What would you say your relationship is like with social media?
Before social media was a thing, the media loved the line that Kylie and I were “at each other” [fighting]. And that never went away until social media popped up, and you really could say what you wanted to say and be heard directly by an audience of people, rather than filtered through a journalist and an editor. It’s been a really interesting ride for us both.
I think social media is good and bad. it takes a lot of time, effort and energy to navigate it, whether you’re famous or not famous, whether you’re a parent or a child.
For me, it’s been the most incredibly positive thing. I definitely feel like there were many years where an idea of me was projected through the media that completely wasn’t me. And then once social media came on board, I can’t tell you the amount of people that came up to me and said, ‘I thought you were totally different’.
How do you feel about navigating body image pressures, which is unfortunately such a prevalent experience for women in the entertainment industry?
I don’t have 100% body confidence. I wish I did. It’s been a bit of a tricky ride over the years, being a teenager in the media spotlight, and my body changing and me trying to catch up.
The younger generation, I feel, I hope, are not as scarred as someone my age. When we grew up, we only had supermodels on [the front of] magazines, and there were no other women to look at. You only compared yourself to them. I worked with Elle McPherson on a TV show and when I was growing up, she was on the cover of magazines everywhere. I’m never going to be like Elle McPherson!
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned from motherhood?
You definitely understand your parents better – when you become a parent there’s a lot of things that make more sense. You don’t understand the word love in the same way until you’re a parent. It’s in every cell of your body. It’s overwhelming.
I’ve felt empowered, having had the opportunity to be a Mum and marvel at what I’ve been able to do… I’m like ‘I made that!’. It that makes me feel powerful and strong.
Family is clearly important in the Minogue clan, especially now you’re all together in Australia, what kind of aunt is Kylie to Ethan?
I love seeing his relationship grow with my family. My brother’s got two boys, Kylie doesn’t have any kids. But just to see how incredible she is with kids… I wasn’t like that. When I had Ethan, I was like, ‘whoa, what do you do with this?’ Just didn’t have a clue. And she’s the absolute natural out of the three of us, she’s just incredible.
How do you look after your mental wellbeing?
I love cooking… it just takes my mind to a great place. If there was a kitchen here, and I had time, I would cook us something.
How do you deal with failure?