Victoria Beckham was just one of a galaxy of stars who yesterday paid tribute to Alexander McQueen, the East End boy whose breathtaking creations were adored the world over.

She described him as a ‘master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration’.

‘The fashion industry has lost a true great. An icon of all time,’ she added.

Few would disagree. Here, we trace his journey from humble beginnings to international superstar – and the inner torment which led him to take his own life at 40.

Not for nothing was Alexander McQueen known as ‘the hooligan of English fashion’. He was foul-mouthed, coarse, deeply provocative and at times downright offensive.

But he was also breathtakingly talented — a trail-blazing fashion designer who was constantly pushing the boundaries and shoving good taste and political correctness to one side as he used themes such as death, masochism and violence to promote his searingly original collections.

Contradiction ran through him like a dark seam. This was the man who once claimed that his greatest pleasure was to make people vomit as they left his shows, but desperately wanted them to buy his clothes.

And the man who rarely missed an opportunity to stick two fingers up at the Establishment was completely bowled over by the Queen when he collected his CBE in 2003.

‘I looked into her eyes, it was like when you see someone across the room on a dancefloor and you think, “Whoa!”,’ he gushed.

Lee Alexander McQueen was the son of a cab driver, the youngest of six children brought up on the 21st floor of a council tower block in Stratford, in London’s East End. He attended Rokeby, the local all-boys comprehensive.

Evander Holyfield’s wife cries foul

Heavyweight boxer Evander Holyfield has been accused of assaulting his wife.

Candi Holyfield has reportedly filed a temporary protective order against her husband after he allegedly hit his wife in the face during an argument on the morning of February 1.

Court documents showed that a row erupted between them after Candi, 30, complained about the heating being switched off at the £10-million mansion in the US state of Georgia.

A source close to the former world champion said Evander, 47, was told about the order by his managers as he was due to fly home from Las Vegas today.

They also claimed that Candi, Evander’s third wife, is now seeking a divorce from her husband of almost seven years.

But the source added that Candi was already making arrangements to move out of the mansion, and Evander has reportedly been advised by his managers to stay away from her or be held in contempt of court.

Candi claimed that when she refused to show him the cheque stubs of her payments, Holyfield hit her in the face on the back of the head twice and on her back also.

The former nurse claimed: ‘In 2008 he choked me in front of our daughter and house-keeper. In 2009 he has hit me in front of the children. He has grabbed me in front of the children. A couple of weeks ago he threw a bottle of water at me.’

Devoted fan creates Gaga Dolls

With her constantly changing hairstyles, huge collection of outfits and outrageous make-up, at times Lady Gaga can seem like a living doll.

And now the Poker Face singer has become just that, thanks to a devoted fan.

Designer Lu Wei Kang, who describes Lady Gaga as ‘very special’, has spent months recreating his idol’s wardrobe in miniature.

The home-made garments look just like the wacky outfits and hairstyles the eccentric singer has become famous for – but they are just a few inches long.

Kang has painstakingly recreated a series of Gaga’s outfits, including the black crown and dress she wore in her Bad Romance video and the silver mask and mesh dress she wears on tour.

Her outrageous Kermit the Frog outfit also features.

Kang’s clothes have become a huge hit on the internet where fans have described them as ‘genius’.

— Daily Mail