Who

The Belgian-born publicist throws parties and plans events for many of the city's hottest fashion designers, gallerists, hoteliers, and restaurateurs.

Backstory

Nadine Polet studied politics and law at the University of Brussels before moving to the States. In New York, she met—and eventually married—Richard Johnson, who would go on to be editor of Page Six. He persuaded her to go into publicity, and she soon carved out a reputation as a skillful planner of big events, handling fêtes for the city's most famous and fashionable including Larry Gagosian, Richard Meier, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Amy Sacco, Ian Schrager, Andre Balazs, Eric Goode, and Serge Becker.

Two decades into her PR career, Nadine continues to put together major events in places like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. She's also earned a rep along the way as a legendary toughie, both on people who double-cross her (and who get permanently blacklisted from her events) and on her own employees, who routinely quit due to the unending pressure. But as a younger generation of publicists rise up and make names for themselves, some industry gossips now suggest Nadine's influence is on the wane.

Personal

Nadine married Richard Johnson in 1991 and had one child with him, Jack. She lives and works out of a four-story loft in Chelsea she purchased for $3.2 million in 2005 and has a weekend house on Long Island.

True story

After Richard Johnson and Nadine split, then-Daily News columnist Michael Gross struck out at Nadine with a famously vicious blind item. "You're no poulet de printemps," he wrote. "Sure you could console yourself with Belgian chocolates, but why don't you wash your hair, give up smoking, try being nice for a change. Look at it this way: Who cares if it's good for your career—it might help you land a new man."