emma watkins tour

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Emma Watkins

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For her character in The Wiggles, see Emma Wiggle .

Emma Olivia Watkins (born September 21, 1989) is an Australian children's entertainer, singer, actress, and dancer, best known as a former yellow Wiggle.

• 1 History with The Wiggles
• 2.2 Television and Video Releases
• 3 Personal Life
• 5 External links

History with The Wiggles [ ]

In December 1996, she and her sister Hayley attended a Wiggles concert at the Seymour Centre. She was seven years old at the time. This same concert was released on VHS the next year,  Wiggledance! . She can be spotted dancing in the audience during Get Ready To Wiggle .

Emma began performing with the Wiggles in 2010, as Fairy Larissa in Dorothy the Dinosaur concerts and videos. She later went on to play Wags the Dog and Dorothy the Dinosaur , and be a Wiggly Dancer in Wiggles tours by 2011.

She occasionally voices Dorothy the Dinosaur, such as in a 2010 appearance on the morning show Fox & Friends (with her singing voice done by Jennifer Taipari ), and the 2016 OG Wiggles reunion concert . She also does the voice for Shirley Shawn the Unicorn .

In May 2012, it was announced that she would replace Greg Page as the yellow Wiggle in 2013.

As a Wiggle, she wears a wig, with a bow in it and is tied into pigtails. Bows would become her motif and a major part of her own brand. She primarily sings and plays the drums, but can also play some guitar.

In June 2015, her own show Emma! premiered on ABC Kids, with a tie-in album , DVD and tour .

Wiggles Media Credits [ ]

• Dorothy the Dinosaur's Travelling Show! - Voice of Fairy Larissa
• Celebration! - Vocals, Musician
• Taking Off! - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Drums (uncredited), Co-Arranger of " Little Bunny Foo Foo ", " Dance to Your Daddy " and " Alouette/Mimi's Dance "
• Furry Tales - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-Writer of " Ready, Steady, Wiggle! " and " Bunny Hop ", Writer of " Brush Your Pet's Hair ", " I Like Goats " and " The Giraffe "
• Pumpkin Face - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Writer of " Hey, Billy Bat! " and " I Like Scary Nights ", Co-Writer of " Scary Ghost! "
• Go Santa Go! - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Musician, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Apples & Bananas - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Musician, Song Arrangements
• Wiggle House - Vocals, Percussion on " Galloping Ballet " and " The Laughing Doctor ", Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Rock & Roll Preschool - Vocals, Percussion on " I Went To The Library ", Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Emma! - Vocals, Musician, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• The Wiggles Meet The Orchestra! - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Song Arrangements
• Wiggle Town! - Vocals, Percussion on " Taba Naba Style! ", " Captain's Barnyard Dance " and " Springtime ", Tambourine on " Goodbye from Wiggle Town ", Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Dance Dance! - Vocals, Drums on " Simon Says " (archived recording), Clapping, Tap Dancing, Percussion on " Little Dingo ", Irish Hard Shoe, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Dial E for Emma! - Vocals, Tambourine, Irish Hard Shoe, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Lachy! - Vocals on " Lachy! ", Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Nursery Rhymes - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Song Arrangements
• Och Aye the G'Nu! - Backing Vocals on " Och Aye G'Nu and Kangaroo ", Vocals on " The Blackbird Ballet ", " I'll Be With You Forever " and " Tip Toe in the Snow ", Co-Writer of "Tip Toe in the Snow"
• Duets - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Clapping, Percussion on "Taba Naba Style!" (archived recording), Co-Arranger of " Waltzing Matilda " and " We Three Kings "
• Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas! (2017 album) - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Claps, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Nursery Rhymes 2 - Song Arrangements
• The Emma! & Lachy! Show - Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Wiggle Pop! - Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• The Wiggles' Big Ballet Day! - Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Party Time! - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Musician, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Fun and Games - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Musician, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes & Toot Toot, Chugga Chugga, Big Red Car! - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Musician, Songwriter, Song Arrangements
• Emma's Bowtiful Ballet Studio
• Le James Café - Songwriter
• Lullabies with Love - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Songwriter
• Halloween Party - Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-Writer of " Toilet Paper Mummy " and " Happy Halloween "

Television and Video Releases [ ]

• It's Always Christmas With You!
• Surfer Jeff
• Celebration!
• Taking Off!
• Furry Tales
• Series 1 and 2 of Ready, Steady, Wiggle!
• Pumpkin Face
• Apples & Bananas
• Wiggle House
• Rock & Roll Preschool
• Emma! (TV Series 1)
• The Wiggles Meet The Orchestra!
• Wiggle Town!
• Lachy! (TV Series)
• Dial E For Emma!
• Dance Dance!
• Nursery Rhymes
• Wiggle Around Australia
• Wiggly, Wiggly Christmas! (2017)
• The Best of The Wiggles
• The Emma! & Lachy! Show
• Nursery Rhymes 2
• Wiggle Pop!
• Emma! (TV Series 2)
• Party Time!
• The Wiggles' World
• Fun and Games
• Choo Choo Trains, Propeller Planes & Toot Toot Chugga Chugga Big Red Car!

Personal Life [ ]

In March 2015 she and purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie announced they had been in a relationship for about two years. In May of that year, she and Lachy got engaged, and married in April 2016. In August 2018, She and Lachy announced they were getting a divorce.

In April 2021, she and Oliver Brian got engaged and married a year later.

• " Brush Your Pet's Hair " is the first Wiggles song Emma ever wrote.
• Emma auditioned for the musicals Wicked, The Lion King and Hairspray before she auditioned for The Wiggles .
• She is the second shortest of all of the Wiggles shortest being Kylie who only appeared in 2009.
• She along with the other new-gen Wiggles Lachy and Simon all toured with both previous generations (Greg-era and Sam-era original Wiggles) in addition to their own.
• When in shows, Emma uses a wig (as her hair is in curls) due to her hair falling out with parting her hair the same every day after a 1.5 years after joining The Wiggles , which is why the wig is easier to use.
• She appeared on The Masked Singer Australia as "The Zombie."
• She is the second Wiggle to appear on The Masked Singer, the first being Simon .
• She's the narrator of the show Reef School.
• She is the last wiggle to be born before the Wiggles were established.
• She competed in The Amazing Race Australia Celebrity Edition with her sister Hayley. The pair came in 1st place.
• She starred in a Commercial for Pikmin 4 for the switch.

External links [ ]

• Emma Watkins at Wikipedia
• 1 Wiggle Groove Tour
• 2 The Wiggles
• 3 Lucia Field

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Former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins new character Emma Memma has announced the Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour in March.

After almost 10 years of being known as “Emma Wiggle”, Emma Watkins, the first female Wiggle is now Emma Memma, complete with a new signature colour. And yes, it’s just as bright and happy.

As Emma hinted when she left the Wiggles in October in 2021, her new alter ego incorporates her love for sign language, dance and film editing.

“Empowering the next generation through movement, creativity, inclusiveness, and friendship. Emma Memma, with her love of dance, sign language and music, brings visual communication to the forefront of the children’s media space,” the new Emma Memma website states.

“Emma Memma focuses on a new generation of communication, where she and her friends navigate challenges and adventure using sign language, choreographed dance narratives, gesture, mime, singing, speaking, listening, making craft and drawing.”

Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour

The first Emma Memma Australian tour will kick off in Sydney on 12 March 2023. She will also be visiting other major cities in New South Wales, Queensland, Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Western Australia before concluding her tour in Alice Springs on 5 April 2023.

