SOPHIE MONK’S FINE FUTURE
With Bachelorette behind her, the Love Island star’s big plans include babies.
She might have had her heart publicly broken this year, but Bachelorette star Sophie Monk isn’t one to sit around and sulk. After taking time out to get over her break-up with Sydney-based pub baron Stu Laundy, who she chose on the show, she’s back out there with a new job, a new attitude—and a life-changing new plan. “I am fine now, completely fine,” says Monk, who jetted off to Spain for the Nine Network’s new reality dating series Love Island (as host, she’s overseeing the shenanigans, not taking part). Now she’s looking to the future with a fresh desire to embrace any, and all, possibilities ... including motherhood. Still single, when she returns from Love Island the 38-year-old has locked in her visit to a fertility specialist. “I am going to freeze my eggs,” she tells WHO’S Clare Rigden, opening up about her family dream, her career plans and why she’s approaching what’s to come, whatever that may be, with a smile on her face. What made you want to get involved? We thought you might be a bit burnt after your experience with The Bachelorette ... No. You know what, [ The Bachelorette] was such a great experience. Not obviously in my personal life, but it was great. But this—this is just so different. How so? Well, I live quite an isolated life normally. I only have a few close friends, and I don’t go out much, because I kind of can’t. I’m not really a party animal, and I prefer to chill at home with family and stuff. Literally, I’m sitting chatting to you in a pair of tights with holes in them, and wet hair. But with this show, I get to live vicariously through [the contestants], which is so fun. They’re all young, right? And living in a house in Spain, dating and partying? I love they are all unapologetically hot! It’s just hot-ass people, who are
just amazing. I was like, “I need to go on a diet immediately” because I won’t fit in! Would you have ever done a show like that when you were younger? I didn’t have the balls back then—i was really shy. And I never went out nightclubbing. If you look back at me in interviews from that time, I had the highest voice, and I was such a geek. How old were you when you did Pop Stars? I was 19 when the show came out—that was in 2000. Whoa! Way to make us feel old. I know! I am coming up to 20 years in the industry. I’m like, are you f--king kidding me? If you had your time again, would you warn baby Sophie off embarking on a showbiz career? No. Because I don’t know any different. And I wouldn’t be where I am now—i’m happy. And I get to be creative. No, I wouldn’t change it, and I’ve learnt so much. But if I had a daughter, I wouldn’t encourage her to do it! Because there are downsides. Were your parents worried about you when you were starting out? Yeah, my mum was. She was like, “What have we done?” Because I was so innocent. And so sensitive to everything, like press. Now I don’t even read it. But back then, everything hurt me so deeply, because I was so insecure. You’re super close to your family? Yes. Growing up I used to be embarrassed, but it’s awesome. We are really blessed in that way. And they are so cool and nonjudgemental. They don’t even know what I do half the time! Gotta love that. The best is my little sister, who checks my press. If there’s a bad article, I don’t want to know, so she’ll look at it for me. And she’ll go, “You know what, it’s not even that bad.” Your parents live in a cottage at your property—cosy! Yeah, my parents live next door. I built them a little cottage. My sister also comes over with her kids all the time, she just lives six minutes away. How many siblings do you have? I have two sisters and a brother. [Mother-of-two Angelique Ahern, 43; mum-of-four Lucy Monk, 35, and Ben, 32].
Your new nephew, Lucy’s baby, is just delicious—how old is he now? Arky is 6 weeks. He’s such a lovely little thing. Does he make you clucky? God, yeah! But watching Lucy with four kids—you have got to have the right partner and support around you, that’s for sure. Would you ever consider doing it on your own? I am going to freeze my eggs when I get back from Spain—it’s all booked in. I would never say never, but I would like to try to have a partner ... So it’s not all on me. Have you been meeting with fertility specialists? No. We have organised it, though. My manager did it—i just haven’t had time. We’re going to do it as soon as I get back. Would you go down the donor route? Or have a baby with someone you know? Nah, not yet. I would rather just freeze them and try to meet someone. And then just reassess if it ever happens. Does it freak you out that people are so interested in knowing all that about you? Well, not really, because I love it, too. That’s why I always say, “There are no questions off limits.” Because I like reading all this shit [about other celebrities], too! It feels like everyone in Australia is invested in you getting your “happy ending.” I actually forget people know who I am, unless I go to the airport, or I go to dinner somewhere. My friends don’t care. My family don’t care about all this stuff either, and get embarrassed. I’m kind of lucky, unless I go to the shopping mall or something, it’s not even a thing. And even then, everyone is so nice. How was it having to go through heartbreak so publicly? I mean—i fall really quick, really hard. And also come out of it really hard. But quickly, as well. I’m fine now, completely fine. What made everything OK? Just friends. My best friend Oscar [Gordon] and I are inseparable. We have so much fun together. Your Instagram stories together are cute. Thanks! We are actually going to do a travel show together after [ Love Island], in Italy—just him and I. I am so excited about that. How did you meet Oscar? It was through his cousin, Phil— we worked together in radio. Oscar and I hit it off straight away. Would you ever consider have a baby with Oscar? I feel like he’s my brother. It would feel weird! It’s weird to be even asking you that—we don’t even know if he’s single. No, it’s OK. He’s single, too. We c--kblock the shit out of each other! Because he doesn’t act gay or look gay, it looks like we are together— we’re like husband and wife. Are you seeing anyone at the moment? And do you get asked that every single day? Unless I meet someone at Coles—no. That’s why I went on [ The Bachelorette]— because I never get to go out. Usually, if I do, people only ask for a photo. Or you are in industry scenarios, where it’s work. I can’t really go to a bar. So it’s like, I don’t know where I’ll meet someone, unless I have a holiday romance in Spain, hopefully! What if you fall for one of the contestants? They are, like, 12! No, but seriously, they’re 24, 28 ... so I don’t think that will happen. Will you enjoy playing matchmaker? For someone who’s not good at relationships, I am so good at relationship advice for everyone else. Everyone talks to me about stuff like I’m their therapist, which is hilarious, and so ironic. Do as I say, not as I do ... Yes! Exactly right! Do you think what you’re looking for has changed since your Bachelorette experience? Or are you not looking at all? This is the first time I have not been looking, and that’s when everyone says [ love] happens. Because, before now, I was always looking, I loved the excitement of it all. But right now, I am so happy being me, in this moment. I have got my family, and [now I feel like] it doesn’t always have to be traditional, like what you’re taught. I want to sue Disney for all those f--king movies they came out with when I was a kid! Because it doesn’t have to be like that. That’s right. And you never know what’s round the corner. That’s it, though. I have just got to keep open, and keep happy. You can’t want someone to complete you. And so, I am in a good place. If you don’t look for it, maybe it will come. You do sound very happy right now. Well, that’s the most important thing. And that is also the toughest thing. If you are happy, everything is fine. That’s where I am at, which is so good. I have everything I need at the moment: family, lots of love—and that’s it. •
“She loves getting amongst the children” —sister Lucy Monk