‘Everything Is About the Kids’: Jesinta leaves the hustle behind

Model and mum-of-two Jesinta Franklin says a return to city living is “definitely” off the cards, revealing she and husband Buddy are fully embracing a slower-paced, family-first lifestyle in Queensland after years in the spotlight.

A return to city living is officially off the cards for Jesinta Franklin, with the model and mum-of-two fully embracing her new low-key lifestyle.

She and former AFL star husband Lance have swapped the hustle and bustle of Sydney for the Gold Coast, trading red carpets and footy crowds for school drop-offs and rural escapes.

“Honestly, we have such a relaxed, uneventful lifestyle up there,” Franklin told The Daily Telegraph

“It’s just really family-focused. My parents live up there, my grandma’s up there … everything is about the kids at the moment.”

Jesinta Franklin at KODA Cutters, in the QVB, Sydney for the Clearing Hair Facial event. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Franklin, who rose to fame as Miss Universe Australia in 2010, still jets into Sydney and Melbourne for work events and meetings, but says the Gold Coast offers the perfect contrast to the demands of her long-time career.

“I’m really into my relaxed lifestyle up in Queensland,” she said while in Sydney for the clearing hair facial event at hair salon KODA Cutters.

Jesinta Franklin at KODA Cutters, in the QVB, Sydney for the Clearing Hair Facial event. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I love the quality of my jobs and my clients … it’s just a really nice place to be and I’m kind of out of that real feeling that you have to hustle.”

“But it’s always great coming to Sydney and being able to pop into my favourite hair salon and get my hair done!,” she said.

Franklin’s go to hair treatment is the Clearing Hair Facial at KODA Cutters.

“It’s just so relaxing and makes me feel amazing,” she said.

Reflecting on the early years of her career, Franklin admitted the fast-paced nature of life did take its toll, but it was always part of a bigger plan.

Lance Franklin with his wife Jesinta and their children Rocky and Tullulah. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“There were definitely times that I was burnt-out and really busy, but I also just had the end goal in mind,” she said.

“I knew that when I had children I really wanted to be able to sit back and focus on them. I didn’t want to have children to have someone else raise them. That was kind of always our motto, we really wanted to be able to be present with them.”

Buddy Franklin and wife Jesinta. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Husband “Buddy” Franklin, who retired from the AFL in 2023 after a stellar career with Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans, is also thriving in his post-footy chapter.

He’s enjoying podcasting and travelling with the family.

“We really do love that off-grid, rural-style kind of travel … but we also did Bali last holiday,” Jesinta Franklin said.

Jesinta and Buddy Franklin

“It’s nice we’ve now got the freedom without the footy schedules.”

And while Jesinta admits she’s no longer across the AFL like she once was, there’s already a new footy fanatic in the family.

“Every day after school, he’s like, ‘Dad, did you pack my footy? I want to go to the ovals’,” she laughed, referring to four-year-old son Rocky.