Business

(NEW YORK) — Wedding season is in full swing and a record number of couples are tying the knot.

An estimated 2.5 million weddings are set to be held this year, according to Shane McMurray, CEO of the Wedding Report — the most the U.S. has seen since 1984. The record total is due in part to many couples having postponed them due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But with the large number of weddings this year, coupled with current supply chain issues and limited labor, the costs of weddings have also increased this year.

‘A perfect storm’

As of March 2022, the annual inflation rate in the U.S. accelerated to 8.5%, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Labor. The largest contributors to the increase were from gasoline, shelter and food. However, the inflation rate has also impacted the cost of weddings in 2022.

“What it boils down to is supply and demand,” McMurray said. “As people put off their wedding, because of the pandemic and weren’t able to get married, all of a sudden you’ve got this flux of people getting married.”

McMurray explained that there’s a huge demand for services, but there’s little capability to supply couples’ needs. Photographers and DJs are always in demand, but prices have been driven up because of the increased weddings in 2022. Top-rated venues and caterers are also upping their prices.

Flowers have also become one of the costlier parts of weddings this year. In 2021, couples spent an average of $2,245 on florals for their weddings, according to a wedding market update from Wedding Report. That number has only increased in 2022.

“The demand has increased so much for flowers that the prices have just gone up and we have to adjust our prices accordingly,” said Ashley Mueller of Ash and Oak Floral in California.

Mueller, who works with business partner Katie Reisman, said in an Instagram post that prices have increased because of inclement weather impacting supply, labor cost increases and supply chain issues.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, Mueller and Reisman said that flowers weren’t planted. In California, where a lot of flowers are grown, a severe drought and wildfires also impacted the supply.

Mueller and Reisman explained that production on items such as vases and glue to make corsages were put on pause during the pandemic.

“It’s kind of a perfect storm of all these factors increasing our prices,” Reisman said.

Keeping up with traditions on a budget

The soaring costs have put a strain on couples. Sravya Vishnubhatla, a Desi bride having a Hindu wedding, which is typically a multiday celebration with hundreds of guests, told GMA that she’s had to drop some of the things on her wedding wishlist to cut down the costs.

“I’m definitely forgoing maybe like a certain type of vision,” said Vishnubhatla, who is getting married in May in Nevada. “I very carefully lifted up the hours [of our photographer and videographer] that they need to be there. Another thing that I am actually compromising on is on the decor for my reception. I’m probably not going to go with like heavy floral decor.”

Over the years, the South Asian wedding industry has grown into a $50 billion business, according to Vogue Business. In the U.S., South Asian couples can easily spend between $225,000 and $285,000 on their wedding if it’s being held in major metro areas including Los Angeles, Chicago and New Jersey, according to wedding planner and event coordinator Marisa Jenkins, author of the blog, Wedding Frontier.

To help curb costs, Vishnubhatla had her dad do some of the wedding shopping for her outfits while on a recent trip to India. Vishnubhatla said it’s typical for South Asian brides to travel to India for wedding elements, but because of COVID-19 she was unsure if she would be able to make the trip.

“I got really lucky because my dad went to India, so he was able to shop. If he hadn’t gone to India, it seemed like we would have had to either buy online from India and ship it or shop somewhere online in the states where it’s overpriced,” she said.

In January, Vishnubhatla took to TikTok to share the reality of the expense of South Asian wedding traditions after other brides weighed in on the cost of their weddings. Vishnubhatla pointed out that certain costs for a Western wedding aren’t the same for Hindu weddings. Since then, she’s brought people along with her wedding journey to shed light on what goes into planning a Hindu wedding and what brides have to include in their budgets.

“I realized that there’s just not many resources in the states, from what we could find, for brides,” Vishnubhatla said. “I felt like it would be useful and helpful for other Indian girls who are getting married.”

Play the patience game and ‘invest in what feels personal to you’

With the cost of weddings on the rise in 2022, McMurray said those planning weddings may see a relief in 2024.

“The influx of weddings you’re seeing this year is all pent-up demand, and there’s not more people getting married [in general]. In fact, there’s less people getting married than there have been in many years,” McMurray said. “So you’ll see this spread out over 2023, maybe it will trickle into 2024, likely not. But after that, it’s probably just going to continue to get back to normal with a continuous decline.”

