From presenting the youth talk show Keeping it Real to hosting the Sing Off SA and acting in Isidingo, Noluthando Meje is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the media industry. We find out more about her career and how she continues to rise and inspire. 
How would you describe yourself to someone who doesn’t know you at all?
I think I’m crazy, funny, very ambitious, focused and very loving. I am a warm person who loves people.
You have gone from Keeping It Real to Isidingo – how did you manage to get this far in such a short space of time?
I don’t consider it a short period because I’ve always been involved in television entertainment. I took a break from Keeping It Real so that my transition from little Nolly, the teenage girl, to Nolly the woman I am now, would make sense to people following my career.
How do you keep your life off the tabloids?
I made a conscious decision to only do interviews and engage with the audience that I really want to appeal to. I don’t do Sunday tabloids that much and I think it’s important for longevity. The icons I look up to in the industry were never in the papers for the wrong reasons when they were my age, so I want to create that thing where when people speak of me, the conversation is about my work instead of my personal life.
You’re an actress, singer and presenter; are those talents you have always known you had?
Yes. I always wanted to be an actress and presenter, but I was shy when it came to my music because I wasn’t sure if I had it. There are talents that I am only exploring now as an adult and it’s fun and I’m really enjoying it.
What more can your fans expect from you this year?
They can expect me to go back to music. I also want to act in films and continue with the charity work I do undercover because I don’t want everyone to know about that.
You don’t floss your achievements like most celebrities, why?
My achievements are a personal celebration. As an individual, I’ve always set goals for myself; and when I achieve them, I feel it’s my own celebration. To avoid people thinking they know me well enough to say negative things about me due to the things that I post on social media, I am only flossy about my talent, which speaks for itself.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about the youth of South Africa and giving back. I wish we would work together as a country because I feel that we’re so divided when it comes to gender.
Tell us about how Isidingo happened and if this has always been your dream?
I have always wanted to be on Isidingo because I often saw myself in the soapie. Last year, when I finished shooting Swartwater (an Afrikaans drama series I had a lead role in), my agent told me about Isidingo auditions. The agent mentioned that I was a bit too young for the role, but I tried it out, anyway. That day I fasted and prayed because I had always wanted to be part of the soapie. The rest is history.
There are youngsters who look up to you, what advice do you have for them?
Follow your dreams, but know that you also have to commit, follow through, never give up and avoid blaming other people. Another thing to remember is to always respect yourself, respect other people, what you do and your supporters.
Have you put your music career on the shelf for acting and presenting?
No, I haven’t. With music, you have to be focused and I don’t want to be a one hit wonder. I want to make sure that what I put out is a reflection of who I am; I want my music to make sense. I don’t want to do it for the sake of just doing it. 
Please tell us more about the Sing Off SA?
The Sing Off SA is an amazing concept that started in 2009 in the US and that is how I became a fan of the programme. Compared to other countries, we have a certain element that we bring to it because we are proudly South African. The beauty about the programme is that it is only voices and no instruments and that is when you get to see good and real singers because anyone can be covered by an instrument, but when it comes to voices, hearing those harmonies and the creativity behind them is amazing. It’s a great platform for young people to understand what music is about. You should watch it because it is the first of its kind in South Africa and it’s nice to see how South Africans approach the format and add our own spice and indigenous sound .
Which of your many talents would you say you’re most passionate about?
All of them because they all require me to perform. Overall, I’m more passionate about performance and entertaining.
