Bethia Wyborn

NCTJ accredited freelance journalist with bylines in DIVA, Pick me up! and Chat magazine.

Winner of the Gavin Reeve-Daniels Memorial Prize in Magazine Journalism.

I am a multimedia journalist with a special interest in magazine writing and design.

DIVA Magazine •

All the queer music coming out in September 2024

From electronic to bedroom indie, September is going to be full of new LGBTQIA tunes and albums that will soon be blasting through our headphones. 


Here’s a sneak peak of some of the queer releases that we’re excited for this month.


6 September 


After a two year hiatus, the ethereal Norweigan-American musician Okay Kaya, is due to release her fourth album on 6 September. The pop artist frequently writes dream-like compositions with unforgettable imagery and Oh My God – That’s So Me will...
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Love Island star Amber Gill steals sapphic hearts after putting a twist on her Taylor Swift t-shirt

The 2019 Love Island winner was showered with support after wearing a sapphic-inspired t-shirt to a London Taylor Swift concert.


As Swifties will know, the shirt, which read “But Daddy I Love Her”, was inspired by the song But Daddy I Love Him from Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department.


The One Summer In Miami author took to Instagram to caption her post with: “So grateful for all the experiences my SpaceNK family have brought me this year, I love them so much.”


“I’m do...
DIVA Magazine •

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo discuss their new friendship and falling “completely in love with each other”

As Wicked fans count down the days until the new film hits cinema screens, a new teaser trailer has just dropped with the star-studded cast discussing the central themes of the film.


Within the clip called The Powerful Bond Of Friendship, the cast which includes Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jonathan Bailey, discusses how friendship is the central theme of the musical film adaptation.


Grande, who plays Glinda the Good Witch in the film, said: “These two very different women just fall co...
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Alex Consani makes history as the first trans woman to be nominated for Model Of The Year

Fashion and TikTok icon Alex Consani may soon have an award under her belt for “dominating the industry”. The British Fashion Council (BFC) announced on 20 August the nominations for the 2024 Fashion Awards and Consani achieved a nod for Model Of The Year, making her the first trans woman nominated in the category.


The BFC wrote that the Model Of The Year category “recognizes the global impact of a model who, over the last 12 months, has dominated the industry, with an influence that transcen...
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Hunter Schafer: 5 facts to know

You may know Hunter Schafer from her impressive acting credits such as The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes or Euphoria, but did you know that this beloved star made headlines even before she became an actor?


Brush up on your facts about Hunter before her newest film Cuckoo hits UK cinemas on 23 August.


The 25-year-old actor studied visual art at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and contributed drawings and paintings to Rookie Mag from 2015 to 2018. She often uses watercol...
DIVA Magazine •

Chappell Roan responds to fans after being “harassed, abused and stalked” in public

The Missouri-born musician Chappell Roan has urged fans to stop “harassing” and “stalking” her in public, explaining that she doesn’t care if others think that her boundaries are “selfish”.


In a TikTok posted on 19 August, the singer-songwriter asked her fans: “If you saw a random woman on the street. Would you yell at her from the car window? Would you harass her in public? Would you go up to a random lady and say, ‘Can I get a photo with you?’ And [when] she’s like, ‘No, what the f**k?’ and...
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“Very demure, very mindful” TikTok trendsetter can now fund transition due to viral fame

The trend, started by Jools Lebron, began when the beauty influencer showed her professional makeup look to TikTok, calling it “very demure, very mindful”.


The meme then blew up online, with celebrities from Lily Collins to Penn Badgley participating.


In a recent video from Jools, she explained how the “Demure” trend changed her life.


“Hey, maybe you should make the videos. Because one day I was playing cashier and making videos on my break and now I’m flying across countries to host ev...
DIVA Magazine •

X Factor star Dylan Holloway opens up about duetting with his pre-transition self

Dylan Holloway, also known as Dylan And The Moon, is not afraid to create music that breaks down barriers. You may recognise the Newquay-born artist from his viral TikTok duets with his pre-transition self, or his performances on X Factor, but with his single Bones coming out on Friday (16 August) and a new EP coming out in October, the artist is soon to become a household name.


