The names to watch in 2021: Melissa Leong, Marty Sheargold and more
A new year brings new opportunities, and these are the stars poised to do great things in 2021.
Fiona Byrne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Bye 2020, hello 2021 and the new opportunities it will bring. With the new year upon us it is time to look forward and consider who will be the names to watch in Melbourne in the coming 12 months.
Everyone in this list will make headlines this year in their various fields. Let me know who you think should be added to this list.
Email me at fiona.byrne@news.com.au
BeBe Bettencourt
The daughter of rockers Suze DeMarchi (Babay Animals) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), BeBe Bettencourt makes a stunning feature film debut in The Dry playing Ellie Deacon. Her haunting version of The Church’s hit Under The Milky Way, which is included in the film, will be heard widely this summer. Bettencourt will next be seen in the Stan series Eden and more roles are sure to follow. She has presence and talent.
Sabrina Frederick
The Richmond AFLW player came to national attention in 2020 thanks to her participation in the Channel 7 extreme endurance show SAS: Australia. As the only woman to complete the course set by the instructors, Frederick was a shining example of strength, teamwork, focus and commitment. She was also super impressive in interviews. Let’s hear more from her in 2021.
James Hachem
The son of 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event champion Joe Hachem, James launched Alya Skin with his friend and business partner Manny Barbas in 2018 using personal savings and an Amex card.
Incredibly, Alya Skin is on track to hit an eight figure annual turnover in 2021. The brand’s hero product is a pink clay facial mask.
Bonnie Anderson
Bonnie came to public attention at just 12-years-old when she won Australia’s Got Talent. Growing up in the public eye is never easy and while she has had a stumble her talent and drive has shone through. After showing her acting skills in Neighbours and winning The Masked Singer, Anderson is determined to focus on her singing in 2021. She has a stunning voice and so much talent. Despite having achieved a lot in the past 14 years it seems like she is really coming into her own now.
Georgia Geminder
The granddaughter of Richard Pratt, Georgia Geminder is emerging as a clean beauty entrepreneur with a difference. Watch her make a name for herself in the budget natural beauty space. She launched Gem, a natural oral care range, in February and Desert Fox, a range of natural and affordable shampoos, body washes and hand creams, in mid-2020. “Desert Fox was developed where we used premium natural ingredients to create science backed products and we do it without the price tag,” she said.
The range is stocked in The Reject Shop. Geminder’s parents are Melbourne rich-listers Raphael and Fiona Geminder.
Weddings
With so many weddings being put on hold during 2020 because of the COVID restrictions 2021 is looking very much like the year of love. And thank goodness because we definitely need some joy and celebration after the bleakness of 2020. Among the couples preparing to exchange vows are Georgia Love and Lee Elliott who will wed in Tasmania in early March, Gogglebox’s Isabelle Silbery and Alex Richards who are looking at the end of March for their wedding and Laura Henshaw and Dalton Graham who will tie the knot in February.
Eleanor Baillieu
Eleanor Baillieu will continue to grow her Empty Esky movement in 2021. Empty Esky encourages people to support rural communities – being mindful of COVID-19 restrictions – by visiting country Victoria and stocking up on local produce and wares. It is a great idea that is worthy of support. She is also a model, photographer and Guide Dogs Australia ambassador. Baillieu’s father is former Victorian premier, Ted Baillieu.
Maria Thattil
Melbourne’s Maria Thattil was crowned Miss Universe Australia in October. Thattil, 27, works at the Victorian Government’s department of transport but is also a content creator and model. Her parents settled in Australia from India before she was born. Confident in her voice and opinions Thattil is going to make her Miss Universe year count. She said her win showed the power of self belief – and her message to others is to believe in yourself. “There are no limitations no matter what you are facing if you believe in yourself you can do it,” she said.
