Nowadays, almost everyone is obsessed with brands. If someone owns a branded item, they instantly feel superior and start flaunting it.

A Rolex and an ordinary watch both show the same time, yet people spend huge amounts on the Rolex simply because of its brand name. People prefer a non-PTA iPhone over a PTA Nokia for the same reason. This brand fever has spread so widely that ending it seems impossible.

If we cannot end this obsession and must still keep up with the world, then the best solution is to make ourselves a brand. Think of the popular salons on Instagram. They proudly post pictures of famous models and actresses, writing, “We styled them.” Others see it and assume, “If a celebrity goes there, it must be good.”

In reality, it’s the person who adds value to the place. When they walk in, the salon’s name shines. Here, the person is the brand and their presence alone carries worth.

Paid promotions are another example. Many people have built successful careers this way. Brands reach out to them because they have created their own identity and influence. If a cricketer signs an ordinary shirt, it immediately becomes special; the power lies in the person behind it. Instead of running after brands, our focus should be on building ourselves as a brand. When that happens, brands will run after us. Not just brands, people, opportunities and success, everything is attracted to those who work on themselves. Such people are magnetic.

We see this everywhere. Coaching centres put up pictures of their toppers outside their institutes. Schools and universities post photos of their talented students because they are the ones who make the institution’s name shine. That is why institutes offer scholarships to gifted students. Even without earning fees from them, they know that one talented child will attract ten more.

When choosing a college or university, the first thing we check is the faculty. If a renowned professor teaches at a small institute, students will flock there. If a well-known doctor sits in a tiny clinic, people will still visit because the real value lies in the person, not the place. Sadly, many people still chase labels, forgetting that a truly valuable person needs no tag; they stand strong on their own.

All this may sound inspiring, like a beautiful dream, to be a person valued everywhere, attracting the best opportunities. It reminds me of Allama Iqbal’s famous quote: “Raise yourself to such a height that before every decree of destiny, God Himself asks you, ‘Tell me, what is your desire?’” This means that when we elevate ourselves, everything we want begins to come towards us.

But dreams alone achieve nothing. The real dream is the one we see with open eyes, the one that keeps us awake with passion. Who says dreams don’t come true? Pakistan itself was once the dream of Allama Iqbal, and today millions live in it. But fulfilling a dream requires effort, patience and a kind of stubbornness, like a child who keeps crying until he gets his favourite toy. When you have that stubbornness for your dream, the hard work won’t feel tiring and your dreams will eventually come true.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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Swift’s Eras Tour Docuseries hits Disney+

Taylor Swift has returned to Disney+ with two new projects, giving fans an inside look at her record-breaking Eras Tour. The six-episode docuseries, The Eras Tour | The End of an Era, debuted December 12, with two episodes released weekly, featuring behind-the-scenes access and appearances from friends and collaborators like Ed Sheeran and Sabrina Carpenter.

On the same day, The Eras Tour – The Final Show, a full concert film filmed in Vancouver, streamed, showcasing the complete set, including songs from “The Tortured Poets Department.” Both projects are produced in collaboration with Taylor Swift Productions and Disney+.

Barbie’s “Birthday Wishes 2026” dolls announced

Barbie’s “Birthday Wishes2026” edition is confirmed to continue into 2026 and will come in two different versions. A listing recently appeared for model “JJX78,” though the listing title mentions “Ballet Wishes,” and strangely, the first image shows what appears to be the second 2026 doll (model “JJX80”).

Despite this mixup, the UPC and model number correspond to the Birthday Wishes 2026 Latina doll version.

Alice in Wonderland musical to star Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter will star in and produce a new musical take on Alice in Wonderland for Universal. The film will be written and directed by Lorene Scafaria, known for Hustlers. Marc Platt, the producer behind Wicked, is also on board, along with Alloy Entertainment.

Carpenter brought the idea to the studio herself, making it a personal project. The story will draw from Lewis Carroll’s classic world, though the exact direction is still under wraps.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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School searches for teddy lost in stratosphere

A school in England is seeking help to locate Bradford Bear, a teddy sent into the stratosphere on a weather balloon by seventh and eighth graders with the Southampton University Spaceflight Society. A camera recorded his journey and showed him being jostled free above Henley-on-Thames on 10 November.

He was expected to parachute safely near Basingstoke, but likely landed between Earley and Fawley — the former a town and the latter a village. The school asked for any information, footage or details about his whereabouts. Science teacher Ellie Robinson said Bradford reached about 16.7 miles high and reassured students that he is brave and resourceful.

Record-breaking 2,819-pound pumpkin

Twins Ian and Stuart Paton, of Lymington, England, set a Guinness World Record with a 2,819-pound pumpkin named Muggle, also the largest by circumference at 21 feet, 3.8 inches.

The brothers, who have been growing giant pumpkins for more than 50 years, harvested and transported it safely to the Wargrave Nursery Giant Vegetable Weigh-Off near Reading. Officials celebrated the milestone as a major achievement for British pumpkin growers.

World’s largest spider web found

Researchers have discovered the world’s largest spider web, built by more than 111,000 spiders, in the Cave of Sulphur near the Greek-Albanian border.

Stretching 106 square metres, the web is created by two species, Tegenaria domestica and Prinerigone vagans, living together in a rare cooperative ecosystem. The spiders feed on midges that consume sulphur-based microbial biofilms, and the cave’s darkness may explain their unusual harmony.

The massive web, located in a maze-like cave, is a scientific marvel — and quite a thrill for arachnophiles .

AI singer hits Billboard, lands $3m deal

Xania Monet, an AI-powered digital singer created by poet Telisha “Nikki” Jones, has become the first AI artist to debut on a Billboard radio chart, reaching No. 30 on the Adult R&B Airplay chart.

Monet’s song How Was I Supposed to Know went viral on TikTok, leading to a $3 million record deal with Hallwood Media.

Jones uses AI to transform her lyrics and life-inspired poems into R&B music, describing Xania as an extension of herself. Since debuting, Xania has released 44 songs on Spotify and amassed over 1.2 million followers, sparking debate about AI’s growing role in the music industry and its impact on human artists.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 13th, 2025

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