Housewives Feud Leads to Restraining Order Drama

Welcome to The Group Chat with Lucy Manly, where Australia's most trusted society insider shares the hottest gossip BEFORE it makes the news.

Tick, tock... boom 

It was inevitable, really.

Sydney's messiest TikTok feud has finally made its way to the courts, with Canadian‑born Cindy Kilian, better known as RegardingCindy, taking out a restraining order against her former best friend Elle Salagaras, a.k.a. EasternSuburbsMum.

As previously revealed by the Mail, the pair's friendship imploded last year after Salagaras claimed she had been assaulted by the co‑owner of a well‑known venue, and Kilian said she would continue to go there.

Tensions later flared at an influencer event held on the rooftop of the InterContinental in Double Bay in late November.

The feud between eastern suburbs frenemies Elle Salagaras (left) and Cindy Kilian (right) has escalated, with Kilian taking out an AVO against Salagaras last month

What exactly triggered the AVO remains unknown, and no charges have been laid against mother‑of‑three Salagaras

TikTok footage showed Salagaras - who documents her life as a young stay‑at‑home mother with a wealthy husband - shouting at Kilian off‑screen: 'She wants to dish it but she can't take it? Yeah? You wanna f*** around?'

A frustrated Kilian told Salagaras to 'go home', then threatened to issue a 'cease and desist tomorrow' if her former BFF did not delete her posts.

When Salagaras then made a particularly cutting allegation against Kilian, a man's voice could be heard pleading in the background: 'Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, STOP!'

Dramatic, right?

Well, things have escalated again, with Kilian taking out an AVO against Salagaras last month.

Under the order, Salagaras must not assault or threaten Kilian; stalk, harass or intimidate her; or destroy her property or harm any animal belonging to her.

To be clear, this column does not suggest Salagaras has done any of these things - they are standard conditions of an AVO.

When contacted for comment on Thursday, Kilian said: 'It's something between me and her… It's a very strict and very classified police matter,' but declined to elaborate.

The pair's once-close friendship imploded last year. Tensions later flared at an event held on the rooftop of the InterContinental in Double Bay (pictured) in late November 

Salagaras once mocked Kilian's threat to issue a 'cease and desist'

What exactly triggered the AVO remains unknown, and no charges have been laid against mother‑of‑three Salagaras.

Last year, Salagaras - a former 'bottle girl' who worked as a buyer's agent for Cohen Handler before becoming a full‑time influencer - confirmed to the Mail via a spokeswoman that her friendship with Kilian was over.

'After much reflection, I have decided to part ways as both friends and work colleagues,' she said at the time.

'I am now focusing on my content creation through my TikTok and Instagram platforms, as well as my podcast, which continues to grow and inspire my audience. I wish Cindy all the best in her future endeavours.' 

Kilian, originally from Toronto, obtained a degree in fashion arts before moving to Australia at age 22.

Like Salagaras, she worked in real estate before deciding her true calling was filming TikTok videos.

'I love being on camera,' Kilian - who recently split from her partner - said on Salagaras' podcast, Ellefluential, in 2024, prior to their falling‑out.

The AVO matter is listed for mention on 11 February at Downing Centre Local Court.

Chiro's reputation massage

The most talked-about chiropractor in Double Bay is undergoing a bit of reputation rehab as he prepares to face his ex-girlfriend in court.

Lotus-driving Dr Walid Kesserwani, the founder and chief executive officer of Medisport Clinic, has been charged with choking and assaulting his former partner, who works in the travel industry. 

As previously reported by the Mail, court documents state the alleged choking incident took place at Barangaroo about 11.30pm on July 17, 2024. The three assault charges relate to incidents alleged to have taken place at the same location on February 13, 2025, and September 6 and December 13, 2024.

Choking a person without their consent carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Common assault can be punished by up to two years' jail. Dr Kesserwani (yes, chiros can call themselves 'Dr') has pleaded not guilty to each charge.

His case got a mention this week, with no major updates. But I couldn't help but notice while doing a little research that our previous coverage was difficult to find.

Then it clicked: he's gone and rigged the Google search rankings. And he's done so with the power of AI. No, not artificial intelligence - an 'Actual Indian'!

