Jules Robinson on turning 40: ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’

In an exclusive interview with Stellar, the former MAFS star opens up about her “secret mission” to be her best by 40 and her deep hope “to announce a pregnancy in 2022.”

Mother, podcaster, entrepreneur and reality TV breakout Jules Robinson is a modern, multi-hyphenate woman. Now happily settled with Cameron Merchant – the husband she met as a contestant on Married At First Sight – Robinson catches up with Stellar to talk life, love and family plans ahead of her 40th birthday, which falls on International Women’s Day

“Does life begin at 40? Well, I know I’m on the right track” (Picture: Steven Chee)

Jules, you’ve got a milestone birthday coming up this March 8 – which is also International Women’s Day, no less. How are you feeling?

I truly feel like I’ve found my confidence and my groove. I’m owning who I am and just embracing being happy. That’s what makes me excited to go into the next decade. There’s been a lot of “research” and lessons learnt that have made me who I am at 40, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Does life begin at 40? I’m not sure yet, but I do know that everything that has led up to this point has been an incredible journey and I know that I’m on the right track. I can’t wait to see what the next 40 years bring if the first are anything to go by.

Contribution and collaboration are such core values of International Women’s Day – turning competition into collaboration, being a cheerleader for each other and showing support is something to be celebrated. Be that kind of woman, I say.

Do you have any anxiety around turning 40?

I honestly feel great about it. I always had a secret mission of wanting to be my best by 40. So many of us look back at our old self 20 years ago and think, God, I looked great, but remember how we felt about ourselves then – not thin enough, not pretty enough, just not enough.

Your mindset was the only thing that was wrong. It’s empowering to love yourself and all the things that make you unique. To know that I’ll look back at me now and know that I truly felt great because my mindset was clear on who I am… that feels great.

Can you expand on that? How do you see yourself physically and mentally compared to when you were, say, 20?

I’ll always have the inner 20-year-old in me who came into her own under a mirror ball on the dance floor in a fabulous pair of heels; I’d hate to think how much sleep I lost in my 20s.

I never want to lose that joy for life, but now I’m so much healthier, and while physically I’m a lot curvier, I’m also stronger mentally and emotionally, which is what makes me more confident to own myself.

Your baby boy, Oliver (aka Ollie), is now a one-year-old toddler. What’s been the most challenging and surprising thing about your first year of motherhood?

“Contribution and collaboration are such core values of International Women’s Day – turning competition into collaboration, being a cheerleader for each other and showing support is something to be celebrated.” (Picture: Steven Chee)

It’s incredible how your motherly intuition kicks in and you know what to do – that’s what has blown me away. To instinctively know how to care for this gorgeous little creature, and know what your baby wants from the noises and the little sounds that they make – that’s a pretty magical thing.

Parenting is one big surprise after the next. Of course I knew I’d always love my child, but the joy, happiness and laughter this little person brings into your life really is like nothing else.

For some time now, we’ve been manifesting a little girl, whom we named together all the way back in the final week of the Married At First Sight experiment [in 2019]. I hope to announce a pregnancy in 2022.

I’m really busy, and [manifesting] was my formula last time – and it worked – so let’s hope history repeats itself. The key is to make sure I feel relaxed and not make it the centre of my universe. I think that’s what led to falling pregnant in two months with Ollie.

You’ve spoken on your podcast, The Juggling Act, about wishing you hadn’t worried so much about becoming a mother. What were your worries?

I could possibly say it’s my only regret. I know I’m contradicting myself as I believe so much in manifesting, self-belief and that anything is possible, but having

a child is the one time in life where time isn’t on your side. I went from being someone who wasn’t fazed by the thought of children, to having a strong desire to become a mother. Once that desire is fuelled inside you, it’s something you can’t ignore. I knew I’d eventually find my guy, true connection and love – I’d never have given up until I did, but that voice of negativity and fear that maybe motherhood was just not going to happen for me, that I wouldn’t birth a child, that can be overwhelming, and it really led to some deep moments of sadness in my life.

What would your advice be to others feeling the same?

Trust the timings of your life. Focus on you and what’s in your control in that present time. There are so many roads you can go down if you want to have a child; know that in our modern world anything is achievable. I always took great comfort in that – and still do.

Jules Robinson features in this Sunday’s Stellar

How have you handled online trolls?

Weirdly, it has made me more comfortable in the skin I’m in. You have to like who you are to be able to deal with such criticism because, at the end of the day, how you feel about you is really what matters.

I won’t lie, I’ve let it get to me sometimes, especially when things were said about my character or integrity. The trolling and body shaming? That motivated me to create my [clothing] brands FIGUR and Moira Muse because inclusion is really important to me.

You and Cam have been married in real life for more than two years now. What is your secret to maintaining a happy marriage?

We’re just like every couple. We bicker about ridiculous things. But one thing that’s constant is that we care about our relationship and each other. We give a sh*t about each other’s dreams, passions and interests.

Going on Married At First Sight and having the hard, open chats so early on definitely set us up for honesty and respect – always.

Originally published as Jules Robinson on turning 40: ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’