Mel Tracina is an Australian television and radio presenter, comedian, and media personality best known as the host of Big Brother Australia (2025) on Network 10. She also serves as the Cultural Correspondent on the comedy panel show The Cheap Seatsand hosts Nova’s national daytime radio show. Born and raised in Melbourne, Mel has built a reputation for sharp wit, pop-culture expertise, and on-screen charm.
Mel Tracina Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Melissa Tracina |
| Nickname | Mel |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 10 September 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old (as of May 2026) |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Current residence | Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Ethnicity | White (of Italian descent) |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | Approximately 132 lbs (60 kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Stefan Burford |
| Wedding year | 2016 |
| Children | None publicly confirmed |
| Alma mater | La Trobe University |
| Qualification | Bachelor of Arts (Media Studies) |
| Profession | TV and radio presenter, comedian |
| Years active | 2011 – present |
| Employers | Network 10, Nova Entertainment |
| Net worth | Estimated USD 1 – 2 million (2026) |
| @mel_tracina |
Who is Mel Tracina?
Melissa “Mel” Tracina is an Australian broadcaster who rose to wider fame in 2021 as the Cultural Correspondent on Network 10’s hit panel show The Cheap Seats.
In September 2024, Network 10 announced she would take over hosting duties on the rebooted Big Brother Australia, replacing Sonia Kruger. The new season premiered on 9 November 2025.
She also fronts Nova’s national 9am to 2pm daytime show across most major Australian capitals. Her pop-culture commentary, comedic timing, and quick interviews with stars like Margot Robbie and Pedro Pascal have made her one of the country’s fastest-rising media names.
How old is Mel Tracina? Age and birthday
Mel Tracina is 36 years old as of May 2026. She was born on 10 September 1989 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, making her zodiac sign Virgo.
Her birth year is verified on her Wikipedia page and several Australian entertainment outlets. She will turn 37 in September 2026.
How tall is Mel Tracina? Height, weight, and body measurements
Mel stands around 5 ft 8 in (approximately 173 cm) tall and weighs roughly 132 lbs (around 60 kg). She has black hair and dark brown eyes.
Her exact body, dress, or shoe measurements have not been confirmed by the presenter herself, so any figures circulating online should be treated as estimates only.
Education
Mel grew up in Melbourne, where she took dance, drama, and singing classes as a child. She enrolled at La Trobe University in 2008 and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies.
During her time at the university, she worked as an on-air presenter for the Student Youth Network (SYN), her first proper broadcasting role.
Career
Early radio years
After graduating, Mel started behind-the-scenes at Nova Entertainment in 2011, taking on a receptionist role before moving into promotions.
In 2014, she landed her first paid on-air job as a breakfast announcer at Zoo FM in Dubbo, NSW. The following year, she moved to Melbourne’s community station 89.9 The Light, hosting weekday mornings as a music announcer.
Return to Nova
Mel rejoined Nova in 2018 as an afternoon announcer. She now hosts the network’s national daytime workday show, broadcasting weekdays from 9am to 2pm across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and other capitals (Perth not included).
She also filled in on Nova’s national breakfast slot alongside Matt Baseley and swimming legend Susie O’Neill during 2025.
The Cheap Seats and TV breakthrough
Mel joined Network 10’s comedy panel show The Cheap Seats in July 2021 as the Cultural Correspondent. Working alongside hosts Tim McDonald and Melanie Bracewell, she delivers a weekly satirical wrap of celebrity and entertainment news.
She has also been a guest panellist on Have You Been Paying Attention? and performed at The Cheap Seats live show at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre.
Hosting Big Brother Australia
In September 2024, Network 10 confirmed Mel as the new host of Big Brother Australia, with the show returning to Dreamworld on the Gold Coast in its original live format.
The reboot premiered on 9 November 2025, and Mel quickly drew positive reviews for her warm, nostalgic, and witty hosting style.
Other work
Beyond TV and radio, Mel has written and performed comedy at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, hosted red carpets such as the ARIA Awards, MC’d events for Live Nation, Fed Square, and Nova Red Rooms, and previously co-hosted the social-justice podcast Social JustUs. In November 2025, she appeared on Deal or No Deal playing for charity.
