Day: September 20, 2025

• This post originally appeared in the BI Today newsletter.
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Welcome back! Want to know how pop superstar Ciara can — and I hate this phrase, but — balance it all? She schedules just about everything, even her free time. Find out more about her lifestyle tips and why you might catch her jogging in NYC.

On the agenda:

• Forget paleo — here’s what we should really learn from our ancient ancestors to add a decade to our lives.
• BI’s Joey Hadden rode the fastest train in the US, but the most surprising parts of her journey had nothing to do with speed.
• Later, PSL. These are the fall status symbols people are loving.
• From filming a new reality show to running her hair care company, “Real Housewives” star Bozoma Saint John shares her daily routine.

But first: Inside Miss USA’s big shake-up.

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This week’s dispatch

A new era of Miss USA

When a new CEO was announced at Miss USA, the storied pageant went the way of the last two years: It was a mess.

Longtime pageant coach Thom Brodeur announced earlier this month that he was taking over Miss USA and Miss Teen USA after securing the rights to both pageants.

“With a 10-year exclusive license, a powerhouse team, and a clear vision, I’m ready to modernize, revitalize, and reignite two of the most iconic brands in American pageantry,” Brodeur wrote in an Instagram caption, sharing the news.

It didn’t take long — one day, actually — for the former CEO, Laylah Rose, to write on the same social media platform that she was still in charge and hadn’t seen “any new contracts regarding any transfer of ownership.”

Rose’s two-year tenure as the CEO of Miss USA and Miss Teen USA was riddled with controversy. First, the organization descended into chaos after contestants said Miss USA 2022 was rigged. Then, in 2023, title holders Noelia Voigt and UmaSofia Srivastava relinquished their crowns — a first in the pageants’ 72-year history — amid allegations of a toxic workplace environment. Rose, who denied those claims, has not responded to Business Insider’s repeated requests for comment.

Since then, Miss Universe has confirmed Brodeur is the rightful CEO of the pageants.

Now, in his first interview as CEO, Brodeur told Business Insider’s Anneta Konstantinides why he wanted a pageant that’s clearly in crisis.

“I’ve been known for being the guy who runs fearlessly at the broken thing and puts the right people in place to help fix it,” he said. “… and my passion for the business is really, fundamentally, what drives me to want to find a way to help restore confidence, restore trust, restore credibility, reliability, and stability into this brand.”

Brodeur also broke down the three major changes he’s making to the pageants ahead of the next competitions, which will be held on October 23 and 24 in Reno, Nevada.

Ancient lessons in longevity

Professor Michael Gurven is an anthropologist who’s spent decades living with remote populations to understand how humans evolved to thrive in difficult environments. He shared with BI the five lessons ancient humans can teach us.

For instance, you don’t need to follow a restrictive diet like paleo to implement ancient lifestyles. As for exercise, slow and steady wins the race.

Plus, how to keep your brain healthy.

The fastest train in the US

Last month, Amtrak launched its NextGen Acela fleet. The train runs an express service from Boston to Washington, DC, and has a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour, making it the fastest train in the country.

BI’s Joey Hadden recently rode business class from NYC to Washington, DC, and back, with each ride being three hours long. From the food to the train’s design, Hadden shared the six things that surprised her the most about her trip — they had nothing to do with speed.

In it for the ride.

Status symbols for fall

Jacques Mage Marie sunglasses, Bode jackets, Agolde jeans — these are a few of the trendy pieces people are sporting as the weather gets cool.

It doesn’t stop with wearables. Inside the home, luxury cookware and designer candles are having a moment.

Plus, some trends from the 2000s are so back.

How Bozoma Saint John gets it done

Every morning at 5:30 a.m., the former Netflix CMO is already up meditating and praying. Saint John credits the daily practice with keeping her steady throughout her busy day.

For BI’s Power Hours series, Saint John shared her daily routine, which includes running her haircare company, hosting a new reality show with Jimmy Fallon, and filming “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

A day in the life.

Also read:

• I’m the head of VC at IBM. My day includes 10 miles with my doodles, sign language, and meetings with startups.

What we’re watching this weekend

• “The Morning Show”: Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon return for season 4 of this hit Apple TV+ series that dives into all the drama and backstabbing at a popular network news show.
• “Black Rabbit”: In this new crime thriller miniseries on Netflix, Jude Law and Jason Bateman play brothers who find themselves deep in the New York crime underworld following some bad choices.
• “Smurfs”: If you’re looking for something for the whole family, watch the lovable Smurfs go on their latest animated adventure over on Paramount+.

What to shop

• Fresh hair, fast: Some dry shampoo formulas just soak up oil, while others leave your hair feeling fresh and full without the chalky aftermath. After extensive testing, these are the ones worth keeping in your bag for second- (or third-) day hair.
• Amazon’s take on a cult fave: The Lululemon Define jacket continues its athleisure reign — but there’s a nearly identical $39 Amazon version that’s gaining steam. We tried both, and you can barely tell them apart.
• Purses built for takeoff: Traveling with the wrong bag can quickly turn a relaxing vacation into a nightmare. From compact cross-bodies to roomy catch-alls, these picks keep your stuff close, organized, and TSA-ready without sacrificing style.

