Mixing sultry pop bangers with unfiltered aggression, Doja Cat defies expectations placed on female performers can do – while delivering an incredible show, writes Greta Simpson

Doja Cat brought the house down at Co-Op Live yesterday (May 23) with an electrifying set that proved she is far from finished pushing the boundaries of what female artists can do on stage.

The Los-Angeles born singer, rapper and producer first gained attention in 2018 with her novelty pop hit MOOO!, rapping ‘b***h I’m a cow, I’m not a cat, I don’t say meow’. This potent cocktail of irony, slight eccentricity and refusal to take herself too seriously that would follow her – and bolster her – throughout her career.

But it was pop albums Hot Pink and Planet Her that brought her commercial pop domination, spawning wildly popular tracks which practically formed the soundtrack to the internet generation during the pandemic and beyond.

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But it was precisely this pop domination that she would come to reject in hindsight. “Hot Pink and Planet Her were cash grabs and y’all fell for it,” she tweeted in May 2023. “Now I can go disappear…while y’all weep for mediocre pop.”

Her next album Scarlet was certainly a departure from her previously hyper-feminine image, instead leaning into rap, whose lyrics showed her grappling with her public persona; and whose imagery was markedly edgier and darker.

So perhaps that’s why the Vie album came as something of a surprise. Last year’s release showed Doja switching things up again, this time to all-out 80s synthpop bangers and ballads, with beautifully-costumed music videos showing the singer looking far less terrifying – in fact straight out of a Covergirl ad.

The accompanying Ma Vie tour has taken her literally all around the world on a mammoth string of dates spanning an entire year. When the star appears at 8:30pm at Co-Op Live, 50 feet above the stage in enormous pointy shoulder pads and a floor-length cape, it’s clear the scale – and the stakes – will be big from the start.

She kicks things off with an acapella rendition of Lipstain, which morphs into La Vie en Rose as she swoops dramatically down to the floor. Red lasers and smoke pulse across the stage over a swirling saxophone solo, heralding the start of the show in earnest as the star struts her way onto a raised stage to perform Cards, accompanied by backing singers and an excellent live band, all clad in shining silver.

She’s been pictured in some eye-popping outfits this tour, and tonight is no exception: blue and yellow spotted tights under a red body suit, shoulder-height blue and brown spotted gloves and a pink feather tail, that we see moving – a lot – throughout the night.

It’s high camp, pantomime-dame-esque, as is the makeup: bright blue lipstick, white eyelids studded with amber gems and, most unusual of all, a set of dentures making her teeth red and bloody.

We start with her bread and butter, pop/rap: Gorgeous, Acts of Service, Couple’s Therapy, All Mine. She flips between impressively dextrous rapping and crooning vocals, riff after delicate riff proving to us all that the mic is on, one moment sultry and vulnerable, the next moment a formidable, magnetic seductress.

There’s little let-up either, in a tightly-packed two-hour show. This woman truly has a stacked roster of anthems that get the packed arena up dancing and shouting along, especially her most viral hits like Boss B***h, Agora Hills, Woman, and Paint the Town Red, these last anthemic raps which ring around the stadium as the crowd screams back every word.

Just a few teasing seconds of Juicy and its shimmering, electronic beat draws rapturous screams from the crowd. Need to Know, a pulsating trap number breathless with sexual tension and desire, is a barnstorming highlight featuring blistering guitar solos as Doja writhes at centre stage.

Then we move on to Streets, another sultry track which she croons to her lover in dramatic silhouette against a bright red background, ending with her lying on the stage as flames and smoke surround her. But then straight away we’re into some of her most aggressive numbers, in an electric and eye-popping set.

Throughout Wet V****a, WYM Freestyle, Demons and Tia Tamera, whose beats are truly menacing, you can scarcely tear your eyes away as she becomes increasingly fervid and wild. Lasers and flares crackle and pop as she drops into splits and acrobatics, crawling and writhing around the stage as if possessed, at points biting the mic stand, singing upside down, pulling macabre faces, swinging the wire around her neck.

It’s raw physicality, using her body not just as an object but as an instrument, an art form. There are moments when she genuinely looks quite frightening.

