Married At First Sight’s ‘hottest bride ever’ Evelyn Ellis completes her evolution from reality TV wannabe to red carpet regular at Marie Claire Awards

Evelyn Ellis, married to First Sight’s “Hottest Bride Ever,” completed her evolution from reality TV minnow to red carpet regular on Wednesday night.

The Chinese-Australian model turned heads in a crowd that included Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, Pip Edwards, Grace Tame, Emma McKeon, Asher Keddie and Celeste Barber as she stepped out for Marie Claire’s Women of the Year Awards.

Even among the A-list crowd, Evelyn, 28, garnered quite a bit of attention at the coveted event celebrating exceptional women from all fields at Pier 2/3 Sydney.

The former marketing executive, who made her reality TV debut on the 17th season of Big Brother UK in 2016, flaunted her ample assets in a cut-out black dress with a tiny bandeau top and a halter neck choker covered in crystals.

She piled her long hair into a sleek high bun and completed the look with a glowing face full of glam makeup and matching chunky earrings.

‘My look is inspired by Swarovski. I was invited by them this year,” she told Ny Breaking Australia.

‘For me it is a dream brand to work with. Never in a million years after doing a MAFS did I think I would be in a room with such amazing women.”

Evelyn said she wanted to be “brave and daring” in her choice of clothing.

The model and influencer held their own on the black carpet among some of the brightest minds and biggest female voices at Sydney’s Pier 2/3

‘At first I was a bit scared because I thought it was too much, but then I had to remind myself that I didn’t care what people think and it was just driving me crazy.

‘If I like the dress, I like the dress. I’m going to do it. You know?’

Evelyn, who joined MAFS as an Intruder contestant in 2023, became a favorite among viewers for her confidence and for exposing bad behavior among the grooms.

Evelyn spent four hours preparing for the event.

“I felt sexy,” she said. ‘ I only wear things that make me feel sexy.’

Evelyn Ellis, 20, pictured on Big Brother UK in 2016

In 2016, the brunette beauty entered the Big Brother UK house as a 20-year-old ‘party girl’ and bar hostess to stir up drama.

She told London publication The Daily Record that she thought she came across as ‘intimidating and opinionated’ because she suffers from ‘chronic b****face’.

In her second attempt to turn a reality TV appearance into an influential career, the model took a drastically different approach. It worked.

Before MAFS, an older and wiser Evelyn took more care of her image.

A behind-the-scenes video recorded by Ny Breaking Australia showed Evelyn and her ‘husband’ Rupert Budgen filming their entrance multiple times to make sure they got it just right.

Before MAFS, an older and wiser Evelyn took more care of her image. Pictured on set

Rupert was seen walking in and out of the ceremony no fewer than seven times, and it wasn’t until he took his final shot that he accidentally dropped his wedding ring – giving the producers exactly what they needed for their ‘nervous groom’ storyline.

Moments later, Evelyn was spotted filming different versions of her grand entrance.

The model looked miserable after being asked to film a second take, and clearly didn’t expect to have to do it more than once.

Despite making it to the Final Vows after entering Married At First Sight as an intruder couple, Evelyn Ellis and Rupert Bugden decided to call it quits.

The mismatched duo agreed that they weren’t right for each other and went their separate ways.

Viewers fell in love with the Sydneysider’s no-nonsense approach to the drama-filled series, then ate up her accidental hard launch with fellow MAFS groom, Duncan James, with a steamy nightclub outing.

Viewers ate up her accidental hard launch with fellow MAFS groom, Duncan James, with a steamy nightclub outing. Both shown

Evelyn Ellis, 28, from Married At First Sight (pictured) turned heads in a sheer green dress as she made an unlikely appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in May

The couple has been going strong ever since.

While many aspiring influencers emerging from the MAFS machine are turning to OnlyFans, Evelyn has found success as a multi-hyphenate content creator, cover girl for glossy magazines, and TV host.

The Australian reality star looked rather out of place as she walked the Cannes Film Festival red carpet alongside bona fide A-listers earlier this year, looking sassy in a sheer green dress by designer Madoh.

Now she’s an old hand and stood out among the 180 winners, nominees and guests at Marie Claire’s big event.