All over TikTok and other social-media platforms, influencers are hopping on vibration plates. One sits on hers daily to “drain my thyroid.” Another says her “vibe plate” means she no longer needs to work out. 

It’s a fitness fad that’s easy to roll your eyes at. Whole-body vibration plates don’t look all that different from the 1960s’ “exercise” belts that promised to shake off fat. But pro athletes and even astronauts use these machines, and scientists have been looking into them seriously for decades. So could the benefits be legitimate? 

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“What we’re seeing on TikTok is a loose interpretation of the data,” says exercise scientist Rachele Pojednic, director of education at Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. She says that while studies show that hopping on a whole-body vibration plate can move the needle in a few different areas of health and fitness, it’s a pretty tiny change.

“Research does support a modest level of benefits in some pretty specific contexts,” says Brent Feland, an exercise science professor at Brigham Young University who has studied the effects of vibration on things like stretching, sprinting, and blood flow. But, he adds, “whole-body vibration is not some magic little tool.” 

How vibration plates work

There are two main types of whole-body vibration platforms: linear plates that move up and down in one piece like a tiny elevator, and oscillating plates that tilt side to side like a seesaw (which can get more intense the farther you step out to the sides). Both move in a pretty small range of motion—up to about 14 millimeters, max—but they can do it anywhere from 5 to 50 times per second.

These quick movements force your muscles to rapidly contract and release, says exercise physiologist Rachelle Acitelli Reed. Just like during traditional exercise, those muscle contractions set off physiological responses, like increased blood flow, a higher body temperature, and the release of proteins called myokines that help bring glucose into the muscles.   

Read More: Is Eating Too Fast Hurting Your Health?

Additionally, because the plate keeps pushing you upwards over and over again so quickly, Feland says it creates a stronger gravitational load, meaning there’s an extra pull on your bones and muscles.

Proven benefits vs. Hype

So what does science say about the potential of vibration plates? 

There’s a good amount of data showing that they can help improve balance, likely because they activate the neuromuscular system. “The catch is the population where the most beneficial effects have been found for are older, deconditioned individuals, or those with physical debilitations or neurological limitations,” Feland says. If someone has a condition that prevents them from doing traditional exercise, standing on a plate can trigger those muscle contractions without them having to actively move their large muscles or joints, explains Darryl Cochrane, an exercise and health science professor at Massey University in New Zealand who’s published a number of studies on whether vibration can enhance athletic performance. This is why you’ll often see vibration plates used in rehabilitation settings. 

There’s also some data behind the possibility for whole-body vibration to improve bone mineral density, particularly in post-menopausal women and geriatric populations. “The thought is that those little contractions and relaxations are in some way loading the bone,” Reed says. Feland adds that the additional gravitational load gives an extra stimulus for the bone to build more tissue in people who don’t get that through weight-bearing exercise or resistance training. 

Some research shows that whole-body vibration can also help a little with certain aspects of athletic performance, like muscular strength and power and range of motion. Cochrane’s research has found it can warm up the muscles faster than cycling or jogging, without using up as much energy. “You go do five 30- or 60-second bouts on a whole-body vibration platform, and you’ll actually get a semi-decent warm-up from it,” Feland says. 

Read More: What to Do If Your Friends Keep Leaving You Out

Plus, it just feels good. “That’s the magic of being bombarded with vibration,” Feland says. “Every joint segment and every tissue in you is moving and oscillating at this frequency. You’re firing off a ton of neurosensory receptors, and that’s interfering with some of your other sensory signaling that’s normally going on.” If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat. (That said, a good dynamic warmup can have the same outcome, he adds.)

Unfortunately, influencers’ claims around “wobbling your weight away” by simply standing on a vibration plate aren’t really backed up by evidence, experts say. Compared to standing still, “you get just a little more calorie burn because your muscles have to work a bit harder against that external force,” Pojednic says. But research shows you’d burn more simply by going on a brisk walk. 

Another claim that experts find to be misleading is that vibration can spur lymphatic drainage. “It is moving the fluid around. However, so does going for a walk,” Reed says. Feland adds that even though whole-body vibration companies themselves often tout the lymphatic benefits, “there is not one study that has ever measured lymphatic drainage and lymphatic improvement” with these devices.

Who might benefit most from vibration plates 

Based on the proven benefits, experts mainly recommend vibration plates for two distinct populations on opposite ends of the spectrum: People who aren’t strong enough to do a traditional workout, and serious athletes looking to eke out a little extra performance enhancement. 

“The maximum benefit is for the compromised population, the ones that are having trouble with balance, mobility issues—it could be an entrée in terms of starting a fitness program,” Cochrane says. He adds that for athletes, the plates can offer a new way to challenge the body to get past a plateau or just keep workouts from getting monotonous. 

Read More: The 1-Minute Trick to Calming Down Your Nervous System

That said, as long as you’re using them correctly, vibration plates are unlikely to cause harm, so there’s no reason for the average adult not to use one if they want. “If this is really jazzing up your routine enough for you to be motivated, cool, I love that for you,” Reed says. Just treat it as an additional tool rather than a replacement for exercise, she and Cochrane both add.  

How to use a vibration plate

Many vibration plates come with all kinds of settings: dialing up amplitude increases intensity, for example, and a higher frequency ups the number of vibrations per second. But there is not yet enough research to know the ideal settings or even duration of use. The best approach might differ from person to person. “We do think that people have different frequency responses,” Feland says. “We just haven’t figured out how to tap into that yet.”

Experts recommend starting small until you get used to vibration: Cochrane suggests beginning with the frequency set to 10 to 15 hertz, and doing five sets of 30-second intervals while standing in a shallow squat. Eventually, you can bump up the frequency and start to do strength training on the platform (like squats, lunges, planks, or bridges). Just be sure to work up to trickier moves gradually so the vibrations don’t knock you off balance, Pojednic adds. 

And always use proper form. “The right way to stand on these is bending at the knees and bending over at the hips, because you want to minimize vibration to the head,” Feland says. There have been case studies of negative effects to tissues in the head (like a torn retina) when people stood on these with straight legs. 

Most of all, remember that whole-body vibration is not a get-fit-quick scheme. As Cochrane says: “You still need the motivation to [use] it, just as if you’re jumping on an exercise cycle or going out for a brisk walk or anything. You still have to find time to do this.” But it could give you just a little boost—and make getting fit a bit more fun.  

