By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s shoppers like Quinn Kelsey who keep department store executives up at night.

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The 38-year-old Denver resident gets makeup ideas from TikTok videos and other social media content, not salespeople at beauty counters. She uses an AI chatbot to get product recommendations that fit her budget and to see how a certain foundation or lipstick would look on her. When she buys, it’s usually from Amazon.

“I use Chat GPT as my personal beauty consultant,” Kelsey said. “Department stores? I’ll walk through one for the decor, but they’ve basically lost me unless I can get the same product-research experience there that I can get scrolling through my phone at home.”

Once the ultimate beauty destination, department stores lost sales and their authority as skincare and makeup trendsetters starting in the late 1990s. That was when the growth of Sephora and Ulta Beauty made shopping for cosmetics more of a playful, self-service experience.

But fast-changing consumer preferences have all types of retailers racing to outdo each other for a slice of the $129 billion U.S. beauty and personal care market. The competition is fiercer than ever due to the ease of e-commerce. Amazon, which has slowly added premium beauty brands to its massive selection, is the nation’s largest online seller of beauty and personal care products, according to market research company Euromonitor International.

Social media also has provided new sources of beauty guidance. Instead of store advisers, many consumers look to videos by influencers, beauty brand founders or dermatologists for advice. Shoppers also turn to TikTok and Instagram for information about “dupes” — drugstore versions of more expensive products.

“Stores are more of the showroom, but the spark itself is happening in TikTok,” Jake Bjorseth, founder of the Generation Z advertising agency Trndsttrs, said.

People portraying Santa and his elves perform in the cosmetics department at a Nordstrom department store, in New York, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

To keep up, companies with both physical and online stores are investing in upgrades that are meant to give beauty fans like Kelsey an experience they can’t get anywhere else. Macy’s and Nordstrom, for example, renovated the beauty floors of their flagship New York stores to add more space, ultra-luxury brands and cutting-edge technology. At Nordstrom, customers can book an appointment to get robot-applied eyelash extensions for $170.

The makeovers were launched in time for the holiday shopping season, which accounts for about one-quarter of all U.S. “prestige” beauty sales, according to market research firm Circana.

More reasons to linger

Department stores chasing beauty sales are introducing some of the serve-yourself features of Sephora — Nordstrom put in a “beauty bar” with brightly lit mirrors where customers are allowed to take makeup from different counters — while trying to distinguish themselves from specialty and online rivals.

Executives from Macy’s and Nordstrom said the latest changes were designed to create an engaging atmosphere that encourages shoppers to stay longer and spend more. The overhaul at Macy’s Herald Square included comfortable seating and skin analysis devices that help make the case for lotions and potions costing hundreds of dollars.

In the Parfums de Marly section, customers sample scents while wearing a virtual reality headset meant to immerse them in an 18th century chateau the French fragrance maker cites as its inspiration.

“This is the future of beauty,” Nicolette Bosco, Macy’s vice president of beauty, said, referring to the interactive technology the department store considers central to offering shoppers an elevated experience.

The company expects to redesign the beauty departments of 40 more stores. The facelifts are intended to draw shoppers of all ages, Macy’s Inc. CEO Tony Spring said.

“We’re trying very hard to take the idea of a department store and make it intimate and friendly and convenient,” he said.

Customers walk into Macy’s flagship store, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Since becoming chief executive of the department store’s parent company last year, Spring has focused on reviving Macy’s by trying to attract the higher-spending customers who power sales at Bloomingdale’s and upscale beauty retailer Bluemercury, both of which Macy’s owns.

Nordstrom unwrapped the reimagined beauty floor of its midtown Manhattan store in September. It includes an area where shoppers can test beauty tools like LED light therapy masks and a “fragrance finder” machine that provide a dry whiff of up to 60 different scents.

Nordstrom also expanded the beauty treatments area at the New York flagship and a few other stores to include a medical spa that provides Botox and dermal filler injections that cost $575 to $1,050.

A closer look at the competition

Sephora redefined beauty buying by installing mirrors and disposable application tools near compact displays of both tester products and ready-to-grab goods. The DIY concept was a major contrast from department store counters staffed by beauty advisers who oversaw product sampling and retrieved fresh products from locked drawers.

But even innovators have to renovate. Sephora, a division of French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, is in the process of updating its 720 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

The stations where customers get their hair and makeup done are getting moved to the side for more privacy. The chain, known for its long cash register lines, plans to expedite check-outs by equipping salespeople with devices that accept card and contactless payments.

Cosmetics products by Carolina Herrera are displayed at Macy’s flagship store, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Ulta, which stocks drugstore beauty brands like Maybelline as well as high-end brands, has had in-store hair salons since its founding in 1990. It’s adding ear piercing, testing robotic manicures and plans to add robotic lash extensions like Nordstrom’s to its service menu next year.

Walmart has moved into the turf of specialty retailers and department stores with products from higher-end and independent brands. The nation’s largest retailer put beauty counters this year in 100 stores where customers can try products.