From Yellow Wiggle to Orange Emma

When Emma became the third Yellow Wiggle in 2013, “it wasn’t without its challenges,” she told ABC News.

However, through the years, millions of children grew to love Emma Wiggle, who arguably became the most distinct and loved member of the group. In fact, such was her popularity that she became the first Wiggle to have a spin-off show focused entirely on her character.

By the end of her time as the Yellow Wiggle, 80 per cent of the audience at any live Wiggle show would be dressed like Emma and half of all Wiggles merchandise was based around her.

With Emma Memma, fans will need to move slightly along the colour spectrum, swapping yellow for orange, and a bow for butterflies.

“Research shows that warm and bright colours are very intriguing for preschoolers,” Emma told The Daily Telegraph . “It feels like the colour represents this new chapter moving forward and because orange is symbolic of being happy, I think that is something we love to represent.”

Sing, dance and sign with Emma Memma

If you’re wondering what the Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour will be like, check out Emma Memma’s first video. It amassed more than 20,000 views in one day on her YouTube channel .

The song is catchy, Emma still has her beautiful smile and as promised, has a focus on Auslan. It’s an inclusive move, which may see non-hearing impaired children learning basic sign language.

There are also plans for a new video every week, an album release and an accompanying TV show.

Find out more about Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour .

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Emma Watkins, First Female Wiggle, Says Good-Bye

The first female Wiggle will hang up the yellow skivvy at year’s end to spend time with family and focus on her post-graduate studies.

By Lars Brandle

Lars Brandle

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It’s good-bye from The Wiggles , who wave-off trailblazer Emma Watkins.

“Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life,” Watkins explained in a social media post.

“For me, that means spending more time at home, something that I didn’t realise I was missing out on being away eight months of the year on tour.

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Emma Watkins

The wiggles.

In future, she’ll devote “more time and energy to focus on completing my PhD which incorporates my ongoing passion for sign language, dance and film editing, and to having more time to work with the deaf community.”

Bunnie XO Claps Back at Trolls Who Hate on Her & Jelly Roll: 'Can Never Dull Our Shine'

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emma Watkins (@emmawatkinsofficial)

Watkins joined the children’s entertainment group in 2013, becoming the third Yellow Wiggle after Greg Page and Sam Moran.

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Anthony Field, the Blue Wiggle and last remaining original band member, paid tribute to Watkins and the “wonderful contribution” she made to the group.

“We’ve had an amazing time with Emma over this period and while we’re sad to see her go, we know she has many other passions she’d like to pursue,” he explained in a social media post.

Thank you @Emma_Wiggle you will be missed! pic.twitter.com/gWvajL6hTu — Anthony Field (@Anthony_Wiggle) October 18, 2021

Watkins’ replacement is Tsehay Hawkins who, at age 15, is the youngest member in Wiggles history.

Born in Ethiopia and raised in Australia, Hawkins, like so many millions of kids around the world, grew up watching The Wiggles.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Wiggles (@thewiggles)

This year marks The Wiggles’ 30th anniversary, which they’ll celebrate with the release of millions of special coins across Australia and a national tour featuring the original lineup of Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt and Greg Page.

Formed in Sydney back in 1991, the band has sold more than 30 million albums and DVDs worldwide, and their TV shows are broadcast in more than 100 countries.

In 2005, the Wiggles became the first entertainers to win the Australian government’s Exporter Of the Year award and, in 2011, the year of their 20th anniversary, the band was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Earlier in 2021, The Wiggles signed with Universal Music Publishing Group for their first exclusive,  global publishing deal .

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The Wiggles documentary delivers surprises about the beloved Australian childrens' entertainers, as well as tears

As a parent of a toddler, I admit I have fallen down many a Wiggle-sized Reddit rabbit hole (don't get me started on Emma and Lachys' secret romance and then later break up, I'm still recovering). But fresh wiggly riches are still to be found in their new documentary feature.

Having its world premiere at SXSW Sydney, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles traces the evolution of the beloved Australian children's entertainment group from "just four mates who made a record" in 1991 to a multi-million-dollar brand and triple j hottest 100 winners .

Through the tears (to be fair, I am a parent of a toddler so one of us is about to cry at any given moment), I managed to glean these five surprising facts from the new doco.

1. Hot Potato was originally Hot Tamale

Hot Potato is an icon, a legend, she is the moment . But before it became the hit that made The Wiggles their name, it was actually about a hot tamale.

Penned by John Field, the brother of Blue Wiggle Anthony — the only original Wiggle left in the group — the band decided to go with the more relatable potato in the lyrics.

This is a shame, since tamales are truly delicious and deserve more recognition, though I hear from experts on the ground that it's hard to find the right kind of masa flour to make them in Australia.

2. No one wanted to be the Yellow Wiggle

Greg was the slowest to grab the skivvies so ended up with the dud colour: yellow.

Luckily Greg, then Emma, and now Tsehay and Evie have made the initially rejected colour sparkle in their own distinct ways (see: bow and sunflowers) and one could argue — particularly since the Emma era — that the Yellow Wiggle may be the most popular one of all.

3. ABC producers said The Wiggles made them cringe and wanted to cut Dorothy

In the mid-90s, The Wiggles took their increasingly popular work to the ABC (the fine publishers of this website), but producers were not really buying the four-grown-men-in-various-coloured-skivvies' schtick, and were particularly critical of side character Dorothy the dinosaur.

In those producers' defence, the costume for Dorothy, who at the time was played by Red Wiggle Murray's wife Meg, consisted of a dinosaur top and hat plus … blue jeans.

But The Wiggles knew they were onto something, so they independently produced their series, with Dorothy included, and the rest is history (my daughter now calls all dinosaurs Dorothy).

4. While we're on the topic of dinosaurs, The Wiggles outshone Barney

On The Wiggles' first US tour in 1999, they found themselves playing to audiences of five (including their publicists).

That was until they got their big break: opening on Barney & Friends, where they outshone the main purple attraction.

The success of that guest spot ultimately nabbed them a slot on a little place called The Disney Channel (!) in 2002 and, after that, things really went gangbusters for the Aussies in the US, leading them to sell out New York's Madison Square Gardens 12 times over.

5. The propeller move is taken from Jesus Christ Superstar

After more than 20 years with the band, three of the four original members hung up their skivvies in 2012.

The new line-up — featuring the group's first woman (sacre bleu!) Wiggle — was greeted with criticism and some pretty yucky comments.

But the haters were soon silenced by the catchiness of a new hit (that has often salvaged an almost catastrophic nappy change in our household): Do The Propeller.

Like all good Wiggles tunes, the song features easy-to-follow dance moves (another prime example: Rock-A-Bye Your Bear ). In this case, it was the chorus' propeller move that captured the hearts and bodies of a new generation of Wiggles fans. But, as the documentary reveals, Anthony pinched it from the dance moves of 70s rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar .

Thank you Jesus/The Wiggles.

Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles is streaming on Prime Video from October 24.

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The Wiggles' First Female Member Is All About Spreading Girl Power!

Updated on 8/25/2014 at 7:38 AM

For more than two decades, The Wiggles have entertained children around the world with their upbeat songs and positive messages. As "the Rolling Stones of children's entertainment," they know how to put on a stellar show and plan to do so when they take the stage this Fall in their "Ready, Steady, Wiggle!" tour. But fans of the band from Down Under may notice a few changes to the group. Mainly, the addition of the first-ever female Wiggle, Emma Watkins. We recently chatted with the 24-year-old performer about her experience with the band so far, her iconic accessories, and what it's like to be the only girl on stage. Source: The Wiggles

POPSUGAR: Congratulations on not only joining The Wiggles, but also being the first female in the group. How does it feel holding that title in what’s always been an all-male group?

