Is Mexico the new Dubai? Dua Lipa and Chloe Sims are among celebrities flocking to the country
Is Mexico the new Dubai? Dua Lipa and Chloe Sims are among celebrities flocking to its bars and beaches as influencers’ favourite Middle East haunt falls under travel ban
- Despite travel being banned to and from the UK, influencers have continued to glamorous destinations
- A number have been pictured in Mexico in recent weeks, including Dua Lipa, Chloe Sims and Lottie Moss
- The UAE, home to Dubai, was added to the UK’s travel red-list on Friday, banning arrivals from the country
- A magnet for influencers, the Dubai ban will leave many looking for a new destination to escape lockdown
- Mexico could become the new favourite, but has itself been hit hard by Covid-19, with over 150,000 deaths
Celebrities and influencers have been flocking to Mexico’s bars and beaches as it establishes itself as the latest Covid getaway destination.
The country, which is not yet on the UK’s travel red-list, appears to be the new destination of choice for global jet-setters and could rocket in popularity after travel from social media star magnet Dubai was banned on Friday.
Popstar Dua Lipa, ‘The Only Way is Essex’ star Chloe Simms and model Chloe Moss are among those that have been pictured in the Central American country in recent weeks.
Travel abroad is now banned from the UK without a legally permitted reason, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced on Wednesday, as she criticised influencers for ‘showing off in sunny parts of the world’.
Earlier this month, Dua Lipa shared pictures to her 60 million Instagram followers of her with her boyfriend Anwar Hadid – who is also model Gigi Hadid’s brother – and a group of friends together in Mexico.
In one series of pictures, the group were seen crowded together on a rooftop overlooking a jungle below, and while the post didn’t have a location tagged, a number of news outlets – including Harpers Bazaar – reported that they were in the country.
The move to ban travel to and from Dubai sparked an influencer exodus this week – although two defiant fitness bloggers boasted on Instagram about ‘testing their luck’ and getting the ‘last flight out’ to the emirate.
Earlier this month, superstar British singer Dua Lipa (right) shared a pictured to her 60 million Instagram followers of her with a group of friends reportedly in Mexico, despite the UK travel ban
Pictured left: Dua Lipa and friends reportedly Mexico. Pictured right: Dua Lipa (right) pictured with her boyfriend Anwar Hadid (centre-right) – who is also model Gigi Hadid’s brother – and a group of friends together reportedly Mexico
While not on the UK’s travel red-list, Mexico has been one of world’s counties hardest hit by the coronavirus, with Friday seeing 1,434 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths Friday, bringing its total for the pandemic to 156,579.
The country also recorded 18,670 newly confirmed coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 1.84 million, although testing has been limited – as has its vaccination rollout.
Travelling abroad has been banned from the UK unless an individual has been legally permitted to do so, with the Government explicitly saying that ‘travel abroad for holidays and other leisure purposes’ is illegal.
In addition, people coming from countries on the UK’s ‘red-list’ have been banned from entry, except for British and Irish nationals who are required to self-isolate in government-provided accommodation for 10 days upon their return.
From 13:00 on Friday, the United Arab Emirates was added to the list, meaning anyone in Dubai would have to quarantine on their return to the UK, with Home Secretary Priti Patel criticised those who have been holidaying in the sun when they have been told to stay at home.
But this hasn’t stopped celebrities from travelling elsewhere, leading to hostile messages on Instagram and Twitter pages accusing them of recklessly spreading the virus and putting the NHS under increasing strain.
Many claim they jetted off for ‘unavoidable work trips’ – with some even going so far as to suggest that their social media posts should make them ‘key workers’.
TOWIE stars Chloe Sims and Frankie Essex have both been pictured in Mexico this weekend, telling to her followers she had jetted to Mexico but because she had been presented with a work trip she ‘couldn’t turn down’.
Chloe took to Instagram and shared a series of bikini photos of herself after landing in celebrity hot spot Tulum.
Insisting the trip was for work she wrote, in all-caps: ‘I HAVE ARRIVED IN MEXICO.. SO I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF ANY NEGATIVE STORIES TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS FIRST & FOREMOST A WORK RELATED TRIP.
‘SOME OPPORTUNITIES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES, THAT I FELT I COULD NOT TURN DOWN & SO AFTER FULLY CONSIDERING THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES. I DECIDED TO TRAVEL.’
Chloe added she would be quarantining at her home in Essex as soon as she returns from the trip.
