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Elle Macpherson back in Australia to launch new WelleCo product

It’s been four years since Elle Macpherson, also known as The Body, was on home turf. Now we know why the star is back in Australia.

Elle Macpherson is back in Australia to launch new WelleCo product. Picture: Supplied
Elle Macpherson is back in Australia to launch new WelleCo product. Picture: Supplied

One of Australia’s biggest exports is back on home ground for the first time in four years to celebrate a huge milestone.

Elle Macpherson recently jetted into Sydney from the US state of Florida, where she lives with new boyfriend, American musician Doyle Bramhall to launch the latest product for her health supplements brand WelleCo.

Macpherson hosted an intimate luncheon to mark the occasion, which also falls just weeks out from the wellness company’s 10th birthday, on the rooftop of Shell House in the city’s CBD on Tuesday.

Macpherson was quizzed by TV presenter Melissa Doyle on her journey to wellness as guests dined on a healthy vegetarian meal and drank mocktails.

Elle Macpherson is back in Australia for the first time in four years to celebrate her health supplements brand, WelleCo. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
Elle Macpherson is back in Australia for the first time in four years to celebrate her health supplements brand, WelleCo. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick

“I wanted to help other people on their wellness journey the way I’ve been helped along the way,” the 59-year-old said.

“For me, I started as a model in the 80s and my concept of beauty was purely physical, but as I matured and I became pregnant with my sons, my whole body changed, and I was left wondering, ‘well now what do I do?’”

The supermodel, dubbed “The Body” at the height of her modelling career, went on to state that she gained 6kg while carrying her sons Flynn, now 26, and Cy, 21, and had to embrace the “period of transformation”.

The 59-year-old, dubbed ‘The Body’ at the height of her supermodel career, said she’d turned to wellness after realising beauty comes from within. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
The 59-year-old, dubbed ‘The Body’ at the height of her supermodel career, said she’d turned to wellness after realising beauty comes from within. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
‘After I became pregnant with my sons, my whole body changed, and I was left wondering – ‘what do I do now?’.’ Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
‘After I became pregnant with my sons, my whole body changed, and I was left wondering – ‘what do I do now?’.’ Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick

It was during this time, when Macpherson was in her late-forties, she said she realised “beauty isn’t just on the outside”, and began searching for different options to help her “feel well”.

“I’d been through this evolution of becoming a mother and had a greater understanding of what it feels like to be well, because I’d learnt how to nurture my children, and knew I needed to nurture myself too,” she said.

“Just pure physical beauty and genetics wasn’t cutting it anymore... I guess I was going through menopause; my hair was brittle, my skin was dry, I was putting on weight.

“But things that had worked for a long time weren’t working anymore. I needed to look a little bit deeper.”

As a result, Macpherson began seeing Dr Simone Laubscher, a naturopath and nutritionist who put her on a range of different vitamins and minerals.

“There were four capsules multiple times a day, which I did for about six weeks, and I felt fabulous,” the supermodel explained.

“I’d lost 10lbs (4.5kg) my hair was amazing, skin amazing – even the brown spots on my face had dissipated.

“I felt like a new woman... But I looked at Dr Laubscher and said, ‘I can’t keep doing these capsules all day. I like the effect but it’s not practical’.”

So Dr Laubscher set to work and eventually created the first WelleCo product and the brand’s best-selling supplement, The Super Elixir.

WelleCo has just launched its new 'Evening Elixir', a hot chocolate drink packed with nourishing ingredients, that is sold for $43 at Chemist Warehouse. Picture: Supplied
WelleCo has just launched its new 'Evening Elixir', a hot chocolate drink packed with nourishing ingredients, that is sold for $43 at Chemist Warehouse. Picture: Supplied

In the almost 10 years since WelleCo was formed, the brand has gone on to develop a range of products, including a children’s protein powder which was inspired by Macpherson’s need to get help her son Cy to eat better when he was younger.

“He didn’t eat, he was so willowy and lean and so picky. All he would eat was rice, at school he even said he was a ‘riceatarian’,” she explained.

“Of course, when he came home at 3pm he was a ratbag, he’s not anymore thankfully, but we created it for Cy because he wasn’t getting the nutrients he needed.

“Everything else since then – including the new Evening Elixir – has just flowed.”

Guests included Dave Hughes and Erin Molan. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
Guests included Dave Hughes and Erin Molan. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
Model Dominique Elissa was also in attendance. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
Model Dominique Elissa was also in attendance. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
As was Ellie Gonsalves. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick
As was Ellie Gonsalves. Picture: Supplied/SimonFitzpatrick

Macpherson said the $42.99 chocolate powder, sold exclusively at Chemist Warehouse, was a “game-changer” for her evening routine.

“I’m a chocoholic and I love it because it tastes delicious and doesn’t make me groggy.”

Macpherson, who wore a figure-hugging white dress, hosted a string of famous Aussie faces, including fashion entrepreneur Pip Edwards as well as Erin Molan and Dave Hughes from the Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show.

Model Dominique Elissa was also at the intimate lunch along with Ellie Gonsalves, the model who recently went viral after sharing her extensive list of reasons for not wanting children.

Meanwhile Melissa Doyle also opted for white, joking she “didn’t get the memo” that Macpherson would be wearing the same colour.

Fans of the supermodel have praised the star for returning home, with some sharing their joy on Instagram.

“At last,” one delighted user stated.

“We’ve missed you,” someone else said.

She’s also set to appear at the Australian Open Mens Finals on Sunday as a guest of Ralph Lauren in Melbourne.

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/wellbeing/elle-macpherson-back-in-australia-to-launch-new-welleco-product/news-story/27efff80eb283ecf3f5ef1497c7dbe3d