Tessa Hayley Hellberg
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa
School
University Of The Witwatersrand
Expertise
British Royals, The "Real Housewives" Franchise, Old Hollywood Stars
- As a self-professed pop culture and royal news nerd, for Tessa, celebrity news has always gone far beyond recreation - it's her bread and butter, in every sense of the word.
- In her time as an entertainment reporter, she's interviewed countless reality stars, including among others Kyle Richards and Ashley Darby - and even the legend himself, Andy Cohen.
- She loves any opportunity to learn more about royals across the globe, and some of her happiest memories include wedding viewing parties for the British and Monegasque royal families, alike. Naturally, each party was preceded by flip files of prior research.
Experience
Tessa's love for pop culture stems back to her childhood, when she would craft school assignments as her very own entertainment reports. Her foray into professional reporting began in 2017, when she started writing the pop culture section for an edutainment app. She's since gone on to obtain her Master of Arts (with a dissertation on "The Real Housewives of Johannesburg," naturally), and has done over 100 interviews for TheThings. Tessa joined Static Media in early 2022, providing regular articles for Nicki Swift, and the occasional guest report on royal occasions for TheList.
Education
Tessa has a bachelor's degree in politics and media studies, and honors and master's degrees in media studies, all from the University of the Witwatersrand. She came away from both postgraduate degrees with distinction – and a love of seeing how pop culture, social factors, and politics intersect at every turn.
Nicki Swift covers celebrity and entertainment news by way of an expert group of editorial professionals. We drive the conversation on everything from trending Hollywood news to star transformations, always striving to deliver the most compelling commentary, bolstered by quality expert opinions.
As we cover a wide breadth of pop culture, we're constantly reviewing, fact-checking, and updating stories to ensure they're accurate and current. Additional information on our editorial process available here.
Stories By Tessa Hayley Hellberg
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Thought the Kim Kardashian-Taylor Swift feud was over? Think again. The singer just dropped a scathing song that puts the reality star squarely in the hot seat.
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Thanks to their family ties in politics and entertainment, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s six children are following in his footsteps to varying degrees.
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Amid the allegations against Diddy, his former bodyguards have spoken up about what they apparently saw while working for the rapper and mogul.
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Recent reports suggest that Tom Cruise parted ways with the Church of Scientology, but it seems he's still involved with the controversial religion.
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Although Oprah Winfrey leaving the board of WeightWatchers was shocking after her long association with the company, she had a solid reason for doing so.
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While she's the mother of the future Queen of England, will Carole Middleton snag a coveted royal title? The situation is more complicated than you'd expect.
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Sophie Turner is dating once again. According to multiple reports, social media posts, and paparazzi photos, her new partner is Peregrine Pearson.
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Long before his divorces from Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise parted with a whole movie salary worth of cash in his split from Mimi Rogers.
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Before his death, O.J. Simpson had a certain condition for loved ones to follow. It's unknown why he had this rule in place, but it certainly raises eyebrows.
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Melania Trump's former aide Stephanie Grisham has spilled some tea on her reaction to Donald's alleged affair, which is in the spotlight due to his trial.
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Al Cowlings was the driver of O.J. Simpson's Ford Bronco during the infamous 1994 car chase, but since Simpson's murder trial, he's stayed out of the spotlight.
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Since Michael Jackson's death in 2009, his friend-turned-bodyguard Matt Fiddes has given interviews defending the King of Pop's eccentric personality.
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Beleaguered rapper Diddy recently settled with his ex Cassie out of court. Now, she's cooperating with officers in the ongoing sex trafficking case against him.
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Angelina Jolie previously accused Brad Pitt of physical abuse during an infamous flight but her latest claim suggests that it sadly wasn't an isolated incident.
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From entering the White House as kids to now embarking on grown-up careers, Sasha and Malia Obama have collected a menagerie of famous friends along the way.
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Working for Britney Spears undoubtedly offers a front-row seat to the pop star's life, and a few of her bodyguards have made some unsettling claims.
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The royal family typically keeps a lid on personal matters, yet Sarah Ferguson hasn't held back from acknowledging her foray into cosmetic procedures.
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Lauren Sanchez and her brother had serious drama after her liaison with Jeff Bezos, but there's a reason for his initial reluctance to meet the billionaire.
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The final season of "The Crown" presents a notably unflattering portrayal of Kate Middleton's mother, Carole Middleton, and not everyone is happy about it.
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Malia Obama has been making her way in Hollywood, and she has unsurprisingly been criticized for her nepo baby advantages in the entertainment industry.
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Vanessa Hudgens and Austin Butler dated for nearly a decade before calling it quits in 2020. Unfortunately, there are a few hints they ended on bad terms.
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Though Hallmark has long been the go-to for wholesome content, Great American Family is now hot on its heels (and attracting plenty of controversy).
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Sally Field and Burt Reynolds were Hollywood royalty when they dated, but the relationship was toxic due to Reynolds' controlling nature, Field says.
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Rachel "Raquel" Leviss left "Vanderpump Rules" after her affair with Tom Scandoval, and her former boss has some thoughts about what Leviss has done since then.
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Valerie Bertinelli and Duff Goldman served as a delightful duo co-hosting "Kids Baking Championship," but what's their bond like when the aprons are hung up?
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Keeping Jay-Z and Beyoncé safe? Clearly, it's no small feat. But let's be real, there've been times when their security team went a little too far.
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Derek and Julianne Hough started pursuing dance professionally at a young age in London, and being without their family in the city had its ups and downs.