Friday 18 June 2010

Sugababes 'Annual pre-Wimbledon Party'

Members of the British girl-band Sugababes arrive at the annual pre-Wimbledon party held at The Roof Gardens in West Londons Kensington, Britain 17 June 2010. The event is chiefly an opportunity for the stars of the sport to show their deisgner wardrobe and jewelry before the tournament starts on June 21.  EPA/DANIEL DEME

Members of the British girl-band Sugababes arrive at the annual pre-Wimbledon party held at The Roof Gardens in West London's Kensington, Britain 17 June 2010. The event is chiefly an opportunity for the stars of the sport to show their deisgner wardrobe and jewelry before the tournament starts on June 21. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Sugababes at Universal Music Party

Whiter shade of pale: Nicola Roberts and Duffy display their ghostly complexions

By Charlotte Spratt
Last updated at 12:25 PM on 16th June 2010

She has shunned the fake tan look of Girls Aloud and instead been flaunting her new-found love of porcelain skin.

But it seems Nicola Roberts has a rival for the title of palest girl in town - Duffy

The pair were at the Universal Music party in London last night and, wearing a white lace babydoll dress, the Welsh songstress seemed to have the edge.

Duffy AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON
Nicola Roberts AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON

Pale and interesting: Duffy, left, rivals Nicola Roberts for porcelain skin at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London last night

nicola roberts
duffy

Cross colour: Nicola went for a vibrant floral print frock while Duffy wore a micro lace and nude coloured minidress for the music bash

With her ash blonde hair, Duffy, 25, blended into her all-white outfit at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge, accessorising with a white clutch and nude Christian Louboutin heels.

Only her soft pink lipstick and smoky eyes gave her an edge of colour.

In contrast, Nicola Roberts, 24, looked like she had gone for every colour under the sun in a pink, orange and green floral minidress with a colourful oversize clutch and matching shoes.

She even had a pink rinse colour in her naturally red hair.

Sugababes AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON!

Mini dresses: Sugababes Jade Ewen, Heidi Range and Amelle Berrabah went for short frocks at the Universal Music party

Kimberley walsh AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON
PREEYA KALIDAS AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON!

Pretty party girls: Kimberley Walsh, left, sparkles in black, gold and silver, and EastEnders star Preeya Kalidas is colourful in a floral minidress

The Girls Aloud singer has spoken out about the dangers of tanning and decide to stop using fake tan and embrace her porcelain complexion.

She has produced a make-up range for pale skin named Dainty Doll, which now sells to English rose complexions across the country after launching it on the TV show The Passions Of Girls Aloud.

And it seems Duffy is following in her footsteps of being proud of her naturally fair skin.

Amy Winehouse and Reg Traviss seen leaving the Universal party at the Mandarin hotel in London, UK

Amy Winehouse and Reg Traviss seen leaving the Universal party at the Mandarin hotel in London, UK

Sir Bob Geldof AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON
Gabriella climi AT THE UNIVERSAL MUSIC PARTY AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL IN LONDON

Sir Bob Geldof shunned his normally scruffy attire for a rather ill-fitting suit, while Gabriella Cilmi toughened up her pretty blue dress with leather accessories

Their pale and interesting look contrasted with the tanned look of other celebrities at the party including Amy Winehouse and Nicola's bandmate Kimberley Walsh.

The singer, who is appearing in a documentary about jeans, wore a sequinned minidress and opaque tights.

Amy Winehouse, 26, spilled out of her print dress but looked remarkably sober as she left with film director Reg Traviss.

Other celebrities in attendance included Gary Barlow and his wife Dawn, Sir Bob Geldof, Gabriella Cilmi, the Sugababes, Ronan Keating, and EastEnders star Preeya Kalidas.

Celebrity guests: Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music with Ronan Keating and Amy Winehouse at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel last night

Celebrity guests: Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music with Ronan Keating and Amy Winehouse at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel last night

Matching jackets: Take That star Gary Barlow and his wife Dawn wear smart jackets to the party

Matching jackets: Take That star Gary Barlow and his wife Dawn wear smart jackets to the party

Sugababes at Pre Wimbledom Party

Sugababes star Heidi Range has a Marilyn Monroe moment as wind lifts up her dress at pre-Wimbledon party

By Sarah Bull
Last updated at 11:25 PM on 17th June 2010

It's a scenario most women are familiar with - you wear a pretty dress to a party, but are caught out when the wind blows and lifts up your skirt.

