Sarah Manavis

Ohio

Writer at The Observer

American writer at The Observer, and sometimes elsewhere. It’s muh-NAH-viss. she/her

Articles

‘Only you are stopping you from being hotter’

3 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Sarah Manavis

it’s hard to know, in our era of over-sharing, what kind of admission from a celebrity could truly shock the public. A secret affair? A secret sister? A country music pivot? This week, Kylie Jenner went viral for one answer: giving an uncharacteristically detailed, revealing response to a TikTok user asking her to share the menu for the breast augmentation she had before becoming a parent in 2018.
Kylie's message? ‘Only you are stopping you from being ho...

3 weeks ago | observer.co.uk | Sarah Manavis

It’s hard to know, in our era of over-sharing, what kind of admission from a celebrity could truly shock the public. A secret affair? A secret sister? A country music pivot? This week, Kylie Jenner went viral for one answer: giving an uncharacteristically detailed, revealing response to a TikTok user asking her to share the menu for the breast augmentation she had before becoming a parent in 2018.
The spell is cast on the new Harry Potter stars

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | Sarah Manavis

Arabella Stanton, Dominic McLaughlin, and Alastair Stout, who will portray Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley in the new HBO series.
Profile: Emma Grede is ready to step into the spotlight

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | Sarah Manavis

The savvy east London fashion entrepreneur who is truly keeping up with the Kardashians Illustration by Andy BundayWho is the mastermind of the Kardashian empire? Familiar characters spring to mind: the matriarch “mom-ager”, Kris Jenner; perhaps Kim, who takes credit for her family’s fame. Maybe the simplest answer is reality TV. Maybe even Instagram. But should we be thinking of Emma Grede?
Molly-Mae may be an Insta superstar, but her appeal doesn’t translate to television

1 month ago | observer.co.uk | Sarah Manavis

Molly-Mae Hague's new reality series promises to reveal the truth behind the influencer’s high-profile life. Fans watching Behind It All are unlikely to find out What can we learn about an influencer that they haven’t posted about already? The answer is in Prime Video’s new docuseries Molly-Mae: Behind It All, starring the UK’s most popular influencer, Molly-Mae Hague.
Liz Truss’s social media platform might work

2 months ago | newstatesman.com | Sarah Manavis

How does a social media platform go mainstream in the 2020s? For the last several years, tech companies have tried to launch supposedly cutting-edge platforms – ones they tell us will shake up our digital consumption – which have overwhelmingly, if not universally, failed.
Give the kidfluencers rights

2 months ago | newstatesman.com | Sarah Manavis

Being a famous kid has often been synonymous with exploitation – from Judy Garland and Shirley Temple in the 20th century to Britney Spears and Aaron Carter in the 21st. Even in 2025, with more regulations to protect children, when we see a young person catapulted into mainstream stardom, we fear they might be hurtling towards a life with no insulation from the worst aspects of fame.
Saturday Night Live lost its bite long ago, and it’s unlikely to find it on British TV

2 months ago | theguardian.com | Sarah Manavis

What makes good satire? The answer might vary depending on who you ask. What is more unifying, however, is what doesn’t. Most would agree it’s things like punching down, cheap jokes, obviousness or, worst of all, failing to actually be funny. We saw a unique combination of all of the above last weekend, when the American live sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL) attempted to parody the hit HBO series The White Lotus, setting it among current White House staff.
Surveillance is in, perks out. Bosses have dropped their masks, but gen Z is fighting back | Sarah Manavis

2 months ago | theguardian.com | Sarah Manavis

Almost any workplace study in the last decade will tell you that the death of productivity – and the death of profits – is a direct result of having miserable, overworked and micromanaged employees. In an attempt to make themselves feel in control, bosses delude themselves into believing that a tight grip will yield big results from their staff.
The kids are right, smartphones aren't all bad news

2 months ago | newstatesman.com | Sarah Manavis

Is there a more dangerous place for a kid to spend time today than online? The prevailing wisdom tells us that social media is ruining every part of a child’s life: giving them anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia; exposing them to graphic images and misinformation; destroying their self worth, ability to socialise and respect for women and girls. For years, we ignored teenagers and their unhindered access to unregulated platforms.