Troubled ex-wife of TV weatherman looks unrecognisable in rare sighting - after avoiding jail for 'stupid decision' following her marriage breakdown

Rosie Jacobs showed off a strikingly different new look as she walked her dogs in Bondi Beach in a rare public sighting on Wednesday.

The ex-wife of TV weatherman Steve Jacobs looked almost unrecognisable after ditching her brunette locks for a shorter, platinum blonde cut.

She coiffed her bleached tresses in a swept back style and opted for a glamorous makeup palette to accentuate her new haircut.

The travel journalist cut a casual figure in black flared leggings, a turtleneck jumper and a grey padded jacket.

She kept comfortable in a pair of white Crocs and appeared in good spirits as she flashed a smile during the dog walk.

Rosie started her career as a television producer and has hosted shows for the Nine and Ten Networks, Foxtel and The Weather Channel.

She married her now-ex-husband Steve in 2010 three years after meeting on the set of Today, where he was a weather presenter and she worked as a producer.

Rosie Jacobs showed off a strikingly different new look as she walked her dogs in Bondi Beach in a rare public sighting on Wednesday

Rosie Jacobs showed off a strikingly different new look as she walked her dogs in Bondi Beach in a rare public sighting on Wednesday 

The ex-wife of TV weatherman Steve Jacobs looked almost unrecognisable after ditching her brunette locks for a shorter, platinum blonde cut

The ex-wife of TV weatherman Steve Jacobs looked almost unrecognisable after ditching her brunette locks for a shorter, platinum blonde cut 

The couple separated in late 2017, months after relocating to Vanuatu in what friends described as a 'last-ditch attempt' to save their marriage, and divorced in 2019.

In January last year, Rosie avoided jail for what she described as a 'stupid decision' to drive on a suspended licence after her high-profile divorce.

She pleaded guilty to driving her Audi Q3 three times in the course of just four months across 2022 while her licence was suspended for previous offences.

She had been driving along Darlinghurst Road in Sydney's eastern suburbs on the morning of August 25 when she was stopped by police.

Her driving permit had been suspended in May 2022 until March 2023, after she racked up five traffic violations in nine months while on a good behaviour licence.

The travel journalist cut a casual figure in black flared leggings, a turtleneck jumper and a grey padded jacket

The travel journalist cut a casual figure in black flared leggings, a turtleneck jumper and a grey padded jacket 

In January last year, Rosie avoided jail for what she described as a 'stupid decision' to drive on a suspended licence after her high-profile divorce

In January last year, Rosie avoided jail for what she described as a 'stupid decision' to drive on a suspended licence after her high-profile divorce 

Less than three months later, she was busted by police again on Campbell Parade at Bondi. 

After officers used lights and warning signs to pull her over, court documents reveal she told police she was 'going through a lot at the moment' and 'not well'.

Only four days later, she was pulled over again at Randwick. When police asked why she was driving without a licence, she replied 'no comment'.

Magistrate Megan Greenwood recorded a conviction and handed her $1,650 in fines, 75 hours of community service and disqualified her from driving for three months. 

'If you don't do what community corrections order [states] you can be jailed for this offending,' Ms Greenwood said at the time.

In a lengthy social media post in January 2024, the former television personality addressed the charges and explained she had been going through a 'traumatic' time.

Rosie married her now-ex-husband Steve (both pictured in 2013) in 2010 three years after meeting on the set of Today. They separated in 2017 and finalised their divorce in 2019

Rosie married her now-ex-husband Steve (both pictured in 2013) in 2010 three years after meeting on the set of Today. They separated in 2017 and finalised their divorce in 2019 

She told followers she had experienced 'challenging times' with high anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder following her divorce.

'It's been a shocker!!' she vented to her thousands of followers on Instagram.

'To top it all off, I made some stupid decisions to drive my car to the hospital post-surgery while on a suspended licence. I regret that decision.'

The self-described 'sassy sober mama' explained she was 'in a lot of pain' at the time of the offence and made the regrettable choice to drive.

'I wish I could undo those moments. But I can't,' she admitted, before sharing her optimism for the future.