She Wanted to Get a Nose Job for 15 Years. She Was Nearly Speechless When She Saw the Results (Exclusive)

Vanessa Zavala underwent rhinoplasty to address a hooked nose, a deviated septum and breathing issues

NEED TO KNOW

• She found her doctor through TikTok and emphasizes to PEOPLE the importance of research and realistic expectations for surgery

• Zavala credits her smooth recovery to a strong support system and advises against prioritizing cost over quality in procedures

ForVanessa Zavala, rhinoplasty was something she wanted from the moment her nose essentially grew on her face.

The 26-year-old from Texas, now living in New York, went viral after posting a before-and-after video onTikTokandInstagramof the surgery she underwent in February that left her practically speechless. In text over the video of herself getting the cast off, she wrote, "the feeling of getting your cast off after wanting ur nose done for 15 yrs>>."

Before seeing the results, Zavala admits in the video that she's about to cry and that her "heart's racing." Once she looks in the mirror, her jaw drops and she's too stunned to speak. Eventually, she says she looks "like a Barbie" with a huge smile on her face.

She tells PEOPLE that having a "hooked nose" was "just a family thing," but ever since she was 10, it has always been in the back of her mind.

And as she grew older, the relationship with her appearance kept getting worse, not to mention that her breathing "wasn't great" and she had a deviated septum, which occurs when the cartilage and bone that separates the nasal cavity is off-center.

Growing up without health insurance, Zavala never had the option to get a nose job.

As she got older, though, she knew that now was a better time than ever — and it certainly didn't hurt that she had a friend who could also answer her questions after having undergone plastic surgery a year earlier.

Zavala visited an ENT who confirmed that her septum was deviated and that she had enlarged turbinates, meaning the bony structures inside her nose had become swollen.

She sought out more information from Facebook groups, Reddit threads, Instagram and even WhatsApp support groups, until she eventually found her doctor on TikTok.

"He didn't charge a consultation fee," she says. "I met with him, felt really comfortable, and just went for it."

Zavala knew exactly what she wanted. "I basically just told him I did not want a natural look," she recalls. "I wanted to look snatched. I asked for the bump completely gone, the nose upturned a little bit, and slimmer overall."

Her doctor came up with a plan to "fix the hook, lift the droopy tip, straighten the deviation, and thin it out."

Having never undergone general anesthesia before, Zavala was "really, really, nervous." But having the rhinoplasty at a hospital on Long Island, rather than at a "random clinic," gave her the peace of mind she needed.

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Zavala tells PEOPLE that the surgery lasted about four to five hours and went "really smoothly."

The healing process "was definitely uncomfortable at times," but "totally manageable."

"I think what made the biggest difference was being in my own home, surrounded by people I love," says Zavala. "That's something I would not have had if I'd gone overseas for the surgery. My boyfriend was incredibly supportive every step of the way and honestly just babied me through the whole thing, which I loved. With that kind of support system around me, I felt pretty good throughout recovery."

A few months removed from the surgery, Zavala tells PEOPLE that she feels "really good" about her nose and if anything, wishes she had gone a "little more dramatic."

Zavala, however, set "realistic expectations" for herself.

"I did so much research and saw so many people spiral over every little thing post-op, so I went in telling myself: there will be hiccups, your nose could have bumps during healing, things could shift — even the best surgeon can't guarantee perfection," she says.

For those looking to also get plastic surgery, Zavala advises them to do their research.

"Look at long-term results, read real patient stories, and be honest with yourself about what you want," she says.

Having learned from her own experience, she reminds others that "surgery isn't perfect, healing isn't linear, and the more mentally prepared you are for that, the better your experience will be."

"Post-surgery, set yourself up for success: surround yourself with supportive people and don't be afraid to tell your friends that negative comments about your appearance are off-limits until you're fully healed (or honestly, just... forever," she says.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"And if you're considering medical tourism, please do your research — the cheapest option is not always the best option," she says. "Overall, though, it was not as scary as I thought it would be, and I wish I'd done it sooner. I'm so happy I did it now while I'm still young."

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

May 26, 2026

She Wanted to Get a Nose Job for 15 Years. She Was Nearly Speechless When She Saw the Results (Exclusive)

Vanessa Zavala underwent rhinoplasty to address a hooked nose, a deviated septum and breathing issues NEED TO KNOW ...

