Megan Alatini
Encyclopedia
Megan Bronwinne Alatini (born 29 September 1976) is a South African born New Zealand
pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand
on the reality television series Popstars
. She went on to become a member in the girl group TrueBliss
. She is also known for portraying the part of Java in the popular sci-fi series The Tribe. Later she gained more exposure appearing as a judge on New Zealand Idol
.
, South Africa
, as the first child of Barbara and Daniel Cassie. She spent the first eleven years of her life there, until her family relocated to New Zealand
in 1987.
She enrolled in Papatoetoe High School in Auckland
, becoming a prefect and being considered a good student and role model. At age 17 she met Pita Alatini
, a future New Zealand All Black
rugby player, and began dating him. She soon became pregnant – her future plans of going to University were disrupted, and on 13 May 1995, her daughter Tonica was born. Megan loved singing from an early age and considered it a part of her culture.
in early 1999, and, much to her astonishment, she made the cut and eventually became a member of TrueBliss
, the first band ever to be formed out of Popstars
.
The five girls went on to cut a #1 single followed by a #1 album, before they (unofficially) parted in late 2000.
In February 2000 Megan married her long-time boyfriend Pita, who had proposed to her on her 24th birthday. She also formed a singing group with her sisters and made various singing appearances all over New Zealand throughout the years. In late 2001, she recorded several songs with her sisters, some of which have been released on the Abe Messiah: New Edition album.
Megan has also enjoyed a lively career as an actress. She started off with guest stints on Hercules
and Young Hercules
. Her actress sister Meryl Cassie
helped her and her younger sister Monique land parts as core characters in The Tribe. In addition, she played Dr. Leggz in the wacky comedic drama series Atlantis High
.
Soon after filming ended, Megan gave birth to her second daughter named Tiara. In 2005, she delivered her first son, Trey.
From 2003 to 2006, Megan lived in Tokyo
, Japan
with her husband Pita
, where he plays rugby
, and their three children.
On 12 May 2006, it was announced that Megan had accepted the offer of becoming a judge on the panel of the forthcoming third season of New Zealand Idol
. In 2007, Megan appeared on the third season of Dancing with the Stars
in New Zealand, where she placed runner-up.
In mid 2008, along with Pita and her 3 children, she moved back to Japan so he could play rugby union. They visit New Zealand often.
In March 2011 Megan and her family were affected by the Japanese 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami where they were evacuated from their home. They were safely transported back to New Zealand approximately 1 week after the disaster occurred.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
pop singer, actress and television personality. She rose to fame in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on the reality television series Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
. She went on to become a member in the girl group TrueBliss
TrueBliss
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group...
. She is also known for portraying the part of Java in the popular sci-fi series The Tribe. Later she gained more exposure appearing as a judge on New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
.
Early life
Megan was born in George, Cape ProvinceCape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, as the first child of Barbara and Daniel Cassie. She spent the first eleven years of her life there, until her family relocated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in 1987.
She enrolled in Papatoetoe High School in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, becoming a prefect and being considered a good student and role model. At age 17 she met Pita Alatini
Pita Alatini
Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries....
, a future New Zealand All Black
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
rugby player, and began dating him. She soon became pregnant – her future plans of going to University were disrupted, and on 13 May 1995, her daughter Tonica was born. Megan loved singing from an early age and considered it a part of her culture.
Career
Her family encouraged her to audition for PopstarsPopstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
in early 1999, and, much to her astonishment, she made the cut and eventually became a member of TrueBliss
TrueBliss
TrueBliss were a New Zealand pop girl group formed in April 1999. The band were formed on the popular television show Popstars, which aired on TV2 for nine weeks in the search for a new girl group...
, the first band ever to be formed out of Popstars
Popstars
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
.
The five girls went on to cut a #1 single followed by a #1 album, before they (unofficially) parted in late 2000.