The Group Chat understands Dr Kesserwani found a tech-savvy freelancer from Hamirpur on the website Upwork, which is like a white-collar version of Airtasker. 

'Nishant T.' used SEO wizardry to push our unflattering stories about him down Google so they no longer appear on the first page when you search for his name.

Lotus-driving Double Bay chiropractor Dr Walid Kesserwani appears to be trying to clean up his Google search results by hiring an Indian freelancer on the website Upwork

Accused of alleged choking and assault against a former partner, Dr Kesserwani is set to face a one-day hearing at Downing Centre Local Court in May. He's pleaded not guilty to each charge

This happens more than you'd think - and is usually the final resort after PR efforts collapse and a concerns notice ends up in the shredder.

Dr Kesserwani is, of course, allowed to do what he wants to burnish his reputation, and it's not illegal. But perhaps he should instruct the person fixing his search results not to boast about his work online?

Nishant T.'s profile highlights his 'online reputation' work for Dr Kesserwani, which dates from November 2024 through last year, among other clients.

Whatever happened to discretion?

We've also heard whispers the good doctor previously used the same freelancer to bury a Healthcare Complaints Commission media release highlighting an NCAT order reprimanding Dr Kesserwani over 'inappropriate telephone contact' with a patient.

Dr Kesserwani is set to face a one-day hearing at Downing Centre Local Court in May.

His representative was contacted for comment in relation to the SEO activity. 

TikTok takes scalpel to top doc 

Double Bay plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Kelly Thornbury - one of the few women to crack the top tier of Australia's male-dominated cosmetic surgery scene - has had her popular TikTok account abruptly banned.

Double Bay plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Kelly Thornbury has had her popular TikTok account abruptly banned

Dr Thornbury, renowned among Sydney's elite for her expertise in breast and body contouring, says she was blindsided by the decision, losing an account that boasted 47,000 followers and nearly one million views.

Her Instagram, where she posts similar content, remains active, making the TikTok ban all the more confusing.

According to Dr Thornbury, she was using the platform not to promote her own services but to educate women about safe plastic surgery choices.

Her content regularly called out cosmetic cowboys, unqualified social‑media 'experts', and the growing trend of medical tourism - bargain procedures in countries such as Thailand and Turkey being pushed by influencers.

'I have focused my efforts on patient care, and part of that is providing access to highly curated, specialist information for many women all over the world,' she said.

'My goal has always been to provide information to help women safely navigate plastic surgery.'

Dr Thornbury warns against medical tourism, after influencers like OnlyFans star Kayla Jayde (pictured) shared cautionary tales of complications from going under the knife in Turkey

It is curious that TikTok will allow influencers to glamorise invasive, high‑risk procedures overseas while censoring a top surgeon posting general educational advice. If there were more operators like Dr Thornbury, perhaps there would be fewer Jocelyn Wildenstein impersonators waltzing around Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Gold Coast influencer Skye Wheatley underwent multiple cosmetic procedures in Turkey in September 2024, including a 'fox‑eye' lift, blepharoplasty and liposuction. She shared her recovery on Instagram, documenting the process while also attracting criticism for promoting both her procedures and the clinic she partnered with.

OnlyFans star Kayla Jayde offered a more cautionary tale. She used her substantial social‑media platform to warn followers about her experience undergoing a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) in Turkey after suffering major complications, including 'vomiting blood and being paralysed for 24 hours'.

She later said she regretted having the procedure.

Remember, ladies: surgery is like tattooing. Good work ain't cheap - and cheap work ain't good.

And finally... guess who, don't sue!

Perth socialites are chattering about a prominent Western Australian allegedly being mentioned in the Jeffrey Epstein email dump. Sounds scandalous...

The only problem is, it's not true.

I checked - and there are precisely no records of the man if you search for his name on the U.S. Department of Justice website.

Still, his fabricated acquaintance with the dead pervert Epstein continues to be the talk of the well-heeled western suburbs.

Don't let facts get in the way of a good story, ladies! 

• Additional reporting by Joseph Scrimshire