Veronica Cloherty, a Married At First Sight bride, stepped out for a rare public appearance at the Cointreau Welcomes Spring in Style event last week, turning heads in a chic monochrome look. Cloherty, who was paired with Eliot Donovan on the hit reality series earlier this year, arrived in a tailored black mini dress with sharp shoulders and crisp white cuffs and collar. Her outfit was completed with satin pointed-toe heels featuring oversized bow detailing, while her brunette hair was styled in a sleek bun and her makeup was kept soft with nude lips.
Event organizers hosted a star-studded guest list that included Bella Varelis, Josh Carroll, Imogen Anthony, Mitch Churi and Josh Packham. The evening also served as a celebration of spring and a showcase for Cointreau's cocktails, with guests treated to bespoke drinks, gourmet bites and a masterclass on the brand's Margarita recipe and history.
The event’s attendees wore a mix of luxe outerwear and sleek separates. Bella Varelis arrived in a floor-length chocolate brown faux fur coat over a minimalist black dress, her hair pulled into a polished slicked-back bun and paired with bold gold hoop earrings. Big Brother alum Josh Carroll kept things casual in a light grey bomber jacket layered over a white tee, with loose-fitting black trousers and black shoes, while his model girlfriend Jemma Dalitz went for a mustard-yellow cropped knit top with a deep neckline and charcoal wide-leg trousers for a modern, understated balance.
Imogen Anthony commanded attention in a striking cream lace-up corset dress that clung to her figure and featured a daring thigh-high split, contrasting with Mitch Churi and Josh Packham, who also attended the private event. The Pelicano celebration was the first in a nationwide series of experiences set to roll out across Australia over the coming months, with Cointreau inviting Australians to shake, stir and sip their way through the season.
Veronica Cloherty’s appearance comes amid renewed public interest in her time on MAFS. She has previously spoken about feeling sidelined by editing on the show, telling Daily Mail in May that she believed producers manipulated her storyline and that she was left with “no voice.” She described a sense of being a peripheral figure despite what viewers saw as a connection with Eliot Donovan. She noted that the honeymoon phase appeared carefree on screen, but behind the scenes tensions and frequent disagreements surfaced, including moments when she discussed health issues such as endometriosis and the dynamics with Donovan.
In reflecting on how her story was presented, Cloherty said the editing did not reflect her reality and that the dynamics with Donovan were more complex than the aired scenes suggested. The former couple’s on-screen relationship had appeared to go well at the wedding and honeymoon, only to unravel amid a string of explosive exchanges. The public appearance at the Cointreau event marks a rare return to the spotlight for Cloherty as she navigates ongoing discussions about her on-screen experience and the broader culture of reality television.
Overall, the spring celebration blended fashion with cocktail culture, offering a glimpse into how brands are leveraging trend-driven events to attract high-profile guests while highlighting the evolving narratives of reality TV personalities.