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Whitstable gran crashes London Fashion Week on YouTube channel The Zac and Jay Show

14:41, 27 February 2020

updated: 17:13, 27 February 2020

A grandmother has gone viral after taking part in a fashion stunt on a popular YouTube channel.

Posing as make-believe Romanian model Elicia Verde, Elizabeth Iliffe, from Whitstable, managed to crash a London Fashion Week show and appeared in Vogue alongside the likes of Naomi Campbell.

Zac and Jay selected Elizabeth after auditioning a number of pensioners for the role
Zac and Jay selected Elizabeth after auditioning a number of pensioners for the role

The 78-year-old was wearing a garish green outfit made from an array of items, including a pair of Marigold gloves and clothes pegs, bought from a 99p hardware store.

She was flanked by Zac and Jay show hosts Jamie Rawsthorne, acting as her "toy-boy husband", and Zac Alsop, who pretended to be a photographer.

“The game plan was simple: if we could rock up fashionably late to a show and create enough hype walking towards it, then the people on the door would think that we belong,” Zac explained during the 13-minute video.

“With that, Elicia and her toy boy Jay walked towards the entrance and it wasn’t long before the paparazzi came swarming.”

When they approached the entrance to the show they were let in it by unquestioning security guards.

Elizabeth being snapped after being turned away from the Burberry catwalk show
Elizabeth being snapped after being turned away from the Burberry catwalk show

And, after staying for the duration of the event, Elizabeth was met by a crowd of photograph hunters outside.

“We were inside the belly of the beast,” Zac continued.

“Elicia couldn’t see [the show] because of the glasses, but that didn’t matter.

“Little did we know what waited for us outside the venue.

“Turns out word had spread about the attendance of Elicia Verde, and it wasn’t long before the people came flocking.

“Elicia’s dreams of gate crashing a fashion show had come true.”

Elizabeth's costume was made from a collection of items bought from a 99p hardware store
Elizabeth's costume was made from a collection of items bought from a 99p hardware store

The group then travelled to the Burberry catwalk show, one of the most high-profile events of the week.

Elizabeth was photographed by paparazzi outside, but this time they were unable to get inside.

"As Elicia walked away, Phil Oh, perhaps the most renowned street-style photographer on the planet, took her photo," Zac added.

"He just papped Elicia and one day later she landed in Vogue, alongside Naomi Campbell, Kate Blanchett and Winnie Harlow."

Zac and Jay selected Elizabeth – who said crashing a fashion show was "something I’ve always wanted to do" - after auditioning several pensioners for the role.

The video, which was shared on the pair’s YouTube channel, has been viewed almost 200,000 times.

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