They have become the most talked about women in Australia since getting kicked off My Kitchen Rules for hurling vile insults and threats at their rivals Jess and Emma.
And TV ‘villains’ Sonya Mefaddi and Hadil Faiza’s secret lives have been revealed amid the controversy – exposing Hadil’s five-year stint in the navy and Sonya’s decadent party girl past.
Divorced mother-of-two Hadil, 30, used to be a boatswain’s mate while Sonya, 34, partied with shirtless sailors and threw wild burlesque bashes while juggling a career in fashion PR.
EXCLUSIVE: From partying with shirtless sailors to burlesque bashes and even a stint in the navy: The secret lives of My Kitchen Rules’ villains Sonya and Hadil REVEALED as they become the most talked about women in Australia. Pictured: Sonya Mefaddi at a pool party in 2010
Hadil, who cruelly compared Emma to a ‘blowfish’ during their showdown on Wednesday night, is a beauty therapist who lives in Cairns with her two sons.
She shares her children, aged four and six, with her ex-husband – who she split from four years ago.
While the reality TV star has now turned her attention to cooking, she spent five years in the navy before leaving the armed forces in 2014.
‘I’m ex-navy and my ex-husband is still in the navy,’ she told New Idea earlier this month.
Who knew? Meanwhile, divorced mother-of-two Hadil (bottom right) served as a boatswain’s mate in the navy for five years until 2014
In the past: Hadil dealt with ropes and weapons before deciding to leave the armed forces to spend more time with her two sons – aged four and six – in Cairns
‘You wouldn’t think it. You would think I’m a girly girl! I’m actually the biggest tomboy you’ll ever meet.’
Hadil dealt with ropes and weapons before deciding to leave the armed forces to spend more time with her children.
‘I specialised in weapons. Definitely can shoot a 50 cal (50 caliber machine gun),’ she admitted.
And the acid-tongued Jordanian cook isn’t the only one who has a colourful past.
Strong woman! ‘I specialised in weapons. Definitely can shoot a 50 cal,’ Hadil told New Idea
Family ties: Hadil’s ex-husband, who she divorced four years ago, is still serving in the navy
Rare throwback snaps have also emerged of Sonya looking utterly unrecognisable as a party girl in Sydney.
She looked worlds away from her polished self as she mingled with shirtless sailors at a pool party she threw for her 27th birthday at Sydney nightspot The Ivy in 2010.
Meanwhile, another photo from 2013 shows her rocking a fuchsia gown as she parties with burlesque dancers at a cabaret club.
Sonya juggled her busy social life with starting fashion PR and events company Fashion Palette in 2009 while working full-time at a marketing firm.
Partying it up: Meanwhile, rare throwback snaps show Sonya looking utterly unrecognisable as she parties in Sydney. Pictured at a cabaret club surrounded by burlesque dancers in 2013
Who’s that girl? She mingled with shirtless sailors at a pool party she threw for her 27th birthday at Sydney nightspot The Ivy in 2010
She made cold calls to designers on her lunch breaks, drew up business plans at home and took out $60,000 on a credit card to fund her new project.
Sonya enticed celebrity clientele, including actress Ruby Rose and designer Peter Morrissey, to speak at her first event in 2009.
She went on to showcase Australian designers at New York Fashion Week in 2012 and continued to hold shows every year – with former Bachelorette Sam Frost attending her event in 2015.
Work hard, play hard: The TV villain juggled her busy social life with starting a fashion PR and events company Fashion Palette in 2009 while working full-time at a marketing firm
Sonya’s lookalike sister Nancy works alongside her as an event coordinator at Fashion Palette, while her mother Ghada works for Royal Jordanian Airlines.
‘We produce runway shows in Sydney, Dubai, New York and Miami. I love fashion but no-one knows that I can cook and I love cooking,’ Sonya previously said.
‘Both Hadil and I are successful businesswomen because we’ve been very determined,’ she continued.
Interesting: ‘We produce runway shows in Sydney, Dubai, New York and Miami. I love fashion but no-one knows that I can cook and I love cooking,’ Sonya previously explained