LOVI celebrates Sri Lanka’s women cricketers

LOVI Ceylon, in collaboration with Events by Shero and Cinnamon Grand Colombo, hosted a heartfelt send-off dinner in honour of Sri Lanka’s national women’s cricket team ahead of their participation in the ICC Women’s World Cup.

The celebration was held at the Atrium of Cinnamon Grand Hotel, Colombo, on the eve of the tournament’s commencement across Sri Lanka and India.

The evening was marked by elegance, pride, and national spirit as players, coaches, and key stakeholders gathered to acknowledge the commitment and excellence of the women’s team. Attendees included representatives from Sri Lanka Cricket, LOVI Ceylon, and well-wishers from across the community.

As part of the celebration, LOVI Ceylon unveiled the ceremonial attire designed exclusively for the team’s international appearance. The custom designs are a continuation of the brand’s mission to define a contemporary Sri Lankan fashion identity and honour national pride through modern craftsmanship. The brand has previously styled the national squad for global platforms including the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris.

The send-off event opened with a welcome address by LOVI Ceylon Founder Asanka de Mel, followed by a traditional blessing and cultural performance to wish the athletes success. The ambiance of the Atrium was transformed into a tribute to the strength, determination, and grace of Sri Lanka’s finest women cricketers.

Asanka de Mel said: ‘Each of these athletes, their families and coaches have toiled for more than a decade or more to get to this level. They bring glory to Sri Lanka. We wanted to honour them, celebrate them, and wish them success. Our Women. Our World Cup.’

The event not only celebrated athletic excellence but also stood as a testament to the growing recognition of women’s sports in Sri Lanka. Through the collaboration, LOVI Ceylon underscored its commitment to amplifying national moments and representing Sri Lankan heritage on global stages.

‘I am grateful to Sri Lanka Cricket for this opportunity and the truly amazing event partners Ramani Fernando Salons, Dimitri Cruz Photography, Impress Events, Events by Shero and Cinnamon Grand Hotel for their support and magic,’ Asanka added.

The atmosphere of unity and pride echoed throughout the evening, reinforcing the collective aspiration of the nation behind the women representing Sri Lanka on the international stage.

As Sri Lanka prepares to co-host the prestigious ICC Women’s World Cup, this gesture by LOVI Ceylon and its partners sets a powerful tone of encouragement and national solidarity.

LOVI Ceylon, based in Colombo, is a contemporary Sri Lankan fashion brand founded by Asanka de Mel. Dedicated to defining a modern Sri Lankan identity through design, LOVI offers handcrafted garments using natural materials. Each creation is a celebration of cultural heritage, artistry, and innovation, made to empower individuals to wear their pride anywhere in the world.

Ethical AI adoption will define Nigeria’s AI future

In today’s digital world, data is the petrol and diesel that powers Artificial Intelligence (AI). Every innovative system, from chatbots that answer customer queries to fraud algorithms that scan millions of transactions, is powered by data. However, just as bad fuel can damage an engine, poor or unethical data use can erode trust, damage reputations, and even destroy entire businesses.

Across Nigeria, organisations are rushing to plug AI into their operations in banking, insurance, education, healthcare, and even government. Yet, many are discovering that adopting AI isn’t just about technology; it’s about responsibility. The brighter your system, the higher your duty to use data ethically.

Think of data as the oxygen AI breathes. There’s structured data, with neat rows of figures, such as account balances or payroll. Then, semi-structured data, such as emails, forms, or system logs. And the messy but powerful unstructured data: videos, tweets, voice notes, and CCTV feeds. AI models feed on all of these to learn patterns, make predictions, and personalise experiences. However, if the data is incomplete, biased, or collected without consent, the results can be unfair, inaccurate, or even unlawful. In other words, garbage in, chaos out.

That’s why countries, including Nigeria, are setting up guardrails. AI can only thrive when data is handled with care, consent, and conscience.

