Kids, breakups and tragedy: Hembrow sisters’ unbreakable bond

The Hembrow sisters say their tight-knit relationship has been instrumental in navigating the pressures of fame, business and motherhood.

The Hembrow sisters say their tight-knit relationship has been instrumental in navigating the pressures of fame, business and motherhood.

Emilee and Amy, who – alongside sister Tammy – have been dubbed Australia’s answer to the Kardashians, said their unbreakable bond has proven invaluable in everything from school runs to emotional support during challenging times.

“Just having that support for the really tough times is everything” Amy said.

“Having my sisters as that built-in support system around me, I know that I’m never alone.”

The sentiment has rung particularly true following Emilee’s tragic loss of her stillborn son Jamal at 29 weeks in 2020, and Tammy’s recent separation from fiance Matt Poole, just seven months after the birth of their first child, Posy.

“My family, including my sisters, my husband, and our parents, were my rock during that time,” Emilee said.

Emilee and Amy Hembrow. Picture: Luke Marsden

Emilee also found solace in sharing her experience on social media, where the sisters have amassed millions of followers.

“It was really hard to talk about at first, but I think the response on social media and all the messages I received made it easier … And I think that really touched my heart and I told myself if I can help just one person, then that is a huge deal to me,” Emilee said.

“It’s something that’s often pushed aside and not spoken about, so I really try to use my platform to share with other women that you’re not alone, this is actually really common and a lot of women go through this all the time.”

Emilee, a proud mother to Aaliyah Snow (6), Gabriel Storm (4), and Giselle Dream (1), and Amy, mother of Aurora (3) and baby Jude (6 months), have shared joys and heartbreaks that most siblings never experience. With children close in age and the shared experience of motherhood, the sisters have formed an unbreakable bond.

Amy Hembrow, left, with kids Jude Carmody, 6 months, and Aurora Carmody, 3, and Emilee Hembrow with kids Aaliyah Ada, 7, Giselle Ada, 1, and Jebrail Ada, 4. Picture: Luke Marsden.

“Having children so close in age and sharing the joys of motherhood with my sisters has brought us closer. We are going through such similar things, whether it’s pregnancy, a newborn, or those sleepless nights. We can relate to every situation, and it’s definitely brought us a lot closer,” Emilee confided.

Amy who recently gave birth to her second child, said having been pregnant at the same time as younger sister Tammy, and sharing experiences, including sleepless nights with newborns, have brought them closer than they’ve ever been.

“There’s just a level of understanding there. If I say, ‘Oh, I didn’t get any sleep last night’ I know they know exactly what I’m going through,” Amy said.

Fitness influencer Tammy Hembrow. Picture: Supplied

Emilee and Amy have recently expanded their beauty empire SSKIN with the opening of their second beauty salon in Robina on the Gold Coast, thanks to increasing demand.

While the idea of mixing business and family might seem daunting to some, Emilee and Amy couldn‘t envision working with anyone else.

“I actually love it, really. I feel like I’m hanging out my sister like all the time but really we get to work together,” Emilee said.

Amy added, “We really understand each other and we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses so we can play to each other’strengths. Like I’m more on the business side of things, but I know that Emily is a really good negotiator and networker.”

The Hembrow sisters, Amy, Tammy, Starlette and Emilee. Picture: Supplied

While they said they have the occasional disagreements in their professional lives, their mutual respect and understanding of each others' strengths were instrumental in making compromises quickly.

“I would say it's difficult in the sense that we are sisters and family can butt heads so we do have our sister moments but in saying that because we are sisters we also get over them really quickly,” Amy said.

The idea behind the successful beauty business originated from Emilee‘s desire for a trustworthy local salon for her inner circle.

“I came to Amy and I was like, ‘do you want to start this business with me’,” Emilee said.

The sisters added that juggling the roles of being mothers, businesswomen, and social media influencers is an everyday balancing act.

“It's definitely a balance that I am trying to like juggle every single day,” Emilee said.

“It's honestly having a good support system around you, like our partners are so understanding and really helpful as well, so really every day is such a juggle, but it keeps things fun.”