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WHILE most of us battle the aftermath of all that festive overindulgence, Ella Brizell, 43, is simply glowing with self-confidence, thanks to 12 game-changing tweakments

Waking up bleary-eyed on Boxing Day, the vast majority of us won’t be feeling – or looking – our best.

Lorna Roach

Ella Brizell is simply glowing with self-confidence, thanks to 12 game-changing tweakments[/caption]

Puffy-eyed after too many Baileys and bloated thanks to stuffing ourselves silly on pigs in blankets, we’ll be happy hiding under a blanket in an Xmas onesie.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth for single mum-of-two Ella Brizell.

Today Ella, 43, is looking and feeling fresher and younger than she has in years – all thanks to 12 festive “tweakments” that have transformed her life.

She is one of a growing number of women who have turned to aesthetic procedures in a bid to boost her looks, with a 28 per cent surge in cosmetic tweakments across the UK in just two years.

But Ella’s bright eyes and flawless skin are a far cry from her appearance exactly two years ago, when her whole world came crashing down.

The operations manager from, Bexleyheath, Kent, thought her marriage was solid, unaware that her husband Michael was about to walk out on her and their two little girls.

“It was an unbearable time,” says Ella. “I thought we were having a nice Christmas, but my ex disappeared all day on Boxing Day.

“He then came home that night, said he wasn’t happy and just left.

“I don’t think he even packed a bag.”

Up until that crushing moment, Ella says he had been a loving husband and father.

“We were together for 13 years and I adored him. In many ways, I still do. He was everything to me,” she says.

“I’ll never understand it or fully get my head around him leaving us so suddenly. It was completely out of the blue.”

Unable to contact her husband, Ella, who is mum to Isla, 11, and Sadie, five, heard through friends that he had met another woman — within a week of leaving her.

She says: “He just went completely off radar and me and the girls haven’t heard from him since.”

Two years on from that devastating Boxing Day, Ella is finally piecing her life back together and adjusting to the challenges of single motherhood.

“You think it’ll never happen to you, but then it does,” she says.

“You’re left completely broken and full of fear for the future. I had three jobs at one point, just to make ends meet.

“It was really tough and I was exhausted, but I liked working in the local pub.

“I desperately needed that social interaction — a distraction from how awful I was feeling.”

Thankfully Ella’s parents, mum Pat, 70, and dad Tony, 77, helped with looking after the kids.

“They’ve just been amazing and support me in absolutely everything,” says Ella.

“It still isn’t easy, but I can honestly say that after two whole years, I’m finally coping better.

‘FRESH START’

“My girls are happy, which is the most important thing.”

With her divorce finally complete and wanting to kick-start the new year with new confidence, Ella decided she was ready for a fresh start.

And a fresher face.

“I hate to admit it, but a broken heart and divorce does age you,” Ella says.

“In the first year after my ex left, I didn’t sleep, had horrendous anxiety and probably drank more wine than I should’ve done.

“I wasn’t eating properly either.

“I’d never had skin conditions before, but I developed eczema and my skin looked awful.

“I had massive eye bags and just felt physically unwell all the time.

“I was haggard and didn’t recognise myself at all.”

It’s been shown that relationship breakdowns devastate our skin, as well as our emotions.

Doctor and dermatologist Dr Elif Benar says: “We over-indulge in wine and chocolate when we’ve broken up with someone, but this can cause a reaction called “glycation” in the skin.

“It negatively impacts skin elasticity, hydration, pore size and skin smoothness.

“Stress and lack of sleep also reduce the anti-ageing hormone DHEA in the body.

Supplied

Doctor and dermatologist Dr Elif Benar[/caption]

“A broken heart can literally lead to a ‘sad face’.”

With this in mind — and aware that a few highlights and an eyebrow wax weren’t going to cut it — Ella decided to try a few tweakments in a bid to get her glow back.

“When I looked in the mirror, all I saw was sagging skin, thinning lips and droopy eyes,” says Ella.

“I’m not comfortable with anything really invasive, but I was willing to try anything else,” she says.

Dr Elif invited Ella to her clinic on London’s Harley Street to discuss her concerns and what she would like to achieve.

