Beauty and the Geek Australia is an Australian reality television show that follows a group of "Beauties" (women who rely on their attractiveness and outgoing personalities but typically lack intellect) "Geeks" (men who rely on intellect but typically lack the social ability) who must pair up to compete in challenges to survive episodic elimination. The final pair remaining is declared as being "More than a Beauty and a Geek" and wins the grand prize of $100,000.
While a competition, the show is also billed as a social experiment, in which each contestant typically learns from their opposite teammate - both in what trait they lack and in understanding another perspective. During the competition, the contestants live in a mansion, with the beauties competing in challenges of intellect, with the assistance of their "geek", and the geeks competing in challenges regarding social ability, with the assistance of their "beauty".
The series first aired on the Seven Network for six seasons between 2009 and 2014, with Bernard Curry hosting the first four series and James Tobin hosting for the fifth and sixth seasons. On 16 September 2020, the series was revived for a seventh season by Nine Network with Sophie Monk as the new host, and the season premiered on 11 July 2021. On 15 September 2021, the series was renewed for an eighth season with Monk returning as host. No further seasons have been announced.
Format The format for Beauty and the Geek is as follows: Challenges: In each episode, the teams will compete in challenges. The beauties are challenged academic subjects, while the geeks competing in a challenge regarding their social ability, or the challenge can involve the pairs working as a team. The winning Beauty and Geek of their respective challenge win immunity for their team, and in Nine's revival, they also win either a date or a makeover. Nominations: Following the challenges, in Seven's version, the winning teams must both name another team to be nominated for Elimination. In Nine's revival, the two bottom-performing teams are nominated for elimination by the Host. Eliminations Room: In the elimination room, the nominated teams are tested once again in a quiz regarding the episode's challenges, each other, and the experience overall, alongside physical challenges. The team with the fewer points or correct answers is eliminated from the competition.
The last team remaining wins the competition and wins a cash prize.
Series overview
Season 1 (2009)
Teams Xenogene later appeared in an audition episode of The X Factor singing "Thriller". He also appeared in the several episodes of the second season of the same series; in a pool when the Geeks were being cabana boys and in crowd scenes at the Beauty Pageant, Bachelor Auction and Wedding Ceremonies.
Team Status The Beauty The Geek Emma Caminiti, 21 NSW (Miss Congeniality) Jeremy Reading, 24 ACT (Chess Champion) Winner Lisa McMahon, 21 SA (Aspiring Actress) Corin Storkey, 28 VIC (Synthetic Organic Chemist) Runner-up Michelle Smith,Michelle's Bio 18 QLD (Meter Maid) Peter Scott, 28 WA (Fungal Scientist) Eliminated in episode 8 Hadassah Venn, 22 QLD (Spray Tan Technician) Xenogene Gray, 30 NSW (Physicist) Eliminated in episode 7 Jenna Griffin, 21 VIC (Air Hostess) Toby Latcham, 21 QLD (Studying Three Degrees) Eliminated in episode 6 Elise Griffiths, 20 SA (V8 Grid Girl) Paul Amores, 24 ACT (Econometrician) Eliminated in episode 4 Kimberley Ellsmore, 20 NSW (Beauty Queen) Nathan Carter, 20 VIC (Comic Collector) Eliminated in episode 3 Kate Winton, 20 SA (Glamour Model) Alan Kwong, 19 WA (Child Genius) Eliminated in episode 2
Episode progress #ContestantsEpisodes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 81 EmmaWIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE RISK RISK RISK WINNER JeremySAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE RISK RISK RISK WINNER2 LisaSAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE WIN RUNNER-UP CorinWIN WIN SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE WIN WIN RUNNER-UP3 MichelleSAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN OUT PeterSAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN SAFE OUT4 HadassahSAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT XenogeneSAFE SAFE WIN SAFE SAFE SAFE OUT5 JennaSAFE RISK WIN RISK SAFE OUT TobySAFE RISK SAFE RISK SAFE OUT6 EliseSAFESAFE RISK OUT PaulSAFESAFE RISK OUT7 KimberleySAFE SAFE OUT NathanSAFE SAFE OUT8 KateSAFE OUT AlanSAFE OUT The contestants won the competition. The contestants claimed the runner-up position in the competition. The contestant won the challenge and their pair was safe from elimination. The contestant's partner won the challenge and they were safe from elimination. The contestant did not win the challenge and neither were they nominated but their pair was safe from elimination. The contestant and their partner were nominated and survived elimination. The contestant and their partner were nominated and were eliminated from the competition. The contestants did not compete in the week.
