Aussie woman told to ‘button up’ by Qantas staff to ‘protect other cultures’

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An Australian woman says Qantas staff asked her to button her cardigan while she was in the airline’s lounge in Brisbane, and she’s sharing the awkward experience.

Nikki Osborne, 44, described a disturbing experience that left her feeling embarrassed and upset, especially because it occurred in public and in front of a coworker in her hometown.

Nikki remembered getting ready for her work trip to the Whitsundays, choosing white shorts, a pink top, and a white knitted cardigan. She was unexpectedly stopped by a staff member in the lounge.

According to Osborne’s column in QWeekend, a staff member rushed over and, after telling her they were a longtime fan, asked her to button her cardigan. The reason given was to cover up and be respectful of the other cultures present in the lounge.

I only saw a couple of fly-in, fly-out workers and a mother in the lounge. I was completely shocked and felt a mix of embarrassment, humiliation, anger, and frustration. It was upsetting to realize I’d been made to feel so exposed and judged in my own town.

The comedian, who is also a mom, explained that the situation really affected her. She’s always worked hard to present a polished image and be respected in the comedy world.

‘To have a woman suggest that my choice of dress is inappropriate really hit hard,’ she admitted.

Osborne explained that although she was wearing a cardigan, some staff members still found her outfit inappropriate.

‘Do I have cleavage? Yes. Had I covered the top of it? Yes. Was that enough? Apparently not!’

I couldn’t believe it when I heard her talking about what happened on the radio! Honestly, the reaction afterward just blew up. I was totally shocked by how the press went crazy, and then the online stuff… people were *so* mean! Some of them were even saying she shouldn’t be allowed in the VIP lounge – can you believe the nerve? It was just awful to see.

She was shocked by the negative comments she received, with many people immediately criticizing her appearance and calling her ‘trash’ without knowing anything about what she was wearing. She expressed confusion and hurt, wondering how she’d become the target of such harsh judgment.

Osborne stated she wasn’t intentionally creating a negative story about Qantas, and the airline contacted her to guarantee the issue wouldn’t be repeated.

However, she said the phone call afterwards made her feel even more closely examined, as the staff detailed each piece of her clothing.

Even after everything that happened, the radio personality felt good about the airline again when a flight attendant recognized her as ‘Bush Barbie’ and treated her kindly for the rest of the flight.

‘That air steward salvaged my week,’ she said.

Osborne said she’ll still fly with Qantas, but she’ll be more careful about her outfit choices when relaxing in the airport lounge.

I’ll keep dressing how I like and avoid getting into judgmental debates about what people wear in the Lounge.

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2025-09-22 05:18