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Flamingos Aren't Born Pink: A moving and uplifting memoir on heartbreak, grief and finding joy, by Brisbane radio personality and podcaster
My family's story of healing, hope and living life in colour - a stunningly moving and uplifting memoir of love, loss and transformation, and navigating unimaginable heartbreak through parenting, work and life by the Brisbane media star and 35-year radio veteran
In the wild, flamingos transform to their vibrant pink from the environment around them - a process of startling change and becoming that Robin Bailey has been through herself. Robin's world fell apart when her husband and father of their three boys, Tony Smart, died by suicide, and she was left to parent alone through her grief in the most public of ways, on commercial radio. Years later, she found deep happiness again with radio executive Sean Pickwell, only for him to die from an aggressive cancer just eleven months after their wedding.
But Robin's transformation through the great loves and losses of her life has only made her stronger, more vibrant and a more loving and capable woman and mother. Robin's honest, brave storytelling holds nothing back - from her sense of guilt at Tony's suicide, the terrible impact it had on their young boys Fin, Lewin and Piper, the fallout with work, family and more, and the saving grace of falling in love with Sean - and the heartbreaking journey they all made through his death from liver cancer.
Robin's story grapples with the darkness of her experience but it's also about joy, love, hope, and a family, forged in the fire of grief to become stronger, more vibrant and loving humans - colourful and proud. Her powerful, moving story is filled deep insights into grieving, parenting, working and living, all told with verve and transparency, including how each of her sons traversed their own journeys through grief, from anger, sorrow and acceptance and into the light of love and hope.
In the wild, flamingos transform to their vibrant pink from the environment around them - a process of startling change and becoming that Robin Bailey has been through herself. Robin's world fell apart when her husband and father of their three boys, Tony Smart, died by suicide, and she was left to parent alone through her grief in the most public of ways, on commercial radio. Years later, she found deep happiness again with radio executive Sean Pickwell, only for him to die from an aggressive cancer just eleven months after their wedding.
But Robin's transformation through the great loves and losses of her life has only made her stronger, more vibrant and a more loving and capable woman and mother. Robin's honest, brave storytelling holds nothing back - from her sense of guilt at Tony's suicide, the terrible impact it had on their young boys Fin, Lewin and Piper, the fallout with work, family and more, and the saving grace of falling in love with Sean - and the heartbreaking journey they all made through his death from liver cancer.
Robin's story grapples with the darkness of her experience but it's also about joy, love, hope, and a family, forged in the fire of grief to become stronger, more vibrant and loving humans - colourful and proud. Her powerful, moving story is filled deep insights into grieving, parenting, working and living, all told with verve and transparency, including how each of her sons traversed their own journeys through grief, from anger, sorrow and acceptance and into the light of love and hope.
- GenresAudiobook
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2026
About the author
Robin Bailey
25 books1 followerThis is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as Robin Bailey
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 2, 2026
Book Review: Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink by Robin Bailey
There are some books that are a great read.
There are some that you know you’ll read again.
This book hits you right in the emotional centre of your soul. This is a memoir that not only recounts a life lived both personally and professionally, but it also lays bare one of the hardest moments that a woman can face.
Becoming a widow. For Robin, this happened twice.
This book grabbed me by page 3 of the prologue when Robin said, “Do I blame myself for Tony’s death?” With just that one sentence, I knew this was going to be a book of raw, open, honesty. I knew that this book was going to be truth.
Robins' life story is marked by some amazing events, but also by profound tragedy – widowhood. The loss by suicide of her first husband left her not only grieving but raising three young boys in the public eye, Years later, just as she found love again, she was dealt another devastating blow when her second husband died from aggressive cancer less than a year into their marriage. Both losses unfolding against the backdrop of radio and public life.
This book has an emotional intensity to it, a rawness that has the potential to be incredibly confronting. But it is that raw honesty that makes this book so special. Robin confronts guilt, anger, and the messy, often unspoken realities of grief. Particularly powerful is her exploration of how loss reverberates through a family, with each of her sons processing their grief differently.
Robins writing style is refreshingly unguarded. What had the potential to become a heavy narrative is instead something far more nuanced. Bailey does not shy away from the darkness—indeed, she walks straight into it—but she refuses to let it define the entire story. Instead, she carefully threads through it themes of survival, motherhood, and, most strikingly, hope.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its truth. It acknowledges that grief does not disappear, nor does life neatly “move on.” Instead, the book shows how it evolves—how joy can coexist with sorrow, and how healing is less about closure and more about continuation. The memoir ultimately becomes not just about loss, but about what is built afterwards: stronger relationships, deeper empathy, and a renewed appreciation for life.
In the end, Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink is a deeply human book. It is about breaking, but more importantly, about rebuilding. It speaks to anyone who has loved, lost, and wondered how to keep going.
Addit: As a widow, Robins words meant so much. To hear them from someone else who understands how I feel, makes a difference.
