Inside Maura Higgins’ disastrous Fashion Awards no show as feud erupts with top designer
IT is one of the most glamorous ceremonies of the year, with stars including Naomi Campbell and Rita Ora walking the red carpet at the annual Fashion Awards.
But behind the scenes the A-list event has been rocked by what has turned out to be the most baffling fallout of 2022 — with Lady Victoria Hervey rubbing a number of celebrities up the wrong way, including Love Island’s Maura Higgins.
And smack bang at the centre of it was designer Scott Henshall, the former creative director at posh fashion label Mulberry.
Maura was thrilled to reveal hours before the do at the Royal Albert Hall on Monday how respected designer Scott had created a custom-made gown for her.
She proudly posted on Instagram: “BFA tonight . . . first time to have zero control on my outfit . . . excited to see what @scott_henshall has designed for me.”
Yet within hours Maura pulled out of the event because she disliked the design.
READ MORE ON MAURA HIGGINS
She posted on Monday: “So obviously you can see I am fully ready.
“Glam team are on point as usual. Basically . . . the dress, the shoes, everything wasn’t something I’d wear.
“I don’t really know what to say, it’s like, I just feel it’s not very appropriate for the Fashion Awards.”
Now ceremony insiders have revealed what happened — and it seems Maura had a rougher deal than Cinderella.
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A source said: “Scott was dressing Maura, Victoria and model Talulah Eve.
“Maura’s gown was meant to resemble Paris Hilton‘s chainmail dress from 2002.
“Ultimately, it looked nothing like it and she wasn’t happy.”
“Scott was also supposed to arrange a selection of shoes for her to wear, which he didn’t do.
“He then left Maura waiting in her room alone for over three hours to go to help dress Victoria.
TOTALLY STOOD UP
“It was mortifying. Poor Maura was so patient and she ended up being totally stood up.
“To add insult to injury, Victoria ended up leaving with a bag which was meant to be for Maura. It was a mess.
“Scott’s team have repeatedly apologised to Maura but the damage is done. It was a nightmare.”
Those around socialite Victoria on the night have claimed she acted like a diva too.
One told me: “Victoria wouldn’t travel with Maura or the others, even though that is what had been planned.
“Then, when it came to having pictures taken, she said she didn’t want to be in the same shots as Talulah Eve or anyone else.
“In the end she went off to do the red carpet with Scott and left everyone high and dry.
“It was so embarrassing. Victoria was acting like the ugly sister who got to live it up at the ball, while poor Maura was just like Cinders stuck in the hotel with a terrible dress and no shoes.”
Other people had a better time, with Jess Glynne making her first red carpet appearance in three years and Romeo Beckham and his girlfriend Mia Regan confirming they were back together.
Actress Ellie Bamber and Lila Moss were also there.
Maura will know to avoid has-been designers next time.
WEEKND OSCARS BATTLE?
RIHANNA and Lady Gaga have competition when it comes to the Best Original Song gong at next year’s Oscars.
They have each released singles for films this year but now they are likely to face another superstar in The Weeknd.
I can confirm he has created the theme for James Cameron’s long-awaited follow-up, Avatar: The Way Of Water.
The belting ballad, in which he sings about finding inner peace, only appears in the final credits though, so fans will have to watch three hours of 3D fighting between the Na’vi humanoids on their planet Pandora before hearing it.
Leona Lewis’s theme I See You for the first film 13 years ago featured in the sequel.
I was lucky enough to attend last night’s premiere and while I am gagged about the film itself, I’m happy to say The Weekend’s track won’t disappoint.
The song is set to be released on Friday next week, when the film comes out and is expected to land him his second Oscar nod, six years after his first, Earned It, written for Fifty Shades Of Grey.
Rihanna has released Lift Me Up for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, while Lady Gaga performed Hold My Hand for Top Gun: Maverick.
It will be all to play for when nominations are announced next month, ahead of the ceremony in March.
JESY AND ZION COSY AT CLUB
JESY NELSON has gone public with new boyfriend Zion Foster a week after I first told of their close bond.
The former Little Mix singer couldn’t keep her hands off rapper Zion as they partied in West End nightspot Wyld.
A source said: “The club was packed but Jesy and Zion only had eyes for each other.
“They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. It was clear they are both really into each other.”
But I’m told Jesy kept the boozing to a minimum on Sunday’s night out due to her schedule heating up ahead of filming her make-or-break music video next week.
The source added: “Jesy wanted a night out but also had to be strict with herself. The following day she was back in the dance studio rehearsing for her new music video.”
I told how Jesy had whisked Zion to Jamaica on a romantic holiday after growing close in the summer.
She has dated Love Island’s Chris Hughes and Our Girl actor Sean Sagar. Hopefully this one fares better.
KILLERS’ SET FOR NEW EP
BRANDON FLOWERS has pledged The Killers’ new music will come out next year “for sure”.
The frontman said: “It’s shaping up to be more of an EP.
“We’re polishing it up now and making the finishing touches.
“People tend to tweak too much. We try not to become victims of that.”
The US rock group have had seven No1 albums and four top ten singles – and they are only getting better with age, says Brandon.
He told Smallzy’s All-Star Summer Breakfast podcast in Australia:
“We’re getting seasoned.
“We’ve got 20 years under our belt now. We’re still learning but we feel good about our spot.”
JAMES & ED DOUBLE UP
THEY struck up a close bond over music and now it seems Ed Sheeran and James Blunt like to double date.
The pair were spotted leaving swanky restaurant Gymkhana in London on Monday night following dinner with their wives.
Ed and his other half Cherry grinned as they headed out with James and his missus Sofia Wellesley on Monday.
James and Ed are so close, the latter even played James’ 2004 hit album Back To Bedlam in the delivery suite when Cherry was giving birth to their first daughter Lyra in August 2020.
Ed said: “We both were big fans of James growing up and I’ve been friends with him for a few years.
“He came on tour with us and Cherry got really close with his wife and we are now very good family friends.
“And we find it quite weird because we love his music so much. We put on Back to Bedlam in the delivery room and the album finished as Lyra was being delivered.”