Emma Watkins: It's quite exciting. I actually watched The Wiggles when I was growing up — I idolized them, and I don’t think I ever thought that I would be one, particularly being a girl. This is probably the most exciting thing that's ever happened to me

PS: Being the only female puts you in a position to be a role model for young girls. How does that feel?

EW: It's really hit me this year. A lot of the children — girls and boys — are coming to the shows wearing big yellow bows, because I wear this big yellow bow in my hair. I think that reflects, to me, that the children are really getting into the new Wiggles. There are so many parents posting pictures of their children wearing the bows, and it's been a wonderful thing to see.

PS: What's been the biggest challenge for you?

EW: The most challenging thing is just trying to balance the time. I think that's the best part about being the youngest, too. It's been the most diverse part of my life, and I've been able to travel and meet children all around the world, which I probably wouldn't have been able to do in any other job. Source: The Wiggles

PS: What's been the most rewarding moment for you as a Wiggle?

EW: Being able to visit children's hospitals all around the world. When children are in hospitals, and they are only 3 years old, their whole life is The Wiggles. We've become their main focus, and it actually is quite lovely when you do get to visit them.

PS: One thing parents seem to love most about The Wiggles is the band's ability to teach acceptance and other positive traits through the songs. Do you think that's why the band has been so successful?

EW: Definitely! These songs are quite liberating for kids. Like, we have one song called, "I've Got My Glasses On." A lot of children get picked on at school and bullied for wearing glasses, and I know because I was when I was in high school. Now there are so many children that come straight up to me and go, "Emma, I’ve got my glasses!" It's a wonderful thing.

PS: If you could write a song with any message for children, what would your message be?

EW: I think a song that encapsulates a way [for kids] to express themselves in the way that they feel comfortable. A lot of children express themselves in a lot of different ways, whether they're nonverbal, or they're in a wheelchair, or they're visually impaired. I think, if they want to express themselves in any way that they can, that's a great thing. Source: The Wiggles

PS: The Wiggles have a tour coming up. What can fans expect from the tour and the newer Wiggles?

EW: There's quite a lot of dancing. We've had a lot of acrobatics and circus with The Wiggles, but now it's really very dance heavy. Also the tour that is coming to America is very focused on preschoolers, so it's a lot more intimate than we've done before. It's more about The Wiggles and the children.

PS: Do you see more women joining The Wiggles in the future?

EW: I think that the new Wiggles are still so new that we're just really excited to keep going with the group. I can't see beyond yet, but I did tell Jeff that he wiggled until he was 60, so I've got 37 years to go. Source: The Wiggles

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The Wiggles' Emma Watkins Passes The Torch To New Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins - Exclusive Interview

The Wiggles have been entertaining children for decades, thanks to a string of preschool-oriented songs including  "Fruit Salad"  and "Henry the Octopus."  The Australian group, which originally formed in the early 1990s, went on to become "the world's most popular children's entertainment act," according to a 2015 press release , once selling out 12 consecutive shows  at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In 2011, three of the group's original members retired , with new recruits brought in as replacements. One of these new members was Emma Watkins, taking on the mantle of the Yellow Wiggle — and the group's first female member. Now, a decade later, Watkins is stepping away from the group , replaced by Tsehay Hawkins , a 15-year-old phenom who is an award-winning dance champion and the youngest member of the Wiggles in its 30-year history. As they prepare for this transition, Watkins and Hawkins spoke with Nicki Swift about passing the torch and what being associated with The Wiggles means to them. 

The Wiggles new "Fruit Salad TV" episodes and so much more are available on The Wiggles' YouTube channel . You can also catch The Wiggles on Netflix, as well as The Wiggles channel on Roku.

Emma Watkins and Tsehay Hawkins grew up with The Wiggles

You're of different generations, yet you're also both also young enough to have grown up with The Wiggles as a part of your life from the beginning. What was that experience like for each of you?

Tsehay Hawkins:   It was amazing. It was always played around the house, listening to The Wiggles on repeat. That's actually why dad started playing rock music all the time, because he couldn't listen to The Wiggles anymore, because it was on repeat. But with my whole family, we love it. It's always been part of our family where every morning we used to play it to wake us up. When we were little, I'd be dancing around the house. That's actually how I started dancing. So becoming a Wiggle, it's absolutely incredible.

Emma Watkins:   And I guess, listening to Tsehay, it's so nice because it reminds me of my childhood as well, even though I'm the same age as The Wiggles. So I grew up from day dot [ Australian slang for a long time ago ] watching The Wiggles, but it was such a, probably a very different era of The Wiggles, performing in community halls and at the shopping centers. And I used to watch The Wiggles on TV, and apparently I was quite infatuated with the Irish dancing. And I think at that time, mom was like, "Oh, OK, maybe we'll start her in that." And then by the time I started to attend Irish, my teacher was like, "I think you're a bit young." I was about four at the time. And then I ended up starting ballet instead. But a lot of my dancing was inspired by watching The Wiggles on TV and at the local shopping center.

So growing up and joining the company in a role that wasn't actually a Wiggle in the first place. And then to be asked to be a Wiggle was quite surreal, and has been. This last decade for myself is quite strange because I never thought that I would be a Wiggle, but I'm so grateful that I've had this opportunity to take on this role. And now when Tsehay and I have been kind of talking all week like this in interviews, and Tsehay has been dancing with us for a couple of years now, we're so lucky to have had her be part of our cast and part of our dancing group for a while. And so if we have very similar stories you're right, but in a totally— just 10 years apart, which is beautiful.

Emma Watkins and Tsehay Hawkins share what it's like to join The Wiggles

Emma,  you joined The Wiggles during a crucial time for them, where some members were exiting and they were bringing in new people, which they'd never done before. Given how successful The Wiggles had become, it seems like there would be a lot of pressure involved.  What was that experience like for you?

Emma Watkins: Yeah. I was really nervous because I wanted to do a really good job. And I think for us at that time, for Simon [Pryce], and Lachy [Lachlan Gillespie] and myself, it was three Wiggles replacing three, so it felt like a really big deal. And it was quite enormous because people really had such a longevity with the band for almost 20 years, even more. So for most of the band, 75 percent of the members to change in one go, was a huge task. And I think I was just really worried because, growing up I was watching The Wiggles, and it was such a big part of my childhood. And I always looked up to the original members, because I used to remember those voices singing "Hot Potato" and "Fruit Salad" in my head.

I was so lucky I've been able to tour with almost every incarnation with the group [including] when Sam was actually in the yellow shirt, and then [original Wiggle] Greg [Page] came back and did the original lineup as their reunion year. So I kind of got to experience both amazing eras. And having Greg come back on the road, I remember when I heard him seeing "Rock-A-Bye Your Bear" for the first time on stage, I was like, "I'm five. This is so weird." His voice is so distinct. And it just gave me so much nostalgic memory and thought that it was kind of like, what's happening? But I think that's why it just felt really— I was just really nervous. It's the same with, I know Lachy and I were both like, "How are we going to do this?" because the brand was already so established, and had a reputation. People had obviously been... It's part of their life, and part of their growing up. And so you don't want to do anything that would upset them.

Tsehay, you're joining at a very different time, when the world's been shut down for a year plus, and next year you'll be going on tour as a full-fledged Wiggle. What's it been like for you to join now?

