It played out like a soap opera.
A hotshot property lawyer brings his younger new squeeze to the Melbourne society event of the season… only to sit at a table metres away from his ex-wife.
After we reported on the awkward reunion of former couple Gianni Romano and Zana Pali at the JW Foundation Starry Night gala on Saturday night, the only thing missing was the ‘money shot’ of Gianni and his date.
And now we have it.
While the former My Kitchen Rules star did his best to avoid photographers at the glitzy fundraiser, he couldn’t hide his date’s identity.
Daily Mail can reveal the woman on Gianni’s arm that evening was Gracie Stewart.
Gianni Romano’s date at the Starry Night gala was Melbourne woman Gracie Stewart. They attended the party with Riley Allis, the 26-year-old son of Boost Juice founder Janine Ellis, and his date Bec Harb. (L-R: Gianni Romano, Gracie Stewart, Bec Harb, Riley Allis)
Gracie – the spitting image of Gianni’s ex-wife Zana Pali – showcased her curves in a glittering silver gown at the Melbourne society event of the season
And you only have to take one look at her to see the rumours were true.
After the event, Herald Sun gossip columnist Jackie Epstein reported that things got ‘a little awkward’ because Gianni’s ‘new, younger’ girlfriend was a Zana ‘lookalike’.
She wasn’t wrong.
Hours before arriving at the National Gallery of Victoria, where the soirée was held, Gianni was tagged on Instagram in a group photo, posing arm-in-arm with the blue-eyed brunette, who could easily be mistaken for Zana’s younger sister.
The pair were joined by Riley Allis, the 26-year-old son of Boost Juice founder Janine Ellis, and his glamorous date Bec Harb.
Gianni beamed as he cosied up to Gracie, who showcased her curves in a glittering silver gown not unlike the beaded dress Zana wore to the same event.
While it’s unclear where Gianni met Gracie, it seems they’ve known each other for at least a few months.
The pair were pictured together on Instagram in June, both attending what looked to be a Roman Empire-themed party.
Intriguingly, Gracie posted the same group photo – but cropped Gianni out
Gracie (left) is the spitting image of mother-of-two Zana (right)
The pair were pictured together on Instagram in June, both attending what looked to be a Roman Empire-themed party. Gianni and Gracie are seen with their mutual friend Riley Allis
It’s unclear where Gianni met Gracie (pictured) – who could easily be mistaken for his ex-wife Zana’s younger sister
Gianni and Gracie posed with their mutual friend Riley, who posted the photo.
Gracie also uploaded the photo herself at the time, but cropped Gianni out.
The pair didn’t respond when contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.
However, Zana was more forthcoming when we asked her what she thought of Gianni bringing a date to the same charity gala she was attending.
‘I don’t speak to him. I wish him all the best. I’m busy focusing on the kids and my new career goals,’ the 34-year-old texted us earlier in the week.
Gianni and Zana – who rose to fame on My Kitchen Rules in 2016 – are believed to have split sometime last year, but their break-up didn’t make headlines until July.
The split apparently stunned the prestige Bayside social set which includes the likes of Bec and Chris Judd.
Zana and Gianni’s former marital home on Brighton’s golden mile – complete with a basement nightclub and lift access – sold in the middle of last year for $10million.
The property sits on a stretch of millionaires’ row that is a magnet for socialites, property moguls and Rich Listers.
Gianni and Zana became part of the neighbourhood’s glamorous elite when they moved in with their sons Leo and Romeo, now aged six and five, several years ago.
After news broke of their marriage breakdown, we caught up with Gianni near his Melbourne office while Zana was jetting around Europe with their sons.
The father-of-two, who wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, buttoned up when we asked about his separation, but did not deny his marriage was over.
Gianni and Zana’s split apparently stunned the prestige Bayside social set which includes the likes of Bec and Chris Judd
When pressed for details of what happened, he said: ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
At about the same time, Zana was attending a wedding at the Hyatt Regency resort in the Bay of Kotor in southwestern Montenegro.
While there, she posted a gallery of photos with a pointed caption: ‘In the end all that really matters is family.’
After rising to fame on MKR, Zana transitioned into fashion influencing, while she and Gianni made serious coin in real estate and moved to the Bayside area.
But cracks in their once-picture-perfect family life started to show by late 2024, with the pair going so far as to unfollow each other on Instagram.
When they abandoned their annual tradition of jetting off on a family holiday to Europe – with Gianni staying in Melbourne while Zana whisked their children away to The Balkans in June – it was clear the marriage was in trouble.
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