{{Short description|American-born Swiss author (born 1993)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Hazel Brugger | image = Eurovision2025-2ndSemifinal 51-HazelBrugger1 (cropped).jpg | caption = Brugger in 2025 | birth_name = Allison Hazel Brugger | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1993|12|09}} | birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S. | spouse = {{marriage|Thomas Spitzer|2020}} | relations = | children = 2 | occupation = Slam poet, comedian, cabaret artist, television presenter | website = {{URL|hazelbrugger.com}} }}
'''Allison Hazel Brugger''' (born 9 December 1993) is a Swiss slam poet, comedian, cabaret artist, and television presenter.
== Background == Allison Hazel Brugger was born on 9 December 1993 in San Diego, California. Her father is Swiss neuropsychologist Peter Brugger<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-04-26 |title=«Versuchen Sie mal, sich selbst zu kitzeln» |trans-title="Try tickling yourself" |url=https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/versuchen-sie-mal-sich-selbst-zu-kitzeln/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=TagesWoche |language=de-CH |archive-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512043914/https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/versuchen-sie-mal-sich-selbst-zu-kitzeln/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and her mother is an English teacher who is originally from Cologne, Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grossrieder |first=Beat |date=2016-10-21 |title=Porträt Hazel Brugger: Unser fieses Alter Ego |trans-title=Portrait of Hazel Brugger: Our nasty alter ego |url=https://www.nzz.ch/gesellschaft/portraet-slam-poetin-hazel-brugger-ego-ld.123391 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de-CH}}</ref>
She grew up in Dielsdorf, near Zürich and has two older brothers. After graduating in Bülach, she began studying philosophy and literature at the University of Zurich, but she eventually quit.<ref name="Graber">{{Cite web |last=Graber |first=Michael |date=2019-02-03 |title=Interview - Hazel Brugger: «Mit Humor macht man sich verletzlicher» |trans-title=Interview - Hazel Brugger:"With Humour, one becomes more vulnerable" |url=https://www.luzernerzeitung.ch/leben/mit-humor-macht-man-sich-verletzlicher-ld.1090426 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Luzerner Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> When she was 17, she started her poetry slam career in Winterthur, Switzerland northeast of Zürich.
From 2014 and 2017, Brugger wrote a fortnightly column for ''Das Magazin'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-09 |title=Hazel Brugger |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/das-magazin |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Das Magazin |language=de}}</ref> a Swiss daily newspaper. From 2013 to 2014, she was a columnist for "Hochparterre"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brugge |first=Hazel |author-link=Hazel Brugger |title=Out und Erbaut |trans-title=Out and Built |url=https://www.hochparterre.ch/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Hochparterre |language=de}}</ref> and the TagesWoche.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hazel Brugger |url=https://tageswoche.ch/author/hazel-brugger/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=TagesWoche |language=de-CH}}</ref> In 2015, she was the moderator of the live talk show "Hazel Brugger Show and Tell" in the Theater am Neumarkt<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hazel Brugger Show and Tell |url=http://www.theaterneumarkt.ch/plattform-7/veranstaltungen/Hazel-Brugger-II.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512043849/http://www.theaterneumarkt.ch/plattform-7/veranstaltungen/Hazel-Brugger-II.html |archive-date=2019-05-12 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=TheaterNeumarkt.ch |language=de}}</ref> in Zürich which was held every two months. On 9 October 2013, she performed in the fourth Poetry Slam Championships in Bern, Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-10-20 |title=The Flying Stoll und eine unschlagbare Brugger |trans-title=The Flying Stoll and an unbeatable Brugger |url=https://www.saiten.ch/the-flying-stoll-und-eine-unschlagbare-brugger/ |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Saiten.ch |language=de-CH}}</ref> In November 2015, she started her first cabaret programme "Hazel Brugger passiert".<ref name="schwanger">{{Cite web |last=Stepan |first=Julia |date=2020-10-01 |title=ZDF-Comedian: Hazel Brugger ist schwanger |trans-title=ZDF-Comedian: Hazel Brugger is pregnant |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/leute/hazel-brugger-zdf-heute-show-reporterin-ist-schwanger-a-cb56f59e-041d-45a8-984b-5c6d6487240e |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Spiegel Online |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}</ref> In February 2019, she began to tour in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland with her second solo programme "Tropical",<ref name="Graber" /> which debuted on Netflix on 2 December 2020.
