After auditions about a year ago, budding Eastern Mosaic (EM) presenters, selected out of hundreds of hopefuls from around the country, have been finally whittled down to five. However, this could be reduced to four by the end of November, said EM's producer Saira Essa. The Top Five, listed below, are chuffed about making it this far.
- ADELE May, 27, of Kuils River, Cape Town, a speech language therapist, said her husband, Bevan, 31, a mechanical engineer, encouraged her to audition and she is not sorry she did.
"As a little girl, I often held a hairbrush in front of the mirror and pretended to be a TV presenter. Much to the amusement of my family, I used to read newspaper headlines pretending to be a news anchor.
"Although I did not pursue a career in journalism, I guess being in the Top Five of the EM presenter search competition is the realisation of a childhood dream," said Adele, who will cover stories and features in the Mother City.
- CHANDRESAN Govender, 23, of Queensburgh, a law graduate and MC at SUNCOAST, who was "a bit apprehensive" about auditioning, has since been revelling in his duties. Having recently been involved in presenting inserts at The Good Food and Wine Show at the Durban Exhibition Centre and interviewing upcoming sportsmen and women, Chandresan described making the cut as a "dream come true".
He says although he is not entirely sure what is in store for him, he is more than willing and eager to continue learning the ropes.
"I love being on a show that sets trends and that the Indian community identifies with," said Chandresan.
- MAKING a splash at the recent Tamil New Year celebrations at the Chatsworth Stadium was fellow intern presenter, 27-year-old Kalysha Naidoo, of Naidooville, Tongaat, the owner of Siyaphambili Enterprises, an industrial supply and equipment company.
"I always wanted to be a television presenter and now that it's a reality, it just goes to show you really can achieve anything if you love, support, nurture and surround yourself with people who do the same," said Kalysha, who has a drama degree from UKZN. Kalysha said a highlight for her was when EM sent her to Madhya Pradhesh, India, in May.
"How lucky was I to spend my 27th birthday in mystical, magical India. It was my first trip to the Motherland and the experience left me breathless," said Kalysha, who presented features on Taj Safaris and the 'Indian jungle'.
- FREELANCE journalist, Yusuf Moolla, 23, of Mountbatten Drive, Reservoir Hills, who will turn a year older on November 6, says now that he is part of the EM crew, his aim is to take the show to new heights, or being part of developing South African media.
"With a strong passion for journalism, I ultimately hope I can incorporate journalism and TV presenting in my career," said Yusuf.
Married to Shazia Mansoor, 23, an honours student at UKZN, Yusuf said he enjoyed taking news to the people via television. "As presenters, we act as a window between the public and the subject matter, and it is a great responsibility offering something new to people through the camera, and helping viewers share the experience the presenter feels."
Yusuf, a marketing and media lecturer at Rosebank College in Commercial City, says his motto is: "Live life to the max!"
- MUM to 23-month-old Liam, Dheshnie Naidoo, 32, an operations manager, of Kyalami, Johannesburg, said: "I have been a presenter on other shows in the past, such as The Res, a Franz Marx drama, and I presented So Fabulous and Saffron Talk on Saffron TV, but it is an honour to represent the Indian community on EM.
"With this job, I am able to meet fantastic people and contribute to entertaining the community. I come from a very cultured musical family and going to work at EM is like having the best of both worlds - working and entertainment." Dheshnie is married to Pragasen Moodley, a telecommunications executive. She covered events mostly on weekends, ranging from a Thai festival to the recently held Shared History Festival.