Sydney activewear entrepreneur Pip Edwards has stoked rumours of a Melbourne socialite divide after publicly siding with Rozalia Russian during a glamorous Thredbo getaway, in a move that is likely to raise eyebrows among the city’s social set.
Edwards, the founder of P.E. Nation, was attending a Range Rover publicity event in Thredbo alongside Rozalia when she posted an image of the socialite and a hairstylist riding in an SUV. She captioned the photo: “Found my favourite people.”
The declaration drew attention because Edwards has maintained a close interstate friendship with Sarah Lucas for years. The pair have regularly attended high-profile parties together, appeared side by side on red carpets, and Edwards attended Sarah’s Saint Laurent-themed hen’s party and multi-day wedding celebrations in Europe three years ago. Sarah did not appear to attend the Thredbo event.
A Feud More Than a Year in the Making
Rumours of a falling-out between Rozalia and Sarah Lucas first gained traction in May 2025, when the two women appeared to keep their distance in a group photograph featuring several members of Melbourne’s social elite. Rozalia is married to Bar Bambi owner and former mayoral candidate Nick Russian; Sarah is married to restaurateur Chris Lucas, who operates venues including Maison Batard and Society on Collins Street.
The speculation intensified in August last year when Rozalia did not attend eveningwear designer Effie Kats’ gender-reveal party, which was hosted at Maison Batard. The plot thickened in December when Rozalia was again absent from Effie’s baby shower, held at Society, another Lucas-owned venue, while Sarah attended. Guests at the baby shower included Jade Kisnorbo, Jessie Murphy, and Chris Kontos.
Neither Rozalia nor Sarah has publicly addressed the rumours of a rift.
A Pattern of Proxy Signals
Society watchers have also pointed to a separate episode at the launch of Effie Kats’ new collection in Sydney last May, where Rozalia and Sarah appeared to stand at opposite ends of a group photograph.
This is not the first time Sarah has reportedly navigated a socialite falling-out. In 2023, she was said to have had a disagreement with Effie Kats over how paparazzi discovered the location of her Venice wedding, and she subsequently did not attend Effie’s wedding at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The two have since reconciled.
Edwards’ Thredbo post is expected to reignite speculation about the state of Melbourne’s social allegiances, with insiders suggesting her public show of warmth toward Rozalia will only add fuel to an already well-stoked fire.
