Long before they were transforming homes and captivating audiences, many of HGTV’s most recognizable faces embarked on careers far removed from real estate and interior design. From professional clowns to 90s boy band members, their diverse pre-fame paths highlight that the road to renovation stardom is often anything but conventional.
The world of home renovation television seems to demand a specific kind of expertise, often leading viewers to believe that HGTV stars have been rehabbing houses and designing interiors since childhood. However, a deeper look into their past reveals a fascinating array of first jobs and career paths that defy expectations. Many of these now-famous personalities stumbled into television, often after pursuing vastly different passions.
The Scott Brothers: From Clowning Around to Property Powerhouses
Before they became the beloved duo behind Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott were already seasoned performers. Their journey into the spotlight began at a remarkably young age, not with blueprints, but with face paint and comedic timing. At just eight years old, the twins started getting hired out as apprentice clowns, a lucrative gig that paid them as much as fifty bucks an hour, as Jonathan shared with People. This early experience in entertainment laid a unique foundation for their future television careers.
Their performing arts aspirations didn’t stop at clowning. Both brothers pursued acting, landing roles in various Canadian series, including Breaker High. Drew also appeared on Smallville, and Jonathan had a part in The X-Files, showcasing their versatility on screen, as reported by Glamour. Despite their acting pursuits, the brothers realized the financial instability of the industry. To avoid becoming “starving actors,” they ventured into real estate in their late teens after watching a late-night infomercial. Their first property flip yielded a $50,000 profit, sparking a new passion that eventually led them to combine their on-screen charm with their real estate prowess for HGTV.
Chip and Joanna Gaines: Humble Beginnings to Magnolia Empire
It’s challenging to imagine a time before Chip and Joanna Gaines were household names, but their journey to fame was far from glamorous. Before their hit show Fixer Upper, the couple faced significant financial struggles. Joanna revealed to People that early in their marriage, they were often “broke,” relying on whatever cash Chip had in his pocket to pay for essentials like groceries. Chip had started flipping houses in college, and Joanna contributed her design eye after they began dating, but this venture didn’t immediately bring financial stability.
Their unexpected entry into television came after one of their renovated homes was featured on a popular blog, Design Mom. A production company contacted them through their website. Joanna recently shared on the Today show that they almost didn’t call back when the production company first offered them a show, as Chip initially thought it was a scam. Their story is a testament to how accidental discovery and a willingness to take a chance can lead to unforeseen success.
Christina Haack & Tarek El Moussa: Real Estate Roots and Unexpected Turns
The stars of Flip or Flop, Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa, had clear pathways into real estate long before HGTV called. Christina, for instance, had initially aspired to be a sports agent. However, her intuition led her to obtain a real estate license at just 21, which paved the way for selling and eventually flipping houses. Tarek also began his career as a real estate agent.
Their pivot to flipping houses intensified out of necessity during the housing bubble burst. Facing financial hardship, they moved from a high-mortgage home to a shared apartment and started buying rundown properties to renovate themselves. Unlike many HGTV stars who were discovered, Tarek and Christina proactively reached out to a production company. They sent an email and a home video, eventually leading to a pilot for HGTV. Tarek later embarked on The Flipping El Moussas with his current wife, Heather El Moussa, who herself had a diverse past as a model (including for Playboy), pilates instructor, and actress before becoming a real estate agent on Netflix’s Selling Sunset.
Erin and Ben Napier: Crafting a Home from Stationery
The stars of HGTV’s Home Town, Erin and Ben Napier, were deeply entrenched in their creative endeavors long before they became synonymous with Laurel, Mississippi’s revitalization. Prior to their television debut, the Napiers owned a successful wedding stationery company called Lucky Luxe. Their unique designs garnered a diverse clientele, including professional athletes, actors, universities, and even rock bands like the Goo Goo Dolls.
Their entry into HGTV was serendipitous. An HGTV executive discovered them through Instagram after they were featured by Southern Weddings. A simple comment on a photo led to a meeting in New York City, and what Erin initially thought might be a big stationery order quickly transformed into a conversation about television. Their journey from custom stationery to hit TV series proves that passion in one creative field can unexpectedly open doors to another.
Nicole Curtis: From Waitressing to Rehab Queen
Nicole Curtis, known for her shows Rehab Addict and Rehab Addict Rescue, had a circuitous route to becoming a restoration expert. In her college years, she struggled to settle on a career, changing her major and attending schools in three different states. Her early jobs were far removed from home renovation, including waitressing at restaurants like IHOP and Hooters. She also cleaned houses, fitting her work around her schedule as a single mom, prioritizing time with her son, Ethan.
Her passion for rehabbing old houses stemmed from necessity rather than a predetermined career path. As she told AZ Central, “Nothing motivates you to learn how to do something like not having the money to pay to have it done.” This self-taught approach, combined with obtaining her real estate license, put her in the right place at the right time. A production assistant at Magnetic Productions, looking for blonde real estate agents for a new show, stumbled upon her website, setting her on the path to HGTV stardom.
Jasmine Roth: Building a Career from Her Own Home
Jasmine Roth, the host of Help! I Wrecked My House, transitioned from a fitness instructor to a home builder through a very personal project. While working a corporate job in Southern California, she and her husband embarked on building their own house, alongside an investment property. The project proved to be much larger than anticipated, leading Roth to leave her corporate role to oversee the construction. This hands-on experience became her unexpected entry into the world of home building, a journey she humorously describes as never having gone back to “work” in the traditional sense, as she shared with Voyage Utah.
