Dina Pugliese

Dina Pugliese
Pugliese in 2007
Born (1974-05-22) May 22, 1974 (age 50)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma materHumber College
York University (BA)
Occupation(s)Morning host; CITY-DT, Breakfast Television
Years active2004–present
SpouseAlek Mirkovich

Dina Pugliese (Italian: [ˈdiːna puʎˈʎeːze, -eːse]; born May 22, 1974) is a Canadian television personality, formerly the co-host of City Toronto's Breakfast Television. She joined the show in 2006, replacing Liza Fromer.[1]

Born in Toronto, Pugliese grew up in Woodbridge, Ontario and is of Italian descent.[2] She is a graduate of York University (Sociology and Mass Communications) and Humber College (Journalism). Prior to joining Breakfast Television, she began her career as a producer of Global Television Network's The Bynon Show and Toronto 1's Toronto Today, later becoming an entertainment reporter and host of The A-List and Star!'s Star! Daily.[1] She has also hosted MuchMusic's MuchMusic VJ Search and Citytv's New Year's Eve special from Nathan Phillips Square. She is a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada.[3]

Pugliese is married to Alek Mirkovich, founder of campayn.com.[4]

On October 17, 2011, Pugliese was announced as the host of Canada's Got Talent.[5] The first season of the show ran in 2012.[6] In April 2020, Pugliese co-hosted a spin-off version of the show called Canadian Family's Got Talent carried out virtually by Citytv during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[7] And after 10-year hiatus, her hosting role on the show was replaced with Lindsay Ell.

On February 15, 2023, Pugliese announced on air that she will be leaving the show after 16 years.[8] Her last day on the program was February 24.[9]

  1. ^ a b Salem, Rob (October 29, 2006). "Dina fits like a slipper on Breakfast Television: The new egg is winning raves as a bright-eyed presence on Toronto's show of shows in the morning", Toronto Star, p. C6.
  2. ^ Canada, HELLO!. "10 things you might not know about TV personality Dina Pugliese". ca.hellomagazine.com.
  3. ^ "GGC Fun Facts" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Rise and shine: Dina Pugliese on celeb gossip, Justin Bieber and being a morning person". www.postcity.com.
  5. ^ "BT's Dina Pugliese to host Canada's Got Talent". toronto.citynews.ca. October 17, 2011.
  6. ^ "'Canada's Got Talent' Canceled After First Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  7. ^ "Lights, Camera … Talent! Citytv and Breakfast Television Count Down to AGT Premiere with Canadian Family's Got Talent Contest, April 27 to May 26". Rogers. April 27, 2020.
  8. ^ Ana Pereira, "Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese says she’s leaving the show after 16 years". Toronto Star, February 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Ranger, Michael; Bond, Meredith (February 24, 2023). "Dina Pugliese signs off from Breakfast Television for final time". Citynews.ca. Retrieved February 24, 2023.