Kathryn Thomas may have made headlines for her controversial Johnny Ronan remark at the TVNow awards -- but it's her dress that's still causing a stir.

The former No Frontiers presenter was sporting a figure-hugging red dress by new label Stop Staring at the exclusive awards ceremony and shops have been inundated with requests for it since.

Although pictures appeared of US reality star Kim Kardashian wearing the same dress days earlier, it was Kathryn's version that caught attention among Irish fashionistas.

A spokesperson for new Irish online store Formosa Fashions told the Herald they received numerous requests about the €189 dress since Kathryn appeared in it, and the Malahide boutique where the presenter bought it had been just as busy. "We're almost completely sold out of the dress. There are only a couple left now," the spokesperson said. "After Kathryn wore it, we received several calls and emails from people about how to get one."

Kathryn told the Herald she was "thrilled" with the reaction to the dress -- and said that after seeing the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star in it, she wanted to get her hands on one.

"I was in Camille boutique in Malahide and she showed me a picture of Kim Kardashian in it a couple of weeks ago and when I saw her in it I thought 'that's the most amazing dress'," she said.

"The whole label Stop Staring is gorgeous. I've been watching the label for the past five or six months and people like Paris Hilton and Fergie -- it's got a big celeb following in the States.

"Then when I heard Camille was stocking it, I went out to see. What I like about the dress is that it works on all body shapes, it just manages to hug you in all the right places."

The eye-catching number has proved a hit with Irish fashion followers and a number of other home-grown celebrities were wearing the label to the high-profile ceremony.

Although Sile Seoige and Nuala Carey also wore Stop Staring to the bash, it was Kathryn's scarlet dress that sent temperatures soaring.

"I'm just thrilled with the reaction," she said. "Camille was saying that everyone was ringing the shop and she couldn't keep the dress in stock -- it's great."

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- Caitlin McBride