They decided on 12 non-invasive procedures throughout the run-up to Christmas, to give Ella’s face the lift, contour and plump she was longing for.

Dr Elif says: “Ella was clear that she didn’t want to look unnatural and that she had fears around having a ‘frozen face’.

“So we chose a wide variety of non-invasive, but effective, treatments to lift and tighten the skin and give her definition around the jawline and cheekbone area.”

Dr Elif also pointed out that, as Ella is a busy single mum, it was important she didn’t choose treatments she’d need to top up regularly.

“From a cost point of view, this was also key,” she says. “She should see results for two years.”

See the 12 tweakments Ella opted for below.

• Dr Elif Benar at Harley’s Street’s Dr Elif Clinic is a medical doctor and dermatologist with over ten years of experience in medical aesthetics. For more information, visit drelif.co.uk.
• *Some names have been changed

1. Eyebrow Lift and Eyelid Tightening £500

Dr Elif says: “This lifted Ella’s brow area and tightened the upper and lower eyelids, giving a more youthful and awake appearance

2. Cheek, Tear Trough and under eye Filler £1,440 and £1,000

Dr Elif says: “This lifted and enhanced Ella’s cheeks and restored balance to her facial proportions and making her look less tired.”

3. Skin -tightening laser £300

Dr Elif says: “This gave Ella an even complexion and visibly improved her overall skin health.”

4. Intraoral Lifting Laser (mouth-to-nose lines) £750

Dr Elif says: “I reduced Ella’s smile lines, lifted the cheeks from the inside, and rejuvenated the perioral area (around the mouth).”

5. Lip Booster, £480

Dr Elif says: “I subtly enhanced Ella’s natural lips, improving hydration and creating a balanced, elegant look.”

6. Smileline and Marionette/Corner of Mouth Skin Booster £960 and £480

Dr Elif says: “This softened Ella’s nasolabial folds (the lines from nose to mouth) and smoothed the area. I also addressed the sagging at her mouth-corners and softened her downturned expression.

7. Botox (eyes and forehead) £400

Dr Elif says: “The injections [Botox] subtly smoothed Ella’s fine lines and wrinkles, particularly around the eyes and forehead.”

8. Skin rejuvenation Laser £300

Dr Elif says: “This firmed and tightened the skin across her face, addressing laxity and fine lines.”

9. Hollywood Laser Peel (and Laser Peel), £250 and £300

Dr Elif says: “The combination of these laser treatments refreshed Ella’s skin, improved texture, and reduced dullness and pores, giving a radiant glow.”

10. HydraFacial with Booster, £280

Dr Elif says: “Ella’s final treatment deeply hydrated and rejuvenated her skin, enhancing overall radiance and smoothness.”

11. Lip Laser, £300

Dr Elif says: “Ella’s lips needed a boost and this reduced wrinkles and rejuvenated the lips, improving their softness, appearance and colour.”

12. 2-Point Jawline, £2,400

Dr Elif says: “[Filler] achieved a more sculpted and lifted jawline for Ella, while improving her facial symmetry and profile side.”

TOTAL COST: £10,140

FANCY 30 per cent off a box-fresh, all-new electric SUV?

Well, read on.

According to Vauxhall’s maths, the average price difference between a petrol car versus electric is 30 per cent.

So, for the first time ever, a new car has been launched with the electric version costing exactly the same as the petrol hybrid.

That’s a bargain £23,495 – and it’s a Vauxhall.

The British brand has previously struggled in the all-important SUV department.

But the Frontera – yes, another new car resurrecting a name from the past, yet providing a completely different proposition – will change this.

The regrettable Crossland is no more.

Frontera now plugs the gap, size-wise, between Mokka and Grandland, but is much cheaper than both.

It’s £9,750 cheaper than a base Mokka Electric and £13,850 less than an entry-level Grandland Electric.

So there must be a catch, you’re thinking.

Well, apart from the interior materials being primarily hard-wearing, low-cost plastic, the fact you need to start the car with an actual metal car key, it’s not fast and there is some wind and road noise at motorway speed, largely owing to the boxy exterior design, there isn’t.

