Brihony Dawson

Last updated

Brihony Dawson
Born
Brihony June Dawson [1]

1984 (age 3940)
NationalityAustralian
Alma mater Ballarat Academy of Performing Arts [2]
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • sports commentator
  • singer
Years active2010–present
Employer Network 10
Known for
  • Last Mistress
  • LadyHood
Television
Spouse
Shae Dawson ( née  Wright)
(m. 2020)
Website www.brihonydawson.com

Brihony June Dawson [1] (born 1984) is an Australian television presenter, sports commentator and singer. [3] In 2022, they were billed as the first non-binary presenter to front a major TV show in Australia, [4] [5] [6] as well as the first non-binary host of The Challenge reality TV franchise. [7]

Contents

Early life

Dawson studied at Karingal Park Secondary College, graduating in 2001, and the Ballarat Academy of Performing Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Theatre Production in 2004. [2]

Career

Dawson has toured extensively as a vocalist, including between 2011 and 2015 in the band Last Mistress, alongside fellow members Gabriel Atkinson on lead guitar, Ken Hennessy on bass guitar, Anthony Troiano on drums and Dean Williams on rhythm guitar. [8] Since 2016, Dawson has been with the band LadyHood as a singer. [9] [10] They have played with acts such as Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses and Daryl Braithwaite. [11]

Dawson was the host of the AFL Grand Final Preview Show on Channel 31 in 2020 [12] and the on-ground host of the 2021 AFL Women's Grand Final. [13] They also hosted Women's Footy on the Nine Network in 2022 and was the boundary rider for Fox Footy at women's AFL games. [14] [13] In November 2022, it was announced they would be co-hosting the 2022 W Awards alongside Sarah Jones. [15]

Aside from covering the AFLW Grand Final, Dawson has also worked as a host of the Australian Grand Prix, the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and The Women's Footy Show. [3] In 2023, they was announced as the on-the-ground host for the ABC coverage of the Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert, which aired on 24 February 2023. [16] Dawson was offered a role on The Challenge after a TV executive saw them hosting a sports function at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. [3]

In August 2022, Dawson was announced as the host of Network 10's The Challenge: Australia , a local spin-off adaption of the long-running American reality show The Challenge , which was first broadcast in November 2022. [17] [18] They were widely reported as being the first non-binary presenter fronting a major Australian television series, [19] [5] [6] [lower-alpha 1] as well as the first non-binary, non-male host of The Challenge TV franchise. [7] Dawson has described The Challenge as "like Survivor meets Big Brother meets Ninja Warrior ". [7] After trying out various approaches as host, they decided with producer Stephen Tate against imitating the "ominous" style of U.S. host T. J. Lavin, and to "do the Brihony version" instead. [7]

Dawson also co-hosted The Challenge: World Championship on Paramount+, alongside host T.J. Lavin and the hosts of the show's other international spin-offs: Mark Wright, from the United Kingdom, and Marley, from Argentina. [3] [22] [23]

In 2023, they were announced as a member of the Australian jury for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. [24]

Personal life

Dawson has been married to Shae Dawson since March 2020. [25]

Notes

  1. Brihony Dawson themselves told Geelong Advertiser they were the "first non-binary host in Australia on a major TV network". [20] Meanwhile, TV Week reported that Dawson was "the first ever non-binary host on primetime Australian TV". [21]

Related Research Articles

The Australian Football International Cup is a triennial international tournament in Australian rules football. It is the biggest international tournament in the sport that is open to all nations. More than 26 nations have participated and the competition has expanded into multiple pools and both men and women's divisions. At the time of the last tournament in 2017, the sport had a record 170,744 registered players outside Australia growing at a rate of 25 per cent per annum.

<i>Better Homes and Gardens</i> (TV program) Australian TV series or program

Better Homes and Gardens is an Australian television program which is broadcast on the Seven Network, which is based on the magazine of the same name domestically published by Are Media. The programs covers a wide variety of lifestyle related topics. These include, gardening, landscaping, architecture, cooking, DIY, pet care, and home improvement, as well as featuring celebrity guests. The show is hosted by former Commonwealth Games swimmer-turned-television presenter Johanna Griggs, who has hosted the program since 2005.

