Sophia Moss

Sophia Moss

Editor, copywriter and journalist

London based writer with over 7 years experience in digital content creation.

Examples of my work

The Upcoming •

Heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics? Here’s how to do it

If you’re heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, you’re probably wondering how to get there, where to stay and what else you’re going to do in between watching the swimming, breakdancing or sailing.
How does one get to Paris? Flying is always an option, yet it can often be quicker, more convenient, and more enjoyable to take the Eurostar, which travels from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord, Paris in just two hours and 19 minutes. For those not residing in London – or those in London who simply...
ellaone UK •

Why I'm Not Having Kids - ellaone UK

When you picture your life, do you see children in your future? Or do you see something else?
Growing up, you might have got the impression (from books, films, family and wider societal norms) that having children is just something that adults do. Some people can’t wait to have children, but others may feel a sense of pressure or obligation to work towards a life that doesn’t call to them. 
“I didn’t seem to realise it was a choice,” says LeNora Faye, the 41-year-old Co-founder of Childfree Medi...
The Upcoming •

A Tupperware of Ashes at the National Theatre | Theatre review

A crimson sunset ripples over a deep blue backdrop as Queenie (Meera Syal) stands by an Indian shore as her enthusiastic husband Ameet (Zubin Varla) splashes around in the water (to aptly timed sound effects) and coaxes her to get in. She refuses, he huffingly gives up and then she relents, edging into the water and spinning towards him as he holds open a red saree, pulling her closer as she gets engulfed in the cloth. A disjointed clash of noise startles us and the soft sunset light is replaced...
Hearnes •

What does the government think of the housing market? | Hearnes

Housing is always a popular topic with the public and politicians. It’s important that homeowners and prospective homeowners understand the government’s approach to the housing market in the UK, because while we can’t predict the future, we can explore the government’s current strategy when it comes to housing and how it may affect you, and also speculate what effect any government would want the market to have on the economy and the English people.Housing market values have a massive impact on...
FlexSEQ •

7 Ways To Manage The Stress Of Arthritis - FlexSEQ

Something that doesn’t always get talked about is how stressful it can be to live with a chronic pain condition like arthritis. Being in pain can be very stressful in itself, which in turn can affect your physical and mental health.“Stress and pain are closely connected; this is what we call the mind-body connection,” says Bayu Prihandito, Founder at Life Architekture, Certified Psychology Consultant & Life Coach. “When you’re stressed or anxious, your body goes into a ‘fight or flight’ mode, wh...
The Upcoming •

The Secret Garden at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre | Theatre review

A stony, marble grey wall with three doors and multiple windows containing little candles stands in between the audience and the assorted trees lining the back of Regents Park Open Air Theatre. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for this new adaptation of The Secret Garden than Regents Park, arguably the most beautiful of the Royal parks with its neat rose beds, multicoloured flowers and secret leafy areas. Real birdsong intermittently flutters over the dialogue, and day turns to night over o...
Public Sector Mortgages •

Variable vs fixed rate mortgages for public sector workers | Public Sector Mortgages

Are you a public sector worker looking for a mortgage? Whether you’re a police officer or a school teacher, an ambulance driver or a soldier, you are playing a crucial role in our society and you deserve a good rate on your mortgage. Not sure whether a fixed rate or variable mortgage is most suitable for you? Let’s get into it.

A variable rate mortgage is where your interest rate and monthly payments can go up or down - i.e. they can vary. There are three types of variable mortgage that you may...
ellaone UK •

Losing Your Virginity Later in Life: Your Body, Your Timeline - ellaone UK

If you’ve been here before, you’ll know that at Hana® we think virginity is a social construct that ultimately makes a big deal out of something which is 1: a very personal decision that is nobody else’s business and 2: not actually a big deal at all. 
The idea of ‘losing your virginity’ feels inherently problematic. For one thing, it implies that virginity is something that can be lost or given away, something that is either a prize for whoever wins it or an embarrassing burden that you need to...
ellaone UK •

11 Reasons for a Late Period (Besides Being Pregnant!) - ellaone UK

Picture this: you’re constantly thinking about crisps, your boobs are sore, you’re feeling bloated and everything feels like it’s one inch away from making you cry. Your period might not be your idea of a good time, but this regular monthly visitor usually lets you know that your menstrual cycle is running smoothly.
Once in a while, however, you might look at the calendar and realise that your period is running a bit late. Everyone’s cycle is different and missing a period isn’t necessarily a ca...
Hana •