Then before you know it, we’re back to pop, Doja sitting demurely on the edge of the stage singing heartfelt, hopeful ballads like that interlude ever happened. It’s genuinely refreshing, this flip from vulnerable sensuality into bombast, and also pretty rare, in my opinion, to see a female artist willing to get this naked, raw and messy.

Proceedings draw to an ecstatic close with bulletproof pop hits Say So and Jealous Type, whose blaring synths and soaring crescendo just can’t help but bring the house down. Confetti rains from above, and a bouquet of red roses appears from somewhere, Doja casting them aloft one by one into an adoring crowd.

Suffice it to say, I entered the arena a casual enjoyer of her music and left a card-carrying fan. This is a true artist, a true performer, completely at home on stage and seeming to revel and gain energy in every moment the camera is on her.

I might get pelters here, but with her charisma and sheer versatility, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Madonna, or David Bowie. Admittedly before my time, these were artists who truly seemed to reinvent themselves with every album, and who were constantly trying to push at and test the boundaries of what we’re comfortable with.

So many female artists today – and I don’t blame them one bit for this – maintain a vice-like grip over their image. With social media, it only takes one unflattering photo to fly around the world in seconds and be held over their heads in perpetuity.

So here is a performer who is not afraid to get a little ugly. She seems not to be constrained, as so many women are, by pressure to look palatable and perfect all the time, and she is all the more raw, mesmerising and inspiring for it.

No, the blue lipstick and bloody teeth don’t look pretty, but who cares? Doja Cat has bigger things to worry about – and so should we all.

Shoe brand, Russell & Bromley, was bought by Next for £2.5 million for the brand and intellectual property, with a further £1.3 million for the current stock.

Following the deal, the company closed down 33 stores across the UK, seeing only three saved, in Chelsea, Mayfair and Bluewater in Kent.

But now, Russell & Bromley has returned to the high street, according to Drapers.

Russell & Bromley returns to British high streets

The fashion retailer shares that the shoe brand has reopened in Richmond under new ownership.

Shoe brand Russell & Bromley was founded by George Bromley and Elizabeth Russell in 1879 and is now run by Andrew Bromley.

The brand fell into administration in January, with administrators appointed on January 21, while Next purchased the brand name, domain names, and intellectual property of the shoe retailer.

Following the deal, a statement from Next said, “This acquisition secures the future of a much-loved British footwear brand.

“Next intends to build on this legacy and provide the operational stability and expertise to support Russell & Bromley’s next chapter, allowing it to return to its core mission: the design and curation of world-class, premium footwear and accessories for many years to come.”

UK High Street Shops That No Longer Exist

Andrew Bromley, chief executive of Russell & Bromley, shared at the time, “Following a strategic review with external advisers, we have taken the difficult decision to sell the Russell & Bromley brand.

“This is the best route to secure the future for the brand, and we would like to thank our staff, suppliers, partners and customers for their support throughout our history.”

Will Wright, Interpath’s UK chief executive, said: “Across its 147-year history, Russell & Bromley has been at the forefront of contemporary style.

“We’re pleased therefore to have concluded this transaction, which will preserve the brand and the commitment to quality craftmanship that it has become so well known for.

“Our intention is to continue to trade the remaining portfolio of stores for as long as we can, while we explore the options available.”

Are you happy to see Russell & Bromley back on the high street? Let us know in the comments.

Michaela has been awarded £32,000 by police, but it is understood two other alleged victims of the same perpetrator whose evidence in the same case was also lost, received about £10,000, paid jointly by South Wales Police and Gwent Police – both forces apologised for their failures.

The circular trail around Werneth Low in Hyde is firmly in the second category, and the fact that a welcoming historic stone pub sits right on the hilltop makes it one of the finest afternoon outings in the whole of Greater Manchester.

Rising to 279 metres above sea level on the eastern fringes of Tameside, Werneth Low offers views right across the city region and, on the clearest days, as far as the Welsh mountains on the horizon.

