Whether she’s outwitting castaways in the South Pacific or sipping cherry margaritas in Burleigh, Shonee Bowtell knows how to make an impression. A three-time Survivor queen and undeniable fan favourite (and Inside Gold Coast fave), Shonee first entered the game to get a tan and maybe win some cash, and ended up carving out a legendary spot in Australian Survivor history. Now, she’s back for the ultimate showdown in Survivor: Australia vs The World, hitting screens this Sunday, 17th August, where the stakes (and the sass) are higher than ever.

But when she’s not surviving on a beach with no pillow but her shoe, she’s living her best life on the Gold Coast, raising a toddler, exploring local foodie spots, and keeping things effortlessly stylish, as always.

We chatted to Shonee about life on the Gold Coast, what really goes on behind the scenes of Survivor, and why this new season is set to be the wildest one yet…

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
About two years! I’m originally from Noosa, so I went from one beautiful place to another.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
The beautiful beaches, the hinterland, and all of the delicious food! But please, Tom Tate, if you’re reading this… can we please have some more enclosed playgrounds?

You’re officially a Survivor legend, when you first signed up, did you ever think it would turn into this?
I was just a 25-year-old who wanted to get a tan, half a million dollars, and lose some weight while I was at it. I just play the game in my own unique way, I say whatever pops into my mind, and that’s been enough to keep on getting called back time and time again!

What’s one thing viewers don’t see about life on the island?
The freezing cold, loooonnnggg, uncomfortable nights! Can you imagine spending a night sleeping on the ground at the beach with no bedding and using a shoe as your pillow? It’s not the most refreshing way to wake up haha.

Your fanbase is seriously next-level – how does it feel knowing there’s a whole tribe out there who adore you?
I love my cherubs! Honestly, I am so, so grateful they have my back. It’s very flattering knowing so many people connect with me on a personal level, and I love being able to entertain them by playing again and again. I have so many lovely people bump into me in my day-to-day life, and I always love having a chat and meeting them!

Survivor: Australia vs The World – what can you tell us?
It’s going to be the most entertaining season ever. What’s unique about it is we have all played before – there is not one player who wants to ‘coast’ along just to get the full Survivor experience. We have all had a full Survivor experience, so we are all there to win it; no one cares about laying low just to make it to merge. It’s fast, it’s funny and has some of the best players in the world!

What are your Gold Coast favourites:
Café: Palm Springs! The eggs Benny with that maple bacon – oh my god.
Restaurant: It’s a cliché, but is there really anything better than Rick Shores?!
Bar: Malibu in Burleigh. A cherry margarita from Malibu will be my first cocktail once my second baby is born.
Beach: Burleigh!

How do you choose to spend your days off?
I spend a lot of time outdoors with our toddler, drinking smoothies at the beach, pointing at planes, and visiting every playground on the GC.

If you’ve ever tuned into Channel 9 and thought, “Wow, she’s got it all together,” allow us to introduce you to the woman who’d politely disagree, the hilarious, hardworking, and refreshingly real Mia Glover. Between anchoring the weekend news, juggling two kids, two golden retrievers, and one frequently flying husband, Mia’s mastered the art of organised chaos (and the power nap).

She may have started as a self-confessed “professional juggler,” but these days she’s one of the Coast’s most trusted voices, bringing stories to life from cyclone zones to red carpets. From her Main Beach beginnings to her Mermaid haven, Mia’s Gold Coast story is equal parts heart, hustle and hilariously relatable honesty.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
Our family history with the Gold Coast is a classic tale of real estate addiction. It started in 2009 with a seemingly innocent holiday unit in Main Beach my parents purchased, which was clearly the start of my GC obsession. By 2016, hubby and I accepted our fate and moved up full-time. So, professionally, 2016. Emotionally, the family holidays to the GC started when I was 5… so many, MANY years!