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Finding Her Edge

The Netflix series Finding Her Edge, based on the 2022 novel by Jennifer Iacopelli, follows Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), a former competitive figure skater who stepped away from the sport after the death of her mother, Sarah. Now removed from competition, Adriana spends her time helping at the family-owned Russo Rink, until she discovers the facility is on the brink of closure due to financial instability. Her father, Will (Harmon Walsh), has focused on promoting and supporting the ice skating prospects of Adriana’s older sister, Elise (Alexandra Beaton), while neglecting rising bills, maintenance costs, and declining attendance—creating the conditions that threaten the rink’s future.

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The story centers on Adriana’s decision to return to competitive skating not for personal validation but to generate sponsorships, media attention, and financial support necessary to keep the rink operational. To make that strategy viable, she forms a partnership with Brayden Elliot (Cale Ambrozic), a skater whose technical ability complements her own, giving them a competitive edge that aims to attract judges, sponsors, and broader visibility. The series grounds its narrative in ambition and strategy within elite figure skating, framing Adriana’s return as a professional move shaped by both legacy and survival.

How Adriana and Brayden become partners

Adriana and Brayden first meet at a grand party hosted by the Russo family, an event meant to celebrate and introduce their team. Adriana is there reconnecting with other skaters when Brayden arrives, on the lookout for a new ice skating partner after his last one leaves to pursue a Broadway role.

Their first interaction is charged with tension and curiosity. Brayden approaches Adriana, complimenting her skill and reputation, while Adriana is cautious, reminding him that she is not actively seeking a skating partner. Despite her hesitation, Brayden makes it clear that he wants to skate with someone who can match his ambition and help him reach the top of the podium. Adriana is immediately aware of his confidence—bordering on arrogance—but also senses potential chemistry in their skating styles.

Behind his confident exterior, Brayden carries pressures and expectations that are not always visible to those around him. As Ambrozic explains, “Brayden puts up a facade that comes across as very confident—he thinks he’s the best—but deep down, he’s dealing with a lot with his family and personal life. Through all the ups and downs, he learns a lot about himself. And the relationship between him and Adriana is one that he has never experienced before, and you can kind of see how he’s dealing with these newfound emotions that he hasn’t felt ever, or in a long time.”

After the party, Brayden and Adriana start informal training sessions at the Russo Rink. Camille St. Denis (Meredith Forlenza), Adriana’s mentor and her mother’s close friend, encourages them to give the partnership a real chance, highlighting that their physicality and technique complement each other perfectly. Early training is challenging: they stumble, misjudge timing, and clash over approach, with Adriana’s precision balancing Brayden’s bold and expressive style. These difficulties force them to communicate, trust, and adjust to one another’s rhythm.

The Russo rink’s struggles and immediate threats

The Russo Rink is teetering on the edge of financial collapse. Utility bills are overdue, the ice maintenance system is failing, and creditors are threatening repossession. Will, overwhelmed by grief after Sarah’s death, has been pouring resources into turning Elise into a figure skating superstar, often spending far beyond what the rink can sustain. He underestimates the cost of high-profile coaches, photographers, stylists, and social media promotions, while ignoring Camille’s repeated warnings that his financial decisions are jeopardizing the rink’s survival.

The family’s struggles become undeniable when their cars are repossessed, a situation Will initially tries to blame on a stolen credit card. Adriana, however, sees through the excuse, recognizing that the rink’s financial troubles are directly tied to her father’s mismanagement. She confronts Will, pointing out that if she were a child—something he called her—she wouldn’t be managing budgets, coordinating press events, and calculating expenses like champagne boxes or stylists for Elise’s performances—but she is, and she knows the rink is at risk. Will insists he’s preserving Sarah’s legacy and refuses to let Adriana interfere, but the tension reveals a dangerous reality: the rink could be lost if immediate action isn’t taken.

Amid this chaos, Adriana realizes that saving her family rink will require more than skill on the ice, and that’s why she accepts Brayden’s offer. Reflecting on her motivation, Madelyn Keys says, “I don’t know if she would have gone on any of this journey at all if it didn’t all start with the financial pressures that her family is facing. Along the way, she learns that she’s doing it for other reasons, but that is absolutely the spark.”

Elise’s actions

Elise is a solo figure skater who sees Adriana’s return and her partnership with Brayden as a direct threat. She openly looks down on pair skating and ice dancing, treating Adriana’s discipline as less demanding and less legitimate than solo skating. This attitude shapes how Elise treats her sister: she criticizes Adriana during practices, questions her credibility as a competitor, and contributes to an increasingly hostile environment. Her decision to share private family matters with the press further damages Adriana’s public image and intensifies internal conflict at the rink.

A major shift occurs when Elise injures her arm during a performance. The injury forces her to step back from full training and confront the limits of her body, something she had previously avoided. Unable to compete at the same level, Elise becomes more aware of how much her identity is tied to being the rink’s top solo skater. During recovery, her jealousy toward Adriana persists, especially as Adriana gains visibility through competitions and public attention, highlighting Elise’s fear of being replaced or overlooked.

Gradually, Elise begins to acknowledge the consequences of her behavior. Conversations with Adriana and their little sister Maria (Alice Malakhov) push her to take responsibility for sabotaging her sister and contributing to the rink’s instability. She starts cooperating with family efforts, assists with rink events, and carefully returns to training within her physical limits.

Freddie, Riley, and all the romantic complications

When Adriana’s former skating partner and first boyfriend Freddie (Olly Atkins) returns to the Russo Rink, his appearance immediately reopens unresolved dynamics. Their separation was never fully resolved: Adriana stepped away from skating abruptly, leaving Freddie feeling abandoned both personally and professionally. When they see each other again, their interactions are tense, marked by unfinished conversations and lingering resentment. Freddie struggles to separate past feelings from the present, while Adriana is forced to confront emotions she never fully processed.

Riley (Millie Davis) enters as Freddie’s current skating partner and a stabilizing presence. Unlike Freddie and Adriana, Riley approaches relationships with clear boundaries and prioritizes professionalism. She is aware of Freddie and Adriana’s history but refuses to engage in rivalry or emotional games. When Freddie becomes distracted or emotionally conflicted, Riley addresses the situation directly, emphasizing trust, commitment, and the importance of maintaining focus within their partnership.

As Adriana begins training with Brayden, Freddie’s discomfort becomes more evident. He watches Adriana rebuild her confidence and establish a strong partnership with someone else, which intensifies his internal conflict. His unresolved feelings surface in subtle ways—jealousy, defensiveness, and moments of emotional honesty that blur the line between past and present. Adriana, in turn, struggles to balance her growing connection with Brayden and the familiarity she still feels with Freddie.

