5 Shocking Facts About Belle Gibson Now: The Unpaid Fine, Her New Name, And The Netflix True-Crime Series

The name Belle Gibson once represented the pinnacle of the wellness influencer world, a story of triumph over terminal illness that captivated millions. However, that entire narrative—from the cancer diagnosis to the miraculous cure through whole foods and alternative therapies—was a complete fabrication. Today, years after the cancer hoax was exposed in 2015, the disgraced Australian personality continues to be a subject of intense public and legal scrutiny, especially with the renewed interest sparked by the 2024/2025 Netflix limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar.

As of late 2024, the central question remains: where is Belle Gibson, and what is the current status of the massive fine she was ordered to pay? The answers reveal a life in hiding, a change of identity, and an ongoing, relentless legal pursuit by the Australian authorities determined to recover a significant outstanding debt.

Annabelle Natalie Gibson: A Brief Biography and The Whole Pantry Empire

The story of Belle Gibson is one of a rapid rise and catastrophic fall, built entirely on a foundation of lies. Understanding where she is now requires a look back at the persona she meticulously crafted.

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• Full Name: Annabelle Natalie Gibson (also reported as Annabelle Smillie).
• Date of Birth: October 8, 1991.
• Place of Birth: Tasmania, Australia.
• The Core Lie: In 2009, Gibson began claiming she had been diagnosed with multiple aggressive cancers, including terminal brain cancer, and was given only months to live.
• The 'Cure': She claimed to have rejected conventional medical treatment like chemotherapy and radiation in favour of an extreme diet, holistic treatments, and alternative therapies.
• The Empire: This narrative led to the creation of the highly successful The Whole Pantry brand, which included a popular mobile app and a cookbook, both launched in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
• The Exposure: Doubts began to emerge in early 2015 when journalists and former friends questioned inconsistencies in her story, particularly regarding the substantial charitable donations she had promised but failed to deliver. She eventually admitted in an interview that her cancer claims were false.

Gibson’s fabricated story was a masterclass in exploiting the public’s desire for wellness and hope, attracting a massive social media following on platforms like Instagram (under the handle @healing_belle) before she was exposed as a health fraudster and pseudoscience advocate.

The $410,000 Fine: A Debt That Remains Unpaid

Following the public admission, the legal fallout was swift and severe. While Gibson did not face criminal charges, she was pursued by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) for engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct.

In 2017, the Federal Court of Australia found Gibson guilty on five counts of breaching consumer law. The court imposed a penalty of $410,000, specifically for "playing on the public's desire to help those less fortunate."

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The penalty was intended to compensate the public for the damage caused by her deceptive claims, particularly the misleading conduct regarding the charitable donations she had promised from the sales of her app and book.

However, the fine remains almost entirely unpaid to this day. As of early 2025, Consumer Affairs Victoria confirmed they are "continuing to pursue Annabelle Natalie Gibson... in order to recover her outstanding debt."

The legal pressure has only intensified over the years. In 2021, CAV obtained a warrant to search her home in an attempt to recover the funds. The Victorian Premier has even publicly stated that the consumer watchdog "won't let up" in its pursuit of the debt, which has now accrued significant interest and penalties.

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The court has also issued a warning to Gibson, stating that she could be liable for imprisonment or sequestration of property (seizure of assets) if she continues to refuse to pay the outstanding fine.

Belle Gibson's 'Second Life' and New Identity

Since the scandal broke and the legal action commenced, Belle Gibson has completely vanished from the public eye. Her once-ubiquitous social media presence was deleted, and she has made a clear effort to live a private life away from the media spotlight.

The most recent, widely reported information suggests that Gibson has adopted a new identity to facilitate her private life.

• New Name: She is reportedly going by the name "Mel" (a shortened version of her birth name, Annabelle Smillie, or perhaps a reference to the bizarre claim of rebranding as actor Mel Gibson, which was an early, confusing media report).
• Current Job: Reports indicate she has taken on a "normal day job," allegedly working at a deli counter inside a supermarket in a Melbourne suburb.
• Current Location: She is believed to be living in a quiet Melbourne suburb, where she has attempted to blend back into anonymity.

This attempt at a "second life" is complicated by the fact that she was reportedly spotted in 2024 attending an event for Ethiopia’s Oromo community in Melbourne, suggesting she is not entirely a recluse.

The Netflix Effect: Why the Story is Back in the News

The story of the wellness influencer fraud has seen a massive resurgence in public interest due to the 2024/2025 release of the Netflix limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar.

The true-crime drama, which stars actress Kaitlyn Dever as the fictionalized 'Belle,' has brought the details of the cancer hoax, the alternative health advocate's deception, and the subsequent legal battle to a global audience.

The series serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of pseudoscience and the dark side of the social media wellness industry. The renewed media attention ensures that the Consumer Affairs Victoria pursuit of the $410,000 debt will remain a matter of public interest and pressure on the Australian authorities.

The Legacy of Deception: A Warning to the Wellness Industry

Belle Gibson’s story is now a cautionary tale, a key case study in influencer marketing and consumer fraud. Her actions impacted not only her followers—many of whom were genuinely ill and seeking hope—but also the charities she promised to support.

The entities involved in her scandal are numerous and serve as a reminder of the scale of the deception:

Key Entities and LSI Keywords:

• Annabelle Natalie Gibson
• Annabelle Smillie
• The Whole Pantry (app and book)
• $410,000 fine
• Unpaid fine
• Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)
• Federal Court of Australia
• Cancer hoax
• Brain cancer lie
• Wellness influencer fraud
• Alternative therapies
• Holistic treatments
• Pseudoscience advocate
• Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix series)
• Kaitlyn Dever
• Melbourne suburb
• 'Mel' new name
• Social media scandal
• Consumer law breach
• Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan
• Sequestration of property
• Healing_belle (Instagram)
• Oromo community event

The question of "Where is Belle Gibson now?" is less about a physical location and more about the ongoing legal and moral reckoning. Until the Federal Court ruling is satisfied and the debt is paid, Belle Gibson’s unpaid fine will continue to define her current status, keeping her in the spotlight she so desperately tried to escape.