Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz stepped out in style at the annual Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards on Thursday evening, as the couple attempts to shake off bankruptcy proceedings.
The ex-political staffer wore a red Rebecca Vallance gown worth $1,049 lent to her by the designer at the star-studded event in the Sydney suburb of Dawes Point.
Ms Higgins’ conservative frock featured elegant shoulder caps and a touch of flair with a cut-out across the bust, as material fell to her ankles.
She paired the ensemble with nude patent pumps and styled her hair in a slick, low centre-parted bun, adding a touch of glamorous makeup.
Mr Sharaz complemented his wife’s alluring outfit with a classic black suit and was at one point seen fetching Ms Higgins a drink from the bar.
The high-profile couple mingled with guests, including journalist Lisa Wilkinson, who interviewed the former political staffer on Channel 10’s now axed The Project about her sexual assault allegations in 2021.
Samantha Armytage, Natalie Bassingthwaite, and Pip Edwards were among the other high-profile names at the glitzy awards evening.
It comes after Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz made national headlines amid reports Ms Higgins could be declared bankrupt as former Liberal defence minister Linda Reynolds pursues the more than $1 million sum awarded to her following her defamation case win over her former political staffer.
Ms Reynolds lodged a creditor’s petition in the Federal Court last Tuesday, with her lawyers also seeking an order granting a trustee in bankruptcy control over Ms Higgins’ financial affairs.
The move could reveal just how much of Ms Higgins’ $2.4 million compensation payout awarded to her by the Commonwealth in 2022 remains available to the former Liberal Defence Minister.
Ms Higgins received the sum following complaints about her treatment after she alleged her ex-colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House in 2019.
She was then successfully sued by Ms Reynolds over a series of false social media posts Ms Reynolds said damaged her reputation.
Ms Higgins had been ordered to pay the former West Australian Liberal senator more than $1 million in damages following the defamation suit.
The ex-Liberal staffer was likely to be declared bankrupt in the court last Tuesday, The Australian reported.
A technical issue led to the matter being adjourned.