White Lotus,” creator Mike White told EW. “It’s going to be longer, bigger, crazier. I don’t know what people will think, but I am super excited, so at least for my own barometer, that’s a good thing…I’m super excited about the content of the season.”

While the first season provided commentary on money, and the second season highlighted sex, Mike says at the end of the second season finale featurette, “The White Lotus: Unpacking S2 E7,” that he hoped at the time to move to something resembling even more of a black comedy: “I think the third season would be maybe a satirical and funny look at death and Eastern religion and spirituality. It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”

Who is the recurring character in White Lotus season 3?

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Natasha Rothwell, who we all loved in season one as spa manager Belinda Lindsey, will return for The White Lotus season 3. No other cast members have been announced just yet.

“I've just finished the season 3 scripts, and I'm going to have to say White Lotus is going to give you a run for your money,” Natasha tells PEOPLE. While she “can’t confirm or deny” just how much we'll see her in season 3, Natasha does promise "it's an excellent season and people are going to be very pleased.” We can't wait!

Where is season 3 of White Lotus going to be?

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The White Lotus season 3 will take place in Thailand. The show will be filming in and around Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok, Thailand (via Variety).

Does Daphne sleep with Ethan?

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There was a lot to process at the end of The White Lotus season 2, but one detail that wasn't confirmed at the time was whether Daphne (played by Meghann Fahy) and Ethan (Will Sharpe) ended up sleeping together. However, Meghann pretty much confirmed it when she talked about the season with Variety.

"I definitely think something happened," she says. "I don't know what exactly happened, but I do know that it was something. Honestly, in that moment, I think Daphne just saw this broken man and wanted to do something to make him feel more empowered in her own strange way. I really don’t think that she led him there to get back at Cameron or Harper."

Will Jennifer Coolidge be in season 3 of White Lotus?

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No, sadly Jennifer Coolidge is not coming back for The White Lotus season 3. “I’m jealous of everyone that’s going," she tells TODAY.com. "I just want to stress I’m not a good sport about it, but there’s nothing I can do. When they kill you, you have to accept it. Because it means they’re not calling for your costume sizes or anything."

But Jennifer is just as sad as we are that she's not in the new installment! "I just want to say in all honesty, I’m very sad I’m not in it," she continues. “I think it’s going to be good. There’s going to be all sorts of good stuff in it, probably great sex stuff. You know how Mike White writes — it’s never, never a dull moment. I think he’s going to slay with this one.”

Will Meghann Fahy reprise her role as Daphne?

HBO

So far an actual confirmation is TBD, but we could see Daphne and other stars from The White Lotus grace our screens at a point during Season 3. She told Deadline, "He [Mike White] did once say that he would love to do like an episode with Theo and me and the couple from the first season, Alex and Jake."

We're imagining how chaotic that episode will be if it comes to fruition!

What's your biggest theory for The White Lotus season 3? Until the new installment drops on Max and HBO, read up on the Fall Movies you won't want to miss in 2024!

This post has been updated.

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