Karen Gee

Gee was born Karen Martin in 1973 and raised in Rockhampton, Queensland, in a family of small business owners.^[4] She attended St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane and later undertook study at Harvard Business School.^[5]

In 2011, Gee was crowned Mrs Australia Globe, a national pageant for married women aged over 25 that raises funds for charity.^[6][7]

In 2013, Gee founded her eponymous fashion label.^[8]

In 2015, Gee opened her first bricks-and-mortar store at Chifley Plaza.^[8][9] In 2016, Gee was named a finalist in the St.George Banking Group AusMumpreneur Awards and placed third in the national AusMumpreneur of the Year category.^[10]

On 16 October 2018, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wore Gee's white Blessed shift dress to meet the Governor-General of Australia at Admiralty House in Kirribilli on the first day of her royal tour of Australia with Prince Harry.^[11] It was Markle's first public appearance after Kensington Palace announced her pregnancy.^[12][13][14] In 2022, Jodie Haydon, partner of Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, wore Gee's custom Leader dress to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London.^[11] On 14 April 2026, during Meghan's first return visit to Australia since 2018, the Duchess of Sussex wore Gee's sleeveless navy Priscilla midi dress to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.^[15][16]

Other personalities who have worn her designs include Melissa Doyle, Lisa Wilkinson, Sonia Kruger, Sylvia Jeffreys, Rebel Wilson,^[17] Bethenny Frankel,^[18] and Gladys Berejiklian.^[19]

• Title of Mrs Australia (2012)^{[citation needed]}