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Nonhle Thema

The Globe Trotter

Culture

South African beauty Nonhle Thema is one of the biggest on-air personalities in her country, has a reality show, served as the Global Ambassador to Dark & Lovely, has started her own production company and rubs elbows with Virgin mogul Richard Branson as she works diligently to garner support for her own mentorship program with Nonhle’s Angels.  One conversation with Thema and it’s clear she’s a woman on a Global mission.

How did you get started professionally?

I was always hungry for the business. I was always in the circles of what was going on. I was in beauty pageants, I was a model, I was a commercial actor.  When I was in the pageant, I was asked to audition for Channel O, which is the big channel here.  It’s like MTV here.  I think they thought I wasn’t very much like a beauty queen as I was very vocal.  I had  been hustling, trying to get an appointment at this network and they weren’t giving me any chances.  But they remembered me! They said, “You were the girl that kept asking us for an audition!”  I beat like 2000 other hopefuls for the position.

Tell us about your reality show Nonhle Goes To Hollywood?

I hosted a show called O Access for four seasons and was in the states for five years interviewing celebrities.  VUZU TV asked if I would help start up their channel and I was also hosting an hour-long gossip show.  It gave me leverage because my fans wanted to see more of me back in Hollywood.  It was the right time since I’d just been awarded the title of Global Ambassador for Dark & Lovely.  All these things were beyond Africa so we decided to do the reality show of me going and really doing something and just documenting it all.

How did you get the title of Executive Producer?

There was no other way. After 9 years of being a host, I had already started establishing myself as a business.  Like Ryan Seacrest. He isn’t just a host.  He’s a brand.  I refuse to do any work now where I’m not in control especially if I’m the one being depicted.  As an executive producer on a show with my name on it, I wasn’t going to let it be in other people’s hands.  I learned a lot about ruffling feathers, but also being positive and standing your ground.

What inspires you?

I’m so grateful that I really do have a great mother. She gives me strength when I stumble.  With the reality show, I saw the other side of success and fame. No one has done what I’ve done here.  I felt like I was being crucified, criticized, and scrutinized! People were obsessing with me. You can so easily become unmotivated, but you have to remember the bigger picture.  I’m quite a spiritual person too.  It keeps me centered and focused on who I am.  I remind myself why I really do this.  I do it for my mother’s legacy, not fame.  It comes from a place of sincerity.

Who are you still dying to meet?

I’d love to meet and interview Oprah Winfrey.  I think she is a person who could really understand what I’m trying to do with my life.

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