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Ex-Tampa Bay Rays Star Wander Franco Found Criminally Responsible of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, But Avoids Jail Time

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor

NEED TO KNOW

• Judge José Antonio Núñez delivered the ruling in Puerto Plata Collegiate Court in the Dominican Republic on Monday, May 25

• Franco was pardoned and will not serve jail time because the court found that he was simultaneously a victim of blackmail and extortion at the hands of the victim's mother, who took large sums of money from him and has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for "sexually trafficking" her daughter

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor in a Dominican court, but a judge ruled on Monday, May 25, that he will not serve jail time.

Judge José Antonio Núñez delivered the ruling in Puerto Plata Collegiate Court in the Dominican Republic,The Athleticreported.

Franco, 25, while found "criminally responsible" for his interactions with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21, was simultaneously found to be the victim of "extortion" and "blackmail" after prosecutors found that the victim's mother was demanding large sums of money from him, according toESPN. The victim's mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "sexually trafficking" her daughter, per the outlet.

The former MLB player was initially arrested in 2024 after he was accused of engaging in an improper relationship with the young girl, The Athletic and ESPN reported. Franco was also accused of sending the girl's mother money in return for her silence, per the outlets.

He was placed on the restricted list amid an MLB investigation surrounding social media posts made about him in August 2023.

Now-deleted posts on X were the first to allege that Franco was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor,according to theTampa Bay Times.

The Rays confirmed that the team and the league “mutually agreed” to the move.“We were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement at the time. “We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence."

"It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment," Judge Núñez said in court on Monday, ESPN reported. "The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one."

“Here, the only victim is the minor, and Wander is a collateral victim,” Judge Núñez said in court, per The Athletic.

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Following the judge's ruling, Franco embraced his mother, according to ESPN.

"Thank God for everything," Franco said in court.

"We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court," the Rays said in a statement, per the outlet. "This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case."

"The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy," the statement continued. "Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time."

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A full sentencing hearing is currently slated for June 16 in the Dominican Republic, per ESPN.

Franco was originally found guilty in June 2025, but in December 2025, the Court of Appeals of the Judicial Department of Puerto Plata ordered a new trial, according to Dominican newspaperListin Diario.The judge also ruled that a financial certificate for RD$2,100,000 (around $35,700) from Banco Agrícola is to be given to the victim when she reaches adulthood, per the outlet.

PEOPLE has reached out to a representative for the Rays for comment.

Read the original article onPeople

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

May 26, 2026

Ex-Tampa Bay Rays Star Wander Franco Found Criminally Responsible of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, But Avoids Jail Time

Former Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor NEE...

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Second group of Australian women linked to Islamic State to return home

SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - A group of seven Australian women and 12 children linked to the Islamic State militant group have made travel ‌plans to return home, authorities said on Tuesday, in what would be ‌the second such Australian group to leave a Syrian refugee camp this month.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke ​said the government was not assisting their travel and that any who have committed crimes "can expect to face the full force of the law".

"These are people who have made the horrific choice to join a dangerous terrorist organisation and to place their ‌children in an unspeakable situation," ⁠Burke said in a statement.

Burke did not say when the second group would arrive and his office did not respond immediately to ⁠a request for more details. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported they left a camp in northeast Syria last Thursday and could land in the coming days.

Four women and ​nine children ​returned to Australia earlier this month after ​more than seven years in a ‌Syrian camp. Two of those women were charged with slavery offences, while another was charged with terror-related offences, including allegedly joining Islamic State.

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The planned return has drawn criticism from opponents, who say the centre-left government failed to stop repatriations, while the government said there were "very serious limits" on preventing Australian citizens from re-entering the ‌country.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have prepared for ​such returns for more than a decade and ​have plans to monitor those arriving, ​the government said.

Between 2012 and 2016, some Australian women travelled ‌to Syria to join their husbands who ​were allegedly members of ​ISIS. Following the collapse of the caliphate in 2019, many were detained in camps.

In January, the United States began moving detained ISIS members out ​of Syria after the collapse ‌of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which had been guarding around a ​dozen facilities holding fighters and affiliated civilians, including foreigners.

(Reporting by Renju ​Jose in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

May 26, 2026

Second group of Australian women linked to Islamic State to return home

SYDNEY, May 26 (Reuters) - A group of seven Australian women and 12 children linked to the Islamic State militant group have made trave...

