BAMBI LEFIST | TV weather girl who broke every rule in the book

She had no meteorology qualifications, a background that raised eyebrows in every boardroom in Perth, and a social media following that rivalled the network she worked for.

But between 2016 and 2020, Bambi LeFist carved out one of the most unlikely — and entertaining — careers in Western Australian television history.

It was November 2016 when Perth's TV news landscape shifted.

Former Channel 9 newsreader Russell Goodrick, anchored West TV's nightly news bulletin from the ABC Perth studios.

Sharing the spotlight with him was adult entertainer Bambi LeFist, making her debut as a weather presenter.

The pairing was, to put it mildly, unexpected.

The Gold Coast beauty had just moved to Perth. Her thin, non-adult resume included work at a theatre restaurant, a role in a low-budget horror movie and a stint in real estate.

LeFist had already appeared on other WTV programs before stepping in front of the weather map, and she freely admitted she was not a full bottle on meteorology — though she suggested a little research would add to what she already knew about weather.

Her assessment of the subject was characteristically direct.

"Well, I know we all have to experience it," she said.

The weather gig was only the beginning. LeFist went on to host her own comedy show on West TV aptly called "The Bambi Lefist Show", broadening her on-screen footprint well beyond the forecast map.

By 2019, her profile had grown large enough to land a hosting role on a national production.

Champagne Showgirls followed performers Champagne and Kimba as they brought back the showgirl scene, taking their troupe of burlesque, circus and striptease artists on the road through Western Australia's outback.

She described herself as an enthusiastic and funny presenter, host and interviewer. Her previous roles included news weather girl, reality TV host, and comedy vox pop and street talk performer.

Throughout it all, Bambi's career painted a picture of a presenter who defied easy categorisation.

Whether Perth television was ready for Bambi LeFist is debatable. What is not is that few who saw her would forget her — which, in the attention economy, might be the only metric that matters.