Innovation must be ethical

Ethics in AI isn’t about slowing down innovation. It’s about building trust in the system. When algorithms decide who gets a loan, which citizen gets flagged for fraud, or which student qualifies for a grant, those decisions must be explainable, fair, and lawful.

Informed executives now talk about ‘ethics by design’, building responsibility into every layer of AI, from how data is collected to how results are interpreted. Because in the age of automation, a single unethical decision can go viral faster than any product launch.

‘That’s why countries, including Nigeria, are setting up guardrails. AI can only thrive when data is handled with care, consent, and conscience.’

NDPC: From barking to biting

Nigeria has stepped up. The Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) now form the country’s backbone for data rights and responsible AI. This is no longer a theoretical conversation; it’s active law enforcement.

In recent months, the NDPC has handed down fines ranging from ?5 million to over ?50 million to organisations that mishandled customer data, failed to secure consent, or ignored basic compliance steps.

And now, with the launch of the Global Alliance for Innovative Development (GAID), a new government-backed initiative, Nigeria is signalling its readiness to align AI governance with global best practices while nurturing homegrown innovation. The message is clear: AI must serve the people, not exploit them.

Corporate governance meets AI governanceUsually, I share with executives that AI governance is not a ‘tech department’ issue; it’s a boardroom conversation. Data misuse can trigger regulatory action, shareholder panic, and customer distrust.

Progressive, innovative companies are already moving ahead by:

Appointing Data Protection Officers (DPOs)

Set up AI Governance Committee

Running Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) before launching products

Training staff to recognise ethical red flags

Regularly audit algorithms to check for bias or unfair outcomes.

In short, ethics isn’t an add-on; it’s now a business continuity strategy. Bottom line

So how can executives avoid being caught napping? Start by seeing compliance not as punishment but as insurance, and partner with experienced AI governance experts. Run AI ethics audits. Regularly train your teams. And most importantly, treat customer data with the same respect you’d expect for your own.

Consumers are watching. Regulators are watching. Investors too. The brands that will thrive are those that build trust into their algorithms and fairness into their code.

The future of AI success in Nigeria belongs to those who match innovation with integrity. Ultimately, the smartest move in AI is to play by the rules.

Dotun Adeoye is a seasoned technology strategist and AI innovation leader with over 30 years of global experience across Europe, North America, Asia, and Africa. He is the co-founder of AI in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s trade strengthens in H1 2025 from economic recovery

The bullish economic reforms are yielding results suitable for economic growth over the long term, even though the immediate impact does not appear to be very visible. The federal government of Nigeria has recently penned down strategic fiscal and economic reforms, of which some have been implemented immediately, while others will be implemented in 2026. Nigeria recorded a total foreign trade position of ?74.062 trillion, which consists of ?43.349 trillion (41.47%) in exports and ?30.713 trillion (58.53%) in imports, yielding a trade balance of ?12.636 trillion (17.06%) between January 2025 and June 2025.

The quarter-on-quarter results are very remarkable, as there is more alignment of Nigerian players to export more goods than import during the period under review. The total trade improved slightly by 5.59%, increasing from ?36.025 trillion to ?38.038 trillion. Meanwhile, the trade surplus surged by 44.31% quarter-on-quarter, rising from ?5.172 trillion in Q1-2025 to ?7.464 trillion in Q2-2025, as imports decreased by 0.90% from ?15.426 trillion to ?15.287 trillion and exports rose significantly by 10.45% from ?20.598 trillion to ?22.751 trillion. A further review revealed that some shortfalls from the trade that should have been recorded in March 2025 were accounted for and recorded in April 2025, resulting in March 2025 having the lowest total trade position of ?11.590 trillion, April 2025 having the second-highest total trade position of ?12.718 trillion and May 2025 having the highest total trade position of ?13.695 trillion. The total volume of trade between H1 2024 and H1 2025 is relatively stable, reflecting a slight decline of 1.94% in dollar terms. Despite the nominal naira value of the total trade increasing by 12.88% from ?65.609 trillion in H1 2024 to ?74.062 trillion in H1 2025, the average naira-to-dollar exchange rate depreciated by 15.12% from ?/$ 1346.30 to ?/$ 1549.83 over the same period.