Navigating all these personal and competitive pressures shapes Freddie’s growth over the season. As Atkins explains, he had to convey not just the romantic tension, but the weight of expectation Freddie constantly faces: “Everything that goes on in the Russo household really ratchets up the pressure for Freddie. There’s so much expectation—competitively, romantically. He’s under a lot of pressure, and he holds onto it pretty well, but it starts to get away from him later in the season. He’s dealing with a lot, for sure.”

The national qualifiers and worlds

At the national qualifiers, Adriana and Brayden compete under intense media attention after a photo of them kissing goes viral, earning them the nickname “Braydriana.” Commentators label them “the hottest couple on ice,” which boosts public interest but also increases scrutiny from the judging panel. Their routine receives a standing ovation and earns 89.27, initially placing them second. The standings shift when Freddie and Riley score 90.54, taking second place behind Sean and Destiny, who hold first. With only the top two pairs qualifying, Adriana and Brayden are effectively eliminated from the World Championships. Backstage, Brayden blames Adriana for the negative press surrounding the Russo family’s financial problems and an article questioning her ability—a piece later revealed to have used Elise as an anonymous source.

At a sponsorship gala, news breaks that Sean and Destiny are disqualified after being exposed for using steroids. Their removal opens a qualifying spot, officially sending Adriana and Brayden to the World Championships. Recognizing that sponsors are drawn to the “Braydriana” image, Adriana proposes that she and Brayden present themselves publicly as a couple, with strict boundaries, to secure funding and keep the Russo Rink afloat.

At the World Championships, Adriana and Brayden deliver a technically strong and emotionally controlled performance, earning 98.36 and securing first place, narrowly surpassing Freddie and Riley, who score 98.14. Despite the victory, the partnership fractures off the ice. Adriana kisses Freddie publicly and later makes it clear that her relationship with Brayden was strategic, not real. Brayden confronts her, acknowledges they were successful as competitors, but chooses to leave Paris alone, ending both the partnership and any personal connection.

After that, Adriana experiences one of the season’s most emotional moments. Wearing her mother’s wings on the ice for a celebration skating, she is unexpectedly joined by her sisters—a gesture that underscores family support and reconciliation amidst competition.

“That moment means the most to Adriana. Winning Worlds was such a public moment, and Brayden didn’t hug her—she was left alone on the ice, seen by everyone in the stands and on TV. Then, unexpectedly, her two sisters—who had sworn off the ice—joined her. That’s a powerful reminder that she’s not completely alone in the world, she has her sisters there for her,” says Keys.

How Finding Her Edge ends

Adriana ultimately chooses Freddie, accepting his confession and agreeing to move forward with him romantically and professionally. Camille later offers Adriana and Freddie the opportunity to skate together again, which they accept. Brayden exits the competition circuit temporarily but returns after the Russo Rink is sold to Voltage, a professional skating organization that absorbs the facility and clears the family’s debt. Under the new structure, the rink is renamed Voltage Skating Academy, with Will Russo retaining the house while losing control of rink operations.

“For Adriana, the ending is really about security. I think it is security in herself, financial security, but also her relationship with Freddie,” says Keys about Adriana’s journey.

In the final moments, Brayden resurfaces as part of the Voltage program, now skating with Riley, reversing the original partnerships. Elise takes on a mentoring role within the academy, Maria steps away from competitive skating to pursue a more normal life, and the series closes with Adriana and Freddie reunited on the ice—while the final shot of the two new pairs facing each other makes it clear that the story is far from over.

If you had the chance to be beautiful, would you take it? We’re not talking about mere attractiveness, but a near-immediate physical metamorphosis into a perfect human specimen. Sounds tempting, but of course there’s a catch. That’s the premise of Ryan Murphy’s new FX show, The Beauty, co-created and co-written by Matt Hodgson. In the show, The Beauty is an STI that transforms a person into someone physically perfect, but with deadly consequences. Except nobody who has The Beauty knows that.

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It’s almost impossible not to draw comparisons to The Substance, the 2024 horror movie that became a breakaway box-office smash and multi-Oscar nominee. It also spawned countless reactions (positive and negative) about its depictions of what a woman (played by Demi Moore) will do in the pursuit of a younger, more beautiful version of herself. The Beauty gleefully leans into these comparisons with Coralie Fargeat’s film, even casting Demi Moore’s ex-husband, Ashton Kutcher, in a key role. 

But The Beauty is not a rip-off of The Substance. It’s actually based on a comic book of the same name by Image Comics, which ran from 2015-2021. Here’s what to know about the source material for the new series, which has drawn solid reviews since its three-episode premiere.

What happens in “The Beauty” comics?

At the start of the comics, created by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley, two years have elapsed since The Beauty took over the world. It’s a rampant and sought after sexually transmitted disease, capable of transforming those infected with it into someone conventionally, well, beautiful. As the comic describes, changes to people with The Beauty include “fat melted away, thinning hair returned, skin blemishes faded, and their facial features slimmed.” Unlike other diseases, people covet The Beauty. It’s believed that half the world has the disease, including around 200 million Americans. 

The Beauty has caused enormous division between those who have it and those who don’t. For some, it’s the ultimate status symbol; for others, a complete and utter betrayal of humankind. Activist groups that are both pro- and anti-Beauty have emerged, with hate crimes, homicides, and bombings on the rise as divisions deepen. 

The disease doesn’t make a person impossibly attractive, as evidenced by one man who’s struggling to get a date. Because he is exceedingly naturally attractive, everyone he encounters wants to sleep with him, assuming he has The Beauty, but he doesn’t—he’s just a very handsome man. In Murphy’s show, it transforms you into a completely different person physically. And while there are people who do actively try to get infected with The Beauty, there are plenty more who wake up the next morning transformed, unaware that they had slept with someone who has it. 

How does the show differ from the source material?

The disease itself manifests differently in the television series. In both versions, getting the disease puts the person under extreme physical duress as they suffer a high fever. In the comic, people fall asleep and wake up transformed, but the TV version is much more intense. There, they go through frightening body contortions and secrete a sort of goo. They wind up in what can be best described as a mucus cocoon, before emerging as an entirely different—and more beautiful—person. In the show, people come out as a whole new actor (a clever move that ups the stakes on television), but in the comics, they are just a more attractive version of themselves.  

Similar to the show, the comic features a pair of detectives trying to connect the dots behind a strain of explosive deaths, and everyone who’s spontaneously combusted has The Beauty. Soon, it becomes clear that just about everyone who has The Beauty will die roughly two years after they get infected. The detectives discover a possible cure, but a ruthless masked enforcer, Mr. Calaveras, is out to stop them—no matter how many people he has to kill. He’s protecting the shadowy interests who created the disease and helped it go global, and a cure risks bringing their contributions to light.

