Why Dua Lipa Tried Boosting Her Height Playing Basketball

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

The shortest in her class when she was 14, the tall 26-year-old English singer, songwriter, and model Dua Lipa wore a simple and elegant look to The Fashion Awards 2021 in London, England.

Dua championed one of London’s designers, Maximilian Davis, at the event held late last month. The black strapless gown featured long sleeve details along with a high-neck detail.

Dua Lipa in a Maximilian dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry on the red carpet at The Fashion Awards 2021Dua Lipa in a Maximilian dress and Tiffany & Co. jewelry on the red carpet at The Fashion Awards 2021 on November 29, 2021, at Royal Albert Hall in London, England (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

She paired the black corseted crepe Maximilian gown with her center-parted long dark hair in very loose waves along with Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

While the look was very simple, it was also timeless and, in our opinion, does not land her in either the best or worst-dressed categories at this event.

“I’m not 5ft10!!! Where did this come from?? I’m 5ft8,” she said about her height when asked by a fan on Twitter. According to Clash Music, she was really short as a child and took up basketball to try and make her taller.

Dua Lipa started playing basketball in a desperate attempt to boost her heightDua Lipa started playing basketball in a desperate attempt to boost her height (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

“I thought it would help me grow but it didn’t,” she said in an interview with Billboard about her failed attempt to boost her height by playing basketball.

“The second I quit, I did grow,” she said about quitting basketball as she got bored. Her impressive growth spurt started at 16.

Now much taller than the average woman, she even walked the runway in the Versace show during Milan Fashion Week in Milan, Italy.

Dua Lipa made her runway debut in the Versace show during Milan Fashion WeekDua Lipa made her runway debut in the Versace show during Milan Fashion Week on September 24, 2021, in Milan, Italy (Credit: MEGA / WENN)

In May 2021, she bagged not one but two major awards at the 2021 Brit Awards held at The O2 in London. Dua Lipa cemented her status as one of the most notable pop stars in the country after taking home her second Female Solo Artist award—an award she first won in 2018.

Dua Lipa channels Amy Winehouse's 2007 Brit Awards look in yellow Vivienne Westwood mini dress at the 2021 Brit Awards on May 11, 2021Dua Lipa channels Amy Winehouse’s 2007 Brit Awards look in yellow Vivienne Westwood mini dress at the 2021 Brit Awards on May 11, 2021 (Credit: Avalon / Z.Tomaszewski / WENN)

For the occasion, the then 25-year-old singer paid homage to two of British music’s pop icons Geri Halliwell and the late Amy Winehouse. She turned 26 on August 22, 2021.

Styled by celebrity stylist Lorenzo Posocco, Dua channeled Amy Winehouse’s 2007 Brit Awards look—from her beehive hairstyle to her yellow mini dress.

Showing off her legs and cleavage, Anwar Hadid’s girlfriend wore a custom Vivienne Westwood corset dress that features an off-the-shoulder style and a deep plunging neckline.

The satin frock also has a purple net overlay and a dramatic train that falls from her cinched waist.

Dua Lipa bags 2021 Brit Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year awards in custom Vivienne WestwoodDua Lipa bags 2021 Brit Female Solo Artist and Album of the Year awards in custom Vivienne Westwood (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Dua wore her raven tresses up into a beehive hairdo with few tendrils framing her glammed-up face.

She did not skimp on the accessories and wore a three-row pearl Bas Relief choker necklace, a pearl bracelet, and a pair of Grace Bas Relief earrings, all of which from Vivienne Westwood.

Furthermore, the New Rules singer styled her look with Eera Chiara mismatched earrings and several statement rings from Shay Diamond.

She also accessorized with a Union Jack ring from Hotlips by Solange, a David Yurman Streamline Signet ring, and a Spinelli Kilcollin 18K Rose and Yellow Gold Aurora 3 Link ring.

Dua Lipa wears Amy Winehouse's signature beehive hairstyleDua Lipa wears Amy Winehouse’s signature beehive hairstyle (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Adding a racy touch to the look, Dua wore black stockings with suspenders and slipped into a pair of Vivienne Westwood Elevated Ghillie purple platform shoes.

Done in embossed crocodile-effect leather, these shoes feature a shoestring lace-up front with 2.5-inch chunky platforms and about 5-inch block heels.

Dua Lipa adds a racy touch to her outfit with suspender stockings and Vivienne Westwood lace-up platform shoesDua Lipa adds a racy touch to her outfit with suspender stockings and Vivienne Westwood lace-up platform shoes (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

The original version of these sky-high shoes was first seen on Naomi Campbell during the label’s fall 1993 fashion presentation.

It was named the Super Elevated Ghillie because of its 9-inch Louis heel and 4-inch platform, which caused Naomi’s inevitable fall on the runway.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Naomi Campbell (@naomi)

Dua Lipa later hit the stage for her Future Nostalgia medley performance.

She sang Physical, Pretty Please, Hallucinate, and Don’t Start Now in a Union Jack-printed outfit, inspired by Geri Halliwell’s mini dress during her 1997 Brit Awards performance.

Dua Lipa performs Future Nostalgia medley in Geri Halliwell-inspired Union Jack outfitDua Lipa performs Future Nostalgia medley in Geri Halliwell-inspired Union Jack outfit (Credit: Avalon / WENN)

Her Vivienne Westwood custom outfit included a Union Jack mini skirt and a matching blazer, which she later removed to show her white long-sleeved shirt, black cravat, and gold corset.

She wore the same accessories but traded her purple platforms for a pair of three-strap black patent heels.

Dua Lipa wears custom Vivienne Westwood Union Jack mini skirt with white shirt and gold corsetDua Lipa wears a custom Vivienne Westwood Union Jack mini skirt with a white shirt and gold corset (Credit: Avalon / WENN)