We’re constantly hearing about the sexist culture of women being pitted against each other in the media, but Chrissie Swan says it’s a total myth.
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The new Masked Singer panellist reveals to WHO exclusively that the rumour female TV personalities are constantly being put in competition is just that – a myth.
“I’ve never seen a single example of this in my 20-year career,” Chrissie says boldly. “I think it’s a media construct.”
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Having starred on everything from Big Brother, to The Project and now The Masked Singer alongside Mel B and Abbie Chatfield, she’s worked with plenty of impressive ladies through the years.
But Chrissie reveals that the friendships and respect we see between the women on TV continues even when the cameras aren’t rolling.
All of her relationships with other women are “built on mutual respect and understanding” so it’s easy to see why the 48-year-old doesn’t believe in the myth of women being pitted against each other.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazing women in my career and The Masked Singer crew is no different – we’re having the best time filming at the moment!” she adds.
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Supporting women is a major part of her media career as well as her personal life, but she says we need to be empowering other women now more than ever.
With social media turning into more of a highlight reel than ever before, she’s pushing for a return to authenticity and honesty online.
“I always try and encourage women to stay true to themselves,” she says, adding that she often replies to direct messages from followers on her Instagram page.
“We all know that Instagram is often a highlights reel, so I like to be as authentic as possible with what I post and say.”
It’s hard to believe this is the same woman we met on Big Brother back in 2003 and while Chrissie never expected her reality TV start to get her where she is today, it’s an honour to have so much influence she can use for good.
She’s been a Priceline Ambassador for three years now and recently got the chance to collaborate with one of her closest friends on a new project for the Sisterhood Foundation.
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She and designer Rebecca Thompson, who just so happens to be Chrissie’s bestie, created four ‘Sisterhoodies’ as part of a new fundraising effort.
“Rebecca has always been a sister to me, even my actual sisters refer to her as such, since we met in 1984,” Chrissie says.
“If it wasn’t for Rebecca, I’d only be in leggings and tracksuits all the time. That’s why we’ve co-designed a hoodie – it’s truly representative of my style.”
The Sisterhood Foundation and Chrissie’s hoodies support charity partners Dementia Australia, Motherless Daughters Australia, PANDA and Raise Foundation.
“All the charities hold some significance for almost every woman,” Chrissie adds.
“I did some work with PANDA and post-natal depression is a cause close to my heart as well.”
With three children of her own – Kit, Leo and Peggy – Chrissie knows all too well how mums can struggle in the weeks, months and years after giving birth.
Now her kids are growing up and she’s taking time to give back, as well as looking after her own physical and mental health.
“Working mothers, or mothers in general, or women in general, we just don’t take the time to try and work it out and we just sort of roll with the punches,” she told WHO last year.
“Your life changes so much when you have kids, that the older they get, the further away from remembering what you actually liked to do comes into play.
“It’s almost an act of rebellion to opt out and say ‘actually, what I’m doing today is not much and that is still an activity’; it’s actually very important.”
Chrissie Swan is an ambassador for Priceline, you can donate to go in the draw to win her Sisterhoodies here. For more information on the Priceline Sisterhood Foundation, visit the website.
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