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Fifi Box

Fifi Box (born Fiona Box, 5 March 1977) is an radio broadcaster, , actress, and , best known for co-hosting the breakfast show Fifi, Fev & Nick on 's Fox FM since 2018. Born in , Box began her career in regional radio stations in 1995 after overcoming a life-threatening illness that inspired her entry into the industry. She progressed from producing and newsreading roles in towns like and to major metropolitan shows, including co-hosting the national drive program Fifi and on the Today Network from 2011 to 2013 and Fifi & Dave on Fox FM from 2006 to 2012. Her radio work expanded to Triple M's Secret Men's Business night show and filling in on high-rating breakfast slots, establishing her as a prominent voice in Australian media with a reputation for humor and relatability. In television, Box gained visibility as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2007 and its 2021 All Stars season, and she served as weather presenter and entertainment editor on Channel Seven's Sunrise from 2009 to 2011. She has made guest appearances on programs like Thank God You're Here and Have You Been Paying Attention?, and contributed a weekly opinion column to News Limited's Sunday magazine. As a single mother, Box welcomed her first daughter, Beatrix "Trixie" Belle, in April 2013 via IVF with former partner Grant Kenny, and her second, Daisy Belle, in 2019 using an anonymous sperm donor; she has been vocal about her IVF experiences and advocacy for single parenthood.

Early life

Family background

Fiona Box, professionally known as Fifi Box, was born on 5 1977 in , , . She grew up in the outer eastern suburbs of , spending her childhood in areas including Wonga Park, , and Ringwood. This suburban setting provided the backdrop for her early years in a typical family environment. Box is the daughter of parents whose names have not been publicly disclosed, reflecting a private family life away from the spotlight. She has at least two brothers, including Kiernan Box, a and for the indie rock band Augie , and Cameron Box, who has occasionally assisted with family matters such as childcare. Her upbringing in this supportive suburban community in Ringwood East fostered a grounded foundation before her entry into public life.

Education and early influences

Fifi Box was raised in the outer eastern suburbs of , . She attended Tintern Grammar School in Ringwood East, where she completed her and was appointed school captain in her final year, demonstrating early leadership qualities despite being described as a shy . During high school, Box engaged in academic pursuits and extracurricular activities that highlighted her emerging talents in communication and performance. Her involvement as school captain involved representing student interests and fostering community spirit, roles that built her confidence in and interpersonal connections. These experiences at Tintern Grammar laid a foundation for her interest in , further nurtured by childhood play where she emulated radio DJs, as evidenced by a cassette recording preserved by her father of her hosting an imaginary show under the name "Jane Watson." A pivotal moment in Box's youth came in 1995, at age 18, when she faced a life-threatening illness that required hospitalization. While recovering, feeling unmotivated and bored with two unfinished university degrees in arts and from institutions including the and , she turned to the radio for companionship. This period of vulnerability sparked her passion for , as the medium provided a sense of connection and expression that inspired her to abandon her studies and pursue a career in radio to share stories and engage audiences in similar ways.

Career

Radio broadcasting

Fifi Box began her radio career in the late 1990s, starting with positions at regional stations across , including 2MC/ROXFM in , 3TR in , and 3GG in Warragul. These early roles provided her with foundational experience in , where she handled various on-air duties despite initial challenges, such as being deemed too lighthearted for news reading. In 2000, Box achieved a breakthrough by co-hosting a late-night show on TTFM in , marking her entry into metropolitan radio. She soon transitioned to the network, co-hosting the national night-time program Secret Men's Business, which focused on sex and relationships and helped establish her as a bold, engaging personality. From 2003 to 2008, she co-hosted The Shebang on with , initially in the drive-time slot before moving to breakfast in 2007; the show gained popularity for its humorous content and live stunts, though it ended following Box's departure for television opportunities. Returning to radio after a brief television stint, Box co-hosted the national drive-time show Fifi and Jules on the Today Network with Jules Lund from 2011 to 2013, delivering celebrity gossip, music, and light-hearted segments to a wide audience. In November 2013, she announced her move to Melbourne's Fox FM, launching the breakfast program Fifi and Dave with Dave Thornton in 2014. The show evolved with the addition of Brendan Fevola in 2016, renaming to Fifi, Fev & Byron before Nick Cody joined in 2021, becoming Fifi, Fev & Nick; it airs weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. and emphasizes relatable humor, local Melbourne content, and interactive listener engagement. Box's career trajectory reflects a rise from regional broadcasting to national prominence, with her signature witty and candid style fostering strong audience connections. The Fifi, Fev & Nick show has seen notable ratings success, securing the top position among Melbourne's breakfast programs in 2024.

