As the old saying goes, the best revenge is looking good.
And Gladys Berejiklian certainly showed her ‘dodgy’ ex-boyfriend Daryl Maguire what he was missing on Thursday as she turned heads at Australian Fashion Week.
The New South Wales Premier, 50, was a vision in blue as she sat in the front row for a catwalk showcase at Carriageworks in Sydney.
Chic: Gladys Berejiklian certainly showed her ‘dodgy’ ex-boyfriend Daryl Maguire what he was missing on Thursday as she turned heads at Australian Fashion Week
She teamed her dress with nude heels and styled her dark hair in a chic bob.
The politician was seated next to her sister Mary Berejiklian and fashion executive Natalie Xenita for the Indigenous Fashion Projects runway.
Gladys, who has a reputation for being ‘married to the job’, is believed to be single following her split from former Wagga Wagga MP Maguire.
In good company: The New South Wales Premier, 50, was seated next to her sister Mary Berejiklian and fashion executive Natalie Xenita for the Indigenous Fashion Projects runway 
Flying solo: Gladys, who has a reputation for being ‘married to the job’, is believed to be single following her split from former Wagga Wagga MP Daryl Maguire
Details: Gladys teamed her dress with nude heels and styled her dark hair in a chic bob
Their romantic history was exposed in October when Gladys admitted during an ICAC inquiry that she’d been in a secret relationship with Maguire while he was in office.
At the time, Maguire was at the centre of a corruption probe amid claims he’d used his position for personal gain.
While some feared her five-year entanglement with the disgraced ex-MP would derail her political career, Gladys emerged from the scandal relatively unscathed.
Dodgy Daz: Gladys’ romance with Daryl Maguire (left) was exposed in October when she admitted during an ICAC inquiry that she’d been in a secret relationship with the disgraced former MP while he was in office
Indeed, many women felt sorry for her and argued she shouldn’t have been held accountable for the misdeeds of her ex-partner.
After being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Australian Fashion Week, primarily based at Sydney’s Carriageworks, is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year.
The five-day event coincides with the release of an EY report, from High Fashion to High Vis – detailing the economic contribution of Australia’s fashion and textiles sector.
According to the Australian Fashion Council, which commissioned it, it’s the most comprehensive study of the fashion and textiles industry ever done in Australia.
It found the industry creates $7.2billion in export revenue for Australia, while the industry’s economic impact represents upwards of 1.5 per cent of the national economy.
The study also found the industry employs almost half a million Australians, more than mining and utilities, with women making up 77 per cent of the workforce.
Australian Fashion Council CEO Leila Naja Hibri said the report highlighted the economic strength of the fashion industry.
Scandal: At the time Maguire was at the centre of a corruption probe amid claims he’d used his position for personal gain. While some feared her five-year entanglement with the disgraced former MP would derail her political career, Gladys emerged from it relatively unscathed 
‘This ground-breaking report highlights the true economic clout of our dynamic and diverse industry,’ Ms Hibri said.
‘Until now, the comprehensive value of the industry’s economic contribution and its predominantly female workforce has not been fully recognised.
‘Now we can better understand the impact of this sector’s significant role in Australia’s creative economy, and the substantial potential of its future.’
This year’s Fashion Week will be the largest since 2015, featuring Australia’s leading and emerging designers as well as the collections of Indigenous fashion designers.
The week will have a renewed focus on sustainability and it’s also the first time in its 25-year history that the public has been invited to attend, with 41 runway shows, workshops, panel talks, masterclasses as well as live podcasts.
Ground-breaking: After being cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Australian Fashion Week is the first national fashion show to be held live anywhere in the world for more than a year. Gladys is pictured on Thursday with fashion executive Natalie Xenita