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
It truly became home because it offered the perfect environment for my family. It’s where my kids were born, and we decided the combination of stunning vistas, clean beaches, great services (be it hospitals, schools public parks etc) and the shocking availability of parking (seriously as a former Sydneysider, that’s a huge quality-of-life perk) meant we could settle down. We picked our spot of paradise in Mermaid, and aside from the occasional intense heat (and ex-cyclone), we haven’t regretted escaping the metro parking madness.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m a professional juggler whose main gig is being a proud mum to four dependents: two charming human children, a boy and girl – and also two furry, entitled supervisors – my golden retrievers. I’ve been married 10 years to a lovely man who is, unfortunately, in a long-term relationship with air travel. He works for Supercars, going to every race, so family time is SO precious. When I’m not running the home logistics, I’m working the relentless hours of the Today Show and anchoring the Channel Nine weekend news in Brisbane. Spare time? Never heard of her! But I do enjoy a coffee on the beach, pilates or a nap. LOVE a nap. My life is best described as well-meaning chaos, highly dependent on scheduled alarms.

How did you get started in journalism and what inspired you to become a news reporter?
While I was at university, I volunteered at a community radio station in Sydney for 18 months, going into the newsroom once a week until they finally gave me a job. From there I worked in Wollongong NSW doing both radio and WIN Television, then moved to KIISFM and WSFM in Sydney as a newsreader. Then hubby threw a spanner in the works and got a gig in Canberra – so off we went and that’s where my love for TV started at WIN Canberra and dropping into the Channel 9 Parliament House bureau. Then Nine Qld came calling and I haven’t looked back.

I initially went into journalism because I love people – meeting them and telling their story. I never take it for granted the trust people have in me to share their story.
And to be able to be in lounge rooms morning after morning, night after night – informing them of what’s happening (be it hard stories or the lighter ones) is a true privilege.

Can you share any memorable experiences or stories that have stood out to you during your time as a news reporter?
The Logies red carpet remains a highlight, mainly because I spent the entire evening subtly trying not to vomit on a celebrity while keeping my early pregnancy with my son a secret. I vividly remember interviewing Boy George and telling myself in my head “don’t vomit don’t vomit”!

On a more serious note, reporting on catastrophic events like floods, fires, storms and cyclones from our city to the rest of the state and country, watching families lose everything is deeply impactful. Those stories stay with you, and my job is to ensure that genuine human experience is heard.

Youth crime has also been a big one the past few years. Meeting victims and their families, telling their stories has been heartbreaking. I remain in contact with many of the people I’ve interviewed, as those connections are real.

Covering the Dreamworld disaster and the subsequent inquest is also one that will stay with me forever.

I’m very lucky my job has seen me travel internationally too for a political trade mission to Asia, as well as a nice jaunt to Rome.

Oh and I can’t forget Chris the famous Canberra sheep… the poor bugger was lost for five years, and found with a record amount of wool. My coverage went global for that one. What a yarn!

What do you love most about your job?
If I’m being brutally honest, it’s the fact that my professional alarm clock is not a small child demanding breakfast. That’s a huge win. Beyond that personal sanctuary, the true joy comes from the people – cliche yes – but true. My entire job is about understanding and conveying their stories, and when that act of reporting genuinely helps someone or brings much-needed attention to an issue, it provides profound professional satisfaction.

But it’s not only the people I meet, but the people I work alongside with. The (very patient) camo who brings me coffee, the stylists, the reporters, the co-hosts, the producers, the editors. I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by such a supportive bunch.

What advice would you give to aspiring journalists who are looking to enter the field?
Prepare for the slog. There are no shortcuts. It’s not a gentle career path; it’s a marathon that requires grit. There are many ways to get where you’re going, but they all require the same fuel: hard work. You must be ready to put in the time, the effort, the patience, and the early mornings or late nights. Volunteer a few hours a week in a newsroom if you can, ask to go on the road with a journalist if you have the opportunity. If you commit fully, you absolutely will achieve your goals. (Also, invest in a good coffee machine.)