After a violent clash, Mr. Calaveras is defeated, and those still alive begin to disseminate the cure to The Beauty across the world. In the final issue, published in 2021, The Beauty has been eradicated. Those who remain are left to process their new selves (the cure allows people to survive, but can leave them with severe scarring all over their bodies) while considering the cost of their pursuit of beauty. 

What happens in the first three episodes of The Beauty?

While the comics start with the disease in full swing and known worldwide, The Beauty is very much under wraps at the beginning of the show. The first episode opens with a model (Bella Hadid) wreaking havoc on the streets of Paris before she shockingly combusts. Two FBI agents, Cooper Madsen (Evan Peters) and Jordan Bennett (Rebecca Hall), are sent to investigate and uncover a string of models dying in a similar fashion across Europe. 

They discover that before these models died, they underwent extraordinary physical changes, and none of them are recognizable compared to photos taken a few years prior. That’s because they have The Beauty, a disease transmitted through sex, as in the comics, that turns you into a new, incredibly attractive person. 

The first episode largely focuses on the male perspective through the eyes of the angry, lonely, and depressed Jeremy (Jaquel Spivey). An incel, Jeremy is desperate for change and sick of feeling that he’s repulsive to women. On an online message board, he finds out about a plastic surgeon. But that surgery goes poorly, and he’s still unable to attract women. A furious Jeremy shoots up the surgeon’s office. But before he kills the surgeon, the latter offers Jeremy a miracle solution. The surgeon brings Jeremy a woman, who carries The Beauty, who has sex with Jeremy, turning him into a whole new man (literally, as he’s played by Jeremy Pope post-transformation). 

We also discover that The Beauty was never designed to be sexually transmitted—something entirely different than the comics. There’s another strain of The Beauty, one developed by an exorbitantly wealthy man who calls himself The Corporation (Ashton Kutcher). He created The Beauty, an injection that not only transforms people physically, but also seems to have stable long-term effects. He’s determined to do whatever it takes to stop the STI, as it threatens to destroy his vast profit margins. It doesn’t help that the sexually transmitted version of The Beauty seems to kill its victims in horrifying ways after just two years. So while the detectives are on a mission to figure out what The Beauty is, The Corporation is doing whatever he can (including using his assassin, played by Anthony Ramos) to get answers.

That’s what we know so far. As only three of the eleven episodes have aired, there’s plenty more mystery to unfold in The Beauty.

People eat quickly for all kinds of reasons. Some have developed the habit because of modern-day time constraints. Others grew up in big families where you needed to eat quickly if you wanted seconds. Many people are just so distracted by their screens and scrolling they nosh at a faster pace.

But eating quickly isn’t always a harmless habit; it can potentially lead to digestive issues, blood sugar spikes, and overeating.

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Here’s why eating too fast can harm your health—and how to slow down.

What happens when you speed-eat

“Eating too quickly can have negative effects on our GI system,” says Dr. Justin Field, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. When someone eats too quickly, he says, they tend to not chew their food as much, leading to larger food particles entering the stomach. People also tend to swallow more air when they eat quickly. “The combination of those two can lead to bloating, feeling discomfort after a meal, more acid reflux symptoms, and then overeating potentially.”

A meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Obesity in 2015 found a link between eating quickly and obesity, and a 2021 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition tied eating fast to a greater risk of obesity, high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, and metabolic syndrome, which can increase someone’s risk of developing heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. One 2024 study published in Nature found that frequently eating fast was associated with an increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Why it’s good to slow down

Fast eating doesn’t directly cause weight gain, but it does increase the likelihood someone will overeat and experience blood sugar spikes after meals, which can contribute to weight gain over time, says Dr. Jaime Almandoz, a professor of medicine and medical director of the Weight Wellness Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. 

Read More: What to Do If Your Friends Keep Leaving You Out

When people eat quickly, they often don’t allow enough time for their brain to register that their stomach is full. “Slower eating allows the gut-brain signals to register fullness,” Almandoz says. “It reduces the glucose spikes we see with meals, and it aligns our food intake with physiologic hunger, rather than speed, efficiency, or stress. Over time, this can help support healthier weight regulation and better metabolic health.”

How can you slow down? Here are five expert-backed tips. 

Select foods that take more time to chew 

“Digestion really starts in the mouth,” Field says. “The easiest way to slow down eating is to choose foods that require more chewing.”

Pick foods that take more time to break down, like legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. When it comes to protein, opt for steak over ground beef or grilled chicken breast over deli meat. “The foods that are harder to eat are also the foods that tend to be better for us and more nutritious,” Field says.

Avoid ultra-processed foods and fast food 

Ultra-processed foods are engineered to taste good, feel good in your mouth, and be eaten quickly, Field says. They’re also more calorie dense, Almandoz adds, which means you can “consume calories more quickly without putting in as much work.”

Small changes can make a big difference. Opt for pistachios instead of potato chips or rice and beans instead of tortilla chips.  

Be more mindful during meals

Engaging in mindfulness at the table can help you not only slow down, but also enjoy your food more. Almandoz recommends pausing halfway through a meal and putting utensils down between bites. “Slowing down can really help restore the timing between eating and the signals that regulate fullness,” he says. 

Read More: The 1-Minute Trick to Calming Down Your Nervous System

Almandoz also recommends minimizing screen time and distractions during meals. One 2021 study published in Public Health Nutrition found that more than half of adults ate while watching TV at least once in the previous week. Turning off the TV and setting your phone down can help you consume your food more intentionally. 

Eat for your stomach, not your mouth 

When you’re eating, the primary sensations you feel in your mouth are related to pleasure and enjoyment, says Dr. Wajahat Mehal, a professor in digestive diseases at the Yale School of Medicine and director of the Yale Metabolic Health and Weight Loss Program. If it tastes good, you’ll want more—even when your stomach is telling you you’re full.  

“The sensations in our stomach are obviously not as bright as the sensations from our mouth, but they’re there if we pay attention to them,” he says. “We need to pay attention to what our stomach is feeling as much as we pay attention to what our mouth is feeling.”

Enjoy the company of others 

A survey from the 2025 World Happiness Report found that 26% of adults in the U.S. had eaten every single meal alone in the previous day.

“When we eat in company and we’re chatting with somebody and then stopping and listening to them, that tends to slow us down,” Mehal says. “It’s easy to see that if we’re just eating by ourselves, then we’ll eat faster.” 

