The way to step out for the first time after quitting your top breakfast job at Nine over unequal pay is by raising a celebratory glass of vintage champagne at an exclusive soiree at the Sydney Opera House - just like Lisa Wilkinson did on Friday afternoon.
Although the popular presenter, 57, refused interviews to a larger than usual contingent of gathered media, she did not disappoint by making numerous references to her sudden departure from the Today show as she hosted Mo??t & Chandon's Guinness World Record attempt for the world's largest champagne tasting.
"Has everyone had a good week? Mine has been interesting," she laughed.
"I'm Lisa Wilkinson and I'm from ... oh, wait, I'm from nowhere at the moment."
Looking content, relaxed and happy, she made clear that she had no regrets as she raised a triumphant glass to herself.
"[Mo??t] is synonymous with royal jubilees, coronations, celebrations and new job opportunities - sorry I couldn't help myself ... I'm tasting success, cheers to success," she said.
Although it was announced that the popular host would be defecting to Ten's The Project - among other new roles - from January 2018, she put a slight question mark over that move by referring to herself as "kind of unemployed".
Taking a leaf out of Hillary Clinton's book, she opted for suffragette white (albeit in a lace dress rather than a pantsuit), sending a message to the men in suits at Nine that she was defiant in her stance on the gender pay gap, in particular to the CEO, Hugh Marks, who said her co-host Karl Stefanovic was simply worth more money than her.
Nine's final offer to Wilkinson was reportedly around the $1.8 million mark, in comparison to Stefanovic's $2 million salary.
Not only were Mo??t & Chandon celebrating maximum coverage thanks to booking Wilkinson on the same week she made one of the biggest ever moves on Australian television, they also set the world record for the largest champagne tasting ever with 715 guests beating Sweden's previous record with 696 participants in 2015.