For now, McMurray advises that couples stay patient as they find vendors for their weddings within their budget. And if their wedding is in 2024, the best thing they could probably do is wait to book things for their wedding until later.

“I know that’s hard to do sometimes, and that’s actually what’s driving up spending right now are costs because people don’t want to be patient,” McMurray said.

Mueller and Reisman also advised couples to beware of repurposing certain items from your ceremony to wedding reception spaces. While many think repurposing flowers or decorations may be a way to cut costs, it can also mean that it will take more labor to move those items and can cost more money in the end.

In addition, be aware of what you see on social media and try not to be influenced by what is trending as certain designs may only feel trendy in the moment and may be beyond your budget. Instead, opt for flowers that are in season and designs that have a classic or timeless feel.

“Invest in what feels personal to you,” Reisman said. “If it doesn’t, don’t spend money on it. If it does, spend money on it.”

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Auto shows were once a marquee event for automakers — a way to let interested buyers see, sit in, touch and get acquainted with the latest models. With many companies pulling out of shows over exorbitant fees and the COVID pandemic canceling shows all over the world, automakers are taking a new approach to win over customers: Haute cuisine and experience centers.

Take Korean luxury brand Genesis. Consumers attending the New York International Auto Show at the Javits Center in Manhattan will not find the stylish and sporty GV70, Genesis’ highly acclaimed sport-utility vehicle that went on sale last year, anywhere in the cavernous space. But a short drive away is the Genesis House, an immersive “sanctuary” in the Meatpacking District that gives consumers a taste of what to expect from the brand. On the first floor are the company’s latest vehicles as well as concept designs and samples of colors and materials.

The 46,000-square-foot space, which officially opened in November, acts as part showroom and part art gallery. The vibe? “Distinctly Korean,” according to the automaker.

On the second level is Onjium, a Michelin-starred restaurant and cultural institute from Seoul, that serves authentic, upscale Korean dishes to gastronomes while the Tea Pavilion, a “veranda-like living room,” offers tea and Korean cookies with panoramic views of the Hudson River and High Line.

“The way to anybody’s heart is through their stomachs, so it makes sense,” Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver, told ABC News of Genesis House. A memorable meal can “heighten the prestige” of a brand, he said, and automakers are desperate to stand out and build loyalty.

Japanese automaker Lexus won over car — and food — aficionados with its Intersect by Lexus restaurant, a culinary “experience” that featured world recognized chefs and rotating menus. The Lexus connection was subtle; a wall collage of whitewashed vehicle parts or the Lexus-spindle grille in the bamboo-laminated lattice seamlessly blended into the architecture. Lexus decided to close the Meatpacking restaurant in January.

“From the outset our goal was to build a space designed for people to experience the ethos of the Lexus lifestyle without getting behind the steering wheel,” according to a press release announcing the news. “INTERSECT was intended to enhance the Lexus brand in an impactful and meaningful way, and it did just that. We are proud of what we have accomplished, and we consider INTERSECT BY LEXUS- NYC a great success. The Lexus brand will continue to develop creative and innovative lifestyle experiences to experience amazing, and we look forward to sharing this with customers for years to come.”

Ed Kim, president and chief analyst of AutoPacific, said visitors to Genesis House can learn about the cultural influences on the vehicle’s designs.

“Many brands are looking at creative ways to get the brand message across to consumers,” he told ABC News.

BMW, Lotus, Ford and Porsche have experience centers dotted across the U.S., allowing enthusiasts to pay money to test-drive the hottest models on a track — and possibly leave with one, too.

“It happens all the time — people buy a BMW after the program,” Dan Gubitosa, director of BMW Performance Centers, told ABC News. “We point them to a dealer closest to where they live.”

BMW operates two performance driving schools: the Spartanburg, South Carolina, location opened in 1999 followed by the Thermal, California, track in 2015. In August BMW will open a satellite program — the BMW M Track Series — at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We certainly expose people to the brand. That’s the objective of these schools,” Gubitosa said.

