Emma Watkins: Yellow Wiggle reveals next move with new children’s character

Former Wiggle Emma Watkins has swapped her yellow skivvy for a bright new colour. Meet her new persona – Emma Memma.

From yellow skivvy to bright orange dress, meet Emma Watkins new children’s character, Emma Memma.

The former Wiggle has unveiled the character ahead of an album release next month and a TV show is in the works.

“We really wanted to keep it bright,” Watkins told The Daily Telegraph.

“Research shows that warm and bright colours are very intriguing for preschoolers. Pink has always been a part of my wardrobe but orange is such a bright and happy colour, it is not as celebrated a colour because it is not a part of the primary spectrum.

“It feels like the colour represents this new chapter moving forward and because orange is symbolic of being happy, I think that is something we love to represent.”

Emma Watkins as Emma Memma, her new children’s character. Picture: Jared Lyons

Watkins’ new character has been a long time in the making, something she has been working on behind the scenes since finishing up with The Wiggles at the end of last year.

Sing. Dance. Sign is the tagline of the character with Watkins stating basic levels of sign language are important for all Australians, not just those who are hearing-impaired.

Emma Watkins as Emma Memma, her new children’s character. Picture: Jared Lyons

“It is important for everybody to have access to language, whether that be spoken or visual,” Watkins said.

“Children learn and indicate with movement before they even talk and use any kind of spoken language. Gesture and movement is by far one of the most important connectors for children. Visual communication actually helps learning, which is why lots of children’s entertainment is colourful, it is bright and moving, because children engage with that.

“Children engage however they want to instinctively so if we are able to encourage all forms of education, particularly with a visual communication system, that would be great.”

Emma Watkins as the yellow Wiggle.

Emma Watkins announced she was leaving The Wiggles in October 2021.

Watkins’ passion for signing came at a an early age as a friend at school had two brothers that were deaf.

During Covid lockdowns, Watkins studied sign and completed a Diploma of Auslan.

She is now studying a Diploma in Interpreting and is doing a PhD focusing on artistic integrations of sign language, dance and film editing at Sydney’s Macquarie University.

“It was a very organic introduction to sign language,” she said. “I have always been really interested and passionate about it ever since.”