Tsehay Hawkins:  I think, well, it's very exciting because, obviously we've been in lockdown, and it's been very, I guess, downing when you're stuck at home, but having this news, and becoming a Wiggle, it's made my lockdown amazing. I've been having the best time, and I'm so excited to go out and tour around with the Wiggles. Performing is definitely my favorite part of show business, so I'm very, very excited, and looking forward to it.

Emma Watkins is exiting The Wiggles to earn her PhD

Emma, when did you realize that you wanted to sort of shift away from the performing and start focusing on your PhD? That just sounds like a fascinating thing. Can you tell me about your area of study and what you're going to be working on?

Emma Watkins: I guess, I've not really been one to be very still. I have to do many things at the same time, and when I joined The Wiggles company as a dancer, I was already at university. And so I've kind of been concurrently studying the whole time that I've been with The Wiggles. And so really, I started to deliberate for a little bit about the research, and being in lockdown has kind of been the perfect time for me to use some time at home to focus on the research. And I found myself actually delving into finishing my project, which is a creative integration project using sign language, dance, and film editing to create, like, onscreen effective realizations. Originally it was about music. Looking at music visually. But now it's about movement, and body expression, body movement, sign language, dance, cognitive understanding of what those movements mean and how they can and help make meaning on screen visually without any auditory stimulus.

So I think a lot of my learnings and experience with the Wiggles has actually really helped me as part of the study. And because I was kind of doing them side by side, I was like, wow, I see children in the shows really responding to this song, or this movement, and this dancing. And then we have lots of children that come to the shows that use sign language. They may be deaf, or hard of hearing, or they might be on the autism spectrum or have additional needs. So that we've had a real plethora of families, different backgrounds, different situations. And I think now I started to have a moment to reflect on the study and I was like, I think I need to finish this PhD properly. And my mentor was like, "You need to focus now, because you're in your last year and it's really important." And so I thought, OK, I think I'm going to try and wrap this up and, and give it all my time and energy.

Is that something that you've been pursuing all along while you've been part of The Wiggles?

Emma Watkins: Yeah. For about 10 years collectively, but the PhD study has been about four years. And I did a master of research before that, and a master of film before that. So it's kind of been leapfrogging into different departments, but now I think the research is very much refined into the area that I'm most interested in, but it takes ages to try and settle out what that actually means. I kind of feel like, oh, I want to do so many things that relate to sign language, but it's impossible, and it's silly. So I just need to focus on one area. And I think now is the time for me to do that.

Tsehay Hawkins can always seek advice from Emma Watkins

In terms of passing the torch, Emma, you had the torch passed to you, now you're passing it to Tsehay. And so I wanted to ask you, Tsehay, from your perspective, what kind of advice, or knowledge, has Emma been able to pass down to you? Is there something that's really stuck out for you in terms of helping to become a Wiggle?

Tsehay Hawkins: Well, right before everything happened, Emma called me and just let me know that she's here for support, and that I can go to her for anything, because obviously she went through the same thing as me, becoming the Yellow Wiggle, and she had to start from scratch and learn how it works. So if I had any questions to ask her, to feel free to always call. And it's really nice to have that support from someone. So thank you, Emma.

Emma Watkins: You are welcome. And I get it.

What Emma Watkins and Tsehay Hawkins have learned about each other as the torch is passed

Emma, you sort of alluded to this before, that the two of you have been doing all these joint interviews and sort of getting to know each other in a different sort of way, where people are asking questions that you might not have thought to ask each other, but suddenly you're saying, oh, I didn't know that about this person. What kind of things have you discovered about each other through this process?

Emma Watkins:  It's a really good point. It's a great discussion. I do feel like I'm learning more about Tsehay in these interviews. I mean, obviously we've been on the road together, and we've been able to tour, and something that's always really struck me about Tsehay's energy is her love of dance. And really, I think I'm so drawn to the way that she uses her dance to express herself. You can see she's so happy, and joyous, and people instantly connect with her just like, "Oh wow. She really looks like she's enjoying what she's doing." And that's something that really struck me. But I heard Tsehay say the other day — and obviously she'll correct my story if this is wrong — I know that Tsehay and her brother are both adopted, but her brother is from Colombia, which I didn't know.

And actually that inspired Tsehay to start salsa dancing, which I didn't know. Even though I know Tsehay is an amazing Latin American dancer, and has tried lots of different styles, I think that's an amazing impetus and drive for one to learn that particular culture, the style, and it's related to her brother. I just think that's beautiful, and I didn't know. I mean, we love Kendly and we've seen Kendly a few times in and Tsehay's brother Kendly has been involved in some of our filming recently. And so it's been a joy to have him on set as well, but to learn the background of Tsehay's learning dances — that's beautiful.

And how about you Tsehay? Did you learn anything about Emma that you hadn't realized before?

Tsehay Hawkins:  I just found out how similar we are. We both grew up with dance, and always listening to The Wiggles. I didn't realize how similar it was and how we watched [The Wiggles] on repeat. And I didn't know how long you were doing the PhD for and how much research. Ten years. That's so long. Oh my gosh.

Emma Watkins: I'm about 70 now.

Tsehay Hawkins: No, no, definitely. The interviews have been really fun because we get to laugh, and joke about things, and find out new information. And I'm very [much] enjoying them. So yeah, it's been crazy getting to know more in depth about Emma.

Tsehay Hawkins will bring her background as a world dance champion to The Wiggles

Now, Tsehay, I wanted to ask you, you're a dancer, but you're also a dance champion . I mean, you've got a level of expertise in dance that I don't know that people normally associate with The Wiggles. Has there been any talk about doing anything to sort of take advantage of that, of your dance skills, in terms of the TV show or the stage show or anything like that?

Tsehay Hawkins: Well, I guess with my different styles of dance that I've trained in, I guess I can... We are going to bring that to The Wiggles with the Latin, because dancing is a Latin feel. And with the shuffle dancing, the footwork, and adding the African steps, and just all the different cultures and different styles I've learned from, obviously, from salsa championships, bringing the flavor from that, and then bringing the poise from other styles. If I bring it all together, then I can, I guess, give a different vibe when I'm performing on stage.

Tsehay, given that you're just 15, I'm wondering what kind of discussions were there about your age, and people saying, "Well, are we sure that she's ready to sort of take on this responsibility even though she's so young?" I mean, what kind of discussions were you involved with about that?

Tsehay Hawkins:  Well, I guess with my training, ever since I was little, we've always been, my family also were— My grandmother was a teacher, and my mom works in school and education, when she used to. So education always came first. And I love dance so much. And I now, currently and for the past two years, I've gone to a full-time dance studio and I only do three hours of school each day, and I do it online through distance education. And so I get my schooling done. It's a bit more self-guided, so I do it myself, and then I do dance on top of it. I dance seven days a week. Before lockdown, it was every single day, so I'm pretty used to being all that all the time. So, The Wiggles is very exciting because I get to perform on top of that, and that's my favorite part. So the same with school and handling everything like that, we've been pretty used to having a bit of a crazy life, so yeah, everything will work.

When children meet Emma Watkins when she's not wearing her Wiggles costume it's like seeing 'Santa in jeans'

Emma, The Wiggles are so universally loved. My own kids were huge fans when they were little. You must be met with an extraordinary amount of love and affection wherever you go. Has that been part of your experience?  

