Botswana
Sheilla
Age: 21
Sheilla is a student from Gaborone in Botswana, currently studying an AAT Diploma. She entered Big Brother Hotshotsbecause she believes that ‘it’s a platform for people like me who were born for the spotlight. It puts us out there to succeed in our careers – in my case, my music career’. She’s excited that the whole continent will be watching her: ‘it is like interacting within the house with someone invisible, or a ghost, and the thought of what they think just gives you an adrenaline rush’.
She says her best quality is that she analyses things before overreacting in certain situations. She likes people who are communicative because it helps her see what they think of her and how she should behave around them. She dislikes bossy people and ‘people with similar strands of personality to me’.
She likes to eat prawns and rice, as well as pap and beef. Her favourite book is In The Meantime and her top TV shows include Big Brother Africa, Keeping Up With The Kardashians and How Do I look? She enjoys the music of Beyonce, K.O., AKA and Tamela Mann and says her favourite actors are Cameron Diaz and Dwayne Johnson. Her favourite films also include The Hunger Games, Wrong Turn, The Break of Dawn and Mean Girls.
Sheilla’s favourite part of Botswana is the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and says that the best thing about Africa is ‘the diverse but highly-principled cultures which Africans tend not to leave behind’. She says that Las Vegas is her favourite place outside of Africa, because ‘it is a crazy, forever jolly holiday destination.
Kenya
Sabina
Age: 28
Sabina is a TV & Media Personality from Mombasa. She has a Degree in Finance and is working on a post-graduate diploma in Humanitarian Studies and Diplomacy.
She says she eats everything and ‘loves mixing stuff up and making food concoctions, she’s also a big fan of oxtail, avocado, fish. Her favourite books include Joyce Meyer’s The Confident Woman and Hinds Feet In High Places by Hanna Hunard. She has a long list of favourite TV shows: Upishi Xtra, Gavana, Orange Is The New Black, Smurfs, Devious Maids, Long Island, Oprah’s Next Chapter and Masterclass.
She entered Big Brother Hotshots to win the money and change her life, and the lives of others. ‘It’s something I’ve envisioned for a long time and it’ll give me a chance to show Africa that I’m a star,’ she says. ‘I can entertain, but I’m also a human with problems, just like anybody else.
If she wins the money, she’ll leave it alone for a month before buying a house, spoil her family with a holiday, build her Grandmother a house, save towards her daughter’s education, support her adopted charities and invest in her business.
South Africa
Samantha
Age: 29
Self-employed former law student Samantha is from Potchefstroom in South Africa’s North West Province. She loves sushi and Indian food and her favourite TV shows include 2 Broke Girls and Person of Interest, and she likes the music of Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Davido and Drake.
Her favourite films include Ica Age, Madagascar, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and This Is Forty, with Angelina Jolie her favourite actor because ‘she’s strong, yet feminine and an amazing actress’.
Her favourite place in South Africa is Johannesburg, and she says the best thing about Africa is ‘the diversity of the people and the cultures’. Her favourite city outside the continent is Jerusalem, which she calls ‘a beautiful place’. Samantha says her sister is her role model, because ‘she’s inspired me to be so much more and has played a huge role in my life’
Samantha was inspired to enter Big Brother Hotshots, something she’s wanted to do for ‘a very long time’ because she finds cultures fascinating ‘and the thought of spending time with so many people from so many backgrounds is awesome.
If she wins the grand prize, Samantha will help the orphanages she volunteers at and take her sisters on holiday, before investing the rest.
She describes herself as ‘adventurous, random, witty, caring and honest’ – the final trait being her favourite. It’s also something she values in others, despising dishonesty and rude people.
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.