Thank you Keren Woodward, singer and star of the all-female 80s pop group Bananarama, for saying what I’ve been dying to express for a while. I was a little reserved in case people thought I had become a puritanical old fart, which, I assure you, is not the case.

But this week Keren said: ‘I don’t understand what some singers are wearing these days.’ I’d say the problem isn’t necessarily what they wear, but what they don’t wear.

“I have friends who have teenage daughters and these girls already have terrible body image and insecurities,” she continued, “and I don’t think having a woman like that on stage helps with that.”

Keren is absolutely right. Everyone from Dua Lipa, who recently announced she would be headlining Glastonbury, to the brilliant Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, seems to feel like they always have to appear half-naked in public. Likewise, Beyonce, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, is adored by young girls and women.

They love her music, just like they think megastar Taylor Swift’s songs touch their hearts and souls. But why do such talented, successful and powerful women feel the need to appear on stage virtually naked in jewel-encrusted leotards or, in Beyonce’s case, naked except for strategically placed jewelry astride a horse?

When Beyonce unveiled the artwork for her new album this week, I was thrilled to see her clothes back on… until I noticed the back of her leather pants had been cut away to expose her bum – why?

These stars must have worked extremely hard for the bodies they like to show off. There are no bingo wings, no bloated bellies, no swollen ankles. They must exercise every day and have expert chefs who prepare nutritious, healthy meals. Very different from the teenage fan who has to eat her way through school lunch, may have a bit of puppy fat and the only exercise she gets is copying a TikTok dance in her bedroom. No wonder so many girls have body problems and more young people than ever are receiving treatment for eating disorders, according to the NHS.

I have friends whose girls simply stopped eating and lifting weights to achieve the strong, handsome arms of their idols.

The sad reality is that far from being inspiring, many of today’s female pop stars are a danger to the mental health of young people.

Then there is the risk that girls run themselves by copying the outfits. Like Keren, I have friends whose teenage daughters spend hours listening to the music of the women they adore and do their best to look and dance like them. They hope Mom doesn’t notice when they sneak out in the requisite barely-there clothing.

Nothing can be more disturbing to a parent than seeing their little girl go out dressed like a porn star, unaware of the dangers this can bring.

In the 1980s, Bananarama’s heyday, and even into the 2000s, if reruns of the old Top Of The Pops on BBC 4 are to be believed, it wasn’t about showing the flesh.

Keren says they are proud of becoming pin-ups without being overtly sexy: “We became sex symbols in donkey jackets. We had no stylists or make-up artists. That wouldn’t happen now.’

But why wouldn’t that happen now? Since the turn of the century, we seem to have lost the sense that talent matters above all. Think of Annie Lennox or Debbie Harry; major stars appreciated for their beautiful voices and idiosyncratic sense of style, who always came across as intelligent and thoughtful in interviews.

For me, as a feminist, journalist, interviewer and cultural commentator, it felt like women were achieving something because of what we had fought for.

Women were valued for the quality of our minds, not primarily for the size of our breasts – or how willing we were to show them.

Of course, it’s not just pop stars who only appear in essentials. On every red carpet, be it the Oscars or the Baftas, there are always a number of beautiful, famous women who appear to be wearing as little as possible.

Sometimes the dresses are sheer and sheer and leave nothing to the imagination, or the cut is so tight that large, full breasts struggle to break free.

I have no doubt that this is a result of the proliferation of porn, an arena where women perform almost exclusively for the delight of men.

But it’s the hugely talented, half-naked, ripped women radiating sex and suggestiveness that bother me the most. Why don’t they consider the impact on their impressionable young fans? And the impact on women as a whole.

We have worked so hard to be seen as the intellectual equals of men. Please don’t blame us for being seen as nothing more than glorified strippers.

A fitting farewell for Charlie

Once I needed it, I hadn’t seen BBC’s Casualty in a while. But on Saturday I couldn’t miss the departure, after 38 years, of Charlie Fairhead. I was so relieved that he was saved from being stabbed in the chest and left for retirement in a yellow VW Beetle, the same car he had arrived in all those years ago. A happy ending for once.

• Let’s not make too much of a fuss about Dame Laura Kenny leaving cycling ‘in the interests of her children’. She said she just didn’t want to do all that training anymore. Her husband, Sir Jason Kenny, quit in 2022 to become a coach. Now the children will have father and mother to take care of them.

