Sophie Monk scores huge US television job hosting Love Island spin-off, replacing Maura Higgins

Sophie Monk is heading back to American screens, signing on to host a high-profile spin-off of Love Island USA.

The Love Island Australia presenter will front Aftersun, the official weekly companion talk show to the US version of the hit reality series.

The gig will see Monk, 45, take over from former Love Island contestant Maura Higgins, who has hosted Aftersun in previous seasons. Monk’s appointment was confirmed via Love Island USA’s social media channels over the weekend and received an enthusiastic response from fans — and even Higgins herself, who commented “Yesss Queen” under the announcement, according to News.com.au.

The move marks a full-circle moment for Monk, who spent a decade in Los Angeles during the 2000s in pursuit of an acting career.

During that time, she appeared in films such as Date Movie and Click, and made a cameo on the popular series Entourage, before returning to Australia in 2015.

Monk, who rose to fame as part of a pop Bardot on Popstars, has hosted all six seasons of Love Island Australia. The new US role marks her biggest international hosting job to date.

The news comes amid other big moves in Monk’s life.

She recently sold what’s believed to be her first home on the Gold Coast for $595,000, after purchasing the property in 2003 for just $165,000.

It’s her second property sale in the past year, she previously sold a Helensvale home for $1.76 million.

She’s also returning to acting with a new film project: Monk will appear in the upcoming horror-comedy Zombie Plane, where she’ll be joined by a star-studded cast including Vanilla Ice, Chuck Norris and Joey Vieira, all playing fictionalised versions of themselves.