THE WESTERN X JAN FRAN: 'WESTERN SYDNEY IS QUINTESSENTIAL SYDNEY'
Supplied (Credit: @jan__fran)
It often comes as a surprise when people find out this strangely familiar face is one of our own. TV presenter, journalist, and overall bad b*tch Jan Fran has peppered Australian screens for many years, and with an exciting new project well on its way, it’s time we at The Western chat with and pay homage to this iconic ‘Lebanese chick from Bankstown’.
In an origin story shared by many in Western Sydney, Fran’s family migrated from Lebanon in the late 80’s, planting roots in Sydney’s south-west. For the curly-haired four-year-old, settling into this whole new world was ‘seamless’. She recalls her childhood, alight with colour in most walks of her upbringing. ‘Being the minority was the norm’ she expresses, nodding to Western Sydney’s inherent diversity.
Jan Fran dreamed of being an actor. At school, she excelled in drama, but this was a career choice her parents were convinced wasn’t real. She yielded to that, and ventured into journalism - a field her Dad understood and respected. ‘My parents moved for us, and the older you get, the more you understand exactly the sacrifices they made for you. You carry that with you wherever you go’, Fran explains. ‘It’s a story that a lot of Australians would carry - it’s a classic Australian story. This is quintessential Australiana for me, carrying that beautiful burden’.
Supplied (Credit: @jan__fran)
Stepping into University in 2002 to hone her craft, Fran recalls experiencing a ‘culture shock’. ‘You don’t realise how white Australia is - you grow up thinking ‘Of course its multicultural!’ - because that’s all you felt and all you’ve seen’. She thinks back on her early Uni days, where she was surrounded by the sons and daughters of rich people from preppy high schools. ‘You have this sense that you don’t belong here, which is bullsh*t’, Fran concludes, aware now of her seat at the table.
Sadly, this culture shock carried into her career’s infancy, and Fran felt that the ‘Western Sydney part of me was something to hide’. She notes the misrepresentation in media around Western Sydney, and the Lebanese diaspora in the late 90s to early 2000s. ‘It was a really tumultuous time to grow up, and I thought [my Lebanese and Bankstown origins] was a liability, when in fact, it is my best asset. I’ve really stepped into it these past few years’.
Supplied (Credit: @jan__fran)
Fran went on to front many projects - most notably as co-presenter on SBS VICELAND’s The Feed, and her flagship platform The Frant, a collection of short form breakdowns on hot topics that has garnered millions of views. She has also produced documentaries around the world, and is an active ambassador for Plan International Australia.
As we step into a media landscape that is slowly beginning to acknowledge Western Sydney, Fran notes that the region is ‘establishing itself, not just as an economic powerhouse, which it is, it’s got one of the largest economies in the entire country, but also as a cultural powerhouse’.
“Western Sydney is quintessential Sydney”
‘We need more voices from Western Sydney, not necessarily talking about Western Sydney - just talking about anything. It’s going to be crucial to the way we see ourselves and how Western Sydney is seen as part of the city. I’d love to see more books, more art, more theatre, and more music that is tied organically to Western Sydney. I’d like to see it get support, get big, and become part of mainstream Sydney culture.’ she continues.
While the Walkley Award winning journalist no longer resides in the West, she proudly expresses that ‘it’s what made me, it’s where I grew up. It’s the narrative of my childhood, adolescence, and my early 20’s’. She has gone on to live in many different places across the globe, most notably in Bangladesh, where she worked for UNICEF. Her coming memoir, Of Middle Eastern Appearance, is set to explore her upbringing in Bankstown and the impact of the 2005 Cronulla Riots on Middle Eastern communities across Australia.
Supplied (Credit: @jan__fran)
Jan Fran is one of many Western Sydney pioneers who have shattered the Northern Shore glass ceiling, opening doors for Westie creatives and hustlers alike. Fran’s achievements stand testament to how greatness can come from anywhere, and we at The Western wish her all the best with her coming projects.
QUICK Q’S WITH JAN FRAN
Favourite eats out West?
El Jannah in Granville, Jasmin 1 in Bankstown, and Sweet City in Bankstown (for sweet stuff!).
What’s something you would tell 20-year-old you?
Life is longer than you think it is, you have time. Don’t get as worked up when things don’t go your way. There’s a long plan afoot, so try to chill out a bit.
What’s something you would like to pass on to fellow Western Sydney creatives?
You have a really strong voice, and a really unique voice - one that is underrepresented. Now is the f*cking time to holler baby!
Be sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter for updates on new ventures!