“This is not PepsiCo, your former employer. This is the BBC!’ All my adult life I have willingly paid the licensing fee, knowing it would give me wonderful programs without any hint of the influence of the commercial world.

Yes, the BBC is short of money – always has been. But successive DGs have fallen out with governments when the Charter came up for renewal and received an increase.

Who will be willing to pay the license fee if they know the BBC is no better than its commercial rivals? I won’t and it will break my heart.

• I have always longed to play an instrument and there is evidence that learning piano would keep my brain sharp. But a teen horror story still scares me. A neighbor offered me free lessons. One day I had to practice scales when she came up, and I still tried to figure out Little Donkey. She came down and hit me on the knuckles with a ruler and told me to do a scale. I left feeling like my creativity had been crushed. Do I dare to try again?

By Codie Bullen for Mailonline

Published: 04:13 EDT, March 14, 2024 | Updated: 04:14 EDT, March 14, 2024

Geri Halliwell has been revealed to be among the star-studded list of guests headlining at this year’s Hay Festival.

The Spice Girl, 51, will be joining in her capacity as an author, having penned a number of children’s books, including the popular Ugenia Lavender series.

The 11-day cultural event attracts around 300,000 people to Hay-on-Wye, Powys to celebrate literature each year, and saw pop superstar Dua Lipa headline last year.

Geri will be joined by Dame Judi Dench, who is leading the drama contributions by sharing extracts from her book, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.

Gary Lineker will also be making an appearance for the festival’s Sports Day and Miriam Margolyes will be discussing her memoir Oh Miriam! in the Inspiring Life Stories segment. 

Other famous faces appearing include singer Bonnie Tyler, actor Stephen Fry, presenter Sir Lenny Henry, How to Fail’s Elizabeth Day, singer-songwriter James Blunt, comedian David Baddiel, journalist Clive Myrie, The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades and musician Charlotte Church.

There will also be number of comedy shows during the festival, with sets from Sara Pascoe, Jon Ronson, Ruby Wax, Nish Kumar, Angela Barnes, Adam Kay, Josh Berry, Garth Marenghi, Sofie Hagen, Ahir Shah, Natalie Haynes, Julian Clary and Marcus Brigstocke.

While Nobel Prize-winning activist Maria Ressa and National Poet of Wales Hanan Issa will also appear, as well as former Prime Minister Theresa May and ex-politician Rory Stewart.

A registered charity, Hay Festival is one of the world’s best known cultural events, bringing readers and writers together around the world with programmes to inspire, examine and entertain.

Hay Festival chief executive Julie Finch said: ‘In a year when more voters than ever in history will head to the polls, as at least 64 countries hold their elections, we present a programme to bring people together, respectfully exploring different perspectives and the power of storytelling to unite us.

‘With new venues on our free-to-enter Festival site and diverse new projects throughout the programme, this is a festival for everyone. Join us in a world of different ideas.’

The famed literary event’s 37th spring edition is due to take place between May 23 to June 2, with tickets to go on sale at 12pm on Friday March 15. 

The announcement that Geri will be headlining at the event comes amid her husband Christian Horner’s ‘sex texts’ scandal. 

F1 Red Bull team principal, Christian, 50, has been the subject of intense speculation after he was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female employee before the start of the 2024 season.

He had been cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’, but has been fighting for his future after flirtatious text messages apparently exchanged between him and the female complainant were divulged to 149 F1 figures.

Geri was spotted attending the Commonwealth Day Service in London on Monday after supporting her husband at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixs. 

Christian, who has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005, had previously thanked his ‘very supportive wife’ for her backing during the accusations.

Geri staged another public show of unity with Christian as she watched his team charge to victory with another one-two finish in Jeddah earlier this week.

Although the pair were seen cosying up again in front of the cameras, insiders claim that the leaked texts scandal ‘has been tough on her’.

Last week, Christian’s accuser was suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bull’s inquiry because she was reportedly ‘dishonest’ when giving evidence.

As the spotlight continues to glare on the couple, a source close to them told The Sun: ‘It’s been tough but Geri has been a rock for Christian through all this and he has spoken out about how much that means to him.

‘There was no question of her staying away from Saudi – that would have sent entirely the wrong message.’