About 23,000 people attend BMW’s driving schools each year and the programs range from half or full-day instruction with professional race car drivers. Prices start at $299 for two hours and top out at $3,995 for two days at the M School.

“The high-performance cars are here. BMW’s most popular models — the X3 and X5 — are here too. We also have an off-road course. You can test-drive just about anything,” Gubitosa said.

Porsche has nine experience centers globally, with locations in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Germany, Italy and Tokyo. The tenth Porsche Experience Center [PEC] will welcome visitors in 2024 in Toronto.

“You don’t have to be an owner to come and drive or tour through the gallery,” Michelle Rainey, manager of the Atlanta Porsche Experience Center, told ABC News. “We want to be approachable to all people and we’re always making sure we have the latest and greatest vehicles so it’s representative of what’s at our Porsche dealers.”

More than 550,000 people have signed up for driving programs at the Atlanta and LA Experience Centers since 2015, according to a Porsche spokesperson. A major expansion to the Atlanta track, debuting in early 2023, includes a 1.3-mile handling circuit that was inspired by the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, the Carousel from Germany’s Nurburgring-Nordschleife track and the Tail of the Dragon in the Smoky Mountains. There will also be a low-friction, wetted 197-feet asphalt circle and an ice-hill, with a wet and slick surface along with an incline and decline to demonstrate traction control, according to Porsche. Current programs start at $365 for 90 minutes and Porsche’s coveted sports cars like the 911 GT3, Taycan Turbo S and Cayman GT4 are available to drive.

“We’re teaching you all about the cars,” said Rainey. “We are always developing new programs that appeal to new audiences.”

Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power, pointed out that these experience centers are essentially creating brand ambassadors for automakers.

“If you buy a BMW and you go to the performance driving school, you’re going to be much more enthusiastic about the brand. It’s about indoctrinating you and getting you into the brand,” he told ABC News.

Added Kim: “For a brand like BMW or Porsche, performance is at the very core and very foundation of what they’re about. It makes sense to do things like experiences.”

Quiroga, of Car and Driver, still views auto shows as the ideal way to reach the largest audience of potential buyers. The NYIAS attracts at least 628,000 U.S. households on average each year, according to one report.

“Auto shows are incredibly expensive for manufacturers to attend … but they still matter for consumers,” he argued. “It’s still a really easy place to get excited and see a lot of cars without the pressure of a salesman. Not attending is going to hurt automakers eventually.”

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(NEW YORK) — As millions take to the skies each day and airlines forecast what could be the most profitable summer ever, Americans should prepare for higher prices, more cancellations, and smaller airports losing all scheduled flight service.

Never before have U.S. airlines been more desperate for pilots. The massive pilot shortage affects not only the airlines but also the millions who fly each year.

Prepare for higher fares

U.S. airlines hope to add 13,000 pilots just this year, but America produces only between 5000 and 7000 pilots annually, according to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby. With fewer pilots, supply will be limited and ticket prices will continue to climb with demand.

“The pilot shortage for the industry is real and most airlines are simply not going to be able to realize their capacity plan because there simply aren’t enough pilots, at least not for the next five plus years,” Kirby said. “The other really large airlines will also probably be able to attract enough pilots, but for anyone else, I just don’t think it’s mathematically possible to meet the pilot demand for the capacity plans that are out there.”

The U.S. will lose about half of its pilots to retirement in the next 15 years, according to the Regional Airline Association. American Airlines expects more than 5,000 of its 15,000 pilots to retire in the next seven years.

Earlier this month, American Airlines announced it would begin busing passengers from smaller cities to its hub in Philadelphia. JetBlue will cut its spring and summer flight schedule by 10 percent. In an earnings call Thursday, United’s Kirby said its regional partners have grounded 150 planes because of the pilot shortage.

“The airlines are underwater and trying to breathe through a straw,” American 737 Captain and Union spokesperson Dennis Tajer told ABC News. “Airlines are poaching each other’s pilots. It’s stunning the level of aggression.”

Mark Stinson is in flight school in Florida and still at least a year away from being qualified to join an airline, but the 31-year-old already has two job offers with regional airlines. Stinson says despite not having earned his commercial pilots license, one airline has offered to allow him to accrue vacation time the moment he signs a contract.

