EXCLUSIVEThe REAL creative visionary behind Bianca Censori's risqué looks, socialite couple move on after nasty split... and a TV diva's tantrums earn him a cutting new nickname: THE GROUP CHAT WITH LUCY MANLY
Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia's most-trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news.
Uncensored style
Ever since she first appeared in the public eye, Bianca Censori has been known for her skimpy, attention-grabbing outfits.
And it is her husband Kanye West who is often first in line to take credit, frequently referring to his wife as his 'muse'.
There is, however, another creative visionary working quietly behind-the-scenes to create some Censori's most jaw-dropping looks: Gadir Rajad.
Well before he rose to prominence, he was just your average suburban teen trying to make it big in the Melbourne nightclub scene.
But since then the model and photographer, turned stylist and designer, has put in the hard yards, making a name for himself in Hollywood, working with the likes of Paris Hilton, Kylie Minogue, Troye Sivan and Madonna's daughter Lourdes.
But it wasn't until he started playing dress-ups with Mrs West that he really started getting noticed on a global scale
Like Censori, Rajad hails from the outer suburbs of Melbourne's north-east and attended Catholic boys high school Marcellin College. According to an old acquaintance, he had a middle class upbringing with 'quite conservative' parents.
Like Bianca Censori, Gadir Rajad hails from the outer suburbs of Melbourne's north east, and both are now making international headlines
The Catholic schoolboy was known for dancing topless at Melbourne night clubs in the mid-late 2000s
The stylist, who also works as a designer, photographer and model has worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton (pictured)
In 2022, a fire broke out in his mum and dad's inner-city supermarket, prompting him to create a GoFundMe campaign.
'Alpha Trading was built by my immigrant family who have spent over 20 years working tirelessly to create a new life for themselves through this import-export business,' he wrote at the time.
'Unfortunately, the business' insurance had expired, leaving my family distraught and burdened with the loss of livelihood, and many costs and debts.
'My father is a philanthropist who has always given back to the community through donations and assistance. He and my family are now in dire need of some karmic generosity.'
Rajad's Facebook page is still littered with photos from his experimental clubbing era in both Melbourne and Sydney.
'He always danced at Prince [Of Wales nightclub] side bar with his shirt off,' one of his old party pal reminds me.
Instagram chef Lucy Rosenberg, Gadir and model Tyrone Dylan at a Victorian bush doof
For months, fans have expressed concern over Bianca Censori's well being after she was paraded around by husband Kanye West in a slew of risqué ensembles, but many looks were styled by her longtime friend Gadir Rajad
And his Instagram is peppered with images of his muse Censori, who he calls 'B', wearing his designs.
Captioning a carousel of snaps of Censori her masking tape look last year, he wrote, 'B in the Booby Bday tape look'.
The photoset includes pictures of Censori leaning up against a wall in Paris with tape pants beginning just below the knee and wrapped around her hips.
Two large suspender-style strips then rise to barely cover her breasts.
Other photo sets feature Censori in a see-through plastic poncho, and what Rajad describes as a 'hosiery fit' that resembles some of her most controversial outfits worn alongside Kanye.
Happily ever after?
Off the back of their trainwreck marriage and acrimonious split, it seems former eastern suburbs couple Jessica and Dyson Bowditch have found their happily ever afters.
Last week, The Group Chat revealed socialite and former TV producer Jessica had found love with Texan financier Denham Schiff.
So, it came as welcome news when a faithful reader slithered into my inbox to let me know Mr Bowditch has also moved on.
I'm told the Barrenjoey banker has been dating 26-year-old guest relations executive Chloe Hayes for several months.
Chloe Hayes, seen here at last year's Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne, and Dyson Bowditch have been quietly dating for several months after his marriage ended
TV producer and socialite Jessica Bowditch (right) is divorcing banker Dyson Bowditch (left)
The pair have travelled extensively together and she was even seen on his arm at last years' Lexus marquee during the Spring Racing Carnival.
They then spent New Year's Eve together at Justin Hemmes' Harbourfront mansion The Hermitage.
'They likely met through work,' my source said.
'With her job with a bank, she knows a lot of men in the market.'
A family affair
Star media couple Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons are adding another journalist to their brood as their eldest son Jake is set to marry Sydney Morning Herald scribe Mary Ward.
Last month my former colleague looked to be one happy hen with all the bachelorette paraphernalia a bride could wish for. Donning a bridal sash and veil, she tucked into penis-shaped cookies embossed with 'To have and to hold'. Classy.
Mary Ward is a scribe at Sydney Morning Herald
The cookies that were served up at the bachelorette - classy!
The FitzSimons family: Groom-to-be Jake is pictured second from the right next to mother Lisa
What many people don't know about the couple's eldest child is he too is an editor in his own right. Jake heads up the online platform Commander's Herald, a Magic: The Gathering trading card game website.
The website describes Jake as a writer from Sydney and a Magic 'fiend'. He graduated from Sydney University with an Arts degree in 2015. In his final year he won Wesley’s Socrates Cup for being the best orator, and the Hamilton Mott Scholarship for his engagement in college life.
The couple had their wedding announced in a newspaper last August.
And finally... guess who, don't sue!
He's a loveable character on television, but according to colleagues he's actually like 'Jekyll and Hyde' - and you never really know which one you'll get.
Our on-set spy tells us this television star is fun when the cameras are rolling but off set he's a sourpuss.
And his diva antics were on full display in the lounge of a regional airline late last year when the TV star threw a tantrum and refused to sit with his crew.
He then stormed off and left them at the baggage carousel as they picked up their camera gear after arriving back at the major city where they call home.
