DUBAI: Part-Arab model Shanina Shaik took part in her first-ever Mother’s Day campaign with fashion platform Witchery to mark the Australian iteration of the globally celebrated occasion, which lands on May 12.
The Australia-born model — who is of Saudi, Pakistani and Lithuanian descent — shares a son with her partner, Matthew Adesuyan.
Born in September 2022, their toddler Zai Adesuyan Matthew is also part of the campaign video and he can be seen laughing on his mother’s lap in a studio setting.
“Motherhood has changed me in so many ways… it’s definitely created more patience,” Shaik joked in the video campaign that she shared with her 3.4 million followers on Instagram.
“Now that I’m a mother, I would like to say to my mother, ‘I understand.’ I understand the worry, the concern, because you just want to protect your child every day at all costs,” she added.
The 33-year-old model also said: “If I could describe motherhood in one word, it would be ‘powerful,’” before concluding “the purest form of love is the bond between a mother and a child.”
Shaik announced the birth of her first child in September 2022 by sharing a picture of the couple’s bundle of joy on Instagram. “Welcome to the world baby Zai Adesuyan Matthew. @bausmatthew and I are so in love,” she captioned the post.
“I have taken this time to adjust to my baby’s schedule and to understand the role of being a mother. Bringing life into this world is a beautiful challenge. I would be happy to share my experience soon,” she wrote at the time.
Zai was born on Sept. 16 in Los Angeles, according to Shaik’s mother, Kim Shaik.
The grandmother wrote on Facebook: “My gorgeous grandson was born last night at 12:50 on the 16th September 2022.”
The catwalk star announced her pregnancy in May 2022 with a letter to her then-unborn child.
“To the new love of my life, thank you for choosing me to be your mum. I have always wanted you for as long as I can remember, and at times my patience was tested. The timing had to be right, and I can say with confidence that I am ready to be your guide, your protector and your best friend,” the former Victoria’s Secret model wrote.
“As each month goes by during this precious journey of pregnancy, I am learning what the role of being a mother entails. I worry a lot, especially about your wellbeing and development. It’s a feeling that I’ve never experienced before, not even about myself. I would do anything for you, be anything for you and sacrifice anything for you,” she continued.
She then praised her own mother, mentioning that she was raised by an “amazing woman” who taught her a lot about motherhood. “She has set the bar high and I don’t want to disappoint you. I want to raise you as she raised me.”
