Em Rusciano
Em Rusciano | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emelia Rachael Rusciano Greensborough, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, podcaster, television and radio host, singer-songwriter, author |
| Years active | –present |
| Known for | Australian Idol (season 2), The Em Rusciano Show, The Masked Singer Australia (season 3) |
| Notable work | Try Hard: Tales from the Life of a Needy Overachiever |
Emelia Rachael Rusciano is a multifaceted Australian entertainer known for her work as a comedian, podcaster, television and radio host, singer-songwriter, and author.
Early life
Born and raised in Greensborough, Victoria, Rusciano spent her formative years in the suburbs of Diamond Creek and Warrandyte. Her education included attendance at both Eltham College and Forest Hill College.
Career
Rusciano has made appearances on programs such as All Star Family Feud, The Circle, The Project, Studio 10, and Hughesy, We Have a Problem.
She participated in the second season of Australian Idol, where she secured ninth place.
After four years on the breakfast show at 92.9 in Perth, Rusciano departed in 2009 and moved back to Melbourne. Between August 2012 and May 2013, she co-hosted Mamamia Today alongside Dave Thornton on the Today Network.
In January 2016, she embarked on an Australian tour with her stand-up performance titled Em Rusciano Is Not a Diva. Later that year, in June, she joined the Hit Network to present The Em Rusciano Show on Sunday evenings.
Her memoir, Try Hard: Tales from the Life of a Needy Overachiever, was released on 26 October 2016.
Beginning in January 2017, Rusciano co-hosted the breakfast program on 2Day FM, a role she held until September 2018 when she stepped down due to pregnancy. She described this period as a "mixed bag".
In 2021, she achieved runner-up status on season three of The Masked Singer Australia, performing under the alias “Dolly”.
Rusciano earned a nomination for the 2024 AACTA Audience Choice Award for Favourite Media Personality and was honored as "Best on Ground" by Fashion Critical during the red carpet ceremony.
Personal life
Married to Scott Barrow, Rusciano is a mother of three. At age 42, she received an ADHD diagnosis and was later diagnosed with autism in November 2022, experiences that have shaped both her personal outlook and professional endeavors.