Alison Victoria: A Lifelong Passion for Design
Unlike some of her peers who stumbled into design, Alison Victoria‘s career path was firmly set on interior design from the beginning. After graduating college in Las Vegas, she immediately began her professional journey as a designer for Christopher Homes. This early foundation allowed her to hone her skills and build a robust design portfolio. After establishing a design empire in Chicago and navigating various professional challenges, Victoria has since returned to Las Vegas, embarking on a new chapter that continues her lifelong commitment to design on HGTV.
Jenny and Dave Marrs: A Professional Meet-Cute
The stars of Fixer to Fabulous, Jenny and Dave Marrs, met each other at their former jobs, a delightful twist to their origin story. Dave began working at Newell Brands’ Rubbermaid after graduating college. It was through this corporate role that he met Jenny, who was working in a different department within the same company. Their shared professional environment blossomed into a personal and eventually professional partnership that now anchors their successful HGTV series.
Scott McGillivray: From Boy Band Beats to Real Estate Investments
Scott McGillivray, the host of Income Property, boasts one of the most surprising pre-HGTV careers. Before he was guiding homeowners through profitable renovations, he was part of a legitimate 90s boy band called Next Element. Donning cornrows and metallic pants, McGillivray embraced the singing and dancing life before discovering a new passion.
His shift to real estate began early, with him buying and renting out his first house at just 21 while still in college. By 23, he owned five properties. His initial foray into television wasn’t as a host but as a crew member and designer on the Canadian show Debbie Travis’ Facelift. It was his proven experience in fixing up and renting out properties that inspired producers to create Income Property around his unique skill set.
David Bromstad: A Touch of Disney Magic
The very first winner of HGTV’s Design Star, David Bromstad, originally harbored dreams of working for Walt Disney. His artistic aspirations led him to art school with the goal of becoming a Disney animator. He did, in fact, work for Disney as a visual merchandiser and later in the sculpting department. This experience, though not directly design-related, instilled in him a strong sense of perfection and creative discipline.
Bromstad’s eventual pivot to interior design allowed him to express his creative flair more freely than animation or sculpting. His unexpected victory on Design Star propelled him into television, where he continued to host and design for shows like Color Splash, bringing his vibrant artistic vision to a wider audience.
Emily Henderson: Design Star’s Accidental TV Debut
The host of Secrets from a Stylist, Emily Henderson, never envisioned a career on television. She began her professional life as an assistant, working with various stylists in New York City. Her entry into the HGTV universe was a direct result of winning Design Star, but even that initial step was influenced by chance.
Henderson discovered the auditions for Design Star through a Craigslist ad, and it was her husband who ultimately convinced her to try out. She described the experience as a “6-week adrenaline rush,” an intense competition that, despite her initial lack of confidence, completely changed her life and validated her design aspirations.
Sabrina Soto: Manifesting Her TV Career
Sabrina Soto, known for The High/Low Project, learned the design business by helping her Cuban immigrant mother run her own design company. Her path to television, however, involved a unique twist of fate and belief in the law of attraction. After learning about the movie “The Secret” and its principles, Soto felt a strong intuitive pull to return to television, a medium she had dabbled in previously.
Remarkably, the very next day after watching the film, Soto logged onto Craigslist and found a job listing for a television opportunity, which she secured. She attributes this rapid turn of events to her belief in manifesting her goals, proving that for some, a clear intention can open unexpected doors.
Whitney Gainer & Ashley Turner: DIY Sisters to HGTV Stars
The creative duo behind Open Concept, Whitney Gainer and Ashley Turner, built their way to HGTV fame, quite literally. Long before their show debuted, these Texas-based sisters cultivated a popular blog, Shanty2Chic, where they shared plans for customized furniture. Their journey began about eight years prior to their show, driven by limited budgets and a love for repurposing old pieces.
They documented their projects on their blog, teaching others how to create stylish furniture on a budget. Their unique approach and DIY success caught the eye of a producer who was looking for dining table plans on their site. This led to an inquiry about a television show, turning their passion for woodworking and design into an HGTV series focused on helping others transform their lives through their homes.
Mike Jackson: Blending Beats and Builds
Mike Jackson, known for Married to Real Estate alongside his wife, Egypt Sherrod, brings a lifetime of building expertise to HGTV. Born and raised in Hempstead, Long Island, Jackson’s passion for woodworking and construction began at a young age, mentored by his grandfather and uncle. He started as an apprentice in their construction company and further refined his skills in trade school, specializing in sheet metal, HVAC, and woodworking, eventually becoming a successful general contractor.
In a fascinating parallel career, Jackson also cultivated a passion for music, becoming a professional DJ known as DJ Fadelf. His music career brought him into the orbit of his future wife, Egypt Sherrod, who was a leading radio personality at the time. Their paths reconnected years later when Jackson’s construction company was hired to renovate one of Sherrod’s properties, sparking both a romantic and professional partnership that led them to HGTV.
Egypt Sherrod: From Radio Waves to Real Estate Wealth
Egypt Sherrod, co-host of Married to Real Estate, initially resisted following her family’s footsteps into real estate brokerage, choosing a career in radio instead. However, as she matured, she recognized the foundational role of real estate in wealth building. In her early 20s, Sherrod used her savings to invest in and flip her first property, discovering the lucrative potential of real estate.
After realizing the significant realtor fees she was paying with each flip, she decided to obtain her own real estate license. This allowed her to split her time between her two loves: radio and real estate. Her eventual move to Atlanta for a radio job coincided with HGTV greenlighting her series Property Virgins, seamlessly blending her media presence with her real estate acumen.
The stories of these HGTV stars illustrate that the path to success in home renovation television is incredibly varied. From unexpected discoveries through social media and personal blogs to leveraging existing talents in acting or music, their journeys are a testament to adaptability, passion, and often, a little bit of luck. These diverse backgrounds offer a compelling reminder that it’s never too late to pivot, learn new skills, and find your true calling, even if it means transforming homes on national television.
