Zara McDermott sizzles in a sheer lace dress as she makes an unlikely presence amongst Hollywood stars at Emilia Perez's Cannes Film Festival premiere

Zara McDermott pulled out all the stops as she hit the red carpet for the Emilia Perez premiere on Saturday, after receiving a coveted invite to the 77th Cannes Film Festival. 

The former Love Island star, 26, mixed with Hollywood stars including Selena Gomez, Salma Hayek and Eva Longoria for the screening of the musical crime comedy, set for release on August 28. 

Zara sent temperatures soaring as she slipped into a sparkly blue maxi dress which featured racy panelling and showcased her jaw-dropping figure.

The television personality appeared to go braless beneath the backless dress that boasted a small train and featured lace, sequins and sheer material.

Zara styled her dark tresses into loose waves and added a boost to her height with black heels. 

The film stars Karal Sofia Gascon, Selena, Zoe Saldana and Edgar Ramirez and is a musical crime comedy film.

According to IMDB, the film's plot centres on Rita, a talented lawyer disillusioned by her firm's win-at-all-costs mentality, who finds an unexpected opportunity for escape. 

Infamous cartel leader Manitas enlists her for an extraordinary task: to assist him in leaving his criminal empire behind and fulfilling his lifelong dream of transitioning into the woman he has always wanted to be.

Cannes is the world's biggest film festival, first conceived in 1939 as an alternative to the then-fascist-influenced Venice Film Festival.

It has been held annually since 1946 except in 1948 and 1950, when it was cancelled due to lack of funds.

The festival is known for its carefully selected programme of films that have gone on to Oscar glory or launched the careers of directors like Quentin Tarantino.

Cannes' top prize is the Palme d'Or, or Golden Palm, whose past winners include Taxi Driver, Apocalypse Now, Pulp Fiction, The Pianist and Parasite.

Jane Campion became the first female director to win in 1993 with The Piano, followed by a nearly three-decade gap until Julia Ducournau received the award for Titane in 2021.

Justine Triet became only the third female director to take the prize last year with Anatomy of a Fall.

There is also an honorary Palme d'Or, which is awarded in recognition of notable bodies of work, with past recipients including Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood.

There are two honorary winners this year: George Lucas of 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' fame, and Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, the first group to receive the prize.

Other awards include the Grand Prix, jury prize, best director, best actor, best actress, best screenplay and best short film.

The Cannes Film Festival officially kicked off on Tuesday night as celebrities walked the red carpet into the plush Grand Theatre Lumiere to honour Hollywood actor Meryl Streep before settling in to watch this year's opening film, The Second Act.

Almost as prestigious as winning the Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's top prize, is being on the jury that picks the winner.

Artists from around the world who have made a name for themselves in their respective field are picked to sit on the jury, with one member designated as jury president.

This year's jury president, U.S. director Greta Gerwig, comes to Cannes after the massive success last summer of Barbie.