Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs reveals her mum’s heartwarming reaction after she told her she was gay

Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs has spoken candidly about the moment she told her family she was gay.

Speaking to The Weekend Australian on Saturday, the 44-year-old said she came out to her ‘strict Christian’ family at 21, and her mum’s response surprised her.

‘Coming from a strict Christian family I knew my sexuality would never be accepted and that was absolutely the case. The day I came out my mum said “We will never be able to accept this but we will always love you”,’ she said.

She continued: ‘That’s the most I could hope for. To be ostracised would have taken it to an awful level.’

Narelda, whose father is a reverend in a Uniting Church, explained that people in the ‘queer community face the fear of being ostracised from their loved ones’.

‘I just felt so blessed that I could still enjoy the love of my family,’ she said.

Narelda was announced as a co-host on daytime panel show Studio 10 in December 2019 following the departure of Jessica Rowe and Ita Buttrose.

In a live cross with Studio 10, the journalist said she was ‘excited’ to join the team in Sydney at the time.

‘I can’t wait to come! I’m so excited,’ she said.

‘Look at this beautiful city of Perth, I’m going to leave that behind but as well as being a proud Western Australian, I’m also a proud Australian and I can’t wait to come and join you guys and talk about the things that matter to all over us,’ she added.

The Ten News First Perth anchor, who was Western Australia’s first Indigenous newsreader, moved to Sydney for her role on the panel and as a roving reporter.

Joe Hildebrand also pointed out that Narelda, who is mother to Indigenous artist JD Penangke, had been part of the team in her own way since the beginning in November 2013.

‘[Studio 10 was] doing special little episodes just for Perth and you were part of that from the very beginning so in a way we’re just coming full circle,’ he said.