The family of Salim Mehajer — the clan behind the man
SALIM is the most famous Mehajer, but his sisters are increasingly stepping into the spotlight. Who holds the cards?
AS THE latest catastrophe to hit the manicured world of Salim Mehajer exploded this week, it was Aiisha Mehajer — not her brother Salim — who braved the press.
Hours after a video emerged of a screaming Salim apparently calling his estranged wife Aysha a “f***ing sl*t”, the media were camped outside his mini-mansion in Sydney’s west.
Salim was silent leaving it to Aiisha to head out to the media pack, offering warm cups of tea to revive them on a cold winter’s day. The move ensured she was front and centre of the resulting stories.
Ever since last year’s lavish wedding of Salim and Aysha entranced a nation, his family has done its part to keep interest in the clan pumping along, feeding social media streams with snaps of their perfect, and sometimes seemingly identical, looks.
So who’s who in the Mehajer family? Which one has Salim’s love of business? Who is closest to his absent wife? And which Mehajers are keeping a low profile?
KAT MEHAJER — THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SISTER
Salim’s little sister, Khadijeh, otherwise known as Kat, is following in her big brother’s footsteps both in business and in wedding bravado.
With sister Aiisha, Kat has taken full advantage of the Mehajer name — and the family’s flawless good looks — by launching the Mehajer Beauty Bar product range.
But Kat’s beauty company appears to be slow in taking off. A website that promised to be “coming soon” hasn’t eventuated while the fledgling firm’s last social post was four months ago.
Maybe Kat, a law clerk, has had other things on her mind, like the next big Mehajer family wedding. If the bridal shower was anything to go by, which transformed Salim’s home into a pink and white wonderland, with Kat donning a cool mint green Carla Zampatti dress, the big day would rival her brother’s.
“When my sister [Kat] slays it on her bridal shower, bring on the wedding,” Aiisha wrote on an image of Kat relaxing on a pink and gold chaise longue.
However, defying expectations, her wedding to Ibraham Sakalaki, held last weekend, was a quiet affair with just 30 guests. But that could be just the beginning with family sources telling the Daily Telegraph the couple planned a “large extravaganza” for their upcoming reception.
AIISHA MEHAJER — THE SISTER MOST LIKE AYSHA
And not just in name. Side-by-side Aiisha and Salim’s wife (for now) Aysha have a striking similarity. The same plump lips and luscious locks paired with a heavy slab of makeup. Tongues wagged — could it all be natural?
Before Aysha scarpered from the marital home in Sydney’s west (and reverted to her maiden name of Learmonth) the two seemed inseparable with multiple shots of them hanging out together challenging all to tell them apart.
Yesterday, when Aiisha emerged from the Mehajer home, in the full glare of waiting photographers, gasps could be heard as people momentarily wondered if Salim’s wife was back in residence.
Aiisha is no shrinking violet, winning Miss Personality at the 2015 Miss Lebanon Australia — a pageant the Mehajers have a winning record in. She regales her 21,000 followers with countless selfies while spruiking everything from scented candles to her dentist.
Both Aysha and Aiisha have also played roles in the running of the Mehajer family’s property empire each holding directorships.
But if you’re ever confused who is who, remember that Aiisha was once called Aisha but was never Aysha, which only Aysha has been called, who was once called April. All clear? Good.
MARY MEHAJER — THE SCANDALOUS SISTER
Mariam, known as Mary, had managed to keep a relatively low profile. That was until the Miss Lebanon Australia 2016 contest in May.
Hopes were high for the Mehajer family, with sister Aiisha a winner in 2015, and 18-year-old Mary didn’t disappoint sweeping the top title to much cheering and more than a few, perfectly sculptured, raised eyebrows.
A subsequent complaint to NSW Fair Trading questioned how Mary could fairly enter when her brother Salim’s business was a major sponsor. And why she was allowed to enter just weeks before the event. But nothing in the rules prohibited a last-minute entry.
It’s all a matter of opinion, but one of the judges, David Carr, told the Telegraph, Ms Mehajer did not even make it into his top five.
“I certainly didn’t rate her and I felt there were far better contestants,” he said.
But Mary hit back, telling theParramatta Advertiser: “I would love for [NSW Fair Trading] to investigate and see that I won fairly.”
Her brother was merely supporting the community, she said.
FATIMA ELKHEIR NEE MEHAJER — THE POLITICAL SISTER
Fatima grabbed the headlines earlier this year when she was accused by the Australian Federal Police of being part of a dodgy election plan with her husband Jamal and brother Salim.
Both stood for the vote and Salim’s win led him to becoming deputy mayor.
The Mehajers pleaded not guilty to the charges with the case due back in court in late November.
More recently, she was back in the news for matters more fun when she reportedly splashed out $10,000 on a princess-themed party to celebrate her daughter’s first birthday.
ZENA AND SAANA MEHAJER — THE LOW PROFILE SISTERS
Maybe there’s just not enough space in the world for that many high-profile Mehajers but Zena and Saana seem happy to sit the circus out. If anything, Zena has eschewed the face sculpting completely, opting for a more restrained look and is often seen wearing a headscarf.
MOHAMAD AND AMAL — THE POWER BEHIND THE MEHAJER FAMILY
Mohamad Mehajer emigrated to Australia from Lebanon in the 1980s with wife Amal, the couple settling in Sydney’s west.
Initially, he reportedly earned a crust at the nearby Arnott’s biscuit factory before laying the foundations of a property empire.
But things began to unravel and Mohamad was only recently released from jail after being sentenced to three-and-a-half years for fraud after he unsuccessfully attempted to bribe a bank employee to get a loan approved.
Beloved mum Amal is sometimes snapped with her daughters but otherwise keeps a low profile.
AND, OF COURSE, SALIM MEHAJER
The golden child of the family, Salim resurrected the family’s property empire and became a big fish in the little pond of local politics. Now known country wide, he has a mighty 250,000 followers on Instagram, more than any other family member.
But for all the gloss, his veneer of success in family and in business is failing. Property developments are unfinished and while he insists his marriage is hunky-dory his worrying rant this week suggests otherwise.
Salim may have been the catalyst to turn the Mehajers into Australia’s Kardashians but his own actions could see the dream unravel.
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