Social media and the great beauty race

After working at a fashion event at Nordstrom’s Manhattan flagship, Ivan Leon, a 35-year-old freelance stylist, headed to the Tom Ford fragrance counter. He walked away an hour later having spent $537 on two bottles of perfume: a unisex scent named Bitter Peach and another named Vanilla Sex.

Leon planned to wear them together, a practice known as “fragrance layering” that he heard about on social media. The Nordstrom salesperson caught his interest by suggesting Tom Ford scents could be applied in tandem.

“It’s kind of cool when you combine two scents and it makes something new,” Leon said. “I think it helps the psyche and builds confidence.”

Ivan Leon chooses from Tom Ford fragrances at a Nordstrom department store, in New York, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Leon, who typically buys his fragrances online, offers department stores hope but also represents the uphill climb they face given customers’ multidimensional shopping habits.

TikTok is not only spawning trends like “tired girl” makeup and “blurred skin” but becoming a place where users discover and buy from new brands. TikTok Shop, an e-commerce feature the social media platform launched in 2023, has emerged as the nation’s seventh-largest online seller of beauty and personal care items, right behind Target, according to Euromonitor.

The online market shares of Macy’s and Nordstrom are 1% and less than 0.5%, and declining, the market research firm said.

Amazon, which accounts for almost half of online beauty and personal care sales, aims to mimic the physical store experience with virtual makeup try-on tools like one Sephora introduced in 2016. Sephora, meanwhile, unveiled in March an AI-powered online tool that uses selfies to identify potential skin concerns and make product recommendations.

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON, Associated Press

Rapper Nicki Minaj on Sunday made a surprise appearance at a gathering of conservatives in Arizona that was memorializing late activist Charlie Kirk, and used her time on stage to praise President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, calling them “role models” for young men.

The rap star was interviewed at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest convention by Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk, about her newly found support for Trump — someone she had condemned in the past — and about her actions denouncing violence against Christians in Nigeria.

Erika Kirk, left, and Nicki Minaj speak during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

The Grammy-nominated rapper’s recent alignment with the Make America Great Again movement has caught some interest because of her past criticism of Trump even when the artist’s own political ideology had been difficult to pin down. But her appearance Sunday at the flagship event for the powerful conservative youth organization may shore up her status as a MAGA acolyte.

Minaj mocked California Gov. Gavin Newsom, referring to him as New-scum, a nickname Trump gave him. Newsom, a Democrat, has 2028 prospects. Minaj expressed admiration for the Republican president and Vance, who received an endorsement from Erika Kirk despite the fact he has not said whether he will run for president. Kirk took over as leader of Turning Point.

“This administration is full of people with heart and soul, and they make me proud of them. Our vice president, he makes me … well, I love both of them,” Minaj said. “Both of them have a very uncanny ability to be someone that you relate to.”

Erika Kirk, left, and Nicki Minaj stand on stage during Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Minaj’s appearance included an awkward moment when, in an attempt to praise Vance’s political skills, she described him as an “assassin.”

She paused, seemingly regretting her word choice, and after Kirk appeared to wipe a tear from one of her eyes, the artist put her hand over her mouth while the crowd murmured.

“If the internet wants to clip it, who cares? I love this woman,” said Erika Kirk, who became a widow when Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September.

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Last month, the rapper shared a message posted by Trump on his Truth Social network about potential actions to sanction Nigeria saying the government is failing to rein in the persecution of Christians in the West African country. Experts and residents say the violence that has long plagued Nigeria isn’t so simply explained.

“Reading this made me feel a deep sense of gratitude. We live in a country where we can freely worship God,” Minaj shared on X. She was then invited to speak at a panel at the U.S. mission to the United Nations along with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and faith leaders.

Minaj said she was tired of being “pushed around,” and she said that speaking your mind with different ideas is controversial because “people are no longer using their minds.” Kirk thanked Minaj for being “courageous,” despite the backlash she is receiving from the entertainment industry for expressing support for Trump.

“I didn’t notice,” Minaj said. “We don’t even think about them.” Kirk then said “we don’t have time to. We’re too busy building, right?”

“We’re the cool kids,” Minaj said.

The Trinidadian-born rapper is best known for her hits “Super Freaky Girl,” “Anaconda” and “Starships.” She has been nominated for 12 Grammy Awards over the course of her career.

In 2018, Minaj was one of several celebrities condemning Trump’s zero-tolerance immigration policy that split more than 5,000 children from their families at the Mexico border. Back then, she shared her own story of arriving to the country at 5 years old, describing herself as an “illegal immigrant.”

“This is so scary to me. Please stop this. Can you try to imagine the terror & panic these kids feel right now?” she posted then on Instagram.

On Sunday on stage with Erika Kirk, Minaj said, “it’s OK to change your mind.”

PHOENIX — Gophers football coach P.J. Fleck uses bowl games as a bridge.

“It’s a celebration of the (2025) season. … The seniors and everything they’ve given to this program and really start building toward 2026,” Fleck said last week. “Every bowl game we’ve ever been associated with, that is the approach we’ve taken: to be 1-0 (in the bowl) and to continue to prepare.”