“The airlines are so hungry that they are taking just about anyone into these programs, and after pilots build enough hours they are applying directly into the majors,” Stinson says referring to the nation’s largest airlines. “Two of our instructors got hired directly with Spirit Airlines and will be going to training here shortly. They only have about 2 years’ experience. It’s insane. They will be airbus pilots in no time.”

American says it’s hiring 50-70 pilots each week in 2022, more than at any time in its history. United plans to hire more than 2000 pilots this year. United, Delta, American and Southwest pay among the highest salaries in the industry with United’s most senior pilots earning roughly $450,000 annually.

“The pilot shortage is real and it is grave. Larger airlines are able to recruit, but midsize and smaller airlines are having problems. Regional airlines, the airlines that operate the 50 to 75 seat airplanes that we see many airlines operate to small towns, they are really struggling and airlines have had to scale back or drop service to a lot of smaller communities,” Henry Harteveldt, president of travel analytics firm Atmosphere Research told ABC news.

Airline recruiters under extreme pressure to find pilots

Envoy Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, tells applicants they can earn up to $182,000 a year if a candidate promises to stay for at least two years and is certified to fly its Embraer regional jets.

“They’re reaching out to me, sending me emails. They don’t care. They just want to see that, you know, you’re getting your flight hours. They’ll do an interview with you and ask you a few HR questions, but then they just offer you the job automatically. So that’s how much in need they are of pilots,” Stinson said.

Why a shortage?

For several reasons: The FAA mandates pilots retire at 65, fewer pilots leaving the military, high cost and lengthy training times, and thousands of early retirements at the start of the pandemic.

During the second half of the 20th century, the military pumped out far more pilots than it does today; and now many of those pilots are rapidly approaching retirement. Obtaining a commercial pilot’s license today can easily cost between $80,000 and $170,000.

To help offset the shortage, United Airlines recently opened its own flight school, Aviate Academy. United plans to train 5000 pilots by 2030 and will subsidize training costs in return for a commitment to flying for the company.

Pilot fatigue

As travel demand rapidly increased in the months following the release of vaccinations, many airlines scheduled more flights than they could staff. Since last summer, we’ve seen multiple airline meltdowns.

“The airline management teams are trying to fly more than they have pilot staffing for,” American Capt. Dennis Tajer said. “We are seeing more fatigue reports than we’ve ever seen.”

Pilots from all major airlines have complained that their duty days are unpredictable, often running hours longer than scheduled and sometimes not knowing what day they will arrive back home. At Southwest, pilots say it’s not uncommon to arrive in a destination only to find out there is no hotel available.

“We are human beings and this is pressuring the margin of safety,” Tajer said.

Last week, pilots at Southwest wrote a letter to management about the more than 300% increase in pilot fatigue calls. If a pilot tells the airline he or she is fatigued, the pilot is automatically removed from the flight with no questions. This often results in delays and cancellations.

“Fatigue, both acute and cumulative, has become Southwest Airlines’ number-one safety threat,” the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, told airline management in a recent letter.

Delta Air Lines pilots echo that message and have begun picketing at airports.

‘We are being pushed to our limits’

“We’ve flown record amounts of overtime during the pandemic to help Delta operate its schedule and get our passengers safely to their destinations. In many cases, pilots are flying long after their day or trip was supposed to end. Delta cannot continue to operate the schedule at redline with no room for error,” Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association said in a statement. “We are being pushed to our limits as Delta tries to add back flying and capture revenue.”Delta, Southwest, and American all responded, saying they constantly evaluate their schedules and that safety is their highest concern.

“We continuously evaluate our staffing models and plan ahead so that we can recover quickly when unforeseen circumstances arise, and the resilience of the Delta people is unmatched in that regard. Pilot schedules remain in line with all requirements set by the FAA as well as those outlined in our pilot contract,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News.

Southwest told ABC News it has revised its flight schedule to better match pilot supply.

“The increase is expected, as it’s common to experience an elevated level of fatigue calls during irregular operations and in March, the industry faced weather and airspace delays that resulted in disruptions across the network. The March increase in Pilot fatigue calls is a result of the system working as designed, allowing Crew to determine if they are too fatigued to fly,” Southwest wrote in a statement.

