GQ Men of the Year Awards: All the glitz and glamour in pictures
Nathan Cleary gave a cheeky response when questioned about his love interest Mary Fowler, Robert Irwin put on a cute display with his partner, but model Georgia Fowler stole the show at the GQ Men of the Year awards.
Confidential
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It is black-tie Bondi style – meaning perhaps a little more relaxed, think beachy with a touch of tuxe, but still all class.
Some of the top names across show business, sport, fashion, business and media have come together at the iconic Bondi Pavilion for the 15th annual GQ Men of the Year Awards in Association with BOSS on Wednesday.
Not just the most coveted invite of the week, it is one of the most sought after of the year.
Confidential hears calls and emails begging for an invite have been flying thick and fast given the fact it is always a top tier event, meaning the biggest names locally and abroad are on the guest list.
Troye Sivan, Willow Smith, Ross and Rocky Lynch, Riley Keough, Felix Mallard, Abbey Lee, Adam Demos and Alycia Debnam-Carey are some of the big names to have flown in to Sydney for the night.
Smith, the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, walked the black carpet with rising Aussie music star Eddie Benjamin, the pair having worked together on her single Alone.
Outfits will sparkle by the sands of Bondi Beach at this GQ’s Men of the Year,” Editorial Director of Vogue Australia and GQ Australia Edwina McCann said. “It is the perfect sunny backdrop for all the nearly there, or barely there, see-through dresses which are of the season too. It’s also the only MOTY at which we will have excuse, if not encourage, barefoot attendees.”
James Majoos, Justin Hemmes, Lincoln Younes, Charlee Fraser and James Parr were also on hand for the sit down dinner that honours the best of the best across categories including fashion, music, film and sport.
A total of 15 awards were to be handed out with GQ Man of the Year the top prize of the lot.
Nathan Cleary had mentally prepared to be asked who his date for the evening was.
“I’m just here by myself,” Cleary told Confidential. “No plus-one,” with his eyes darting to the right.
When pressed with the cheeky question: “Where’s Mary?” he giggled. “She’s busy.” Confidential could have sworn we detected a blush, if it weren’t for the fact every famous face on the carpet was literally sweating in the sweltering Bondi sun.
The three-time NRL champion had more than one reason to sweat, though.
“I’m very grateful to be here. I’m a bit nervous actually. I’ve never really done anything like this,” he said.
“No sneakers. It’s a bit different for me, but I don’t mind dressing up every now and then.”
Robert Irwin and his partner Rorie Buckey made their red carpet debut in July, and since then, they’ve made enough appearances to have their poses down pat.
The loved-up couple adorably reminded one another where their best angles and hand placements were.
Irwin was revealed as an early winner ahead of what has become one of the most anticipated awards nights in the Australian social calendar. The wildlife photographer was named as GQ’s Social Force of the Year.
“Social force; what an incredible honour,” Irwin said. “This is going to be such an amazing night. I feel humbled to say the least to be in such awesome company. You know, I just sort of feel like this bloke from Queensland doing his thing — so to be recognised on this huge stage is amazing. I’m here to represent conservation.”
It’s no surprise that Irwin has been named as one of the winners, given his contributions to wildlife conservation, but some may be shocked to see him out of the khakis and into designer menswear.
“This is kind of my life now, I’m in suits,” Irwin joked.
Meanwhile, The Veronicas, Jess and Lisa Origliasso, arrived fresh and raring to go after making a splash at Sir Richard Branson’s pool party on Tuesday night as they returned to Sydney.
The twin sisters are more N-Sync than the band on a carpet, orbiting around one another as they posed for individual and group photos. They reminded each other of their best angles, and took turns holding the other’s purses and phones.
Singer Willow Smith stunned in a tailored black suit, left open without a shirt underneath and accessorised with layers of chains. The media pack were in awe of how much the Meet Me At Our Spot singer resembles her father Will Smith up close.
International superstar Troye Sivan rocked a three piece white ensemble, paired with a silky Prada cap.
The Grammy-nominated Rush singer snuck in at sunset, just before the awards ceremony was due to begin.
“This is sort of the year that I hope for every year in a way,” Sivan told The Daily Telegraph. “I am just very grateful that it has all happened in the way that it has and that it is happening now, it just feels very special.”
Grammy-nominated Australian music producer Dom Dolla, Willow Smith, and her mate, fellow Aussie songwriter, Eddie Benjamin were deep in conversation. Dom Dolla’s manager jokingly mentioned he’d heard him start a “yarn”.
Pregnant Victoria’s Secret model Georgia Fowler stole the show in a high-neck, floor-length red gown. She attended in support of her husband Nathan Dalah, the co-founder of Fishbowl.
The maternity looks we’re seeing on red carpets this year just get better and better, with superstar Rihanna popularising glamorous and chic maternity wear in 2022. Fowler walked the carpet with her husband Fishbowl co-founder Nathan Dalah.
