Perth girl 'super excited' about new Yellow Wiggle: 'She looks just like me'
By Heidi Krause|
A collective wave of sadness rippled across Australia this week when Emma Watkins announced she would be leaving The Wiggles.
While Perth schoolgirl Akuch was upset to hear Emma would be departing, she could not have been more thrilled to see a photo of her replacement.
"There's a new Yellow Wiggle and she's just like me!," five-year-old Akuch screamed excitedly at her dad, Paul Baggaley.
READ MORE: Who is Tsehay Hawkins - the new Yellow Wiggle?
Akuch is of course referring to the news that Emma Watkin's replacement is Ethopian -born dancer Tsehay Hawkins.
Only 16-years-old, Tsehay will don the yellow skivvy as Watkins says goodbye to the iconic children's group at the end of the year.
Speaking to 9Honey Parenting, Paul explains that he and wife Jen adopted little Akuch when she was one.
And the little girl has always been obsessed with The Wiggles.
"Akuch is obsessed with The Wiggles and loves to watch the new ones as well as the old school ones that her siblings grew up on," the Perth-based dad-of-four says.
"We can't escape the Wiggles in our household! She knows all the words to most of their songs which she sings at the top of her lungs."
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Akuch, who suffers from cerebral palsy and can't walk, even insisted on yellow sunflowers for her wheelchair wheels.
"Up until now, her favourite Wiggle has been Emma and she loves wearing her yellow dress," Paul says.
"In fact her favourite colour is yellow and she chose bright yellow sunflowers for her wheelchair wheels."
"She's super excited about Tsehay as well as the upcoming concert and hasn't stopped telling everyone she comes into contact with."
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The family are looking forward to the Fruit Salad TV Big Show tour.
"Last Christmas we went to Dreamworld and had to take her back three days running in order to meet Wags the Dog, who was the only character available at the time," he laughs. "She's been asking to go back ever since."
"She would love to meet Tsehay and all the Wiggles," Paul adds. "It would be a dream come true."
When Paul posted a photo of his gorgeous daughter to the Wiggles Facebook page, he was met with a flood of positive comments and support.
"This right here is why representation is so important! Your daughter is absolutely beautiful," commented one user.
"I absolutely love this. Your daughter is adorable," said another Wiggles fan.
"This is just beautiful and I'm so glad your daughter now feels included! This makes my heart so happy," said another.
"My daughter said the same thing and it made my heart burst!", commented a fourth parent.
Tsehay was first introduced in August, when the iconic kids' group announced they were doubling their central cast members from four to eight
The move was made to ensure the group was more ethnically diverse and inclusive, and bring The Wiggles into the 21st century.
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