In October 2020, Brugger announced that she was pregnant.<ref name="schwanger" /> She and Thomas Spitzer have been married since 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tomšić |first=Sara |date=2021-02-15 |title=Hazel Brugger und Thomas Spitzer: "Wir wollten nicht ironisch heiraten" |trans-title=Hazel Brugger and Thomas Spitzer:We didn't want to get married ironically |url=https://www.zeit.de/campus/2021-02/hazel-brugger-thomas-spitzer-heirat-ehe-podcast |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=Zeit.de |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}}</ref> They have two daughters{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}.
== Career == Since 2016, she has been a correspondent on the German political satire show ''heute-show'' on ZDF.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-17 |title=Heute Moderatorin beim ESC 2025 im Livestream: So tickt Hazel Brugger als Ehefrau und Mutter |trans-title=Today Show presenter at the ESC 2025 in the live stream: This is what Hazel Brugger is like as a wife and mother |url=https://www.joyn.de/bts/themen/allgemein/news/heute-moderatorin-beim-esc2025-im-livestream-so-tickt-hazel-brugger-als-ehefrau-und-mutter-3506 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Joyn.de |language=de}}</ref><ref name="Kampftechnik">{{Cite web |last=Hugendick |first=David |date=2017-09-14 |title=Komik als Kampftechnik |trans-title=Comedy as a fighting technique |url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2017-09/hazel-brugger-comedy-kabarett-heuteshow-schweiz |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Zeit.de |language=de-DE}}</ref> On 26 April she had her first guest appearance on another ZDF satire-show, "Die Anstalt" (The Insane Asylum).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Die Gäste der ZDF Satiresendung "Die Anstalt" vom 26.04. |trans-title=The guests of the ZDF satirical show "Die Anstalt" from April 26th. |url=http://www.kabarett-news.de/News-vom-09.04.2016-gaeste-zdf-satire-die-anstalt-26ter-april.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512043840/http://www.kabarett-news.de/News-vom-09.04.2016-gaeste-zdf-satire-die-anstalt-26ter-april.html |archive-date=12 May 2019 |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=Kabarett-News.de}}</ref> In 2017 she won the ''Salzburger Stier'', a prize for cabaret artists.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salzburger Stier 2017: Hazel Brugger |url=https://www.srf.ch/audio/hoerspiel/salzburger-stier-2017-hazel-brugger?id=e38246c2-85e0-44d9-82bf-465d0f67a9f8 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Srf.ch |language=de}}</ref> She is the youngest person to ever win this award.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Salzburger Stier 2017 - Hazel Brugger gewinnt die Lacher mit todernster Miene |trans-title=Hazel Brugger wins the laughs with a deadly serious expression |url=https://www.srf.ch/kultur/buehne/salzburger-stier-2017-hazel-brugger-gewinnt-die-lacher-mit-todernster-miene |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=Srf.ch |language=de}}</ref>
In 2019, Brugger started a YouTube series which she hosts with Spitzer, a co-producer and an author. The show is called ''Deutschland Was Geht'', which translates to ''What's up, Germany?''.<ref name="MSN ESC">{{Cite web |last=Guyoncourt |first=Sally |title=Who are Hazel Brugger and Sandra Studer? Meet the Eurovision 2025 presenters |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ie/entertainment/tv/who-are-hazel-brugger-and-sandra-studer-meet-the-eurovision-2025-presenters/ar-AA1EQtjn |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=MSN.com}}</ref> In the show Brugger and Spitzer explore interesting and at times bizarre places together with various German comedians.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/user/oswaldundfidelio/videos |title=Hazel and Thomas |language=en-GB |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=YouTube}}</ref> In 2020 the show changed names to ''What's up, Europe?''.<ref name="MSN ESC"/>
In 2025, she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel alongside Sandra Studer, with Michelle Hunziker joining for the final.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2025 |title=Meet Your Hosts for Basel 2025 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2025-hosts-basel |access-date=3 June 2025 |website=Eurovision Song Contest}}</ref> As part of her role, she performed the musical number "Made in Switzerland" (with Studer and Petra Mede) in the first semi-final,<ref>{{YouTube|GhFNPLgK6Mw|"Made in Switzerland" at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025}}</ref> which was later released as a single.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gerdesius |first=Tino |date=2025-06-06 |title=«Made in Switzerland» landet auf Spotify und Co. |trans-title=“Made in Switzerland” lands on Spotify and Co. |url=https://www.srf.ch/sendungen/eurovision-song-contest/mehr-als-tell-jodel-und-kaese-made-in-switzerland-landet-auf-spotify-und-co |access-date=2025-06-07 |website= |publisher=SRF |language=de-CH}}</ref>
