Fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow, 32, shares the profound emotional struggles following her divorce from Matt Zukowski, including intense panic attacks that left her unable to handle everyday tasks.
Emotional Aftermath of the Split
The mother of three describes one of her darkest periods after the marriage ended after just seven months. The breakdown triggered severe panic attacks, forcing her into intensive therapy.
‘I started having panic attacks… I’m glad to say I’m in a better place now,’ Hembrow admits. She explains that simple interactions overwhelmed her: ‘I couldn’t even go to the grocery store without breaking down. Someone would say hello to me and my nervous system was so fried, I’d break down. It was crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like that.’
Rumored Romance and Public Scrutiny
Hembrow announced her split from former Love Island Australia contestant Matt Zukowski last June, though the relationship had ended earlier. This timing fueled backlash over her brief dates with AFL star Bailey Smith last August.
‘You go on a couple of dates with one person and all of a sudden I’m being called all these names. It’s just crazy to me,’ she says. ‘Bailey, he’s the sweetest guy. I have nothing bad to say about him.’
She highlights a perceived double standard: ‘A woman going on dates after being separated and then breaking up, it’s normal; for me, I get called every name — the trolls love to hate. I feel like if men do the exact same thing no one says a word about it. Women are held to a different standard.’
Navigating Motherhood and Criticism
With 16 million Instagram followers, Hembrow faces constant judgment as a working mother. She shares son Wolf and daughter Saskia with ex-partner Reece Hawkins, and daughter Posy with former Ironman Matt Poole.
‘I want to pull back on that content sometimes, but if I pull back I’m accused of not being a present mum,’ she notes about posts featuring her children. ‘Just because I don’t film myself making their lunches, helping them with their homework doesn’t mean it’s not happening.’
Hembrow embraces imperfection: ‘I’m growing, learning, living, making mistakes and starting again. I probably will make more mistakes, that’s life. Women are expected to be perfect — and nobody’s perfect.’
Upcoming TV Challenge and Industry Insights
Hembrow prepares to confront her fear of sharks on the Channel Nine reality series Shark!, diving in the Bahamas with celebrities like Scott Cam, Ariarne Titmus, and Lynne McGranger. After weeks in open water, she jokes about greater dangers on land.
‘My experience… definitely within the industry,’ she quips when asked if showbusiness has more sharks than the sea. ‘I’d much rather be out with sharks in the Bahamas.’
Recently, Hembrow confirmed her relationship with 22-year-old Sydney model Grayson Te Moana, addressing the new romance earlier this year.
