Sophie Monk

Sophie Charlene Akland Monk (born 14 December 1979) is an Australian singer, actress, and television personality. She initially gained public prominence as a member of the pop girl group Bardot, formed through the reality television series Popstars Australia in 2000. Following the group's split, she launched a solo music career before transitioning into feature film acting, radio hosting, and presenting major reality television programs.

Monk was born in London, England, to an English father and an Australian mother. Her family relocated to Queensland's Gold Coast in Australia when she was two years old. She completed her schooling across several institutions, graduating as school captain from MacGregor State High School in 1997. Trained in classical opera during her youth, she subsequently worked as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast.

Her professional music career began in 1999 after auditioning for Popstars, where she performed Marilyn Monroe's "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." Selected as a member of Bardot, Monk achieved commercial success when the group became the first Australian act to debut at number one with both their debut single, "Poison," and self-titled album. After Bardot disbanded in May 2002, Monk signed with Warner Music Australia, releasing her debut single "Inside Outside" and her 2003 solo album, Calendar Girl. She left the record label in 2004 to focus on acting, later returning to music briefly with the 2021 single "Nice to Meet You."

Monk relocated to Los Angeles in 2005 to advance her acting career. She made her television film debut portraying Marilyn Monroe in The Mystery of Natalie Wood (2004) and secured her breakout role in the spoof comedy Date Movie (2006). Her feature film credits include Click (2006), Sex and Death 101 (2007), Spring Breakdown (2009), and the horror film The Hills Run Red (2009). On television, she made an appearance in HBO's Entourage and featured in the music video for Blink-182's song "Always."

On television, Monk has worked as a presenter and judge across numerous networks. She served as a guest presenter on Getaway, won the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015, and joined the judging panel of Australia's Got Talent in 2016. In 2017, she starred on the third season of The Bachelorette Australia, which led to her role as host of Love Island Australia in 2018. She later hosted Beauty and the Geek Australia in 2021, appeared on The Masked Singer Australia in 2020, and participated in Lego Masters specials. Her media career also encompasses radio hosting on 2Day FM and the KIIS Network.

Monk has participated in advertising campaigns for brands such as Diet Vanilla Coke, Pepsi Max, LG Electronics, Slim Secrets, and MCO Beauty. In her personal life, Monk married Joshua Gross at their New South Wales home in 2022, and in 2018 revealed that she had been diagnosed with endometriosis.