Pia Whitesell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pia Whitesell
Whitesell in 2015
Born	Pia Loyola Blanco (1983-11-02) 2 November 1983 (age 41) Viña del Mar, Chile
Other names	Pia Miller
Occupation	Model, actress, presenter
Years active	1998–present (modelling) 2010–present (acting)
Spouse(s)	Brad Miller ​ ​ (m. 2007; div. 2016)​ Patrick Whitesell ​ (m. 2021)​
Children	2
Modelling information
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Hair colour	Brown
Eye colour	Brown
Agency	Chadwick Models

Pia Whitesell (born Pia Loyola Blanco on November 2, 1983) is an Australian model, actress, and television presenter. She first became famous after winning a modeling contest for Dolly magazine. She later appeared on the TV show Search for a Supermodel.

Pia has been in many ads for famous brands like Myer and Mossimo. In 2010, she started co-hosting the in-flight TV shows for Qantas airlines. In 2014, she was chosen as the first Australian celebrity ambassador for tourism in Chile.

After studying acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Pia became a presenter on the travel show Postcards Victoria. She also had guest roles in TV shows like East West 101 and Neighbours. From 2015 to 2018, she played Kat Chapman in the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. For this role, she was nominated for a Logie Award.

Early Life and Family

Pia Loyola Blanco was born in Viña del Mar, Chile. When she was four years old, she moved to Australia with her mother, brother, and sister. Her grandmother later joined them. At age seven, her mother signed her up for a modeling school, which started her journey into the world of fashion.

Career Journey

Modeling Success

In 1998, at just fourteen years old, Pia won a modeling contest held by Dolly magazine. This win earned her a contract with Chadwick Models, a top modeling agency. By the time she was sixteen, she was traveling the world for fashion shows. She even completed her high school education through distance learning.

In 2001, she competed on the TV show Search for a Supermodel. After the show, she landed a contract with L'Oréal and appeared in ads for many big companies, including Myer, Mossimo, and Crown Casino.

In 2009, a T-shirt with her picture on it became very popular after actors like Adrian Grenier and John Stamos were seen wearing it. The next year, she was named the official ambassador for the 2010 Australian Grand Prix. She also became the face of Megan Gale's swimwear collection and an ambassador for brands like Mazda, Maybelline, and Gillette.

Acting and Presenting Roles

In 2009, Pia decided to explore acting. She took classes at the famous National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). The following year, she began presenting the travel show Postcards Victoria. She also made guest appearances on TV shows like East West 101 and Neighbours.

In 2014, Pia landed her biggest role yet, joining the cast of Home and Away as police officer Katarina "Kat" Chapman. She was excited to play a strong female character. She first appeared on the show in February 2015 and left in December 2017. Her performance earned her a nomination for a Logie Award.

After leaving Home and Away, Pia starred in the crime drama Bite Club. In 2019, she appeared in the movie Dora and the Lost City of Gold, playing Dora's aunt.

Personal Life

Pia has two sons. Her first son, Izzy, was born when she was nineteen. In 2005, she began a relationship with AFL footballer Brad Miller. They had a son together in 2006 and married in 2007. The couple separated in 2015.

In 2020, Pia announced her engagement to businessman Patrick Whitesell, and they married in 2021. She became an Australian citizen in 2010.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Pia Miller para niños