‘The Bachelor’ star Snezana Wood opens up about motherhood, heartbreak and falling for Sam
Like many working mothers, The Bachelor star Snezana Wood has plenty to keep her busy on a day-to-day basis.
There’s ‘mum duty’ for her four daughters, creating content for her large social media audience and helping her husband Sam with their fitness business. So like any multi-tasking woman, naturally, she added another thing to her plate – writing a memoir!
“I thought it was a great time to get my story out because if not now, when?” she tells Woman’s Day. “You can look back and appreciate the growth, and recognise the strength that you’ve had, and think, ‘Wow, I made it through that in spite of everything.’ It’s been quite cathartic.”
TEARS & TRIUMPHS
Snez, 43, certainly wasn’t lacking in life experience to include in her memoir Untold. She won over the country’s – and more importantly, Sam’s – heart when she scored the final rose on The Bachelor’s 2015 season.
But patience, perseverance and a thick skin have all been key for Snez to get to where she is today. She survived a turbulent first marriage and tough divorce, before spending years making ends meet in Perth as a single mum to daughter Eve. At one point when Snez was studying for her science degree, she even had to take her young daughter along with her to lectures!
REALITY TV MADNESS
There is no way Snez could look back through her life’s memories and not include a lengthy chapter on her time as a reality show contestant. A journey that dramatically changed her path.
The self-confessed introvert says she needed a big push out of her comfort zone to even apply for the reality show, but it turned out to be an invaluable lesson in facing her fears head on.
“Going on The Bachelor was so out of character for me, I’m a private person, so being on TV where everybody is watching you was something that I was absolutely terrified to do,” she says. “But I thought, you know what, I’m just going to do it, I’m going to get kicked out in a day anyway!
BUILDING A FAMILY
“I can’t believe all of this has happened because I took a chance and faced my fears. I met Sam, he and Evie get along incredibly. It couldn’t have worked out better.”
Without a doubt, Snez and Sam are one of The Bachelor’s biggest success stories. In their nine years together, Snez and Sam, 44, have raised Eve, 19, into adulthood, and welcomed three beautiful girls, Willow, six; Charlie, four; and two-year-old Harper.
“It was difficult and I have no idea how I did it,” Snez admits. “Until you’re put in a situation, you don’t know what you’re capable of achieving. But there’s nothing a mother wouldn’t do to make sure her child is OK.”
They’ve also managed to do what some couples struggle to do successfully – mix business and pleasure as they run their thriving health and fitness empire, 28 by Sam Wood.
“In the beginning it was a lot harder, when the company was smaller – I’d go to Sam with everything, for everything!” she laughs.
A SAD FINALE FOR THE BACHELOR SNEZANA
Reflecting on the “sad” cancellation of the show that brought them together, Snez admits it has changed significantly from their third series. “It wasn’t about meeting someone, having this exciting experience,” she says. “It had turned into a big PR and marketing strategy for individuals.”
To read more, buy Untold, which comes out Wednesday.
