A prominent socialite’s champagne lifestyle is under the microscope after Sydney’s self-styled elites baulked at her recent over-the-top display of wealth.
Influencer Laura Hazzouri has ruffled feathers with her meticulously styled ‘day in the life’ video, documenting her preparations for a family trip to the Maldives.
The video, which has been circulating widely in society group chats since it was posted on January 6 to Mrs Hazzouri’s 65,000 followers, has divided opinion among eastern suburbs tastemakers.
Some admire her chutzpah, while others find it unbearably gauche.
The chatter reflects the broader ‘insider vs outsider’ snobbery that has been a feature of Sydney high society since Federation, with one source noting that Mrs Hazzouri originally hails from Dubbo – a long way from the Bondi bubble.
The video follows Mrs Hazzouri as she gets her nails done at a high-end salon before returning to her sprawling home to prepare for business-class travel with her husband Charbel and their three sons.
Prominent socialite Laura Hazzouri’s champagne lifestyle is under the microscope after Sydney’s self-styled elites baulked at her recent over-the-top display of wealth
Mrs Hazzouri ruffled feathers with her meticulously styled ‘day in the life’ video, documenting her preparations for a family trip to the Maldives with her husband Charbel and their three sons
Showcasing her exorbitant wealth, Laura shared footage of herself packing her belongings for the trip – including two YSL beach totes worth $800 apiece
It’s the kind of content that inspires envy and admiration in equal measure: two YSL beach totes worth $800 apiece are zipped into protective dust bags, thousands of dollars’ worth of Cartier jewellery is carefully arranged in travel containers, and a Louis Vuitton beauty case valued at roughly $3,000 is highlighted in a close-up.
The family then bundles into a car packed with designer luggage, bound for the airport.
Mrs Hazzouri, whose maiden name is Marshall, films herself gliding through the terminal with her suitcase and a Goyard tote worth about $3,000, before the family settles into the Qantas Club ahead of take-off.
It’s aspirational content, for sure, but, as noted, not everyone is impressed.
For some in Sydney’s more refined postcodes, the video reads less like lifestyle inspiration and more like an embarrassing and unnecessary flex.
‘Her “day in a life” is not real or relatable. You don’t see Deb Symond O’Neil – who was born with a silver spoon in her mouth – sharing videos like that,’ a well-connected society insider tells us.
Mrs Hazzouri’s origins in regional New South Wales add a compelling social edge to the jealous chatter – proving that the old-fashioned class system is still live and kicking in the land of the ‘fair go’.
While the specifics of her early years are unclear, she has almost certainly upgraded her lifestyle since meeting her husband Charbel Hazzouri, a businessman who founded property development company Revelop with cousin Anthony El-Hazouri.
While the specifics of her early years are unclear, she has almost certainly upgraded her lifestyle since meeting her husband, property developer Charbel Hazzouri (right)
The couple have been living in a mansion in Sydney’s upscale McMahons Point for more than a decade, but are planning to upsize after buying a $13.5million Kurraba Point property in 2020
Mrs Hazzouri (left) last made headlines in May when the Mail’s Sydney gossip column The Group Chat reported she had fallen out with poultry heiress Jessica Ingham (right). The Daily Mail does not suggest that Ms Ingham is one of the Sydney elites gossiping about Mrs Hazzouri
The couple, who have been together for many years, have been living in a mansion in McMahons Point for more than a decade, but are planning to upsize after buying a $13.5million Kurraba Point home in 2020.
They have since knocked down the property and are building their dream house: a Luigi Rosselli-designed mansion with a swimming pool, landscaped outdoor areas and multiple living zones.
According to a source, Mrs Hazzouri has indicated that she and her husband will keep their existing mansion even after making the move to Kurraba Point.
The Daily Mail contacted Mrs Hazzouri for comment on some of the unkind chatter, and she insisted that her social media content was misunderstood.
‘I share parts of my life online, including travel, but social media is only a snapshot and not the full picture of who I am or how I live day-to-day,’ she told us.
‘Like many families, we’ve worked hard over many years to build the life we have.
‘My content is intended to be light-hearted and aspirational, not to alienate or offend, and I’m always mindful that people are facing different circumstances.
‘I understand that not everyone will relate to every post, and I take feedback on board, but my intention is simply to share moments from my own life, not to make comparisons or statements about anyone else’s.’
Mrs Hazzouri last made headlines in May when the Mail’s Sydney gossip column The Group Chat reported she had fallen out with poultry heiress Jessica Ingham.
The pair used to be thick as thieves after being introduced by their former publicist Roxy Jacenko.
Ingham and Jacenko were previously close friends, but had a falling out over their luxury candle business XRJ.
At the time, Mrs Hazzouri had sided with Ingham, dropping Jacenko and later signing with influencer agency The Coup Management.
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