Emma Watkins was an energetic dancer and singer who was known for her role as the yellow-skivvy in the popular children’s television show “The Wiggle.”
However, she was also dealing with the effects of endometriosis, a condition that affects about one in nine women.
She had become used to dealing with the discomfort caused by the disease, and she assumed that everyone else would experience the same.
“I had pain so much through high school and throughout working on tour,” Emma says.
“I just thought that that was normal, which is terrible.” It wasn’t until 2017, aged 27 at the time, that she decided to investigate her pain.
“I was on tour, and I just happened to be bleeding every day for quite a long time,” she says.
“(Eventually) I thought ‘hmmm that’s not quite right’ and I essentially discovered it (endometriosis).”
Due to her condition, she was temporarily removed from her touring schedule. Her diagnosis gave her a platform to start a dialogue about endometriosis, which can affect various parts of a woman’s body.
Some of the symptoms of endometriosis include pain in the back, pelvic pain, bloating, low energy, and difficulty conceiving.
Although around 30 percent of women with this condition experience some difficulty conceiving, most of them can successfully conceive naturally. A
fter The Wiggles ended their run in October, Emma started her own career. She created a new character named Emma M.
Although her alter ego is still full of curly hair, Emma has also changed her color to match her pink shirt and orange dress. She uses sign language to communicate with her character.
She hopes that her portrayal of Emma M will inspire children to learn about Auslan.