REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday January 7, 2010

NOT even the most flamboyant fascinator could outshine this glistening headpiece. And at a cool $1 million dollars, only the regal could afford such a stunning statement.

With 325 bedazzling diamonds at a total weight of 40 carats and a rare 15mm Autore South Sea pearl, the shining tiara was fit for a princess.

Local model and Gold Coast Sexiest runner-up, Lauren Dally sparkled as she carefully paraded the opulent piece before the racy fashion set at the Magic Millions Sparkling Ladies Luncheon at Palazzo Versace.

Lauren felt like a ‘million dollars’ in the one-off crown created by award-winning jeweller Ann Middleton.

In fact the model looked so comfortable with the piece that host Karen Phillips joked with Lauren on stage about how fast she could run.

‘‘I can run fast,’’ said Lauren. But Ann was quick to retort:

‘‘My son’s outside, you won’t get too far.’’

However, her lioness reaction to the jewels is understandable. Ann had been working tirelessly on the creation for three months, after originally sketching out the idea 10 years earlier for Thai royalty. And it took her almost three years to collect the 325 diamonds featured.

‘‘It’s simple and yet so beautiful,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s a very old-world style but it’s still a trendy headpiece.

‘‘I wanted it to be a bit funky.’’ But when asked which royalty might be interested in purchasing the piece, she was tight-lipped.