Carissa Cupido On Her Journey, The Industry And Her Proudest Moments

Carissa Robyn Cupido

27 / Media Personality, Voice Over Artist & Content Creator

 

You’ve been in the broadcast industry for quite some time now…how did you get here?

I have been interested in media and entertainment for as long as I can remember. As soon as the opportunity to job shadow came around in grade 11, I approached a radio station and magazine to spend some time learning in their space. It was affirming and so enlightening. University wasn’t too long after, beyond picking my electives I knew exactly which societies I wanted to join. The University of Cape Town Radio and Cape Town Globalist were the ones I committed myself to. 4 years later I knew radio was exactly where I was headed. I would still travel by bus to campus radio after graduating with two degrees and zero in my bank account every other day to do my show in the hopes that someone would recognize my talent. Good Hope FM finally heard me and the rest is history.

 

What has your journey been like?

If there is any theme that’s been prominent in my career so far it’s the question I’m always faced with: “How badly do you want this?” It’s what kept me going through doing graveyard Monday to Friday 1am-4am in the morning for a year, it’s what fueled me when I bought a one way ticket to Johannesburg to pursue my dreams with no guarantee, it’s what gets me up in the morning today as I continue carving out my path. Ambition and drive is one thing but no one ever talks about how gruesome and grueling the process is. It’s been my greatest reward pushing through every obstacle, breaking down doors and shattering glass ceilings; I respect my calling but I would never glamourize the journey. 

 

Your proudest moment so far?

I have many. My first commercial job being on Cape Town’s biggest commercial youth radio platform was a biggie. Soon after that I won TLC’s Next Great Presenter, being the first woman and South African to gain the title. I then became TLC’s official voice over for the continent. The show I co-hosted alongside Thando Thabethe, ‘Thando Bares All’, won a South African Film & Television Award. I was honoured to have hosted a show on Gauteng’s biggest youth radio station, YFM. Every move I’ve made has been intentional, divine and fruitful. I’m really grateful.

 

What have you promised yourself this year?

Something I’ve told myself for 2020 is that I am showing up for myself in action. I’m a big dreamer and have plenty of vision boards and notebooks filled with my dreams and aspirations. My approach now, though, has changed from fantasizing to doing. Instead of overthinking my way into procrastination and sitting for days thinking of the “what if’s”, I now act.

 

What’s a typical day like for you?

I’m a freelancer and work from home so routine is vital for me. I wake up and exercise. I shower and eat breakfast, something nutritious to fuel me. I make sure to not work from bed, so I’ve set up a designated place as my desk and work space. Then I just get stuck into my to do list for the day. Admin, brainstorming proposals, calls, meetings, castings, voice over work, content creation, etc. I then try to switch off at around 5/6pm.

 

If you weren’t in the industry, what would you be doing?

I would probably be a writer or working in the humanitarian space. 

 

What’s your take on content curating in the age of social media?

It’s so important. The internet is flooded with information even more so is social media which is saturated with people trying to do something significant. Carving out your niche is vital. Curating your profile so that it authentically speaks to who you are and your interests will just help you in staying invested in what you’re doing. Never take your audience, building or establishment for granted. People can smell BS from a mile away. Just slay in your lane, man.

 

One true thing you’ve learnt?

Speak truth to power always. It’s landed me in sticky situations many times but not compromising who I am and what I am willing to do is something I’m not willing to budge on.

 

Any hidden talents?

I’m pretty artistic. I’m a great doodler.

 

Where can followers keep up with you on social media?

Across every platform it’s @carissacupido

Come say hi!

-Bridgette Makhela

Nandipha Mqoco On Digital Entrepreneurship, MC’ing And Her Love For Fashion

Nandipha Mqoco / 24 / Digital Entrepreneur, Master of Ceremonies & Fashion Enthusiast

School Them: What’s a Digital Entrepreneur?

Someone who starts a business in the digital space. In my case it would be by means of content creation and endorsing products on my social media platforms.

Content Creation: What’s the process followers don’t know about?

A lot of planning and strategizing. Most of the content you see is curated but that process is where it gets fun, well most of the time.

New Year: What would you love to achieve in 2020?

Solidify existing brand relationships. Getting the opportunity to travel more for work as an MC and a Content Creator, collaborating with more international brands too. Being well on my way to achieving full financial independence.

Rewind: How did you get into the Digital and MC’ing space?

My digital career just happened to me. It definitely wasn’t intentional at all. I would post my outfits, places I would go to on my Instagram. My sisters and I would have impromptu shoots with street fashion photographers. In addition to that, my sister Yoliswa who had a bigger following, would also post me on her Instagram. Thereafter, my audience grew and brands started to take notice and the rest was history! My MC career was definitely intentional. I always had a passion for public speaking so it only made sense to turn my passion into a profit.

Fun Fact: Your sisters Yoliswa and Thobeka are also in the Social Media Influencer game, was this always the plan?

Not at all, we were just living our lives and sharing our love for fashion, beauty and lifestyle then BOOM!

Threads: You’re a very stylish girl, where’s the inspiration from?

Thank you so much! My relationship with fashion is VERY personal. I was surrounded by extremely stylish women (my mother and sisters) all my life. I would watch fashion TV all day, everyday. I drive my inspiration from many places. Thank God for the internet because it exposed me to amazing fashion from all across the globe, seeing how people interpret different styles and trends. London, Amsterdam, New York, Beijing, even good ol’ Cape Town right here in Mzansi. I really enjoy how the people dress there.

Brag a Bit: Biggest bag/s you’ve secured so far?

Revlon and Clinique have been the biggest bags for me.

Mzansi: Where do you enjoy spending your free time?

