After two years of media frenzy and a trial in Milan, Chiara Ferragni walked free, hair perfectly in place and smile finely calibrated, cleaner than coke once it has been rebranded as cola. “Pandoro Gate” and the Easter eggs affair melted away like overheated chocolate on Instagram.
The prosecution had nevertheless demanded 20 months in prison. Enough time, for an influencer, to launch three brands, two podcasts and a capsule collection. Lawyers pleaded, the judge ruled, and Italian justice reminded us that you can sell a cake at twice its price without necessarily hiding the devil inside, just a very efficient marketing department.
According to the Competition Authority, consumers believed they were saving children by buying a Ferragni-branded pandoro, the traditional Italian Christmas cake. In reality, the hospital had already received its check well before Christmas, like a gift slipped under the tree early to make sure it wouldn’t be forgotten. As for the sales, they served only the charity of a bimbo in 12-centimeter heels with a seven-figure contract. One million euros in fees for the initiative, zero personal donation, but plenty of benevolent photos. The heart is generous, especially when it fits neatly into a square frame. Continue reading
In an effort to challenge gender norms, 61-year-old Mark has worn skirts and heels for four years. With his work outfits, this robotics engineer manager from Germany gained more than 73k followers on social media.