A familiar figure sitting back in his chair and laughing heartily, his tattoos catching the dim light, caught the attention of two diners at a waterfront restaurant on a balmy evening in Balmain. Anthony Lees, a Spaniard, doesn’t exactly fit in. He hasn’t. However, he wasn’t attracting attention with one of his dirty suburb excursions this time. The woman seated next to him was the one.
The latest chapter in Spanian’s highly visible existence is Ava Jean Walker, a 22-year-old blonde who is ready for the camera. Only a few weeks after his divorce from wife Angela McColl, the relationship became apparent in late October 2025. Since then, the pair has been seen on holiday in Dubai, on a beach with matching tattoos of their names, and in photos taken in Sydney.
| Profile Overview | |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Anthony Lees |
| Known As | Spanian |
| Age | 35 (as of 2026) |
| Profession | YouTuber, former rapper, content creator |
| Followers | ~1 million on Instagram |
| New Partner | Ava Jean Walker, 22 |
| Former Spouse | Angela McColl |
| Business | Food truck owner |
| Reference | https://www.instagram.com/spanian.official/ |
The headlines almost seemed to amuse Spanian himself. He posted on social media, saying, “I got a girlfriend, I’m in the news.” “I am in the news because I broke up with my ex-wife.” There’s bravado in that tone, but also something else — perhaps an understanding that controversy fuels relevance.
Spanian may have a better understanding of attention mechanics than most influencers because he developed his brand by using a phone camera and direct commentary to stroll through Australia’s most impoverished districts. Before transforming his life into content, he was incarcerated for 12 years. Reinvention is not a novel concept. Rebrands, however, are not the same as relationships.
Angela McColl and he were married for two years. A few months prior to their split, the couple’s young kid was born. It wasn’t a quiet split. McColl made a fleeting reference to a tell-all piece, which she later withdrew, blaming false information and phony content that had been supplied to her. It was unsettling to watch the online conversation play out, like seeing a private dispute reverberate on public forums.
He has one million Instagram followers and millions more across platforms, and his observations on Western Sydney’s streets, kebab restaurants, and housing estates are part of the ecology he lives in. Authenticity, or the performance of it, has always been what drew people to him. As a result, it felt less shocking and more like the following episode when he made his Snapchat debut, posing near to Walker.
Commentary has been triggered by the age difference between 35 and 22. Rarely does social media overlook a detail. However, the couple’s public appearances have not been halted by the scrutiny. Beachside pictures, romantic dinners, and matching tattoos. They appear to be conscious of the camera, possibly even leaning into it.
For Spaniards, it seems that power equates to visibility. Attention may feel like money after years of marginalization and incarceration. His products, YouTube tours, and food truck company are all centered around his personality. Nevertheless, connections function differently than algorithms.
It’s still unclear if this romance is a sign of momentum or stability. Even devoted followers wonder about the rapidity of the change—from marriage to a new spouse in a matter of weeks. However, influencers hardly ever move at the same speed as regular people.
Spanian’s name is still in use in Sydney’s inner west, where conversations in cafés frequently veer between influencers and real estate values. Some people are impressed by the success story—from misery to hustle, from prison to platform. Some people are still dubious, wondering if the persona is well-crafted.
For her part, Walker has entered a potentially harsh spotlight. It’s not a quiet transition into maturity to be associated with someone who has a prominent past and has recently separated. It is reposted, magnified, and analyzed.
Nevertheless, it has an almost predictable quality. Transformation arcs are rewarded by social media. The naughty boy changed his ways. The latest love story. The story of redemption was renewed.
The couple appeared indifferent to criticism as they stood on a Sydney beach at dusk, their matching tattoos clearly apparent. Phones were raised, pictures were taken, and waves rolled in. It was a carefully staged, yet strangely everyday moment.
A Spaniard once described what he noticed while strolling through suburbs that were neglected by the major media. The lens is now focused on him. This chapter seems to be about more than simply a relationship. It concerns the future of a man who made his living by being observed.
