‘Members Only’ Netflix star Taja Abitbol talks Palm Beach’s elite

A new Netflix reality show, “Members Only: Palm Beach,” will follow five women in the exclusive social scene of Palm Beach, Florida.
The unscripted series focuses on the friendships, rivalries, and hierarchies within the affluent community’s private clubs.
The eight-episode first season is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on Monday, Dec. 29.

Reality TV is getting a lot more Floridian this month.

“Members Only: Palm Beach” is a new Netflix reality show that follows the exclusive, high-end social scene of one of Florida’s most affluent areas, as experienced by five women who are part of the community.

“Set within the exclusive enclaves of Palm Beach County, the eight-episode first season follows a group of women navigating the unspoken rules, inherited traditions, and high-stakes hierarchies of America’s most rarefied social circles,” Netflix says.

“In this manicured world of privilege and private clubs, reputations are built over brunch and alliances shift over champagne. While wealth is ubiquitous, power, influence, and access are the true currency.”

To prepare for the show’s premiere, which comes just a few days after Christmas, the USA TODAY Network – Florida sat down with one of the show’s stars, Taja Abitbol, who conceived and (successfully) pitched the idea to chronicle the Palm Beach social scene on a TV show.

Here’s what to know about the show before it drops on Netflix, a little bit about Taja and her experience in the Palm Beach social scene and how to watch.

What is the new Netflix show about Palm Beach?

Netflix’s “Members Only: Palm Beach” follows five women in the elite Palm Beach social scene as they navigate their friendships, social circle, businesses, families, high-end fashion “rules” and more.

“Rule No. 1: Never show your boobs and your knees at the same time. Rule No. 2: Don’t be photographed in the same dress twice,” Netflix says.

“The upcoming series follows five women — Hilary Musser, Taja Abitbol, Rosalyn Yellin, Ro-mina Ustayev, and Maria Cozamanis — as they navigate friendships and rivalries (sometimes at the same time) and new money versus old to answer the question: Who is the true queen of Palm Beach?”

Think: “Housewives,” but with less interference from producers. Abitbol told the USA TODAY Network – Florida in an interview that “this is reality TV. It’s not scripted, it’s not made-up.”

“We know each other and we do have conflicts and a sisterhood,” Abitbol said. “It’s real life…The producers didn’t have to do anything to get us going because we already had storylines together, it’s not made-up. They’re all real storylines that really happened during the (social) season.”

‘Members Only: Palm Beach’ main cast list

Here are the five women featured on the new Netflix reality series and a little bit about them and links to their Instagram accounts, from their cast profiles on Netflix’s Tudum:

Taja Abitbol: Has spent many social seasons in Palm Beach but has lived in Palm Beach County full-time for six years. An innovator in the hospitality industry, Taja Abitbol has pioneered wellness techniques in the luxury hotel and spa space. She moved from New York City six years ago, but Palm Beach has always been part of her life. Taja spent her childhood winters with her grandparents at the country clubs inside the “members-only world that defines so much of the culture.”
Hilary Musser: 22 social seasons spent in Palm Beach. Real estate developer Hilary Musser is proudly “self-made” and known for her no-nonsense attitude and enviable social circle. “Although I have a crazy gorgeous closet and fashion is my passion, I am not frivolous,” she told Tudum. “I work 18 hours a day. Nothing is handed to me.”
Rosalyn Yellin: Five social seasons spent in Palm Beach. When this former Zumba instructor isn’t enjoying the dance floor, she’s a passionate philanthropist, dedicating her time to many causes, including veterans’ issues. After raising her five children, Rosalyn and her husband fulfilled their lifelong dream of moving to Palm Beach, where she’s more than made her mark. “My most important role in Palm Beach society is serving as a connector and advocate for philanthropy,” she told Tudum.
Ro-mina Ustayev: Four social seasons spent in Palm Beach. Ro-mina made her fortune investing in a successful business venture with her brother; now she’s an aspiring singer and fashion designer. She’s closest to Maria, as they both share big dreams and don’t care what others think of them. “You definitely need tough skin to make it in this town,” she told Tudum.
Maria Cozamanis (aka DJ Tumbles):Three social seasons spent in Palm Beach. A former tech entrepreneur, Maria Cozamanis has become one of the most popular DJs in Palm Beach. “Tumbles is my alter ego who re-emerged back into Palm Beach society like a glam tornado with a great playlist,” she told Tudum. “Old money, new money, mystery money — everybody put their bets on me.” Being the life of the party has given Maria access to the most exclusive rooms in Palm Beach, but now she wants to get on the guest lists without her alter ego.

Who is Taja Abitbol? What to know about her time in Palm Beach, at Mar-a-Lago

Taja Abitbol, 53, is a New Yorker-turned-Floridian who grew up visiting Palm Beach with her grandparents and has now lived in Palm Beach County full-time for six years.

“My grandparents, actually, were snowbirds, so my whole life I’ve been going to (the island) and my whole family had homes on the island,” Abitbol told the USA TODAY Network – Florida in a recent interview.

“I’m from New York, but we snowbird-ed on the island. When I was a little girl, I used to call it ‘Fantasy Island.’”

Taja is the founder of Taja Drip, a luxury wellness spa located in the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach, specializing in IV vitamin infusions, NAD therapy and other rejuvenation, energy, and anti-aging treatments popular with celebrities and elite social circles.

Taja told the USA TODAY Network – Florida that, as a New Yorker now living in Florida, she has multiple ties to Palm Beach’s most famous resident, President Donald Trump. They attended the same school (many years apart): The Kew-Forest School, an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school in Forest Hills, Queens. And her son attended the same school as Barron Trump.

“I love New York, don’t get me wrong. Being raised in New York is like the biggest flex… You can ask the Donald, because he and I grew up in the same place… I went to the same school as him, and my son went to the same school as his son in New York,” Abitbol said.

She also said that although she will always be a New Yorker at heart, she now considers herself a Floridian and loves the Sunshine State’s weather.

“I always considered Florida my second home, and now it’s my first home. I grew up in New York, but I always wanted to move to Florida because who doesn’t want to live with the palm trees and the beach?” Abitbol said.

She said moving to Palm Beach was “the best thing” she’s ever done, due to the easy, sunny, healthy lifestyle and the absence of harsh winters.

When she moved to Palm Beach full-time, Taja said she experienced a bit of a culture shock, surprised by the glitzy, glamorous world where it matters which country club you belong to, and noted that invitations to events at Mar-a-Lago are among the most coveted social tickets in town.

“I have been to Mar-a-Lago many times. I think it’s a phenomenal property. It’s absolutely stunningly beautiful,” Abitbol said.

“And it’s a hot ticket since Trump became president. I think it’s always been. It’s a huge waiting list now, and there are a lot of great events there. During the season, it is definitely where a lot of people want to be.”

Although she isn’t a Mar-a-Lago member, she has visited and attended many events there throughout her social seasons in Palm Beach. Her husband, David Cone, who formerly pitched for the New York Mets and New York Yankees among several other Major League Baseball teams, has played in Trump’s golf tournaments.