Big Brother HotShots is Finally HERE!
26 Housemates from all around Africa together in the Big Brother Africa house. The launch show was exciting with as host IK Osakioduwa introduced each of the housemates. The housemates all displayed their talents from singing to dancing and more.
African stars Davido and Casper Nyovest performed as well and they got the crowd hyped!
Levada was chosen as the winner of the talent contest and her reward is Head of House title! Therefore, she is immune from being evicted next week.
Check out the housemates once again and share your thoughts…
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Malawi
Sipe
Age: 24
Hairdresser Sipe is from Lilongwe and has an MSCE and ICM Hotel and Catering Management qualification. Her favourite foods are nshima with chicken and okra, pizza, Thai food and “a bit of Indian cuisine“. Her favourite TV shows include Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Say Yes To The Dress, How Do I Look?, Jerseylicious and Idols. Her favourite musicians are Beyonce, Brandy, Sam Smith and Zahara and her favourite actors are Idris Elba and Angelina Jolie.
Sipe’s favourite place in her country is Lake Malawi, because it relaxes her. Her favourite place outside of Malawi is Paris. “It’s the most beautiful place in the world and I always imagine spending time on my honeymoon there,” she says. “It’s the City of Love!”. She says the best things about Africa are the people, the landscape and the food.
She lists Beyonce as her role model because “she’s hardworking and she makes it look so easy. I’d love to be like her“. Sipe’s Mom played a huge role in her life too. “She raised three children on her own and it hasn’t been easy for her, but she managed to see us through school. She’s a very strong woman,” she says.
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Mozambique
Trezagah
Age: 31
Hip hop singer Trezagah studied Civil Engineering. He doesn’t have a favourite food, because he says he loves eating and “I eat everything!” The classic Hardy Boys books are his favourite, while he enjoys the Discovery and National Geographic channels on TV because he likes to “watch crocodiles and sharks attacking“.
Trezagah was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots by watching previous seasons. He is both happy and nervous at the thought of having the continent’s eyes on him. He says the best thing about Africa is “the culture each country preserves” and says his favourite place in Mozambique is Yofo Beach. He likes the Caribbean Islands because he’s a great fan of nature.
His role model is Jay-Z, “because he knows how to dress, how to be on stage, how to behave and has good business control“. His parents have played an incredibly influential role in his life because they always showed him what was right and what was wrong.
He describes himself as “happy, active, wise, serious and calm” and says the best thing about himself is the way he treats people indiscriminately, saying he can “be a friend of a poor person or even a person that sleeps on the street“.
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Nigeria
Tayo
Age: 28
A 1.93m-tall model with a Higher National Diploma in Maritime Studies, Tayo, from Nigeria, certainly stands out in a crowd. He lists his favourite foods as Eba an Okra Soup mixed with fish stew, his favourite musicians as 2Face Idibia, Beautiful Nubia and D’Banj.
Tayo says his favourite place in Nigeria is Oyo Town, his place of birth. “That’s my home, where I started life. It reminds me of who I am now and how far I’ve come in life,” he says. He says the best thing about Africa is “culture and pride” and that his favourite place outside of Nigeria is South Africa, which he calls his “home away from home“.
He entered Big Brother Hotshots because he believed in himself, and was also encouraged to enter by others. “I like to be seen and to be heard,” he says. Tayo says he’s not willing to change who he is or disgrace his family and friends to impress viewers or his fellow Housemates. If Tayo wins the grand prize, he says he’ll, set up his life and give himself a life of luxury.
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Botswana
Sheilla
Age: 21
Sheilla is a student from Gaborone in Botswana, currently studying an AAT Diploma. She entered Big Brother Hotshots because she believes that “it’s a platform for people like me who were born for the spotlight. It puts us out there to succeed in our careers – in my case, my music career”. She’s excited that the whole continent will be watching her: “it is like interacting within the house with someone invisible, or a ghost, and the thought of what they think just gives you an adrenaline rush”.