The year-over-year export trade increased by 17.51%, rising from ?38.891 trillion in H1-2024 to ?43.349 trillion in H1-2025, primarily due to the declining value of the ?/$ exchange rate; however, the dollar value of these exports only increased by 2.08%, from $27.401 billion to $28.000 billion. On a year-over-year comparison, the imports appear to have increased by 6.94% from ?28.719 trillion in H1-2024 to ?30.713 trillion in H1-2025, while the dollar equivalent declined by 7.10% from $21.332 billion to $19.817 billion in H1-2025. Of the total export trade in H1-2025, the value of crude oil exported is ?24.921 trillion, 57.49% of total exports, with April 2025 having the lowest share of crude oil exports to total exports at 48.97% and April 2025 also having the highest share of non-oil exports to total exports at 17.02%. In a q-o-q comparison, Q2-2025 delivered the highest share of non-oil exports at 15.38%, behind Q2-2020 at 15.86% between 2020 and 2025. The value of non-oil exports in Q2-2020 was relatively high because oil prices fell to a low futures price of $37.63 per barrel, which was caused by logistics issues stemming from the Covid crisis. In H1-2025, agricultural-related exports contributed the most after crude oil and other oil-related products.

Agricultural-related exports worth ?2.961 trillion account for 6.83% of the total value of goods exported in H1-2025. The most traded commodities for this period are standard-quality cocoa beans, superior-quality cocoa beans, and cashew nuts. There are concerns, as the only processed product among the leading agricultural exports in H1-2025 is natural cocoa butter, with a total value of ?184.115 billion, a tiny fraction of 6.22% of the total agricultural exports and approximately 5% of the total cocoa exported as raw material to the other markets. Behind agriculture, the raw material value of ?1.864 trillion, a 4.30% share of total exports, was also a significant non-oil export. Urea, non-monetary gold (including gold plated with platinum), technically specified natural rubber, other preparations of cocoa powder in blocks, and leather further prepared after tanning contributed significantly in Q2-2025. The solid minerals sector recorded the lowest share of export goods in H1-2025 with a value of ?136.173 billion, 0.31% of total goods exported.

The trade surplus of ?12.636 trillion ($8.153 billion) in H1-2025 was mainly due to stable conditions, good expectations for foreign exchange rates, and stronger external reserves, making it the highest in Africa for that period, even though the average price of crude oil, Nigeria’s main trade income source, went down. The average market price for the monthly position in H1-2025 is $73.46/barrel, below the $75.00/barrel presented in the 2025 Appropriation Act, the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There are opportunities for an increase in the trade surplus balance as the economic recovery path for Nigeria is sustained over the short to medium term.

Oluwatosin Oladetan is a public policy expert, board advisor, vice president, independent director, business strategist, corporate strategist, and advisor on business transformation and project management. As a prognosticator, he has developed appropriate competencies for deploying critical thinking, analytical skills, financial modelling, leadership, project management, team management, management consulting, emotional intelligence, design thinking, strategic planning, corporate planning, change management, idea incubation, refinement, development, and transformation.

Protest threat ahead of Italy-Israel World Cup qualifier

Italy are struggling to qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup finals and the pressure on the team is exacerbated by the tension surrounding next Tuesday’s qualifier with Israel in Udine.

Italy was the scene of some of Europe’s biggest pro-Palestinian protests last weekend, as Israeli forces continue their offensive in Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered across Italy in anger at Israel’s actions, and calls for the country to be barred from international sport have grown louder.

The protests were in response to Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which was sparked by the attack by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, on Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip.

During Friday’s massive strike action in support of the Palestinians, demonstrators went to the Italian national team’s training centre in Florence to demand the match against Israel be called off.