Nicole Dawn Livingstone, OAM is an Australian former competitive swimmer. Since retiring from swimming Livingstone has had careers as a television sports commentator and media presenter and as a sports administrator. She was known for a period as Nicole Stevenson, when she was married to Australian cyclist Clayton Stevenson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Harford</span> Australian rules footballer, born 1977

Daniel Harford is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. Harford played for the Hawthorn Football Club and Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and was senior coach of Carlton in the AFL Women's (AFLW). He is also a radio presenter and commentator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fox Footy</span> Australian subscription television channel

Fox Footy is an Australian rules football subscription television channel dedicated to screening Australian rules football matches and related programming. It is owned by Fox Sports Australia operated out of its Melbourne based studios and available throughout Australia on Foxtel, and Optus Television. The channel is a revival of the former Fox Footy Channel, which was in operation between 2002 and 2006. The channel recommenced prior to the 2012 AFL season after a new broadcast agreement was reached between the former Premier Media Group, Austar, Foxtel and the Australian Football League (AFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's Australian rules football</span> Female-only form of Australian rules football

Women's Australian rules football, is the female-only form of Australian rules football, generally with some modification to the laws of the game.

Princes Park is an Australian rules football ground located inside the Princes Park precinct in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North. Officially the Carlton Recreation Ground, it is a historic venue, having been Carlton Football Club's VFL/AFL home ground from 1897.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daisy Pearce</span> Australian rules footballer (born 1988)

Daisy Pearce is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Melbourne Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) and is the current AFLW senior coach of the West Coast Eagles.

Kelli Underwood is an Australian radio and television sports journalist and sportscaster specialising in Australian rules football, netball and tennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Armstrong (Australian rules footballer)</span> Australian rules footballer

Tony Patrick Armstrong is an Aboriginal Australian television presenter and former professional Australian rules footballer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AFL Women's</span> Female Australian rules football league

AFL Women's (AFLW) is Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football league for female players. The first season of the league in February and March 2017 had eight teams; the league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 14 teams in 2020 and 18 teams in 2022. The league is run by the Australian Football League (AFL) and is contested by each of the clubs from that competition. The reigning premiers are Brisbane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ebony Marinoff</span> Australian rules footballer

Ebony Marinoff is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW). Marinoff is a three-time AFL Women's premiership player, six-time AFL Women's All-Australian and dual Adelaide Club Champion winner. In 2017, she won the inaugural AFL Women's Rising Star award, played in a premiership with Darebin in the VFL Women's (VFLW) and represented The Allies in the inaugural AFL Women's State of Origin match. Marinoff is the AFL Women's equal games record holder and Adelaide games record holder with 79 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Cramey</span> Australian rules footballer

Courtney Jane Cramey is a former Australian rules footballer who played 20 matches over four seasons at the Adelaide Football Club in the AFL Women's competition. She was a two-time premiership player and a one-time All-Australian.

The AFL Women's Grand Final is an annual women's Australian rules football match to determine the AFL Women's (AFLW) premiers for that year. Each year, the winning club receives a premiership trophy and premiership flag; all players in the winning team receive a premiership medallion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neroli Meadows</span> Australian sports journalist

Neroli Meadows is an Australian television presenter, sports journalist and sports commentator. Meadows has been a boundary rider for Triple M's Australian Football League (AFL) coverage and was a presenter and commentator across the Fox Sports network for nine years, covering Australian rules football, cricket and basketball. She also co-hosted the short-lived revamp of the Nine Network program The Footy Show in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Li</span> Australian rules footballer

Sophie Li is a retired Australian rules footballer. She played in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for Carlton and for Adelaide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trent Cooper</span> Australian rules footballer and coach

Trent Aaron Cooper is a former Australian rules footballer and coach. Cooper was the senior coach of Fremantle Football Club in the AFL Women's (AFLW) for five seasons before departing the club in November 2022 after not being offered a new contract.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasmin Stewart</span> Australian rules footballer

Jasmin Stewart is an Australian rules footballer who plays for Port Adelaide in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She previously played for the Fremantle Football Club after being drafted with their first selection, 4th overall, in the 2018 AFL Women's draft.

