By Sarah Bull and J J Anisiobi


Putting on a brave face: Dannii Minogue was seen for the first time since claims emerged about a relationship with Simon Cowell, as she attended the Logie Awards in Australia last night

Dannii Minogue emerged for her first public appearance at the Logie Awards in Melbourne yesterday last night following a day of revelations over her secret romantic relationship with X Factor boss Simon Cowell.

The former X Factor UK judge looked stunning in a full-length plunging purple gown, and with her hair styled into a cute pixie crop, as she smiled and laughed as she helped induct her close friend Molly Meldrum into the TV Week Hall of Fame.

Sources have said that Dannii, who recently split from long-term partner Kris Smith is 'devastated' at the headlines over her fling with Cowell.

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Smiling through: Dannii looked in relatively good spirits despite a very difficult few months

Dannii's appearance came as it was claimed she is devastated after it was revealed that she had allegedly slept with X Factor supremo Cowell on more than one occasion.

In his new biography by former BBC journalist Tom Bower, it is claimed that Cowell confessed to a friend about the liaisons between himself and Dannii.

According to his book, Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life Of Simon Cowell, the music executive said to a pal: 'There were a few bonks and then it petered out while I was in America.'

Now friends of Dannii are worried that she won't be able to cope with all the pressure of the situation as she is still trying to deal with her split from former long-term partner, and father of her son Ethan, Kris Smith.

Perfect in purple: Dannii looked stunning, if more slender than normal, in a plunging plum gown as she presented the award

One friend told the Mirror newspaper: 'It was all such a long time ago and to have to deal with it now in the wake of the last few weeks is just too much.

'She is incredibly raw and this is the last thing she wants to endure.'

They added to the newspaper: 'Dannii was very much collateral damage in all of this. It’s betrayal, pure and simple.

'And it looks very much now like Simon simply hired Dannii, used her, then spat her out afterwards.'

A representative for Miss Minogue declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline, but while she has not blamed Simon personally for the revelations, his inner circle claimed they had no idea what Bower would write and the TV mogul is outraged.


Betrayed: Dannii Minogue is reportedly upset at claims made in Simon Cowell's biography

Just good friends: Cowell and Minogue were pictured holding hands in 2007

However, after the details first emerged, some fans suggested that if he wanted details of the affair to remain a secret, he could have ensured that they were not revealed.

Speaking to MailOnline this morning, author Bower said that he was first told about the romance with Dannii by a source close to Cowell.

He said: 'Simon was furious at first when he found out that I had found out about the relationship.'

Asked if Cowell had eventually confirmed that the romance had taken place, Bower replied: 'Yes, he did.'

Cowell took to his Twitter page late last night to poke fun at the revelations, saying: 'Just seen the TV ad for the unauthorised book on me. Yikes!'


Betrayed: Dannii Minogue is reportedly upset at claims made in Simon Cowell's biography

Friend and foe: Danni was at loggerheads with fellow judge Sharon Osbourne during their time on X Factor

In the book, there are several quotes from Cowell speaking about the affair - even though Dannii and Simon had both denied it in 2008 when it was alleged to have taken place - before she got together with Kris Smith.

He is quoted as saying: 'I had a crush on her. It was Dannii's hair, the sexy clothes and the t**s. I was like a schoolboy. She was foxy. She was a real man's girl. Very feminine.'

Although, it's also claimed in the book that Simon felt he was not ready for a relationship having split with long-term girlfriend Terri Seymour before Dannii became his conquest.

The book describes how Dannii became Cowell's target when he changed the X Factor judging panel in 2007 to include her, allegedly calling her a 'new toy.'

The ex factor: Dannii, pictured in 2011, recently split from Kris Smith

And that same year, he said: 'Dannii reckons there’s a picture on The X Factor website where I’m staring at her bottom.

'I probably was... but I think most people would if they were sitting next to her. She was probably sticking it out on purpose.

'Every guy in the world fancies Dannii. She’s become a sex symbol since joining the show, and the contestants love her. She’s got that Sophia Loren, movie-star sex appeal, I love sitting next to her.'

However, fans of the ITV talent show will remember that the pair didn't always sit next to each other.

When Minogue first appeared on the show back in 2007, she took pride place at the judging panel sitting next to Cowell while fellow female judge Sharon Osbourne sat next to Louis Walsh.

This was also around the same time when Minogue was forced to deny that she was close to the X Factor mogul after the publication of a photo appeared to show the pair apparently holding hands in the back of a car.

She said: 'We were not holding hands. But no one believes me. It was the angle of the picture.'

It's also alleged that Cowell took pleasure in the rift between Minogue and Osbourne during her time on the show.

The female pair didn't get on with one another at all, and Cowell was forced to admit at the time that he tried his best to give both ladies the equal amount of attention.




source:dailymail