As of Tuesday only around 4,000 tickets had been sold for the game in Udine, a small city in Italy’s far north-east, which was picked specifically to help limit the potential for disorder.

Udine was the venue when Italy – who face Estonia in Tallinn on Saturday – last hosted Israel, in the Nations League in September 2024. That match passed off largely without incident, albeit surrounded by a massive security operation which included soldiers on the roof of the stadium.

But the threat of much bigger and more disruptive protests led Udine’s mayor Alberto Felice De Toni to ask for the match to be postponed.

‘Very sad’

This week Italy’s coach Gennaro Gattuso said the situation in Gaza was ‘very sad’ and lamented a difficult atmosphere for a match which will be key to Italy’s hopes of avoiding missing out on a third straight World Cup.

‘There will be 10,000 people outside the stadium and 5-6,000 inside it. I would have preferred to play a home match in front of an enthusiastic crowd like we did in Bergamo (where Italy beat Estonia 5-0) a month ago,’ Gattuso said.

His task was already complicated enough without the external political pressure of playing Israel, as direct qualification for the World Cup is seriously in doubt.

Only the winner of the five-team group is guaranteed an automatic spot and Italy sit second, level on nine points with Israel and six behind leaders Norway, but with a game in hand on both.

However Norway’s far superior goal difference – they have a 16-goal advantage over Italy – means Gattuso’s side can only top the group if they win all four of their remaining matches and Erling Haaland and company slip up before they travel to the San Siro next month.

That leaves second place and a spot in the play-offs as the likely route to the World Cup, a tournament in which Italy haven’t played a knockout fixture since winning it in 2006.

Italy exited at the qualification play-off stage for the last two World Cups, failing to reach the 2022 edition in Qatar despite being reigning European champions.

Instagram launches its “Oscar” for bloggers

Instagram has announced the launch of a new award called Rings, created to honor creators who aren’t afraid to be themselves and explore new dimensions of creativity, Azernews reports.

Unlike traditional contests, the Rings Award isn’t tied to a specific content type or follower count – it embodies the very spirit of creative expression.

‘Every act of creativity, big or small, can lead to something extraordinary,’ the company said in an official statement.

To select the winners, Instagram assembled an international jury of renowned figures from the worlds of art, fashion, and culture. These experts nominated their favorite creators and chose the finalists.

Instagram is launching its own ‘Oscars’ for bloggers.

In total, 25 creators from around the globe will receive the award.

Winners will be presented with both a physical and a digital ring, designed by British designer Grace Wales Bonner, known for her unique blend of fashion and culture. When winners post Stories, a golden ring will appear around their avatar, replacing the usual frame. Additionally, winners will be able to customize their profile backgrounds and the design of the like button – further highlighting their individuality and creative freedom.

The launch of Rings comes amid a shifting creator economy, with many platforms cutting payouts and revisiting monetization programs. Against this backdrop, Instagram is focusing not on financial rewards, but on prestige and symbolic recognition of creative contributions.

First Rings recipients will be announced on October 10, 2025, with Instagram planning a virtual awards ceremony featuring stars and influential creators.

Instagram aims to make the Rings Award an annual tradition, celebrating creativity in all its forms.

Japan: Congratulatory letter by Prime Minister Ishiba to President Mutharika of the Republic of Malawi

On October 7, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, sent a congratulatory letter to H. E. Prof. Arthur Peter MUTHARIKA on his election as President of the Republic of Malawi based on the results of the general elections held on September 16.

1. In the letter, Prime Minister ISHIBA congratulated President MUTHARIKA on his inauguration and expressed his respect for Malawi’s steady development under a stable democracy, as well as his hope that Malawi’s efforts towards peace and prosperity in the southern African region will be further promoted under the leadership of the new president.

