If you grew up in the late 2000s or had kids who did, you definitely remember the face. Fely Irvine was the energetic, bright-eyed presence in the "Puzzles and Patterns" segment of the iconic Australian kids' group Hi-5. She stepped into some massive shoes in 2009, joining the cast during a high-stakes transition period when the original members were moving on.
She wasn't just another TV host. She was a powerhouse.
But then, in 2011, she was gone. One minute she’s singing about rainbows and high-fives, and the next, she's navigating the cutthroat world of adult reality TV and international stage productions. Most people sort of lost track of her after the "Turn the Music Up!" tour wrapped. Honestly, her journey from a children’s entertainer to a soulful R&B vocalist and a mother is a lot more complex than the bright colors of the Hi-5 set would suggest.
The Hi-5 Fely Irvine Years: More Than Just Puzzles
When Fely Irvine joined Hi-5, the brand was at a crossroads. The "new" line-up—which included Lauren Brant, Tim Maddren, and eventually Casey Burgess and Stevie Nicholson—had to prove they could maintain the magic of the original quintet. Fely brought a very specific background to the table. Born in Davao City, Philippines, and raised with a mix of Filipino, Spanish, and Scottish heritage, she wasn't just a "personality." She was a trained performer from the Australian College of Entertainment.
Her segment, Puzzles and Patterns, required a specific kind of mental agility. You're not just talking to a camera; you're teaching three-year-olds how to recognize shapes while maintaining a level of enthusiasm that would tire out a marathon runner. She filmed Series 11, 12, and 13, contributing to the show’s massive reach of over a million children weekly across 200+ countries.
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People often ask why she left. It’s simple: three years is a long time to spend in primary colors. By late 2011, she was ready to reclaim her identity as an independent artist. She wanted to do something... different. Something that didn't involve a puppet named Chats.
The Voice Australia and the Ricky Martin Era
In 2014, Fely popped back onto the radar in a big way. She walked onto the stage of The Voice Australia and did something nobody expected. She sang "We Found Love" by Rihanna.
It was a deliberate "rebranding" moment. She wasn't the girl from Hi-5 anymore; she was a 25-year-old woman with a gritty, soulful voice. All the judges—Joel Madden, Kylie Minogue, will.i.am, and Ricky Martin—were impressed, but she ultimately chose Team Ricky.
Watching her on The Voice was honestly a bit surreal for fans. She made it all the way to the "Sing Off" round before being eliminated. While she didn't win, the show proved she had the vocal chops to stand alone. She cited Beyoncé and Rihanna as her influences, a far cry from the nursery-rhyme pop that made her famous.
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Life in the USA and American Idol
A lot of Aussie fans don't realize that Fely actually took a swing at the American market too. She moved to Los Angeles and started working the "Mastro’s circuit"—performing at high-end venues where the crowd is tough and the expectations are high.
In a move that surprised everyone, she auditioned for American Idol. Out of 300,000 hopefuls, she actually made the Top 60. That is an insane statistic. She was flying back and forth between LA and Sydney, balancing the American dream with work back home, including a TV pilot and performances with her band, SSJ.
The Tai Hara Connection and Bali Dreams
While her career was zigzagging across the globe, her personal life was becoming a headline of its own. In 2013, she started dating Tai Hara, the heartthrob from Home and Away. They became one of Australia’s most photogenic "it" couples.
They got engaged in early 2015 and eventually tied the knot in 2017. It wasn't just a standard wedding; they did a stunning ceremony in Bali. By late 2020, they welcomed their first child, a daughter. Since then, Fely’s public profile has shifted. She isn't chasing the pop charts as aggressively, focusing instead on being a mother and taking on selective performing roles that actually mean something to her.
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What Most People Get Wrong About Her Departure
There is a common misconception that there was "drama" when she left Hi-5. In reality, the group has always been a revolving door for talent. Much like a Broadway show, performers cycle out when they’ve given all they can to the role. Fely left on good terms, wanting to pursue musical theatre and her own R&B sound.
She went on to tour with Thriller Live, a massive West End production celebrating Michael Jackson, which took her through Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. This was her "bridge" between kids' TV and the serious music industry. It allowed her to use her dance training—which includes jazz, tap, and ballet from the Glenda Yee School of Dance—in a way that felt more "adult."
Fely Irvine Today: A Different Kind of Influence
As of 2026, Fely has settled into a life that balances her performance roots with a more grounded, family-oriented lifestyle. She’s heavily involved in mentoring. Specifically, she has worked with AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience), using her platform to give back.
She still performs, but it’s often more intimate or high-end corporate work. She isn't the girl in the "Puzzles and Patterns" room anymore. She’s a seasoned pro who has navigated the transition from child star to adult performer—a path that usually ends in a breakdown, but for her, resulted in a very stable, successful life.
If you're looking to follow her current journey or find similar inspiration, here are some actionable steps:
- Check out the SSJ Group: If you want to see her current performance style, look up her work with the SSJ Group. It’s world-class event entertainment and shows a side of her voice you won’t hear on old Hi-5 DVDs.
- Revisit The Voice performances: Her rendition of "Hit 'Em Up Style" by Blu Cantrell is still one of the best examples of her R&B range. It’s a great study in how to rebrand your public image.
- Follow her advocacy work: She remains a strong voice for multicultural representation in the Australian arts, drawing on her Filipino-Scottish-Spanish heritage.
Fely Irvine didn't just disappear. She grew up, just like the audience that used to watch her on Nickelodeon every morning.