MAMA INFLUENCER TAKEOVER Vanessa loves nothing more than hanging at home with her brood.
In 2006, Vanessa and her husband therefore decided they were ready for a new chapter, packing up and heading to California, where Vanessa began Culinary School in the hopes of becoming a personal chef. During her second class, she fainted. Turns out, she was pregnant. “It was a great time in our lives. We were away from most of our friends and living in this cute little house, just the two of us. We truly experienced the pregnancy 'together'.” The couple spent their downtime cooking, testing recipes and sunbaking in the backyard. Unexpectedly however, US health insurance requirements prompted the couple to relocate to Sydney later in the pregnancy, where Vanessa experienced an intense but natural water birth. “My body felt like a total mess, but the hormone cocktail was so amazing, I didn't really care too much at the time. I loved being at home and my man took care of me.” During those early days of motherhood, Vanessa’s career was the furthest thing from her mind. But after just two weeks, she was cast for a maternity photoshoot, which took place in her apartment. “They came to me so I could feed my baby, and took pictures of me in maternity underwear – it felt a bit weird at first, but then so good as my body was bouncing right back and I finally had some boobs!” Two weeks later, the brunette beauty was booked for a major Australian television commercial. With her husband by her side during the shoot, Vanessa was able to breastfeed Luca. “After that, I had more work requests, so Oddy ended up quitting his job as a carpenter to become a full-time stay-at-home dad.” And so began family life. And soon, Evie was on the way. Born at 39 weeks, four hours after Vanessa's first contraction, the little fam was complete. And now? Living in the hub of the European party capital, this sought-after model is in high demand, but these days, it's Vanessa who makes the rules, ensuring that her work fits around her role as a mother. “My career is not important to me anymore,” she admits. “But my job provides us as a family with the money to do that we really want to do, so I am very thankful to be in this position.” For Vanessa, motherhood has finally brought a sense of peace and contentment, a welcome feeling after a childhood spent searching for her purpose. “I have no urge to 'discover' myself now or to look for the meaning of life. I feel complete and happy.”
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