Former AFLW star Moana Hope has welcomed a new member to the family.
The 36-year-old soccer champion took to social media on Thursday to share a cute photo of a Cavoodle puppy.
In the photo, Maria was sitting in the driver’s seat of a car while cradling the small dog.
Moana told her followers in the caption that the family’s new pet was called Stella and had been chosen by her children Svea, three, and son Ahi, two.
“If you’re not a dog lover, keep scrolling,” Moana joked in the post.
He then continued, ‘Everyone else, please meet the new addition to our family, Stella. She is a Cavoodle and was chosen and named by my cute children.
Moana Hope has welcomed a new member to the family, a Cavoodle puppy named Stella
It comes after Moana and her partner Maria Thattil have been at the center of split rumors for months.
Last month, a popular gossip site speculated that the women split after Moana stopped appearing in Maria’s social media posts.
A follower asked Instagram page Influencer Updates if the couple had broken up, and the site responded, “I think so.”
“I was hoping Moana would just not be on Maria’s social media because Moana was on I’m a Celebrity… but it looks like Moana will be posting at home this weekend,” they added.
In images posted to Instagram and Instagram Stories this week, Moana has indeed been home.
The casual posts seem to quash rumors that she might star in the reality series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Australia.
Moana last appeared in a post on Maria’s Instagram in November, while Moana last posted to Maria in September.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Maria Thattil and Moana Hope for comment.
It comes after Moana and her partner Maria Thattil have been at the center of split rumors for months. (Both pictured)
In June, Maria praised the “love of her life” while providing rare insight into their relationship.
The former Miss Universe Australia, 31, started dating Moana late last year and the couple even teased an engagement.
They usually keep their romance relatively secret, but Maria shared some strange comments about her girlfriend on The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show podcast.
He told host Jessica Rowe that his relationship with Moana is different to previous romances and described her as the “love of his life.”
“It’s surprising and challenging, and it makes me grow in a way I’ve never experienced before,” said Maria, who recently made her debut in Neighbors as Amira Devkar.
‘In the past I thought that if I wanted a career, to be that person I thought I needed to be, I needed to sacrifice everything else. But here I am with true love in my life. With someone I love very much.’
Maria, who made her red carpet debut with Moana in September last year, said she was happy in their relationship and opened up about how they are navigating life with Moana’s children.
The Moana athlete shares children, Svea, three, and Ahi, one, with his ex-wife Isabella Carlstrom, from whom he separated in June last year after six years together.
Last month, a popular gossip site speculated that the women split after Moana stopped appearing in Maria’s social media posts.
Of their family dynamic, Maria explained: “She (Moana) has kids, and there’s a whole different side to me that I didn’t know.
‘And now I’m learning and I’m on that journey. I can have all these things and it doesn’t take anything away from me.
‘Because I deserve it. I deserve love and I am enough. And it’s good that I’m making space for this.’
Although the couple often appeared publicly together, they rarely commented on their budding romance.
In March, Maria said that while she is open about her romance with Moana, there are some things she prefers to keep private to protect their growing relationship.
“One thing I’ve learned is the importance of protecting certain parts of your life and keeping something sacred,” she told Stellar Magazine.
‘In this digital world we live in, strangers feel entitled to you; Sometimes they can have parasocial relationships where they feel entitled to ask me things.
“I always think to myself that these people would never come up to you on the street and ask you these things, point-blank, to your face.” And I feel like I don’t want that undue pressure.”
The couple had been dating for several months and had moved in together and Moana hinted last November that he would soon propose to Maria.
Posting a series of images on Instagram of the stylish couple for their night out at the Marie Claire Women of the Year Awards, the couple looked loved up.
In one photo, Moana even looked like she was about to get down on one knee and pop the question.
In the comments section, fans noted the romantic feel of the images, with one person asking: ‘How do I get tickets to the wedding?’
Moana was quick to respond to the curious follower: ‘Watch this space!’, along with a laughing emoji.