Colin Mathura-Jeffree (born 1972) is a New Zealand model, actor, television host and
spokesperson
A spokesperson, spokesman, or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.
Duties and function
In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have receiv ...
. He is known as one of the judges for ''
New Zealand's Next Top Model'' which aired from 2009 until 2011.
He is also known as one of the hosts of New Zealand's ''Hottest Home Baker''.
Career
Modelling
Mathura-Jeffree had previously walked the catwalk for various fashion houses such as Working Style and
Versace
Gianni Versace S.r.l. (), usually referred to as Versace ( ), is an Italian luxury elite fashion company founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. The company produces Italian-made ready-to-wear and accessories, as well as '' haute couture'' under it ...
. He had also modelled for various international fashion magazines. Mathura-Jeffree was previously the face of
Tourism Australia
Tourism Australia is the Australian Government agency responsible for promoting Australian locations as business and leisure travel destinations. The agency is a corporate portfolio agency of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and ...
"shopping & shows campaign" for New Zealand which aired in 2013.
Fashion and beauty
Mathura-Jeffree was awarded the title of Special Ambassador representing the
Miss World
Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Mi ...
franchise holder, the New Zealand Asia Pacific Trust, at the 2007 Miss World competition in Sanya, China. He has judged pageants including the
Ellerslie Racecourse Fashion in the Field contest.
In 2011 to 2017, he was the VIP Ambassador for
New Zealand Fashion Week and opened the event in 2016. In the 2017 event he only wore clothes from Hospice Opportunity Shops.
Mathura-Jeffree was named New Zealand's sexiest man in 2012 by
Metro.
Mathura-Jeffree was a judge for the Miss South Pacific Beauty Pageant 2013 in the
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons,John Prados, ''Islands of Destiny'', Dutton Caliber, 2012, p,20 and passim is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 1000 smaller islands in Melanesia, part of Oceania, t ...
. In 2017 he was named a REMIX Magazine Icon at their 20-year anniversary Ball featuring their 20 favourite celebrities in print. He was voted by the public in the METRO Magazine Awards issue to be the 'Best Dressed Celebrity 2017'.
Television
Mathura-Jeffree's acting debut was as the Prince of India in the ''
Xena: Warrior Princess'' television series (1999), where he played the reincarnation of
Gabrielle into a powerful and handsome warrior willing to sacrifice himself to save his Kingdom.
Other roles include a case solving scientist in
Lifetime Television
Lifetime is an American basic cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a subsidiary of A&E Networks, which is jointly owned by Hearst Communications and The Walt Disney Company. It features programming that is geared toward ...
's ''Reckless Behavior: Caught on Tape'' (also called ''Stolen Life'').
Mathura-Jeffree is known for his work as a judge and runway mentor on the New Zealand model reality series ''
New Zealand's Next Top Model'' which ran from 2009 until 2011. He has also hosted other TV shows, such as ''
New Zealand's Hottest Home Baker'' and ''
The Great NZ Dance Masala''. In 2010, he was a guest judge on two episodes of ''
America's Next Top Model
''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...
''.
Movies
Mathura-Jeffree played the lead protagonist in the
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, is primarily produced in Mumbai. The popular term Bollywood is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (former name of Mumbai) and "Cinema of the United States, Hollywood". The in ...
movie and romantic comedy ''
Love Has No Language'' in 2001.
In 2017 Mathura-Jeffree was included on the jury panel for the Doc Edge Documentary Film Awards which was held in Auckland, New Zealand.
Charitable work
In 2010 Mathura-Jeffree became a goodwill ambassador and spokesperson for the UK-based charity The Railway Children. The charity works worldwide as emergency interventions for children arriving vulnerable and alone at railway stations, particularly
Victoria Station in
Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
where the problem is acute and where Mathura-Jeffree has had personal experience. Inspired by the work of the charity, he has given a promise to raise awareness and funds for ''The Railway Children'' and to return to India to see the charity's work for himself.
In 2013 Mathura-Jeffree became Alzheimers New Zealand's first champion for dementia. In this role he works alongside Alzheimers NZ in promoting wider understanding of the condition. Mathura-Jeffree's grandmother Eileen died in 1998 after a long struggle with
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...
, the most common form of
dementia
Dementia is a syndrome associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, characterized by a general decline in cognitive abilities that affects a person's ability to perform activities of daily living, everyday activities. This typically invo ...
.
Mathura-Jeffree is a supporter of a number of charities including StarShip Hospice and Cure kids.
See also
*
List of New Zealand television personalities
This is a list of New Zealand television personalities, including presenters and journalists. It includes those who left the profession, retired, or died.
A
* Suzy Aiken – television personality and Prime News presenter
* Peter Arnett – t ...
References
External links
*
Colin Mathura-Jeffreeat
NZ On Screen
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mathura-Jeffree, Colin
New Zealand male models
New Zealand male television actors
1972 births
Living people
New Zealand people of Indian descent
Anglo-Indian people