Reality TV brings divas down to earth

Published Jun 13, 2013

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Johannesburg - Big Brother Africa would have nothing on Nonhle Thema, Khanyi Mbau and Babalwa Mneno in one room. Imagine these three narcissistic women trying to accommodate one another in such a confined space. They all went to Diva High School and graduated top of their class, so it would be interesting to watch them coexist.

If you are wondering how that would go, then you need wonder no more – the three have come up with a reality show, called Reality Check, for which they will have to spend a lot of time in one another’s faces. But before you start salivating for the gossip and drama, this is not the kind of show you are expecting.

“This is not The Real Housewives of this or that place,” said former model and business owner Mneno.

“We are not going to manufacture drama or claw each other’s faces off. It is not that kind of show.”

Her co-stars agreed, an interesting twist since we’d never expect these women to agree on any subject.

“I had only known of Khanyi and Barbz through the media; we were not friends. So it was interesting that I was going to be on this show with them,” Thema said.

But what is Reality Check about? Unlike the misleading classification that the show is a reality series, there won’t be the sort of conduct you see from the likes of NeNe Leakes (The Real Housewives of Atlanta). This is a show about the trio toning down their glamourous lives to help needy people in and around Joburg.

Each episode begins with them walking into a room in their usual chic clothes. They get an SMS telling them the task of the day and from that they trade in their outfits for appropriate work clothes.

“When they first approached me, I wasn’t interested because I don’t think South Africa has quite grasped how a reality show is supposed to look. However, when the producers explained it to me, it hit me that I had never seen anything quite like it,” said Mbau.

Thema added: “It’s almost like the shows Zola did where he went out to give back to his community. Like him, Barbz, Khanyi and I are using our star power to bring awareness to some areas of our societies that need help.”

If we’re going to talk about star power then things get a bit fuzzy – according to where the media place the three women. If they are not portrayed as horrible, attention-seeking personalities, they get comments hinting that their time in the spotlight is over. However, e.tv took the brave step to change those perceptions and show us a side to these women we don’t know.

“I did this show to tell my own story. I have been called so many things and this is my chance to set the record straight. I have never been on mainstream TV, yet the print media, which wrote horrible things about me, was read by mainstream TV viewers So now they get a chance to see me without those very things that make me comfortable. They get to see me in humble places helping the needy, an image you would not expect from the girl they wrote about before,” explained Thema.

For Mbau it was more of a gig that posed challenges – and she was up for it. She wanted to prove to herself that she could move away from the “queen of bling” image that the public has always associated with her.

“I knew we were going to do stuff I am uncomfortable with, but I decided I needed this. The experience has left me grateful for all I have in life. I am thankful our parents worked hard so we didn’t (have) need(s) the way some of the people we help on this show (have) need(s),” she said.

Mneno admitted that while she is trying to show a side to her that the media never talk about, she wasn’t holding back.

“Having been in the industry for a few years, I have learnt that people will always think what they want, so I am not doing this to change their minds on anything. I am just taking the opportunity to redefine the me that they think they know. What they decide in the end is really their business,” said Mneno.

• Reality Check airs every Saturday at 6.05pm on e.tv

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