She and colleague Jessica Rowe worked together as reporters for Network Ten for many years.
And on Friday, Natarsha Belling teared up as she made an emotional tribute to Jessica on her final day at Studio 10 – but bizarrely wore a cat mask while doing so.
Entertainment reporter Angela Bishop, who was leading the farewell panel, explained that Natarsha, 47, was wearing the mask to cover up her sore eye.
‘It’s giving me so much credibility!’ Natarsha Belling teared up as she made an emotional tribute to Jessica on her final day at Studio 10, but all while wearing a bizarre cat mask on her face
When asked by Angela what her favourite memory of the bubbly, pixie-haired beauty was, Natarsha was overwhelmed with a plethora of recollections involving Jessica.
‘Awww Ange there’s too many beautiful memories,’ Natarsha said before getting distracted by her mask and sarcastically saying it was giving her ‘so much credibility’.
Guest hosts showered her with compliments, calling it ‘beautiful’, describing her as ‘sexy’ and Jono Coleman even joking it was ’50 shades of Tash’.
Thanks for the memories: During the segment, Natarsha also paid tribute to Jessica’s hard work in the mental health field, saying, ‘You have so much compassion and courage for what you have overcome.’
During the segment, Natarsha also paid tribute to Jessica’s hard work in the mental health field, saying, ‘You have so much compassion and courage for what you have overcome.’
She added: ‘You have given a voice to so many other Australian’s who are secretly battling depression and mental illness.’
‘I will forever be greatly privileged to have had the treasure to work with you for so many years.’
Colleagues: Natarsha gushed about Jessica: ‘I will forever be greatly privileged to have had the treasure to work with you for some many years’ (Natarsha and Jessica pictured with Shannon Noll, left, and Billy Ray Cyrus, right)
Getting emotional, a teary-eyed Natarsha continued: ‘Many people at home were suffering in silence and you gave them a voice. We love you, Jess.’
As she got up to give her a hug the brunette jokingly told Jessica: ‘And you can have this mask for later on with Pete.’
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Studio 10 for comment.
Kind words: Getting emotional, a teary-eyed Natarsha, who has shared many memories with her colleague continued: ‘Many people at home were suffering in silence and you gave them a voice. We love you, Jess.’