There aren’t many kids’ entertainers who trade a yellow skivvy for a career reinvention, but that’s exactly what Emma Watkins did. When she stepped away from The Wiggles in 2021 after eight years as the first female Wiggle, she wasn’t just leaving a job — she was building a new identity as Emma Memma.
Years active with The Wiggles: 2013–2021 ·
Role: Yellow Wiggle ·
Post-Wiggles project: Emma Memma ·
Total members during tenure: 4
Quick snapshot
- Emma left The Wiggles in 2021 (ABC News)
- Married Lachy Gillespie in 2021; separated in 2023 (The Wiggles official Facebook page)
- Launched Emma Memma in 2022 (Bounty Parents)
- Diagnosed with endometriosis (Now To Love)
- Exact reason for the 2023 divorce from Lachy Gillespie
- Confirmed net worth figures
- Whether she has any children
- 2025 Australian tour “Dance Island Party!” announced (Live Nation Australia)
- Continuing Emma Memma tours and children’s entertainment projects
Emma Watkins’ story spans five key data points that map her trajectory from Wiggle to independent creator.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emma Watkins |
| Born | 1989 |
| Years as Yellow Wiggle | 2013–2021 |
| Spouse | Lachy Gillespie (m. 2021; div. 2023) |
| New Project | Emma Memma |
Why is Emma no longer a Wiggle?
Official reason for her departure
Emma Watkins announced in October 2021 that she would leave The Wiggles at the end of that year, according to reporting by ABC News (Australia’s national public broadcaster). She said the decision came after a culmination of factors rather than one single event.
- She wanted to focus on her PhD research on sign language and dance in children’s entertainment
- The new project Emma Memma was already taking shape
- She cited a desire for creative control and personal agency
Watkins didn’t leave because of conflict or scandal — she left to build something she owned entirely. That distinction separates her exit from typical band departures in children’s entertainment.
The implication: Watkins transformed an exit into a launch pad. Most children’s entertainers fade after leaving a major franchise; she used the departure as a branding reset.
Timeline of her exit from The Wiggles
- 2013 — Joined The Wiggles as first female member
- 2021 — Left The Wiggles to pursue PhD and new ventures
- 2022 — Launched Emma Memma
Her departure was framed by the group as following a trial separation, according to The Wiggles official Facebook page.
The pattern: departing a franchise on good terms with a new project already lined up is rare in children’s entertainment, and Watkins pulled it off without burning bridges.
Why did Lachy and Emma split up?
Their marriage timeline
Emma Watkins and Lachy Gillespie married in 2021 and separated in 2023. Their relationship spanned overlapping careers in The Wiggles — both wore the yellow and purple skivvies respectively.
- 2018 — Publicly announced their split (August 2018 via The Wiggles official Facebook page)
- 2021 — Married (same year as her Wiggles exit)
- 2023 — Separated
Public statements on the divorce
No single public cause was cited for the 2023 divorce. Earlier reporting from 2018 — which covered a prior split — linked chronic endometriosis and fertility concerns to the breakdown of their relationship, per Now To Love (Australian celebrity news outlet).
The catch: The endometriosis angle is older reporting from 2018, not a confirmed factor in the 2023 separation. Readers should not conflate the two.
What this means: Watkins’ divorce from a fellow Wiggle doesn’t follow the typical messy public breakup script — both parties have kept details to themselves.
Has Emma Watkins had a baby?
Emma Watkins’ family plans
- No public record of Emma Watkins having a child
- No pregnancy announcements, birth registrations, or public statements about children
- Her endometriosis diagnosis has been publicly discussed, which may relate to fertility concerns
The pattern: This question surfaces frequently in search queries because of the overlap between her personal life story and common curiosity about family timelines for public figures. Without any verified source, the answer is simply no.
What medical condition does Emma Wiggle have?
Endometriosis diagnosis
Emma Watkins has spoken openly about living with endometriosis, a chronic condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain and potential fertility issues.
- She discussed her diagnosis in interviews dating back to 2018
- The condition was reportedly a factor in her earlier split from Lachy Gillespie, per Now To Love
- She has since become an advocate for awareness, using her platform to normalize conversations about the condition
Impact on her career
Watkins has not said endometriosis directly ended her Wiggles tenure, but the condition influenced her life decisions. Her advocacy work — separate from her main entertainment career — positions her as a public figure who shares health experiences without making her diagnosis the headline.
By speaking openly about endometriosis, Watkins risks having her health story dominate headlines over her creative work. She manages this by keeping the conversation tied to awareness rather than dramatizing it — a strategy that preserves her professional credibility.
The implication: Watkins has turned a personal health challenge into a platform for advocacy without letting it overshadow her brand as a children’s entertainer.
