Who’s in and who’s out of Lauren Sanchez’s girl squad: The surprise stars who missed out on her bachelorette bash – and the loyal celebs who celebrated with her in Paris

Lauren Sanchez celebrated her last few days as a single woman on Thursday night as she hosted a wild bachelorette party in Paris. 

The journalist, who is set to wed Jeff Bezos in June, was surrounded by her A-list pals when they kicked off the festivities with dinner at the historic Lafayette restaurant.

They were treated to starters that included fried chicken, Caesar salad, and Norwegian smoked salmon, and a main course that featured mushroom rigatoni and roasted chicken.

Lauren, 55, documented the night on Instagram, sharing a snap with her beloved guests and writing: ‘Forever starts with friendship, surrounded by the women who’ve lifted me up, illuminated my path in dark times, and shaped my heart along the way.’

Her closest friends, which include Katy Perry, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian, were seen beaming alongside the bride-to-be. 

However, there were several surprise omissions from the first night  – including a key member of Lauren’s celeb-packed Blue Origin team. 

So who was in and who was out of Lauren’s girl squad? 

OUT  

Gayle King  

Despite Lauren and Gayle King making history together, the CBS News host was not present at the glitzy bachelorette party. 

The duo were part of the historic all-female crew that flew on a Blue Origin rocket to space and back – alongside a number of other high-profile figures. 

They also have plenty of common when it comes to their careers, with both ladies established journalists. 

While Gayle wasn’t around for Lauren’s bachelorette, Lauren was in attendance for the star’s lavish 70th birthday party last December. 

Gayle unknowingly walked into an early birthday celebration in December, with her best friend Oprah Winfrey organising her a surprise party. 

Lauren was among the big names on the guestlist, sharing a peek of the festivities on Instagram, with a clip of roughly 100 people standing side-by-side in a posh lounge as they sang ‘happy birthday’. 

While Gayle didn’t make it to the bachelorette, it is expected she will be one of the 200 guests in attendance at Lauren and Jeff’s wedding.  

Jessica Alba

One of Lauren’s friends who found herself at Cannes Film Festival and not the Paris bachelorette bash was Jessica. 

Lauren has been close with Jessica since long before her romance with Jeff turned her into a massive star.

They attended the Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk together back in 2007.

And two years after that, they were spotted enjoying a girls night out at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game.

Jessica was also present at Lauren and Jeff’s engagement party so will no doubt be in attendance at the wedding. 

Brooks Nader 

Lauren and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Brooks have grown close in recent months.

They were pictured publicly hanging out for the first time last year, and since then, they’ve been spotted on numerous outings together. 

As well as girls’ days out, the pair even enjoyed a holiday together over the summer.  

In April, Lauren revealed she’d even been getting gifts from the model, taking to Instagram with a racy selfie to show off the purchase. 

She posed topless beneath a blazer, captioning the snap: ‘Woke up this am and saw the most amazing jeans and blazer sent from @brooksnader… had to try them on right away.’

While Brooks wasn’t at the bachelorette, she is expected to attend the wedding. 

She also proved all is well between the pair as she commented on Lauren’s Instagram post about the Paris soiree. 

Along with three heart emojis, she penned: ‘The queen!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️’

Eva Longoria – but just for the day! 

Despite being friends with Eva for more than two decades, the Hollywood actress was not present for the first night of the bachelorette party. 

The Desperate Housewives star was also in France, a 1.5 hour flight away from Paris at the Cannes Film Festival. 

While she missed the first evening, Eva ensured she was back in the girl squad for day two, which saw the group enjoy lunch at L Avenue restaurant. 

Last year, Eva and Lauren took part in a joint interview with the Hollywood Reporter, where they spoke about the depth of their friendship. 

‘You and I constantly have these conversations that inspire each other. Instead of sending each other memes, we send [reports] about the Latin community not being represented in TV and movies and the media,’ Eva said to Lauren. 

‘I know, we send each other white papers. I’ll send you a study, and you’ll text back, “I already read it,”‘ Lauren replied. 

‘You and I both have this huge commitment to empowering underrepresented communities, especially Latinas.’

At the time, it was revealed that Lauren and Jeff also chose Eva to receive the Bezos Courage & Civility Award.

Through the initiative, they gave the actress a grant of $50 million, and she got to decide which charities to donate the money to.

