With Independence Day just around the corner, Match.com's Happen Magazine (http://www.happenmagazine.com/ ) encourages America's single people to celebrate the July 4th holiday like never before. As the first and only online magazine focused exclusively on dating and relationships, Happen Magazine challenges single people to apply their independence and freedom to their love lives. Happen contributors provide advice on how to demonstrate, and even declare, independence in ways that are fun, sexy and uniquely individual.

"What better time than Independence Day for single people to celebrate today's single lifestyle?" asked Janet Siroto, editor-in-chief of Happen Magazine. "Today's single women and men are treating their 'single status' as a stage in their lives to savor rather than a stage to move through as quickly as possible, and our magazine has become their trusted resource for learning about and taking advantage of emerging trends to fully enjoy their personal life."

Appearing in this week's issue of Happen, Laura Gilbert's article, "Celebrate Your Independence," reminds readers that our country's freedom isn't the only thing worth saluting this Fourth of July. She includes 12 reminders of why being single can be a real blast this summer -- from getting prime tickets to events every time someone's significant other has to bail to being able to indulge all of your interests, no matter how bizarre, without negotiations or apologies. Also in the June 27th issue, Sari Locker's "5 Sexy Moves You Don't Do In Bed," invites singles to practice freedom of expression in public rather than in the bedroom. The article suggests some fun, fresh twists on public displays of affection that can really heat up the months ahead. Single people reading Amy Spencer's July 4th feature, "Break-Up Basics: Six Ways to Deliver the News," may be inspired to finally break off that dead-end relationship and declare their independence. It outlines common ways that people break up, from pulling a disappearing act to the "send a messenger" method. Spencer discusses the pros and cons of each, and includes tips for making the break up as smooth as possible.

The Fourth of July issue also features the fourth installment of Judge Marilyn Milian's "Relationship Court" column. This time, the judge addresses a crisis familiar to many couples: "She wants to go out ... without her guy. Is this healthy or hurtful?" Judge Marilyn, the reigning first female judge of The People's Court, evaluates whether or not couples should socialize separately, weighing the validity of each side's argument -- presented in the classic "he-said, she-said" format -- and ultimately provides her "verdict" and advice. Additionally, Happen offers lifestyle articles about food, books and movies, as well as celebrity Q&A's with entertainers like Lindsay Lohan, Jenny McCarthy and the Average Joe.

About Match.com

Happen Magazine is a trademark of Match.com and the next step in the exciting and evolving category of online personals -- a category that Match.com pioneered in 1995 and continues to lead after a decade. Since its launch on the Web 10 years ago, Match.com has redefined the way people meet and fall in love and is credited with more marriages than any other site. Today, more than 15 million people around the world participate in the Match.com community, providing a rich tapestry of ethnicities, interests, goals, ambitions, quirks, looks and personalities from which to choose.

Match.com is the world's biggest online dating and personals property, according to the May 2005 global ranking of the Personals category by industry-leading independent measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. Number one across North America and Europe, Match.com operates leading subscription-based online dating sites in 32 countries, in 18 languages and spanning six continents. Match.com also powers online dating on MSN across Europe, Asia, the United States, Australia (NineMSN) and Latin America and is the premier provider of personals for Love@AOL. Match.com is an operating business of IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: IACI).

SOURCE: Match.com

CONTACT: Bridgette Cush of Match.com, +1-214-576-9514, or
bridgette.cush@match.com

Web site: http://www.match.com/
http://www.happenmagazine.com/