The Scoop: Robin Bailey soft-launches relationship with mystery man
Brisbane radio host Robin Bailey has jumped on board the trend of not giving away too much about her new relationship – including her partner’s face. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
Confidential
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Brisbane radio host Robin Bailey has “soft-launched” her newest romantic relationship on Instagram.
Keeping up with the times, she’s adopted the trending method of hinting at her relationship without giving away too much, specifically, the face of her new love interest remains a mystery.
Nicknamed ‘Waffles’ by Bailey and her KIIS97.3 radio co-host Kip Wightman, this mystery man and Bailey are soaking up the sun in New Caledonia, enjoying their first romantic getaway just three months into their relationship.
With posts of their Easter break escapades, including a cheeky back-of-the-head shot and snorkelling snaps where ‘Waffles’ is only seen from above, Bailey’s followers are left intrigued, piecing together the puzzle of her new beau’s identity.
However, not everyone is basking in the romantic glow of this news.
Kip Wightman expressed on-air concerns about the whirlwind nature of Bailey’s new romance, pondering the potential pitfalls of such a hastily planned international trip with someone she’s still getting to know.
“What if after a couple of days, you discover that you actually don’t like each other that much?” he asked Bailey on air.
This adventure comes after Bailey’s heartbreaking losses — first her husband Tony Smart to suicide in 2014, and then her partner Sean Pickwell to cancer in 2019.
PALASZCZUK NOT DONE YET?
With punters barely having had time to miss her from the political spotlight, Annastacia Palaszczuk has been spotted making moves that hint at a life far from retirement.
The ex-premier was caught in Sydney having a power lunch with International Olympic Committee Vice President John Coates and her former staffer, Jon Persley.
This high-profile gathering has sparked rumours that Palaszczuk is eyeing a role in the Olympic sports organisation, leveraging her legacy in securing Brisbane’s bid for the 2032 Games.
Insiders have suggested that Palaszczuk’s commitment to the Olympic cause might just be her ticket to a prominent position on the global sports stage, shifting gears from her days of public service to possibly a pivotal role in international sports governance.
But it’s not all business for the ex-premier.
Palaszczuk made her first pilgrimage to the Byron Bay Bluesfest since exiting the political stage, minus the moon boot she was recently seen sporting after a freak accident.
The ex-premier and partner, obesity surgeon Dr Reza Adib, were spotted in the VIP enclosure at the 35th annual music festival which this year featured the likes of Welsh crooner Tom Jones, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Tim Finn, Jimmy Barnes and Peter Garrett.
Dr Adib is a big fan of Aussie blues rockers the Teskey Brothers who were also on the bill.
He was wearing a Teskey Brothers T-shirt when he and Palaszczuk were photographed together at the 2022 Bluesfest, soon after they started dating.
Palaszczuk appeared to be getting around this year’s at-times boggy Bluesfest site without any issues, after she ruptured her achilles tendon in a mystery mishap at her partner’s luxury Burleigh Heads apartment in February.
‘WE’RE SOLID’: LIONS W.A.G. ON VEGAS FALLOUT
Jules Neale, the wife of Brisbane Lions’ Lachie Neale has opened up on the pressures of being in one of Queensland’s highest profile relationships.
In a week where relationships in the club were thrown into the spotlight following the team’s off season Las Vegas trip, Jules appeared stoic about the status of her “solid” relationship with husband and Lions co-captain Lachie Neale.
“Every relationship has different pressures, it’s important to keep the outside noise out, in any relationship regardless of it being in the public eye, unfortunately, it’s inevitable that people are going to have their own opinion” she asserted.
“I think Lachie and I have a really solid relationship, which is all that really matters.”
This saga saw the Lions embroiled in controversy, with reported rifts and relationship strains following leaked WhatsApp group chats detailing wild antics in the US.
Addressing the camaraderie among the Lions’ WAGs, Jules revealed that they are all “close”, a stark contrast to the image of division following recent events.
“We all have great relationships, however a lot of people forget that the club is just a fraction of our lives, so we all have great friendships and lives outside of this as well,” she said.
Jules also opened up about the unique set of challenges that come with balancing the roles of motherhood and being the wife of an elite athlete, after the couple welcomed their daughter Piper Rose, in September 2021.
Jules, a fervent lover of cooking, has taken to mastering the art of meal planning for both an elite athlete and a toddler, made easier by her recent collaboration with MasterFoods.
“We have a pre-game pasta tradition in our house, which is a really nice way to bring us together each week. I’ll always start with a base of onions, garlic and MasterFoods mixed with Italian blend herbs.”
“My hack for making easy and delicious meals is to always have a full spice rack,” she said.
Yet, amid the joys of family life, Jules remains keenly aware of the importance of preserving her own identity.
Once the owner of a successful hair salon, she now ventures into the entrepreneurial world with Cove Kids Club, a children’s clothing line.
“A lot of people don’t actually realise that I owned a really successful hair salon in Perth, which I had to sell before the move to Brisbane,” she said.
“I still love hairdressing, and I’m also working on some other projects, which include launching a new kids brand called Cove Kids Club.”
FROM W.A.G.S TO H.A.B.S
Champion swimmer Bronte Campbell wants to coin a new term ahead of this year’s Olympics – HABS.