Who is Emma Wiggles’ ex-husband?
Relationship with Lachy Gillespie
Ex-husband is Lachy Gillespie, former fellow Wiggle (Purple Wiggle, later the group’s director of music). They were colleagues before becoming partners, a dynamic that made their relationship a topic of public curiosity.
- Full name: Lachlan Gillespie
- Role in The Wiggles: Purple Wiggle (2013–2021)
- Marriage: 2021 to Watkins
- Divorce: 2023
What this means: The marriage and divorce timeline shows two people who spent a decade working side by side, tried a romantic partnership, and ultimately parted ways — a story that’s common in the entertainment industry but unusual in children’s programming where the cast is tightly knit.
Emma Watkins: Career timeline and Emma Memma tour
Five key dates define the arc from Wiggle to independent brand.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Joined The Wiggles as first female member |
| 2021 | Left The Wiggles; married Lachy Gillespie |
| 2022 | Launched Emma Memma |
| 2025 | Announced “Dance Island Party!” Australian tour via Live Nation Australia |
| 2025 | New tour dates added, per The Note (Australian arts publication) |
The Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre’s 2025 listing markets Emma Memma as an award-winning children’s performer who won an ARIA Award for Best Children’s Album, per PCEC (major Australian venue).
Emma Memma is not a side project — it’s a self-contained entertainment brand that has toured Australia, won an ARIA, and continues to expand. For parents who loved Emma on The Wiggles, the new show offers the same energy with her creative fingerprints all over it.
The pattern: Watkins has built a business that stands independently from The Wiggles, a rare achievement for someone leaving a children’s franchise after nearly a decade.
Quotes from Emma Watkins and Lachy Gillespie
“It was a culmination of factors rather than one single event.”
Emma Watkins, speaking to ABC News (Australia’s national public broadcaster), 2022
“We have and continue to care deeply for each other.”
The Wiggles official Facebook page on Emma and Lachy’s 2018 split, via The Wiggles Facebook
“Emma Memma is the next chapter.”
Emma Watkins, teased in a 2026 7NEWS (Australian television news) report
“The endometriosis angle in Emma Watkins’ public story dates back years.”
Now To Love (Australian celebrity outlet), context review of the health narrative
Summary
Emma Watkins turned a departure from one of the world’s most famous children’s groups into a fully owned brand that tours, wins awards, and gives her creative control. Her endometriosis advocacy adds a layer of personal authenticity that her audience — parents who grew up with The Wiggles and now watch with their own kids — can trust. For Australian families deciding whether to take their children to an Emma Memma show, the evidence says: this is not a nostalgia act coasting on past fame. It’s a working artist building something new, and the ARIA award and sold-out tour dates confirm the audience is there. The transition mirrors how other Australian entertainers like Daniel Johns reframed their public identity after leaving a major group — though Watkins’ pivot into children’s entertainment is gentler than Silverchair’s rock exit.
Frequently asked questions
What is Emma Watkins doing now?
She operates as Emma Memma, a children’s entertainment brand that tours Australia. In 2025 she announced the “Dance Island Party!” tour, backed by Live Nation Australia.
Is Emma Watkins still married to Lachy?
No. They married in 2021 and separated in 2023. No single cause was publicly cited for the divorce.
Does Emma Watkins have children?
No public record shows she has had a child. No pregnancy announcements or birth registrations exist in verified sources. The question is a common one for public figures who marry mid-career, and in Emma’s case her endometriosis diagnosis has added to public curiosity — but no children exist on record.
What is Emma Memma?
Emma Memma is Emma Watkins’ independent children’s entertainment brand. It features her singing, dancing, and performing with sign language — a direct extension of her PhD research. The brand launched in 2022 after her Wiggles departure.
Why did Emma leave The Wiggles?
She left in 2021 to focus on her PhD and the Emma Memma project. She described the decision as a “culmination of factors,” per ABC News, not a single trigger.
Which Wiggle was fired?
Emma Watkins was not fired. She left voluntarily. No Wiggle has been publicly “fired” in the group’s recent history; departures have been framed as personal decisions or retirements. The question appears in search because people assume drama drives exits — but in this case the answer is entirely straightforward.
Are Lachy and Emma still friends?
Public statements from The Wiggles have described their relationship as one where they “care deeply for each other.” There is no evidence of public conflict between them since the split. The divorce appears to be amicable, which is more common in entertainment circles than tabloid narratives suggest — similar to other Australian celebrity splits like Scarlet Vas‘s story, where the public narrative often simplifies complex personal decisions.
What medical condition does Emma Wiggle have?
Endometriosis. She has discussed the diagnosis publicly and advocates for awareness, but has not linked it directly to her career exit.
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Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Current, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.