Former winner of The Block and Triple M radio star Jess Eva has shared the tale of her humble beginnings.
And from growing up with no electricity to how a monkey bite led to her meeting her husband Norm Hogan, it’s a truly bonkers story.
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Opening up in a clip from tonight’s episode provided to news.com.au, Eva tells AFL legend Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico she lived without electricity until she was 18 and never attended a school camp or Year 12 formal because of her family’s financial struggles.
“People say it’s a bit unusual but for me it’s just normal … I grew up without electricity until I was about 18, had a great time doing it,” she said of her childhood.
“I never wanted to be stuck for money,” she told Dipper of her career ambition.
“I saw how stressed it made Mum, I saw how stressed it made Dad. (I know) that if I can have a crack at stuff, then I can help me mum, I can help me brother.”
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Revealing she was a talented bowls player at a young age, she said it was being part of the Australian Development Squad for the sport that taught her to work hard for what she wanted.
She eventually embarked on a career in radio, but after being knocked back for a presenting role several times by her boss, moved to the Maldives to host a different show.
In a bizarre twist, it was a monkey bite in India that forced her return to Australia to a job at a breakfast show in Cairns, where she met her husband Norm.
The pair – who were the self-proclaimed ‘bogan couple’ on The Block in 2018 – have now been together for 10 years.
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Eva shared that just before entering The Block in 2018, she and Norm had decided to start a cleaning business. They were days away from launching the business when they got the call to partake in the Channel 9 show, which they eventually won, pocketing $209,000.
Eva now co-hosts Triple M’s Moonman in the Morning breakfast show with comedian Lawrence Mooney.
“(The Block) was the moment that our lives changed … It’s amazing how if one person believes in you, it starts this ripple effect,” she said, beginning to cry and prompting Dipper to move in for a hug.
“I’d been working in radio for years just begging for someone to believe in me … Someone believed in us, then it just started this ripple effect of Block then Triple M in Sydney,” she said.
Speaking to the camera through tears, she added: “You just get so proud when your son brings home a letter and says I’m gonna go on this camp and I’m going to need 40 bucks … and that’s not even a question. It’s really nice to be able to go, ‘Sure son, here you go.’”
Eva has fast become a viewer and campsite favourite this season of I’m A Celeb for her candour on and off screen.
In a recent episode of the Channel 10 show, Eva pulled up her shirt and danced for her camp mates, resulting in a horrific message from a viewer.
The troll wrote: “Put some f***ing clothes on you fat pig. You make me physically sick when you dance around with your shirt up like u all that. You’re a fat disgusting mutt.”
Eva shared the message on her Instagram page with a video of herself dancing in a bra and her partner’s jocks, hitting back at the troll with a powerful message.
In the caption, Eva wrote: “Ya know I get that some people don’t like 85kg of white chocolate. But I got this message the other day after the belly dance. This weekend I was looking at my just-turned four-year-old daughter. And I thought I’m at an age where these messages don’t phase me. But 10 years ago, these messages would probably spiral me into a state of diets and feeling like a fat, inferior piece of crap. And I don’t want her to ever feel like she’s not good enough as a result of someone’s opinion.
“This post isn’t to shame the people that write to me telling me I’m disgusting. It’s a post to every man and woman of any shape and size to love your guts, love your soul and love your life. People will always comment on what you should and shouldn’t be. Although we aren’t the centre of THE universe, you’re the centre of YOURS. We all deserve a happy and peaceful life, it’s the most important thing in the world.
“PS – I love my guts! It’s got heaps of wine and really tasty food in it! How good’s livin! X,” she concluded the lengthy post.
I’m A Celeb continues tonight on Channel 10 at 7.30pm