2. Prime Minister ISHIBA noted that Japan and Malawi have built good relations over the years, and also conveyed his willingness to work closely together to further deepen friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

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Feds Arrest Man Suspected of Starting L.A.’s Palisades Wildfire

Huge update in the investigation into the devastating Palisades Fire in California … the feds say they’ve arrested a suspect who they say ignited the inferno. Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli just announced the arrest of a 29-year-old man named…

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DeAnna Pappas’ Ex-Husband Reveals Uber Driver Income in Child Support Battle

Former Bachelorette star DeAnna Pappas’ ex-husband, Stephen Stagliano, revealed the monthly income he makes while driving Uber as they fight over child support, Us Weekly can exclusively report.

On September 30, Stagliano, 41, filed court docs revealing his financial situation months after being accused of owing Pappas, 43, more than $20,000 in back child support.

In his filing, Stagliano said he works as an Uber driver. He said he works around 10-15 hours per week and earns around $22 per hour. He said he has a college degree in history education and a master’s in education. Stagliano said that he earned $436.43 in August, but he earns on average around $650 per month ($462 of that was from unemployment).

“My only sources of income are from unemployment and driving Uber. My last paycheck was $3,750 from Story Games on March 1, 2025,” he told the court. Stagliano worked for a video company that ran out of funding earlier this year.

Stagliano said he had $10,089 in cash and in his bank account but did not have any other money or property. He said his monthly expenses totaled $7,437, including $4,300 on rent, $500 on groceries, $100 on eating out, $150 on clothes, $300 on auto expenses, $1,000 on credit card debt and another $314 on a Ford Escape.

DeAnna Pappas Ex Stephen Reveals Income Working Uber image 2249480
Courtesy of Stephen Stagliano/Instagram

He added, “I am actively looking for a job. I have applied to over 150 jobs in various industries with no success. I drive Uber to generate income when I can. I have paid $1,500 in alimony to [Pappas] every single? month.”

On Friday, October 3, Pappas filed her own income and expense declaration, revealing she lost her job as a flight attendant for a California-based company in June. She had been working in the field since 2011.

DeAnna Pappas Ex Stephen Stagliano Reveals Income Working Uber 2214436225 497197434
DeAnna Pappas, Stephen Stagliano. Getty Images (2)

She said she earned no income last month due to her unemployment. “I continue to actively look for work,” Pappas told the court. She was earning over $16,000 a month from her job.

She said she was paid $1,500 in spousal support from Stagliano and $1,755 in workers’ compensation.

DeAnna Pappas’ Monthly Income After ‘Bachelorette’ Fame Revealed

Pappas noted she started an LLC for podcasting and launched her own show, “Dishin With D,” but has yet to make any revenue.

She said she had around $95,000 in cash and bank accounts and another $20,000 in personal property.

The former reality star said her monthly expenses include $4,500 on rent, $1,350 on health care $700 on groceries, $400 on eating out, $300 on utilities, $230 on cell phone, $50 on laundry, $250 on clothes, $250 on entertainment, $300 to charity and various other bills for a total of $10,030 per month in expenses.

Pappas listed her debt as $17,000 on a Visa credit card and another $3,456 on a Mastercard credit card.

DeAnna Pappas Ex Stephen Reveals Income Working Uber GettyImages 122309048
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Relativity Media

The exes are currently sharing custody of their two kids.

As Us first reported, Pappas accused her ex of owing $23,000 in back child support in June. She opposed his plea to modify the $2,500 in support payments he was ordered to pay.

Pappas spoke to Us after scoring a big victory in court in June when a judge decided the exes would share joint custody.

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She told Us, “The last few years — especially the past few months — have been some of the most challenging of my life. Throughout it all, I’ve remained committed to prioritizing my physical and mental health so I can be the best version of myself for my two children. I’m deeply grateful to the judge who took the time to truly listen and understand our situation.”

She added, “This decision brings peace, hope, and most importantly, the chance to continue being present in my children’s lives — where I belong. I am thankful for a fair and just process rooted in the facts, for my legal team, and for everyone who stood by me during this journey. Love wins and I’m moving forward with hope and strength for all that the Lord has in store for me. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.”