Family outing: Chloe Sims appeared to take a break from her work duties as she and cousin Frankie Essex left a restaurant in Tulum, Mexico following lunch on Saturday
Working hard: The TOWIE star revealed she had travelled to Mexico on a ‘work related trip’ amid Britain’s coronavirus lockdown
She said: ‘OBVIOUSLY I WILL BE QUARANTINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS UPON MY RETURN.’
Tulum is popular with stars including Drew Barrymore and Kristin Cavallari with Love Island’s Eyal Booker and girlfriend Delilah Belle Hamlin also recently visiting the city.
Lottie Moss, the younger sister of supermodel Kate Moss, has also been pictured in Mexico while telling her followers that it’s for a work trip.
The 23-year-old was pictured enjoying a boat party on a yacht earlier this month on January 21, drinking and dancing with friends. A source close to Lottie told MailOnline she’s in Mexico for work reasons.
She later wrote on her Instagram account: ‘Cats out the bag I guess – been working on something really fun for work out here can’t wait for you guys too see!’
For business? Despite appearing to flout COVID-19 lockdown restrictions by jetting abroad while international travel from England is banned, a source close to Lottie Moss told MailOnline she’s in Mexico for work reasons
Littie Moss, pictured, later wrote on her Instagram account after being seen in Mexico: ‘Cats out the bag I guess – been working on something really fun for work out here can’t wait for you guys too see!’
Former professional football player Jermaine Pennant also jetted off to Mexico after spending New Year’s in Dubai amid the coronavirus crisis.
Pennant, 38, has taken to Instagram in recent weeks to give fans a glimpse into his travels in both countries after he spent Christmas Day with his family in Nottingham.
While he hasn’t specified the reason for his trips abroad, Jermaine shared pictures of himself on the beach and at a golf course while in Mexico.
On Friday, Jermaine celebrated his birthday as he topped up his tan while at the beach and simply told his followers: ‘A sunny January is the way forward.’
The next day he posed for snaps while enjoying an outing at Taboo Tulum, a restaurant in Mexico.
Former footballer Jermaine Pennant posted showing he had travelled to Mexico from Dubai. On Friday he shared a selfie while celebrating his birthday by being on the beach
Laura Anderson claims flying to Dubai was ‘a coping mechanism’
By Laura Fox for MailOnline
Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was ‘a coping mechanism’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Love Island star, 31, said she ‘felt guilty the whole time’ she was away after claiming she’d flown to the UAE for a ‘business trip’ following backlash towards influencers bending travel restrictions to fly abroad.
During an Instagram Q and A, after being asked whether she felt guilty about being in Dubai, she said: ‘I felt guilty the whole time. I don’t think anyone realised how bad the strain would get, and how quickly. So hearing people upset, I felt horrific.’
Meanwhile, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador posted a video of himself walking slowly through his offices Friday and talking for about 13 minutes straight, saying he is recovering from COVID-19.
Lopez Obrador has not been holding his famous, hours-long daily press conferences for the first time since he took office on Dec. 1, 2018, and he evidently misses the opportunity to talk.
The president, who has been in isolation since testing positive for the coronavirus over the weekend, said: ‘The doctors tell me I am getting through the critical stage. I am doing well.’
He has been receiving treatment at his apartment in the colonial-era National Palace, where he also has offices.
Lopez Obrador said that Mexico will import the AstraZeneca vaccine from India and said that the government expects China’s CanSino vaccine to submit test results soon.
Along with Russia’s Sputnik vaccine, he said, Mexico expects to have 6 million doses of various vaccines by the end of February and 12 million in March.
He said that could allow all elderly people in Mexico to get at least one shot. So far, Mexico has been using only the Pfizer vaccine and has been administering second doses as scheduled.
However, Mexico has only about 760,000 Pfizer doses, about half the amount it needs just to vaccinate front-line health personnel.
The country reported 1,434 newly confirmed COVID-19 deaths Friday, bringing its total for the pandemic to 156,579. However, Mexico has an extremely low rate of testing, and estimates of excess deaths suggest the real toll to date is over 195,000.
The country also recorded 18,670 newly confirmed coronavirus infections, bringing the total to 1.84 million.
The recent surge in cases lost Mexico its only state that was considered in the low risk category, with the federal Health Department revealing that Campeche was once again in the moderate risk category.
The Gulf coast state had previously scheduled a reopening of schools because it was at the lowest risk category, with low levels of infection and hospitalizations. It was unclear whether its change in status would have any effect on the school plans.
Which influencers have defended trips abroad?
Kady McDermott
Former Love Island contestant has hit back at a number of followers who criticised her decision to continue posting sun-soaked snaps from the Maldives
Former Love Island contestant has hit back at a number of followers who criticised her decision to continue posting sun-soaked snaps from the Maldives, while Britain is in lockdown
On one of pictures, showing her stepping out of a crystal blue sea, a follower remarked: ‘Breaking the rules again – don’t see this as a business trip!’
