The eastern suburbs can seem like a playground for Sydney’s young, attractive and wealthy.
But in reality, the leading actors in the East are no different from teenagers competing to be the most popular girl in school. They may be older, some even a little wiser, but, according to a source in our society, the same rules apply.
Behind the scenes, at Vaucluse mansion parties, Double Bay lunches and Mimi’s long lunches, whispers abound about who’s in and who’s out of the port’s elite cliques.
We spoke to a well-informed member of the ‘crowd’ and a regular DM snitch who shared with us a tongue-in-cheek ‘tier list’ that’s been circulating in group chats lately.
In it, the socialites are divided into A, B and C lists. There are many familiar names and some controversial locations; We’ll let you decide if they’re fair.
First, the A list…
Pictured from left to right: Caroline Tran, Lou O’Neil, Montarna McDonald, Bernadette Fahey, Kris Macourt and Deborah Symond O’Neil.
THE LIST A
Leading the group is Lou O’Neil (née Hay) who is the daughter of the late Donald Hay, a pioneer in brush manufacturing and founder of Hayco.
In 2022, she married Jake O’Neil, a property developer and the second eldest son of millionaire superyacht racer and Rose Bay marina owner Denis O’Neil and his wife Charlotte.
Lou, a beauty and fashion content creator, isn’t the only wealthy person to marry into the super-rich O’Neil family.
Australian home loan heiress Deborah Symond O’Neilwho married her eldest son Ned in 2018 in a lavish ceremony in the Whitsundays, also made the A-list.
Poppy Tzaneros (née O’Neil)Denis and Charlotte’s daughter, runs in the same circles. She is married to Anthony Tzaneros, a member of the founding family of the giant port logistics company ACFS.
The ‘queen of Pilates’ joins the trio Bernadette Faheywho married Buildcorp COO Jordan Sukkar in a star-studded ceremony in Sydney last November.
She is known for being a fitness instructor to some of Sydney’s most powerful socialites, including Jade Yarbrough and Madeleine Holtznagel (more on them later).
Montarna PittFounder of successful Sydney PR firm The Audience Agency, she’s also A-list, which isn’t surprising considering how well-connected she is.
Montarna Pitt (pictured), founder of successful Sydney PR firm The Audience Agency, also made the A-list, which isn’t surprising considering how well-connected she is.
Also on the A list is Nadia Fairfax, considered one of Sydney’s most important socialites.
Pictured left to right: Lou O’Neil, Deborah Symond O’Neil and Poppy Tzaneros
Stylist and brand consultant. Carolina Tran and writer Cristina Macourt They are also notable members of the Sydney group ‘It’.
It’s also on the A list. Nadia FairfaxLong considered one of Sydney’s leading socialites and fashion bloggers. She is married to Michael Wayne, CEO of Medallion Financial and a regular contributor to Sky Business.
‘That’ girl Harriet Williams She has also cemented her place in the elite social scene, despite speculation that she has split from her husband Andy El-Bayeh.
Harriet, a kinesiologist at Inner Remedy, comes from a wealthy Sydney family, while Andy is the creative director and founder of creative agency Example.
Hoda Waterhouse (née Vakili) and his sister King Hanna Vakili They are also part of the main social scene of the eastern suburbs.
Hoda, an architect, is married to bookie and horse racing royalty Tom Waterhouse, while Rey’s husband is billionaire chicken heir Johnny Ingham.
johnny’s sister Tamie InghamJasmine Stefanovic’s former business partner and wife of celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi, she also occupies a lofty position at the top of the Emerald City’s social ladder.
Pictured from left to right: Hannah Gold, Kristina Macourt, Bernadette Fahey, Montarna Pitt, Brittany Gallagher and Harriet Williams.
Hoda Waterhouse (née Vakili) and her sister Rey-Hanna Vakili (both pictured) are also part of the eastern suburbs’ main social scene.
