How I Went From Being Terrified of Public Speaking… to Taking Over Steve Irwin’s Role
People often assume confidence is something you’re born with — that those who stand on stages or in front of cameras must have some natural gift.
But if you had met me in my early years, you would’ve seen a completely different story.
I wasn’t just nervous about public speaking.
I was physically ill at the thought of it.
Any time the possibility came up, my stomach twisted.
My hands shook.
My heart raced.
I would avoid it at all costs because I simply didn’t trust my voice.
Somewhere deep inside, though, was a small whisper — a knowing — that I wasn’t meant to stay silent forever.
I didn’t understand it then, but that whisper would change the entire trajectory of my life.
Years later, after facing fears I thought would break me… I became a presenter on MTV.
One opportunity opened another, and before long, my work was being seen by over 60 million people across Australia and Europe.
And then came the moment that still feels surreal:
stepping into Steve Irwin’s presenting role at Australia Zoo.
From a girl who used to hide behind her fear…
to standing in front of global audiences, carrying the legacy of one of the most iconic presenters in the world.
But here’s the truth:
I didn’t get there because I was fearless.
I got there because I consistently chose growth.
Every time fear showed up — and it showed up often — I made the decision to keep going anyway.
I stopped trying to “perform.”
I stopped trying to be perfect.
I stopped chasing the idea of what a presenter should look like.
Instead, I started speaking from a place of truth.
From my heart.
From the deepest parts of who I am — the same place that later guided me through my children’s healing journey and into founding Shine Health & Wellness.
And that’s when everything shifted.
When you speak from truth, your voice becomes a bridge.
People don’t just hear you — they feel you.
That’s what carried me from crippling fear…
to global stages…
to telling stories that mattered.
And it’s the same message I share with every client:
You don’t need to be fearless to change your life.
You just need to choose growth — again and again.
The voice you think is too small, too shaky, or too unsure…
is often the voice someone desperately needs to hear.