Beauty & the Geek: meet the cast

Rebooted dating series Beauty & the Geek returns to screens tonight on Nine.

Hosted by Sophie Monk, this is produced by Endemol Shine Australia.

The 10 beauties and 10 geeks work together through a series of real-life challenges in the search to find a romantic spark or a lifelong friendship. Surprising connections are made as two very different worlds collide and strong partnerships bloom in the most unlikely and sometimes hilarious circumstances.

The winning couples from each night’s challenge score one-on-one date time which could help them seed a connection and solidify a relationship. The couples who are not so successful, however, may end up in the bottom two, forced to duel it out in a challenge which will result in the losing couple going home. At the end of the series one couple will be declared the winner and take home $100,000.

Beauties

Aira – 23/NSW
23-year-old Aira is like the Kim Kardashian of her local community. Although she describes herself as ditzy and funny, Aira spends her weekdays working as a medical secretary and spends her weekends going out for dinner and cocktails with her girlfriends. Aira’s last relationship was two years ago but she doesn’t struggle in the dating department. She says she is constantly approached by men but she is super picky about who she gives her attention to. Her wish list in a prospective partner includes ‘big veiny arms, nice teeth, smells good, hygienic, and most importantly, no thongs!’ Aira knows that confidence is the key to life. She says, “There’s nothing that a pair of heels and a bad ass attitude can’t fix.”

Ashleigh – 31/QLD
Poised, sweet and super happy are all the traits 31-year- old Ashleigh and a princess have in common. A performer by trade, Ashleigh spent the past five years in Japan working at a large theme park, where she got to dress up as cartoon characters, superheroes and princesses every day. A lover of an awkward silence, Ashleigh can be quite reserved and shy at times but also is often the complete opposite. Having attended a performing arts high school, Ashleigh loves to move her body to stay fit and especially loves hot yoga. Ashleigh studied pathology collection at university and has a fascination with blood sciences. She’s eager to learn and is hoping the geeks can expand her knowledge on technological things. She says, “I have no idea about iCloud, so I think a geek could certainly teach me a few new things.”

Bryanna – 29/VIC
29-year-old Bryanna is an entertainment reporter, who loves to rollerblade along the beach. Her perfect weekend would involve getting up early and going for a rollerblade, followed by a coffee with her friends at a local café. With a Bachelor of Professional Communications, Bryanna believes she still has a lot to learn from the geeks. She says, “I think we are never too old to learn something new and I can’t wait to do the challenges and push myself harder than I ever have before with a partner.” Comparing herself to Bridget Jones, Bryanna has often been unlucky in love and has never had a boyfriend. She’s attracted to people’s souls and doesn’t have a usual type, so as long as a partner shares the same values, attitudes and philosophies as her, she would be pretty content.

Eliza – 21/NSW
21-year-old receptionist Eliza is larger than life with endless amounts of enthusiasm and energy. She’s a bit of a wild child, who is just enjoying being young and living in Bondi. Her passions are the gym, the beach, boys and drinking cocktails and although she has never been in a relationship, Eliza has no trouble talking to boys and often takes them out on ice cream dates. Looking forward to everything when it comes to being in the game, Eliza wants to be able to teach the geeks to not take life too seriously. She describes herself as bubbly, positive and spontaneous and says in high school she loved to be the centre of attention. Eliza says her strengths are her personality and her ability to not be too serious, but that her downfall is not thinking before she speaks and being forgetful. She is hoping this experience is going to be a new adventure, as she’s sick and tired of doing the same thing every day and wanted to do something crazy.

Gabrielle – 20/QLD
Gabrielle’s natural beauty lights up every room she steps foot into and her easy going and composed personality naturally puts others at ease. As a 20-year- old student studying Criminology, Gabrielle dreams of one day becoming a detective and hopes to work with juvenile offenders. There isn’t much that throws Gabrielle off, a trait that she can thank her love of murder mystery documentaries for! She isn’t fazed by blood and guts and has a penchant for all that is creepy and twisted. This weird obsession is contrasted with her gentle nature which she believes stems from the loving relationship she shares with her brothers and sisters. When she isn’t busy studying, Gabrielle fuels her creative side by spending her time painting and drawing – a hobby she has developed up a passion for over the last year. Although she boasts she works well in teams, Gabrielle does admittedly struggle with anything related to science, math and general knowledge.

Jessica A – 19/WA
Jessica is a 19-year-old student studying Screen Production and Journalism, who sells ethical handmade clothing and accessories as a side hustle. She lists her hobbies as sewing, being environmentally conscious and spiritual and her adventurous personality is sure to not go unnoticed by the geeks. Fiercely independent, Jessica loves to work by herself rather than in a team, as the idea of letting a teammate down is something she can’t bear to have caused. She’s a great public speaker but says she often struggles with thinking on the spot and her sarcastic nature can often get her into trouble. Never having missed as episode of Beauty and the Geek while she was growing up, Jessica knows this is a once in a lifetime experience and is determined not to let this slip between her fingers. She’s most looking forward to meeting the geeks and says she has always gotten along better with geekier guys, since she knows there is a lot she can learn from them.