What happened to the all-American diner?

Diners used to be all the rage across the US. They’re now dying out. Here’s how Tops and Summit Diner in New Jersey are keeping their businesses afloat against all odds.

More of this week’s top reads:

• Belly is not the villain of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” This toxic VC bro is.
• Build muscle in one hour a week with four tips from a bodybuilder scientist with a PhD in getting gains fast.
• Elizabeth Banks, 51, credits three everyday habits for keeping her youthful.
• I dined at a Chicago hotel designed for Gilded Age elites. It felt like being inside a painting.
• Robert Redford went from Hollywood golden boy to champion of independent film. See his career in photos.
• I took a VO2 max test while sprinting on a treadmill. It taught me how fast I should run to burn fat and build muscle.
• I’ve lived in Florida for 25 years. There’s so much to do here in the fall, which is also the best time to visit.

The BI Today team: Lisa Ryan, executive editor, in New York. Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Akin Oyedele, deputy editor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in New York. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York.

• My husband and I are avid cruisers, but we’d never sailed on a mega-ship until recently.
• We went aboard Royal Caribbean’s 10,000-person Star of the Seas for our 20th wedding anniversary.
• I’d recommend a large cruise ship for a romantic getaway for a variety of reasons.

My husband and I have been taking cruises for years, so as our 20th wedding anniversary approached, we decided to book a three-night sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Star of the Seas, to mix things up. The 10,000-person vessel, which joins sister ship Icon of the Seas, is nothing short of massive, and was unlike any cruise we’d done as die-hard fans of midsize Disney cruises and small expedition voyages.

I wasn’t sure if sailing away with 10,000 people was the best way to celebrate such a milestone. I wondered if we’d be able to connect as a couple with more than 7,000 passengers and nearly 3,000 crew members surrounding us. And, as an introvert, I worried I’d be stressed out and grumpy on such a people-filled ship. Turns out, everything about the trip was perfect for celebrating a wedding anniversary, right down to the ocean balcony suite we stayed in, which cost just under $700 per night for the two of us.

Here’s why we loved celebrating such a romantic event aboard a mega-ship.

The ship was huge, but we still found quiet spots to spend time together.

Our cruise ship was huge, with 20 decks, about 50 different bars and restaurants, pools and a water park, tons of evening entertainment, and everything from an escape room to an ice rink. Strangely, it wasn’t hard to get the lay of the land. Once acclimated to the ship, we started making a list of restaurants we wanted to try, shows we hoped to see, and activities we wanted to participate in.

While there was plenty of hustle and bustle, we quickly found places we could escape to, like secluded deck areas or a coffee bar we liked, where we knew things were quieter and we’d be able to grab a spot for two with an ocean view. In fact, neither of us remembers a time when the crowds felt overwhelming or like they were harshing our romantic vibe.

Our days were a perfect mix of sunny public areas and intentional downtime.

We filled our days on board sunning by the pool, participating in trivia games, and eating at as many different restaurants as we could. Even in crowded areas, like restaurants or pool decks, we found it easy to stick to ourselves and reconnect as a couple.

What’s more, our stateroom had its own balcony and plenty of room inside, so we were always able to head back for an afternoon nap or to relax while showering for dinner. And, most evenings, we found ourselves watching an on-demand movie together in bed before falling asleep.

We loved how, at night, the ship felt like a bustling city.

One of our favorite things about traveling is getting dressed up each night and heading out on the town. Because the extra-large ship felt like a city, each night was like we were vacationing somewhere metropolitan.

Whether dressing up for a fancy dinner followed by drinks at a jazz club or eating a quick dinner before seeing a comedy show and catching a band, each night felt like we were out on a date together. As a bonus, neither of us struggled with ideas for what to do on our night out since the options were endless.

As a sober person, I found plenty of non-alcoholic drinks that felt celebratory.

I’ve been living an alcohol-free lifestyle for nearly two years, but that doesn’t mean I don’t sometimes want a festive drink to celebrate with. I was blown away by the non-alcoholic offerings on the ship, from booze-free wines on every restaurant menu to unique mocktails at each bar.

Having something sparkly in my glass made our anniversary trip feel extra-festive, and I never once felt like I was stuck only drinking Diet Coke or club soda while on the ship.

I’d definitely recommend a mega-ship for an anniversary celebration.

My husband and I both agree: We’d definitely recommend a mega-ship for a celebration like an anniversary. Sure, it’d also be great for birthdays or bachelorette parties, where people are looking to party hard in a big group, but as a couple who wanted to be alone together, we never once felt overwhelmed while on board.

I often say I like cruising because everything is planned out for you without much effort on your part, and this ship was no exception. Being able to relax all day with my husband, then go out “on the town” each night without much thought made the trip all the more special and we truly felt reconnected when we disembarked.