Editor's letter 20 October 2019: Women? I like them tough - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life Editor’ s letter Women I like them tough By You Magazine - October 20, 2019 We all have a rough idea of what we want in a romantic partner. But have you ever thought about what qualities you seek out in your friends? I’ve been thinking recently about what the women in my life – my friends and those I just look up to from afar – have in common. They are gutsy and direct but never unkind. They make me laugh and often their humour is dark or slightly twisted, which only makes me love them more – because if you’re willing to share your most ‘inappropriate’ thoughts with me, then I know you trust me and, in turn, I will trust you. The women I love are successful and brave but not fearless. They embrace opportunities and experiences, and push through the terror of any embarrassment or failing that might result from giving things a go. And that willingness to be vulnerable will make me want to share my fears with them, too. We will celebrate the highs and nurse each other through the lows – I find that wine helps with both of these. I love the women in my life who are still excited and wide-eyed about pockets of fun and glamour they might get from time to time. But they’re still relieved when the party ends and they get to go home to the ‘real’ people in their lives – family, partners, kids or pets. One woman who embodies all of this and more is this issue’s cover star, Lorraine Kelly. I couldn’t claim to be in her inner circle, but I’ve been privileged over the years to have spent quite a bit of time sitting next to her on her famous TV sofa, often as a commentator on news and even doing the odd stint as a guest fashion presenter. And what you see of Lorraine on screen is what you get in real life. The warmth, vivacity and belly laughs are the real her. But there are other facets that perhaps aren’t so apparent when she’s beaming into your living room every morning. Her focus is laser. When something’s not right – even the tiniest detail, such as a picture they’re about to flash on screen from an Oscar-night party, which isn’t the best one she needs to illustrate a point – Lorraine is the one who notices. She has a dry, wicked sense of humour. Our occasional text chats prove she is as fond as I am of the odd salty word. We have, a few times, exchanged an eye-roll and smirk when a nearby celebrity guest is being a bit of a diva. Lorraine is sweet, charming and vivacious, yes. She’s also really nice. But make no mistake, this woman is also nails (just google her name and Esther McVey). And it’s this whole package that’s kept her at the top of her game in the ferociously competitive universe of breakfast TV for 35 years. In fact, Lorraine embodies most of the qualities that make me respect and admire another woman. But what I value above all else is fearless honesty. And this is what you’ll find in Lorraine’s new book Shine. Part memoir, part life manual, it brings to life her successful highs, bruising lows and true heartbreak and I hope you enjoy your exclusive first look. Editor’ s picks A few things I’m coveting this week Move over, zebra print. We’re all about cows now. Dress, £145, kitristudio.com Will be cosying up in this on my Cornish holiday. Jumper, £25.99, zara.com Yes, I’m already planning Christmas outfits. Skirt, £245, Rixo, net-a-porter.com RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR Everything we know about The Crown season 5 Aldi s exercise equipment is on sale with up to 50% off The best Halloween events for 2022 across the UK Popular in Life The You magazine team reveal their New Year s resolutions December 31, 2021 Susannah Taylor The TLC tools your body will love January 23, 2022 How to stop living in fear February 6, 2022 Susannah Taylor My pick of the fittest leggings February 27, 2022 Women’ s Prize for Fiction 2022 winner announced June 17, 2022 These BBC dramas are returning for a second series June 30, 2022 Susannah Taylor gives the lowdown on nature s little helper – CBD April 17, 2022 The baby names that are banned across the world April 27, 2022 The Queen has released her own emojis May 26, 2022 Sally Brompton horoscopes 27th June-3rd July 2022 June 26, 2022 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved