By Chloe-lee Longhetti and Ali Daher For Daily Mail Australia
23:59 16 May 2023, updated 02:24 17 May 2023
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Australian Fashion Week kicked off on Monday, and while it was once a drawcard for international celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, a shocking new photo proves the once prestigious event is on the decline.
The front row is now filled with bored ‘influencers’ looking at their phones.
On Tuesday, serial red carpet pest and former Married At First star was photographed sitting in the second row at the Erik Yvon show among a sea of relatively unknown social media identities.
Most had their heads down, tapping away on their iPhones while other attendees were forced to stand behind them.
The day before, Nasser, who has become known for crashing red carpet and events around Sydney, was escorted out of the event after he was busted masquerading as a reporter.
Ever the magnet for mischief, he added another chapter to his ever-growing book of drama when he showed up armed with a makeshift press pass and a cheeky grin.
The reality TV pest was seen filming interviews with guests before he reportedly attempted to walk in to the St. Agni show without an invite or credentials.
An insider revealed: ‘Nasser was posing as a journo, asking the silliest questions. It was clear he was out of his depth. But it was quite a laugh until security got wind of it.’
‘Security told him that they remembered him from last year and that he was on watch. They wanted him to stay clear of shows he wasn’t invited to because brands clearly didn’t want him there.’
According to the spy, Nasser was caught red handed when he tried to get into the exclusive fashion show using someone else’s credentials.
Despite the awkward exit, Sultan seemed undeterred, even managing to pose for photos before he was escorted off the premises.
According to Yahoo Lifestyle, he has officially been banned from Fashion Week this year. He reportedly was also kicked out of a show on Tuesday.
‘Without me, Fashion Week shouldn’t even happen. I’m Mr Fashion. You don’t become Australia’s favourite celebrity for nothing,’ Nasser said.
He took a swipe at the event and slammed the fashion on the runway, saying: ‘Ugh, the fashion. Half of these shows it looks like they’ve found their stuff in the bloody bin that you see on the streets.’
This isn’t Sultan’s first brush with controversy at Fashion Week.
During the 2022 event, the fame-seeking MAFS groom was put on notice over his rowdy behaviour.
Security at Carriageworks, the Sydney venue where most of the runway shows were held, issued him with a stern warning to ‘stop being a pest’.
The warning was given after Nasser was pictured harassing former NRL WAG Phoebe Burgess in the front row at the Oroton showcase.
Nasser had briefly slipped into racing royalty Kate Waterhouse’s seat when she moved away and tugged on Phoebe’s designer coat to try to get her attention.
However, the ex-wife of retired NRL star Sam Burgess turned her back on Nasser as he repeatedly asked for a photo and tried to start a conversation.
An apologetic Nasser told Daily Mail Australia he was ‘really embarrassed’ about his behaviour around Phoebe, but denied gatecrashing the show or stealing anyone’s seat, as had been previously reported.
‘[The incident with security] really embarrassed me. I felt like a f**kwit… but I didn’t take anyone’s seat or sneak in,’ the former music promoter said.
‘I was invited to that show, saw Phoebe went over to say hello. Why can’t you say hello to people these days?
‘Security were saying I stole Kate Waterhouse’s seat. I did not. I was there for a few seconds just taking a photo with Phoebe and then moved back to my seat.’
He added: ‘They said I was being a pest and that the designers didn’t want me at their shows… that’s not true. I have been invited to many of shows.
‘I have been going for years. I have no shame sitting in the back row. I am happy just to be there.’
It’s a change of pace considering the event once attracted the Kardashians.
Back in 2008, Kim Kardashian sat front row with her sister Khloé at the Ruth Tarvydas runway show.
The O.C. star Mischa Barton was also a front row fixture at Kirrily Johnston’s show that same year.
Paris Hilton stormed the runway for Wayne Cooper’s show at Australian Fashion Week in Melbourne back in 2003.
Years later, Bella Hadid dropped in from Cannes to walk the runway at the Misha Collection Resort 17 show in May 2016.
At the time, reports suggested the younger sister of model Gigi Hadid was paid up to AU$420,000 for the gig.
Bella said of walking the runway: ‘I want to literally wear everything from this collection. I literally wore an evening dress.’
Australian Fashion Week, running from May 15 to 19, will present 10 runway shows a day in which designers showcase their resort collections for spring/summer 2024.
Popular names like Aje, St Agni, Bondi Born, Anna Quan and Bec & Bridge are among the brands showing this year.
The week will include a wave of promising talent and fresh faces, including Asiyam, Youkhana, Erik Yvon, Iordanes Spyridon Gogos, Wackie Ju and Nicol & Ford.