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Olympics-Brisbane stadium protesters defy eviction threats as construction looms

By Ian Ransom

FILE PHOTO: A view of Victoria Park Barrambin in Brisbane

MELBOURNE, May 26 (Reuters) - A coalition of environmentalists and Indigenous Australian activists camping in the city park where the main stadium for the 2032 Olympics will be built is holding firm against threats they will be forcibly ‌removed to allow construction to start next week.

Victoria Park, one of Brisbane's few significant inner-city green spaces, is due to ‌be fenced off from Monday as building starts on the Olympic stadium precinct.

Protesters, who have pitched an Aboriginal tent embassy in the park, have been warned by the ​Queensland state government they will be removed if they do not vacate the area.

"As it stands, participants say they intend to remain at the site and continue their campaign," Aboriginal elder Gaja (Aunty) Kerry Charlton told Reuters by phone.

"They also point to protections under the (Queensland) Human Rights Act, which they argue supports their right to maintain and defend cultural heritage."

The construction schedule was set despite an outstanding application to the Australian government by Indigenous ‌groups to protect the park in perpetuity as ⁠a "significant Aboriginal area".

The park, which includes many old-growth trees, is known as Barrambin ("Windy Place") to the Yagara and Magandjin peoples, who consider it culturally and spiritually significant.

Premier Steve Crisafulli has said the state cannot afford any ⁠delays in the construction of the 63,000-seat stadium.

"Queensland is feeling a sense of pride, and we're not going to have that hijacked by a group of activists, I’m just not going to do that," he told media last week.

Workers contracted by the body that is charged with delivering 2032 Games ​venues began ​erecting fencing at the park on Tuesday, in an area adjacent to ​where a press conference was held by advocacy group ‌Save Victoria Park.

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'BIT OF HUMBUG'

The activists accused the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) of trying to disrupt their press conference.

"We old grannies would say there was a bit of humbug happening there. It was probably, in layman's terms, some sabotage of our media gathering," said Charlton.

GIICA said it had been undertaking site investigation works since October and used temporary fencing for safety, while Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the workers were "left shaken" after being confronted by protesters.

Crisafulli confirmed Victoria Park as the location for the Olympic stadium over a year ago, ‌breaking an election promise that he would not green-light a new arena in ​the city.

He has said no more than a third of the park's green space ​will be used for the stadium and an aquatics centre ​being built for Australia's third Olympics.

The Save Victoria Park group commissioned an independent assessment by hydrogeologist Ted Hamer, ‌who found the area lies above a functioning watercourse ​fed by a natural spring which could ​be "permanently terminated or unacceptably diminished" by the Olympic stadium construction.

"The importance of permanent spring-fed freshwater sources, springs and the associated ecology to Aboriginal people and early settlers is undeniable," Hamer said in the assessment.

Charlton said activists were prepared to dig in for ​a prolonged fight to protect the park.

"My ‌ancestors were in the park, their children, grandchildren. We all visited there and played there," she said.

"That cultural heritage is ​tied to the protection of the spring and the trees -- and also those animals and habitats that are connected ​to that ecosystem."

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by John Mair)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

May 26, 2026

Olympics-Brisbane stadium protesters defy eviction threats as construction looms

By Ian Ransom FILE PHOTO: A view of Victoria Park Barrambin in Brisbane MELBOURNE, May 26 (Reuters) - A coalition of environmen...

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Sydney Sweeney walks 'delicate line' as 'Euphoria' sex scenes overshadow her talent: expert

Sydney Sweeney’s breakout role in "Euphoria" may have made her one of Hollywood’s most talked-about young stars, but experts warn the same provocative image fueling her fame could eventually limit how seriously the industry takes her.

Sweeney's performance in "Euphoria" has dominated social media and headlines since theseason three premiere on April 12. This marks the last season of the award-winning HBO show that originally captivated its audience back in 2019.

"'Euphoria' clearly helped establish Sydney Sweeney as a fearless performer, physically and emotionally, and that’s part of why she broke through. The risk is that when the public conversation focuses more on the sexualized aspects of the role than on the performance, the same work that made her seem daring can start to narrow the brand," crisis and reputation management expert Dave Quast told Fox News Digital.

"Sexuality on screen is not inherently unserious," he added. "The problem is when it becomes the dominant shorthand for the actor. For Sweeney, the challenge is not that she has played sexualized roles. The challenge is making sure those roles continue to read as character choices, not as the entire brand proposition."

Sydney Sweeney Says She's 'Used To' Being Sexualized Since Her Breakout 'Euphoria' Role

Sweeney and "Euphoria" have faced criticism each week as her portrayal of Cassie has focused largely on her character's leap into theworld of OnlyFansand sexually explicit content. Some fans have gone so far as to label the show "humiliating" for Sweeney.

