Netflix’s “Members Only: Palm Beach” Turns Mar-a-Lago Into Reality TV Gold
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Netflix’s newest reality series, “Members Only: Palm Beach,” which premiered on Monday, isn’t shying away from the controversial allure of Mar-a-Lago.Rather, the show embraces the former president’s Florida estate, positioning it as the ultimate symbol of status and access within Palm Beach’s elite social circles.
The series follows a group of women navigating the complex hierarchies of Florida’s wealthiest suburb, where Mar-a-Lago has become synonymous with high-end society. The first episode promptly establishes the club’s central role,showcasing how individuals strive for inclusion and the lengths they’ll go to achieve it.
DJing Your Way In: A “Back Door” to Palm Beach Society
One of the show’s early focal points is Maria Cozamanis,known professionally as DJ Tumbles. Cozamanis reveals to her fellow cast members that she secured a gig DJing at Mar-a-Lago for the upcoming “wine,Women & Shoes” event,a benefit for Big Dog Ranch Rescue featuring a celebrity dog fashion show. “I got in through the back door,” she admits, acknowledging that her professional connection is a less conventional path to Palm Beach acceptance.
Cast member Sarah Yellin, a publicist, boasts a more direct link to the club’s inner circle.She shares a photo on social media with the caption, “@themaralagoclub [with] President of the United States of America,” Yellin posted in October.
Fellow cast member Romina Ustayev’s connection to Yellin is revealed through a surprising backstory: Ustayev’s cousin once took zumba classes with her. “She went from Zumba to mar-a-Lago,” Ustayev quips on the show, underscoring the seemingly improbable trajectories within this exclusive world.
Fashion, Status, and the price of Admission
The pursuit of acceptance at Mar-a-Lago isn’t without it’s pitfalls. Ustayev’s fashion choices come under scrutiny, with Yellin advising her against a particular dress for the Red, White and Vogue event. “The picture of us with the Marine went viral. People said what you were wearing was disrespectful to Marines and the charity got in so much trouble,” Yellin explains.
The show quickly establishes that simply attending events at Mar-a-Lago isn’t enough.As DJ Tumbles points out,true social standing hinges on being invited as a guest,not merely purchasing a ticket.”Have you ever been invited to Mar-a-Lago by Rosalyn on a regular day when she can invite you as a guest?” she asks Ustayev. “Those lunches, she invites her ‘real friends,’ she invites you when there’s a ticket to be bought and you’re buying your place at the table.”
A Longstanding Appeal, Undiminished by Politics
Despite the political divisiveness often associated with the former president, Mar-a-Lago‘s popularity remains undiminished.Taja Abitbol, a principal cast member, has frequented the club for years, attending events and even having her husband, former Yankees pitcher David cone, participate in Trump’s golf tournaments. Abitbol, whose son attended school with Barron Trump, previously told newsweek that politics hasn’t impacted the club’s allure.
“I think that ever as he became president, there is such a higher demand for the membership of Mar-a-Lago,” Abitbol said. “[The Trumps] definitely added to the panache of the whole Palm Beach and what I call Fantasy Islands lifestyle.”
While viewers won’t get a glimpse inside the exclusive club itself – filming was not permitted within its walls – “Members Only: Palm Beach” effectively portrays Mar-a-Lago as the ultimate gatekeeper to Palm Beach’s most coveted social circles, and a captivating lens through which to examine wealth, ambition, and the pursuit of status.