Television presenting

Fifi Box made her national television debut as a contestant on the seventh season of on the Seven Network in 2007, partnering with professional dancer Paul Green. Her performances, including a notable themed around , garnered attention for their energy and humor, earning her fan favorite status and a runner-up finish behind winners and John-Paul Collins. In January 2009, Box transitioned to a presenting role as the on the Seven Network's breakfast program Sunrise, succeeding and delivering daily forecasts until December of that year. She then advanced to entertainment editor from January 2010 to December 2012, where she conducted celebrity interviews and reported on entertainment news, often highlighting her engaging on-screen rapport during segments like a memorable 2010 encounter with . Box returned to reality television in February 2021 for the all-stars edition of Dancing with the Stars on the Seven Network, again partnering with a professional dancer, but was eliminated in the first week despite her prior experience. Beyond these roles, Box has made guest appearances on variety shows such as The Project on Network Ten, where she has served as a fill-in host, showcasing her charismatic and quick-witted presenting style, and Have You Been Paying Attention? on the same network.

Acting roles

Box's foray into acting was marked by limited prior experience, stemming primarily from her background in television presenting rather than formal training or extensive stage work. She had no major film or theater roles before or after her primary television credit, though she made a brief as a fashion judge named Emmanuelle on the Home and Away in 2010. Additionally, she provided voice work as a Fox FM radio announcer in a single 2017 episode of the drama series . Her most notable acting role was as in the Australian Neighbours, a position she secured through audition in July 2016. Debuting on 28 September 2016, Box portrayed Brooke as an opportunistic, flighty mother to teenager , relying on her charm and looks to navigate personal and relational conflicts, including a romantic entanglement with Gary Canning and dramatic family reunions. The character featured in a recurring capacity, with Box appearing across story arcs from late 2016 through a brief return in early 2017, culminating in Brooke's final exit on 26 May 2017. Box's performance as Brooke garnered positive fan responses for its natural delivery, with viewers praising her on for effectively capturing the character's dramatic essence and integration into dynamics. The role proved short-lived, as Box shifted her focus back to thereafter. In 2025, she made her musical theatre debut with a guest appearance as Marie, the baker's wife, in at Her Majesty's Theatre in . As of November 2025, she has no other significant acting projects reported.

Personal life

Relationships

Fifi Box's romantic life has often attracted scrutiny due to her status as a in . Prior to her rise in radio and , Box had limited public romantic involvements, with one early mentioned during a radio segment where she recalled dating a man named Wayne at age 20, though details remain sparse. Her most prominent partnership was with Ironman champion and Olympian , which began in 2011 and was characterized by an on-and-off dynamic spanning several years. The relationship, first reported in media outlets around 2012, drew significant attention for its intermittent nature and the couple's efforts to maintain privacy amid . By 2013, reports indicated they had separated, though they reconciled periodically until around 2016, with Kenny describing himself as "very happy" in the partnership during a 2014 interview. Following her time with Kenny, Box entered a relationship with actor Damien Richardson in late 2016, which lasted until 2018. The pair, who met through professional circles including Richardson's role on Neighbours, kept much of their romance private but were spotted on family outings, with Box expressing contentment in the partnership during a 2017 interview. Their split was confirmed in mid-2018, after which Box noted the challenges of balancing personal life with her career demands. In subsequent years, Box has been linked to other figures, including unconfirmed rumors of connections to co-hosts and celebrities, though she has not substantiated these. More recently, in 2023, she confirmed dating Rocky Mangano, whom she met informally at her daughter's school, describing the encounter humorously on her radio show and referring to him as the "hot dad." By mid-2024, speculation arose about a possible end to this relationship, but Box has not publicly confirmed its status as of late 2025. Box has openly discussed the difficulties of dating as a public personality, highlighting in interviews how media rumors and scrutiny complicate her personal experiences. In a 2018 profile, she addressed persistent tabloid speculation about her love life, emphasizing her preference for privacy while acknowledging the "naïve" aspects of her approach to flirting and relationships earlier in her career. She has also shared on her radio program that she enjoys the dating process but finds it challenging to navigate as a high-profile single woman.

Family and motherhood

Fifi Box welcomed her first , Trixie Belle Box-Kenny, in 2013. The 's father is former , with whom Box had a brief relationship; the couple separated before Trixie's birth but have maintained an amicable co- arrangement, prioritizing her involvement in both parents' lives. In June 2019, Box gave birth to her second daughter, Daisy Belle Box, whom she conceived as a solo parent through fertilization (IVF) using an anonymous donor. Box has described the IVF process as "brutal" and "tough," involving two egg retrievals that yielded 30 eggs but only a seven percent chance of success per , alongside significant emotional challenges such as over potential failure and the pressure of building a independently. Despite these hurdles, she became on her first transfer attempt and has since shared her story publicly to inspire other women facing fertility issues. As a to two daughters, Box balances her demanding career with responsibilities, often highlighting the joys and realities of her non-traditional family dynamic in interviews and on her radio show. She has positioned herself as a for single mothers, emphasizing that families can thrive in diverse forms and advocating for greater societal acceptance of solo . Box frequently shares glimpses of her family life through appearances, portraying a supportive and active centered on her children's . In April 2025, during a family holiday in the , Box heroically saved a three-year-old from in a , performing CPR until help arrived; she later revealed the incident left her deeply traumatized, underscoring her instinctive protective nature as a mother. In 2022, Box was appointed as a Monarch alongside newsreader , a ceremonial role in Melbourne's annual community festival that celebrates family, culture, and public engagement, during which she led parades and events with her daughters in attendance.

References

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