As backlash mounts over her behaviour on MAFS, Bec Zacharia has revealed her surprising connection to the highest echelons of Sydney society.
Her uncle is Dr Michael Zacharia, the prominent cosmetic surgeon whose clients include a Who’s Who of the eastern suburbs’ most elite socialites and housewives.
‘Michael is my uncle. He’s my father’s brother,’ Bec said when the Mail asked about the family link.
‘We’ve got a very, very close family. I see him and speak to him and his daughters and his son all the time. When I am in Sydney, I stay with them in Bellevue Hill. So yeah, we’re really close. He’s a huge support.’
Dr Zacharia – widely considered one of the best in his field – was even present at his niece’s MAFS wedding day with his wife Kim, Bec confirmed.
‘They were there to support me, and so was his son, Sam.’
As backlash mounts over her behaviour on MAFS, Bec Zacharia (right) has revealed the powerful figure in her corner: her cosmetic surgeon uncle Dr Michael Zacharia (left)
‘Michael is my uncle. He’s my father’s brother,’ she said. Dr Michael Zacharia (right) is pictured with his brother Lee (centre) and Lee’s wife Suzie (left)
Sam is perhaps best known for his brief romance with billionaire heiress, Francesca Packer, who is now engaged to controversial former Young Rich Lister Robert Bates.
Bec went on to reveal that her uncle – himself no stranger to being in the public eye – had offered her advice after she told him she was going on the show.
‘His advice to me was to be as authentic as possible,’ she explained.
‘Being in the limelight himself for quite some time, he said things can be negative and things can be positive, but I just need to keep my head held high and know that this too shall pass.’
As the season has aired, with headlines turning negative following a string of explosive dinner party showdowns involving Bec, she admitted she felt nervous about how her behaviour might reflect on her famous family.
‘He [Dr Zacharia] is overseas at the moment, so I haven’t spoken to him,’ she said.
‘But I did write them a message saying it would be my best advice not to watch the dinner party tonight, because I feel like I’m a disappointment.’
His response was immediate reassurance.
Join the debate
Should reality stars be judged for their looks or their actions—where do we draw the line?
Dr Zacharia – who has built a reputation as one of Sydney’s most prominent cosmetic surgeons – was present at Bec’s MAFS wedding day (he is circled here)
Bec said that her uncle – himself no stranger to being in the public eye – had offered her advice after she told him she was going on the show
‘He said, “You’re not a disappointment, but as long as you’ve learned from it, that’s the most important thing.”‘
But Bec’s gratitude toward her uncle runs far deeper than his support over her divisive appearance on reality TV.
In an emotional revelation, she revealed that Dr Zacharia had performed reconstructive jaw surgery on her when she was 21 after she had been born with a significant chin defect.
‘I was actually born with a jaw, sort of a chin defect,’ she said.
‘Everyone makes comments about why is my mouth like this or what’s wrong with my jaw, but Uncle Michael had to give me reconstructive jaw surgery when I was 20 or 21.’
The procedure completely transformed her confidence.
‘Without him doing that for me, I looked a lot different. I’m so happy that I’ve got this sort of jaw and chin now that he’s done for me, because before that it was really bad.
‘For my whole life up until my 20s, it was rare that you would see me with my hair up, because I hated my jaw and my chin so much. I was born with essentially no chin.’
In an emotional revelation, Bec revealed that Dr Zacharia had performed reconstructive jaw surgery on her when she was 21 after she had been born with a significant chin defect
‘Everyone makes comments about why is my mouth like this or what’s wrong with my jaw, but Uncle Michael had to give me reconstructive jaw surgery when I was 20 or 21,’ she said
‘It was a huge insecurity for me every day of my life for 20 years. When I was 21, we did it. I know people make really negative comments about my mouth and my jaw now, but actually it was a life-changing moment for me, and that’s all thanks to Uncle Michael.’
As for future cosmetic tweaks?
Bec laughed that she’d happily put her trust in her uncle again – even if he doesn’t always agree.
‘When the time comes, I’ll be going to him,’ she said. ‘I really want my nose done, but he says I’m not allowed to.’
New to DailyMail+? Here are our most-read stories from the past week
I saw Celeste Barber’s marriage split coming years ago. I’ll never forget that painful day in the Qantas lounge. It all makes sense now: AMANDA GOFF
MAFS INSIDER: The leaked emails Channel Nine don’t want you to see: Brook sent a legal letter begging dinner party from hell be pulled from the air – producers’ response will shock you
Sweet revenge for salon owner whose husband ran off with Kristin Fisher. Plus, hunky Kennards Hire heir responds to split talk – and Sydney’s worst diva wants an intern: THE GROUP CHAT
The night MAFS lost control: How ‘quiet drinks’ at Icebergs ended with weekly drug tests, broken relationships and the cast in lockdown – and ALI DAHER witnessed everything
Revealed for the first time: the secret past of Gus Lamont’s intensely private grandmother Josie – and how she is the scion of an influential and respected family
Expelled and labelled a ‘monster’: School insider reveals the tragic lives of the autistic Clune boys before they were killed by their ‘sleep-deprived’ parents in a quiet Mosman Park cul-de-sac
AMANDA PLATELL: No one seems to dare say it, but William is the monarchy’s next big problem
Melbourne’s ‘It couple’ split rocks high society as they wipe each other from Instagram less than two years after their lavish wedding – and one of them leaves Australia
MAFS INSIDER: Brook’s desperate bid to wipe ‘toxic’ dinner party scenes after ‘crossing a line’… Plus, Gia’s vicious new feud as she vows to ‘dismantle’ marriage
Grace Tame was untouchable. Now the forces that protected her are gone. What was once whispered about her can now be said out loud: PETER VAN ONSELEN
