IN THE PINK
£10k rose-tinted spectacle that’s Maria’s new pad
MEET the woman who spent £10,000 creating a pink palace – with matching dog bedrooms and a motorbike for her fella.
Maria Alison, 29, has spent two years transforming her semi-detached home.
Despite her choice of such a “girly” colour she reckons she is a tomboy at heart.
Maria said: “I’m into cars and stuff like that. I’ve never really been a ‘girly’ girl – I’ve just always liked pink.”
She began to think pink after her stepdad gave her a kettle and toaster in that colour at her engagement party in May 2019, the year they bought the house.
Maria’s fiancé Aaron Mordey,
30, thought the gift was a windup. But he eventually got on board with the idea and even rides a pink motorbike.
Maria, from Millfield, Sunderland, said: “At first Aaron thought it seemed like a joke, but now he’s always got mates in to show them the pink house.”
Maria has used pink and rose gold all over, and estimates the transformation has cost at least
£10,000. She said: “When we moved in we went with mainly grey and just a few pink bits.
“I’m trying to get rid of the grey, but obviously it’s hard to do everything at one time.”
Everything has either been bought, painted or installed by Maria and Aaron themselves.
Maria added: “I get a lot of inspiration on Instagram but I’ll always try to find my own style.
“Once you say ‘I’m done,’ you’re not done – you’ll start something else. I do think for a while there is enough pink.”
GIRL power is taking over Hollywood.
Oscars hopeful Vanessa Kirby is just one of the women who has been pushing to get female-led stories on the big screen.
And the 32-year-old reckons the film industry is finally on board with the idea. British star Vanessa has bagged a nomination for Best Actress for her role in critically acclaimed Pieces Of A Woman. She plays an expectant mother who endures a traumatic birth and then loses her baby. When Vanessa was offered the part she was amazed the film was even being made.
She said: “When I first read Pieces Of A Woman, I couldn’t believe a quarter of the screen time was just a woman giving birth… simply a woman giving birth.
“And the rest of it, the everyday struggle of overcoming the loss of a baby in the way she experiences. “Honestly, a few years ago I know it wouldn’t have been financed because the people making the decisions would have said, ‘Well, it won’t sell and people wouldn’t want to see that.’
“To me, it’s even more essential. We deserve to see all our experiences reflected on screen. As women I believe there’s a real runway to start taking those stories and putting them on screen.
“And having this amazing responsibility to show all the different ways it is to be female that haven’t been explored enough.”
Several femaleled films are in the running for top prizes at next Sunday’s Oscars.
Nomadland, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Promising Young Woman are all up for multiple awards after wowing the critics.
And two nominees for Best Director are women: Chloé Zhao and Brit star Emerald Fennell. Vanessa is in good company in the Best Actress category with Viola Davis, Carey Mulligan, Frances McDormand and Andra Day in the running too. Even if she misses out, her performance in Pieces Of A Woman has cemented her as one of Hollywood’s hottest properties. But as she was filming scenes, she was convinced barely anyone would watch it. Vanessa, also up for Best Actress at this year’s Bafta Film Awards, said: “When you’re making them you’re like, ‘Oh, I’m sure three people will see this.’ “For all of us to have films that came out this year, that against the odds managed to be seen, is mind-blowing.”