Jess H – 23/SA
With a Bachelor of Media in Journalism, a Certificate in Meteorology, and the ability to recite 30 elements of the periodic tables by memory, 23-year-old Jess has both the beauty and the brains. Coming across as a little ditzy due to her bubbly personality and infectiously high energy, Jess is still able to laugh at herself and joke around with her friends. Describing herself as the girl next door, Jess has no problem making new friends and she lights up any room that she walks into. She feels that coming into the series, she will be able to use her bright personality to help the geeks open up and come out of their shells. Not ruling out the possibility of falling for one of the geeks, Jess’ relationship history has seen her fall hard and fast. She admits that she has been naïve in past relationships and that guys often get an ego if she gives them a chance.

Josie – 21/NSW
21-year-old Josie is a total country girl at heart, having grown up in regional NSW until she was 18. She has a super laid back and bubbly personality and being a full-time dancer has always been a lifelong dream of hers. Moving to Sydney to pursue her dreams of dance a few years ago to continue with ballet and jazz, Josie is incredibly competitive at heart and hates to lose. Now studying primary school teaching, Josie is proud of herself for stepping out of her comfort zone and says her hard working nature has driven her to be as happy and successful as she is today. When it comes to the dating world, Josie says she has always been unlucky in love. Since moving to Sydney, she has had a few casual relationships but none have ever lasted. She says, “I have been single for quite some time now as I am independent and haven’t had the time to pursue a relationship since my career has always come first.”

Kiera – 23/VIC
23-year-old Kiera is a fun loving, big ball of energy. Listing her opinionated nature as both her strength and her weakness, her motto in life is that “talent will get you in the door and personality will keep you in the room.” As a public servant for the Victorian Government, Kiera admits that maths is definitely not one of her strong suits. She has a soft spot for geeks, which she credits to growing up with two brothers and is confident this will work in her favour to help her build a real and genuine connection with the geek she is partnered with. Kiera describes herself as chaotic, romantic and fun and is least looking forward to the potential of crumbling under pressure when it comes to the challenges she is about to experience.

Leticia – 25/ VIC
Despite her small size, Leticia’s big outrageous personality instantly fills any room she steps foot into. She brings this fun loving and carefree attitude into her professional life as a dental receptionist and can often be caught singing and talking to herself at the front desk. At 25, Leticia says her dating life is non- existent and that she has never even been on a real date! Her usual type is a tall, fit guy with facial hair and tattoos but Letitia says she no longer pines after this kind of guy and instead wants an honest, genuine connection with a man who will prioritise her as his number one. Leticia is a bona fide pocket rocket who is full of energy and is constantly apologising for being too full on. Coming into the series, Leticia says she loves the idea of two completely different worlds colliding and is excited to be her geek’s number one hype girl.

Geeks

Alexander – 26/VIC
Alexander is a 26-year-old maths tutor who describes himself as ‘a bit of a nutty professor type.’ He has a Bachelor of Science majoring in Neuroscience, a Diploma of Mathematics and Statistics and is now undergoing his Master of Teaching. Not just a lover of all things mathematical and scientific, Alex also has a passion for juggling, video games, fine dining and classical music. His ideal weekend would be a day jam packed with snowboarding down alps and spending breakfast, lunch and dinner in French restaurants overlooking snow-capped hills. Describing himself as eccentric, rational and enthusiastic, Alex’s proudest achievement in life was winning the State Finals of the Brain Bee Contest in 2011. Apart from that, he is also super proud of his academic achievements.

Frank – 28/NSW
28-year-old Frank is an emergency doctor with an absolute passion for sports. Living in China until he moved to Australia with his mother when he was 9, Frank has always had the importance of a good education drilled into him. Academically driven, Frank is obsessed with sports and loves anything from the footy to wrestling. For Frank, sports are to him what video games are to other geeks and being socially uncomfortable, his deep knowledge of statistics and historical sporting events comes from the fact that he spends his days and nights meticulously focussing on sports instead of interacting with his peers. Frank’s proudest achievement in life has been becoming a doctor. Having had medical aspirations since he was 12, Frank says, “It took persistence and dedication to get into medical school, and the 13-year journey was worth every minute.”

George – 27/ VIC
George is a 27-year-old escape room game master, who also plays Dungeons and Dragons professionally on the side. He dreams of one day becoming an action movie star and lists Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan as his inspirations. Despite being very confident in a group of strangers, George does struggle when it comes to picking up social cues from girls if they are interested. His dating history is pretty minimal and although he has had serious relationships before, he’s never been into the casual dating scene and struggles if on a date with someone he’s met from an app. His biggest passion in life is without a doubt Dungeons and Dragons. George and his friends have been playing one singular game for the past five years and he says, “I love the creativity and entertainment side of it. The way it tells a story and challenges you creatively to solve complex problems in unique and engaging ways is unparalleled.”