Christian also faced reporters in a press conference on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s race and admitted that the scandal had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.

He also said his wife had been ‘hugely supportive’ but admitted the scandal had been ‘very trying’ on his family.

‘It’s obviously been a very trying period,’ he said. ‘I’m married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.

‘I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It’s very trying, it’s very challenging. When there’s children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.’

He added that the grievance had been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’ by Red Bull’s parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top ‘KCs in the land’.

After fielding a barrage of questions of the topic, he called for the invasion into his private life to cease and attention turned towards racing.

‘The intrusion on my family is now enough,’ he said. ‘We need to move forward. It’s time now to focus on why we’re here, which is to go Formula One racing.’

Friends of the star claimed last week that it it would ‘break her heart’ to end her marriage to Christian — the man she sees as the ‘Prince Charming’ she has longed for since she was a little girl.

It’s believed that the scandal put the couple’s marriage ‘in question for the first time’.

Friends close to Geri, who stood by her husband of nine years resolutely throughout the internal probe, revealed she had ‘the meltdown to end all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages were spread ‘so widely out there’, a friend added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.

Geri had told friends that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims against her partner ‘had finally been cleared’.

Friends of the Spice Girl told the Mail she thought the scandal had ‘finally gone away’ but have warned the appearance of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – could ‘destroy’ her.

One said: ‘All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another said he now fears for how the star, who has been left mortified at the embarrassing fall out, will be able to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He said: ‘Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

The couple mixed in social circles before they struck up a romance, having first met each other at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

Their relationship, however, got off to a rocky start, coming under fire after the Red Bull chief left his long-term partner Beverley Allen six months after she gave birth to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a short break to see if Christian could rescue his relationship with the mother of his child, just nine months later he announced his engagement to Geri in an advertisement in the The Times in 2014.

The couple tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015 and welcomed son Monty in January 2017.

Geri also shares daughter Bluebell 17, with her screenwriter ex Sacha Gervasi, who she split from before giving birth.

Glastonbury is reportedly in crisis after talks with another potential headliner collapsed: megastar Stevie Wonder.

The legendary musician, 73, who last appeared at the festival in 2010, was given the Sunday night headline slot by festival organizer Emily Eavis, with the star even included in a concept line-up poster.

However, it has been reported by The sun that negotiations between the festival and the Is’t She Lovely singer’s team failed due to conflicting schedules.

Stevie is busy arranging dates for the summer shows, which meant he couldn’t commit to Sunday.

It is the third disappointment for Glastonbury after talks with Madonna and Stevie Nicks also reportedly collapsed, leaving a gaping hole in the major festival’s line-up.

Regarding the failed negotiations with Stevie, a source told the publication: “The mood behind the scenes is fraught, to say the least. Emily is desperate for a new top line-up, but right now she’s facing problems everywhere she goes.”

The source added that Emily is working hard to win over the music fan and while she remains hopeful that Stevie’s team can win over, “things aren’t looking good.”

Coldplay and Dua Lipa are rumored to be taking to the stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset – as headliners on Friday and Saturday at the festival from June 26 to 30.

Before talks with Stevie fell through, a source said The sun: ‘Stevie’s team has been working on a big tour and Glastonbury is something they want to make happen.

‘He last performed there in 2010, when it was Glastonbury’s 40th anniversary and the American soul legend’s set was storming. Organizers Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily are keen to have him back on the farm and they will move heaven and earth to get Stevie on the line-up.

‘Stevie’s team is now working on his dates and hopefully things will get better in the coming days.’

It comes after sPrevious investigations revealed that talks with Madonna collapsed after organizers refused to pay the fee to bring her live show to the festival.

A Glastonbury source told The Mail on Sunday at the time: ‘To be honest it’s been a real blow not being able to do a deal with Madonna.

‘Emily really wanted her to play the Legend slot. After seeing Madonna’s London tour in October, she raved about it on Instagram, something she rarely does without Glastonbury in mind.

‘But everyone knows that after last year, and the criticism of the gender balance, we need big names in the line-up. Dua Lipa is a real catch. Now we need one more.

‘There is still some hope that it will come back to life, but that is quite unlikely. There are financial problems underlying this, it’s a real shame.’