Even the range is pretty decent at 188 miles, with a relatively small battery that, while only drawing a maximum capacity of 100kW, won’t have you waiting longer than half an hour at a fast charging public point.

You get what you need

Most of its life it will be charged overnight at home though, of course.

But if range still concerns you, a larger battery version with a range of 248 miles will be available next year for a likely £2,000 premium.

Inside, you get what you need. Wireless charging up front and a USB-C port for every other seat, plus dual 10in widescreen displays that are Android Auto and CarPlay compatible, all come as standard.

There are plenty of physical buttons for the more traditionally minded occupant, as well as handy shortcut ones to mute beepy nuisances like speed limit and lane keep assist warnings.

The seats are a bit radical, with a deep groove down the middle, supposedly to make your spine’s tail bone sit a little more comfortably.

Not so sure about that, but what is guaranteed is that groove will collect more crumbs than any car seat has ever done before.

And it’s white. So don’t eat chocolate in there.

You shouldn’t expect much on the road, given this price point, but the Frontera arguably over-delivers here.

The ride is pretty good and the steering is notably quick, if a tad light, even on “sport” setting.

And while there is precious little at the top end with regards to performance, the linear electric torque makes it feel faster on empty B-roads than the figures suggest.

In fact, with the underfloor battery giving such a low centre of gravity, it’s so surprisingly chuckable around twisty corners you could even call it fun.

Personally, I’d take the base Electric model with the £400 Design Style Pack, which adds those white steel wheels, contrasting white roof and roof rails.

Savvy shoppers will also love that you’ll bag 50,000 Tesco Clubcard points and £500 towards a home wallbox, or £500 credit with Octopus Electroverse, or towards charging in Tesco supermarkets.

If you need more practicality, the 1.2-litre petrol hybrid auto has the option – for an extra £550 – of putting two seats in the boot, making it the most compact seven-seater on the market.

I never liked the old 90s Frontera. But I do like this cheap and cheerful Frontera of today.

OVER the years, Gwen Stefani’s appearance and face have seemingly changed quite a bit.

Earlier this year, fans speculated that hitmaker Gwen, 55, might have undergone plastic surgery in order to alter her appearance and keep her ageless beauty.

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Gwen Stefani seen above during her time in the band No Doubt in 1995[/caption]

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The hitmaker had a very distinctive and edgy look while in the band[/caption]

WireImage - Getty

Gwen’s appearance changed slightly over the years, with her opting for different clothes[/caption]

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The hitmaker often sported a dark lipstick shade, usually red, with her still opting for this to this day[/caption]

At the time that speculation was rife back in the spring, Dr Corey Maas, a facial plastic surgeon in San Francisco, suggested Gwen’s new look might be down to fillers.

He also suggested that Gwen may have had a lower facelift.

Speaking to MailOnline at the time, Dr. Maas said that Gwen had “probably had some filler,” before revealing why he thought a face lift might have also been had by the star.

He added: “Her jawline is also really indicative of some work, a 55-year-old woman just doesn’t have a jawline like that.

“I think she may have had a lower facelift, because that does a really nice job of tightening the jawline and chin, and hers are nearly perfect.”

But how much has Gwen’s face and appearance really changed over the years? Scroll on as we take a look back at some her most iconic looks as the star has aged throughout her career.

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When Gwen was in No Doubt, she often rocked lots of prints and bright red lips[/caption]

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Gwen has remained faithful to her platinum locks and distinctive style over the years[/caption]

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Gwen Stefani was subject to plastic surgery rumors earlier this year, with her face looking slimmer and nose looking smaller than it did in No Doubt’s heyday[/caption]

During the 1990s, Gwen was the lead singer of the rock group No Doubt.

While in the group, Gwen and her bandmates went on to release hit songs including It’s My Life, Don’t Speak, and Hey Baby.

Gwen sported a very punky look while in No Doubt, with her often sporting her platinum blond locks in pigtails beneath a cap.

GWEN’S DISTINCTIVE LOOK IN NO DOUBT

The hitmaker would often wear plaid and tartan, with her rocking low-rise jeans and cargo pants, crop tops, and sports bras.