DIVA caught up with Dylan to find out more about his journey. 


I actually started playing the drums at first, an...
DIVA Magazine •

Gok Wan announced as final headliner for Manchester Pride Festival

TV personality and DJ Gok Wan has just been announced as the final headliner for Manchester Pride Festival 2024. 


The three-day festival starting on 23 August will include parades, vigils, and rooftop parties, for no cost.


The only ticketed event is The Gay Village Party which will see the likes of Jessie J, Rita Ora, The Sugababes, and of course the one and only Gok Wan.


As well as Wan’s Friday headline set, The Untold Orchestra and hip-hop star OneDa have been announced as performers...
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Here’s everything you need to know about Jill Scott’s partner, Shelly Unitt

From bringing it home for England to being crowned queen of the jungle, there’s nothing Jill Scott MBE can’t do.


So while Jill captured England’s heart and became one of Britain’s most beloved lionesses, who was cheering her on from the sidelines?


Shelly, sister of former England player Rachel Unitt, has been Jill’s partner for nearly a decade.


The Community Health Officer for whg Housing Association and co-owner of Manchester coffee shop, BOXX2BOXX, writes in her X bio that her passion...
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JK Rowling and Elon Musk named in lawsuit filed by Algerian boxer Imane Khelif

The Algerian boxer and newly crowned Olympic gold medalist Imane Khelif has filed an online harassment complaint to French authorities over alleged “acts of aggravated cyber harassment”.


Khelif was at the centre of online controversy after a match against Italian boxer Angela Carini. The match, which finished within 46 seconds on 1 August, ignited a frenzy of misinformation and bullying against Khelif on social media and in news outlets, with many falsely claiming that she was a “biological m...
DIVA Magazine •

Who is the Olympic mask-wearing shot-putter? Here are 5 facts to know about Raven Saunders

USA Olympian Raven “Hulk” Saunders, is making waves online not only for their impressive athletic ability but for their choice to wear a mask during the 2024 Olympic games.


The non-binary shot-putter, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo games, unfortunately, did not achieve the same victory in Paris but still won the hearts of Olympic fans across the globe.


In the Shot Put qualification on 8 August, the 28-year-old competed in orange-tinted glasses and a thick black mask that covered their...
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Top 5 LGBTQIA-friendly countries to study abroad in

As September rolls around and university students start to pack up their belongings to begin another year of learning the question of spending a year abroad may appeal to many young students.


But being LGBTQIA in a new country can come with questions about safety and acceptance. 


Not only is it important to be in an environment where it is legal to express who you are, but it is also important to be in an environment where you can identify as your true self in comfort.


Here is a list of...
DIVA Magazine •

National LGBTQIA youth homelessness charity has appointed a new CEO

The Albert Kennedy Trust has announced that Adam Pemberton Wickham is the new CEO starting in October 2024.


Akt or The Albert Kennedy Trust is a national LGBTQIA youth homelessness charity that provides support to young people who are homeless or living in hostile environments after coming out to their parents, caregivers, or communities.


“I am thrilled to join akt as their new permanent CEO. I remember when akt was founded in the 80s. The work they were doing then was so vital for LGBTQIA...
DIVA Magazine •

On Airplane Mode couple Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz announce their engagement

Kirstie Pike and Christine Diaz have announced their engagement after a surprise proposal in Bora Bora.


The duo behind the leading LGBTQIA travel platform, On Airplane Mode, took the next step after spending seven years together.


Kirstie planned the couples’ holiday to Bora Bora under the guise of a “work trip” and meticulously planned the event so Christine had no idea what was coming.


On the day of the proposal, Kristie took Christine out on a canoe to a secluded sand bar, telling Chr...
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Lesbian boxer makes history after winning first medal for the Refugee Olympic Team

The middleweight boxer, Cindy Ngamba, has released an emotional statement after winning a bronze medal on 8 August.