After the team arrived in Arizona on Sunday, Fleck shared with the Pioneer Press a handful of young, unsung players who have stood out during practices for Friday’s Rate Bowl against New Mexico.

These types of players are showcased the first week after the regular-season finale. The Gophers routinely give veterans much-needed rest and turn over the keys to underclassmen until prep for the Lobos hits full swing.

Looking ahead, Fleck’s top-of-mind position is linebacker. It’s a group he mentioned at points during the season, too.

“I think Ethan Stendel has done a tremendous job on defense; I know he’s young,” Fleck said. “Mason Carrier had a great bowl prep. Nate Cleveland. I love the future at linebacker in our program.”

Stendel is a true freshman from Caledonia; Cleveland is a true freshman from Hoffman Estates, Ill.; and Carrier is a redshirt freshman from Detroit Lakes. The trio played primarily on special teams: Carrier (12 games), Stendel (10) and Cleveland (seven).

The Gophers have had five receivers express plans to enter the transfer portal in January, and a sixth, senior Le’Meke Brockington, is a candidate to opt out of the bowl game. He had team highs in receptions (46) and yards (439) along with four touchdowns.

“I thought Bradley Martino had a really good bowl prep,” Fleck said. “We were a little bit limited on the receiving corps, so it was good for Bradley to dip into that piece a little bit.”

Martino didn’t play in a game this fall, but he stands 6-foot-3 and is a four-star prospect from Naples, Fla., who competed in the Navy All-American Bowl.

Gophers offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh said two young offensive lineman — redshirt freshman Brett Carroll and true freshman Kaveon Lee — were playing with the first unit during a bowl practices. Then they were called out during a meeting with the entire offense.

“So, we have their play up there (on the screen) where, ‘OK they do something really well in the play before, and then, OK, we’re critiquing them and coaching them on the next play,” Harbaugh said. “I think that’s beneficial in this time of the year.”

Fleck also mentioned D.J. Shipp, a true freshman from Eastvale, Calif. Shipp didn’t play in a game, neither did Lee, but Carroll, a well-regarded center prospect, played in two.

Going in to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl last year, Fleck boosted offensive tackle Nathan Roy, who played in the win against Virginia Tech and used that as a springboard to start all 12 games at left tackle last season.

Next season, the Gophers’ defensive line will lose senior tackles Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding and need young players to step up. The list of potentials includes Riley Sunram, a 6-5, 300-pound redshirt freshman from Kindred, N.D., and Jaylin Hicks, a 6-3, 260-pound redshirt freshman from Harlem, N.Y. Sunram and Hicks each got got a taste in eight games.

“Some of the young lineman who have actually played — D-lineman — have stepped up in a big way,” Fleck said.

Fleck also mentioned safety Zach Harden, a 6-1 true freshman from Eatonton, Ga., who saw the field in 10 games last season.

“He did a really good job,” Fleck said.

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By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS, Associated Press Business Writer

Paramount is sweetening its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery with an “irrevocable personal guarantee” from Larry Ellison, who is putting up billions of dollars to back the deal for his son’s company.

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On Monday, Skydance-owned Paramount announced that Larry Ellison — the founder of Oracle and father of Paramount CEO David Ellison — had personally agreed to be responsible for $40.4 billion of equity financing for the company’s offer, as well as any damage claims.

Paramount had previously said that the Ellison family trust would be backing more than $40 billion of its bid for Warner. But Warner’s board was critical of that decision last week, arguing that Paramount had “consistently misled” shareholders about the Ellison family’s backing because a “revocable trust is no replacement for a secured commitment.”

Paramount took a swipe at that assertion on Monday — maintaining that Larry Ellison holds the majority of the trust’s assets and that Warner had not previously asked for a personal guarantee. But nevertheless, the company said, it “elected to address WBD’s current stated concerns.”

Beyond doubling down on Ellison’s backing, Paramount also said it would increased its payout if the deal is blocked by regulators. The company is now upping the breakup fee to $5.8 billion — matching what Netflix has already put on the table for its proposed transaction.

The value of Paramount’s $30 per share offer otherwise remains unchanged. But the company is extending the window for shareholders to “tender” their shares, with a deadline now set for Jan. 21.

“Paramount has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to acquiring WBD,” Paramount CEO David Ellison said in a statement, adding that his company’s offer continues to be “the superior option to maximize value for WBD shareholders.”

Paramount’s all-cash bid for all of Warner’s properties — including networks like CNN and Discovery — is valued at $77.9 billion, not including debt. But Warner’s board has urged shareholders to back the cash-and-stock deal it struck with Netflix earlier this month, which would sell its studio and streaming business for $72 billion.

The Associated Press reached out to media contacts for Warner and Netflix for further comments on Monday. In a letter to shareholders last week, Warner’s board maintained that the terms of the Netflix merger were superior, while “the PSKY offer is illusory.”

Shares of Paramount-Skydance jumped nearly 7% in Monday morning trading. Warner Bros. Discovery stock was up more than 2%, while Netflix slipped almost 0.7%.