Reality television stars Steph and Gian Ottavio, the triumphant winners of The Block 2023, have announced the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Ilaria.
A Joyful Instagram Announcement
The couple, both aged 29, shared their happy news with fans on Instagram this Sunday, posting a series of tender photographs of their newborn in hospital. They captioned the heartfelt post, 'You have changed our lives forever,' a sentiment that was quickly echoed by their legion of followers and former co-stars.
Fellow Block alumni were swift to offer their congratulations. Liberty Paschke commented, 'We love her already,' while Rachel and Ryan Carr shared, 'Oh biggest congrats beautiful people. So happy for you both.' Maddy and Charlotte Harry added, 'Ohhh she's just divine. Congratulations beautiful people! We can't wait to meet her.' Harry and Tash Pavlou also chimed in, writing, 'Oh my goodness! She is just a darling! Ilaria is lucky to have such beautiful parents.'
From Block Victory to a New Family
The birth of their daughter marks the latest joyous chapter for the couple, who first revealed they were expecting earlier this year. At the time, they posted a touching video and described it as 'The start of our little family, when two become three.'
Steph and Gian captured the hearts of the nation and secured a monumental victory on The Block in 2023. After weeks of intense renovations, their property, known as House 4, was the first to go under the hammer in a nail-biting auction. Despite initial fears about their $3.35 million reserve, which they called 'hell', their home sold for an astounding $5 million.
This result earned them a $1.65 million profit, which, combined with their $100,000 prize money, brought their total earnings to a record-breaking $1.75 million. The emotional couple embraced and wept tears of joy, calling the windfall 'life-changing'.
Life After The Block: Property Moves and Future Plans
Their success on the show has paved the way for their future endeavours. In July of last year, the childhood sweethearts demonstrated their continued passion for real estate by purchasing an original Federation home in Summer Hill, Sydney, for $2 million.
The three-bedroom property was advertised as a 'freestanding renovator's delight in trendy locale'. The couple expressed their intention to document the entire renovation journey on social media, with Steph explaining, 'We've got this ultimate plan that we can actually take everyone through from the conceptual phase.'
With the arrival of baby Ilaria, Steph and Gian have now embarked on their most cherished project yet: parenthood.
