How We Met: Cameron Daddo proposed to Alison Brahe three months in

Four years before they met, Cameron Daddo and Alison Brahe locked eyes while passing one another on the escalator in a Sydney shopping centre.

It's the kind of serendipitous encounter that makes otherwise rational people believe in fate... only it didn't occur by chance at all.

At the time, Alison was a teenager with a "schoolgirl crush" and a mission.

The object of her affection: one Cameron Daddo, charismatic host of dating show Perfect Match.

"The thing I loved about Cam was that he was goofy, and he was actually really kind to the contestants," the model and writer explains to 9Honey.

So when she heard he'd be hosting the 'Miss Chatswood Chase' contest in the same centre where she took aerobics classes, Alison was determined to get a closer look.

Given he was one of Australia's biggest celebrities at the time, Cameron likely had plenty of encounters like this with fans—but Alison's face was one that stuck in his memory.

That same face would greet the actor and singer four years later when he walked into the offices of Dolly magazine to take part in a story.

It was 1990, and Alison Brahe was the model of the moment, with her beaming smile a regular fixture on the teen magazine's cover.

"I saw Al’s pictures and her big posters on the wall, and I said as I’m walking by, ‘that’s Alison Brahe’," Cameron recalls.

Overhearing this, fashion photographer Carlotta Moye remarked, "Oh yeah, she’s a friend of mine. Do you want to meet her?"

Cameron confirmed he did, and a week later found himself invited to a party Alison was throwing.

It happened to fall on the same night as a gig he'd booked in with his band, but that wasn't an obstacle for long.

"I said to the guys, ‘I’ve been invited to a party with Alison Brahe’ and they were like, 'We'll blow it out, we're coming!'" he recalls.

"And that's what we did. Eight of us rocked up to this party."

While both Alison and Cameron were nervous and excited to finally meet in person, they were immediately at ease in one another's company, with "no awkward silences."

Alison was pleased to note her schoolgirl crush lived up his on-screen charm.

"He was just very easygoing, very charming, very goofy. Like, he had stupid dad jokes before he even became a dad," Alison recalls.

"I kind of felt like he was the one for me before I met him."

The pair had their first proper date the following day, and from there it was on.

In fact, just three months later—when Cameron was 25 and Alison 21—they got engaged, a decision that received... well, a mixed reaction.

"We couldn’t understand why people weren’t more excited," Cameron laughs.

"It was ridiculous. I would never tell anyone to do that."

As for the proposal itself, Cameron admits it's not exactly the most romantic story.

They were sitting by the pool at his parents' house in Melbourne, while his brother Jamie—who'd been in a serious motorcycle accident—was doing exercises in the water.

At the time, Alison was upset about "a few things" going on at the house and was telling him about it.

"So Al’s there crying on the side of the pool, and I said to her, ‘Well, I love you. Let’s get married!’" Cameron recalls.

Alison's response was far from the Hollywood "yes"; rather, she opted for: "What? Ask me properly."

"It was such a kooky moment. Then it was like ‘Holy s---, did I just ask her to marry me? I did! We'd better go,'" Cameron adds.

"We walked along South Melbourne Beach for a while, and I remember just not touching the ground. I was going, ‘Holy smokes, this is on.’"

Almost three decades on from that "kooky" decision, the couple are back living in Sydney after several years based in Los Angeles.

They are parents to three children, aged 22, 18 and 13.

After all those years, Alison and Cameron don't hesitate to acknowledge the hard work required to keep a marriage going.

"This is not a revelatory explanation: it is just putting in the time [and] energy to really making it work," Alison explains.

Cameron agrees, adding that marriage counselling is a decision they've both found beneficial over the years.

"Find someone who can assist you, especially when you hit these moments where you just go, ‘I’m locked. I’m locked in'," he adds.

Kindness and humour are also key ingredients in the Daddo household.

"I think, as we say on the golf course, we 'ham and egg it' really well’," Cameron explains.

"If I’m having an off day, often she’s doing well, and so we are able to support each other."