'You were a very handsome little girl': See how this Aussie TV icon has transformed over the years!

Time travel isn't just a concept for science fiction enthusiasts; sometimes, a simple photograph can transport us back decades and show us a world we might not recognise. That's precisely what happened when an Aussie TV veteran shared a wild throwback photo that left fans and colleagues alike doing a double-take.


The Bunbury-born star, who has graced our screens on Channel Seven for over two decades, recently unearthed a high school photo that showcased a very different version of herself. The mother-of-two, who has been a familiar face to Australians since she was just 21, shared a snapshot of her 17-year-old self, complete with a voluminous perm, a fresh-faced look, and the classic white shirt and tie of her school uniform.


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This presenter has been on Australia's TV screens since she was in her 20s. Image Credit: Sunrise


But can you guess who this young woman with the iconic '80s hairstyle is today?


The throwback photo, which came from the TV star's Year 12 portrait, reveals a time when perms were all the rage, and a pimple or two was a rite of passage for teenagers everywhere. This local celebrity has previously shared her embarrassment about the hairstyle with her 117,000 Instagram followers, humorously comparing herself to Peter Brady and acknowledging the 'Age of the perm'.

Starting her journalism career at the Wanneroo Times in 1987, she quickly made the leap to television at the tender age of 21 on WA's Golden West Network. By 1994, she had joined Seven News in Sydney as a reporter and presented afternoon news updates. Her career trajectory continued to soar as she moved to Sunrise in 2003, becoming a staple of the hit breakfast show.

The successful media personality, who now juggles 3 am wake-ups with motherhood, is none other than Natalie Barr. Married to TV commercial editor Andrew Thomson, Natalie has built a life in Sydney with their two sons, Lachlan and Hunter James.


Natalie appears alongside Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington, Mark Baretta, Edwina Bartholomew, and Sam Mac weekdays from 5:30 am on Seven's Sunrise, where her throwback photo first made waves back in 2018. Her colleagues couldn't help but tease her about the old picture, with Samantha Armytage playfully commenting, 'You were a very handsome little girl,' and Kylie Gillies asking, 'Is that you or me Nat?'

Despite the ribbing, Natalie has always been able to laugh at herself, even using her papers to playfully hit her co-star as they laughed about her teenage looks. In a Sydney Weekend interview in 2022, when asked about her biggest fashion faux pas, Natalie quipped, 'Thirty years on TV… where do I start!? The perm in the '80s… I looked like some kind of dorky poodle.'

It's clear that Natalie Barr has come a long way from her high school days, transforming from a teenager with a perm to one of Australia's most beloved television personalities. Her journey reminds us all that style evolves, and the awkward phases of our youth are simply stepping stones to who we become.


Key Takeaways

  • Natalie Barr, an Australian TV veteran and presenter on Channel Seven's Sunrise, shared an unrecognisable throwback photo from her high school days.
  • Barr, who has been part of Sunrise for more than two decades and started her public career at 21, has humorously acknowledged the embarrassment over her vintage hairstyle.
  • The Bunbury-born journalist launched her career at the Wanneroo Times and has since juggled a successful media career with motherhood.
  • Despite previously laughing off her 1980s perm look, Barr continues to enjoy a thriving role in the Australian media landscape and has a family with her husband Andrew Thomson.
So, dear readers, as we chuckle and reminisce over Natalie's throwback photo, let's also take a moment to reflect on our own past fashion choices. What were your memorable style phases? Did you rock a perm or perhaps another trend that now makes you smile (or cringe)? Share your throwback tales with us in the comments below, and let's celebrate the journey of personal transformation together!
 

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I can remember the very short dresses, bell bottoms pants, hippie tops and dresses. Long straight hair which I dyed with henna/coffee. Then there was afro hair, cut and permed, once again dyed with henna. Lots of junk jewelery and heavy eye makeup. I also remember; marihuana, LSD, the music was fabulous, the end of the vietnam war, there we some big changes in womans rights, new divorce laws. Australia realy was coming into it`s own. I felt a sense of freedom (probably misguided) I did not use the drugs. But I had a great time!!
 

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