Alex Fevola
Alex Fevola, 33, is a a mum of three and in-demand photographer who owns her own studio in Beaumaris, Victoria. She initially worked in front of the lens as a model, but she gave away modelling after the birth of her first daughter. She has since built a strong reputation as a photographer and make-up artist specialising in weddings.
Alex's coffee table book Snapshot – A Portrait of Success launched last July, with the initial print run doubled due to the number of orders from retailers.
Her latest challenge is as a contestant on Channel Seven's Dancing With the Stars, where she remains in the top five couples with partner Arsen Kishishian.
How many children do you have? What age / sex are they?
I have 3 girls Mia 10, Leni 4, Lulu 7 months.
What has surprised you the most about becoming a mother?
The instinctual love and protection you feel for that baby the second they are in your arms. The love you have for your children is like no other love in life.
Do you miss anything about your life prior to having children?
Not really, there are times when I admire the freedom my single girlfriends have but I wouldn’t exchange my children for anything.
What is the hardest part about being a mum?
Probably time management, trying to have a career and be a good mother can be difficult at times, but somehow you make it work.
What advice do you have for new mothers or mothers to be?
I don’t think any amount of advice can ever prepare you for motherhood. It is different for everyone and everybody experiences different emotions. One thing for sure, is that it can be very overwhelming so I suggest to talk to other mothers, don’t be afraid to ask questions. No one is expected to know everything, the first year of your baby’s life is a huge learning curve. However, I do believe a mother knows her baby better than anyone, so always trust your instincts.
What are you great at?
I don’t know that I’m GREAT at anything, but I try to be consistent at everything.
What are you terrible at?
Ha,ha probably time management!
How has your attitude to work / career changed since becoming a mother and how do you manage the juggle of family and work?
I think having a career probably means more to me now than it did before I had children. I know that I have three children who are depending on me to put a roof over their heads and food in their mouths, so it’s very important for me to feel financially secure. It is also important to have something for yourself, outside of your role as mother. I think it his healthy to have an outlet, whether it be a hobby or work.
What do you think about “me” time? Do you practice it, preach it or have you resigned yourself to the fact that you will have to play catch up later on – and how do (or would) you spend your leisure time?
I think it is very important to have some “me time”. I think you appreciate time with your children more, when you have been away from them. On the rare occasion that I do have time to myself, I usually go to the gym and /or meet a girlfriend for coffee. It’s nice to get out and be just you, to be able to have a conversation without the constant interruptions from the kids. You have to have balance in your life, it makes you a better parent.
Who do you admire? Why?
I admire my Mum because she raised my sisters and I to have good morals. She taught us self respect, decency, honesty and empathy. She managed to give us our freedom, let us make decisions for ourselves, consequently we never wanted to disappoint her. In any relationship, the most important factor is respect and I have a huge amount of respect for my Mum. I had friends who weren’t allowed out because their parents didn’t trust them, my mum never doubted us, she always had faith that we would be responsible and sensible and there for we never felt the need to rebel. Parenting is all about balance and I think my Mum balanced boundaries and freedom perfectly.
What kind of ‘Australia’ do you hope for your children’s future?
I hope my children can grow up with the freedom I have had. A country where education is available to everyone, a country where you can have freedom of speech, freedom to dress how you want, freedom to pursue any career.
Recently you have joined the Dancing with the Stars team, how are you enjoying that?
I am having the time of my life on DWTS, I feel so fortunate to have been given this experience and so incredibly grateful. I’m working incredibly hard but loving every minute of it.
How do your children feel about seeing Mum dancing on TV? Do they like your outfits?
My girls absolutely love the whole show, they barrack for all the other couples as well. They can’t wait to see what our dresses are like each week. They especially like Louda (Georges partner) she always wins Mia and Leni’s best dressed award!
Finally, a question all mums must face (no matter who they are!) – What are you feeding your child(ren) for dinner tonight?
Tonight we had crumbed chicken breast baked in the oven with sweet potato chips (also baked in the oven) and steamed veggies. ( I can’t take credit for this though, my Mum cooked it!)
Alex Fevola supports Ronald McDonald House.
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