Crop top, high-waisted jeans and heels. Flawless looking skin and a bright smile. She gave me a hug and a firm handshake. Khanya Mkangisa has graced our screens from an early age, back in the days when she was a YOTV kids presenter and now she's all grown up and this is what she had to say.
"I've always loved hair, I've always loved to play around with hair, so who knows maybe in the future I'll surprise everybody with my own line of weaves, but for now I'm solemnly focusing on my acting career," said Khanya
On Rockville she plays a character named Nolitha, a young girl who moves to Joburg in pursuit a lifestyle that will sustain her family, basically she's the only hope they have. As a young woman, she is determined to make it in this big city. Little did she know that she would become a glamourised prostitute! Who would get sucked into a life of pleasing men, snorting drugs and living recklessly.
"I feel as though a lot of young girls want a good life, because they get pressurised, by tools like social media, they feel like they need to fit in, have the in "things" in-order to maintain a standard, so they would do anything to achieve that life," said Khanya
For her, the most challenging thing about playing the role of Nolitha is that she got
introduced, to a life she never knew of! A life of drugs, she had trouble switching into a character that required her to look like a drug addict. For her entire life, she has never been exposed to drugs, so becoming an addict challenged her as an actress.
When I asked her if she shared any similar characteristics with Nolitha, she said that: "Nolitha is very gullible, she came from a very small town. Meanwhile Khanya has experienced both lives, the small town life and the city life."
Her advice for young people who are trying to get into the industry and to all the Nolitha's out there is. "This is a saturated industry, you have to know why you want to get into it, not only for the glitz and glam but for passion. There's more to life than the glitz, know yourself and stay true to your roots, never forget the things you were taught at home," said Khanya"
Catch Khanya on Rockville, (Mzansi Magic 161) every Sunday at 8pm
Pictures and words by: Nomsa Motale
