It played out like a soap opera.
A successful lawyer known for handling big property deals brought his new, younger girlfriend to the most glamorous social event in Melbourne – only to find himself seated near his former wife.
We previously covered the slightly uncomfortable encounter between exes Gianni Romano and Zana Pali at the JW Foundation’s Starry Night gala on Saturday. The only thing left to see was a photo of Gianni with whoever he brought as his date.
And now we have it.
Despite trying to evade the paparazzi at the fancy event, the former My Kitchen Rules contestant wasn’t able to keep his date a secret.
Daily Mail can reveal the woman on Gianni’s arm that evening was Gracie Stewart.
And you only have to take one look at her to see the rumours were true.
Following the event, gossip columnist Jackie Epstein from the Herald Sun wrote that things became slightly uncomfortable when Gianni’s new, much younger girlfriend bore a strong resemblance to his ex-wife, Zana.
She wasn’t wrong.
Just hours before the evening event at the National Gallery of Victoria, Gianni saw a photo on Instagram of himself with a striking brunette. People thought she looked remarkably like Zana’s younger sister, and they were posing closely together in the picture.
I spotted a fun duo at the event – Riley Allis, who you might know as the son of Janine Ellis, the amazing founder of Boost Juice, and his date, the lovely Bec Harb. They definitely brought some extra sparkle to the evening!
Gianni smiled warmly as he snuggled close to Gracie. Her sparkling silver dress was similar to the beaded one Zana had worn to the same party, and it showed off her figure beautifully.
We don’t know exactly how Gianni and Gracie met, but they’ve likely been acquainted for several months.
I noticed a photo pop up on Instagram back in June of them together! They were at this amazing party – it looked like everyone was dressed up as if they’d stepped straight out of the Roman Empire. It was such a fun theme!
Gianni and Gracie posed with their mutual friend Riley, who posted the photo.
Gracie also uploaded the photo herself at the time, but cropped Gianni out.
The pair didn’t respond when contacted by the Daily Mail for comment.
When we asked Zana about Gianni bringing a date to the charity gala, she was much more willing to share her thoughts.
Things are definitely different now. I’ve made the decision to focus on my own path, which right now means prioritizing my kids and really building momentum with my career. I’m sending him good vibes, of course, but I’m not in contact with him at the moment. It’s all about new beginnings for me.
Oh my gosh, I was *obsessed* with Gianni and Zana from My Kitchen Rules back in 2016! It’s so sad, but I found out they actually broke up last year, though it didn’t really become public knowledge until July. I’m still reeling, honestly!
Honestly, the news of their breakup really shocked everyone in the high-profile social scene – people like Bec and Chris Judd seemed so solid, you know? It was a total surprise to those of us who follow these things.
The former home of Zana and Gianni, located on Brighton’s beachfront, sold for $10 million last year. The property included a basement nightclub and a lift.
This property is located on a prestigious street known for attracting wealthy and prominent residents, including socialites and real estate investors.
Several years ago, Gianni and Zana moved into the neighborhood with their sons, Leo and Romeo, who are now six and five years old, quickly becoming part of the local social scene.
Following the announcement of their separation, we spoke with Gianni near his office in Melbourne. At the same time, Zana was traveling in Europe with their sons.
The man, a father of two, seemed uncomfortable when we mentioned his possible split and wouldn’t confirm or deny if he and his wife were divorcing. He wasn’t wearing his wedding ring at the time.
When pressed for details of what happened, he said: ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
Around the same time, Zana was at a wedding held at the Hyatt Regency resort in Kotor Bay, which is located in southwestern Montenegro.
During her visit, she shared a collection of photos with a meaningful message: ‘Ultimately, family is all that truly matters.’
Zana first became well-known on the show My Kitchen Rules, then shifted her focus to fashion influencing. Meanwhile, she and Gianni were very successful in real estate, which allowed them to move to the Bayside area.
By late 2024, their seemingly perfect family began to fall apart, and they even unfollowed each other on Instagram – a clear sign of trouble.
The end of their yearly family trips to Europe signaled trouble for Gianni and Zana’s marriage. This year, Gianni stayed in Melbourne while Zana took the kids to The Balkans in June, breaking a long-standing tradition.
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2025-09-17 10:19