Challenges and eliminations Episode 1: 8 October 2009 The beauties met the geeks for the first time, and are put into teams. The beauties had to teach a 5th grade class either science, mathematics, history or geography. The geeks had to perform a rap song for a nightclub audience including guest judges Molly Meldrum and Jessica Mauboy. There was no elimination, much to the surprise of the contestants.
Episode 2: 15 October 2009 The beauties studied the anatomy of the body. Meanwhile, the geeks practised relaxing massage techniques, including developing their own signature move, which they put into practice on the beauties.
Episode 3: 22 October 2009 For many of the geeks, it was their first opportunity to go on a date when they embarked on speed dating. The beauties became budding rocket scientists when they attempted to build and launch a rocket from scratch.
Episode 4: 29 October 2009 The geeks are create a race day outfit for their beauties, including choosing a dress for dumaaaa and making the fascinator from scratch, to impress guest judges, milliner Pater Jago and Kate Waterhouse (daughter of horse trainer Gai Waterhouse). Meanwhile, the beauties brushed up on their current affairs knowledge to present a speech on a newsworthy topic.
Episode 5: 5 November 2009 The boys got a makeover in the hopes of improving their confidence. This week also contained the first team challenge, with the beauties and geeks teaming up for a special soap opera challenge with the help of Home and Away stars Ada Nicodemou and Luke Jacobz.
Episode 6: 12 November 2009 The Beauties become tour guides for a night at the museum, and the Geeks host a radio Love Hotline.
Episode 7: 19 November 2009 The Geeks teach a fitness class while the Beauties build a billy cart from scratch.
Episode 8 (Finale): 26 November 2009 The teams pair up for their own Amazing Race-inspired challenge. They receive clues and work together to track down three eliminated contestants scattered throughout Sydney - the last team back at the mansion would be instantly eliminated. Then the final elimination room quiz was held for the $100,000 prize.
Week Beauty challenge (winner) Geek challenge (winner) Elimination room Eliminated 1 Primary School Knowledge (Emma) Rap Competition (Corin) None 2 Human Anatomy (Michelle) Massaging (Corin) Jenna and TobyKate and Alan Kate and Alan 3 Rocket Scientist (Jenna) Speed Dating (Xenogene) Elise and PaulKimberley and Nathan Kimberley and Nathan 4 Current Affairs Knowledge (Emma) Create A Dress From Scratch (Jeremy) Jenna and TobyElise and Paul Elise and Paul 5 Soap Opera (Corin/Lisa) None 6 Tour Guide (Michelle) Radio Love Hotline (Peter)Emma and Jeremy Jenna and Toby Jenna and Toby 7 Building a Go Kart (Michelle) Teaching Fitness Class (Corin) Hadassah and Xenogene Emma and Jeremy Hadassah and Xenogene 8 Race To The Finale (Corin/Lisa) Emma and Jeremy Michelle and Peter Michelle and Peter WinnersEmma and Jeremy
Ratings
Season 2 (2010) The second season began recording on 9 August 2010, with the first episode going to air on 21 October 2010. There were six episodes in total. The first and last ones were one and a half hours instead of just one hour.
The season was won by the pairing of Michael and Jessie.
Teams The second season of Beauty and the Geek Australia features the same contestant structure as the first season, with one big twist; one of the "Beauties" (Ellie) is actually a twin (Brooke; who also competes). In each challenge only one of the twins was allowed to compete and only that twin can study for that challenge. Also, Xenogene from season 1 was a background "Where's Wally" in at least six episodes. The contestants for the second season were as follows.
