The BRIT Awards 2021: Dua Lipa, Mabel and Maya Jama arrive on the red carpet

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Dua Lipa led the stars at the BRIT Awards 2021 on Tuesday night as she made a sensational arrival on the red carpet at London’s O2 Arena.  

The singer, 25, who is nominated for three awards, looked incredible as she joined Maya Jama, Mabel and Sheridan Smith at the star-studded ceremony – the UK’s first major indoor music event since the coronavirus pandemic. 

Also walking the red carpet were Little Mix, who are nominated for the best British Group award, with pregnant members Perrie Edwards and Leigh-Anne Pinnock debuting their baby bumps. They were also joined by bandmate Jade Thirlwall, their previous fourth member – Jesy Nelson, quit the band last year. 

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Dua wowed in a tiny yellow mini Vivienne Westwood Couture corset dress with a deep plunging neckline and a dramatic purple fishnet train which commanded attention on the red carpet.  

Adding racy details, the Don’t Start Now hitmaker wore black suspenders and eye-catching statement purple heels. 

Dua appeared to pay homage to late singer Amy Winehouse, who tragically passed away aged 27 on the 23 July in 2011, with her hair styled in a similar beehive hairdo.   

The singer appeared in great spirits as she posed up a storm on the star-studded red carpet and playfully smiled with a life-size BRIT Award.  

Elsewhere, Little Mix’s Perrie, 26, and Leigh-Anne, 29, looked radiant as they both cradled their blossoming baby bumps after announcing they were pregnant within a week of each other, they walked the red carpet with their bandmate Jade, 28.   

The trio, who are marking their first awards night since Jesy left the band, all coordinated in glamorous white ball gowns. 

Perrie and her boyfriend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 27, announced they are expecting their first child together by sharing a series of stunning black and white images on Instagram on Monday. 

The wonderful news comes just six days after Perrie’s bandmate Leigh-Anne revealed she is also expecting her first child with fiancé Andre Gray.  

Elsewhere presenter Maya, 26, looked sensational as she displayed her toned curves in a plunging cut-out black mini dress adorned with dazzling diamond detailing. 

Adding some finishing touches, the presenter opted for statement eye-catching jewellery and sophisticated matching heels.

Maya styled her brunette locks into a sleek blow-dried hairdo, she added a slick of gorgeous make-up as she posed up a storm on the red carpet. 

Singer Mabel, 25, wowed in a vibrant neon green silk cut-out Tony Ward Couture gown which was adorned with diamond detailing and a racy thigh-high slit. She added matching long-sleeved gloves and barely-there heels.  

Mabel styled her curly blonde locks into a sweptback hairdo, she added a slick of gorgeous make-up and dazzling diamond earrings.   

Sheridan, 39, looked incredible in a tiny black velvet mini dress with a cut-out square neckline and lace detailing for the event.

The actress finished her look with strappy statement heels, a black manicure and dazzling diamond jewellery on the red carpet. 

Sheridan styled her signature blonde locks into a sophisticated high ponytail with a fringe, she added a slick of radiant make-up.  

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series star Olivia Rodrigo, 18, wowed in a vibrant neon yellow chiffon Dior dress which she cinched in with a black belt. 

The actress styled her brunette locks into a voluminous wavy hairdo and added a slick of radiant make-up. 

Pregnant Jessie Ware, who is nominated for two awards, looked sensational as she displayed her growing baby bump in a black sheer chiffon dress. 

The singer, 36, adding a matching choker and racy PVC long gloves which were adorned with diamonds. Jessie styled her brunette locks into a blow-dried hairdo, adding a slick of radiant make-up.   

It comes after Celeste put on a casually chic display in a red-and-white striped top and a chequered skirt as she arrived ahead of the ceremony at London’s O2 Arena on Tuesday. 

Her brunette locks were styled into curls, and she made sure to keep safe amid the coronavirus crisis by wearing a floral face mask upon her arrival at the venue.

Celeste appeared to be more than ready for the night’s event, as she pushed along a large suitcase while also carrying a small handbag.

Before heading inside, Celeste was keen to capture the moment and posed for a photo outside the arena. 

In an explosion of colour and optimism, the 2021 BRIT Awards celebrated the achievements of British and international artists over the last 18 months.  

The awards ceremony truly belonged to Dua Lipa, 25, as the evening saw her scoop the accolade for Female Solo Artist and the Mastercard British Album of the Year Award for her lockdown hit Future Nostalgia. 

