via Foxtel's Official Press Release
"Pop the French champagne, slip on the Christian Louboutin pumps and brace yourself for one glamorous ride. The Real Housewives of Melbourne are back and this season the bling is brighter, the parties more extravagant and the drama even more unbelievable, as seven sophisticated and affluent ladies from Melbourne open the doors to their luxurious homes, on Sunday February 22 at 8.30pm only on Foxtel’s Arena.
The Real Housewives of Melbourne are business woman extraordinaire Chyka Keebaugh, barrister and mum of two Gina Liano, straight talking psychic Jackie Gillies, property developer and party girl Janet Roach and fashionista Lydia Schiavello. This season they are joined by property developer and mum of three Pettifleur Berenger and Gamble Breaux, a dog loving art consultant whose partner is renowned eye surgeon Rick Wolfe.
These women are not your ordinary Housewives and certainly enjoy the lavish, pampered and cultured lifestyle of Melbourne, making no excuse for the life of luxury they lead. Successful women in their own right, between them, they own private jets, amazing homes and are married to high profile businessmen and of course one to a rock star.
When it comes to style and glamour Melbourne is the jewel in Australia’s crown. It’s the city where fashion, food and culture reign supreme. But relationships in this high society are like four seasons in one day, fine one minute, stormy the next. And Melbourne’s Housewives know that they had better be careful because it’s a long way to fall.
This entertaining eleven-part one hour soap-doc provides an insider view of the lifestyles of the wealthy and extravagant women with a revealing insight into their world. With two new ladies in the mix this season, get ready for wild accusations and surprising revelations that leave everyone reeling and reaching for another cocktail!
Season two begins with Janet planning a big night to celebrate her birthday. The housewives are determined to start afresh and put last year’s tensions behind them. Things are more or less going to plan when two newcomers enter the picture: art lover Gamble and property developer Pettifleur. It’s quickly clear these newbies are outgoing and bold and in taking on our Housewives, they’re going to need it!
Produced by Matchbox Pictures, part of NBCUniversal International Television Production, in conjunction with Foxtel, The Real Housewives of Melbourne is the first Australian instalment of the world’s number one lifestyle reality franchise."
Chyka married her best friend in her husband Bruce, and together they built one of Australia’s largest privately owned catering and event companies, ‘The Big Group’.
Twenty-two years later they now employ over 100 people full time and have over 1000 employees on their books. With clients ranging from Middle Eastern sheiks to aristocracy; their clientele includes society’s elite. This powerful duo have even extended their business further to include two new successful ventures – ‘The Design Depot’ and ‘Capital Kitchen’.
Chyka and Bruce have two teenage children – confident and vivacious 20 year-old Chessie and sporty and sweet 18 year-old BJ who’s just finished school. Chyka and Bruce lead a very social life and to manage this they meet up once a week to co-ordinate their diaries and decide just which social functions they’ll attend - there is no shortage of invitations! They also love to travel - often combining work and play – returning to Australia with a crate full of new purchases and design ideas!
Chyka is a fan of design, style, fashion, food and beautiful spaces; she also loves shopping and fossicking through antique shops for collectables. For four years she had a weekly segment on the TV series ‘Good Morning Australia’ – during which she talked about decorating, parties, good taste – and basically everything ‘Chyka’!
Gamble is a former model who loves painting at home and has previously acted as an art consultant in both Melbourne and Sydney (in particular for the prestigious Billich Gallery). She’s also a ‘maintenance’ fanatic – hitting the beach below her house for a morning jog and hitting the botox for a little lift before an important event!
But it’s her desire for all things ‘Pomeranian’ that fills her day with fluff and fun – namely her dog, Cash. Gamble even has a porta cot set up for Cash - turning their lounge room into a ‘puppy retreat’ complete with blankets and toys! Nothing is too good for Gamble’s ‘Cashy’.
But Gamble’s love of life doesn’t end there. She’s also designed her very own handbag range and loves practising the performance art of Poi by her fabulous infinity pool.
But at the end of the day, Gamble and Rick enjoy nothing more than sharing a red wine on their balcony and looking out to sea…with Cash by their feet, of course!
Gina has been in the legal game for 15 years and has represented some high profile clients. Dig below the surface though and there is more to Gina than meets the eye; you’ll often find her in the courtroom fighting for the little guy.
But Gina has had her own share of battles too. She confronted cancer with her typical determination and optimism, successfully recovered from treatment and emerged all the more determined to live her life to the full.