A spin on the widely used acronym WAGS – Wives and Girlfriends of high-profile sportsmen, HABS stands for Husbands and Boyfriends of high-profile sportswomen.
“Now we’re getting more women’s sport, I’m keen to see the supporting boyfriends,” she said, with the term ready to be rolled out for partners of Australia’s high profile female sporting stars like those in the Matildas, AFLW, NRLW, basketball, netball, swimming and cricket.
The gold medallist has her own HAB in boyfriend Benfield Lainchbury, who has been by her side for the past seven years.
“I feel very lucky to have someone who is so supportive of the career that is so demanding of myself and so demanding on our relationship and so demanding of him and he’s my absolute number one cheerleader and supporter,” the 29-year-old said.
Making the pair’s relationship that much more difficult is that much of it has been long-distance, with Campbell moving from city to city to train for various Olympics. She is currently based in Canberra three weeks of every month as she prepares for the Paris games in July. But she hopes once the Olympics are over, in which she will be striving to win gold as part of the women’s relay team, the couple can be permanently together, with an engagement possibly on the cards.
KATARINA CARROLL’S BALI BREAK
Former police commissioner Katarina Carroll has taken on a new command in retirement – full control of her Instagram account.
Once armed with a cohort of seasoned media professionals to perfectly polish her public profile, the former commissioner took it alone to post pictures of her stay in Bali with husband Michael.
The pictures show a well-deserved break for Carroll who announced her sudden resignation in March amid mounting pressure on the Queensland Police Service.
“Slowing down can be challenging but a few days in Bali can certainly assisted with that. What a beautiful place to unwind and enjoy,” the Instagram post this week said.
With communication perhaps not always her strong point during her tenure, Carroll might want to run her next post via spellcheck.
LOVE, BONFIRE LABEL TAKES A ‘PAUSE’
Eyebrows were raised when Brisbane entrepreneur Stephanie Cunningham announced this week she was “pausing” her clothing business Love, Bonfire after only rebranding it last year. Cunningham told supporters she wanted to spend more time with her children as a single mum.
This decision comes unexpectedly, especially since just in January, Cunningham spoke as a panellist at The Star Magic Millions Women With Horsepower Lunch, discussing her dual roles as an owner and Director of the sustainability-focused fashion label, without any indication of the impending closure.
The label is a favourite of Brisbane’s influencer set but there were reports of inconsistent sizing issues – a challenge for an online label. The Cunningham clan has plenty of financial backing behind them, with Stephanie’s parents Lorilie and Gary owning a vast property portfolio. The family is also part owners of Magic Millions victor Storm Boy which was sold in a landmark deal this year which was worth $60m at the time.
SUNSHINE STATE SNUBBED
The global smash hit ‘& Juliet’ will bow out of its Australian tour without a single curtain call in Brisbane, with a shortage of theatre space understood to be the reason behind the exclusion.
The much-anticipated musical, renowned for its innovative take on Shakespeare’s classic tale, has Queensland fans feeling particularly overlooked.
Queensland’s own Lorinda May Merrypor, who has stolen hearts with her stellar performance as Juliet, shared her heartfelt disappointment at the missed opportunity to bring the production to her home state.
“It’s such a shame that we won’t be able to bring & Juliet to Brisbane because I know how much audiences there will just love this really special remix of Shakespeare’s favourite love story,” Merrypor said.
The exclusion is understood to be primarily due to the ongoing construction of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) new $175 million, 1500-seat venue, which has been delayed by two years following a series of setbacks, including flooding and material shortages.
However, Merrypor is hopeful that Queenslanders will make the journey to Sydney to catch the show, promising an unforgettable experience.
“Luckily, we have plenty of time for everyone to come down and see us in Sydney … It is totally worth making the trip down,” she said.
Fans still eager to catch the musical, there’s good news. Tickets for the Sydney leg of & Juliet’s Australian tour are available online now, offering a chance to see Merrypor alongside stars like Rob Mills and Casey Donovan live on stage.
DJ TIGERLILY ‘MIXES UP’ SELTZER SCENE
DJ Tigerlily, one of the celebrity owners of Gold Coast seltzer company Hard FIZZ has unveiled her own drink – aptly called Disco Juice.
Tigerlily, whose real name is Dara Hayes, was one of the founding investors in Hard FIZZ alongside fellow music producers Paul ‘The Fish’ Fisher and Brooke Evers, pro surfer Laura Enever, celebrity chef Hayden Quinn and Fisher’s podcaster wife Chloe.
Chloe’s Darling, Shine! podcast co-host Ellidy Pullin and AFL star Rory Sloane are also part-owners and brand ambassadors.
Hard FIZZ is now rated the biggest independent alcoholic soda in Australia, and third altogether after White Claw and Smirnoff.
Tigerlily brewed up her new alcoholic soda line as part of a special collab with consumer electronics brand JBL and the Your Shot national DJ competition, in which more than 10,500 contestants have entered over the past 12 years.
“I’ve always been a bit in the background with Hard FIZZ but we thought, it’s about time I did my own flavour and voila, Disco Juice was born,” she said.
Tigerlily said she would be taking a case or two of Disco juice to share with Dutch electronic music megastar Martin Garrix when she performs alongside him at the JBL Snow Party in the French Alps this month.
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