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Dominique Elissa’s life has been full of personal and professional change in recent years. Embedded in the fashion world since she was scouted as a model in high school, and since then, her career has evolved from influencer to founder of the wellbeing community Selfdom. Last year, she married her husband Thomas Bull twice: first in an intimate ceremony shortly after their engagement at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, so her beloved late mother Odile Faludi could attend, and again in a Sicilian summer wedding ceremony.
In October, she stepped into a new role as a mother. On the very morning she gave birth, she was on the beach with Tom, capturing the last intimate moments of her pregnancy in a shoot photographed by Emily Abay and styled by Pat Zackzkiewicz. In an exclusive interview with ELLE Australia, Dominique reflects on pregnancy, body image, style, love, loss and the lessons she is taking into motherhood.
You’ve spent a lot of your pregnancy in the spotlight with an audience. Are you planning to take a step back and enjoy the “baby bubble”?
Absolutely! I’ve worked really hard throughout my pregnancy to prepare podcasts and content ahead of time so that when our baby arrives, I can really switch off and enjoy that newborn love bubble at home.
Running my own business and podcast means there’s always something to do, so being organised and planning ahead has been really important to me. I want to give myself the space to be completely present, soak up those first few weeks and embrace this new chapter without feeling the pressure to constantly be working or sharing online.
As a public figure, have you felt added pressure from other people’s opinions on pregnancy and parenting? How have you navigated that?
I have definitely felt opinions from others when it comes to pregnancy and parenting, but I’ve also tried my best to push that noise aside and surround myself with people whose advice I genuinely trust.
I feel incredibly grateful that we worked with a doula who has been by our side throughout this pregnancy, helping us prepare for birth and navigate this new chapter with confidence.
And, when it comes to parenting, I’m so lucky to have had such an incredible upbringing with my own parents. I can only hope to be as good a parent as they were to me and carry those values forward.
Tom and I have had so many conversations about the type of parents we want to be, and for us, it really comes down to good communication, creating a calm and loving home, and doing the best we can without getting caught up in the judgment or opinions of family, friends or strangers.
How has your attitude to your body changed throughout pregnancy, and do you think attitudes to pregnant women’s bodies are changing in media and fashion?
I think there’s been such a huge shift in how women dress and embrace their bodies during pregnancy over the last couple of decades, and I personally love it!
Throughout my pregnancy, I’ve really enjoyed experimenting with fashion, having my bump out and embracing my changing body. But I’ve definitely noticed a generational gap when it comes to this.
For example, my mum’s generation didn’t necessarily show off their bumps or do maternity shoots like we do today. I don’t think it’s always coming from a place of judgment, but perhaps it’s just something they’re not used to seeing.
The first 20 weeks were really challenging for me when it came to body image. I didn’t necessarily look pregnant yet, but my body felt completely different, and that was a difficult adjustment.
I had to work really hard on my mindset and remind myself of the bigger picture.
I’ve definitely received some strange looks and comments throughout my pregnancy [when showing off her bump], but I also feel really lucky to be pregnant at a time when we’re celebrating women’s bodies and the incredible things they’re capable of.
One thing that really stood out to me was trying to find photos of my mum pregnant with my brother and me. I wanted to see what she looked like and have those photos as a reference, but there were hardly any! I think that says so much about how far we’ve come in embracing and celebrating the pregnant body.
I hope we continue moving towards a world where women feel confident showing up however they choose during pregnancy, whether that’s with their bump out or not.
What are your tips for maintaining a positive body image during pregnancy?
I won’t lie, the first 20 weeks were really challenging for me when it came to body image. I didn’t necessarily look pregnant yet, but my body felt completely different, and that was a difficult adjustment.
I had to work really hard on my mindset and remind myself of the bigger picture. My gratitude journal became such an important daily ritual, helping me shift my focus away from how my body looked and towards how incredible it was that I was growing a life.
Another huge thing for me was continuing to dress in a way that made me feel confident. Your body changes so much during pregnancy, and naturally, your style has to evolve with it. I suddenly had boobs and hips for the first time, so I had to learn how to dress a completely different shape!
I found that investing in a few beautiful pieces that made me feel good made such a difference. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with living in tracksuits, but I personally noticed a huge shift in how I felt about myself when I put on a cute outfit, did my makeup and made an effort to feel like me.
I lived in a pair of extra-low-rise Levi’s jeans, which were an absolute staple. I also loved Faithful for their beautiful, stretchy dresses that I know I’ll continue wearing postpartum.
How did your style change during pregnancy? Did you discover any maternity brands? And do you have any skincare recommendations?
I actually didn’t wear many maternity brands throughout my pregnancy! Instead, I focused on sizing up in brands I already loved and finding pieces that were low-rise, stretchy and comfortable.
