Molly‑Mae Hague appeared upbeat as she stepped out with her daughter on Thursday, giving a thumbs up amid continuing criticism of her National Television Award win for an authored documentary.
The former Love Island star, 26, who accepted the NTA for Molly‑Mae: Behind It All on Wednesday, has faced a wave of online backlash after beating nominees including the late Rob Burrow and cancer survivor Amy Dowden. Broadcaster and podcaster Vogue Williams was among the more prominent public figures to comment, saying on ITV's Lorraine that she and others had been "a bit shocked" by the result and joking she might "plan a break up" to replicate the perceived formula for success. Amy Dowden, who was nominated for Strictly Amy: Cancer and Me, posted on social media to congratulate Molly‑Mae and said she would continue using her platform to raise awareness about breast cancer.
Molly‑Mae was nominated in the Authored Documentary category for a six‑part Prime Video series released in January that followed the influencer as she navigated personal and professional challenges, including her split from boxer Tommy Fury. In her acceptance speech at London's O2 Arena, the winner acknowledged the other nominees and paid particular tribute to Rob Burrow and his family, saying his story "was far more inspirational than mine could ever be." She thanked viewers and supporters and highlighted the honour of being nominated.
The result provoked strong reaction on social media, with viewers posting on X and other platforms questioning how the public had voted and describing visible surprise among presenters and attendees as Molly‑Mae collected the trophy. Comments singled out the presence of highly personal and widely praised documentaries in the same category, including There's Only One Rob Burrow and Flintoff, alongside Amy Dowden's account of her cancer journey.
Organisers say the National Television Awards are voted on by the public. The ceremony, hosted this year by Joel Dommett to mark the NTAs' 30th anniversary, also produced several widely discussed winners. Gary Lineker took the Best Presenter award, ending Ant and Dec's 23‑year streak; This Morning won Best Daytime; EastEnders won Best Serial Drama; and Gavin & Stacey was named Best Comedy. Other winners included Clarkson's Farm for Factual Entertainment and Lee Mack's The 1% Club for Best Quiz Show.
Molly‑Mae's victory marked a high profile moment for the influencer community at the awards, where categories ranged from long‑running dramas and presenter honours to newer streaming documentaries. The Authored Documentary field in 2025 paired personal storytelling from public figures with established documentary subjects; Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and died last year at 41, and Amy Dowden has spoken publicly about her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Reactions from industry figures and viewers highlighted divisions over how public votes reflect perceived worthiness in categories that mix differing documentary formats and subjects. Some attendees and viewers noted visible reactions on stage and in the audience when the Authored Documentary winner was announced. Molly‑Mae acknowledged the calibre of the competition during her remarks and dedicated the award "to Rob" as well as "other inspirational people in this category."
The NTAs, created in 1995 to give the public a direct voice in recognising television talent, were televised on ITV1. Winners are chosen by public vote via multiple channels. The ceremony featured a mix of acceptance speeches and lighter moments, including a speech by Gary Lineker addressing his controversial exit from Match of the Day earlier in the year and emotional presentations for long‑running serial dramas. The event also included special recognition for Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Park.
Molly‑Mae's public appearance on Thursday came as discussion about the awards continued across social media and in broadcast commentary. Critics and supporters have both used the platform to debate the role of public voting and the criteria by which diverse documentary projects are compared in awards categories. Molly‑Mae continues to work as an influencer and entrepreneur and has recently been promoting her fashion brand and the streaming miniseries that earned her the NTA.