Bosses then tried to get Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks on board, but she subsequently signed for the BST festival in London’s Hyde Park.

Coldplay would be in the running to headline on Saturday. They have headlined four times before: in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016.

Glastonbury bosses have been accused of choosing too many male acts as headliners. Last year’s lineup was all male, with Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton John taking the top spots.

British singing sensation Dua is said to be in line for Friday’s top act, although the official line-up has not yet been confirmed.

Earlier this year, Dua was embroiled in controversy after failing to join Sir Elton John on the Glastonbury stage for their duet Cold Heart.

Fans claimed there was a falling out between the two, although Dua insisted she was just working in New York.

Emily previously said about the lack of female headliners: ‘I’ve always been very passionate about gender differences [on festival line-ups] and I think our problem really was that I had been so outspoken about it that a year of no women kind of pissed people off – or some people.

“And we had a female – she pulled out and we replaced them with Guns N’ Roses. But everyone knows it’s at the top of my list.

‘It’s difficult with female artists because there aren’t enough headliners. But we also create them. We put the bands and female artists on smaller stages and let them come through all the time. And who knows? Next year we might get two. And I can definitely say that the Legend is female.”

Last year partygoers enjoyed the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, who played his last ever gig in Britain at the Pyramid stag to close the 2023 edition of the festival.

Rick Astley, Lil Nas

MC HAMMER’s crazy oversized suit is back with a bang.

The American rapper showed off his outfit – with big shoulders and a narrow waist – in the 1980s, and forty years later the baggy look has returned to the catwalks and the A-list.

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But with today’s celebrities pushing the envelope, big doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Stella McCartney trotted down the catwalk at her own fashion show in Paris this week in an oversized jacket, and pop star Liam Payne was also seen in the French capital in an enormous jacket and trousers.

And while we’re all for a power suit, this latest style seems more suited to a comedy skit.

In MC Hammer’s day, loud suits were fitted to his body at least in a sense.

Abby McHale looks at the latest stars to step out in shapeless styles and gives them a Hammer Horror rating out of five.

DUA LIPA

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LADY GAGA

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ELSA HOSK

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JOAN KLEIN

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AUSTIN BUTLER

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BELLA HADID

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NICOLA COUGHLAN

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CAREY MULLIGAN

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COLE SPROUS

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Stella McCartney

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Alex Scott and her girlfriend Jess Glynne put on a loving show at the Brit Awards afterparty on Saturday evening.

The pair attended the Universal Music bash at 180 The Strand after avoiding each other on the red carpet earlier in the evening.

As they posed for snaps, singer Jess, 34, lovingly hugged The Football Focus host, 39, as they shared a sweet moment.

They later left the party hand in hand after enjoying the big night out together in London.

For the afterparty, Alex wore a bold striped suit, went braless and completed the look with leggy shorts and tall black boots.

Meanwhile, Jess wore a sheer black lace playsuit and matching over-the-knee leather boots.

It comes after they avoided each other on the red carpet earlier in the evening.

The fiercely intimate couple, who officially headed to Mexico during a winter break earlier this year, posed separately before heading to the ceremony.

Raye broke records at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, winning six gongs at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.

The 26-year-old singer/songwriter won the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year, for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and best new artist.

She was in tears as she later accepted Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, at one point bringing her beloved grandmother onto the stage.

The star now holds the record for the most Brits won in a single ceremony, a record that previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).

Raye was nominated eight times – the most ever for a single artist in a single year – including winning song of the year twice, for Escapism, which won the title, and for Prada.

In addition to Raye’s huge successes, Dua Lipa also won the award for best pop act, while Kylie Minogue – who had a huge comeback hit last year with Padam Padam – took home the global icon award. The evening was dominated by female winners, who won gongs in all but four categories.

Dua Lipa picked up the fan-voted Pop Act gong and gushed to her fans: “I think for more than one reason my fans are the reasons why I’m standing here today so I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone One of you has on me voted.’

A record number of 98 artists were in the running for the new 2024 BRIT Prize, designed by British visual artist and painter Rachel Jones.

The only men to receive awards were Calvin Harris for dance act; Sheffield quartet Bring Me The Horizon in the alternative/rock category; Casisdead for best hip-hop, grime or rap act; and duo Jungle for group of the year.

