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Shaynna Blaze in the ASTRAs spotlight

In just a few short years Shaynna Blaze has grown from interior designer to ASTRA Awards host.

A12th_Annual_By trade she’s an interior designer, so even Shaynna Blaze is trying to come to terms with the reality that this week she steps up as an awards host, for the 12th ASTRA Awards.

The rise to popularity of the Selling Houses Australia co-presenter has seemingly come by just being herself: relaxed, personable, skilled.

“I don’t know how that happened,” she told TV Tonight. “It’s just a case of you grab every opportunity that comes your way. I was lucky enough in Selling Houses Australia to be me. I don’t have to try and put on this persona of being a Presenter and that’s what’s working at the moment and people are happy with that.”

Selling Houses Australia has won numerous ASTRA Awards, including Most Outstanding LifeStyle Show and Favourite Australian Program. Blaze even scooped the Favourite Australian Female Award -all of which has led to some serious marketing by the LifeStyle Channel.

“It’s Property Month so there are single billboards with just me on it another one with Charlie, another with Andrew.

“How hilarious is that?”

In a surprise move even Free to Air television turned to the STV star when Blaze was hired by Nine for The Block in 2012 -a move that certainly hasn’t harmed her profile.

“It’s definitely enhanced the profile. But while the two shows are around property they are quite different in the way that they are approached and the type of show it is. Obviously it’s a broader audience but the people that watch Subscription TV are probably a more passionate audience and hang off the shows and watch them again and again.”

On Thursday night Blaze will be joined onstage by FOX Sports presenter Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington at Carriageworks.

“Matt and I are not being forced to be strict Presenters. They want us to bring a lot of personality to the show which is fantastic, because I can’t be anything else.

“Both of us said ‘How far do you want to go?’” she says.

“We were just prodding each other with different ideas and then we took it to the ASTRA people who are trying to make it quite different at the new Carriageworks. And they were really happy with the ideas we’re presenting.

“But it’s not about gags. We’re probably going to try some cheeky skits or something with people who are in the industry.

“But how do you prepare for that? I have no idea. We’re flying by the seat of our pants at the moment.”

The ASTRAs are Subscription Television’s night to recognise the year in local productions, with both jury and audience-voted categories. International guests will include Days of our Lives stars Kristian Alfonso and Shawn Christian.

While Blaze tips new technology will  provide some of the evening surprises, the evening will also remember Charlotte Dawson, who was a regular face on stage, red carpet and behind the scenes.

“She was behind the scenes (host) last year only 8 months ago. No matter what has happened with leaving Foxtel and everything like that, she’s been a huge part of the Foxtel family for so long. So they will do something not as a memorial but as a celebration,” Blaze explained.

“Neil Perry made the comment on stage that she has only been nominated 10 times and never won, so it became a running joke.

“Because she has been nominated for so long she’s had a massive presence at the ASTRAs.”

Highlights packages can be seen from 7.30pm to 10pm on Thursday night on FOX8, Arena, The Comedy Channel, The LifeStyle Channel, Bio, LifeStyle YOU, Channel V and MAX.

Photo (l to r): Matt Shirvington, ASTRA CEO Andrew Maiden, Shaynna Blaze.

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