Jesinta Franklin is embracing a slower life beyond the spotlight – and she couldn’t be happier

A make-up free Jesinta Franklin is glowing when she sits down to talk to STM during a holiday in Uluwatu, Bali. But it’s not just a holiday glow, or one that comes from a great skincare routine or a sweep of highlighter — though she surely has plenty of those in her bathroom cabinet. It’s the deeper kind, the radiance that comes from a happy and fulfilling life. Tropical shrubs sway in the background of the video call, interrupted by the occasional cameo from her children Tullulah, 5, and Rocky, 4, as they jump in and out of the frame. If Franklin could bottle what success means to her, it could be captured in this frame — with the addition of her AFL-legend husband Lance “Buddy” Franklin. It’s worlds away from how she would have defined the word 15 years ago. When we first heard the name Jesinta, then Campbell, it was associated with a Miss Universe Australia win, stints on reality TV shows, fashion runways and glamorous magazine covers. Success was rooted in career and financial goals as she rode the wave of fame as Australia’s golden girl. But when she became a mother and refocused her priorities, the public figure realised the things that gave her purpose looked vastly different. “Now, honestly, being a present, happy parent is what I am striving for and that’s my biggest indicator of success,” Franklin says. This doesn’t mean Franklin’s journey has been one free of challenges or heartache. The 33-year-old has spoken openly about her experience of postnatal depression and losing family members to mental health struggles. “I’ve experienced a lot through my life, and not only personally, but seeing other people suffer through it, and I think the more we can talk about it, the more we can break the stigma down,” she says. “There’s so much shame and embarrassment around (mental health) when there really shouldn’t be. “There’s parts of my life that are very private but I also think that when you have a platform, you have a responsibility to speak up — mental health is a very real issue in society for so many people, and especially mums.” Franklin admits one of her most persistent personal challenges has been “mum guilt”. Defined as feelings of self-doubt, pressure or anxiety about your parenting abilities, the phrase has gained popularity in recent years due to the rise of social media, online parenting communities, and the toxic “perfect family” stereotype often depicted. It’s something Franklin constantly wrestles with. And while she prefers to avoid giving parenting advice, if she could offer a slice of wisdom to her past self, it would be to ask for help because “a happy, healthy mum is better for your children than being an overworked, burnt-out mum hanging by a thread”. Throughout the ebbs and flows of parenting, her husband has been her rock, particularly since hanging up his boots with the Sydney Swans in 2023. “There’s a beautiful balance, and the kids love it. He loves being at home with them and would be a stay-at-home dad, which he kind of is the majority of the time (now),” she reveals, noting Buddy has become the “best and most relaxed” version of himself. While AFL brought incredible moments — Franklin notes it’s been three years since Buddy’s incredible 1000th goal — Franklin found it difficult to navigate her place in the sport on the sidelines, and balancing life as a working mum. “I really struggled during those last few years of his contract . . . so having him retire has been so nice,” she says. “There’s just such a nice equality now in our relationship, and it’s not that it wasn’t or he didn’t want to provide that when he was playing football, (but) the time restraints made it impossible for him to be there.” Without an intense schedule and world revolving around sport, the couple have a more balanced approach to life and parenting. With football behind them and family at the forefront, they’re cherishing ordinary, everyday moments that once seemed so far removed from glamorous red carpets and roaring stadiums — like school runs. “Last week I didn’t do a single pick-up or drop-off because I had so much on,” Franklin admits. “So he usually takes that on and then I like to do the school lunches and the laundry . . . it’s really balanced, and it’s really nice.” Dividing the work also means the couple can focus on the things that bring them joy outside of parenting. Buddy plays basketball twice and week and is training for a marathon, he also recently launched a podcast with fellow Hawthorn legend Shane Crawford, whereas Franklin has become more attuned to what her body needs each day — be it a Pilates class or moment to journal. “Every week and day is different, but checking in with my mental health regularly is really, really important,” she says. “I’ve recently stopped drinking coffee because it has such an impact on my anxiety . . . and trying to manage my anxiety in a really holistic way is also important to me. “So recognising the things that trigger me, or the things that aren’t going to serve me. Therapy is really important, having a psychologist or counsellor to talk to, and also being open and honest with friends and family when you’re having a tough time.” The duo tied the knot in 2017 in an intimate ceremony in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Franklin wore a Vera Wang couture gown — champagne-coloured with sheer sleeves, bodice boning and a full princess skirt — fitted by the designer herself in New York. Though most of their lives has unfolded in the public eye and on social media, they’ve managed to keep much of it private — with Buddy known as one of the more reserved figures throughout his high-profile career. Yet Franklin is quick to lend her voice to issues that she feels passionate about, including the Literacy is Freedom campaign in 2022 which raised awareness about the importance of literacy, particularly among Indigenous communities and marginalised Australians. Franklin and Buddy were part of a group of high-profile Australians to get involved in the campaign, alongside Adam Goodes, Tim Minchin and Baker Boy. “Bud and I, more so me, have been speaking about mental health for years and years now even before it was kind of OK to talk about it, because I just think there is such a stigma about it,” Franklin says. From the glitz and glamour of pageantry to the years of TV presenting and modelling, Franklin’s style has evolved over the years. Yet only now does she feel she’s coming into her own, and it’s something she’ll be speaking about at an upcoming Claremont Quarter event, CQ Front Row, held to welcome the autumn-winter season. “I really feel like this is the first time in my personal life and in my career that I’m finding my personal style,” Franklin says. “I started out in this industry through a pageant so fashion wasn’t really a big thing, it was glitz and glamour. Then working for clients there was always a brief and I was told what colour I had to wear and what outfit. Those formative years in your late teens and 20s is when you settle into your style and you find yourself (but) I feel like I missed that step.” Franklin collaborated with stylist Elliot Garnaut on the Claremont Quarter campaign, selecting pieces that resonated with her personality and aesthetic. Reflecting on this renewed sense of self, Franklin says it has prompted her desire to speak up for herself and stay true to who she authentically is. “I’ve always had a bit of a ‘take it or leave it’ attitude. This is who I am, these are the things that I’m passionate about and I want to speak about, and if that doesn’t resonate with someone, then that’s fine. You don’t have to be part of the journey,” she says. As excitement grows ahead of her upcoming visit to Perth, Franklin reveals it’s because of the deeper meaning the State holds for their family. Buddy grew up in the tiny Wheatbelt town of Dowerin, 160km north-east of Perth. His extended family still live in WA, including his parents, sister and five nieces. The love for his mum and dad — whom he has tattooed portraits of on his body — is strong, as is the connection he has with his Whadjuk-Noongar heritage. “It feels like a part of our heart is in Perth and always will be,” Franklin says, beaming. The family of four plan to make the most of their trip by blending work with family time — including a farmstay in Bullsbrook and a trip to Buddy’s hometown. “For the first time ever Bud’s going to take us to Dowerin, where he was born, and take the kids back there. We’re going to have a really wholesome experience,” Franklin gushes. With plans to buy a local property, more visits from a glowing Franklin might just be on the cards. CQ Front Row will take place on May 8 from 6 to 9pm across Claremont Quarter. The in-conversation with Jesinta Franklin, Elliot Garnaut and Michael Brown, followed by the runway show, is on Level 2 from 7pm. There will be retailer offers and activations will be running throughout the day, more details at claremontquarter.com.au