The Aussie woman who became the youngest ever person to circumnavigate the world solo has revealed she has a baby on the way.
Jessica Watson made international headlines in May 2010 when she successfully sailed around the world by herself at age 16.
Throughout her 210 days at sea, Ms Watson survived all manner of trials and tribulations, including seven “knockdowns”, and has since earnt herself an Order of Australia Medal.
Sixteen years later, Ms Watson is taking on an exciting new challenge: motherhood.
In an Instagram post, Ms Watson said she was “very excited” to reveal the child would likely be born before January.
“We’re very excited to be expecting a little crew member at the end of the year,” Ms Watson said.
“(I’m) grateful, and acutely aware of how important it is to celebrate such a wondrous thing.”
Ms Watson has kept her romantic life out of the spotlight since the untimely death of her previous partner and high school sweetheart Cameron Dale in September 2021.
Mr Dale, who had been Ms Watson’s partner for 10 years, died after a “catastrophic stroke” caused by an undiagnosed hypertension.
Since then, Ms Watson has been the subject of a Netflix biopic released in 2023, and she more recently appeared in the award-winning 2024 Kia Tasman ad, which featured several famous Aussie “high achievers”.