Read More: How to Train Your Brain to Be More Patient

Some people prefer to eat alone as a way to ground themselves during a particularly busy or social day. You don’t have to eat every meal with others, but consider doing it more frequently; ask a coworker to lunch once a week, or make sure your whole family spends each weeknight at the dinner table together. 

While eating more slowly can be better for health and help you enjoy your meal more, Mehal says it’s important not to add more stress to your plate by trying to achieve the perfect eating speed. Above all, remember that food—eaten at any pace—nourishes the body. “Food is positive. Food is good. Food is nutrition,” he says. “Let’s not make it into a negative thing in our lives.”

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Steal

Zara (Sophie Turner) is having a run-of-the-mill bad day, hungover from yet another night out and tasked with showing the new intern around at her dead-end job at London’s (fictional) Lochmill Capital, a pension investment company. But things are about to go from bad to nightmare, as a group of armed robbers wearing unsettling facial prosthetics descend upon Lochmill. Zara finds herself at the center of the heist, and is forced at gunpoint to transfer a staggering £4 billion in people’s pension monies into the robbers’ accounts.

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That’s largely what happens in the electric first episode of Prime Video’s Steal, created by S.A. Nikias. Though there’s a twist: Zara actually knew this was coming. She was recruited by her co-worker Luke (Archie Madekwe) and embroiled in a scandal she couldn’t have prepared for. Zara was told it would only be a hack, not a full-blown heist that would attract national attention. Through the final five episodes of Steal, Zara finds herself at great risk. She’s determined to clear her name, stay alive, and uncover who the mastermind of this grand heist is.

Let’s break down the twists and turns of Steal’s ending.

Zara’s discovery

Zara has long suspected someone else at Lochmill besides herself and Luke was involved in the heist. In the penultimate episode, she discovers it’s Milo (Harry Michell), who recruited Luke, who in turn recruited her. She was dragged into the heist because, according to Milo, Zara is “the biggest mess in the office,” stuck in her job and drinking every weekend. She’s deeply unhappy, he explains. Nobody would bat an eye if she were killed and staged to look like a suicide, as she’d buckle under the pressure of pulling off such a feat. In short, she’d make the perfect fall guy. The news crushes Zara, but she realizes Milo isn’t the mastermind behind it all—he’s only ever spoken to the person online. Milo was given £20 million, while she and Luke were given £5 million each.

In the finale of Steal, Zara finds Morgan (Andrew Howard), one of the armed robbers, in her house, with a tied-up Luke in her living room. To save their lives, Zara says she can get Morgan another £20 million to escape with. She just has to get it from Milo. They go to Milo’s, and he gives up the code wallet, but to access it, they need the codes for it, which he’s stashed at the Lochmill offices. Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.

At Lochmill, they get him everything he needs to get the money, but it’s not enough. He wants Luke and Zara dead, too. Luke attacks him, saving their lives. DCI Rhys (Jacob Fortune-Lloyd), who’s fallen for Zara, has arrived, but gets shot trying to help Zara. Chaos ensues as the other robbers show up to get Morgan. A firefight breaks out, and Morgan kills all of the other assailants. 

Zara could make her escape, but there’s a problem: Morgan has her codewallet with her £5 million. She sneaks up behind him with a taser and attacks him. But she also wants to know why the heist took place. Morgan tells her to ask her police friend, dismissing her as a “f-cking office girl.” Furious, she drives the taser into his neck, delivering a lethal amount of electricity. The police finally arrive, and Zara (along with Rhys and Luke) survives.

Later, a newscast reveals that Milo is now the fall guy. His death was framed as a suicide, the same plot they had planned for Zara. Luke is glad it’s all over, but Zara is still determined to uncover why it all happened. Meanwhile, she and Luke give their codewallets to MI5 in exchange for keeping them out of prison. 

The real mastermind behind the heist 

Zara tries to tie up loose ends, going to Rhys to ask if he was involved—she cannot get what Morgan said to her out of her mind. He vehemently denies any involvement, saying he’s unable to pay his spiralling gambling debts and he lost his job to boot. How could he have possibly engineered a multi-billion-pound heist with nothing to show from it? But when Zara leaves, Rhys races back to his house and goes through his files from the case. He looks stunned, as if he’s finally figured it all out. 

Zara goes to Lochmill to pick up her things as a final goodbye, and notices the police are there. The intern tells her that the money has been returned. Before she leaves, Rhys comes up the elevator, saying he knows who’s responsible.

The culprit and mastermind behind the heist is financial investigator Darren Yoshida (Andrew Koji). As Rhys explains, there was a pattern of Darren getting privileged information, and then the criminals just so happened to learn that same information. He also turned down two different cases to be assigned this heist—he had never turned down a case previously, Rhys discovered. Rhys believes that for Darren, it was just a twisted opportunity for Darren to test his own skills; “a fireworks show,” as he puts it. It was meant to be victimless, according to Darren, but people died in the process, nevermind the trauma inflicted on countless people.

More than just a test, Darren wanted to expose the deep-seated corruption in the financial industry. The heist was designed to expose tax havens and how things are rigged against the vast majority of people. “Our system doesn’t work for 99% of us,” says Darren, “yet we’re all forced to pay into it, except for the ones at the very top. The only ones who really benefit from all this are the ones who choose to opt out. And tax havens are how they do it.” 

He did return every penny to the pension, but Darren still has £10 million in a codewallet that he’s taken from tax havens. He implores Rhys to take the money, to pay off his spiralling debts, and to make the world a better place—as long as he doesn’t turn him in. Zara urges him to turn down the money and turn Darren in, which he does, regrettably.

Darren is devastated, but Zara has one last trick up her sleeve. In her box of work supplies is the codewallet that Darren used to pay Milo for the heist, with a staggering £20 million pounds. Though she gave her codewallet with the £5 million, Zara stashed Milo’s, since nobody knew it existed. It was a big risk, but it paid off big time. She reminds Rhys of advice he imparted to her: “Worry about losing and you’ll play badly. And then you’ll lose. This is our winnings, Rhys.” The two walk away from Lochmill Capital with a renewed sense of hope. What’s to come for them, he asks Zara.

“I don’t know,” Zara responds. “Something exciting.” For the first time in Zara’s life, there’s a sense of genuine calm. And with £20 million, there’s little doubt that there’s plenty of excitement in their future.

Queer Eye’s Fab Five have uttered their final “Yaas queens.” The Netflix series’ 10th season, dropping Jan. 21, will be its last, wrapping up a nearly eight-year run. And it arrives with little fanfare. 

