Sonia Kruger opens up about motherhood and her dreams for daughter, Maggie

“At the end of the day, we want our children to be kind.”

Dancing With The Stars, The Voice and Big Brother host Sonia Kruger took home the Gold Logie at the 63rd TV WEEK Logie Awards.

During her acceptance speech, the 58-year-old gave credit to her parents for her strong work ethic.

“I had a part-time job when I was 13, worked in a fruit shop, then I worked at Coles,” she recalls. “My parents drummed into me that rewards don’t come unless you put the work in. You create your own luck.”

Sonia and her daughter, Maggie

While her gigs in the entertainment business have changed over the years, one role has remained the same – being ‘mum’ to her 8yo daughter, Maggie.

Sonia and her partner, Craig McPherson welcomed their daughter in 2016, however her journey to motherhood was not an easy one.

Sonia’s journey to motherhood via IVF and a donor egg

While Craig had six children from a previous relationship, the couple’s attempts to conceive both naturally and through IVF were unsuccessful.

“We tried IVF and it wasn’t successful,” she told The Australian Womens Weekly in 2012.

“The doctors were very clear with me too, that for women over the age of 45, which was the age we attempted IVF, the success rate is zero.

“You still believe it can happen, and you see stories, and you think maybe that can happen for us, but the odds are definitely very slim.”

At the age of 49, a close friend donated an egg and Sonia fell pregnant. Nine months later, she gave birth to her daughter Maggie.

Sonia’s hopes for her daughter

Earlier this year, Maggie turned eight. While it’s still unclear what her future may look like, the doting mum has one wish, that she is a good example for her daughter.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re doing – whether you work in TV, in an office or you’re a stay-at-home mum, we all want to set a good example,” she told TV Week in 2020.

“At the end of the day, we want our children to be kind, respectful and be able to contribute.

“For me, work has always been a huge part of my life and I’ve always been independent. I left home when I was 17, so she might grow up and follow a similar path. But I’m quite happy for her to stay home until she’s 37!,” she laughs.

“Then again, ask me in a few more years and I might say otherwise!”

Sonia, who will soon return to host Big Brother 2023 says now is the “best time” for women in the television industry. But, would she like to see her daughter follow in her footsteps and carve out a career in the entertainment business?

“This is the best time for women in Australian television,” she told TV Week in a 2020 interview.

“We are being given opportunities that we may not have had before. We didn’t see a lot of mature women on TV years before, and now we do.”

But as for Maggie, Sonia says her dream job for her daughter would be in sports.

“I’m hoping she becomes a professional tennis player, so I can travel the summer circuit!” she says with a laugh.

WATCH: Sonia Kruger celebrates Maggie’s 7th birthday.