Alex Fevola on why she and Brendan needed time apart

Alex Fevola is best known for her modelling career. She is CEO of beauty brand Runway Room, and is currently engaged. The 44-year old opens up about the men who have influenced her life, including her partner, Brendan Fevola.

My maternal grandfather, Thomas Bell, originally lived in England. He was a pilot and navigator in World War II. When my mum, Lesley, was two years old, my nana, Lyn, caught a boat to Australia; my grandfather followed her after the war. Thomas died when I was 24. He was a thoroughly decent man and a lovely granddad.

My dad, Keith, was a carpet layer who later opened his own business. He was a hard worker who wasn’t home a lot. Mum looked after my older sister, Zoe, my younger sister, Toni, and me; it was the standard 1980s family set-up.

Mum and Dad separated when I was 13. Dad moved to Queensland and I didn’t see him that much. Zoe had left home by then, but it was a big adjustment for Mum, Toni and me. We went from a big family home with some land and horses [in Langwarrin, Victoria] to a small unit.

Since Dad moved back to Melbourne a few years ago he’s been a big support in my adult life. I’ve inherited my strong work ethic from him.

My first date was at 14. I was horse-mad and met Lee at pony club. We had dinner at a pizza restaurant. We were young and it was very cute.

I was 18, modelling part-time and looking after racehorses when I met Lonny. I’d mentioned to friends that I was looking for a home for a stray dog I’d found. They suggested I speak to Lonny, as he might take it. I got in touch and we continued to chat.

Lonny was charismatic, sweet and very funny: I’ve always been attracted to a sense of humour. We went out for 5½ years but had a 10-month break in the middle, during which I lived in Brisbane and modelled for an agency. We got back together when I returned to Melbourne.

Lonny had this reckless side. He had a terrible car accident and suffered head injuries. The accident changed him. There was darkness about him. The twinkle in his eye was gone.

I became pregnant at 21 and had our daughter, Mia, the next year. Four weeks and four days after Mia was born, Lonny took his own life. Words can never describe that kind of trauma. The same day I suffered a haemorrhage, as some placenta had been left in the womb. I almost died.

The most difficult thing about being a single mother was not being comforted by your partner. But that time made me resilient and strong.

When Mia was 18 months, I started seeing Shane, who was my best friend’s cousin. I was with him for two years. He was an integral part of my healing and helped me find myself again.

I was a photographer and make-up artist when I met AFL player Brendan Fevola in 2003. He was charismatic and cheeky and was fantastic with Mia. Things moved fast and we got married in 2005, then had two girls, Leni, now 15, and Lulu, 12. But in 2014 we got divorced. Infidelity and gambling were not the sole reasons; we also needed time apart to reflect and grow.

We’d been back together for a couple of months when Brendan appeared on I’m a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! in 2016. Australia saw how much he’d grown up and changed, and his love for his kids. To become the man he is for our kids is what I am most proud of. In 2018, we had our daughter, Tobi.

Shane Warne was Brendan’s friend, and I knew him, too. Shane was a gentleman and treated everyone with respect, no matter if you were royalty or an ordinary person. We’re struggling still to come to terms with his death.

Brendan and I are engaged but we haven’t remarried. The secret to a second-round relationship is letting go of all the baggage and resentment. You have to start again, fresh, as two people.

Silver Linings (Lake Press) by Alex Fevola is out now.

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

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