Sarah Jones is an Australian television presenter and sportscaster on Fox Sports. Jones is currently a host with Fox Footy’s AFL coverage and Fox Cricket‘s BBL coverage after appearing on Fox Sports News as a reporter and host.

Bianca Hunt is an Australian television presenter and talent agent.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hank Lives Here Productions". Australian Business Register . Australian Government. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 "Brihony Dawson". Little Big Steps. 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Knox, David (17 November 2022). ""I didn't have anyone like me in the public eye when I was growing up"". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. Cook, Erin (5 August 2022). "Meet Australia's first non-binary TV presenter, Brihony Dawson". Body+Soul . Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 Mayo, Lisa (6 November 2022). "Dawson's greatest challenge yet". Sunday Telegraph. New South Wales. ProQuest   2732141358 . Retrieved 11 January 2023 via ProQuest.
  6. 1 2 Hamence, Markus (6 November 2022). "On Your Markus". The Advertiser. Adelaide. ProQuest   2732061566 . Retrieved 11 January 2023 via ProQuest.
  7. 1 2 3 4 McManus, Bridget (8 November 2022). "Have we reached peak reality TV with The Challenge?". Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  8. Warbie, Carbie (9 March 2012). "Last Mistress – Step Up @ TRAK Live Lounge Bar, Toorak (9th Mar 2012) on Vimeo". Vimeo . Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. "Last Mistress". Triple J Unearthed . ABC. 26 October 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  10. "Brihony Dawson". Rock Academy Australia. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  11. "Brihony Dawson". Verve Agency. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  12. Merlino, James; Fontana, Jamila. "Backing More Women to Make the Call" (PDF) (Press release). Department of the Premier . Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  13. 1 2 Tuohy, Wendy (30 December 2021). "'Absolutely huge': AFLW star Vescio changes the game on gender diversity". The Age . Retrieved 17 November 2022. "Absolutely huge," said Dawson, the on-ground host of the 2021 AFLW grand final, and soon-to-be boundary rider for Fox Footy at women's games.
  14. "Women's Footy returns to Channel 9 on January 30th". Sports Entertainment Network . 19 January 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Women's Footy returns with a new host, with talented broadcaster Brihony Dawson to front the program
  15. "Season Seven W Awards details announced". Women's AFL . 15 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022. Hosted by FOX FOOTY's Sarah Jones alongside Brihony Dawson
  16. Knox, David (2 February 2023). "Live and proud, ABC announces Sydney WorldPride hosts". TV Tonight. TV Tonight . Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  17. "Brihony Dawson Is Up For The Challenge". Paramount ANZ. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  18. Moran, Jonathon (3 August 2022). "Non-binary TV host Brihony Dawson on the impact of visibility". The Daily Telegraph . News Corp Australia . Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  19. Noonan, Sarah (17 November 2022). "Brihony Dawson on why asking for someone's pronouns should be like asking for their name". Body+Soul. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  20. Duck, Siobhan (24 November 2022). "Reality check". Geelong Advertiser. ProQuest   2739250478 via ProQuest.
  21. "Meet The Challenge Host Brihony Dawson". TV Week. 14 November 2022.
  22. Couden, Matt (16 November 2022). "The Challenge World Championship spoilers: More former champions eliminated from global tournament". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  23. Longeretta, Emily (25 January 2023). "'The Challenge: World Championship' Reveals New Hosts and Format, Sets Paramount+ Release Date (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  24. Knox, David (16 May 2023). "Who was on the Australian Jury for Eurovision?". TV Tonight. TV Tonight. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  25. Benson, Uwakwe (15 November 2022). "Meet Shae Dawson: Wife of AFLW Brihony Dawson". The Times Nigeria. Retrieved 25 November 2022.