The Today Show’s Brooke Boney has quickly become one of the nation’s most recognisable faces and an inspirational role model for young women.
The former Triple J newsreader made her debut as the breakfast program’s entertainment reporter in January 2019.
Now, almost a year later in December, she is the only original member of her hosting lineup to have kept her job in 2020, as Today’s brand new faces have been announced, led by Karl Stefanovic and Alison Langdon.
Brooke, who has almost 70,000 followers on Instagram, is loved for her down-to-earth attitude and refreshing humour on social media.
Want to know more about his fun-loving Aussie gal? Keep on scrolling to get to know the 31-year-old rising star a little bit better!
Brooke’s childhood was far from glamorous
As a proud Gamilaroi Gomeroi woman, Brooke reveals her childhood didn’t come without struggles.
“I didn’t finish high school,” she told WHO magazine in November.
“I think it’s important to be up front about that. I dropped out in Year 12. I had a really sh—y time at high school and the drop-out rate for Indigenous kids is high. I really didn’t want to be a victim of the situation I was born into,” she explained.
Adding: “We were quite poor – I grew up in housing commissions. Seeing how much my mum had to struggle with six kids on her own, I wanted to work really hard to make sure I wasn’t poor ever again.”
Before she moved to Sydney, Brooke was raised in the Hunter Valley region.
“I live in Bondi but I grew up in the Hunter Valley on Wonnaruah country with my Mum and five younger brothers and sisters,” the presenter told AIME last year.
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Brooke grew up in the Hunter Valley with her mum and five siblings. (Image: @boneybrooke Instagram)
But she worked hard and her career quickly took off
Brooke studied a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and majored in Journalism at the University of Technology, Sydney.
With a passion for news broadcasting, Brooke has worked as a journalist since 2010 and was previously a political reporter for SBS’s National Indigenous Television station.
During her stint with SBS, Brooke covered two election campaigns so she’ll be more than qualified to wrangle celebs as Today’s resident entertainment guru.
Her big break came two years ago when she joined national youth radio station Triple J as Ben & Liam‘s breakfast show’s news presenter.
“I did work experience at Power FM in Muswellbrook when I was in Grade 10 at high school, so it’s always been something I’ve been keen on. Triple J was a lifeline for teenagers in small country towns and such an important part of the way young people establish their identities. I also just wanted to be part of the discussions around Indigenous affairs,” she explained to Radio Today of her career path.
WATCH: Brooke Boney explains why she says Yaama at the start of each news bulletin. Post continues after the video…
From the ABC to commercial TV: Brooke is a talented journalist and broadcaster who is about to make the leap to prime time breakfast TV. (Image: AIME Facebook)
Brooke won a legion of fans by beginning each of her news bulletins by saying “Yaama”, which means hello in her native language Gamilaroi, which her people speak in Northern New South Wales.
“I didn’t think people would be that moved or pay that much attention to it but I got sooooooo many messages,” Brooke told her Triple J co-hosts Ben and Liam of her popular on-air greeting.
“Obviously I’m a big believer in sharing our culture and I think that we’re incredibly lucky that we’re home to the oldest continuing culture of anywhere in the world — older than the Romans, older than the pyramids. And if there’s one wish that I have, it’s that people appreciate the enormous and incredible contribution that Aboriginal culture could make to our country.”
A nose for news: Brooke was a key player on Triple J’s breakfast radio show with Ben and Liam. (Image: @boneybrooke Instagram)
Brooke Boney’s social media accounts
Clearly Brooke doesn’t take herself too seriously if her Instagram bio is anything to go by.
Describing herself as an “all-round legend” and “frozen banana salesman”, the bubbly brunette has 68K followers and counting.
Brooke’s page features a slew of glamorous snaps and fun selfies all peppered with self-deprecating captions.
Want some more Brooke in your feed?
You can keep up to date with her antics on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
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Brooke’s arrival at the Today Show
After fevered speculation veteran entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins was set to be replaced, Channel Nine finally confirmed Brooke Boney would be taking over his role in December 2018.
“I’m really thrilled to be joining the team and so excited to be working alongside Richard Wilkins. He’s such a legend in the business,” Brooke said in an official statement at the time.
“As a young girl growing up in the country I watched Today, so it’s really awesome to know it’ll be my new home.”
Brooke joined Today‘s new-look 2019 team alongside co-host Deb Knight, newsreader Tom Steinfort and sports commentator Tony Jones, supporting Georgie Gardner, who rejoined the desk alongside axed host Karl Stefanovic in 2017 following Lisa Wilkinson’s departure..
The old 2019 Today Show team: (L-R) Brooke Boney, Tom Steinfort, Deb Knight, Georgie Gardner and Tony Jones.
*(Image: @thetodayshow Instagram)*But in November 2019, it was revealed that Karl would be returning to his old job, alongside 60 Minutes reporter Allison Langdon, and in December, a whole new Today Show lineup for 2020 was revealed.
Brooke was the only member of the original 2019 hosting lineup who would remain, with Georgie, Deb, Tom and Tony all stepping into different roles.
One to watch in 2019: Big things are happening for Brooke! We can’t wait to watch her on Today.
*(Image: @boneybrooke Instagram)*So, how does she deal with her intense work schedule?
As for the 3am wake-up calls required for her job at Today, she has a slew of experience from her early mornings with Triple J.
“I’m strict about my morning routine because I need the process to wake up. I’ll have a cup of tea with nice honey in it and gelatin. Then I’ll have some bone broth and some porridge or fruit,” she said in an interview last year with Future Women.
“The only way I can get through it is if I look after myself by not drinking too much, getting enough sleep and managing stress, because if something gets thrown out I notice it straight away. I credit the reason I can push so hard and work so many jobs to doing heaps of yoga every day and eating really well.”