In the early 2000s, Gwen departed from No Doubt to work on solo music, with her image also getting overhauled.

With four albums under her belt, Hollaback Girl became her first solo number-one hit, along with four other top 10 hits.

During this time, fans saw Gwen’s style move away from her punky era.

REMAINING FAITHFUL TO PERSONAL STYLE

Ditching the face jewels she sometimes donned, Gwen did keep a few accents that have become synonymous with her personal style.

Gwen kept the face jewels she rocked at the start of her career with No Doubt, with her rocking them in the early days of her solo career.

Another aspect of her personal style that Gwen has remained faithful to over the years is lowrise jeans and cargo pants, with the blond bombshell often sporting these alternative looks even to this day.

She has also kept on rocking bold lipstick throughout her entire career, with Gwen often opting for red or burgundy lips, a pale complexion, and wispy lashes.

In 2014, Gwen became a judge on The Voice, which is when her style took a more sophisticated turn.

Wearing more modest clothing on the hit NBC show, Gwen often rocks pretty patterned dresses, blazers and pantsuits, and sweet matching sets.

CANDID ABOUT AGING

As mentioned earlier, Gwen’s face has been subject to several rumors that she has undergone aesthetic enhancements such as filler, but it seems that she quite likes how she is aging.

In 2021, during a candid interview with Australia’s Stellar magazine, Gwen admitted that she is obsessed with how she is aging.

She also spoke about how growing older in the public eye can be especially difficult.

“It’s really hard for everyone to age and have to face life,” she shared.

“Especially for females and people who have been in the spotlight, it can be daunting, but you tackle it by just trying to be the most beautiful version of yourself inside and out.”

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Gwen still rocks crop tops and lowrise jeans to this day[/caption]

Instagram/gwenstefani

The hitmaker also rocks a bold lip on the regular[/caption]

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Gwen’s style for The Voice is a little more modest than her early career looks[/caption]

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Gwen has probably had some facial filler, according to a surgeon[/caption]

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The blond bombshell often rocks iconic ensembles for TV shows and events[/caption]

THE letter addressed to JonBenét Ramsey’s father that claims to identify his daughter’s killer could be a means to deflect investigators from the real suspect, a retired police lieutenant told The U.S. Sun.

John Ramsey, 81, made headlines a week before the 28th anniversary of his 6-year-old daughter’s unsolved murder when he disclosed he had received a puzzling letter that is now being reviewed by a private investigator.

Netflix

John Chapple for The US Sun

JonBenét’s cold case has reemerged in the spotlight following the release of a Netflix docu-series[/caption]

Netflix

Getty Images

Ramsey said he has received dozens of fresh tips related to the case due in part to the release of the new Netflix docu-series, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey.

One letter in particular from an unknown woman claiming her ex-husband was behind the killing raised eyebrows.

The note, Ramsey told the Daily Mail, read, “My ex-husband’s the killer, and I’ve kept this inside for as long as I can – please, please call me.”

Ramsey said he called the number the woman provided, but she never responded.

Since then, he said he has shared the letter with a private investigator.

‘IT FEELS LIKE IT’S WITHIN REACH’

A retired lieutenant from the Loveland Police Department in Colorado questioned whether the letter arose because of the popularity of Netflix’s docu-series or Boulder police’s “optimistic” statement about the case heading into the New Year.

“I’m wondering if the letter recently received is the result of the Netflix documentary or if it’s generated in response to Boulder police saying that they feel that they think they might crack the case in 2025,” Bob Shaffer, the ex-commander of Loveland police’s criminal investigations unit, told The U.S. Sun.

Police sources in Colorado told the New York Post in early December that they are “optimistic” about JonBenét’s case heading into 2025.

“I’m not sure what it will take to bust it wide open,” one of the sources told the outlet.

“But it feels like it’s within reach. We’re hoping for 2025: this is our year.

“It hasn’t been as aggressive as anyone had hoped, but now there’s a lot of pressure to get this solved.”

A second source told the outlet that the new Boulder police chief, Steven Redfeam – who took over the force in early 2024 – has turned his attention to the case.

