Moana Hope’s shock split from wife

Moana Hope has opened up about her childhood trauma and how she thought she would be single forever before meeting Isabella Carlstrom, as news of their split emerges.

Moana Hope and Isabella Carlstrom married about four years ago.

Moana Hope has opened up about how her traumatic childhood has shaped her as a mother, and how at times she thought she wasn’t good enough to be a mum.

Hope has opened up on a podcast alongside her wife Isabella Carlstrom, in a recent chat with Dr Daniel Golshevsky on Dr Golly and the Experts.

It comes as news emerged that the couple had quietly separated.

Hope told the podcast she thought she’d be single forever.

“When I met Belle, I thought I was going to be single forever,’’ she said.

“That was my plan. Because I was taking care of Vinny, my special needs sister. So I was like stuff it I’m going to be single. I never found the right girl.

“One of the things I made sure I asked her is do you want a family.”

Hope and Carlstrom have each given birth to a child, with Hope suffering mentally after a triggering birth when son Ahi emerged not breathing and was then treated for bronchiolitis.

That birth trauma connected her mind with the trauma of her upbringing.

Hope and Carlstrom has recently been on a family trip to Japan.

“I’ll give you an example, right, and something I’ve never disclosed. My dad was a very abusive man, really abusive,” she said.

“And that was a large portion of my childhood. And my anxiety got so bad that I thought I was going to wake up and inherit his anger.

“And so I always thought, I don’t want to be around my kids if I turn into my dad. What if I inherit? It’s just it’s post-partum is so emotional. Exhausting and can take over you like a ton of bricks. And it did for me. And so I was laying there going, if I wake up tomorrow and I turn into my dad, I don’t want to be around him because my dad was abusive. What if it makes me abusive? Not that I ever would. I would never, ever, ever, never. But that was the anxiety. But imagine.”

She added: “Everything triggered me, and it just made everything so much harder. And like, I just had moments where I felt like I’m not good enough to be your (to the kids) mum, I need to leave.

“It was about three occasions all up. I almost got in a car and drove away because I just felt like I wasn’t a good enough going to be a good enough mum for him. It was fear.”

News of the couple’s split was picked up by the gossip Instagram account, Influencer Updates, on Monday.

There were no signs of issues when they went on a family holiday to Japan in February after settling into a new home.

Last December Hope posted loving pictures with her wife and the words soulmate and forever in the caption.

Former AFLW player Hope delivered their second baby, Ahi, in June last year.

Model Carlstrom gave birth to their first child, Svea, in November 2020.

Both babies were conceived with the help of Monash IVF and the same donor.

In August Hope spoke about the mental toll of motherhood, saying she couldn’t be more in love with her children but had cried every day since giving birth.

Carlstrom and Hope on their wedding day. Picture: Lovers Narrative

In June she wrote on social media: “Our family is complete and we are so in love with him.

“Luckiest family in the world. It was a very long 24 hours of labour with lots of challenges and exhaustion I’ve never experienced … our little king has arrived.”

Carlstrom said: “Such a surreal experience to be able to share this journey with Mo and to be able to relate to each other in this way is so special and not to mention she has given us the most beautiful little boy. I’m so proud of her.”

Hope and Carlstrom, who married at a Toorak house in 2019, posted their joy when Ahi, meaning fire in Maori, was born.

Hope, who has starred in Australian Survivor All-Stars and played for Collingwood and North Melbourne, always said she wanted to carry one of their children.

She was one of 14 children and cares for her sister Vinny.

When Svea arrived, meaning mother of Sweden who is a Viking warrior, Hope and Carlstrom said their hearts were full.

Carlstrom said they were meant to be parents.

“I just think we have so much love to give,’’ she said.

“We want to be everything that we are – which is open, loving, accepting, encouraging. And there’s no limit to what you can achieve regardless if it’s a boy or girl.”