Interview with an Intimacy Coordinator | Hana

So I get sent the whole script of a series or a film, and I go through the script with a fine-tooth comb. I underline, highlight and draw out anything that is deemed as intimacy, from hand holding intimacy to full on penetrative sex.
Intimacy could look like somebody in the shower or sitting on the toilet, it could be people getting stripped down to their underwear – anything that’s beyond the normal, fully clothed person. It’s important to highlight everything and have the conversations to cove...
The Upcoming •

YAMATO: The Wings of Phoenix at Peacock Theatre | Theatre review

For the first time in five years, Yamato brings their taiko performance to London’s Peacock Theatre. When the show starts and the group starts banging their drums, this reviewer thinks to herself: “So, is it just two hours of drums?”.
There are a lot of drums, but there’s no “just” about it. Yamato incorporates physical theatre, comedy, dance, audience participation and raw energy with all different types of taiko (Japanese for drums) ranging from tiny clackers to Odaiko, the group’s biggest dru...
The Upcoming •

Passing Strange at the Young Vic | Theatre review

Passing Strange, the 2006 semi-autobiographical musical by first-time writer Stew, makes its European debut at the Young Vic this summer. The story follows a middle-class African American Youth (played by Keenan Munn-Francis) living in 1970s Los Angeles, where the sun always shines and (he feels) people live plastic lives against a backdrop of palm trees and emptiness. Youth wants to find “the real” – what “the real” is is never fully specified, but Stew asks you to consider it for yourself. Can...
The Upcoming •

“I look for a space where the dancers and I can find freedom to create and to express without judgement”: Alice Ripoll on Zona Franca at Southbank Centre

Since 2009, Alice Ripoll has been combining improvisation, contemporary dance, dance theatre and a range of movements inspired by Brazilian genres, to explore movement and the human experience. Initially training as a psychoanalyst, Ripoll explores unconscious processes that are channelled through her company and allows the movements to unfold for the viewer to take away what they will. Her new piece, Zona Franca, was initially born during the end of lockdown and evolved against the backdrop of...
Flexiseq •

Understanding Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is persistent pain which has lasted for at least three months. Chronic pain is different from acute pain, which is pain that happens suddenly - as a result of injury, for example - and goes away when the body heals itself. Acute pain is a normal response to tissue damage or potential harm, and it often serves as a warning sign to alert you to notice the danger and do something about it. If you touch a hot stove, you will feel acute pain and quickly withdraw your hand. This pain help...
The Upcoming •

Alice Ripoll: Zona Franca at Southbank Centre | Theatre review

Zona Franca (translating as “free zone” from Portuguese) is the latest creation by Brazilian choreographer Alice Ripoll. Combining an eclectic mix of contemporary dance, contact improvisation, afro-house, funk and passinho (a mix of pop, funk and break dancing), alongside visual art, vocalisations and moves inspired by TikTok, this performance is like nothing you’ve ever seen. Created against a backdrop of political unrest and COVID-19, Zona Franca is both fun and unnerving.
The performers flow...
The Upcoming •

Boy Parts at Soho Theatre | Theatre review

Boy Parts, a one woman show starring Aimée Kelly based on the 2020 novel by Eliza Clark, offers a female-focused American Psycho for the 2020s. Irena likes to take explicit photographs of average looking boys and men in her hometown of Newcastle, enjoying the power she wields over them. When given the opportunity to submit her work to a trendy art gallery in London, Irena finds a new muse in Eddie from Tesco. As fragments of her past begin to emerge, and Irena’s grip on reality gets more tenuous...
The Upcoming •

Pygmalion at the Old Vic | Theatre review

This adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s 1912 Pygmalion, directed by Richard Jones, is manic, fast-paced and gaspingly funny. Set sometime in the early 20th century, when cockney accents and class snobbery were abundant, a crowd of genteel people hide from the rain whilst a poor cockney girl named Eliza Doolittle (Patsy Ferran) tries to sell flowers. Henry Higgins (Bertie Carvel), an eloquent and overbearing man with hands in his pockets and a slight slump in his shoulders, starts writing down e...
Flexiseq •

The Science of Osteoarthritis

“Arthritis is a broad term referring to inflammation and degeneration of the joints, causing pain, swelling, and decreased mobility,” says Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD, a medical advisor for the Health Reporter. “There are various forms of it, with osteoarthritis being the most prevalent.” Other forms of arthritis include rheumatoid arthritis, gout, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Each type has different causes and symptoms, but they all involve inflammation and damage to the joints.”...
Hana •

Can you take birth control over the age of 45? - Hana

“Women who are over the age of 45 and still ovulating should consider using some form of contraception if they do not wish to become pregnant,” says Rhiannon John, sexologist at Bedbible. “However, if a woman has already reached menopause, she generally does not require contraception to prevent unintended pregnancy. Menopause is typically diagnosed when a person aged 50 or above has not experienced menstruation for a consecutive period of 12 months or if they are under 50 and have not had a peri...
Hana •