Emma Watkins:  I think we are very lucky to have children as our audience, because they're really always generally happy to see us. And when we get to meet children in the shows, or before the shows, or at the special meet and greet at the childrens hospitals, for example, it's usually very polar. Children are either like, "I just can't believe you are here, I didn't know you were a person, I'm so used to seeing you on the screen," or they're quite taken aback because they didn't realize that you were a real person, and it's quite overwhelming. But mostly, children, and definitely parents and grandparents, if they see us at the shops, they're like, "Oh my gosh, it's Emma Wiggle." And they're just, I think parents and grandparents, because they may either recognize my voice, or they recognize my face, it's like an instant connection. And that's really nice because, obviously, the parents and the grandparents have been putting up with the music for a long time. Like Tsehay's dad.

But really, I think the children, it depends on what age they are, they sometimes don't recognize us out of costume. So if it's about four and up, if the parents indicate, "Oh, this is Emma from the Wiggles, she's just not wearing a costume." Then they tend to be OK with it. But anything younger, they're looking past me, trying to find who they're talking about, because they're trying to see where the yellow is. It's so amazing. Their instant recognition with the color, and that association with my personality, that if I'm not wearing yellow, it can be really confusing. I feel like it's like Santa in jeans. You don't really think that you're going to see Santa wearing jeans. And then if you see Emma Wiggle not in yellow, and you're like, "Who is that?" It's like a superpower and you're not wearing it. And so therefore you're probably not very cool. So I think, generally, at the shops it's pure excitement. It's just, if the child is like, "I don't get it, I don't get who you are."

Emma Watkins will always be a Wiggle

Emma, are you completely done with the Wiggles, or could we see you maybe come back in some sort of capacity at some point, special guest star or something in that respect?

Emma Watkins:  I'd love to come back. And I don't think there's ever going to be a point where I don't perform. I just feel that, I think being the role of the Yellow Wiggle has always been something that will be really true to my heart. And I don't think I'll ever forget it because it's been such a big part of my life. It feels like a whole decade. It's a whole chapter. It's a third of my life. So I feel that's really important to me, and I would love to come back and perform. I almost feel like I'm having my study sabbatical, and then if I get to come back and perform with the group, and I even come and watch the shows, I'm really looking forward to that, too. I'm sure there'll be an opportunity in the future.

The Wiggles were the highest-earning entertainers in Australia, outpacing the likes of AC/DC and Hugh Jackman. To see The Wiggles still so popular after all these years and personnel changes, what do you think the secret is to their longevity, and why kids still seem so thrilled by the material?

Emma Watkins: I think the music is such a big part of the brand, and connecting the music to the memory and the colors on screen is something that people instantly are connected to, and it reminds them of The Wiggles. So now we see parents come to the show, and they were kids before, coming to watch the show. And then the grandparents now with the parents then. And so there's a generational aspect now where we see that it's not just the children that are really watching The Wiggles, but the parents are singing along because they remember the words to the songs. And the grandparents definitely remember because they were the parents and now they're dealing with it a second time. So it feels like that's definitely been a huge benefit to the Wiggle audience, but really The Wiggles have started from such a principle and foundation of early childhood development.

Having three of them actually attend Macquarie University here in Sydney, Australia, and study teaching, and being preschool teachers, I think that foundation and the use of language, not just in our songs, but in the way that we're actually speaking to the children on screen and in our live shows, I think that's been the most important thing for The Wiggles. But yes, the landscape is changing, and [it's] actually lovely to see so many different children's programs and shows being developed now. If the world can have a plethora of this quality entertainment for children, that's amazing. We're lucky to be a part of it still.

Tsehay Hawkins and Emma Watkins on being part of the legacy of The Wiggles

Tsehay, what's it feel like for you to be part of this legacy that's gone on since the early '90s?

Tsehay Hawkins:  It's honestly amazing. I mean, I remember, I think it was the Christmas DVDs, we used to watch on repeat and I loved it. Mom and dad would play it over and over again. I'd never get sick of it. Listened to the same songs. Like Emma said, I loved the bright colors. I was always drawn to bright colors when I was little. And I love how they still have normal setups, like the kitchen, like the Wiggle house, but it's all very bright and vibrant... Everyone watched The Wiggles. It's always been iconic. My friends at school thought it was crazy. They thought it was so cool. When people wear just block colors of red, yellow, blue, and purple, or even just block colors, they're like, if a group of them are together, "Oh, it's like The Wiggles." Everyone knows The Wiggles. So actually being a Wiggle, it's phenomenal. And I'm so happy to have this opportunity.

And those songs are so familiar, especially to parents who've heard them over and over. Emma, do you ever just find yourself doing something around the house and suddenly you're humming "Fruit Salad" or something like that?

Emma Watkins: Constantly. I don't think that will ever stop. And you're right, I think because you have such a focused time where you're singing those songs on repeat, as a parent, or as a child, or growing up, or being part of a group, I don't think that will ever go away. 

The Wiggles new Fruit Salad TV episodes and so much more are available on The Wiggles YouTube channel . You can also catch The Wiggles on Netflix, as well as The Wiggles channel on Roku.

Ex-Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins bringing Emma Memma to NZ this year: ‘So excited’

Bethany Reitsma

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Emma Memma is bringing her Twirly Tour to New Zealand. Photo / Jared Lyons

You may recognise Emma Watkins as the former Yellow Wiggle who succeeded Greg Page and charmed her way into Kiwi kids’ hearts.

Now she’s bringing her Twirly Tour to New Zealand audiences this December as Emma Memma, a bright and cheery character decked out in orange and pink who doesn’t just dance and sing - she also uses sign language to communicate with deaf audiences.

Watkins debuted the new children’s character less than a year after her shock departure from the Wiggles in 2021.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Live Nation New Zealand (@livenationaotearoa)

And she reveals it wasn’t “a single moment” that led to her decision - at the time, the Covid-19 pandemic had forced touring to slow down and she was trying to finish her PhD after “many years”.

“It felt like we hadn’t been touring for such a long time with the Wiggles ... I was thinking, this is probably the best time,” she told the Herald.

Watkins describes Emma Memma as “an extension of me” that originated as a presentation for her research on how to integrate music, dance and sign language in a way that would resonate with deaf children.

“And then all of a sudden, Emma Memma has just kind of taken off, and we haven’t stopped since.”

It’s not what she expected, but for Watkins, it proves that “the need to have more accessible media for children is becoming more and more apparent.”

“Even when I was with the Wiggles, I started to notice lots of different family structures,” she recalls.

“And you’d see lots of children that may have a hearing loss that are predominantly born to hearing parents or have hearing carers and most of the time, we don’t use the same language.

“So we’re trying so hard to make sure that everything that we do is visually accessible. Visual communication is everything for children. And so we are going to spotlight that even more.”

The show’s tagline is “Sing, dance, and sign with Emma Memma” and that’s what she does, alongside her co-star Elvin Melvin, real name Elvin Lam, who is himself profoundly deaf (meaning he cannot hear speech and only very loud sounds) and signs the entire show.

Watkins says people from the deaf community are “so excited” to see Lam on stage. “Most of the feedback is, ‘finally, we have a show that we can come to without having to watch the interpreter’.”

The interpreter is still there to make sure information is clear for parents and caregivers, she adds.

“But really for the children, it means they can focus on Elvin as the lead signer, which is so nice to be able to spotlight deaf talent - and all of our dancers sign as well.”

Watkins and Lam are “connected” on stage, she says, comparing them to a brother and sister.

“I will do a slight movement or a breath and he knows that I’m about to start that song, and so he’s constantly watching me. Not that anyone can see all of that all of the time, but the way that he picks up my visual cues is unbelievable.

“And in a show where he will not really ever know what the music sounds like, he embodies the music like it’s part of him. And he’s amazing.”

