Jeanne Beker

Born in Toronto, Jeanne Beker began her career in show business at the age of 16 and has never looked back. A mother of two daughters, Jeanne Beker is one of the most iconic and influential women in the fashion industry both here in Canada and around the world.  A pioneer of music television, she is best known today as the star and segment producer of the internationally syndicated “FT-Fashion Television” and host of Fashion Television Channel.

At the age of 19, after playing a mixed bag of characters on various Canadian and U.S. productions, Jeanne headed for New York City to study at the celebrated Herbert Berghoff Studio. One year later, she returned to Toronto and entered the Theatre program at York University.

Jeanne went to Paris to study mime with Marcel Marceau's teacher, the great Etienne Decroux. In a strange turn of events, Jeanne found herself living in Newfoundland in 1975, as the only professional mime artist in the province. Not wanting to risk the chance of starving in a garret, she landed a gig with CBC radio reporting on arts and entertainment.

Returning to Toronto to work for 1050 CHUM, Jeanne produced daily lifestyle and entertainment features for the radio station. After CHUM bought Citytv in 1978, Jeanne was brought onboard to co-star in what became the groundbreaking, award-winning The New Music. Jeanne went on to become an entertainment anchor and reporter for CITYPULSE, while continuing her duties at The New Music. When MuchMusic was launched in 1984, Jeanne was also there, anchoring Rockflash segments. Growing a little weary of the intensity of rock 'n' roll in 1985, she jumped at the chance to host FASHIONTELEVISION (FT), which became the station’s most widely syndicated show, with viewers across Canada and in more than 130 countries across the globe.

The success of FT led to the launch of the digital channel, FashionTelevisionChannel in 2001. Today, Jeanne is host and segment producer of both FT and FashionTelevisionChannel – which remains Canada’s first and only channel dedicated to fashion, beauty, and design. Jeanne travels to the fashion capitals of the world and brings viewers the latest trends that hit the runways, while interviewing countless designers from Betsey Johnson to Karl Lagerfeld.

From 2003 to 2009, Jeanne was the editor-in-chief of FQ Magazine and SIR Magazine – Canada’s Magazines of Stylish Living. She is currently a regular featured columnist with The Globe and Mail – Canada’s National Newspaper. Jeanne is also a published author with her autobiography Jeanne Unbottled: Adventures in High Style, The Big Night Out and Passion for Fashion: Careers in Style.

Jeanne is also a judge on CTV’s Canada’s Next Top Model, and she is a style correspondent for CTV’s CANADA AM and ETALK – Canada’s most-watched entertainment newsmagazine.

In February 2010, Jeanne joined the etalk crew in Vancouver to cover the 2010 Olympic Winter Games for CTV. She also carried the Olympic Flame during the Torch Relay in British Columbia.

Recognized by numerous organizations for her ongoing community involvement and influence in the fashion world, Jeanne was highly praised by Fashion Group International for her impact on the fashion industry and accepted the Vantage Women of Originality Award. She was also the recipient of the Variety Club Diamond Award and received the prestigious Crystal Jury Award in 2006 from Women in Film and Television, for her exceptional achievements in Canadian television. Past Honorary Chair of Toronto’s Annual Fashion Cares, Jeanne currently sits on the honorary board for Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto.

• 1. Celebrity Division

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• “Jeanne Beker was an amazing addition to our Women as Career Coaches program. Jeanne’s keynote was unique, entertaining and spoke to both the students and career coaches in attendance. She brought an excellent mix of wit, humor and a genuine sense of self in articulating how you must remain fearless in pursuing your dreams. She is an excellent example of what happens when dreams, determination, and passion come together.”

  Halton Industry Education Council

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