Tessa Hayley Hellberg
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
School
University Of The Witwatersrand
Expertise
Feminism And Post-feminism, Intersectionality, Fashion And Style
- While in university, Tessa fell in love with feminist literature and the concept of using intersectionality as a lens to view the world. She also developed a fascination with post-feminism, and post-post-feminism, and cites Rosamund Gill and Simidele Dosekun as two of the scholars who inspire her most.
- Tessa has a passion for pop culture, and in her time as an entertainment reporter, she has often found ways to place emphasis on important social issues through celebrity interviews; from shedding light on the LGBTQIA+ community in the yachting world with "Below Deck" star Kyle Viljoen, to understanding experiences in the foster care system with "Real Housewives Of Atlanta" star, Marlo Hampton.
- Tessa's love for reporting stems way back to her childhood. Back then, she would craft school assignments into pop culture-style reports, and dreamed of becoming an entertainment journalist - all no doubt spurred on by her love for celebrity magazines and the E! Network.
Experience
Towards the end of her undergraduate degree, Tessa joined an edutainment app as the resident pop culture writer. Since then, she's gone on to realize her childhood dream, joining TheThings as an interviewer, and writing for number of Static Media brands, including Nicki Swift and The List. She joined the Women.com team in April 2023 – the ideal platform for her to do regular deep dives into a variety of women's issues, from reproductive rights to hair care and STI diagnoses.
Education
Tessa has a bachelor's degree in politics and media studies, and honors and master's degrees in media studies, all from the University of the Witwatersrand. Her master's dissertation, centered on the representation of femininity in "The Real Housewives of Johannesburg," was one of the first to center on an African iteration of the franchise.
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Stories By Tessa Hayley Hellberg
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Cooking cheese in the air fryer isn't impossible, and can be quite convenient. However, that depends on a lot of factors, and may not be the best option.
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There are many different alternatives to whole milk. Here are the nutritional differences between pistachio and almond milk.
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Non-alcoholic beer is only becoming more popular, and many would-be beer drinkers are reaching for less boozy alternatives. But can it be used in a beer batter?
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Eggs are a classic go-to for a morning boost of savory, delicious protein. However, to make your favorite fried eggs, can you turn to the handy air fryer?
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For the most part, keeping things like vanilla extract and spices fresh is as simple as storing them in a cool, dry place, but how long can you keep them there?
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Ina Garten knows how to do it up big, but sometimes, even for special guests, entertaining small is the ticket. See what and where she serves close friends.
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Usually, it's easy to tell when a vegetable has gone bad but wrinkly jalapenos are safe to eat, so how do you know when to toss these spicy peppers?
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We've all made a recipe using cinnamon, but what many might not realize is that the spice comes in a number of variations like one sweet variety deemed royal.
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2020 wasn't a great year for Dasani -- and when other bottled water brands were bought en masse in the early pandemic, Dasani was left high and dry.
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If you're without a proper slicer to cut a bagel, try out this handy method. Here's how you can go about it safely.
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Eggs benedict is a classic meal that should be enjoyed outside of brunch and room service. But if you want to make it yourself, avoid this last-minute error.
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It's no secret that caviar isn't cheap. How much should you buy for your next party to ensure everyone gets to try the delicacy, but none goes to waste?
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The secret to giving focaccia a major boost lies in a surprising ingredient. Here's what you should swap out next time you bake this beloved Italian carb.
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Though you can't visit a mid-tier restaurant or roadside diner without seeing one, the category of condiments can be a bit tricky to define.
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There are some foods that freeze really well and others that don't, but another aspect that needs to be considered is how much you put in the freezer at once.
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Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned for a whopping 19 years prior to her execution but it turns out that she was eating much better than one would think.
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The concept of an egg mold is pretty simple, in theory. Just pop a boiled egg into the plastic mold and you're done! Unfortunately, things can go awry quickly.