Wax figures of One Direction were unveiled to fans at Madame Tussauds London on Thursday. The creations were revealed by the iconic museum for the first time in front of a small group of excited fans, who are well placed to deliver the verdict on how alike to their heroes the waxworks really are. "They just look so real, even the hair is styled the right way," said one young fan, while another exclaimed: "This is the closest that I will ever get to kissing Harry Styles!" The boys themselves came face-to-face with their very own waxwork models – the first of a boy band to be created by the legendary celebrity hotspot since The Beatles' figures in 1964 – earlier this week.
The Live While We're Young singers were introduced to their finished wax figures at a secret viewing on Tuesday, before their latest gig in Nottingham. The five band members Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Niall Horan are said to have been stunned when they saw their life-size doubles for the first time. Harry, 19, said: "It's amazing and such an honour" to be immortalised into the incredibly lifelike models, while fellow band member Zayn commented, "They look wicked, they're bang on!" Irish singer Niall was overwhelmed at the uncanny similarities with his double, which is wearing his own clothes: "It's really good, isn't it?!" he said. "This is weird – he's wearing my actual shoes!". Liam summed up his emotions at being made into a waxwork by the museum, saying "this is definitely a privilege," and Louis admitted he couldn't wait for fans to see the five new waxwork creations.
Just like the real thing, the 1D replicas are heading off on a world tour, kicking off in the capital for 12 weeks before travelling to New York and Sydney. The boys had two sittings and hundreds of measurements taken for their waxworks, which each cost £150,000 to make. Their own hair stylist Louise Teasdale even got involved with the figures, which took a team of 40 and four months to complete.
The final work sees the band sitting together on a school-style double bench – perfect for their young fans who will be able to sit next to them. They are dressed in clothes donated by the boys themselves for maximum authenticity, in smart-casual, colour co-ordinated stage style.
