[4][5] Tabberer began working in publishing when she wrote a fashion column, "Maggie Says", for The Daily Mirror newspaper in Sydney in 1963.

She remained with the paper for 16 years, until billionaire Kerry Packer asked her to become fashion editor of Australian Women's Weekly magazine in 1981.

Her appearances on Beauty and the Beast made her a household name and she later began hosting her own daily chat show, Maggie, for which she won two consecutive Gold Logies in 1970 and 1971.

[6] Margaret May Tabberer was born on 11 December 1936 in Parkside, South Australia, the youngest of five children to Alfred and Molly Trigar.

In that same year, Tabberer gave birth to their son, Francesco, who died of sudden infant death syndrome when 10 days old.

[10] In the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1998, Tabberer was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly through her support for charitable organisations and the advancement of the Australian fashion industry.