Pippa Middleton: That Bridesmaid Dress Changed My Life

Kate Middleton's younger sister spoke openly about the dress that put all eyes on her bum

Pippa Middleton bum
Pippa Middleton bum
(Image credit: Rex)

Kate Middleton's younger sister spoke openly about the dress that put all eyes on her bum

Pippa Middleton has her sister to thank for her level of celebrity - but she also owes her fame to one specifc, body-hugging dress.

The Duchess of Cambridge's younger sister opened up about life in the spotlight at the Women in Advertising and Communications Dinner on Tuesday night.

Pippa admitted she was quite nervous before the 2011 Royal Wedding, the event that thrust her into the spotlight, saying she couldn't sleep for two nights before the occasion. When the big day arrived, Pippa stepped out in her fitted Alexander McQueen bridesmaid dress that made her (and her bum) an instant celebrity.

'As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and - you may say - its backside,' she joked at the dinner. She added that at the time, she was just happy the gown fit, but 'in retrospect maybe it fitted a little too well.'

Pippa Middleton bum

Pippa Middleton bum
(Image credit: Rex)

This isn't the first time Pippa addressed the public's surprising reaction to her bum. In her 2012 party-planning book Celebrate, she dished about her most famous asset.

'It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom,' she wrote.

At last night's event, Pippa also spoke candidly about the disappointing reaction to her book, which only sold 18,000 copies. She described the experience as 'difficult.'

But just because Pippa may not be penning another book anytime soon, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy her writing. She's still offering up her tips and musings in her Vanity Fair column.

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Ali Gray is an award-winning content director and digital strategist. Most recently she was the Director of Branded Content at Hearst, and helped to bridge the gap between the editorial and commercial worlds working across all Hearst brands, including ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Esquire and Harper's Bazaar. Prior to that she worked as an editor contributing to several brands such as The Telegraph, iVillage UK.