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"Sydney Sweeney in season 3 is literally just humiliating her. I don't get how they don't see that it's not about this, her role is reduced to basically HUMILIATING HER, she's not gonna win any awards like that," one user wroteon X, before referencing a future scene. "They dress her like a baby, pretending to be a baby with a pacifier for what?"

Still, industry insiders agreed that Sweeney is benefiting from the attention in the short term.

Sydney Sweeney Turns Controversy Into Cash As American Eagle Sales Jump

"Visibility is currency, and Sweeney has become one of the rare young actresses who can reliably generate conversation around almost anything she does," Quast, founder of EDQ Strategies, explained. "That has real commercial value."

But another crisis PR and reputation management expert warned that constant attention doesn’t always translate into long-term credibility.

"The price comes if the attention starts to feel one-dimensional," Kelcey Kintner, senior vice president at Red Banyan, told Fox News Digital. "If every headline is about her body, the showy scenes, or how provocative the role is, that can make it harder for the public to actually focus on and see her talent. I do think she is trying to make that effort to find balance in her career and grow as an actress."

‘Euphoria’ Slammed As ‘Fetish Slop’ As Backlash Explodes And Fans Call For Cancellation

According to Quast, Sweeney’s brand is now "walking a delicate line" as the cultural conversation surrounding her grows beyond just acting.

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"'Euphoria' created one perception of her, but the broader cultural conversation has created another," the brand expert explained. "Some audiences have been eager to read her as aconservative-coded alternative to more progressivecelebrity branding, and she has not exactly discouraged that interpretation. That’s risky, because once an actor becomes associated with a polarizing cultural argument, the work itself can get overshadowed. From a reputation standpoint, the challenge is not to let the cultural symbolism overtake the acting."

Kintner noted that "Euphoria" itself has become so culturally dominant that it can eclipse Sweeney’s other performances.

Sydney Sweeney Wrangles Python Nearly Nude In ‘Euphoria’ As Fans Blast ‘Snooze Fest’ Season

"The issue is that 'Euphoria' is such a loud show culturally," she explained. "It can overpower everything else in the conversation. So even if she is doing strong work elsewhere, one explicit or controversial scene can dominate a news cycle. That is the tricky part here. Her serious work is there, but her most viral work does not always reflect the full scope of her talent and abilities."

While Sweeney has earned praise for her recent serious projects –including "The Housemaid," "Christy,""Americana" and "Immaculate" – experts emphasized viral moments still tend to shape public perception faster than nuanced performances.

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"A provocative scene or image can dominate social media instantly, and that can create the illusion of cultural importance," Quast noted.

"Sexualization can create instant attention, and in today’s media environment, attention is money," Kintner added. "Aprovocative scene, red carpet look, or marketing moment can travel faster than a nuanced performance. That is just the reality of the world we live in with technology. But it is also a risky shortcut."

"It can get people talking, but it does not always build the kind of respect or longevity an actor wants," she added. "The real power move is turning the attention to something bigger, whether that is better roles, more creative control, or a brand that is not dependent on shock value. For Sydney, ‘Euphoria’ made people pay attention. The question is whether she can refocus that attention back to her talent and build a long-term, sustainable career in Hollywood."

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Quast said the explicit nature of "Euphoria" doesn’t necessarily damage Sweeney’s reputation as a serious actress, but warned that public perception of those scenes could ultimately shape how narrowly audiences define her brand.

"The deeper issue is not whether the scenes are explicit," the PR expert explained. "It’s whether the public sees them as serving a performance or simply serving the spectacle around Sydney Sweeney. If the audience talks about Cassie’s psychology, Sweeney benefits as an actress. If the audience only talks about the sexualized aspects of the role, the brand narrows.

"That’s why her next few choices matter," Quast emphasized. "She doesn’t need to run away from sexuality, but she does need to keep pairing it with roles that are emotionally, intellectually or dramatically specific."

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Original article source:Sydney Sweeney walks 'delicate line' as 'Euphoria' sex scenes overshadow her talent: expert

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

May 25, 2026

Sydney Sweeney walks 'delicate line' as 'Euphoria' sex scenes overshadow her talent: expert

Sydney Sweeney’s breakout role in "Euphoria" may have made her one of Hollywood’s most talked-about young stars, but experts ...

Read More