Breakout year
health, normalisation of counselling, bad dating and even recently, a heartfelt piece-tocamera about victim blaming since the death of British backpacker Grace Millane.
Perhaps it’s the lack of time in front of the camera that has worked to her benefit. Lloyd is still genuine and speaks from the heart, rather than for soundbites. And she still gets starstruck when it comes to interviewing some of the A-listers who arrive on our shores.
‘‘I never in a million years thought I would be doing a 7pm show,’’ she told Next magazine in 2017. ‘‘I love the energy of it.
‘‘You couldn’t wish for a safer pair of hands than Jesse [Mulligan]; his mind is constantly turning things over, and Josh [Thomson] is one of the funniest people in the country I reckon. Even if I’m having a tricky time, I just look along the desk at everyone and I’m like, ‘OK, we’re good to go!’ ’’
These days, the 31-year-old is the darling of MediaWorks. In November she took on the host role of the NZ Music Awards, alongside Stan Walker. The fact that she was one-half of a duo who replaced Kiwi favourites Jono Pryor and Ben Boyce spoke volumes.
Next year, in addition to her work on The Project, she will host a new offering, Moving Out With Kanoa, following Kiwis as they exit our big cities for more affordably lifestyles in the regions.
Despite her star shining brighter than ever, Lloyd doesn’t seem to be impacted by the hoohah of it all. She lives a quiet life in West Auckland with her husband, freelance editor and colourist Mikee Carpinter, who she married in 2016.