There are some books that are a great read.
There are some that you know you’ll read again.
This book hits you right in the emotional centre of your soul. This is a memoir that not only recounts a life lived both personally and professionally, but it also lays bare one of the hardest moments that a woman can face.
Becoming a widow. For Robin, this happened twice.
This book grabbed me by page 3 of the prologue when Robin said, “Do I blame myself for Tony’s death?” With just that one sentence, I knew this was going to be a book of raw, open, honesty. I knew that this book was going to be truth.
Robins' life story is marked by some amazing events, but also by profound tragedy – widowhood. The loss by suicide of her first husband left her not only grieving but raising three young boys in the public eye, Years later, just as she found love again, she was dealt another devastating blow when her second husband died from aggressive cancer less than a year into their marriage. Both losses unfolding against the backdrop of radio and public life.
This book has an emotional intensity to it, a rawness that has the potential to be incredibly confronting. But it is that raw honesty that makes this book so special. Robin confronts guilt, anger, and the messy, often unspoken realities of grief. Particularly powerful is her exploration of how loss reverberates through a family, with each of her sons processing their grief differently.
Robins writing style is refreshingly unguarded. What had the potential to become a heavy narrative is instead something far more nuanced. Bailey does not shy away from the darkness—indeed, she walks straight into it—but she refuses to let it define the entire story. Instead, she carefully threads through it themes of survival, motherhood, and, most strikingly, hope.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its truth. It acknowledges that grief does not disappear, nor does life neatly “move on.” Instead, the book shows how it evolves—how joy can coexist with sorrow, and how healing is less about closure and more about continuation. The memoir ultimately becomes not just about loss, but about what is built afterwards: stronger relationships, deeper empathy, and a renewed appreciation for life.
In the end, Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink is a deeply human book. It is about breaking, but more importantly, about rebuilding. It speaks to anyone who has loved, lost, and wondered how to keep going.
Addit: As a widow, Robins words meant so much. To hear them from someone else who understands how I feel, makes a difference.
Read
June 3, 2026If you live or have lived in South East Queensland, chances are that you've heard of Robin Bailey. Currently a part of Brisbane's KISS973 Breakfast team, Robin has been Rockin the radio airwaves for over 30 years.
As a fan of Robin's, I'm familiar with her passionate honesty and openness, as she shares tidbits about her life- the love for her three sons, grief over late husband's Tony and Sean and her strong friendship groups that have constantly uplifted her in the downs and celebrated her wins.
Robin brings her warmth, humour, and empathy to the pages of Flamingos Aren't Born Pink, her first memoir. If you think you know Robin on the basis of her media presence, you're about to be surprised, stunned and reaching for the tissues. What goes beyond the microphone is brought to the limelight, with no barrels withheld.
Robin discloses many moments that display her vulnerability- such as an affair whilst she was still married and the harrowing turmoil of becoming a widow twice over. She's dealt with more than her fair share of grief, walking a rocky road, yet Robin has the capability to view circumstances beyond her control with beauty and grace. The world has been painted with a rainbow brush, something Robin retaliates time and time again, serving us as a powerful reminder.
If you have listened to Robin in the past, you're aware of the controversy and scrutiny she receives from the media and public. Hopefully to these haters, this will evoke a lesson of kindness and generosity- something Robin is an advocate about.
Unrated due to a personal story.
As a fan of Robin's, I'm familiar with her passionate honesty and openness, as she shares tidbits about her life- the love for her three sons, grief over late husband's Tony and Sean and her strong friendship groups that have constantly uplifted her in the downs and celebrated her wins.
Robin brings her warmth, humour, and empathy to the pages of Flamingos Aren't Born Pink, her first memoir. If you think you know Robin on the basis of her media presence, you're about to be surprised, stunned and reaching for the tissues. What goes beyond the microphone is brought to the limelight, with no barrels withheld.
Robin discloses many moments that display her vulnerability- such as an affair whilst she was still married and the harrowing turmoil of becoming a widow twice over. She's dealt with more than her fair share of grief, walking a rocky road, yet Robin has the capability to view circumstances beyond her control with beauty and grace. The world has been painted with a rainbow brush, something Robin retaliates time and time again, serving us as a powerful reminder.
If you have listened to Robin in the past, you're aware of the controversy and scrutiny she receives from the media and public. Hopefully to these haters, this will evoke a lesson of kindness and generosity- something Robin is an advocate about.
Unrated due to a personal story.
April 8, 2026
Robin has experienced more grief than many people will face in a lifetime. To come through that with such hope, warmth and authenticity is a true testament to her strength as a person and her dedication to helping others. Her story is not only moving, but deeply inspiring.
This book isn’t only for those who have experienced loss, but also for anyone supporting someone through grief and unsure of what to say or do. It offers practical, compassionate guidance.
One of the most powerful aspects is the inclusion of chapters from her boys, sharing their perspectives on their dad’s death and their relationship with their mum. This adds a deeply personal and unique layer that isn’t often seen in autobiographies. The love they have for their mum truly shines through.
