Cover Story

ALLI EXPRESS

ALLI SIMPSON

For someone so young Alli Simpson has packed a lot into her life.

The first thing you notice about Alli Simpson is her eyes. As blue and clear as a Gold Coast spring day and coupled with newly dark hair, her natural colour, it is a startling combination. Into her young life she has packed a variety of achievements and career choices. Actress, singer, participant in a documentary on homelessness, reality TV contestant, radio show host and children’s book author. It is an astonishing list but something that she accepts in a matter of fact way as something she did when given the opportunity. Impressive as they all are, possibly the most remarkable achievement is her latest – recovering from a freak accident where she dived into shallow water that came within two millimetres of placing Alli in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. “I’ve only just come out the neck brace and the tests show that it has healed very well. I still have to be careful, it’s all stable now but it will be another five months. I have been so lucky. All I had was a stiff neck and I carried the injury around for three months without realising how serious it was. There were two broken vertebrates but it wasn’t that painful except for some tingling. I was still exercising, doing Pilates and boxing even standing on my head once. So lucky. It has given me a new appreciation of life. The radiologist who saw my X-rays could not believe that I had been living a normal life for those three months.”

Alli is one of three children to Brad and Angie both of whom swam for Australia. Angie, who is at the interview, explains the family philosophy. “We wanted the children to grow up authentically. By that I mean whatever they wanted to do was fine but they had to commit to whatever it was they chose to do. With all three it was about them finding that passion and then doing it.” With that understanding the three, Alli, Cody and the youngest Tom, were raised to be the best they could be. She and her brother Cody became famous for their music via YouTube. “My parents were high achievers so I guess it is part of us to give it our all. If I get involved in something it has to be 100 percent. Being super active is part of me and doing one thing would usually lead to something else which I would do to the best of my ability.”

When their fame exploded the family moved to Hollywood, something that made Angie think about the dangers of living in a city with so much temptation. In total they lived there as a family for around 10 years and it was a culture shock at first. “LA is a very big city and on the day we arrived we checked into a hotel in West Hollywood and it was Mardi Gras weekend. I had to try and explain to the kids that it was a big costume party because there were some out-there costumes parading in and out of the hotel,” she laughed. Once they had settled into their new life, work, career and utilising the power of their impressive social media reach came into play. “They are all grounded, normal kids but I was very aware that while they had a large social media platform they also had to use that reach and influence for a charity or cause that was dear to their hearts. They are a voice for many of those young kids who listen to them out there so it had to be for good not evil.” It was also the catalyst to do a reality show on the family when they were based in Hollywood. High profile children and a family of Australians in a foreign land – Americans would have lapped it up but they turned down the offer. “We had meetings with many of the big networks, MTV and the like, but we didn’t really want the drama,” said Angie. “I did a couple of episodes of ‘Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’. I didn’t feel comfortable in that situation, I’m not that kind of a woman. Also it wasn’t something that would have been good for the family. There were meetings on that show about what would work to create a bit more drama which wasn’t something I wanted to do with my children. Looking back I am so glad we said ‘No’ because it wasn’t right for us.” While that reality TV journey wasn’t right, for Alli social media is something she has grown up with, understands and is understanding of the negative side of the platforms. “I honestly don’t get many negative comments and if I do I don’t engage. The number of followers has grown organically but I don’t post everyday nor do I worry about keeping score. When I have something to share that I think is interesting, or if I’m doing something that is pretty cool – a show, a song etc – then I will post. I like to find that balance and not overshare.” Of her reality TV career the one that was the most daunting was

‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here.’ “The one question I always get asked is why,” laughed Alli. “I am literally petrified of everything – bugs, snakes, cockroaches – but I just wanted to test myself. It’s a once in a lifetime experience and I could always just say those words and I would be gone. I ended up having an absolute blast and it was one of the best experiences of my life and made lifelong friends. Also being without my phone was a great thing. We all got to talk and communicate on a human level which was so refreshing with people I didn’t know before we went into the camp. I learnt that I am way stronger than I thought I was, handled the challenges and realised that whatever I can put my mind to, I can do.”

Her singing career was not something she planned either or even thought about. “Cody and Dad would sing but my voice was saved for the shower basically. I was too nervous to even sing in front of my family. It was an approach to me when I was 15 to put down a track that got me started. Cody said there was a song that would suit me and put it to me in a way that if I didn’t like it, it didn’t need to be released. It was a surprise how much I liked the process. Hearing your own voice can be a bit daunting but with backing, harmonies and arrangements it was really cool.” into music lead to Alli’s second stint in reality TV on ‘The Masked Singer’ in 2021. “Again it was quite daunting but I liked the fact that nobody could see me so I could do the performance without anybody knowing. None of the judges guessed it was me but they were all very nice and complimentary although I did have to sing ‘unmasked’ which was a bit confronting. Music was never my main focus but I loved the experience, had control because I released the songs I wanted to and at my own speed.”

Of all her many talents her biggest love is radio. She presented ‘The Alli Simpson’ show on Radio Disney from 2015 for four years becoming the youngest host of a nationally–syndicated show in the United States. “Interviewing the people I like and so many celebrities and hearing their stories was great fun. There are plans underway to do something on the Gold Coast and also a web show which I can host. My thought process is that I can bring a fresh, younger audience, have similar interests and talk on a level to that demographic given my age.” The next string to her very large bow is a children’s book she co-authored with her mother Angie. “Mum had an idea about a mother/daughter book and approached Simon & Schuster. The profile Cody and I enjoyed helped. It was published in 2020 and is called ‘Clouds: Life’s Big & Little Moments’. It was a bit of family project because Dad and Cody wrote some lullabies to go with it. The reaction was good and we’re now working on a second one.” Her future plans now include devoting more time to acting and a collaborative health and beauty company with her mother. “It is a project that I love because it is closely aligned with Mum,” says Alli. “We have acquired Botanical Path, who make products we have previously consumed and have grown to love. Under our ownership, we have reformulated the Beauty Collagen products and added a vegan protein range to ensure that we can offer a complete variety of great tasting, health and beauty supplements. We both live a healthy and active life, with a shared passion for beauty, diet and better-looking skin. Our new range will be available on-line at www. botanicalpath.com.au and selected retailers.”

To sum up Alli Simpson in a few words is slightly daunting because for someone who has just turned 24, she has packed more into her young life that most do in two lifetimes. She is respectful, open, honest and completely unimpressed by all that she has achieved. There is a special relationship with her mother as there is with all her family that speaks volumes for her upbringing. She just happens to be that rarest of people - a well-grounded high-achiever.

My Favourites:

Movie – Pretty Woman TV – It has to be Gossip Girl Drink – A Lychee Martini Meal – Either sushi or potato wedges with sour cream and chilli.

Coffee Shop – Shop 52 in Nobbys

Dream Destination – Santorini, Greece