Survivor star George Mladenov and Carla from Bankstown pulling punters to Western Sydney

Reality veteran George Mladenov and social media star Carla from Bankstown are happy to fly the flag for Western Sydney in the wake of the pandemic.

Just as Chris Hemsworth has flown the flag for Aussie tourism, Survivor’s George Mladenov and social media star Carla from Bankstown are putting Sydney’s western suburbs on the map.

Both have become unofficial ambassadors for the area they grew up in and have remained.

“The best thing about Bankstown is the people,” said Mladenov, who was a favourite and finalist on the last season of Survivor Australia. He has issued an open invitation for everyone to spend time in Western Sydney.

Survivor's George Mladenov and Carla from Bankstown at the Lady Bank's Rooftop Bar in Bankstown Sports Club. Picture: David Swift

“What everyone should do this summer is spend your holidays in Bankstown – don’t go to the Northern Beaches, they don’t want you to go there. We want you to come here, have a good time at fantastic restaurants, cocktail bars and hang out with the best people in Sydney.”

It has been a tough year for many, with Bankstown one of the hardest hit areas in this year’s Covid lockdown.

Carla from Bankstown exploded on social media with her own Covid press conferences rivalling those of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.

George Mladenov on Survivor with eventual winner Hayley Leake.

Ben James, the man behind the character, joked that a statue of Carla from Bankstown would be a nice addition to Paul Keating Park.

“We are the king and queen of Bankstown,” he laughed.

“Carla and myself are the new faces of Western Sydney and for first time almost ever you’ve got two people who are on TV screaming out that they are proud to be from Bankstown and Western Sydney.”

Mladenov described Bankstown as “the beating heart of Western Sydney”.

“I call a spade a spade, that is what Bankstown is, we don’t take s... from anyone,” he continued. “We are people that stand up for our friends, our family and our mates. We are very proud of where we come from and we want to scream that from the hills.”