Bardot, Hollywood movies and The Bachelorette: Sophie Monk's time in the spotlight.

Two decades ago, Australia was introduced to a loveable, self-proclaimed bogan from the Gold Coast. She was 20 years old and has just landed a spot in the girl band Bardot.

The band, which consisted of five young women - Monk, Belinda Chapple, Sally Polihronas, Katie Underwood and Tiffani Wood - first met on the Australian talent show Popstars in 2000.

Watch the music video for their hit single 'Poison' here. Post continues below.

Following the reality TV show, the newly formed girl group went on a national tour of Australia and then moved to the UK to release their single 'Poison' which topped the charts. 

However, Monk later shared that even during their peak success, they were only paid $25 a day to perform.

"Our contracts were very different to what it would be today. We came out of nowhere," Monk told news.com.au years later.

"A lot of people whinge about that but it was my break. In the beginning you’ve got to do a lot of favours for free."

Image: Getty.

Soon after their success, Katie Underwood left. Monk wanted to leave as well.

"When she [Underwood] said it I went, 'Me too,' and they [management] went, 'No not you — if you leave there’s no band,'" Monk said.

"[I thought] Are you kidding? Why is she allowed to leave and I’m not? I’m leaving too!"

And in April 2002, the band split.

"Bardot confirm their mutual decision to end the group's career. Belinda Chapple, Sophie Monk, Sally Polihronas and Tiffany Wood have cited the need for a well-earned break following what has been a phenomenal 2.5-year explosion on the Australian music scene," the statement wrote.

"The pace at which the group's career continued from its inception at the first Australian Popstars TV show auditions to the completion of a third single from their second album Play It Like That has taken its toll."

After Bardot, Monk set out on her own. In 2002, she released her debut single, Inside Outside. 

Image: Getty.

In 2004, she appeared in her first made-for-television movie, The Mystery of Natalie Wood.

The following year, Monk moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue acting opportunities. In her first audition, she landed her first and most well-known Hollywood role in the spoof comedy film, Date Night.

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A post shared by Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Jan 19, 2020 at 12:39am PST

In 2006, she starred in Adam Sandler's film Click. 

On a personal note, that same year, singer Benji Madden proposed to Monk. But two years later, the couple announced their split. 

Monk released a statement soon after Madden was spotted out with it-girl Paris Hilton.

"Let me make this as plain as possible – Benji did not leave me for Paris Hilton," Monk told The Herald Sun.

"Benji and I did not break up badly or anything like that. We both decided, as adults, our relationship had run its course and decided to move on. I feel no animosity towards Benji and Paris at all and am very happy with life at the moment."

Image: Getty.

In 2007, she appeared in the hit television series Entourage and the dark comedy film Sex and Death 101. 

However, despite several successful acting gigs during this period, there were struggles, too.

"I’ve produced five of my own [TV] pilots for the major networks. It’s been tough – none of them have been picked up.

"Shows that were meant to get the green light, didn't, and movies that were meant to be massive, weren't, but I just keep going and going," she told The Daily Telegraph.

In April 2010, Channel Nine announced that Monk would be a guest presenter on the travel TV show Getaway. She later became a recurring presenter.

The following year, 31-year-old Monk announced her engagement to 51-year-old businessman Jimmy Esebag. Three months later, they called it quits.

"I went too hard too fast. We both did..." she told Kyle and Jackie O.

In 2012, she appeared on the dating show The Choice. 

Three years later in 2015, she appeared as a judge on the eighth season of Australia's Got Talent and won the fourth season of The Celebrity Apprentice Australia.

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Trying to be cool but internally wetting my pants haha. Mr B? You're the man! Thank you 😊 @channel9 @theapprenticeau @markbouris @makeawishaust

A post shared by  Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Nov 19, 2015 at 3:46am PST

That same year, she returned to Australia after living in Los Angeles for a decade.

"I felt I wasn't trying as much any more with my career. I really wanted to do comedy and was getting typecast for certain roles. It didn't help that I had the blondest of hair, or maybe it was my personality. I missed home and the Australian audience and that had a lot to do with coming home. The majority of people in LA want to act and come from acting families. It's all a bit weird," she told The Sydney Morning Herald when discussing moving home.

In April 2017, Monk announced that she would be the next Bachelorette.

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Omg I'm the new @bacheloretteau 🙈. I'm so excited but wetting my pants. 😬❤️❤️❤️❤️#bacheloretteau

A post shared by  Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Apr 23, 2017 at 1:07am PDT

After meeting 18 men on the third season of the show, she settled down with the winner, 44-year-old publican Stu Landy in October 2017.

But once the couple left the reality TV show and entered the real world, their relationship didn't last.

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A post shared by Stu Laundy (@stulaundy44) on Dec 21, 2017 at 8:21pm PST

"I went into this experience looking to settle down and start a family," Monk wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post in January 2018.

"I gave it the best shot I could and my intentions were everything I said I was looking for, but unfortunately it just didn’t work out."

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A post shared by Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Jan 25, 2018 at 8:13am PST

From May 2018, Monk appeared as the host of the first and second season of Love Island Australia.

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A post shared by Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on May 27, 2018 at 1:23am PDT

That same year, she met her current partner Joshua Gross.

"I had just finished filming Love Island in Mallorca and was on my way to San Francisco for a random TV gig with Channel Nine when I made a last-minute decision to go back to Australia," she told The Sydney Morning Herald. 

"I sat next to Josh in business class and we started chatting. About two hours into the flight, I asked him if he was single. He responded yes. I then asked if I could kiss him. I was clearly out of practice and a bit of a nerd so I went to brush my teeth and thought, 'Let’s do this.' We had 16 hours to go."

Two years later, the couple are still happily together.

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A post shared by Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Jul 30, 2020 at 9:16pm PDT

Professionally, Sophie continues to work in entertainment. Most recently, she was revealed as Dragonfly on Channel 10's The Masked Singer.

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A post shared by Sophie Monk (@sophiemonk) on Aug 24, 2020 at 4:38am PDT

Read more celebrity deep dives:

• From a 16yo on Home and Away to a star and mum-of-two: Tammin Sursok's life in the spotlight.
• Two teenage sons and a new love in LA: Inside Pia Miller's life in the spotlight.
• Leaving Hollywood and 3 kids: Inside Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky’s 'perfect' 10-year marriage.

Feature image: Getty and Instagram/@sophiemonk