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The season, filmed in and around Washington, D.C., contains a scant five episodes, and it’s mostly business as usual: In each installment, the Fab Five meet a deserving “hero” to whom they apply their process. We learn about said hero’s life (culture expert Karamo Brown uses therapy-speak to draw out emotions), they learn a recipe (via food/wine guy Antoni Porowski), get a hair, makeup, and style makeover (Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France, respectively), and their living space is updated (care of Jeremiah Brent and previously, for eight seasons, Bobby Berk). Heartstrings are tugged as what appear to be hardworking, hard-loving individuals receive aesthetic and material upgrades. This time around, each episode ends with a different Fab Five member reflecting on the experience of participating in the show. Gratitude and happy tears abound, but watching, you might get the feeling that everybody—on screen and at home—is ready to move on.

There’s no shame there. As Netflix’s longest running reality series to date, Queer Eye’s staying power has been impressive, especially given that virtually the same format had already come and gone before it. For many interested in gay representation, the idea to reboot the Bravo show originally titled Queer Eye for the Straight Guy didn’t seem like the slam dunk it would turn out to be (in addition to nine season renewals, 12 Primetime Emmys and Rotten Tomatoes averages that rarely dipped below 90%). With its “experts” of varying bonafides, the show was predicated on the fallacy that gay men have innately superior taste (anyone with a Twitter account in 2018 could have surveyed the landscape and testified to the contrary). By emphasizing the sexuality of the Fab Five, but presenting them in an environment devoid of romance or sex, the show invoked the “gay uncle theory,” which posits that gay men’s benevolence (via nurturing and the sharing of resources) toward family members’ offspring allows the biological continuation of homosexuality. 

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Placing this neutered characterization on screen also recalled the antiquated sissy stereotype, referred to as Hollywood’s “first gay stock character” in Vito Russo’s 1995 gay-representation doc The Celluloid Closet. The sissy occupied a place between masculinity and femininity and almost always existed in service of the surrounding straight characters as well as the predominately hetero audience, for whom the sissy was a reliable source of humor. If the original Queer Eye seemed retrograde in 2003, doing it all over again in 2018 was like warming over dust.

Impressively, the Fab Five made it werk, as they are wont to do. They triumphed over the stereotypes, establishing themselves not only as distinct personalities for the show but as stars woven into the fabric of pop culture. It wasn’t always smooth for them (Porowski was dragged for his over-reliance on avocado) and the decisions they made were sometimes curious (Van Ness came out as nonbinary timed to the release of a makeup line), but navigating life in public rarely occurs without complication. Even if their exact qualifications for their roles on the show were sometimes dubious (Brown has been quoted as referring to himself as a “licensed social worker,” which the Washington Post reported is not true), they exceeded at their main job: making good TV. They were effectively IRL advice columnists on assignment, swooping in to give their subjects a dollop of expiring attention, sending them on their way, and hoping for the best. As boisterous and legitimately funny as they could be, they were ultimately in service of not just their heroes but the show’s comfortingly repetitive format.

Revolution was never high on the Fab 5’s list of priorities, but the show did quietly counter those with contempt for queer people by presenting them onscreen as kind (to strangers and, maybe more importantly, each other, though their off-screen dynamics weren’t entirely devoid of drama). Queer Eye provided an extremely basic version of positive representation, which was nonetheless useful for a country that’s still riddled with bigotry. Queer history is muted on an institutional level, and in the name of anti-DEI efforts, which exist to uphold the straight white male status quo. Queer representation in pop culture matters, perhaps now more than ever as LGBTQ rights are under threat in greater society.

What Queer Eye provided was part of a balanced picture of queer people in media. But if it felt quaint when it premiered, it looks even more so when compared to the recent TV obsession Heated Rivalry, which asks its viewers to consider its characters’ internal, romantic, and sexual lives very, very closely. The upcoming film Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling as men in an intricate BDSM relationship, is similarly unflinching in its demands that its audience interface with the whole of its characters. And though the sexuality and flamboyance of the Fab Five was never in question, so much of what their aesthetic makeovers accomplished was to iron out eccentricities from their heroes, effectively de-queering them. Their goal was often to help these people fit in more, as opposed to enhancing elements of their appearance that stood out. In that respect, RuPaul’s Drag Race was always more evolved than Queer Eye in its very premise, which encourages its contestants to look and act as wild as their imagination will let them. When it comes to TV, Drag Race has always been at the vanguard of culture.

The final five episodes of Queer Eye are solid hours of entertainment, frequently funny and sometimes moving. The show could have continued in this way forever, but it’s understandable why it didn’t. Who knows how effective Queer Eye’s system ultimately was for its heroes, many of whom didn’t seem to have the economic means to continue living in the standard set by the Fab Five. Even so, most of them seemed to enjoy themselves, and they walked away with armfuls of new stuff. Ultimately, the goal each time was humble: Leave it better than you found it. If we apply that to the pop culture landscape as well, the Fab Five can walk away with pride.

For several years, I’ve lived in a part of Maryland where it’s common for other cars to mosey into my lane and then drive well under the speed limit. This agitates me and my lead foot. When stuck behind them, my heart rate speeds up as if compensating for the slow wheels. Sometimes I even shout and honk. Of course, the driver ahead never realizes the error of their ways, accelerates, or reacts at all. Torturing myself this way is pointless, yet my impatience endures.

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Impatience is a deeply human problem with a long documented history—it’s a theme in ancient Buddhist texts and Roman meditations—but it’s probably even more of a struggle in our fast-paced, on-demand culture. Today, situations that involve waiting are viewed as glitches rather than inevitable parts of life, says Sarah Schnitker, a psychologist at Baylor University. We’ve come to believe technology can and should make delays obsolete—that we’re entitled to instant gratification.

Such expectations frequently collide with reality, causing frustration such as conflicts on the road and career angst. In the long term, impatience can take a toll on our bodies, minds, and overall health. But there are specific ways to curb it—and, researchers who study patience say you’ll be happier for doing so.

Types of patience

Patience is a virtue, but it’s also a practical strategy—both a noun and a verb. Schnitker researches three kinds of it. One is “micro-patience,” or dealing with daily hassles like Wi-Fi outages and basement leaks. Another is “life-hardships patience”: major obstacles like chronic health conditions that interfere with daily routines, making them slow and tedious. 

A third type is “interpersonal patience,” or being able to endure holdups caused by other people, like slow-mo drivers, flaky coworkers, or young kids who require 15 minutes to put on their shoes before leaving the house.

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There’s a lot of overlap among these types, says Kate Sweeny, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside. “People tell me they’re fine in all situations except traffic, and I say, ‘Well, you’re not actually fine in those other situations,’” she says.