Get on a plane and fly to CAPE TOWN. For many reasons – my sister lives there, the food is amazing, the scenery is breathtaking. There’s just so much to do there! But if that isn’t possible then watching series, movies and documentaries in another favourite place of mine…MY BED, is a close second.

Wisdom: Some advice on how to stay relevant in the digital era?

C-O-N-S-I-S-T-E-N-C-Y

Follow Back: Where can new fans catch you on all platforms?

Instagram: nandipha_mqoco / Twitter: @nan_deep / Facebook: Nandipha

 

–Bridgette Makhela

Masego Maponyane On Modern Maps And The Power Of Social Media

Masego “Maps” Maponyane / 29 / TV Presenter / Actor / Social & Tech Entrepreneur

You’ve recently started a WhatsApp channel that goes by the name #ModernMaps, what’s it all about?

Modern Maps is a WhatsApp channel that essentially works as an app within WhatsApp. It fuses both artificial intelligence and a personal touch to ensure a closer connection with my followers and those interested in me, how my mind works, what makes me tick and my thoughts on mapping out the ideal tools to living a successful modern life.

Why a WhatsApp channel?

It’s more personal, it’s the most commonly used social media app on the continent. It requires far less data than any other app, and it enables more comfortable engagement with people. It’s also fairly uncharted waters and allows for a lot of growth potential.

How will subscribers benefit from #ModernMaps?

They can directly engage on categories that interest them, varying from Health, Fitness, Fashion, Wellness, Travel and general Lifestyle content created by me and get the inside track on what I think it takes to reach your potential and get the best out of your life.

What sets #ModernMaps apart?

It’s new, fresh, there’s none out there like it and it’s beneficial to your life. It has both audio and visual content in the form of video highlights and podcasts. Users can decide what they want to interact with and can have a more personal connection with what happens in my world.

How long did this idea take to execute?

Fairly quick actually, I work with a great team that was able to put it all together in a week, however the idea was always brewing from the way that the East was using the capabilities of text apps such as WeChat beyond just being text based.

How has the response and feedback been so far?

It’s been great! People have really enjoyed it and are constantly looking forward to receiving more in the future.

Sharing your daily life activities with so many people, does this ever have a negative effect?

Not in this case, because although I’m sharing more than ever before and making it a whole lot more personal, I’m still able to decide on what it is that I share, but it also allows me to be as honest as possible, as opposed to recreate the curated perfection of social media lives.

Has utilizing social media as a tool to inform your fans/followers about your growth, wins, losses and experiences made it easier to get the Maps brand out there?

It certainly has. It’s the people that support you that are the deciders of your success and to make them feel like they are a part of your journey can only be more beneficial than anything else.

What’s next, writing a book maybe? Do tell…

Haha! Oddly enough yeah, a book is on the cards, but it isn’t the kind of book that you would think! 😉 Other than that, I’m currently producing a film that’s being co-produced by Terry Pheto and directed by Akin Omotoso and is due for release mid 2020.

Follow Maps!

Instagram: @mmaponyane

Twitter: @MapsMaponyane

Facebook: @MapsMaponyane

 

–Bridgette Makhela

Kim Jayde On Juggling All Her Titles, Her Trusted Mantra And Future Aspirations

Kimberley Jayde Robinson / 27 / MTV Base Africa TV Presenter / Model / Fashion & Travel Blogger 

How was it like for you growing up in Zimbabwe then having to move to South Africa?

I loved growing up in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It was a small, safe town with a great sense of community. Cape Town, and now Johannesburg is the complete opposite! A fast-paced, big city with so much opportunity! It was definitely an adjustment moving here, but totally worth it for the career path that I am on right now.

You hold a few titles under your name, how does each title represent who you are?

Each title allows me to explore a different creative side of myself.  TV presenting allows me to work with people in entertainment, modelling allows me to take on various roles in TV commercials worldwide; from a Brazilian Samba dancer, to a Middle Eastern girl drinking Pepsi. The KimJayde blog allows me to travel and share beautiful places and experiences, as well as teach my followers about the fashion trends I’m loving at the moment. No two days are ever the same; that’s the beauty of wearing more than one career hat!

Did you ever imagine that you would have achieved this much at this age?

To be honest, my mum always tells me “I never stop to think about how far I’ve come and how much I’ve achieved.” I have my eye on so much more that I want to do. I look at the top women in the industry and that drives me to work harder and push even more. I’m so grateful for where I am now but I’m so focused on where I’m going, so watch this space!

Is there a downside that comes with being in this industry?

It’s a competitive one for sure. Only a select few get the opportunity to even be on TV, and to be on a platform like MTV is huge! The pressure to maintain a certain image in the public eye is something I have never dealt with before. Also, in the public eye, you are expected to be happy everyday. Should I have an off day, or go through a break-up, or anything like that, I still have to go to work, stand in front of the camera and be happy. So there are pros and cons to the job.

What’s your mantra to always stay focused?

“Dream big. Work Hard. Stay Humble.”

What’s the one item you can’t function without?

My cellphone.

Any other aspirations you dream of?

I am a qualified Social Worker (Honours Degree in Social Work from the University of Stellenbosch) and it’s in my ten-year plan to start my own non-profit organization that will empower women and children through skills, training and education.

2017 in one word so far?

Blessed.

How do you manage to give all your titles 100% each time? 

MTV Base Africa is my full-time job, I am also lucky enough to be able to blog when I have the time and inspiration to do so. Pace yourself, that way you can give it your all to create a quality product.

 

Follow Kim!

Instagram: @kimjayde

Twitter: @KimJaydeBlog

Facebook: Kim Jayde

 

–Bridgette Makhela