This year’s Rising Star award winner Griff was handed the baton for the honour by 2020’s Rising Star winner Celeste, who herself was up for three further awards.

And Arlo Parks was crowned Breakthrough Artist, one of the three awards the star was nominated for, after what has been an incredible year for the young London artist. 

She also made her debut BRITs performance with an elegant rendition of Hope and decorated the set as a sunflower field in a nod to the name of her debut album. 

The most nominated girl band in BRIT Award history, Little Mix, finally bagged the title of British Group and made history as the first-ever girl band to win, having been up for the award three previous times. 

Meanwhile, the International Group category followed a similar suit, with the California girlband HAIM in attendance to accept their award. 

And the accolade for International Female was given to the 19-year-old Bad Guy hitmaker Billie Eilish, who accepted the award via a pre-recorded video acceptance speech.  

The Weeknd emerged victorious in the International Male Solo Artist category with his award presented by the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. 

The Blinding Lights hitmaker treated the audience to an unforgettable performance of his single Save Your Tears, pre-recorded from the US.  

Dem Boy Paigon hitmaker JHUS scooped the Male Solo Artist award, which was accepted on his behalf by DJ Semtex in his absence. 

Following a successful awards season stateside, One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles scooped Best British Single with his summertime track Watermelon Sugar. 

The first female artist to win the highest BRITs accolade and the UK’s biggest selling artist of the year to date, Taylor Swift appeared in person to accept the special Global Icon award, which was presented by Game Of Thrones actress Maisie Williams.

Each winner was presented with the BRITs’ first-ever collaborative double-trophy, designed by Es Devlin OBE and Yinka Ilori MBE, with each recipient encouraged to re-gift the smaller trophy to someone else.

The 2021 BRIT Awards, hosted by Jack Whitehall, marked the first major indoor music event in over a year as bosses released 2,500 free tickets to key workers.   

The show saw a total of 11 awards handed out alongside nine unbeatable show-stopping performances, six of which were able to be staged live in stadium.  

The show officially opened with fireworks and a UK exclusive performance by Coldplay of their new song Higher Power from the River Thames.   

The BRITs is known for its unique collaborations and this year was no different, with Elton John and Years & Years’ Olly Alexander joining forces for a spectacular performance of the Pet Shop Boys’ classic It’s A Sin. 

The recorded version of the song will now be available to purchase as a single in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation charity.  

A second collaboration saw Rag’n’Bone Man and P!nk perform their new single Anywhere Away from Here, with P!nk joining remotely from the US.

And the musical duo were joined by special guest singers from the Greenwich and Lewisham NHS Trust Choir, providing an emotional climax to the show.   

Another US star who made it to The O2 was Olivia Rodrigo who lit up the stage with a performance of her stunning hit single, Drivers Licence.

Twice nominated Headie One also blew the audience away with a special performance of Ain’t It Different/Princess Cuts, joined by fellow nominees AJ Tracey and Young T & Bugsey. 

Presenters on the night included: Annie Mac, Boy George, Celeste, Lewis Capaldi, Kurupt FM and Mabel.

The event was Co-Chaired by Rebecca Allen (President EMI Records) and Selina Webb (EVP Universal Music UK), who oversaw the creative team which along with Devlin and Ilori also included BRITs TV Executive Producer Sally Wood. 

The BRIT Awards took place in front of a live audience of 4,000 people at London‘s The O2 six days before the next phase of lockdown lifts. 

The ceremony, which was broadcasted live on ITV, celebrated the return to live music and Dua Lipa promised those attending that it would ‘be a night to remember’.   

The indoor ceremony and live show formed part of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme, and used enhanced testing approaches to examine how events can take place without the need for social distancing after all restrictions are lifted on June 21. 

Working closely with the Government to adhere to safety guidelines, The BRITs was the first live music show at The O2 in over a year, with 4,000 tickets being up for grabs – just one fifth of the venue’s 20,000 capacity

The BRITs played an important role in paving the way for the return of live music at scale as the UK emerges from the past year’s restrictions.  

 

Audience members were not socially distanced or required to wear face coverings in the arena, but were required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to the venue and adhere to rules set out by the event organisers.

Among the rules, attendees had to have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the venue. 

As part of the wider scientific research on the trial events, attendees were also asked to take a test after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of indoor settings, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings.