Society high-flier and ATV weather girl Sophia Harilela has filed for a judicial separation from her husband, Vijay.
Mrs Harilela, 26, an in-law of tycoon Hari Harilela, has been refused legal aid for the proceedings and says her only income is her $3,000-a-month weather girl salary.
A stay of the District Court proceedings for the judicial separation was granted pending a legal aid decision on Mrs Harilela's funding.
Mr Vijay Harilela is the son of millionaire horse owner Bob Harilela, whose brother Hari is a prominent businessman and trustee of the Better Hong Kong Foundation.
Lawyer Sharon Ser, whom Mrs Harilela has consulted, says the application for legal aid submitted last month was turned down, but she will appear at the High Court tomorrow to appeal against the decision.
The socialite couple live in the massive luxury Harilela mansion in Kowloon Tong, home to more than 50 family members and 30 domestic helpers. They were married three years ago and have a daughter, Shaday, aged three.