Lorde looks simply stunning as she arrives at the Met Ball. Photo / AP
Lorde looks simply stunning as she arrives at the Met Ball. Photo / AP
Lorde missed the one at her school, but this invitation more than made up for it.
Lorde left Takapuna Grammar School to chase fame and fortune and missed that high school rite of passage: the school ball. But yesterday she attended the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Ball - considered the undisputed party of the year on the city's social calendar. Her mum described it as "a fairytale for an 18-year-old". Frankly, we're all jealous.
Wearing a Calvin Klein navy sequined sheath and rubbing shoulders with more than 500 A-list celebrities, Wall St tycoons, Hollywood darlings, fashion royalty, and all-round somebodies, Lorde need not have worried about her high school prom.
Her entrance on the red-carpet signifies she has made it. It says she is a global star now in a world where power and business dominate.
She was dressed by fashion house Calvin Klein, who had also offered patronage to actors Rose Byrne and Bobby Caravale, and R&B star Usher.
With a MAC makeup brand ambassadorship to her name, Team Lorde had a compelling business reason to be seen at the Met Ball.
Sponsorships and contractual endorsements are de rigueur for pop stars and actresses looking to extend their brand value. Rihanna and Jennifer Lawrence with Dior; Lady Gaga for Versace and so on. Lorde's acceptance at the Met catapults her to this tier.
Her tick of approval meant she passed the critical eye of powerhouse Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who holds sway over the Met Ball and the guest list.
It no doubt helped that this year's ball was co-chaired by Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence (one of five co-chairs), who drummed up a friendship with Lorde after she curated the soundtrack to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, which J-Law was the star of.
The two girls had a low-key dinner together in New York on Sunday, their presence attracting the glare of the paparazzi flashbulbs.
The 24-year-old actress and the 18-year-old singer were enjoying a girls' night out, and were later spotted going back to the Carlyle Hotel where Lorde is reportedly staying while in the Big Apple.
Lorde must have felt like Cinderella last night; her fashionista dreams come true.
"It's a beautiful day in New York and tonight Ella is going to the Met Ball," her mother Sonja posted yesterday.
"I'm so excited for her - especially as I never got to see her getting ready for the Takapuna Grammar School Ball - not even on the same scale but y'know - I'm a mum!"
Las Vegas world away from boxing in NZ
The Kiwi contingent in Las Vegas for the "fight of the century" between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao were "blown away by the wealth and money it generated", boxing promoter Dean Lonergan told The Diary.
Joseph Parker had a great view of the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas.
Lonergan attended the grudge match with his Duco Events business partner David Higgins and their heavyweight champ Joseph Parker, and trainer Kevin Barry. Awen Guttenbeil and Scotty Morrison were there, too.
"I've never seen anything like it. The atmosphere was electric. There is nothing like it back home.
"People were lining up for two hours to make bets, and there were record pay-per-view numbers," Lonergan said.
"Every A-list star was here. The wealth up here was incredible.
"Apparently it took hours for them to get off the runway because there were so many private planes at the airport.
"Boxing is definitely alive and well."
Alas, not so for the folks at Sky Arena, which has been rebranded VS Live Ltd.
The pay-per-view promotions company, which brought the Cameron Slater v Jesse Ryder fight to subscription screens this year, has lost the backing of its major financial partner Sky Television.
Sky TV chief executive John Fellet told a Sunday newspaper their short-lived partnership, in which they took a 75 per cent stake in Arena, is over.
He blamed the influx of competition, but insiders say subscription uptake was said to be disappointing.
The pay-per-view market is crammed in New Zealand with at least seven players producing events, including Duco, WWE, UFC and Sonny Bill Williams' agent Khoder Nasser.
Former fighter Monty Betham has entered the promoter ring, although his boxing event has no broadcaster and a strong social conscience.
Betham is holding a charity fight night on May 23 to raise money for Steps For Life - his cause which helps Kiwi youth and their families to live healthier lifestyles and eliminate the risks associated with obesity.
Royal Kiwis swap places
Under the Succession to the Crown Act, which was changed in 2013 before Prince George's birth, the ancient rule of male preference primogeniture - in place since the Act of Settlement in 1701 - was changed.
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
It means if Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana does become queen, she will be the first to claim the throne since the new rule was enacted.
Also affected will be Lady Davina Lewis and her Kiwi royal kids - son Tane Lewis (born 2012) and elder daughter Senna Lewis (born 2010). British newspapers reported this week that Tane and Senna will now swap places.
Tane was formerly 28th in line by virtue of being male. Senna will now replace him by virtue of being older and Tane (named after Tane Mahuta) will now rank 29th in line. They are the offspring of Lady Davina and Kiwi Gary Lewis, a divorced Gisborne sheep shearer she met on holiday in Bali. The couple married in 2004.
