From rags to riches: Selling Sunset’s honorary Aussie relishes being underestimated

Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause has credited her struggles while growing up as the motivation for giving back this month, as she joins forces with the Red Cross and Uber to help those in need.

Selling Sunset’s Chrishell Stause speaks from experience when she urges Australians to dig deep into their wardrobe this month.

The American reality star wife of Aussie muso G Flip is fronting the Red Cross x Uber Clothing Drive and has personally donated out of her own closet.

Stause, 43, came from humble beginnings and has previously spoken of missing a year of school because she was forced to live in a tent, washing her hair in the river and living off food stamps.

Chrishell Stause is encouraging Aussies to donate – not sell – their quality used clothes for the Red Cross x Uber charity drive on October 19.

”As a kid, I was somebody that benefited from (Red Cross),” Stause told Confidential.

“I remember getting all of my school donations for the new year, all my folders and pens and books and all of that stuff that every kids needs to start a new year, that all came from the Red Cross. I was a very lucky kid, every time I got that.”

Stause’s parents struggled from “addiction and mental health”.

“I have a life story, I feel very fortunate I get to share it with people,” she explained.

“I am comfortable being underestimated at this point, I think that is my strong suit.

“I like being underestimated so I have nowhere to go but up in people’s minds.

“I actually feel very comfortable in that position but it is very funny when people don’t know my story and they make assumptions (about me).

“You never know where someone comes from, you can’t tell a book by its cover.”

Chrishell Stause and her spouse, Australian musician G Flip, at the 2024 People's Choice awards in February. Picture: AFP

Many of her clothes growing up came from charity or were bought second-hand.

“I feel really good about having that full circle moment,” she said, adding of her favourite item of clothing when she was young: “I found this denim jacket at a thrift store and it had all of these fun pins and buttons all over it.

“It was one of these jackets that somebody was over and I just loved it, I wore that jacket as a kid all the time.

“It is one of my strongest memories of something I loved, it was my prize possession.”

The Red Cross x Uber Clothing Drive will run for one day only on October 19, with punters encouraged to donate quality clothes rather than selling them.

Uber is offering free collections in participating Aussie cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth) between 10am and 4pm that day to help vulnerable Australians.

Stause says that, due to her relationship with an Aussie, she now considers Australia her second home. Picture: AFP

Stause urged Australians to be ruthless when culling their clothes, and regularly too.

“I always donate my clothes,” she said.

“There’s a lot of clothes you have sitting there that when is the last time that you really wore that? It is nice and maybe it does look nice and it fits you nice but truly, when is the last time you wore it?

Chrishell Stause is fronting the Red Cross x Uber charity drive.

“Give it to somebody that is going to treasure it. I think it is easier to give it away when you know it is going to such a good cause.”

Married to an Australian, Stause has increasingly been spending time here.

She recently filmed a stint on TV soap Neighbours and she and G Flip will spend Christmas here.

“Australia is my second home,” she said.

“I’ve spent such a chunk of time there so I’ve just come to love it so much and I really think of it as my second home. Half my family is there so I just love being able to go back.”
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Originally published as From rags to riches: Selling Sunset’s honorary Aussie relishes being underestimated