Jeniene Mapp-Testa, the children’s television presenter best known for her role on “Saturday Disney” in the 1990s, has died.
The media personality passed away last week after ongoing dialysis treatment.
Mapp-Testa was the original presenter of Saturday Disney from 1990 alongside James Sherry and Sofie Formica.
She worked with Disney Australia for 14 years before founding the Disney Channel in Australia and hosting Studio D and Playhouse Disney from 1997 to 2003.
Mapp-Testa often documented her dialysis treatment on social media and, in her most recent Instagram post, thanked hospital staff for making her birthday “so special.”
Jeniene Mapp-Testa (pictured), a 1990s children’s television presenter best known for her role on Saturday Disney, has died
Television host Shelley Craft paid tribute to the star on social media on Sunday.
Craft took over Mapp-Testa’s hosting duties at Saturday Disney in 1996.
“Jeniene Mapp Testa passed away this week. “One of the OG Disney hosts in Australia,” she captioned her post.
The media personality passed away last week after ongoing dialysis treatment
“An incredibly bright light and a young girl who did her best and entertained children every Saturday morning for many, many years.” “I did my best to follow in Jeniene’s footsteps in my first television job at Saturday Disney, but I knew “It would be a huge task.”
Craft continued: “Jeniene has been so kind in supporting me and helping me navigate the world of Australian showbiz.” Our paths have crossed over the last 20 years, we always felt like we were a Disney family forever .
“My heart breaks for your family.” Your larger than life personality, your ability to make everyone around you feel special, your incredible 1000 watt smile.
“Rest in peace, beautiful woman,” she concluded.
Mapp-Testa was the original host of Saturday Disney from 1990 before stepping down in 1996 when Shelley Craft took over the role
Mapp-Testa often documented her dialysis treatment on social media. In her latest Instagram post, she thanked the hospital staff for making her birthday “so special.”
Lisa Cakar (née Barry), another former Saturday Disney host, also shared a tribute.
“I said goodbye to you this week and said everything I wanted to say… I hope you heard me,” she wrote on Instagram on Saturday.
“I hope you heard me say, “Thank you for the friendship, the memories and the lessons you shared with me. I wish I had seen you more often. I hope you know how much you are loved and the impact your death had on so many…” . It’s not goodbye, it’s…until our souls connect again.”