Whatever Lam signs in Auslan (Australian sign language) on stage, Watkins will mention in English. They’ll tweak the show a bit for their New Zealand performances, as there are some slight differences between Auslan and NZSL (New Zealand sign language) although “we share so much of the same sign”.

But when it comes to embracing sign language, Aotearoa is “very different” from her home country, she says.

“New Zealand people are very accepting and acknowledge different languages. But in Australia, it’s not the case. And so I think that’s why we’re so excited in New Zealand, because there’s a lot of understanding and encouragement and support for sign language in New Zealand.”

While Emma Memma content is available on YouTube and YouTube Kids in New Zealand, she’s working with Australia’s ABC to see if the show can come to New Zealand screens. “If we can be on TV in New Zealand soon, that would be fantastic.”

Watkins guesses she’s been to Aotearoa about 15 times over the past 10 years as part of the Wiggles and is “obsessed” with the country.

“We love New Zealand, and last year when we brought Emma Memma there for the first time , it was just so nice to be there - especially because we had time to visit schools. And so we’re hoping to do the same this time too.”

She has “beautiful memories” of a meet and greet at Ko Taku Reo in Kelston in Auckland last year. “[They] lead with sign language in their learning and their education, and their staff just embraced Elvin ... everyone was signing.

“Those kinds of moments, those memories are things that we remember forever.”

Watkins is excited for Kiwi audiences to see the upcoming show and learn from Lam’s story.

“We really hope that everybody can get up and be involved and dance along or sign along. And the great thing about sign language is that it’s interchangeable.

“You can adjust the choreography so that if you are sitting in a seat or if you’re a parent that doesn’t really want to dance, you can just move your hands and then everybody knows the sign.

“Come on down, join in, it’s big, it’s energetic, it’s joyous.”

Tickets for Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour of New Zealand go on sale on Friday.

Emma Memma’s Twirly Tour dates

Friday, December 8 - Baycourt X Space, Tauranga

Saturday, December 9 - Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton

Sunday, December 10 - Municipal Theatre, Napier

Tuesday, December 12 - Shed 6, Wellington

Wednesday, December 13 - Sky City Theatre, Auckland

Thursday, December 14 - Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin

Friday, December 15 - Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch

Bethany Reitsma is an Auckland-based journalist covering lifestyle and entertainment stories who joined the Herald in 2019. She specialises in telling Kiwis’ real-life stories , money-saving hacks and anything even remotely related to coffee .

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The Wiggles: Emma Watkins, the Yellow Wiggle, to leave children's music group after 11 years

The Wiggles, who are among the most highly paid artists in Australia, specialise in early childhood education and are best known for their brightly coloured television and stage shows.

By Chris Robertson, arts and entertainment reporter

Tuesday 19 October 2021 14:56, UK

The Wiggles is set to lose its first female member, after the performer behind Yellow Wiggle announced she was stepping down from the group.

Emma Watkins joined the troupe of children's performers eleven years ago and spent nine years as the Yellow Wiggle, but will leave at the end of the year to spend more time with her family and focus on her PhD.

In a video statement, Watkins, who was known for incorporating sign language into performances, said that it was now time to "pass the yellow skivvy on", adding: "Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life.

Thank you for all the bowtiful memories 💛 and please welcome Tsehay into the yellow skivvy in 2022 🌼🌼 @TheWiggles pic.twitter.com/8E4tmJ87g1 — Emma Watkins (@Emma_Wiggle) October 19, 2021

"For me, that means spending more time at home.

"I am also really looking forward to devoting more time and energy to completing my PhD that incorporates my ongoing passion for sign language, dance and film editing."

Past and present Wiggles congratulated Watkins on her run in the role, with previous holder of the yellow top Sam Moran saying: "Congrats [Emma] on a very successful Yellow era - Enjoy the break, (probably some therapy) and no doubt some exciting times ahead.

"Maybe even some different colours!"

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Anthony Field, who has been a member of the group since 1991, added his comments, saying: "We've had an amazing time with Emma over this period, and while we're sad to see her go, we know she has many other passions she'd like to pursue.

"We thank Emma for her wonderful contribution to The Wiggles and wish her all the very best as we look forward to seeing her continued success with her other interests."

Field has previously said that most kids who go to their shows have come to see Watkins, saying that she is "number one" and describing her as "the Elvis of the Wiggles".

She will be replaced by 15-year-old Ethiopian-Australian Tsehay Hawkins, as the group looks to diversify its ranks.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TSEHAY HAWKINS † (@tsehay.hawkins)

They also write children's songs, and have won scores of awards for their music since their formation in the 1990s.

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Former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins announces New Zealand tour as Emma Memma

• Darren Bevan

Former Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins is to tour New Zealand in December.

She will be taking her Emma Memma Twirly Tour around Aotearoa for a week, starting off in Tauranga and finishing off in Christchurch.

Promoters promise "families will be treated to Emma Memma favourite songs on the Emma Memma Twirly Tour like 'Twirly Tuesday', 'Wombat Wednesday' and 'I Love You' as well as the classics 'Wheels On The Bus', 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and 'ABC'."

More from Newshub

Tickets for the shows go on sale on Friday, September 29.

Emma Memma Twirly Tour dates:

• Friday, December 8 Baycourt X Space, Tauranga
• Saturday, December 9 Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton
• Sunday, December 10 Municipal Theatre, Napier
• Tuesday, December 12 Shed 6, Wellington
• Wednesday, December 13 Sky City Theatre, Auckland
• Thursday, December 14 Glenroy Auditorium, Dunedin
• Friday, December 15 Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch

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• Art & design

Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins announces departure from children's group – video

Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins has announced her departure from the band after 11 years. Watkins initially joined the group as a dancer while also working as a video editor. She was handed the yellow skivvy in 2013 after original member Greg Page retired from the band. Watkins became the most popular member of the group, branching out into her own television show. Outside of the Wiggles Watkins studied sign language, something she will pursue at a PhD level when she finishes up with the band, as well as advocating for awareness and education around women's health issues such as endometriosis

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• Emma Watkins quits the Wiggles in ‘end of an era’ for children’s group

Source: Supplied/Australia Story/The Wiggles/The Morning Show/AAP

Tue 19 Oct 2021 03.29 BST Last modified on Tue 19 Oct 2021 10.35 BST

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Emma Watkins reveals why she REALLY left The Wiggles

• 31 Jan 2022

Emma Watkins has spoken out for the first time since revealing that would be hanging up her yellow skivvy with The Wiggles after a decade in the children's music group.

WATCH: Emma Watkins annouces The Wiggles departure

Emma announced her departure from the group last October , saying that time off during COVID lockdown gave her a chance to reflect on what she now wants to achieve, including completing her PhD at Macquarie University.

In an interview with  Stellar magazine, Emma has spoken about her time as part of the legendary group while looking back on her journey as the first female member of The Wiggles.

“I never, ever, ever – ever – want to let down the children down."

“I never, ever, ever – ever – want to let down the children. But I relate it to when I took time off after I had surgery for my endometriosis in 2018,” Emma explained to the publication of her choice to exit The Wiggles.

“I had two beautiful performers replace me on tour for a period of weeks. I felt terrible and kept thinking, how are we going to do this? But the children still came to the shows, because they love the music. That experience helped me make this decision because everyone was OK after that.”

Emma added that while she loved her time in the group, she initially faced backlash and “wasn’t really liked” when she was introduced as the group’s first female member, saying that many were “territorial about the original group.”

