Queensland’s rising stars: Meet the A-listers shaping the state’s social scene

From acting and podcasting to fashion and social media, a new generation of Queensland A-listers are making their mark. Meet our newest social stars.

Brisbane's new 'A-list'. Arnijka Larcombe-Weate, darcy gannon & josh Clutterbuck, Starlette Thynne and Katrina West.

From talented actors and innovative content creators to beer enthusiasts and influential fashionistas, the up-and-coming Queenslanders quietly carving out a name for themselves are as varied as they are talented.

Busy shaping the scene in their respective domains, these rising stars boast talents including dancing, acting and a quick wit as well as style in spades.

Here are some of the Sunshine State’s newest A-listers also making their mark on Brisbane’s social scene.

STARLETTE THYNE

Starlette Thyne, the younger sister of fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow, is fast establishing her own place in the influencer scene. Picture Instagram

Starlette Thyne, the younger sister of fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow, is swiftly establishing her own place in the influencer scene.

With her impeccable style and modelling prowess, she’s been the face of popular fashion brands such as Princess Polly and Boohoo.

Besides her work in fashion, Starlette often shares glimpses of her workout routines and laid-back lifestyle in idyllic tropical locations.

As she continues to rise through the ranks of Queensland’s social scene, she’s becoming a must-follow for those seeking fashion inspiration and insight into the glamorous life of an up-and-coming influencer.

KATRINA WEST

Actor-turned-influencer Katrina West delivered a memorable line in Baz Lurhmann’s Elvis biopic. Picture: Instagram

Katrina West, an actor turned full-time influencer, managed to turn the pandemic into a platform for her skyrocketing fame.

Known for delivering the line “Elvis Presley” in Baz Luhrmann’s film Elvis, this 25-year-old talent has harnessed the power of social media to amplify her presence, gathering over 250,000 followers and 11 million likes on TikTok, where she posts re-enactments of famous movie scenes, fashion, and lifestyle videos.

West can often be spotted gracing the red carpet at numerous film premieres in Brisbane. Speaking to The Courier-Mail, West said working with Luhrmann was “a dream come true”. “I remembered saying in high school that I didn’t care if I was playing the second tree to the right, I just wanted to be in a Baz Luhrmann film one day,” she said.

“I am so grateful that I got to be a part of the film.”

“I started making TikTok videos during the 2020 lockdown and within a few months, I had made my way to 100,000 followers.

“In this time, I realised that I had a lot of wigs and since I was unable to do any acting classes or theatre productions, I started practicing my acting by recreating scenes from iconic movies and tv shows like Mean Girls, Hannah Montana and Clueless.

“TikTok and Elvis have definitely changed my life; I’m now a full-time Content Creator, I get to attend (and even MC) the most amazing events and I have friends that I once watched on my TV screen! It’s very surreal and I’m just taking it all in like a sponge. I’m very grateful.”

DARCY GANNON & JOSH CLUTTERBUCK

Beer enthusiasts Darcy Gannon and Josh Clutterbuck, the dynamic duo behind the Bloody Brilliant Beers Podcast. Picture Instagram

Beer enthusiasts Darcy Gannon and Josh Clutterbuck, the dynamic duo behind the Bloody Brilliant Beers Podcast, are making waves in both Queensland’s craft beer scene and podcast scene.

They started their journey reviewing craft beers on Facebook, and this passion has since evolved into a popular weekly podcast.

With their insightful and amusing commentary, they’ve been attracting a loyal and growing following of fellow beer lovers, recorded live from the famous Caxton Hotel, the Bloody Brilliant Beers podcast reaches 120,000 downloads a month.

Their podcast captures the essence of casual bar conversations, offering listeners a unique, accessible perspective on the world of craft beer.

ARNIJKA LARCOMBE-WEATE

Actress Arnijka Larcombe-Weate. Picture: Tara Croser

With her enchanting performances and natural talent, Arnijka Larcombe-Weate is quickly becoming one of the most exciting young actors in Queensland’s acting scene.

Known for her roles in The Bureau of Magical Things and the stage play A Christmas Carol, she has also landed a part in the upcoming Netflix show ‘Boy Swallows Universe’, filmed right here in Brisbane.

