Nikolina Pišek (born Pišek; April 8, 1973, Zagreb) is one of the most famous Croatian television presenters and actresses. After completing her design studies at the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, she started her career in the media. She gained her first major visibility as a journalist in HRT’s show Glamor Cafe (2003), and soon moved into an entertainment program. In addition to her career on television, Nikolina also tried her hand at acting and singing – in 2011, she recorded a song with Serbian singer Saša Kovačević. Below we present the key moments from her biography and TV career.
Early life and education
She was born in Zagreb as the daughter of an engineer and former employee of the Croatian National Theatre. In her school days, she showed broad interests: she practiced rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, and she also adored boxing, which she met thanks to her father. After the Secondary Language High School, she enrolled in design studies at the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb, where she graduated. She combined her studies and motherhood (she gave birth to her first daughter Hana at the age of 21) by working in part-time jobs – among other things, she learned the journalistic trade at HRT. In her high school and college days, she briefly tried her modeling career, so as a teenager she briefly worked as a model in Milan. All these activities laid the foundation for her future television career.
the beginning of a media career
Nikolina Pišek has been building her television career since the mid-2000s. First she worked for Greyhound As a journalist in a satirical and gentleman magazine Glamor Cafe (2003), where she learned the journalistic trade. When that show was canceled, she continued as co-host of the show Shpitz (2007) on HRT, a fun counterpart to the show Red Carpet on Nova TV. At the same time, she participated as a contestant in the show Dancing with the stars (2007), where she danced with the Hungarian dancer Ištvan Varga.
- Glamor Cafe (HRT, 2003) – a show that gave her her first television opportunities.
- Shpitz (HRT, 2007) – A fun show, in which she was a co-host with Marija Petreković.
- Dancing with the stars (HRT, 2007) – Talent show in which she participated as a contestant.
- on the home field (HRT, 2008) – A sports and entertainment show, she hosted it together with Mirko Fodor.
At the end of the 2000s, Pišek attracted more and more public attention and appeared as a presenter and guest at various events. In 2007, she led Doru, a selection for a Croatian song at the Eurovision Song Contest. She also played occasional acting roles, for example the character of Gloria in the series rascals and princesses (2006–2007).
Most important TV projects and shows
In the coming period, Nikolina Pišek becomes a famous host of numerous popular shows and reality shows. Some of her most important projects include:
- Operation triumph (2008) – a regional music talent show that she hosted at HRT.
- Farm (Nova TV, 2009–2010) – One of the early seasons of this reality show in the Balkans, where she was a co-host in the studio during seasons 2 and 3.
- IN magazine (Nova TV, 2009–2012) – Dnevni showbiz magazine, in which she was the main presenter (she replaced Ana Stunić).
- Red Carpet (Nova TV, 2012) – An entertainment magazine about the life of celebrities, she hosted it in 2012.
- Masked Singer (RTL, 2023) – Croatian Masked Singer, in which she assumed the role of presenter (after succeeding Antonija Blaće).
In addition to the above, she also managed other formats such as Exclusive tabloid, Flying start, on the home field and seasonal quizzes. Due to the diversity of projects, she is often perceived as the host of a wide range of programs – from entertainment shows to reality shows.
In the 2025 season, Nikolina takes on the main leading role in the new Croatian version of the reality show Farm, which is broadcast for the first time on RTL Television and streaming platform Voyo. 19 candidates for a prize of 50,000 euros are competing at the impressive estate in Slovenia, and Pišek leads nominations, games and eliminations every day. She stated that this project “The most demanding role so far”, emphasizing the joy of learning new things and fascination with nature where the farm is filmed.
Host of a reality show Farm (RTL)
Farma is one of the most watched reality shows in the region, and Nikolina Pišek has a long-standing role in it. Back in 2009, she was a co-host of a farm on Nova TV in the studio along with colleagues Mia Kovačić and Dražen “Kocka” Kocijan. After a number of years and a career in Serbia and Croatia, in 2025 Nikolina re-enters the Farma-projekt, this time as the main manager of the RTL version. As RTL points out, she “Ready jumped into cowboy boots” and led 19 candidates through the fight for the award, welcoming challenges and unpredictable situations with a project that he says “It pushes some of its boundaries”. Working on the farm marks the peak of many years of work in entertainment programs and gives it the opportunity to further support the status of one of the most prominent leaders in the region.
private life
Privately, Nikolina is known as a person who cares about the family and a healthy lifestyle. She married her husband Vidoj Ristović, a Serbian art historian, in September 2013 in Monte Carlo. In the same summer, she moved to Belgrade, where they had a luxurious family life. In 2014, their daughter Una Sofija was born. Unfortunately, Vidoje Ristović died in 2022, after which Nikolina suddenly returned to Zagreb and started a new life together with the children.
Before her marriage to Ristović, Nikola had a daughter Hana Leonard in Zagreb in 1997 with his then partner, journalist Marko Cigoj. Later, she was in long-term relationships with several public figures (among whom was the underwater diver Kristijan Ćuravić, to whom she was engaged), but she never married again until Vidoj. Nikolina spoke openly about the importance of balancing professional and family life and about her love for motherhood, as well as her career. She is known as an active and sport-obsessed person – she regularly exercises and enjoys activities such as horse riding or relaxing in nature, as evidenced by her posts on social networks.
Conclusion
Through almost three decades of working on television, Nikolina Pišek has confirmed herself as a charismatic and versatile presenter. Her biography was marked by numerous shows – from Glamor Cafe and Operations triumph so to internationally successful farms – which made it recognizable in the region. Today, he devotes himself to RTL’s projects, and with the new season of the reality show Farm He continues to build his career full of challenges and successes. Follow RTL.hr and other media for the latest news about Nikolina Pišek and her future projects.