Solutions?

There are no quick fixes. Scott Kirby told investors that United plans to hire at least half the 5000 new pilots each year, adding it will be at least five or six years before there might be relief for the mid-size and regional airlines.

“Pilots salaries are higher than ever, and there’s never been a better time to be a commercial airline pilot,” Faye Malarkey Black, the President and CEO of the Regional Airline Association said in an interview with ABC News. “I will say we’ve made the grass on the other side of the fence very, very green. This is an attractive career with a really high ROI on the training dollar. The problem is, if you can’t get over the fence, it doesn’t matter how green the grass is on the other side, you can’t access it.”

Student loans can be difficult to obtain and expensive, making it impossible for some aspiring pilots. “You’re allowed to use a student loan to cover flight training, but it’s not enough. Student loan is capped in an undergraduate environment, and it doesn’t come close to covering the actual cost of a flight training degree,” Malarkey Black explained. Airline trade groups are lobbying for fundamental policy changes to ensure any aspiring pilot has the ability to attend flight school. For now there is no legislation on the table.

Bottom line

Consumers should expect higher fares, fewer flights, and more cancellations in the coming years.

However, If you are looking for a lucrative career and ready to put in the time and money, you likely won’t have a problem finding a job as an airline pilot.

Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

(NEW YORK) — Best Buy is recalling approximately 772,000 air fryers after reports of the device catching on fire or melting.

The recall, posted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, affects certain Insignia air fryers, which were sold across the United States and in Canada.

According to the CPSC, Best Buy has received 68 reports from U.S. consumers and 36 reports from Canadian consumers of the air fryer or air fryer ovens catching fire, burning or melting.

These include seven reports of minor property damage and two reports of injuries, including an injury to a child’s leg.

Consumers are advised to immediately stop using the recalled product and return it to Best Buy for a refund in the form of a store credit, Best Buy said. The company said it is also contacting known purchasers directly to arrange returns.

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(NEW YORK) — The numbers “421” have apparently eclipsed “420” at least in New Jersey, where cannabis consumers celebrated Thursday’s first day of legalized pot sales and toking up for adults.

Weed buyers lined up before sunrise outside seven recreational cannabis dispensaries across the Garden State waiting for the doors to open and lay down some green for some green for the first time without a medical excuse or legal risk.

The first customer in line outside the RISE dispensary in Bloomfield described the moment as “Christmas morning.”

“I didn’t even sleep tonight,” Chris, who was in line before 6 a.m., told New York City ABC station WABC. “I was, like, working a later night, and I just knew I had to be here. I just want to be part of that. Today is the day that we’re just free to do it without any consequences.”

The landmark day comes 17 months after New Jersey voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to change the state constitution to allow for marijuana legalization.

State officials purposely chose April 21 for the inaugural day to legally light up to avoid dispensaries being overwhelmed with business on April 20, the traditional day pot smokers worldwide celebrate weed.

New Jersey becomes the 18th state in the nation to legalize the sale of recreational pot to consumers 21 and older. Vermont became the first state in 2018 to do so. Washington, D.C., and Guam, an unincorporated U.S. territory, also allow legal cannabis commerce.

“This is a historic step in our work to create a new cannabis industry,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said ahead of the launch.

State regulators approved permits for seven dispensaries that already sell medical marijuana to start retailing recreational weed on Thursday.

State officials said they are considering more than 300 applications for retail cannabis licenses. New Jersey is prioritizing granting licenses to dispensaries run by minorities, women and disabled veterans, especially those whose careers have been harmed by marijuana convictions on their records.

Cannabis dispensaries also opened Thursday in Patterson, Maplewood, Phillipsburg, Rochelle Park, Elizabeth and Lawrence Township. Most of the stores plan to stay open until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.

The dispensaries are only accepting cash purchases because under federal law marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 drug, a status that discourages banks and credit card companies from extending services to cannabis operations.

The House of Representatives voted this month to approve legislation to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level and remove criminal penalties for certain cannabis-related offenses. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has vowed to make marijuana legislation a priority and is working on a separate bill with Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., expected to be introduced soon but would need all Democrats and at least 10 Republicans to pass the Senate.