This rising star is set to capture the hearts of viewers both on stage and on screen, solidifying her status as one of the industry’s top talents, making her a regular attendee to Brisbane’s biggest theatre events and openings.

NATHAN LUST

Nathan Lust has more than 4.8 million fans on TikTok.

Gold Coast content creator Nathan Lust has become one of Australia’s most widely recognised TikTok influencers, with over 4.8 million fans on the app and more than 118 million total likes.

Known for his viral dance videos and comedy bits, Lust’s engaging content has earned him a dedicated following, and his influence continues to grow. With recreations of popular dance sequences from TV series, films, and music videos, music videos, including Rihanna’s Superbowl half time performance, The Umbrella Academy which has earned over 25 million views, he has solidified himself as one of Queensland’ biggest up and coming internet stars.

“ Before I started using TikTok, I was making little videos for my own entertainment, I’ve always had dreams of becoming a director so I found this to be a great creative platform,” he said.

“Once the TikTok trend really hit, I thought, great, another platform I can post my videos on, But getting my first couple of likes, I was like ‘whoaaa’, it was way more then I was ever getting on Facebook, so I just kept going, making videos that made me laugh and creating my own trends which I think made me stand out from other creators.”

JOE KLOCECK

Brisbane actor Joe Klocek. Pics Tara Croser.

Living between Brisbane and London, 27-year-old actor Joe Kloceck, known for his captivating performances in the film The Dry and the stage play of Boy Swallows Universe, is a rising star in the acting world, having received public praise from the likes of Eric Bana.

His growing popularity extends beyond his acting career, as he is also known for his cheeky, down-to-earth persona on social media, boasting 22,000 followers on Instagram.

EMMA BOURNE

Business analyst and influencer Emma Bourne. Photo: Instagram

Emma Bourne, a business analyst by day and model and Instagram influencer by night, is swiftly carving out a reputation as Brisbane’s newest it-girl. Bourne is a constant fixture at the city’s most glamorous parties, music festivals, and film premieres.

Her stylish ensembles, vibrant personality, and insightful Instagram film reviews make her a rising star on the social scene.

With her keen sense of style and approachable charm, Bourne is undoubtedly a name to keep an eye out for at Brisbane’s hottest events.

JOHNNY BALBUZIENTE

Johny Balbuziente (Instagram image)

Johnny Balbuziente is not just known for his successful stint on Married At First Sight (MAFS), but also for his entrepreneurial spirit as the owner of Caxton Street Brewing Co. Balbuziente, often spotted alongside his wife Kerry at Brisbane’s top events, has used his fame as a launch pad to build a formidable online presence.

Balbuziente’s vivacious online persona, combined with his business acumen and reality TV fame, make him an intriguing figure to follow in Brisbane’s social scene.

AICHA ROBERTSON

Aicha Robertson at Australian Fashion Week.

Aicha Robertson, a Brisbane content creator, stylist and founder of fashion website The Fashion Heist, is a leading figure in Brisbane’s fashion scene and is celebrated for her chic, colourful style.

Having made waves with her on-trend looks and fashion-forward vision, Robertson has stepped into the world of sustainable fashion with the launch of her own label, Great Beyond. With her commitment to environmentally friendly fashion and her undeniable style, Robertson has firmly cemented her status as a significant influencer in the fashion industry and is often spotted at store openings, runway shows, and fashion events.

“I started my journey as a blogger on Blogspot, sharing my experience interning with fashion stylist Kimberly Gardner and my unique perspective on fashion and style in Brisbane,” she said.

“As soon as Instagram launched, I began linking back to my blog and my social media following grew organically as I talked about local brands like Wittner Shoes, Witchery, and Aje to name a few.

“Together with my partner Nick Azar, we transformed The Fashion Heist into a full-time job, and had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with some amazing brands along the way.

“Overall, I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved as a fashion influencer and content creator, and I hope that my journey inspires others to pursue their passions and create their own success stories.”

Originally published as Queensland’s rising stars: Meet the A-listers shaping the state’s social scene