It was black and strapless, with a sassy sequined flounce at the bodice and a gloriously full, swishy skirt.

The dress was, Lady Diana Spencer thought, so grown-up, just right for her first official engagement after the announcement she was to marry Prince Charles.

But when photographs emerged of the then 19-year-old Diana emerging from a limousine at a March 1981 charity event — all creamy shoulders and ample decolletage — there was a minor scandal over the revealing cut. According to Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed the ball gown with her husband, David, they didn't realize the furor the dress would cause.

The dress had been missing for years until David Emanuel recently discovered it in a plastic bag at his home. Along with other garments worn by Diana and designed by the Emanuels, it is to be auctioned off June 8 in a sale that includes the silk chiffon blouse chosen for the Princess of Wales' official engagement portrait by Lord Snowdon, and the calico prototype used to fit her famous ivory wedding gown.

Auctioneer Kerry Taylor, whose eponymous firm is handling the sale, and Elizabeth Emanuel hope the collection will go to a museum — the black dress is expected to fetch between $44,000 to $73,000 and the prototype of the wedding dress between $12,000 to $17,000.

R&B STAR RIHANNA MAKES ISRAEL DEBUT

R&B singing sensation Rihanna takes the stage in front of an Israeli audience for the first time tonight as part of her latest world tour.

It's the first time in Israel for the 22-year-old Barbados native. The concert is part of her Last Girl on Earth tour, which began three weeks ago in Europe.

Rihanna spent the two days prior to her show touring Tel Aviv and Jerusalem holding news conferences and meeting some of her fans. She said her time in Israel was an "amazing, amazing experience."

Metallica performed in Israel this month. Other artists including the Pixies and Elton John have shows scheduled in Israel this year.

GERMAN SINGER WINS EUROVISION CONTEST

Germany's Lena Meyer-Landrut won the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest yesterday with "Satellite," a catchy pop song, edging out Turkey and Romania.

Meyer-Landrut, who turned 19 during the competition in Baerum, Norway, won 246 points in the voting by a panel of judges and telephone votes from fans in the 39 participating countries.

It was Germany's second win in the songfest's 55-year history, and the victory means it will host next year's contest.

— Advertiser News Services