MOANA HOPE AND ISABELLA CARLSTROM
LARRY EMDUR & KYLIE GILLIES
You don’t need to spend long in the company of former AFLW star Moana Hope, 31, and her model wife Isabella Carlstrom, 27, to realise their love is the real deal. Inseparable from the moment they met in a Melbourne bar two-and-ahalf years ago – “I was drawn to her straight away. I actually had been overseas for six years and came back to Melbourne having no idea girls were playing footy, having no idea who she was. When I approached her, she was just a girl in a bar!” reveals Carlstrom – the pair exchanged vows in August this year. And now the newlyweds – primary carers to Hope’s 26-yearold sister Lavinia ‘Vinny’, who was born with the rare neurological disorder Moebius syndrome – are more than ready for the next chapter.
What do you find sexiest about each other? CARLSTROM For me, it’s Mo’s authenticity. She’s never trying to be anything other than herself. HOPE I don’t think I’ve ever found anybody as sexy as Isabella. I could sit here and say she’s obviously attractive and beautiful, but for me it’s Isabella’s personality that’s super-sexy. She cares about things nobody else cares about, she gets me on a level nobody else gets me on, and her heart is so big and beautiful.
When do you each feel your sexiest? CARLSTROM I feel sexiest when I’m authentically myself. Or when I’m running around naked in the house! I’m naked a lot! [Laughs]
HOPE When I’m with Belle.
Have you ever struggled with confidence? HOPE I believe everyone is different for a reason and beautiful in their own way. So I’ve never looked at myself and gone ‘You’re not pretty or beautiful’. [But] I played for an AFL club where they told me I was fat and body-shamed me. I was shattered. I thought ‘What do I need to look like? I’m not here to model for you. I’m here to play an elite sport.’ It was devastating, but the way I see life is so different to them. When you’re with someone like Belle who constantly reassures you, nobody else’s opinion matters.
Tell us about your family plans.
CARLSTROM We’re hoping that we fall pregnant by the end of this year. It’s been in the works for about a year now and we’re going through the beautiful Monash IVF. Some people are like ‘Ooh, I don’t want to jinx it’ but I’m just throwing all my positivity out there and letting my body do it.
So you’ll carry the baby?
CARLSTROM The first one, and then Mo is going to do the second one – maybe end of next year if we’re not too exhausted! I want to carry at least two, Mo wants to carry at least one.
HOPE I want three or four.
When did you first know you were in love? CARLSTROM I knew like a week in but I held it in for three weeks and then I told her! [Laughs] HOPE Mine was a tiny bit longer. I had a lot of walls up, so decided to be single for a very long time. It was hard enough finding someone who was going to love me for me, and not because of football. But then being with me also comes with becoming the carer of my little sister. For me, it was when I sat back and watched Belle interact with Vinny … I already knew I was attracted to her, I knew it could be amazing. But when I saw her interact with Vinny, and when she cooked … I was like ‘She’s good-looking, she has a good heart, Vinny loves her and she’s cooking me food!’ CARLSTROM Vinny’s the best. That’s why we’re so ready to be mums – because we already are to Vinny. We are full-time parents and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I don’t think I’ve ever found anyone as sexy as Isabella. I could sit here and say she’s obviously beautiful but it’s her personality super-sexy that’s
The Morning Show hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies are the ultimate work husband and wife.
The popular presenters – who have been co-hosting the stalwart of morning TV for more than 12 years – tell WHO that “mutual respect” and “having each other’s back” is the secret to their success. “We go through a lot together,” Emdur, 54, says. “We have some harrowing segments on the show. We have some fun segments on the show. We’ve been through more of an emotional roller-coaster than most relationships. More than a couple would see or experience together. Highs and lows, would you say Kylie?”
Gillies, 52, throws her head back in a laugh and responds: “Absolutely. 100 per cent. [But] we do feel really lucky. You are the ultimate work husband!”
The dynamic duo say they have built a strong friendship over the years.
“I think it’s mutual respect,” Gillies explains. “We’ve always got each other’s back and we genuinely like each other and it’s fun to come to work.”
Larry adds: “It’s insanely great fun but it comes down to being totally supportive. After so long , we know exactly where each other is going, when we’re going to stop and start, who picks up where, it becomes second nature, which is kind of magical.”
But just because the pair get along famously, it doesn’t mean they don’t have tough days. “We don’t agree on things,” Larry admits. “But I don’t think we’ve ever had an argument.”
According to Gillies, there’s a good reason for that. “Larry is too easygoing,” she says. “Try as I might. The most contentious issue between us is Meghan Markle. I have opinions. He has opinions.”
Larry is quick to add: “I just have opinions just to spark Kylie.”