This means that practicing patience in one domain could translate to increased patience in another. For example, if I cultivate patience behind the wheel, it might also enhance this quality in areas of life that are more important than getting where I’m going three minutes earlier.

The benefits of practicing patience

Schnitker has found that patience can lead to more persistence and progress toward key long-term goals. In one of her studies, people rated their own levels of patience over several weeks while working toward such goals. Those who rated themselves highly on patience tried harder—and found greater meaning in doing so—over the following two weeks.

One reason for this effect is that when people maintain calm in the face of regular obstacles, they’re less likely to burn out before achieving their aspirations—and burnout is a bigger dream-killer than other negative responses like anger. “Our data show that what really undermines people the most in the long term is disengagement and passivity,” Schnitker says.

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Evidence also shows that people capable of waiting for rewards tend to have better health outcomes. They’re considerably more likely to make it to age 65 and have fewer medical conditions and hospitalizations than people who are more impatient. Patience is also linked to healthier weight and metabolism, and reduced pain among people with heart disease.

Relatedly, Sweeny says, the ability to delay gratification helps people stick to an exercise routine, keep a balanced diet, and act conscientiously when recovering from illness or injury. 

Sweeny also notes that any chronic negative emotion, including impatience, worsens mental health. Researchers have found that impatience decreases friendliness and willingness to help others, explains Cassie Mogilner Holmes, a professor of behavioral decision-making at UCLA. “Patience is tightly linked to positive emotions,” Holmes says. Some research has even linked it to a lower suicide risk. 

Here’s how to improve your patience.

Set realistic expectations

Our modern environment is working against us when it comes to cultivating patience. Though tech can help us outsource some tasks, many people use it as a lever to do more, not less. “We expect to accomplish more at any given point in time,” Holmes says.

The ironic result is that people start feeling like they never have enough time. This “pervading sense of time poverty” can cause impatience, Holmes says.

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Setting realistic expectations might involve taking breaks from social media because of how some users curate their accounts to emphasize or exaggerate professional and personal accomplishments. Constant exposure to these idealized milestones can create a sense of falling behind, stoking impatience by making our own efforts seem gradual by comparison. “We’re flooded with things other people are doing,” Holmes says. “Social media has absolutely exacerbated the negative effects of social comparison.”

Avoiding these highlight reels may boost your patience with your own progress and achievements.

Change your mindset

Having to wait for something can prompt a flurry of negative thoughts. An effective strategy for becoming more patient is to think more constructively.

One approach is to concentrate your thoughts on empathy. When I’m behind a slow driver, for example, I can consider plausible explanations for the other person’s sluggish pace, Schnitker suggests. Perhaps the driver is a senior with poor eyesight who’s trying to make it safely to the  doctor’s office.

Or consider how it can feel to have to wait under uncertain circumstances, such as after a job interview or medical test. It’s natural to wish the result would come sooner to ease the anxiety—especially toward the end of the waiting period, Sweeny has found—which can cause plenty of impatience. 

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But people are better at tolerating the wait if they think in ways that enhance their sense of control, Sweeny says. You could strategize about how you’d cope with a bad outcome, or how you might positively affect that outcome—by obtaining health insurance while awaiting medical test results, for example. Focusing on agency over urgency will improve well-being, Sweeny notes, and “you’ll be more ready whatever the outcome.” 

When Sweeny asked women at a biopsy appointment if any good could come from a future breast cancer diagnosis, 76% replied that it could. Prompted by Sweeny’s questions, the women reflected on how such a diagnosis could ultimately drive greater appreciation for life. This alleviated some fear and impatience as they waited.

Cultivating a grounded but optimistic outlook—guardedly confident, not Pollyanna— supports calm patience. Optimism declines as we get closer to receiving potentially bad news, but regularly “practicing optimism makes it easier” in this situation, Sweeny says.

Savor what feels pleasant

Patience may improve after mindfulness sessions. Meditation is especially effective, but a mindful walk or meal can help, too. “You learn to enjoy the moment instead of regretting what you can’t do while trapped in a traffic jam,” Sweeny says.

Amy Errmann, a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, has found mindfulness reduces impulsivity and slows down our perception of time. “We think of time more expansively in the present and future,” Errmann says. In this way, mindfulness counters the modern sense of time poverty, she explains. Meditation can also decrease rumination, which fuels impatience.

You could also focus on savoring anything pleasant, like people you’re grateful for or just a clear blue sky. “Savoring slows down this time pressure building up in our daily lives,” Errmann explains.

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“Savoring is really important,” Holmes says. Your child’s efforts to put on their shoes may seem eternal, but try to view these formative moments as precious and fleeting; one day, they’ll leave the house without you. Instead of fixating on how long it takes to improve your golf game, savor the fact that you’re able to play the sport at all. As Holmes puts it: “How many more times do you have to do this thing you love?” She’s found people who think this way enjoy greater meaning in their lives and feel like they have more time.

When mindfulness and savoring become habitual responses to minor frustrations, you’re actively cultivating patience that carries over to more consequential challenges. “A lot of patience is learning how to regulate emotions,” Sweeny says. “If you practice in small ways, you can start applying these new strategies and skills to bigger things.”

Distract yourself with flow

Distraction is another strategy to counter impatience. Getting into a flow state—deep, effortless focus—is a productive way to do it.

Sweeny’s parents live in Florida, and she’s felt impatient while trying to contact them to ensure they’re safe during hurricanes. “They keep having to evacuate,” she says, “and there’s nothing I can do about it.” So, to pass the time without being distracted as much by anxiety, she absorbs herself in data analysis for her research projects. “The flow state really pulls me in, so I’m not really capable of worrying,” Sweeny says. Her research bears this out: flow helps boost well-being during uncertain waiting periods.

Learn when to pay attention to impatience

Impatience isn’t always bad. It may alert us to problems that must be actively solved, when passive waiting won’t cut it. Schnitker has found that having a deep sense of purpose—something beyond yourself—helps motivate patience, but it’s equally important to know when to disengage with a purpose leading nowhere and reject the status quo.

With experience comes the wisdom to notice impatience and decide if now is the time to quit a goal or fight an injustice, Schnitker says. “If you have both patience and courage in your arsenal, you can pick which one you want to deploy in the moment.”

Before American Idol and America’s Got Talent, there was Star Search. Beginning in 1983, the series was the ultimate talent competition show, allowing artists to compete across select categories for a $100,000 prize. Hosted by Ed McMahon until 1994 (and co-hosted with Martha Quinn in 1995), it went off the air until the show was rebooted in 2003 for an additional season, hosted by Arsenio Hall. And Star Search is set to rise again, with Netflix launching a new version on Jan. 20.