The party was packed with Sydney’s socialites of all kinds, from the Stenmark twins, to Dylan Alcott and his partner Chantelle Otten Heartbreak, High cast members Josh Heuston and Ayesha Madon, to the Inspired Unemployed bros, to Matildas star Kyah Simon, and beyond. The much-hyped after party set to be host on the upper level of Bondi Pavilion is sure to go off.
Will Smith’s daughter lands in Sydney
There was no whipping her hair back and forth as Willow Smith touched down in Sydney.
The daughter of Hollywood actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith will attend the annual GQ Men of the Year in association with BOSS eventin support of Aussie singer mate, Eddie Benjamin.
The pair worked together on her single, Alone, and are believed to have more tracks in the works for future release.
Smith, 23, is known globally for her hits Whip My Hair and Meet Me At Our Spot, as well as her acting work in films I Am Legend and Madagasca: Escape 2 Africa.
Her parents have made headlines over recent weeks due to Pinkett Smith’s tell-all memoir, Worthy.
To be held at the iconic Bondi Pavillion, LA based Benjamin will perform on the night that celebrates the best of the best across categories including Man and Woman of the Year.
Robert Irwin will be honoured with the Social Force Award.
It is one of the biggest red carpet events of the year with a stellar guest list that will include Ross Lynch, Nathan Cleary, Felix Mallard, Thomas Cocquerel, Adam Demos, Charlee Fraser and Lincoln Younes.
Benjamin meanwhile is originally from Sydney and moved to the US a few years back, where he signed to Epic Records and Sony Music.
Sia is a mentor — he describes her as an “aunt” figure — while Benjamin has written tracks with the likes of Shawn Mendes, Alessia Cara and Meghan Trainor and supported pop superstar mate Justin Bieber on his global tour.
He and American actor Maddie Ziegler ended their three year relationship earlier this year.
Benjamin’s biggest hit to date is Weatherman – which he played at Wembley Stadium last year.
A debut album is in the works, after which he plans on touring his home country.
“I am beyond excited to come back and showcase my true self but I haven’t wanted to do that until I have 10 songs that I can play to a crowd,” he explained in April. “That is why I do this, I want to perform, I want to put on theatrical shows.”
‘TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN’ ACTOR FELIX MALLARD PREVIEWS THE LONG-AWAITED JOHN GREEN ADAPTATION
When John Green’s Turtles All the Way Down was released in 2017, the young-adult novel was an instant bestseller, topping the New York Times list. It stayed there for over a year, with the The Fault in Our Stars author announcing during that time that the movie was in development.
Australian actor Felix Mallard plays the lead role of Davis Pickett Jr, “the sad lonely billionaire boy,” and the love interest of protagonist Avis.
The 25-year-old made his acting debut on Neighbours at the age of 15, taking over the role of Ben Kirk. Mallard picked up the gig through his modelling agent, then returned for a four-month guest stint while he was still in school. After completing Year 12, he rejoined as a permanent cast member.
Living and working in the US has “100 per cent always been the goal”.
“When I first started looking at acting as a career, I was always asking ‘how far do I take it? What kind of stories do I want to tell?’,” Mallard told Confidential.
“Even from when I started on Neighbours, I was thinking about how I could get myself over there and do something different.”
Few fans of runaway Netflix hit Ginny and Georgia, which Mallard also stars in, know that he’s Australian.
The drama premiered in the streamer’s fourth most-watched slot in 2021, then went on to steal the Netflix US’ number one spot for 27 days. The unprecedented success was matched only by one other series — Tiger King.
“It’s super inspiring. I really love that I get to be part of a show that’s led by women and tells
stories that make people feel seen,” Mallard said. “It warms my heart and keeps me wanting to go back to work every day.”
Seasons three and four have been penned, and he’s waiting on the green light to get back on set.
For now though, he’s “stoked to be home,” for the 2023 GQ Men of the Year (MOTY) Awards in Association with BOSS.
Mallard has been invited to the black-tie event tonight, to be held at Bondi Pavilion to celebrate the 15th annual ceremony. He will walk the red carpet in fine company, among the likes of Robert Irwin, Ross Lynch, Ruel, Josh Heuston, Budjerah, Nathan Cleary, and Alycia Debnam-Carey.
“It’s my first time, and I can’t believe I get to be part of it,” he said. “I’m just here for MOTY, and then I’m going to pop to Queensland to get some surfing in for the holidays.”
Turtles All the Way Down is the fourth Green novel to be adapted into a movie or TV show after 2014’s The Fault in Our Stars, 2015’s Paper Towns, and Hulu’s 2019 miniseries of Looking For Alaska.
“With an author like John Green who provides such a rich tapestry to the script itself … it was so enriched by John’s writing,” Mallard said. “Absolutely I’ve read it. Any time I wondered what my character was thinking I could just go back to the book and there was a well of information.”
Adapting a much-loved novel is “an absolute treat”, he added.
“There’s a responsibility to make sure John’s vision and what people love about the book then shines on screen. “
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