But Kady hit back: ‘Oh so because you don’t see it as a business trip it means it isn’t? Oh ok lol.’
Replying to another follower on a different picture, she said: ‘This is how I pay my bills!’
Gabby Allen
Former Love Island contestant Gabby Allen moved out to Dubai on December 7
Former Love Island contestant Gabby Allen moved out to Dubai on December 7.
She too faced criticism but, unlike many other influencers, she quickly set out her argument for the move – saying that her boyfriend, Brandon Myers, had a business.
In a post on Instagram, she said: ‘Hey guys, just to let you know, we made the decision to fly out to Dubai as my boyfriend’s business is based here & luckily allows us to travel,’ she wrote.
‘We were both fit to travel with negative PCR tests [for COVID-19]. I wanted to come on here and acknowledge this to my followers as it was a difficult decision for me.
‘I really hope you can understand that it was an opportunity I had to take.’
Amber Gill
Perhaps one of the more bizarre defences came from former Love Island star Amber Gill
Perhaps one of the more bizarre defences came from former Love Island star Amber Gill.
The former reality show winner jetted off to Dubai in December following news that London and much of the south East would be affected by the new rules.
But she said she ‘no idea’ what she was doing and claimed she was confused by the Tier 4 rules.
In a staggering Instagram post, she wrote: ‘Just want to put it out there that I had no idea Tier 4 was a thing.
‘The flight here was booked way before. I thought the only changes were being made on the 16th meaning I was still allowed to travel for work.’
Laura Anderson
Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was ‘a coping mechanism’ during the COVID-19 pandemic
Laura Anderson has insisted that flying to Dubai was ‘a coping mechanism’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Love Island star, 31, said she ‘felt guilty the whole time’ she was away after claiming she’d flown to the UAE for a ‘business trip’ following backlash towards influencers bending travel restrictions to fly abroad.
During an Instagram Q and A, after being asked whether she felt guilty about being in Dubai, she said: ‘I felt guilty the whole time. I don’t think anyone realised how bad the strain would get, and how quickly. So hearing people upset, I felt horrific.’
Holly Hagan
Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan – who has remained in the UK – weighed in on the widely-discussed issue of reality stars jetting to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic
Geordie Shore’s Holly Hagan – who has remained in the UK – weighed in on the widely-discussed issue of reality stars jetting to Dubai amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During an Instagram Q&A on Tuesday evening, the TV personality, 28, was quizzed over her thoughts on the vast amount of celebrities, including her MTV co-stars and Love Islanders, heading to Dubai amid restrictions and rules.
She was quick to defend her peers and pals, and while she admitted it is ‘frustrating’ for social media users to see their lavish antics, she personally would prefer ‘people to be happy in Dubai than suffering at home’.
Holly remained at home during the pandemic, while many of her pals – including Chloe Ferry and Sophie Kasaei – upped and left to Dubai.
Sheridan Mordew
The fitness influencer sparked a backlash earlier this week when she defended her decision to leave the UK for Dubai on This Morning.
The 24-year-old, from Sunderland, who has a following of around 11,000 on Instagram, arrived in Dubai on January 2, just a few days before the third national lockdown.
Since then, the social media star, who runs ‘Shape Up With Sher,’ has been sharing glamorous, sunshine-filled content with her Instagram followers as she enjoys relaxed restrictions in the United Arab Emirates.
The 24-year-old, from Sunderland, who has a following of around 11,000 on Instagram, arrived in Dubai on January 2, just a few days before the third national lockdown
But as she tried to justify her travels to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, the influencer failed to win over viewers.
They called her ‘selfish’ and ‘disgraceful’ for trying to imply her work – sharing sun-soaked selfies and outdoor fitness classes – was essential.
‘The reason I came to Dubai was purely for business,’ Sheridan started during a video call with the This Morning duo.
A cynical Phil told Sheridan: ‘A lot of the fitness stuff, this could be in your garage in Bolton, you don’t have to be in Dubai to do that.’
The influencer claimed she had travelled to the United Arab Emirates because she was struggling with her mental health, adding that ‘clients depend on me to bring them happiness’.
She said her thought process was: ‘The only way I’m gonna get out of this is to find an opportunity to get out of here on a plane to Dubai.
She said the travel was ‘the opportunity to get good content,’ and stressed she has no children and no ties
‘I’m not going to get content at home watching Netflix,’ she said. ‘It is all about the whole aspect of content, getting clients, all that kind of stuff.’
