ROXY JACENKO
‘A divorce from Oliver would be too expensive’
Roxy Jacenko and Oliver Curtis know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. The famous couple – who married in 2011 and have two children Pixie, 8, and Hunter, 4, – aren’t shy about expressing their opinions, no matter how controversial. “There is no grey and people are respectful of that,” Jacenko, 39, tells WHO. “Some like it, some loathe it. The ones who loathe it, they can shuffle along. The ones who like it, fantastic.”
The trials and tribulations of the highprofile pair’s relationship have been well documented over the years, with all eyes on them after former investment banker Curtis was convicted for insider trading in 2016.
During his year-long stint in jail, Jacenko admits she spiralled, partied hard, developed an eating disorder and even reunited with her Sydney property developer ex Nabil Gazal before being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now two years on from Curtis’ release from jail, things are on the up for the couple, who work together on Jacenko’s businesses.
“It’d be far too expensive to divorce,” the irreverent blonde jokes.
A whole new layer of privacy was removed when the couple – who were unable to have more children due to Jacenko’s cancer treatment – agreed to film reality TV show I Am Roxy, which aired during Ten’s pilot week.
While they wait to hear if it has been green-lit for a full season, Jacenko isn’t sure what she wants to happen. “Did I love it? No, it’s not what I’m used to,” she admits. “But I will say it was a very good opportunity because from that I got lots of ambassadorial roles.”
In fact, Jacenko has most recently collaborated with luxury brand Nicholas Haywood Jewellery Concierge to create Roxy Jacenko Fine Jewellery, all limited edition.
With no topic off limits, the controversial couple open up about their lives when the cameras stop rolling.
How did you guys fall in love?
JACENKO It was his sister’s fault and he was engaged! But then he saw me, and knew he was making a dreadful mistake. If only I’d had hindsight on my side. I thought I was marrying Richie Rich. Richie Rich ended up in jail!
But haven’t you always made your own money?
JACENKO I’ve always been self-sufficient. It’s not something people are used to from a girl. It’s ridiculous because if I wasn’t selfsufficient, when s--t goes south, I’d have nothing. But because I’m
“I’ve always been self- sufficient”
— Roxy Jacenko
self-sufficient, I always maintained my own life and my own business, we were OK when s--t did go south. I could never be the girl who puts her hand out and hopes someone’s going to give me money. It’s just not my thing.
CURTIS But you’ve never had that. You had a job when you were 14.
JACENKO I was a McDonald’s Drive-Thru girl. Given you’re married to a such powerful and successful woman, would you consider yourself a feminist, Oliver?
CURTIS: I wouldn’t go that far.
What about you, Roxy?
JACENKO I will not be wearing an “I’m a feminist” T-shirt anytime soon, just so we’re clear.
CURTIS: No, I wouldn’t quite call myself a feminist either. She’s incredibly successful at what she does. So, the sheer fact that I sit in the background a little bit and play a supporting role doesn’t necessarily mean I’m feminist, I’m simply supporting my wife and supporting the person I love. JACENKO A lot of people ask me the question ... girls aren’t earning what they should earn. Personally, I’ve never experienced that. I think you will earn, and you’re given whatever position you’re worthy of, no matter whether you’re a girl or a guy, and as long as you can match what the guy’s doing in terms of workload, it doesn’t make a difference.
You recently opened up about your struggles with an eating disorder, why? JACENKO Very honestly, one of the things was when he went to jail, I lost a lot of weight because
I was indulging in a life that was not particularly conducive to [being healthy].
So, you were in a bad place?
JACENKO Remember, I had cancer. He was in jail. I was living an unhealthy life and everything around me was falling down. I started taking a drug called Tamoxifen, which is a cancer blocker, and that makes you put weight on and then they give you an antidepressant to counteract the fact your mind goes absolutely nuts from this medicine. So yes, I started to put the weight back on, but I was also living a life where I ate six salmon mini rolls all day. I couldn’t sustain that, and I was going to the gym every day without fail. I was obsessed.
Are you well now?
JACENKO Yeah, fine. I still take those drugs. If I don’t take that cancer blocker, because of the type of cancer I had, the recurrence rate level is very high so I’m on that for 10 years. It makes you go absolutely batty! It forces you into menopause. And it makes you eat nonstop. I try to avoid taking it and [Oliver] puts it down in front of me. [He’s ] like, “Better take your medicine or you’re going to be a fricking lunatic for the rest of the day”.
CURTIS If, by 11 o’clock, you haven’t taken your medicine, it gets bad.
“I was living an unhealthy life”
— Roxy Jacenko