The identity of a woman whose TikTok messages precipitated the end of Melbourne Demons player Kysaiah Pickett's five-year relationship with Ardu Cubillo has been revealed as Shayleah Wanganeen, a 23-year-old model and aspiring lawyer.
Cubillo publicly shared alleged direct messages from Wanganeen to her TikTok account last weekend, which she stated led her to end her relationship with Pickett and move interstate with their child. The messages reportedly suggested a long-term connection between Pickett and Wanganeen, leading Cubillo to believe her own relationship was based on deception.
Wanganeen, who reportedly dated Pickett as a teenager, is said to have maintained contact with the AFL star for approximately five years. Among the messages Cubillo posted were claims that Pickett sent flowers to both women on Valentine's Day. Cubillo also shared that Pickett had told Wanganeen he was planning a trip to the Whitsunday Islands, which he described as a 'boys' trip' to Cubillo, though he allegedly stayed on Hamilton Island at the same time as Wanganeen.
Wanganeen's manager, Jason Parlett of Icon Model Management, stated that there was "no story here." Both Pickett and Wanganeen come from prominent Indigenous Australian families with connections to sports, business, and the arts. Pickett is related to AFL figures including Byron Pickett and Marlion Pickett, and is the son of comedian Kevin Kropinyeri. Wanganeen is related to AFL legend Gavin Wanganeen.
Relationship Unravels
The relationship between Pickett and Cubillo, who share a two-year-old daughter, began to face challenges after the alleged Hamilton Island trip. Cubillo, a youth project officer, reportedly grew suspicious of Pickett's fidelity earlier this year.
In March, Wanganeen allegedly contacted Cubillo via TikTok, stating Pickett had repeatedly expressed love for her and intended to reunite with her once his current relationship was resolved. Wanganeen reportedly told Cubillo, "We've both been fed lies for years and I'm over it." Cubillo then requested a full disclosure from Wanganeen.
According to reports, Wanganeen and Pickett dated in 2021 while both were in high school, and had grown up with mutual friends and family. Prior to deactivating her Instagram account, Wanganeen had followed several members of Pickett's family.
Cubillo reportedly confronted Pickett about Wanganeen, to which Pickett allegedly responded by calling Wanganeen "a liar." Shortly after this confrontation, Cubillo, accompanied by her daughter, packed her belongings and traveled to Darwin. She later posted an image of a cake with the icing message, "Can't have ur cake and eat it too."
Accolades and Personal Life
Pickett achieved significant success in his AFL career, winning Melbourne's Best Young Player award in 2021, the same year he reportedly began dating Wanganeen. He also secured a premiership medal that year. He went on to become Melbourne's leading goalkicker and received several accolades in subsequent seasons, including the Neale Daniher Trophy and the Frank Hughes Medal.
Wanganeen reportedly splits her time between Sydney and Canberra, where she has worked as a paralegal and is pursuing legal studies at the University of Canberra. Her social media activity, before deletion, included posts from various locations in Sydney and highlighted her interest in swimming and fashion, including modeling at the National Indigenous Art Fair.
Cubillo and her daughter are reportedly rebuilding their lives in Darwin with the support of Cubillo's extended family. Pickett has reportedly made visits to Darwin to see his daughter, with his father facilitating a co-parenting arrangement. Cubillo has described the ordeal as "the most inhumane experience of my life," and stated that "5 years of my life [have been] completely stolen from me." However, this timeline is reportedly disputed by Wanganeen.