Publisher Michael O'Doherty has defended Lorraine Keane from what he said is "an outbreak of bitchiness" after the TV3 star was named Most Stylish Woman at the Peter Mark VIP Style Awards this month.

The magazine man said he is surprised by the malice directed at the Xposé host after she beat rivals Glenda Gilson and Rosanna Davison at the awards ceremony which took place in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel on 6 March.

O'Doherty told The Diary: "I don't know what's going on but there really is an incredible amount of bitchiness towards Lorraine right now. I think it's completely unwarranted. Here's a mother of two who could be seen with baby vomit on her shoulder but instead, not only manages to hold down a glamorous job, but does it extremely well. Lorraine deserved to win that award."

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Amanda Brunker, who Keane beat for the Most Stylish Woman title, can be seen having a pop at Keane in an advert shown on TV this weekend.

While the promo shows the former Miss Ireland harmlessly pulling a face at Keane's picture on the cover of VIP magazine, Brunker admits outtakes had been less kind.

"We shot the ad a couple of ways and had a couple of reactions that sounded really bitchy. Then there were a couple of reactions which weren't supposed to sound mean but turned out sounding horrific. It's only because it wasn't me on the cover of VIP and I'm a mother too. I am not a Lorraine Keane basher. Lorraine seems to be getting a bad rap but I have no problem with her. I texted her to say as much," Brunker told The Diary.

The TV promos are the latest onslaught against the Xposé presenter since she picked up the award.

It started before she had even received the prize when 2008's winner, Andrea Roche, had quipped onstage at the event. "I'm so delighted Lorraine won. At least now we know the winner will be on Xposé, unlike last year."

Roche later described the remarks as "tongue-in-cheek" and "a joke that was taken up wrongly".

While Keane is saying silent on the slights, a source close to the TV3 star said she was mystified by the recent attacks.

"Despite how other people are behaving, Lorraine didn't really take winning at the VIP Style Awards very seriously. All that stuff about clenching her fist as she won the award is rubbish.

"Lorraine was delighted to win but only because it helps promotes her TV show Xposé. She doesn't understand some of the negativity this has brought out in other people or the level of press interest."

The Diary can only imagine the backlash should Keane win at next month's Walker Sensations TV Now Awards in the Mansion House on 18 April. Not only is Keane nominated in the best female presenters' category, she is the event's host.