What are your Gold Coast favourites?
Cafe: BSKT at Mermaid Beach or Le Jardin on Tedder Ave.
Restaurant: Nineteen at The Star or Little Itoshin Japanese at Miami.
Bar: La Luna at Marina Mirage. Where I pretend to be a yacht owner for an hour.
To do: A massage at Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel, Broadbeach. It’s rare that I get there but when I do it’s bliss.
Beach: Miami.

Pipi’s Restaurant, the first Gold Coast jewel in the Gambaro Group crown, has quickly become a culinary gem on the Gold Coast. Since its grand opening in early 2024, this Mediterranean-inspired seaside spot has been turning heads with its elevated eats, stunning oceanfront location, and light-filled, stylish interior. From casual lunches and drinks to luxe events, Pipi’s has redefined dining in Coolangatta, blending European influences with the freshest local seafood.

And now, the recognition is rolling in. Pipi’s has just claimed two major accolades at the 2025 Restaurant & Catering Awards for Excellence: Best Seafood Restaurant AND Best European Restaurant in South East Queensland. That’s right, two separate wins, because world-class food deserves double the applause.

To get a behind-the-scenes look at the magic on the plate, we caught up with Head Chef Nicholas Smith. From his Scandinavian roots to his bold, fresh, ocean-inspired menus, Nicholas shares what drives him in the kitchen, the dishes that you absolutely can’t miss, and why the Gold Coast’s dining scene has him feeling excited for the future.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
I have been here since February 2024, came for the lifestyle and never looked back.

What do you love the most about the Gold Coast?
The balance. You can go through a tough week in the kitchen, then recharge with the ocean, the gym and the sun. A place where you can live big and work hard.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am 33 years old, born and raised mostly in Sweden. I grew up travelling the world with my family. Today we all live in different countries. It was natural for me to explore my own path and not limit myself by borders.

Professionally, I spent most of my career in Copenhagen, but also south Sweden and a shorter period in Sydney. Personally, I am driven by discipline, whether that is working on my fitness, building my career or perfecting a dish.

Where do you draw your inspiration from when creating menus for Pipi’s?
I have to mention Executive Chef Thomas Boisellier here. He launched Pipi’s with me by his side before departing to Brisbane at the end of 2024. He set the path and foundation of what we were trying to create. My inspiration is rooted in the Scandinavian philosophy of simplicity, quality ingredients and seasonal creativity as well as the ocean outside the front step at Pipi’s.

I like food that is bold, clean, light and fresh. Mediterranean flavour with European influence. At Pipi’s, I want every dish to leave a mark.

Which dish on the menu would you recommend as a must-try when visiting Pipi’s, and why?
Chargrilled squid. It is a great representation of what we are about. Jig caught South Australian Calamari, grilled over our Josper grill, adds just that right amount of smokiness, combined with the freshness of the salsa verde and a hint of spice. Can’t go wrong with that

What is your favourite dish to cook at home?
I like to keep it simple at home, anyone who knows me well is aware that I eat way too much roast chicken. I also really enjoy making pasta. Food that tastes as good as it makes you feel.

What career achievement are you most proud of?
Being part of the opening of Pipi’s and later taking the reins as head chef. It has been one of the most challenging times of my career, but also one of the most rewarding. It is not just about running a kitchen. It’s about building a team, creating consistency and setting standards that last.

What do you think about the hospitality scene on the Gold Coast?
I think there is a growing recognition that the Coast is not just a holiday destination.

Diners here are interested and they expect quality, which pushes us chefs to raise the bar consistently.

I think the next few years could be huge for the region.

What are your Gold Coast favourites?
Café/Coffee spot: Awaken, good coffee, great views
Restaurant: Etsu, cosy hideaway with good food
Bar or place for a drink: can’t go wrong with an afternoon pint on the deck of Burleigh Pavilion
Beach: Cabarita

How do you choose to spend your days off?
Training, playing golf and going to the beach.

I like to stay active, eat well and enjoy the coast. It keeps me sharp for the week ahead.