Tamie Ingham, former business partner of Jasmine Stefanovic and wife of celebrity chef Guillaume Brahimi, also occupies a lofty position at the top of the Emerald City’s social ladder.
THE B LIST
While they’re not at the pinnacle of Sydney’s high society, those on the B-list are still people to watch out for.
The biggest B group, at least according to the list circulating, is the founder of PE Nation. Pip Edwards. She’s a self-made fashion millionaire, but her reputation as a tabloid headline magnet may hold her back from reaching the lofty heights of the A-list.
Dina BroadhurstKnown as the ‘Naked Artist’ and ‘The Body of the East’, she also sits firmly in the middle of the pack (although we personally think she deserves to be on the A-list based on her figure alone).
public relations guru Roxy Jacenko is known for representing many famous clients and you would think she would find a spot near the top, but we understand she fell to the B list after moving to Singapore with his family in 2023.
The B-list includes some familiar names, including Pip Edwards (left) and Jackie O (right).
Dina Broadhurst, known as the ‘Nude Artist’ and ‘The Body of the East’, sits firmly in the middle of the pack (although we think she deserves to be on the A list based on her figure alone).
Roxy Jacenko is known for representing many celebrities and one would think she would find a place near the top, but we understand that she fell to the B list after moving to Singapore.
Joining Roxy on the B-list is Madeline Holtznagel (right), the 27-year-old girlfriend of Sydney hospitality magnate Justin Hemmes (left). They are expecting their first child together
Jackie ‘O’ Henderson is aggressively revamping her image from shock radio jock to a safer Goop-y influencer for Gen X women.
If net worth decided social status, she’d be up there, but her history of on-air scandals keeps her on the B list. But we’re sure, having signed a 10-year, $200 million deal in 2023, he’ll be crying all the way to the bank.
Joining her on the B list is Madeline Holtznagelthe 27-year-old girlfriend of Sydney hospitality magnate Justin Hemmes, 52. They are expecting their first child together..
Completing the middle level is Ellie Aitkenwho made headlines in late 2021 when her marriage to prominent stockbroker Charlie Aitken blew up over his affair with her. close friend Hollie Nasser.
Rounding out the mid-tier is Ellie Aitken (centre right), who made headlines in late 2021 when her marriage to stockbroker Charlie Aitken blew up over his affair with close friend Hollie Nasser. (Pictured left to right: CJ and Hollie Nasser, and Ellie and Charlie Aitken)
Kristin Fisher’s (pictured) reputation took a hit when a brush with the law in 2021 led a magistrate to scold eastern suburbs elites for their occasional cocaine use.
Sisters Jade (right) and Jasmine Yarbrough (left), from Queensland, complete the C-list.
Model Laura Csortan became a Sydney ‘It’ girl when she won a series of beauty pageants in the late ’90s. But these days she keeps a lower profile.
THE C LIST
Now, there is nothing wrong with being a C-lister.
While those sharing this list may have had sarcastic intentions, the socialites in Class C are even richer, more famous, and more beautiful than any of us could hope to be, and at least they’re not on lists D to Z , something we dare not do. post.
the aforementioned Hollie Nasser found a place, buoyed by her relevance for her role in the Eastern Suburbs love triangle. Although he hasn’t done much since.
she is united by christina fisherone of Sydney’s most sought-after beauticians who runs an eponymous salon in Double Bay.
But while her talent as an ‘eyebrow queen’ is legendary, her reputation took a hit when a brush with the law in 2021 led a magistrate to scold eastern suburbs elites for their occasional cocaine use.
Model Laura Csortan She became a Sydney ‘It’ girl when she won a series of beauty pageants in the late ’90s. But these days she keeps a lower profile..
sisters Jade and Jasmine Yarbroughfrom Queensland, completes the C-list. Jasmine is married to TV star Karl Stefanovic while (unfortunately) Jade’s biggest claim to fame is being involved in the ‘Noosa Rumble’ with her ex Michael Clarke..