Jess Wardrop won hearts across Australia on Married at First Sight’s third season in 2016.
And while things didn’t work out with her on-screen husband, Dave Crisp, who dumped her on national TV, admitting he was expecting ‘something a little different’ – it wasn’t long before Jess fell in love the old fashioned way, on Tinder.
Within months of meeting fiancé Chris Papas the reality star fell pregnant, and she then welcomed their first child, daughter Stevie, on New Year’s Eve 2018.
Since then, Jess has been open with fans about developing postpartum depression and her struggles with body image, regularly sharing her experiences to Instagram in the hope she’ll be able to help others.
After sharing an unfiltered picture in her underwear in October, she wrote:
‘Cellulite, Nanna knickers, Bloody huge boobs. Then I see women boosting about how they bounced back and are wearing bikinis already and it makes me mad. Why didn’t I bounce back? What’s wrong with me? Will I ever look the same? But more importantly why the fuck are they making other women feel like shit???
Since giving birth, Jess has spent a year getting help through St Johns of God Raphael services and is in a much better place both mentally and physically. She encourages other mothers who are struggling to also seek professional support.
‘I felt disconnected from this gorgeous girl and I really wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a mum and yearned for my old life and my old body and at times I resented my daughter and the changes to my life.
‘The human body is a wonderful thing as it created and feed and comforts my little love but it also causes me sadness and pain because I don’t like it anymore.
‘I struggled with the slightest change in Stevie’s behaviour or routine and my anxiety was out of control. I am a better mother now. Sure I still think about what was, but I now acknowledge my feelings are normal and there is nothing wrong with accepting you need help.’
