Sophie Charlene Akland Monk is an Australian singer, actress and television personality. Born on 14 December 1979, she first found fame as a member of the pop girl group Bardot, winners of the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000, and she now hosts Love Island Australia. She won The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015 and starred on The Bachelorette Australia in 2017.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Sophie Charlene Akland Monk |
| Age | 46 years old (born 14 December 1979) |
| Birthplace | London, England |
| Spouse | Joshua Gross (married 2022) |
| Occupation | Singer, Actress, Television Personality |
| Known For | Bardot; Love Island Australia host |
| Years Active | 1997–present |
| Nationality | Australian |
Who Is Sophie Monk?
Sophie Monk is an Australian singer, actress and television personality whose career has spanned pop music, film, radio and reality television. Born in London on 14 December 1979 and raised on Queensland’s Gold Coast, she first found fame as a member of the pop girl group Bardot, winners of the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000, and she has remained a familiar face on Australian screens ever since.
After Bardot, Monk released the solo single “Inside Outside”, which reached number five on the ARIA chart, and the album Calendar Girl, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting, appearing in films such as Date Movie and Click. She later won The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015, starred on The Bachelorette Australia in 2017, and became the host of Love Island Australia in 2018, a role she still holds.
Early Life & Background
Sophie Charlene Akland Monk was born in London, England, to an English father and an Australian mother. In 1982, her parents moved to Australia’s Gold Coast in Queensland when she was two years old. She attended Helensvale Primary School, St Hilda’s, Somerset College, A.B. Paterson College and MacGregor State High School, where she graduated as school captain in 1997.
She was trained in classical opera growing up, and following graduation she worked as a Marilyn Monroe impersonator at Warner Bros. Movie World on the Gold Coast, experience she would later draw on when she auditioned for Popstars.
Career
Monk’s professional music career began in 1999 when she responded to an advertisement for the first Popstars, a reality television series which aimed to create a successful new girl group. In one audition, she performed a rendition of Marilyn Monroe’s famous “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”, drawing on her previous experience as a Monroe impersonator. After several elimination rounds, Monk was selected as a member of the group, which was named Bardot. The program aired in early 2000 and became a massive ratings success, and Bardot became the first Australian act to debut at number one on the ARIA chart with both their debut single “Poison” and their self-titled debut album. Further singles “I Should’ve Never Let You Go”, “These Days”, “ASAP”, “I Need Somebody” and “Love Will Find A Way” all reached the Australian top 20, and several months following the release of their second album, Play It Like That, Bardot disbanded in May 2002.
Shortly following Bardot’s disbandment, Monk signed a solo recording contract with Warner Music Australia. Her debut single “Inside Outside” was released in October 2002 and peaked at number five on the ARIA Singles Chart, earning gold certification for shipments of 35,000 copies. In May 2003, she released her debut album Calendar Girl, which peaked at number 35 on the ARIA Albums Chart and produced two further singles, “Get the Music On” and “One Breath Away”, which peaked at number 10 and number 23 respectively. In 2004, Monk parted ways with Warner Music Group to focus on a Hollywood acting career, and in September 2021 she briefly resumed her music career with the jazz-inspired single “Nice to Meet You”.
In 2005, Monk relocated to Los Angeles to pursue acting, quickly landing the comedy Date Movie, followed by roles in Click (2006), Sex and Death 101 (2007), Spring Breakdown (2009) and The Hills Run Red (2009). She made her American television debut in the HBO comedy series Entourage in July 2007. Back in Australia, she won the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015, became a judge on Australia’s Got Talent in 2016, and starred on the third season of The Bachelorette Australia in 2017. The following year, she became the host of Love Island Australia, a role she still holds, and in 2021 she hosted Beauty and the Geek Australia. She also appeared on The Masked Singer Australia in 2020 as the Dragonfly, placing eighth, and in 2025 she hosted Love Island USA Aftersun.
Facts About Sophie Monk
- Her full name is Sophie Charlene Akland Monk.
- She was trained in classical opera growing up.
- Bardot’s debut single “Poison” was the first Australian song to debut at number one on the ARIA chart.
- Her debut solo single “Inside Outside” reached number five on the ARIA Singles Chart.
- She married Joshua Gross in a private ceremony at their New South Wales home in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sophie Monk?
Sophie Monk was born on 14 December 1979, which makes her 46 years old.
Who is Sophie Monk married to?
She married Joshua Gross in a private ceremony at their New South Wales home in 2022.
What group was Sophie Monk in?
She was a member of the pop girl group Bardot, winners of the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000.
What does Sophie Monk host?
She has hosted Love Island Australia since 2018 and Beauty and the Geek Australia since 2021.
Did Sophie Monk win Celebrity Apprentice?
Yes, she won the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015.
How old is Sophie Monk?
Sophie Monk was born on 14 December 1979, which makes her 46 years old.
Who is Sophie Monk married to?
She married Joshua Gross in a private ceremony at their New South Wales home in 2022.
What group was Sophie Monk in?
She was a member of the pop girl group Bardot, winners of the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000.
What does Sophie Monk host?
She has hosted Love Island Australia since 2018 and Beauty and the Geek Australia since 2021.
Did Sophie Monk win Celebrity Apprentice?
Yes, she won the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2015.