{{short description|Canadian television personality (born 1974)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Dina Pugliese | image = Dina Pugliese at BT Viewer Appreciation Day 2007 (cropped).jpg | imagesize = | caption = Pugliese in 2007 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|5|22}} | birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada | occupation = Morning host; [[CITY-DT]], [[Breakfast Television]] | years_active = 2004–present | spouse = Alek Mirkovich | alma_mater = [[Humber College]]<br>[[York University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) }}
'''Dina Pugliese''' ({{IPA|it|ˈdiːna puʎˈʎeːze, -eːse|lang}}; born May 22, 1974) is a Canadian television personality. She has served as a co-host of [[Citytv]]'s morning show ''[[Breakfast Television]]'', initially from 2006 to 2023, and returning in 2025.
== Career == Born in [[Toronto]], Pugliese grew up in [[Woodbridge, Ontario]] and is of Italian descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ca.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/0201405217415/10-things-you-might-not-know-about-tv-personality-dina-pugliese|title=10 things you might not know about TV personality Dina Pugliese|first=HELLO!|last=Canada|website=ca.hellomagazine.com|date=May 22, 2014 }}</ref> She is a graduate of [[York University]] (Sociology and Mass Communications) and [[Humber College]] (Journalism). She began her career as a producer of [[Global Television Network|Global]]'s ''[[Arlene Bynon|The Bynon Show]]'' and [[CKXT-TV|Toronto 1]]'s ''Toronto Today'', later becoming an entertainment reporter and host of ''The A-List'' and [[Star!]]'s ''[[Star! Daily]]''.<ref name="Salem">Salem, Rob (October 29, 2006). "Dina fits like a slipper on Breakfast Television: The new egg is winning raves as a bright-eyed presence on Toronto's show of shows in the morning", ''[[Toronto Star]]'', p. C6.</ref> She has also hosted [[MuchMusic]]'s ''[[VJ Search]]'' and Citytv's [[New Year's Eve]] special from [[Nathan Phillips Square]]. She is a past member of the [[Girl Guides of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.girlguides.ca/web/uploads/File/media_room/media_kit/ggc-fun-facts.pdf|title=GGC Fun Facts}}</ref> In 2006, she joined Citytv's morning show ''[[Breakfast Television]]'', replacing [[Liza Fromer]].<ref name="Salem" />
On October 17, 2011, Pugliese was announced as the host of ''[[Canada's Got Talent]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2011/10/17/bts-dina-pugliese-to-host-canadas-got-talent/|title=BT's Dina Pugliese to host Canada's Got Talent|publisher=toronto.citynews.ca|date=October 17, 2011}}</ref> The first season of the show ran in 2012.<ref name=thr-cgtcancelled>{{cite web|title='Canada's Got Talent' Canceled After First Season|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadas-got-talent-canceled-howie-mandel-341145|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 22, 2012 |accessdate=September 5, 2015}}</ref>
On February 15, 2023, Pugliese announced that she would be leaving ''Breakfast Television'' after 16 years, with her final day on February 24.<ref name=":0" /> In a 2025 interview with the ''[[Toronto Star]]'', she cited [[Occupational burnout|burnout]] from the role as one of the factors in her decision to leave, as well as a desire to care for her family; her husband had received surgery to remove a [[brain tumour]], while her sister had recently been diagnosed with cancer.<ref name=":0">Ana Pereira, [https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2023/02/15/dina-pugliese-is-leaving-breakfast-television-after-16-years.html "Breakfast Television co-host Dina Pugliese says she’s leaving the show after 16 years"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', February 15, 2023.</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Mudhar |first=Raju |date=2025-03-17 |title=Dina Pugliese returns to Breakfast Television with new host Tim Bolen: 'I couldn't even imagine performing … like I used to' |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/dina-pugliese-returns-to-breakfast-television-with-new-host-tim-bolen-i-couldnt-even-imagine/article_0502c3c6-0103-11f0-b9d8-57c4e73b670b.html |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Toronto Star |language=en}}</ref> She explained that "I could not get enough rest in the beginning after I left and was wondering, am I ever going to have energy again? So it was a lot of resting and walking and cooking and cleaning and sleeping and then repeat. I had amazing job opportunities come my way, and I was so grateful for that, but I couldn't even imagine stepping onto a stage."<ref name=":1" />
On March 17, 2025, in a surprise on-air announcement, Pugliese returned to ''Breakfast Television'' as its co-host alongside new arrival [[Tim Bolen]]. Her return was kept a secret from her colleagues, whom she surprised on-air by emerging from a [[moose]] costume. Pugliese had been offered an opportunity to return to the program during a meeting with its executive producer Claire Adams, finding that ''Breakfast Television'' was "the one thing that was missing over the last two years. I finally felt ready and prepared, and rested and recovered enough to get back to it."<ref name=":1" />
In June 2025, Pugliese was announced as host of ''Bake Master Battle'' for [[Food Network (Canada)|Food Network]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canada’s Rogers orders 11 unscripted originals for HGTV, Food Network brands |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/canadas-rogers-orders-11-unscripted-originals-for-hgtv-food-network-brands/ |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}</ref>
==Awards==
2006 – [[Gemini Award]] nomination for Best Host in a Lifestyle/Practical Information or Performing Arts Program or Series for ''[[Muchmusic VJ Search|MuchMusic VJ Search – The Series]]''.<ref name=Salem />
2023 – On February 24, 2023, she was presented a [[Key to the City]] of [[Vaughan]] by Mayor [[Steven Del Duca]] for her “outstanding contribution” to the entertainment industry.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/beloved-host-dina-pugliese-given-key-to-her-hometown-after-16-years-in-tv/|title=Beloved host Dina Pugliese given key to her hometown after 16 years in TV|publisher=ctvnews.ca|date=February 24, 2023}}</ref>
== Personal life == Pugliese is married to Alek Mirkovich, founder of campayn.com.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 17, 2013 |title=Rise and shine: Dina Pugliese on celeb gossip, Justin Bieber and being a morning person |url=http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Do/February-2013/Rise-and-shine/ |website=www.postcity.com}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.bttoronto.ca/ Breakfast Television] * {{IMDb name|2584716}} *{{Twitter}}
{{Commons category}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pugliese, Dina}} [[Category:Canadian television hosts]] [[Category:Canadian women television hosts]] [[Category:People from Vaughan]] [[Category:York University alumni]] [[Category:Humber Polytechnic alumni]] [[Category:Canadian people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Participants in Canadian reality television series]] [[Category:Citytv people]]