She says her best quality is that she analyses things before overreacting in certain situations. She likes people who are communicative because it helps her see what they think of her and how she should behave around them. She dislikes bossy people and “people with similar strands of personality to me”.
She likes to eat prawns and rice, as well as pap and beef. Her favourite book is In The Meantime and her top TV shows include Big Brother Africa, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and How Do I look? She enjoys the music of Beyonce, K.O., AKA and Tamela Mann and says her favourite actors are Cameron Diaz and Dwayne Johnson. Her favourite films also include The Hunger Games, Wrong Turn, The Break of Dawn and Mean Girls.
Sheilla’s favourite part of Botswana is the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and says that the best thing about Africa is “the diverse but highly-principled cultures which Africans tend not to leave behind”. She says that Las Vegas is her favourite place outside of Africa, because “it is a crazy, forever jolly holiday destination.
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Kenya
Sabina
Age: 28
Sabina is a TV & Media Personality from Mombasa. She has a Degree in Finance and is working on a post-graduate diploma in Humanitarian Studies and Diplomacy.
She says she eats everything and “loves mixing stuff up and making food concoctions“, she’s also a big fan of oxtail, avocado, fish. Her favourite books include Joyce Meyer’s The Confident Woman and Hinds Feet In High Places by Hanna Hunard. She has a long list of favourite TV shows: Upishi Xtra, Gavana, Orange Is The New Black, Smurfs, Devious Maids, Long Island, Oprah’s Next Chapter and Masterclass.
She entered Big Brother Hotshots to win the money and change her life, and the lives of others. “It’s something I’ve envisioned for a long time and it’ll give me a chance to show Africa that I’m a star,” she says. “I can entertain, but I’m also a human with problems, just like anybody else“.
If she wins the money, she’ll leave it alone for a month before buying a house, spoil her family with a holiday, build her Grandmother a house, save towards her daughter’s education, support her adopted charities and invest in her business.
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South Africa
Samantha
Age: 29
Self-employed former law student Samantha is from Potchefstroom in South Africa’s North West Province. She loves sushi and Indian food and her favourite TV shows include 2 Broke Girls and Person of Interest, and she likes the music of Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Davido and Drake.
Her favourite films include Ice Age, Madagascar, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and This Is Forty, with Angelina Jolie her favourite actor because “she’s strong, yet feminine and an amazing actress“.
Her favourite place in South Africa is Johannesburg, and she says the best thing about Africa is “the diversity of the people and the cultures“. Her favourite city outside the continent is Jerusalem, which she calls “a beautiful place“. Samantha says her sister is her role model, because “she’s inspired me to be so much more and has played a huge role in my life“.
Samantha was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots, something she’s wanted to do for “a very long time” because she finds cultures fascinating “and the thought of spending time with so many people from so many backgrounds is awesome“.
If she wins the grand prize, Samantha will help the orphanages she volunteers at and take her sisters on holiday, before investing the rest.
She describes herself as “adventurous, random, witty, caring and honest” – the final trait being her favourite. It’s also something she values in others, despising dishonesty and rude people.
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Namibia
Permithias
Age: 25
Professional sushi chef Permithias unsurprisingly lists sushi as one of his favourite foods, alongside pizza. He doesn’t have a favourite book, but enjoys watching The Originals on TV. A fan of animation, Permithias’ favourite films are Turbo and Happy Feet, while he also likes the music of Chris Brown, James Blunt and Joe Tomas.
His mom is his role model, because she provided for the family with “nothing but blood, sweat and tears’. He is the eldest of five children; he has three sisters and a brother. Permithias says that becoming a chef is his greatest achievement so far, because it ‘opened a window” for himself and his family
He was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots because he’s been watching the show for years but won’t sell his soul or lose his self-worth in the process. Asked how he feels knowing that the whole continent will be watching him 24/7, he says: “scared, but it will all come together the way it should”. If he wins, he’ll take care of his Mom and open his own restaurant.
Permithias says he’s easy-going, open-minded and ‘down for whatever is fun’ and enjoys others who are also open-minded.
