Singer Estelle was the big winner at last night’s Mobo (Music of Black Origin) awards at Wembley Arena in London. Melanie B stole the show when she first arrived in a ridiculous pale peach tight silk dress that included a plunging necklace, cleavage squeezed to the popping point, pockets, and a long hoodie that she draped over a mound of curls on the top of her head. Her hair was styled so that it looked like a bow.

I like Estelle’s funky dress, though. Her strapless number featured a gray camouflage panel in the center and a puffy skirt. She posed on the carpet with John Legend, her music mentor and longtime collaborator.

Estelle won Best Female UK at the ceremony, beating out Leona Lewis, who did not attend. Reports note that Lewis was booed when she accepted the award for best album via satellite:

U.S. singer Chris Brown was named best international artist at the Music of Black Origin awards during a ceremony in London last night.

In the past the Mobos, Britain’s biggest awards for urban music has drawn criticism for failing to attract stars from the other side of the Atlantic. This time it was some of the U.K. musicians who stayed away.

Leona Lewis did not attend, even though she won the Best Album prize for “Spirit,” as well as Best Video for “Bleeding Love.” Rap star Dizzee Rascal was voted Best U.K. Male for the second straight year. He too was unable to be at the event because of his schedule.

Some in the crowd booed during Leona Lewis’s acceptance speech, which was made via a video link.

Lewis was beaten by Estelle to the Best U.K. Female award. Estelle, wearing an off-the-shoulder fitted dress, got a warmer reception after canceling a concert in the U.S. to attend. One of the first to congratulate her was U.S. musician John Legend, who had boosted her career by signing her onto his record label.

Former Spice Girl Mel B, as the show host, ran though a series of costume changes including one hooded mini dress, while U.S. singer Grace Jones wore a black ruffled gown with full gold facemask to present an award to Estelle.

[From Bloomberg.com]

At least Mel B. changed out of that dress. Celebritology has a photo of Grace Jones in her gold face mask. She trumps Melanie B’s outfit, but just barely.

Melanie recently revealed that she twice turned down offers from Playboy to pose nude – once last year and again a few months ago. She said that she wouldn’t rule it out in the future, though, and now that offers are drying up for her I would bet she’s mentioning it to the press because she’s interested.

Credit: Bauergriffin and WENN