botox sales hit their lowest point since 2021
a true recession indicator
Hello and welcome back to as seen on :)
Today's newsletter was the most fun I’ve had writing in a while. This intro is especially long because I’m in a great mood!
Below the paywall: the roles NikeSkims are currently hiring for, why Hollywood is watching the Harvard-Trump showdown closely and betting on creator talent, Serena Kerrigan’s new Peacock show (and book), The Cut’s fourth advice column, Disney taking on the Bravoverse with two new Alex Cooper reality shows, Family Style is launching a zine for Gen Z, Phoebe Gates’s shopping app finally launched, Donald Trump Jr.’s new D.C. membership club, why I think “Gen Z sexual wellness” branding is awful, and a bunch of other stuff…
A couple of really exciting things are happening next month, one of which is that this newsletter turns one. There are at least three big ways my life is going to change in May, and lucky for you, they will likely all conspire to allow me to spend a lot more time on this newsletter. More to come.
My plans for this evening are spending an hour reading on my balcony, getting drinks with my friends in the city, and making dinner while I FaceTime my boyfriend. My salmon is defrosting in my kitchen sink. Tomorrow is a public holiday here, so I may or may not head out to Berlin for the weekend. I need to check train tickets; I bought a new laptop today so I’m feeling fiscally conservative.
Every so often, I obsess about another writer here on Substack. This is a well-meaning kind of obsession—I usually reach out and charm them into being my friend. Lately, that person has been
, the brand strategist behind. A few days ago, Nikita started teasing Optimised To Death, an essay she is releasing as a “limited drop”—250 slots, and you have to sign up. I’ve been enjoying watching her build hype for it across platforms for the last week.
In Friday’s newsletter, I’ll be talking to Nikita about her interest in experimenting with friction, the state of “thought leadership” and the attention economy, and what she’s learned from this process so far.
Last thing before we get into it. I joined
and on the latest episode of their podcast, Hip Replacement, to discuss the significance of YouTube's 20th anniversary, the future of fashion and consumerism, and the challenges of navigating work-life balance in a digital age.They both think I’m incredibly bright and funny. Because I was!
Semafor co-founder Justin Smith told NY Mag the media startup became profitable this year, with “about a hundred-plus percent revenue growth a year.” Interesting business, considering they’ve primarily monetized through events and advertising rather than subscriptions — something Smith says will “no doubt” shift in the future.
And New York Magazine is now publishing its daily Dinner Party newsletter on Substack. In an email to Nieman Lab, Joyce Tang, the publications’s editorial director for audience, said, “We know there are readers on Substack who are aware of or would love New York Magazine, and we want to be a part of their daily and weekly reading habits. Dinner Party is a great newsletter to start with, since it is voice-y and writer-driven, which seems to be a natural fit for Substack audiences.” Two things Substack has done right: audience engagement and network effects. I can only imagine what kind of high Chris and Hamish are riding right now.