She’s walked runways and red carpets, but Francesca Hung says motherhood is her most challenging role yet
Francesca Hung’s definition of success changed completely after becoming a mum.
Before becoming a mum, Francesca Hung was used to juggling a career in the spotlight, from modelling to acting and presenting.
Then came Brydie, her daughter with partner Nick Lowry, who arrived on Christmas Day in 2024 and is affectionately known as Birdie. Now, life looks a little different.
There are early starts, toddler chaos, work squeezed into the gaps and the occasional pram runaway that requires some serious mum reflexes. But along the way, Francesca has discovered something she didn’t expect: motherhood has changed the way she sees herself, her career and what success really means.
“Being ‘mum’ is by far the most challenging role I’ve ever had, but it’s also the most rewarding,” she tells Bounty Parents.
Here, the model and presenter gets refreshingly honest about trying to do it all, finding her village and the advice she’d give herself before becoming a mum.
Francesca Hung’s biggest career lesson came after becoming a mum
You’ve spent years in the spotlight modelling, acting and presenting. How does becoming “Mum” compare to all of those roles?
Being “mum” is by far the most challenging role I’ve ever had, but it’s also the most rewarding. Becoming a mum has made me re-evaluate everything in life and I think it’s made me a better partner, daughter and even businesswoman. I say if you want a job done well and done quickly get a mum to do it!
People often say nothing prepares you for motherhood. What has surprised you the most since welcoming Brydie?
I think what surprised me the most was how much confidence I gained since becoming a mother. I feel more sure of myself and am more certain of the person I want to be. Most likely because I want to be the best role model I can be for Brydie.
Has motherhood changed the way you define success? What feels important to you now that perhaps didn’t before?
Absolutely, I used to base my measure of success on my career. Whereas success to me know is so much broader and all encompassing. Am I raising a happy child? Am I filling my own cup? How’s my relationship with my husband, family and friends? Success is so much more than a job.
You’re balancing work with raising a toddler. What does finding your rhythm actually look like behind the scenes and are there still days when everything feels a bit chaotic?
Life with a toddler is chaotic at the best of times, then trying to film or create content with a mini hurricane at your feet is taking chaos to the next level. Brydie is 1.5 years old now and I still think I’m trying to find my “rhythm”. This is where my village saves me. I’m so lucky to have family close by, so when I need those extra hands I can call on them. But honestly some days things just don’t work out. I may have had grand plans to edit, or film, or even head to an event but I have a sick Bub and your priorities have to shift. ’ve become very good at waking super early just so I can get some work done before my day with a toddler starts!
There’s so much pressure to “do it all”. Have you found yourself letting go of any expectations since becoming a parent?
I think I’ve had to. I definitely tried to “do it all” at the beginning and found that I felt like I wasn’t doing a good job at anything. But I’m learning to be easier on myself and lean into the fact that I will have a long life to work on my career but your babies are only little for so long, so I’m trying to lean in to motherhood and cherish every moment. Easier said than done though!
Tell us about the importance of having a village. Who makes up your village, and how have they helped you through the early stages of parenting?
There’s no way I would be able to be the mother, wife or friend I am without my village. My village not only provide physical relief when I need it, but they support me mentally more than anything. Knowing I have people in my corner makes motherhood so much less stressful and a lot more fun. Almost like a group project… that takes a lot of the pressure off!
We love hearing the real moments. What’s been your funniest or most memorable toddler moment with Brydie lately?
I feel like when you live with a toddler, everyday turns into a type of dark comedy! But a memorable toddler moment with Brydie…. Well recently she has become fixated on pushing “the pram” – our Bugaboo Kangaroo… but I’m not allowed to touch it whilst she’s pushing the pram. And no-one wants to fight with a toddler…. So I let her give it a go. On this particular occasion she was doing a great job pushing the pram home until she decided to let go on a downhill, so I had to go into speed demon mode and quickly scoop Brydie up and start racing down the path to catch the pram. I’m very happy to report that all parties involved were unharmed and the pram remains intact.
Looking back, what would you tell your pre-baby self about the first year of motherhood?
I’d tell her that moving in with her mum + dad and brother was the best decision you could have made. Yes you will all be on top of each other at times but that support network will be your saving grace AND the connection that Brydie will go on to have with your family will be so special. I’d also tell her to persevere with breastfeeding…. The first 12 weeks will feel like torture, it will test you and push you to your limits but then you will go on to have the most incredible breastfeeding journey for the next 18 months. And it will be one of your favourite times to decompress and tune in with Brydie.
As a Bugaboo ambassador, what made this partnership feel like the right fit for you as a mum, and what features of the Bugaboo Kangaroo have genuinely made everyday life easier for your family?
I always coveted the Bugaboo prams before becoming a mum, having had so many mums in my life use their products. So it was the easy choice when I became a mum. Also superficially I always LOVED the look of the Bugaboo prams! But what I didn’t realise was how important a good quality – reliable and most importantly an easy to use pram would be. Some of my favourite features of the bugaboo kangaroo are how sturdy and durable the wheels are, perfect for off road park walks with the dog, the spacious undercarriage, which makes walking to the shops seamless and how easy it is to fold up and pop in the car… ONE HANDED. Because let’s be real, you’re always juggling a hundred other things in the other. The Bugaboo Kangaroo just makes my life easier by allowing me to get out of the house without fuss!
If you could give one piece of advice to a new mum who feels like she has to do everything herself, what would it be?
You can’t pour from an empty cup. So make sure that you are doing things that fill yours up too. And you’re never alone, your village may not look like someone else’s or may not seem like the “typical” village but it’s out there. Sometimes all you need to do is ask for help, and people will surprise you. Let them.