This year, Gina is busier then ever - having launched her very own shoe line, securing a book deal for her autobiography and being the new Ambassador for the Cancer Council of Victoria. One thing’s for sure - Gina Liano, the ‘professional fighter’, will never be down for long.
As one of Australia’s highest profile professional psychics, Jackie’s insightful, spiritual outlook and proven history of connecting people to their loved ones has seen her talents in high demand, with both celebrities and long-time clients seeking out Jackie’s uplifting skills and guidance for advice and inspiration.
Croatian born, Jackie is always living in the moment – she’s right into breakdancing, singing, attending A-list parties and checking out live music – often with her husband and talented stylist Iyan by her side. Both Jackie and Ben enjoy the good things in life - including fine dining and luxury getaways. The couple own beautiful properties in Newcastle and Croatia and love spending time in L.A. where Ben is collaborating on various music projects.
Their romance is nothing short of a fairy tale. Reconnecting 14 years after they had first met during TAFE, these childhood sweethearts tied the knot in 2010 and both confessed to having dreamt about being together.
Now they’re building their very own business empire. Having previously launched their highly successful ‘La Mascara’ ready-to-serve cocktail range, Jackie and Ben are expanding with their alcoholic ‘High Tea’ range.
And with a mantra like “shine, shine, shine” it’s no wonder that for Jackie Gillies, every day is a gift, ready to be opened.
Now, Janet is on a journey to discover herself and what makes her happy. She’s looking for a new man on her intensive ‘man program’ and having a ball doing it – even broaching the world of speed dating with her usual unbridled enthusiasm.
Janet is a mother of two boys: 30-year-old Paul and 26-year-old Jake, and there’s also three step-children from her second marriage with whom she is very close. Her youngest son Jake was badly burnt in a fire at a party three years ago and suffered third-degree burns to 70% of his body – only barley surviving.
To this end, Janet has started her very own charitable foundation in conjunction with Jake and launched a new venture called ‘Raw Essentials’ – a medicinal tea range from which a portion of all sales will aid in the treatment of burns patients scarring.
Janet believes that plastic surgery ‘is a personal choice’ and makes sure she stays looking her best… with a little help from botox and fillers. But overall, this fun-loving, spontaneous, social butterfly enjoys attending luncheons and charity events and when the snow season hits – you’ll find her carving up the slopes when she visits her apartment at Mt. Buller with friends and family.
In the Summer Janet spends time at her organic truffle farm at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula. Janet is passionate about sustainability. Her goal is to get the farm off the grid and to be completely self-sufficient. She has a large organic vegetable garden she tends when she is not exploring the 60 wineries on her doorstep.
With a beautiful home in Malvern and a sumptuous holiday house in the snowfields of Thredbo, Lydia is married to the renowned architect and CEO of Metier3, Andrew Norbury. Not surprisingly, one of Lydia’s passions is design – having completed her course at the distinguished RMIT – she’s now applied her well-honed skills to the recent renovation of her contemporary home.
Lydia is also a die-hard ‘foodie’ – always combining the latest culinary trends with traditional techniques learnt from her mother Lina, ensuring Sunday night family dinners are always a firm favourite!
But when she’s not overseeing her household or attending to her family, Lydia’s objectives are purely altruistic - immersing herself in her role as an Ambassador to The Shane Warne Foundation. Lydia facilitates and participates in the numerous fund raising events for the Foundation and is instrumental in creating new connections and donor opportunities.
In a true ‘rags to riches’ story, Pettifleur now runs a successful property development business – building homes she could only dream of living in as a child. Not surprisingly, creating ‘luxury’ is Pettifleur’s stock in trade and one look at her opulent penthouse atop the Westin Hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, will tell you why.
Married twice, Pettifleur has three beautiful sons – ranging in ages from 12 to 23 and although she has to cope with the occasional bout of teenage angst, her boys are the apple of her eye. But it is her current partner of 8 years – Frank, who is Pettifleur’s rock, soul mate and constant travelling companion.
Professionally and personally, this year has been a huge milestone for Pettifleur, having committed to and written her first book titled ‘Switch the Bitch’ - which she thinks will have mass appeal to women worldwide.
And whatever Pettifleur ‘thinks’ will no doubt ‘happen’ because this ‘little flower’ is no shrinking violet!
The Real Housewives of Melbourne Season 2 premieres on Sunday, February 22 at 8:30pm on Foxtel's Arena!
Source/Photo Credit: Arena/Foxtel