Sara Huegill’s bombshell texts reveal excuses for why she did not do Bella Bikini PR work

Publicist Sara Huegill told a client ‘don’t worry babe your in good hands’ (sic) after  the business paid her $3300 for public relations work. 

But over the coming weeks she rattled off a series of excuses justifying why the work was not done – from being ill to a broken laptop and work and family functions.

Daily Mail Australia has obtained extraordinary text messages the troubled businesswoman wife of Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill sent a business client.

The public relations specialist, 35, solicited work from Alysha Bishop’s Bella Bikini business via Instagram late last year.

‘I thought, “she’s persistent, maybe I’ll give her a try”,’ Ms Bishop, 28, said.

But the young Sydney businesswoman’s dream of a summer PR campaign – to drum up business at the most important time of the year – never became reality. 

Ms Bishop said: ‘She never did any work! She never sent me the media release or didn’t do anything.

‘She said she did but never sent it.’  

The PR businesswoman ‘developed difficulty with anxiety and depression which resulted in inattention to administrative matters’, her lawyer said. Sara Huegill with husband Geoff above

‘Don’t worry your (sic) in good hands’: Bombshell texts (left, right) have emerged between Huegill and one of her clients who paid her $3300.00 for public relations services

'She never did any work!' said Alysha Bishop, owner of @bellabikini_ (above). Two women model in a photograph for the brand above

‘She never did any work!’ said Alysha Bishop, owner of @bellabikini_ (above). Two women model in a photograph for the brand above

The messages provide an insight into Huegill’s business practices in a week where at least five other clients claimed they paid her for work that was never done.  

Some businesses, including fellow swimwear company I Dream of Bikini, sought default judgments at court.   

The first messages exchanged between Ms Bishop and Huegill

The first messages exchanged between Ms Bishop and Huegill

Huegill’s solicitor Paul Hunt this week admitted she took on ‘more work than she could manage’.

But Ms Bishop had no idea of that last October when Huegill sought her business.

‘Would love to work with you,’ Huegill said. 

She spoke to her about magazine spreads and product placements on social media. 

Once they agreed to work together, the former Sweaty Betty PR staffer demanded quick payment. 

‘Would be great if you can do it today if you get the chance!’ she texted on October 29. 

‘It shouldn’t take you more than 2 minutes just 1 signature x’.

The next day: ‘Please let me know when you have been able to do everything this morning.

‘Can you do the transfer today? At lunch? X’ 

When Ms Bishop transferred $3000, Huegill added: ‘It’s 3300 my love just for gst (Goods and Services Tax) x’. 

Chasing payment: Sara Huegill asks for payment to be brought forward to 'lunchtime'

Chasing payment: Sara Huegill asks for payment to be brought forward to 'lunchtime'

Chasing payment: Sara Huegill asks for payment to be brought forward to ‘lunchtime’, rather than in the evening

Huegill then upped the price to $3300.00 - citing the goods and services tax

Huegill then upped the price to $3300.00 – citing the goods and services tax

Huegill then asked for an email with information about Ms Bishop’s work.

But a day after Ms Bishop transferred the funds, Huegill’s story started to change. 

Huegill revealed she could not do any work because of a medical procedure.

‘Hi lovely, I had an operation today so will be offline. Will be back on deck tomorrow.’

Two days later she told Ms Bishop she was ‘still in bed but better thanks. 

‘Will be working over the weekend so will be in touch.’

Days later, Ms Bishop asked: ‘How are u feeling? And do you need any other info etc?

‘Have you started?’ she added, with a tongue-poking emoji. 

Sara revealed 'I had an operation today' on November 1, the day after payment was made

Huegill then had a 'huge event' the next week

Medical dramas: Sara revealed ‘I had an operation today’ on November 1, the day after payment was made (left). Huegill then had a ‘huge event’ the next week

‘Hi so sorry for the delay,’ Huegill said. 

‘I have a huge event this week. Started and will send Media Release for your approval tomorrow.’

'Sorry babe, can't chat,' Sara Huegill said

‘Sorry babe, can’t chat,’ Sara Huegill said

It didn’t come. 

Later that week Huegill requested ‘imagery’ and complained that links Ms Bishop had sent to her had expired. 

Huegill moaned that her computer ‘won’t load old emails and my other computer is at Apple getting fixed’. 

‘I have tried so many times,’ Huegill said. 

In the days to come, Huegill fobbed off Ms Bishop’s calls.  

One Sunday she said: ‘Sorry love I’m busy to take calls at a family function … 

‘Sorry babe can’t chat, can post 8pm.’

On November 14, Ms Huegill announced: ‘All downloads done. All will be with you by tonight’. 

But it never came, Ms Bishop claimed. 

She repeatedly texted Huegill over several days but was met with silence.

‘I didn’t get your email … Did u send it yet?’ she asked on November 15, a fortnight after payment. 

‘?’ she asked again, two days later.

‘I still haven’t received anything,’ she said on November 20.

Radio silence: Ms Bishop kept texting but did not hear back from the Row A PR businesswoman

Radio silence: Ms Bishop kept texting but did not hear back from the Row A PR businesswoman

By that point, Ms Bishop said, it was getting too late for a summer swimwear campaign. 

Both Sara and Geoff pleading guilty to possessing cocaine in 2013

Both Sara and Geoff pleading guilty to possessing cocaine in 2013

Little did Ms Bishop know Huegill’s business had in fact been deregistered since 2016.   

‘I didn’t realise that there were such horrible people out there especially targeting young start up businesses,’ she said.

Ms Huegill’s lawyer Paul Hunt was in court this week defending Huegill from a charge of shoplifting $2000 leather pants from a Byron Bay boutique. 

It is not the first time she has faced court, with both Sara and Geoff pleading guilty to possessing cocaine in 2013. 

In a statement addressing claims about Huegill’s business, Mr Hunt said Sara had suffered ‘increasing difficulty with anxiety and depression’ recently. 

‘Sara deeply regrets the circumstances and apologises unreservedly to her clients,’ he said. 

Sara’s husband Geoff also issued a vague apology on Instagram: ‘At times, good people make poor choices,’ he said. 

‘We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. 

‘But that doesn’t make us bad people.’ 

MEDIA STATEMENT FROM SARA HUEGILL’S LAWYER PAUL HUNT 

‘Over a period of time Sara developed increasing difficulty with anxiety and depression which resulted in inattention to administrative matters such as company registration and Sara taking on more work than she could manage. 

‘From late 2017 Sara became unable to fulfil her obligations to the full extent and clients became unhappy, which unfortunately compounded the issues Sara is facing. 

‘Sara deeply regrets the circumstances and apologises unreservedly to her clients. 

‘Sara has offered to make amends to clients, some of whom have chosen to ventilate their grievances through a court process, and others have approached the media. 

‘Where matters are before the courts there is no comment. As this is a matter of person seeking to deal with anxiety and depression, we would ask that people respect the circumstances and privacy of Sara and her family. 

‘If any former client of Sara has a legitimate claim they are invited to contact info@moissonlawyers.com.’

 



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