Zana Pali, the Brighton socialite at the centre of a high-profile marital split, said she and her ex-husband, lawyer Gianni Romano, no longer speak after both attended a star-studded charity gala in Melbourne on Saturday.
Pali told the Daily Mail in a text message that she is "busy focusing on the kids and my new career goals" and added, "I don't speak to him. I wish him all the best." Both were guests at the JW Foundation Starry Night fundraiser at the National Gallery of Victoria, where they were seated at different tables.
Pali drew attention on the blue carpet in a white beaded, off-the-shoulder gown with a sweeping train as the event — held in support of children's charity ToyBox Australia — played out. Romano, a partner at Best Hooper, one of Melbourne's older law firms, kept a lower profile; according to local reports he arrived with a new, younger companion and avoided the media wall. A Herald Sun gossip column said the woman bore a resemblance to Pali.
The couple, who share two sons, Leo and Romeo, now aged 6 and 5, are believed to have split sometime in 2024, though the separation did not make headlines until July. Their former family home on Brighton's so-called "golden mile" sold in mid-2024 for about $10 million. That property, described in reports as having a basement nightclub and lift access, sits in a prestige Bayside neighbourhood known for high-profile residents.
Public signs of trouble emerged in late 2024 when the pair unfollowed each other on Instagram and did not maintain their usual family routines. In June, Pali travelled to the Balkans with their children while Romano remained in Melbourne. After the split was reported, Romano was photographed near his Melbourne office without a wedding ring and declined to comment beyond saying he did not want to discuss the matter.
Pali rose to public attention on the television series My Kitchen Rules in 2016 and has since moved into fashion influencing. Both she and Romano have been active in Melbourne's social and property circles. Their separation drew attention within the city's Bayside social set, which includes prominent local figures.
At the JW Foundation event, Romano did post a video of a floor show but otherwise avoided media-facing activity, while Pali shared images of her gown on social media. Organisers described the evening as a fundraiser and showcase for ToyBox Australia; guests included a range of local and national public figures.
Both parties have so far refrained from extended public comment beyond Pali's statement to the Daily Mail. The split and their separate appearances at Saturday's fundraiser underline the separation of their public and private lives as they continue to co-parent their young sons.