Simone Holtznagel & Max Shepherd: What Happened After Their Split?

There’s only one place to see and be seen if you’re a hot new celebrity couple: the Silver Party.

The annual charity gala, hosted by hospitality mogul Justin Hemmes, is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of Sydney’s society calendar – second, perhaps, to the Gold Dinner that follows weeks later.

Several big names have used the star-studded fundraiser to debut their latest squeeze in the past. This year, for example, entrepreneurs Amber Pitsis and Avit Bhindi went public, with our spy calling them the ‘next “It” couple’.

But they weren’t the only ones turning heads. Seen – but regrettably not pictured – were model Simone Holtznagel and hotshot property developer Max Shepherd.

Sadly, they weren’t to last. Just three weeks after the gala on May 18, they called time on their fledgling romance and quietly hoped no one would notice.

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Model Simone Holtznagel regrets her short-lived fling with property developer Max Shepherd (right, with his ex-partner Dina Broadhurst) and regrets word getting out that they were an item

On June 23, Max was spotted holding hands with Hannah Waites, a glamorous former real estate agent who used to date Highland Double Bay director David Malouf 

Sources tell me Simone was quite taken with Max, even pulling strings with Hemmes – the partner of her sister Madeline – to secure him an invite to the Silver Party.

While at the soirée, the genetically blessed pair looked ‘smitten’ as they packed on the PDA in front of a Who’s Who of high society.

They apparently told fellow guests they had been spending ‘a lot of time together’.

It all seemed promising then – but an insider tells me ‘things were never too serious’ and when word got out, the duo became conscious of the hype surrounding them.

After going their separate ways less than a month later, Max – who Daily Mail readers will know as the ex of ‘nude artist’ Dina Broadhurst – wasted no time moving on.

On June 23, he was spotted with Hannah Waites, a glamorous former real estate agent who used to date Highland Double Bay director David Malouf.

Hannah, who works at tech investment management firm Future Now Capital, was seen holding hands with Max as the pair went for a stroll through the ‘burbs. 

They certainly looked like a couple – and it was one more public sighting than Max ever had with Simone during their short-lived fling.

Now reflecting on their brief entanglement, I am told Simone feels ‘silly’ about it all 

Meanwhile, I’m told things are getting serious for Simone’s baby-daddy ex Jono Castano (left) and his new girlfriend, flight attendant-turned-reality TV star Emily Ryder (right)

Jono’s ex-wife Amy (left), with whom he co-hosts a podcast, is also apparently mulling a move to Singapore, as her soccer player boyfriend Aaron Evans (right) prepares to ink a major deal

Now reflecting on their brief entanglement, I am told Simone feels ‘silly’ about it all and regrets word getting out that they were seeing each other.

Going forward, the Australia’s Next Top Model star – who shares a daughter with her celebrity trainer ex Jono Castano – has vowed to remain private about future romances.

Speaking of Jono, I’m told things are getting serious for the Acero gym owner and his new girlfriend, flight attendant-turned-reality TV star Emily Ryder.

Just last week, they were spotted enjoying a romantic date at Lilypad Palm Beach – an all-inclusive floating villa that costs $2,200 per night.

Emily, who appeared in the Stan series Love Triangle, is also said to be supportive of Jono’s close friendship with his ex-wife Amy Castano, with whom he co-hosts a podcast, No Business Being A Castano.

Amy, meanwhile, could soon be living between Sydney and Singapore, as her soccer player boyfriend Aaron Evans prepares to ink a major deal with a team there.