Brisbane designer Thessy Batsinilas shares empowering post-partum image

After being inundated by images of fit new mums online, Sabo Skirt designer Thessy Batsinilas shared a candid image of her post-partum body, sparking an outpouring of support

Thessy Batsinilas has opened up about the “unfair” pressure on new mothers to bounce back to their original weight, admitting she struggled to leave the house because of the shame she felt over her post-partum body.

After welcoming her second child in March, following a gruelling four years of IVF treatments, the Sabo Skirt co-founder said she was on a “downward spiral” comparing herself to social media images of women who had given birth at the same time as her.

“Breastfeeding has a different effect on everyone, and I’m the type of woman to put on even more weight while breastfeeding,” the Brisbane designer said.

Thessy Batsinilas four months pregnant and four months post partum with baby Jay

“Everywhere I look on social media, there are influencers sharing their post-partum journey saying that breastfeeding was an amazing way to help them bounce back.

“It made me upset to see that no one else was sharing in the same struggles as me. I struggled with looking in the mirror, and even struggled with leaving the house because of how ashamed I felt that I didn’t bounce back like some other women do.”

Almost four months after she gave birth to her son, Jay – a brother to Zani, two – Batsinilas decided to share candid images of her post-partum body to her 162,000 Instagram followers, opening up about her struggles returning to exercise with two young children.

“I contemplated not posting this sort of content … but I couldn’t help but think of how many other women were also in such a negative state of mind,” she said.

“I had never seen someone four plus months after giving birth share photographs of themselves looking out of shape. There is such tremendous pressure for women to snap back to their original shape and I think it’s extremely unfair.

Thessy Batsinilas for her Transform With Thessy program with FitazFk

“I wanted to show that it’s OK to still be 20kg over your normal weight after having a baby. I really wanted to help others not feel alone, and it simultaneously helped me appreciate myself so much.”

She was inundated with thousands of messages after each post from women sharing similar struggles, many of whom posted their own candid images in return.

“I couldn’t believe the response. I had women sending me videos of themselves crying in relief to see someone else in the same situation as them,” she said.

Her husband, Georgio Batsinilas, co-owns Brisbane’s FitazFK and began designing a new transformation program called “Transform With Thessy”.

The program, which she used after her first child to lose 23kg, includes 18 minutes of exercise a day coupled with a Mediterranean diet.

It will launch tomorrow with Batsinilas starting it alongside the other members.

“We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to help thousands of women transform their lives with me this time around,” she said. “I have 13kg to lose so I’ll do the program three times in order to reach my goal.

“I’ve learnt to love my body for everything it has given me, including my two beautiful children and I am so proud of myself for always pushing my boundaries.”

A CUT ABOVE

Brisbane expat Joshua Scacheri says starring on global Amazon Prime series Making The Cut was a “second chance” after the global pandemic stalled his fashion career in London.

The now London-based designer, who initially left Brisbane to pursue a career in soccer at 16, received a message from the casting director of the Heidi Klum-led design show via LinkedIn and was told he had been cast in series on the same day he was made redundant from his job as a Designer Manager for DAKS London.

“The pandemic was a cruel and numbing experience,” Scacheri said.

Joshua Scacheri on Making The Cut. Picture: Supplied/ Amazon

“I was made redundant, fashion brands were closing down, and in London we were in full lock down. We were considering going back to Australia, but we couldn’t … financially things were not good, and there was a lot of pressure.”

“We had to cancel our plans for our wedding in Italy. Our whole world changed in an instant. The only thing that kept us positive was this opportunity.”

His daughter, Noa, heard his excitement when he got the call and, along with his partner Tanja, they were “screaming and jumping on the street”.

“It was a moment we will never forget. It was a second chance when everything around me felt like doom,” he said.

Scacheri, who has designed collections shown at Milan and London Fashion Weeks and made shoes for Gucci and Prada, travelled to Los Angeles and lived in a filming bubble for the series, which is currently airing to a global audience of more than 240 countries.

He linked with brand partner Heather McDonough, another Brisbane expat living in New York, to launch their new label Love Hero, which he debuted on Making The Cut.

Joshua Scacheri's Accessible Winning Look - Available for Purchase on Amazon

He presented his designs, alongside other designers from around the world, to hosts Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn and judges, world-famous supermodel Winnie Harlow and Moschino Creative Director Jeremy Scot.

His winning design from the second episode of the show, which aired on Amazon yesterday, is also available for purchase worldwide on Amazon.com

“It felt like a mini fashion week every week,” he said.

“I was definitely star struck. Heidi exudes so much beautiful energy … To have their eyes look at my designs was beyond anything I could have imagined. Their feedback was invaluable.”

“To be among such incredible design talent and judges it gave validation to my lifework and passion and also a reality check and feedback that pushed me to do better and be better.”

WALTZ TO QUEENSLAND

Queensland has come to the rescue for comedian Jimeoin.

The stand-up favourite was filming his new series Waltzing Jimeoin, which follows his comedy tour along the east coast, when Covid outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne began leading to border closures between states.

Confidential heard the production managed to make it across the border into Queensland in time and will now film the remained of the Channel 10 show in the Sunshine State.

Jimeoin filming for his new series, Waltzing Jimeoin.

Following his final show at the Brisbane Comedy Festival tonight, he’ll travel through Noosa, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, the Whitsundays & Airlie Beach. And with some comedians held up down south, local performers are likely to get the last-minute call up.

“I just love Australia – exploring the east coast is a holiday that’s so idyllic – your kids can’t really ruin it, no matter how hard they try,” Jimeoin said of the series.

Waltzing Jimeoin is set air on Channel 10 from August 29.

CAMERAS ROLL

Speaking of filming, the top-billed Netflix movie about Jessica Watson’s solo sailing triumph will begin shooting on the Gold Coast this week.

True Spirit, which will follow Watson, played by Sydney’s Teagan Croft, in her solo journey in 2010, will begin production at Village Roadshow Studios.

Anna Paquin has been cast in Netflix movie True Spirit. Picture: Kevin Scanlon

The film has been in pre-production for the past few months, with director Sarah Spillane visiting Watson’s famous pink lady boat at the Queensland Maritime Museum back in April.

The cast completed hotel quarantine this month and were completing rehearsals last week.

Netflix announced on Thursday that Oscar winner Anna Paquin would play the teen sailor’s mother Julie and Josh Lawson would play her father, Robert.

New Zealand actor Cliff Curtis was cast as her coach.