Why Jo put her kids on TV, bombshell Sarah
TV BRIDE JO Zara and Angus were dressed to the nines for their mum’s MAFS wedding. Single mum Jo hopes marrying a complete stranger will lead to true love – and her kids are behind her!
She’s only 150cm tall, but with her infectious laugh and happy-go-lucky attitude, single mum Jo is larger than life!
Still, despite her cheery exterior, Jo’s love-life has been on the backburner since her divorce five years ago. She’s been working tirelessly while raising her two children Angus, 14, and Zara, 10.
And she willingly admits she has struggled to find a partner who ticks all the boxes.
“I’ve applied three times,” Jo reveals to Woman’s Day at an exclusive photoshoot in her hometown of Adelaide.
“I don’t think I’ve ever put myself first – even before I was married. I was always the last priority – that’s what you do as a mum. I really want to find my happily ever after. I think there’s somebody out there for me.”
Tired of online dating, Jo insists she’s 100 per cent ready to leave her love-life in the hands of the MAFS experts.
“I don’t want to waste a night of babysitting, or time applying makeup or shaving my legs for a bloke who turns out to be a loser,” laughs Jo, 40, as she cheekily recalls an online dating horror story in which a onenight stand never went home.
“I just really want a decent bloke! A house, car, good looks – they’re all superficial to me, it’s all about their personality!” she adds. “As long as they can make me laugh, that’s all that matters.”
But it’s not just Jo that her future groom will be taking on – her kids are part of the package deal, and will be there by her side as she weds a total stranger.
“I spoke to the kids about applying and they said, ‘Do it, Mum!’ So we made an audition tape together,” she explains, adding that Angus and Zara know exactly what they’re looking for in a man, too.
“I just want someone who’ll look after her,” says Angus, while Zara adds, “We wanted someone really nice, who would treat Mum as good as she is.”
JOINING THE FAMILY
Jo is quick to point out she’s not looking for a father for her kids, but someone to join her family.
“It’s important that the kids like whoever I’m with, but it’s equally as important for who I’m with to want to get to know them,” Jo says.
Jo is under no illusion that putting herself and her children in the public eye is risky.
“There’ll be people who think I shouldn’t have involved them in the show. But they’re not babies and we do everything together. It never once crossed my mind to go on this journey without them.”
Jo’s appearance on the show will be her first experience in the spotlight, but she’s adamant fame won’t change her one bit!
‘It’s important the kids like whoever I’m with’