See inside the lives of SEQ’s real-life Barbie girls
The dream house, clothes, cars — these are the women who have it all but it is not the glam alone that makes them shine. They have dominated careers and causes. Meet SEQ’s real-life Barbie inspirations.
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The dream house, the cars, the designer wardrobe and the ‘can-do-anything’ career where they’ve made their marks, these incredible southeast Queensland women are truly embodying the 2023 Barbie spirit.
From uber-famous influencers, to fitness gurus, lawyers and everything in between, we’ve taken a look at 15 Queensland women who have built a world where they can truly have it all.
Nikki Mann
After noticing a gap in Australia’s modelling industry, mum Nikki Mann launched her inclusive modelling agency Everi Body.
Everi Body has a focus on making the fashion modelling industry a more inclusive and diverse space, which Nikki has strived for after her extensive experience working at a top modelling agency in LA.
On her Everi Body website, Ms Mann reveals her mission “has always been to challenge and change the status quo in an industry that has long been criticised for its lack of diversity.”
Ms Mann recently bought a stunning Robina home for her and her toddler Natia, and has been girl-bossing her way through renos with the help of family and friends, transforming the space to fit her signature clean-girl vibes.
Marlo Walker Grover
Human ray of sunshine Marlo Grover is the literal embodiment of everything 2023 Barbie stands for, a powerful entrepreneur and business woman, champion for girl-power and women-led success.
When you think of the Barbie movie, the first thought that springs to mind is the iconic scene of Margot Robbie, kitted out in ‘80s aerobic gear on rollerskates, but fluoro spandex isn’t a new craze for Mrs Grover and anyone who has engaged with her popular G-Pump fit.
G-Pump Fit is one of Mrs Grover’s most successful businesses, centred around terrifically funky aerobic inspired fitness, and she herself can often be spotted by the beachside, unapologetically clad in her brightest Lycra.
Mrs Grover recently became a mum to a beautiful little boy, who arrived prematurely and spent some time at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital.
He has since come home to Mrs Grover and her husbands apartment in New Farm, along with the families two whippets.
Mrs Grover also owned a successful slow fashion business, Marlo by Marlo, which is no longer in operation, and competed in Ninja Warrior Season Five.
Emma Dillon
Emma Dillon is one half of the YouTube-famous Fitness Sisters, along with sister and founder of Move With Us Rachel Dillon.
Emma is an epic business woman and mama of her own right, Emma Dillon has made waves both in the fitness industry and out.
Known for her luscious locks, Ms Dillon has recently started her own line of haircare For You, which she says transformed her signature ‘do.
“You all know how obsessed I am with healthy, vibrant, glossy hair,” she wrote on For You’s Instagram.
“Two years ago I dyed my hair blonde and cut it shoulder length (hard to imagine, I know).
“My hair was so damaged, uncooperative, dry and brittle. And even worse, it wouldn‘t grow.”
“Born from this, is a brand that has a passion for self-care with a sole purpose to create products For You to help you on your self-care journey.”
Ms Dillon and her husband Adam Duffy and their baby girl Alina live in a gorgeous waterfront home in the Gold Coast.
Emily Skye
With over 2.7 million followers on Instagram, fitness model and businesswoman Emily Skye has an empire most people can only dream of.
She launched Emily Skye FIT in 2014, and James Cosmetics in 2017, and now the model has an estimated net worth of $36 million.
The year James Cosmetics launched, Ms Skye was named Forbes Magazine’s third top influencer in the world, and has found herself inspiringly plastered across the covers of women‘s magazines in over 20 countries.
She is also well known for posting raw, candid insights into her post-partum body, after the birth of both her children, Mia and Izaac, sharing her journey to her body “bouncing back.”
Ashy Bines
Gold Coast based model, entrepreneur, mum and fitness enthusiast Ashy Bines has become a household name over the last decade, having amassed an incredible 3.4 million Facebook followers and a further 1 million Instagram followers.
Ms Bines is also a published author, hosts her own podcast and has an impressive presence on TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube.
She launched the Ashy Bines Bikini Body Challenge in 2011, followed shortly afterwards by the Ashy Bines Squad App.
In recent years she has dominated the market with activewear brand Baseline, and a six-year stint operating a gym in Mermaid Beach.
On top of her business prowess, Ms Bines has also been successful in the property market, having bought and sold a $2.2 million Broadbeach Waters home, and their newest $1.85 million home, with plans to build their dream home in coming years.
Tamara Grant
Currently residing in Margate on the Redcliffe Peninsula, lawyer and former House Rules competitor Tamara Grant lives an enviable life.