Miley Cyrus was a notable absentee that evening, thanking her for her International Song win for her smash hit Flowers in a video message.

‘Hello everyone at the British. “I want to thank you very much for voting Flowers as the International Song of the Year, and special thanks for giving me a place to wear this dress,” she said, showing off her tiny gold number.

“It’s incredible to win, but the real prize is that this incredible song becomes a hit around the world. I know this video is a little short, but I just wanted it to match my dress.”

Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding pulled out all the stops as they led the performances.

Double nominee Dua, 28, opened the ceremony with her new song Training Season from her forthcoming third studio album.

The singer looked stunning in an all-leather look as Ellie, 37, stormed the stage just a week after announcing the end of her marriage.

The night ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, leading to the Australian pop star’s final performance.

“Okay, I’m just going to sob with Raye, you did that!” said an emotional Kylie as she took the stage.

“You did that. British, thank you very much. “I really tried to think carefully about what to say tonight, but I knew I couldn’t plan anything and it would just be about the emotion.”

‘It’s been a lifetime for some of you – 36 years and counting, and what really touches me is the love of music and the connection with people… I have friends in this room with whom I have worked together over the years. ‘

The pop superstar then took to the stage for a medley of her biggest hits, including her recent chart-toppers Padam Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Slow and Love At First Sight.

Vick Hope took her parents to the 2024 BRIT Awards on Saturday to support her husband Calvin Harris.

The presenter, 34, shared a sweet clip of her mum Adeline and dad Nigel dancing to Kylie Minogue at their table.

The family were all smiles as they posed on the red carpet before taking their seats in the star-studded event.

Calvin shared a sweet hug with Vick’s parents after winning Best Dance Act of the Year

After being announced as the group winner, Calvin, completely shocked, immediately turned to his wife Vick for a celebratory kiss.

He then turned to Adeline and Nigel for some serious pressure before going on stage.

As the One Kiss hitmaker, 40, took to the stage, he also dedicated a heartfelt speech to fellow artist Ellie Goulding.

Raye broke records at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, winning six gongs at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.

The 26-year-old singer/songwriter won the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year, for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and best new artist.

She was in tears as she later accepted Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, at one point bringing her beloved grandmother onto the stage.

The star now holds the record for the most Brits won in a single ceremony, a record that previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).

She was nominated seven times – the most ever for one artist in a year – but could not possibly have won more than her, as she was shortlisted for song of the year twice – for Escapism, which won the title, and for Prada.

In addition to Raye’s huge successes, Dua Lipa also won the award for best pop act, while Kylie Minogue – who had a huge comeback hit last year with Padam Padam – took home the global icon award. The evening was dominated by female winners, who won gongs in all but four categories.

Dua Lipa picked up the fan-voted Pop Act gong and gushed to her fans: “I think for more than one reason my fans are the reasons why I’m standing here today so I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone One of you has on me voted.’

A record number of 98 artists were in the running for the new 2024 BRIT Prize, designed by British visual artist and painter Rachel Jones.

The only men to receive awards were Calvin Harris for dance act; Sheffield quartet Bring Me The Horizon in the alternative/rock category; Casisdead for best hip-hop, grime or rap act; and duo Jungle for group of the year.

Miley Cyrus was a notable absentee that evening, thanking her for her International Song win for her smash hit Flowers in a video message.

‘Hello everyone at the British. “I want to thank you very much for voting Flowers as the International Song of the Year, and special thanks for giving me a place to wear this dress,” she said, showing off her tiny gold number.

“It’s incredible to win, but the real prize is that this incredible song becomes a hit around the world. I know this video is a little short, but I just wanted it to match my dress.”

Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding pulled out all the stops as they led the performances.

Double nominee Dua, 28, opened the ceremony with her new song Training Season from her forthcoming third studio album.

The singer looked stunning in an all-leather look as Ellie, 37, stormed the stage just a week after announcing the end of her marriage.

The night ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, leading to the Australian pop star’s final performance.

“Okay, I’m just going to sob with Raye, you did that!” said an emotional Kylie as she took the stage.

“You did that. British, thank you very much. “I really tried to think carefully about what to say tonight, but I knew I couldn’t plan anything and it would just be about the emotion.”

