Sometimes the most beautiful transformations happen when we least expect them. For interior designer Yasmine Ghoniem, the journey from struggling graduate to celebrated TV host proves that dreams really do come true—they just take time and unwavering determination.

In 2004, fresh out of college in the United States, Ghoniem faced a challenge many young graduates know too well: she couldn't find work in her field. With barely any money to her name, she made do with what she had, living in her car for six months while searching for opportunities. But rather than giving up, she embraced adventure, driving cross-country from the deep south to the west coast with just $600 earned from drawing gates for a fun fair.

"I remember the day I landed an actual interiors job at a reputable architectural practice, and I jumped up and down," Ghoniem recalls warmly. That position, paying around $30,000 annually, felt like winning the lottery. She immediately put down a deposit on an apartment, furnished it with IKEA finds, and launched her career in earnest.

Fast forward two decades, and the Kuwait-born, Sydney-based designer's story has blossomed beautifully. After years working at various practices and even taking time for volunteer work, Ghoniem established her own firm in 2020. Just one year later, she was named Interior Designer of the Year at the 2021 Interior Design Excellence Awards. Her studio now creates stunning spaces for high-profile clients, including celebrity couple Hamish and Zoe Foster-Blake, with budgets reaching as high as $40 million.

In 2024, Ghoniem added another exciting chapter to her life: co-hosting Grand Designs Transformations, a heartwarming show that follows everyday Australians renovating their homes. "I really love seeing what people are up to and I think it brings me down to earth," she shares. The show features diverse projects ranging from $10,000 to $2.5 million, showcasing real solutions for real people navigating housing challenges.

But perhaps the most touching transformation happened off-screen. After seven years of hoping, Ghoniem welcomed her daughter Sahara last year—a dream she thought might never come true. Season two of Grand Designs Transformations beautifully documents her pregnancy journey, from six weeks to her daughter's appearance on the show at four months old.

"I still can't believe she's actually here," Ghoniem says with evident joy. "To have that televised and know I can watch it whenever I want and she can watch it one day is pretty cool."

The multi-talented designer, who also pursues her early passion for music as a singer-songwriter, credits her co-host Anthony Burke for making filming days special. "He's so smart. My days with him are my favourite because I get to talk about the things I love with a really intelligent human."

Ghoniem still keeps a dollar bill from that original $600 that carried her across America, planning to frame it as a reminder of where she started. It's a perfect symbol of her journey: holding onto hope, embracing challenges, and transforming obstacles into stepping stones toward an extraordinary life.