Former Neighbors star Holly Valance has taken her next big political step: hosting a lavish fundraiser for Donald Trump that raised $2 million (A$3 million) for the Republican presidential campaign for the White House in 2024. .
The Australian actress, 41, has reinvented herself as a conservative firebrand, recently criticizing Greta Thunberg as a “demonic little elf” and claiming Australia has become “too woke” in a television interview.
Valance and her husband, billionaire property magnate Nick Candy, hosted Donald Trump Jr, his Fox News presenter wife Kimberley Guilfoyle, UK Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and about 100 guests at their Chelsea residence, London, Wednesday.
“It’s a Holly party, you can guarantee it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Farage said upon arriving at the event, where tickets cost between US$10,000 and US$100,000 (A$15,000-$150,000).
Holly Vallance hosted the event – which was hosted by Trump’s ambassador to Spain – in London this week.
Holly Vallance (left) is pictured greeting Donald Trump Jr (center right) and his wife Kimberley Guilfoyle at the event.
British press reports noted that Valance’s fundraiser appeared to be in silent competition with a rival citywide fundraiser for Biden’s campaign, hosted by Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Guests were given just an hour’s notice about the location before the doors opened tonight.
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, was photographed with guests near the house as he left after sunset.
A local woman was heard booing “vote for Biden!” from a nearby rooftop.
Up to 100 guests were expected to attend, including several American Republicans, some of whom were part of the Trump White House between 2017 and 2021.
The fundraiser invitations list a variety of categories in which guests can donate, such as ‘host committee’ ($100,000 per couple) and dinner ($50,000). Just to attend costs $10,000, while a photo opportunity costs $25,000.
Greg Swenson, president of Republican Overseas, told the BBC he would be “surprised” if Trump Sr. didn’t make a virtual appearance.
The venue was near the Chelsea Embankment and at the door, a man in a suit and umbrella welcomed guests.
The property’s website described the venue as an “entertainment and relaxation center, including a winery, pool, spa and an IMAX theater.”
Holly Valance and her husband Nick Candy are pictured with Donald Trump and Nigel Farage at Mar-a-Lago in 2022.
Valance and her husband have been publicly associated with Trump and Farage since at least April 2022, when the now-reform leader shared a photo of the group after dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
The Australian star made waves in March when she slammed climate activist Thunberg to podcast host Christopher Hope: “I don’t understand why you have this little demonic priestess of climateism like a little gremlin goddess in the classrooms, Greta (Thunberg).
“Every child comes home with depression and anxiety,” he said.
‘Why would you go to your music lesson or bother doing your homework or getting out of bed if you think we’ll all be dead in five years anyway?’
The mother of two also stated that she has no intention of returning to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is “waking up.”
‘The Australia I grew up in was unreal. “It was a lot of fun and we didn’t seem to have all these problems…the woke thing has really become big in Australia,” she said.
Holly spoke about “woke culture,” pointing out “the things they teach in school”: “I don’t think sexuality and boys should be in the same sentence.
‘I don’t think anyone’s sexuality is anyone’s business. You don’t know anything about mine. I don’t know yours. Why would we do it?
Valance, who is married to billionaire property developer Nick Candy, was born in Australia but has British citizenship through her British mother. She resides in London and the Cotswolds.