‘It’s been a lifetime for some of you – 36 years and counting, and what really touches me is the love of music and the connection with people… I have friends in this room with whom I have worked together over the years. ‘

The pop superstar then took to the stage for a medley of her biggest hits, including her recent chart-toppers Padam Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Slow and Love At First Sight.

Olivia Attwood looked a lot worse for wear on Saturday night as she left a BRIT Awards after-party in her slingback brown heels.

The Loose Women panellist was spotted leaving the star-studded event without shoes as she stepped out in her white lace tights alongside Love Island pal Chloe Burrows.

Olivia was seen on her phone walking to a waiting car, while reality star Chloe followed her with a Barbie doll.

The ITV star covered up her sexy white lace long sleeve catsuit with a matching oversized cream blazer.

Olivia styled her long blonde locks neatly up and carried her belongings in a matching white Chanel handbag.

During the evening, Olivia left little to the imagination as she went braless under the raunchy lace outfit as she posed on the star-studded red carpet at the O2 Arena.

Meanwhile, Chloe stunned in a stunning mini dress which she teamed with sky-high heels and a matching handbag.

She showed off her incredible figure as she blew a kiss at the camera as she posed for photos at the Bacardi MoveGood bash at The Brewery.

Raye broke records at the BRIT Awards on Saturday night, winning six gongs at a star-studded ceremony at London’s O2 Arena.

The 26-year-old singer/songwriter won the first gong presented that evening, Song of the Year, for her hit Escapism ft 070 Shake, shortly before also taking home the R&B Act gong and best new artist.

She was in tears as she later accepted Album of the Year, Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, at one point bringing her beloved grandmother onto the stage.

The star now holds the record for the most Brits won in a single ceremony, a record that previously stood at four, jointly held by Blur (1995), Adele (2016) and Harry Styles (2023).

She was nominated seven times – the most ever for one artist in a year – but could not possibly have won more than her, as she was shortlisted for song of the year twice – for Escapism, which won the title, and for Prada.

In addition to Raye’s huge successes, Dua Lipa also won the award for best pop act, while Kylie Minogue – who had a huge comeback hit last year with Padam Padam – took home the global icon award. The evening was dominated by female winners, who won gongs in all but four categories.

Dua Lipa picked up the fan-voted Pop Act gong and gushed to her fans: “I think for more than one reason my fans are the reasons why I’m standing here today so I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone One of you has on me voted.’

A record number of 98 artists were in the running for the new 2024 BRIT Prize, designed by British visual artist and painter Rachel Jones.

The only men to receive awards were Calvin Harris for dance act; Sheffield quartet Bring Me The Horizon in the alternative/rock category; Casisdead for best hip-hop, grime or rap act; and duo Jungle for group of the year.

Miley Cyrus was a notable absentee that evening, thanking her for her International Song win for her smash hit Flowers in a video message.

‘Hello everyone at the British. “I want to thank you very much for voting Flowers as the International Song of the Year, and special thanks for giving me a place to wear this dress,” she said, showing off her tiny gold number.

“It’s incredible to win, but the real prize is that this incredible song becomes a hit around the world. I know this video is a little short, but I just wanted it to match my dress.”

Dua Lipa and Ellie Goulding pulled out all the stops as they led the performances.

Double nominee Dua, 28, opened the ceremony with her new song Training Season from her forthcoming third studio album.

The singer looked stunning in an all-leather look as Ellie, 37, stormed the stage just a week after announcing the end of her marriage.

The night ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, leading to the Australian pop star’s final performance.

“Okay, I’m just going to sob with Raye, you did that!” said an emotional Kylie as she took the stage.

“You did that. British, thank you very much. “I really tried to think carefully about what to say tonight, but I knew I couldn’t plan anything and it would just be about the emotion.”

‘It’s been a lifetime for some of you – 36 years and counting, and what really touches me is the love of music and the connection with people… I have friends in this room with whom I have worked together over the years. ‘

The pop superstar then took to the stage for a medley of her biggest hits, including her recent chart-toppers Padam Padam, Can’t Get You Out Of My Head, Slow and Love At First Sight.

By Monique Friedlander for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 8:17 PM EST, March 2, 2024 | Updated: 8:25 PM EST, March 2, 2024

By Chikamso Chukwuenyem for Mailonline

Published: 2:39 PM EST, March 2, 2024 | Updated: 4:04 PM EST, March 2, 2024