Former Neighbours star Holly Valance has made her next big political move – hosting a lavish fundraiser for Donald Trump that raked in USD$2million (AUD$3million) for the Republican presidential hopeful’s 2024 White House campaign.
The Australian actress, 41, has reinvented herself as a conservative firebrand, recently slamming Greta Thunberg as a ‘demonic little gremlin’ and claiming Australia has become ‘too woke’ in a TV interview.
Valance and her husband, billionaire property tycoon Nick Candy, hosted Donald Trump Jr, his Fox News host wife Kimberley Guilfoyle, Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and some 100 guests at their residence in Chelsea, London on Wednesday.
‘It’s a Holly party – you can guarantee it’s going to be enormous fun,’ Farage said on arrival at the event, where tickets cost between $US10,000 to $100,000 ($AUD15,000 to $150,000).
Holly Vallance hosted the event – which was organised by Trump’s ambassador to Spain – in London this week
Holly Vallance (left) is pictured greeting Donald Trump Jr (centre right) and his wife Kimberley Guilfoyle at the event
British press reports noted Valance’s fundraiser appeared to be in quiet competition with a rival fundraising do across town for the Biden campaign, hosted by Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Guests were given just an hour’s notice of the location before doors opened this evening.
The former president’s son, Donald Trump Jr, was pictured with guests near the house as he left after sunset.
One local woman was heard heckling ‘vote Biden!’ from a nearby rooftop.
As many as 100 guests were expected to attend, including a number of American Republicans – some of whom were part of Trump’s White House between 2017 and 2021.
Invites to the fundraiser list a variety of categories which guests can make donations under, such as ‘host committee’ ($USD100,000 a couple) and dinner ($50,000). Just to attend costs $10,000, while a photo opportunity cost $25,000.
Greg Swenson, chairman of Republican Overseas, told the BBC he would be ‘surprised’ if Trump Sr did not make a virtual appearance.
The location was near the Chelsea Embankment and at the door, a man in a suit and umbrella welcomed guests.
The property’s website described the venue as a ‘hub for entertainment and relaxation, including wine cellar, swimming pool, spa and an IMAX cinema.
Holly Valance and her husband Nick Candy are pictured with Donald Trump and Nigel Farage at Mar-a-Lago in 2022
Valance and her husband have been publicly associated with Trump and Farage since at least April 2022, when the now-Reform leader shared a photo of the group following a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
The Aussie star made waves in March when she slammed climate activist Thunberg to podcast host Christopher Hope: ‘I don’t understand why you have this, like, demonic little gremlin high priestess of climatism as the goddess in classrooms, Greta [Thunberg].
‘All the kids are all coming home with depression and anxiety,’ she said.
‘Why would you go to your music lesson or bother doing your homework or get out of your bed if you think we’re all going to be dead in five years anyway?’
The mother-of-two also declared she has no intention of moving back to her Australian homeland, lamenting that the country is going ‘woke’.
‘The Australia I grew up in was unreal. It was so fun and we didn’t seem to have all these problems … the woke stuff’s really gone big in Australia,’ she said.
Holly elaborated on the ‘woke culture’, pointing towards ‘the stuff they’re teaching in school’: ‘I don’t think sexuality and children should be in the same sentence.
‘I don’t think anyone’s sexuality is anyone’s business. You don’t know about mine. I don’t know about yours. Why would we?’
Valance, who is married to billionaire property developer Nick Candy, was born in Australia but has UK citizenship through her British mother. She resides in London and the Cotswolds.