“He wants it solved and off the books, and he’s assigning officers and resources to solving the murder, which has been a black mark on the Boulder PD,” the source added.

“We f**ked the case up from the start, and now, with new blood, we can finally fit it.”

Netflix

John Chapple for The US Sun

Dateline

‘PREEMPTIVE STRIKE’

Shaffer believes the letter could have been a way to distract Boulder police from their investigation.

“From a law enforcement perspective, it seems a little too convenient that this letter shows up when Boulder PD said that they think they might crack the case in 2025,” the 37-year police veteran told The U.S. Sun.

“It’s my speculation that Boulder has some new DNA avenues to pursue that they think may reveal the killer or point them in that direction.

“If someone thought that those results might point towards them, the letter might be a ‘preemptive strike,’ so to speak, that would be creating an alibi or deflect away from the Boulder police investigation.”

Despite the perspectives from law enforcement officials, Joe Berlinger, the director of the latest Netflix docu-series, believes the supposed new lead was overblown.

“Mr. Ramsey did an interview and he just mentioned this in the context of ‘year, we’ve gotten some recent activity because of the documentary – for example I’ve got a letter on my desk right now,'” Berlinger told The U.S. Sun in an email.

“He didn’t mean it to be like it was a great lead.

“They just don’t know and not sure who is looking at it to verify it.

“They tried to call her, she left a number. The number didn’t go through.”

Berlinger added, “So, he’s told people that the family has gotten a lot of these now and this may be something maybe not.

“But it’s not to get excited about right now.”

WHO KILLED JONBENÉT RAMSEY?

On the morning of December 26, 1996, mom Patsy Ramsey let out a harrowing scream from the first floor of the family’s home in Boulder, Colorado, when she found a rambling two-and-a-half-page ransom note on the staircase toward the back of the house.

The note, addressed to John Ramsey, stated a group of individuals linked to a foreign faction had kidnapped their daughter and demanded $118,000 in exchange for the girl’s safe return.

“She was just screaming,” Ramsey previously told The U.S. Sun.

“She’d found this note on the stairway and then went and checked JonBenét’s room, and she wasn’t there.

“I read the note as quickly as I could, and Patsy was standing by the phone, so I told her to call the police.”

Several hours went by without any word from the supposed kidnappers or any sighting of JonBenét.

Boulder police conducted extensive search efforts in the area and thoroughly combed the Ramsey residence for clues.

A desperate Ramsey and a friend eventually searched the home themselves, going down to the basement and opening an unfinished wine cellar.

There, Ramsey found the body of his daughter with a rope tied tightly around her neck.

At the end of the rope was a broken paintbrush that investigators determined came from Patsy’s art set.

Evidence indicated that JonBenét had been sexually assaulted and tortured.

The coroner who performed JonBenét’s autopsy determined the little girl died from suffocation in conjunction with forcible trauma to her skull.

JonBenét had an 8.5-inch skull fracture and several markings on her neck and hands.

The Denver Post

KIM Kardashian is a bit of a copycat, it seems, with the SKIMS founder frequently wearing some outfits that are very similar to those worn by her ex-husband’s new wife.

Bianca Censori married Kim’s ex-husband Kanye West in 2022, just mere weeks after Kim’s divorce from the rapper was finalized.

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Kim Kardashian rocked a teeny tiny onesie at the start of December[/caption]

BackGrid

In March 2024, Bianca wore a nude-hued onesie for a date with Kanye[/caption]

When the Aussie model and architect married Kanye, many fans took to social media to say how she and her new husband’s ex-wife looked alike and had similar facial features.

Both women have dark raven locks, curvy figures, and facial features that could lead somebody to believe they might even be related.

Over the last 12 months, Kim has seemingly been taking inspiration from her ex-husband’s new wife, with the SKIMS founder often wearing similar looks to Bianca.

Kim has been dressing just like Bianca in recent videos and photos posted online, with fans quick to call the reality star out on this.

ONESIE OR TWOSIE?

