Melissa Hugel

Bio

Melissa is a freelance writer and blogger. She has written for the Scottish Book Trust and regularly contributes to Edinburgh based Illicit Ink. A keen interest in all things pop culture, Melissa studied history and film at McMaster University, and has an MA in creative writing from Edinburgh Napier University.
9 Guys We Need to Ban From Dating Apps in 2016
By Melissa Hugel
Now that an estimated 20% of Americans between the ages of 25 and 34 are using online dating sites, it seems like everyone and their mother is on Tinder. But with the rise in online dating comes the rise of assholes who see dating apps as a vehicle…
This Long-Distance Couple Came Up With an Ingenious Way to Stay Connected
By Melissa Hugel
Some long distance couples sext. Others Skype every day. Korean couple Danbi Shin and Seok Li have their own unique way of staying connected: It involves Instagram, some smart photo editing and an impressive amount of time coordination.  The couple…
These Are the Fights Couples Have When They Move In Together — And How to Resolve Them
By Melissa Hugel
If you're thinking of moving in with your significant other, you might want to think again. According to studies, moving in with your partner at a young age can lead to a higher likelihood of divorce down the road. That's in part due to the…
8 Celebrities Talk About Anxiety — And Teach Us How to Deal With Ours
By Melissa Hugel
A constant nervous feeling, sweating palms, a rapidly increasing heart rate and a vague sense of impending doom. These are just some of the common symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.  Many of us have felt anxiety and dealt with its symptoms to…
7 Ways to Make Your Long-Distance Relationship Stronger
By Melissa Hugel
3,317 miles. That's the distance between Toronto and Edinburgh. It also happens to be the distance between me and my long-distance boyfriend. We've been dating for 10 months. Most people think of long-distance relationships like mine as doomed from…
8 Unexpected Female Masturbation Lessons We Learned From Pop Divas
By Melissa Hugel
Remember Hailee Steinfeld, the little girl from True Grit? The 18-year-old actress just released her first single, "Love Myself," which has a theme that's not often celebrated in pop music: female masturbation. At first blush, "Love Myself" seems…
What Our Fixation on the Beard-and-Man-Bun Combo Really Says About Us
By Melissa Hugel
Is there any combination sexier than a man bun and beard?  Uh... no. There is not.  The man bun/beard is enjoying something of a cultural moment, if the multiple Pinterest boards devoted to the style are any indication. And in light of the rise of…
Here Are the Real Condom Questions We're Asking Behind Closed Doors
By Melissa Hugel
We've all heard the advice: no glove, no love. Don't be silly, wrap your willy. Cover your stump before you hump. Basically, wear a condom. Well, unless you're in a committed relationship. Or on birth control. Of if you've both been tested in the…
14 Pieces of Proof Chris Pratt and Anna Faris Have All the Relationship Advice We Need
By Melissa Hugel
As if it were at all possible, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris got even cuter last week. Their super sweet exchange about Faris' jealousy in regards to one of Pratt's Jurassic World costars sent hearts aflutter across the Twittersphere: Talk about…
9 Doubts Everybody Has in Their 20s That We Should Get Out in the Open
By Melissa Hugel
You're innocently scrolling through Facebook when it hits. "Wait, am I really supposed to be married right now?" you think, staring at the onslaught of wedding photos. Or, "Look at everyone with their fancy new degrees — should I have gone to grad…