What is virginity and is virginity a social construct? - Hana®

There was also this expectation that a virgin with a vagina would bleed after having sex for the first time because there was an expctation that she would have had an intact hymen, which would break after having sex.
In reality, this often isn’t the case. “The hymen is a thin membrane surrounding the vaginal opening. There is a misconception that it totally covers the opening of the vagina, and an intact hymen would indicate someone is a virgin, which would break the first time someone has sex....
ellaone UK •

Can you still have periods and be pregnant? | ellaOne

Have you heard stories about people who didn’t know they were pregnant until they went into labour? You know that getting your period means you’re not pregnant, but if someone was pregnant and didn’t know it then wouldn’t that mean they were getting their period?
You might be asking: “well I got my period, but could I still be pregnant?” This is an important question and we want to put your mind at ease, so read on for a discussion of this topic featuring comments from Dr Hana Patel*, a GP spec...
Flexiseq •

7 Tips To Help With The Depression Of Arthritis

Have you experienced depression since your arthritis diagnosis? If so, you’re far from alone. Studies have shown that depression and anxiety can lower your pain tolerance, whilst at the same time chronic pain can exacerbate feelings of low mood and stress, creating a vicious cycle. Living with chronic pain and feeling like you’re being held back from some of the things you used to do is not an easy thing to deal with and difficult feelings around this are an entirely understandable reaction. You...
ellaone UK •

What happens if you take ellaOne on your period? - ellaone UK

So can ellaOne® affect your cycle? “Some women may find that their period may last longer than usual after taking emergency contraception,” says Dr Hana Patel. “Some women experience a lighter or heavier flow during their first period after the morning after pill, but it is more common to experience a heavier bleed than lighter. If your period is a week later than usual or still hasn’t started within 3 weeks of taking the morning after pill, there may be a possibility that you could be pregnant...
Hana •

What is vaginismus and how can it affect your sex life? - Hana

Whilst you might be used to calling it a vagina, the external part of the female reproductive system is actually called a vulva. The vulva is connected via a muscular canal to the neck of the uterus, and this canal is called the vagina. It’s like a tunnel that connects these two parts of your anatomy. 
Vaginismus refers to an uncontrollable, automatic reaction when something – maybe a penis, a tampon, a medical device or all of the above – attempts to penetrate the vagina. It’s not a conscious t...
Flexiseq •

7 Key Ways A Pain Diary Can Help Arthritis

Let’s not sugar-coat it: living with a chronic pain condition like arthritis is difficult. There are good days, so-so days and worse days - and it can be hard to know if and when you’ll have a flare up. Living with the uncertainty of chronic pain can feel disempowering, and it can make you feel like you don’t have any control.
There is no cure for arthritis, but there are tools you can use to manage your pain, find patterns and learn ways to deal with it more effectively. One way to help yoursel...
The Upcoming •

Daisy Jones and the Six | Show review

Daisy Jones and the Six, based on the 2019 bestselling novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, will premiere on streaming giant Amazon this March. The ten-part miniseries follows the fictional (and yet very believable) story of 1970s rock band Daisy and the Six, who dramatically rise to fame and then, when they are on top of the world, break up, out of the blue, for reasons unknown. The miniseries follows a similar format to the book: decades later, band members and those associated with The Six give thei...
Hana •

How can exercise affect your menstrual cycle? | Hana

Exercise on your period has been shown to be beneficial for a number of reasons. Some women and people with uteruses experience painful cramps just before and during their period, and regular exercise can help to reduce them. The main reason believed for this is due to the endorphins and pain-relieving hormones that are released during exercise. 
This is why exercising during your period can help boost your mood and counteract the fatigue you may be feeling. This could be from something as simpl...
The Upcoming •

Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance at the V&A | Exhibition review

As you walk into the exhibition rooms for Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance at the Victoria and Albert museum in London, your attention is immediately drawn to a white, draped Roman-esque marble figure, one hand on his waist and head at a proud, slightly inquisitive angle. This is David (1408-9), a biblical sculpture originally intended for Florence Cathedral, which has never been seen in the UK before. Surrounding David are grey and blue walls, church-like domed “windows” showing later parts...
Hana •

Sex at 40: functional or fantastic? | Hana®

Data from the American Medical Association in 2014 found that 85% of women over 40 are still having sex and the majority of them consider sex to be important. But what about the quality of the sex? Does sex get better with age?
“Sex can and does get better with age because you discover what works for you, try new sexual activities and sensations,” says Samantha Evans, a sexual health and pleasure expert and founder of Jo Divine. “This boosts your confidence and acceptance of your changing body s...
Hana •