She was denied the chance of a silver or gold after losing to Panama’s Atheyna Bylon on a split decision in her semi-final.


“It means the world to me, to be the first ever refugee to win a medal. I’m just a human, just like any other refugee, athlete, all around the world,” Ngamba said after beating Davina Michel of France in the quarter-final.


Ngamba moved to the UK aged...
DIVA Magazine •

Hunter Schafer opens up about how being cheated on changed her perspective as a trans woman

Hunter Schafer has opened up about being cheated on by her ex-partner Dominic Fike and how it “fundamentally changed” her perspective as a trans woman.


The Euphoria actor spoke candidly about her past relationship on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast where she detailed how she was once “head over heels” for Fike until she checked through his phone and discovered that he was unfaithful.


“It’s part of why the relationship ended, I got cheated on for the first time,” she said. 


“He’s ta...
DIVA Magazine •

Here’s everything you need to know about SCENE Film Festival 2024

Love TV and film? Love celebrating pride? Well, get ready to experience both with the Manchester LGBTQIA Film & TV Festival SCENE. With over seven days of new and classic LGBTQIA cinema and TV, screenings, Q&As, talks, celebrations and events, this summer just got a lot brighter.


Friday 16 – Thursday 22 August.


The weeklong festival is hosted across Manchester city centre in venues such as HOME, People’s History Museum, New Century and the Gay Village.


All tickets are less than £15 with...
DIVA Magazine •

LGBTQIA artists celebrated in new VMA nominations

From Best New Artist to Video of the Year, LGBTQIA  icons decorate this year’s 2024 MTV Video Music Awards nominations.


Despite the majority of the categories being dominated by Taylor Swift and Post Malone with their collaboration Fortnight, queer artists, especially queer female artists, did particularly well this year.


Megan Thee Stallion excelled with five nominations for Best Hip-Hop, Best Direction, Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction, as well as Best Collaboration for Wanna B...
DIVA Magazine •

Dykes Who Hike: meet the hiking group creating safe spaces for queer women

The TikTok group Dykes Who Hike has taken the internet by storm, but who are the powerhouses behind this queer walking group?


When Yasmin Message and Lucy Cooper sat down to organise a small queer-inclusive hike in March, they had no idea the impact they would have seven months later.


The pair only met in January and decided to create a Whatsapp group after enjoying a hike themselves. Their promotion of their first hike from Seaford to Eastbourne consisted of a TikTok explaining which trai...
DIVA Magazine •

Trans women in Colombia are being targeted by armed groups

The Guardian has recently released an article stating that more than 40 trans women in Colombia were “targeted” and killed last year by “armed groups”.


The article, written by Natalia Torres Garzón, discusses how violence against LGBTQIA individuals has been on the rise in Colombia. 


Eight trans women were killed between February and April this year, while 41 were killed in 2023.


The article follows three trans women in Caquetá, Colombia who face extreme adversity due to their identity....
DIVA Magazine •

Chappell Roan may have just made history with her Lollapalooza set

The summer only gets better for Pink Pony Club popstar Chappell Roan as she makes history on the Lollapalooza stage.


The 26-year-old singer may have performed Lollapalooza’s most-attended set in history, rivalling headliners such as Megan Thee Stallion and The Killers.


While it is impossible to confirm the exact number of festival-goers who saw Chappell’s set, a spokesperson for Lollapalooza told CNN: “Chappell’s performance was the biggest daytime set we’ve ever seen. It was a magical mom...
DIVA Magazine •

Nepal Supreme Court rules trans woman a woman in historic new case

Nepal’s Supreme Court has ruled that a trans woman should be recognised as a woman on her legal documents without medical verification in a landmark case.


The ruling has set a precedent for trans rights in Nepal but other transgender people will still need to petition the Court separately to have their gender recognised without medical intervention.


Law student, human rights activist and trailblazer, Rukshana Kapali, has sued the Nepalese government more than 50 times since 2021 to bring r...
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