Carmela Contarino

Carmela Rebecca Contarino (born 21 Feburary, 1986) is an Australian broadcaster, producer, performing artist and choreographer.

Early Life
Contarino was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, a town two hours south of Perth. She is the daughter of Maria, a business owner of Italian decent and Leo Contarino, an operations manager of Italian descent. She has a sister, who is two years younger, named Domenica and a brother six years junior, called Sam.

Contarino attended St Mary's Catholic School, Cooinda Primary School and Bunbury Senior High School in Bunbury, Western Australia.

Radio
Contarino had 'The Carmela Show' on the Macqaurie Regional RadioWorks Hot FM/RadioWest, Western Australia from early 2006 until November 2007. She also ran the Carmela Contarino School of Dance, based in her home town of Bunbury, Western Australia.
Contarino moved to Sydney in 2007 to be a part of Glenn Wheatley's Australian subscription service Stripe Radio and whilst there spent time studying at the Australian Film Television and Radio School; it was during her time there she was discovered a year later and hired to become one half of radio duo 'Mike E and Carmela' which aired on the Australian Radio Network, and 9 months later replaced Sonia Kruger and Todd McKenney on The Australian Radio Network, Breakfast Radio Show.
In the early days of the Mike E and Carmela Show it was reported in Australian that a You Tube video based on the negative press surrounding Kyle Sandilands at that time may have been leaked as a PR stunt for their new show.

After only working together for 6 months, Mike E and Carmela were nominated for and judged as a finalist in the Best On-Air Team (Provincial Station) category at the Australian Commerical Radio Awards in 2009 following a positive ratings survey.
Contarino was a finalist in Australian Idol 2007 and two years later whilst working at Mix was asked back to present a promotional television commercial for the show with Mike E and Ian Dickson.

Contarino has worked with some of the world's biggest stars from Rhianna, Robbie Williams to Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. In August 2010 she and Mike E interviewed Tony Abbott during the Australian general election campaign regarding paid parental leave among other topics.

In late 2010 the 'Mike E and Carmela' breakfast show ended on .
It is considered that a lack of marketing funds for the show may have been its ultimate downfall.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu