Strictly’s Tess Daly is blowing out 51 candles on her birthday cake this evening, as she celebrates her special day in lockdown.
Born Helen Daly, he blonde bombshell rose to fame in her teens as a model, changing her name to “Tess” as she fronted fashion campaigns across the globe.
Travelling between Tokyo, Paris and London as a model, the mum-of-two even appeared in two music videos for pop group Duran Duran.
Married to TV presenter Vernon Kay, she has enjoyed a hugely successful TV career over the years, becoming a household name in the UK.
Her very first gig was hosting Channel 4’s Find Me a Model competition before she went on to become a regular presenter on the ITV makeover show Home On Their Own.
Despite putting her name to a number of TV shows, Tess is undoubtedly best known as the glamorous host on Strictly Come Dancing.
Co-presenting the show since 2004, Tess has welcomed tens of celebrities to the infamous ballroom floor over the years.
Below, we take a look at some of Tess’ most sizzling looks since her first foray into fame – with a few stylish surprises in store.
Going braless
Tess worked the velvet and satin combo for a movie premiere back in 2002 (Image: PA)
In true noughties fashion, Tess styled her hair into pigtails as she attended the premiere of Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones back in 2002.
Taking place at London’s The Odeon Leicester Square, the TV personality dropped jaws in a silk halter top and a crushed velvet skirt on the red carpet.
Her then-boyfriend Vernon posed alongside her before the cameras – as the two weren’t set to wed until the following year.
Jessica Rabbit
Tess turned up the heat in red sequins in honour of the Euromillions National Lottery (Image: PA)
Tess turned femme fatale for a glamorous shoot with the Euromillions National Lottery back in 2006, wearing a plunging sequinned ballgown.
Inspired by cartoon bombshell Jessica Rabbit, Tess Daly was chosen as the face of the campaign, oozing sophistication in the skintight frock.
With red lipstick and matching scarlet peep-toe heels, Tess painted a picture of Old Hollywood glamour on the shoot.
Wardrobe malfunction
Tess’ strapless minidress threatened to slide down as she paraded the red carpet (Image: PA)
Back in 2008, Tess wrestled with her gown on the red carpet of the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition Preview Party, as the strapless number threatened to slip down.
Taking place at Burlington House, the Strictly star looked sensational as she flashed her pins in the cropped scarlet minidress.
Discussing her positive attitude to her looks, Tess told You: “I’ve got one body, one face, one life and I intend to embrace it, enjoy it and have a good ride.”
Saucy lingerie
Tess donned saucy suspenders and stockings for the Steal the Show campaign (Image: PA)
Having launched her career on the front of fashion magazines, it’s no surprise Tess has a modelling career that spans decades.
Back in 2009, she dropped jaws as the face of lingerie company La Senza, modelling circus-inspired intimates as part of their Steal the Show campaign.
Tess’ killer curves aren’t the product of a gruelling exercise regime – instead, she prefers to practice skipping for just five minutes each day to stay in shape.
Blue cutout gown
Tess’ toned abs were on full display in the asymmetrical evening look (Image: BBC)
The promotional shoot for the 2013 series of Strictly Come Dancing saw Tess dare to bare in a slashed navy ballgown.
Complete with cut-outs at the chest and hips, the figure-hugging dress fell elegantly to the floor as she advertised the new season of the hit dancing show.
Tess’ love for Strictly runs deep – speaking to The Guardian in 2010, she admitted she genuinely cared about each and every contestant’s performance.
She said: “Without sounding twee, I do care about them because I see them petrified in the morning, sitting in make-up, mute and waiting to get it over with. They’ve slogged their guts out most of the time.
“You get to know them and their families and you see pictures of their kids and they meet your kids. Yeah, you end up rooting for them.”
Backless dress
The mum-of-two flashed the flesh at a Strictly Come Dancing event at Elstree Studios (Image: PA)
Back in 2013, Tess turned up the heat in a sultry backless number during a Strictly Come Dancing event at Elstree Studios in London.
On the front, the gown featured a panel of gold sequins, looping around her neck in a stylish halter-neck finish.
With her blonde locks blown out into waves and lashings of lipgloss, the BBC star looked as radiant as ever as she posed before the cameras.
Black cutout
(Image: PA)
Looking as breathtaking as ever, Tess modelled a black cutout gown on the National Television Awards red carpet back in 2018.
That same year, she opened up about her experience of turning 50, as she celebrated the wonderful birthday milestone.
Speaking to You magazine, she said: “‘I refuse to define myself by my age. First, growing older is a luxury. Who am I to complain about turning 50 when many are not as fortunate?”
Before adding: “And second, men are not called out about their age in the way women are. We women create limitations around age that are beneath us, yet perpetuated.”
Happy birthday Tess!
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
