At 16-year-old, Melanie Bracewell had amassed over 200,000 followers on her Tumblr blog, meladoodle (still active today).
Growing up in Beach Haven, on Auckland’s North Shore, Mel was one of 6 kids in a wondrously blended family.
Within 3 years of beginning her comedy career with a stand-up routine, Mel won the RAW Comedy Quest, 7 Days Comedy Apprentice Award, Breakthrough Comedian of the Year Award, Best Newcomer Award, and the Billy T award.
During Covid, Mel received millions of views on TikTok for her impressions of Jacinda Arden (for those listening and not watching, Mel looks somewhat similar to Jacinda).
Mel is a regular guest on Have You Been Paying Attention, 7 Days, and The Project (NZ), and has appeared at Just For Laughs festival in Montreal, the Gotham City Comedy Club in New York and won the Director’s Choice Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Mel is the co-host and co-writer of Cheap Seats on Network 10 and has written on all three seasons of Wellington Paranormal with Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi.
Mel is an avid netballer, with a strong presence on court as Goal Keeper.
