A woman was accused of upstaging her cousin’s sweet 16th (Picture: Nataliia Nesterenko)

When you’re 16, the world is a terrible and exciting place, and everything matters so much, like your sweet sixteenth. But you might think it’s ruined if your model cousin shows up and steals the show.

At least that’s what happened to one teen who had a big bash for her milestone birthday. But then her cousin, an 18-year-old model, showed up in a stunning dress that everyone couldn’t help but compliment.

The model, who said she didn’t mean to take all the attention, shared her story on Reddit’s ‘am I the a**hole’ subreddit.

She explained how she was at a modelling gig not too far from her cousin’s birthday party and decided to swing by afterwards.

However, the sundress she had initially intended to wear was accidentally worn by her friend’s girlfriend (who mistook it for their partner’s).

Without anything party-appropriate to wear, the model simply borrowed one of her friend’s designer dresses to the event.

The cousin, Maria, however, was less than impressed.

She wrote on Reddit: ‘I was the last person to arrive and was also the most dressed up. My relatives all showered me with compliments on how I look, even Maria’s father. I didn’t want to steal attention from Maria so I tried to keep close to our 80-year-old grandfather who only sat still and kept quiet most of the time, but the rest of the family kept coming to greet me and complimented my dress and look.

‘Maria thanked me for the presents and served me cake. She also thanked me when I complimented her new hairstyle. I thought everything went well.’

But it wasn’t until she left that Maria let her feelings be known.

The posted continued: ‘As I drove back home, however, Maria called me, telling me I was an a**hole for showing up looking like that and stealing attention from her. I apologised and explained my dress situation. Maria said any decent person would just buy something else to wear before coming.’

The model didn’t share a photo of herself at the party – not wanting to make the situation worse – but she said the floor-length dress looked to the pale green one pictured above.

Redditors agreed that the original poster was not in the wrong for showing up like that, as she had intended to wear something else. They had sympathy for Maria too: ‘Being a 16-year-old isn’t easy, when your model cousin shows up wearing designer clothes, I get why she gets anxious.’

Others said that being insecure is just part and parcel of being 16.

‘Your cousin is 16. She doesn’t understand yet that she can be in a room with other beautiful women and it takes absolutely nothing away from her moment. She too young to understand she was in fact the centre of attention. The party was for her. She just chose to be jealous instead of appreciating your efforts to turn the attention away from yourself. You explained and apologised. There’s not much more you can do. Let it go.’

It’s not easy being 16.

Whether you’re going to a sweet sixteenth or a wedding, hen-do, or even wedding day, there are some things you just don’t do.

We spoke to stylist Alice Nichol to get her event dos and don’ts.

These are her dos: 

If you are wearing colour always make sure it is not the colour of the bridesmaids/ party owner etc

Sense the mood. If it’s a christening don’t wear the most revealing outfit possible. Be respectful!

The birthday girl or bride are the ones that need to shine, it’s not your day. It’s theirs. Save the high sequin, ‘look at me’ outfit for your next night out. 

Black and white at weddings are a grey area, stick to another colour or print. 

Don’ts:

Don’t wear anything that you may ‘fall out’ of or requires you being taped in, if the event has a formal ceremony or dancing! 

If going to be in photos be mindful of what you would look like next to bride/party girl. Be mindful of your height vs theirs, colours of outfit against theirs! 

In her defence, her original dress was nabbed by a friend’s girlfriend.