Brihony Dawson
Born
Brihony June Dawson[1]

1984 (age 39–40)
NationalityAustralian
Alma materBallarat Academy of Performing Arts[2]
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • sports commentator
  • singer
Years active2010–present
EmployerNetwork 10
Known for
  • Last Mistress
  • LadyHood
Television
Spouse
Shae Dawson (née Wright)
​
​
(m. 2020)​
Websitewww.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]

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][a] 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]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hank Lives Here Productions". Australian Business Register. Australian Government. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Brihony Dawson". Little Big Steps. 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b Mayo, Lisa (6 November 2022). "Dawson's greatest challenge yet". Sunday Telegraph. New South Wales. ProQuest 2732141358. Retrieved 11 January 2023 – via ProQuest.
  6. ^ a b Hamence, Markus (6 November 2022). "On Your Markus". The Advertiser. Adelaide. ProQuest 2732061566. Retrieved 11 January 2023 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b 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.

External links

The Challenge
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