Erin Holland: ‘Being a WAG isn’t a glamorous lifestyle’
TV presenter and model Erin Holland talks about the delicate balancing act she must nail when it comes to her marriage to Aussie cricketer Ben Cutting and the stigma and media scrutiny around her busy life as a WAG.
Stellar
Don't miss out on the headlines from Stellar. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As she prepares to put down the mic and head from the cricket pitch to the racetrack, TV presenter and model Erin Holland tells Stellar about the delicate balancing act she must nail when it comes to her marriage.
Whether it’s the gruelling work schedules she and her cricketer husband Ben Cutting need to juggle, media scrutiny around her “not at all glamorous lifestyle” as a WAG or the surreal reality of being together but apart thanks to pandemic-prompted “bio bubbles”, she remains determined to take it all in her stride.
After a summer hosting the Seven Network’s cricket coverage, you’re currently in Pakistan for the Pakistan Super League. Your husband, Australian cricketer Ben Cutting, is also there … but he is in a separate “bio bubble”, right?
The players’ bubble is separate to the broadcasters’ bubble. The closest I can get to him is when I am interviewing him or seeing him from afar on the field, which is quite tough. I don’t get to see a lot of him anyway. I guess [it’s a lot] like our relationship normally – it’s been long distance for much of the seven years that we’ve been together.
In 2021, we got married … I’m so incredibly grateful, because [lockdowns] turned into such a diabolical mess.
Two days after our wedding, he left for four-and-a-half months, and I wasn’t able to visit as we weren’t able to leave the country. Because we have always based ourselves out of two cities [Sydney and Brisbane], it’s not uncommon. What is uncommon is the inability to be legally allowed to see each other. It feels a bit never-ending at the moment, the roadblocks to spending quality time together.
How do you keep your work and personal life separate?
It’s really difficult, particularly if I’m working on a game that he’s playing. I’m there to work first and foremost, but he’s still my husband and I still feel all the emotions. I get nervous for him every time he plays; you ride that wave with them because you know how much hard work they do, how much pressure is on them.
You are one of cricket’s most recognisable WAGs. How do you feel about that label?
I have no issue with what it means. I am a wife and/or girlfriend. It’s a shame the stigma that comes attached to it has sort of made it more derogatory than endearing. It is incredibly difficult to be with a player. A lot of sacrifices happen because they’re away so much. We’re talking nine to 10 months of the year.
What sort of pressure does that put on you?
There really is no “off” period. Covid added a whole other layer to that. Of course, they are very lucky to do what they do, but the pressures of performing in this biosecure bubble – essentially they are in lockdown 24/7, and the only time they get to leave their rooms is to play or train – are quite mentally taxing.
It’s really not easy. I have a huge amount of respect for the WAG contingent. There are a lot of misconceptions; it’s absolutely not the glamorous lifestyle that people might think it is.
Cricket and the media are both careers where every move is scrutinised. How do you deal with it?
I don’t have any resentment towards it. In every job there are positives and negatives. The spotlight brings new opportunities that I never dreamed possible when I was a kid growing up in Cairns.
When you’re having a bad day at work, it’s very visible. And I think people feel entitled to tell you about the fact that you had a bad day.
Social media trolling and attacking the very personal parts of yourself … to have that kind of come back at you relentlessly sometimes is quite overwhelming. I just have to absorb and accept that.
I try to use it as fuel to get better and do better rather than to let it overcome me. It is work, work, work. There’s not much time to get yourself into trouble at the moment. [That’s] probably not a bad thing.
Cricket – and couples within that world – get embroiled in scandal from time to time. What do you make of the off-field drama?
People are human; humans make mistakes. Cricket has always been known as the gentleman’s sport. There’s a lot of pressure to be a perfect individual, particularly with this sport. No-one is at the end of the day.
With the rise of social media, we have so much more of an insight into people’s lives than we ever did before and information is able to be shared instantaneously. You can’t really get away with anything these days.
Human beings are complex and just because they play a sport doesn’t mean they’re exempt from the trials and tribulations that everyone goes through.
In my role, I am dealing with what we’re seeing on the ground, in real time, rather than the bits and pieces around it.
For sportsmen, it’s very different. There are certain expectations of you. When you’re being paid the way you’re being paid, and you’re in the spotlight for that reason, there are certain rules you’re expected to uphold. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
You’re an ambassador for the Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile. Tell me about the race day.
It’s the richest mile race in the world. It attracts some of the most incredible trainers, jockeys and horses, and is at Flemington this year. I have about 28 days of shooting in Pakistan, then I will be in Melbourne for the race on March 19.
It’s a very interactive event. We get to vote for the horses we want to see be a part of this particular event. I think it’s cool that the public gets to vote for their top-10 horses to earn a
place in the line-up.
Then everyone who gets involved goes into the chance to win $250,000, which is awesome.
I love that interaction and it’s what sets the All-Star Mile apart from many other races. I’m just so excited to dress up and get involved in the races, and feel a part of the hustle and bustle of people again.
Speaking of dressing up, how is racing style heading into autumn different to spring?
You can play around with velvets and closed-toed shoes. Suiting, as well. Suiting and racing is stunning. There’s a lot of emerald green and burgundy.
I love a tailored suit; it’s a different play to the Spring Racing Carnival. We’re looking at longer sleeves, longer [skirts] … it’ll be a bit cooler. And in Melbourne, you never know what you’re going to get!
Voting for the Seppelt Wines All-Star Mile ends tonight at 11.59pm AEDT. Visit allstarmile.com.au for more information. This feature was produced in partnership with Racing Victoria.
More Coverage
Originally published as Erin Holland: ‘Being a WAG isn’t a glamorous lifestyle’
Modern Family star teases reboot
Julie Bowen, one of the stars of Modern Family, reveals whether the mega-hit US sitcom will be rebooted, as she sets the record straight about her ‘feud’ with former co-star, Sofia Vergara.
Star of Aussie reboot of The Office answers critics
Felicity Ward, who healms the Australian version of The Office, explains why she was expecting an ‘extra-aggressive reaction’ to the spin-off of the hit comedy because she is a woman.