What also stands out is Robin’s willingness to own her mistakes and be honest about her experiences, in the hope of helping others feel less alone. That level of openness makes this book even more powerful. It’s unlike any autobiography I’ve read, it's raw, honest, and incredibly moving 🩷
This book isn’t only for those who have experienced loss, but also for anyone supporting someone through grief and unsure of what to say or do. It offers practical, compassionate guidance.
One of the most powerful aspects is the inclusion of chapters from her boys, sharing their perspectives on their dad’s death and their relationship with their mum. This adds a deeply personal and unique layer that isn’t often seen in autobiographies. The love they have for their mum truly shines through.
What also stands out is Robin’s willingness to own her mistakes and be honest about her experiences, in the hope of helping others feel less alone. That level of openness makes this book even more powerful. It’s unlike any autobiography I’ve read, it's raw, honest, and incredibly moving 🩷
May 13, 2026
Wow.
As one of her sons writes at the end, “You think you know my mum, but you don’t”. Even longtime listeners of Robin’s radio career will learn something new. There’s the public stories, the grief, the family. But there’s so much more and the deeper you read, the more you realise that even celebrities don’t have the answers. Seems like they do…
Robin is candid, raw, and open in her memoir. The final days of Tony’s life. Every moment of Sean’s cancer. How she held it all together for an audience, even when the audience was her closest friends and family.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll finish the book quickly. And you’ll want to read the current chapter in her life.
As one of her sons writes at the end, “You think you know my mum, but you don’t”. Even longtime listeners of Robin’s radio career will learn something new. There’s the public stories, the grief, the family. But there’s so much more and the deeper you read, the more you realise that even celebrities don’t have the answers. Seems like they do…
Robin is candid, raw, and open in her memoir. The final days of Tony’s life. Every moment of Sean’s cancer. How she held it all together for an audience, even when the audience was her closest friends and family.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll finish the book quickly. And you’ll want to read the current chapter in her life.
August 30, 2026
This book is raw, the author's vulnerability and that of her children makes this book worth reading, once I didn't stop listening until it was finished.
Robin Bailey's life is one of love, immense grief, friendship, and loss. The way Robin navigates the losses in her life is a mark of who she is. She has made mistakes and openly admits this in the book.
Robin's way of navigating grief whilst working in the public eye, being a mum to three boys is to be applauded.
Robin's beliefs around spiritual matters are nothing like my own. So for me this was not part of the book I was interested in.
The last part of the book where her boys have their say is a masterstroke.
Robin Bailey's life is one of love, immense grief, friendship, and loss. The way Robin navigates the losses in her life is a mark of who she is. She has made mistakes and openly admits this in the book.
Robin's way of navigating grief whilst working in the public eye, being a mum to three boys is to be applauded.
Robin's beliefs around spiritual matters are nothing like my own. So for me this was not part of the book I was interested in.
The last part of the book where her boys have their say is a masterstroke.
June 16, 2026
Having walked a path of immense loss—losing my son, and then my husband to suicide over 20 years ago—Robin’s raw honesty felt deeply familiar. Navigating that level of grief while raising young boys is a unique journey, and her story is a comforting reminder that life does keep moving. There is no rule book for loss. People come and go, but this book is a beautiful reminder to look after yourself, trust that your kids are resilient, and know that it is entirely okay to move on and find love again.
August 4, 2026
Such a beautiful and often raw read about the experiences that have shaped Robin Bailey.
It felt incredibly honest and authentic. I loved that her sons were also able to add their own thoughts and words.
I didn’t want to put this book down until I saw it right through.
Wishing her and her boys great happiness and good health.
It felt incredibly honest and authentic. I loved that her sons were also able to add their own thoughts and words.
I didn’t want to put this book down until I saw it right through.
Wishing her and her boys great happiness and good health.
April 13, 2026
I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. Robin Bailey reveals the hardest parts of her life; it’s raw and unflinching and emotionally moving. There’s even a section at the end with her boys revealing their own story. Quite a few trigger warnings to look out for.
April 11, 2026
Tender
Great book. Couldn't wait to go to bed at
night to read it. Such a strong woman and 3 amazing children.
Great book. Couldn't wait to go to bed at
night to read it. Such a strong woman and 3 amazing children.
April 23, 2026
Being a 97.3FM listener and having been along for the journey for much of this, I really enjoyed reading about things from 'the inside' as it were.
May 29, 2026
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - having been a long time listener to Robin on Brisbane morning radio, I was surprised by just how much this woman has endured - her strength is inspiring!
July 11, 2026
An emotional read. Raw & honest.
August 9, 2026
I loved this book. Robin’s writing style is easy to read and so personable.
August 22, 2026
Robin Bailey’s autobiography - a no holds barred account.
August 27, 2026
Raw. Uplifting. Honest.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews