Tammy Hembrow has revealed that one of her first jobs after high school was as a telemarketer and that the work left her so distressed she would "cry before and after every shift."
In a clip shared on TikTok this week, the 31-year-old social media star described making cold calls to sell solar panels and said the role took a significant mental toll. "I hated this job so much," Hembrow said. "I would call people and they'd scream at me. I was so sensitive; one time I cried during a shift. They yelled and hung up on me — I literally started crying." She added that the pay was attractive for someone fresh out of school, which is why she stayed in the role as long as she could despite finding it "the worst job."
Telemarketing positions in Australia are commonly offered on a part-time or casual basis and can include a base pay with performance-based bonuses; the industry has been reported to offer around $30 an hour for some entry roles. Hembrow's account underscores the emotional strain cold-calling jobs can place on young workers who face frequent rejection.
Hembrow left telemarketing years before rising to international prominence as a fitness entrepreneur and influencer. She launched activewear label Saski Collection in 2017; the brand's designs are now sold in more than 190 countries. She also founded the Tammy Fit app, with reported subscription options ranging from $114.99 per year to $24.99 per month.
Those ventures, along with her social media presence, have helped build Hembrow's profile and wealth. Reports place her net worth at about $50 million. Her social accounts include roughly 17.1 million followers on Instagram and about 1.31 million subscribers on YouTube.
Hembrow owns a five-bedroom waterfront mansion on the Gold Coast that she purchased in August 2020 for around $2.88 million. The property features a pool and a deck behind glass doors that open onto a stretch of water.
Alongside the professional details, Hembrow has recently been the focus of interest over her personal life. She has been seen in public with Australian Football League player Bailey Smith. The pair were photographed dining at Entrecôte in Prahran, where Smith's hand was seen resting on Hembrow's leg, and were previously spotted on the Gold Coast sharing kisses and walking arm-in-arm. Hembrow, who was in Melbourne for work including an appearance at a Sasha Therese event, has described Smith as a "sweetie" and "a good guy."
Hembrow's remembrance of her early paid work highlights the contrast between the financial strain and emotional difficulty of entry-level jobs and the commercial success she later achieved. Her comments also contribute to broader conversations about the pressures faced by young people entering customer-facing sales roles.
Reporting of Hembrow's recollection and details of her business interests and lifestyle were shared publicly through her TikTok and Instagram posts and are consistent with prior reporting on her career trajectory. She continues to expand her fitness and fashion enterprises while maintaining a prominent social media presence.