IN the red corner was the tabloid temptress who is alleged to have had an affair with England football captain David Beckham.

In the blue corner was the Hampshire super-slimmer who caught the eye of a member of top boy band Blue.

At stake was the prize of being the face that launched a Southampton jeweller's first major collection.

Flamboyant businessman Kim Rose thought he had backed a winner when he sensationally invited headline-grabber Rebecca Loos to promote his glittering baubles and beads.

But the entrepreneur - well known in the city for his political ambitions and daring dress sense - had not bargained for a starring role for the woman he had scorned.

Adele Atkins, from Stubbington, had previously been promised the accolade of promoting the eye-catching gems.

When she found out Mr Rose had changed his mind and handed the honour to Miss Loos, she was determined she wouldn't let it lie.

Blonde Mrs Atkins, 36, staged her own protest by turning up at the collection's launch at Debenhams in Southampton's Queensway yesterday.

Mrs Atkins, who made national headlines when she was complimented by Lee from Blue for being such a yummy mummy after she lost more than two stone in weight, was saddened by her rejection.

She said: "I had bought a number of pieces of jewellery from Kim and after the compliment from Lee, I told him and his partner Val all about it.

"Kim said I was looking great and he asked me to be the face of Kim Rose.

"He sent me on a buying trip to London to get an outfit and I was really looking forward to being the face of the collection.

"The first I knew about Rebecca Loos was when I walked past the store last Saturday and saw her photo in the window."

A red-faced Mr Rose, 48, admitted there had been a mix-up and that he felt embarrassed about the situation.

He said: "I felt awful that Adele couldn't be the face of Kim Rose because I had asked Rebecca to open it.

"I gave Adele some money to try to make the peace - I didn't expect her to turn up today," he said.

Mrs Atkins denied she had received any payment.

Partner Val, who has worked with Mr Rose on the designs for the 1920s-inspired jewellery, was not amused.

She said: "It was never intended for her to be the face of Kim Rose and Kim shouldn't have led her up the garden path.

"She came here today to tell me all about it - and the day has been spoiled for me."

For her part, a bemused Ms Loos fielded questions from the local media about her alleged relationship with Beckham and sparkled as brightly as the gems she was wearing.

When asked about Mrs Atkins she said: "I had no idea they had someone else lined up. I feel terrible for her."