The scandalous claim behind influencers Cartia Mallan and Ashton Wood’s ugly fallout: They were best friends for a decade and even launched a business together before mysteriously drifting apart – now insiders reveal what REALLY happened

When two of Australia’s best-known Tik Tok stars decided to move to London together, they had plans to take over the world.

Already known as ‘Brisfluencers’ – influencers from Brisbane – Cartia Mallan and Ashton Wood had a million social media followers combined, having built a lucrative empire by sharing everything from favourite sex positions to their relationship statuses on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and, most importantly, their podcast Common Chaos.

‘Life is full of chaos, and longtime BFFs Cartia and Ashton certainly have that in common,’ runs the podcast blurb. Indeed, their friendship was at the very heart of their business plan, with the time they spent together mined for ‘insights and stories’ into their ‘chaotic’ lives.

In June last year, they posted a video heading out to dinner, both in white dresses, to celebrate 10 years of being besties. The fact that they looked more like twins than friends, with their plump red lips and long dark locks, surely added to the appeal.

That video now looks rather poignant. Last October, amid frantic questions from fans, Cartia and Ashton mysteriously cancelled a real-life business venture they’d been working on together.

Just three months after its launch, with zero explanation, the TikTok stars’ brand Highline – which sold matcha, a trendy green tea – was no more. What on earth had happened between the two young women?

The scandalous claim behind influencers Cartia Mallan and Ashton Wood’s ugly fallout: They were best friends for a decade and even launched a business together before mysteriously drifting apart – now insiders reveal what REALLY happened

Known as ‘Brisfluencers’ – influencers from Brisbane – Cartia Mallan, 26, and Ashton Wood, 31, had a million social media followers combined