Robbie and his new Kiwi girl
He has a traditional Maori tattoo on his shoulder, but it is his interest in Kiwi women, not culture, that has landed pop star Robbie Williams in the headlines again. A British tabloid has exposed a romance with a New Zealand barmaid, who joins previous Kiwi conquests including supermodel Rachel Hunter and would-be model Robin Reynolds. Charlotte Austin, 26, told the Sunday Mirror she met Williams while working at London’s swanky Conrad Hotel as he tried to avoid a pack of photographers. Ms Austin joked that the paparazzi were there for her picture and told Williams to stop being so self-centred.
“He laughed and told me I was a fabulous-looking girl. We hit it off right away. I’m not a fan and I don’t like his music. Because I took the p… out of him, I think he felt comfortable with me. “It’s a bit empowering – if Robbie Williams tells you you’re gorgeous, well it does help to get rid of some of your insecurities.” Ms Austin, who moved to London 18 months ago, met Williams last year but it was only in May that he asked for her phone number. “We were just chatting away about normal stuff – well, my stuff was normal, his was about LA and recording. “Then he asked me when we were going to start hanging out.”
The pair began seeing other, usually at Williams’ luxury apartment to avoid being mobbed by fans and media. Ms Austin said she became the superstar’s “London lover” but had not spoken to him in a month and was unsure if they would see each other again. She no longer works at the hotel and could not be reached yesterday. Williams has a shoulder-to-elbow Maori tribal symbol, etched by artist Te Rangitu Netana while Williams was visiting New Zealand.
LANE NICHOLS and NZPA / stuff.co.nz
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