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Kim’s onesie looked very similar to one that Bianca donned earlier in the year[/caption]

Earlier in December, Kim took to Instagram to show off her figure in a white one-piece, which was insanely short and bared her thighs.

The onesie that Kim wore was almost identical to a one-piece garment that Bianca wore back in March of this year.

At the end of March 2024, Bianca was seen walking around the Oxnard mall after eating at the Cheesecake Factory with her husband.

For the outing, Bianca rocked the skimpy one-piece, with Kim seemingly copying this look many months later.

BALACLAVA BABE

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Kim rocked a balaclava-type garment for a shoot recently[/caption]

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Fans thought Kim had been inspired by Bianca[/caption]

Social Media - Refer to Source

Bianca wore a similar look last year[/caption]

Another recent copying incident was when Kim did a photo shoot in the woods at nighttime.

In the Instagram shoot, Kim could be seen rocking a teeny string bikini top and bottoms.

The minuscule two-piece was incredibly skimpy and left little to the imagination.

Finishing off the look, the mom-of-four wore a balaclava and some beige boots.

Fans thought that Kim’s look was scarily similar to an outfit Bianca once wore.

“Bianća has multiplied,” said one person underneath Kim’s post.

Another commented, “Kimca Censori,” as a play on words with Bianca and Kim’s names.

FAUX FUR AND FAUX PAS

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For Kim’s makeup brand shoot, she wore some faux fur[/caption]

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But Bianca donned a similar look long before Kim did[/caption]

In November, Kim copied Bianca again when she stole the Aussie model’s style for a new advert for her brand SKKN.

For the sizzling campaign, Kim rocked some white tights and a fur coat – two garments that Bianca is very familiar with.

With SKNN being Kim’s own range, she will likely have creative control over the process of what she wears in the brand’s adverts – so fans were interested to see that she was “dressing like Kanye’s wife” once again.

SHEER COINCIDENCE?

Kim Kardashian/Instagram/pierresnaps

Kim Kardashian sizzled in a nude look as she celebrated her 44th birthday[/caption]

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The latex look looked familiar to some[/caption]

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Bianca had worn a similar look previously[/caption]

Back in October, for her birthday, Kim showcased her hourglass figure in a tight nude leotard layered beneath a semi-transparent dress.

Just months before Kim’s sexy look, which might have been inspired by her ex’s new wife, model Bianca donned a nude one-piece for her attendance at the Prototypes Menswear show during Paris Fashion Week in June.

THE TIGHT IS RIGHT

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Kim seemingly loves Bianca’s style as she copies it often[/caption]

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Bianca often wears daring ensembles[/caption]

In August, Kim once again seemingly mimicked Bianca’s personal style when she rocked a skintight bodysuit and some see-through tights.

“It’s giving Censori,” one person said at the time.

“I think Kim wore it because she is shading her,” someone else replied.

KOPYING AGAIN?

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In March Kim couldn’t resist copying Bianca again[/caption]

BackGrid

With Kim’s post coming days after Bianca’s outing with North and Ye[/caption]

In late March, Bianca, Kim’s daughter North, and Kanye were spotted out and about together in Los Angeles.

The model wore an oversized fur jacket, skintight black leggings, and matching pumps, and her hair was slicked back.

Then, just days later, Kim shared some sizzling photos of herself on Instagram where she appeared to copy Bianca again. 

Going braless underneath a brown floor-length fur coat, Kim also rocked some skintight sheer leggings and some heels.

“She wanna be Bianca so bad,” one person wrote online.

Another then echoed: “This is desperate. Copying your ex-husband’s wife.”

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But who wears it better?[/caption]

United Airlines has confirmed that a body was found in the wheel well of one of its planes after landing in Maui

Mikal Bridges scored a season-high 41 points to help the New York Knicks shade the San Antonio Spurs 117-114 in their NBA Christmas Day opener.

Victoria could be a big player in deciding the next federal election result, according to a new Newspoll analysis.

Valor da moeda no buscador mostrado com o mercado fechado é 20 centavos mais alto que o do último fechamento, antes do feriado de Natal

'Presente de Natal para a bandidagem', disse o governador, que criticou a medida tomada sem diálogo com os estados