Heartbreak behind influencer’s 30th birthday as she parties with her sister in a sheer barely-there party dress

Kate Szepanowski put on a brave face on Monday as she celebrated her 30th birthday without the support of her jailed boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan.

The Gold Coast influencer has kept a low profile in recent months after her partner was sentenced to 11 years in jail for attempting to aid in a cocaine smuggling plot.

But this week, the controversial online personality kept her head high as she partied it up with friends and flashed some skin in a sheer silver dress by Jessica Bara. 

Szepanowski appeared to be making the most of her special day without Brennan as she flaunted her figure in the barely-there frock worth $638.

She draped her frame in sparkling crystal embellishments and rhinestones which studded the corset bodice.

The brunette beauty, who was partying it up with her influencer sister Chloe, then styled her locks in a trendy wet look before slicking on some bronzed makeup.

She shared footage of the milestone birthday to Instagram, which saw the influencer dancing in front of a large K and number 30.

Szepanowski captioned the post with a heartfelt message addressing the ‘struggles’ she has recently ‘conquered’.   

‘Thank you to everyone for all of the beautiful birthday messages. I am truly feeling so much love,’ she penned.

‘Turning 30 is huge for me! I’m celebrating reaching this milestone, all of the struggles that I have conquered, everything I’ve had to deal with that has lead me here.

‘Exactly where I am supposed to be! Thank you all for being apart in my life, I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my friends and family.

‘I have the best support system around me I AM SO BLESSED. Thank you also to my girls who flew interstate to come and celebrate with me.’

The birthday girl ended her night at Cali Beach on the Gold Coast with her friends and family, including sister Chloe, 26, who rocked a white mini skirt for the celebration.  

Szepanowski has kept a low profile in recent months after her boyfriend Brennan was sentenced to 11 years in jail for attempting to aid in a ‘greedy’ cocaine smuggling plot.

Brennan was sentenced to just over a decade with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years after he and his friend Brendan John Sipple were found guilty of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported drugs.

A jury returned guilty verdicts for both men on May 31 after deliberating for more than six hours following a brief trial.

Brennan and Sipple, 30, entered a freight yard at the Port of Brisbane at 4.10am on June 12, 2020, after spotting a particular shipping container during their previous surveillance runs.

Justice Michael Copley said one or both the men opened the panels of the container’s refrigeration unit expecting to find a substantial amount of cocaine.

‘Your involvement in this offending was due to giving in to the temptation of greed,’ Justice Copley said as he handed down the sentence.

The cocaine had been removed by police four months prior after workers at a dock in Belgium found 42 rectangular packages hidden in the container.

Police had been tracking the men with listening and GPS devices as they drove a van from their Gold Coast homes to the Port of Brisbane multiple times in June 2020.

The jury heard audio from the van with the men discussing a large payment and plans to bury the cocaine in isolated bushland.

The audio also captured the men celebrating when they found the container by listening to the songs Circles by Post Malone and Survivor by Destiny’s Child.

Crown prosecutor Patrick Wilson said the men had been determined to work as a key element in the illegal drug supply chain and had demonstrated no remorse.

‘It’s clear they were doing something for a substantial financial reward in return for their involvement… they plainly knew the drugs were going to be commercially exploited by others,’ Mr Wilson said.

Defence barrister Josh Underwood said Sipple had overcome a difficult childhood to start a business supplying subcontractors to the building industry.

‘He is honest and hardworking… and this offending was out of character for him,’ Mr Underwood said.

Barrister Mitchell Rawlings said Brennan had a great deal of motivation to rehabilitate himself and had started a courier business.

‘He had sporadic but concerning contact with authorities during his early life but that has settled down now,’ Mr Rawlings said.

Justice Copley said he had to impose a sentence that would deter the defendants and others from attempting to chase ‘easy money’ from serious drug offending.

‘Neither of you had any compunction about the effects this cocaine would have on individual or the community,’ Justice Copley said.

Sipple was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of six-and-a-half years.

Brennan was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years due to spending two years on remand.

He waved and blew kisses to partner Szepanowski, his family and supporters in court as he was taken back into custody.

Szepanowski is the sister of fellow influencer Chloe Szepanowski, who in turn is a member of the Orval family through her relationship with YouTuber Mitch Orval.

Despite the Gold Coast-based beauty making a living as an influencer, she took an extended break from social media while boyfriend Brennan faced drug charges.