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Rihanna wows V Festival crowds but Justin Bieber disappoints as the headliners close first day

Other stars including Sia, Little Mix, John Newman, Rick Astley and Jess Glynne also took to the stage

RIHANNA wowed the V Festival crowd tonight as she closed the opening day at Weston Park.

While Justin Bieber left fans cold after he was accused of miming during his set in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, up in Staffordshire Rihanna left her audience wanting more.

 Rihanna wowed the crowds as she closed the opening day of the V Festival in Staffordshire
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Rihanna wowed the crowds as she closed the opening day of the V Festival in StaffordshireCredit: PA:Press Association

The pop princess took to the stage in long culottes, one leg of which was open, and a brown leather lave-up corset.

She teamed the unusual outfit with white heeled boots, a choker and bracelets and left her hair straight with dark brown lipstick.

 Her unusual outfit included a leather corset
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Her unusual outfit included a leather corsetCredit: PA:Press Association
 The star headlines in Chelmsford tomorrow
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The star headlines in Chelmsford tomorrowCredit: PA:Press Association

But it was her set that wowed as fans took to Twitter to sing her praises.

One shared a selfie of him and his happy friends and wrote: “Best night of my life, @rihanna killed it, belter from start to finish #VFestival.”

 Justin Bieber was accused of miming during his set in Chelmsford
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Justin Bieber was accused of miming during his set in ChelmsfordCredit: PA:Press Association

Even singer Sia tweeted her amazement and wrote: "@rihanna your voice just gets sicker and sicker. Sometimes I think your heart and guts are gonna come out your mouth. SO GOOD.”

And you had to feel for those fans that were unable to get a ticket as a couple of them wrote: “So jealous of everyone watching @rihannaat V Festival right now.”

But down in Essex, fans were left disappointed with Bieber as many accused him of miming during his set.

 One Twitter user said Bieber was a 'miming p****'
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One Twitter user said Bieber was a 'miming p****'Credit: Twitter

One attendee wrote: “Gutted! I love love love Justin Bieber but tonight at V he was miming, Not cool” while another simply wrote: “Justin Bieber you miming p****. #vfest”

 

 Little Mix came on stage looking super sexy
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Little Mix came on stage looking super sexyCredit: Getty Images

During the opening day of the two-day festival, which runs simultaneously between the two sites, acts including Sia, Little Mix, All Saints and Rick Astley took to the stage to perform.

Little Mix sent their fans into a frenzy with their high-energy set as well as their skimpy attire.

 Sia performed in her trademark black and blonde wig
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Sia performed in her trademark black and blonde wigCredit: AP:Associated Press

The four girls - Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Ann Pinnock and Jesy Nelson - 

came on in cutaway leotards, fishnet tights and thigh-high boots.

Aussie star Sia also performed in her trademark black and blonde wig as she came on the stage in Chelmsford in a white dress with billowing layers, which she pulled off to revealed a short, shift style white dress underneath.

 All Saints, who have reformed for the second time, performed in Staffordshire
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All Saints, who have reformed for the second time, performed in StaffordshireCredit: Getty Images - WireImage
 Jess Glynne looked super funky as she took to the stage
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Jess Glynne looked super funky as she took to the stageCredit: Rex Features

The recently reformed All Saints, the big girl group from the early Noughties, put on quite a show as Melanie Blatt and Nicole Appleton performed a little bump and grind on stage at Weston Park.

There was another trip down memory lane for some of the V crowd as 80s crooner Rick Astley took to the stage to perform in Essex and treated fans to a selection of his new and old smash hits.

 John Newman wowed with a high-energy set
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John Newman wowed with a high-energy setCredit: Getty Images

John Newman, who recently revealed he is battling a brain tumour for the second time, performed a very energetic set and received nothing but praise from his devoted fans.

Jess Glynne also performed as did Craig David, Tinie Tempah, Example – who brought on his dad – James Morrison, Katy B and Bastille.

 Rick Astley took the audience on a trip down memory lane
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Rick Astley took the audience on a trip down memory laneCredit: AP:Associated Press

Tomorrow, Justin will headline up at Weston Park while Rihanna will head down to Chelmsford.

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