The opening of a luxury lingerie store became Perth's most hyped event of 2025, but the reality left many local influencers and fashion fans feeling short-changed. The new Victoria's Secret outlet at Karrinyup Shopping Centre launched on December 12th amidst significant buzz, yet failed to deliver on several anticipated promises.
A Supermodel No-Show and Missing Perks
Marketing for the event heavily suggested that global supermodel and entrepreneur Candice Swanepoel might make an appearance, sparking hopes of a FIFO dash to Perth. However, the South African angel was notably absent, dashing hopes for an interview about her fashion label, Tropic of C. Further disappointment followed as the complimentary gift bags promised to attendees were also missing. Only a select few prominent Instagram figures received $150 gift vouchers, a sum unlikely to cover much of the brand's premium range.
Despite the letdowns, the event drew a crowd of Perth's social elite. City of Stirling Mayor Mark Irwin attended, alongside Instagram personality Grace Piscopo. Local models Stella Mayne and Sarsha Chisholm provided the glamour, walking a makeshift catwalk within the beachside shopping centre.
ASX Slapped with Record Fine
In corporate news, the Australian Securities Exchange found itself in hot water just one day after receiving a historic penalty. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission fined the ASX $150 million for repeated failures in meeting its core responsibilities. These duties include ensuring market-sensitive announcements are released through official channels before hitting the media.
The timing was ironic, as details of Alicanto Minerals' $65 million acquisition of the Mt Henry gold mine from Westgold Resources appeared in the Australian Financial Review's Street Talk column before any ASX announcement was made. While Alicanto was in a trading halt, Westgold was not. Westgold's shares later surged after the belated announcement, a clear indicator the news was materially significant. When questioned, the ASX reportedly saw no issue with the sequence of events.
Other News: From Forrest to Cook
Elsewhere in Perth's business scene, a high-profile communications role has opened up. With Adam Haynes departing for the Commonwealth Bank, the private office of billionaires Andrew and Nicola Forrest is seeking a new communications director. The role, which may involve handling inquiries about personal matters, reportedly prefers candidates with a classic Australiana wardrobe but a firm stance against fossil fuel vehicles.
In state politics, Premier Roger Cook's budget update contained a sobering revision. Inflation projections for Perth have been revised up to 3.25 per cent for the financial year, from a previous estimate of 2.75 per cent. This contrasts with the latest national ABS figure of 4.3 per cent. The state's forecast notably excludes the impact of electricity credits, a measure the government has previously credited with reducing headline inflation.
Finally, a professional dispute has turned litigious in Perth's medical community. Cardiothoracic surgeon Kaushalendra Rathore has filed a defamation claim in the Supreme Court against fellow specialist Pragnesh Joshi. The claim, lodged on Tuesday, alleges Dr Joshi made damaging statements about Dr Rathore's surgical skills and professionalism since December 2024. Dr Joshi was unavailable for comment on Friday.
