Their split rocked Brighton’s golden mile.
And the Melbourne society gossips were sent into overdrive on Saturday when exes Gianni Romano and Zana Pali attended the same exclusive charity gala.
The former couple were both guests at the star-studded JW Foundation Starry Night fundraiser at the National Gallery of Victoria, seated at different tables.
Herald Sun gossip columnist Jackie Epstein later reported that it was ‘a little awkward’ for the pair because Gianni, a partner at Best Hooper, one of Melbourne’s oldest law firms, had arrived with his ‘new and younger’ girlfriend.
The woman was apparently a Zana ‘lookalike’.
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Brighton socialite Zana Pali stole the spotlight at the JW Foundation Starry Night fundraiser at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne on Saturday night
Zana’s ex-husband, lawyer Gianni Romano, was also in attendance. He was reportedly joined by a new, younger girlfriend. (The former couple is pictured on the Gold Coast in January 2017)
When we contacted Zana for comment, she responded with a blunt statement.
Not only was she unbothered by whispers of Gianni’s new relationship, but she told us the exes no longer speak, despite sharing two sons together.
‘I don’t speak to him. I wish him all the best. I’m busy focusing on the kids and my new career goals,’ the 34-year-old texted us.
Her blasé response comes after Zana stole the spotlight at the gala in a dramatic white beaded gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a fitted, embellished bodice.
With its sweeping train and ethereal layers of tulle, the divorcee almost looked bridal as she arrived for the fundraiser in support of children’s charity ToyBox Australia.
She was photographed on the blue carpet upon her arrival and also shared several photos and videos of her scene-stealing ensemble on Instagram.
Gianni, by contrast, kept a lower profile. He and his female companion skipped the media wall and avoided posting selfies, but he did upload a video of the floor show.
Gianni and Zana – who rose to fame on My Kitchen Rules in 2016 – are believed to have split sometime last year, but their break-up didn’t make headlines until July.
Gianni and his female companion skipped the media wall and avoided posting selfies, but he did upload a video of the floor show (seen left and right)
Zana (left) told Daily Mail she was unbothered by talk of her ex-husband’s new relationship
After news broke of their marriage breakdown in July, we caught up with Gianni (left) near his Melbourne office while Zana (right) was jetting around Europe with their sons
The split apparently stunned the prestige Bayside social set which includes the likes of Bec and Chris Judd.
Zana and Gianni’s former marital home on Brighton’s golden mile – complete with a basement nightclub and lift access – sold in the middle of last year for $10million.
The property sits on a stretch of millionaires’ row that is a magnet for socialites, property moguls and Rich Listers.
Gianni and Zana became part of the neighbourhood’s glamorous elite when they moved in with their sons Leo and Romeo, now aged six and five, several years ago.
After news broke of their marriage breakdown, we caught up with Gianni near his Melbourne office while Zana was jetting around Europe with their sons.
The father-of-two, who wasn’t wearing his wedding ring, buttoned up when we asked about his separation, but did not deny his marriage was over.
When pressed for details of what happened, he said: ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
The pair’s family home on Brighton’s golden mile – complete with a basement nightclub and lift access – sold in the middle of last year for about $10million
Zana enjoyed the ultimate European summer after calling time on her marriage
At about the same time, Zana was attending a wedding at the Hyatt Regency resort in the Bay of Kotor in southwestern Montenegro.
While there, she posted a gallery of photos with a pointed caption: ‘In the end all that really matters is family.’
After rising to fame on MKR, Zana transitioned into fashion influencing, while she and Gianni made serious coin in real estate and moved to the Bayside area.
But cracks in their once-picture-perfect family life started to show by late 2024, with the pair going so far as to unfollow each other on Instagram.
When they abandoned their annual tradition of jetting off on a family holiday to Europe – with Gianni staying in Melbourne while Zana whisked their children away to The Balkans in June – it was clear the marriage was in trouble.