Melissa Correa of Plainfield told WABC that the historic day in New Jersey was extra special because it falls on her 42nd birthday.

Waiting to make a purchase of some party favors at the RISE dispensary in Bloomfield, Correa said, “It looks great. It smells great.”

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(NEW YORK) — Over 20,000 car seats are being recalled due to loose pieces of foam that can present a choking hazard to kids.

The recall impacts certain CYBEX Sirona M Convertible Child Car Seats, which were manufactured between Nov. 3, 2017, and Aug. 31, 2018, and include model numbers 518000385, 518002153, 518000387, 518002145, 518002149, 518002151 and 519000211.

The recall, posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impacts about 20,526 car seats. The documents said children can pick pieces of foam from the child seat headrest pad, posing a choking hazard.

To fix the issue, Columbus Trading-Partners USA, Inc will mail a kit with instructions on how to seal the headrest foam, free of charge.

CYBEX did not immediately respond to request for comment.

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(NEW YORK) — As summer approaches, travelers are preparing for trips in huge numbers after many people put off vacations for years during the COVID-19 pandemic — and that’s being reflected in the prices.

“This summer, Americans can expect to pay more for airfare than they have paid in the last 10 years,” Hayley Berg, an economist at Hopper, an online booking platform, told ABC News’ Good Morning America. “Right now, domestic round trip travel costs about $360, and that’s up 15% versus 2019, the last normal year of travel before the pandemic, and up significantly since the start of the year.”

But even though prices for travel are up amid the increased demand for travel, travelers can still get good deals, according to travel experts, who have a few key tips for locking in low airfare rates as summer travel heats up.

Berg recommends customers book summer flights by the first week of May. After that, “prices will just continue to rise,” Berg said.

“If you’re planning a trip right now, be aggressive, start planning early and take a look at your route that you’re flying and how busy it is,” added Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist for Scott’s Cheap Flights.

Although you can wait for a sale or a day when fares have dropped on popular routes where there is a lot of competition, booking early is especially important if you are booking a trip in a region or route that does not have a lot of competition, Orlando told GMA.

“If your route is served by one or two airlines at most, you don’t have that competition, you can expect these high prices to persist,” Orlando said. “In that case, start monitoring it early, and as soon as you see a dip to a reasonable level, lock it in, because you’re not likely to see a drop much further than that.”

When shopping for airfare, flexibility in terms of dates and locations can mean better prices, whether that means leaving on a different day of the week or flying into a smaller, regional airport.

“Try booking your departing flight on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when prices are typically the lowest,” Berg said. “Or if you’re flexible on where you fly into or out of, check out more regional airports. Oftentimes, lower cost carriers will fly out of regional airports.”

Another good way to get a good deal is to track prices for preferred flights.

“Use a price monitoring tool, so you’re updated on where prices are and how they’re changing,” Berg said.

Another concern that experts point to are pilot shortages, which have led to some airlines trimming summer flight schedules as well as delays and cancellations across the industry.

To avoid that, experts say to book on off-peak days and to book flights for the morning. If you’re traveling for a wedding or other specific event, Berg recommends arriving a day or two early, in case there are delays or cancellations.

“The biggest thing you can do is be flexible and fly kind of off-peak, so if you’re flying out of try flying on a Tuesday or Wednesday or Saturday. It is a little less busy those days, which means that if there is a problem somewhere, it’s less likely to cascade into a kind of mass cancellation event,” Orlando said.

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(NEW YORK) — Barbie is officially releasing a Queen Elizabeth II doll to celebrate both the queen’s 96th birthday and her Platinum Jubilee, which marks 70 years on the throne.

The Queen Elizabeth II Barbie doll, part of Barbie’s Tribute Collection series, will go on sale Thursday, which is April 21, the queen’s birthday.

It marks the first Barbie made in Queen Elizabeth’s likeness, according to Mattel.

The doll is dressed in an ivory gown inspired by the “style and color of a gown that she’s favored in royal portraits of herself,” Mattel said in a statement.

The Queen Elizabeth II doll also features regal details, such as Queen Mary’s fringe tiara, which Queen Elizabeth wore on her wedding day, and medallions of the orders of the royal family.

