The rise and fall of the Brownlow queen: Two years ago Nadia Bartel bravely fronted the red carpet after her marriage split. Now she is keeping a low profile on AFL’s night of nights after her white-powder scandal
She was the most talked-about woman of the 2019 Brownlow Medal after bravely fronting the red carpet just months after separating from Geelong great Jimmy Bartel.
But now Nadia Bartel is determined to keep a low profile on AFL’s night of nights.
It’s almost certain she won’t be making an appearance this year – and may even be the butt of a few cruel jokes – after her white-powder scandal two weeks ago.
Fall from grace: She was the most talked-about woman of the 2019 Brownlow Medal after bravely fronting the red carpet just months after separating from Geelong great Jimmy Bartel – but now Nadia Bartel is determined to keep a low profile on AFL’s night of nights
Footy fans will recall Nadia’s appearance at the 2019 Brownlow was a cause célèbre as she’d only recently ended her five-year marriage to Jimmy.
Many described her show-stopping red carpet look as the ultimate ‘revenge’ as she stunned in a strapless blue J’Aton Couture dress with a daring thigh split.
In the ultimate snub to her estranged husband – who won the Brownlow Medal in 2007 and with whom she attended several ceremonies during her years as a top-tier WAG – she even landed a plum role interviewing celebrity arrivals for Channel Seven.
While her presenting skills left much to be desired, she nonetheless walked away from the Brownlow with her head held high as the fawning Melbourne press hailed the arrival of Nadia 2.0: single, stronger and unstoppable.
Fast-forward two years and things couldn’t be more different.
Scandal: It’s almost certain she won’t be making an appearance this year – and may even be the butt of a few cruel jokes – after her white-powder scandal two weeks ago. The influencer (left) was filmed snorting white powder at an illegal gathering during Melbourne’s lockdown on September 2 and the footage (above) was accidentally uploaded to Instagram by her friend
The influencer and founder of fashion label Henne is now shamed after being caught attending an illegal gathering during Melbourne’s Covid lockdown.
She and three other women were each fined $5,452 after damning footage of the party was accidentally posted on Instagram by her friend Ellie Pearson.
But the most humiliating part of the scandal was seeing Nadia, once known for her impeccably clean-cut image, snorting a line of white powder off a $1.50 Kmart plate.
Revenge: Fans will recall Nadia’s appearance at the 2019 Brownlow was a cause célèbre as she’d only recently ended her five-year marriage to Jimmy. Many hailed her show-stopping red carpet look as the ultimate ‘revenge’ and she even interviewed guests for Seven’s live coverage
Take that! Her comeback was described as the ultimate snub to her estranged husband Jimmy, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2007 and with whom she attended several ceremonies during her years as a top-tier WAG. The Bartels are pictured at the 2018 Brownlow Medal – their last before splitting – when Nadia was pregnant with the couple’s second son, Henley
While she wasn’t charged with drug offences because police couldn’t prove what she was snorting, the video nonetheless caused irreparable damage to her brand.
Just 24 hours after the video leaked on September 2, Nadia issued a grovelling apology on Instagram, where she has 568,000 followers.
‘Hi everyone, I have let you all down by my actions,’ she wrote.
In happier times: The Bartels are pictured at the 2010 (left) and 2014 (right) Brownlow Medal ceremonies. Nadia would often make the annual best-dressed lists
‘I take full responsibility and I am committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure I make better choices in future.
‘To my family and friends, my business partners and the public health workers trying to keep us all safe, I am embarrassed and remorseful.
‘I am truly and deeply sorry. I hope I can earn your forgiveness and, in time, your trust.’
The 2021 AFL Brownlow Medal airs live on 7Mate in Sydney and Channel Seven in Melbourne on Sunday from 7pm
Caught on camera: The influencer and founder of fashion label Henne is now shamed after being caught attending an illegal gathering during Melbourne’s lockdown earlier this month
Bad luck: While Nadia (left) wasn’t charged with drug offences because police couldn’t prove what she was snorting, the video nonetheless caused irreparable damage to her brand