Why do I have a low sex drive? Causes of no or low libido - Hana

“Libido or sex drive can be affected by how women feel about themselves and how they feel about their vaginas,” says Julianne Arena, MD, FACOG, ABAARM and Cliovana Practitioner (double board certified physician)*.  “This leads to the next layer – how they think about their partner and relationship, then lifestyle factors as simple as how much sleep they get. Add on fluctuating hormones throughout a woman’s life, stress, anxiety, and other health issues, and there are numerous challenges to achie...
ellaone UK •

Why do people kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve? - ellaone UK

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in many different ways around the world, with different countries having their own unique traditions and customs. The tradition of kissing at midnight is thought to date back to two ancient winter festivals: Saturnalia in ancient Rome and Hogmanay, a Viking tradition still celebrated on New Year’s in Scotland. 
“Saturnalia was the most popular holiday on the ancient Roman calendar, where there was a ritual of offering gifts or sacrifices to the gods during the winter...
The Upcoming •

Evanescence at the O2 Arena | Live review

American goth rock band Evanescence headlined at the O2 last night, ably supported by Within Temptation, whose ethereal blend of classical gothic and heavy metal is a smouldering start to the evening. The Dutch symphonic support group (formed in 1996) treat the venue to an artistic, theatrical and meaningfully political show, featuring more special effects and pomp than the headliners. Highlights include shooting fire, a large, staring, otherworldly head, and the lead vocalist dressed in a stunn...
Hana •

How do hormones change as you age? | Ask Hana®

From about our mid-to-late twenties, estrogen and progesterone levels are at their peak for people with uteruses. These two hormones are important for female reproductive and sexual development, including regulating the menstrual cycle and playing an essential role in pregnancy.
As you reach your thirties, the levels of these hormones start to naturally decline, which is most commonly marked by changes to your menstrual cycle. From mid-to-late forties, people with ovaries may experience “perimen...
Hana •

Am I unusual to be 35 and still not ready for kids? | Hana®

If you do think you might want kids in the future, but you don’t feel ready to have them now, don’t panic. Fertility does typically decline with age, but it’s not like you go from being super fertile at 34 to barely fertile at 35. Everyone is different; some people may struggle with fertility in their early 20s, whilst others may find it easy to get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies in their mid 40s. 
“The ‘biological clock’ in fertility is used to describe a woman’s ovarian reserve, and is...
Hana •

Which method of contraception is right for me? | Hana®

Your choice of contraception is a big deal. When you’re comfortable and confident with your contraception, you can feel empowered to go about your day secure in the knowledge that you are helping to protect yourself from unplanned pregnancy until you choose to have children – if you choose to have children.
It’s so important that you get on with your contraception and feel comfortable with what you’re putting in your body. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to contraception, so...
Hana •

Does your menstrual cycle really 'sync up' with your friends? - Hana

Whilst anecdotal evidence may point to the fact that many menstruating people notice that they get their period around the same time as their friends, there hasn’t been much scientific data to back this up. One attempt to do this was a research paper in the 1970s.
“This (idea that your menstrual cycle will sync up with other people with uteruses who are close to you) is based on a 1971 research paper based on 135 students, and it has not yet been proven that it happens – rather it is due to the...
The Upcoming •

Nutcracker! at Sadler’s Wells | Theatre review

Matthew Bourne’s Nutcracker! swaps the upper-class Christmas party of the standard version for a Dickensian orphanage run by the strict Mr and Mrs Dross. The orphans wear frumpy grey dresses, they sweep and scrub the floors and are bullied by the owners’ two spoiled children, Sugar and Fritz. It’s Christmas Eve and they’re having a modest party, presumably to show off to the local rich folk. Their tree is scraggly and only has three ornaments. The lighting is an icy blue, the walls are pale and...
Hana •

The Pill Through The Ages - The '70s and '80s

To celebrate the launch of Hana, a contraceptive pill available to buy over the pharmacy counter with a pharmacy consultation and without a doctor’s appointment, we are exploring 6 decades of the pill to see how it has impacted society since it first became available in 1961.
Until 1967, the contraceptive pill was only licensed for married women and some doctors would even require the husband’s consent before they would prescribe it.
Compare that with today, where women and people with uteruses...
Hana •

Contraception option for trans and non-binary folk | Hana®

Kirrin Medcalf, Head of Trans Inclusion, Stonewall said: ‘It’s vital that any cis woman, trans man and non-binary person who needs the pill can access it. This is a matter of reproductive equality.
Anyone who has periods or the ability to become pregnant has the right to control when and whether they become pregnant. But many trans men and non-binary people have struggled to access the pill as some providers are unsure whether they can give it to trans patients.’
According to the The Faculty of...
Hana •