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In August, Pappas spoke to Us exclusively about dating after her divorce.

“I’ve had my fair share of heartache — some of which played out on national television when I was just a freaking kid — and a lot of that was in my marriage and in divorce,” Pappas told Us. “I won’t allow any of that to break who I am. I just won’t, because I believe in partnership and I believe in companionship, and at the end of the day, to be honest, I believe there is someone out there for me.”

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Why Kieron Moore Is Looking for Different Roles After ‘Vampire Academy’

After stealing scenes (and hearts) as Dimitri Belikov on Vampire Academy, Kieron Moore is pushing himself even further on Netflix’s Boots.

During an exclusive interview with Us Weekly about the upcoming Netflix series, Moore, 28, expressed his immense gratitude for Vampire Academy and the opportunities it brought into his life. But while Moore’s love for Dimitri shone through, so did his excitement to play more characters who are full of surprises.

“When I auditioned [for Nicholas Slovacek], I had super long hair. I said to them, ‘Here’s what I look like with a shaved head. This is my version of Slovacek. I can shave it off for you for the audition,’” Moore recalled about his dedication to his Boots role before even booking it. “They said, ‘Don’t do that for the audition.’ But I really wanted to play him.”

Moore’s commitment to the audition reflected his passion for his work.

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“This just felt like the right time. After Vampire Academy, I wanted to test myself as a character. That was important for me — for my humility and growth as an actor — where I just thought this was a really good pivot away after Vampire Academy to show what I can do,” he explained. “So I was really committed.”

For Moore, it was important to build out Slovacek on an emotional and physical level, adding, “I remember the day we shaved it off, they really built it up. But as soon as they shaved my head, I felt like Slovacek was there. At the beginning, Slovacek feels like the one who is probably going to be OK and he’s going to get through this. He’s just got that thing about him.”

Boots, which premieres on Thursday, October 9, is based on Greg Cope White‘s memoir, The Pink Marine, and sets up a story about a gay teen who joins the American military alongside his straight best friend during the 1990s. Moore’s Slovacek, meanwhile, is an ex-con who joins the Marines hoping to stay out of prison.

Why Kieron Moore Is Looking for Different Roles After 'Vampire Academy'
Alfonso “Pompo” Bresciani/Netflix

At first glance, Slovacek is a classic antagonist who creates obstacles in the story. But Moore’s performance helps Slovacek go on a journey that teaches him more about himself while bonding with the other recruits through major ups and downs in training camp.

“It’s interesting that they all obviously go through these tribulations. But you have to let go of what you were to become who you’re going to be and can you do that? It’s quite reflective of it,” Moore teased the message at the center of the series.

Slovacek was a true transformation for Moore, who dug deep to show the humanity hidden underneath a mask of masculinity.

“I’ve grown up with criminals, police officers and barristers and we’ve all met in a boxing gym. Once you step through that door, none of it exists. You meet each other where you are. That was important to me,” Moore noted. “I’ve had my own stories with bullies and there’s been bullies all my life. People look at me and think I was the bully. I’m like, ‘You have no idea.’ I was a very gentle kid, but I remember what that was like.”

Moore made it a priority to understand Slovacek instead of judging him, telling Us, “I remember getting to this age where you humanize people [like that] and you see what their upbringing was like and you get this level of understanding that they might not ever see in themselves. I didn’t want Slovacek to be reflective of that. He has a lot [to] work on.”

He continued: “But I think it’s such a beautiful form of masculinity. He needs a friend and he needs guidance but he’s just so singled off in the world. He’s a work in progress. I would love it if people watch it and go, ‘He’s a nightmare.’ But then if they watch it again, by the end they go, ‘Oh, he just doesn’t know how to make friends. This is how he makes friends.’”

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Slovacek is an example of how people become products of their environments.