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The format of Star Search was fairly simple. In various categories (including singing, comedy, spokesmodel, and dance), two different competitors would perform for a panel of judges, and whoever got a higher star rating would advance to the next episode. If they made the finals, they competed for the grand prize. The Netflix version will be live, and audiences can vote in real time for their favorite competitors, adding a new twist to the proceedings. The reboot will be hosted by Anthony Anderson, with the panel of judges including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Chrissy Teigen, and Jelly Roll.

Star Search birthed the careers of many legends, including Britney Spears, Dave Chappelle, Adam Sandler, and Beyoncé (who competed with Destiny’s Child, then known as Girl Tyme). While those are well-known examples, there are plenty of other actors, singers, and comedians who performed on Star Search early in their careers. As Netflix ushers in a new generation of competitors, let’s look back at some of the most notable names from the Star Search history.

Singers

Aaliyah

At age 10, Aaliyah appeared on Star Search, singing the Rodgers and Hart song “My Funny Valentine.” It’s a stunning rendition (especially for a 10-year-old) that reminds you what a powerhouse performer she was, eventually gaining the moniker of the “Princess of R&B” before she tragically died in an airplane crash at 22.

Alanis Morissette

The legendary Canadian alt-rocker Alanis Morissette, singer of classic tracks like “Ironic” and “You Oughta Know,” first appeared on Star Search at the age of 14 in 1990, performing under a stage name. After losing, she reverted to her real name, perhaps channeling some of that frustration into becoming the icon she is today.

Christina Aguilera

Five-time Grammy winner and singer of “Beautiful,” “Fighter,” and “Genie in a Bottle,” Christina Aguilera was on Star Search before her debut in the Mickey Mouse Club. At just 8 years old, Aguilera performed an impressive version of Etta James’ “Sunday Kind of Love,” though she didn’t go on to win.

Justin Timberlake

NSYNC boy band member and eventual solo pop superstar, Troll and frequent SNL host Justin Timberlake was first seen at age 11 on Star Search, performing as Justin Randall (using his middle name). It’s a very different number from what you’d expect from Timberlake, who donned full country regalia (including a cowboy hat), singing Alan Jackson’s “Love’s Got a Hold on You.”

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes is the youngest ever individual recipient of a Grammy award, winning two when she was just 14. Years before that, when she was 8, she debuted on Star Search in 1991, performing “Don’t Worry” by Marty Robbins, winning her first round.

Pitbull

Before he became internationally recognized as rapper Pitbull (a.k.a. Mr. Worldwide), a young Armando Perez appeared on Star Search in 1994, when he was just 13 years old. He didn’t win the competition, but began honing his identity as Pitbull a few years later.

Usher

Though he didn’t win, Star Search proved pivotal for Usher Raymond IV. His performance of Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” was so impactful that LA Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records, signed him to a contract. His first solo single came not long after: “Call Me A Mack,” recorded for the soundtrack of 1993’s Poetic Justice.

Billy Porter 

Actor and singer Billy Porter, best known for his Emmy-winning role on Pose, had enormous success on Star Search, winning the grand prize of $100,000 in the vocalist category in 1992 (though he filmed in 1991 on break from his Broadway debut in Miss Saigon). He was 21 at the time. 

Comedians

Brad Garrett

Best known for his role in Everybody Loves Raymond, Brad Garrett competed in the first ever comedy category in 1984. He didn’t just participate—Garrett won the finals at age 23, securing a $100,000 prize, providing a vital breakthrough for his long and fruitful career. 

Drew Carey

Star of Whose Line Is It Anyway? and host of The Price Is Right, Drew Carey launched his comedy career on Star Search in 1988. Though he didn’t win the grand prize, his performances on the show effectively announced him as a talent worth watching, and he landed his own HBO special just three years later.

Kevin James

Star of sitcom King of Queens and many films, including Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Kevin James won several rounds on Star Search in 1995, advancing to the semi-finals. The exposure likely helped him land a role on Everybody Loves Raymond, which led to his own sitcom in 1998.

Martin Lawrence

In 1987, comedian and future star of the Bad Boys franchise Martin Lawrence won his first round on Star Search. The set shows off much of his charm, and provided national attention that helped lead to his first acting role in What’s Happening Now!! that same year.

Norm Macdonald

The late stand-up comedian and Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchor Norm Macdonald had a handful of appearances at comedy festivals before his appearance on Star Search in 1990. The Canadian appeared on an international-themed episode of the show, losing to a Liberian comic named Bushman. He wasn’t successful, but he managed a mighty fine career anyway.

Ray Romano

Unlike his Everybody Loves Raymond co-star Brad Garrett, Ray Romano did not win Star Search. But Romano has enjoyed a stellar career in comedy, including three Primetime Emmy trophies and an equally successful voice-acting stint, most notably in the Ice Age movies. 

Rosie O’Donnell

Actor and comedian Rosie O’Donnell is known best for her vibrant stand-up and movie career, which all began with her 1984 appearance on Star Search. She almost made it to the finals, and while she didn’t win the grand prize, she impressed audiences with her comic stylings, which helped launch her into stardom.

Roy Wood, Jr.

Roy Wood, Jr., who rose to fame with his regular appearances on The Daily Show, competed on the 2003 version of Star Search. He was successful on the revamped version of the show, reaching the semi-finals, which gave him a confidence boost to take his career to the next level.

Actors

Lauren Ambrose

Though the show is better known for singing, several actors got their start on Star Search. That group includes Lauren Ambrose, known for her roles in Six Feet Under, Servant, and Yellowjackets. At 11, Ambrose took to the stage, singing the up-tempo “Dancing in the Street” by Martha and the Vandellas. She lost, but in the quick interview portion, she said that one day she wanted to be a “great actress and wonderful performer,” which she’s certainly achieved.

Garcelle Beauvais

The actor, best known for The Jamie Foxx Show and her multi-year stint on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, competed in the Spokesmodel category in 1985, winning several rounds.

Sharon Stone

Oscar nominee Sharon Stone competed in the Spokesmodel category in 1984. She didn’t emerge victorious, but it helped launch her decades-long career in acting that’s still going strong, most recently appearing in Nobody 2, and with a role in the upcoming season of Euphoria.

Tatyana Ali

Fresh Prince of Bel Air star and singer Tatyana Ali got her start at the very young age of 7 in 1987 on Star Search. She won multiple rounds, performing numbers like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” Ultimately, she lost to Alisan Porter, aged 5, who became a successful actor and singer in her own right, winning Season 10 of The Voice in 2016.