The pill through the ages - The journey to the ‘60s

But, from what I remember, the overwhelming feeling was, it wasn’t straightforward to access. We knew it was a landmark moment, but if you were not married you couldn’t access it.
But it changed my future. I didn’t end up having eight children like my Mother. I was able to build a career as a legal secretary, get married and actually have children, a lot later, well into my 30s. I actually had my son when I was 46. You’ve certainly made me think, would my life have been different without it? I’d...
ellaone UK •

What happens at a cervical screening/smear test? | ellaOne®

Does the idea of having a cervical screening (otherwise known as a cervical smear or pap smear) make you uncomfortable?
We understand that the idea of taking off your underwear and having a stranger stare into the depth of your cervix doesn’t sound like a great Tuesday afternoon, but smear tests can and do save lives so it’s really important that you get checked out.
A recent survey of 2000 young women by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust found that 915 respondents had either delayed going for a cervic...
ellaone UK •

My Teacher Fainted While Describing A Diaphragm | ellaOne®

Glen Wiseman’s teacher was attempting to describe a diaphragm to her year 10 class during mandatory sex education when she fainted, hitting her head on a desk in the process.
This was one of only three sex education classes Glen remembers throughout his entire school years, none of which discussed sexual pleasure or anything about sex except how not to get girls pregnant.
Glen was in secondary school twenty years ago, so sex education must have improved since then, right?
Maybe not. One in seven...
ellaone UK •

Interview With Florence Schechter, Director of The Vagina Museum

Did you know that the German word for ‘labia’ (Schamlippen) literally translates as ‘shame lips’?  Yeah. That’s bound to make you feel good about your vagina.
There is still a ton of shame associated with female genitalia, but one woman is hoping to change this by building the world’s first museum dedicated to vaginas.
When Florence Schechter* learned there was a penis museum in Iceland but no equivalent vagina museum anywhere in the world, she decided to do something about it.
Despite never hav...
ellaone UK •

Is The Morning After Pill Only For Cis Women? | ellaOne®

For too long, sex education has focused on the heteronormative, cis-gender experience – which can make others feel excluded.   This sexual health awareness week is all about getting your Relationship and Sexual Education into gear – and we’re starting with what we know best: the morning after pill!
While the morning after pill is often associated exclusively with cis-women, we know that they are not the only people who may seek emergency contraception.
Cis-gender refers to people whose gender id...
ellaone UK •

Reclaiming the word Hysteria with Sarah Graham | ellaOne®

Did you know that  hysteria as a medical diagnosis was only removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1980?! Things have come a long way in the treatment of women’s health, but we still have a way to go. 
We spoke to Sarah Graham, a freelance journalist and owner of Hysterical Women, a feminist blog which explores sexism and disbelief around womens health care, to find out more about the history of hysteria and why womens health concerns aren’t always treate...
Hana •

My decade with the pill | Hana®

What do the Game of Thrones premiere, Rihanna’s song ‘We Found Love (In a Hopeless Place)’ and the ten-year anniversary of Wikipedia have in common? They all began ten years ago in 2011!
A lot can change in a decade. Your life can transform, the world around you might have changed dramatically, and you’re mortified by Facebook’s ‘on this day’ reminder of the outfit you wanted to forget.
Some things, however, stay the same. Our recent survey on people’s relationships with the contraceptive pill s...
The Upcoming •

“The sea is a paradox, it reflects the extremes of the human condition”: An interview with Rhiannon Faith, director and choreographer of Drowntown

Rhiannon Faith is a choreographer and filmmaker who uses her work to raise awareness and lobby for change. Performed by a cast of six, Drowntown is an autobiographical exploration of loneliness, isolation and broken community set beside the vast, bleak ocean in a seaside town. Although originally set to perform in spring/summer 2020, the coronavirus has forced the show to be postponed until 2021. In the meantime, Faith has created a 15-minute film, Drowntown Lockdown, which visits the cast in th...
ellaone UK •

The Future Of Sex Toys | ellaOne®

Imagine a world where you can strap on your VR headset, crank up your smart bodysuit and have virtual sex with someone on the other side of the globe. It sounds like the setting for a sci-fi porn flick, but this remote sex haven is closer than you think.
We’ve already explored how vulture lungs and steam powered dildo’s got our ancestors off in the history of sex toys, so now it’s time to look forwards. What does the future of sex toys hold? We spoke to a panel of Sexperts to find out…...

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