What is Mel Tracina’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Mel Tracina’s net worth is estimated to be between USD 1 million and USD 2 million (roughly AUD 1.5 million to AUD 3 million). The figure has not been officially confirmed by the presenter and is based on industry benchmarks for prime-time Network 10 hosts and Nova daytime announcers.
Estimated income sources
- Big Brother Australia hosting fee: Network 10’s flagship reality hosts are reported to earn between AUD 250,000 and AUD 500,000 per season.
- Nova radio salary: National daytime announcers in Australia typically earn AUD 150,000 to AUD 300,000 a year.
- The Cheap Seats and panel appearances: Per-episode talent fees across a multi-season run.
- MC and brand work: Live event hosting for Live Nation, Fed Square, and corporate clients.
- Social media partnerships: Sponsored content across her Instagram of over 85,000 followers.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on her rising profile in 2024, noting her steady move from regional radio to one of Network 10’s biggest on-air gigs.
Is Mel Tracina married? Husband and relationship status
Yes, Mel Tracina is married. She wed her long-term partner Stefan Burford in October 2016 after several years of dating. Mel has shared affectionate posts about her husband on Instagram for many years, calling their marriage one of her “greatest achievements”.
The couple keeps their private life largely off camera, and Stefan does not work in the media industry. No public dating history before Stefan has been confirmed by Mel.
Children
Mel and Stefan have not publicly announced any children as of May 2026. She often shares photos of her pet dog instead, which fans regularly see on her social feeds.
Family
Mel was born and raised in Melbourne in a tight-knit family of Italian-Australian heritage. She has spoken publicly about how proud her mother is of her TV career, joking once that her mum was already “looking for a dress to wear to the Logies.” The names of her parents and siblings are not widely publicised.
Social media presence
As of May 2026, Mel Tracina has over 85,000 followers on Instagram (@mel_tracina), where she posts a mix of fashion looks, behind-the-scenes content from Big Brother and The Cheap Seats, dancing clips set to trending audio, and snaps with her pet dog.
She also maintains an active presence on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. Her content style is playful, self-aware, and pop-culture driven.
Fast facts about Mel Tracina
- She was born on 10 September 1989 in Melbourne, Australia.
- Her real first name is Melissa, with Mel being her widely used nickname.
- She graduated from La Trobe University in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies.
- Her first on-air radio job was at Zoo FM in Dubbo, NSW, in 2014.
- She names Lucille Ball, Sam Pang, and Kitty Flanagan as her biggest comedy inspirations.
- She married her partner Stefan Burford in October 2016.
- She is the second-ever female host of Big Brother Australia after Gretel Killeen and Sonia Kruger.
- She once had Chris Hemsworth call her beautiful on a red carpet, which she joked about for weeks afterwards.
- She has interviewed A-listers including Margot Robbie and Pedro Pascal.
- She is an avid dog lover and frequently features her pup on Instagram.
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Wrapping up
Mel Tracina’s rise from a Melbourne uni-student announcer at SYN to the host of one of Australia’s most iconic reality TV franchises shows how steady, well-rounded craft pays off in modern media.
With Big Brother Australia renewed momentum, her Nova daytime slot reaching national audiences, and a returning role on The Cheap Seats, the 36-year-old broadcaster has carved out a place as one of the country’s most-watched on-air talents heading into 2026.
References
- Wikipedia. “Mel Tracina”.
- New Idea. “Who is Mel Tracina, Big Brother Australia’s new host?”.
- Elle Australia. “Who Is Mel Tracina? We Caught Up With The New Host Of ‘Big Brother’”.
- Marie Claire Australia. “Who Is Mel Tracina? Meet The New Host Of ‘Big Brother’ Australia”.
- Now To Love. “Who is Mel Tracina? Meet the new host of Big Brother Australia”.
- The Sydney Morning Herald. “How this would-be star became a walking cheat sheet for pop culture”.
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