Tammy Hembrow, the 32-year-old fitness influencer with 16 million Instagram followers, has shared the severe emotional impact of her divorce from Matt Zukowski. She experienced intense panic attacks following the end of their seven-month marriage, announced last June.
Struggles with Panic Attacks and Therapy
Tammy described one of the darkest periods in her life after the breakup. “I started having panic attacks… I’m glad to say I’m in a better place now,” she admitted. Everyday tasks became overwhelming; she couldn’t even visit the grocery store without breaking down.
“Someone would say hello to me and my nervous system was so fried, I’d break down. It was crazy. I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Tammy explained. Intensive therapy became essential to help her manage these challenges.
Rumored Romance Sparks Backlash
The influencer addressed the public frenzy over her brief romance with AFL star Bailey Smith last August. She noted the relationship with Zukowski had ended privately well before the announcement, yet faced harsh criticism for dating afterward.
“You go on a couple of dates with one person and all of a sudden I’m being called like all these names. It’s just crazy to me,” she said. Tammy praised Smith, calling him “the sweetest guy” with nothing negative to say. She highlighted a double standard: “A woman going on dates after being separated and then breaking up, it’s normal; for me, I get called every name — the trolls love to hate.”
“I feel like if men do the exact same thing no one says a word about it. Women are held to a different standard,” she added.
Navigating Motherhood and Public Scrutiny
As a mother of three—son Wolf and daughter Saskia with ex Reece Hawkins, and daughter Posy with former Ironman Matt Poole—Tammy faces constant criticism. “I want to pull back on that content sometimes, but if I pull back I’m accused of not being a present mum,” she said about sharing family moments online.
She emphasized that not filming every routine doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen: “Just because I don’t film myself making their lunches, helping them with their homework doesn’t mean it’s not happening.” Tammy rejected the idea of a ‘perfect’ life portrayed online, stating, “I’m growing, learning, living, making mistakes and starting again. I probably will make more mistakes, that’s life. Women are expected to be perfect — and nobody’s perfect.”
Facing Fears on Reality TV
Tammy is gearing up for the Channel Nine series Shark!, diving with sharks in the Bahamas alongside celebrities like Scott Cam, Ariarne Titmus, and Lynne McGranger. After weeks in open water, she quipped that the real predators lurk in showbusiness: “My experience… definitely within the industry. I’d much rather be out with sharks in the Bahamas.”
Recently, she confirmed a new relationship with 22-year-old Sydney model Grayson Te Moana.