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South Africa
Nhlanhla
Age: 24
Nhlanhla is from Witbank in South Africa, and is a Business Analyst, Actor and Model with an Honours degree in Information Systems. He loves fresh butternut soup, lamb shank & vegetables and cottage cheese pie. His favourite books include Animal Farm and The Great Gatsby and he enjoys Game of Thrones, Shameless, Suits and Heroes on TV. He lists Brad Pitt and Will Smith as two of his favourite actors.
His favourite place in South Africa is the Groenkloof Nature Reserve in Pretoria and the best things about the continent as a whole are the people and their strength & resilience. Amsterdam made a big impression on him at a young age when he went there and learnt a lot about himself and personal growth.
His mother is his role model, because she sacrificed a lot to get him where he is today and taught him a great many things. Together with his Grandmother, she has influenced his life a great deal because they were always strong-willed and gently guided him through life.
Nhlanhla entered Big Brother Hotshots because he’s been a fan ever since he saw his first season on DStv. “I just knew that I wanted to be on the show myself, and wanted to take the opportunity to have my personality spread all over the world”. He thinks having the continent’s eyes on him 24/7 will be “nerve-wracking”, but says it’s a great feeling knowing he’ll be watched by the continent and can influence the viewers.
He describes himself as “crazy, eccentric, narcissistic, energetic and spiritual” and enjoys the fact that he’s always positive and optimistic, and always sees the beauty in others.
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Zambia
Resa
Age: 25
Lusaka-born Resa is an Event Planner, MC and Public Speaker. She entered Big Brother Hotshots in the hope of winning the grand prize and being able to pay off her mother’s debts. “She has moved heaven and earth to ensure that I get my honours degree and in the process she has incurred debts,” says Resa.
She’s “extremely nervous, but delighted at the same time” at the prospect of having the continent’s eyes on her 24/7. She says the viewers can expect ‘realness’ from her. “No pretence, I’m an open book, I don’t hide my struggles because they’ve shaped me into who I am and I’ve used them as stepping stones,” she says. “Also, lots of dancing and definitely lots of laughter!”
Resa describes herself as “unique, colourful, bubbly, random and hyper”, saying that her inquisitive nature means that she won’t suffer in silence. “I’m apologetic, my outspoken nature, I’m a go-getter, open-minded and spontaneous,” she says.
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Malawi
Mr 265
Age: 23
TV presenter, Mr 265 is single and currently studying Purchasing and Supply Management. He entered Big Brother Hotshots because he always thought he could win it, when he used to watch it. “It’s easy to criticize people on different things, especially when you don’t know how it’s like being in their shoes,” he says. “I have watched Big Brother for a while and I have always told myself I can win the show, I can do better, but I don’t know what really goes on. So I have given myself a challenge to now step into the shoes I wasn’t wearing before and see how I will walk with them”.
Mr 265’s favourite food is crispy fried chicken, his favourite book ‘Screw It, Let’s Do It’ and his favourite singer, P.Square. He enjoys watching, CSI Miami, Big Brother Africa and Suits on the small screen, and 300, The Bourne Identity, The Dark Knight Rises and The Italian Job on the big screen. His favourite actors are Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel and Robert Downey Jnr.
He won’t pretend to be someone he’s not, to win the grand prize. “It’s very disappointing to get booted out and know that you weren’t your real self. I would rather lose the money at the expense of being myself. Then I can say I tried my level best. Everybody has his own morals,” says Mr 265. Asked about his feelings on knowing that the continent’s eyes will be glued to their screens 24/7, he says he’ll feel the pressure. “Pressure is and will be there for the first few days. I am taking it like a new job”.
He says that the best thing about Africa is that it’s very rich in natural resources, with Mangochi as his favourite place. Further afield, his favourite place is the USA, because “it’s a big country and has a mixture of different people with different cultural backgrounds. Raw talent is an asset,” he says.