It is the kind of panorama you might not expect to find just nine and a half miles from Manchester city centre, but that is exactly the surprise Werneth Low has in store.​

Views from the pub Hare and Hound Inn (Image: Google Maps)

The three-mile circular route starts from the free car park off Higham Lane and takes in open heathland, sheltered wooded cloughs and the commanding hilltop war memorial before looping back to the start.

Dogs are very welcome throughout, though leads are required between mid-March and the end of July to protect ground-nesting birds.

The 80-hectare country park also connects with the Tameside Trail and the Trans Pennine Trail for those who fancy a longer outing.

The story behind the park itself is worth knowing before you set off.

In 1920, following a public appeal that raised over £14,000, Hyde Borough Council purchased Lower Higham Farm and its surrounding land as a living memorial to the 710 men from the town who died in the First World War.

The war memorial on the summit was unveiled on 25 June 1921, and a wreath is still laid there each year to mark the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.

The inscription “In honour of the 710 men of Hyde who gave their lives for King and Country” gives the hilltop an atmosphere that no guide can quite prepare you for.

The park’s varied habitats, heathland, meadows and ancient woodland cloughs attract a wealth of wildlife through the seasons, from pollinators and ground-nesting birds in summer to migratory geese passing overhead in winter.

Volunteers have also been creating new ponds to encourage great crested newts back to the site, and traditional dry stone walling work continues on the park’s historic field boundaries.

As for the reward waiting at the end, the Hare & Hounds Inn sits right on Werneth Low Road at the top of the hill, a handsome stone building dating back to 1728.

The Hare and Hound Inn (Image: Google Maps)

CAMRA describes it as having “fantastic views over the whole of Greater Manchester from front windows and outside seating”, and it is currently rated the number one pub in Hyde on TripAdvisor, with more than 2,000 reviews.

Recent visitors have praised the food, the friendly staff and above all, that view from the beer garden. It serves food daily, is dog-friendly, and opens from 9am seven days a week.

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Stockport County will take on Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium this afternoon, May 24, with kick-off at 1pm

Avid’s Angels Cat Rescue, based in Tonge Moor, was named Best Cat Rescue Charity 2026 – Greater Manchester, and also received the Feline Rescue & Rehoming Excellence Award 2026.

The charity, founded by Jenny Rimmer, rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes cats and kittens in need across the region.

Ms Rimmer said: “It’s great, we are very proud to accept the award.

“It has been a giant effort by all my volunteers and me. We could never have done it if it weren’t for all the joint effort.”

The rescue said the recognition reflected years of work caring for abandoned and vulnerable cats, including late-night rescues, bottle feeding kittens and fundraising for veterinary treatment.

The charity also thanked supporters, adopters, fosterers and volunteers for helping it continue its work.

Ms Rimmer added: “To be truly honest, it has taken me by surprise.

(Image: Avids’ Angels)

“We plod on because we are that busy. If it wasn’t for all of us as a team, we wouldn’t have won the award.”

Avid’s Angels Cat Rescue was recognised in the LUXlife Pet Products & Services Awards 2026.

The charity operates from Bolton and recently expanded its cattery facilities to help meet growing demand for rescue spaces.

Ms Rimmer said the team remained focused on helping cats in need despite the recognition.

She added: “We don’t think we have anything planned because we’re too busy.”

North Yorkshire Police is on the scene of the crash at Langburn’s Bank, near Castleton, on Sunday morning (May 24).

The force said the road is closed due to the crash.

“We are currently dealing with a road traffic collision on Langburn’s Bank,” a police spokesperson said.

“The road remains closed at this time.”

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday Russia used the powerful hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile during a mass drone and missile attack on Kyiv on Sunday which killed at least two people, marking the third time the weapon has been used in the four-year war.

The intense aerial assault damaged buildings across the Ukrainian capital, including near government offices, residential buildings and schools.

The Oreshnik, which is capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads, struck the city of Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. The target was not immediately clear.

Russia first used the multiple-warhead Oreshnik on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024. It was used a second time in January in the western Lviv region.

The combined attack included 600 strike drones and 90 air, sea and ground-launched missiles, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed and jammed 549 drones and 55 missiles. Around 19 missiles failed to reach targets, the Air Force said.