She and her partner Rhys Bennett competed in Season 8 of House Rules Australia and are now renovating their very own Margate home, but a launch into the spotlight hasn’t changed her everyday life and down-to-earth nature.
Ms Grant is also the manager of regulatory and government affairs with PEXA and her social media shows a woman who loves travelling and spending time by the beach.
Tammy Hembrow
Twenty-nine-year-old founder of Tammy Fit and gym-wear brand SASKI, Tammy Hembrow started gaining popularity in 2014 after sharing her real and raw insights into her first pregnancy and post-partum period.
From there, Ms Hembrow has grown a massive following of 17.2 million on her Instagram and is worth an estimated $38 million.
Now, Ms Hembrow is a single mother to her three children, Wolfe, Saskia and Posy, proving some women really can do it all.
Ms Hembrow and her kids live the high life in their $2.8 million waterfront home in Broadbeach and are often jetsetting across the globe.
Chloe Szepanowski
Mum of two Chloe Szepanowski is the brains behind popular athleisure brand SZEP, and prides herself on growing her 600,000 strong Instagram following on her insights in wellness, fitness, beauty and motherhood.
She and her partner Mitch Orval are also prevalent Youtubers, vlogging many aspects of their lives.
The duo is now living in a brand-new Japanese inspired beachfront home after their $2.85 million Broadbeach home was broken into in 2022.
Skye Wheatley
Shooting to fame in 2014 as a competitor and third place winner on reality TV show Big Brother, Skye Wheatley has turned her success skyward.
A huge part of Ms Wheatley’s social presence revolves around the longstanding renovations of her Tallai mansion, known as La Casa Grande.
The sprawling Spanish inspired mansion was abandoned by its foreign owner before Ms Wheatley and her partner Lachlan Waugh purchased it in 2019 for $975,000.
On top of that, the mum-of-two owns a ‘booty-building program’ and Good People Apparel clothing brand.
Shonee Bowtell
Noosa-based Shonee Bowtell gained a following as a contestant on Season 3 Survivor Australia and quickly came out as a fan-favourite.
Ms Bowtell is in fact the only contestant in the program’s history to be asked to return three times, having competed for a total of 124 days total.
Her journey through the three seasons morphed from a desperate attempt to prove herself as more than just her then-husband, professional skater Benny Fairfax’s wife into a brave display of sheer determination and power following their divorce.
Tess Alexander
Former Miss World Australia, Tess Alexander has continuously proved to her admirers that she is more than just a pretty face, following up her 2015 Miss World win with countless meaningful appearances and partnerships.
Ms Alexander was the face of the Cancer Council Queensland as well as Automall West, Fendi, Moet and Chandon and Queens Plaza.
After a period of modelling in Milan, Italy, Ms Alexander’s eyes were opened to the evils within the modelling industry, and the disastrous effect modelling had on body image and self-esteem.
She returned to Australia to take up studying personal training, naturopathy and nutrition.
When she’s not donning Dior or Fendi for brand campaigns or strutting down a catwalk, she also hosts health and wellness seminars and conferences and focuses heavily on ‘redefining beauty industry standards’.
Emily Seebohm
Order of Australia Medal recipient and Olympic swim champion Emily Seebohm is known internationally both for her incredible feats in the water and for her on-screen personality.
Ms Seebohm has competed in four Olympic Games, between 2008 and 2021, winning three gold medals and countless other championships and Commonwealth Games’ medals.
She also competed in and placed fourth in the eighth season of I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here and has competed in two seasons of The Challenge.
Asides from her impressive competitive streak, Ms Seebohm is also an MC and motivational speaker, as well as an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia after her long-running battle with the debilitating condition.
Kashani “Shani” Grimmond
Shani Grimmond is a 26-year-old YouTuber and owner of cult-swimwear brand Sylk Swim.
Ms Grimmond’s self-titled YouTube channel has earned her an enormous 1.58 million followers, who follow along for her beauty reviews and vlogs as well.
In the last 12 months, Ms Grimmond’s once thriving YouTube channel has been abandoned, but her perfectly curated Instagram account tells the tale of numerous lavish overseas trips and the proof of her swimwear brand’s success.
Lily Atkinson Shepherd
Lily Atkinson Shepherd has had the launch into the high life every girl dreams of.
She currently resides at incredible waterview property in Ascot, and vlogs many of her ‘day in the life’ for her TikTok followers.
These days include adventures in her and partner’s Ferrari and self-care trips to the nail-salon, hairdressers and unboxings of high-end products.
But more than her lush lifestyle, Ms Atkinson Shepherd is also the managing officer of GEM Energy, founded by her partner, Jack Hooper, which is currently one of the most successful renewable energy companies in the country.
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