Courtney Hansen

Courtney Hansen is an American television host, syndicated columnist, author, and former fashion model. She is widely recognized for her extensive work presenting automotive-themed programs, travel shows, and special broadcasts across various television networks.

Hansen was born on October 2, 1974, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Constance Walker Hansen and Gerald John "Jerry" Hansen, a winner of 27 SCCA national racing championships. She grew up in Orono, Minnesota, where her family owned the Brainerd International Raceway from 1973 to 2006. Spending substantial time around track pits and garages during her youth sparked an early enthusiasm for automobiles. Hansen later attended Florida State University, graduating with a degree in marketing.

After graduating, Hansen initially worked in corporate marketing. Upon leaving the corporate field, she transitioned into modeling and broadcasting. She worked as a fashion and fitness model, appearing on the cover of publications such as Hot Rod Magazine and Muscle & Fitness. Her early television appearances included hosting segments on the Travel Channel and presenting the Jack Nicklaus pilot program Killer Golf.

Hansen gained major television prominence as the co-host of the car makeover series Overhaulin'. She subsequently hosted Spike TV's Powerblock, a series composed of four half-hour automotive shows, for eight seasons. Her TV hosting portfolio expanded to include Spike TV's Great Builds, Fox Sports Networks' travel adventure series Destination Wild, and TLC's automotive shows Rides and Million Dollar Motors.

In addition to broadcasting, Hansen has worked in print media and commercial representation. She wrote a column for FHM and, beginning in 2005, authored the nationally syndicated automotive newspaper column Courtney Hansen: Full Throttle. She also published the book The Garage Girl's Guide To Everything You Need To Know About Your Car, offering vehicle care advice to women and first-time buyers. Over her career, she has been a spokesmodel for Matco Tools, Dodge, and Rolls-Royce, and her work on Destination Wild earned a Telly Award.

Hansen hosted Autoweek's Vinsetta Garage on Discovery Channel's Velocity network, focusing on a historic Detroit automotive landmark. In January 2014, she assumed duties as the host of PowerNation, a television series broadcast across NBC Sports, Spike TV, and CBS Sports.

In 2022, Hansen began hosting Ride of Your Life With Courtney Hansen on MotorTrend TV. On the show, she works alongside custom car builders at Royl Garage—a Marietta, Georgia business she owns—to repair, customize, and restore vehicles for individuals who have experienced personal tragedies or adverse life events. On July 21, 2018, Hansen married Jay Hartington, her longtime boyfriend and father of her child, in Taormina, Italy.