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Mozambique
Mira
Age: 21
Mozambican student intern, Mira, likes to eat pap and beef stew, the music of Sia and Miley Cyrus and watching Lost and Covert Affairs. Her favourite book is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and her favourite actor is Adam Sandler because ‘I trust him to get a chuckle out of me’. She has one older sister, and a younger brother and sister.
Her favourite place in Mozambique is Maragra. She says the best thing about Africa is that “it’s the Motherland – you feel the warmth here”. Her favourite faraway place is the United States, because she loves the diversity there.
If she wins the grand prize, she says she’ll build her parents a retirement home, open a soup kitchen and shelter in the heart of Maputo and start a business to create more employment opportunities.
She describes herself as “fun, honest, reliable, fair and considerate” and says that she’s “laid-back and easy to talk to”. She enjoys people who are considerate, honest, reliable, fun and opinionated, but doesn’t like rude and judgmental people.
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Zambia
Macky2
Age: 29
Hip hop musician Macky2 is from Luanshya in Zambia. His favourite book is 48 Laws of Power and his top TV shows are Suits, Crisis, Game of Thrones and Idols SA. His favourite actor is Denzel Washington, because he’s able to play so many characters and bring each one to life.
Jay-Z is both his favourite musician and his role model – the latter because “he’s one of the most successful entertainers of our generation”. His father has also played a huge role in Macky2’s life.
He entered Big Brother Hotshots because he believes that “people naturally fall in love with my personality, so I know I stand a chance of winning that grand prize and changing my life”. Macky2 says he won’t lose himself and what he believes in, along the way.
Describing himself as “a natural entertainer who’s loveable”, he says he always pushed himself and is never discouraged by setbacks. “I’m confident and I truly believe I can do anything I set my mind to,” he says.
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Ghana
Kacey MooreAge: 29
Born in Accra, Kacey Moore is a married poet and songwriter, with a daughter. He enjoys banku and okro stew and says his favourite books are the Bible, the dictionary, and the thesaurus! Kacey Moore also likes the music of Usher and Lauryn Hill.
Kacey Moore describes himself as a’ go-getter’, as well as ‘punctual, a leader, a creator and a voice’. His favourite quality, punctuality. It is important to him in both himself and others.
He entered Big Brother Hotshots as a business decision, seeking exposure to the rest of the world. Kacey Moore promises viewers ‘a real person with no fakeness’. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll buy houses for his wife and mother and set up a recording studio so he can record and release his own album under his own label.
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Ghana
M’am Bea
Age: 25
Ghanaian M’am Bea lists her occupation as ‘Acting Trainee Manager/Fashion Designer’, and has a diploma in Management Finance. Her favourite foods are yam and nkontomere stew, fufu, palm nut soup and jolof rice. M’am Bea likes music by Sarkodie, Mafikizolo, John Legend, Wizkid and D’Banj.
Her favourite place in Ghana is Aburi Garden and she says the best thing about Africa is that ‘it expresses diversity through colours and we are not ashamed to exhibit that’. Outside of her home country, her favourite place in the world is South Africa: ‘it offers so many opportunities and it offers young people the opportunity to study and become great people in the world’.
M’am Bea’s role model is her mom, because ‘she is strong, humble, God-fearing and puts her family first’.
Inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots by her talent and ‘the unity of all African countries coming together as one to learn and share’, M’am Bea also lists making it onto the show as her proudest achievement so far. ‘It will give me room to showcase my personality and influence young, gifted youth out there,’ she says.
Describing herself as a ‘driven, humble and respectful self-starter’, M’am Bea says that viewers can expect her ‘true self’, her ‘fashion sense, sense of humour, cooking skills, intelligence and wise words’ to shine through on screen. She says she’s ‘humbled and overwhelmed’, knowing that the continent’s eyes will be on her.
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Namibia
Luis
Age: 23
Associate Producer Luis has a B. Tech in Financial Information. He loves anything made with or from potatoes, his favourite book is The Alchemist and he enjoys the music of Kanye West. His favourite TV shows are Game of Thrones, The Fixer and The Good Wife, and his all-time favourite film is Ali.