IN 

Kim Kardashian 

Among the 11 esteemed guests on Lauren’s bachelorette bash was reality star Kim, who featured heavily in Lauren’s posts from the night.

She looked incredible for the night out, flashing her toned midriff in a bandeau top and high-waisted dark grey leggings that showed off her hourglass curves.

She was quick to comment on the social media roundup, writing: ‘Love you so much!’

Kim was already in France before the party began, as she this week gave evidence at the trial of 10 people accused in connection with the 2016 robbery in Paris.

A source close to Kim told DailyMail.com: ‘Spending girl time at Lauren’s bachelorette was a great way to end the week after testifying. She’s glad it’s over but thankful she was asked to testify as part of the trial.’

Lauren and Kim’s friendship formed in a rather unconventional way having bonded after they became embroiled in a bidding war over a Balenciaga gown.

Years ago, during New York Fashion Week, the two stunners realized they were both going after the same clothing item during an auction at the Kering Foundation’s Caring for Women dinner.

Both of them were offered gowns in the end, and they jetted off to France together to get fitted – and it was there that their bond really kicked off.

At the time, Kim, 43, gushed about Lauren – who she branded a ‘girl’s girl’ – while speaking to Vogue .

She told the outlet: ‘Lauren and I are always sending DMs building each other up. Every time there’s a look that we like, she’ll say, “WOW,” or, “OMG you look amazing.”‘

Since then, t he two have enjoyed several nights out together.

Kris Jenner

Kim isn’t the only Kardashian to be part of Lauren’s girl squad – her mum Kris is also in favour. 

The pair grew close when Kris joined Kim and Lauren at one of Beyonce’s concerts on the Renaissance tour in 2023. 

As a result, Kris landed herself an invite to Lauren and Jeff’s engagement party and the pair have been spotted out together without Kim. 

‘You are an amazing mom, fiancé, sister, daughter, and girlfriend, and I am so blessed to have you and Jeff in our lives,’ Kris previously wrote on Lauren’s birthday.

‘We have made the most delicious memories together and I can’t wait to make more.’

The Kardashian momager also gushed about Lauren and her soon-to-be spouse Jeff while speaking to Vogue in 2023.

She told the outlet: ‘We know they will be in our lives forever.’ 

Katy Perry 

Katy was one of the few women picked by Lauren’s fiancé Jeff to jet off into the space with her during the Blue Origin space mission. 

The singer and her fiancé Orlando Bloom are close friends with the couple, and have been spotted on several holidays together. 

Katy and Orlando also joined the pair on their $500m megayacht yacht for a cruise around Europe in 2023. 

The pair have also been frequent fixtures at each other’s birthday parties and various celebrations over the years.  

Elena Sanchez Blair

Lauren has an extremely tight bond with her younger sister Elena, 42, despite their 13-year age gap.

She has described Elena as her ‘best friend’ and the ‘second mother to her children.’ 

In addition, Elena echoed her sentiments in sweet tribute shared on Lauren’s birthday in 2022.

‘That baby in this photo is me. And holding me is my sister, the day I was born,’ she captioned a shot that showed little Lauren holding her as an infant. 

‘I don’t remember it, of course, but I feel it. Because she has been holding me like this both literally and metaphorically ever since. 

‘She and I, we get each other, and nobody comes between me and my sister. Today is her birthday.

‘Lauren, my kids’ other mother, my best friend, my ride or die, I hope you know how much I love you.’

Elena, who lives in Seattle, works as a professional photographer and a business coach.

October ‘Tobie’ Gonzalez

Another member of Lauren’s girl squad is October ‘Tobie’ Gonzalez, the wife of Lauren’s former partner Tony Gonzalez, with whom Lauren shares son Nikko, 24.  

Lauren is on good terms with October, as the pair are often seen socializing with one another on a regular basis.

Not only has Lauren been on holiday with her former partner Tony and October, she regularly attends events with the 44-year-old and they even spent Thanksgiving together last year.

Tony and Lauren separated shortly after Nikko’s birth in February 2001.

In 2023, Lauren dished on co-parenting with Tony, whom she branded as her ‘best friend.’

‘It wasn’t always that way. There was friction [at the beginning]. But Tony and [his wife Tobie] were at Thanksgiving with us [this year], and we’re really good friends,’ she explained.

‘That took about five years, but we always communicated. I’m not saying that being best friends with your ex is the end-all be-all – but you do need to be able to communicate.

