Jeanne Beker has been at the forefront of pop culture since the mid-70s. As one of Canada’s most recognized celebrities, Beker speaks on how she rose to the top of arts and culture media in Canada and around the world as a founding member of MuchMusic and the iconic host of Fashion Television. Beker also speaks about the passion and resiliency it takes to be a trailblazing, successful entrepreneur — and the balance necessary to survive and thrive. As the child of Holocaust survivors, Beker’s take on courage and tenacity runs deep, and her recent cancer journey has given her a new purpose and platform for sharing wisdom and inspiration.
Beker’s show biz career started with acting at the age of 16. She then moved to New York to study her craft at 19, and then to Paris at 21 to study the art of mime. In 1975, she joined CBC Radio as an arts reporter in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and after three years, returned to Toronto to work at CHUM radio. By 1979, the media trailblazer was co-hosting Citytv’s ground-breaking music magazine series, The New Music, and in 1983, she helped launch MuchMusic. In 1985, Beker launched the legendary Fashion Television, which ran for 27 years and in 130 countries, establishing her as Canada’s face of fashion.
A seasoned newspaper and magazine columnist and features writer, Beker was editor-in-chief of FQ and SIR magazine from 2003 to 2008. She has also been a frequent guest on myriad lifestyle shows and at the creative helm of numerous fashion lines under her own eponymous label. Since 2015, Beker’s been the style editor at The Shopping Channel (TSC) where she hosts the popular series, Style Matters, and the podcast Beyond Style Matters. She is also the co-producer of Kingdom of Dreams, a four-part documentary series examining fashion’s golden age, and the bestselling author of six books, including her recent memoir, Heart on My Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well Worn.
A breast cancer survivor, Beker’s journey has provided her with a rich, eye-opening experience. Her candour in discussing the peaks and valley of her journey has inspired people around the world. She’s now on a mission to help normalize the conversation surrounding cancer and help eradicate the fear associated with the disease.
Active with several charitable organizations, Beker has received honourary doctorates from St. Mary’s University and OCAD University. She’s also the recipient of numerous awards, including a Special Achievement Award from the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television and a Crystal Award from Toronto Women in Film and Television.
In 2014, Beker was named to the Order of Canada, and she was inducted into the American Marketing Association’s Hall of Legends in 2015. She also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2016.
