The glitz and glamour of the National Television Awards (NTAs) brought out the brightest stars of reality TV, but Love Island’s Helena Ford found herself stealing the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Fans are accusing the blonde bombshell of once again mimicking her villa rival, Shakira Khan, with a jaw-dropping red carpet look that’s raising eyebrows and sparking heated debates online.
Helena turned heads at the NTAs in a dazzling red dress, complete with a daring mesh bottom and sparkling diamante straps. She paired the sultry ensemble with sleek silver heels and styled her hair in a chic low ponytail, accentuated by soft, face-framing strands. The look was undeniably stunning—but for many fans, it felt all too familiar.
Also gracing the red carpet was Love Island finalist couple Harry Cooksley and Shakira Khan, who radiated joy as they made their first official red carpet appearance together. Shakira wowed in a floor-length red gown, its petal-like embellished bodice stealing the show, complemented by bold red gloves. The similarities between the two women’s outfits were impossible to ignore, and fans were quick to call out Helena for what they saw as a blatant copycat move.
The online backlash was swift, with Love Island fans flooding Reddit to dissect Helena’s sartorial choices. “Why is Helena always copying Shakira’s colors? Black at the reunion party and now red again?” one user fumed. “And she’s always wearing her hair with two pieces down when Harry’s around, just like at the reunion.”
Another fan pointed out a telling detail: “Harry mentioned he loves red. Helena was wearing it constantly after they split in the villa, and maybe she wore it again tonight for a reason.” A third chimed in, noting, “Even Harry said he likes the fringey bits down,” suggesting Helena’s hairstyle was a calculated nod to her ex’s preferences.
The accusations didn’t stop at the NTAs. Fans have been keeping a close eye on Helena since her time in the villa, where she stirred controversy by wearing Shakira’s bikini and clothes—jokingly admitting it was intentional. The moment ignited a firestorm online, with viewers accusing Helena of being “obsessed” with Shakira and mimicking her every move. From copying Shakira’s black dress at the Love Island reunion to now mirroring her red-hot NTAs look, fans claim Helena’s pattern of behavior is undeniable.
Not everyone is convinced Helena’s choices are malicious. Some fans defended her, arguing that the similarities are purely coincidental. “Two pieces down is literally the most common way to frame your face,” one supporter wrote. “Helena wore her hair like that all the time before Harry mentioned liking it. Why should she change her style just because of him?”
Another dismissed the copycat claims with humor: “It’s not like Helena’s sitting there waiting to see what Shakira wears and then picking the same color,” they wrote, adding a crying-laughing emoji for emphasis. “They went to the same event, and red’s a popular choice!”
The drama between Helena, Shakira, and Harry has been a focal point of this year’s Love Island. Helena and Harry were coupled up for much of the series, but their romance fizzled when Harry chose to recouple with Shakira, ultimately finishing as runners-up. The love triangle fueled plenty of tension in the villa, and it seems the rivalry has spilled over into the real world.
At the NTAs, whispers of a flirty encounter between some Love Island stars added fuel to the fire. Sources claim certain islanders were overheard planning a secret date during the boozy afterparty, leaving fans speculating about whether Helena’s bold fashion choices were an attempt to catch Harry’s eye once again.
Whether it’s a calculated move or pure coincidence, Helena Ford’s red carpet look has reignited the Love Island drama that keeps fans hooked. With social media buzzing and fans armed with receipts, one thing is clear: Helena and Shakira’s rivalry is far from over, and the NTAs have only fanned the flames. As the internet continues to dissect every detail, all eyes will be on these two as they navigate their post-villa lives—and their wardrobes.