Team Status The Beauties The Geek Jessie Byrne, 21 NSW (Dancer) Michael Price, 23 QLD (National Maths Champion) Winner Tamika Chesser, 20 QLD (Cocktail Waitress) Thomas Richardson-Smith, 22 VIC (Hawaiian Shirt Enthusiast) Runner-up Ellynie-May Rasborsek, 20 NSW (Nail Technician) Marlon Dance-Hooi, 25 SA (Completing Double Degree) Second eliminated in episode 6 Donna Thompson, 22 NSW (Hairdresser) Daniel Iachini, 23 SA (Molecular Biologist) First eliminated in episode 6 Kara Palmieri, 20 NSW (Personal Shopper) Tim Young, 23 WA (Astrophysicist) Eliminated in episode 5 Brooke Kelaart, 18 QLD (Ice-Cream Scooper) George Sinapius, 22 QLD (Dinosaur Fossil Expert) Eliminated in episode 3 Ellie Kelaart, 18 QLD (Menswear Consultant) Linette Goder, 20 WA (Promo Model) David Bathie, 19 VIC (Rover Scout) Eliminated in episode 2 Nicola Cross, 21 SA (Nanny) Stuart Sandow, 31 SA (Comic Collector) Eliminated in episode 1
Winners are in bold
Episode progress #ContestantsEpisodes 1 2 3 4 5 61 JessieSAFE SAFE SAFE ⋑ SAFE WIN ⊃ SAFE RISK WINNER MichaelSAFE SAFE WIN ⋑ SAFE SAFE ⊃ SAFERISKWINNER2 TamikaSAFE WIN ⊃ SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN RUNNER-UP ThomasSAFE SAFE ⊃ SAFE SAFE SAFE WIN WIN RUNNER-UP3 Ellynie-MayRISK ⊂ SAFE ⋑ SAFE SAFE SAFE ⋑ RISK OUT MarlonRISK ⊂ WIN ⋑ SAFE SAFE WIN ⋑ RISK OUT 4 DonnaSAFE ⊃ RISK ⋐ RISK ⊂ SAFE RISK ⋐ OUT DanielWIN ⊃ RISK ⋐ RISK ⊂ SAFE RISK ⋐ OUT5 KaraSAFE WIN WIN ⊃ SAFE OUT ⊂ TimSAFE SAFE SAFE ⊃ SAFE OUT ⊂6 Brooke & EllieWIN ⋑ SAFE OUT ⋐ GeorgeSAFE ⋑ SAFE OUT ⋐7 LinetteSAFE OUT ⊂ DavidSAFE OUT ⊂8 NicolaOUT ⋐ StuartOUT ⋐ The contestant won the competition. The contestants claimed the runner-up position in the competition. The contestant won the challenge and their pair was safe from elimination. The contestant's partner won the challenge and they were safe from elimination. The contestant won immunity and was safe from elimination. The contestant's partner won immunity and they were safe from elimination. The contestant did not win the challenge or immunity and neither were they nominated but they were safe from elimination. The contestant and their partner survived elimination. The contestant was eliminated from the competition. The contestant did not compete in the week. A ⊃ or a ⋑ indicates that the winning team had the power to nominate a non winning / non immune team for elimination; a ⊂ or ⋐ indicates the team who received it.
Challenges and eliminations Episode 1: 21 October 2010 The Geeks apply their knowledge of beauty and fashion to design and dress their Beauties in a handmade bikini which best reflects who the Geeks are for a pageant before a panel of former beauty pageant winners, Miss Universe Australia 2009 Rachael Finch, Miss World 1972 Belinda Green and Miss Australia 1954 Shirley Bliss. The Beauties build a flying device for their Geeks to fly.
Episode 2: 28 October 2010 The Beauties have to handle creepy-crawlies in a challenge that incorporates mathematics, while the Geeks have to stand in as Cabana Boys at a famous Star City hotel. In the creepy-crawlies challenge, the beauties had to transport bugs of different values to their own bowl and whoever scored 100 points worth of bugs won the challenge. Later, a second challenge was announced where beauties can gain immunity by eating a live witchetty grub. However, this winner is unable to nominate a pair for elimination.
Episode 3: 4 November 2010