Australian model Robyn Lawley shares abortion story

Robyn Lawley has opened up about a “scary” condition she suffered when pregnant that led her to make a choice many women now can’t.

Model Robyn Lawley shares her abortion story. Picture: Instagram/RobynLawley

Australian supermodel Robyn Lawley has opened up about her experience getting an abortion and why the US landmark decision to overturn Roe v Wade is a warning for women around the world.

Ms Lawley, 33, is based in New York and is among many celebrities and people across the world who have shared their stories in the wake of the US Supreme Court’s decision, which saw the power to legalise abortion handed over to each individual state in America.

The “disturbing” and “scary” decision, Ms Lawley said, reflected all too closely the nature of Australia’s own abortion laws, which like America, are governed by each state and territory.

“I think Australians might forget that, it could happen to Australia, anytime, with your rights – and America sets trends and other countries follow suit,” she told news.com.au on the podcast I’ve Got News For You.

“That’s what I’m more scared of … I think it’s such an extreme stance that it could potentially lead to more scary things.”

In Australia, South Australia was the last state to decriminalise abortions effective since January 2021, while Western Australia still falls under the criminal code but provides “safe zones” around abortion clinics to protect their patients from harassment.

While abortion laws in Australia are vastly different from America, many fear that the overturning of Roe v Wade has set a dangerous precedent for the scaling back of reproductive rights.

Model Robyn Lawley has shared her abortion story in the wake of the US Supreme Court ruling last week. Picture: Instagram/RobynLawley

So far, eight states in America have already banned access to abortion services.

And while states like California have committed to protecting abortion rights, the legality of doctors and those seeking access to abortion services by travelling across the state has confused many.

“(A lot of states) have already shut their doors. It’s already started to happen … we’ve got eight states that have already completely made it illegal, including rape and incest, it’s so gross and disturbing – it’s shocking,” Ms Lawley added.

“They’re giving (power) to the state and to the courts instead of it being a doctor’s decision (but) what defines a medical emergency and what happens if the pregnancy goes fine for a few months and then becomes a medical emergency? Will she go to jail if she tries to get it aborted?

Robyn Lawley in hospital after she had the first of two strokes.

Aqua Blu Fashion Show

“Taking power away from the doctors and making the doctors scared of (committing) felonies or going to jail … or if a woman from Alabama tries to go get an abortion in another state … will she get charged with a felony? It’s getting so confusing.”

For Ms Lawley, the opportunity to access abortion services in Australia was lifesaving after being diagnosed with lupus after the birth of her first child.

The condition, which induced epileptic seizures and aphasia – a condition that affects a person’s ability to speak – meant Ms Lawley had to take anti-epileptic medication.

Ms Lawley said both her medical condition and its treatment meant having a second child was off the table, but when she inevitably fell pregnant a second time, abortion was her only option.

“At the time that I made the decision to have an abortion, I was having active lupus – and having a stroke is the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me, I just didn’t want to have a stroke again,” she said.

She recently shared a powerful image of her body with an important message. Picture: Instagram/RobynLawley

“I had to take anti like epileptic drugs, and that can cause deformities on the baby, so that was a big decision maker for me, but also financially and emotionally.

“Having an abortion is such a big decision …(and) the decision still haunts me – I’m not going to say it was an easy decision or I walked out of it free – I still think about ‘what ifs’, you can’t help it.”

While Ms Lawley acknowledged that her reason for having an abortion was a medical reason, she also advocates heavily for the right for any pregnant person to have safe access to abortion services if they don’t have the “mental capacity” to have a baby.

“If you get pregnant, and you want to keep the baby, because you’re very religious, that’s your choice, good for you,” she said.

“But if you want to not keep the baby, that’s my choice, I should be able to have my choice, stop trying to preach your desires on me … everyone’s different but don’t be enforcing your religious beliefs on me.”