Susie Coelho

Susie Coelho was born in Cuckfield, Sussex, England on December 7, 1953[1] to George and Rani Coelho.[2][3] She is of Indian heritage[4] and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland.[5] She attended the American University in Washington DC, and early in her career, worked as a model[6] signed to Ford Models,[7] an actress, and entertainment reporter. In 1982 she played the role of an art teacher in the film Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo. In 1983, as a journalist, she travelled to India to interview Phoolan Devi, known as “The Bandit Queen” of Central India, while she was a fugitive from justice.[4] She also co-founded the restaurant Bono's in Hollywood, in addition to the fashion boutique A Star is Worn.[8]

In 1997, Susie Coelho created Susie Coelho Enterprises, Inc.[9] She was an on-air contributor to The View[8] and the Today Show.[10] She was the host of the HGTV television series Surprise Gardener[11] and Outer Spaces. She has also authored four lifestyle books, Everyday Styling (Simon & Schuster 2002), Styling for Entertaining (Simon & Schuster 2004),[12] Secrets of a Style Diva: A Get-Inspired Guide to Your Creative Side (Thomas Nelson 2006),[13][14] and Style Your Dream Wedding (Thomas Nelson 2008).[15] She was awarded the Women in Film & Video-DC Women of Vision Awards in 2007.[16]

In 2019 Coelho founded House of Sussex, a fashion accessories brand focusing on collaborations with artists, creating backpacks using former street and tattoo artists designs, and also jewelry.[17] In addition to being for sale, her pieces have been displayed in museums.[17] She has also designed furnishings and accessories for retail: Mervyn's with “Susie Coelho Style”, Grandin Road[18] through a Signature Collection, and QVC with “Susie Coelho Home”.[19]

Coelho was married to Sonny Bono from 1981 to 1984,[20] having been in a relationship with him since the mid-1970s.[21][22] She was then married to Robert Rounds with whom she shares two children.[5] She is now married to Michael A. Peel, whom she married in 2017.[20]