“Where he comes from is all about masculinity and competitiveness. This is the space where he thinks that’s how it works — and in a way it is. I think he’s a good person to have on the team eventually,” Moore teased. “Once you’ve got his loyalty, you’ve really got it. I think that was something that I thought about all the way through.”

When it came to Slovacek’s background, Moore put in the work to learn more from the original text.

Why Kieron Moore Is Looking for Different Roles After 'Vampire Academy'
Alfonso “Pompo” Bresciani/Netflix © 2023

“I read The Pink Marine when I thought maybe I might get this role. But it was about trying to keep no expectations. And with Slovacek being from prison, I actually looked more at prison backgrounds. I spent a lot of time watching documentaries about Rikers Island, crime in the early ’90s and what it meant to be a young man around that time,” he recalled. “I thought if we can get into that mentality of treating this like it’s prison, it’ll give me room to shake that off and hopefully turn into a Marine along the way.”

Then there was Slovacek’s appearance, with Moore sharing, “I was a bit lean when I did Vampire Academy where I wanted to be athletic for Dimitri. With Slovacek, I wanted him to have prison muscle, but I didn’t really have that. That was my main goal — physically — where I wanted him to be kind of broad. So I was obviously working out in the gym and eating more. As the show goes on, he gets bigger and he gets softer as well.”

He continued: “He’s eating more and he’s training more, but he makes good friends with the biggest kid on the block and it’s like, ‘I have to get big, too.’ Obviously, [my] boxing background lent to this with me, but it’s also about street wisdom. What I learned in boxing gyms was you rub shoulders with everyone and it doesn’t really matter where you come from. You come to this place and we fight out and that’s it. I carried that into it.”

Moore’s character building isn’t a surprise for those who have followed his work so far. Before pushing boundaries on screen, Moore got his start as a competitive boxer. He made the move to acting with appearances in Emmerdale, Sex Education and The Sandman as he prepared for the breakout role that has shaped his career: Dimitri in The Vampire Academy.

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The short-lived Peacock series earned Moore a fanbase that has followed him to new projects, including Masters of the Air and Code of Silence. Vampire Academy fans will also be excited to see Moore cross paths with Max Parker.

“We’re the only two British boys on this show and it’s a huge responsibility. We really want to make sure that we’re doing these characters a service and we had to earn our stripes a little bit. [We made] memories for a lifetime. I feel very lucky that I get to go on this journey with someone so close to me,” Moore gushed to Us. “At the same time, I’ve also made more friends like Max on this job. I’ve met beautiful friends. I speak to some of these boys every single day. We’re [in] a group chat still. I’m just really excited. Whatever happens with the show, I’m really excited for people to see it and have an opinion on it. I’m really excited for all of these boys to have their moments and they’re the next stars for sure.”

Why Kieron Moore Is Looking for Different Roles After 'Vampire Academy'
Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025

Moore has a lot to look forward to as well. In addition to Boots, Moore stars in Blue Film as a camboy who agrees to spend the night with an anonymous client. His upcoming film The Intimacy Coordinator will reunite him with former Vampire Academy costar Louisa Connolly-Burnham.

“I’m so excited for the Vampire Academy fans [to see this]. They’re so loyal and have been so beautiful [to] me. It’s this beautiful thing where I’m very lucky with the Vampire Academy fans,” Moore, who is somehow able to write poetry in his free time, told Us. “They trusted me with Dimitri and they’ve been so loyal as fans. But it’s been this really nice thing where they’ve gone on to watch me in other stuff and support me.”

As for what comes next? Moore is keeping his options open. He even entertained Us‘ suggestion that he play a cowboy … perhaps in former Vampire Academy costar Andrew Liner‘s Netflix series Ransom Canyon.

“I dream of having a southern accent [for a project]. I’m waiting. I just want to be on a horse. Get me there,” he quipped. “I would love to [take that on] if the right role came along. But I think there’s a cowboy in me — or get me on Ransom Canyon, I’ll come and give Drew some trouble.”

Boots starts streaming on Netflix Thursday, October 9.

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