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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The late Jacob Rothschild, financier and philanthropist, was the father of three daughters and one son. Some of his kids have followed in his footsteps.
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Lady Gabriella of Windsor is only 56th in line to the British royal family throne, but she's still made quite an impact on her royal relatives.
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Life as an Obama means the spotlight's on you from day one. While Sasha and Malia are accustomed to the camera's flash, they certainly don't bask in its glow.
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Donald Trump has taken aim at many politicians in recent years, creating much strife in Congress. What is his beef with South Dakota Sen. John Thune?
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Wesley Snipes has been battling with the IRS for years, and the actor even served time for tax fraud. Here's a detailed look at his money issues.
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While some "Glee" cast members have complained about Lea Michele's behavior on the show, other former co-stars say any drama is all in the past.
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As the father of a major superstar, it's not surprising that Scott Swift has dealt with his fair share of public scrutiny. What has he come under fire for?
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"Real Housewives of Atlanta" alum Kim Zolciak has been an open book regarding the plastic surgeries she's had. What procedures has she gotten done?
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Donald Trump has several lawsuits to face, but his attorney, Alina Habba also has some legal issues in her own household stemming from her husband's mistakes.
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HGTV star David Bromstad once dreamed of working at Disney, and although his career plans changed, he'll always have a special connection to the company.
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"the boy is mine," the eighth track on Ariana Grande's album "Eternal Sunshine," seems to be alluding to her controversial relationship with Ethan Slater.
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Jason Beghe, star of "Chicago P.D.," was accused of inappropriate behavior on-set. Find out who it involved and what he said about the accusations.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle named their daughter Lilibet after Queen Elizabeth's childhood nickname and, behind the scenes, she allegedly wasn't impressed.
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Tanya Brown, the youngest sister of Nicole Brown Simpson, has used her voice to speak out about important issues surrounding her sister's death.
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Billy Ray Cyrus has had a few career resurgences since his "Achy Breaky Heart" days, but the country singer's spotlight has dimmed once again.
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Hillary Clinton and Tucker Carlson publicly traded blows in interviews, but their beef goes back decades. In 2003, the president stopped by the host's show.
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Some moments on Jennifer Lopez's new album "This Is Me ... Now" feel undeniably autobiographical, and J.Lo admits there's some truth in the track "Rebound."
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Very little is known about Melania Trump's personal life pre-Donald, but an alleged ex from Slovenia named Jure Zorcic has commented about their relationship.
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Tish and Billy Ray Cyrus filed for divorce multiple times before their split finally stuck. Here are some signs that Miley's parents weren't meant to be.
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Despite his impressive career, it seems as though we only ever hear about Katt Williams nowadays when it comes to his controversies in Hollywood.
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Brittany Mahomes has had more than a few Super Bowl appearances, thanks to her husband, Chiefs player Patrick Mahomes. Here are her big game outfits ranked.
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Usher publicly shies away from commenting on drama, but that doesn't mean he hasn't made enemies throughout his career. These celebs can't stand him.
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After making a splash with a 2020 Super Bowl ad, Jason Momoa is back at it again this year. Here's what the actor loves about his quirky commercial gigs.
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He's contributed some enduring classics to the landscape of American pop music, but Billy Joel's career and private life alike have come with plenty of tragedy.
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Kathy Griffin's sudden split from Randy Bick caught fans of the comedian off guard. Here's a rundown of the rumored reason their union hit the skids.
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Despite their shared affection, CeeLo Green and Christina Johnson ended their relationship in the early 2000s. Here's what she blamed for their split.
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When Bill Gates moved his family to a new home in the 1990s, the Seattle mansion was under construction for seven years. Here's what's in the unusual abode.