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.

Jeanne first landed a recurring role on a CBC sitcom called Toby in 1968. At 19, after playing a mixed bag of characters on various Canadian and U.S. productions, she 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.

Later, Jeanne went to Paris and studied 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, (to say nothing of the fact that mimes weren't in great demand), she landed a gig with CBC radio reporting on arts and entertainment, regionally and for the network.

Three years later, Jeanne returned to Toronto once again, this time to work for 1050 CHUM, producing daily lifestyle and entertainment features for the radio station. It was in 1978, the year CHUM bought Citytv, that the station was eager to produce a music magazine-style show. Jeanne was brought onboard to co-star in what became the groundbreaking, award-winning The Newmusic (winner of an Iris Award in 1984).

One year later, Jeanne became an entertainment anchor and reporter for the station's news program CityPulse, while continuing her duties at The Newmusic. 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 FashionTelevison (FT), which became the station’s most widely syndicated show, with viewers across Canada and in several 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 FT which airs on E! and FashionTelevisionChannel – which Jeanne helped pioneer and remains Canada’s first and only channel dedicated to fashion, beauty, and design. Each season, 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. Today, FT the series is seen in Canada and in more than 140 countries around the world – including Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Colombia, Israel, Czech Republic, and South Africa.

In addition, Jeanne helped pioneer fashion on the Internet with American communications giant MCI, when she became editorial director of @fashion in 1995 – the Internet's first fashion site. And with FashionTelevision.com hitting the one million mark of podcasts downloaded per month in 2007, people around the world now have 24-hour access to Jeanne and episodes from Canada’s leading fashion series.

Jeanne’s design credits include a limited-time-only clothing line launched in 2001 at Eaton’s department stores across Canada, followed by a line of body wear (titled Inside Out), sold exclusively at Sears Canada in the fall of 2003. In September 2010, Jeanne launched her clothing line ”endeavour” with The Bay. Titled “EDIT by Jeanne Beker”, the new line of women’s wear is available in more than 65 stores across Canada.

From 2003 to 2009, Jeanne was the editor-in-chief of FQ Magazine and SIR Magazine – Canada’s Magazines of Stylish Living. She also co-executive produced the documentary series Cover Stories, which gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the business side of running her magazines.

Jeanne is also a published author with her autobiography Jeanne Unbottled: Adventures in High Style, The Big Night Out (her first book for young adults who want to look their best) and Passion for Fashion: Careers in Style (a comprehensive career guide for those who dream of breaking into the fashion industry). In spring 2011, Jeanne’s latest two books were released – Finding Myself in Fashion and Strutting It: The Grit behind the Glamour. Jeanne is also a contributing editor for The Toronto Star.

Jeanne also appeared as a judge on Canada’s Next Top Model, a popular Canadian reality series in which aspiring model hopefuls were taught the ins and outs of the modeling world, as they compete for the grand prize. Currently, Jeanne adds Style Correspondent to her résumé by sharing her passion for fashion and insider industry knowledge with recurring spots on CTV’s Canada AM and eTalk – Canada’s most-watched entertainment newsmagazine.

Last year, in February 2010, Jeanne joined etalk hosts Tanya Kim and Ben Mulroney along with ETALK reporters Leah Miller and Lainey in Vancouver to cover the 2010 Olympic Winter Games for CTV. She also carried the Olympic Flame as part of the Torch Relay in Ladner, 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 (awarded to women who are pioneers in their chosen field).  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 and is involved in numerous charitable events and speaking engagements across the country.

• 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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  April 2011

  Finding Myself in Fashion

  More than 30 years ago, Jeanne Beker set out to live a life that was not just great, but extraordinary. In Finding Myself in Fashion, she recalls some of the high and low points of the turbulent past decade. Personally, she dealt with heartbreak (the end of her marriage) and rediscovered romance. Professionally, she suffered setbacks that became learning experiences leading to new career paths. She travelled the world with FQ Magazine; witnessed epic events and conducted intimate interviews as a fashion reporter; launched her own clothes labels; wrote newspaper columns; and hosted or appeared on innumerable television shows. Through it all, both at home and at work, she stuck to her youthful resolution. This is Jeanne's candid account of a life lived to the max.

  
  
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  February 2011

  Strutting It!

  Who wouldn’t want to wear gorgeous clothes, travel the world, hang out with stars, have adoring fans – and get paid a fortune for it? But is that what the life of a model is like? World-famous fashion guru Jeanne Beker offers a unique insider’s look at the reality behind the glitz. She demystifies the industry for those who are thinking about a career in modeling and for those who simply want the scoop on an intriguing world. Strutting It! is full of fascinating information, from getting discovered to finding a personal style, from the team of people behind every model to the education a good model should have.

  
  
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  March 2008

  Passion for Fashion: Careers in Style

  The dynamic author-illustrator team of Jeanne Beker and Nathalie Dion again work their magic in this comprehensive career guide, with a detailed resource section at the back, for those who dream of working in fashion. From agent to designer, model, photographer, stylist, makeup artist, retail fashion director, publicist, journalist, fashion illustrator, creative director, editor-in-chief, trend forecaster, fashion show producer, color specialist, and personal shopper to all the people behind the scenes, Jeanne Beker informs, entertains, and inspires. Discover the ins and outs of fashion production, the players, and who deciphers what’s hot. In this common-sense career guide, Jeanne Beker’s down-to-earth approach, peppered with quotes and mini profiles of successful fashion people, lets us explore what we love about fashion while receiving practical advice on how to break into this diverse and creative industry.

  
  
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  March 2005

  The Big Night Out

  A big night out can be graduation, a prom, a family wedding, confirmation, or Bar or Bat Mitzvah. Whatever the occasion, it is a time when every young person wants to look her (or his) best. This is the book that has it all – tips on planning for the big day, a countdown for getting ready, how to look great in photos, a common-sense guide to party manners, and sound advice about making sure the evening is safe as well as fun. It provides a get-ready plan, the scoop on the comfortable versus excruciating shoe debate, what to do if a zipper breaks, and of course how to accept a compliment gracefully.

  
  
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  January 2000

  Jeanne Unbottled: Adventures in High Style