Earlier, Zelenskyy warned that Russia was planning to use the Oreshnik, citing intelligence from the U.S. and Western partners.

President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means “hazelnut tree” in Russian, streaks at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, and is capable of destroying underground bunkers “three, four or more floors down.”

The weapon travels “like a meteorite” and is immune to any missile defense system, Putin said, adding that several such missiles, even fitted with conventional warheads, could be as devastating as a nuclear strike.

Air raid sirens blared through the night as smoke billowed across the city from strikes. Associated Press reporters heard powerful explosions near the city center and close to government buildings.

The attack was ongoing at sunrise Sunday, with more missiles and drones expected to reach Kyiv.

Damage was recorded in 40 locations across several districts of the capital, including residential buildings, Kyiv military administration head Tymur Tkachenko said in a Telegram post.

“It was a terrible night, and there had never been anything like it in the entire war,” said Kyiv resident Svitlana Onofryichuk, 55, who has worked in the market that was damaged for 22 years.

“I am very sorry that I have to say goodbye to Kyiv now, I am not staying there anymore, there is no possibility,” she added. “My job is gone, everything is gone, everything has burned down.”

Yevhen Zosin, 74, a Kyiv resident who witnessed the attack, said the moment he heard the explosion he rushed to grab his dog.

“Then there was another explosion and she and I were thrown back like a pin by the shock wave. We both survived, she and I. My apartment was blown to pieces,” he said.

In Kyiv’s Shevchenko district, a five-story residential building was hit, which caused a fire, and one person was killed, Ukraine’s state emergency service reported.

A school building was damaged by an attack while people sheltered inside, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said. Local authorities reported supermarkets and warehouses across the city also were damaged.

Multiple communities recorded damage throughout the Kyiv region, according to Mykola Kalashnyk, the regional governor.

ANGELES, Philippines (AP) — A nine-story building under construction in a city north of the Philippine capital of Manila collapsed before dawn and at least 21 people were missing Sunday morning, authorities said.

Rescuers were “hearing voices” in the rubble, while 24 workers managed to dash to safety or were rescued, police and other officials said.

The building collapsed after a fierce thunderstorm in Angeles City in Pampanga province. More than 100 police and other government personnel were scrambling to rescue those believed to be trapped in the rubble, police Brig. Gen. Jess Mendez said.

Mendez and other officials at the scene said there were no immediate reports of deaths but some of those who got out safely sustained injuries.

Among the 21 people who remained unaccounted for, most were believed to be workers at the building, according to Francis Pangilinan, who heads Angeles City’s disaster mitigation office and was at the scene.

Two other people, including a Malaysian tourist, were injured when their lodgings were hit by debris from the collapsed building, officials said.

Rescuers including firefighters, police and disaster-response teams used their hands and sniffer dogs in a dangerous scramble to search for the trapped survivors, Public Works Secretary Vinzon Dizon told reporters near the rubble of concrete slabs, twisted iron bars and other debris.

“There are some signs of life … There are voices that are being heard,” Dizon said, adding that rescuers were moving with extreme caution. “It’s a very very unstable site and the priority is to get the people out.”

Angeles City hosted one of the largest U.S. Air Force bases outside of the American mainland until it closed in the early 1990s, helping develop Angeles and outlying cities and towns into entertainment and commercial hubs in the main northern Philippine region of Luzon.

The former air base, now called the Clark Freeport Zone, is about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Metro Manila.

Officers were called to Wigan Road around 6.10pm on Saturday due to reports of an assault.

Officers attended the scene and found a man in his 40s with an injury to his back, which police have described as a ‘knife-related injury’.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

A 17-year-old was then arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “At around 6.10pm yesterday (Saturday, May 23), we were called to reports of an assault on Wigan Road in Bolton.

(Image: Phil Taylor)

“Officers attended the scene and located a man in his 40s with an injury to his back.

“He was taken to hospital with the injury being described as non-life-threatening or life-changing.

“A 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and remains in police custody for questioning.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

(Image: Phil Taylor)

Several police vans and ambulances attended the scene, as well as the Criminal Investigation Department and CSI.

A cordon was set up where the incident took place, on the junction between Wigan Road and Carley Fold.