diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 539da78..e0761f2 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "sociowire-frontend",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "0.0.87",
+  "version": "0.0.88",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite --host 0.0.0.0",
diff --git a/src/components/Layout/TopBarNew.jsx b/src/components/Layout/TopBarNew.jsx
index 1cec67a..55ecc3b 100644
--- a/src/components/Layout/TopBarNew.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Layout/TopBarNew.jsx
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ export default function TopBarNew({ theme = "dark", onChangeTheme, onIslandsClic
                 transition={{ duration: 2, repeat: Infinity }}
               />
               <div className="relative w-8 h-8 sm:w-10 sm:h-10 md:w-11 md:h-11 lg:w-12 lg:h-12 rounded-lg sm:rounded-xl bg-gradient-to-br from-blue-500 via-cyan-500 to-emerald-500 shadow-lg shadow-cyan-500/25 flex items-center justify-center flex-shrink-0">
-                <img src="/logo.png" alt="SocioWire" className="w-[130%] h-[130%] max-w-none object-cover" style={{ marginTop: '5px', marginLeft: '2px' }} />
+                <img src="/logo.png" alt="SocioWire" className="w-[130%] h-[130%] max-w-none object-cover" style={{ marginTop: '6px', marginLeft: '1px' }} />
               </div>
             </div>
             <div className="flex flex-col min-w-0">
diff --git a/src/components/Posts/PostDetailModal.jsx b/src/components/Posts/PostDetailModal.jsx
index 1fc8416..3206cfa 100644
--- a/src/components/Posts/PostDetailModal.jsx
+++ b/src/components/Posts/PostDetailModal.jsx
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {
   editPost,
   deletePost,
   updatePostVisibility,
+  fetchProfile,
 } from "../../api/client";
 
 // ============================================================================
@@ -44,6 +45,25 @@ function formatCount(n) {
   return num.toString();
 }
 
+function categoryIconClass(post) {
+  const c = (post?.category || "NEWS").toString().toUpperCase();
+  switch (c) {
+    case "EVENT":
+    case "EVENTS":
+      return "fa-regular fa-calendar";
+    case "FRIENDS":
+      return "fa-solid fa-user-group";
+    case "MARKET":
+      return "fa-solid fa-store";
+    case "CAMERA":
+      return "fa-solid fa-video";
+    case "LIVE":
+      return "fa-solid fa-tower-broadcast";
+    default:
+      return "fa-regular fa-newspaper";
+  }
+}
+
 function relativeTime(dateStr, t) {
   if (!dateStr) return "";
   const d = new Date(dateStr);
@@ -362,13 +382,14 @@ function HeroStory({ post, gallery, imageIndex, setImageIndex }) {
     );
   }
 
-  // No image - show gradient with author
+  // No image - show gradient with category icon
   return (
     <div className={`absolute inset-0 bg-gradient-to-br ${config.gradient}`}>
-      <div className="absolute inset-0 flex items-center justify-center">
-        <div className="w-24 h-24 rounded-full bg-white/20 backdrop-blur-sm flex items-center justify-center text-white font-bold text-4xl shadow-lg">
-          {author.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
+      <div className="absolute inset-0 flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-3">
+        <div className="w-20 h-20 rounded-2xl bg-white/20 backdrop-blur-sm flex items-center justify-center text-white shadow-lg">
+          <i className={`${categoryIconClass(post)} text-4xl`} />
         </div>
+        <span className="text-white/80 text-sm font-medium uppercase tracking-wider">{post?.category || "News"}</span>
       </div>
     </div>
   );
@@ -464,6 +485,7 @@ export default function PostDetailModal({ post, onClose, onPostUpdated, onPostDe
   });
   const [liked, setLiked] = useState(false);
   const [truth, setTruth] = useState({ score: 50, count: 0 });
+  const [authorAvatar, setAuthorAvatar] = useState("");
   const [comments, setComments] = useState([]);
   const [commentInput, setCommentInput] = useState("");
   const [commentSending, setCommentSending] = useState(false);
@@ -504,6 +526,15 @@ export default function PostDetailModal({ post, onClose, onPostUpdated, onPostDe
     fetchPostTruth(postId).then(res => { if (res) setTruth({ score: res.truth_score ?? res.user_score ?? 50, count: res.vote_count ?? 0 }); });
   }, [postId]);
 
+  // Fetch author avatar
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const authorName = post?.author || post?.username;
+    if (!authorName) return;
+    fetchProfile(authorName).then(res => {
+      if (res?.avatar_url) setAuthorAvatar(res.avatar_url);
+    });
+  }, [post?.author, post?.username]);
+
   // Fetch comments
   const refreshComments = useCallback(async (autoOpen = false) => {
     if (!postId) return;
@@ -659,8 +690,12 @@ export default function PostDetailModal({ post, onClose, onPostUpdated, onPostDe
               {/* Author Row */}
               <div className="flex items-center gap-3 mb-4">
                 <div className={`w-11 h-11 sm:w-12 sm:h-12 rounded-full bg-gradient-to-br ${config.gradient} flex items-center justify-center
-                                text-white font-bold text-base sm:text-lg shadow-lg`}>
-                  {author.charAt(0).toUpperCase()}
+                                text-white font-bold text-base sm:text-lg shadow-lg overflow-hidden`}>
+                  {authorAvatar ? (
+                    <img src={authorAvatar} alt={author} className="w-full h-full object-cover" />
+                  ) : (
+                    author.charAt(0).toUpperCase()
+                  )}
                 </div>
                 <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
                   <p className="font-semibold text-themed-primary truncate">@{author}</p>