Often labelled the underdog celeb, Zizo’s nine-year on-screen career and success are the result of doing things the unusual way – not surrendering to the pressures often aligned with stardom. She chats to Phila Tyekana on her new ventures, finding love and leaving Selimathunzi.
She’s got a new venture with L’Oreal, Garnier
I’m ecstatic, of course, to have taken this new step with the brand; it’s daunting too because I’m now walking in the footsteps of actress Connie Ferguson, whom I totally look up to and who was L’Oreal’s long-standing ambassador before I joined the team. It comes with a little anxiety when I realise that after so many years I’m still with the brand; I’m often mindful not to mess things up. Garnier is a trusted and important brand among many women, and choosing me to be a representative for one of its ranges is something I completely value. It wasn’t an easy transition, of course, I had to audition for the position as I did the first time.
She’s leaving Selimathunzi but will still be on TV
It’s been an amazing seven-year run with the show; and after so many years of invaluable lessons and experiences, it was time to move on to other challenges. There’s no bad blood at all between the show and I as some people may assume. I’ve had a stunning relationship with the team, and branching out gives me an opportunity to see what I can do outside this particular format as I’ve done it for such a long time. I’m still going to be part of the SABC family, however, on another show; so TV isn’t something I’m abandoning plus I’ll still be with Selimathunzi for the next three months.
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Selimathunzi is not her only job
Leaving Selimathunzi doesn’t mean I’m unemployed; I also work at an events and marketing company called Dandelion Breeze. We come up with strategic marketing campaigns for clients – from finding venues, making budgets, executing launches and creating awareness for products or services. I love the work I do there because it gives me another angle of how things are run in the entertainment industry. I got involved with the agency through my campaign as the face of Legit in 2009 –- Dandelion Breeze does the marketing for Legit. I started MC’ing at the agency’s other launches and gradually became part of the team. We’ve done several of Legit launches, including Lalla Hirayama, Nandi Mngoma and Punk & Ivy‘s among others outside of Legit.
She’s joined UMHLOBO WENENE FM
Going into radio is one of the challenging new avenues I’ve taken out of Selimathunzi. It was always part of my plan to venture into radio. However, I got into it this much later in my career because I never wanted to use just my name to pursue it. I wanted to earn my stripes and work hard for my name to be something of quality that could add value to anything I did thereafter. Seven months ago I joined the drive time show on uMhlobo Wenene FM where I’m co-host with KCI and Luks.
She adores Mayihlome Tshwete
I never like talking about my personal life; so all I can say is that it’s great to find someone who is not intimidated by my drive, but rather extremely supportive of all that I do. I was focused on my work when we met and I guess it was the right time to be together. There are a lot of things I adore about Mayihlome, but to sum it up, he makes me want to be a better person in everything I do. With regards to marriage and being someone’s wife, things should never drastically change when we transition from being in a relationship to tying the knot. As individuals too within the marriage, personalities should never completely change; and if there is a change, it should be for the better of the marriage.
She never wants to be the IT-girl
I never make it a point to publicise every single thing I do. For me, it’s all about doing the work and not chasing fame. I’ve done plenty of things in the corporate and private realm to showcase my other set of skills; it’s just that people take Selimathunzi as the flagship of all that I can do. In the past, I’ve respectfully declined plenty of work I was approached to do because I felt it didn’t align with who I am and what I wanted to achieve. I know who I am and I’m never disillusioned by trying to keep up with the Joneses; I trust my talent and I’m very secure in the direction I want to go. I’m never bothered by outside influences; you can have 20 shows airing on TV at the same time, but I’ve got my own plan and I will stick to it. We’re often put under pressure unnecessarily to be everywhere and in people’s faces – some give in to that and later suffer. The keyword for me is always longevity, and if you have that embedded in your mind, then you won’t be wishy-washy and go with what everyone expects you to do.