Luis says his favourite place in Namibia is the river beds in his home town of Rundu, ‘where the mighty Okavango Delta flows into the ocean’. He says that the best thing about Africa is ‘the diverse cultures – however different, every single one is somehow relatable by being connected to the next one’. He calls Los Angeles ‘the city of dreams where anybody can make it, given the right amount of perseverance and correct hustle’.
His role models are his parents because they had the biggest influence on his life. ‘They took care of not only my siblings and I, but also my cousins, grandmother and their own siblings,’ he says. ‘They taught me spiritual values from infancy – those values have brought me this far in life’. He’s most proud of the achievement of graduating from university while being Namibia’s top male international model.
Luis entered Big Brother Hotshots because Namibia has never been represented by anyone from the Okavango region before. ‘I’d be grateful to tell my story to Africa – hopefully it inspires many others with a similar past,’ he says. He’s excited to have the whole continent watching him and If he wins the grand prize, Luis will build a film and television studio in Namibia.
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Nigeria
Lilian
Age: 22
Known as ‘SexyLeeLee’ to her friends, Lillian is a model, actor, presenter, and tax collector! She entered Big Brother Hotshots for ‘the platform it provides and the publicity that comes with it, and the money’. She’s not willing to sell herself short to win the grand prize. If she does win, she’ll invest in her talk show, which is about ‘helping upcoming talents’ and get herself a house.
Lilian’s favourite foods are rice and plantain and she likes watching Baggage on TV and listening to 2Face Idibia. She doesn’t have a favourite book, but likes movies like Think Like A Man, Blended, Friends With Benefits, Bridesmaids and Twelve Years A Slave. Her favourite actor is Angelina Jolie, because ‘she’s creative and can switch between roles’.
Her favourite place in Nigeria is Lagos, and she says the best thing about Africa is its cultural diversity. Outside her home country, she’d like to visit California for the opportunities she believes it would provide her to improve her career.
Lilian’s role model is Oprah Winfrey, because of her strength, and the person who has most influenced her life is her mother, ‘because she has always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams’.
She describes herself as ‘spontaneous, easy-going, focussed and confident’ and says her best assets are that she’s ambitious, a good listener, flexible, persuasive, competitive, independent and original.
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TanzaniaLavedaAge: 23
Bachelor of Arts & Social Sciences graduate Laveda was born in Dar Es Salaam. She’s single and describes herself as ‘eccentric, loving, caring, simple and fun’. Laveda is the eldest of three children and she has a younger brother and sister. She says her mom is her role model, because she has moulded her over the years and inspired her in different ways ‘through the struggles and joy of life’.
Laveda says her favourite foods are pasta and minced meat, and prawns. She loves to read John Grisham novels and enjoys the music of Shakira, D’Banj, Miriam Makeba, P.Square, Rihanna, Beyonce, Tiwa Savage, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Brenda Fassie. She’s a mean entertainer herself, she plays the saxophone, sings, acts and dances and thinks she’d make a ‘potential’ presenter. Laveda’s favourite movies include The Notebook, Titanic and Avatar.
She entered Big Brother Hotshots to be a role model and act as a voice for Africa’s youth. Laveda says that viewers can expect ‘massive entertainment’ from her and that if she wins, she’ll give her mom some money, ‘surprise disadvantaged children’, travel and invest the rest.
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Zimbabwe
JJ
Age: 23
JJ calls himself ‘an entertainer’ on the back of his work as a ‘singer, rapper, actor, songwriter and director’. His inspiration behind entering Big Brother Hotshots is the platform the show provides. ‘It’s a necessary foundation for me to be able to produce my own music even if I don’t win the money,’ he says.
He says that viewers can expect to be entertained, and that they’ll also have a gym partner every morning. If he wins the money, he’ll fix up his parents’ house, invest in his career by working n his first international album and give some money to charity.
JJ loves Italian and Japanese food, his favourite book is Shakespeare’s Macbeth and his favourite TV show is Elementary. His favourite