Homba Mazaleni, a sport scientist and content creator, has been announced as a new presenter on the popular South African television show Top Billing. Mazaleni, who is the sister of reigning Miss SA Qhawekazi Mazaleni, was a top five finalist in the 2023 Miss SA pageant. She was overjoyed to have landed her dream job, saying that Top Billing has always been a childhood dream, especially for anyone who loves talking and being in front of the TV.
Mazaleni's journey into presenting has not followed a conventional route. With roots in Gonubie, KuGompo City, and rural Dutywa in the Eastern Cape, the 27-year-old initially pursued her passion for sport, earning a degree in human movement science from Nelson Mandela University before furthering her studies in sport science and biokinetics. Her experience in the Miss SA pageant was a valuable stepping stone, but she believes that not winning the pageant was exactly how things were supposed to unfold.
Mazaleni was encouraged by her family, particularly her younger brother, and her TikTok followers to audition for the Top Billing presenter search. Her audition video went viral, and she was trending on X the next morning. Despite her reservations, Mazaleni decided to take a leap of faith and submit her audition video, which eventually led to her being selected as a Top Billing presenter.
Mazaleni is excited about the opportunity to meet extraordinary people and learn from them. She hopes that the show will expose her to people she would never be able to talk to before, and that she will be able to experience people for who they are and what they do. She also wants to master the art of storytelling and inspire a new generation to dream bigger.
Mazaleni has high praise for her fellow finalists, Talitha Bothma, Karen Mthethwa, Nehemiah Tjatji, and Ross Marshall, describing them as talented individuals who deserve opportunities in the industry. She is grateful for the experience and the lessons she learned during the competition, particularly in managing her nerves and channeling them on the day.
Away from the cameras, Mazaleni enjoys spending time with her sister Qhawekazi, who was not surprised about her Top Billing victory. The two sisters regularly play PlayStation at home, with Qhawekazi enjoying Assassin's Creed and Mazaleni preferring racing games such as Need for Speed: Underground. Mazaleni's family has been a pillar of support throughout her journey.
As she prepares to join the Top Billing team, Mazaleni has three clear ambitions - to meet extraordinary people, master the art of storytelling, and inspire a new generation to dream bigger. She hopes that her journey will remind young people that big dreams are still possible, despite the economic challenges they may face, and that the art of dreaming has not been lost.
Key points
- Homba Mazaleni's unconventional route to becoming a Top Billing presenter involved a viral audition video and a background in sport science.
- Mazaleni's experience in the Miss SA pageant was a valuable stepping stone, but she believes that not winning was exactly how things were supposed to unfold.
- Mazaleni hopes to use her platform to inspire a new generation to dream bigger and remind them that big dreams are still possible despite economic challenges.