I lived in a pair of extra-low-rise Levi’s jeans, which were an absolute staple. I also loved Faithful for their beautiful, stretchy dresses that I know I’ll continue wearing postpartum.
Alo was my go-to for activewear because they have so many pieces that you can fold down and wear comfortably below the bump, and the fabrics feel amazing.
I also wore a lot of Zero Meaning, particularly their denim and matching sets. I found that low-rise pieces were really the key to making my usual style work with my bump.
When it comes to skincare, less is definitely more! I struggled with dermatitis throughout my pregnancy, so I had to simplify my routine. Some of the brands I reached for were Dermaviduals, INIKA Organic and XALI. I really focused on being gentle with my skin rather than overcomplicating things.
I also feel really lucky to be pregnant at a time when we’re celebrating women’s bodies and the incredible things they’re capable of.
What are some traits, traditions and lessons from your own childhood you’re looking forward to passing on to your child?
My mum had the perfect balance between being an incredible mother while also pursuing her own passions and goals. Growing up watching her showed me that anything is possible, and that’s something I really want to carry forward with my own children.
I want them to grow up believing that the world is their oyster, that they can dream big and that if they put their energy into something they’re passionate about, incredible things can happen. I want to show them that you can be a loving, present parent while still having your own dreams and ambitions.
Another tradition I can’t wait to pass down is practising gratitude as a family. It’s something Tom and I do every single night, and I’d love to make it part of our children’s daily routines too. Even something as simple as sharing three things we’re grateful for at the dinner table or before bed can be so powerful.
You’ve spoken about how the grief and loss of your mum has shaped your thoughts on growing a family. How are you feeling about stepping into motherhood without your own mother here?
I’ve had so many moments throughout this pregnancy where I’ve felt incredibly emotional about the fact that Mum isn’t here. There have definitely been times when I’ve felt that it’s really unfair, especially knowing how much becoming a grandmother would have meant to her. Being a mum was her greatest dream, and family was absolutely everything to her.
But on the other hand, I’m a very spiritual person, and I genuinely feel her energy everywhere. I feel like she’s been guiding me throughout this entire pregnancy, and I know she’ll continue to guide me as I step into motherhood.
Even though she’s not physically here, I feel her presence so strongly. She’s always been my North Star, guiding me to do the right thing, and I think that will become even more meaningful as I become a mother myself. I just want to make her proud and carry forward the love and values she instilled in me.
I realised that, as a family unit, we’re ready. Not because everything is perfectly organised or we’ve ticked every box, but because we have each other, and I know we’re ready to embrace whatever this next chapter brings.
How has your relationship with your partner evolved during pregnancy?
Our relationship has strengthened so much throughout this pregnancy. Pregnancy is full of highs and lows, changes, emotions and hormones, and Tom has truly been my rock through it all. If anything, this experience has solidified our relationship even more.
One thing he keeps asking me as we get closer to the end of pregnancy is, “If we had the baby tomorrow, would you feel ready?”
And for most of the pregnancy, my answer has been no! There’s always been something else on my to-do list, something to organise or something I felt we needed to prepare for.
But recently, he asked me again, and for the first time, I said yes.
It was such a beautiful moment because I realised that, as a family unit, we’re ready. Not because everything is perfectly organised or we’ve ticked every box, but because we have each other, and I know we’re ready to embrace whatever this next chapter brings.
What is the biggest lesson you’ll take away from pregnancy, and what are you most looking forward to about motherhood?
As someone who’s been incredibly disciplined for most of my life, particularly when it comes to health and wellness, I think the biggest lesson pregnancy has taught me is the importance of having fun, being present and not taking everything so seriously.
I’ve always been someone who wouldn’t miss a workout and loved having everything planned and organised. But pregnancy has really encouraged me to slow down, let go of some of that rigidity and enjoy the simpler things in life.
Whether that’s having pizza with my husband, playing cards together or enjoying a slow morning without feeling the need to rush into my day, I’ve found so much happiness in those little moments.
And the funny thing is, I genuinely feel the happiest I’ve felt in a long time. Not because I’m the smallest I’ve ever been or because everything in my life is perfectly controlled, but because I’m focusing on the things that actually bring me joy.
That’s the lesson I want to take into motherhood. I want to bring that sense of fun, lightness and spontaneity into our home rather than always feeling like everything needs to be so structured and planned.
I think there’s something really beautiful about learning to be flexible and flow with life rather than constantly trying to control it.
The post ‘We’re Ready’ Dominique Elissa Shares Her Intimate Final Pregnancy Photoshoot With Husband Thomas Bull appeared first on ELLE.