The doll’s packaging is inspired by Buckingham Palace, the queen’s residence in London, with red carpeting, a crest-shaped logo and a badge marking the queen’s Platinum Jubilee, according to Mattel.

“In 1952, when she came to the throne, women were not encouraged to work and politicians expressed doubts about a young female monarch — but she showed them wrong, proved herself an adept leader and diplomat,” Kate Williams, author of Our Queen Elizabeth, a picture book on the queen, said in a statement provided by Mattel. “As Her Majesty celebrates this milestone jubilee, it is wonderful to see an iconic brand like Barbie share important historical female figures impact as leaders, creators and pioneers to new generations.”

Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne on Feb. 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI.

Her 70-year reign makes her the longest-ruling monarch in Britain’s history.

The Queen Elizabeth II Barbie doll will retail for $75 and will be sold on Mattel’s website as well as retailers including Amazon, Target and Walmart.

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(NEW YORK) — After decades of work fighting to save African animals, Jane Goodall is turning her attention to the environmental and political impact left on technology.

The anthropologist spoke with ABC News’ Linsey Davis Tuesday about her recent partnership with Apple to encourage customers to recycle their devices. Goodall said reusing the metals and chemicals inside a phone, tablet or computer goes a long way to reduce peoples’ carbon footprint and will cut down on unnecessary mineral mining around the world.

“So many businesses are just ramping forward and not caring about the long-term environmental protection as much as short-term profit. Yes, people need to make money, but it is possible to make money without destroying the planet,” Goodall told ABC News. “We’ve gone so far in destroying the planet that it’s shocking.”

Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, told ABC News that an iPhone contains more than 100 chemicals.

Jackson, the former administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said that the tech company has been pushing to reduce its environmental waste through its recycling program and has seen some success.

Last year, 20% of materials in Apple devices were recycled materials, she said.

“We want to see that number continue to grow and the only way that happens is if users and customers bring back their devices at the end of their life,” Jackson said.

Goodall noted that one of the materials used in modern devices is coltan, and mining for the material has not only harmed the environment but also leads to deadly and unethical working conditions in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“It’s underground tunnels [where] it’s dug. They’re not properly shored up. Children, basically, slaves are sent down in the tunnels. So many get killed,” she said.

Jackson pointed out that Apple ensures that the company is not using conflict minerals and dangerous supply lines in its products.

Apple is working with Goodall’s Roots and Shoots program, which works with young people in different communities to combat the climate crisis.

“What I love so much about Jane, Dr. Goodall, is that she challenges us every day to think more about the future, and she never lets us give up hope. Those two things together are the most powerful device, the most powerful thing we can do for the planet,” Jackson said.

Goodall echoed this message and encouraged people to stay hopeful for the planet.

“If you give nature a chance, it’s amazingly resilient,” she said.

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(NEW YORK) — After undergoing a major brand revamp, Victoria’s Secret has continued to roll out new, inclusive launches including it’s recent venture: Happy Nation.

The lingerie retailer announced the new brand on Tuesday and revealed that it is a fully digital brand for tweens ages 8-13.

This new release includes a large assortment of genderless, size-inclusive undergarments, swimwear, apparel and body care.

Happy Nation was inspired and developed by a mix of the company’s internal leaders, many of which are parents to tweens, as well as external experts who had an aim to ensure everything from its creative to photography and social media communications foster a safe, inclusive and supportive environment.

Throughout the lineup of items, shoppers will notice standard sizing ranging from S – XL to extended sizes that include SM+ – XL+.

“We heard from tweens and their parents that they felt like there isn’t an apparel or beauty brand that celebrates and lends a helping hand in their personal evolution,” said Claudine Rankin, GM at Happy Nation, in a statement. “As a mother, I feel a deep responsibility to be intentional about every decision behind this brand. The tween years can be a time of immense change and challenges yet excitement for both tweens and their parents, and we hope Happy Nation can provide the authenticity that younger generations crave, while offering comfy clothing and body care products that kids and their parents can feel good about.”

There are currently no plans to bring the kid-friendly brand to physical retail stores, but the brand does plan to engage with those interested on its social media platforms. There are also plans to activate in the metaverse — which is a first for any of Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s brands.

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