“It took about two or three years to actually have people accept that there was a female among the group; that was a massive deal back then,” she noted, adding, “So to then see how that changed over the decade, and children coming to the show dressed in beautiful Emma costumes, or wearing bows… it’s powerful.”

"I’m really proud of that. It’s been so rewarding."

“We have a responsibility to introduce children to entertainment and I’m that vehicle. I’m really proud of that. It’s been so rewarding,” Emma continued.

“But the time away during COVID showed me that I gave The Wiggles everything.”

The 32-year-old revealed she would be exiting The Wiggles in an emotional post to social media last year.

"The time has come for me to pass the yellow skivvy on," she began.

"Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life. For me, that means   spending more time at home , something that I didn't realise I was missing out on being away eight months of the year on tour, but something that I have really cherished over the last 18 months."

WATCH: Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins dons yellow for Endometriosis Awareness Month

She went on to share that she is looking forward to completing her PhD in film making and that she wants to continue her work with the deaf community.

"I am really looking forward to devoting more time and energy to focus on completing my PhD, which incorporates my passion for sign language, dance and film editing. And to have more time to work with the Deaf community," she said.

To sign off her announcement, Emma thanked The Wiggles   for changing her life.

"I am eternally grateful to The Wiggles for giving me the amazing opportunity to be the first female Wiggle, a role that I have loved and one that has brought me so much joy and   an abundance of bowtiful memories   that I will treasure forever.

Tsehay Hawkins is a 16-year-old champion dancer.

"As The Wiggles continue to evolve and someone new now steps into the yellow skivvy, I look forward to seeing children and families embrace them, just as I was when I began.

"I wish The Wiggles much-continued success."

Emma will be replaced by her new cast member Tsehay Hawkins, a champion dancer, who at just 16-years-old has nabbed the lucrative yellow skivvy.

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Born to Wiggle: Interview with Yellow Wiggle – Emma Watkins

Be A Fun Mum writer, Cath Johnsen recently chatted with Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins.

The Wiggles have made an incredible comeback in the past two years… After the retirement of three of the original band members, they took a chance on 25 year old dancer, Emma Watkins, the first female Wiggle. As Cath Johnsen writes, it was a winning gamble that’s helped the band secure sell out shows, ARIA award nominations and a new generation of little Wiggles fans.

Playing the drums, singing, dancing and driving the big red car are all in a day’s work for the newest yellow wiggle, Emma Watkins, perhaps better known as Emma Wiggle.

But before she donned the yellow skivvy and matching bow, Emma was already performing for The Wiggles as a Wiggly dancer, Dorothy the Dinosaur and Fairy Larissa.

“We spent eight months as Wiggles in training, on road with the originals, while also performing our other roles,” Emma explains. “There’s more than 1000 Wiggles songs in the back catalogue, so there was a lot to learn!”

It seems Emma is a quick learner, as she not only sings the Wiggles well-loved tunes and keeps the beat with her drumming, she also writes her own songs, some of which can be heard on the recently released Emma’s Bowtiful Day DVD.

Chatting to me from her parent’s home in Sydney, with pet galah Gucci chirping nearby (look out for Gucci performing under his stage name Beaky on the soon to be released Rock and Roll Preschool DVD), Emma opens up about the difficult transitional period for The Wiggles.

“We had a really difficult start; we began by touring regionally – it was a real grass roots tour but we weren’t selling out,” she says.

“I can remember going to a show in a remote area where there was probably 100 people in the town and 60 of them were at the concert. We were the new Wiggles and we were not yet a big production.

“But then we began to gain momentum; children were watching us on TV and before we knew it we had sold out 120 shows!”

This surge in popularity has culminated in The Wiggles Big Show national tour, and an ARIA nomination for best children’s album.

“At the ARIA’s we’re going to wear our Wiggly gear on the red carpet,” Emma laughs. “That’s easy for the guys – they will probably wear their suit jackets over their skivvies! I will be wearing some brand new glittery gold dancing shoes that have been made for me.”

Emma, who is professionally trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop and Irish dancing, said she first became interested in studying dance after watching The Wiggles as a little girl.

“My favourite Wiggles songs when I was growing up were Rock a Bye your Bear and Di Dicky Doo Dum , which was a tune sung by Greg with Irish dancers performing to it,” Emma says.

“It was the first time I’d ever seen Irish dancing and I loved it. I instantly connected with the music and the dance.

“We’re going to bring back the Irish dancing into The Wiggles performances next year – we’ll have six or seven Irish dancers… it’ll be our own mini River Dance,” she jokes.

Despite Emma’s extensive dancing history, it is only now as a Wiggle that she has her very own tutu – and it’s a yellow one of course!

“Although I did ballet for years, my teacher always seemed to do modern performances with modern costumes. But all I ever wanted was a ‘sticky-outy’ tutu!” Emma laughs. “And now I have one – I’m so excited about it that I even brought it home to show Ma and Pa!”

Uncannily, yellow has always been Emma’s lucky colour – it was the colour of the bows she wore to match her school uniform, it was her sport house colour in both primary and secondary school, and she wore yellow bows in her ballet exams to indicate which height category she was in.

In addition to meeting the colour requisite for the job, Emma also confesses to a love of fruit salad.

“We all eat fruit salad backstage, especially Anthony!” Emma says. “I love kiwi fruit, mangoes, strawberries and nectarines. Summer is the best time for fruit.”

Down to earth and easy to talk to, I wonder aloud whether The Wiggles has changed Emma?

“I’ve been on tour with The Wiggles for years so I’ve seen what it’s like for them – people approaching them at dinner and asking for a signed serviette… Now it’s happening to us. It’s so bizarre, but it’s also really nice and I don’t get sick of it. I love it when children say to me, “I saw you on TV this morning dancing ballet.”

“I don’t really think about it but it is amazing to see the aisles filled with children dressed in yellow, with yellow bunches of flowers, yelling my name. It really is overwhelming,” she says.

I tell Emma that she is now a positive role model for children and is helping a new generation to foster a love of music and dance.

“We hear a lot of lovely comments from parents about their children starting to learn dance or an instrument after seeing us perform,” she enthuses.

“This is really the gem of the Wiggles. It’s a live performance – you can see the instrument being played and the dancers and the singers. It influences children, just like it influenced me all those years ago.”

Going strong for 23 years, The Wiggles’ enormous success is hard to fathom. But Emma says it comes down to their “respect for their audience”.

“It’s about making children’s entertainment exciting and educational. The children influence the show – if a child calls out for Fruit Salad, Yummy, Yummy, we play it there and then, even if it was supposed to be number 18 on our set list,” she says.

“There’s live music and real people performing so connections are made… we’re not playing a character, we get to be ourselves; it becomes a part of you.”

Special Features: 4 Dance Lessons from Emma & Photo Gallery.

Released: 5 November, $19.95, G, 145 Mins, ABC DVD

About Cath Johnsen

If you drop in on Cath at home, you’re likely to find her household in a state of happy chaos. She loves reading, being outdoors and travelling with her husband and three children. When she’s not spending time with family, Cath is indulging her love of writing at Be a Fun Mum… She knew that journalism degree would come in handy one day! Find more about Cath on her website, www.cathjohnsen.com.au

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A Colour: Green

Christmas Breadsticks

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Hello Emma can you message me on here okay

Emma can you be with me?

My address is 14630 W 85 Tr

Anna loves so much!!!! Can I be a red wiggle?