In February 2000 Megan married her long-time boyfriend Pita, who had proposed to her on her 24th birthday. She also formed a singing group with her sisters and made various singing appearances all over New Zealand throughout the years. In late 2001, she recorded several songs with her sisters, some of which have been released on the Abe Messiah: New Edition album.
Megan has also enjoyed a lively career as an actress. She started off with guest stints on Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
and Young Hercules
Young Hercules
Young Hercules is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. It was aired on Fox Kids from September 12, 1998, to May 12, 1999. It lasted one season with 50 episodes and starred Ryan Gosling in the title role.-Plot:...
. Her actress sister Meryl Cassie
Meryl Cassie
Meryl Danielle Cassie is a New Zealand actress and singer. She is most famous for her role as Ebony in the sci-fi series The Tribe, but has also appeared in other series, such as Revelations - The Initial Journey, Shortland Street and Hercules.She is also a talented singer, and sung the theme song...
helped her and her younger sister Monique land parts as core characters in The Tribe. In addition, she played Dr. Leggz in the wacky comedic drama series Atlantis High
Atlantis High
Atlantis High is a teen comedy TV show, shot in New Zealand in 2001.The plot revolves around 16-year-old Giles Gordon , who has just moved to Sunset Cove, "a beautiful coastal surfing town where the sun is always shining, the people are all beautiful and everything is perfect.....
.
Soon after filming ended, Megan gave birth to her second daughter named Tiara. In 2005, she delivered her first son, Trey.
From 2003 to 2006, Megan lived in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
with her husband Pita
Pita Alatini
Pita Faiva-ki-moana Alatini is a Tongan-born New Zealand rugby union footballer. Alatini is a midfield back who played in 17 tests for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2001, scoring 6 test tries....
, where he plays rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, and their three children.
On 12 May 2006, it was announced that Megan had accepted the offer of becoming a judge on the panel of the forthcoming third season of New Zealand Idol
New Zealand Idol
NZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
. In 2007, Megan appeared on the third season of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
in New Zealand, where she placed runner-up.
In mid 2008, along with Pita and her 3 children, she moved back to Japan so he could play rugby union. They visit New Zealand often.
In March 2011 Megan and her family were affected by the Japanese 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami where they were evacuated from their home. They were safely transported back to New Zealand approximately 1 week after the disaster occurred.
Albums
- 1999: Dream - #1 NZ (TrueBliss)
- 2003: Abe Messiah: Remix (The Tribe, Yugeslavian release only)
Singles
- 1999: "Tonight" - #1 NZ (highest selling single of the year) (True Bliss)
- 1999: "Number One" - #12 NZ (TrueBliss)
- 1999: "Freedom" (TrueBliss)
Starring Roles
- 1999: PopstarsPopstarsPopstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series. The series first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss...
as herself - 2001: Atlantis HighAtlantis HighAtlantis High is a teen comedy TV show, shot in New Zealand in 2001.The plot revolves around 16-year-old Giles Gordon , who has just moved to Sunset Cove, "a beautiful coastal surfing town where the sun is always shining, the people are all beautiful and everything is perfect.....
as Dr. Leggz - 2001–03: The Tribe as Java
- 2006: New Zealand IdolNew Zealand IdolNZ Idol, more commonly known as New Zealand Idol, was the New Zealand version of the Idol series originated as the hit British TV series Pop Idol. New Zealand first saw the Idol format when TV2 aired American Idol 2, which garned impressive ratings...
as judge - 2007: Dancing with the starsDancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
as contestant
Guest roles
- 1992: Shortland StreetShortland StreetShortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
- 1999: Hercules: The Legendary JourneysHercules: The Legendary JourneysHercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
- 1999: Young HerculesYoung HerculesYoung Hercules is a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. It was aired on Fox Kids from September 12, 1998, to May 12, 1999. It lasted one season with 50 episodes and starred Ryan Gosling in the title role.-Plot:...
as Sea Nymph in the episode 'Apollo'
External links
- Megan Alatini's official website
- Latest Megan Alatini News - from The Tribe Cast