Australian model Erin Holland has revealed a surprising new career pivot — teaming up with The Block judge Darren Palmer for a property podcast after quietly obtaining her real estate licence.
The glamorous presenter, 37, told Daily Mail she spent months preparing behind the scenes for the venture, confessing she initially felt like a 'fraud' discussing the housing crisis before secretly enrolling to become qualified.
The former beauty queen is diving headfirst into Australia's cut-throat property market with a timely new YouTube podcast called Home of the Century alongside Palmer — after studying for months to earn her real estate credentials.
'It has never been a more prevalent time than now, with how things are in the country. Owning your own home seems like a step too far for so many of us. But there are so many different ways that real life Aussies have done it,' Erin said.
The Cairns-born star revealed she went as far as securing her real estate agent's licence earlier this year to ensure she could speak credibly on the topic — and so she could silence criticism about not being qualified to discuss the subject.
'I got my licence in January — I'm finally accredited! I've also got lived experience over the past six years from building my own property,' she said.
'I wanted to give myself a bit more education around the topic, create a resource that isn't in your face. The podcast is light, fun and easy to understand, while also highlighting real-life stories.'
Erin said she deeply understood why many younger and middle-class Australians felt locked out of the property market altogether — and wanted to reassure them that there were alternative paths to home ownership.
'Who can blame them for thinking that? I feel like that is all we have been fed since 2019, it just feels like the younger generation has been told, "You are never going to own a home in Australia. You are the avocado and toast generation",' she said.
But the television personality insisted there were still opportunities available for buyers willing to think outside the box.
'The landscape has changed so much! Look, maybe you are never going to be able to afford a big house in Sydney. But six years ago I somehow landed on a property in Queensland which has tripled in value! I never thought I would be able to not rent,' she said.
Erin also revealed that investing interstate ended up strengthening her unconventional marriage to Australian cricketer Ben Cutting.
'We are still doing that fly-in-fly-out relationship now, it's been 11 years. I'm still based in Sydney for work, he's in Brisbane. I've always been very passionate about protecting my own financial future,' she said.
'The reason why I invested in Brisbane rather than Sydney was I couldn't afford to buy there... And living apart means I am still excited to see him! Our lifestyle has given us an appreciation of our quality time together.'
The former Miss World Australia winner — who recently became pregnant following a lengthy IVF journey — said motherhood had already dramatically shifted the way she assessed a property.
'Since I became pregnant I view property through a more emotional, family-oriented perspective. I see things that I never saw before,' she said.
'Is it two storeys, is it going to be a nightmare for kids? I haven't even popped out a kid yet and I am already looking at things through a different lens! Like so many things in life, you don't consider it until you walk that path.'
Earlier this month, Erin revealed that she is pregnant with her first child with her cricketer husband Ben Cutting, following a years-long fertility struggle.
The glamorous Australian model told Stellar magazine that she was overcome by emotion when she finally received the exciting news.
'I'm going to cry! It's only taken me 30 seconds, and here I am crying. After 20 rounds of IVF, I'm pregnant, it feels so weird to say out loud,' Erin began.
She added it was incredible to finally receive such joyful news after years of trying, and noting just how difficult the journey had been.
