Baby joy! Model Tess Shanahan welcomes a daughter with Bondi Sands co-founder Shaun Wilson
Model Tess Shanahan and her multimillionaire husband Shaun Wilson, co-founder of self-tanning empire Bondi Sands, have announced the birth of their first child.
The power couple made the announcement on Instagram on Monday, revealing that baby Romee made her “first entrance” into the world on September 6.
“Romee Rae Wilson made her grand entrance at 11:37am on September 6, 2024. Our sweet girl is already stealing hearts,” they wrote in their post.
Romee was impeccably styled when she first appeared on the model’s Instagram feed, wearing a beige wool onesie with matching lace-up boots and a pom-pom hat.
The text on the matching name tag placed near the newborn’s head reads: ‘Hello world’.
The couple told her 191,000 followers that she is overjoyed with their little miracle.
“We are completely in love and enjoying every moment in this bubble!” she wrote.
Tess’ model friends came to congratulate her on the new addition to the family. Bec Judd, Miss Universe Australia Daria Varlamova and Chantelle Baker also congratulated her warmly.
Model Tess Shanahan and her multimillionaire husband Shaun Wilson, who co-founded fake tan empire Bondi Sands, have announced the birth of their first child
The power couple made the announcement on Instagram on Monday, revealing that baby Romee made “her grand entrance” into the world on September 6
Shaun complimented his wife and compared her efforts during the delivery of their newborn daughter to that of Superwoman
“You were truly amazing,” Shaun wrote in the comments to his wife, using the hashtag #Superwoman.
The couple are in the midst of a long-term engagement, which Shaun announced on Instagram in July 2023.
Tess, 28, told the Herald Sun they will marry in 2025.
“We have decided to postpone the wedding until 2025 and are thinking of an Australian destination,” she said.
“30.07.23 – My forever,” Tess captioned a series of photos of the elaborate beach proposal.
The couple announced their engagement in July 2023 and shared the happy news with fans on Instagram
The romantic businessman placed an awning with roses on the beach and set up small tables decorated with romantic plates and photos.
Tess is a model, businesswoman and aspiring actor from Melbourne.
She founded the company Verve Superfoods, which sells a range of natural powder products that boost smoothies.
Tess has walked for the likes of Alex Perry, Steven Khalil, David Jones, Myer, Lisa Marie Fernandez and at countless fashion weeks around the world.
Shaun meanwhile founded the Bondi Sands brand in Melbourne in 2012, together with business partner Blair James.
Tess and Shaun are set to tie the knot in 2025 after the birth of their daughter
Blair and his wife Melanie also welcomed their first child last October: a baby boy named Holland Ray James.
“Meet Mr. Holland Ray James,” they wrote in their similar announcement a year ago. “Born 10/5/2023 at 2:19pm, weighs 7 lbs and has a full head of hair!”
The incredibly successful self-tanning line had a 60 percent market share in Australia in 2021 and is the number one self-tanning brand in the world.
It is also sold at US retailers such as Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS, and Rite Aid.
Bondi Sands, which Shaun co-founded, was acquired by Japanese multinational Kao Group in August 2022 for almost $450 million.
Shaun then spent some of his lavish earnings on purchasing a sprawling mansion in Byron Bay, in what has been dubbed the ‘Golden Grid’ of the affluent area.
The couple have some very famous neighbours, including laid-back Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa, as well as his brother Liam Hemsworth.
Shaun and Tess’s luxury home, which he purchased a few months ago for $8.26 million, sits on a 10,100-square-foot elevated lot and features a modern exterior with a columned porch.
Bondi Sands remains one of the most successful brands in the beauty world, with 56 products now sold in 32 countries.
The sprawling empire of self-tanners began in 2008 with a simple idea.
The businessman, who co-founded the fake tan brand with Blair James, invested some of his lavish earnings from the sale of Bondi Sands in purchasing a sprawling mansion in Byron Bay in June (pictured)
James was running fake tanning salons in the friends’ hometown of Melbourne when the state government introduced strict rules for anyone under 18.
At the time, he was forced to turn away clients from his tanning salon, called Body Bronze, who were forced to use self-tanning products at home, which they complained were not half as good as those from the salon.
James brought Shaun on board to invest in filling the gap in the market for self-tanning cream in a tin that looked and felt like the real ‘quintessential Australian self-tanner’ – and Bondi Sands was born.
Now in their late twenties, they have earned enough money from that one golden idea to provide a happy life for their growing family.