Marcia Noll

My Granddaughter loves you all. She came to see you when you came to Brisbane but simon missed her out when he came up into the stands. She just loves Emma

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The Wiggles's Emma Watkins Has a Faultless Beauty Routine That Lasts Through 4 Live Shows Every Day

By Nicola Dall'Asen

Emma Watkins is wide awake and chipper at 7 a.m. her time when I call her on the phone to talk about The Wiggles , the Australian children's entertainment group (and TV show) of which she's been a member since 2013. We talk this early to account for the 13-hour time difference between New York City and Perth, and when I thank her for waking up so early to chat, she gently assures me she's been awake for ages and is already on the road toward her first live show of the day. Tiresome schedule be damned, she sounds just as bubbly as she does on stage and screen as the illustrious Emma Wiggle, basically human sunshine.

Tiresome, by the way, is a total understatement. The Wiggles — now comprised of Anthony Field from the original troupe, Watkins, Lachlan Gillespie, and Simon Pryce — tour roughly nine months per year. "We travel to lots of different countries," Watkins says. "In America, the venues are bigger, so we don't have to do a lot of shows [there]. But in Australia , the popularity is so big that we're doing four shows a day six days a week. And that's starting to happen in Canada now."

If you're picturing these live shows as a carbon copy of the original TV show from the 1990s, forget it. The earlier days were "very Australian, very relaxed," but 30 years of change has catapulted the group's performances into a medley of higher-octane dance with even more live singing and instrumentals. "We do ballet dancing, Irish dancing, Scottish, jazz, tap — whatever country we're in or whatever culture that we'd like to present to the children," Watkins explains. As it's always been for The Wiggles, education also plays a key role in performances; Emma Wiggle teaches sign language and Watkins is now pursuing a Ph.D. in the subject because of it (she wasn't already busy enough, clearly).

Point being: The Wiggles are hardcore, OK? Thankfully, the easier part of the job is maintaining the signature Emma Wiggle look, according to Watkins. "A lot of children's entertainment is animated, and I guess the beauty of The Wiggles is that we're still real people... You're able to be predominantly yourself. I think that's why children relate."

The transformation from Emma Watkins into Emma Wiggle isn't a long or drastic one, and that'll never change. "Children love consistency... they love knowing what's going to happen," she says of her look: curly ginger pigtails, a colossal yellow hair bow, and simple makeup akin to a Disney princess . "It's that whole idea of recognition and characterization. As soon as they see [my hair] and the yellow shirt, they say 'Oh, that's Emma.'"

All of these factors combined can't even come close to fully capturing just how much work goes into being in The Wiggles, who over the course of three decades have basically raised countless Aussie children (myself included, so I'm impartial) and many others across the world through TV screens, live performances, and now YouTube videos.

Still, Watkins moons when asked about the job's continual rewards. "It's such a varied experience, and I think that's the most amazing thing about it. We don't ever get bored of what we're doing because every day is something different."

By Aliza Kelly

By Marci Robin

By Sarah Madaus

To get across the busy reality of being a children's entertainer of her degree, Allure followed her complete routine for a day, from her morning cup of bulletproof tea to the end of the day's fourth performance. Oh, and modern-day Wiggles fans and their parents: You'll be pleased to know that Watkins has finally divulged to us whether or not her Emma Wiggle hair is real or a wig — watch the video above to find out.

More on beauty and entertainment:

• The Complicated History Behind the Hair and Makeup of Female News Anchors
• Euphoria's Head Makeup Artist Shares Why You've Never Seen Makeup on Television Like This Before
• These 5 Bachelor Beauty Secrets From Former Contestants Will Kinda Blow Your Mind

Still reading? See behind-the-scenes footage of our latest cover shoot, starring Zendaya:

Don't forget to follow Allure on Instagram and Twitter .

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By Kara Nesvig

By Dianna Mazzone Singh

• Twirly Tunes
• Memma Mates

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Sing, dance and sign along to Emma Memma's latest album - Twirly Tunes!

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You can now wear your very own Memma Merchandise from Big W.

Emma Memma’s debut album has won an ARIA in the Best Children’s Album category at the 2023 ARIA Awards.

Sing, dance and sign the much-loved nursery rhyme with Emma Memma.

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Join Emma Memma on the Butterfly Bus as she drives around town to pick up her friends. Can you guess who lives in each house along the way? Beep! Beep! All aboard!

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Former wiggle emma watkins shares her next move introducing ‘emma memma’.

Emma Watkins reveals her next move

After months of waiting, former yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins has unveiled her new character - Emma Memma.

Her new chapter was first teased in February, launching her @emmamemmamemma Instagram four months after she left the popular children’s entertainment group.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Emma Watkins reveals her next move

“Sing, Dance and Sign with me, Emma Memma,” she wrote on Instagram on Sunday, releasing a first look at the new character.

The project will incorporate Auslan, the sign language used by most of Australia’s deaf community.

Transitioning from her signature yellow, Watkins, 32, is seen wearing a bright orange and pink dress, with butterfly clips in her curly hair.

“Research shows that warm and bright colours are very intriguing for preschoolers,” Watkins told The Daily Telegraph.

“Pink has always been a part of my wardrobe but orange is such a bright and happy colour. It is not as celebrated a colour because it is not a part of the primary spectrum.

“It feels like the colour represents this new chapter moving forward, and because orange is symbolic of being happy, I think that is something we love to represent.”

For Emma Memma, an album is set to be released next month and a television show is in the works.

In October, Watkins hung up her yellow skivvy after 10 years touring and recording with The Wiggles.

“The time has come for me to pass the yellow skivvy on,” she began her Instagram post at the time.

“Like many people around the world, the pandemic has given me time to reflect on what is important in life.

“For me, that means spending more time at home, something that I didn’t realise I was missing out on being away eight months of the year on tour, but something that I have really cherished over the last 18 months.

“I am really looking forward to devoting more time and energy to focus on completing my PhD, which incorporates my passion for sign language, dance and film editing,” she continued.

“And to have more time to work with the deaf community.”

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: Introducing Emma Memma

Introducing Emma Memma.

‘eternally grateful’.

Watkins then thanked her former group for changing her life.

“I am eternally grateful to The Wiggles for giving me the amazing opportunity to be the first female Wiggle, a role that I have loved and one that has brought me so much joy and an abundance of ‘bowtiful’ that I will treasure forever,” she wrote.

“As The Wiggles continue to evolve and someone new now steps into the yellow skivvy, I look forward to seeing children and families embrace them, just as I was when I began.

“I wish The Wiggles much-continued success.”

Watkins has been replaced by a 16-year-old cast member and champion dancer Tsehay Hawkins, who now wears the beloved yellow skivvy.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: Fans farewell Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins

Fans farewell Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins.

Emma’s wedding.

The former Wiggle married her partner Oliver Brian at Longmeadow Estate in the Victorian town of Tyrendarra in May.

The pair announced their engagement in April 2021 after meeting and falling in love when they were both part of The Wiggles.

“I love everything about the soft tulle that they use in a way that has a ballerina-esque background to it,” she told Vogue of the gown in May.

“I’d been looking for something that wasn’t too fluffy, that had a bit of ballet in it. I always wear button-up collared shirts and when I saw his dress I thought, ‘Oh, it has a collar!

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: Emma Watkins ties the knot

The ex-children's entertainer has married her partner in the Victorian countryside.

“I was like that’s so me. I’d never seen a dress like that.

“The dress is so much more simple than I thought I was going to choose.”

Watkins even did her own hair and makeup on the big day as she “wanted to be on my own and to have that time by myself to get ready”.

“It felt more casual for it to be just me,” the performer said.

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