But the incident must be even more embarrassing if you are one third of one of Britain's hottest girl groups, and posing on the red carpet in front of hundreds of photographers.

That's exactly what happened to Sugababes star Heidi Range tonight as she attended the pre-Wimbledon party at the Kensington Roof Gardens.

Jade Ewan, Amelle Berrabah and Heidi Range

Whoops! Sugababes star Heidi Range grabs hold of her skirt as a huge gust of wind blows it up outside the Kensington Roof Gardens. She posed with fellow Subabes Jade Ewen (left) and Amelle Berrabah

Heidi Range
Heidi Range

Hold on tight: Heidi blushes and giggles as she keeps a firm grip on the pretty pink dress

Wearing a pretty pale pink dress with silver embellishments and matching nude heels, Heidi was caught out by a sudden gust of wind which caused her to quickly hold the dress today to prevent any embarrassment.

The situation was reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe's scene in The Seven Year Itch, where her white dress is blown up when she stands over a grate in the ground.

Blushing and giggling, the 27-year-old singer saw the funny side of the situation as she posed with fellow Sugababes stars Amelle Berrabah and Jade Ewen.

But thanks to their tight-fitting dresses, neither Amelle nor Jade were affected by the wind.

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand

Controversial friends: Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross grin for photographers as they pose on the red carpet

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand

Arriving in style: The pair had earlier made an entrance in Ross's Morgan 4x4, which was decorated with England flags

While Jade co-ordinated with Heidi in a similarly-coloured strapless dress, Amelle went for her trademark black in a strapless bustier dress which she teamed with a pair of red sparkly heels.

Other stars to attend the event included tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams, who contrasted in black and white dresses, and fellow player Maria Sharapova, who sparkled in a bronze sequinned number.

Gavin Henson, who showed no sign of any strain following his split from Charlotte Church last month, looked tanned and happy in a purple shirt, jeans and his favourite blue jacket.

Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Maria Sherapova

Tennis stars: Sisters Serena (left) and Venus Williams went for contrasting looks in black and white while Maria Sharapova in a bronze sequinned minidress

Comedian Russell Brand arrived with presenter Jonathan Ross in Ross's Morgan 4x4 vehicle, which was decorated with England flags ahead of the England vs. Algeria match tomorrow.

The pair, who caused controversy when they famously left rude voicemails for Fawlty Towers star Andrew Sachs, have reunited ahead of Brand's reported appearance on Ross's final Friday Night With Jonathan Ross show.

The party comes ahead of the start of the 2010 Wimbledon tennis tournament on Monday.

Gavin Henson
Gavin Henson

Happy: Gavin Henson showed no sign of his split from Charlotte Church, and looked tanned and healthy

Venus, 30, who has won the championship five times, and has reached eight of the 10 finals she has played in, said she is looking forward to playing in the championship.

She said: 'Playing on grass is, you know, one of my favorite things to do.

'I think it's definitely a lot easier to play at a tournament where I've been so successful. Obviously, Wimbledon is one of them.'

Michelle Mone
Holly Branson
Elen Rivas

Pretty colours: Ultimo boss Michelle Mone (left), Holly Branson (centre) and model Elen Rivas

But one of Venus's main competitors will be her sister Serena, who has won Wimbledon three times and is currently the number one ranking tennis player in the world.

Serena said recently: 'It's amazing. We work really hard, Venus works even harder than I do.

'We really fight and do the best we can to be the best that we can be. That's what we play for and we both want to be number one.'

Holly Branson, the daughter of Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson, also attended the event looking pretty in a strapless floral dress while Ultimo mogul Michelle Mone went for drama in a vibrant keyhole number.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard's ex-fiancée Elen Rivas went for the medieval look in a long sleeved, full-length pink dress, with her hair teased into tumbling curls.