Jackson – 19/SA
Standing at 6’4” with a deep voice and British accent, Jackson only moved to Australia a few years ago and since then has been loving his new life in Adelaide. Jackson has an extensive hat collection that he is very proud of and his favourite reads ‘I am Jackson Palmer’ – his full name. He says it saves him a lot of time when he meets new people. Jackson has a quirky sense of humour that matches his fashion sense and says he knows his style is not quite up to scratch. He’s hoping that one of the beauties will be able to help him in this department! His ideal weekend would be waking up bright and early at 9am, because there is no better feeling of accomplishment than not sleeping in until lunchtime. Then he would go to a party at someone else’s house (never his own) and wake up on Sunday and eat chips with BBQ sauce in bed to make himself feel better.

James – 25/ SA
25-year-old James has been an active member of the Cosplay community for 10 years, with Superman as his go to character. He is reserved, thoughtful and shy but once he finds his footing in a situation, his adventurous side comes out. James rarely has the confidence to put himself into situations where there is any potential he could become embarrassed or disappointed. Despite this, James is pretty spontaneous, having once booked a two-week trip to Perth on a whim, but ended up staying for a year after accepting a job in a remote town in the Kimberley. When it comes to his luck with the ladies, James doesn’t really have much luck at all. He’s never been in a relationship and he’s never been kissed. Coming into the series, James admits he is very nervous. He’s nervous about how the beauties will see him and he’s nervous about how his personality, hobbies, and interests are going to be received by his new peers. James says this type of fear is what usually stops him from putting himself into new social situations.

Kiran – 30/ VIC
Kiran is a 30-year-old law graduate working at a tech start-up, who admits to being a huge cinema buff and an avid comic book reader. Having lived all over the world, Kiran is a good communicator and is quite charming. Kiran describes his teen years as very awkward and even now the idea of approaching someone in a bar or connecting on a dating app terrifies him. He’s never been in a relationship and has become almost too comfortable with being alone. He says, “If my dating history were sold in a bookstore, it would be a postcard or a pamphlet.” Describing himself as a driven and intelligent hard worker, Kiran is also a worrier and can be uncomfortable in social situations. He’s looking forward to working with his partner to overcomes these challenges but is hoping nothing involves heights!

Kyle – 22/ SA
22-year-old Kyle has an intense love and appreciation for military history and this passion for historic battles has seen him become a regular member at the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group which meets regularly to re-enact historic battles while kitted out in full armour and battle gear with wooden swords. When he isn’t busy taking part in these re-enactments, Kyle also loves his video games and digital drawing and sketching. He has a Bachelor of Creative Arts in Visual Effects and his perfect weekend would see him enjoying a quiet day alone playing video games or finishing off a new piece of art or a piece of armour. Kyle uses his impressive historical knowledge to inspire his artworks and he believes this is what helps his art to stand out from the crowd. He describes himself as chill, passionate and creative and even though he wasn’t popular in high school, he is a pretty good talker when it comes to art and history.

Lachlan – 32/ NSW
Lachlan runs a small motorsports PR agency and has taken a leap of faith by applying for Beauty and the Geek, hoping he will learn how to get out of the friend zone and finally find himself in a relationship. At 32, Lachlan has never had a girlfriend and says, “While I’m okay at becoming friends with girls, I can never seem to progress any further than that.” He worries he is too nice for his own good and sometimes girls take advantage of that. His ideal partner would be someone he can have an intelligent conversation with and can help bring him out of his shell. He has an almost photographic memory for motorsports stats and can name every Bathurst 1000 winner from 1963 to present. As well as being a MD, Lachlan also works as a motorsports and sim racing commentator and thanks to this, he is a great public speaker and is super confident when it comes to addressing crowds. One on one interactions or small groups are Lachlan’s weakness and they make him really nervous and uncomfortable.

Mitchell – 28/ VIC
28-year-old Mitchell lives with his parents and dreams of being a video editor or screenwriter. He has countless ideas for the latest sci-fi or thriller movie and can talk for hours about the out of this world ideas he has come up with. His ideal weekend would be sitting at home playing online games with his friends or going out to Good Game to play card games with his mates. Although he is outgoing and actually pretty confident, Mitch sees no point in even trying to look for a girlfriend, seeing as he still lives with his parents and is still waiting for his first kiss. Mitchell’s strengths are his ability to be both a rational and creative thinker and what he lacks in fitness and physical ability he makes up for with a willingness to perform. He’s looking forward to seeing what he has to offer and to prove to Australia that geeks these days are so evolved that they couldn’t even be picked out in a crowd.

Sam – 23/ VIC
Born and raised in Victoria, 23-year-old Sam is your typical footy fan who works at the local grocery store. He responds to the nickname Napoleon Dynamite thanks to his afro – which he says everyone loves to rub for good luck. Sam is pretty confident and isn’t scared to try any new opportunity that comes his way. He is a self-confessed fun-loving bloke who enjoys being around his friends and having a laugh, but despite his friendly nature he has never been in a relationship. He doesn’t even have a usual type when it comes to girls and says that “nothing ever happens on Tinder.” He has trouble crossing the friend zone and says his perfect first date would be watching the footy either at home or at the local pub. But he is ready and excited to listen to whatever his beauty has to say, agree with whatever she says and do whatever she tells him to do. He just wants to be helpful!

7pm tonight on Nine, 7:30pm Monday & Tuesday.