In a MM exclusive, Jodi tells the real story behind her amazing new cut…

Think of Jodi, and apart from that beaming grin and next-level fashion sense, she’s synonymous with soft, brown waves cascading down her tanned and toned shoulders.

So when she made the bold announcement (on Insta, natch) that she’s about to chop off her iconic locks, we can’t say there wasn’t an apprehensive industry murmur… after all, who is Jodi without that tumbling mane?

But we’re happy to say – the result is brilliant! So much so, that her feed is blowing up, and we’re anticipating to see this style as THE thing for 2019.

Coco Chanel once famously said, “a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life,” and it’s obvious, looking at Jodi, that this emancipated transformation comes for all the right reasons.

While Jodi craved this transformation for a while, the timing had to fit with her filming schedule on Neighbours, where she plays English teacher Elly Conway.

“With work, we stared the discussion about 3 months ago, as the cut had to fit with the arc of my character,” she tells MM via phone while packing for an anticipated trip to the US. “ Finally, we had a break in filming and here we are!”

There’s a newfound authority Jodi, who wanted to shake up her soap star sweetheart persona with a personal look that’s decidedly more sharp and grown up.

“It’s liberating to chop your hair off!” she says. “There’s a sense of nakedness about you… I freaked out when it happened, but I feel like a new woman.”

There’s the added benefit of playing with a totally new look.

“I’m experimenting with turbans on short hair”, she laughs. “The necklines of dresses look different, the same earrings I’ve had for ages have a greater impact.. it’s fun! But I equally feel like I can just wear jeans and a tee, a really simple outfit  and the whole look is more sleek and sophisticated… there’s less need to ‘glam’.”

As well as washing her hair and leaving it in its natural tousle, she loves a top bun and other on-the-go styles.

“The boys (MM and our go-to hairstylist Benjamin Waerea) showed me how to set my hair when its wet so it’s still got body and movement. The cut was designed to be an easy, wearable do. You don’t need to do much to it. People have always told me it’s harder to style short hair, but my experience hasn’t been that at all,” she smiles.

So what does the main squeeze in her life, adorable 4 year old daughter Aleeia think of mum’s new do?

“She thinks it’s so great, although she doesn’t fully understand the textured nature of the hair cut! Some bits are meant to be longer than others, but she tells me ‘I think Uncle Max forgot to chop this bit off!’ It’s so cute, but she doesn’t yet get that it’s meant to be tousled and a bit uneven…”

CREDITS

Words: Alina B / Photographer: Mel Cartmer / Stylist: Micheal Azzollini / Hair & Makeup/Art Direction: Max May