Brugger has lived in Cologne since 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Möller |first=Christian |title=Durch die Gegend {{!}} Episode 25 {{!}} Hazel Brugger |url=https://viertausendhertz.de/ddg25/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215221249/https://viertausendhertz.de/ddg25/ |archive-date=2021-12-15 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=VierTausendHertz.de |language=de-DE}}</ref><ref name="Kampftechnik" />
== Guest appearances == * ''Die Anstalt'': 26 April 2016, 4 April 2017 and 22 May 2018 * ''Neo Magazin Royale'': 1 September 2016 * ''Dittsche'': 13 May 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dittrich |first=Olli |date=2018-05-13 |title=Dittsche - HSV-Abstieg - Räuber Hotzenplotz und die Mondlandung - Gast: Hazel Brugger (236) |trans-title=Dittsche - HSV relegation - Robber Hotzenplotz and the moon landing - Guest: Hazel Brugger (236) |url=https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/dittsche/video-dittsche---hsv-abstieg---raeuber-hotzenplotz-und-die-mondlandung---gast-hazel-brugger---100.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804010000/https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/dittsche/video-dittsche---hsv-abstieg---raeuber-hotzenplotz-und-die-mondlandung---gast-hazel-brugger---100.html |archive-date=2018-08-04 |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Wdr.de |language=de}}</ref> * ''Late Night Berlin'': 2 December
== Books == * ''Ich bin so hübsch'' (I'm so pretty). Kein & Aber, Zürich 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-0369-5936-8}}. * Hazel Brugger, Thomas Spitzer (Authors), Jannes Weber (Illustrations): ''Deutschland Was Geht – Das Wimmelbuch''. Diogenes, Zürich 2021, {{ISBN|978-3-257-01294-1}}.
== Audiobooks == * ''Hazel Brugger passiert* : live im Café Kairo Bern.'' Audio-CD, Der gesunde Menschenversand, Luzern 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-03853-029-9}}.
== Awards == * 2013: ''«Swiss Master»'' of Poetry-Slam * 2015: ''«Young Journalist of the Year»'' by the magazine ''Schweizer Journalist'' * 2016: ''«Swiss Columnist of the Year»'' voted by a survey conducted by ''Schweizer Journalist'' among 1400 journalists.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Daniel Ryser wird «Journalist des Jahres» |trans-title=Daniel Ryser named "Journalist of the Year" |url=https://www.persoenlich.com/medien/daniel-ryser-wird-journalist-des-jahres |access-date=2025-05-21 |work=Persoenlich.com |language=de-CH}}</ref> * 2017: German prize for cabaret by the city of Mainz * 2017: ''Salzburger Stier''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hosea Ratschiller erhält Salzburger Stier |trans-title=Hosea Ratschiller receives Salzburg Bull |url=https://oe1.orf.at/artikel/458015/Hosea-Ratschiller-erhaelt-Salzburger-Stier |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=Orf.at |language=de}}</ref> * 2017: Bavarian cabaret prize for emerging artist * 2017: ''Swiss Comedy Award'' * 2017: ''German Comedy Award'' for Best Newcomer * 2020: ''German Comedy Award'' for Best Female Comedian * 2025: Bambi Award in Comedy<ref>{{cite web|access-date=2025-11-03 |date=2025-11-03 |language=de |publisher=Der Bund |title=Preisverleihung in München: Hazel Brugger erhält «Bambi» in der Kategorie Comedy |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/hazel-brugger-schweizerin-erhaelt-comedy-bambi-in-muenchen-182474089954}}<!-- auto-translated from German by Module:CS1 translator --></ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{official website}} * {{IMDb name}} * Christian Möller: [https://viertausendhertz.de/ddg25/ Hazel Brugger – ''Durch die Gegend'', Folge 25] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215221249/https://viertausendhertz.de/ddg25/ |date=15 December 2021 }} (Interview-Podcast, 2017)
{{s-start}} {{succession box| | before = {{flagicon|SWE}} Petra Mede and Malin Åkerman | title = Eurovision Song Contest presenter | with = {{flagicon|CHE}} Sandra Studer and Michelle Hunziker {{small|(final only)}} | years = 2025 | after = {{flagicon|AUT}} Victoria Swarovski and Michael Ostrowski }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brugger, Hazel}} Category:1993 births Category:American people of Swiss-German descent Category:Comedians from San Diego Category:American people of German descent Category:Living people Category:21st-century Swiss poets Category:21st-century Swiss women poets Category:Comedians from Cologne Category:Swiss columnists Category:Swiss emigrants to Germany Category:Swiss people of German descent Category:German-language Swiss poets Category:Swiss satirists Category:Swiss television presenters Category:Swiss women columnists Category:Swiss women comedians Category:Swiss women television presenters Category:Swiss women satirists Category:ZDF people