Why David Koch wore lipstick live on air on Sunrise

Breakfast TV host David Koch rocked some bright red lipstick on air this morning during an interview – and it was all for a good cause.

David Koch wore bright red lipstick on Sunrise this morning – all for a good cause.

The breakfast TV host – affectionately nicknamed Kochie – rocked the striking colour while interviewing model Jett Kenny, the son of ironman champion Grant Kenny and former Olympian Lisa Curry.

When he and his family suffered unimaginable loss three years ago when his sister, Jaimi Kenny, died from mental health issues, Jett vowed to raise awareness and funding for the cause.

Now, on May 11, his dream turns to reality as he becomes the inaugural ambassador for the Lip-Stick It campaign – an initiative encouraging Aussie men to wear lipstick on the day to help raise funds for women’s mental health support services.

David Koch wore lipstick on Sunrise for a good cause.

Koch interviewed Jett Kenny on Sunrise this morning.

“I was trying to [apply lipstick] the other day and it is quite difficult. I might look like the Joker while I do this,” Jett told Koch, who replied: “A lot of people think I look like the Joker without the lipstick.”

Jokes aside, Jett said he was proud to kick off the campaign and get behind women in their lives to show they are cared for.

“If all it takes is to put on some red lipstick and start a conversation, then it’s worth doing,” Jett said. “It’s a big thing, not only for myself but for a lot of people. It could be happening to a person you work with, someone you know, but they you know – might not be talking about it because they don’t feel comfortable to do so.”

Jett Kenny (centre) with mum Lisa Curry (left) and sisters Morgan and Jaimi (far right).

It was back in September 2020 that Jaimi died aged just 33. At the time, it was said she passed away from a long battle with an undisclosed illness. But later her family revealed Jaimi had been battling with her mental health for years before her death, which triggered underlying issues such as alcoholism and an eating disorder.

“Less than half of the women experiencing mental health are seeking help,” Jett said on Sunrise.

Jett Kenny is fronting the campaign in honour of sister Jaimi.

Jett said his sister was ‘reserved’ when asked about her struggles.

“Encouraging those people to just talk about it and having the strength that they might need to voice what they are going through. I think that was the biggest thing I found was they were so reserved, or she was so reserved talking bout her issues and her struggles.

“I’ll never understand what she was going through, I’ll never understand what anyone else was going through because I won’t be in their shoes, I assume each case of mental health issues are specific to each individual but the thing I want to encourage is if you are struggling with any sort of mental health issue is to just speak about it.”

When Jaimi died three years ago, Jett also shared a deeply personal tribute on Instagram.

“I may not have been the best brother to you all the time, I know you thought you weren’t being the big sister I needed all the time, but I do know we loved one another unconditionally all the time,” he wrote.