Meet some Big Brother Africa Hotshots contestants

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.

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 judgemental people.

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.

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.

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.

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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