Kelly Holmes has made her first red carpet appearance with her girlfriend Louise Cullen at the European Diversity Awards 2023 at the Intercontinental Hotel, on Friday evening.
The former middle distance athlete, 53, proved to still be perfectly in shape as she flaunted her sculpted abs in a racy black sparkling net mesh top, adding a black bra underneath.
The British athlete – known for winning multiple gold medals at Athens’ 2004 Olympics – completed her stylish ensemble with donned a chenille red velvet suit.
Adding more glitz to her look, the sportsperson rocked sparkling silver open-toe heels, displaying a flawless pedicure.
Kelly didn’t spare the bling, as she accessorised with a gleaming necklace with a star-shaped pendant.
Couple: Kelly Holmes, 53, flashed her toned midriff in a glamorous look as she beamed alongside her partner Louise Cullen at the the European Diversity Awards 2023 at Intercontinental Hotel, on Friday evening
Toned: The former middle distance athlete proved to still be perfectly in shape as she flaunted her sculpted abs in a racy black sparkling net mesh top, adding a black bra underneath
She also donned silver drop pendant earrings, a matching bracelet and a slew of rings.
Kelly couldn’t stop smiling as she posed up on the red carpet alongside her partner Louise, as the couple looked in their highest spirits – as they made their very first red carpet appearance.
Louise looked incredible in a maroon turtleneck dress with sequin embellishment, which displayed a racy thigh-high split, as she completed the elegant look with dark red pointed heels.
The sport sensation also beamed as she posed up alongside MP Katy Osborne, and journalist Linda Riley.
Later on the event, Kelly posed up with Linda, news presenter Kamali Melbourn, and drag performer Cara Melle, with the team from SOS Mediterranean on stage.
Launched in 2010, The European Diversity Awards celebrate the individuals, organisations, and networks that push diversity, inclusion, and equality in everything that they do.
Last month, Dame Kelly has opened up about the woman she’s now sharing her life with, saying she’s so smitten with girlfriend Louise that the pair are about to move in together.
The massage therapist from Northern Ireland is set to move into the Loose Woman’s luxury Kent pad next month – with Holmes recently describing their romance as the most successful relationship she’s ever had.
Stylish: The British athlete – known for winning multiple gold medals at Athens’ 2004 Olympics – completed her stylish ensemble as she donned a chenille red velvet suit co-ord
Dazzling: Adding more glitz to her look, the sportsperson rocked sparkling silver open-toe heels, displaying a flawless pedicure
Radiant: The famous athlete donned a glamorous make up, flaunting a dark smokey eyes and lipgloss
Happy: Kelly couldn’t stop smiling as she posed up on the red carpet alongside her partner Louise, as the couple looked in their highest spirits
Elegant: Louise looked incredible in a maroon turtleneck dress with sequin embellishment
Stunner: The sleeveless number displayed a racy thigh-high split, as she completed the elegant look with dark red pointed heels
Bling bling: Kelly’s girlfriend accessorised with pendant silver earrings and rings, while sporting a dark rouge lipstick for the occasion
Beaming: The sport sensation also beamed as she posed up alongside MP Kelly Osborne
Trio: Linda posed alongside MP Katy and journalist Linda Riley
Looking good: The athlete also got on stage for a speech, where she rocked a pair of oversized glasses
Good cause: Later on the event, Kelly posed up with Linda, news presenter Kamali Melbourne, and the team from SOS Mediterranean on stage
Winner: Kelly posed for the camera alongside journalist Linda, Kamali, and drag performer Cara Melle – who also won the prize of Diversity Champion Of The Year (L-R)
Louise, who Kelly calls ‘Lou’, runs a sports massage business and is as fanatical about fitness as her GB Olympian partner.
The athlete, who came out in June 2022 and publishes her memoir Unique in November, told the Sunday Mirror she was ready for the next step, saying while she doesn’t want to put pressure on their relationship by saying it’s ‘forever’, she’s hopeful it is, adding: ‘She loves me for me.’
The double gold medal Olympian also opened up about past relationships, saying being closeted while living in the public eye made it difficult to meet new partners.
During Halloween weekend, the loved-up pair were seen on Kelly’s Instagram enjoying a dress-up shindig with friends, with both women dressed in Day of the Dead outfits.
The couple first met via an online community dedicated to fitness during lockdown and Kelly says their love was a ‘slow burner’ that didn’t really take off until restrictions were lifted and they could meet up in person.
The sport sensation told the newspaper: ‘I’m just happy… I’m happy with Lou. It makes it a lot easier being with somebody that I really get on with, and who just likes me for me.
‘Lou’s a different person… she’s a nice person. She’s somebody that doesn’t want anything. She’s really not interested in the work side of me, she doesn’t really want to be in the limelight.’
In January, Louise shared on her work Instagram page that she’d been delighted to help Kelly at a pop-up clinic.
Louise wrote: ‘It’s always a pleasure to work with an athlete or sports person, and be a part of their recovery and rehabilitation; helping them keep performing at their best!’
Earlier in September on Loose Women, Kelly revealed the couple are ready to live together.
She told her co-hosts: ‘I’m a workaholic, but I’ve met someone recently who is the most I’ve ever connected with, and your priorities change.
‘My partner’s telling me to slow down for my health. I’m never at home. My partner is moving down in November to live with me. I’m terrified.’
Further detailing her nerves, Kelly almost became emotional as she thought of how co-habiting will change her life.
She said: ‘It’s massive I’m gonna cry. It’s massive to admit that I’m gonna make a change for somebody.’
The athlete, who won the 800m and 1,500m titles at the 2004 Olympic games, spoke openly about her sexuality for the first time in June last year as she declared that she ‘finally feels free’ after years of living a ‘secret’ life.
The athletics star admitted she was ‘fully aware’ of rumours about her sexual orientation but is now happy to be coming out ‘on her own terms’.
Speaking to the Mirror at the time, she said: ‘There have been lots of dark times where I wished I could scream that I am gay – but I couldn’t.
‘I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it. I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement. Sometimes I cry with relief. The moment this comes out, I’m essentially getting rid of that fear.’
Kelly confirmed at the time she has a partner but didn’t want to give any further details, admitting it is the first time she hasn’t introduced someone as a ‘friend or PA’.
She explained how her family and close friends have known for years she is gay but she worried about being in trouble for breaching retrospective rules in the Forces.
At the time, the forces had a ban on LGBT soldiers, which was only lifted in 2000. Kelly had relationships with other women during her 10 years in service.
Kelly, who chose to come out during Pride month, told how she first realised she was gay when she kissed another female soldier at the age of 17.
After the kiss, Kelly recalled writing to her stepdad who she shares a close relationship with to explain what had happened.
She was ‘confused and scared’ but Kelly revealed her stepfather accepted her straight away before coming out to the rest of her family in 1997.
Touching on her previous relationships with women, she said: ‘No disrespect to them, but the relationships have only been a small part of my life.
‘They haven’t been in this fearful world with me for 34 years.’
Kelly, who was made a Dame in 2005, said she dated one woman between the ages of 27 and 32 but broke off the relationship in 2002 so she was able to focus on the Athens Olympics.