Newest ‘Queer Eye’ Fab Five member Jeremiah Brent went from being homeless to a successful interior designer
“Queer Eye” hosts Jonathan van Ness, Tan France, Karamo Brown, Jeremiah Brent, and Antoni Porowski in September.
Jeremiah Brent is a renowned interior designer, TV personality, author, podcaster, and now, one of the Fab Five on season nine of Netflix’s “Queer Eye.”
Brent, 39, joins the feel-good reality TV show following previous interior design expert Bobby Berk’s exit earlier this year. The newest member of the Fab Five will make his debut when season nine releases in December.
The latest installment takes Brent, Jonathan van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, and Tan France to Las Vegas to transform the lives of several people, including a former showgirl and a librarian.
Ahead of the upcoming 10-episode season of “Queer Eye,” here’s what to know about Brent.
Brent was briefly homeless when he moved from Modesto, California, to Los Angeles in 2004
Brent told Kelly Clarkson that grew up with a single mom who worked three jobs.
“I jumped around from sofa to sofa and at times lived out of my Jeep for several months,” he told Living Spaces. “When I was able to finally move into my first apartment, it happened to be directly across the street from the Covenant House.”
Years later, Oprah Winfrey asked Brent if he’d redesign the outdated Covenant House Los Angeles, a shelter that provides sanctuary and support for homeless and trafficked youths in California.
“I know firsthand the value of having a space that is yours and the security that it comes with,” Brent said. “These kids deserve all the beauty life has to offer, and I was determined to give it my all to support them.”
Brent told Drew Barrymore that it was “the most important project I’ve ever worked on.”
Brent got his start in Hollywood as a styling associate on ‘The Rachel Zoe Project’
Zoe and Brent in September in LA.
The reality TV show, starring celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, aired for five seasons between 2008 and 2013.
“Although he was selling himself on fashion, his passion was really interior design — I knew immediately that he had such a good eye and I wanted to give him a chance,” Zoe told House Beautiful in March. “Truthfully it was love at first sight and we really connected.”
After working as a styling associate for Zoe, Brent launched his own design firm, Jeremiah Brent Design (JBD), in 2011.
He’s been married to interior designer Nate Berkus since 2014 and they have 2 children
Brent’s time working with Zoe led him to meet his now-husband Berkus.
The couple told People magazine that they were dating other people when Zoe introduced them. Two and a half years later, when they were both single, they made plans together in NYC. Brent and Berkus went furniture shopping on their first date and wed in Manhattan in May 2014.
They have two children together who were welcomed via surrogates, daughter Poppy and son Oskar.
Brent said there’s ‘no drama’ with his ‘Queer Eye’ costars
Brent was already friends with “Queer Eye” fashion expert France prior to landing a spot on the show.
A Rolling Stone exposé published in March alleged that France, with support from Porowski, “campaigned” to replace Berk with Brent. France denied allegations in the article and in an Instagram video, saying, “My former colleague getting fired has nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired.”
Porowski also told Entertainment Tonight that he’s become good friends with Brent since working together.
“I adore him,” Porowski said. “I met him very casually a couple of months before the whole thing started so we had a little bit of a friendship there.”
In an interview with House Beautiful, published in March, Brent spoke positively about his experience with his “Queer Eye” costars.
“I’ve got to tell you, there’s no drama with any of us. We’re all in a group chat. We’re having the time of our lives,” he said. “Everybody’s heads and hearts are in the right spot. It’s really healthy right now, and I think we’re all really excited about this season.”
