Robin Bailey officially launches her memoir, Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink

Robin Bailey. Image: ARN

KIIS 973 Breakfast announcer Robin Bailey has officially launched her debut memoir, Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink.

Around 600 listeners filled The Greek Club in Brisbane on Monday night for an emotional celebration of resilience, love and community.

Hosted by author and podcast host Rebecca Sparrow, the evening featured readings and an intimate Q&A, as Robin spoke candidly about grief, parenting, work and rebuilding life after profound loss.

Adding levity to the night, KIIS 973 co‑hosts Kip Wightman and Corey Oates welcomed the crowd dressed head‑to‑toe in pink as “the hottest flamingos in the room.”

The strong turnout marked a significant moment for Robin and the KIIS 973 Breakfast team, following their highly publicised return to Brisbane radio earlier this year.

Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink tells the story behind Robin’s enduring connection with radio listeners.

Robin’s world shattered when her husband and father of their three boys, Tony Smart, died by suicide, leaving her to navigate grief and single parenthood in the public eye on commercial radio.

Years later, just as she found happiness again with radio executive Sean Pickwell, he died from aggressive cancer only eleven months after their wedding.

Using the metaphor of the flamingo, which only becomes pink through time and interaction with its environment, Robin chronicles her family’s gradual transformation from darkness to colour, as each of her sons found their own way through anger, sorrow and acceptance, and into love and hope.

The book explores guilt, grief, motherhood, work and ultimately joy, and is positioned not as a traditional grief memoir, but as a story about how to keep living when life breaks open.

Flamingos Aren’t Born Pink is published by HarperCollins and is now on sale nationally.

Images supplied.