When Emma Watkins switched on her camera at 7:45am to join a Zoom call with ABC News, imagine my shock when she was dressed in full costume as Emma Memma.

At first, I thought she’d dressed up for the interview, as I took in her apricot and peach outfit and perfectly styled hair.

But Watkins was in a car with her musician husband Oliver Brian driving to the first of many pre-schools and daycare centres she planned to visit that day.

The former Yellow Wiggle has been nominated for an ARIA in the Best Children’s Album category in her first year as Emma Memma.

She has previously won four ARIA awards with The Wiggles.

But here’s the thing.

The Wiggles are also nominated for Best Children’s Album this year.

Watkins left the group to pursue a PhD in creative integration of dance, sign language and film editing, which she has since completed.

Watkins works closely with Brian, who is part of her creative team and has also previously worked with The Wiggles.

She also teams up with co-performer Elvin Lam, aka Elvin Melvin, who is deaf and uses Auslan to communicate.

Her team, she says, consider it such an honour to be nominated.

“We’re so happy to be even in the category,” Watkins said.

“To be nominated is just amazing.

The Wiggles hold the record as the most-awarded children’s group, having won 15 ARIAs over the years.

Play School and Peter Combe have also previously won the category and are nominated this year, with newcomers to the category Whistle & Trick rounding out this year’s nominees.

Children’s category ‘should be’ televised

Despite the strong field, the category isn’t televised.

“The fact that we can celebrate that there’s that much children’s music in Australia is awesome,” Watkins said.

“And I think with the rise of Bluey, that’s only making people more enthusiastic to make children’s content in Australia.