Controversial influencer slammed for wearing $70 designer knock-off Shein dress to Australian Fashion Week
Jamie Azzopardi is no stranger to a fashion week scandal, but this one takes the cake.
The controversial influencer, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, was the talk of the town at last year's Australian Fashion Week after they arrived with an entourage of minders to carry their dress at Sydney 's Carriageworks.
Now, Jamie is dominating chatter at the annual fashion event again, and this time for wearing a brand that has long been under scrutiny.
Jamie arrived at day two of the much-anticipated event wearing a dress from fast-fashion brand Shein.
The brand has been shrouded in controversy for years following allegations of large-scale environmental impacts and the copying of designs from other, often smaller, fashion labels.
The brown-hued, fringe frock, which retails for $69.95 on Shein, is seemingly a knock-off of the $3,945 Hervé Léger fringed bandage gown.
Jamie even gave Shein a shout-out in a recent Instagram post, crediting the brand for the dress, which they wore in the accompanying photo.
This year, Australian Fashion Week has pushed a strong message of sustainability with various shows, initiatives and installations, including an eBay pre-loved fashion pop-up at Carriageworks.
Which is why the dress didn't land well with other attendees of the event.
During an interview with Pedestrian TV, when Jamie was asked who they considered a 'mico-influencer boss', they named Sopha Dopha aka Sophia Begg.
However, the statement was taken to heart by her fans, who leapt to her defence and slammed the influencer and their choice of dress in the comments of the video.
'Jamie literally wore a dress from Shein to day two. I don't think they're in a position to sit on a high horse about fashion,' one person wrote.
Another chimed in: 'This!! So sick of certain people on a high horse because they're more creative or fashionable than someone else and the audacity to wear Shein. It's astounding.'
Sophia later vented in a GRWM video on TikTok about the moment, saying: 'I got named as one of them (mico-influencer boss) by someone who wore Shein to Australian Fashion Week, so not sure what that's about.'
The video has since been deleted.
Jamie has sent tongues wagging this week in an array of jaw-dropping ensembles.
The content creator wore a lacy red dress over a pair of red slacks and sky-high red heels as they attended AFW at Carriageworks on Tuesday.
Jamie also took to wearing Crocs in one of their looks, paired with a green, sleeveless dress over a patterned button-up shirt.
The fashion-forward influencer also took to wearing a textured dress and trousers in a powder blue hue, paired with a sequinned handbag platform heels.
Jamie set the tone for the week on Monday after making their AFW 2025 grand debut wearing a wedding dress held up by four assistants.
The women held up Azzopardi's voluminous frock which featured a long, flowing train.
Azzopardi recruited four minders to hold up the elaborate frock which featured a ruffled neckline and sheer panels with pearl details.
The dress was belted at the waist and also featured layers of tulle around a beaded bodice.
Jamie wore a pair of sunglasses which had matching pearls and included a long pair of black boots.
It comes after Azzopardi arrived at Australian Fashion Week last year in an elaborate Edwardian-style outfit - before hitting back at their critics.
Azzopardi made an outrageous arrival at Carriageworks in Sydney flanked by an entourage of minders, to which Married At First Sight star Carolina Santos couldn't resist commenting on social media.
'What the f*** is that? Does Jamie think [they] are at the Met Gala or something? Why are people holding [their] clothes?' she said at the time.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the event last year, Jamie clapped back at Carolina's comment.
'Carolina, I do have a question because you have a lot to say about me: I just want to know, what do you know about the Met Gala?'
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