Why is it so hard to make friends in Sydney?

Sydney people tend to stay in their own cliques which makes it hard for newcomers to make friends, says American swimwear designer Sophia Kim, so she set up a series of ‘mixer’ events and they’re going gangbusters.

Making friends in Sydney is harder than ever.

When American swimwear designer Sophia Kim moved to the “Clique” city in 2020, she didn’t realise how difficult it would be to find friends.

“When I moved here I didn’t know one person. It was definitely something that I had to experience for the first time in my life and it was really hard,” Kim told The Daily Telegraph.

“People tend to say that it’s a bit more cliquey and stand-offish here.

Love expert Jacquie Blaze and Sophia Kim (right) at Bondi beach. Picture: Rohan Kelly

“I think it’s because people just stay with their circles and communities that they’ve had for decades from school and other activities - no one really branches out.”

Determined to do something about it, the 32-year-old with more than 100,000 TikTok followers took matters into her own hands by launching a series of “mixer” events.

“It’s so hard to approach people and make friends and it’s not just single girls looking for them, it’s everyone. I wanted to show that it's possible to not be alone and that people can share their lives with someone other than a partner,” she said.

Sophia Kim (right) says it’s difficult to make friends in Sydney, which is why she has launched a series of “mixer” events. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Hundreds of women have flocked to Kim’s “Butterfly Chapter” mixers over two years, where Aussies and expats from 21 all the way to 48 gather for events such as bottomless brunch, boat days and dinners.

“They’re all coming here to find someone to share their experiences with, they want a new addition of people in their lives.”

Originally published as Why is it so hard to make friends in Sydney?