‘I’m so proud of it. My son looks at me, and he’s like, “I’m the luckiest boy in the world because I can have Thanksgiving with both my parents, and they don’t have to be married.”‘

Elsa Marie Collins 

Elsa seems to be one of Lauren’s closest friends, as she’s often by her side during her escapades across the globe, with the bachelorette no exception. 

She is best known for co-founding This is About Humanity, an organization dedicated to ‘raising awareness and funds for separated and reunified families at the US/Mexico border.’

She also launched the sports, culture, and entertainment consulting group The Ideateur.

‘Through The Ideateur, Elsa works with organizations that are on the frontlines of many social justice issues in the United States today,’ reads her bio.

In addition, she recently teamed up with Eva and actress America Ferrera to create Poderistas, a ‘digital platform created to inspire and inform the Latina community and foster the engagement of Latina influencers to use their platforms to encourage civic participation in the electoral process.’

Elsa, who is married to former NBA star Jarron Collins, previously revealed to Vogue that Lauren donated $1 million to her organization.

‘Lauren wakes up thinking about how to help people,’ she gushed. 

Lydia Kives 

Lauren has long been friends with attorney Lydia Kives – who is  the wife of former talent agent and investor Michael Kives.

Michael previously worked for CAA, where he represented a slew of stars like Katy Perry, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Eisenberg, and Bruce Willis. In 2018, he left to launch an investment firm called K5 Global.

Last year, Lydia hit headlines when a video of herself dancing with Lauren’s fiancé Jeff went viral. 

Lydia and Jeff were spotted dancing with each other at Lauren’s 55th birthday party.

Jeff wrapped his arm around the mom-of-two’s waist as they danced closely with each other, which caused a flurry of fans to question whether there was trouble in paradise.

Although Jeff and Lydia appeared to be too close for comfort, Lauren didn’t seem to mind as she was spotted throwing her arms around her lover while he continued to hold her pal’s waist.

While Jeff and Lydia smiled from ear-to-ear, Lauren danced solo before walking over to her partner and wrapping her arms around him.

People on the web flooded the comments section as they questioned why Jeff was clinging to another woman in front of Lauren.

A source close to Jeff laughed off the rumors of a rift between him and Lauren as they confirmed he and Lydia are just good friends. 

Veronica Smiley Grazer

Lauren has long been friends with Veronica, who is the global strategic advisor for Vintro, a company that ‘facilitates business connections around the world by democratizing access to business leaders that matter.’

She also founded Reel Genius, which is dedicated to creating movie and TV shows that ‘engage kids to make learning fun again.’

She is married to acclaimed film producer Brian Grazer, who was behind movies like Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Frost/Nixon.

Veronica is the fourth wife of prominent producer Brian, whom she married in 2016 in a star-studded ceremony in Santa Monica. 

She notably dated Monty Python star John Cleese back in 2008, while he was in the process of divorcing his third wife. 

Natasha Poonawalla

Lauren is just one of the many high society friends of Natasha’s. 

Natasha and husband Adar are Mayfair and Mumbai based, with some of her best friends in the highest parts of society: the Marchioness of Bath, Priyanka Chopra Jones, and Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor.

The family spend most of their time in their £50,000-a-week London pad, a Georgian townhouse in Mayfair and one of the largest properties in the neighbourhood.

Natasha is part of the wealthy Poonawalla family, which runs the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, The Serum Institute.

It was founded by her father-in-law Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 and has joined forces with vaccine developers including Novavax, Codagenix and AstraZeneca.

The family background was in racehorse breeding, and after one horse was bitten by a snake, the firm was created to allow them to make treatments themselves.

Natasha is also prominent on the social scene, a fashion enthusiast who often attends the Met Gala. 

Charissa Thompson

Fox Sports presenter Charissa has long been friends with fellow journalist Lauren and was the last person to interview Lauren before she was sent into space. 

During the chat, Lauren recalled ‘seeing Jeff before’ she left and thinking ‘Oof.’

‘Like, you know, I had to come back — I mean, we’re getting married. If I didn’t come back, that would be a bummer for me,’ she told Charissa.

Charissa then revealed the joke Lauren made to her before her emotional, eight-minute trip.

‘You said, ‘”Jeff, if you don’t want to marry me, you don’t have to send me to space,”‘ Charissa reminded her.

 In response, Lauren laughed and added: ‘You don’t have to send me to space!’