Tess Daly wowed Strictly Come Dancing viewers with her glamorous look last week – wearing a pink satin gown complete with thigh-high split, find out where to buy Tess' Strictly outfits – with fans praising her daring outfit, commenting, “Wow, that dress is beautiful” and, “You look lovely tonight” on Instagram.
And insiders suggest that fans of Tess’ new sexy look have her close pal Amanda Holden to thank.
They tell Closer, “Tess’ friendship with Amanda has given her a new-found confidence and she credits Amanda for inspiring her to be more daring and embrace her sexy side. Amanda has been quietly persuading her to show off her incredible figure and sex-up her image. They’ve made a self-empowerment pact, with Amanda urging Tess not to live in fear of what the critics might say. It’s been incredibly liberating for her.”
The 54-year-old mum of two – who rose to fame in 2004 when she first started hosting Strictly, following smaller presenting roles and a modelling career – has typically embraced a more wholesome look, regularly wearing blouses and suit trousers while hosting.
Meanwhile Amanda, 52 – who came into the spotlight at a similar time when she began as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent after a career as an actress – is notoriously risqué with her outfit choices. In 2017, her Julian McDonald dress with a plunging neckline received a record-breaking 663 Ofcom complaints.
The source adds, “Tess has always found herself holding back when it comes to fashion, often turning down pieces she loves amid fears people will judge her. She’s always been in awe of Amanda and how she unashamedly showcases her figure and embraces being a sex symbol with no apologies.
“It’s something Tess has always found to be incredibly inspiring and so she’s taking more risks and enjoying flaunting her body more.”
Also relishing Tess’ new look is her husband of 20 years Vernon Kay, with whom she shares two daughters, Phoebe, 18, and Amber, 13. The pair are known as one of TV’s best-loved couples, although they suffered a brief blip in 2010 when Vernon, 49, was exposed for sexting glamour model Rhian Sugden.
“Tess’ new-found confidence has even helped spice things up with Vernon,” the source explains. “Given she’s in her fifties, she’s naturally feeling more conscious of her age, so having Amanda’s encouragement to get out of her comfort zone has really helped give her a much-needed boost and remind Tess that she’s still hot. She’s feeling fantastic at the moment."
