Sophie Monk’s love story with Joshua Gross began in one of the most unexpected places. The Australian television personality and former singer met Gross on a business class flight in 2018, with neither of them likely expecting that a casual conversation would eventually lead to marriage.
At the time, Monk was not actively searching for a relationship. She had already experienced several public romances, including her appearance on The Bachelorette Australia, and was focused on her own life.
Gross, meanwhile, worked in neurosurgical robotics and was based in the United States. Their chance meeting quickly developed into something much more serious.
The couple began a long-distance relationship before getting engaged on Christmas Day in 2020. In April 2022, they surprised fans by revealing that they had married in a private ceremony at home.
Their relationship has now become one of the more memorable celebrity love stories in Australia, largely because it started with a random meeting on a plane.
Who Is Sophie Monk’s Husband?
Sophie Monk’s husband is Joshua Gross, a professional who works in the field of neurosurgical robotics.
Unlike Monk, who has spent much of her career in the public eye as a television host, actress, singer and model, Gross has maintained a much more private professional life.
That difference has been part of what Monk has appreciated about their relationship.
She has spoken about how Gross is intelligent, funny and not particularly fazed by the attention that comes with her career. For someone who has spent years being followed by cameras and discussed in the media, having a partner who can remain grounded has clearly been valuable.
Gross has also spoken warmly about Monk, praising her talent and describing himself as fortunate to be with her.
How Did Sophie Monk and Joshua Gross Meet?
The couple met in August 2018 while travelling on a business class flight.
Monk and Gross happened to be seated next to each other and began talking during the journey. The conversation reportedly continued over drinks, and the pair quickly discovered they had plenty in common.
Monk has recalled that she felt something was different about Gross almost immediately.
Their meeting was especially unexpected because Monk had not been looking for a relationship at the time.
She had previously searched for romance in the public eye, including appearing on The Bachelorette Australia in 2017. Her relationship with Stu Laundy came from the show, but the pair eventually separated.
By the time Monk met Gross, she had a different outlook on relationships.
The flight changed that.
Their Long-Distance Relationship
After their first meeting, the relationship had to deal with physical distance.
Gross was based in the United States, meaning the couple could not simply see each other whenever they wanted.
Instead, they began a long-distance romance and worked around their professional commitments.
For Monk, the relationship felt different from some of her previous experiences.
She later explained that becoming comfortable with herself had played an important role in finding a healthier relationship. Rather than looking for someone to complete her, she wanted a partner who would add something positive to her life.
That mindset became an important part of how she viewed her relationship with Gross.
Joshua Gross Proposed on Christmas Day
After more than two years together, Gross proposed to Monk on Christmas Day in 2020.
The proposal included a particularly personal engagement ring. Gross designed the ring himself with the help of an Australian designer, making the piece even more meaningful to the couple.
Monk announced the engagement on social media, sharing a photograph of herself and Gross together while showing off her new ring.
Her announcement was filled with excitement and affection for her future husband.
The engagement marked another major step in a relationship that had begun with an unexpected conversation on an airplane.
Their Secret Wedding in 2022
Monk and Gross had spoken about wanting a low-key wedding, and they ultimately followed through with that plan.
In April 2022, the couple revealed that they had married privately at home.
Rather than staging a huge celebrity wedding, they chose to keep the ceremony intimate and focused on themselves.
Monk announced the news on social media with photographs from the special occasion. She described the ceremony as an “eloped-ish” wedding at home.
The couple’s decision was very much in keeping with what they had previously said about marriage.
Monk had explained that she did not want an enormous guest list or an event that became more about the spectacle than the relationship.
The private wedding allowed them to celebrate their marriage on their own terms.
Sophie Monk Calls Joshua Her Best Friend
One of the strongest parts of Monk’s relationship with Gross appears to be their friendship.
After their wedding, Monk described her husband as her best friend.
She also joked about their differences, including her own messy and disorganised habits, while teasing Gross about their competition playing Xbox F1.
That playful side of their relationship has often come through when Monk talks about her husband.
Rather than presenting their marriage as something perfect or overly glamorous, she has frequently focused on the humour and everyday connection they share.
That may be one reason their relationship has resonated with so many fans.
Their Plans to Have Children
Monk and Gross have spoken openly about wanting to start a family.
The couple have said they would love to have children, although they have also acknowledged that becoming parents has not been a straightforward journey.
Monk has discussed trying to conceive and has spoken about freezing her eggs.
She has also explained that there have been both positive and difficult moments during the process.
The couple have tried to approach the subject without putting unnecessary pressure on themselves.
Monk has said that if having children is part of their future, she would be thrilled, but she also believes that some things cannot be forced.
Sophie Monk on Pregnancy Rumours
Monk has also been open about how difficult pregnancy speculation can be.
Because she is a well-known public figure, changes in her appearance have sometimes led to unwanted speculation about whether she is expecting a baby.
She has explained that being asked if she is pregnant can be deeply personal, particularly when people do not know what someone may be experiencing privately.
Her comments have highlighted why pregnancy questions can be sensitive, even when they may seem harmless to the person asking them.
For Monk and Gross, starting a family remains something they have discussed, but they have also tried to approach the subject on their own terms.
A Relationship Built Away From Reality TV
Monk became widely known through television, modelling and music before moving into major hosting roles.
She has also been closely associated with reality television, including The Bachelorette Australia, Love Island Australia and Beauty and the Geek.
Interestingly, her relationship with Gross did not begin through a dating show or a carefully planned introduction.
It happened naturally on a plane.
That has made their story stand out from many celebrity romances.
There were no cameras following their first meeting and no television audience waiting to see whether they would become a couple. It was simply two people sitting beside each other who happened to start talking.
What to Know About Sophie Monk’s Husband
Joshua Gross is Sophie Monk’s husband and the man she met by chance on a business class flight in 2018.
Their relationship began with a conversation during the flight before developing into a long-distance romance. Gross was based in the United States and worked in neurosurgical robotics, while Monk continued her television and entertainment career in Australia.
Gross proposed on Christmas Day in 2020 with a ring he helped design, and the couple later married privately in April 2022.
Their wedding was intentionally low-key, with the pair choosing to celebrate at home rather than hold a large public ceremony.
Since getting married, Monk and Gross have continued building their life together while discussing their hopes of becoming parents.
Their story is ultimately one of an unexpected meeting that turned into a lasting relationship. From a business class seat in 2018 to a private wedding four years later, Sophie Monk and Joshua Gross found love in a way neither of them could have planned.