Nick Russian
After months of delay Melbourne nightclub king Nick Russian is finally looking forward to opening his new venture Bar Bambi in April. The venue is located in ACDC Lane in the CBD and will no doubt be Melbourne’s new “must be seen” spot. Russian knows how to make a party work and as COVID-19 restrictions ease later in the year he may have the perfect venue for people looking to reclaim Melbourne’s night-life.
Marty Sheargold
Marty Sheargold is going to be the most talked about man in Melbourne radio this year after taking over the Triple M breakfast shift from Eddie McGuire. Sheargold is brash, funny and used to winning – he comes to the role after long success co-hosting Nova FM’s national drive shift – and he is also more than willing to upset people. Expect plenty of headlines as he kicks off his new show on Monday, January 18. “I’ve always been hard wired to win. You don’t leave a show as successful as that one (Nova Drive) to think that you could only just go OK at the next one,” Sheargold said.
“I have always loved this brand and wanted to get back to this brand, so I have been able to make that happen and that is really important to me. Win, lose or draw, it is an opportunity I am not going to get again.”
Melissa Leong
Melissa Leong came into her own in 2020 and her power will only grow this year. The teaming of her with Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen as the hosts of MasterChef has paid huge dividends for Channel 10 and she has embraced the opportunity with gusto. As the first female and first Asian Australian judge on the powerful Channel 10 cooking show, she has helped broaden conversations about cultural diversity and inclusiveness. “Everybody deserves to be seen and to be heard,” Melbourne-based Leong said.
Leong is far from an overnight success on MasterChef. She has honed her skills over the past 20 years in public relations, as a food writer, cookbook editor, critic and as a TV presenter and regular radio guest. And as she proved during 2020, she has great style.
Pia Miller
Former Home And Away actor Pia Miller ended 2020 engaged to one of Hollywood’s top powerbrokers and her wedding to Patrick Whitesell this year is going to be something to look out for. Mum of two Miller, 37, was previously married to Melbourne football player Brad Miller. Whitesell, 55, is a serious powerbroker in the entertainment world.
He runs the hugely powerful talent agency WME with Ari Emmanuel and represents household names like Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Kevin Costner and Hugh Jackman.
Stefania Ferrario
Melbourne model Stefania Ferrario continues to grow her following as one of fashion’s favourite women with curves. Ferrario was an ambassador for Melbourne Fashion Week’s Diversity Model Search in 2020 and launched her own swimwear collection. She has more than 1 million very engaged followers on Instagram and calls Dita Von Teese a mentor and friend. She embodies body confidence and individualism with a sprinkle of naughtiness.
Sam Newman and Don Scott
The You Cannot Be Serious podcast is well worth a listen. There are three episodes released each week and the diamond in the rough is always Newman and Scott’s feature interview with a Melbourne guest of note. They did some cracking chats in 2020 with the likes of Eddie McGuire, Greg Evans, Dennis Pagan, Jeff Kennett, Shane Crawford, Andrew Bogut and Dean Jones (prior to his sudden passing). More of these excellent interviews please boys!
Michael Zerafa
The Melbourne-based boxer is going to be in the headlines this year when he meets Anthony Mundine in the ring in Bendigo in March. Zerafa has a bit of flair about him, looks good, understands the media and is ambitious. Would not surprise to see him do reality TV at some point this year.
Jessika Power
The MAFS drama queen is back as part of two Married At First Sight specials that will air later this month where the headlines makers of recent seasons face off over dinner. Power will no doubt be part of some of the most talkable moments. She has made her 15 minutes of fame last a lot longer than most.
Billy Brownless, and son, in the race to win
Geelong great Billy Brownless has tapped into his athletic past to become a prize contender in The Amazing Race Australia — and he’s made it a family affair.
‘Running our own race’: Jase talks radio war ratings win
Nova’s Jase and Lauren shot to the top of the breakfast show ratings less than a year after being axed from KIIS FM. Now, Jase shares the secret to their success — a tact Kyle and Jake O failed to deliver.